There are so many side stories going on as Jesus approaches the cross that it’s hard to choose what to meditate on! Thanks to Dave Wyrtzen of Dave’s Daily Devo for stimulating these thoughts. I had never compared and contrasted Peter and Judas in this way. Here’s the story as Matthew tells it:

Peter denied it, and using profanity he said, “I don’t know the man!” At that very moment the sound of a crowing rooster pierced the night. Then Peter remembered the prophecy of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows you will have denied me three times.” With a shattered heart, Peter went out of the courtyard, sobbing with bitter tears.

Before dawn that morning, all the chief priests and religious leaders resolved to take action against Jesus and decided that he should be executed. So they bound him with chains and led him away to Pilate, the Roman governor.

Now, when Judas, the betrayer, saw that Jesus had been sentenced to death, remorse filled his heart. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and religious leaders, saying, “I have sinned because I have betrayed an innocent man.” They replied, “Why are you bothering us? That’s your problem.” Then Judas flung the silver coins inside the temple and went out and hanged himself. (Matthew 26.74 – 27.5, TPT)

We know from the rest of the story that Peter hung around (see John 20.1 – 8, for example) and was restored by Jesus (John 21.15 – 17). Judas’ death is in this section. But it could have gone either way for either of them:

• Two men: Peter and Judas, both members of Jesus’ inner circle of 12
• Two similar actions: denial (Peter), betrayal (Judas)
• Two immediately similar responses: tears (Peter), remorse (Judas)
• Two different outcomes: restoration (Peter), suicide (Judas)

As Dave Wyrtzen says:

Judas seeks to pay for his guilt by suicide. Peter could have done the same, but he didn’t. We have to decide whether we will let Jesus’ death pay for our guilt or whether we will arrogantly try to pay the bill ourselves. – Dave Wyrtzen, March 26, 2021

The Apostle Paul clarifies the same option:

God designed us to feel remorse over sin in order to produce repentance that leads to victory. This leaves us with no regrets. But the sorrow of the world works death. (2 Corinthians 7.10, TPT)

One of the fun things about the four-column through-the-Bible-in-a-year program is reading passages from different places on the same day. Recently I read Matthew 23 and Number 13 – both depressing. What’s the common theme?

In Matthew 23, Jesus is criticizing the Pharisees for a variety of things, including not entering the Kingdom themselves and preventing others from doing so:

But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. (Matthew 23.13, ESV)

Numbers 13 and 14 is the sad account of 10 of the 12 spies bringing a negative report on the land, causing the people not to want to go into it. Notice in this paragraph that verses 5 – 9 express the hope of Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb contrasted with the beginning and the end where the people want to choose a leader, go back to Egypt, and stone Joshua and Caleb!

4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.” 10 Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. (Numbers 14.4 – 10, ESV)

So there’s one connection: the Pharisees didn’t want to enter the Kingdom, and 10 of the 12 spies did not want to enter the promised land.

The other connection is that Jesus, as well as Joshua and Caleb, were in the minority. Sometimes the majority is wrong.  

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” (Matthew 27.20 – 23, ESV, emphasis mine)

You shall not follow a crowd to do evil. (Exodus 23.2, NKJV)

God is sovereign, make no mistake. There’s no better example than this short paragraph in Matthew. Notice that Jesus says he will be killed at Passover even while those who are planning to kill him say that it can’t be at Passover:

After Jesus had completed his teachings, he said to his disciples, “You know that the Feast of the Passover begins in two more days. That’s when the Son of Man is to be betrayed and handed over to be crucified.” Meanwhile, the prominent priests and religious leaders of the nation were gathered in the palace of the high priest Caiaphas. That’s when they made their decision to secretly have Jesus captured and killed. But they all agreed, “We can’t do this during the Passover celebrations or we could have a riot on our hands.” Matthew 26:1-5 (TPT)

He’s the Passover Lamb – he must be killed at Passover.

The next day [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1.29, ESV)

For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5.7, ESV)

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. (Acts 4.27, 28, NIV)

I have mixed feelings about Palm Sunday. Truly, it was a great event, prophesied by Zechariah in such detail that a friend of mine, whose father was an artist and a devout Jew, painted a giant picture that hangs in my friend’s home. When I look at it, I see Palm Sunday. But my friend explained, “This is Messiah riding into Jerusalem.”

