Notes to the Lord:Grace that Reaches

Matthew 27

27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. 28They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.

Lord Jesus--You suffered at the hands of Pilate. Then there was humiliation at the hands of guards that were looking for amusement at the expense of the condemned. You understand injustice right to its core.

29And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"30They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head.

Lord Jesus--Did any of these solders ever come to know you and regret these moments of cruelty? This was execution that was meant to make a statement. It was not just death at the hands of the executioner, but execution tailored to repudiate and annihilate who you were.

You have been to the darkest places of human hearts, and you went there to make a way for grace to enter the world. Grace has to have been able to reach the very soldiers who humiliated you.

How far does grace reach? It reaches beyond where I ever expected it can go. It reaches to the very places that it would seem to be most unlikely. Your grace reaches me.

31After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. 32As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.

Lord Jesus--Help me to look for your grace in places where I would never expect it to reach, don't let me be satisfied with a small grace that only fits my limited categories. Help me to live out an extravagant grace

Notes to the Lord: On Envy, Injustice and Shouting

Scripture Reflection:Matthew 27

¹⁵Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. ¹⁶At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. ¹⁷So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" ¹⁸For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.

Lord Jesus--Pilate was looking for a way out. He was looking for a way to defuse the escalating situation that confronted him. Barabbas from all that we know was a rebel and and insurrectionist. The choice was between you who had healed the sick of Jerusalem before their eyes and one who had lead them in rebellion.

Pilate could see that there were undercurrents that had driven You to his judgment seat. His insight that envy was the motivator was very accurate. You did what no one else could do. The leadership of the nation could not have that. They wanted control more than they wanted to see God work among them.

Ultimately, they envied you for your connection to the Father so much that they were willing to be implicit in your death.

¹⁹While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, "Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him."

Lord Jesus--Pilate had information from unusual sources. I wonder what was going through his mind when this message arrived. I don't know where this dream came from, and ultimately it did him little good.

I am more and more aware of the direction and leadership of your Holy Spirit in more ways that I know or understand. Help me pay attention to all the ways that you seek to communicate with me.

²⁰But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. ²¹But the governor said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." ²²Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Crucify Him!" ²³And he said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they kept shouting all the more, saying, "Crucify Him!"

Lord Jesus--I wonder about the people in the crowd and their shouts. Those shouting all had their

own motives and reasons. Some at the direction of their leadership were just doing what was asked of them. Some were there just for the excitement and the drama.The crowd can be so changeable and fickle. Had some of those in this crowd been at the gate when you entered less than a week before? Were there some who had shouted praise now calling for your death?

Some there had been touched by you and your teaching. There were those all through Jerusalem who had been healed by you and who had heard your voice in the temple teaching. Were there people in the crowd that day who were shouting for your release? Did they shout with all their might and still get drowned out? Sometimes all we can do is keep shouting even when it is drowned out by the crowd.

²⁴When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this Man's blood; see to that yourselves." ²⁵And all the people said, "His blood shall be on us and on our children!" ²⁶Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Lord Jesus--Pilate did not want to be responsible for your death and yet he was the one who signed the orders to have it done. He tried to make a stand for truth in the middle of an unjust proceeding. The Roman's who believed so strongly in the rule of law, ended up carrying out the greatest of injustice of all time.

Lord Jesus--In the day that will begin in just a few hours, help me to be a person sensitive to your voice and willing to speak out even when it doesn't seem like anyone is listening.

Notes to the Lord: On Power

Scripture Reflection:Matthew 27

¹¹Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And Jesus said to him, "It is as you say."

¹²And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer.

¹³Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?"

¹⁴And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.

Lord Jesus--The power of Pilate was fleeting at best. He was a governor who would soon be replaced. He governed an area that would in just a few short years erupt in rebellion against Imperial Rome. But for the time being he had the power to decide what was going to be done with you. This was one decision in a career of decisions. It is the one for which he is remembered. He was the one to condemn the Son of God.

So what can I take away from Pilate? He was someone that only had power over you because you allowed it. Power and influence are only on loan from you. They are not a right. The influence that I have is from your hand. Help me to use it in a way that honors you. All the places that I end up are places that you have allowed. Your hand is in it, and I can trust that you will give me the wisdom I need.

Lord Jesus--In the week that will begin in just a few hours help me to honor you in the ways that I use the influence that you have allowed me.

Notes to the Lord:On Grace and Silver

Matthew 27
7And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter's Field as a burial place for strangers. 8For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

Lord Jesus--The early church knew where this field was without even thinking about it. It would be like me giving directions to Cafe Lena's..."Well you go down Washington and turn left on Broadway..." Even as Matthew was writing this there were those who may have whistled as they went by it's entrance. By the time the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD the memory was lost in the destruction, death and rubble.

9Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel; 10AND THEY GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER'S FIELD, AS THE LORD DIRECTED ME."

Lord Jesus--Matthew could have walked me over to that field and pointed out the graves that lacked any markers where the poor ended up. What was plain to Matthew as he wrote his gospel, has become an act of faith for me 2000 years later. I believe that there was an actual field that Matthew could have pointed out to me.

I accept what your word says. I believe that there was meaning in the fulfillment of the prediction of betrayal and its cost. I take hope in the fact that during a very dark time, you gave your people words of prophetic hope. Hope that spans the centuries.

