Parkwood Baptist Church

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

“Yet the news about Him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.  But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:15, 16)

“When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done.  Then He took them with Him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida..”         (Luke 9:10)

On this fifth Sabbath of our journey we want to be reminded of the importance of refreshment, as well as, rest.  The Scriptures that we have been meditating on over the last 32 days have shown us that living a life of faith involves hard work and discipline.  God calls us to follow Him through inconvenience and, sometimes suffering.  It can be exhausting.

Jesus knew that rest and  renewal was an important part of the life of every disciple.  The verses above show Jesus modeling this as a priority.  He would even get up early to find time alone to pray.  He would regularly get by Himself to rest but, more importantly to pray.  A Sabbath pause is not just about rest, it is about refreshment and refocus.  The sabbath is not a call to sleep for twenty four hours.  Sabbath is stepping back and taking time to allow God to fill you with His strength and grace.

So, today follow the example of Jesus and take a little extra time to get alone and pray.  You might want to use the Lord’s Prayer as a guide.  It is a great way to get your mind aligned with the Lord’s.  How?  Jesus said this,

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”    (Matthew 6:6)

Today…rest…relax…and allow God to renew your spirit for the week ahead.

“Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged… When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, ‘Here is the man.’ The Jews insisted, ‘We have a law, and according to that law He must die, because He claimed to be the Son of God.’ When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. ‘Where do you come from?’ he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer…Pilate said, ‘Don’t you realize that I have power either to free you or to crucify you?’ Jesus answered, ‘You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.'” (John 19:1, 5, 7-11)

As this drama unfolds, it is our tendency to see Jesus now at the mercy of an unruly crowd, cruel soldiers and corrupted authorities.  But when Jesus speaks to Pilate in these verses above we are given a different perspective.  Jesus is giving this worldly leader, and us, a reminder about who is in charge in the world around us.  Jesus is saying, “Pilate, you may think that you have the power but you are terribly mistaken”.  There was no point during the events of this road to the cross that things were out of control.  I know that it looked like there were moments when the crowd was directing the events with their pressure…but they were not doing anything that God did not allow.  It may seem like Pilate is calling the shots here but he is not.  Every detail of the cross and its sufferings was part of the plan that God had made from the beginning.  In fact, it had been prophesied for thousands of years before.  In God’s eyes, there were no plot twists or surprises that He had to adjust to…and Jesus knew that.

Have you ever felt like your journey in this life has been hijacked by circumstances or other people?  In some form or another, suffering has broken into your life and you are now at the mercy of others.  If you have been there, then the words of Jesus to Pilate are for you to hold on to.  The truth is that God rules over you and your circumstances.  He is with you and will bring you strength and comfort in any situation.  God is Sovereign.  There is nothing on this earth that doesn’t fall under His rule.  Nothing that comes into your life surprises Him….even your mistakes.

The hard part of this is that sometimes God allows suffering to come.  We see in Scripture that God allows suffering for several reasons.  First, He sometimes uses it to get our attention (the proverbial 2×4).  Other times it is to build godly character within us.  Still other times He allows it in order to shine His light to those around us.  In all these cases it is God’s purpose to bring glory to His name.  For Jesus, it was to demonstrate His love for us and bring salvation to the world by laying down His life.

Jesus had put His life totally in the Father’s hands.  He trusted in God’s power and went in the confidence that comes with that faith.  Today, are you so confident in God’s power and His love for you that you can trust Him with your current situation?

God is in control.

“Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanliness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, ‘What charges are you bringing against this man?’ ‘If He were not a criminal,’ they replied, ‘we would not have handed Him over to you.'” (John 18:28-30)

“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.  Therefore let us keep the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)

Jesus was taken from the courtyard of Caiaphas to the governor’s palace where Pilate resided.  The high priest had done all that he was legally able to do.  Now, the Jewish leaders needed the Romans to finish the job by having Jesus executed.  Only Rome had the authority to implement a death sentence.  The odd part of this is that the Jews hated the Romans and, especially the Roman officials.  Their presence in the holy city was detested by the Sanhedrin led by the high priest.  But corruption and envy can bring about strange alliances.  So, as the sun was rising, Jesus was taken to Pilate and mortal enemies (Israel and Rome) became friends for a moment.

