Inheritance

Inheritance

John 19: ²³ Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. ²⁴ They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:

“They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Therefore the soldiers did these things.

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After the mass layoffs, I went to a coworker for advice. “How long should I wait to ask for that desk?” was my question. By my calculation, I was next in line to get a cubicle that faced a window. “What do you think, a week or two?”

• There were times when I couldn’t wait to see people go.
• There were times when I could not wait to get their stuff.
• There were times when I felt that people were “in the way” of “my” success.

The soldiers could not wait to get JESUS’s stuff. Pilate must have loved theater because he dressed JESUS in the finest clothes. The soldiers wanted the clothes so they divided them into four parts. But the tunic was special. No seam, woven in one piece. They cast lots, similar to throwing dice, for HIS garments. They were on the evil side of the plan.

• GOD wants me to inherit HIS great rewards.
• GOD wants me to be part of HIS family.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS wealth by bringing HIS lost people back to HIM.

Wanting better or more stuff is a waste of time without JESUS. I mean, not having GOD in the middle of my wants can lead to feeding my greed. Only GOD can focus my desires in the right way. More and more, GOD enables the desire to explain HIS kingdom to other people so they can believe in JESUS. I accept GOD’s desire over more stuff.

• Are you seeking more stuff?
• Are you waiting for someone to die so you can get their stuff?
• Will you ask GOD to change your heart and fill you with the desire to seek the lost today?

Humiliation

Humiliation

John 19: ¹⁷ And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, ¹⁸ where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.

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Late for a meeting, I hurried to use the restroom. To my dismay, I slightly wet my light colored pants just enough for it to be visible. “You have got to be kidding me!” I shouted. In haste, I grabbed paper towels and wet them, trying to get rid of the drops on my trousers. I made it look like I had just bypassed using the toilet at all. My pants were wet and I had to go to the meeting.

• Sometimes I feel humiliated.
• Sometimes I feel embarrassed.
• Sometimes I feel like everyone is going to laugh or have a negative opinion of me.

JESUS was forced to carry HIS cross in front of everyone so HE could be humiliated. To add further embarrassment, HE was placed in the middle of two criminals, drawing attention to HIM as being the largest offender. HE had to go on the cross.

• JESUS faced humiliation from many just for me.
• JESUS faced embarrassment just for me.
• JESUS faced a painful death just for me.

Humiliation never feels good. BUT GOD went through it as an example to HIS followers. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of ME. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

JESUS gives me another way to look at the insults and embarrassing situations. HE tells me to persevere when I am insulted because I am trying to teach or preach about HIM. Looking forward to HIS reward calms the sting of the embarrassment.

• Have you been insulted because of your relationship with GOD?
• Have people pulled away from you because you are trying to speak about JESUS?
• Will you persevere, looking forward to the reward GOD has for you?

Carried Away

Matthew 27: ¹⁹ While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

²¹ “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

²² “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

²³ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

²⁵ All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

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We insisted on police protection so we planned a walk-out. When we got outside of the school we had no other plan. Some went home, others mulled around but one guy decided to get on top of a car and stir the crowd.  “I wonder if I should get on the car” I thought to myself, but before I could act on the thought, the police whisked him away. Whew, I thought!

• Sometimes I can get carried away with the crowd.
• Sometimes the crowd seems like it is doing the right thing to me.
• Sometimes I can get caught up in the moment with the crowd.

Pilate based his decision on an angry crowd with no distinct leader and thorough chaos abounding. His wife mentioned JESUS’s innocence but Pilate listened to those in charge of the local churches. The crowd won out.

• GOD wants me to follow HIM even when it is not what the crowd says.
• GOD wants me to get carried away with HIM, not the crowd.
• GOD wants me to understand true innocence based on HIS definition, not the crowd.

Innocence to GOD means I believe in HIS SON as the one and only SAVIOR. Only HIS innocent blood can wash away my sins. I am declared innocent through JESUS.

• Are you following the crowd even when JESUS is trying to speak to you?
• Do you think the crowd had a better idea than GOD?
• Will you allow yourself to be led by HIS SPIRIT by following HIS word today?

I’M going to be killed

Matthew 26: When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ² “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

³ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, ⁴ and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. ⁵ “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

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Nervous and jittery, one friend said to me “I am going to jail.” He had already been sentenced and was supposed to report to the authorities the next day. I was stunned. I had never heard these words before.

• Some news from people can catch me off guard.
• Some news from people can really make me feel helpless.
• Some news from people can throw me off for a long time.

Sometimes I forget that JESUS walked around as a human.  I can only imagine hearing the terrible news coming from another person as they say “In two days I will be killed by the pastors and preachers and church goers”, but that is what happened.

• JESUS says to me “I faced extreme hatred to the point where people wanted to kill ME.”
• JESUS says to me “I faced difficulties, slander and lies about ME.”
• JESUS says to me “I could have stopped those who thought they were in power, but I chose to die for you.”

JESUS knew HE was going to face this horrible day because HE was in constant communication with the FATHER.  HE chose to lay HIS life down for me. I am deeply indebted to HIM.

• Is the death of JESUS real to you?
• Do you sometimes think of JESUS as a fairytale?
• Can you thank JESUS for willingly trying to save you?