March 29 – A Time to Stand Down

“Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?” – Matthew 26:53-54 (NASB)

Judas gives a kiss so the temple police will know who to arrest. Peter is quick to defend Jesus. He pulls his sword and with one swipe slices off an ear of the high priest’s slave. That was not planned by Jesus and Peter is rebuked while He heals the man’s ear. Claiming that He possessed all the defense He needed and it was His for the asking, Peter was not to interfere with the will of God. A legion equaled 6,000 soldiers, twelve legions would be 72,000 angels. Every detail of the death of Jesus was preordained by God. Dying was Christ’s supreme act of submission to the Father’s will. Jesus Himself was in absolute control. Yet it was not Jesus alone, but everyone around Him—His enemies included—who fulfilled precisely the details of the Old Testament prophecies. Jesus fulfilled the promise of redemption made in Genesis 3 that one day, the world was infected with the consequences of sin – death. When Satan brought rebellion into God’s perfect creation God promised He would vanquish and remove the curse of sin for all who believe in Jesus.

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June 27 – When Legions Stood Down

“Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:53 (ESV)

The setting of this verse is the Garden of Gethsemane just outside the walls of the City of Jerusalem.  Today, many structures have been built and many places have shrines but the night Jesus said these words, it was simply a garden at the base of the Mount of Olives.  Jesus is being arrested and one of his disciples takes up his sword to defend Jesus.  At that moment, Jesus says these words recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.  They remind us of the wonderful love of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He could have avoided suffering and dying on the cross. Thousands of angels could have been called upon to set Him free. But because God promised a means of redemption, and Jesus was the only way to accomplish that.  Jesus went with the arresting officers and then to the cross to die for us.  Why? Because He so loved us He did what He came to do – He obeyed His purpose.  In return Jesus asks us to love him and show our love by obeying Him.  Today, let's stay close to him and lets again commit to love Him with our whole heart, mind, and might. 

April 5 – Remember the Deeds

“When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.” Psalm 77:2 (NIV)
“Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” Psalm 77:10-11 (NIV)

We have selected two passages from Psalm 77 for today. The first verse reveals how the psalmist at first was wondering if God had forgotten or turned away from him.  That was how he felt and he speaks of seeking God for comfort which did not come. The few verses later he writes out what he knew to be true about God from past experiences.  Isn’t this a good prescription for all of us? Instead of thinking of difficulties which we might be facing at times, let’s remember what God has done in the past. We can read of His love and His faithfulness in the Bible and we can think of how He has helped us in the past when we have called out to him. I hope that in our personal lives we can all testify the same way the psalmist does in this last verse and we can also remember God’s deeds and miracles of long ago.