Salvation, Restoration, and Revival

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Psalm 85

Psalm 85:13

Righteousness will go before him
    and make his footsteps a way.

(ESV)

While the news about the coronavirus dominates the media and thinking of many across the world, we must not allow it to take our focus off what is important, our relationship with God our creator.  During this crisis, people typically have one of two types of reactions towards God.  Some will react by lashing out at God who allowed this to happen, believing God does not love them or humanity.  However, this reaction is a slap in the face of God who demonstrated His love for humanity by coming to us and dying for sins He did not commit (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Others will react by turning towards God to find peace and comfort during this time knowing Jesus said there would be trouble and that Jesus overcame that trouble on the cross (John 16:33). 

Psalm 85 is a cry out to God for revival.  As we reflect on the events of the last couple of weeks, we observe a lack of trust in God and the resulting panic as people see what they have placed their trust in disappear.  I must confess to having times of fear during this crisis as I see my retirement savings disappear, wondering if I will be able to retire or need to keep on working.  However, this crisis has caused me to pause and reflect on where the treasure of my heart is (Luke 12:34; Matthew 6:21).  Fear and panic over the coronavirus are symptomatic of spiritual heart trouble indicating our heart treasures something else above God. 

This is a time for the people of God to reflect on and treasure what they have in Christ and share that treasure with others.  Psalm 85 reminds us that as believers in Christ we have,

1)      Security of salvation (Psalm 85:1-3) – Thankfully our salvation is not the result of our good works but instead the work of Jesus Christ who knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8).  If our salvation were based upon our good works, we could never be certain of our standing or position with God for none of our works are righteous enough to bring salvation (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10).  However, we can have certainty of salvation because the sinless savior took our place and took our death penalty (Romans 6:23) so we can achieve a righteous standing with God by simply believing (John 3:16) and making a public confession of faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10). 

2)      Ongoing Restoration (Psalm 85:4-7) – Through the work of Jesus on the cross, we have a right standing with God and eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8; John 3:16).  However, there is also an ongoing aspect of salvation that involves our moving from conformity to the world and its way of thinking to conformity to God and His Word (Romans 12:2).  I love to watch home improvement shows on TV not because I am a great craftsman, but out of admiration for how they take a home in terrible condition and turn it into something beautiful.  We are like a dilapidated home that God purchased with the blood of His Son on the cross that God walks into and begins the restoration of our dilapidated condition.  God does not turn around and walk out upon seeing the dilapidated condition of our lives but sees what we can become and begins our life renovation project.  As with the home renovation projects on TV, life renovation usually begins with demolition or as Jesus illustrated, the pruning of unfruitful parts of our lives (John 15:1-17).  God demonstrated the vastness of His love for us by becoming one of us, living with us, and dying for our sins.  However, the love of God for us can be painful as He demolishes idols in our lives that stand between us and God during the restoration and renovation of our lives.  While this demolition is occurring, we must abide in Christ by allowing God's Word to abide in us through prayerful study and meditation so we can bear the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23; John 15:5).  Just as the end of a home improvement project showcases a beautifully renovated home, our goal is to be ambassadors for Christ showcasing a renovated and fruitful life lived for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). 

3)      A message of revival for those without hope (Psalm 85:8-13) – Just as the end of a home renovation project is the showcasing of the finished product, a fruitful and restored life is not to remain hidden, but displayed as an example of the restorative power of the message of the Gospel.  Jesus equates a restored life as one being both salt or a preservative agent in the world and light or someone shining with hope.  A lost and dying world needs the preservative and hope-filled message of the Gospel showcased through a restored and renovated life. 

If you are reading this and are interested in experiencing a Godly renovation in your life, you must first allow God to purchase your delipidated life for God will not renovate something he does not own.  Romans 10:9-10 reminds us that salvation comes as one confesses belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Jesus stands at the door of our lives, knocking (Revelation 3:20) but only comes in when we open the door of our lives to him so he can come in and begin the life renovation project.  Please pray with me now and invite Jesus, the renovator, into your life so He can begin his glorious renovation project,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

