The Roman Soldier

The Roman soldiers stationed in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus' crucifixion were trained executioners. Growing up in the Roman Catholic Church they were etched in my mind as warriors and mighty men of battle. Those who organized the crowd and disciplined the masses. They were to do a job and they did it well.  The Centurion  would be in charge of one hundred soldiers.

When I came to faith and away from Catholic doctrines, I took special note of the Centurion's words as he stood in front of the body of Jesus on the cross.  He said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"  Previous to this death, he lead his legion of soldiers in thousands of executions. One commentator said, "The legions did not rely on elite warriors supported by less skilled recruits, as had the armies depicted in the Old Testament, but on large, homogeneous units of highly disciplined professionals, trained to fight as an organized body."  Yet this centurion knew that under his watch, no one ever died like Jesus.  He saw the hatred of the masses of people.  He felt the tension of the religious crowd.  He heard Jesus speak words of forgiveness.  He witnessed Nature in turmoil.  He saw the Temple curtain tear in two from top to the bottom. It was unlike any other execution.

For quite some time I took pride in the Centurion's declaration - as if he had no hand in any of the torture brought upon the criminal of Whom he stared.  In reading the Bible, I gave greater attention to any reference of Rome or Italy. But today, as I studied what the Roman soldiers did to Jesus before the declaration of that Centurion, my cultural pride gave way to deep sadness. How could I have been so blind?  It wasn't as if I didn't know that Jesus was flogged and whipped and beaten.  But, I had never taken ownership of what my people did at the cross.

And if they are my people of which I take pride in the Cultural Arts, Food, Wine, Music, and World History;  then they are also my people in the historical death of Jesus.

It is written that after the flogging (whipping) of Jesus, "The Governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him...

They stripped him

Put a scarlet robe on him

Twisted a crown of thorns and put it on his head

They knelt in front of him and mocked him

They spit on him

They took a staff and struck him on the head...again and again 

Then they crucified him

And gambled between each other for his clothes.

The Almighty God knew that the Romans would have a working hand in the death of Jesus.  By allowing both Romans and Jews to accomplish the death of Jesus - no one would ever have the right to accuse only one group of his death.  The Almighty God made sure that all humanity was represented at the death of Jesus.  Both Jew and Gentile.  The Messiah was killed and it was the Roman hand that nailed Him to the cross, mocking and spitting all the way.

It is time to accept what we, as Romans, have done.  Put away any cultural pride.  Confess it one to another.  Turn from the desire to hate (whether in our hearts or actions) and receive what God has done for you through the life and death of His Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. 

"Dogs (a word commonly used to describe Gentiles) have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.  I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." Psalm 22:16-18   (A prophecy written by King David hundreds of years before the death of Jesus.)



References - Mark 15:40; Luke 23:34, 44-45; John 19; Psalm 22

"He has spoken blasphemy!"

Theologically blasphemy is the crime of assuming to oneself the rights or qualities of God.

It is also an act of cursing or reviling God.

I was reading the book of Daniel in the Old Covenant today and came across a dream that deeply troubled him.  Daniel said the visions that passed through his mind disturbed him.  But, through his writings, and the writings of Matthew (a disciple of Jesus) in the New Covenant,  I saw why the Chief Priests and Elders of Jesus' day accused Jesus of blasphemy.

Daniel wrote about 550 years before Jesus birth.  Daniel recorded, "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.  He (the Son of Man) was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."

This prophecy was well known by the teachers of the law and elders of Jesus day.  It was a hopeful promise of the coming Messiah!  A Messiah that would rule and reign - there would be glory and all peoples would be celebrating this Messiah!  His Kingdom would have no end.  Surely these were good and glorious promises to hold.  But they were to be administered only by The Messiah.  Anyone else claiming to be able to minister these promises would be called a blasphemer.

Fast forward about 550 years and we have Jesus standing before the High Priest named Caiaphas.  Jesus is being questioned about what he teaches people.  And the opponents to his teaching  were 'looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.  But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward."

The high priest was wanting Jesus to respond to the false witnesses, yet Jesus remained silent.  So Caiphas said to him, " I charge you under oath by the living God; TELL US IF YOU ARE THE CHRIST [Messiah], THE SON OF GOD."

Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say. But I say to all of you; in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One [aka; Ancient of Days] and coming on the clouds of heaven."

And that was the great connection in my mind.  Jesus claimed to be that Messiah who had all authority, reign and glory.  It was a maddening proclamation to the deeply religious folk who looked upon Jesus as just a pathetic pain in the...  But, for me it was His statement of Who He Was, and Is.  It was written and recorded just as Daniel's words were...and the reader has a choice to either agree or disagree.  The high priest chose to disagree.

In response to Jesus testimony,  "the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoke blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"

"He is worthy of death," they [the chief priests and the teachers of the law and the elders] answered. 

You see I don't think Jesus spoke blasphemous words.  I think He spoke the Truth.  As the high priest asked his elders, I ask you, what do you think?

"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father - to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.  LOOK, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.  So shall it be! Amen."  Revelation 1:5-7

other references: Daniel 7:13-14,  Matthew 26:57-66

The Rainbow

Did you know that the Bible has a message for us about rainbows?  It says that when God sees a rainbow He remembers something very important - His Covenant with the earth and all that is in it.

