S.W.I.M. Up through the Depths with Beowulf
March 31, 2020 at 12:29 pm | Posted in Quotes | 1 CommentTags: Beowulf, Biblical depths, Douglas Wilson, Douglas Wilson quotes, Psalm 130, Psalm 77, quotes about swimming, swim quotes
Soon that great swimmer, who struggled to victory,
Who bested demons in battle, breasted and kicked his way up.
The currents were cleared, the sea creature was gone,
From that watery waste, since the wandering ghoul
Left this life, lost to the world.
He then swam to the shore, that sailor-protector,
Solid in soul, in the spoil rejoicing,
Holding that head, and the hilt of the sword.
From Beowulf, a New Verse Rendering by Douglas Wilson
Twenty-Fifth Fitt, lines 1680-1689
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.
Psalm 130:1
The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
Psalm 77:16
Expecting Jesus
March 27, 2020 at 9:11 am | Posted in John | 3 CommentsTags: commentary on John, fishers of men, Gospel of John, Jesus Christ, Jesus's appearing, John 21, Sunday School lessons on John
The final chapter in the Gospel of John teaches us how we, as believers, are to relate to our risen Lord.
First, we must be ready for Him to appear at any moment – both “spiritually” (figuratively) and literally.
After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
John 21:1
Second, we must obey Him
Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
John 21:5-6
We fish for men, but we must do it according to Jesus’s instructions. He has fish waiting for us to catch, but we don’t catch them with a depth finder, a fancy rod and reel, or a stick of dynamite tossed over the side of a boat. Those methods are exciting, but they are our own contraptions. We simply lower the net of the Gospel message and Jesus arranges it so that we haul in as many as He has prepared to be caught.
Third, we must love Him more and more.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
John 21:15-17
We love Him more by knowing Him more but also by loving and serving (feeding) His people (His lambs and His sheep).
Fourth, we must follow Him.
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
John 21:18-19
This was not merely Jesus’s recruiting pitch. It is an ongoing command for all of us. Our lives are inextricably linked to Him now. Just as He died, our old selves died with Him; and just as He rose, we are raised with Him to a new life. This may very well mean following Him into pain, sorrow, persecution, trials, struggles, and what we think of as premature death.
Loud and Clear
March 25, 2020 at 11:10 am | Posted in Jeremiah | 2 CommentsTags: Biblical prophecy, bold preaching, commentary on Jeremiah, Jeremiah 1, Jeremiah 2, spiritual battle, Sunday School lessons on Jeremiah
In Chapter One, Jeremiah was called and commissioned by God as a prophet to the kingdom of Judah. He was warned that this would not be a pleasant task, but he was also encouraged by the dual promise of God’s Word and His presence. We, too, have these same promises – in some ways to a greater extent: not just periodic revelations and instructions, but the full Book. And not just an intellectual and faith-based experience of God’s presence, but the constant in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
We DO have those promises and assurances, but we DO NOT have the promise that our attempts to speak “prophetically” will be well-received, nor that they might not put us in danger. Just like Jeremiah, we should expect skepticism, anger, rejection, struggle, and even battle.
Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.
Jeremiah 1:17
Girding up the loins was what men in Bible times did when things were about to get real: for running or fighting or working.
For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.
Jeremiah 1:18
A defenced city is a place of protection, but the walls do get battered.
And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
Jeremiah 1:19
After giving Jeremiah the visions or illustrations of the urgency of his mission (God’s judgment was right at hand), He told him to go right to the “heart” of the problem.
Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
Jeremiah 2:1-2
Jerusalem was the capital of Judah, and the geographical capital of God’s Kingdom on earth. There was no “time in the minors” for Jeremiah; he was sent straight to the big leagues. Nor was there any “spying out” period; no “getting the lay of the land.” The command to “cry in the ears” was a command to get right in their faces, to be loud and bold. We think of proximity to the ear as an occasion for whispering, but Jeremiah was told to YELL right in their ears, and he started by delivering the preamble to a legal declaration by God against the people and the nation. This was like an indictment or the service of a lawsuit. It began with the history of the unfaithfulness of God’s covenant people.
Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the Lord. Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
Jeremiah 2:3-5
Scars in Heaven?
March 23, 2020 at 10:16 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 3 CommentsTags: bodily resurrection, glorified bodies, Heaven, Jesus Christ, Resurrection bodies, scars, the Resurrection
Question: For Christians, if our bodies have scars in this life, will we still have those scars in Heaven?
