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An artist once drew a picture of the winter twilight. The trees were heavily loaded with snow and in the center of the picture, back in the trees, was a dreary, dark house. It looked lonely and desolate in the midst of a storm. It was a sad picture. Then with a quick stroke of yellow, he put a light in one window. The effect was magical. The entire scene was transformed into a vision of comfort and cheer. The birth of Christ was just such a light in a dark world.
John, in his gospel, speaks of Jesus as the true Light that "was coming into the world" (John 1:9). In 1 John, the writer tells us, "God is light and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5).
We may see God in many lights. Perhaps the two characteristics most frequently expressed are anger, or wrath, and love. To many people, these seem inconsistent with one another and they conclude that if God is a God of wrath, he cannot be a God of love. They see only his judgment.
Some people feel that God is only a God of love and therefore could not bring harm or judgment upon anyone. God is a God of love. He is also a righteous God and must exert his wrath upon evil. But he loves every person and his judgments are extended in love. It is sin that is judged. God wants the person to be free of judgment. Only if a person insists on hanging onto the old nature of sin must he or she even be involved in this judgment.
The Bible says, "God is love" (1 John 4:16). Again it says that he does not want anyone to perish. He wants everyone to have eternal life. This is the reason for Christmas. This is why Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Sinful people needed an adequate sacrifice for their sins. As sinful people, we needed a sacrifice for our sins, in order to be freed from the penalty of sin.
God provided a way. Here it is: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son (John 3:16-18).
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. God had prepared the world for receiving his Son in the flesh. Israel was no longer an independent nation, but was subjected to Roman rule. This raised the people's interest in the Bible prophesies about the coming Messiah to deliver them. They were finally looking for his appearance.
Greek was almost the universal language, facilitating the communication of this great event to the world. Perhaps Greek is the most expressive language the world has ever known.
Alexander the Great (356 B.C.-323 B.C.) had uncovered many libraries, including Greek lexicons, so we have a good understanding of the Koine and Classical Greek of the day. He had built a huge library in which he attempted to gather works from all language and cultural backgrounds.
Suddenly, in the midst of great expectation, God took on the flesh of man. In the form of Jesus, he came to dwell among us.
Can't you imagine the surprise of the shepherds as they tended their sheep? The heavens opened and the Bible says that an angel appeared to them with news of the Savior's birth. Other angels appeared, praising God. How startling! The angel said the messiah had come -- as a babe? Somehow the shepherds lost interest in tending the sheep. After that experience, they would never be the same. Immediately they went into Bethlehem searching for the newborn King. They found him and worshiped him.
Paul Harvey, the radio commentator, once told the following story: On Christmas morning a mother and her children went to church services. The mother had tried to get her husband to go but he said, "I cannot accept the Jesus story, that God came as a man. It does not make sense." As he sat in the living room, he heard some thuds against the house, so he investigated to see what was happening. He found that birds were flying into the landscape picture window. After hitting it, they were flopping in the snow. He tried to coax them into the warm barn, but they did not understand and would not follow. He made a trail of seeds and bread crumbs to entice them into the barn, but still without success. He then shoveled out a trail and tried to herd them to the barn, but that only scared them. They did not understand. In exasperation, he said, "If only I could take the form of a bird, they would not be afraid. They would understand." Then the Christmas story made sense.
For God so loved the world (the birds flying into the window - us) that he gave his one and only Son "in a form with which we could identify and understand", that whoever believes "trusts" in him shall not perish (because of the injuries suffered - our sins) but have eternal life (find safety in the warm barn).
That is what Christmas is about. You can have a life with meaning and purpose and eternal security, including life with God in heaven after this life on earth is finished. God's Son, Jesus Christ is the way to that life. Ask God to forgive your sins. Then turn from them to God's Son. Trust your life into the hands of Jesus.
If you need help in this, please go to the "Contact Us" page and let me know.
You will not be asked for money. That should be given to your local church to help in its ministries. Your name will not be passed on to anyone else. But I will pray for you and help to clarify questions you may have.
-- Don Brown
When the Plymouth Colony, led by Gov Bradford and the Pilgrim Fathers, gathered for the first Thanksgiving, They had been on this continent less than a year. One hundred and two came over on the Mayflower, but half of them had died or were killed and had been buried. However, the Pilgrims were not thinking of their hardships; they were not complaining about their losses.
