“Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer?’…But Jesus remained silent.” (Matthew 26:62)
Jesus on demand? We live in a time when the phrase “On Demand” is important to us. It is not good enough to have so many things “available” to us, we want them to be available whenever we “demand” it. We want to be in control. We want to call the shots. We want to be the Lord of our own lives. Well, this is not so new. From the garden of Eden we have wanted to make our own rules and wanted to be our own god.
During Jesus’ life people were always demanding that He perform for them. Whether for curiosity’s sake or for entertainment, they would constantly hound Him for a sign or miracle. “Do this!” “Go here!” “Say this!” What we want is a God who is “On Demand”. One who will do what I want when I want the way I want. We don’t want a god…we want a gofer. We don’t want a lord we want a genie. Even during the trials and the mocking at the cross people were shouting demands at Jesus. “Prophesy!” demanded the guards. “Save yourself!” shouted the crowd at the cross. “Speak!” demanded the high priest.
Is it possible that you treat God like this? Could it be that you are guilty of seeing Jesus as someone who is there to do your bidding? A puppet who responds when you pull certain strings. As you meditate on the passion story this season notice that Jesus was always in control of what seems to be an “out of control” situation. People still wanted Him to perform but He is not a Savior “On Demand”. He is our Lord, our Master, our Creator and our Father. We are to follow His lead not the other way around.
Today, ask God to forgive you for your misguided assumptions that He is at your disposal. Today, submit to Him and receive the blessings that He has for you. Thank Him for not caving in to the demands of the ignorant on Calvary. It is because He is a God that is not “On Demand” that you and I can experience forgiveness and the free gift of God which is eternal life.
Blessings.