A world dominated by the recent coronavirus crisis needs a message of hope coming from those whose lives have been saved by the shed blood of Jesus Christ who are experiencing the restoration of their lives and are becoming fruitful.  My prayer is that those reading this who have experienced salvation from God would allow God to demolish the idols in their lives and begin bearing the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) to a world in despair.  While this demolition process will be painful as God demolishes idols in our lives we treasure, God replaces these demolished idols with a relationship with Himself that will never end.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Prayerful Preparation for Crisis

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 14:32-42

Mark 14:38

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

(ESV)

During the current coronavirus outbreak, the word preparation has come up in the conversation frequently.  When panic mixes with preparation, the result is hoarding and a shortage of needed supplies like toilet paper, water, and cleaning supplies.  However, there is a form of preparation that prepares us for crisis and provides peace when in a crisis.  I am speaking of prayerful preparation for crisis. 

Mark 14:32-42 records the account of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.  In the account we see Jesus taking three of his disciples with him to pray, and the disciples falling asleep.  Jesus has warned the disciples three times of his pending crucifixion with the time now arriving when Judas will betray Jesus (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34).  Jesus desires to pray to his Heavenly Father as his soul is in distress over what is about to occur.  So distressed was Jesus about what was about to occur that Luke 22:43-44 records God sending an angel to comfort Jesus and that His sweat became as drops of blood.  Jesus has brought the three disciples closest to Him for support but Jesus is also providing an example teaching them the importance of connection with the Heavenly Father through prayer in preparation for struggles that come in life.  This is the first step in Godly preparation as the world faces the coronavirus crisis and how we prevent ourselves from going into panic mode.  Some things to remember as we face this crisis,

1)      God knew this was coming, is not surprised, and will use it for the good of His people (Romans 8:28) – People in the middle of a crisis usually do not find comfort in Romans 8:28.  However, this passage is true and tells us that whatever happens in our lives is not a surprise to God and that he has good in store for us after the struggle is over.  A parallel to Romans 8:28 would be Jeremiah 29:11 that reminds us that God’s plans for us are for our welfare and not for evil.  God’s plans have the purpose of giving us a future and hope.   This is true when things are going well, and true when confronting a crisis so there is no need for God’s people to panic.

2)      We do not need to panic for God has prepared a way for us to get through this (Isaiah 41:10) – When facing a crisis, God’s people have the support of God who promises to strengthen us, help us, and uphold us with His righteous hand (Isaiah 41:10).  God has promised to meet all, not just some, of our needs according to His riches in Glory (Philippians 4:19).  One of the most surprising occurrences during the coronavirus crisis has been how quickly the shelves in stores became empty as people hoarded items due to fear they would run out.  The irony is that they made their fears come true due to their panic buying emptying the shelves.  The truth is this crisis, like any crisis people face, will pass so there was no need to panic.  Instead of panic resulting in hoarding, these individuals should have placed their trust in God and bought enough to meet their needs for a couple of weeks, trusting God to make it stretch to meet their needs and for God to end the crisis. 

3)      Surrender in faith to God’s will because this will pass (James 4:7-10) – By trusting God, we are resisting the devil and the fear he brings.  The human side of Jesus could have panicked at the thought of the pain he would experience on the cross the next day and even asked God if there was another way to provide salvation (Mark 14:35).  However, Jesus resists the temptation to bypass the path of the cross and submits to God’s will (Mark 14:36). 

Unfortunately for Peter and the rest of the disciples, they failed to join Jesus in prayer before the crisis of seeing their Lord die on the cross.  Instead of submitting to God and gaining an understanding of what was occurring on the cross, the disciples panicked with Peter denying Jesus out of fear (Matthew 26:69-75).  After Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples would realize their fears were unfounded for Jesus overcame death through His resurrection.  This is often our initial reaction in a crisis as we only see what is happening now, without faith and trust in God to see us through instead of panicking out of fear. 

This coronavirus crisis will end as the disease subsides as all viral infections do.  However, panic can cause us to spend money we do not have on items we do not need out of fear, leaving lasting financial repercussions.  Therefore, I urge everyone to remain calm and place their trust in God to meet their needs.  Please join me in prayer as we continue to face this crisis

Dear Lord Jesus, we come to you in the middle of this crisis, knowing you knew this would happen and have a plan to take care of your people through the crisis.  Please help to realize you are with us through the crisis and there is no need to panic.  We submit to your will in our lives, knowing your plans for us are always for our good. 