The Pilgrims looked ahead and could see a bright future. Their crops had exceeded all expectations. They no longer needed to worry about starvation. God had provided, so they invited the Indians, who had been friendly, to meet with them and a Thanksgiving meal was prepared and served. They spent three days praising and thanking God for bestowing his blessings upon them.
This is in keeping with the attitude of the Psalmist, in the Bible, as he wrote the 100th Psalm. The setting is different, but the attitude is the same. Here is what the Psalmist said:
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100 NIV)
The Faithful of the Old Testament Were Thankful.
God called upon Abraham to demonstrate his faithfulness. He told Abraham to offer his son as a sacrifice. Abraham was willing to do so, but at the last moment God provided a lamb for the offering. Abraham could have been bitter that he came so close to sacrificing his son -- or that God would make such a demand upon him, but he was thankful that God provided a substitute. He was so thankful that he named the mountain, "The Mountain of the Lord."
Hannah of the Old Testament, the first division of the Bible, had been unable to have a child. "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:10). God answered her prayer in the affirmative. Hannah was so thankful that she named the son Samuel because she had asked him of God. The word "asked" in Hebrew also means "borrowed." She considered Samuel as being borrowed from God and gave him his name to express her thanks. She also dedicated him to the Lord.
If more parents would dedicate their children to the Lord when they are young, perhaps more children would dedicate themselves to the Lord when they are older. Samuel became one of the purest and noblest men of the Old Testament.
God's people have not always expressed their gratitude to him. But at this time I'm trying to impress upon the readers of this column, what we ought to do, not the unthankful ways we act sometimes.
The Faithful of the New Testament Thanked God.
The apostle Paul perhaps suffered as much hardship as any character in the New Testament, the second and last division of the Bible. His apostleship was questioned, his motives were challenged and his name was slandered. He was imprisoned. He was beaten and one time left for dead. Never did Paul complain about these hardships. On the contrary, he starts many of his letters something like this, "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace that is given you by Jesus Christ." This same Paul wrote, in Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." In Ephesians 5:20, he said that Christians should be "always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
After John the Baptist had been named and Zechariah was able to speak again, his first words were not words of bitterness for God's having made him mute for so long. His first words were words of praise to God. He expressed thanks.
When Paul and Silas were in the Philippian prison and the picture looked dark for them, we do not find them brooding over their situation. The Bible says, in Acts 16:25, "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them."
Jesus Gave Thanks to the Father.
Mark, the writer of the second gospel in the New Testament, says that before Jesus fed the 4,000, he gave thanks and then had the loaves and fish distributed. Before raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus thanked God for hearing his request.
Even though Jesus came in the form of man for the purpose of being crucified on the cross for the redemption of man, and even though he would have the sins of the world heaped on him, his life in the flesh was a life of thanksgiving.
We Should be Thankful.
We live in a day when man feels self-sufficient. Great technological progress is being made in all areas of life. Diseases are being conquered, life expectancy is being increased and we say, "Look what man has done." We send people into space, even to the moon, and return them safely. Then we say, "Look what man has done." In this computerized technological world, we seem to think that there is nothing man cannot conquer and men say, "God is dead."
If God were dead, he would never have been God in the first place. Let us not kid ourselves. God is still on the throne and the universe is still completely in his control.
The terrorists' acts of September 11, served as an awakening for many. We realize that we cannot control everything. God did not make us as puppets. He gave us a free will. We choose to do right or wrong. We choose to submit to God's care and direction or to go our own way. There is a new awakening in the minds and hearts of people. Bad things may happen but if we belong to God, no one can destroy our soul. And God will give us the courage and wisdom to see us through the tough times. We should thank God the Father for his redeeming care.
William Stidger, one time professor of the School of Theology in Boston, Massachusetts, was to preach a sermon on Thanksgiving Day. This was during the world depression of the 1930s. He said to his friends, "I want to say something affirmative. What can I say affirmative in a world depression like this?"
Stidger began to think of the blessings he had in life and the things for which he was truly thankful. He remembered the woman who had taught him in school, and of whom he had not heard for many years. Although it was years ago, he still remembered that she had gone out of her way to put a love of poetry in him, and Stidger continued to love poetry all of his life. So he wrote a letter of thanks to the elderly lady. This is the reply that he received. It was written in the feeble scrawl of the elderly, and it began, "My dear Willie." He thrilled at that. Stidger was over 50 years old at the time, and bald. He was a professor, and he didn't think there was anybody left in the world who would call him "Willie." It made him feel years younger. Here is the letter:
My Dear Willie,
I cannot tell you how much your note meant to me. I am in my 80s, living alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely and, like the last leaf of autumn, lingering behind.
