Day of Preparation

Posted on by korgrocker

“When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, “Look, here is your king!” “Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!” “What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back. Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away.”
John 19:13-16 NLT

The common belief is that the Passover festival took place on the Jewish Sabbath, and that forms the basis of our Easter weekend when we Christians assume that Jesus was crucified on what we have come to call Good Friday, with the Jewish Passover being the following day. This then means that Sunday is the first day of the Jewish week. But according to the Jewish calendar, the day of Passover could have been on a Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. This year, 2024, Passover took place on April 23rd, which was a Tuesday. Another fact about Passover is that the Day of Preparation ends at sundown. Theologians disagree about which day of the week Passover took place when Jesus was crucified because it is not totally clear in which year it took place, but in the end we do know that Jesus was crucified on the Jewish Day of Preparation, hence the unseemly haste in which the Jewish leaders wanted to complete their terrible deed. 

A Day of Preparation is not just a Jewish religious phenomenon. In business terms, presentations are prepared for meetings and sales pitches. When we go on holiday, we prepare for the event, booking tickets and packing suitcases. We examine flight or train timetables and select the best options. As we come up to retirement, we prepare for the increase in leisure time, or at least should do. Very importantly, our young people prepare for their exams by spending hours going through previous exam papers and swotting up on the exam material. But in spiritual terms, the need to prepare for anything is less obvious or expected. Of course, the preacher will prepare a sermon and the worship team will prepare the songs or hymns and practice where needed. But what about those who come to church, those in the congregation? I suspect that many people, including me at times, miss out on the blessings of God because we haven’t prepared our hearts in such a way that we are in a place to receive all that God has for us. And then there is the importance of being prepared in case someone asks us one day about how we became a believer in Jesus. 1 Peter 3:15, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect“. Jesus warned His disciples about being prepared. Matthew 24:44, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him“. And we know what happened to the five young women who were unprepared and who brought insufficient oil for their lamps, as Jesus told in the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25). 

It is important that we pilgrims prepare our hearts before we move into the day. Many call a time of morning prayer and Bible reading a “Quiet Time” but I prefer to call it a time of preparation. How can we honestly face the hassles and struggles of the world without having first touched base with our Heavenly Father? How do we know what He wants us to do in the day ahead if we haven’t first asked Him for directions? And then stayed long enough to hear His answer? But it is a dangerous thing to do, to ask God what He wants us to do this day. We might hear something that totally upsets our plans. There was a day when a man called Ananias received a vision and we can read about what happened next in Acts 9:11-19. It goes without saying that Ananias must have had a prepared heart beforehand. 

We pilgrims are children of God, and what child doesn’t look to his or her Father for encouragement, love, and the resources for the day ahead. But if we don’t spend time with Him, then how will we ever be effective as a Christian, effective in our own personal lives or instrumental in ministering in the lives of others? Let’s prepare our hearts today in the presence of Almighty God. After all, only He has the Words of eternal life. 

Dear God. Our spirits are willing but our flesh is weak. Please help us to get into routine of being prepared before we start the day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lot and His Wife

Posted on by korgrocker

“But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling.”
2 Peter 2:7-10 NLT

Peter referred again to the situation that caused the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, a situation consisting of wickedness, the cause of which was so vile that Lot “was tormented in his soul”. It was incessant, going on “day after day”, causing agony for a righteous man, ”who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him”. These twin cities were apparently functioning as cities of those times should, with trading, farming, and civic duties and events. People would have been marrying, socialising, paying taxes and carrying on as we would expect. There was a king there and an army keeping them safe from attack. And yet, in all of this, the only thing that mattered to Lot (and God) was the “shameful immorality” that was taking place. 

So fast forward to 21st Century Western societies, and we see a parallel. The “shameful immorality” of same sex relationships flaunted in “Gay Pride” events. The gender wars twisting and distorting what God has designed. Adultery and divorce abounding. Politicians passing laws to legalise immoral practices and our churches accepting wicked people, providing a blessing and even granting them positions of authority. Yes, society and commerce continues much as before with trading, farming, manufacturing, and civic duties and events. People marry, socialise, pay taxes and carry on as we would expect. There is a king and an army. But the offence of “shameful immorality” rises up to God. Wickedness and sin is constant and never ceases, regardless of the society and generation.

Lot was a righteous man, and apparently the only one in Sodom. There were apparently no righteous people in Gomorrah – none that the Bible records anyway. But God saved Lot from the destruction that soon followed, after the angels had led him, his wife and his daughters away from the city. Today there are righteous men and women in our nations, our communities, who too are sick of the wickedness and sin so blatant around them. But there is hope. God physically rescued Lot and his family, and Peter reminded his readers that “the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials”. Even today, there are times when God changes our schedules, our journeys, or anything similar, to rescue us from physical danger. A young woman I know was in the Twin Towers restaurant the day before it was destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attack. Was that a God-rescue, changing her schedule or the time of her visit? We pilgrims will probably never know the occasions when God has kept us safe. There are many other ways in which God rescues us, because although our physical bodies can be affected by this sinful world, our spirits are safe in God’s hands. We read about Job, a man who lost his family and possessions. His body was even afflicted by painful boils. But he never sinned against God and came through terrible circumstances with his spirit safe and faith in God intact. Our bodies and life here on Planet Earth may be susceptible to attacks from the devil, but our spirits belong to God, who keeps them safe. 

But Peter also reminded his readers that He keeps “the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment”. The judgement carried out over Sodom and Gomorrah was immediate and total. But in today’s world, there is a pause. God has deferred His judgement on sinful mankind until a day in the future, when He will present, publicly, a journal of everything everyone has done. Justice will be seen to be done, and punishment dispensed on that “day of final judgement”. 

