February 6th, Friday: Luke chaps. 23-24

Luke 23

Pilate wanted to get rid of Jesus as quickly and as easily as possible.

But you cannot avoid making serious decisions about Him.

Pilate ended up condemning an innocent man, releasing a guilty man, and making friends with a wicked man.

What a record for a Roman ruler whose responsibility was to uphold the law and give people justice!

Herod wanted to see Jesus do a miracle.

He was into the circus mind-frame.

The evil king would make the Son of God into a court entertainer.

He was used to being entertained, he was used to be catered to.

And he certainly did not like it when Jesus did not play his game.

Jesus performed no miracle, He spoke no word.

Herod had silenced God's voice, and there was nothing left for him except for divine judgment.

Barrabas deserved to die, but was set free because Jesus took his place.

Did Barrabas went to Calvary to look at the man who died for Him?

Probably not.

He was glad to be free from his death sentence so he could return to his old ways.

He was 'free' but was still in the bondage of sin.

And for those people and many more, Jesus prayed, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.'

Now that's grace.

The thief exercised great faith, when he asked Jesus to remember him.

For Jesus did not looked like He was able save anybody, hanging there on that cross.

Joseph of Arimathea exercised great courage when he openly took our Lord's body from the cross.

He defiled himself for Passover Week but it made no difference - he had met the Lamb of God.

And to Joseph of Arimathea that was all that mattered.

Luke 24

We'll reading about forgetting His word.

The stone was rolled away, the body of Jesus was gone and the women were perplexed – why?

Because they had forgotten His word.

Today angels do not come to remind us of His word.

The Holy Spirit has that ministry.

Yield to the Spirit and let Him remind you of the promises that will encourage your heart.

This is the part where the two disciples encounter Jesus on the road to Emmaus where they were learning the word.

Those two men could have walked and talked for days and never got rid of their disappointment.

Why? Because they lacked the key that unlocks the Old Testament.

The Messiah must suffer and die before entering His glory.

Their hearts burn as they heard Him teach the Scriptures.

Soon the mourners became missionaries, and share the good news with others.

Do you allow the Holy Spirit to teach you?

They receive His word, their hearts were troubled and doubtful, yet the Lord lovingly reassured them His word.

We today cannot see or feel His body, but we have the Holy Spirit to make Him real to us in the Scriptures.

Now when your heart is troubled or frightened, see Jesus in the Word.

When your faith is weak, see Jesus in the Word.

The first step towards peace is receiving the Word, and then sharing it.

God opens our eyes and opens our understanding.

So that when He opens the Scriptures to us, we may open our mouths and tell others about Him.

Jesus gives us the commission, the power and the message.

There is no reason to be silent.

When we experience joyful worship, we'll have little problem giving the world joyful witness.