Month: April 2023

I used to like to climb rocks when I was younger.  I never gave a thought to snakes sunning themselves on rocks or spiders and other creatures hiding in the crevices.  There was an old bridge near where I lived that crossed a small stream, with rocks built up on both sides.  I loved to sit on the rocks and watch the water go by, listening to its babbling.  When I saw this field of rocks as an adult, I thought no way!  But as a kid, I probably would have been ready to take it on.  Oh but the trials of such an attempt!  Feet slipping off the rocks into sharp places…Losing your balance and falling…Not being able to make much progress on the rough terrain…Uneven surfaces…Possibility of injuries…

Trials of Jesus.  Jesus’s trials were not a bed of rocks, but were every bit as harmful and torturous…not to mention illegal.  I’m not a theologian, so my comments will be simple, and I have included internet links to further descriptions/commentaries of each of the trials.  These three were considered the Hebrew or Jewish trials based on Mosaic Laws.

(1) The appearance before Annas.  Just reading these two verses gives me the impression that there was something going on between the Romans and the religious leaders.  Were they scratching each other’s backs in an attempt to be rid of Jesus once and for all???  The religious leaders couldn’t arrest anyone, so they needed the Romans on their side, and the Romans were only too glad to arrest someone and arrange their death by crucifixion.  That was their attempt to show the citizens what could happen to them, too, if they disobeyed the Roman government.

“So the Roman cohort and the commander
and the officers of the Jews,
arrested Jesus and bound Him,
and led Him to Annas first;
for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas,
who was high priest that year”
John 18:12, 13

Have you ever dragged someone into a conversation because you wanted someone to back you up even if it wasn’t with the best intentions?  You heard what she said, right?!  We need to do our due diligence before we draw others in on what might be a wrongful assumption on our part.

(2) The trial at the night session of the Sanhedrin.  The religious leaders were in a hurry to get their dastardly deed done before the Sabbath so they broke more than one rule of fair trials and justice, the first one being that they held it at night instead of waiting until the next day when things could be done in proper order.  The religious council scrounged for witnesses who would say what they wanted them to say instead of speaking the truth. When they got what they wanted to hear, they plunged into a sentence of death.

“Those who had arrested Jesus took him
to Caiaphas the high priest,
where the teachers of the law
and the elders had assembled.”
Matthew 26:57 (through 68)

Do we sometimes take what we hear and twist it to suit ourselves or our situation?  See?  I told you so!  If it’s not truth, it’s not justice.  Make sure you have your ducks in a row and that they are all ducks, not chickens or some other fowl (pun intended 😊).

(3) The examination at the morning sitting of the same court. (In this link, scroll down until you come to the heading “The Jewish Leaders Accuse Jesus (18:29-32)”.) Pilate listened to the charges and to Jesus, but it appears he didn’t want to be the one to sentence Jesus to death.  He was caught between the people, the religious leaders, and Roman law.  He tried to get out of it by offering Barabbas but the crowd wouldn’t hear of it.  So he washed his hands of it as if that would absolve him of Jesus’ death.

“When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere,
but that instead an uproar was starting,
he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd
“I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said.
“It is your responsibility!”
Matthew 27:24

How many times have you walked by someone who needed help and kept going thinking someone else can help?  Maybe it’s not your (mine) responsibility, but if the shoe was on the other foot, wouldn’t you want someone to stop and help you?  I know we have to be very careful these days or what we thought would be helpful could backfire, and that often keeps us from reaching out. As we wrap up these three trials of Jesus today, take time to meditate on them and recognize the truths.  Jesus was not tried fairly, but what if He had been?  Would the story have ended the same?  Would He have been freed?  What then?  We would not have the forgiveness of sin and eternal life.  God uses horrible events sometimes to bring about His plan.

PRAYER POINT FOR TODAY:
Lord, I know what You went through was extremely hard on your body and mind, but I am thankful that You endured to the end for me.

• Week 1 – temptation
• Week 2 – confession, forgiveness, and fasting
• Week 3 – listening to God and answering when He calls
• Week 4 – God’s love for us
• Week 5 – waiting, anxiety, and trust
• Week 6 – suffering (W), pain (T), and struggles (F-S), rejoicing (Palm Sunday), Trials (M-T-W), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Silent Saturday
• Easter – resurrection and salvation

Trials come in all shapes, sizes, and varieties.  Deer, squirrels, rabbits, and other animals and birds are nice to watch in the wild, but I don’t like when people feed them to draw them closer to homes.  Then they can become invasive and destructive.  I constantly had squirrels on my deck and they dug in the window boxes and ate all the tulip, hyacinth, and daffodil bulbs that I had planted there.  Rabbits made nests in my flower garden and matted down the flowers to the point that they didn’t come back again that year.  Birds are pretty to watch, but they poop all over everything which requires cleanup on my part.  They were and are trials to me, especially when people who live near me feed these animals and birds and I’m chasing them away.  Exasperation!

