God-granted Faith

# 765- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 16:14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.” The word “rebuked” here is not strong enough. In modern terminology, it means that He got on their case big time. He was not happy with their refusal to believe the witnesses that He kept sending their way. Trusted men and women of their entourage had testified that they had seen Jesus, touched Jesus, eaten with Jesus, and yet they disbelieved. What was their problem? Their problem was the same problem that unbelievers have always had....hardness of heart. As human beings, our minds and actions are nothing but slaves to our souls. Something has to happen to our souls, in order for our minds to comprehend and confess what we believe. This is a good thing, because sometimes our minds become faulty through temporary or permanent disability, and they are not able to outwardly express their God-given faith. This is not the case for our souls. Only God can touch our souls. Only God's grace can enter in and produce life-saving faith.. Decisions to follow Christ must come from a soul that God alone knows and has granted the gift of faith which overcomes our natural state of hardness or unbelief. God has provided His church with some vehicles for delivering saving faith to individuals. We have come to call these vehicles, “means of grace.” (Word and Sacrament) The chief means of grace is His Word, for without His Word, the Sacraments would be powerless. They can only deliver what is promised through them in His Word. What a blessed assurance for the church, knowing that no matter what the mental state of an individual, God can still deliver His gift of faith through these means. . Always remember, we are not in the business of saving minds. We are in the business of saving souls. We are only instruments of God's grace. Proclaiming His Word and believing all that His Word promises, and trusting Him to produce faith.Faith

Something Special About the Way Jesus Broke Bread

# 764- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 16:12 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. The disciples did not believe Mary Magdalene, and now we are told that they did not initially believe these two disciples who had walked with the resurrected Jesus (who appeared to them in another form) as they walked on the road to Emmaus. The gospel of Luke has the full account of this encounter in Luke 24:13-35. I have always been fascinated with this encounter on the road to Emmaus, and I find one of the features of the story especially powerful. It is the fact that they didn't recognize Jesus in this form until He took bread and blessed it. There was always something special about the way Jesus broke bread and blessed it, something memorable. Don't you wish you could've been with the disciples when Jesus broke bread? I certainly can't prove it, but I suspect His table blessing was special because of a display of sheer gratefulness to the Father for providing it. Sometimes I think our table blessings would be more memorable if we truly grasped the concept that everything we have comes from the Father. Our daily bread should never be taken for granted. This memory of Jesus blessing the bread and wine at the Last Supper has stirred thankful hearts in Christians everywhere as they participate in the Lord's Supper. I love the use of the word eucharist to describe the Lord's Supper because the word means “thanksgiving.” When we consider that Jesus gave up His body and blood for our sins, it seems like thanksgiving should be the proper response. May we receive it in the manner that Jesus blessed it....with gratefulness to the Father. It is He who has made this blessed provision for us for the strengthening of our faith and the forgiveness of our sins. By the way, don't miss the fact that Jesus appeared to these two disciples in an unrecognizable form. It will go a long way in helping you understand what He meant when He said "This IS My Body, and This IS My Blood.

The Necessity of Witnesses

# 763- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 16:10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. As we piece the account of this incident together with the account in the Gospel of John, it went something like this: (1) Mary Magdalene and the other women come to the tomb and discover that the Body of Jesus is missing. (2) Mary Magdalene finds Peter and John and they run to the tomb and make the same discovery. They don't know what to make of it and return to their homes. (3) Mary lingers at the tomb and Jesus appears to her. (4)She runs back to where His followers had gathered. (5) They likely are aware now that the body is missing and this just adds to their grief and she finds them all in tears. (6) Then Mary bursts in and tells them the Good News! Jesus is not dead! He is alive! She has seen Him with her own eyes! Touched Him with her hands! And their response?????? “Yea right Mary.” They did not believe her! Why not? Did they perhaps think she was having some kind of an hysterical relapse back to her pre-deliverance days? It wouldn't surprise me. Emotions were running high and human nature being what it is....... well, just sayin' But let's not be too hard on them, for the Bible explicitly states that a matter must be affirmed by at least two witnesses. This is a very important biblical principle which unfortunately often gets forgotten, especially when we allow our emotions to be the lead dog. If God wants something established, He will provide witnesses. In the case of the resurrection of Jesus God produced quite a few. 1Co 15:4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

