Political Correctness or Standing with The Bible

“Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.” (John 11:47-48)

Following the miracle of Lazarus’ life being restored after he had been dead four days, some believed on Jesus and others went to our Lord’s enemies to see what they would do.

In their council the chief priests and Pharisees were more concerned with what the Romans would think and do than they were with a life being restored and a family being brought back together. Their council reminds me of a church business meeting where someone says, “We’ve got to do something even if it’s wrong.”  I’m sure you have observed that it was religious leaders who were leading the attack against Jesus. Sadly, that is true today.

If all the religious leaders of today were just Bible believing Christians and did not think they had to be politically correct and if they would stand where Bible believers have stood for thousands of years, it would change the moral climate of today’s anemic churches, our nation and the rest of the world.

Salvation, A Miracle of God

“Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.” (John 11:45-46)

The first miracle at Bethany that day was the raising of Lazarus from his grave. The last miracle that day was that many of the Jews, who came to Mary to weep with her, believed on Jesus when they witnessed the first miracle.

Following the crucifixion of Jesus by three days, came His resurrection, truly the miracle of all miracles. But, that was not the last miracle. There is a miracle every time a lost person believes on the Lord Jesus Christ as a result of His crucifixion and resurrection resulting in that soul’s salvation. Have you had the miracle of Salvation performed on you?

Loose Him and Let Him Go

And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: And his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him  and let him go.” (John 11:43-44)

The Son of God had finished His prayer. Unnamed people had taken the stone away. It was time for the miracle. Jesus called Lazarus’ name and commanded that he come forth. At that command Lazarus came forth.

No one can call your name quite like Jesus can. In the garden following the resurrection, Mary thought Jesus was the gardener and requested that if he knew where Jesus was to tell her and she would take Him away. Jesus called her name, “Mary.” Immediately she recognized who He was. (John 20:16) No one can call your name quite like Jesus can.

Notice the grave clothes. They were strips or bands of cloth tightly bound with spices and ointments about the body of the deceased.  Notice the napkin about the face, similar to the napkin about the face of Jesus, left behind when He was resurrected.(John 20:7) He commanded those gathered there to “Loose Him and let him go.” And again, unnamed people had a job to do and they did it.  It’s wonderful what we can do when we cooperate with Jesus.

Jesus Prayed. Do You?

“And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou has heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 11:41-42)

Our Savior recognized the need and value of prayer. In one place the gospels tell us that He went out a great while before daybreak and prayed. In another place we are told He spent the night in prayer. Later, during the evening before His crucifixion He prayed that God’s will would be done concerning His suffering and agony on the cross. Here at the tomb of Lazarus He prayed.

He openly thanked the Father for hearing this prayer and for always hearing His prayers. He spoke this prayer publicly that the people would know that the subsequent miracle would be of God the Father and the people would believe He was sent of God and that He was not some kind of magic worker.

Who are we not to pray and who are we to see no need of prayer? God wants to hear from us and we need to hear from Him. That is done through prayer and the reading and study of His Word, the Bible.

Who Took Away the Stone?

“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.” (John 11:41)

Who are the ones identified only as, “They,” who took away the stone from Lazarus’ tomb?

There are many unnamed people in the Bible who have done much good, such as the man who loaned the donkey on which Jesus rode into Jerusalem. Then there was the unnamed man who owned the “upper room” where Jesus ate the Passover meal with the twelve.

“They” are in the same category with the “others” whose names we do not know among the well known heroes of faith in Hebrews chapter eleven. They are not secret disciples. They just do the Lord’s work behind the scenes. All churches have some of those. Perhaps you are one those described in Hebrews 11:35-38.

Take Away the Stone

“Jesus therefore again groaning in Himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto Him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.” (John 11:38-39)

I wonder if Jesus groans today at our lack of faith as He did in this scripture.

They could take away the stone, but could not raise the dead. Jesus could raise the dead but would not take away the stone. Taking away the stone would be their responsibility. We cannot save a soul from eternal hell, but He can. However, we can knock on doors and be faithful witnesses wherever we find unsaved people, be it on the job, at school or in homes. Share the message: take away the stone.

Martha again emphasizes the impossibility of the situation. “…by this time he stinketh: for he has been dead four days.”She seems to once again blame Jesus for His tardiness in arriving at Bethany.  Jesus knows when to get to our “Bethany” and better yet, He knows what to do when He gets there.