Types of trials.  There are trials such as in court with a judge and jury to decide the fate of the person being tried.  There are trials where you can get a product or service free for a limited amount of time to test it out and see if you like it and want to purchase it.  Then there’s the trials of adversity, the things that try our patience, our love, our commitment.  Of these trials of life, there are several reasons or causes for them. 

• The first reason for some trials is that of our own sins or mistakes.  We take an action that caused someone pain.
• The second reason for some trials is that this is a fallen world, full of sickness, disease, and fallen people.  These happen because they are beyond our control.
• The third reason for some trials is that God wants us to grow through the experience.  There might not be a concrete reason why a trial comes except that God wants to teach us through it.

Why me?  Why now?  When all is well, everyone’s happy, and the bills are all paid, we tend to relax…a little too much…and even glibly take credit for how everything is working out according to our plan.  But what happens when one of those trials come our way?  Then what’s our response?  Why me?  Why now?  After all, everything was fine the way it was. 

Why NOT me?  Why NOT now?  Those are the better questions to ask, though admittedly the harder ones both to ask and to answer.  None of us likes to see our apple cart upset, our investments deteriorate, loved ones get sick or even die, or any number of negative situations.  But that is when we grow in the Lord.  This comes at a time for me that I’m needing to remind myself of this.  So I’m squirming in my own seat right now and crying out for God’s wisdom and guidance even as I write this.

Biblical reasons for trials:

• To learn patience – “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”  (James 1:12)
• Don’t give up – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
• God’s discipline – “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”  (Hebrews 10:35-36)
• To be strong in the Lord – “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
• Grow and bear fruit – “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
• God could be protecting you from a bigger problem that you can’t see right now.  “The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.”  (Psalm 121:7)

Tomorrow we’ll look at the trials of Jesus preceding His death on the cross.

PRAYER POINT FOR TODAY:
Lord, I know that my trials have a purpose and they’re only momentary in light of eternity, but they are still painful.  Give me the strength to wait on You as I go through them.

• Week 1 – temptation
• Week 2 – confession, forgiveness, and fasting
• Week 3 – listening to God and answering when He calls
• Week 4 – God’s love for us
• Week 5 – waiting, anxiety, and trust
• Week 6 – suffering (W), pain (T), and struggles (F-S), rejoicing (Palm Sunday), Trials (M-T-W), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Silent Saturday
• Easter – resurrection and salvation

For those of my readers who have young children, Steve Green has a great song for Palm Sunday.  Click here.  Palm Sunday is the day that our Lord rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and marks the beginning of what many call Holy Week.  This is a triumphal start to a week that ended in Jesus’ death.  Watch this video (below) bring the story to life as we worship the Lord together today.

Matthew 21:1-11 contains the events of that first Palm Sunday which got its name from the Palm branches that people laid down on the road for Jesus and His donkey to ride on as He arrived in Jerusalem on that glorious day of celebration.  Palm branches represented the final victory Jesus would soon fulfill, triumphing over death.

“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
I Corinthians 15:55

In those days, it was common for kings and dignitaries to arrive in town riding on a donkey.  Donkeys symbolized peace, so anyone riding one showed that they came with peaceful intentions.  (There’s that perfect peace, the theme of this blog.)  One of the names of Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Zechariah 9:9

Those shouting “Hosanna!” (meaning save now) were actually hailing Christ as King. They were waiting for an earthly king, but God’s plan was to bring spiritual salvation to everyone who would believe in Him.

“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!”
Psalm 118:26

Jesus knew these people meant well but didn’t understand all that was going to happen.  He must have wept for Himself knowing all He would be going through shortly, but He mostly wept for these people many of whom had not yet accepted Him as the Messiah, who were lost and confused, and would be betraying Him in just a few days.

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city,
he wept over it.”
Luke 9:41

Man could never come up with a plan like God’s to save the world.  Palm Sunday reminds us of that in how the people worshipped Him one minute and the next spat upon Him. They wanted someone who would fight for them on earth against the Roman government and its injustices.  They didn’t realize that God’s plan was much better in the end.  This is the reason we celebrate Holy Week. Christ’s sacrifice sets us free of our sin and paves the way for eternal life.

Reflection.  Reflect on this day of celebration.  What does it mean to you and your family?  Many churches hand out strands of Palm branches, but what does that mean to you?  Are Palms necessary to worship the Lord?  No, they’re not necessary, but the praise and music that went along with the Palms that day are definitely a necessary part of praising the Lord.  Scripture tells us that if we don’t praise Him, the rocks and stones will (Luke 19:40) which is a figurative speech.  Praise and acclimation is needed and should not be held back.  God created us to bring praise and honor to Himself.  Are you praising Him today and every day for all that He’s done for you?

