Author: coachdkeith

I was walking today with a weird feeling. It must be that I just kept thinking of what Jesus went through during these trials. Such a wonderful God, who took the form of man, and experienced our pain firsthand. Yet did not falter.

It pains me to read it. This is my second time through a full Gospel. Going through Matthew was not easy. Luke is longer, and certainly more detailed. I am sure that I am not to carry this burden, but I love Jesus so much…

Luke 23:8-25
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” [17] [a]

18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

What fear. What pain they must have carried with them for so long. I have seen firsthand what pain can do to a person. It was once said that, “Hurt people, hurt people.” That statement fits this verse well.

It is in the pain of the lack of understanding that the Pharisees called for the death of Jesus. I am not letting them off the hook anymore than I am letting myself off the hook for my own trangressions. I have said this before, and now I know, I am no better than any man or woman. As a matter of fact, if we were grading on Earth’s terms, I’m beaten. Done for. Finished. Forgotten. Worthless. But in my saviors eyes…oh my, am I worthy.

In my Father’s eyes I am a winner when I fall for Him, I am a champion when I serve, I am His. Abba Father, you love me more than I can imagine. Your level of love and mercy and grace are unfathomable to me. I am but a child, learning how to speak with you. But you love me. You love me. You love me.

Thank you Jesus!
Amen
DK

Luke 23:1-7
1 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”

3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

Jesus was following His Father’s direction. He would have to perish for our sins. It seems at this time that everyone is just playing their part in it.

Lord Jesus, I know that what you did for me was painful. I know you loved me then and that you love me now. I know that you will love me forever. For me you gave your life, and the way I understand it that I owe you mine. Therfore, I am yours. I surrender my life to you, today, tomorrow, and forever. I will worship and honor you until the day I die. Then I will worship you forever. I love you. Thank you Jesus!

Amen.
DK

Spiritual Sovereignty and the Human Experience…

Luke 22:54-62
54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Jesus had told Peter that he would betray Him. I wonder if Peter knew the time was upon him. The time when he would denounce Jesus three times as the rooster crows. It must have hurt him.

Jesus forgave Peter, even as the words were being formed by his mind. For Jesus loved even His most bitter enemies, and He wept for them on His way to meet His destiny in Jerusalem. Jesus wept for His friend Lazarus before He brought him back from the dead. Jesus wept in the garden the night of His capture. Jesus cried out on the cross to His Father. Jesus wept for us.

As Peter agonized over his failure through denouncing knowing Jesus, I can imagine the pain. I would even say that I know it, because whether by word of mouth or by action, I am certain that I have denounced Him in my life as well. For those I repent. For those I am forgiven.

You see, Jesus is my Lord and Savior. He hung on the cross for me and He died for me. He died so that I would not have to carry the heavy yoke, for it could very easily break my back. Instead, He took the yoke from me and carried it to its death with Him. Then He turned to look at me and saw my heart, not my action, not my sin, not my failure. My heart.

When He rose again, he asked for Peter specifically. He knew Peter’s pain and anguish. As he knows ours. He knew Peter’s heart, as He knows ours. He forgave Peter, as He forgives us.

Now, forgive yourself and forgive others. Jesus Saves! Thank you Jesus Christ. Thank you!

Amen.
DK

Jesus Arrested

Luke 22:47-53
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

God so loved the world, that He gave His only son for our salvation. Betrayed by a friend, Jesus is arrested. He tells them that they had seen Him many times before, but tonight they chose To arrest Him because darkness has overtaken them.

Jesus, at this very moment. A very real and scary moment for any man,  is allowing Himself to be arrested and eventually killed. All this for you and I.

Amen.
DK