“The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him.” John 12:12-18

Although not part of inspired Scripture, I enjoy the added text headings that are inserted into some of the portions of scripture to help improve readability. In the NIV, the title of today’s passage is, “Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King”.  I took some time to look up other Bible translations and found; “Jesus’ Triumphant Entry” and “See How the King Comes”.  How can you not be excited when you read those titles! This is what the disciples and the crowds were waiting for! A King. A conquering king who would deliver them from Rome. Victory was finally within reach. Or was it? What was going through the minds and hearts of the disciples as they witnessed their “king” on a lowly young donkey? This arrival is not what they anticipated. The disciples were ready for a fight. They were ready to roll up their sleeves and join Jesus in the liberation of oppression from Rome. But here is Jesus riding peacefully and humbly on a donkey. Wow, what a stark contrast to a powerful and victorious entry on a warhorse.

I can imagine that the disciples experienced confusion and disappointment. Some in the crowd might have known from Zechariah that the promised Jewish king would ride a donkey. But none of them, not even the disciples, really grasped what Jesus was doing. “At first his disciples did not understand all this. This was not the sort of king that they were looking for.  Jesus’ disciples might not have understood what was transpiring at first, but when Jesus was glorified, they then remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The reality is that He was here to establish a spiritual kingdom. He came to die for our sin.  He came not as a military commander but a humble, obedient Lamb of God.

As I reflect on my own journey of faith, I can recall many times when I felt confused or uncertain about what Jesus was doing in my life or the world. When those moments of confusion come, I hold fast to Jesus's teaching till clarity comes. Friends, as we wait for the second coming of Jesus Christ, I pray that it would be made very clear that we as a church are to live in joyful readiness and never cease in sharing the gospel.

Imagine having all the riches in the world and going to the car dealership just to choose a 2001 Honda Civic when you could easily purchase the nicest Corvette on the lot! Jesus could have rode in on any animal, but chose a donkey. Jesus came in humility; He did not come to live the flashiest life. He actually lived the opposite!

Matthew 21:1-11 shows us how Jesus came into Jerusalem as a King. The people laid their cloaks on the ground and cut branches from trees to give Jesus a special entrance! Hosanna means to celebrate in adoration, praise or joy. The people recognized how valuable Jesus was and they wanted to show Him the praise that He deserves.

We can often think of Jesus as someone who brings us blessings and easily praise Him in those moments. But in the moments of despair and pain, we forget to praise Him! We lose sight that His sacrifice on the cross; our salvation; is the most valuable gift that we have received. Jesus is not just valuable to us when things are going our way, when He provides for us or when He blesses us. The Hosanna, the praise and adoration, should continuously flow from us even in our troubles. He should be the most valuable thing to us! We can selfishly become blindsided during trials and turn away from Jesus.

When we sing praises to Jesus in both the seasons of blessings and the seasons of struggle, we shine His light to others. Matthew 2:10 says, “When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” We want people to see our praise and wonder who it is that is so valuable to us. We want those Gospel opportunities.

Jesus has not only blessed us with the gift of salvation, but He is a God who hears us, sees us and is with us always. His mercies, patience and love are continuous to us even when we fall short and sin against Him. It reminds me of the lyrics from Worthy Is The Lamb: High and lifted up, Jesus Son of God, the Darling of Heaven crucified, worthy is the Lamb. Jesus was not only worthy of King treatment in the Bible, He is still worthy of it now. He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords! He deserves to be the most valuable and adored thing in our lives in every season. When we have Jesus, we are rich.

Jesus is weeping over Jerusalem! These verses paint a powerful picture of the compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem and has just been rebuked by the Pharisees who refuse to believe and understand who He is! Now, He is seeing the city of his chosen people and begins to weep. He knows of the inevitable downfall of the city in the years to come by the Romans. Jesus knew the Israelites would reject him! He knew that many of the Jewish people would end up rejecting Him and His ministry, and above all else His forgiveness of sinners. This leads Him to weeping! Our Lord and Savior cares more for people than any of us ever could. It is amazing what He has done for us. It would be so difficult for me to have any sympathy for the people of this time. They had rejected Him, and our minds want to tell us that Jesus has no reason to weep for them. But that is not how He treats us! Jesus came to die not for the righteous, but to die for the sinner. This is who He came to save! Knowing that people are going to reject Him and having the ability to overlook the city, having the knowledge of its downfall, brings our Jesus to tears because that is who He is! He is a God who weeps! He is a God who cares more deeply about us than we can possibly understand. Sometimes I think it is easy to forget about this fact. We have things that happen in our lives that make us question the goodness of God. Life is not always easy! God tells us though that He knows everything about you! He cares about you! He wants you to give everything to Him in prayer! Be encouraged, our God, is a God who weeps for the sinner.

As you study this passage, notice what an awesome amazing moment it is when Jesus replied to the Pharisees in verse 40 saying:

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Imagine being there in the crowd when Jesus is coming down from the Mount of Olives riding on the donkey and all of the followers are praising Him! When the religious leaders try to silence the worship, Jesus tells them you can’t! The stones will cry out! They were blinded to the fact that He, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, was the Messiah and Savior that God had promised from the very beginning.  

It’s easy for us to sit back and ask questions of why they couldn’t recognize it when we know what happens next. However, we too can act like how the Pharisees did with Jesus when we don’t fully understand things. Just in my life alone I can recall thinking I knew what was best for me when it came to my career path. I will be honest with you, post college I had my mind set on what I wanted and I minimized the plans God had for me. I sought what I wanted and not the perfect will of God. We all have minimized the power of God, and most likely it was unintentional like it was for me. People often limit their need for the Savior when they are in a time of need or things are not going the way they intended. Hmm sounds like we actually do act like the Pharisees’ at times. We know that Jesus was who He said He was and will always be, but we still forget from time to time. We should be thankful and worship Him for His goodness every single day. We know from our scripture reading that even if we were to be silent, the stones will cry out in worship and that should fuel us to worship our Savior.