No Heaven on Earth Yet

“And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?” (John 11:37)

The thinking of the skeptics goes something like this: “If Jesus can do all these miraculous things then why are there earthquakes or tornados or why is there cancer or why is a young mother’s life taken in death leaving four small children to be raised by their father?”  The thought is that if He loved us He could just snap His fingers and there would be no more problems, no sickness, no wars, no calamities, no heartache and no death.

The Jewish thought was that when the Messiah would come there would be “heaven on earth,” and all their enemies would be defeated. But they failed to see the full picture. There had to be the Messiah’s sacrifice on the cross for sins. Man’s sins from the fall in Genesis chapter three would have to be dealt with. Mankind would have problems on earth (John 16:33) until the millennial reign of Christ, known as the “Kingdom Age,” spoken of in both the Old and New Testaments. Not until then will there be perfect peace on earth, with no sickness, no wars, with agricultural production on earth surpassing all previous records. It’s what earth would have been if sin and the accompanying curse had not come into the earth in Genesis chapter three.

Our Compassionate Christ

“Jesus Wept” (John 11:35)

His weeping was not wailing as often times the professional mourners would do, but his weeping was real. In this shortest verse in the Bible, which has too often been made fun of and ridiculed, we are seeing the Son of God expressing in tears His human side.  On other occasions He expressed other human traits. He expressed anger, hunger, thirst, fatigue and He slept. On that awful morning of His crucifixion He shed real blood and died a real death as other humans have done.

We see Him shedding real tears over Jerusalem because her Jewish inhabitants refused to repent of their sins. They did not realize that in a few short years Jerusalem would be overrun by the Romans. The temple would be burned and there would not be one stone left on top of the other. There would be horrible devastation of the city and the temple. As a result of what He knew was coming to the Jews because of their un-repentance, Jesus wept over the city. (Luke 19:41)

John wrote this verse as the Holy Spirit inspired him to do, that we might know our Savior’s heart of compassion. Many times I have seen family members weeping over the grave of a precious loved one as the last few words of the funeral service were spoken. I have thought of Jesus, the Son of God weeping over the tomb of Lazarus. I can almost hear Him say to these precious mourners of our day, “Thy brother (sister, mother, father, child, grandparent, etc.) shall rise again because I am the resurrection and the life…”

The Lord Jesus is Acquainted with Grief

“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned the spirit and was troubled.”(John 11:33)

Jesus is our High Priest, touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He knows our tears as well as our laughter. Tears are a language God understands. As the prophet Isaiah said, He is, “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3)

John Philips points out that, “Jesus had come from a land where there is no sin and therefore no sorrow, where there are no tombs and no tears. His home was far away, a land of eternal bliss, a land of “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” He had been on earth for thirty-three years. He had seen many tears, helped heal many broken hearts.”

I remind you that Jesus is available to hear your plea for help and understanding.

At Jesus’ Feet

“Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying unto Him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” (John 11:32)

Briefly, Martha called Mary to Jesus and Mary quickly arose and went to Him, with the great host of mourning friends following her. As soon as she saw Jesus she fell down at His feet. Mary always seems to be at Jesus’ feet, in humility, to hear His teaching, to anoint His feet in honor and praise or to express love.

Gospel singer, Squire Parsons wrote a beautiful song entitled, “Look for me at Jesus Feet.”  The song suggests that if you can’t find me at first when you get to heaven don’t look by the gates of pearl, and don’t look on the street of gold, don’t look ‘neath the walls of jasper or among the many sights untold… look for me at Jesus’ feet.

Nothing is impossible with our Lord. But, just because He can do the impossible doesn’t mean that He will. What we want Him to do and when we want Him to do it may not be in His will and plan at all. He could have called twelve legions to save Him from death on the cross, but He could not have saved us if He had saved Himself.

Martha’s Confession

“…Believest thou this? She saith unto Him, yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” (John 11:26-27)

It has been said in a different vein, “an honest confession is good for the soul,” meaning that confessing one’s sins or faults will clear one’s conscience. But the confession Martha made is absolutely necessary for entrance into the Kingdom of God. Her confession is similar to the one made by Peter at Caesarea Philippi. It is upon such a confession that Christ said He would build His church. (Matthew 16:13-18)

John recorded only seven of Christ’s miracles and acknowledged that there were many more (thirty more, to be exact). Then he said, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.” (John 20:30-31)

Martha’s was an honest confession, good for everlasting life. Who do you say Jesus is? Have you made a genuine confession of Christ Jesus? What does your life reveal?