I want to conclude this posting by reminding us of the blessing the Lord gave to Moses to bless Israel for it applies to everyone during this crisis

Numbers 6:22-26

 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ²³ “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

²⁴ The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord lift up his countenance^[c] upon you and give you peace.

(ESV)

God’s Steadfast Love: The Foundation of Steadfast Faith.

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Psalm 86

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

(ESV)

While I intended to begin a series on mentoring future generations with this post, developments this week have led me to instead post something that brings encouragement and courage during these chaotic times.  This week has been a roller coaster ride, unlike anything most of us have ever experienced in our lives.  Entire cities and even states in the United States are functioning under stay at home orders to slow the progression of the coronavirus.  Citizens living in fear form lines outside of grocery stores to acquire necessary items like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and water in large quantities fearing they will be unable to acquire these items if the country goes under a national quarantine.  The underlying cause of this fear is fear of the unknown, something Joshua may have experienced as he looked across the Jordan at the promised land.  However, Joshua was one of only two spies that returned with a good report about the promised land (Numbers 13:30-33; 14:1-12) with Joshua 1:9 serving as a reminder to Joshua to remain strong and courageous as he begins leading Israel into the Promised Land. 

During chaotic times when fear and panic are rampant, it is important to pause and reflect on the steadfast love of God toward each of us for God’s love is the foundation of steadfast faith.  Psalm 86 is a prayer of David written during a chaotic time in his life when insolent and ruthless men sought to kill him (Psalm 86:14).  However, instead of wallowing in the dire circumstances of his situation, David cries out to God because of his belief in God’s mercy, grace, and steadfast love (Psalm 86:15).  David’s prayer offers a pattern for prayer when one finds themselves in a chaotic crisis such as quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic.  In this psalm, we see David,

1)      Humbly trust in God (Psalm 86:1-7) – In line with the pattern for prayer Jesus offered in the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), for David does not begin his prayer by offering a complaint list but begins with humbling himself before God (Psalm 86:1).  David then acknowledges his trust in God to preserve his life (Psalm 86:2).  David’s humble trust in God comes from a foundation of awareness of the grace of God as a source of joy during this chaotic time of crisis in his life because God steadfastly loves those that place their trust in Him (Psalm 86:3-7).  It is easy during these times to immerse ourselves in the news of the day and neglect connection with God through His Word and prayer.  While it is important to stay informed, it is also important to connect with God as it demonstrates our humble trust in God to take care of our needs, even during chaotic times of crisis.

2)      Praise the greatness of God and seek to learn God’s truth (Psalm 86:8-13) – Instead of immersing himself in his dire circumstances, David immerses himself in praise to God who has done great things in his life (Psalm 86:8-13).  For those reading this that have professed their faith in Jesus as their savior, we can reflect on the time when we accepted Jesus.  We can also reflect on times in our lives when God provided for a dire need.  As we reflect on how God saved us and was with us during a time of great need, we must remember that God is still great and able to get us through this time of crisis brought on by the coronavirus.

3)      Present his case before God from a heart trusting in God’s steadfast love (Psalm 86:14-17) – David concludes his prayer with finally presenting his case before God (Psalm 86:14).  However, David does wallow in his complaint but instead goes back to praising God for his mercy, grace, steadfast love, and faithfulness (Psalm 86:15).  David concludes his prayer by asking God to turn to him and save him according to His grace, and for a sign that his enemies can see, putting them to shame.  Lord, You know about the coronavirus and how it is impacting our lives.  You are merciful and gracious Lord, abounding in steadfast love and able to help us defeat this unseen enemy.  May we as God’s people trust in you and show the world the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and not fear as we go through this crisis. 

For anyone reading this that does not have a personal relationship with God during this crisis, I urge you to pray with me now and establish one.  In Romans 10:9-10, the Bible reminds us that God saves anyone that cries out to the Lord making a confession of belief in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Even though recommendations against mass gatherings of people mean the locking up of Churches this weekend and not having regular services, many churches have services online.  I urge everyone to connect through one of these online services to remain connected to God in worship and the teaching of God’s word.  I also urge everyone to continue giving to their churches because even though services are not happening, Church expenses have not stopped.  Many churches today offer the ability to give online which is not only convenient but also means church staff does not need to handle the money.  We can all be like Joshua and courageously face this crisis knowing God is with us (Joshua 1:9).  May God grant us peace and may his face shine of smile on us during this crisis (Numbers 6:24-26).    