I encourage you to take time to pray that you are not minimizing the power of Jesus Christ. Give Him honor and glory for everything in your life. Remember He is a larger-than-life Savior!

As I write this devotion, we are a week into the war against the Islamic government of Iran. The goal is to remove a government that has been sponsoring terrorism since 1979. The Iranian people have been under an evil repressive dictatorship for 47 years. The Iranian people want freedom, the freedom to live in peace and security. The freedom to learn, speak, and move about without the government’s permission. Continue to pray that God will protect our service members and bring them home safe. Pray for wisdom and guidance for political and military leaders as they make important decisions that could set up peace and stability in the region.

As the Iranian people long for freedom, we see the Jewish people longing to put off the bonds of a repressive dictatorship. The Romans had placed heavy restrictive and humiliating burdens on the Jewish people and they wanted freedom. They direct this desire towards Jesus. A miracle worker, powerful teacher of the Word, and one who had the respect and credibility to speak to the elites and everyday people. The time is now; Jesus can free us from the political and physical repression! They reason, chants pick up steam, and many more people join in the celebration of this savior, this Messiah who will bring change.
 
500 years earlier the prophet Zachariah prophesied this very event. Zachariah describes this event perfectly, getting all the details right. Salvation was coming, but not the political kind. Rather a much more important salvation. Salvation from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus came to conquer death, the one thing that all of humanity would experience. This salvation would require the life of the King as payment for the penalty of sin. Jesus was the only one who was perfect and could fulfill the requirements of the law.
 
The chants of the crowds that day in Jerusalem correctly proclaim Jesus’ royalty and the praise He deserved. They just didn’t understand that they needed a spiritual Savior as much as they needed a physical Savior. Freedom in this world is for a time but freedom from the bondage of sin is eternal through belief in Jesus. The crowds at this time misunderstood and many of these same people who were yelling “Blessed is the King”, would by the end of the week be shouting “Crucify Him!.”

This week as you prepare for Good Friday and Easter, will you praise Jesus and give Him the glory He deserves? Understanding the magnitude of the sacrifice He made for our freedom and Salvation. Be in awe of the love Jesus has shared with you. Jesus is worthy of your passionate pursuit of Him and His will for your life. Worship your King and pray for His soon return!

Value is an interesting thing. What makes something valuable? There was a time when gold and silver were not as valuable as they are now. It seems like everyone is looking to purchase some gold, including my wife who has a propensity for jewelry. Then, there’s property. A financial advisor will tell you that a balanced portfolio always has property linked to it. Then, there are things much more valuable than “stuff” like the memory of a loved one, time spent with our children, and special moments with our spouse. These relationships are priceless.

As Jesus journeyed toward The Cross, he was about to teach his disciples a lesson in WHO is most valuable. On the road travelling toward Jerusalem, he decided to give his disciples some instructions. He told them to go ahead to a nearby village and untie a colt and bring it to him. It was to be a colt that had never been ridden on, one specifically for his entrance into Jerusalem. Can you imagine such instructions given to you? Why did Jesus have his disciples to do such a thing?  

A colt that had never been ridden on symbolized purity, set-apartness, and royalty. In Biblical tradition, animals never used for work were reserved for sacred purposes (Numbers 19:2; 1 Samuel 6:7). As the King of Peace, Jesus’ use of an untouched, unbroken animal displayed divine power and control and fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9.

Jesus is worthy. He is valuable. He is most valuable. It’s also true that Jesus came in humility, not haughtiness. He is our perfect example. The king mentioned in Zechariah 9:9-10 would ride a donkey into Jerusalem rather than a warhorse. In the ancient Middle Eastern world, leaders rode horses if they rode to war, but donkeys if they came in peace. First Kings 1:33 mentions Solomon riding a donkey on the day he was recognized as the new king of Israel. Other instances of leaders riding donkeys are Judges 5:10; 10:4; 12:14; and 2 Samuel 16:2. The mention of a donkey in Zechariah 9:9-10 fits the description of a king who would be “righteous and having salvation, gentle.” Rather than riding to conquer, this king would enter in peace. Zechariah 9:10 highlights this peace: “I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.” Jesus came to start a revolution in people’s hearts! It wasn’t what the Jews expected, and it would ultimately be the reason that they rejected him as their king.

Sometimes we misunderstand Jesus too. We tend to see him as a “benevolent grandfather” looking to give us everything that we want. Sadly, we can miss the power and beauty of who he is. He is the Lord God! He is the Savior of the world! There is no one more valuable than Jesus. Do you remember the story in the Bible where a woman named Mary broke an expensive bottle of perfume and poured it out on Jesus? She took what was worth a full year's wages and “gave it away” to Jesus. You can read the story in (Matthew 26, Mark 14, or John 12) when you have some time. One thing is absolutely for sure, she was willing to sacrifice so much because she saw Jesus as being EVEN MORE VALUABLE! It was surprising to even Jesus’ disciples.
 
How do you see Jesus? Is he valuable enough to you to change your priorities? Is he special enough to cause you to sacrifice your time, talents, and treasures for him? The reality is that HE IS VALUABLE ENOUGH! That’s not the question. The question is…do you actually believe that he is. If you do, your life will constantly show it.