You will be interested to know that I taught school for 50 years and yours is the first note of appreciation I ever received. It came on a blue, cold morning and it cheered me as nothing has in many years.
We should make a practice of thanking people, and thank God for friends. Often God sends special blessings through other people and I think that He likes for his agent, the other person, to be thanked also.
What is the greatest blessing? There is no doubt about it. The apostle Paul was a real master at words and seldom found that they failed him. But there was a subject on which words fell short, and on one occasion when it came to his mind he said, "Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift."
Note the word "unspeakable." Paul was saying in effect, "It just won't go into words."
What was so wonderful that it would not go into words? What had the Father given for which no thanks was adequate? It was the gift of Jesus Christ. He was the unspeakable gift. Thanks be to God (above everything else) Paul says, for him. No matter how little of the material world we may have, we are rich if we have Jesus.
If you do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, there is no better time than right now to change that. God the Father sent his Son, Jesus, into the world to reveal himself (God the Father) to mankind and to offer himself (the Son) as a sacrifice for each person's sins. The only way to be free from the eternal penalty of your sins is to accept Jesus' sacrifice on your behalf and commit your life into his care.
If you are considering such a decision, just go to the "Contact Us" page and write me a note. I will try to be as helpful as I can. I do not have a mailing list and will not give your e-mail or any other personal information to others for their mailing lists. Also, I do not ask for any money. I do hope you will find a local church for support and growth. In turn, you can help support the ministry to others through your local church.
Thanks for coming by.
-- Don
Joe Theismann enjoyed an illustrious 12-year career as quarterback of the Washington Redskins. He led the team to two Super Bowls appearances -- winning in 1983 before losing the following year. When a leg injury forced him out of football in 1985, he was entrenched in the record books as Washington's all-time leading passer. I was watching that last game of his on TV. It wasn't a pretty sight. The cameras went in for a close-up shot. As soon as I saw the foot turned completely out to the side, I knew it was the end of his career. Still the tail-end of Theismann's career taught him a bitter lesson. "I got stagnant," he said, "I thought the team revolved around me. I should have known it was time to go when I didn't care whether the pass hit Art Monk in the 8 or the 1 on his uniform. When we went back to the Super Bowl, my approach had changed. I was griping about the weather, my shoes, practice times, everything."
He continued, "Today, I wear two rings -- the winner's ring from Super Bowl XVII and the loser's ring from Super Bowl XVIII. The difference in those two rings lies in applying oneself and not accepting anything but the best."
It all boils down to attitude. I have noticed a variety of attitudes relating to the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade center. Some seem angry at God, as though this was his fault for not stopping the terrorists. But God gives each of us a free will. We are not as puppets with God pulling the strings. Often decisions we make affect other people in helpful or harmful ways. Even our love for God is a voluntary choice.
Others, in their anger at the terrorists, want to destroy the whole country of Afghanistan. Some even want to take out their anger in shameful attacks on Moslems and all Arabs in this country. Thankfully, they are in the vast minority. The terrorists are extreme radicals who are opposed by other Arabs and Moslems.
Many people are hurting and are searching for ways to deal with their hurt.
It seems that when a catastrophe occurs, people begin to see that man does not have everything in his control. A search for answers begins. In this search, many people begin to turn to God for answers. He is the One who is in control of all things. He who created this world can bring order out of chaos. He can heal the hurts and properly focus the anger. But if we look to God only as a storm cellar, a safe place to go when a tornado is coming, we are not in a position to receive the best he has to offer. He wants to give us so much more! You must establish a relationship with him to receive the life filled with purpose and meaning in the here and now, and a continued eternal life with him in heaven when you die. That is why he sent his Son Jesus Christ to offer himself, who had no sin of his own, as the sacrifice for your sins and mine.
God can change your whole attitude.
The apostle, Peter, wrote some words that are to be characteristic of the Christian attitude. They are found in the New Testament of the Bible in 1 Peter 5:6-11. Here is what he says:
Humble yourselves, therefore under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
I will just briefly comment on each of these characteristics of the Christian attitude.
