Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Esther 8-10; Luke 13
Devotional Thought:
Title: “Your Questions Answered.”
There was no love loss between Pilate and the Jewish people. Pilate had infuriated the Jews with his idolatry as well as many other acts of brutality toward them. These Jews wanted to know where Jesus stood in relationship to Pilate and the murderous acts toward the Jews, but Jesus moved the emphasis beyond the immediate politics. Jesus took this opportunity to address their heart… “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (vs. 3, 5) To begin with, Jesus made it clear those human tragedies are not always divine punishments and that it is wrong for us to “play God” and pass judgment. Job’s friends made this mistake when they said that Job’s afflictions were evidence that he was a sinner. If we take that approach to tragedy, then we will have a hard time explaining the sufferings of the Prophets and Apostles, and even of our Savior Himself. These Jews were struggling with the age-old question, “why do bad things happen to good people?” Could it be that they were really not good people? Was it that they were being punished for their sin? Jesus shows the logical conclusion of their argument: if God does punish sinners in this way, then they themselves had better repent because all men are sinners! The question is not, “why do people die…” but, “what right do we have to live?” It is easier to talk about other people’s deaths than it is to face our own sin and possible death. One friend asked another friend what the death rate was in his city, and he replied, “One apiece.” Then he added, ‘People are dying who have never died before.” J Jesus’ answer toward injustice was that it is a product of sin, and we had deal honestly with our own sin. Jesus’ answer to working on the Sabbath was in regard to the higher standard of defeating Satan. The woman who was healed was afflicted both physically and spiritually; while the leader of the synagogue was in bondage spiritually to Satan. Though this lady had come to seek help for 18 years, there was no freedom for the leader himself was in bondage. Jesus uses this ladies infirmity to show the freedom that is in Christ and the bondage that comes from Satan. The third question that Jesus answers is in regard to salvation. The scribes often discussed the question of how many people would be saved, and somebody must have asked Jesus to give His thoughts on the issue. As with the question about Pilate, Jesus immediately made the matter personal. His answer to the question is not how many will be saved, but whether or not you are saved! Get that settled first, and then we can discuss what we can do to help get others saved. The last question Jesus answers is in relation to danger. He addresses Herod as a fox who hunts at night and kills, but Jesus does His work of education and redemption during the light. Jesus once again turns the emphasis away from the immediate unto the eternal. Jesus tells these Jewish followers that it is better to be prepared for eternity and solve the danger of being separated from God forever, than it is to worry about the immediate danger of physical death. Oh that we too would learn to live life in light of eternal principles rather than placing too much emphasis on the temporary around us.
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to make decisions that are focused on eternal value. It is no doubt a ploy of Satan to get us to simply focus on the here and now. Please help me to see life as a temporary time to prepare to stand before you.
• Lord, thank you for your grace during this life. I am so blessed to know you are providing wisdom, mercy, grace, and peace as I learn to trust you through every situation.
• Lord, please help me to be an example and help to my family and church in placing my priorities on the eternal.