Week 1
Main Point and Overview:

Palm Sunday is one of the most painful days to remember in world history. What seemed to be a celebration would shortly after lead to sorrow. The Jews were desperate for a hero! The Jews were desperate for what they thought was freedom. Jesus came to offer them freedom…just not in the way they had anticipated. Instead of coming to free them from Rome’s oppression, he came to free them from sin’s stranglehold. They completely missed it. They failed to “understand” their Messiah’s reason for coming. As Jesus ascended toward Jerusalem, a large crowd gathered all around him. They spread their cloaks on the road as others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. They were in essence giving Jesus the “royal treatment” in a similar way that King Jehu received at his coronation (2 Kings 9:13). In the ancient world, the extra-biblical literature of 1 Maccabees tells us that palms were used to celebrate the liberation of the temple and victory over enemies. Maybe this is why they used palms. As Jesus journeyed toward Jerusalem, the crowds cried out “Hosanna” which is a transliteration of the Hebrew phrase hoshi'a na, which literally translates to "Save, please!". They were quoting Psalm 118:25-26 as a past prophecy of the Christ. About 450 to 500 years prior to Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, the prophet Zechariah had prophesied the event we call Palm Sunday (Zechariah 9:9). This prophecy was fulfilled in every way, and it was indeed a time of rejoicing, as Jerusalem welcomed their King. Unfortunately, the celebration was not to last. The crowds looked for a Messiah who would rescue them politically and free them nationally, but Jesus had come to save them spiritually. First things first, and mankind’s primary need is spiritual, not political, cultural, or national salvation. This misunderstanding would eventually lead to confusion, bitterness, and anger. The crowd that once cried out “Hosanna” would eventually cry out “Crucify Him” (Luke 23:21). Who is Jesus to you? Have you missed the true purpose of why he came to earth? Maybe it’s time to evaluate your perceptions of Jesus. He offers as Lord God what you need, not necessarily always what you want.

The power of choice. Decisions. Every day we make on average 30,000+ choices. The list is endless; what to eat, what to wear, which way to turn, what to read, what to say, what to watch. . . . and if you are like me, sometimes you have trouble making decisions. God has given believers freewill; a God-given ability" to choose. We can choose obedience or disobedience. We can choose to love or to hate. We can choose to accept or reject Jesus.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us commands and instructions that show us how to choose well and how He wants us to live, but He still allows us to decide. Are any of you a fan of the 1960’s robot series, “Lost in Space”? The robot frequently warned of danger. I tell myself that I need that in my life - danger Will Robinson. Fun fact. In all of the 83 episodes, that phrase “danger Will Robinson” was only used once and yet I’ve carried with me through the years.

Today’s scripture is a call by Jesus to choose between two paths. Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
 
Enter the narrow gate. It’s a command to take urgent action. The gate Jesus invites us to choose is narrow and the road is straight. It’s arduous and takes diligence. It’s a daily, intentional commitment and our life depends on these choices. Pastor John wrote, “THIS was the watershed moment. Every person faces this moment – will I accept or reject Jesus?! Many people ‘come close’ but never actually become disciples because when they compare what they would “lose” to what they will gain, the loss seems too large to experience.”

Friends, we must choose the way of wisdom. We must learn to deny ourselves. Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” This means we are to abandon self-interest, evict personal agendas, and reject the need to control our lives. It is a daily, voluntary act of surrendering control and letting God take the lead. We don’t run from suffering, we embrace it. Let us be a people who choose to align our lives with Jesus’ example and teaching. What will you do? Not making a choice is a choice. Make wise choices!

Think of the ultimate plot twist in your favorite book or movie. The villain who turns out to be the one you would least expect, the ultimate betrayal of trust, or the person’s death you mourned over just to find out it was fake and they were alive the entire time! This portion of scripture doesn’t have those exactly, but it is certainly a plot twist!

There are two very different men at the beginning of this story. One, was a rich man who lived in complete luxury. The other, a beggar who had nothing and lived in misery and sickness. They both suffered the same fate; death. But here’s the plot twist: the rich man who had everything was being tormented alone in Hades while the poor beggar was being taken care of in Heaven! One is next to the Lord and one is separated from Him. You would think that the rich man would inherit the beauty of Heaven and the beggar wouldn’t get anything good in eternity because that is what their life on earth looked like.

The contrast of the two people on completely different ends of the spectrum is a clear picture showing how materialistic riches in this life are meaningless, but true riches are eternal life with Jesus. The rich man realizes this after it is too late and begs for mercy. When that is not granted, he then begs for them to warn and save his family.
The rich lifestyle is continually filling a void with things. But really, what is missing is a relationship with Jesus. He wasn’t punished inherently for being rich, but for the neglect to help and serve the sick beggar at his gate. We cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 6:24 says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

It is so easy for one to miss out on the riches of a life with Jesus until it is too late. That is why it is a believer’s duty to share the Gospel and love of Jesus with everyone they meet! We want to fight tooth and nail to make sure that people hear the Gospel and find the living water that Jesus offers before it is too late. Jesus fills that void so that we are full and needing nothing else.

Jesus shows us here what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus. See, this man understands that this man is truly God! However, he did not want to fully believe. The reason is quite tragic. Believing in Jesus meant giving up the pleasures and the wealth of this world and giving everything to God in faith. The man was wealthy! He had achieved great things and success was his on this earth and now Jesus is telling Him, that is great, but give it all up for I am greater. This is the part the man could not fully understand or get behind. His wealth, the things of this world, the pleasures that his wealth and power brought him, the stability that comes from those things, had too great a hold of Him. Jesus is God and He knew what was keeping this man from faith. He knew what the man’s answer would be. He knew what this man’s wealth meant to him and was testing the man on the very point. Jesus’ test is “am I more important than the things of the world to you?” God wants us to put nothing before Him. He is a righteously jealous God! We are to give Him the glory, give Him the honor. Jesus also gives the warning of how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. This does not mean it is a sin to be wealthy, but it is a warning that a focus on wealth can tear us away from Jesus. To this man, his identity was in his riches. What is it that we are putting our identity in? What is it that we must work on, be willing to give to Jesus fully? This man was asked to give to those in need! Give everything! This was too much for him, he could not fully rely on Jesus, He could not fully believe in Jesus if that meant sacrificing something of his own. This is a great lesson for us to understand. Jesus wants us to follow Him fully!

