Someone writes: "You said that Jesus is the only person who ever trusted God perfectly. But what about his cry on the cross, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' (Matt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34) Doesn't this show that Jesus as a man questioned God's purposes? That very fact gives me great encouragement when I don't know the answers to life's circumstances I encounter." * * * You are exactly right that Jesus was a man like us, and that he had to trust God the same way we do. The author of Hebrews makes that very point -- and it is one we need always to remember for our own encouragement (Heb. … [Read more...]
DID JESUS’ FAITH WAVER ON THE CROSS? (1)
Someone writes: "You said that Jesus is the only person who ever trusted God perfectly. But what about his cry on the cross, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' (Matt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34) Doesn't this show that Jesus as a man questioned God's purposes? That very fact gives me great encouragement when I don't know the answers to life's circumstances I encounter." * * * What was going on in Jesus' mind when he cried out the question you quoted? I believe an important clue is found in the cross-reference which many Bibles provide to other texts from this verse. This cry of dereliction is … [Read more...]
LET THIS CUP PASS
"What should we make of the fact that Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane to avoid the cross, if possible in God's will?" * * * "If it is possible, let this cup pass from me," Jesus prayed, "yet not as I will, but as you will" (Matt. 26:39). But was he really asking to avoid the cross? If that is all we see, we will miss a powerful statement of the extent to which Jesus was willing to go to save us. Jesus prayed with loud cries and tears to God "who was able to save him from death," says the author of Hebrews -- and God heard this prayer of his reverent Son (Heb. 5:7). It is a fair … [Read more...]
ASHES — OR JUST ‘A-FIB’
Feb. 26, 2009 -- This past Wednesday in many Christian traditions was Ash Wednesday. It is the first day of Lent, a 40-day period (not counting Sundays) of repentance and prayer that ends in the victorious climax of Easter Sunday. Some churches ignore, avoid or even oppose the liturgical church calendar because it is not mentioned in the New Testament. However, a person would be hard pressed to object to the traditional themes and details those special days incorporate -- words and actions that are solidly biblical and spiritually strengthening as well, when celebrated with faith resting on … [Read more...]
ASH WEDNESDAY
In this Year of Grace 2010, today is the seventh Wednesday before Easter, known in the annual rhythm of the Christian calendar as Ash Wednesday. The day initiates the season of Lent, a 40-day period of repentance and prayer that progresses to a climax in the great resurrection celebration of Easter Sunday. Although Scripture says nothing about Lent, it says much about the disciplines of humility, repentance, fasting, prayer and self-control that define its purpose and meaning. These acts can be done with improper motives, to be sure, but that is no reason for not doing them from a pure heart … [Read more...]
‘THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST’
Although I cry easily, I wanted to view Mel Gibson's movie The Passion dispassionately. So I braced myself, purposed not to look at my wife beside me and watched without moving a muscle from the opening scene until the end. Despite the English subtitles (all the narrative is in Aramaic and Latin), this is surely the most powerful film ever produced -- both emotionally and spiritually -- portraying the suffering and death of our Savior. Almost everyone in our theater audience sat in silence through the final credits then rose and left with scarcely a sound to be heard. Critics have said much … [Read more...]