Mar 18

Keeping Focused on The Gospel

avatar Published in Untagged  by Pastor Mark
 After entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus spent the next three days in teaching His followers and confronting the attacks and traps of religious people. Jesus did not shy away from the city where He would be condemned to death, but instead publically and boldly taught the crowds truth.  It is interesting to me that although our Lord knew all things and knew what would take place on Thursday night in the Garden of Gethsemane and how He would suffer and die on the Cross on those six hours of Friday, He did not stop proclaiming the truth and confronting religious hypocrisy.  On Monday Jesus is confronted by the chief priests and the elders of the Jews, these are the same people who on Thursday evening and into the early hours of Friday morning will falsely accuse Him and make a mock trial in order to kill Him.  These religious leaders who are really no more than what Jesus called white washed tombs,  come attempting to trap Jesus, They ask Jesus "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Isn't it amazing that here is Jesus who has healed the sick and raised the dead and proclaimed truth is questioned by leaders that only want to make sure of one thing, that is, that there position will not be lost.  You would think that people who are acting pious or feigning a religious connection to God would not be worried about losing their position in the eyes of the people.  But in a sense they asked a question that Jesus was often confronted with, even His disciples on the sea of Galilee after seeing the Lord calm the storm said , "Who is this that even the winds and the waves obey Him?"  People would describe the Lord as one who taught with authority! But the Pharisees were not asking as seekers but as those who wanted to trap Jesus into identifying who He was so that they could accuse Him of blasphemy.  So on the Monday of the week of Passion Jesus chooses not to answer their question because there are still many more important things that must be taught.  23 When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, "By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?"
24 "I'll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question," Jesus replied.
25 "Did John's authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?" They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn't believe John.
26 But if we say it was merely human, we'll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet."
27 So they finally replied, "We don't know." And Jesus responded, "Then I won't tell you by what authority I do these things.

NLT

 

I believe that this is an amazing lesson for you and I as believers as we are seeking to tell others about our Lord  and sharing the Gospel with them.  There are often times that questions will be asked with ulterior motives.  The person we are talking with wants to deflect the conversation and have us answer questions that only God can.  You and I need to listen to the voice and the prompting of the Holy Spirit and remember the example of Jesus, who although He is God chose not to derail the mission of that day in a debate.  He told His followers to be ‘wise as serpents and harmless as doves"  We can see in Jesus our Lord and Teacher that we need to be full of the Holy Spirit to know at a moments notice how to respond to our world.  You can see it in our media that people are looking to trap us but the Lord says that He will give  us the words to say at the right time.  Would you do two things with me, first would you take a few moments and read Matthew chapters 22 through chapter 25 and see the incredible teaching that our Lord gave during the last three or four days that He had before the arrest and His Crucifixion?  And then would you along with me ask God to give you moments this week that you would be able to share with those we come in contact with, what this week is all about.  Don't make it religious or pious, but just tell what experience you have had and how the Lord has changed you.  People will respond to a person like you and me who are not afraid to proclaim the truth and who listen to the Holy Spirit telling us what we are to say and what we are not to say.   Let's be people this week and beyond who are led by the Holy Spirit and Speak words of Life.   We are not promoting ourselves or our church but we like Jesus have a mission to fulfill, to be a witness of our Lord's transforming power. Like Paul may we say, I am not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believe!