Thanks for listening to our Living On Purpose Podcast. Download this pdf and make a plan to go through it with your family the week leading up to Easter Sunday!

Have you ever been in a situation where you thought you knew the answer or the outcome ahead of time, just to be left in disbelief? What you thought was going to be said or happen actually turned out to be the opposite? It's like playing a team that you have zero doubts about losing against, just to be mistaken and beaten. That feeling is a shot to the heart and an utter shock. I say all this because I imagine that is what the ruler felt who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. When Jesus asks him do you know the commandments? Not to commit adultery, not to murder, not to steal, not to give false testimony, honor your parents etc. I imagine the ruler thinking “Oh yeah! I have what I need to to inherit eternal life.” However, verse 22 changes everything:

“When Jesus heard this, he said to him, You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

We then find ourselves in today's portion of this passage where the man becomes sad because he was wealthy. Jesus then tells him that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. I imagine the man stood in shock, not very thrilled about the words that Jesus just spoke to him. It may be easy for us to look back and think that this guy is not the brightest, but if we are honest we too can miss the mark when it comes to understanding the power of the gospel. When it comes to interacting with other people we often think they are aware of the saving knowledge of the gospel, when in reality we are not really sure if they are or not. Many people think just like the rich ruler did when it comes to inheriting eternal life. They believe that their good works will allow them into heaven. As believers we are doing them no good if we are not willing to share the true gospel with them. Let us take the courage and boldness to share the gospel with the people we are surrounded by.

When I was a child, I loved building things with my erector set. A box full of possibilities. The set included different sized metal beams, gears, wheels, nuts, bolts, and a battery powered electric motor. I would spend hours attempting to build different items. From buildings with pulley systems, to cars that ran with the small motor. One day the battery died and I didn’t have a replacement. I remembered that my dad had a box of old electrical cords out in the garage. I found an old cord from a lamp with 2 bare wires. I thought this was perfect, I can wire this to the small motor and have endless power. It was a grand plan and I knew it would work perfectly. My perfect plan lasted about 2 seconds! Upon plugging in the small motor to the wall socket, the motor instantly sped up to an incredibly fast speed! A blue arc of electricity quickly formed and the motor burned up in a glorious fashion. The wall socket sparked and the living room went dark. The perfect plan ended with my mom yelling at me for trying to burn down the house, my dad scrambling for the fuse box, and I panicking that I just blew up the house.

The rich young ruler is like that little motor. The little motor ran on minuscule amounts of electricity but when faced with the standard amount of electricity it burned up. This young man called Jesus good. Hey good teacher, Jesus you are good, and so I am I. Look at what I have done and am doing. Jesus, I meet the standard! Two good dudes just hanging out. Jesus points out, no one is good except God alone. Young man you don’t meet the standard and you have fallen short. Give up that one thing you hold onto that keeps you from following me. The young ruler was unwilling to give 100% percent of his life to Jesus. Jesus pointed out that the young man’s “goodness” wasn’t even close to meeting God’s standard and instead of asking for help and forgiveness the young man wandered off without deciding.

I had a plan for my erector set and it turned out to be a disaster. Each of us has a plan for our lives. If we don’t include Jesus in them, they will turn into an eternal disaster. The plan needs to be full submission to Jesus. Letting Him rule our desires and will. Give Jesus complete control of your life, don't hold anything back. Examine your life, what are your weak spots that you don’t want Jesus to have control over? Prayerfully submit to Jesus and give Him your full attention and life.

It’s the ultimate question: WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO? We live in a culture of “doing.” From work to hobbies to extracurricular activities with our children, we are always “doing” something. I remember when my kids were little, we were going in every direction. From soccer to Upward basketball to AWANA to school parties to youth group, we were running hard … “doing” a lot. Sometimes as a parent you even believe that you’re not a good parent if you’re not “doing” a lot for your children.

Unfortunately, we tend to equate success based on “doing!” It’s no different with spiritual things. We tend to think if we “do” more for God, that he will love us more. We believe that if we “do” more for God, we are more spiritual than the person sitting next to us in our church’s gatherings. We think that somehow our value or even destiny is connected to what we “do!” Nothing could be further from the truth.

Jesus had many encounters with all kinds of people, but very few if any were as sad as this encounter. A “rich young ruler” asked Jesus a watershed question. A man who was influential and wealthy; a man who was young and ambitious; a man who was seeking and searching, this man asked Jesus what he had to “do” to inherit eternal life. No doubt this young Jew had it engrained in his heart that he needed to obey the Mosaic Law…every last bit of it. So, he sought assurance, some way of knowing for sure that he would receive eternal life. He wanted Jesus to measure and grade his qualifications, or maybe Jesus could give him some outward task he could “do” that would assure his own immortality. As you read further on in the story (including tomorrow’s devotion), what you will find is that Jesus exposed this man’s wrong thinking. He needed to begin to see things differently.