How to Live Forever

“Jesus saith unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25-25)

This is another of the great, “I am,” statements describing Jesus, along with, “I am the bread of life,” “I am the water of life,” “I am the door,” “I am the Good Shepherd,” “I am the way…” and others.

Martha knew that her brother would rise again in the resurrection at the last day, but she seemingly failed to see that Jesus was the source of that resurrection. Jesus boldly claimed Himself to be the Resurrection and the Life.

But the Savior goes further and makes the statement that if one believes in Him he will never die. In other words, he will have Eternal Life. The only death the Christian will experience is physical death. Even Jesus experienced physical death but He who is the resurrection and the life arose after three days. He is the “First-fruits,” of those who have died (I Corinthians 15:20) and has promised that our bodies will rise in resurrection.  Have you been born again? Trust Jesus the Savior and live forever.

Take Time to Enjoy the Beauty

“Jesus saith unto her (Martha), Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:23-24)

One treads lightly and walks slowly when walking through a beautiful flower garden. We do not rush along without stopping to gaze at the beauty and enjoy the rich fragrances. So it is as we tread tenderly through this most beautiful eleventh chapter of John.

A brother had died, hearts were broken and there was sadness. But, the One who is the Resurrection and the Life had come and the scene was about to change.

Martha expresses the same kind of faith and understanding of the resurrection that many of us have about the Second coming of Jesus to call the bodies of deceased Christians from their graves in resurrection power and the rapture of those living when He comes. She knew the facts but had difficulty applying them to her loved one whom she missed so much. So it is with us. The second coming and the resurrection must become more than just stated doctrines. We must anchor our souls on the One who is the resurrection and the life. 

Lord, If You Had Only Been Here

“Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” (John 1121-22)

Surely Martha knew of the Nobleman’s son in Capernaum. The Nobleman had requested that Jesus come with him to Capernaum and heal his son who was at the point of death. Jesus simply said for him to go his way because his son lived. The man believed what Jesus said and went his way. As he was going home to Capernaum his servants met him and told him, “Your son is alive.” When he inquired as to the time the son began to improve they said that it was yesterday at the same hour in which Jesus said your son lives. (John 4:46-54)  Jesus healed from a distance.

It was not necessary for Jesus to be in Bethany to either not let Lazarus die, or to raise him from the dead. Martha was expressing what we often express: Jesus can change our circumstances for a better outcome. She did not at this time know that Jesus was going to give her the desired outcome. In verse 22 she expresses faith to leave things in the hands of the Lord to work as He sees best.

The Welcome Committee

“Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him: but Mary sat still in the house.” (John 11:20)

Mary and Martha were two women with two different personalities, with two different ways of expressing their love for Jesus. Martha knew how far along the road Jesus would be and where to meet Him. So, being the out-going, take charge person she was, she went to meet Jesus.

Mary stayed in the house, waiting for the arrival of the Savior. She had been at the feet of Jesus listening to Him talk when He came for a visit and a meal. But Martha, wanting to make everything just right for such an honored guest, was busy getting the meal ready. (Luke 10:38-42)

We see these traits in Christian people today. Jesus is coming again. There are the “take-charge” people, busy here and there. They seem to be on the “Arrangements Committee.” They have joined efforts with those on the “Time and Place Committee,” busy making sure everyone will meet Him at the right time and place, according to all the prophetic charts. Then there are those who have learned to wait on the Lord. They are on the “Welcome Committee.” They are watching and patiently, yet eagerly waiting for the Lord’s return. Just to have the Savior return and to sit at His feet for all eternity is enough for them. He is in charge now and will be in charge then.

Comfort One Another

“Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off; and many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.” (John 11:18-19)

I think the Holy Spirit had John to write in these details to let us know that not everyone in Jerusalem was an evil person as were the Jews who attempted to stone Jesus. It was a distance of just under two miles from Jerusalem to Bethany. It would have been an easy walk. We do not know how many people came to comfort the two sisters. We just know that the Bible says there were many who came. The Bible says we are to, “…weep with them that weep.” (Romans 12:15)

I officiated in a funeral of a young man where no one came to comfort the young man’s two or three family members who were there. I not only preached, I was also a pall bearer with three employees of the funeral home. How very sad that no one came to weep with those who wept.

A pastor told his church in Louisville, Kentucky, “When someone in our church has lost a loved one, we will not let them grieve alone. Our church is going to the funeral to give them comfort and to let them know that we love them.  We can have love and compassion even if we have nothing else.”