I. Attitude of Humility (5:6)
Self-pride focuses upon self and can be carried to extreme. When carried to excess, it is not considerate of others and is not submissive to a higher power. Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek." He also says not to practice your piety in front of others to be seen of them, for this is not true humility. Humility is not paraded.
In the mid-1960s, when I was pastor of Fireside Drive Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, a family, because of sickness, had lost its income. It was about time for the school year to start and the children needed shoes and clothes for school, but they didn't have money to buy them. I visited them and they told me that one of my deacons and his wife had visited and found out about their need. They took the children and bought all of them new shoes and clothes. They also brought to the family bags of groceries. Evidently, neither the deacon nor his wife had told anyone about it. I did not know. Later, I told the deacon about the family's appreciation and that I was proud of them for what they had done. Their act of humility is the type of humility the apostle Peter was talking about.
II. Attitude of Full Confidence in God (5:7)
It is wrong to worry. There is a difference between worry and concern. Worry does not change anything, except the worrier. It is negative energy and only hurts the worrier. Someone has said, and it probably is not far from true, that 90% of what we worry about never happens and worrying wouldn't change the other 10% anyway.
Concern, on the other hand, uses positive energy. Concern leads one to determine whether or not he or she can have any influence over the outcome of a situation. If not, the concerned Christian should turn it over to God. If the Christian can have an influence over the outcome, he or she should explore what appropriate positive actions can be taken, and act accordingly, looking to God for direction. If none of the available options would be appropriate, again, the matter should be turned over to God.
One of the differences between the Christian and non-Christian is that the Christian has God to turn to in the dark hours. The Christian is a child of God and under his care.
Let me add, for the benefit of viewers, in countries where one is identified with the religion of his or her ancestors. Unlike many other religions, one is not a Christian because he is from a certain country or family. A person becomes a Christian only when that person repents of his or her sins and makes a personal decision to commit his or her life to God through his Son Jesus Christ. That is the only way to be saved. It is the only way to heaven.
A high school teenager named Roy once talked to me about accepting Jesus Christ as his Savior. He committed his life into God's care and after we prayed, he pulled out a large switchblade knife. He flipped it open, then closed it and handed it to me. He said, "I won't be needing this any more." That's what Peter was saying, "Cast all your cares on him because he cares for you."
III. Attitude of Self-control (5:8)
We are to take seriously our high calling of God to be followers of his Son, Jesus Christ. It is not to be just a form, a pretension, an outward appearance. This was the mistake of the Pharisees of whom the Bible speaks. They paraded their works so others could see how good they were. We are called to a way of life. We are to put our hands to the plow and set our eyes upon Jesus.
When I was in junior high school, I worked on a ranch during the summer (when there was no school). I also did some planting for a neighboring rancher. I remember that those rows looked like they were a mile long. I also remember the first day. As I approached the end of a row, the owner and another man were laughing and looking behind me. I turned and looked. The rows were really crooked. I had been looking down in front of the tractor trying to follow the previous row. With instruction, I found that if I would set my sight on a proper spot far ahead, perhaps at the end of the row, and moved directly toward it, keeping aware of my present position, my rows straightened out.
As Christians, we are planting seeds of the Good News as we move about in the world. If we try to do it all under our own power and direction, our rows will be crooked and the impact will not be good. We must keep our eyes upon Jesus Christ and let him direct our paths.
IV. Attitude of Alertness (5:8)
Christians are to be watchful, or alert, as to the example we set before this world. Someone is watching you, looking to you as a pattern for his or her life. You may even be unaware of it. Let you example influence others in the right direction.
Christians must be alert to the slyness of Satan and his temptations. He can sneak up on us when we are least expecting and strike us at our weakest point. Just as his servants struck the United States when we were unsuspecting and in a way to bring the loss of so many lives, he looks for opportunities to destroy the influence and happiness of God's people. We must be alert, ready and strong in the Lord.
You and I must be alert to the opportunities for service. When we see someone in need, we should not just say, "I'll pray for you." Prayer is important. God hears and answers prayer. But if he made you aware of the need, he probably intends to answer the prayer through you.
Christians must also be alert for the return of Jesus Christ to this earth. After he rose from the grave, before ascending into heaven, he told his disciples that he would come again. Even though Christians go directly to heaven when we die, after his return we will receive our new perfect spiritual bodies. It may be many years before his return, but it could be today.