Let me give you the most encouraging thing that I can give to you in this moment - you don’t have to “do” anything for eternal life! Jesus already DID the work that was necessary for your salvation on The Cross! He paid the way when there was no other way. The Bible tells us that we are all “lost in our sins” without Jesus (Romans 3), and our hearts are inherently evil without Jesus (Jeremiah 17:9)! The Bible even warns us that anything and everything that we “do” without his loving grace is disgusting to God - “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64:6 NIV

For some of you, you are still trying to make amends for past mistakes. You think that if you simply can “do” more for God that he’ll finally forgive you and value you. For others of you, you are in a dangerous place of self-righteousness. You think that because you “do” more for God that you are somehow better than those who do less. I work hard. I work a lot. My wife has often reminded me that just because I “do” more for God than her in ministry, it does NOT mean that God loves or values me any more than he loves or values her. She is right. I need to hear that because I sometimes make the mistake of thinking that what I “do” is going to get me closer to God. It’s not. That’s the wrong way to look at it. The right way to look at it is that God offers me his free gift of “grace” for salvation. There is nothing I can do to earn it!

Stop “chasing after” God’s favor! If you are saved by his grace, you already have his favor! Start living in that reality. He loves you despite your issues. He favors you despite your struggles. He cares for you despite the fact that you’ve made past mistakes. If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, give your life to him by faith alone. Stop thinking that you have to “do” something to be saved from your sin. Remember, it’s not about what you need to “do”; it’s about what has already been DONE FOR YOU! Praise the Lord! You can breathe again!

There is hardly a larger watershed moment in the Bible than the story of the “Rich Young Ruler!” By the world’s standards, he had it all, yet he knew something was missing in his life. When encountering Jesus, he looked for some answers to his greatest spiritual questions. Like much of culture today, people have questions. They are looking for hope, but are they willing to do what it takes to experience hope? What this young man needed to realize was that what this world offered him paled in comparison to what the Gospel brings. At first glance, that seems like an impossibility, but it’s all dependent on the lens that a person is looking through. The Gospel demands commitment – the kind that is difficult yet rewarding, tiring yet exhilarating, dangerous yet glorious! This “rich young leader” thought that he had achieved most of what he needed to earn eternal life. How could he not think this? He had achieved wealth, power, and prestige; no doubt, eternal life could also be “achieved” albeit in some other way that he wasn’t clear of when he asked the Lord. Jesus made it crystal clear that his mentality was flawed. Jesus did something brilliant. He exposed this young guy by proving to him that despite his claims to have kept the “Mosaic Law from his childhood,” he indeed had not…exposing him to be in need of salvation. What happened next is sad in so many ways. Jesus challenged him that if he was truly serious about being his disciple to sell his wealth and come and follow him. THIS was the watershed moment. Every person faces this moment – will I accept or reject Jesus?! Many people “come close” but never actually become disciples because when they compare what they would “lose” to what they will gain, the loss seems too large to experience. That day, heaven wept. That day, the “rich young ruler” chose his riches over redemption. What would you do? What will your friends and family do? There was a price that was paid for salvation by Jesus on The Cross! Now, there is a price that you and I must pay – discipleship! Don’t kid yourself, if you want Jesus without his truth, you don’t really want Jesus! He demands that we trust him and turn from our sins to be saved!

It’s funny how God pulled me into serving in youth ministry thirty years ago. As the owner of a 15-passenger van, the youth pastor of the church quickly sought me out. You see, he had planned a New Years Eve scavenger hunt and needed more transportation and more drivers. Next thing I knew, I was driving a dozen students around on a chilly winter’s night as they searched for snowmen, sleighs on rooftops and for bonus points executed silly antics like a quick splash into the icy water at the Drayton Plains Nature Center. Youth ministry is filled with some of the most crazy but passionate servants that you’ll ever meet. Working with the youth is demanding, frustrating, energy zapping but oh so rewarding. What a joy to be part of witnessing students surrender their life to Christ and grow in their faith. One of the highs of youth ministry has always been camp; cabin life, campfires, lake activities, chapel, connecting with nature, unplugging from screens and building new friendships are a few key elements. But my favorite was a sign. Not just a sign, but a truth from God’s word, the hope that the past—including old sins, habits, and identities—is gone, allowing for a fresh start. As students passed through the rec center, this “sign” ushered them into the chapel. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.– 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV” I think that the camp is very appropriately named, New Life. ;) Isn’t that “sign” amazing! Anyone. Let’s read that again, “. . . if ANYONE is in Christ . . .” It doesn’t matter if you’re a wayward teenager, a wealthy businessman, a struggling single parent, or a retiree.

Paul wanted the church at Corinth and us to know that anyone can be a new creation in Christ regardless of status, ethnicity, athletic ability, age or i.q. This inward change is a complete transformation, not just a “better version of self” but a NEW CREATION. The old life is gone and a new life emerges! What a beautiful gift from God. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “So, we must both receive the gift of being a new creation and be challenged to live the life of a new creation.” Spurgeon’s quote reminded me of the immense change in my own life; what I was before and after Christ and of my continual spiritual transformation. I am thankful that God taught me something both beautiful and powerful in 2 Corinthians 5:17. That as a believer I am to view people through a spiritual lens with Godly perspective and not get hung up on the “old”; who they once were and what their past was.

Just as the woman who was caught in adultery had a choice, those teens at summer camp had a choice, we too have the same choice – LEAVE OUR LIFE OF SIN and follow Jesus! That my friend is a game changer, a life changer!

When watching most action movies, the entire plot leads up to one thing; the battle. Sometimes there are multiple scenes of fighting, but that is the nail-biting, most anticipated part of the movie. Typically, you see how the characters prepare themselves for said battle. You also see how they respond during the battle. Finally, you see the aftermath of the battle; how it affected them physically, mentally and emotionally.

