Reflections

This spring my mother-in-law suddenly became sick with her final illness and my husband, my two younger children and I rushed to her side.  We drove all night from Massachusetts to Illinois.  Nearing bed time our oldest son called and asked, "Are you driving all night?"  We said, "Yes."  He answered, "Well, be careful."  Soon after that our second oldest son called.  He asked, "Mom, are you guys driving all night?"  I answered, "Yes."  He said, "Please, be careful.

Within an hour Nathan, our second son called back and said, "I've been thinking about it.  If I start driving now, I can probably meet you just past Cleveland and drive the car through the night for you so you don't get too tired and fall asleep at the wheel."  I was so moved by that gallant offer, but I declined.  A couple of hours later, he called again and asked to speak with my husband. He presented the same offer trying to be more persuasive.  Just as I did Pat declined the offer.  Later, Nate called again, just hoping that we would change our minds.

Gabriel, our oldest son, is married with three children. After his initial call he and his wife took turns through the night calling us every two hours, just to chat and make sure we were awake.  He never mentioned their strategy, they just called and talked to us.  After the third call, we figured out what they were doing and were once again grateful for such wonderful children.

It seems to me that those little acts reflect God.  Our Savior has done the gallant thing.  He left His kingdom and came to earth to guide us safely home.  At the same time He quietly works in the background, blessing us daily by providing power to keep us from harm.

I challenge all of us to notice God's reflection in the people and things around us. Flowers speak of His purity.  Mountains command our attention to His majesty.  Simple caring acts by those we love testify of His sacrifice.  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

The Victory - The End

"Christ did not yield up His life till He had accomplished the work which He came to do, and with His parting breath He exclaimed, "It is finished." John 19:30.  The battle had been won.  His right hand and His holy arm had gotten Him the victory.  As a Conqueror He planted His banner on the eternal heights.  Was there not joy among the angels?  All heaven triumphed in the Savior's victory.  Satan was defeated, and knew that his kingdom was lost."  Desire of Ages, p 758, by E. G. White.

*anyone interested in getting a copy of The Desire of Ages, please contact me and I will get one for you.

The Drops

"Heaven viewed with grief and amazement Christ hanging upon the cross, blood flowing from His wounded temples, and sweat tinged with blood standing upon His brow.  From His hands and feet the blood fell, drop by drop, upon the rock drilled for the foot of the cross.  The wounds made by the nails gaped as the weight of His body dragged upon His hands.  His labored breath grew quick and deep, as His soul panted under the burden of the sins of the world.  All heaven was filled with wonder when the prayer of Christ was offered in the midst of His terrible suffering, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34.  Yet there stood men, formed in the image of God, joining to crush out the life of His only-begotten Son.  What a sight for the heavenly universe!"   (The Desire of Ages, p 760; by E. G. White)

*anyone wanting a copy of The Desire of Ages, please contact me and I will get one for you.

The Spotless Son

"The spotless Son of God hung upon the cross, His flesh lacerated with stripes; those hands so often reached out in blessing, nailed to the wooden bars; those feet so tireless on ministries of love, spiked to the tree; that royal head pierced by the crown of thorns; those quivering lips shaped to the cry of woe.  And all that He endured - the blood drops that flowed from His head, His hands, His feet, the agony that racked His frame, and the unutterable anguish that filled His soul at the hiding of His Father's face - speaks to each child of humanity, declaring, It is for thee that the Son of God consents to bear this burden of guilt; for thee He spoils the domain of death, and opens the gates of Paradise.  He who stilled the angry waves and walked the foam-capped billows, who made devils tremble and disease flee who opened blind eyes and called forth the dead to life - offers Himself upon the cross as a sacrifice, and this from love to thee. He, the Sin Bearer, endures the wrath of divine justice, and for thy sake become sin itself."  (The Desire of Ages, by E. G. White; p 755)

*anyone wanting a copy of The Desire of Ages, please contact me and I will send you one.

The Darkness

"With amazement angels witnessed the Savior's despairing agony.  The hosts of heaven veiled their faces from the fearful sight.  Inanimate nature expressed sympathy with its insulted and dying Author.  The sun refused to look upon the awful scene.  Its full, bright rays were illuminating the earth at midday, when suddenly it seemed to be blotted out.  Complete darkness, like a funeral pall, enveloped the cross.  "There was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour."  There was no eclipse or other natural cause for this darkness, which was as deep as midnight without moon or stars. It was a miraculous testimony given by God that the faith of after generations might be confirmed.

