Apicontent

“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he told his disciples, ‘You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas. They planned to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, ‘Not during the feast, so that there won’t be a riot among the people.’” —Matthew 26:1–5

Here Jesus reminds His disciples about His impending suffering and death. He often spoke of these as being in the future, yet now He speaks of them as close at hand. Unfortunately, in these verses, we see the religious elite playing a notorious part in these unfolding events. I am reminded of Asaph’s description of the wicked in Psalm 73:

“Arrogance is their necklace, and violence covers them like clothing. Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful. They mock and say evil things; they proudly threaten violence.” —Psalm 73:6–9

After Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead the religious leaders were hot on our Lord’s trail to get Him out of their picture—permanently. They hated His popularity. They loathed His ability to do the miraculous which proved His claim of deity. They needed to be rid of their competition. Jesus was a bother. Their hypocritical hearts were hard. Jealous for the accolades and respect of others, they stooped to actions which were anything but praiseworthy. These religious elite loved the praise, adoration, and honor of men, leaving no room on the throne of their hearts for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. John’s account tells us:

“Then many of the people, who had come with Mary and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and reported to them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees called the council together and said, ‘What are we doing? For this man is performing many miraculous signs. If we allow him to go on in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away our sanctuary and our nation.’” — John 11:45–48

These Pharisees remained un-awed by the power and majesty of God. They only valued the fear and respect of the people. This appeared to be their greatest concern. How foolish and shortsighted! Somehow, their passion for God had become misguided and they were focused on their own pursuits rather than God’s desires.

“Fearing the LORD is the beginning of discernment, but fools have despised wisdom and moral instruction.” —Proverbs 1:7

Their safety, their honor, their respect, their standing among men, was their chief concern. Seeking God’s glory appeared to be the furthest thing from their minds. And so, they wickedly plotted to kill the Master; nothing less than His blood would bring them satisfaction.

But make no mistake; Jesus was fully aware of what was going to happen to Him. No one took His life; He willingly gave it on our behalf.

Become More

“God does not honor men and women and their deeds or their books or their organizations. The Father in heaven delights to honor His Son. It is only the Life of the Lord Jesus—His activity, clothed with you and displayed through you–that ultimately will find the approval of God.” —Major Ian Thomas

Further Reflections

“The carnal mind always maps out for itself a way in which self can work and become great, but the Lord’s way is quite the reverse.” —Charles H. Spurgeon

“If we suffer the good to grow weaker, the evil will surely gather strength and struggle desperately for the mastery over us; and so, mayhap, a painful desolation, and a lamentable disgrace may follow.” —Charles H. Spurgeon

“Pride alienates man from heaven; humility leads to heaven.” —Bridget of Sweden

“Men think that glory lies in being exalted over others–Christ … stooped when He conquered.” —Charles Spurgeon

“Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of my name. Then many will be led into sin, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will appear and deceive many, and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” —Matthew 24:9–14

Jesus’ words of warning to us in these verses are similar to the promise He gives us in the Gospel of John. He tells us not to be taken by surprise at the troubles and events of this dark and broken world—they are certain:

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.” —John 16:33

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.” —John 14:27

Many times in the New Testament we are told that tribulation, hardship, affliction, distress, and other difficulties are simply an everyday part of Christian living. Furthermore, a great deal of the tribulation experienced will be a direct result of our standing confidently for the Word of God and firmly in the will of God. Yet, in Christ, perfect peace is just as certain!

Jesus here warns of a coming general apostasy and obvious decay of religion as well as a foretelling of promised persecution. He is reminding His disciples once again of persecution so they are not surprised by oncoming suffering and conflict. This is a warning for us as well. We find a lot out about our faith when faced with trials and persecution.

Jesus said in the Gospel of Luke:

“You will be hated by everyone because of my name. Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.” —Luke 21:17–19

Tribulations should never catch us off guard. During these difficult times, our Lord warns us of two things—the abounding of wickedness and the abating of love. Yet, graciously, God always preserves a remnant for Himself who hold fast to their integrity and zeal even in the worst of times. There will most assuredly be those who stand firm to the end.

