Misguided Leadership

Pilate’s condemnation of Jesus reveals what happens when personal interests interfere with the practice of justice. Individuals in power may have more of a desire to maintain or enhance their position, rather than doing what is right or just, because it could conflict with their a desire to maintain or promote their position. It is rare to find a leader of people who will truly practice what is true and right, particularly when that practice will jeopardize their position of power, because the desire for self-preservation is so strong. Although Pilate found nothing in Jesus to convict him of anything, much less the death penalty, he went forward with the will of the religious leaders out of fear of their accusation that if he let Jesus go he was no friend of Caesar. Ironically the religious leaders claimed to have no king but Caesar and portrayed Pilate’s attempt to release Jesus as being against Caesar. However, within a generation, the religious leaders would lead a rebellion against Caesar leading to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD by Titus. Foolishly Pilate tried to preserve his political position and condemned Jesus. Within a few years Pilate was recalled to Rome and never reinstated as governor. The contrast between Jesus and Pilate is stark. Pilate condemned Jesus through an act of self-preservation, while Jesus sacrificed himself to do what was right and just. Pilate’s story is a tragic one, while Scripture declares that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and tongue confess that he is Lord. The question remains for us is whose example will we follow?

Free-Will or Fate

At times people wonder if they truly have free will, whether they make their own decisions or if they are just robots making decisions that fate or a higher power has predetermined. In John’s Gospel we see an incident that gives us a glimpse into how both free-will and a predetermined plan work together. The gospel writer John relates an incident at the time of Jesus’ arrest that sheds light on the dilemma (John 18:12-14). The man who held the yearly title of high priest the year Jesus was arrested was named Caiaphus. He was no friend of Jesus and considered Jesus to be a threat to the Jewish people. He plotted with others to arrest Jesus and in his plotting declared that it was better for one man to die than for the entire Jewish nation to perish. Ironically, Caiaphus in his opposition to Jesus and therefore in opposition to the God whom he thought he was serving had declared God’s plan for Jesus to die to accomplish the redemption of all men. Caiaphus made this declaration out of his free will; God did not force him or coerce him to make it. The fact that he was in opposition to Jesus indicates that he would not have made this declaration to promote Jesus’ in any way shape or form, yet by operating in his free will he furthered Jesus’ mission while outwardly being opposed to Jesus.

We serve a God who doesn’t need to resort to fate or determinism to accomplish his purposes. Caiaphus demonstrates that even in his free-willed opposition he promoted God’s plan and purposes. His story should give those of us who follow Jesus great comfort and freedom in knowing that even those who oppose Jesus will in their own free will support Jesus’ mission.

Jesus’ Power and Protection Revealed

John 18 records an amazing account of Jesus’ revealing his power to those who had come to arrest him. When Judas and the crowd came into the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus went to meet them, asking them who they were looking for. In response he declared to them that he was the one they were looking for, but he did so in a unique way. Back in John 8, Jesus had declared that “before Abraham was, I am”, to which the Jews picked up stones to kill him. They did so because Jesus used God’s personal name revealed to Moses in Exodus “I am”. His name was considered so sacred that by the time of Jesus they would not even pronounce it. In Hebrew it was the verb which in English is translated “I am”. In Hebrew we think it was either “Jehovah” (King James Version) or “Yahweh” (modern translations). When they came to arrest Jesus, he again used the same way to reveal himself “I am”. When they heard this they fell backwards and to the ground. The revelation of Jesus’ identity as Jehovah/Yahweh was so powerful that they were cast to the ground. However, John revealed that Jesus didn’t do this to reveal his power, although it was revealed, but to protect his disciples, fulfilling what he had prayed in John 17:12 that none who had been given to him by God the Father had been lost, except for Judas who betrayed him. They came for Jesus and left with Jesus, but left all the other disciples alone, when they could have arrested them all as a group. Jesus’ powerful and protective nature was revealed in this incident. In John 10 he had revealed himself as the Good Shepherd who lays his life down for his sheep. In Psalm 23:4 David had written of the Lord/Jehovah/Yahweh that his rod and staff comforted him. The rod and staff were used by shepherds to protect their sheep from predators. Jesus’ action here reveals that as he protected his disciples at the time of his arrest, his power is there to watch over those who follow him today.

What’s in a name?

What’s in a name? Well, that depends on whose name it is. For most of us a name is how we are called, given to us at birth by our parents. Typically, we are known by our first and last name; some, however prefer their middle name, while others hesitate to let that second name be known. However, in Scripture the word “name” has a much broader context and significance. In his final prayer before his arrest, Jesus prayed for his disciples and all those who would believe in him. In John 17:12 he made a curious statement regarding his name. He declared to God his Father, that he had kept the disciples in God’s name, which God had given to him. Jesus’ words here are unusual and indicate that Jesus is referring to more than a word that is used to identify someone when speaking of them. That being said, there are several ways to understand the word “name”. First, when the disciples went out and healed in Jesus’ name, we understand that they healed with the delegated authority of Jesus. Associated with this, being baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, indicates that the individual associates with that name. Second, to name someone meant to exercise authority over someone. God gave to Adam the authority to name the animals, implying that he had dominion over them. Knowing someone’s name implies a certain level of relationship, which carries with it a certain responsibility in that relationship. When the demons declared that they knew who Jesus was, Jesus commanded them to be silent, because they had no relationship with Jesus.

