Wed, 07/15/15, "Day of Praise"
"Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, 'You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.'" - John 11:49-50
Caiaphas has no idea.
He thinks that by getting rid of Jesus that he's getting rid of a political enemy.
Caiaphas is in his own little world and, therefore, has no idea of the spiritual truth that one man must die for sin so that all people could be saved through faith in the one who dies.
Caiaphas had no idea of the great sacrifice that was made for him.
Usually, I don't either. You know what I mean; I don't have any idea of the great sacrifice that was made for me. Oh sure, from time to time, usually in Lent, I'll stop and think about it, especially on days like Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. But there are so many days that I just blow through without considering how much Jesus has done for me so that I can even have that day.
By God's grace, I woke up and have this day. What that means is that God's given me another chance to consciously live thankfully. To think about and be thankful for the one who died so all the rest of us didn't have to die "permanently." There are even chances for me to worship him today, to worship Jesus, to adore him, to remember him thankfully. Here, where I live, I have at least two (2) chances to worship on this Wednesday, one at 11:45 a.m. and one at 6:30 p.m.
Maybe where you live, you have a chance to worship Jesus also. No matter, we all can stop today and think deeply, and gratefully, for what it means that one man, Jesus, died, so that the rest of us don't have to die, permanently. But instead we can believe that he took our place in death. And overcame it. So that we could join him in life. True Life. Abundant Life.
We want to know what he did for us. So we can Live Abundantly today and forever with him. Knowing and believing start by doing what Caiaphas didn't do long, long ago. Knowing and believing in and being thankful for and enjoying that one man died so the rest of us wouldn't perish, it all starts by surrendering to the Holy Spirit, who touches our hearts gently, but clearly, and whispers, "Stop! And think about the gift that is your life. Today. Think about the price that was paid so that you can have the gift."
God help me to do so.
May God, in grace, help us all. Again.
"Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, 'You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.'" - John 11:49-50
Praise God!
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