We are reminded in our verses for today that the gospel will be preached to all nations before the end will come. It is a gospel that will reveal the kingdom of grace which leads to the kingdom of glory.

Become More

“Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger … these are nothing when compared with the glory that will be revealed in, and for us.” —David Livingstone

Further Reflections

“… If your faith does not remain firm, then you will not remain secure.” —Isaiah 7:9

“Calvary is God’s great proof that suffering in the will of God always leads to glory.” —Warren Wiersbe

“Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks.” —Phillips Brooks

“A fixed, constant attention to the promises, and a firm belief in them, would prevent solicitude and anxiety about the concerns of this life. It would keep the mind quiet and composed in every change, and support and keep up our sinking spirits under the several troubles of life … Christians deprive themselves of their most solid comforts by their unbelief and forgetfulness of God’s promises. For there is no extremity so great but there are promises suitable to it, and abundantly sufficient for our relief in it.” —Samuel Clarke

“Now when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they assembled together. And one of them, an expert in religious law, asked him a question to test him: ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ Jesus said to him, ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.’” —Matthew 22:34–40

Have you ever wondered what God really desires from us? Well, in these verses it is made perfectly clear: Love God, love others. This sounds simple enough until we start living it out. First of all, to love God is impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit within us. And while it is perhaps easier for us to imagine ourselves loving God rightly and wholeheartedly, loving others is often extremely difficult.

Not just the ones we consider our friends; the nice ones, the ones who value our opinion, the ones who appreciate us. But the mean ones, the dirty ones, the obnoxious ones, those who make fun of us, or spit in our faces. We are supposed to love all those whom God puts in our path—readily, entirely, wholeheartedly.

In our verses for today, the person who posed the question to Jesus was also in agreement with the answer he received. Mark tells us:

“The expert in the law said to him, ‘That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him. And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ Then no one dared any longer to question him.” —Mark 12:32–34

Jesus came to fulfill all the requirements for righteousness prescribed in the Old Testament Law. However, Jesus also came to usher in the New Testament law of love. All biblical law is fulfilled in this one word—love. Obedience to God begins with love. Love is to be the motivating factor of our actions.

Paul tells us:

“Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,’ (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” —Romans 13:8–10

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” —Galatians 5:22–23

Love is not a romantic emotion, nor is it fueled by the lust of the flesh or the greed of the eye. The Bible teaches of the love God requires in 1 Corinthians. Paul describes love in its most perfect form:

“Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside.” —1 Corinthians 13:4–8

The motivation behind our actions is critical. For instance, we can be obedient to God’s Word—motivated by love—and it is a sweet-smelling sacrifice to the Father as well as an experience of a bit of heaven on earth for us. On the other hand, we can dutifully and laboriously fulfill our call to obedience—as the religious hypocrites of Jesus’ day—and be nauseating in His sight. The motive makes the difference. Remember, we love Him because He first loved us!

Become More

“To love God, to serve Him because we love Him, is … our highest happiness … Love makes all labor light. We serve with enthusiasm where we love with sincerity.” —Hannah More

“Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one loved.” —Thomas Merton

Further Reflections

“God loves you as though you are the only person in the world, and He loves everyone the way He loves you.” —Augustine

“The way to disengage the heart from the love of one object is to fasten it in positive love to another. It is not by exposing the worthlessness of the former, but by addressing the worth and excellence of the latter that all old things are to be done away and all things are to become new. The only way to dispossess the heart of an old affection is by the expulsive power of a new one.” —Thomas Chalmers

“For the love of God is broader than the measures of man’s mind; and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.” —Frederick William Faber

“What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ The boy answered, ‘I will not.’ But later he had a change of heart and went. The father went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will? They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God! For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him.’” —Matthew 21:28–32

In this story, Jesus illustrates the difference in human characters. Some people prove to be better than they promise, others promise better than they prove to be. Think about it … which one are you?