I am sure that the Father knew from eternity past where the silver was going to come from that would form those thirty pieces of silver. He could have tracked the trail of those coins, just like United Parcel Service, before they became the cost of betrayal. Yet, the Father gave the words to the prophet Jeremiah and he allowed the silver to be mined. The Father knew what was going to happen to you and yet sent you here with those silver coins jiggling in the background. I find hope in that kind of love.

Father--You know the days of my life, they are not foreign to you. You do not suffer from future shock or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder even though your only Son was murdered on this dark piece of rock we call Earth. You provided a means for your grace to reach me even though it cost you so dearly. There is reason for hope because your grace always finds me.

Father--In this day that will start in just a few hours, teach me more about grace help me to live it out.

Notes to the Lord: On Remorse

Scripture Reflections: Matthew 27

1Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; 2and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.

Lord Jesus--Your trial was much like the justice that poor people get most of the time. There were no high priced lawyers for the King of Kings, just conferring between those in power. There was only the use of whatever power was available to get the Roman's to act.

3Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

Lord Jesus--The motivation of Judas is a mystery. Why did he do what he did? Was it the money? Was it to feel important?

I would like think that I am somehow different and above the possibility of betraying you. Yet, we are not that much different, Judas and I. The differences are only the ones that grace received makes. Nothing more...there is nothing that I can add to that grace.

Saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to that yourself!" 5And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.

Lord Jesus--The weight of what Judas had done was too heavy for him to carry. He was able to see the reality of your innocence in the hands of a corrupt and bankrupt system as he realized that you were condemned.

Judas was left with remorse. He was sorry for his sin. Grace is never cheap...why is it that we have this idea that if we are sorry that it some how changes things. My feeling sorry is never enough. You do not want my guilt or my remorse you want to bring your grace. Whenever I hang on to my sin it is always too heavy to hold.

Lord Jesus, You bring me back again and again to the place of grace. Everything is grace received. Bring grace in this day...

Notes to the Lord:Tears

Matthew26

69Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said.70But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.

Lord Jesus--You knew from the first time that you met Peter that this night was coming in this life. This fall from grace was on his journey. You told him of it and yet he seemed unable to avoid it. The theological arguments continue to swirl as to if it could have been differennt. What is clear is the cost of this interchange.

Do the circumstances of our lives form who we are, or just reveal them? The make up of Peter was impulsivity, emotion and action all rolled up in one. His thoughts about his actions seem to have been somewhere along the road as he was looking in his rear-view mirror.

It was icing on the cake that he denied his relationship with you to a servant girl. The big, impulsive ex-fisherman could not tell the truth to a little servant girl. I wonder if Peter even noticed what he had done at this point in the events of this evening.

71Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." 72He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!"

Lord Jesus--I wonder when Peter started to get the feeling that he was dancing on a cliff with nowhere to fall but down? Was it when this second girl walked up to him? Maybe it was when he heard himself using the old language that had not been a part of his daily life while with you...I have to believe it was the old language coming out of his mouth.

73After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away." 74Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!"

Lord Jesus--Thankfully we don't have the audio of this event. I am sure it would not be the kind of sound bite that could be used in worship.

This incident is so raw and uncluttered...no excuses, no back peddling from the edge. Just the truth in all of its hurt and pain. Peter falling head long into one of the biggest hurts of his life. There would be other's...a church dinner in Galatia was coming...and a cross somewhere near Rome if church tradition is right.

But for now there are these three people each with a face that was etched into Peter's memory forever...this was Peter's reality.

Immediately a rooster crowed. 75Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly

Lord Jesus--I think I get the tears part of this...it is after the fact when the truth of the reality and it's cost is setting in that emotion comes. His tears were cried alone somewhere outside the meeting of the place of the Sanhedrin. Did Peter ever walk by that corner and remember those tears? Did they change him? Without your grace they were just bitter tears.

Lord Jesus--Thank you for your forgiveness which reaches me right in the middle of my bitter tears.

Notes to the Lord:On Fair Hearings

Matthew 26
59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.60But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61and declared, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.' "

Lord Jesus--There were those who were listening to your teaching and twisting it...people can take anything that is said and twist it on it head. That is just a part of the deal.

You continue to speak to your people, work in our hearts and minds in a way that transcends logic and understanding. Work in power in this day. Use your word to make a difference in spite of those who stand and the side lines and twist. You knew what it was like to be attacked with your own words.

62Then 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?" 63But Jesus remained silent.

You didn't even have to respond to the lies. Their words stand in judgment against those who spoke them. Lord Jesus--In this day help me to speak words of grace given by you to those that surround me or help me keep my mouth shut.

The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." 64"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Lord Jesus--These were words of prophecy you spoke to your accusers. These have not come to pass yet. Your return will be in power and glory and majestic wonder. There will be no questioning and no chance to interrogate you again. There will only be time for worship. These men did not hear the power in these words...they only heard an accusation to raise against you.

65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered. 67Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"

I wonder if, in the coming years if those who struck you regretted it? Did they come to a new place in their view of you? Did they come to suspect anything when the tomb was empty? I wonder if they ever came to understand the injustice they showed the Lord of Creation. I hope so.

Lord Jesus--Help me to understand and work through the implications of the simple fact: that it was not fair for you...it will not be fair for me. Yet, in the experiencing of that unfair hearing there is opportunity for God to work in power. Work Holy Spirit.