So, when Jesus declared that he had kept the disciples in God’s name, there was much meant by him. He had kept them in relationship with God, he had delegated authority for them to operate in Jesus’ and God’s name. In his prayer, Jesus revealed the foundation of the Gospel, relationship with Jesus and God the Father. So often people assume that being a Christian is merely holding a certain set of beliefs, when Jesus indicated that being a Christian is being in relationship with Jesus and His Father and being known by their name. Being known and identifying with their name, also carries a certain level of responsibility to live in a manner worthy of their name. Since in John 17, Jesus prayed for not only his disciples but for all who would believe in Jesus, that responsibility also falls upon those of us who identify with Jesus as the early disciples did.

What is Eternal Life?

Because of the name “eternal life” it is natural to assume that it means simply living forever. The common understanding is that it is life not on earth, but in some beautiful place where we will see all our loved ones who have died before us. We might even imagine that we become angels someday, like Clarence in the movie “Its a Wonderful Life”.

However, Jesus described a very different and simple version of eternal life. In his final prayer with his disciples, he declared eternal life to be a relationship with the only true God and the one whom he sent, Jesus Christ (John 17:1-3). According to Jesus, eternal life is not merely living forever in a continual family reunion and serving as angels, but rather an existence of relationship with the true God and Jesus. The knowledge of this type of life was to be the basis of joy while we live on this earth. When Jesus’ disciples returned from healing people and were naturally excited, Jesus adjusted their perspective. They were to rejoice not because they had authority over disease and demons, but because their names were written in heaven (Luke 10:20).

According to Jesus our understanding of heaven or eternal life is not to distract us from life on earth, but rather motivate us with joy to help those around us. We don’t serve others in order to be “good enough for heaven”, but because our names are written in heaven, because of Jesus, we serve others.

Father’s Protection

The world we live in struggles with and against evil. In fact, we encounter it every day of our life. At times, we recognize the battle, and at other times, we are oblivious to its presence because we are not sensitive enough to it or have become desensitized to it. Since we face evil consistently, we have a great need to be delivered from it and its effects—and at times, we get a glimpse of Father’s power to protect us from evil. For example, we narrowly miss being in an auto accident. Seemingly out of the blue, a thought comes to mind that we later realize led us to make a decision that protected us from disaster. One afternoon, I was riding my bicycle down a steep hill, picking up speed along the way. About half-way down the hill, the thought came to me to slow down. Typically, I never slowed riding down that hill; actually, I usually tried to go as fast as I could, but this day I slowed down. Seconds later, my rear wheel unexpectedly locked up. Since I had slowed down, I was able to control the situation without falling, but if I hadn’t slowed down, I easily could have had an accident. I do not believe this “apparently random” thought was a coincidence, but an example of my loving, heavenly Father delivering me from evil. An unexpected delay causes us to leave for an appointment later than we had planned, but on the way, we pass an accident that had just occurred. If we had left on time, would it have been us involved in the accident? Have you ever considered that random, “coincidental” incidents which delay you might actually protect you from evil? We will never know, but Father does. We do know that Father protects his children from evil.

Jesus Made A Way

When Jesus prayed, he consistently addressed God as “Father”, but in the Gospel of Mark, we find a couple of exceptions. When praying in the garden before his arrest, Jesus addressed God as “Abba,” which was a Chaldean term that meant “papa” or “daddy.” It is a term a young child would use (Mark 14:36). The next time we read of Jesus addressing God, he addresses him as neither “Abba” nor “Father,” but “God.” When translated, he said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This is the only time we see Jesus referring to God as God, not Father or Abba. It raises the question of why? Why, at this moment, did Jesus do something so out of the ordinary for him? I believe the best explanation is that when Jesus uttered those words, the Father-Son relationship had been broken, because Jesus took on humankind’s sin which alienated him relationally from his Father. So, Jesus addressed him as any other sinner might. A sinner can’t address God as Father, because until he or she is in relationship with Jesus, he or she is not a son or daughter. In that moment, Jesus was like any sinner and addressed God in that way. Jesus voluntarily placed himself under the Old Testament system, reflected in the design of the temple, which separated God’s presence in the Holy of Holies from man with a curtain. It was permissible for the high priest to enter God’s presence only one time a year on the day of atonement with the blood of a sacrifice. However, when Jesus died, that curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom, demonstrating that in Jesus, people could now approach God. Because of what Jesus accomplished, those in relationship with Jesus have full access to God our Father, just as Jesus does.