Not Exactly Mother Theresa

# 762- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 16:9 “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. The first person that Jesus shows Himself to after His resurrection is Mary Magdalene. Why does He choose her? We really aren't told, but the fact that He had delivered her from severe demonic possession should tell us something. What kind of life had Mary Magdalene been living while being controlled by these agents of the devil? We can infer that she was not exactly Mother Theresa! Likewise some of the other women who had become followers of Jesus had been delivered from demons and infirmities as we read in Lu 8:2, “ and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities--Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons,” Mary Magdalene seemed to be “chief of these “restored” sinners if you will, just as Peter was an example of a restored sinner, and later on the Apostle Paul also wore that badge. Paul, put it this way: 1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. All three of these fallen individuals were singled out with special appearances by Jesus. What message is Jesus trying to show us here? I think it's pretty obvious. He is willing and able to forgive and restore the most vile of sinners including you and I. Beloved, there is no sin that you have committed that Jesus will not forgive. He stands at the door of your heart even now, asking to come in and restore you to a right relationship with God. Completely forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ. Father, thank You for driving this point home through Your holy Word. Open our hearts to receive it.

The Common Theme Is Go

# 761- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 16:9-11 “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. This portion of Mark all the way through verse 20, has generated much controversy over the years because some manuscripts do not contain it. Some Bibles end at Mark 16:8. Why would some, copyist remove these final verses? We really don't know. Perhaps there were some things in the original manuscript that didn't sit too well with them. Copyists aren't perfect. But I think it's safe to say that the most trusted manuscripts include verses 9 through 20. There is a common thread theme to these verses and one that the Holy Spirit really wants us to know. This theme is present in the writings of all the other gospel writers as well. The theme is simple. Go! In the Gospel of John Jesus appears to the disciples when they go fishing. His mere appearance and prophecies concerning Peter and John serve as a reminder that they are to be fishers of men....not fish. “Go!” Luke continues his story of the ascension in the Book of Acts where Jesus reminds His disciples that they were to “be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Go!) And of course Matthew ends with the great commission, Mt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, These last verse in Mark emphasize the same thing! Go! With the reminder that even as we go, we will be met with unbelief, but don't worry, there will be enough signs following believers that many will hear and be converted. Go!

Don't Dilly Dally

# 760- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 16:8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. You gotta love the obedient response of these women. They didn't question the angel. They didn't press him for more details. They went out quickly on their mission of telling the Good News! How quick were they? Well, it wasn't a brisk walk...they fled! They ran to tell the disciples and Peter, just as they had been instructed. Wow, could we learn from them today. When our spiritual ears pick up on a command from the Lord, don't dilly dally! Do it! Have you ever been so ecstatic over a piece of news that you literally shook as you waited to tell someone? Well, that's what's going on here. But even though they were bursting with joy, they kept their cool enough to keep on task. They were to tell the disciples and Peter. No need to tell anyone else they might bump into along the way. Besides, they still weren't sure of what this all meant and no need to stir up others who might be enemies of Jesus and seek to put Him back in the grave. Let us learn from these obedient women. We might argue that we would be better at obeying if God sent angels to us with day by day instructions, but the reality is God has given us something better. An indwelling Holy Spirit and His Word. These two work together to produce opportunities for the same kind of quick and faithful obedience. God says this about the Holy Spirit. Joh 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” And He says this about His Word: 2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, We need nothing more but a willing heart.

When Hope Poured Into Peter's Heart

# 759- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 16:7 "But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." A messenger of God has told these women the Good News. Jesus has risen from the dead! Now he instructs them to go and tell His disciples AND Peter the Good News as well. Remember, this messenger is speaking as if God were speaking. It's one of the things angels do. They are messengers. These women are given the privilege of breaking this news to the other disciples and Peter. Further, God has told them that they and the disciples will actually see Him again in Galilee! Great news! But don't miss the mercy in this statement as it concerns Peter. God makes special note of his name in His instructions to the women. God has included Peter in the same breath with the other disciples. Put yourself in Peter's shoes when the women come to relay the message. “Hey Peter, God specifically told us to pass this word on to you! Jesus is risen! God has not forgotten you! He is not holding your denial of His Son against you! You are still one of His children.” What hope poured into the heart of Peter at this moment! Friend, if you have grievously sinned against God, may this hope spring up in your heart as well. Put your name in place of Peter's here. God knows of all your denials, He knows all of your sins, and know that God still desires to have you as His child. He wants to mention you in the same breath that He mentions His disciples. He wants you in His family! Just humbly bow before Him, asking for His mercy. He is more than willing to give it.

