Betrayal

Mathew 26:48-49

We know from the Bible that Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, it was known to Jesus what Judas was going to do, yet he did not pull him up about it. In fact he sat down to super with Him and publicly spoke about it, without pointing a finger at Judas. 

While he prayed for the cup to be removed He knew about the betrayer. Yet pleaded with his father not to go through with the plan of his death. He knew his father could have chosen another route to rescue man from sin, so he prayed, father please take this up from me. Luke 22:41-44

He could have also called Judas to a quiet place and ask him not to go through with his betrayal, he could have asked Judas to stop and consider what he was about to do. But he did not. 

Why did he not stop Judas? The man who would give him away sat at the same room and ate from the same table with him daily yet he did nothing about it. 

He even called him friend and asked him to do what he must do!!! Shocking !!! . Mathew 26:50

He did not stop Judas because he knew It was not in Judas hands to stop what was destined by the Father to happen. He knew the father had given all things to him and that he was from God and went to God. John 13:3.

What can you grasp from this? Can you relate with this? We are often faced with choices of our own regarding whom or where to go during trying times, usually in such situations there are obvious answers, just like Judas seemed the obvious choice for Jesus to approach. 

Sometimes God appears so remote that we do not see him as the obvious one to approach. We may also not be ready to receive his answer to our request which may not be what we want to hear and just as he did with His only Son Jesus, our request may be met with silence. So we approach the obvious source or try to figure it out on our own. Because it's far more easier to seek solutions or answer from the obvious. 

Jesus did not do this because he knew what the father's will for him was and he was willing for it to be done, even though he knew it will be painful and would cost him his life. 

Just like Jesus, know the God's will for your situation, let him be your first recourse not your last resource after you've tried to sort it out your way. 

When we allow his will to be done and go through a painful experience we will come out victorious at the end. 

This is the story of Calvary, one of victory, of triumph and joy.  

He paved the way with his blood

The path of righteousness made clean by his death

So we travel life's journey on the road 

made ready for us

We endure difficult turns

And navigate rugged terrain, 

Knowing we walk in triumphant steps

Which will lead us to victory. 

Hope That Saves!

The remarkable story of 33 miner buried 2000 feet below the surface of Chile’s Atacama desert made head news around the world. Even more remarkable was the unbelievable rescue of these men. I'm sure you are familiar with the story so I won't bore you by telling it again.

One thing struck me through it all and that was the resilience of the men, they didn’t give up hope. They kept their hope alive by pulling together, when one was weak, there was one who encouraged, together, with the help those on the surface they kept their hope alive.

Often, we are faced with dire situation, ones which threatens our very existence. Literally we feel buried in those circumstances with no way out. If you recall, there was no way in or out of that mine after it collapsed (talk about a hopeless situation). An emergency rescue plan had to be put together to get them out.

Straight from my heart is this piece to encourage you to have faith in God, in the face of buried dreams and seemingly hopeless situation.
Look up your help comes from the Lord, in a way you could say their hope saved them. Watching them come out, not one of them had an angry or exhausted look, and they kept their hope alive by hooking up with God, those on the surface and encouraging each other.

For some of us, it may look like there’s no way in or out of our situation, but hang in there help is on the way. While waiting for a rescue, reshape your attitude, let go of pain, anger and hatred, have a winning attitude, because you can’t tell your story with all those things written over your expression.
It may require a dramatic effort to bring you out but it will happen.
As Romans 8:24-28 says, we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is no hope at all, who hopes for what he already has? 25: but if we hope for what we do not yet have we wait for it with patience.
Hope in God, have faith that he's working all things out for your good. Be assured it won't be long before he rescues you. Just stay hooked up and connected to him.

Snared, bruised and brushed, still I arise.
Knocked down but not out, kicked but not killed, still I arise
With gaze upward looking,
My hope is rekindled with the vision of victories ahead.
I arise.

Taken (Final Part)

Yes he died a wretched death.
He allowed himself to be taken and killed because he wanted to take something back for himself!

He was taken so that he could take back:

Sons and daughters of his, bound by sin
The down trodden and restore them to wholeness
The weak and give the strength
The poor and give them riches
The broken hearted and fix their hurt
The hopeless and fill them with assurances of better things to come
The loss and show them the way
The accused and free them from guilt and shame
The isolated and bring them into the fold
Taken! Yes he took the stripes, the beatings, the scorning, the accusations, the causes
So that he can take away our shame, hurt, sickness and pain.

No wonder “Good Friday” turned out to be “Good” after all, because he wasn’t taken,
HE WAS THE ONE WHO TOOK IT ALL.
He took my place instead! That’s why today we celebrate, our freedom from Sin.

"Taken" away on that Good Friday afternoon when he hung and died”. He visited Hell and set us free from sin and death.

Happy Easter.