The Three P’s of Coronavirus Survival

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Matthew 6:25-34

Matthew 6:25

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

(ESV)

For most of us, the past week has been full of challenges.  While challenges in life are normal and even something the Lord told us would occur (John 16:33), the challenges faced by many this week are of a nature that can leave us hopeless and in despair.  I am speaking of the challenges presented by the coronavirus. 

My son works for a large grocery store chain in Phoenix Arizona.  This weekend his store surpassed all their sales expectations with one of his co-workers equating the weekend to Thanksgiving and Christmas all happening during the same weekend.  The difference, however, is that the rush brought on by Thanksgiving and Christmas are expected, this rush was unexpected and brought on by panic as people believed the coronavirus would shut everything down and that they would be quarantined in their homes for an indefinite period.  As such, people were hoarding toilet paper, water, and hand sanitizer.  Interestingly, food did not seem to be an object of hoarding. 

In Matthew 6:25, Jesus teaches His followers to live without anxiety about life.  Jesus goes on to ask those listening to look at the birds and the flowers in the field (Matthew 6:25-34).  I have stood on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in the spring and saw the beautiful wildflowers and heard the birds foraging in the fields.  These birds and flowers do not have a care in the world for the Lord provides the water and sunlight for the flowers, and the birds find food in the fields, all provided by God. 

The current global crisis from the Corona is serious and we should take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and our families.  This is especially true for those with serious health issues.  However, for those that believe in Jesus as their savior, there is no need to live in despair or hopelessness.  Instead, we need to practice the three Ps of coronavirus survival.

1)      Perspective (Romans 8:28) – Romans 8:28 while true is not a verse providing comfort to those experiencing potential quarantine or becoming seriously sick with coronavirus.  However, it appears in the context of Romans 8:18-30 which speaks of the future glory God’s people will experience.  Therefore, the verse should provide comfort as it reminds us that the temporary struggles life brings like the coronavirus can have a purpose in our lives.  For example, if this crisis means you cannot go to work or must work from home, it is an opportunity for more time with family or for Christians, more time in the study of the Bible or prayer, drawing them closer in their relationship with God.  This makes it possible for us to have a godly perspective that looks at God as the provider for his creation, including us (Matthew 6:25-34) instead of a perspective of panic. 

2)      Preparation – However, God does not expect us to ignore the seriousness of this crisis and has given us a mind to plan and prepare for what could occur.  The Bible provides two examples of the importance of preparation for a major project and also for a pending crisis.  David would not be the one to build the Temple but knowing the inexperience of his son Solomon gathered stonecutters to prepare stones for the Temple in addition to iron for nails for the doors, gates, and clamps as well as massive quantities of bronze (1 Chronicles 22:2-5).  Joseph followed the instruction of the Lord provided by a dream to prepare for a seven-year famine.  While Romans 8:28 had not been written, Joseph is the biblical poster boy of one whose struggles in life worked out for good (Genesis 37-45).  He also demonstrates the importance of planning for a crisis, something leaders often point to when urging people to properly prepare for struggle and crisis.  However, Joseph practiced wise preparation based upon instruction from God and not panic-driven preparation like the world is seeing during the coronavirus pandemic. 

3)      Praise (Isaiah 55:12) –  James 1:2 is another verse that when viewed out of context does not provide comfort for someone going through a struggle or crisis.  However, when viewed in context, it is not telling one to rejoice for the trial but to rejoice during the trial, knowing it tests our faith and provides an opportunity to produce steadfast faith and completeness of life (James 1:2-4).  In essence, this verse provides clarification for Romans 8:28 telling us that the working of good from trials is the strengthening of our faith through its testing.  Therefore, we can offer praise to God when in a crisis or struggle knowing it is working for our good and producing strong and steadfast faith. 

For God’s people, survival during the coronavirus crisis requires maintaining a Godly perspective through maintaining the spiritual disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and meditation on scripture.  It also involves wise and godly led preparation and not the panicked preparation prevalent during this crisis.  Christians must also continue to praise God, not for the crisis, but for the glorious future they have in Christ. 