Trusting Father’s Promises

In Jesus’ parable of the sower we may be deceived into thinking that the world has a means of drawing us into a closer relationship with Father, which Jesus addresses with the third defective soil. The seed that falls among the weeds gets choked out because of the power of the weeds. Spiritually, Jesus referred to the things of this world that distract the individual from the things of Father by deceiving them to think that love of the world can lead us to God—or that we can both love the world and the kingdom, which Jesus declared was impossible. The fact is that things of the world are attractive, and they do offer some enjoyment. If the world was the spiritual equivalent of eating vegetables, few would be tempted. At the time of this writing, I am sixty-three years old. In those years, I have never been tempted by Brussels sprouts. There is a good reason for that—I have no affection for them. However, I do have affection for coffee and dark chocolate. Like coffee and dark chocolate, the world offers dessert for our eyes and desires; hence, we are tempted.

What we fail to grasp is that the kingdom offers a better solution; if we wait a bit longer, we will be rewarded. We also get tripped up because we are all familiar with the advantages and pleasures the world has to offer, whereas we have never completely experienced the joys of the kingdom. We are required to trust the good word of Father. However, if we doubt his goodness and love, then we may also doubt the beauty of the kingdom and be tempted all the more to follow the world. We become like children who are offered a candy bar in the store. We can accept the candy, or we can trust our Father’s word that he has a much better gift for us at home. If the child trusts their father, the candy bar will not tempt him or her much, but if the child questions their father’s judgment regarding surprises, then he or she will play it safe and choose the candy bar, only to shed tears upon finding out what he or she missed at home. The question is for us is how much do we trust our heavenly Father?

Believe Jesus’ Warning

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus instructed his disciples to watch and pray that they might not fall into temptation, because the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). Earlier that evening, Jesus had warned Peter that Peter would deny him. However, Peter refused to heed Jesus’ warning. When Jesus told Peter and the other disciples to pray so that they would not fall into temptation, Peter failed to grasp the connection with what Jesus said earlier, and so he fell back asleep. Later that night, Peter fulfilled exactly what Jesus had said he would do and what Peter denied that he would do. Temptation overcame Peter, who failed to pray so that he would not fall into temptation. Actually, Peter’s failure was not when he denied Jesus; it occurred earlier in the evening when he failed to believe Jesus’ warning. If Peter had taken to heart what Jesus had said, then he would have been so distraught that he could not have slept in the Garden. Jesus was just as tired as the disciples, probably more so, but he could not sleep, because he believed the prophetic declarations in Isaiah 53 about the suffering he would endure. Had Peter prayed and asked Father for the strength not to deny Jesus, Father very well may have intervened so that Peter would have been strong enough to overcome the temptation to deny Jesus whom he loved.

Peter’s failure reminds us of an important truth. We can be tempted and fall, even in areas that are strengths in our life. For Peter, his love of Jesus was an area of strength. Jesus pointed this out when he restored Peter in John 21; three times, he asked Peter if he loved him. In the end, Peter responded that Jesus knew Peter loved him. These questions were not for Jesus’ information, but for Peter to have an opportunity to confess what Jesus knew to be true. Jesus was drawing out and revealing the truth of Peter’s love for Jesus so that Peter could find encouragement in that after his denial. In other words, even though we may be strong in a certain area, we still need our Father’s strength in that area.

Childlike Forgiveness

The topic of forgiveness reveals another example of Jesus’ teaching—that unless we become like children, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Children respond to hurt very differently than others who are older. When a small child gets hurt while playing with other children, he or she goes to a person in authority: mommy, daddy, or a teacher. In tears, the child explains what happened. The adult provides comfort and reassures the child that everything will be alright so that the child can go back and play. In a few minutes, the child is playing, even with the one who hurt them, as if nothing had happened. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus modeled this childlike approach. In Mark 14 we see Jesus in anguish in anticipation of his suffering; it is at this time where we see the only time in the Gospels that Jesus addresses Father as “Abba Father,” which in English could be translated as “daddy” or “papa.” In Jesus’ prayer, he became like a small child enduring the pain of his life and seeking comfort from his daddy. From that point forward, Jesus showed no more anxiety, but faced his ordeal with calm courage. As we grow older, we tend to share our hurt with others who may sympathize but cannot provide us with the comfort and assurance that we need. We may never go to our Abba Father for the comfort and assurance to know that everything will be alright so that we can go back “to play,” free from hurt. We may even conclude that Father abandoned us in our time of need. Therefore, we return with damaged relationships and our guard up.  We struggle to forgive those who have hurt us and become increasingly isolated, until we turn to our heavenly Father for the comfort and courage to overcome the challenges and hurt we encounter.