We see the same command delivered to both sons: Son, go and work in the vineyard today. God sets His children to work as heirs, not as slaves. Work was not meant to be a curse, but a blessing! It is a gift from our heavenly Father

I am reminded of Adam’s responsibilities prior to the fall:

“The LORD God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for it and to maintain it.” —Genesis 2:15

God had no intention for His children to remain shiftless and idle. And He intended for them to enjoy their labor! Work became drudgery only after sin entered the world.

The gospel call to work in God’s vineyard requires modern-day believers to be obedient as well. We are to bring the love and truth of Christ to all those we come in contact with. Our time has not been given to us in order that we aimlessly waste it away. Jesus has commanded us to go and make disciples and that directive carries with it His authority, affection, and ability. There is work to be done in God’s kingdom!

“Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest-ready fields.’” —Matthew 9:37–38

In the parable, the two son’s responses are very different. The first son responds with a flat denial to his father’s wishes. An excuse is bad enough, but a downright “no” is even worse. Often people refuse the call of the Father, initially choosing to follow worldly pursuits or pleasures. Here, the first son denies his father’s directive, yet reconsiders, repents, and produces fruit in keeping with repentance. To be sure, “better late than never.” God graciously and patiently waits on us despite our former poor choices. Indeed, He rises to show us compassion:

“For this reason the LORD is ready to show you mercy; he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. Indeed, the LORD is a just God; all who wait for him in faith will be blessed.” —Isaiah 30:18

The second son responds with respect and professed obedience, yet is dishonest and unfaithful. To be sure, saying and doing are two separate matters.

Many say the right words, but their heart goes in a different direction. We must back up our words with what we do.

Become More

“When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it. For God takes no pleasure in fools: Pay what you vow! It is better for you not to vow than to vow and not pay it.” —Ecclesiastes 5:4–5

Further Reflections

“Nothing taken for granted; everything received with gratitude; everything passed on with grace.” —G.K. Chesterton

“For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.” —Ephesians 2:10

“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those following shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest!’ As he entered Jerusalem the whole city was thrown into an uproar, saying, ‘Who is this?’ And the crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” —Matthew 21:8–11

In these verses we see Jesus in a triumphant and festal procession to Jerusalem. Normally, the Master retreated from such limelight—no earthly pomp and splendor for Him. Indeed, at the height of his popularity John tells us when the people saw His works and wanted to make Him King, He withdrew.

“Now when the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus performed, they began to say to one another, ‘This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world.’ Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone.” — John 6:14–15

The kingdom would be given to Him by His Father only in His perfect timing and not by the world and what they deemed to be the hour of opportunity.

The people in Jesus’ day knew He claimed to be the Messiah and those in our verses for today believed that He was the coming Savior. When we believe something, we act upon it. Our actions demonstrate what we believe to be true. The words the people shouted were from the Messianic Psalm 118 which spoke of the Coming One. They credited these Messianic titles to Jesus.

As Jesus made His way to Jerusalem riding on a colt of a donkey—a symbol of peace, not war—the people spread their cloaks on the road so that He could ride on them. They waved palm branches and shouted “Hosanna!” Palm branches were symbols of victory, liberty, and joy. The word “Hosanna” is from the Hebrew word “save.” It was originally a prayer addressed to God meaning “O save us now,” and later came to be used as a shout of praise as “Hallelujah.” Notice that Jesus did not stop or retreat from this celebration:

Everyone seemed to take notice of Him! Some watched with wonder, some laughed over His humbleness, some perhaps expressed joy, and there were even some (probably the Pharisees) who were filled with envy and indignation.

There were, and still are, many responses of the human heart toward Jesus and His coming kingdom.