What do you think when you see a rainbow? When I was young I thought of Mother Nature, a gift from Heaven, and even the folklore of gold pots at the end of the rainbows.  In many cultures around the world it is a sign of diversity and inclusiveness, a symbol of peace, and even a bridge from earth to heaven. Google Rainbow + Mythology and you will see that the current use of this symbol is not a new thing. 

Here is what Charles Spurgeon, a nineteenth-century preacher, wrote in responding to what was written in the Bible about the rainbow. 

"And I will remember my covenant."
Genesis 9:15

"Mark the form of the promise. God does not say, "And when you shall look upon the (rain)bow, and you shall remember my covenant, then I will not destroy the earth," but it is gloriously put, not upon our memory, which is fickle and frail, but upon God's memory, which is infinite and immutable. "The (rain)bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant." Oh! it is not my remembering God, it is God's remembering me which is the ground of my safety; it is not my laying hold of his covenant, but his covenant's laying hold on me. Glory be to God! the whole of the bulwarks of salvation are secured by divine power, and even the minor towers, which we may imagine might have been left to man, are guarded by almighty strength. Even the remembrance of the covenant is not left to our memories, for we might forget, but our Lord cannot forget the saints whom he has graven on the palms of his hands. It is with us as with Israel in Egypt; the blood was upon the lintel and the two side-posts, but the Lord did not say, "When you see the blood I will pass over you," but "When I see the blood I will pass over you." My looking to Jesus brings me joy and peace, but it is God's looking to Jesus which secures my salvation and that of all his elect, since it is impossible for our God to look at Christ, our bleeding Surety, and then to be angry with us for sins already punished in him. No, it is not left with us even to be saved by remembering the covenant. There is no linsey-wolsey here-not a single thread of the creature mars the fabric. It is not of man, neither by man, but of the Lord alone. We should remember the covenant, and we shall do it, through divine grace; but the hinge of our safety does not hang there-it is God's remembering us, not our remembering him; and hence the covenant is an everlasting covenant." 

Psalm 62 - He alone is my Rock and my Salvation

As financial markets shake and the earth trembles, what a perfect reminder that God alone is my mighty rock, my refuge.  Psalm 62 exhorts us to trust in God at all times; to pour out our hearts to Him.  We are  reminded not to trust or take pride in riches - not to set our heart on them because they will be shaken.  But for those who trust in God alone, He is our fortress and because of that we will not be shaken.  In these times of trial and testing, seek the Truth.  Ask God to guide you to the Truth.  Don't be afraid; He is able to show you and teach you and guide you, and give you Peace. Truly you will find rest through your trials.   Just ask.

Psalm 62

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
   my salvation comes from him.
² Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
   he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
 ³ How long will you assault me?
   Would all of you throw me down—
   this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
⁴ Surely they intend to topple me
   from my lofty place;
   they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
   but in their hearts they curse.^[b]
 5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
   my hope comes from him.
⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
   he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God^[c];
   he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
⁸ Trust in him at all times, you people;
   pour out your hearts to him,
   for God is our refuge.
 ⁹ Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
   the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
   together they are only a breath.
¹⁰ Do not trust in extortion
   or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
   do not set your heart on them.
 ¹¹ One thing God has spoken,
   two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
 ¹² and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
   according to what they have done.”

Radical Shifts

What radical shifts have you made in your life?  Here are some testimonies of change that influenced my life.  May you be impacted by reading them.  Be blessed!

Mary

Thursday, August 4

Intercepted by Grace

"And they glorified God in me."    Galatians 1:24

Recommended Reading Acts 9:1-19

Perhaps you're familiar with the Christian authors Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel, former atheists whose research led them to the One they sought to discredit. Their transformed lives now lead other truth seekers to God. Nothing gets your attention like someone who holds a strong position and then refutes it.

God has a way of getting people's attention. Take the apostle Paul: summa cum laude among Jewish scholars, impeccable credentials, practiced every Jewish tradition with unswerving zeal (Philippians 3:5-6; Galatians 1:14). Paul was convinced that killing Christians was a noble service to God, and he took his gruesome assignment seriously (Acts 8:3). So how does a former terrorist of the church change his mind? Did he just wake up one morning and say, "I wonder what it would be like to be an apostle of grace?"

That's the miracle of being intercepted by grace. No one can look at the life of Paul--or any believer transformed by the Gospel--and not see God's glory. Paul testified that when people heard his radical testimony, they didn't glorify him. All they could do was glorify God (Galatians 1:24).

Think of a way for people to see God in you this week and amaze them with His glory!

Grace must find expression in life, otherwise it is not grace.    Written by Karl Barth

Acts 9

Saul’s Conversion

 ¹ Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”  ⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
   “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
 ⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
 ¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
   “Yes, Lord,” he answered.
 ¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
 ¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
 ¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
 ¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹ and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
    Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. ²⁰ At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. ²¹ All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” ²² Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

Waiting

Some days all we can do is wait for the Lord.  And we are blessed by doing so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3OEGnH5x8g

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.
    For the Lord is a GOD of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for Him!"  Isaiah 30:18