We are always in a battle because we are born with a desire to sin. First, we battle our own flesh. Second, because we are all born with a desire to sin, we battle each other. Third, because we are all born with a desire to sin, we battle the enemy (Satan).

How we prepare for those battles is ultimately going to determine how we respond during the battle and how we are physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually afterwards.

Ephesians 6:10 starts off strong with what we need to do to prepare for the battle. “finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” When we equip ourselves to battle, we must first realize it is not in our own strength. We have to rely on the Lord and His mighty power.

Ephesians 6:11 then gives us instructions as to why we have to prepare. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” When we are prepared to fight the enemy, we are able to stand firm instead of wavering in uncertainty.

Ephesians 6:12 then tells us who we are up against. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” When we know exactly who we are going up against in battle, we can avoid most surprises. We can also know exactly how to resist them, how they operate, and how to best overcome or “beat” them.

Ephesians 6:13 reminds us again how to suit up and prepare for these battles. “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Continue to read verses 14-18 to see exactly what the armor of God is. But this portion of verses highlights just how important it is to be prepared so that we can do everything that we can to avoid the temptation of the enemies' schemes against us.

We are all in a battle; whether a follower of Jesus or not. The difference between the two is that when we are followers of Jesus, we are better equipped for the battle. His Word teaches us how to be prepared to fight the enemy. We are also never fighting the battle alone; the Lord is always with us.

We have to understand who the Bible says we are! This world tries to hold that all people are good. All people are born with a certain goodness and it is our circumstances that determine whether or not we turn out to be wicked or good. We want to believe so desperately that we are not the problem! We make excuses for ourselves all the time! I read a book last summer discussing what people really mean when they say they want “justice”. I believe as people born as image bearers of God we are born with a sense and a need for justice, but like everything else this has been tainted by our sin nature. When we cry out for justice in this world against those who do wicked, we want so badly for the evil of other people to be punished. The book touched on the truth that we cry for evil to be punished, unless it is our own! We want to see other people's sin punished, but when it comes to our own wickedness and sin, we always have some sort of excuse. We say “we didn’t mean to” or “it wasn’t intentional” or probably the most common and dangerous thing we tell ourselves is “it’s not a big deal!” We want sin and evil to be thrown in the fire while simultaneously telling ourselves that we have done no wrong, that we make no mistakes, and that this does not make me a “bad person.” The Bible shows us the truth, it makes us aware that sin comes from within a person, not from without. Our circumstances only bring out what is already going on within. We cannot lie to ourselves! We are sinners who are in need of a Savior! Jesus Christ is the only light! He is the way to righteousness because He is righteous! He bled and died to purify us from all our sins! Verse 9 is a beautifully clear verse for salvation. “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” My daughter asked me the other night after our nighttime Bible reading about Abraham, “Dad, why did God choose to help Abraham even though he did not trust God?” Abraham fell short all the time yet God used him to be the father of God’s chosen people! She did not understand why God would choose Abraham and she is right! It is a great question, but the greater question is why would God choose anyone? We are all like Abraham, even a child can see it so obviously. We all need God! Praise the Lord for choosing to save sinners!

We all have been at a time in our lives where we have compared our sins against someone else's. We learn throughout the Bible that it’s not right to do! We find in Matthew 7:5 where Jesus is teaching and says: “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Although Matthew 7 and John 8 are not speaking on the same events, we find similarities in the truth. We find in John 8 religious leaders were trying to question Jesus and trap him in the way things were to be handled under the Mosaic Law. However, Jesus calls out the leaders and tells them whoever is without sin can cast the first stone at the woman caught in adultery. This is where we find ourselves today in verse 9 starting with the older man then down to the very last one…they all began to walk away until there was only the woman and Jesus left. Jesus looks at her and replies: “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? No one, sir, she said. Then neither do I condemn you, Jesus declared. Go now and leave your life of sin.”

We must understand Jesus is not ignoring the sin of the woman but rather giving the gift of forgiveness. We too should be looking to offer forgiveness when the opportunity presents itself. As believers when we offer forgiveness to those who have wronged us we are giving them the opportunity to see the forgiveness we were gifted when we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. I personally believe that the crowd walked away with heavy hearts of conviction. Let us not allow ourselves to be so prideful that we ignore our own sin and focus solely on the sins of others. I also encourage you this is not an excuse to ignore sin in general. As believers we should be willing to call out sin in our lives and in others but with GRACE! When we extend forgiveness and grace we leave room for the power of Jesus Christ to do a mighty work.

The Canadian Men’s Olympic curling team won the gold medal at the Olympics this year. This was somewhat controversial because they were caught double touching the stone upon release when playing Sweden. What I found interesting is how the player, when caught and confronted, responded with a verbal outburst of anger. Then eventually complained that he was set up with non-normal camera views. It’s clear that he double touched stones thrown several times during the match, never admitting that occurred.
In our passage Jesus is dealing with a similar type of issue. The Pharisees don’t like Jesus because He is exposing them to be hypocrites and involved in the various sins that they accuse everyone else of. This exposure drives the Pharisees to try to trap Jesus into a moral dilemma that would cause Him to break the Mosaic law or Roman law. If Jesus condemns the woman caught in adultery then she would be stoned according to Mosaic Law. This would break Roman law because the Jewish people didn’t have the right to initiate capital punishment. If Jesus gives mercy and doesn’t judge and condemn the woman, He is breaking the Mosaic law. Seemingly, a no-win situation.