V. Attitude of Resistance Against Satan (5:9-9)
Satan is our enemy. Let's not make room for him in our lives. Some people say, "Lord, I give you my life, but I want to keep this particular habit or practice." They are giving Satan a place to work from. And he will take full advantage of it.
A firm faith is our best weapon. To keep our faith strong we must grow in the knowledge of his word, the Scriptures, and apply it to our daily lives. We must regularly communicate with God in our prayers and set aside quiet time to reflect on his word and blessings.
Knowledge that others have met and overcome the same trials that we have should give us encouragement. We are not alone. Community worship and Christian fellowship are important. We must be active in participation with other Christians in Bible study, prayer, singing, hearing the word preached, returning to the Lord God a portion of the goods he has provided us and in all aspects of worship. This is characteristic of the Christian attitude.
An Invitation to You
If you wish further information or help in your spiritual journey, or if you are ready to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, or wish additional information, please go to the "Contact Us" page on this website. I would like to hear from you.
-- Don
If you're into bumper-sticker philosophy, you've probably seen the axiom, "I owe, I owe, so off to work I go." For a vast portion of the workforce, that's the best reason they can muster for going to the job each day. According to one poll, only 43 percent of American office workers are satisfied with their jobs. In Japan the figure dips to 17 percent. In the first century, Christian slaves had even less reason to be enthusiastic about their work. But Paul, in the Bible, gave them a way to grasp a glimpse of glory in the midst of the grind. He wanted them to "make the teachings about God our Savior attractive," that is to show the beauty of their faith in Christ by how they work (Titus 2:10).
A significant and often overlooked way that we serve God is in our everyday tasks. Martin Luther understood this when he wrote, "The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays -- not because she may sing a Christian hymn as she sweeps but because God loves clean floors. The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship" (Our Daily Bread, Sept. 5, 1994).
God is interested that we represent Him by adequate preparation, honesty, trustworthiness, integrity and diligence in our lives. This includes our labor for the benefit of others.
This month in the United States and Canada we observe Labor Day as a national holiday. One might wonder why we observe labor day by not laboring. Well, as strange as it is, that's just how it works.
In his letter to the young preacher, Timothy (in the New Testament of the Bible), Paul instructs him to "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed . . ." (2 Timothy 2:15 NIV).
Perhaps this is a good time to take a new look at your life. What is your motivation for doing what you do? Whom are you trying to please? What is your purpose in life? Are your priorities in order? How are you actually conducting your life?
Suppose that we who are Christians get excited about being born again and being children of God and belonging to Jesus Christ. What a difference this attitude would make in our daily lives! What a difference it would make in our relationships, in our work ethic, and in our sharing the Good News of God's salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ. Our Bible study and prayer times would be joyfully anticipated.
In the light of these thoughts, are you truly and earnestly seeking God's approval of your life?
The fight isn't always easy. The course is difficult to run sometimes. Your faith is severely tested from time to time. The right way is often the most difficult. It is not easy to plug away when you do not see the results of your work, but God does not hold you responsible for the results. He holds you responsible for being faithful.
Before the things I have talked about will have real meaning, you first must have a relationship to God through his Son. Here is why.
Every one of us have sinned. In sinning, we have broken the commandments of God. Sin condemns us to eternal death. The Bible tells us that this will be in hell, an eternal lake of fire. For us to avoid hell and enter heaven when we die, and receive the full and meaningful life while alive on earth, the penalty for our sins must be paid. This must be by one who has no sin of his own. But we have all sinned.
Because of God's love for every person, no matter how "good" or bad they have been, he sent his Son to live on earth. He was born as a babe to a virgin, impregnated by God's Holy Spirit. He lived a perfect life, without sin, and therefore qualified to offer himself as an acceptable sacrifice for our sins.
Jesus voluntarily allowed himself to be crucified on our behalf. He was killed by being nailed to a cross and a sword being stuck through his side. He was buried in a tomb. The tomb was closed and sealed and the Roman government posted guards to be sure it stayed that way. But Jesus did not stay in the grave.
On the third day of his internment, Jesus came alive. He did not stay dead. He appeared to people for 40 days (to as many as 500 people on one occasion) before he ascended into heaven. One day he is coming again. Those who are alive then will witness the event.