Perhaps you are reading this and do not know Jesus as your savior and cannot praise God for you do not believe you have a glorious future of eternity with Christ.  The Bible is clear in John 3:16 that all that one must do to receive eternal life is believe.  Romans 10:9-10 teaches us that to be saved, one must publicly proclaim their faith in Jesus as Savior.  If that person is you, I invite you to pray with me now to ensure a glorious future with Christ. 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

For those that just prayed, the next step is gaining a godly perspective through the study of the Bible.  I normally would recommend attendance at a local church or Bible study but during this crisis, many churches will not be meeting regularly,  However, many of these churches will be recording their messages without a congregation and putting them online so there is still an opportunity to learn the Bible through the teaching of scripture, even if in quarantine.  I also urge you to seek guidance on preparation from other believers who are preparing according to Godly wisdom and not panic.  Finally, praise God through listening to Christian music on the radio or by streaming online.  I pray everyone reading this will maintain a godly perspective, wisely prepare, and continue to praise and give glory to God through this crisis.   

Mentoring Future Generations

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Psalm 71

Psalm 71:18

So even to old age and gray hairs,
    O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
    your power to all those to come.

(ESV)

Before beginning this Bible study, I want to mention the Corona Virus and encourage everyone to take the necessary precautions to limit their exposure to the disease.  Since this is an airborne virus like the common cold or flu, we can use the same precautions, like the washing of hands, getting plenty of rest, avoiding contact with people that may be infected, and quarantining ourselves if we have symptoms or test positive for the virus.  We also need to pray for God’s protection and intervention against this disease as well as godly wisdom for leaders in government, medical professionals, and researchers tirelessly working to find a vaccine and cure for this virus.  Another important consideration in the context of the coronavirus is for older people to provide mentorship to younger people who have never experienced something like the Corona Virus in their lives who are full of fear and panic.   

The text of Psalm 71 is a psalmist, not mentioned by name, that fears abandonment by God as he grows older and his physical strength weakens (Psalm 71:18).  As a senior citizen myself, I can relate to feeling weaker as I grow older and no longer able to do the things I could do when I was younger.  Gone are the days when I could run a 10K race, running that distance five times a week in preparation and still have ample energy to work.  Gone are the days when I could just jump out of bed and begin the day, often with a 10K run and now must ease into the day.  And of course, there are the prescription drugs I must take daily to regulate blood pressure, heart rate, and blood thinners to ensure I do not develop a blood clot and have a debilitating stroke.  However, these things that come with aging do not mean one has outlived their usefulness for each individual of advanced age has knowledge, wisdom, and experience the younger generation needs as they are the future leaders of the world. 

While Psalm 71 does not provide the name of the author, it may be David.  This is because the author of the Psalm is someone that had enemies seeking to harm him in the weakness and feebleness of his old age.  Throughout his reign as king, David had many victories (2 Samuel 8:1-14) and no doubt many enemies.  1 Kings 1:1-4 tells of the feebleness of David in his old age with Adonijah setting himself up as king instead of Solomon, David’s choice as his successor (1 Kings 1:5-27).  While we cannot be certain, this could be the circumstance behind the writing of Psalm 71.  We also observe in the text of Psalm 71 the desire of the psalmist to proclaim the might of the Lord he has experienced to the next generation (Psalm 71:17-18).  In Proverbs 4:3-9 Solomon cites the wisdom he gained from his father David also lending support to David as the author of Psalm 71 as the psalmist expresses a desire to pass on what he has learned. 

However, while it is interesting to speculate who wrote Psalm 71, we must not become sidetracked and miss the message of the psalm.  Psalm 71:1-3 establishes the theme of the Psalm as God being a refuge and righteous rescuer one can turn to in times of trouble.  The psalm continues with the psalmist recalling times when the Lord rescued him from cruel and unjust men desiring to harm him.  This represents the wisdom and knowledge the psalmist can impart to the younger generation backed by experience.  Sadly, however, this level of interaction between older and younger generations in the church is lacking, with the generations often segregated with little or no interaction.  Over the next several weeks, the Saturday posts to this blog will deal with what older generations must do to impart wisdom to younger generations. 