Become More

“If thou makest a profession of being a child of God, if thou art a believer, and thinkest and believest religion is the best, the service of God most desirable, I do not come to plead with thee because of any advantage thou wouldst get by being holy; it is on this ground that I put it, that the Lord is God; and if he be God, it is thy business to serve him. If his gospel be true, and thou believest it to be true, it is thy duty to carry it out.” —Charles H. Spurgeon

Further Reflections

“Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.” —Corrie Ten Boom

“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inward peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset. Commend all to God, and then lie still and be at rest in His bosom. Whatever happens, abide steadfast in a determination to cling simply to God … Maintain a holy simplicity of mind, and do not smother yourself with a host of cares, wishes, or longings, under any pretext.” —St. Francis de Sales

“Now when they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, telling them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you. Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, “The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: ‘Tell the people of Zion, “Look, your king is coming to you, unassuming and seated on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”’” —Matthew 21:1–5

Jesus traveled a lot by foot—dusty roads, weary steps, and dirty feet were all His companions as He went about doing good. And yet, in our verses for today, as Jesus ventures towards suffering and death, He chooses to ride in triumph. He gives two of His disciples clear directives—even to the point of supplying them with a response to a question they will be asked. Jesus, of course, had full knowledge of where His disciples would find the donkey and its colt. It is important to remember that when Jesus directs us to do something, He will make the way clear and provide the supplies we need—we can count on it! Nothing is too difficult for Him:

The prophecy Christ fulfills in the key passage for today is presented to us in Zechariah:

“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! Look, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” —Zechariah 9:9

In Bible times, when a king arrived, he was typically met with great pomp and fanfare. The king arrived in the city as a conqueror, riding on a horse. Something magnificent was expected! Yet there was nothing of that here. Jesus comes gentle and riding on a donkey, even the colt of a donkey. In lieu of majesty, Christ’s glory appears in His meekness and humbleness. His temperament was mild and He was willing to suffer the greatest injuries and indignities for mankind’s cause. The Creator stooped, came down, and died for those He created—willingly. He was easily entreated, His government was lovingly gentle and mild, and His yoke easy. This all was all particularly evidenced by His humble appearance on a donkey, a creature used for service not for show, for burdens of not for battles—slow, sure, constant, steady, and safe.

Jesus models for us true humility.

Become More

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.” —Matthew 11:28–30

Further Reflections

“The truly wise are those whose souls are in Christ.” —Ambrose

“Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 2:3–5

“Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling down she asked him for a favor. He said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She replied, ‘Permit these two sons of mine to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.’ Jesus answered, ‘You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?’ They said to him, ‘We are able.’ He told them, ‘You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right and at my left is not mine to give. Rather, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’” —Matthew 20:20–23

Ignorance fueled by presumption and selfish ambition caused John and James to have their mother approach the Master with a request for their honor. Granted, these two were part of Jesus’ inner circle, and yet, they were continually missing the mark. In our verses for today, it was the mark of humility.

Jesus had recently spoken to them about this very subject when His disciples were found arguing over whom would be the greatest in the coming kingdom.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, had him stand among them, and said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” —Matthew 18:1–4

Jesus was trying to instill in his followers the understanding that humility before God and man is a virtue every disciple needs to embrace. It is an essential attitude of our hearts. Humility is a correct estimation of self. To be overly preoccupied with self will eventually cause our downfall.

Paul’s challenge to us comes to mind:

“Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.” —Philippians 2:3

Without question, “selfish ambition” is not of the Spirit. “Vanity” is often its root cause. Paul gives us a list of some of the obvious acts of the sinful nature in Galatians of which selfish ambition is included:

“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!” —Galatians 5:19–21

John and James desired to be men of rank in Jesus’ coming kingdom—those possessing authority and power. Simply put, they were seeking honor. They had no idea what they were asking. They imagined their worldly warfare was ending rather than scarcely beginning. Perhaps they assumed if they had their mother approach Jesus He would acquiesce to their wishes.

We do not know what we are asking for when we seek the glory of the crown. That kind of glory always requires the pain of the cross. Jesus patiently reminds James and John of the cup of suffering He is to drink from and graciously asks them if they are willing to drink from this cup as well. Jesus came as the Suffering Servant because of us, because of our need.

