They were a lot like Us

Matthew 26: 30-35

Have you given thought to these words of Jesus; “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”  Who is Jesus addressing?  Most of us will be quick to say His disciples, but what about you and me?  What is your response when you find yourself outside of your Christian family; a boss who is godless, a group of neighbors who are very worldly and whose god is materialism, or old friends from childhood or college who knew you before you entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ?  Do you fall away?

How often have you thought, I would never have been like one of those disciples, and for sure, I would not have been a Peter, that guy was a total wimp.  Do you recall this exchange with Jesus: Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. 

To my shame I recognize those disciples, for like them I love Jesus, like them I’ve confessed that He is the only Son of God, and like them I’ve said, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!”  Do you recall my livelihood came from sales, and more than once the Lord has spoken to me about sharing the hope that I have in Christ with an important customer, and I listened to Channel one, the deceptive channel and not to channel two, the Holy Spirit of God.  Channel One says be careful, this guy will not listen and more than that you will not get the sale.  Channel One will remind you that you will not be doing what is in the best interest of your company and it would be better to wait for a better time. 

And yet, that still, quiet voice is saying, Love not the world or the things of the world, for the world and its desires are passing away.  Like the disciples, we forget that Jesus is Truth and His word is true, and we who are formed from the dust of this earth arrogantly say to our Creator that we know better than He does.  But faith cries out, live your life like Jesus tells the truth; then and only then will you experience a victorious Christian life.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Betrayal

Matthew 26:17-25

Betrayal is not a common occurrence for most of us, but it happens and I’ve been on both ends of it, the betrayer and the betrayed.  When the betrayer is a very close friend it leaves the betrayed angry and wanting to get even, but that’s not the story of Matthew 26:17-25.  The gospel of Mark gives us insight into Jesus choosing the twelve disciples, it is in Mark 3:13-19, and it was the Sabbath and Jesus had entered the synagogue earlier that day and healed a man with a withered hand, and the religious leaders were upset.  I want you to know our Lord is not anyone to mess with, do you recall these religious clowns were hoping he would heal the guys so they could accuse him, and Jesus ask this question: “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill? But they were silent.”  Now Mark shares that Jesus was angry and grieved at their hardness of heart.  What happens next, a great crowd followed Jesus and Mark reports that anytime an unclean spirit saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”  Jesus goes up on the mountain and calls those whom he desired and they came to him.  And out of those He appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles.)  Now in sharing this information we must remember it’s after the fact that Mark is describing whom Judas was, in Mark 3:19, “and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”

It is the first day of Unleavened Bread and the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?”  Now we do not have any understanding of where the disciples wanted to eat the Passover meal, but Jesus said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.”  Have you wondered whose house Jesus had His last Passover meal at on this earth?  If it had been your house, if it had been my house I would have wanted Mark to tell the whole world the small part of my action, but for some reason God is silent on the owner of the house.

What is important is that the disciples did as they were told and prepared the Passover meal and as they were eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

In the Scriptures it is often recorded that the demons knew Jesus and stated; “You are the Son of God” but would not bow to His authority.  We are told that Satan came into Judas and Judas was possessed and so the words that Jesus spoke did not have meaning to Judas.  The devil is so good at doing this, first the lie and then the condemnation for acting on the lie.  And we know that happened, for Judas tried to give back the money, and went out and hung himself.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Ride

What is the price of your Soul?

Matthew 26:14-16

“Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.”

As I began to search for the value of those 30 pieces of silver, both in the time Jesus walked in the flesh on planet earth and there value today, this thought came into my mind, what would a man, woman, boy or girl give in exchange for their soul?  It is clear that Judas Iscariot was the banker for the group, and in John 13:27-31, “Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.”  It is also clear that Satan entered into him, so at this point by his will, Judas chose Satan’s plan for his life over Jesus’ offer.

