April 3, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 24 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Week Jesus Dies
Read Sections 5.45 through 5.48 (pages 172-175)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
So heartbreaking to me to read about the horrible treatment he endured as they struggled to find reasons to kill Jesus, reasons to sentence an innocent man to death. They tried with questions, they tried to find testimony to support their case, and still nothing.
Their frustration to try to deal with what they couldn’t understand and what was so different than what they expected or wanted in a Messiah led to such terrible actions and yet all part of God’s plan for our redemption.
The realization for Peter and Judas both led them to their own anguish. Denying His Savior led to Peter’s heartbreak when he was so sure fear would never drive him to such a place and for Judas his guilt drove him to suicide. Again all played important but heartbreaking roles in God’s plan for us.
On lent 2023 day 24
Jesus questioned by the religious meatheads. Sorry. Can’t call them leaders anymore. Always answers them with answers extremely hard to have a come back. I have spoken openly to all people. You know what I have said. The question that would seal his death. Are you the Son of God. It is as you say.!! At this point you would think they would drag him outside the city gates and stone him. 5 years later they stoned Stephen. The Roman’s didn’t care. But the cross of christ symbolizes so much its physical appearance and the forgiveness of sin. The lamb of God. Cursed is everyone who’s hung on a tree. So many prophecies fulfilled. And the meatheads were puppets in Gods plan Judas changes his mind. Certainly sounds like satan had left him using him to have Jesus arrested and condemned. Not sure what was going through his mind. A lot of different thoughts. But he had sealed his destiny by not ever believing that Jesus was God in flesh!
Day 24 45-48
It just goes to show how blind people can be to be confronted by all the things Jesus said and did and in response to want to kill Him. It is sad to think they thought themselves justified in their actions, but to see that they were breaking their own rules to try Jesus, shows the level of deception they are under. It should make us all look closely at the things our pride justifies for ourselves.
And what a stark difference in the response of Peter and Judas to their failings. Peter is heartbroken, hearing Jesus words penetrate him as His eyes looked at him. But he eventually recovers and receives the forgiveness for his actions. Judas is overwhelmed by his guilt and shame and goes to the wrong people to try to make amends. And so he is overcome and kills himself. It is a good picture of the distinction between godly sorrow and guilt. The first leads us to God and is worked through in the context of our relationship with Him. The second focuses on self, payment and self effort…sensing rejection from God, our relationship appears unavailable until we can make ourselves right. How terribly sad it is when someone sees no relief and thinks the only solution is to end their lives. In Jesus, there is always hope, promise and forgiveness….making things right and whole the way God wants….
Day 24
5.45-5.48
Day 24 5.45–5.48
The council is looking for ways to find something against Jesus, even bribing people to lie about him. The high priest asks Him if He is the Messiah and Jesus affirms, this. He is guilty of that! Of course, since they don’t believe Him, they now charge Him with blasphemy.