Because of Jesus' great sacrifice and victory over the grave, you can have eternal life also. Receiving eternal life is so simple that many people miss it. They try to earn their way to heaven, but they can't. They have already sinned and do not qualify.
Eternal life is received by (1) repenting of your sins. This includes remorse for your sins but it also includes a turning from your sinful life of disbelief and turning to God. (2) It also includes accepting the gift of salvation provided through God's Son. In turning to God, you confess your sins to him and ask him to save you. This includes a commitment to allow God to have charge of your life. From now on, your life will be lived to the glory of God, instead of to your own glory.
Sometimes you will fall short and do things that do not please God. But God is a loving God and does not kick you out of his family, in the same way a loving earthly parent would not kick a child out of the family for a failure to obey. God is ready to forgive you as you confess your sin to him and ask his forgiveness.
If you are ready to commit your life to God, as explained above, or wish to receive more information, please email me at the address given below.
If you are a Christian, ready to make a new commitment of your life, I also would like to hear from you. Just go to the "Contact Us" page on this website and enter your comments there.
-- Don
I once read that not far from New York there is a cemetery with a grave that has only one word inscribed on the headstone, the word "Forgiven." There is no name, no date of birth or death. The stone is unembellished by the sculptor's art. There is no epitaph, no great eulogy -- just one word, "Forgiven."
Jesus' Act of Forgiveness.
At a most critical hour before the crucifixion of Jesus, many of those around him let him down. Judas went out into the night to collect the price of betrayal and later, with a kiss, identified Jesus to those who would arrest him.
The trusted three -- Peter, James and John and the others of the twelve disciples did not remain alert and watchful while Jesus prayed in the garden. They slept while he prayed.
Simon Peter denied Jesus and cursed when he was recognized as one of his followers. Others rejected him altogether -- ones for whom he would suffer.
Jesus was tried all night, with trumped up charges. False witnesses were hired to testify against him. He was beaten and ridiculed. He was mocked by soldiers putting a crown of Thorns on his head and a robe on him and a staff in his hand, as though he had claimed to be a political king. He had not. Jesus, God's Son had indicated that his kingdom was not of this world.
Before being forced to carry the cross on which he would be executed, Jesus was beaten with the cat-o-nine-tails. This whip had nine leather tongs with pieces of metal and glass attached to them. Josephus, the historian said that sometimes the belly of a person would be ripped open and the intestines protrude, when beaten with the cat-o-nine-tales. Sometimes a person would die under the beating.
At the crucifixion site, Jesus was nailed to the cross, then the cross was raised and dropped into its hole. The mobs jeered and mocked and spat on him. Here we see man at his worst and God at his best.
What kind of reaction would you expect from the victim of such abuse? Curse the crucifiers? Plead for release? Call for pity? Jesus prayed! He prayed, not for himself, but for his crucifiers! Here are his words. They are found in the Gospel of Luke, located in the New Testament of the Bible. The reference is Luke 23:33-34. It reads as follows:
When they came to the place called the skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals -- one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. And they DIVided up his clothes by casting lots.
They had condemned him, jeered at him and nailed him to the cross, but Jesus prayed, "Father forgive them."
Jesus' Faith and Spirit in Forgiving.
Jesus public life began in prayer and now it closes in prayer. No longer would his hands minister to the sick -- they were nailed to the cross. No longer would his feet run errands of mercy -- they were nailed to the cross. No longer would he walk the dusty roads with his disciples -- he was on the cross and his disciples had forsaken him. What could he do? He prayed.
Jesus began, "Father." He was still conscious of his Sonship. His faith was unshaken by what he was going through.
Jesus was captured in the place of prayer. He was shifted from one trial to another. He was beaten, spat upon, lied about, had sharp thorns pressed into his head, nailed to the cross, ridiculed and forsaken. Still Jesus believed that God the Father was on his throne.
Here is a lesson for us. When things seem unbearable, you suffer rejection, heartache, and loneliness; when the world falls apart around you, remember that God is still on his throne. He is also there with you. He knows all about your situation and is just waiting for you to turn to him.
In his darkest hour, Jesus shinned like a star. In such a dark hour, he looked up and said, "Father." We pray, "Lord help me," and that is OK. But Jesus prayed for others. We see the loving heart of Jesus.
