Peacemaking devotion: No More War - 2 Samuel 1:27

2 Samuel 1:27             "How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!"

Like most people on Earth, I long for a day when war will be no more. Tragically, I don’t think that it will ever happen in my lifetime, or indeed anyone else’s. I personally think that it’s going to take the Return of Christ on this planet before war will be over. Between now and then, a lot of nations, peoples, and ethnic races will still raise arms and fight one another.

For instance, presently we’re ending a long and fruitless war in Afghanistan and Iraq, with another Russo-Slavic war in the Crimea on the horizon, as well as a conflict between the two Koreas. Just when we’re successfully bringing our military folks home, another conflict arises and man’s inhumanity to man raises its ugly head again. As creatures, we’re supposed to be the greatest work God ever made because we’re hallmarked with His image. In reality, we are abysmal warmongers, whose depths of cruelty, aggression, and hostility denounces and shames the good work of God within us.

            As we draw closer to the historical events and commemorations of Holy Week, we will be reminded of the loathsome betrayal and unjust arrest, trial, and execution of Christ. We will see humanity at its best in Christ’s obedience, meekness, and sacrifice, compared to mankind’s abominable acts of cruelty, injustice, and even insanity. If we are really honest with ourselves, we will recognize that all of us are capable of the same despicable deeds that sent Christ to the Cross. We are no different than the vilest characters depicted in the Gospel stories; we are no better than anyone else.

            The good thing about this self-awareness of human depravity is this: it brings us humbly before Jesus, from whom we receive undeserved grace and total mercy. Even though our sins nail and kill Him on the Cross, Jesus pours out His godly love to rescue and redeem us, as well as to save and sanctify us, so that we may be eternally restored to God’s favor, love, and peace.

Questions for personal reflection

What areas in the world are currently experiencing conflict? What are my prayers for the people of those warring regions?

Prayers:          Lord Jesus, today we call upon You as the Prince of Peace and the Royal Redeemer who rescues and reconciles the world. We pray for all those regions where war and conflict, unrest and division are painfully affecting the lives of many innocent people. Help us, as Christians, to pray for peace continually. Grant us peaceable attitudes to help reduce hostility, disagreement, anger, and aggression in our own lives. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is on of John’s new Holy Week images called ‘Cup of Salvation.’ If you would like to view a larger image, please click here: Cup of Salvation.

Church Meeting devotions: Holy Week - First to be Saved

Bible Passage: Mark 15:8-15

Key Verse:      Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.         Mark 15:15 

Did you realize that Barabbas was the first person that Jesus died for? Think about it. Barabbas is released by Pilate and Jesus takes his place. Barabbas is a terrorist who has probably killed his share of Romans. He led an unsuccessful revolt resulting in his capture. He was scheduled for crucifixion; instead Jesus takes his place.

I wonder if Barabbas stayed in Jerusalem and watched what happened to Jesus. The chances are that he didn’t. He probably left the region as quickly as possible, thanking his lucky stars and hiding somewhere safe. We never hear about him ever again, so he perhaps took his undeserved freedom and fled into obscurity.

Justice was denied that day in Jerusalem, but grace increased. Jesus, the peace loving, faithful prophet died in the place of a murderous religious fanatic. God’s Holy Son took the place of a wicked human being. Because we focus so much on the Cross and Resurrection, we miss this most poignant moment of the first Holy Week.

The point that I’m making is this: if Jesus could die for a person like Barabbas, then hasn’t He also died for people like us?

Question for personal reflection

Do you think that Barabbas was ever personally grateful to Christ for dying for him? Are you grateful for the same thing?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You died for each one of us, taking upon Yourself the unholiest of our sins and the vilest of our deeds. You died in place of us, so that we may be completely forgiven and eternally restored to God. How can we ever thank You? How can we show You our appreciation? We give our hearts to You, as well as our lives, to the glory of God. In Your Holy Name, we humbly and thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s latest Holy Week images. It’s called “Cup of Salvation.” If you would like to view a larger version of the picture, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/6894799260_642eda84fe_b.jpg

Church Staff Devotions: A Prophetic Psalm

Psalm 22:7-8              All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

 "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."

It’s amazing to think that Psalm 22 was written centuries before Christ died on the Cross, because many of its verses are teeming with prophecies about Jesus’ experiences at Calvary. Today’s passage, for instance, is a prophecy about those who mocked Jesus at the foot of the Cross. They added to His injuries by raging against Christ. As it states in both the psalm and the Gospels, they hurled insults against Him culminating in a mocking accusation of “He trusts in God; let God rescue Him!”

It must have tormented Jesus to hear those hurtful words from His own people. He had spent three years trying to draw them closer to God through grace, love, and peace. But the mob gathered at Calvary didn’t want to hear “All you need is love.” They didn’t want a Messiah who forgave their enemies. They didn’t want a leader who brought about change through helping the weak and healing the sick. They wanted a Christ who obliterated their enemies; they wanted a Champion who would kick the Romans out of the Promised Land.

And so, when Jesus failed to live up to their expectations, they turned against Him and mocked His powerlessness as He agonizingly died upon the Cross.

In some places and with other people, Christ and Christianity still face those torments. Atheists despise us and blame Christianity for all of the wars in the last two thousand years. Advocates of progressive change try to diminish our relevance and message by equating our Faith with other religions. Or they mock our Faith by revising and rewriting history in order to exclude the influence that Christianity has had upon Western Society and throughout the world.

But as long as Time exists and people remain on this planet, Christ’s words and ways will endure, despite the challenges and criticisms of our Faith. The Cross did not end Jesus’ global ministry; it actually began there. The Calvary mockers may have died 1900 years ago and turned to dust, but the Spirit of Christ endures and His mission remains.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for Your power that prevails and Your words that will not go away. Thank You for enduring on the Cross so that the penalty for sin could finally be paid. Without You, our world would not be the same. With You, we have a hope that continues throughout eternity. In Your Holy Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message or offer feedback, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.