Another unbelievable irony in this particular scene is that the religious leaders are so concerned about the religious regulations that they refuse to enter Pilates court because it would make them unclean for the Passover celebration.  There is no concern for the fact that they are unjustly condemning an innocent man but they are still concerned about their religious purity.  The Passover was the feast that foreshadowed the coming of the Messiah!  According to the Scripture above, the actual Passover Lamb was in their presence but they missed it.  While being concerned about the restrictions for the observance they became a part of the fulfillment.

This happens in many areas of our lives when we get distracted by the small details and miss the true purpose or meaning.  Maybe we have more in common with these religious leaders than we would like to admit.  It is like someone attending church and missing a personal encounter with the God who loves them because they are worrying about doing the right thing at the right time.  It is a common temptation in the lenten season as well, to allow the sacrifice that you have made become the focus rather than His sacrifice.

Today, as you practice your lenten discipline, allow it to take your thoughts to Jesus who was the Passover Lamb, sacrificed for us.  Let God know that you don’t want to miss it today no matter how inconvenient it might be.

“The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating Him.  They blindfolded Him and demanded, ‘Prophesy!  Who hit you?’  And they said many other insulting things to Him.” (Luke 22:63-65)

It is said that a terrorist blindfolds their victims for two reasons.  We usually think of the first, which is to disorient the prisoner by keeping things hidden from them (The identities of their captors, their location…etc).  The other reason is that it is easier to be cruel to someone that is anonymous.  Psychologists say that it is hard to look into someones eyes and torture them.  Being face to face with a person invites relationship.  To be able to kill we must make it impersonal.

Caiaphas had heard enough.  He tore his robe and accused Jesus of blasphemy.  The silent gentleness of the Lamb of God angered the religious leader.  This would be easier if Jesus would fight back.  I would imagine that Caiaphas had a hard time looking Jesus in the eyes during his jealous rant.  Can you imagine looking into the eyes of Jesus and knowing that He could see right through you and into your soul.  The Scripture tells us that God gives us the “knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).  Maybe Caiaphas ordered the guards to cover His face as they began the physical abuse that would continue through the night.  So  they blindfolded Jesus and started to beat Him.  The other gospel accounts say the soldiers spit on Him and punched Him with their fists.  “Who hit you?, they asked.  Was Jesus tempted to say the name of each man that hit Him?  He could have said their name and the names of their wives and children and described to them their deepest fears…He knew them…but they did not want to be known so they covered His face.

Can you blindfold the God of the Universe?  Before this night would end the eyes of the Savior would be swollen shut from the beatings but He could still see every face that night.  Jesus walked to the cross with His divine eyes wide open.  He knew every person in the crowd and He knew their sin.

Are you ever tempted to try and cover the face of God?  Do we attempt to cover God’s eyes and hope that He doesn’t know what we are doing?  Or do we cover His His face so that we don’t have to look into the eyes of the God who made us and knows us better than we know ourselves?  Psalm 139 tells us that we cannot hide from God.  He saw you in your mother’s womb and has watched you since.  The Apostle John says that one of the greatest blessings we will receive when we get to heaven is that we will “see His face” (Revelation 22:4).

Today, let us look into the eyes of Jesus and invite Him to look into ours.  Don’t be afraid.  In them you will find comfort, healing and encouragement.

“Then seizing Him, they led Him away and took Him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down with them…
…but he denied it. ‘Woman, I don’t know Him.’
…’You also are one of them’…’Man, I am not!’ Peter replied.
…Peter replied, ‘Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!’ Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.” (Luke 22:54, 57-61)

Could you deny Jesus?  If you say anything other than “yes”, you have deceived yourself or you have been deceived.  We are all capable of falling into the pit that Peter found himself that night.  The real question is, how can we avoid the situations that would bring this failure about?  Looking at the verses above we can learn some simple lessons from Peter that can help us on our journey with Jesus.  I think that Peter does two things that facilitate his denials.