Read, Study and Pray

“Then said Jesus unto them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead.’” (John 11:14)

His followers heard Jesus say that Lazarus was asleep, “but I am going to Bethany in Judea to awaken him.” They responded to what they heard by saying, “Lord, if he is asleep that’s good.” Jesus used sleep as a euphemism for death as Paul did in I Thessalonians 4:13-15. It is the body that both Jesus and Paul refer to as being asleep, not the soul. And further, it always refers to believers and never to the lost. Our souls do not sleep in the graves waiting for the resurrection. No. For the child of God, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”   (II Corinthians 5:8)

I find it amazing that we can read a verse, passage or chapter in the Bible for months or even years and be as much without understanding as the disciples were concerning Jesus’ use of the word “sleep.” And seemingly out of nowhere comes the illumination of the Holy Spirit and we announce under our breath, “Now, I know what that means.” We feel as the disciples did when Jesus said plainly, “Lazarus is dead.” 

The secret is to keep reading, keep studying, keep comparing scripture with other scripture and keep praying for understanding. The Psalmist said, “I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies (thy Word).” (Psalm 119:125)

Shall We Avoid the Tough Places?

“Then after that saith He to His disciples, ‘Let us go into Judea again.’ His disciples say unto Him, ‘Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?’”(John 11:7-8)

 

Twice in recent days the Jews had attempted to severely injure or kill Jesus by stoning. We must remember that, “He came unto His own (the Jews), and His own received Him not. 

(John 1:11) The prophet Isaiah said of Him, “He is despised and rejected of men… He was despised and we esteemed Him not.” (Isaiah 53:3)

 

Should Jesus and His followers stay out of hostile territory and unfriendly environments as His disciples suggested? To do that would necessitate calling most of today’s world missionaries home to their families. The hostility toward Jesus Christ and His followers in the United States as well as in the rest of the world, would dictate that we not send out any more missionaries into the world.

 

We should be thankful that God does not need nor does He want the advice and counsel of even His closest followers. God asked Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.” (Job 38:4) He wants friends, obedient servants, followers and witnesses, not advisors.

Christ Jesus: Always On Time

“When He heard therefore that he (Lazarus) was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was.” (John 11:6)

Where was Jesus? According to John 10:40 with John 1:28 He was in Bethabara beyond Jordan, a distance of about twenty miles from Bethany. Travel was by donkey, camel or walking. Why does it sometimes seem that the Lord is farthest away when we need Him the most?

When Jesus finally got to Bethany, Lazarus had been in the grave four days. Martha first, then Mary said to Jesus, “If you had been here our brother would not have died.”  Perhaps they  asked one another, “Why did Jesus have to be so far away when we so desperately needed Him?” Have you ever had a similar question while facing some desperate situation?

Our Lord is not conducting His affairs on our schedules. He is never too early and He’s never too late. He’s the on time God all the time. Trust Him.

God’s Sovereign Purposes

“When Jesus heard that, He said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.’” (John 11:4)

It should come as no surprise to us that you and I have an appointment with death. I have heard people use the expression: “that was a close call. I thought it was all coming to an end. I thought I was a goner. But, here I am.” And then one day the end really did come.

Jesus told the messengers bearing the news of Lazarus’ sickness that the ultimate purpose of his sickness was not for the purpose of satisfying death, even though Lazarus died. This sickness was not in view of death. The purpose was for the glory of God, that Jesus would be glorified. Lazarus’ sickness had a similar purpose to the blindness of the young man that was born blind: “That the works of God should be manifest in him.” (John 9:3)

You and I do not know all the purposes of God in the circumstances of our lives, but we can, “know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Send For Jesus

“Therefore his sisters sent unto Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.” (John 11:3)

Jesus had eaten meals in the home of the two sisters, Mary and Martha and their brother, Lazarus. We know that they loved Jesus and that Jesus loved them. Sickness and death are no respecters of persons.

Good, Godly, upstanding servants of the Lord as well as outlaws and hoodlums get sick and have other serious problems. A young man of my acquaintance, whose parents have devoted their lives to ministry, is himself a servant of the Lord. Doctors have discovered some cancerous tumors in his body and must be dealt with soon. This young man loves the Lord and the Lord loves him and his family just as Jesus and Lazarus’ family loved one another.  This young man has requested the prayers of my wife and me and other believers. We have “sent for Jesus.”

