Cross

He Gave Him No Answer

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But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed Matthew 27:14 ESV

I have a small confession to make. Some days I love to complain. I complain about the weather. I complain about my church, my kids and even my wife. Some nights as I lay my head on the pillow and replay the whiny remarks which I made I wonder how I could have been so unkind and wish I had kept my lips sealed.

Jesus on the other hand had no shortage of things to complain about. But on the worst die of his short life, Jesus encouraged a thief; made sure His mother was taken care of and forgave His enemies. How could He do that? What was His secret?

Some years ago I was bringing a truckload of branches to our local landfill. At the entrance was a one story cement block booth with an attendant who checked each vehicles weight. As I pulled up to get our weigh in slip, I saw there by the side of the operator’s window a small sign with an arrow pointed up stating, “Complaint department upstairs!”

How can we be patient like Jesus, when others mistreat or abuse us physically or verbally? The answer is in knowing where the complaint department is located. Telling our neighbors, our family or our enemies the way we feel won’t help. Our only response is to quietly trust that our cry is heard by the only one who can deliver us. Then in the same way that Jesus did we can give ourselves into the hands of the one who loved us and gave His life for ours.

The Rooster Crowed

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And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.   Matthew 26:75 ESV

In the pre-dawn hours after the arrest of Jesus, Peter was determined to see if he could find a way to free him. First he followed the soldiers as they led Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. But as he entered with John through the doorway a young servant girl who was watching them asked curiously, “Weren’t you one of them with Jesus?” Maybe Peter turned with a distracted look on his face to answer, “No, not me. You must be mistaken.” Then He moved on to try and plan what to do next. But another person pointed at him saying. “Oh yes I am sure I saw you with him!” But Peter shook his head and looked away saying, “You must be mistaken. I do not know this man.”  Finally as he worked his way closer to where Jesus stood Peter tried questioning the others around him to find out what was going on when someone tapped him on the shoulder saying, “Hey buddy, I am sure by your accent, that you are from Galilee. You are one His disciples aren’t you?” “Me. Are you kidding?” Peter nervously answered and as he began to curse and swear a rooster crowed and he remembered what Jesus had told him. Worse yet, Jesus turned and looked right at Peter.  In that instant he knew that he had miserably failed, just as Jesus had said. But there remained hope, even as he ran out weeping in disgust at his own weakness. There was great hope for Peter, just as there is for us. After the resurrection, Peter, discovered that his failure was the beginning of hope built on mercy and held together by the love of Jesus Christ.

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Did God Say No? In the Shadow of the Cross

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And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.            Matthew 26:39 KJV

Do you ever wonder if God is listening to your prayers? Does it sometimes feel as if your desires are somehow out of line with the universe? But what about Jesus? Didn’t He pray for God to work out some way that didn’t include the cross? Did God say “No” to Him?

Maybe God’s answer to our prayers is not what we hope for but He looks far ahead past our struggles just as in Gethsemane. On the third day we can see that Jesus wasn’t being ignored and neither are we today. We are each being listened to by a loving Father who quietly waits between our “If it is possible” and “Nevertheless not as I will”. Even when the situation looks hopeless; God not only hears, but He is mysteriously preparing an answer beyond anything we can imagine. When we pray and the answer seems far away we need to remind ourselves that Jesus first drank the bitterness of His cup to later exchange it for a joy that lay beyond the grave.

 

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Prayer: Father -some days it seems that trials are all that lie ahead. Some days it feels as if my prayers are unanswered, but I know that you are listening. Help me to trust that your will is far better than mine and that on the other side of this darkness is a joy that will never fade away.