April 14, 2013
Scripture:
Ministry:
Let’s connect two verses in the Psalms. Read Psalm 22:1 and Psalm 110:1. Here we have two verses with the same people involved — the Son speaking to the Father. He was forsaken on the cross, but He returned to the glory with the work completed. God gave His Beloved a place at His right hand … and we will be joined with Him!
Hymn 350 – I will make you fishers of men
Prayer
The Lord Jesus was a very good storyteller. He would often tell parables, which were earthly stories with heavenly meanings. Sometimes, he would explain them to the disciples.
Matthew 13:1-23
This is the beginning of a division in Matthew’s gospel. The house is a picture of Judaism: when Jesus went out of the house, it was a symbol that he was now reaching out to the Gentiles also.
Jesus stood in the boat so that he could have a larger audience. Then He told a story about a sower. A sower is one that sows seed in the soil. In the old days, a farmer would have a pouch that would be holding seed hanging around his waist, and he would broadcast the seeds onto his plowed field. In Jesus’ story, some of the seed fell by the wayside, where the birds ate it; on stony ground, where it died; on thorny ground, where it was choked; and finally on good ground, where it was able to grow.
Later, the Lord Jesus explained the parable to the disciples. In the story the Sower is a picture of the Lord Jesus and He planted the seed, which is the Word of God, into the soil, which is a picture of us. It is possible for us to hear the word and keep it in our heads; but the Lord wants us to put it into our hearts. The seed that fell by the wayside is like a person with a hard heart: they don’t have any time for the Lord things and Satan plucks away any thought of the Lord. In the stony soil, the seeds started to grow, but then got killed in the sun. This is like one that hears the word but doesn’t put much time into it; and when trials come, they give it up. Thirdly, the seed fell on thorny ground: this is like a person that is hindered by the things of the world from enjoying the things of the Lord. Finally, the seeds fell on good ground, where it was able to germinate and grow and bring forth good fruit.
This is an important story that we can use in telling the gospel, but it is very important for those that are saved, to remember that it is possible for Satan to take our enjoyment of the Lord’s things away when we give room to the things of the world.
As our hymn reminded us, we need to read our Bibles and pray every day. We need to make it a priority to do this so that we can grow and bear good fruit.
Luke 22:47-62
Last week we saw our Lord suffering in Gethsemane. We have more of His suffering expressions there than at the cross. Even in His agony, though, He was still concerned for His disciples.
As Jesus spoke to the disciples, Judas came with the chief priests to arrest Him. How was it possible that this man was a disciple? It shows the heart of man! Judas was involved in the disciples’ ministry; but was he saved? John 13 seems to indicate that he wasn’t, because Jesus tells the disciples, “You are clean, but not all”—referring to Judas. The rest of the disciples couldn’t tell that Judas was the traitor; that’s how tricky he was. His betrayal was an action so low that still today nobody names their child “Judas”. He betrayed His Lord and Master! With a kiss!
Judas and Peter are often compared. Judas betrayed the Lord, while Peter denied the Lord. After three denials, the Lord looked at Peter and it affected Peter’s heart. When Jesus gave Judas a warning and a chance to repent in verse 48, it appears as if Judas had no conscience. Did he realize what he was doing? To him, this was a way to make money. He was motivated by gain. Judas probably thought that Jesus would escape, and didn’t think that He would submit Himself to these men. The fact that he committed suicide when he saw that they crucified Him makes this probable.
When the disciples saw what was going on, they asked if they should declare war, with the Lord on their side. One of them cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. This servant was an enemy, yet the Lord healed him. He did good to those who hated Him, thus showing His divinity. Man doesn’t do that.
Verses 52-53 show that Satan was behind these men, because darkness belongs to him. Jesus not only went through the agonies of the garden and the cruelty of the priests, but also betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter, and the fleeing of the rest of the disciples. Matthew specifically records that all the disciples declared they were willing to follow Him to death, but that they all forsook Him. Surely Satan was behind this! See how much the Lord suffered just getting to the cross.
The priests arrested Jesus, but not without His consent. He yielded Himself to these men. The words “led Him” appear four times in this story. They led Jesus away, they led Him to their counsel, they led Him to Pilate, and they led Him away to be crucified. This is the One that said, “Follow me”. His desire is to lead us in the paths of righteousness, but here He was led as a lamb to the slaughter.
These men took our Lord to the priest’s house, and Peter followed, but afar off. He came in and sat among the servants by the fire, and Satan worked to bring about his fall. Just a maid scared him. The contrast to this is Acts 4:13, when Peter had grown closer to the Lord. The things that these people were saying were actually complimentary. “You were with Jesus!” That’s a compliment! One thing that gave Peter away was his speech, because he was a Galilean. Does our speech show that we have been with the Lord?
Judas betrayed the Lord, and didn’t properly repent. Peter denied the Lord, but he did. It’s precious to see that where there is repentance, there is restoration.
Hymn 96 – If I gained the world but lost the Saviour — Note that Judas lost the Saviour trying to gain thirty pieces of silver.
Prayer