The word for "forgive" in the Greek, the language in which the New Testament was originally written, is in the iterative imperfect tense. That means that this was the final in a series of times Jesus had uttered words of forgiveness. Perhaps when they took him in the Garden, he asked the Father to forgive them. When he was being tried, spit upon, beaten, when the crowd cried out for his crucifixion, when being nailed to the cross he was speaking words of forgiveness. Then on the cross, we have the final of this series recorded. This reflects the continual spirit of forgiveness in Jesus' heart.
In the Old Testament, Samson, the strong man, pulled out the building's pillars to bring death upon his tormentors. But in the New Testament, the deacon, Stephen, followed the example of our Lord and prayed for the forgiveness of those who were hurling the stones upon his body.
Has someone hurt you? Can you pray for him or her? If you have the spirit of Christ, you will.
We see Jesus practicing what he preached on the mountain. He said, "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you."
When asked "How often should I forgive a person who has wronged me ... seven times?" Jesus answered "Seventy times seven."
It is hard to love your enemies and be good to those who hate you, but come to Calvary and look into the face of One dying on the cross who prayed, "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they are doing." He didn't mean that they were ignorant of the wickedness of their actions, but they did not understand how enormous was their crime -- that they were in fact crucifying the Son of God. They should have known. The prophets told of his coming. Everything about his ancestry, supernatural birth, life, miracles and teachings fulfilled the prophecies. Also, he had never sinned, and at his baptism, the voice of God said, "This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased." Now, even the crucifixion was fulfilling prophecies.
When Jesus looked at the crowd and said, "Father forgive them," it was for us too. Our sins also made it necessary for him to go to the cross.
He was also saying, "Father, I am dying for every person in the world and all who will ever live. When they come to you through my shed blood, forgive them."
The Subjects of Jesus' Forgiveness.
On the Day of Pentecost, not long after the resurrection, over 3,000 people who were in Jerusalem from different parts of the world -- of various races, languages, and cultures responded to the offer of forgiveness. After Peter's sermon, in Jerusalem, they were convicted of their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
You and I also put Jesus on the cross. He offered himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Those who mistreated Jesus, condemned him to death, and crucified him did not know Jesus was the Son of God, actually God in human form. But you and I do. He died for you.
Give your heart and life to God by accepting the sacrifice of his Son, receiving him as your Lord and Savior. Let him have charge of your life. There is a devil's hell with eternal torment and there is God's heaven. For all those who trust Jesus Christ as Savior, God prepares a place in heaven. You have a choice. Please do not choose wrongly.
An Invitation to You
If you wish further information or help in your spiritual journey, or if you are ready to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, or wish additional information, please contact me. Just go to the "Contact Us" page of this website. I would like to hear from you.
-- Don
With a firm conviction that dreams are more powerful than fear, love more powerful than hate and peace more powerful than war, community members in Jacksonville Florida are gathering together to create "Gardens of Peace." Individuals as well as organizations such as schools, diverse faith groups, civic groups and businesses are a part of the coming together to grow a people's garden, to be planted and nurtured by everyone, just as peace is something that each of us must cultivate within our hearts. By combining the artistic and creative arts with the living plants of the garden, they symbolically unite the spirit of peace with the physical expression of harmony and discovery that is possible within our human diversity. The objective is not to create a memorial, not to focus on the horror of death and destruction. Rather, this is a garden designed as a place where peace and compassion, hope and understanding can grow, flower and bear fruit. In Fact, Gardens for Peace is an organization based in Atlanta Georgia with member gardens over the world. It appears to have no connection with anti-war groups or politically oriented organizations.
There are three gardens in the Bible that are worth your attention.
Garden of Eden
The first of these is The Garden of Eden. It was in that beautiful garden that God placed the first man and woman. Everything they could ever want was provided for them. It was in this garden that they walked and talked with God. Perfect fellowship with their maker!
It was also in this garden that this fellowship was broken. The creatures God made for fellowship with Him listened to Satan instead of God. At Satan's biding they did what God had told them not to do. The results were drastic.
All sin has drastic results. In November 1959, at the Oak Ridge Laboratory in Tennessee, 1/50 of an ounce of plutonium was scattered into the air by an explosion, but it cost the American taxpayers over $350,000 to clean up the deadly effects. That was a lot of money in the economy of nearly 50 years ago. Adam's sin was a little act but the total cost affected all people.
Just as Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden, each of us has done the same thing.