Sickness is not a sign that God does not love us. The Apostle Paul had his “thorn in the flesh.” Mary and Martha did the right thing: they sent for Jesus. What are you going through? Jesus loves you. He has not abandoned you. Send for Him and trust Him to handle it.

The Sacrifice that Satisfies God

“He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied…”  (Isaiah 53:11)

Men are forever looking for a sacrifice that will please God and that will absolve man of guilt over his sin. The Rich Young Ruler asked Jesus, “What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? (Matthew 10:16) Through the ages people have asked a similar question. In Old Testament days, the heathen neighbors of Israel offered their children in sacrifice to Moloch, the false god. Their children were the best sacrificial gift they could think of. Certainly, burning their children alive did not please nor satisfy God.

There was and is only one sacrifice for sin that would ever satisfy God. That sacrifice  must be absolutely sinless, without blemish, perfect, powerful and voluntarily willing to die in the place of sinners. That sacrifice is His Only begotten Son who died on Calvary’s cross. Don’t make up some useless sacrifice in an attempt to placate God for your sins. Trust the Lord Jesus Christ, the only sacrifice that will please God.

The Volunteer

“…I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10: 17-18)

Jesus was not a helpless victim. He was a willing sacrifice. Just before His crucifixion and following His being scourged by the Romans, Pilate asked Jesus if He did not know that, “I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above…” (John 19:10-11)

No, Jesus was not a helpless victim in the hands of notoriously wicked men. He was voluntarily laying down His life in a substitutionary death, the just for the unjust. There is a song that says, “I should have been crucified; I should have suffered and died. I should have hung on the cross in disgrace, but Jesus, God’s Son took my place.”

Total Surrender

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost.” (Luke 23:46)

Do you remember the little bed-time prayer children have said through the years? It goes like this: “Now I lay me down to sleep; I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake; I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take.”

I have been told that the Jewish children had such a prayer. It is a quotation from the Bible. It says, “Into thine hands I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, Oh LORD God of truth.” (Psalm 31:5) This is what Jesus was quoting as His last saying from the cross. It was a prayer of committal, or resignation to the Father’s will. It was an expression of total trust in God the Father. He had prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before His crucifixion, “Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not my will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39)

Jesus Christ the Son of God was totally yielded to God the Father. Let us take a lesson from this seventh and final saying from Christ Jesus when He was dying on the cross and be completely surrendered to His will.

Finished

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished…” (John 19:30)

Tetelestai – finished. The work is done. Complete.  Man cannot make more complete something that is complete. An artist works on a painting for weeks or sometimes, years. The last thing he does to his art work is sign his name in a lower corner, indicating that it is complete or finished. Tetelestai. If someone adds anything, even a small stroke, he has marred the finished work.

Jesus was saying, “The work is done.” He had said in John 4:34, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.” In His High Priestly prayer to His Father, Jesus said, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (John 17:4) All the Old Testament animal sacrifices were finished. There would be no more animal sacrifices pointing toward Calvary. Jesus had made one sacrifice for sins forever and then said, “It is finished.”

Then, following His resurrection He ascended to heaven and, “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3) We cannot add one thing to His finished work of redemption. It is finished with no additions necessary to make it complete.

I Thirst

“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.” (John 19:28)

Our Savior was indeed touched with the feeling of our infirmities, as the Bible says.  He became tired, hungry, sad and angry. He wept and here on the cross, He was thirsty. He was truly God and He was truly man. This cry of thirst is the fifth of the seven sayings of Christ while He was on the cross.

Thirst was associated with crucifixion. There was the loss of blood, first from the brutal scourging, and then the crown of thorns on His brow, and the nails in His hands and feet. Psalm 22:15 gives us a vivid picture of His thirst. “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.” The psalmist gives us another prophetic view of this scene. “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” (Psalm 69:21) Thus, in announcing His thirst He was again fulfilling prophetic scriptures concerning Him.

Like many country boys, I have had my thirst satisfied as I drank from a spring or a wet weather branch or stream. They gave Jesus a sponge filled with sour wine lifted to His mouth on the stem of a hyssop plant. Jesus suffered thirst on the cross that mankind would not suffer thirst for eternity in hell, if they would repent and accept by faith the payment made by the suffering Savior.

Forsaken of God the Father

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

Our Savior quoted the Old Testament scriptures when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. On many occasions He let us know the Bible was dependable and without error. Here, on the cross He quotes Psalm 22:1 in Aramaic as His fourth saying from the cross.