A generation gap existed between my generation and that of my parents and still exists between generations today.  However, while there as a gap and disagreement between my generation and that of my parents, my parents were able to plant seeds of wisdom that helped me face challenges that have occurred in my life as I have grown older.  Like it or not, the youth in the Church today are its future leaders, a fact we cannot change.  To lead the Church according to biblical doctrine and principles, these future leaders need interaction with mature believers who have experience, wisdom, and most of all spiritual maturity to face challenges from a biblical foundation.  My prayer is that this study will encourage spiritually mature believers to interact with youth in the church by providing spiritual leadership that develops future church leaders that lead according to biblical principles and that youth in the church will seek mentorship from spiritually mature members of the church.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Denial, Empowerment, Witnessing

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 14:22-31

Mark 14:24-25

 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the^[a] covenant, which is poured out for many. ²⁵ Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

(ESV)

The most unique aspect of the Christian faith is the belief in God who did not remain distant in heaven but took the unusual step of becoming one of us and living with us in the person of His Son, Jesus (John 1:14).  This means that God can relate to what happens as we live in a post-Genesis 3 world but also that as God Jesus was empowered to change the post-Genesis 3 world in which He lived by performing miracles as a witness of the power of God over the works of the enemy and ultimately, dying on the cross for the sins that separate us from a relationship with God. 

Two things are occurring in the text of Mark 14:22-31 the first of which is the institution of the Lord’s Supper or communion (Mark 14:22-25).  While the symbolism occurring during the Passover dinner was familiar to the disciples, Jesus adds a twist to this dinner by connecting the symbolism of the breaking of bread and the drinking of the cup with events about to occur the next day.  Like the teaching in parables that was designed to provide a visual picture of theological principles, Jesus is setting the disciples up for a theological explanation of what they will witness as Jesus is crucified the next day. 

In addition to this picture provided to the disciples at the Passover dinner, Jesus would say the beginning verse of Psalm 22 which would have caused those witnessing the crucifixion, especially the religious leaders that called for the crucifixion of Jesus to remember the rest of the passage (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).  As they recited this passage in their minds, they would witness it graphically displayed with Jesus on the cross.  In essence, Jesus provides the ultimate parable to his disciples with the connection of the Passover dinner to events occurring at the cross, and connection to those watching with Old Testament scripture that describes one dying from crucifixion (Mark 14:22-25; Psalm 22). 

The second section of the text in Mark 14:22-31 is Jesus foretelling of the scattering of His followers and specifically the denial by Peter.  Jesus, our Savior can relate to rejection for he not only suffered rejection and denial from those closest to Him (Mark 14:43-50) but even suffered rejection from God (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34), something we as Christians will never experience (Matthew 28:20; Romans 8:38-39).  While Peter’s denial of Jesus and the scattering of Jesus followers could have ended tragically, it was actually part of God’s plan and set the foundation for the early church as these scattered followers came together after seeing the risen Lord and receiving the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to turn their world upside down (Acts 17:6). 

You might ask how could rejection and denial be a part of God’s plan?  To answer that question we must consider the hypothetical situation of the disciples following Peter’s lead as he stated in Mark 14:29.  Had the disciples decided to fight for Jesus, there would have been a mass crucifixion of not only Jesus but the disciples, and no one left to lead the early church.  Jesus could not allow this to happen because the crucifixion is the sacrifice of the perfect lamb of God and the beginning of a new Covenant of grace with salvation coming due to God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8).  In fact, when one of the disciples took up arms to rescue Jesus, Jesus stepped in to stop him (Matthew 26:51-54).   We could equate the denial and scattering of the disciples which on the surface appears bad as something good just like the selling of Joseph into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37:12-36).  Joseph’s betrayal by his brothers would later provide salvation for his brothers through Joseph going ahead of them to Egypt to prepare a path of salvation through the famine.  As Joseph later told his brothers, what they intended for harm to Joseph was part of God’s plan to save them (Genesis 45:1-15). 

After His resurrection, Jesus instructed his followers not to begin their ministry until receiving empowerment from the Holy Spirit to be effective witnesses (Acts 1:8).  As we look back in hindsight at church history, we now understand what Jesus knew, the disciples would encounter severe persecution with all, but John, martyred for their faith.  Those seeking to defend Jesus at his betrayal may have believed they were strong enough to endure any persecution for their faith but, would abandon Jesus when facing death. 