Jesus said, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it.” —Luke 9:23–24

Become More

“The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time.” —Tim Keller

Further Reflections

“For as long as a man is not emptied of himself and of his own righteousness and goodness, he will have a legal spirit. A spirit of pride in one’s own righteousness, morality, holiness, affection, experience, faith, humiliation or any other goodness, is a legal spirit … It is even possible to have a self-righteous spirit about one’s own humility and to be self-confident about one’s own abasement … But he whose heart is subject to Christian humility has a very different attitude … Christians who are real saints and the greatest in the Kingdom … humble themselves as a little child … They look upon themselves as children in grace.” —Jonathan Edwards

“Humility is nothing else but a true knowledge and awareness of oneself as one really is.” —The Cloud of Unknowing

“And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.” —1 Peter 5:6–7

“As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve aside privately and said to them on the way, ‘Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the experts in the law. They will condemn him to death.’” —Matthew 20:17–19

One would certainly be incorrect in saying that Jesus did not prepare His disciples ahead of time for His betrayal, beatings, death, and resurrection. It’s just that they didn’t seem to really get it. Perhaps they simply did not want to believe His warnings. We find earlier in Matthew Jesus’ words to them regarding what was about to take place—verifying once more that Jesus was not taken by surprise by anything that happened. He willingly gave of Himself to save us.

“For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.” —Matthew 12:40

“From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him: ‘God forbid, Lord! This must not happen to you!’” —Matthew 16:21–22

“When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.’ And they became greatly distressed.” —Matthew 17:22–23

Surely, Jesus was in control of His life. No one took it from Him—He willingly gave it. He was sacrificially obedient to the will of God. His death was wholly voluntary and on our behalf. He was not a helpless pawn unable to save himself. John records our Lord’s words proclaiming His Sovereign authority over His own destiny:

“This is why the Father loves me—because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again. No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father.” —John 10:17–18

Freedom is costly is it not? The Lord Jesus paid the greatest price for our freedom—ransoming our souls from the pit of Hell through His death on the cross. Christ—the Great Liberator—came to set the captives free from the bondage of sin and death. He liberated us from chains of decay and brought us into the glorious freedom.

Paul warns us against our being yoked again to slavery. As believers we are to stand firm in the freedom and liberty that Christ has fully and completely provided. We are not to choose to live a life of slavery to sin:

“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” —Galatians 5:1

God’s mighty strength sustains us, supports us, and holds us steady, lifting us high above the fears and concerns that drag us down. His hand has us firmly and lovingly in its grasp. This is the hand of the One who cherishes us, the One who died for us.

Become More

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you—yes, I help you—yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!” —Isaiah 41:10

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.” —1 Corinthians 6:19–20

Further Reflections

“Costly grace is the Gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son. ‘Ye were bought at a price,’ and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the incarnation of God.” —Dietrich Bonheoffer

“If there be ground for you to trust your own righteousness, then all that Christ did to purchase salvation … is vain.” —Jonathan Edwards

“Now someone came up to him and said, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ ‘Which ones?’ he asked. Jesus replied, ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws. What do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.” —Matthew 19:16–22

This encounter between Jesus and a young man has far more to do with our desires than our dollars, contrary to what we might perhaps believe. In this encounter, Jesus points to what is on the throne of our lives, and our willingness or unwillingness to relinquish our rights of it to the One who has all rights to it. Money, people, things, fame, acceptance, work, perfection, family, beauty, and whatever else is important to us are not intrinsically bad. However, it is the priority placed upon them which can make them wrong. Jesus calls us to be “one thing” people. Everything in our lives is to fall under Him. He created us; He knows perfectly well what we need.

We are all capable of deluding ourselves into thinking our desires are right and good. “The heart is deceitful” (Jeremiah 17:9) Scripture tells us. The rich young ruler in the passage of scripture for today is a good example. He was humble in approaching the Master. He was apparently earnest in seeking to do what was right. Yet he misses the selfishness of his own heart, and when faced with the realization of it and Jesus’ desire of his release from it, he becomes sorrowful. He just does not seem able to let go of his desires—no matter what he had expressed earlier.

Scripture gives us several examples of “one thing” people who had their priorities right: God first and everything else under Him.