When Fear Comes Meditate On the Empty Tomb

# 758- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 16:5,6 “And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. Put yourself in the sandals of these women. It's very early in the morning, they have come to minister to their Lord's dead body. When they arrive they see the tombstone violently thrown to the ground. With their nerves on edge, they tiptoe into the tomb, (pretty brave act on their part) but it is empty! At first glance it appears that the Body has been stolen! While they are processing this information, they see an angel, in full heavenly attire. Their reaction to him is the same reaction we always see in Scripture to the presence of angels. They were overcome with holy fear! The angel calms their fears, by turning their attention to the miraculous resurrection of Jesus. Good plan! When fear starts creeping into our life, this is where we need to look as well! He is risen! Observe where He had been laid. This was a very important command given by the angel. The women were to notice what happened when Jesus escaped the grave. No grave robbers could leave the linens looking undisturbed. They were not disheveled, but left perfectly in place as His glorified body passed through them! And because He is risen, these women, you, and I and all who have placed their faith in Jesus, no longer need to fear! Our sins are atoned for. Paid with the blood of Jesus and verified by the empty grave! Father, grant us the courage of these women. Help us to overcome our fear as we meditate on the empty tomb.

It Was Blown Away

# 757- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 16:2-4, “Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away--for it was very large. It's Sunday morning. “This is the day the Lord has made!” He is risen! He is risen indeed! The women are so concerned with this final act of loving devotion for their Lord that they rush to the tomb without considering the fact that in order to get at the body, they would need help in rolling the stone away from the entrance. They did not realize that the stone had not only been rolled in place but sealed and that a guard had been placed by the tomb by the order of Pilate. But even as they realize their oversight they look and see that the stone had not only been rolled away but it had been blown away! Out of the groove and laying flat on the ground, where Matthew tells us the angel used it for a seat. What happened here? It was like taking a door off of it's hinges and throwing it on the ground leaving a room wide open, never to be closed again! The grave is empty for the whole world to see! It could not hold the Son of God and it will not hold those who place their faith in Him. Oh don't you see? Because of this glorious day, we no longer need to fear death and damnation. Sadly, many will reject Jesus as Lord, in so doing they put death's door back on it's hinges and seal their own tomb and doom. A doom that will send their resurrected bodies to the tortures of hell simply because they rejected God's Son. 1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" …................Hades only wins when we reject Christ.

Loving On His Body

# 756- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 16:1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. At this point I would like to remind all my readers (listeners) that all four of the gospels differ in the details surrounding the resurrection. Through the years, this has given critics an opportunity to play one account against another in order to attempt to discredit Scripture. It is helpful to understand that no single witness (gospel account) reports ALL the facts. The Christian student has the duty to use ALL the accounts in order to accurately piece together the story. Think in terms of instant replay in the NFL. In the resurrection of Jesus we are blessed with four different camera angles of the same event. (By the way, the Holy Spirit uses this different angle technique in other places of Scripture as well, most notably in the Book of Revelation!) One of the differences we find here, is in the naming of these women. Matthew only mentions two women, Luke adds Joanna the wife of Chuza and other unnamed women. No need to get caught up in who made the list and who didn't. The important thing to note is the love that these women desired to shower on Jesus. These are some of the same women who followed Jesus during His earthly ministry and gladly ministered to Him along the way. It was their desire to display their love for Him even in death. But here's the Good News that they all soon discovered. HE'S ALIVE! How much more then should we have a desire to love on His Body until He returns. Scripture tells us that the church is His body, and every time we minister to our brothers and sisters in Christ we join the ranks of these blessed women and minister unto Him Mt 10:42 "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward." What can you do to love on His Body today?

