Got Fruit ?

Devotionals from Rick Renner’s Sparkling Gems have, for the past 4 or so days covered the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot (John 18:3-6, Mark 14:44-45). Aspects of Judas’ betrayal delved into include:

• How Judas let a difference between Jesus and him, develop into resentment, thus causing their relationship to be damaged. Judas apparently resented Jesus’ handling of matters,concerning Mary using the expensive perfume Spikenard to wash the feet of Jesus, instead of being sold and the money used for the poor. (John 12:3-7)

• Judas’ distorted perception of Jesus. In his act of betrayal, Judas approaches Jesus, and addresses Him as “teacher” or “Rabbi”, an indication that though the two had spent three years together and had a bond, Judas saw Jesus not as his Lord, only as a great teacher (Mark 14:45).
  
• The extreme number of soldiers and officials dispatched to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:3). The “band of men” was not a squad of a dozen men as I had envisioned; more like 400-600 geared up Roman soldiers. See spira.

What happened promptly after Jesus had effectively surrendered Himself to the Roman soldiers is another lesson learned from the events surrounding the betrayal of Jesus. Jesus was about to be taken off, when in Luke 22:49, Simon Peter also seeing what was going on asked “Lord should we strike them with our swords?”. Verse 50 of Luke 22 says: “And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.”

Simon Peter had asked the Lord for instruction/guidance concerning the intense situation at hand, but… instead of waiting for a response from Jesus on how to handle the situation, Peter reacts hastily to the situation at hand and lops off the right ear of Malchus (a high ranking officer of the religious court of the Sadducess). It’s assumed that Peter was going for more than an ear. Jesus heals Malchus that evening.

In a like manner to Peter’s hasty reaction, our nature at times is to want to ask The Lord for guidance in a situation, then immediately, take it upon ourselves to attempt to solve or address the problem, versus waiting for God to reveal the how and when to move on the matter. When we do this, we risk creating a bigger mess of things, possibly losing our head, as almost did the high priest’s servant.

In somewhat of an ironic way, how fitting that Jesus’ last miracle (during His earthly ministry) is performed for the sake of an enemy (mercy) and, ironic in that it was an ear that was wounded and healed to fit in with “hearing” the Good News.

Grace and peace be with you.

But when the young man heard that saying he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Matthew 10:22

Your life is the sum of the responses you have made toward God.  Once God makes Himself known to you, what you do next is your decision.  Your reaction reflects what you believe about Him.  The rich, young ruler lived a moral life.  He was well versed in Scripture and the laws of God.  But his response to Jesus’ invitation clearly showed that, although he possessed a head knowledge of the teachings of God, he did not know God in an experiential way that could be demonstrated by a response of faith (Matt. 19:16-22).

Whenever the Lord speaks to you, it will require an adjustment in your life.  This truth can dramatically affect your prayer life.    Every time you pray you must be aware that if God answers your prayer and reveals His will to you, it will immediately require you to reorient your life.  Each time you read your Bible, you must be prepared to obey what God tells you.

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day