PRAYER POINT FOR TODAY:
Lord, I worship and adore You. I praise You for Who You are, what You’ve done for me, and for the eternal life I have to look forward to. You are awesome!

• Week 1 – temptation
• Week 2 – confession, forgiveness, and fasting
• Week 3 – listening to God and answering when He calls
• Week 4 – God’s love for us
• Week 5 – waiting, anxiety, and trust
• Week 6 – suffering (W), pain (T), and struggles (F-S), rejoicing (Palm Sunday), Trials (M-T-W), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Silent Saturday
• Easter – resurrection and salvation

Life is full of struggles of various kinds.  Some are like a tug of war that goes back and forth several times until someone pulls hard enough to knock the other party off their feet and are declared the winner.  Another struggle I think of is someone who is drowning and struggling to stay above water and catch another breath.  An athlete struggles to keep going when they are near exhaustion but the race isn’t over yet.  Then there’s the inward struggles of emotions that tug on our heart strings.

I can see these struggles in Jesus.  His tug of war was with the religious leaders who were constantly trying to trip Him and find fault with Him so they could arrest Him.  After Jesus’ arrest, He was literally struggling to stay alive and breathe until it was His time to die.  He was near exhaustion but spent all His energy on staying focused on the task before Him.  The inward struggles of emotions sure didn’t help.  He had so many thoughts and feelings for those He was leaving behind, those who needed to know Him for Who He really was, as well as those whom He loved and felt pain and sorrow for as they watched the struggles He was going through. 

The human side of Jesus surely must have wanted to avoid the pain and struggle He knew would come, but He knew He had to submit because it was part of His Father’s plan.  That’s what a struggle is in essence—a pull between two opposing forces, forces that can be tangible or intangible.  When you experience a struggle of some kind, who or what wins out?  You have to make the decision as to who or what is going to win the struggle.  Is it the flesh or the spirit?  Will you allow yourself to be tempted to do wrong or submit to Jesus for strength to do the right thing?  No one else is going to make that decision for you. 

It’s not a game.  Think of it as you having to decide your last move in a game of Chess or Checkers.  What do you do?  Make a haphazard move?  No!  You look at all angles, consider what your opponent would be able to do or if you have them cornered.  If you make the wrong move, the game is over and you’ve lost, but if you make the right move, you win!  Life (while there is a real board game called Life) is not a game, and we don’t get a chance to play another game to see if we can win the next time.  There is no next time after death, so we need to make sure we make good decisions the first time around.

“And just as it is destined for people to die once,
and after this comes judgment.”
Hebrews 9:27, NASB

What can we learn from Jesus’s struggles? 

• Jesus kept His eyes focused on the Father and the plan laid out for Him. 
• The path will not always be easy or smooth.
• Don’t be shocked when you hit roadblocks.
• We don’t need to know the end result; just follow what we know at the moment.
• At times we will feel lonely and isolated, but He is always there with us.
• We need to be resolved before struggles come to follow the Lord and make good decisions.
• Prepare and pray!  Spend time with your Heavenly Father.
• Rest in Him and draw strength from the Word.
• Trials will come.  Be ready with answers from Scripture.
• Accusations need not surprise us.  Respond with a soft answer and calm spirit, not in anger and frustration.
• Jesus is waiting for us on the other side, in Heaven.
• Look at the end picture.  We have healing, forgiveness, and eternal life because of all Jesus went through for us.
• Life isn’t pain-free and the time of death may not be either, but peace and rest for eternity are the end results.
• The road may be long and dusty and full of potholes, but those streets of gold will make it worthwhile.
• Just remain faithful to Jesus and He’ll take care of the rest.
• Light the way for others through the darkness of life.

Make these lessons personal.  Meditate on how you can apply them to your specific struggles.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to teach you.

Tomorrow we rejoice with millions of others as we think about our Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday.

PRAYER POINT FOR TODAY:
Lord, help me apply these lessons to my own life and struggles. It’s easy to look at them now, but when struggles arise, it’s more difficult. Teach me how to learn from these lessons and internalize them so they’re ready to draw on when I need them.

• Week 1 – temptation
• Week 2 – confession, forgiveness, and fasting
• Week 3 – listening to God and answering when He calls
• Week 4 – God’s love for us
• Week 5 – waiting, anxiety, and trust
• Week 6 – suffering (W), pain (T), and struggles (F-S), rejoicing (Palm Sunday), Trials (M-T-W), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Silent Saturday
• Easter – resurrection and salvation