Working Together Out of Love For Jesus

# 755- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:44-47 “Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid. As I read this account and piece it together with the other gospel accounts, I get a sense that Joseph and Nicodemus were already planning what they would do as they watched Jesus die on the cross. There was an unpleasant job ahead for them, but someone had to do it! They knew they would have to act fast in order to give Jesus a proper burial before the Sabbath. First, get permission from Pilate, then Joseph would stop at the Jerusalem equivalent of Linen and Things on the way back for the burial cloths, while Nicodemus would pick up the necessary spices at the spice shop. Then they would get help from any able bodied people to get Jesus' body off the cross, and then painstakingly wrap Him in the linens, layered with spices and lay His body in Joseph's tomb. They had to work fast, the sun was setting, the Sabbath was coming to a close. I can even pick up a sense of satisfaction from these two for a job well done as the tombstone slid into place and was sealed by Pilate as the sun set slowly in the west. Working together, out of love for Jesus, they got it done. Seems to me, there's a lesson here for us!

Grab Some Courage

# 754- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:42,43) Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea. A prominent member of the Sannhedrin, who according to the Gospel of John was, like Nicodemus, a “secret disciple” of Jesus. Joseph was “waiting for the kingdom of God,” and that puts him in the class of Simeon and Anna who were in the temple when Joseph and Mary brought the baby Jesus. (See Luke 2:22-38) While Simeon and Anna were very vocal about their belief that Jesus was the Messiah, Joseph, because of his fear of the Jews, was not......until now. “Never mind my stature and standing in the Sannhedrin. Never mind that Pilate could say no to my request. Never mind anything that would keep me from this expression of my love for Jesus!” “And he took courage.” It was the right thing to do. I love that line, “He took courage!” In light of how often we find the statement “fear not” in Scripture, it is obvious that God desires to give us the supply of courage we need for our own circumstances. You never know what today will bring in the shape of opportunities to express love for, and trust in Jesus You never know when you will need to tap into the Holy Spirit's endless supply of courage. Be bold, be strong, for the Lord thy God is with you. And when the opportunity comes.....just do it! 1Ch 28:20 And David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God-my God-will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

The First Deaconesses

# 753- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:40,41 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem. Some people today feel that the Bible places far too many restrictions on women. Jesus wrote the Bible through the Holy Spirit and apparently these women didn't feel that way about the Author. These women “followed” Jesus. That is, they were no different than the the other disciples who heeded the Lord's call. They too, gave up the lure of the world in order to place Jesus first in their life. We know that Jesus told the men that if they followed Him, He would make them fishers of men. We see no such promise for the women, but we do read here of what it meant to them to “follow Jesus.” They “ministered to Him along the way.” This is the honorable role of the New Testament office of deaconesses This office in the church is mentioned in Ro 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as well. Please note the respect Paul has for this woman and her office. The church in Rome is to help her carry out her duties of ministering to the needs of others in every possible way. She has clearly proven herself as worthy of such aid since she has a long track record of helping others in time of need, including Paul! These deaconesses, like deacons are commissioned to serve. The word deacon means an attendant. They attend to the needs of others freeing up the pastors and elders for preaching and ministering the word (Acts 6:4) It's what these women we find at the foot of the cross did for Jesus. And in so doing they experienced personal fulfillment and contentment beyond measure.

Got Faith?

# 751- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:39 So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!" Much is made about the conversion of the thief on the cross at the crucifixion of Jesus, but let's not forget still another conversion. That of the Roman centurion. Here, he is making the same God wrought confession of Peter's, “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God.” But it wasn't just the centurion. In Matthew's account we read that the “centurion and those who were with him, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.” So others were converted as well! How is it that only some of the witnesses to the crucifixion were able to connect the events to God and His Son? This is part of the mystery of faith, and should remind us again that it is a gift from God. God stirs up that gift in us in varied ways, but one common denominator seems to be awe. A God-wrought fear came over these centurions, just as a God-wrought fear came over some people when the apostles performed signs and wonders, leading to their conversion. Pr 9:10 says “he fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy (a God-wrought awareness of His holiness) is understanding. What does it take to create such life-saving fear? It takes the Mighty Creator Himself. Oh, we have our part in the process of fear and faith formation, after all, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Rom 10:17) But faith is always harnessed to God's divine influence on the heart (grace) Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. Got faith? Give thanks to God!