The agony of the Father’s departure from Him was the worst agony of all. He suffered as every unsaved person dying without Christ will suffer for eternity – separated from God. Jesus, who knew no sin of His own, became sin for us. (II Corinthians 5:21) Habakkuk tells us that God is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity. (Habakkuk 1:13)

He did not just die for my sin; He became my sin and your sin and the sin of all mankind. He was forsaken of God His Father, and died a horrible death that you and I not have to spend one agonizing minute suffering alone and without God in hell. As you read these lines thank Him for loving you so and if you have never received Him as your Savior I encourage you to do so now.

Jesus Makes Arrangements for His Mother’s Care

“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith He to the disciple, behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”(John 19:26-27)

One of the most tender, yet agonizing scenes in all of recorded literature is the one before us of Mary standing by the cross of Jesus with her sister Mary, the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene. His mother was there to support Jesus and the other women were there to support her in her agony and sorrow. It is here that Jesus gives us His third saying from the cross.

John the beloved was there. Jesus directs the attention of His mother away from Himself and to that disciple and tells her she will be in John’s care. Why would she not be in the care of her other children, particularly her sons? Remember, they were unbelieving until after Calvary, and the resurrection. Likely, Mary’s husband, Joseph had died. Jesus directed the care of His mother to John. He said to John, “Behold thy mother.”  A spiritual, believing brother of Jesus would be more dependable than the physical, unbelieving brothers of Jesus. John Philips, in commenting on this passage said that Jesus “would not send Mary back to her natural home where she might have to listen to words from her unbelieving family which would only add to her grief.” Jesus said the time would come when, “a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” (Matthew 10:36)

Eternity alone will reveal the good that has been done for mankind by the hands of dedicated believers, Christians whose lives have manifested the love of God toward relieving pain and suffering of people around the world.

Three Men on Three Crosses

“And Jesus said unto him, “verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.’” (Luke 23:43)

This is the second of the seven last sayings of Christ from the cross. There were three men on three crosses. Each of the four gospels is careful to let us know about them. Isaiah had prophesied that Jesus would be numbered with the transgressors. Jesus was crucified between two thieves.

Both of the malefactors, as the Bible calls them, railed on Jesus at first. One of them said, “if you are the Christ save yourself and us.” The other one rebuked the first one and said, “Do you not fear God… this man has done nothing wrong. You and I are getting what’s coming to us.” (Luke 23:39-41) Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42) There was no opportunity for him to do any good deeds by which to earn his way. He could not perform some religious ritual, no joining of a church, no giving of money, no opportunity for baptism. There was only the recognition of Jesus as Lord and faith to call on Him.

The plea of the thief was followed by the precious words from the mouth of our Savior. “Today thou shalt be with me in paradise.”  Jesus directed His words to one man, the repentant, believing sinner. So, there on three crosses were three men: One died in his sins, one died to his sins and the third died for the sins of mankind. Will you trust the One who died for your sins?

Father, Forgive Them

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Listen carefully to the words of a dying man. He will not utter trite and meaningless words. Jesus spoke from the cross following the horrendous scourging, the verbal insults, the smitings, the crown of thorns on His head and the nails driven through His hands and feet. The charges they had against Him were supplied by false witnesses. It was here that He spoke His first words from the cross to His Father.

Very similar words were spoken later by Stephen, one of the seven men chosen to be a servant in the first church. When the Jewish authorities brought false charges against him, Stephen reminded them of their history of resisting the Holy Spirit. When they heard these things they cried out against Stephen and began stoning him. His last words on this earth were, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. (Acts 7:60)

Most of us can’t get through life without someone wronging us in some way. We must practice forgiveness toward others. The Bible says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32) Nor can we get through life without needing to be forgiven by God. Has He forgiven you of something? Not forgiving others is like burning the bridge over which you must cross.  

Only One Way

“…no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” (John 14:6)

As Jesus concluded His dialogue with Thomas, He assures him that there are no alternative routes to heaven and the Father. There is no “Plan B.” The way to heaven is not multiple choice. In our day we hear people espousing the idea that Jesus is just one of many ways to God. However, Peter addressed the Sanhedrin Council of the Jews and said, “neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

If there are choices of ways to get to heaven and if Jesus is not the only way, then God is the biggest fool ever for sacrificing His Son to save sinners from hell and Jesus is a liar and certainly not an honest man by saying that He is the only way if there is more than one way to heaven.