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9.9, NIV)

The reason I have mixed feelings is that some of these same people were clamoring for Jesus’ crucifixion just a few days later.

But for now, let’s enter into Passion Week with joy!

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 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 21.1 – 9, NIV)

Lisa Kelly of Omaha, Nebraska, wrote a blog: Six Characteristics of Ignatian Courage. (She’s talking about Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits.) I especially like #4:

Courage Takes One Step at a Time

The spirit not of God detracts people from moving toward the good by sowing seeds of doubt in one’s capacity and enlarging the possible negative long-term “what ifs.” The Spirit of God, instead, offers the grace of courage for each step of the way. Ignatius had no plan to start a global order of priests or the largest educational network in the world. He did, however, have the courage to discern each decision on the way, seeking only that the outcome reflected movement toward the will of God.

Compare to a math problem: you just take the next step. I just worked a problem on the math calendar my grandson gave me for Christmas. I had no idea where I was going, but I took the next step: look up the formula for the tangent of a sum, plug in what was given, solve for what you don’t have, voila!

Here’s one “next step” that’s always appropriate:

I trust in the Lord. And I praise him!
I trust in the Word of God. And I praise him!
What harm could man do to me?
With God on my side I will not be afraid of what comes.
My heart overflows with praise to God and for his promises.
I will always trust in him. (Psalm 56.10, 11, TPT)

Trust in God, take the next step.

I hope you’re joining me in praying for our leaders:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2.1, 2, ESV)

In addition to government leaders, I suggested Sunday that we ought not to forget religious leaders. They can have enormous influence.

Here’s another group that we don’t always think of when we think “high positions” – business leaders. Some of them have enormous influence: think Amazon and the books it chooses to carry or not carry and YouTube with the videos it can allow or block. Twitter and FaceBook come to mind, also. These companies have increasing influence. Their leaders are truly in “high positions,” and we ought to be praying for them.

In addition, all companies have influence at least over their employees and the clients / customers they are trying to serve. We ought to include those leaders in our prayers, too.

My “word for the year” is ASK – both in its form as a simple verb, a synonym for prayer – and as an acronym: Ask, Seek, Knock from Matthew 7.7. The Lord seems to keep showing me more things to ASK for!

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7.7, 8, ESV)

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints… (Ephesians 6. 18, NKJV)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phlippians 4.6, 7, ESV)

A lady asked me the other day about our ministry with The Navigators, about whom she knew nothing. In the middle of the conversation, responding to something I’d seen in one of her emails, I asked what she was teaching two days each week. I was shocked when this 76-year-young lady said, “Martial Arts.” Wow, I said. That’s a participation sport! Can you tell me about that? Part of her response went something like this:

I asked God to give me something I could be passionate about. One day, in a Starbucks, I met a man who told me owned a martial arts school – why don’t you visit? So I did. Two sessions were free. My instructor started working with me and observed that I was a visual learner, so he adapted his instruction to fit my learning style. I took to it, and before I knew it, I was a red belt. I said, well, I’ve come this far, I can be a black belt! And I did. And now I’m one of the teachers.

I said, “May I tell you what I heard?”

• You had an instructor who worked with you one-on-one.
• Starting from nothing, with participation, doing what the instructor told you to do, you experienced growth in your skills .
• You reached a level of competence with the red belt and then the black belt.
• You’re repeating the process by being an instructor yourself.

Yes? Yes!

And then I said:

That’s exactly what I do as a Navigator. I invest time in people who want to follow Jesus and be involved in his mission. I teach them some basic skills: how to have daily time with God, how to memorize scripture, how to do Bible study, how to share the gospel, how to help someone else do those things. I’m expecting they will participate – not just listen. That they will grow in their skills and in their love for Jesus and become competent to do what I’m doing. Participation, Growth, Competence.

And I asked her to look up 2 Timothy 2.1 – 7 after our conversation was over.

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. (NIV)

The text gives the method (verse 2) and examples (verses 3 – 7). In addition to the specific applications belonging to soldiers, athletes, and farmers, I think all three are examples of activities in which Participation leads to Growth leads to Competence. 