Jesus Has Become the Curtain

# 751- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Mr 15:38) Imagine that you are sitting at home on a bright sunny afternoon. Suddenly it gets dark for three hours and at the end of three hours one of the curtains in your house splits right in the middle from top to bottom. What would you be thinking? You would have to be thinking that something quite supernatural was going on. Well this is no ordinary household curtain. The Roman historian Josephus tells us that this veil was four inches thick and that horses tied to each side could not pull this veil apart! This veil separated the holiest of holies, the ark of the covenant, the very presence of God from everything else. Access to the holiest of holies was granted once a year on the Day of Atonement and only then by the high priest with the blood of atonement in his hands. This blood came from the proper sacrifice of animals. This system of sacrifice was in place to remind people that God can only be approached when sins are atoned. (Paid for) How is it possible for a curtain that is virtually indestructible to be ripped entirely in two (top to bottom) Only God could do such a thing! And why did the ripping occur at the exact same time that Jesus “breathed His last.” It can only be that God Himself is saying, “All sins are atoned!” And those who have received Christ, (repented and believed the gospel) now have forgiveness of sins and access to God! Heb 10:19,20 says, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,” Jesus has become the veil! You and I must go through Him in order to see God's face. He is the Way! No one comes to the Father, except through Him (Jn 14:6)

What Was the Last Thing Jesus Wanted Us To Hear?

# 750- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:37, “And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Mark sums up what took place at the exact end of Jesus' life. He died just like you or I or anyone else will die. At death, “we breath our last.” Jesus, God in the flesh, experienced the same death that you and I will experience, should the Lord tarry on His return. This is vital to know, because we shall also experience the same resurrection that He experienced! But what did He cry out at this momentous hour? What were His last words? What was it that He felt was necessary to say with an amplified voice. (He “cried out”) What was it that He wanted everyone to hear? John tells us it was “It is finished.” We might read that and say, “oh, Jesus was just making a declaration that His life was coming to an end,”But that's not what the Greek word means. It means the debt has been discharged! What debt? The total debt accumulation of all sins ever committed. Past, present, and future! The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death, (Rom 6:23) This debt had been accruing ever since Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit. “the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Gen 2:17) Here, on Calvary Jesus makes it loudly known, that He made good on the debt of every sin ever committed for all time. Jesus didn't raise His voice very often, but he did on this day. He wants you and I to know that our sins were paid for on this glorious day, and God offers that gift of forgiveness to as many who receive Jesus. Joh 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Jesus Doesn't Mumble

# 749- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:34-36 “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" 35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, "Look, He is calling for Elijah!" 36 Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down." Jesus doesn't mumble. I say again. Jesus doesn't mumble. Every word He ever spoke, every word that is included in the Bible is crystal clear. To the cold unregenerated heart, His words may sound like mumbling. 1Co 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” ....but they are not. Those who stood by knew perfectly well what Jesus was saying, but they used the opportunity to continue their mocking. “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” LOL! 'Wait! Let Him alone, let's see if Elijah will magically appear and undo the nails!” ROTFL But hold on, as bad as their behavior was, what about us today? When you and I misinterpret the clear words of Jesus and use them as an excuse to sin, we are in effect doing the same thing. We are mocking the Son of God! We are falling for the age old trick of the devil. “Did God mumble something incoherent?....or did He really say something about how we should live?....... Biblical instructions on how we should live are crystal clear, let's stop pretending they're not, and when we fail, instead of making light of it, let us come to this same cross and ask for forgiveness. Let this be our prayer, Ps 19:13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.

He Became Sin For Us

# 748- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" As the supernatural darkness comes to a close at 3 in the afternoon, Jesus cries out: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” During these 3 hours, Jesus was made sin for us, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, (2 Cor 5:21) and He became a curse for us: Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree" (Ga 3:13) God turned completely away from Jesus (forsook Him) because He embodied every sin that has been or will be committed. Jesus was forsaken because God is too holy to allow sin in His presence. Hab 1:13a says, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness.” Think of it. Every single sin ever committed. That lie you told last week? Paid for. That adulterous glance at pornography? Covered. That abortion. On Jesus' tab. Because Jesus became forsaken, you and I are not forsaken. Because God looked away from Jesus, He will not look away from us. Is it any wonder then, that God insists that no one can come to Him except through His Son Jesus? Do you really think that God is going to allow some other way to heaven after what happened on Calvary? Repent and believe the gospel! Think differently about God and believe that full payment of sin was made on Calvary, then receive His free gift of forgiveness through faith in His Son. It's the only way! Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” And now you know one of the reasons why.