Scriptures give us insight into the character of Judas, he was a thief, and that is recorded in John 12:6, “He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.”  The name Judas and traitor have a corresponding meaning, and I’ve never met a person who is named Judas, but I’m sad to say I’ve met many Judas’s in my short life of 72 years.

Many a sermon has been preached on his denial, and many have tried to give human reasons for him doing so, but Jesus tells us the following: “While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”  And do you recall the apostle John’s account in John 6:67-71, “So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.”
The very sad news is Judas was sorry for what he had done and that is recorded in Matthew 27:4-5, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.”  Satan does not play fair, for Jesus said he is a liar, and a deceiver, and he will give you a strong desire to sin, but as soon as you have listened, looked, and then chosen to sin, he becomes your accuser.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice

 

From Knuckle head to World Changers

Matthew 26:1-13

Jesus has just finished talking about the final judgment, and turning to His disciples He said; “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” (Matthew 26:2)  It seems as if the disciples were not listening, that only Matthew heard these words and later reported what Jesus had told them.  For Luke, Mark, and John record the scheming of the chief priests and the elders.  I’ve often stated that the end game of religion is to kill someone, and Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with the Son of God.  Now that is not to say that many have by passed the relationship and still call themselves Christians, but do not follow the teaching of Christ and have done terrible things under the banner of Christ, but not under His authority or will.  

A great example of religion trying to remove its opponents is found in verses 3-5, “Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”  They have conspiracy in secrecy and the goal is not to arrest Jesus but to kill Him.

We have this account, of these knuckle heads, we call disciples, at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, when a woman came up to Jesus with an alabaster flash of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on Jesus’ head as he reclined at the table.  Yes, I know I called them knuckle heads and they were and so were you and I before the Spirit came to live within us, and even then many of us do not listen and still act like knuckle heads; I speak from experience.  Now back to Matthews account; “And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.”

Have you been a member of a church where there are people who want to count the money, but they never come into the services, but at any discussion on the use of money they are at the forefront of the conversation.   And it has been my experience that they are often against spending that money on people in need.  Well, the disciples at this time in their walk with Jesus would have fit into the money counting group.

But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” 

You and I would be wise to recall the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:35-40, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Is the wind of the Spirit blowing in your life?

Matthew 25:34-46

A friend that I went to school with told me one day, after reading from “The back Porch,” that he did not like reading from the apostle Paul’s words, and that made me wonder why?  In that he did not share in his email why, I wonder if it could be that Paul asked questions and made statements that cut to the chase, questions like 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 

I can only say that it is painful to examine myself, I would rather examine you, for there is much less discomfort in doing so.  But maybe we need to look at being in the faith; what does that require, or better yet, what does Jesus tell us is needed?  Do you remember the Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews who came to Jesus by night, and told Jesus how great He was, and that he knew that Jesus had come from God to do signs and miracles.  Now you may be as blown away as Nick was with Jesus’ reply; “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again’ he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Do you recall that Nick wanted to know how he could get back into his mother, and Jesus explained, Nick it is not a physical birth, but a Spiritual birth.  Jesus compares spiritual birth to the wind.  “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:7-8)

Returning to the exam; is the wind of the Spirit blowing in your life, have you by faith put your trust in the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross to cover sin?  If so, are you feeding those who are hungry, giving drink to those who are thirsty, being kind to strangers, meeting the needs of the sick, and visiting those in prison?  For Jesus tells us the following; “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”  

As you examine yourself, ask this question: am I letting the winds of the Spirit of God move in my life, am I being the hands and feet of Jesus?  This examination is so important, for you may be like so many, you believe in a historical Jesus, you’re a member in good standing at your church, you even help out, in fact, you may be the pastor or a deacon, but your life is not centered in Jesus, but in meeting the desires of your flesh.  Could the answer be you have never bowed your knee to the authority of Christ, and by His grace, through the faith He will give you to believe, accepted the free gift of redemption?  Remember any way other than the cross is a road that leads to a place not prepared for you, but for the devil and his angels.