First, we see that Peter followed Jesus to the courtyard of Caiaphas but, the Scripture says he followed “at a distance”.  Peter loved Jesus and was bold enough to want to see what was going to happen but fear kept the big fisherman at arms length from his Master.  To be too close may be dangerous or, at least, make for some uncomfortable confrontations.  Many of us who have a relationship with Jesus want to be with Him but we follow at a safe distance.  We are afraid to step out and be identified with the Savior.  We don’t mind being associated with Him on a Sunday morning in the comfort of the church with other disciples but keep our distance the rest of the week in the courtyards of the marketplace.  “If they find out I am a Christian it could make things complicated.”  Denial is around the corner.  “I avoid conversations about God and keep my faith to myself.”  Denial is standing by.  Here’s a warning from the life of a disciple; if you are following Jesus from a safe distance you are setting up the perfect scenario for denial.

Secondly, Peter not only keeps his distance but, he also tries to blend in with the crowd…”Peter sat down with them”.  Instead of getting close to the event at hand and encouraging Jesus by being there, he was getting comfortable by the fire held captive by his fears.  “If I just act like everyone else maybe they won’t talk to me about it.”  The stage is set.  If you are trying to blend in so you won’t have to talk about your faith, you are already living denial and the words are soon to follow.

Jesus calls us to a faith that can be sometimes dangerous and frequently inconvenient.  If we are to avoid the temptation to deny our Lord in these times we must keep near Him.  Jesus said,  “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you” (John 15:4).  We also must not be ashamed of Him and attempt to live the life of an under cover disciple.  Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14).

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)

“Those who had arrested Jesus took Him to Caiaphas, the high priest…Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ But Jesus remained silent.” (Matthew 26:57, 62-63)

Have you ever had a hard time being quiet? Was there ever a time when it took everything within you to not say something?  Here we find Jesus before the high priest and a parade of false witnesses.  He has been arrested, bond and dragged from the garden of Gethsemane down the steep road through the Kidron Valley and up a hill into the city.  He is on a journey to the cross.  It is a journey to lay His life down for the sins of all humankind.  But before He gets to Calvary He will be taken from courtyard to courtyard and have to endure false accusations and a predetermined sentence by a kangaroo court.

Why didn’t He defend Himself?  Here stands the Master Story Teller who spoke to thousands and drew crowds wherever He went.  He could have argued circles around His captors but, the One who spoke the world into existence remained silent…”like a lamb to the slaughter.”  A few hours ago an entire contingent of armed Roman soldiers fell down at the sound of His voice but now…He says nothing to defend Himself.

He could have said something and, it may be that He was tempted to let them know the part that they were about to play in God’s plan to save the world.  This is just another aspect of Jesus’ sacrifice that comes forward through this long night.  He did not need to defend Himself and, therefore, dignify these corrupt proceedings.  In fact, His silence highlighted the unjustified cruelty of the world and revealed the holy innocence of the Savior.  We should take time to meditate on the great chasm between man and God that this brings out.  It is the very reason that Jesus had to walk this road.  He was to be the bridge for us to be reconciled to our Creator.  He came to make it possible for Caiaphas, Pilate, Herod, the Roman soldiers, the frightened disciples, you and me to experience forgiveness and restoration no matter where we have been or what we have done.

So, maybe He was silent because even when being treated so horribly, He could only respond with the love He described in the sermon on the mount, “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matthew 5:39)

“By Faith Abraham, when called to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went…made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country…for he was looking forward to the city whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10)

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” (Hebrews 11:24-26)

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame…” (Hebrews 12:2)

A Key characteristic of faith is being able to keep our eyes on the goal that is set before us.  The eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews is known as the faith chapter because it opens with a definition of faith and then lists examples of those who have lived it out.  Some were called to go to unknown places while others were led to give up positions of privilege and power.  Many of the stories involve believers who endured great suffering in the name of the Lord.  But all of them, whatever the circumstances, were called to an “inconvenient” obedience.  Faith tends to take us from the comforts of the “known” into the “unseen” and unexpected.  The very definition of faith is a willingness to see past the temporary things of this world and focus on the goal that God has set before us.