The Three Hours of Darkness

# 747- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:33 “Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. From noon to three, while Jesus hung on the cross, a supernatural, miraculous darkness overtook the entire earth. I personally believe that God was using this darkness to paint a very important picture for us. This darkness was used to picture the reality of the spiritual victory being wrought in heaven at this very hour of the passion of Christ. We read about in in Re 12:7-9, “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Until this time, the devil had access to God's ear, (read the Book of Job) Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.” But no more! This darkness was a symbolic display of the darkness of the devil and his demons being cast down to earth, in numbers so thick that the light of the sun was blocked out. With the death and resurrection of Jesus , the devil and his demonic locusts, no longer have the ear of God, but they do wreak havoc here on earth. You and I may be tormented by their accusations against us, but take heart and BELIEVE this Good News: God is no longer listening to the devil's accusations against you! Remember this whenever doubts creep in about your worthiness to be a child of God!

The Last Temptation of Christ

# 746- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:29-32 “And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 "save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" 31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. 32 "Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him. Is this mockery, or the devil's last ditch attempt at victory? Is this the “last temptation of Christ?” It sounds an awful lot like that initial temptation of the devil's that would have Jesus go to the pinnacle of the temple and throw Himself down, thereby proving that He had supernatural powers. Here He was, nailed to the cross, the new pinnacle of the temple, (let the reader make the connection) and the king of the mockers, the devil, gets the tongues wagging at Jesus, using them as a last ditch attempt to get Jesus to fail. “Save Yourself You fool Son of God! Come down from that cross!” Be spectacular!” Then they will believe!” Oh, thank You Jesus for taking care of this business in the Garden of Gethsemane. Thank You for remaining committed to the will of the Father and saving others rather than Yourself. Thank You for being committed to me! Jesus, may I daily come to the pinnacle of the temple in humility and thanksgiving, throwing myself down at your feet, confident that my sins are forgiven because You chose to deliver me rather than Yourself. And whenever I see a steeple with a cross, let it be a reminder of Your victory over this last temptation.

Twisting the Words of Jesus

# 745- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, " Early in His ministry Jesus had cleaned out the temple of moneychangers. The religious rulers were very upset by His actions and asked Him for a sign that would show them he had the right to upset their applecart. “Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (Jn 2:19) Please note how His words have been twisted by these blasphemous unbelievers. They would have Jesus as the one who claimed to destroy the temple, but that's not what He said. He said in effect that if THEY would destroy the temple, He would rebuild it or raise it up in just three days. As unbelievers, they had no clue that the temple sanctuary was a “type” of the Messiah. They had no idea that the very thing they were mocking Him for was taking place before their very eyes. They were destroying the antitype of the temple, and in three days this new temple, the sanctuary for all mankind, would rise from the dead. Unbelievers still twist the Words of Jesus, (the Bible) Lenin once said, "A lie told often enough becomes the truth." This seems to be the strategy of militant atheists in these Last Days. Don't fall for it. This strategy is as old as the serpent in the Garden, as he whispered to Eve, “Did God really say?” In this day and age of multiple versions of the Scriptures available, it is wise to find a version as close to the original language as possible. I strongly urge you to find such a translation and a Strong's Concordance with the meanings of the original Hebrew and Greek words. These two tools, along with the aid of the Holy Spirit in a faith-quickened heart will help you to reply to these doubt casters with a confident, “It is written,” rather than a , “you might have a point there.”

What's Your Wag Look Like?

# 744- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, To blaspheme means to speak against God, or anything pertaining to God, in anger or derision. When you think about it, this simple statement from Scripture is further proof of the deity of Jesus. If Jesus were not God, this mockery would just be mockery, but the Holy Spirit uses the term “blasphemy.” These words and actions then were not just directed toward a mere man or great prophet, but they were directed against God Himself. The “wagging of their heads” is the same wagging you and I might do to answer someone vehemently in the negative. This negative nodding was their reaction to the sign above Jesus on the cross. In nodding, they were emphatically denying that Jesus is “The KING OF THE JEWS. This Nazarene was no king of theirs! This is the unforgivable sin of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had brought this truth to them through Pontius Pilate, the pawn of God, but they rejected it. Anyone who rejects Jesus as their King commits the same damnable sin. I want you to pause and reflect on the following: If your life were to be described right now by the wagging of your head to the proclamation that Jesus is King, what would your wag look like? Would it be a vigorous shaking of the head in the affirmative? Would it be a defiant shaking of the head in the negative? Or would it be a shrug of indifference? Only one answer opens the gate to Paradise. Indifference to this proclamation puts you in the same camp as the blasphemers, for Jesus has said this about being neutral. "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. (Rev 3:16)

A Picture of the Human Condition.

# 743- He is risen! ....He is risen indeed! Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:27 With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. 28 So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with the transgressors." This is still another fulfilled prophecy that comes from Isa 53:12. “Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.” More details of this day, written hundreds of years before it occurred! Jesus. God in the flesh placed alongside common criminals to die. It is this same chapter in Isaiah that reminds us that He “was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” How fitting that He would be placed alongside these men. For they are what we are, “sheep gone astray.” Most of us know the rest of their story in their encounter with Christ. Two sinners. One remorseful, the other not. One willing to receive Christ, the other rejects Him. The one with remorse, even though minutes away from death, received Christ as Lord and Savior and was with Jesus in Paradise later that day. What a picture God has painted for us on Calvary! It is a picture of the human condition! Some will receive Jesus as their King to their blessed salvation, others will reject Him to their eternal damnation. One day you and I will hang on our own cross of death. There are only two choices. One a cross of defiance, the other a cross of reliance. Which cross will you choose to hang your eternal fate on? Do you really want to put off this choice until your final hour? 2Co 6:2b says, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. And Heb 9:27, reminds us "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment," This opportunity may never pass your way again.

When God Shouted

# 742- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:26 “And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS.” In the other gospel accounts we know that the placard naming Jesus as the KING OF THE JEWS was written in three different languages. The Jews wanted Pilate to change the writing to “This man said He was the King of the Jews,” but Pilate said “What I have written I have written.” Again, understand that Pilate is nothing but a pawn in the hands of God, and it might as well be God saying, “I have written what I have written.” God used the finger of Pilate to proclaim the message He wants the world to hear regarding His Son. HE IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Who are the Jews but the children of Abraham? In the Book of Galatians, the Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul makes it clear that the true children of Abraham are spiritual offspring, not biological offspring. The true children of Abraham are those who have put their trust in Christ. Ga 3:29 SAYS “And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. “ When you and I believe that God sent His only Son to die on the cross for our sins, and we acknowledge Him as our Savior, we are children of Abraham and God accounts such faith as righteousness, and Jesus is our King! Something else to note. The sign was in caps. Have you ever sent someone a message via e-mail or texting in caps? Why did you do that? You did it because you wanted a special emphasis. You wanted the recipient of the message to not blow it off. Here, it is as if God was shouting it out loud in three different languages. THE KING OF THE JEWS! Don't blow it off! I pray that we would note it well and that we would live our lives as if He truly were our king.

Psalm 22: Too Much To Overlook

# 741 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:24 And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take. 25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. The third hour would be nine o'clock our time. This is the time that Jesus was nailed to the cross and the process of crucifixion began. Two times we read the phrase, “they crucified Him.” We are not given the horrific details of how the crucifixion was actually carried out. The early readers of Scripture would know enough about it so the gory details aren't really necessary. The casting of lots for the clothes of Jesus was nothing unusual, it was a typical practice of the soldiers to do so. What makes this casting of lots special is it adds to the certainty of the truth of God's Word, for it was spoken of in Psalm 22. A Psalm written many years before crucifixion was commonly practiced. The Holy Spirit written details of this Psalm are too much to overlook. Their accuracy, even down to the words spoken by Jesus and the words and actions of those present is astounding! On this Good Friday, take the time to read the gospel accounts of His crucifixion, and be sure to read the 22nd Psalm. After your reading, ask yourself, “Do I really want to keep blowing this off as some sort of a Christian fable, or is Jesus really the Son of God who died for my sins that I might live?” This same Holy Spirit who moved David to pen these words, was now experiencing the crucifixion firsthand. Being God, He saw this coming. May this knowledge strengthen your belief in the veracity of God's Word! And more importantly may it cause you to rethink your relationship with Christ. Father, thank You for Your sure prophetic Word. May it kindle, rekindle, and strengthen any and all where needed today.

