Cross

Jesus is Not Under Quarentine!

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

We can no longer gather at our church. Small group meetings have been cancelled. Our lives have been put on hold and one knows when this will be over. But as Easter approaches God’s word had good news for our souls: His answers to our prayers are not under quarentine!

God is neither limited in His ability to come to our rescue nor is He worried about how long our situation will continue. He wants us to be encouraged because just as the Roman guards could not prevent Jesus from rising from the dead so also no disease, no job loss or social upheaval can stop His work in our hearts.

No media reports, no public scoffing, no military attack can ever separate us from God’s promises. Jesus didn’t just suffer unjustly and helplessly die. No! But through the cross He defeated forever the one who brought death and destruction into the world and secured forever our freedom. No one is like Him because Jesus is not under quarentine!

All Things

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 ESV

To be entirely honest the disabling helplessness brought on by this Covid-19 crisis rubs me like an ill fitting pair of shoes. It is frustrating being cooped up at home with important questions like, “How can one tiny virus turn our world upside down?” and, “How the heck can you shop on line for bananas?” On top of everything else I also stupidly walked into a chair leg and hence now have a broken toe. This morning as I look out the window I realize that I can’t bring in the garbage can, can’t trim the small tree in our back yard or even water my flowers. If you are like me hearing that word; “Can’t – can’t – can’t” is like the annoying jingle of a television commercial. It isn’t that I couldn’t ask for my wife to wheel our trash can back in and water the garden; it is that right now I am dependent and I really need someone’s help.

That dependence is what Jesus was pressing for His disciples to understand as He prepared Himself for His own hour of helplessness. Less than 24 hour later His hands which had once cleansed the lepers, would be nailed to a piece of wood; His feet which had walked on waves would be unable to take a single step and His head that had been anointed with perfumed oil would bleed from the piercings of a crown of thorns. The creator of the universe would hang suffering and unable to move in front of all the world and there He show us the power of His love and give us His life for us so that we could say:

I can do all things through him who strengthens me Philippians 4:13 KJV

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Father Forgive

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And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.   Luke 23:34 KJV

 

Whenever the president goes about nominating anyone for service in the government he makes up what people often refer to as a short list of names. These are the most qualified, smartest and powerful folks available. Add to those qualities the need of their having no embarrassing past, no criminal record or financial entanglements. Only after the best of the best have been narrowed down is the final the choice made. The good news for us is that God works in a different manner. His short list of candidates included corrupt politicians like Pilate; condemned criminals like the thieves being crucified with him and even a disciple named Peter who had denied him three times. Our greatest hope in the promise of Easter is in the forgiveness of sins that Jesus offers. We are as far from God as the soldiers who nailed His hands to the cross and Jesus reaches out to all of us in His prayer.

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Do you feel far from God’s plans for your life? Do you feel hopelessly tangled in a lifestyle that is leading you away from Him? The best news in the universe is; even if you had been one of those who gathered the thorns that were plaited into His crown, He would still want you as His child!