On Palm Sunday Jesus rode triumphantly into the city of Jerusalem, amidst the cheers and adoration of the crowd of people that gathered along the road from Bethany to Jerusalem. “And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.” (Mark 11:9–10)
Late in the night, on Thursday, Jesus was betrayed by Judas and apprehended by the by the elders and the chief priests who took him to the high priest where he was charged and condemned to death. The high priest sent Jesus to Pilate who sent him to Herod who sent him back to Pilate. Pilate questioned the people about Jesus. “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.” (Matthew 27:22)
What happened between Sunday and Thursday? Why did the people turn against Jesus so quickly? The answer, Jesus did not live up to their expectations of him. They wanted a new king for Israel. Jesus never claimed to be the king of the Jews. Instead, he preached about the kingdom of heaven.
He began talking about death and said things like, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) The life of serving God was a life of service to mankind. They wanted a king to set them free from servitude. In fact, hosanna, in the Greek, means, “Oh save.” It comes from a Hebrew word, yasha, which means, rescue us. They wanted to be rescued from the Romans.
Jesus’ popularity with the people quickly dissipated. Their shouts of praise changed to calls for his death. How many people expect Jesus to be something he is not? How many of us want Jesus to fit our concept of a Savior? How many of us are willing to follow him while he feeds the multitudes but turn against him when he starts making demands of us to follow him while bearing a cross?
Jesus came to save us from our sins; and for that he had to die. Why can’t people study their Bibles and see what Jesus was really all about. How many of us praise him on Sunday but by Thursday have turned away from him?
What will you do with Jesus?
Friday, April 15, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Christian Love
The hallmark of the Christian is love. The hallmark is the mark of genuineness. Genuine Christians love; they love their neighbors as themselves and they love one another with a genuine love.
Jesus told a Pharisee, a doctor of the law, who had asked him which was the greatest commandment. Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37–39) It is understood that our neighbor is every other person alive. Jesus reduced the Ten Commandments down to two commandments for, he said, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:40) If we keep these two commandments, we fulfill all the Law and the Prophets. Regardless of what you might think about their implications, these are God’s commandments and they are intended for all people to live by. Jesus included these commandments in the New Covenant and everyone who calls themselves a Christian is to live by them. They demand a tough love because we are not allowed to pick and choose who we are going to love.
Jesus also said, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matt. 5:43–44) Christians, Are you fulfilling the law of love as set forth by Christ?
If we are Christians, we are followers of Christ and that makes us disciples of Christ. in the following Scripture, Jesus gave instructions aimed directly at his disciples. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34–35) His first requirement is that we love one another as he has loved us. How did he love us? He loved us enough that he left his Glory that he had with the Father; and came to the earth and took on the form of a man in a demonstration of solidarity with us. He taught us his ways which are the ways of righteousness. He freely laid down his life as an offering for our sins. He arose from the dead and ascended back to the Father where he is our advocate making intercession for us.
Now, he is asking that we love each other with that same love wherewith he loved us. One of the saddest things which I have observed, in my forty six years in the ministry, is that to many “denominational Christians” spend far too much of their time putting down other Christians instead of loving them and praying for them and uplifting them as they should.
Then, Jesus places the hallmark of genuineness on Christian love. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35) When the world sees us Christians, do they recognize us as Christians because of how we love each other? If we love as Jesus loved, we are genuine Christians.
In the Scripture verses which I have given you, the word “love,” appears five times. Four times it is used as a verb which means it is something we do. Once, it is used as a noun. Can you tell which one that is? Love is something wonderful that Christ gives us. Love is also what all Christians are to do if they please God. The word Jesus used for love is the Greek word, agapao, which is the verb form of the word. It is found 127 times in the New Testament. The noun form is agape. It is found 89 times in the New Testament. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Jesus told a Pharisee, a doctor of the law, who had asked him which was the greatest commandment. Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37–39) It is understood that our neighbor is every other person alive. Jesus reduced the Ten Commandments down to two commandments for, he said, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:40) If we keep these two commandments, we fulfill all the Law and the Prophets. Regardless of what you might think about their implications, these are God’s commandments and they are intended for all people to live by. Jesus included these commandments in the New Covenant and everyone who calls themselves a Christian is to live by them. They demand a tough love because we are not allowed to pick and choose who we are going to love.
Jesus also said, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matt. 5:43–44) Christians, Are you fulfilling the law of love as set forth by Christ?
If we are Christians, we are followers of Christ and that makes us disciples of Christ. in the following Scripture, Jesus gave instructions aimed directly at his disciples. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34–35) His first requirement is that we love one another as he has loved us. How did he love us? He loved us enough that he left his Glory that he had with the Father; and came to the earth and took on the form of a man in a demonstration of solidarity with us. He taught us his ways which are the ways of righteousness. He freely laid down his life as an offering for our sins. He arose from the dead and ascended back to the Father where he is our advocate making intercession for us.
Now, he is asking that we love each other with that same love wherewith he loved us. One of the saddest things which I have observed, in my forty six years in the ministry, is that to many “denominational Christians” spend far too much of their time putting down other Christians instead of loving them and praying for them and uplifting them as they should.
Then, Jesus places the hallmark of genuineness on Christian love. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35) When the world sees us Christians, do they recognize us as Christians because of how we love each other? If we love as Jesus loved, we are genuine Christians.
In the Scripture verses which I have given you, the word “love,” appears five times. Four times it is used as a verb which means it is something we do. Once, it is used as a noun. Can you tell which one that is? Love is something wonderful that Christ gives us. Love is also what all Christians are to do if they please God. The word Jesus used for love is the Greek word, agapao, which is the verb form of the word. It is found 127 times in the New Testament. The noun form is agape. It is found 89 times in the New Testament. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive.
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