In that thick darkness God's presence was hidden.  He makes darkness His pavilion, and conceals His glory from human eyes.  God and His holy angels were beside the cross. The Father was with His Son.  Yet His presence was not revealed.  Had His glory flashed forth from the cloud, every human beholder would have been destroyed.  And in that dreadful hour Christ was not to be comforted with the Father's presence. He trod the wine press alone, and of the people there was none with Him." (The Desire of Ages, By E. G. White; p 753

*If anyone would like a copy of the book The Desire of Ages, please contact me and I will send you one.

The Ransom

"And now the Lord of glory was dying, a ransom for the race.  In yielding up His precious life, Christ was not upheld by triumphant joy.  All was oppressive gloom.  It was not the dread of death that weighed upon Him.  It was not the pain and ignominy of the cross that caused His inexpressible agony.  Christ was the prince of sufferers; but His suffering was from a sense of the malignity of sin, a knowledge that through familiarity with evil, man had become blinded to its enormity.  Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart, how few would be willing to break from its power.  He knew that without help from God, humanity must perish, and He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help."  (The Desire of Ages, by E. G. White; p 753)

*anyone who would like a copy of The Desire of Ages, please contact me and I will send one to you.

The Expression

"For long hours of agony, reviling and mockery have fallen upon the ears of Jesus.  As He hangs upon the cross, there floats up to Him still the sound of jeers and curses.  With longing heart He has listened for some expression of faith from His disciples.  He has heard only the mournful words, "We trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel."  How grateful then to the Savior was the utterance of faith and love from the dying thief!  While the leading Jews deny Him, and even the disciples doubt His divinity, the poor thief, upon the brink of eternity, calls Jesus Lord." (The Desire of Ages, by E. G. White p 750)

*anyone interested in receiving a copy of The Desire of Ages, just contact me and I will send you one.

The Plea

My words are insufficient.....

"The Savior made no murmur of complaint. His face remained calm and serene, but great drops of sweat stood upon His brow.  There was no pitying hand to wipe the death dew from His face, nor words of sympathy and unchanging fidelity to stay His human heart. While the soldiers were doing their fearful work, Jesus prayed for His enemies, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.? His mind passed from His own suffering to the sin of His persecutors, and the terrible retribution that would be theirs.  No curses were called down upon the soldiers who were handling Him so roughly.  No vengeance was invoked upon the priests and rulers, who were gloating over the accomplishment of their purpose.  Christ pitied them in their ignorance and guilt.  He breathed only a plea for their forgiveness, - "For they know not what they do." (The Desire of Ages, by E. G. White; p 744)

*anyone interested in receiving a copy of the book The Desire of Ages please just post a comment asking for one and I will send you one.

The Temptation

"If Thou be the Son of God..."  Matthew 27:40

Those seven words spoken by the dying thief echo Satan's words in the wilderness.  What was it in the question regarding Christ's relationship to God that was a temptation to Jesus?  It wasn't pride about the connection, it could not have been fear of being misjudged.  What was it about not being the Son of God that would have tempted Jesus?

It seems to me that Christ's biggest weakness, had He had one, was His great desire, rather His overwhelming need to save us. That is something that could only be done by the Son of God. He was healer, teacher and friend.  But, Son of God, that was His own atribute that He cherished most of all.  Not because of the connection to God, not because of the honor, but because being God's Son in the flesh allowed Him to save us from our sins.

The Bandage

"And they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe."  Matthew 27:28

Where did they find that purple robe?  Who did it belong to? Certainly it wasn't Pilate's.  It most likely belonged to some court official or rich person, who condemned of a crime, was stripped of his robe and honor. It may have sat in the lost-n-found box for months.  The soldiers had probably taunted other prisoners by putting that robe on them.  It must have been filthy.

They took that smelly piece of cloth and laid it on Christ's injured shoulders.  Instead of sterile dressings, His wounds from being scourged were bandaged with contaminated clothing.  Jesus so pure and perfect opened His soul and flesh and accepted the filth of my sin.  Can my heart see this scene and not cry?

The Condemnation

"When he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified." Matthew 27:26

God incarnate, sovereign over all universes, stood silent as men condemned Him.  He accepted abuse and ridicule.  A magnificent power must have kept Him from the natural human temptation to retaliate.  It was greater than self discipline, stronger than brawn.  It was love.  It was His great human and divine love for me that grounded Him in those moments  He knew if He shrank from the test, I would be lost.  He loves me more than his comfort.  He loves me more than his reputation.  Ultimately, He loves me more than His life.

The Peace

"And He answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly."  Matthew 24:14

The accusations were so outrageous that even Pilate marveled at Christ's ability to remain silent. How was He able to do that?  It was from 33 years of practice.  When His brothers disagreed with HIm, when the hungry crowd jostled Him, when the disciples argued over supremacy Jesus practiced peace of spirit and confidence of God.