Abraham was able to get up and move without knowing exactly where he was going.  He was willing to live in tents his whole life as a stranger in a foreign land because his eyes were on something greater…eternal…the Kingdom of God.  Moses was willing to give up his position in Pharaoh’s palace, endure disgrace and be exiled for the sake of God and His Kingdom.  Why?  Because he had his heart set on the rewards to come rather than the temporary pleasures of this world.

For us, during this time of lent, we look to the obedience of Jesus that takes Him from the comfort and security of a prayer garden to the noisy cries of a blood thirsty mob.  Jesus has prayed and it has been confirmed that this is the will of the Father.  With the same determination we saw in Abraham and Moses, Jesus leaves the comforts of this world for the sake of the world “unseen”…the Kingdom.  The writer of Hebrews says that Jesus was able to endure all this “for the joy set before Him”.

As we follow Jesus through the narrow streets of Jerusalem we will find it hard to find joy.  Jesus was dragged from place to place like a lamb being led to the slaughter.  “For the joy set before Him..”?  Jesus was able to look past the suffering and shame of the cross and see the joy that comes only when we faithfully follow the Father’s will.

Where is your faith?  What is it that you have your eyes fixed on?  Is it the temporary pleasures of this world or, maybe, your own ambitions and goals?  The verses above give us specific instructions…”Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”!  This is the faith that allows you to face every day with purpose and meaning…no matter what comes your way.

“One day Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, He fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ‘Where is your faith?’ He asked His disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him.” (Luke 8:22-25)

This is the fourth Sabbath observance on our walk through this lenten time of remembrance. Sabbath is a time to rest and to experience the peace of God that comes as a result of His sacrifice. The Scripture above is a great meditation for today as we see Jesus calming the storm. He has certainly come to give us peace in the storms of this world.  Isaiah called the Messiah the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).  When the angels announced His birth to the shepherds they said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:14).

The disciples knew this about Jesus but when it came to the practical application to their lives there seemed to be a disconnect.  For many of us this can be true.  It’s not a matter of not knowing who God is.  We know that He is The Prince of Peace and our Refuge and Strength.  But when the storms of life come down upon our personal boat…we panic.  In our story Jesus did not seem to concerned with the situation.   In fact, the Scripture tells us that He was sleeping.  He is the model of “peace” in the midst of the storm.  Once awakened by the stressed out disciples, Jesus calms the storm but, He was calm before that.  We should remember that every physical miracle that Jesus did revealed a deeper spiritual truth.  The calming of the sea was a revelation of what He already does in our spirits…He brings peace in the midst of the storm.  What He is saying to the disciples is the same thing that He said to Joshua and David, “Do not fear, I am with you!”

After the sea calmed the disciples recognized that Jesus was the One who comes with the authority to bring peace!  If Jesus is in the boat of your life…you’re going to be ok.  Do you think these guys ever looked at a storm the same way again.  I’m willing to bet that the fear factor was significantly less.  Why?  Because they had seen it.  But, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and still believe!” (John 20:29).

Most of you have storms in your life right now or, at least, you can see something on the horizon.  Know this today, Jesus comes to give you peace amidst the storm.  The winds may still be blowing and your world may still be rocking but the Prince of Peace who has authority over all these things can calm your fear.  The question is…do you have Jesus in your boat?

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

At this point of our lenten journey we will be looking at the most brutal few hours of the passion story. The physical suffering of Jesus at the hands of His enemies is not an easy thing to think about. Many fast forward to the cross and bypass the flogging and the beatings but, these aspects of the story are also necessary.  The passage above speaks of the Christ being “pierced”, “crushed”, “punished” and “wounded” for our sake…in our place.