He Didn't Reach for the Morphine Button

# 740- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:23 Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it Wine mingled with myrrh. This was a common cocktail served up by the Roman soldiers to those undergoing the excruciating pain of crucifixion. This cocktail was the equivalent of our morphine or vicodin. When I had knee replacement surgery, the doctor prescribed vicodin to help me deal with the pain. I was glad to have it. It helped me deal with the constant throbbing I could feel in my knee and enabled me to be more diligent in my physical therapy that was so necessary to healing. What kind of throbbing pain do you suppose Jesus was feeling as He hung on that cross for you and me? Yet He refused the only pain medication that was offered Him. In refusing this medication, Jesus was not going to mask in any way, the effects of human sin. The wrath of God against humanity for sin was completely poured out on Jesus. He could've hit the morphine button, but He didn't. And our deepest and most hurtful affronts to God, abortion, adultery, idolatry....you name it was not masked. It was paid in full. Understand that and stop trying to mask the pain of your sins through your own escape mechanisms. (Drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, and any and all other addictive behavior.) Let Jesus handle the pain brought on by sin in your life. I know it's difficult, but He will help you through those painful times. Don't reach for the morphine button, or the vicodin, rather reach for the cross, confessing your sins and experience the relief of knowing that God has forgiven you. Father, I pray especially today for those who are still seeking relief from the pain of their sins. Let them be set free as they trust in the forgiveness offered through Jesus

No Need To Check Your Brain At the Door

# 739- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:22,23 And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. (Mr 15:22) The crucifixion would take place outside the walls of Jerusalem on a hill called Golgatha. (Place of a skull) so named because of the shape of the hill. What a fitting place for the Savior of mankind to die. For it is the skull that encases the mind. Now stick with me here. When, by faith, we receive Christ, we are crucified with Him (Gal 2:20) and when that occurs our old mindset is also crucified and we receive the mind of Christ. This is absolutely necessary because the mind of Adam must be put under the cross, or we will allow reason to become our god. 1Co 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.” This does not mean that we check our brains at the door. It simply means we put them under the authority of and at the disposal of Christ. The truth is, as a Christian, you will exercise God's gift of reasoning to its greatest extent! Furthermore, the Holy Spirit reminds us in Ro 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Golgatha! The place of the skull. A place to remind us that as followers of Christ, we have been re-”minded.” Beloved, never allow the transforming process to bog down. Keep meditating on God's Word. It is through meditation of God's Word and application of His Word in day to day living, that the fruit of godly reasoning is produced. Father, help me view my surroundings today through the mind of Christ.

No Greater Joy

# 738- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 15:21 “Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.” No appeals process, the sentence was handed down and it was executed immediately. Crucify Him. Jesus began the journey to the place called Golgotha where the crucifixions took place, physically weakened by all the ill treatment, He simply was not able to carry the load. The soldiers could see that no amount of kicks, blows, and cursings could make Him stagger on, and so they look for someone they could compel to carry the cross of our Lord. The honor fell to a man named Simon from Cyrene. Why mention Cyrene? I believe it is mentioned so we understand that the cross was not for the Jew alone. Jesus died for the world and so it was necessary for someone outside of Jerusalem to participate in the cross. It's interesting to note that Mark includes the name of two of Simon's sons. This not only bestows a great honor on Simon, but it is likely that the early readers of the Gospel of Mark would recognize those names. Think about the implication of that. Alexander and Rufus were known by Mark. They were known by Holy Spirit who prompted Mark to write of them. This tells me that they were known by the church. They were connected to the church, and there is no greater joy for a believing parent. “I have no greater joy than to hear my children are walking in the truth. (3Jn 4) What a fitting honor and blessing for the man named Simon. I pray for all parents today, Lord that they may know one day that their children are walking with You.