Suggested Scripture Reading: Matthew, Chapter 26 !

Focal Passage: Matthew 26: 45-52

Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the time is near. The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up; let’s go! See, My betrayer is near.” While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. A large mob, with swords and clubs, was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people. His betrayer had given them a sign: “The One I kiss, He’s the One; arrest Him!” So he went right up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. “Friend,” Jesus asked him, “why have you come?” Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him. At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his ear. Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up a sword will perish by a sword. Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions of angels? How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

One of the most amazing thing’s about our Savior’s love for us is that He knew He would suffer and die…He knew it before time began. There are over 300 prophesies in the Old Testament that were fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ— all written centuries ago.  Thirty three years of life on earth with one all encompassing goal…to die for us, as the Scriptures foretold. It’s hard for us to put our arms around this kind of love…

We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us…1 John 3:16

I think maybe it will help us to understand if we look at the intentionality of it. Let’s examine just a few scriptures that teach us this truth. Do you remember the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane after the last supper? Matthew 26 tells us He had been praying, and when He returned to the disciples He said:

Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!” v. 46

Shortly after that, Matthew goes on to tell how one of the twelve reacted violently and cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest. in the group. The Gospel of John tells us this was Peter. Jesus sharply rebuked him, further revealing His steadfastness toward the goal…

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?” v. 52-54

Another area where we see this intentionality is in the repeated trips to Jerusalem, the most dangerous place for Him.

…And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him, saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.” Mark 10:32-34

It is difficult for me to put my arms around this sheer determination and steadfastness that is not typical of human nature. Our tendency is to run from difficulties, especially those that will cause suffering…we try to avoid them at all costs. I would venture to say even more so when the suffering is unjust. But let’s not forget that although fully human, Jesus did not possess the sin nature that we have. When faced with injustice, He chose not to pursue justice for Himself. He offered His life freely.

For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. John 10:17-18

He knew He would be ridiculed, spat apron, beaten…His beard ripped from His face. He knew He would be nailed to a cross and die a slow agonizing death. Yet He chose to leave His heavenly throne…all for love. The words to the song by Chris Tomlin, “You Are My King”, send chills through my body when I hear it:

“Amazing Love, how can it be That You, my King, would die for me”

It was completely voluntary. He was certainly not subject to the constraint of any mere human. He was not overtaken by circumstances, there was no surprise…He was in complete control.

This Sunday, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, let’s dwell on the intentionality of it…let’s concentrate on the love a God who “became flesh and dwelt among us”. I pray that as we focus on this amazing love, we will understand what it means TO us and what it should mean THROUGH us.

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. 2 Corinthians 5: 14-15 

SUGGESTED SCRIPTURE READING Luke 24

FOCAL PASSAGE

And as they were saying these things, He Himself stood among them. He said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. “Why are you troubled?” He asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself! Touch Me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” Having said this, He showed them His hands and feet. Luke 24: 36-40

Have you ever asked this question? After His resurrection, why did Jesus still have the scars from His crucifixion? Presumably, He could have had any type of resurrected body He wanted; why not have a perfect glorified body? I believe there may be a number of reasons He kept them. First of all, they identify Him for who He was and is. When Jesus appeared in the room with His disciples, they were afraid…they thought they were seeing a ghost. I imagine that was of no comfort to them. Had He been a ghost, that would mean He had not conquered death. But He showed them His hands and His feet, verifying it was Jesus. John 20:20 says they “rejoiced” when they saw them.

They rejoiced because His wounds showed them who He was, and we can rejoice because they show us He suffered and died…in our place…to live again forever. He still bears those wounds and when we see Him, we see will those scars. Revelation, chapter 5, tells us that John recognized Him in heaven as the lamb who was slain.

Then I saw One like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. Revelation 5:6

A second reason for the scars is they tell us because He suffered, He knows what it is like to be human…He knows what we are going through. I can’t comprehend the reason for this next thought; it is way too much for me. But the Bible tells us that the God of all creation left His throne to become like me…to suffer like me…and to die in my place, that I might live with Him forever.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1, 14.

“The Word became flesh.” Because He was flesh and blood, like you and me, one of the disciples, Thomas, also had trouble grasping this thought…that though He was fully man, He was also fully God. Thomas was known for being a doubter. He hadn’t been with the disciples the first time Jesus appeared to them in the room, and he refused to believe it was true. But when he finally saw the scars of the resurrected Jesus, he was convinced.

Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.” Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:27-28

I have two scars on my leg where a piece of rebar went through when I was about eleven years old. Somehow, in the way that only a young boy can, I ran upon this rod in a field, and it went in and out in one swift motion…quite a traumatic event. Now, fifty years later, I have forgotten many childhood memories. Yet when I see the scars on my leg, I remember that particular event in vivid detail.

I believe there is at least one more reason for His scars…we will see them for eternity, and will be reminded in detail of what He has done for us. And because Jesus overcame, we can overcome.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20.

Many people now, as then, do not recognize Jesus for who He is. Some believe He was a good man…a great philosopher…a preacher or the leader of a religion they do not completely understand. Still others claim to believe in Him, or at least His teachings, without totally submitting to Him.

The Greek word for believe in the New Testament is “pisteuo” and it is used hundreds of times. It is more than just an understanding of something as we sometimes use it today. It is an action verb and it means to be persuaded of. Much in the way we can say we believe a suspension bridge will hold us, but it’s not until we put in our faith in it and walk across that we truly exercise belief.

Revelation 1:7 tells us “every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him”. Can you imagine how the soldiers who made those scars will feel when they see Him? Well, the truth is we all caused them…our own sin caused those scars. You and I are as guilty as the soldiers…and we will all see them.

The question is, will you look upon Him as a religious leader…a good man…a great philosopher? Or can you now believe, because of His scars, and like Thomas proclaim, “My Lord and my God”?