Answer: I wish I could be more definitive on this one. I don’t know for sure how this will work. It is clear from Scripture that true Christians will have “glorified” bodies after the final resurrection (I Corinthians 15:42-54). These bodies will not experience pain nor sickness nor aging nor decay nor any infirmities, but they will still be “our” earthly bodies which God will somehow transform into a glorified state or form. Most of what we know about these “glorified” bodies comes from what the Scripture teaches us about Jesus’s glorified body after His Resurrection (Luke 24:39-43). They will be magnificent, but I do not know for sure if they will have scars.
I will speculate a little if you will not hold it against me 🙂. Jesus’s resurrected body still had the places (the “imprints” if you will) where His hands/wrists were pierced by the nails and where the Roman soldier’s spear pierced His side (John 20:24-29). I don’t know if those count as “scars” or not, but it may indicate that scars received in our earthly lives which bring glory to God will remain with us for a joyful testimony in our glorified bodies in Heaven. Perhaps other scars will disappear. I don’t know. As my wife has said, scars are, in a sense, evidence of healing, so we might value having those as eternal reminders of God’s grace in Heaven. Whatever the case, God will do what is best, and everything He does will bring eternal joy to true Christians once He calls us home.
Here is an article my wife wrote several years ago for one of our friends, which contains some great encouragement concerning scars: “From Battle Scars to Beauty Marks.”
A Blind Beggar and a Short Order Crook
March 19, 2020 at 11:02 am | Posted in Biblical Eyesight, Luke | 2 CommentsTags: commentary on Luke, eyesight, following Jesus, Friend of Sinners, Luke 18, Luke 19, Sunday School lessons on Luke, the blind beggar, Zacchaeus
The Bible tells of two men who at first could not see Jesus – for different reasons. Was there a time when you wanted to see Jesus but could not? Do you remember what your reaction was the first time you did see Him?
And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
Luke 18:35
Jericho was on the way to Jerusalem, which is where Jesus and His followers were going for Passover. This blind beggar had probably strategically placed himself in the path of religious people.
And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
Luke 18:36-38
He used the Messianic title, pleading for mercy. He understood what the Disciples did not: that the One Who can “save” (sozo) – who could fulfill all the prophecies of the Messiah and truly deliver and heal blind people and cast out demons and make the lame to walk – was here, fulfilling the Scriptures. What an advertising campaign! Is this how you would choose to market your new business? Get some homeless blind guy to shout it out on the side of the highway? Or cause a disturbance somewhere, and when everybody gets mad at you, tell them all about it?
And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
Luke 18:39-42
The man got his sight because of his faith. Faith comes by hearing, not by seeing. We walk by faith and not by sight, although a desire to see is a very good thing.
And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
Luke 19:1-2
Zacchaeus was not only a crook, but a chief crook and a rich crook. We might also call him a “short” order crook.
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
Luke 19:3-4
Climbing up in a tree was not very dignified behavior for a rich publican.
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
Luke 19:5
How would you feel about Jesus inviting Himself to your house?
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
Luke 19:6
When you see Jesus, follow Him, talk about Him, and praise Him with others.
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
Luke 19:7
These people were talking about Zacchaeus, referring to Him as a sinner. Nobody ever really accused Jesus of being a sinner; they accused Him of being the friend of sinners.
And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
Luke 19:8
Zacchaeus’s reaction was the opposite of the rich young ruler’s reaction.
And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
Luke 19:9
The true sons of Abraham are those who are truly saved.
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10
Seeing, Touching, Hearing, Reading, and Believing
March 17, 2020 at 10:23 am | Posted in Biblical Eyesight, John | 5 CommentsTags: commentary on John, Doubting Thomas, Gospel of John, John 20, Resurrection bodies, Sunday School lessons on John, the Great Commission, the Holy Spirit, Thomas
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
John 20:19
Jesus’s Resurrection happened on the first day of the week, which is why Christians meet for assembled worship services on Sunday rather than Saturday. Regardless of what you believe about the New Testament Lord’s Day replacing the Old Testament Sabbath, it is clear that Jesus fulfilled the work of God and instituted a new covenant/pattern/dispensation. God finished the initial work of creation after six days and commemorated it with a special holy day of “rest.” Jesus finished the work of redemption after six hours on the Cross, and commemorated it with a special holy day of new life.
A week later, despite having information strongly indicating that Jesus had risen, the Disciples were still in hiding, but also meeting together on Sunday. The resurrected, glorified body of Jesus had the power to appear suddenly inside a room with locked doors. Of course, as God, Jesus could do what He wanted with time and space and material objects, but this is often taken as a sign that our glorified, resurrected bodies will share this ability to move freely through space and objects.
The greeting of “peace” is important, as we remember Jesus’s promise in John 14. He did not condemn their fear; He comforted them with His presence.