Jesus listens to the Pharisees' accusations, while calmly writing in the dirt. What Jesus drew on the ground we don’t know but what He says cuts to the heart of the matter. Simply and decisively, Jesus exposes the hardened hearts of the Pharisees and exposes our need to forgive those who have wronged us. “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her,” John 8:7 (ESV). Jesus is teaching us: when we find fault with others we should reflect on our own actions and be harder on them rather than the shortcomings of others. Turn to and read: Matthew 7:1-5, and you will find Jesus’ teaching specifically on judging others and the importance of having proper perspective when examining other’s actions or lives. Jesus is reminding us to clean up our own act before we pass judgment on others. Pull the 2x4 out of your own eye before confronting others on their sins. When we reflect on our own lives, seeing the failures, then we see the need for forgiveness. Forgiveness from God and forgiveness from others. The proper perspective of our lives demands us to forgive because we have needed and will need God’s forgiveness ourselves. The Pharisees were avoiding self-assessment and looking to drag Jesus down to their level. Jesus is showing us a better way - let’s not judge and condemn one another but let’s forgive and work together to try to live up to God’s standards.

Jesus offers forgiveness to the repentant heart. Examine your life and ask God for forgiveness for wrongs that you’ve done. Maybe, someone has wronged you, even though you have not sinned against them. Forgive them even though they may not deserve it. None of us deserved the mercy Jesus extended us, so extend the same kind of mercy. Judge not and forgive, it will ease your load and bring a sense of peace to your life.

I have learned over the years that there are people who oppose what I believe. From guys threatening to spray me with their garden hoses to men on porches threatening to bash my head in with beer bottles to court room attorneys who mock my standards and values to social media antagonism over my doctrinal beliefs, there is no shortage of “enemies” that I have encountered over the years. That doesn’t include people who come through Emmanuel who eventually “talk behind my back” tearing down the very things that I have passionately given my life to over the years. Here’s the thing: it goes with the territory.

If you are going to truly follow Jesus, you are going to have enemies. It’s unfortunate, but it’s reality. In our story, Jesus faced people who were antagonistic toward what he was teaching. They were hypocritical religious leaders who were more interested in their power and prosperity than they were in grace and truth. So, they attempted to “trap” Jesus to hopefully remove his great influence among the people. Why would they do such a thing? It’s because they were jealous of his ever growing popularity, and he was exposing their selfish agendas.

In our story, the Jewish hypocritical leaders had already disregarded the Mosaic Law by arresting the accused woman without the man. The law required that both parties to adultery had to be present to be “stoned” (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22). While the law was rarely applied in this case, nonetheless, it was the law that if one was to be punished, they both had to be punished. To be clear, the Pharisees didn’t care about either person. They cared about trapping Jesus.

So, they asked him what should be done with this woman who they brought to him. If Jesus said the woman should not be stoned, they planned on accusing Jesus of violating the very law of Moses given from God. In that case, they could say that “how could he truly be from God” while violating God’s law. If Jesus said the woman should be stoned, they planned on reporting him to the Romans (who were over the Jews) who did not permit the Jews to carry out their own executions (John 18:31). It’s also likely that they would have criticized him for not being a gracious teacher of God. No matter what Jesus answered, they thought they had “trapped” him as they were hopeful of getting rid of him.

Of course, Jesus would expose their selfish insincerity, and they would walk away stunned by his brilliant reply. You have to read the rest of the story, and read the next devotionals for that. For now, please realize that anytime that you are seeking to honor God and impact others for the Kingdom of God, you will receive antagonistic pushback. Sometimes, it will even come from the “house of God” as Satan uses God’s own people to cause discord, disunity, and dissension. So, what should you do? I’m glad you asked. Here are five ways to handle the pressure from others:

1. Brace for it. It’s coming. Don’t be surprised when it comes. God is with you, and anything worth accomplishing for God is going to be challenged by those who don’t have the heart of God.
2. Respond, not react. Don’t fight fire with fire. In other words, people are watching how you are handling disgruntled people. Be firm but be kind. Be truthful but be merciful.
3. Count the cost. Some people are not worth your energy. You have much to do for God, and if you give your time in pointless arguments and debates, it only takes away from your ministry.
4. Be careful. We live in a dangerous world. People are looking to tear down those who follow God. They demand tolerance, yet they are intolerant of the truth. Protect your integrity.
5. Always pray. God is the defender of your life. You don’t need to be consumed with “answering all of the doubters.” Go to God, and trust that his will be done despite the antagonists.

If you are attempting to serve God, you WILL have pushback! It goes with the territory! So, if you are experiencing this, I want to congratulate you on being an “influencer” for the Kingdom of God! It’s so worth the pain and pushback! Praise the Lord!

It doesn’t take much to make a mess of our lives. Our natural desires that are sinful are allowed to “take over,” and before we know it, we are adding issue after issue into our lives. The story of the woman who was “caught” in adultery exemplifies this reality. We don’t know much about her, but we do know that she was in danger of disaster. According to the Mosaic Law, both the man and the woman who were committing adultery were to be stoned to death (Leviticus 20:10). How things have changed. What also cannot be lost in the story is that these hypocritical religious leaders had impure motivations. They didn’t care about this woman. In fact, some theologians believe that it was one of them who had committed adultery with her. They had already disregarded part of the Mosaic Law that required BOTH PARTIES caught in adultery to be stoned. Their hope was to “trap” Jesus with their question giving him two “impossible” options. We must understand that we are in a spiritual battle for our lives, and both Satan and the godless culture that we live in is seeking to destroy us. Thankfully, nothing is unforgivable when the Gospel is in play! Jesus quickly exposed these evil men telling them that “whoever was without sin to cast the first stone!” The fact is that we are all in need of forgiveness. The child who has never committed murder or adultery is just as desperate for the Gospel as the adult whose life is riddled with poor decision after poor decision from his past. Why? Because we have ALL SINNED and FALL SHORT of God’s glory! The story ends with a decision to be made. It’s perfect how Jesus applies both the compassion of the Gospel with the commitment to the Gospel. In American church culture, license has caused many people to decompartmentalize their lives with Jesus getting Sunday and their selfish desires getting Monday through Saturday. Jesus made it clear to this woman that the Gospel changes our behaviors. Forgiveness is not a license to sin; it’s leverage to live a “new life” filled with purpose and joy. We never really do find out if this woman obeyed Jesus. She was given the same choice that you and I are given – LEAVE YOUR LIFE OF SIN and follow Jesus!