Thankfully for all believers living today, Jesus preserved the disciples by stopping their attempts to use force to stop Jesus from dying for our sins on the cross and preserved their lives so they could spread the Gospel message and write the gospels and epistles which still provide guidance in our life of serving the Lord.  If you are reading this and have not prayed to accept Jesus as your savior, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Congratulations on taking the first step in becoming a disciple or follower of Jesus Christ, evangelization.  While this statement of belief brings eternal life (John 3:16), living a full and rich life as a believer in Jesus Christ also requires equipping yourself with knowledge by study and meditation on the Bible, God’s word.  You will also need encouragement that comes from regularly associating with other believers at a local church or Bible Study.  Like the disciples whom Jesus commanded not to leave Jerusalem until receiving the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, you also need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in your life.  Receiving this empowerment is not something difficult but available to every believer in Christ from God for the asking.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Thirsting for God

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Psalm 63

Psalm 63:1

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
    my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

(ESV)

Adequate hydration is a concern of people living in the desert.  People like to hike the mountains around Phoenix and frequently during the summer months the news reports on a rescue of a hiker from one of the mountains.  While these rescues can involve rescuing a hiker who has fallen, they all too often involve a hiker who did not carry enough water and became dehydrated.  The separation of humanity from God that occurred in Genesis 3 has resulted in the separation of people’s souls from their source of spiritual hydration, resulting in a thirst only God can quench. 

During  His encounter with the Woman at the sell in John 4:1-45, Jesus uses the visual illustration of one thirsting and needing water to quench physical thirst to Him as a source of water eternally quenching one’s spiritual thirst (John 4:13-14).  As Jesus’ discourse with the woman continues, she discovers Jesus is no ordinary man but divine, knowing everything about her, including her sins.  Yet, instead of condemning her as was customary for Jews towards Samaritans at the time of Christ, Jesus offers the woman complete forgiveness and the eternal quenching of the thirst of her soul. 

In Psalm 63, David,

1)      Expresses his belief in God as his God (Psalm 63:1) – Instead of focusing on his circumstances, David is focusing on God and lives a life surrendered to God as his God.  This represents the beginning point for anyone seeking to satisfy the thirst of one’s soul due to their separation from God due to sin in their lives.  Jesus equating Himself as living water to the woman at the well is teaching us that he is the only source of water to quench the thirst of the soul.  We draw this living water out of the well by expressing our belief in God by accepting Jesus as our savior. 

2)      Earnestly seeks God (Psalm 63:1) – Expression of a belief in God through acceptance of Jesus as savior is what opens the door to restoration of a severed relationship with God, but to find quenching for spiritual thirst, one must earnestly seek God through prayer, study, and meditation on the Bible.  David used his time of solitude when hiding from King Saul as a time to seek God and write Psalms like this one that provide encouragement, and not time to focus on his circumstances. 

3)      Finds encouragement in beholding the glory and power of God (Psalm 63:2) – David, most likely, experienced times of discouragement while hiding from Saul, especially during times when he found out Saul knew where he was hiding and could show up soon to destroy him and his men (Psalm 52).  However, instead of cowering in fear, David recalls times when he witnessed the glory and power of God in the sanctuary and focuses on this instead of his circumstances. 

4)      Empowerment by God’s love that is better than life (Psalm 63:3-4) – After receiving encouragement at recalling the power and glory of God in the sanctuary, David is empowered by knowing the love of God is better than life.  With this statement, David is expressing the belief that even if Saul finds him and kills him, it will only result in David being with God for eternity. 

During this time of great trial in the life of David, David finds satisfaction through meditation on the power and glory of God he has witnessed in the sanctuary.  However, unlike the woman at the well, David has not had a physical encounter with God through Jesus for Jesus had not yet come to earth, David is receiving satisfaction through faith.  We live in a post ascension world where we do not physically encounter Jesus and, like David, must receive encouragement and empowerment through an expression of faith in God as Lord of our lives and earnest seeking of God through prayer, study, and meditation on the Word of God. 

For those reading this who have not opened the door to restoration with the living water that quenches the thirst of the soul, I invite you to pray with me now for Jesus stands at the door and knocks (Revelation 3:20). 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

If you just prayed, the door to a restored relationship with God is now open.  Jesus now stands at the door we have opened but will not just barge in till invited.  We invite Jesus in through earnestly seeking to know more about Him through prayer, study, and meditation on the Bible.  Prayer is simply speaking to God just like we would talk with a close friend.  Anyone able to read this post do so because they studied in school to learn to read with the help of a teacher.  Likewise, we need help from teachers in studying the Bible and why I encourage those that just prayed to find a church teaching from the Bible.  Meditation is not sitting cross-legged on the floor seeking nirvana or inner peace but instead refers to one mulling over what they have learned from their study of the Bible and applying it to their daily lives. 