And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
John 20:20-21
This is John’s version of the Great Commission.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
John 20:22
Some Bible scholars see this as a temporary filling for ministry until the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Others see it as an object lesson or illustrated sermon, indicating that they should go forth with the God-breathed “inspired” Word and with the Holy Spirit once they were indwelt.
Ten Disciples had seen and touched Jesus personally after the Resurrection. Judas and Thomas had not been present to this point, and obviously Judas was no longer part of the team. Thomas needed definite confirmation before he would be convinced.
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
John 20:25-28
This is seen by many commentators as the climax of the Gospel of John. Thomas’s confession seems obvious to us today, but, remember, John was writing primarily for an audience he was hoping to convince of Jesus’s Deity.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
John 20:29
When we read about those who have not seen Jesus personally with their physical eyes, yet believe the Truth about Him, we can rejoice and say, “That’s us!”
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 20:30-31
The somewhat limited scope of John’s Gospel is revealed and clarified. Its purpose is to invoke belief, yes, but not mere academic conviction. It is the kind of belief that is the means of eternal life.
God’s Sugar-Free Calling
March 10, 2020 at 10:10 am | Posted in Jeremiah | 6 CommentsTags: commentary on Jeremiah, Divine election, following God, hard work of ministry, Jeremiah 1, prophetic calling, Sunday School lessons on Jeremiah
This is what God said to Jeremiah:
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5
Previously, I analyzed Jeremiah’s response:
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Jeremiah 1:6
And here is God’s response to Jeremiah’s response:
But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
Jeremiah 1:7
“Don’t say, ‘I’m a child,’” said God. God can not be fooled by our pleas of incompetence. In reality we are way more unfit for the work of the Lord than we even know or are willing to admit, but God was telling Jeremiah that because He was sending him, He would also equip him, and that, because Jeremiah would be speaking for God, God would tell him what to say. This is reason number 3411 why we need to be reading our Bible. How will we know what to say? How will we know what to do? How grieved the Lord must sometimes be to hear His children pleading, “Lord, please speak to me,” in a prayer of worried discontent, or saying, “Lord, speak to my heart. I want to see You,” when our Bibles are right there!
Did God love Jeremiah? Of course He did! There’s no greater love than to be chosen by God – to be elected as one of His servants – and then to be given His Word and the promise of His presence with us, but God didn’t say, “It’s okay, I know you’re nervous. It won’t be that bad. I’ll get you a speaking engagement with a friendly audience.” No, He told Jeremiah:
Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 1:8
He told him not to be afraid of their faces, because their faces were going to be mad. Their faces would be “against him,” but God promised to be with him and to DELIVER him. Deliverance presupposes danger and difficulty and even the threat of death. The sine qua non for deliverance is captivity or threats of bodily harm.
God never sugarcoats His calling. He never uses a bait and switch sales pitch. He never covers up the crown of thorns while promising a rose garden. The call to follow God is a call to die to ourselves, to take up a cross, and to follow Him in a world that, really, at the most basic level, hates Him and His message. What building contractor starts a building without first counting the cost? What King declares war without reviewing His troops and the prospect of great losses in the attempt at victory?
God went on to tell Jeremiah this:
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Jeremiah 1:10
This was going to be hard work: pulling down nations, destroying cities, rooting out sin in the heart, building in places where building would be treacherous, planting in rocky, dry, hostile terrain. This list of metaphors is not the prosaic, to-everything-there’s-a-season, rolling-on-the-river-of-life, just-accepting-what-comes-next list that calls to mind the Book of Ecclesiastes. No, this this is a call to war, to battle, to shake the foundations of the mightiest civilizations in the world.
Was St. Nick a Real Person?
March 5, 2020 at 10:46 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 2 CommentsTags: Arianism, Arius, Christmas, deity of Christ, Nicholas of Myra, Saint Nicholas, St. Claus, St. Nick
Question: Was “Old St. Nick” a real person?
Answer: I’m glad you asked about this, not because I know a lot about it, but because there’s a funny story that goes with it. There was a real person named Nicholas of Myra. He was born in the 2nd Century, and he became bishop of a place called Myra. He is known in the Roman Catholic Church as “St. Nicholas.” Because Roman Catholic tradition is notoriously unreliable concerning the people that they have declared to be “saints,” it is hard to tell for sure how many of the stories about Nicholas are real and how many are legend. I’ll tell you the story about him that I read and that I would like to be true, even though there is a lot of disagreement about whether or not it is.