Garden of Gethsemane
It was in the Garden of Gethsemane that Jesus, while contemplating the cost of redeeming man from the eternal penalty of sin, prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will" (Matthew 26:39). Again he prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done" (Matthew 26:42). Jesus knew the price for man's redemption was the sacrifice of himself by death on the cross. But Jesus, God's Son, was willing to do it for you and me. It was from that Garden that Jesus went to be condemned to the cross. Hebrews 5:9 says, "And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation."
The cross is in all of life. The seed dies that the plant may live. The cross is in the landscape. A mountain slope may be bare and barren while the valley is rich, fertile and filled with vegetation. This fertility is because of the soil washed from the mountain. The cross is in your blood stream. White corpuscles are in your blood stream watching for infection. When they find it they absorb it, but they then are absorbed by the newly created cells that take their place, or the blood would stagnate and the body would die.
The cross could not have been avoided by Jesus. It is sin that takes the holy God, in the flesh here on earth, and treats him as no animal should be treated. It is sin that takes the gracious loving Jesus -- who never harmed a soul but spent all his days helping and healing -- and strips him, lashes him, spits on him and drives nails through his hands to hang him on the cross. It is your sin and my sin that did this to him. You are guilty and so am I.
Garden of Resurrection
It was in the tomb of the wealthy Sanhedrin member, Joseph of Arimathea, that the body of Jesus was laid. The Bible's Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, had foretold that Jesus would be buried in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9). Joseph had been a secret disciple but now openly confessed Jesus.
Even the deserted and crucified Son of God had dear ones who were anxious to offer a last expression of devotion to him. There were women who came early to the place of his burial. Their eagerness is shown in the manner of their coming. The New Testament Gospel writers, Mark and Luke, tell us that they were hurrying to the tomb very early in the morning.
When the women arrived at the tomb, they discovered that the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. An angel addressed them saying, "Do not be afraid, you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is risen! He is not here." They raced back and told Jesus' disciples what had happened. Two of the disciples, Peter and John, ran to the tomb. The grave clothes were neatly folded and lying on the ledge where Jesus body had been. Mary arrived at the tomb again and came face to face with Jesus in the Garden. He gave her a message to deliver to the disciples. His first two appearances to his disciples were when they were gathered in a locked room. The walls did not stop him. Jesus spent 40 days on earth after his resurrection, before his ascension into heaven. A crowd saw him ascend and angels announced that he would return. This will happen at the end of time.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead proves his Sonship to God the Father and clinches eternal salvation for all who trust him as Savior and Lord. When you turn your life over to Jesus and let him have control, your sins are forgiven and your guilt is covered. Jesus took your sins to the grave. You then qualify to enter heaven when you die. While you live on this earth, a life full of meaning and purpose is opened to you. The follower in Jesus does not need to fear death, for he or she has eternal life.
In the New Testament of the Bible, John 14:1-3, Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms: If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back to take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
How about it? There is no better time than right now. First, recognize that you are a sinful person. There is no sin so great that Jesus will not forgive. Also the most "upright" leading citizen is a sinful person. The Bible tells us that every one of us has sinned. Jesus is the only one who never sinned. No one can earn his or her way into heaven by good works.
Second, Repent of your sins. Repentance includes being remorseful over your sins and a turning from your self-centered sinful life to Jesus, God's Son.
Now, Just ask Jesus to save you and take control of your life. You can do this in a simple prayer such as the following (or choose your own words):
"Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinful person. I now repent of my sins and turn to you. Please save me and take charge of my life. Let your Holy Spirit come into my life and live within me. Thank you Jesus for saving me."
If you really meant it Jesus has acted upon your request and saved you. This is just the beginning of a new journey. Now you are a child of the heavenly Father and can pray directly to Him. You need to get a copy of the Bible, especially the New Testament. A good place to start reading is the Gospel of John. If there is a church nearby where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached, go there. Talk to the pastor and tell of your decision. Ask to be baptized. The pastor will explain it to you. Remember that baptism does not save you, but it is a type of open confession that Jesus is your Savior.
If I can be of help in your decision, feel free to contact me. I will also be happy to discuss baptism with you.
Please let me know about your decision so I can rejoice with you and keep you in my prayers. You may do so on the Contact Us page of this website.
Thanks for the visit. Go to church Sunday.
-- Don
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