You do not want to hear these words for eternity; ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Is it Jesus I'm Looking to?

Matthew 25:31-33

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.” 

The Scripture above is referred to in my New English Standard Bible as “The Final Judgment.”  A few of you may have my problem of not understanding the meaning of a word, so shall we look at the word final.  Their decisions are final: irrevocable, unalterable, absolute, conclusive, irrefutable, incontrovertible, indisputable, unchallengeable, binding.  I got it, the door is closed, the show is over, the tests have been graded, and it is a done deal.

As I enter my seventies, the word final seems weightier and yet often we live in denial, for many of us who traveled for a living heard the term, “this is your final destination” on almost every flight.  But the Scripture above is from the mouth of One who created time, and knows the number of hairs on our head.  A wise person would ponder on those words.  Jesus asks this question; “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?” (Matthew 16:26)

“The passage in Matthew 25:32-33, uses figurative language, like shepherd, sheep, and goats, and you can see these same words being prophesied in Ezekiel 34:17-19, but the rest is too literal to be classified as a parable.  The passage is therefore best taken as a literal description of the final judgment.  Verses 31 and 34 define the title Son of Man as King.  The King, Jesus, will judge people based on their reception and treatment of the least of His brothers.  In light of Matthew 12:50, the words refer to Jesus’ followers who seek to do God’s will.  Humble and compassionate treatment of Jesus’ followers necessarily accompanies acceptance of the gospel that they proclaim.”   (Taken from HCSB and this writer took some freedom with adding words.)

We need to look into Matthew 12:50, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”  Does that not leave one wondering what is the will of the Father, and it is too important a question for one to ask of anyone but the Father.  Has the Father made clear His will, and the answer is yes, in the gospel of John 6:40, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

So while you are pondering on the above, ask yourself, is it Jesus I’m looking to, or is it a pastor, church, denomination, my mate, or even grandmother’s faith?   For many years I was a Baptist, went to church, gave a tithe of my income, and was open to helping a few people, but if the final time had come and I stood before the Judge, He would have said depart from me, I never knew you!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

What One does with the Gift of Life

Matthew 25:14-30

If you are a good storyteller people enjoy being around you, and this was true with Jesus, and we call them parables but they were stories.  All were examples to make a statement, to get across a point, and many of them had a real person like Lazarus who Jesus raised from the dead.  But often we get caught up in the story and miss many of the key lessons that Jesus is conveying, such as, each of these men whom the Master entrusted with his property had the ability to manage what was entrusted to them.  “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

Have you heard the saying; “When the boss is away, the mice play” and is that not true, many of us seem to take more liberty when the boss is on vacation, or away on business.  But I do not believe that is the case in this parable, all of these men were given what they had the ability to handle, it was not laziness but fear of the Master that seemed to be the problem. 

It is important to study the work ethic of the three men and we will gain knowledge and wisdom on managing what God has entrusted to us.  Going back to the story: “He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.”  The first two men in the story put the assets to work and doubled their Masters money, but the guy with one talent put it in a safe place, but with no return for the Master.  Now the interesting thing is the Master was gone for a long time, and when he returned he expected a return on his investment.  It’s so important to remember that all three men had the ability to manage the resources and fear kept one out of the game.

The Master always returns and expects a good report on what he has trusted the servants with, and so watch the actions of the Master when he sees what the first two men have done.  “Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

But Jesus tells us about the guy who really did not know his Master, and was controlled by fear.  “He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.”

If all you get from this is one guy blew it because of fear, and not understanding the desires of the Master, you missed the point.  For it is clear that Jesus is talking to us about what we have been entrusted with, the free gift of salvation, and the end results are what you do with this gift, and there is only two choices, open it and follow the Master, obeying His command or bury it and not receive the gift of life.  Look at the end of the story: “For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice