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 28 – Only One Mediator

“...but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25 (NIV)

If we remember yesterday's post, we recall how Jesus willingly took the path to the cross even though he could have called on the Father to send 62,880* angels to his defense.  Instead of taking this option, Jesus chose to fulfill  his purpose in obedience to His Father.  Today's verse reminds us what Jesus is doing for us today. Jesus did die for us but He is living today and our verse tells us that He lives forever. The same love that sent Him to the cross is still working for us. It is a promise that after we accept Jesus as our Savior,  He keeps Himself involved in our lives. When we pray to the Father in the name of Jesus because we need help, at the same time Jesus is interceding directly for us.  Jesus is the only priest a believer needs and his priesthood in perfect and permanent. His intercession for us is directly between us and God the Father. This intercession process is what makes our salvation complete forever. 

*Of course, the number is given here by Jesus to emphasize His power and authority as the Son of God.  But, how many angels make up this illustration? Until the middle of the first century, in the Roman army, 10 cohorts (about 5,240 men not including officers) made up a Roman Legion. Jesus said he could have asked the Father to send 12 legions to His defense which calculates out to nearly 63 thousand.