Will You Add Your Voice?

On the last week of Jesus' life, crowds gathered to watch Him as He came into Jerusalem. as The atmosphere was electric  and the people were excited.  As he road into the city seated on a donkey there everyone erupted in a chorus of praise as if there were some conductor who gave them their cue.

The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”” (Matthew 21:9)

Even the children added their voice to the mix.  And the religious people were not happy-not happy at all.  But it did not matter.

But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”” (Matthew 21:15–16)

God calls forth praise-even from the children.  Will you add your voice to the mix?  How will your voice be heard today? 

How's Your Confidence Level?

Ever feel like you just need some help?  Do you ever wonder how you can deal with all of the issues that come up in your life?  Sometimes you just need more than you have on your own.

There are days when I just feel like I'm not going to make it or that I just can't accomplish what needs to be done or I just can't get beyond some issue in my life.  Those are the days when my confidence level hits bottom and I can feel like a failure and feel like I'm on my own.  But then, I realize, that I don't have to feel that way.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15–16)

I have a Savior who empathizes with my weaknesses, and I have many.  I am promised that I can come to him with great confidence and know that I can receive mercy and find help in my time of need.   All of that means I can have great confidence that I will receive what I need when I call on Him.

A New Way is Opened Up

The curtain had always been in place.  It separate the Holy of Holies from the rest of the people.  Only the high priest could go behind the curtain into the Holy of Holies and only once a year on the day of Atonement.  It was called the Holy of Holies because the presence of God was there and everyone was separated from it so that no sinful person would be destroyed by going into it.

But something new and different happened as Jesus hung on the cross and died.

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Mark 15:37–38)

The curtain was torn in two from top to bottom to let us know that God was doing something new.  He was letting us know that the old sacrificial system was no longer in place and no longer needed.  Jesus' death now made it possible for everyone everywhere to do directly to God with out having to go through someone else.  We all have direct access to God through His Son who gave his life on our behalf.

A new way has been opened up for me and for you.  So we can now go boldly and directly to God. Today  you and I can approach our Father wherever we are whatever we need because Jesus made it possible.  What do you think about that?

The Man Who Missed His Cross

He was convicted of murder for his part in the insurrection.  He was condemned and sentenced to death on the cross.  We have no idea how long he was held in prison before the day his execution.  But we can only imagine that he had time to really think about what was going to happen to him.

He eats what he believes will be his last meal and gets no sleep that night.  The sunrise that he glimpses the next day appears to be the last one he will ever see. It is now Friday morning-the day that he was dreaded-the day that he is going to die.  He is defiant, angry and terrified all at once.

You see, his name is Barabbas, which means son of a rabbi. He grew up studying the Scriptures and being taught about Yahweh-the God of the Jews.  Yet, he rebelled and went his own way, choosing to leave the faith of his fathers and live his own life.  That rebellion has led him to the place he is on this day.  Now, he's certain that this will be his last day and he's afraid of all of the pain and suffering that awaits him.  Pain and suffering that he has earned and deserves.

But there is a large crowd that has gathered not too far away.  All he knows is that the people who have come to Jerusalem for the Passover have now become loud and angry.  He knows it has something to do with this man called Jesus.  Finally, the crowd becomes more agitated and gets louder.  He thinks he hears his name but he's not sure why.

All of a sudden he hears the soldiers coming towards his cell.  He stomach gets all in knots and tears begin to well up in his eyes.  This is the end-their is great pain and suffering that awaits him and then DEATH!!!  The door slowly creaks open and he feels like he will faint-they soldier in charge comes up to him and says, "it is my duty to inform you that you are now a free man-the man they call Jesus will die on the cross that was made for you."

“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. “Crucify him!” they shouted. “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.” (Mark 15:12–15)

We have no idea what happens to Barabbas after this but we do know that Barabbas is the man who missed his cross. We know that Jesus took the cross that was meant for him.  He also took the cross that was meant for me and for you.  We, too, like Barabbas were condemned to pay for our sins.  Jesus willingly took our place as well.

Think about this: If you were Barabbas, what would you be feeling at this time?  What do you feel about the one who came to give us life by surrendering his?

Asleep or Awake?

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”” (Mark 14:32–34)  

When Jesus went to the garden to pray, he knew that the end was near.  He also knew that he needed help so he asked the disciples closest to him to watch and pray for him.  Instead of watching and praying, they feel asleep-not once or twice but three times.

Each time Jesus came a woke them up and seem astonished that they could not stay awake and pray on his behalf.  They really wanted to stay awake on his behalf but just were not able to do so.

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”” (Mark 14:37–38)

All of this makes me wonder how often I have been "asleep" when others needed me.  I have often told people that I would pray for them or do something for them only to walk away and forget.  It's easy to get consumed by what is happening in my life and overlook the needs of others around me.  

How about you?  Are you awake or asleep?  Is there anyone in your life who needs you today?