The Calm

"Jesus saith unto him, Thou has said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.  Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses?"  Matthew 26: 64, 65

Jesus was the defendant in a crooked trial.  Everyone knew He would be condemned.  Yet, He stood there in complete peace.  Caiaphas on the other hand was the judge.  The law gave him power and protection.  Yet, he lost all composure.  What a contrast,; Jesus standing before Caiaphas;  the Calm before the storm.

The Dichotomy

"Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled."  Matthew 26:56

This is the point where contemplating the great sacrifice becomes difficult.  The mental picture of Jesus, the pure and Holy son of God, the one who always comforted, who never condemned standing alone in the middle of that angry mob churns my stomach.  In that moment He was meek, yet strong; defenseless, but conquerer.  A dichotomy.

The Question

"And Jesus said unto him, Friend wherefore art thou come?" Matthew 26:50

To all intents and purposes Judas had sealed his fate.  Christ was betrayed and the priests were arresting HIm.  With full knowledge of what was going on Jesus questioned Judas like a mother asking her son, "Johnny, what do you have in your hand; even though she knows his hands are stuffed with stolen candy.

The question was unnecessary everyone knew what was going on.  But Jesus ever hopeful, ever longing to lead others away from condemnation once again gave Judas the opportunity to choose a different destiny.  Jesus was true to His commission.  "For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through HIm might be saved."  John 3:17

The Excuse

"Watch and pray, that Ye enter not into temptation. (Matthew 26:41)

"The weakness of HIs disciples awakened the sympathy of Jesus.  He feared that they would not be able to endure the test which would come upon them in His betrayal and death.  He did not reprove them, but said, Watch Ye...  Even in His great agony He was seeking to excuse their weakness."  White, E. G. DOA p689

He is always looking for a way to relieve us of our guilt.  The entire plan of salvation was conceived to free us from it. He had just asked the disciples to watch with Him because as He said, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." (Matthew 26:38)  In the crisis His anxiety was for the disciples, those friends who would soon betray and abandon HIm. If during those dark moments His concern was wrapped up in those He loved, how much more are His thoughts and hopes focused on us today?  If He was seeking to excuse their weakness is He not also seeking to excuse mine?  Am I willing to let Him?

The Conversation Stopper

"And as they did eat, He said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me."  Matthew 26:21

What a topic to bring up in the middle of a meal!  It is easy to imagine the food getting stuck in some of the disciples throats or their jaws dropping when Jesus said that.  Why did He do that in such a dramatic way?  That is not how He typically did things.  He was the one that repeatedly asked people not to publish the miracles He had performed for them  That being the case this conversation stopper was more than uncharacteristic it was strange.

But Jesus was working under a handicap, He was trying to reach a heart of stone.  Christ would do anything to save Judas from committing the worlds vilest crime.  Shock and awe, that was His first strategy.  He shocked Judas by revealing the treachery,  all the time hoping to awe him to repentance.  When that did not work He tried the fear factor, He said, "The son of man goeth as it is written of Him, but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed!  It had beed good for that man if he had not been born."  Matthew 26:24

For three years Jesus had been trying to win Judas' heart by love, but now in these last few moments left to them both He did not remonstrate with Judas for his betrayal.  Instead Jesus pulled out all the stops in His last ditch attempt at saving the traitor.  That is beyond understanding.  That is an amazing love!

The Memorial

"Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her." Matthew 26:10

What kind of person expects criticism for a loving and innocent act?  Someone who has been verbally abused.  Luke 10 gives evidence to the kind of treatment Mary was accustomed to.  Martha, Mary's sister, publicly proclaims Mary's faults by complaining to Jesus in the presence of a crowd.  Even Jesus' disciples felt comfortable in publicly reproaching Mary when she anointed Him with the perfume.  And after Christ's resurrection she tells the disciples that she has seen the risen Lord, but no one believes her.

Mary was the social pariah.  Free game for ridicule and disrespect.  It may be that something about her enlisted such behavior from others.  It could have been her past or her reputation.  Maybe she was difficult to get along with, argumentative, loud or obnoxious.  But Jesus defended her.  Not only did He defend her, He elevated her to an amazing status.  He made an eternal memorial to her devotion.

The Guaranty

"And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, He said unto His disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Ciaphas, and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety and kill him. But they said, not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people." (Matthew 26:1-5)

Every year, like scenes at a living history museum, the Passover represented Christ's death and He understood the prophesies that were hidden in the Biblical ordinances. Not only did He live His own life based on them, but taught His disciples to live by them too.

The chief priests, scribes and elders comprised the government. They were a numerous, powerful and august group. They pit themselves against Christ and the Bible prophesies and believed they could prevent Christ's death on the Passover. They forgot one thing. God's word is 100 percent guaranteed.