Acts 1:12-26 A Sad Thing; Deserting Jesus

Acts 1:12-26 NIV
It is a sad thing when one would turn their back on Jesus. But, that is what his friend and follower, Judas, did. There was nothing left to do for the disciples after his death, but to replace him so that there would be the twelve to witness to what they had seen of Jesus' life; from his baptism to his ascension. Two men were nominated; Matthias was elected by casting lots. Casting of lots helped avoid biases and divisions among the people. There were no great debates as to who the better candidate was. There were no expensive campaigns. There were no recounts. They simply trusted that God would guide the results of the lots; whatever those lots might be.

Even today, we encounter those who would turn their backs on Jesus; betraying him; deserting him and his church. Often they find themselves disillusioned because the church is not what they want it to be for them as individuals. When they choose to leave, like Judas, they also find themselves without hope. Our hope is found in Jesus Christ. Without him, we can do nothing. It is a sad thing for all involved when we lose a brother and sister in Christ to worldly desires. Hear the witness, of the many generations, that speaks of Jesus' gift of life and salvation for you. Receive it and live life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 13:18-30 - Desert Him?

John 13:18-30 NIV
It is not all that uncommon for someone who does not get his or her own way; who becomes disappointed in the direction that their leader or friend is going, and deserts them. This is exactly what Judas did. He became disenchanted with The Way that Jesus was heading. He had desired things of this world and wasn't quite so interested in serving God according to God's will. Becoming disappointed because Jesus was not going to be a great ruler and king of this world; he betrayed Jesus. He turned him over to the authorities for what was more desirous to him: money.

Judas had different goals than Jesus did. Often, we, too, put our own desires over the will of God for us and for all humankind. We desert him in order to pursue our desires, our priorities.

Judas really isn't so different from most of us. We may sit down to eat with a "friend" one day and the next we turn away from them because they don't think or act like exactly like us. May God help us to love our neighbor without prejudice so that we would not desert them in their time of need. May God grant us wisdom and courage so that we should never desert Him or turn from His good will for us to seek after things of this world.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 12:1-11 Celebrate Life! Celebrate Christ!

John 12:1-11 NIV
You are celebrating with friends. You are having a very pleasant time and suddenly someone begins to complain about something - maybe it's because you are having too much fun - maybe they are a bit jealous. Who knows? There seems to always be someone who wants to insert a bit of drama into the party so that it is not so enjoyable for others.

Judas was the party pooper at the party that was held in Jesus' honor. Can you imagine! Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead and Judas finds something to grumble about. Lazarus' sister, Mary, celebrated with a gift of expensive perfume poured on Jesus' feet and then let her hair down and wiped Jesus' feet with her hair. Judas was not happy. What a waste, he thought, and he let his opinion be known. Jesus has just brought a man back from the grave and rather than trust Jesus to be able to care for others, he tries to ruin the party by denigrating this gift from this woman who is rejoicing because her brother lives. Jesus excuses Mary by telling Judas to “Leave her alone, it was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” (vss. 7, 8)

As the writer from Ecclesiastes wrote:
"There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
    a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace." (3:1-8)

There is a time to weep and a time to laugh. There is a time to rejoice and to dance. There is a time to be silent and to speak. There is a time to tear down and a time to build things up. Just because you may feel like it's time to tear things apart, doesn't necessarily make it so. Put a clamp on your desire to destroy other's joy in the LORD. Let those who rejoice in the LORD, continue rejoicing and worry about the lesser things at another time. Do not let your jealousy or greed get in the way of others rejoicing in the gifts of God; namely, the gift of life. We who were once dead in our sins, now live. What is more important than worshipping God, thanking Him for the gift of life, and celebrating in His presence?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 22:1-6 Too Many Witnesses

Luke 22:1-6 NIV
Yep, the less witnesses the better if you're planning on doing something that Satan is encouraging you to do. That would be the way to go. The chief priests, the teachers of the law, even Judas did not want too many witnesses for about what they were about to do to Jesus. They wanted to get rid of Jesus, but the people loved him. They didn't want the people turning against them, So, they needed a plan on how to get rid of him without anyone figuring out that they were setting him up.

The moral of the story: Beware of joining any group that thinks the way to do things is to get rid of their enemies when there are no witnesses.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 26:14-16 - Betraying Jesus

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Matt 26:14-16 NIV)

For thirty pieces of silver, his follower, his friend, betrayed Jesus. Yet, there was more to it than the love of money. Judas had hoped for an insurrection. He was looking for an earthly king. He had his own agenda. It was not God's agenda. Judas' priority, all along, had not been advancing Jesus' mission here on earth, but his own.

How often do we do that? How often do we betray Jesus? We are not so unlike this Judas, are we? Judas was willing to sell Jesus out because he saw that there was no longer any hope in his own political agenda. What is it that will entice us to turn our backs on Jesus and go the other way? What is our ultimate concern? God's will or achieving our own personal desires in this world?

If we are honest with ourselves; if we examine our hearts, I'm guessing that we will find many little things that will cause us to turn our backs on the will of God for us as well as for the whole world. When was the last time you told God: "No, I'm not going. I have better things to do than to worship You or follow you or do your will today."? It may have been just a few moments ago or maybe it was on Sunday?

God's Peace - Pr. J