My prayer for all reading this post is that they will like David express belief in God as their God, earnestly seek God through prayer, study, and meditation, and find encouragement and empowerment to overcome the challenges life brings.  David and the Woman at the well provide biblical examples of people seeking God.  May God bless everyone reading this post. 

Betrayal

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 14:10-21

Mark 14:10-11

Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray him to them. ¹¹ And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

(ESV)

One of the downsides of the increased connectedness we have through the internet, email, and social media is that it is easy to unfriend or unfollow someone with a simple click of a mouse or tapping of a finger.  However, when the unfriending or unfollowing is a close friend, there is still an emotional impact and feelings of betrayal.  At the time of the writing of Mark 14:10-11, Jesus has been ministering for three and one-half years.  During that time Jesus has developed a close relationship with these men, creating a special bond but one of the twelve, Judas, is about to sever that bond for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave. 

The events foretold by Jesus three times are unfolding in Jerusalem (Mark 8:31-38; 9:30-32; 10:32-34).  However, the disciples are still in a state of denial regarding Jesus' imminent death and are preoccupied with preparations for Passover (Mark 14:12), but instead of condemning the disciples for failing to see what was about to happen, we should see this as a normal reaction.  However, simply denying something negative about to occur in our lives does not change things for even the negative things occurring in our lives are somehow part of God’s grand plan.  Judas, Peter, and Jesus provide an example of how we must react when facing a negative challenge in our lives. 

1)      Judas the betrayer – Judas betrayed Jesus for the price of thirty pieces of silver.  This is a man who traveled with Jesus during His ministry and would have seen Jesus heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind, and even raise the dead.  However, even this could not overcome his apparent greed and willingness to betray Jesus for money.  It is also possible Judas observed Jesus; conflict with religious leaders and feared repercussions and believed handing Jesus over to them would help him escape any potential repercussions.  We do not know if Judas was in the upper room when Jesus issued His woe in Mark 14:21 but if he was, this was his opportunity to stop.  Unfortunately, for Judas, instead of heeding Jesus’ warning, he sees the intention of the Pharisees to hand Jesus over to the Romans for crucifixion and kills himself instead of seeking forgiveness (Matthew 27:3-5).  If our actions lead us to sin which is a betrayal of the Lord we must stop our sinful betrayal and seek forgiveness for God will forgive our sins when we confess them to Him (1 John 1:9).     

2)      Peter the denier – In contrast to Judas the betrayer, we have Peter the denier.  Peter’s denial comes soon after a declaration of faith (Matthew 26:30-35).  Peter’s denial is most likely the result of fear after seeing Jesus arrested by the Roman soldiers, fearing the Romans would also go after Jesus’ followers.    However, unlike Judas, Peter asks the Lord to forgive him (John 21:15-19; Matthew 26:75) and after receiving the empowerment of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, delivers the first evangelistic message with 3000 people accepting Jesus as savior (Acts 2:14-41). 

3)      Jesus our savior – In Mark 14:21 Jesus tells his disciples that what will happen to him is according to scripture.  Jesus has come to earth with a mission to die for the sins of humanity.  Jesus is the promised savior of Genesis 3:15 who crushed the serpents head on the cross.  This mission was necessary for all humanity has betrayed God by sinning (Romans 3:23).  Most reading this can also admit to denying Jesus out of fear of rejection or even fear of harm.  However, I want to urge everyone reading this to not be like Judas and believe their situation is hopeless but to instead be like Peter and seek forgiveness from God.  If you have never prayed to receive Jesus as your savior, I urge you to do so now by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

While increased connectedness through digital media and social media makes it easier to unfriend or unfollow someone, Jesus our savior has promised never to leave us (Hebrews 13:5).  Jesus knows all too well the hurt of a close friend either betraying us or denying our friendship and would never subject his children to that rejection.  This makes a relationship with Jesus unlike anything else in the world and why we must make our relationship with the Lord the most important relationship in our lives.  May God bless everyone reading this post.