So what do we pilgrims make of the story of Lot in the context of Sodom and Gomorrah? Will God once again become so dismayed and offended by the wickedness of mankind that He once again eliminates it from the world He created? Thankfully, as Peter wrote, the time for judgement is still some time in the future. God’s grace is present, and through Jesus we have a way out of the terrible judgement to come. As we reach out to Jesus with repentance, we will find forgiveness and mercy.

Jesus told the story of ten bridesmaids in Matthew 25. Five of them brought sufficient oil to keep their lamps burning, but the other five didn’t. We read in Matthew 25:5, “When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep“. But the ones with insufficient oil for their lamps missed out on attending the impending marriage feast. The message here is that we must be ready. Matthew 25:13, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return“. We don’t know when Jesus will return for the second time. But in the meantime, we mustn’t miss out on God’s grace.

Dear Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy, which know no bounds. We worship You today, deeply thankful. Amen.

Wake Up

Posted on by korgrocker

“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”
Romans 13:11 NLT

The early Christians were convinced that the second coming of Jesus was getting close. Peter asked Jesus about the disciple John’s future, and we can read the question and Jesus’ answer in John 21:21-22, “Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me””. And we read that a rumour started, that John would still be alive when Jesus returned. So throughout the New Testament is the occasional reference or expectation that Jesus was returning “soon”. Jesus taught about being ready for when He came back to this earth, and He told His disciples a story about the Ten Bridesmaids (or Virgins) that we can read in Matthew 25. And then He said in conclusion to this story, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return”. So in effect we must all live our lives as though Jesus was going to appear at any time. I really don’t know whether or not I will finish writing this piece before he returns. It could be as dramatic as that. Yes, we will be able to receive a few hints and signs – read Matthew 24 – and if we look hard enough most of those warning indications have already been fulfilled, in one way or another. As Paul wrote, “time is running out”. 

The challenge for Christians everywhere is the state of our spiritual lives. By that I mean, are we awake or sleeping? Or perhaps dozing somewhere between the two. In the Ten Bridesmaids story, they all started off with a lamp and some oil. But five of them didn’t have enough oil to keep their lamps alight, and when the bridegroom arrived (at midnight), they were caught out, trying to find a shop that was open and where they could buy some oil. In the story we can see that Jesus was the Bridegroom, and His return didn’t come at a convenient time for the young women. It probably won’t come at a convenient time for us either. We might be in the middle of something we think is important. We might be full of good intentions but haven’t quite got round yet to carrying them out. At a time of being caught up in excitement with Jesus’ appearance, perhaps we have some issues with someone that must be put right. But we must have our spiritual suitcases packed, and easily and readily accessible.

At the end of Matthew 25, Jesus told the story of the Sheep and the Goats. We know it of course, but which group of these ruminants do we identify with? Note that it wasn’t a crowd of ordinary people Jesus was speaking to. It was His disciples. Why did He remind them the importance of being counted amongst the sheep? Should that apply to use as well?

We must be living our lives in a state of constant readiness, just in case Jesus returns soon. It may not be long. We must keep our eyes on the horizon because, “For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 24:27). Jesus’ second coming won’t be as a child in a manger. His return will be there for all to see, regardless of longitude or latitude.

Dear Father. Thank You for Your Son Jesus. We look forward to His return with anticipation. Please help us keep ready and waiting with loving expectation. Amen.

Armageddon

Posted on by korgrocker

“Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance. And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty. “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭16:12-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

John’s vision describes a scene with some key features. We have the Euphrates River, an effective boundary to the movement of troops and equipment from East to West. Three frogs, representing evil spirits, emerging from the devilish leaders at that time, and they, by their dark and evil trickery, deceiving other world leaders into thinking they could join together and defeat God Himself. Psalm 2:2-3 describes their thinking, “The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God””. If only they had read the next bit, “But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”” (Psalm 2:4-6). But in their arrogance the earthly rulers and their armies were confident that they would win.

The word “Armageddon” has come to mean two things. It is believed to be a physical place located in Northern Israel, on the site of the ancient town of Megiddo, which only exists as a mound today. But the word has also come to mean the ultimate battle of destruction, catastrophic for the human race.

So all the worldly forces mobilised by the “ dragon, the beast, and the false prophet” come together on the plain in Israel ready to take on God’s chosen King in Jerusalem. Their fate is assured, but God gives the armies and their rulers one last chance to pull back. Again from Psalm 2, the last verse reads, “Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities— for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!” We know what happens as John’s vision unfolds in the next verses in Revelation 16.

In the middle of these verses today, Jesus encourages His followers to be ready for His return, to avoid being shamed otherwise. Jesus taught about readiness in the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. We truly don’t know when He will come again but it could be anytime. In the next hour or in one hundred years time. It may occur in our lifetimes, it may not, but the temptation is to think it won’t, and we therefore can behave like the five foolish virgins in Jesus’ parable. So instead we pilgrims live our lives in a state of readiness, with the expectation that Jesus really is coming soon. But we also plan accordingly in case He is delayed, making sure we are faithful in doing what He has asked us to do. 

We pilgrims can only think of the cataclysmic Armageddon event with a shudder. We pray that these days really will be cut short. And we pray for our loved ones, our friends and families, that they will come to know the love and grace of our Heavenly father before it is too late.

Dear Father God. We thank You for this season of grace, in which You have held back the forces of darkness. Please help us to be diligent in seeking You and being obedient to Your ways. And we pray for our families and friends, that they too will embrace Your love that You make so freely available. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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