This devotional and the story of Nicodemus has been wonderful to read each day. It’s a story for every seeker, every skeptic, and it’s for you and I as we understand and participate in the Kingdom. Every scene has drawn me in deeper to the account of his journey. Today, we find ourselves at the final scene. 

“He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”

This final glimpse of Nicodemus at the foot of the cross is not lengthy. But in these few sentences, the actions of Nicodemus speaks volumes. Let’s talk about myrrh and aloe. This was an extravagant move, an insane amount of spices and resins. and in today’s market would be valued in the $150,000-$200,000 range.  When mixed with linen;  myrrh and aloe symbolized a royal or kingly burial. What beautiful devotion. Public devotion. Nicodemus abandoned everything that he knew; making contact with a dead body which would more than likely render him to be unceremonially clean. The defiant but courageous actions of Nicodemus would not have gone unseen by the Pharisees and members of the Sanhedrin. He doesn’t just step out of the shadows, he is on full public display. 

Am I the only one who wanted more of the story? Could this really be the conclusion? I spent some time in the word and in prayer over this, thanking God that His story is perfect and His ways are not our ways. This story was a reminder that God wants our honest seeking and our hearts in the right place. No amount of worldly knowledge, college degrees or mastery of the scriptures can replace a personal relationship with Jesus. Just as Nicodemus’ journey shows that faith can grow gradually, moving from fear-based apprehension to courageous, public devotion; from seeker to disciple only by the Power of the Gospel. Once our eyes are open to The Truth, like Nicodemus’ were, there is no going back.  There are so many people who are curious and seeking just as Nicodemus. They need to hear The Truth. Will you act in obedience and boldness and prioritize discipleship?

Go.
Go and make passionate disciples.

“Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”
John 7:50-51

Think about your time in high school; of all the cliques. You had the athletes, the nerds, the populars, and the arts. Most people fell into a clique, or a category. Each of them were different, but typically everyone in the group had similarities and were following something. In John 7:50-51, it describes Nicodemus as “one of their own number” meaning, a Pharisee. He was “one of them.” He fit into the religious crowd of people who were skeptical of Jesus. They didn’t believe that this seemingly regular man was the Messiah. In all honesty, it seems as if the Pharisees were blinded from the Truth due to their pride and stubbornness. They saw the same miracles and wonders happening that Nicodemus did. 

Nicodemus’ testimony began with him being a follower in the crowd of Pharisees. He was skeptical of Jesus, even though he could see something was different about him. He couldn’t quite scratch that itch. He wanted to understand why people’s lives were radically changing around him. Slowly, Nicodemus began to peel himself away from being “one of them.” He asked Jesus questions to gain understanding and grew in courage and confidence in who Jesus said He was. 

This didn’t come without consequences for him, though. He was ridiculed as the Pharisees were stubbornly set to destroy Jesus instead of understanding the Truth. Verse 50 says that Nicodemus SPOKE UP! He not only turned from follower to fan, he was loud about it! When we are fans of a sports team, we wear hoodies and hats LOUDLY and PROUDLY! He wasn’t afraid to remove himself from the group that he was familiar with. He knew the Truth and didn’t let fear stop him. 

Nicodemus’ testimony began in fear as a follower of the Pharisees and ended as a bold fan of Jesus! This is what Jesus does. This is what the Gospel does! All of our testimonies begin in fear and uncertainty about who Jesus is. But at some point in our lives, we are radically transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We gain confidence and boldness to be loud and proud about Jesus and we share His light with those around us. 

God has done it all! He has come into the world and given us His only Son! John 3:16 is one of the very first verses we teach to children and for good reason! It is the truth of the gospel! God sent Jesus to save the world through Him. This is the only way that we can be saved. The next few verses talk about the fact that we chose darkness. We are all condemned already as the Bible tells us. We are given the responsibility of our own actions and sin. This is why there is a need for a Savior. We chose darkness rather than light. It is funny, as a parent I always end up thinking of my children when it comes to sin (even though I love them). They are such sinners and sometimes I can respond in sin to them! It can be frustrating as a parent to constantly remind your children, or reprimand them, telling them day in and day out the same thing because they want to do what they want. The truth is that they are sinners! I am a sinner! We are all sinners who need Jesus to be able to be saved from our sin and to be able to be put back on a path of righteousness. We can not do it on our own! We chose darkness rather than light! This is the verdict! We can sometimes be so frustrated with the people who sin against us that we sin in response. This mainly happens with me and my children. I can be angry or frustrated with their sin and forget that it is Jesus who they need to live by! The last of these verses tells us to live in the truth! This is the truth of Jesus Christ who has come and died for us on the cross conquering sin. He conquered all sin, even that of my children that can sometimes tempt me to sin in response. In the end, it is Jesus that they need. He is the light that we all need. We are to live in this truth that Jesus is the Savior of the World! Praise God for sending His Son and saving all who live in the truth and believe in Him!