Martial Arts…Discipleship: the process is the same.

Train yourself to be godly. (1 Timothy 4.7, NIV)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 8.24 – 27, NIV)

There are a lot of gruesome stories in the Old Testament, difficult to know how to apply in our context. I saw this one (again) the other day, but something jumped out that I hadn’t seen before. The Israelites are in the wilderness, and suddenly an orgy breaks out involving the men of Israel and the women of Moab. Moses starts executing leaders, and the congregation has gathered at the tabernacle to mourn over their sin. Then this:

And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the chamber… (Numbers 25.6 – 8, ESV)

The text goes on to say that Phinehas killed both of them and that the Lord was pleased with his action! (See Numbers 25)

Bob, there’s a lesson? Yes! What I saw this time was “He rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand…” There’s a time to gather and repent, and there’s a time to leave the congregation and take action.

While I was casting about for a practical example, Breakpoint came to the rescue with a story about Amy Carmichael, missionary to India in the early 1900s. Here’s a snippet:

One day, a young girl named Preena, who had been sold as a temple slave by her widowed mother and literally branded when she tried to run away, listened as Amy Carmichael told of God’s love. Preena ran away again, this time to Amy’s house. Amy knew that if she took Preena in, she could be charged with kidnapping. However, she also knew to send Preena back would mean further beatings or even death. Driven by the truth of the gospel, Amy welcomed Preena into her home. – Breakpoint, March 16, 2021

The whole article is worth reading. Amy Carmichael ended up saving over 1,000 children from temple prostitution and influencing the Indian government to outlaw the practice in 1947.

Sometimes it’s not enough to gather in our churches and lament the problem. Someone has to take up a spear! I’m praying about what that might look like for me.

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7.24, ESV, emphasis mine)

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16.9. 10, ESV)

I wrote yesterday about the clear application to “be ready” from the sometimes hard-to-understand “Olivet Discourse” (Matthew 24 and 25).

Here’s something else that’s clear: Jesus will return in power and glory:

Then the sign announcing the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn over him. And they will see the Son of Man appearing in the clouds of heaven, revealed with mighty power, great splendor, and glory… (Matthew 24.30, TPT)

When the Son of Man appears in his majestic glory, with all his angels by his side, he will take his seat on his throne of splendor… (Matthew 25.31, TPT)

This is Jesus talking, and it’s not a metaphor. It’s a fact:

• Jesus will appear in majestic power, splendor, and glory.
• All his angels will be by his side.
• He will take his seat on his throne of splendor.

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. (Revelation 1.12 – 17, ESV)

I recently read Matthew 24 and 25, “The Olivet Discourse,” a long and sometimes confusing answer to the disciples’ questions:

As Jesus was leaving the temple courts, his disciples came to him and pointed out the beautiful architecture of the temple. And Jesus turned to them and said, “Take a good look at all these things, for I’m telling you, there will not be one stone left upon another. It will all be leveled!” Later, when they arrived at the Mount of Olives, his disciples came privately to where he was sitting and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what sign should we expect to signal your coming and the completion of this age?” (Matthew 24.1 – 3, TPT, emphasis mine)

The disciples may have thought that was one question: that is, when the temple is destroyed, Jesus will come back and that will be the end of the age. But it’s at least two questions since the temple was destroyed, as Jesus predicted, in 70A.D. But we are still here.

No matter how we understand all the detail in Matthew 24, Jesus’ application is clear:

So always be ready, alert, and prepared, because at an hour when you’re not expecting him, the Son of Man will come.” (Matthew 24.44, TPT)

The day I read this, the local paper reported that a well-known Colorado Springs citizen passed away, and as far as I know, he wasn’t even sick.

Tom Osborne died in his sleep Wednesday morning. He was 65. The local sports and events community is stunned.  – Paul Klee, Colorado Springs Gazette, March 10, 2021.

We don’t need eschatology (the study of the end times) for verse 44 to make sense. It may not be the end, but certainly, my end can come any time Jesus wants it to. Best I be ready at all times.

But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. (1 Thessalonians 5.4 – 11, ESV, emphasis mine)