We must first realize that these horrors, as detailed in the Scripture, are a direct result of our “transgressions” and our “iniquities”.  You see, sin has consequences.  The Apostle Paul said, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  This is not a new revelation.  In the paradise of Eden, God told Adam and Eve that eating from the tree in the middle of the garden would bring death (Genesis 2:17) and they chose to eat from it anyway.   Paul also said, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  “We all, like sheep, have gone astray,” said Isaiah.  There is no mistaking that we are all suffering from the same fatal condition.  But God, motivated by love, stepped in and took what we deserved so we wouldn’t have to.

There is, however, another aspect of this verse that I think is important…”by His wounds we are healed“.  This act of love is more than Jesus taking a lash for us, it is a healing.  The cross not only brings forgiveness (mercy) but it also restores and gives eternal life (grace).  We have been mortally wounded by sin and rebellion but Christ has taken the consequence (death) upon Himself so that we could be…healed.  Not just “saved” from condemnation but born again to eternal life and fellowship with our Creator.

The cross is not just a story of God taking our punishment, it is a story of God giving us healing…peace…life…reconciliation.  The Gospel message is more than taking away the bad…it is giving the good.  It is more than taking away death…it is giving life.  The wounds of Jesus are a balm on our wounded souls.  They make possible the mending of the brokenhearted.  They set the prisoner free.

As we walk these final hours with Jesus we must remember that every blow that Jesus takes is for our salvation and our restoration.  Why?  Because He loves us and genuine love is revealed in the sacrifice of the cross.  The suffering of Jesus should remind us of the ugliness of our sin and drive us to our knees in repentance.  When we humble ourselves before Him, we will not only experience forgiveness but, peace.  It is only at the cross that we can find that peace.

“…by His wounds, you are healed.”

“While He was in Bethany, in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, ‘Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a years wages and the money given to the poor. And they rebuked her harshly. ‘Leave her alone,’ said Jesus, ‘Why are you bothering her? she has done a beautiful thing to Me.  The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them anytime you want.  But you will not always have Me.  She did what she could.  She poured perfume on My body beforehand to prepare for My burial.  I tell you the truth, wherever the Gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’  Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.” (Mark 14:3-10)

This is a beautiful story of sacrificial love on the eve of the greatest act of love that ever occurred.  This unnamed woman crashes a dinner party, where the disciples and Jesus were guests, in order to express her love to the Lord.  She is carrying the most valuable thing to her…a jar of perfume.  It is worth a years wages but she isn’t focused on that.  In reckless abandon she breaks the jar and pours it on Jesus’ head.  It is an act of worship.  It is an act of love.  When we are in love we do the craziest things!

Her act, however, is seen as a waste by those closest to Jesus.  Their thoughts turn toward practical matters of ministry rather than expressions of worship.  They are evaluating the gift in terms of it’s value and usefulness and, therefore, do not see it as a sacrifice.  What is it that causes the disciples to see “waste” instead of “sacrifice”?  I wonder how many times we have done the same thing?  Someone we know is moved by their love for Jesus to give sacrificially and we criticize them, or worse, stop them.  The Gospel tells us that it was after this event that Judas decided that he would betray Jesus.  This may have been the last straw.  Judas was a practical man and Jesus had proved Himself to be an impractical Savior.  Jesus was more concerned about dealing with individuals than the greater issues of a self proclaimed Messiah.

Maybe this is why the disciples missed the significance of the cross at first.  They saw it as a “waste” of a great man instead of the sacrifice of a loving God.  We could apply their critical words in the story above to the cross.  “What a waste.  He could have done so much more.”  Really?

Jesus describes the loving act of this woman as “beautiful”.  What his followers saw as a waste, He saw as wondrous!  We look at the story of the woman and we get it but, when we look at the cross, which is the Heavenly Father pouring out everything to show His love for us, do we see it as “beautiful”.  Today, lets look at the cross and see it as the greatest act of love that ever was…Jesus laying down His life for His friends.

“You are My friends” (John 15:14)