David writes:

“I have asked the LORD for one thing—this is what I desire! I want to live in the LORD’S house all the days of my life, so I can gaze at the splendor of the LORD and contemplate in his temple.” —Psalm 27:4

Luke tells us about Mary, Martha’s sister:

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he said. But Martha was distracted with all the preparations she had to make, so she came up to him and said, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work alone? Tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her.’” —Luke 10:38–42

Paul writes regarding himself in Philippians:

“I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let those of us who are “perfect” embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways.” —Philippians 3:12–15

Become More

“I know what it’s like to say you’re trying to help someone even though you’re well aware it was really a halfway-decent excuse to satisfy something in yourself. —Angie Smith

“The gift of Christ reveals the Father’s heart. It testifies that the thoughts of God toward us are ‘thoughts of peace and not of evil’ (Jeremiah 29:11). It declares that while God’s hatred of sin is as strong as death, His love for the sinner is stronger than death. Having undertaken our redemption, He will spare nothing, however dear, which is necessary to the completion of His work. No truth essential to our salvation is withheld, no miracle of mercy is neglected, no divine agency is left unemployed. Favor is heaped upon favor, gift upon gift.  The whole treasury of heaven is open to those He seeks to save. Having collected the riches of the universe, and laid open the resources of infinite power, He gives them all into the hands of Christ, and says, All these are for man. Use these gifts to convince him that there is no love greater than Mine in earth or heaven. His greatest happiness will be found in loving Me.” —Ellen G. White

Further Reflections

“You shall have no other gods before me” —Exodus 20:3

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. —Matthew 6:31–33

“We sin because our longings are so strong at the operational level—not at the verbal level, where we confess ‘Jesus is Lord’—we feel that something in addition to Jesus is necessary for our happiness and well-being. We will never find the full freedom promised in the gospel if all we want from Jesus is relief.” —James Wilhoit

“Then little children were brought to him for him to lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded those who brought them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ And he placed his hands on them and went on his way.” —Matthew 19:13–15

The compassion, kindness, and gentleness of the Lord Jesus towards the little children shine forth so brightly in this passage!

I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s charge to us in Colossians as well to demonstrate these virtues:

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” —Colossians 3:12

These virtues are also included in the listing of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” —Galatians 5:22–23

In our verses for today, not driven by any particular need other than the desire for Christ to bless them, we find parents bringing their little ones to Jesus simply in order for Him to lay His hands on them in prayer. Their actions demonstrate a great respect for Jesus as well as a high value on His favor and blessing. In other places in scripture, we find parents bringing their children to Jesus in dire need of healing. Yet it appears that the parents described here sought only His blessing.

We cannot do anything better for our children than to commit them to the Lord Jesus. It is His blessing that will guide, lead, and help them. There is no higher ground. We are to trust in the Lord and His direction. He alone can answer the prayers of the heart as well as fully satisfy all inward longings and desires.

King David writes:

“Trust in the LORD and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity! Then you will take delight in the LORD, and he will answer your prayers. Commit your future to the LORD! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf. He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause.” —Psalm 37:3–6

The disciples frowned on the actions of these parents. They didn’t think Jesus had time for children. They saw these parents as being troublesome instead of seeing them with the eyes of Jesus. We are never to discourage any person from seeking the Lord Jesus! No one is ever a nuisance to Him. It displeases Jesus when we turn away anyone who is seeking Him. He remains ever ready to receive them!

Become More

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” —Proverbs 3:5–6

Further Reflections

“Jesus, Thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love Thou art.” —Charles Wesley

“For the love of God is broader than the measures of man’s mind; and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.” —Frederick William Faber

“It is rare that Christians earnestly seek the Lord’s face when things are going swimmingly, when material blessings abound and we seem to be protected from the vicissitudes faced by others. But in the blackness of discouragement, when we are harassed and downcast, we may indeed turn to the Lord and acknowledge our helplessness apart from his grace; we may do so knowing that God is a compassionate God and that Jesus’ compassion was particularly directed toward the harassed and the helpless.” —D. A. Carson