One of the arch-heretics of the early Christian church was a man named Arius. He denied the doctrine of the Trinity, claiming that God the Son was not equal to God the Father, and some other stuff (later known as Arianism). Arius was wrong, but he was supposedly something of a smooth-talker, and had a way of being charming, especially to the ladies. He became very popular for the wrong reasons, and his false teachings became such a problem that the church convened a special council to deal with them.
Nicholas came to the council, too, but he wasn’t like Arius. He wasn’t eloquent or socially charming, but he was well-respected for being holy and generous, while also being a little hot-tempered when someone denied the Deity of Christ. At some point during the council debate, Arius stood up on a chair or a desk to make a speech and promote his heresy. Nicholas couldn’t bear it, and marched over and smashed him in the face. (Some historians say it was a punch, some say it was a slap.) A big melee broke out and chaos ensued.
Ultimately, another man named Athanasius was instrumental in formulating a correct creed expressing what the Bible teaches about the Trinity, and Arius was declared a heretic. I’m not sure how the idea of “Santa Claus” was derived from “St. Nicholas,” but I did find this hilarious meme:
Who Was Really on Trial?
March 3, 2020 at 1:31 pm | Posted in John | 6 CommentsTags: commentary on John, Gospel of John, Jesus before Pilate, John 18, King Jesus, Peter's denials, Peter's denials of Jesus, Pilate, Sunday School lessons on John
Perhaps you’ve seen the following scenario depicted in some form of popular media: People dressed up in fancy party clothes are standing in a long line behind a velvet rope outside a building. Inside the building a swanky party full of rich and famous people is underway. A burly bouncer guards the entrance to the party, holding a clipboard with a list of names on it.
The people in line are hoping that their names are on the list so that they will be allowed entrance, but, even if they aren’t listed, they are hoping to impress the bouncer in some way to the point where he will let them slip inside, and the ones who are turned away because they aren’t deemed important enough or popular enough are mad. This is not exactly what was happening in John 18:15-16, but the idea is similar. In a case of “it’s not WHAT you know, but WHO you know,” one of Jesus’s Disciples was connected enough to the High Priest that he was able to gain entrance to his courtyard, whereas Peter had to wait outside until his fellow-Disciple could vouch for him. Of course, in this case, the entrance wasn’t guarded by a beefy security guard, but only by a young female doorkeeper, and the occasion wasn’t a festive soiree, but rather a devious and devilish sham of a prosecution conducted against an innocent Man. Peter’s admission into the High Priest’s courtyard turned out to be the occasion of his worst failure and shame.
And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
John 18:15
There is some debate about who this “another disciple” was, but I believe it was the eponymous John (sometimes called the Disciple that Jesus Loved or the Beloved Disciple, but not specifically named out of a sense of humility, most likely). This is the first indication we get that he was personally acquainted with the High Priest. He could get into his home, and even knew the girl or lady who kept the door.
But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
John 18:16
She did recognize Peter, though, and, while, her statement probably wasn’t intended as a threat, Peter responded to it as a threat, perhaps out of intimidation and anxiety over being recognized as the one who had chopped off her fellow-servant’s ear.
Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not.
John 18:17
Having denied Jesus once, Peter most likely found it easier to do it again.
And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
John 18:18
This is beautifully written, so that we get “cutaway scenes” of two simultaneous events with similar themes to highlight Jesus’s commitment to truth and sacrifice contrasted with even his most loyal follower’s cowardice and willingness to lie.
The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
John 18:19-21
Jesus did not feel the need to have a theological debate, and it was not the case that He literally never said anything in secret. His point was that anybody – anybody honest – who heard Him preach and teach could NOT be mistaken as to His doctrine.
And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
John 18:22
Just as Peter had been ready to lash out in defense of His Master, here was an officer who took umbrage at Jesus’s unwillingness to grovel before the High Priest.
Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
John 18:23
This was a point of evidence under Jewish law (and Roman law, for that matter). Defendants in a criminal proceeding were not required to speak in their own defense. The accuser was required to make the charge plain, and witnesses were required to make a prima facie case. Jesus was letting them know that He knew they were bringing trumped up charges, and that this trial (being held at night time, no less) was an illegal proceeding.
Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
John 18:24
Caiaphas was the “real” High Priest, although Annas, his father-in-law, the former official High Priest, was still looked upon behind the scenes as having authority. Here the scene shifts back to Peter in the courtyard.
And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
John 18:25
This was Peter’s second denial of Jesus. The other Gospels tell us that Peter even took oaths, and began to swear and curse.
One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
John 18:26
This was the most threatening of the three times Peter was asked about his identification with Jesus.
Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew. Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
John 18:27-28
Here we see an example of the irony that frequently occurs in the Gospel of John: As Jesus’s accusers and persecutors broke God’s law in the process of murdering His Messiah, they were concerned with ceremonial uncleanness. They didn’t want to miss the observance of the Passover, even as they themselves sinfully prepared to slaughter the True Passover. The “hall of judgment” was probably located inside Pilate’s military encampment at the Fortress of Antonia.
Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
John 18:29
Pilate already knew something about this case, but he did not like Jesus’s accusers, and he was reluctant to get involved.
They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
John 18:30
The animosity between Pilate and the Jewish religious leaders was reciprocal, but they needed him to act if Jesus was to be “legally” put to death via crucifixion.
Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
John 18:31-32
Jesus would need to be “lifted up” – crucified – rather than stoned to death. They wanted Him to be seen as “accursed.”
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
John 18:33
Pilate was trying to cut straight to the point.
Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
John 18:34
Jesus did not intend to cast pearls before swine. In reality, He was judging Pilate, not the other way around.
Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
John 18:35 (emphasis added)
Verse 35 gives some insight to the discussion of who has the greater guilt in Jesus’s arrest, conviction, and sentencing.
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
John 18:36
The Kingdom of Christ IS IN the world, but not OF the world.
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
John 18:37
This statement made by Jesus accomplished a proclamation of His true Kingship and a denunciation of Pilate (and by extension Rome) as being opposed to truth.
Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
John 18:38
There are various ways to read Pilate’s tone as he asked, “What is truth?” Was he being flippant, demanding, introspective, or merely resigned to a belief that “truth” was too subjective and relative to ever be accurately defined? Of course, the supreme irony is that he was speaking to THE TRUTH when he said it.
The Deep End 
From Investing to Interceding
March 30, 2020 at 1:48 pm | Posted in Luke | 3 CommentsTags: chasing out the money changers, commentary on Luke, Jesus's triumphal entry, Luke 19, Palm Sunday, Parable of the Pounds, Sunday School lessons on Luke
Luke 19:11
People were expecting a political and military revolution, but instead Jesus taught a parable. It is a parable about a nobleman or a king who had to leave his kingdom for a while, but is going to come back.
Luke 19:13
He leaves some of his funds with these servants and tells them to “occupy” – to put the funds to use – to get busy investing or using the funds to advance the kingdom to show their loyalty or faithfulness. “Pounds” is translated from the Greek word mna, which was about three months’ wages or the rough equivalent of $5000 today. When the nobleman gets back, he asks three of them for an accounting.
Luke 19:16
That’s a pretty good return, like investing $5000 and receiving another $150,000 in return!
Luke 19:7
The nobleman tells him he has done a good job, and that his reward is… more work! But it’s honorable work.
Luke 19:18
This is not as much, but still really good.
Luke 19:19-20
I’m no investment expert, but I’m thinking “hide the money in the napkin” is not the wisest investment plan – and certainly not the most proactive. Here’s his excuse:
Luke 19:21-22
The nobleman basically tells him that he’s dug his own hole. The servant knew “about” his master, but he didn’t “know” his master. We need to be aggressively investing our lives, our talents, our funds, and especially the Gospel, because our Master is kind, but He is also going to demand an accounting.
Luke 19:35
In the record of Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem we see four attitudes about Him:
1. The Roman soldiers saw Jesus as innocuous.
This parade would have looked pretty silly to them. Do you have trouble taking Jesus seriously? You shouldn’t. He is eternally serious and significant.
2. The Jewish people saw Jesus as insurrectionary.
Luke 19:37-38
They wanted to see salvation in a visible way, and to see it right at that moment. They sang a Psalm of deliverance. They hoped Jesus would deliver them from Roman rule and re-establish the kingdom of Israel on earth the way King David had done. Do you see Jesus as only the answer to your financial or health or marriage or parenting problems? I hope not. He is much more than that.
3. The religious leaders saw Him as inconvenient.
Luke 19:39-40
He was a threat to their religious profiteering. Do you see Jesus as inconvenient, as though He is in the way of your “fun” or your career or your social climbing? I hope not. Jesus is more important than all of those things combined.
4. Jesus saw Himself as intervening and interceding.
Luke 19:41-42
Jesus loved the people He came to live and die for, and He loves you today. Jesus got involved and He prayed and He did something about the problem. We must do these things also. The love of Jesus is real love.
The Gospel of Luke emphasizes Jesus’s humanity: He is shown joking, crying, compassionate, concerned, and even angry:
Luke 19:45-46
Matthew 21 and Mark 11 talk about Him turning over tables and casting out the religious profiteers who were desecrating the Court of the Gentiles. Jesus was not a faker. We should not be either. Be passionate rather than fake.