Subscription Lists
Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Men did dreadful things to Jesus Christ. In these verses in John Chapter 11, we do not see the women folks doing anything as horrid as the men get up to. The women gave Jesus meals, and anointed him.
They were the last to leave the cross and they were first to be there at the tomb.
As soon as these men heard of what Jesus did, raising Lazarus from the dead, they gathered together in secret council.
Verse 47 – What are we doing? What are we accomplishing? What are we achieving? This man is still doing miracles. Read the text for yourself.
At least they are now at last admitting that Jesus is performing miracles.
Their theology did not allow them to believe that this man could do such miracles, so rather than change their theology, they say, “The facts must be wrong. We must keep our theology correct. One thing we must do is stop this move of God”. That has not changed either.
It is so terribly sad and tragic when men think like that – verse 48 – if we let him go on like this, the Romans will come and take away our place and our nation. If we let him continue we will lose our position, and our nation.
Nationalists can be so proud and so arrogant.
Caiaphas the high priest knew they were in trouble and he says, “It is better for you that one man die for the people that that the whole nation perish.” Caiaphas was actually prophesying, but he did not know it. God was speaking through this corrupt priest. This was how God was moving.
To Caiaphas, to kill Jesus Christ was pure political expediency. It suited him and lots of others. It was convenient. It kept his place safe for a while.
But, for us, the death of Jesus Christ, and the shed blood, become the means of our salvation.
This was and is the only way to be washed and cleansed and forgiven.
There is no darkness out of which God cannot bring light, for those who are seeking light.
The judge has decided the sentence even before the trial has begun. If you ever feel that life is not giving you a fair deal, remember that Jesus did not get a fair deal. You are in good company. God permitted this to go ahead and out of all this God was going to bring immense blessing.
Verse 54 – It was not quite Jesus’ hour yet, and so again he slipped away for the last and final time.
Jesus is with his disciples. Jesus always loved being with the men he had called. Jesus looks for his disciples to be with him.
This was a turning point in commitment. We are called to believe and respond by leading a committed life. You know that when you have seen Jesus, or when you have heard Jesus, or when you have met Jesus, you can never again be the same.
You will either come closer to Jesus Christ or you will turn your back on Christ.
I recall people saying to me in Israel, “You know, I’ll never be the same again”. And that is right. When you visit places where Jesus walked and preached and taught – places that openly rejected Jesus Christ – and see that today they are mere ruins – it makes you stop and think.
To come to this Word and to come to the table where bread and wine is served is a highly serious thing to do, because people cannot leave the same way as they came in.
When men hear this Word they are either filled with faith or they become furious. When men hear the living Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, they either come obediently, or they rebel, and sometimes violently. The book of Acts is full of it.
When men have Jesus come near them, they either go and share the wonderful truth, or they go and run with tales. When men realise what Jesus is doing, they either want it to spread further and further, or they want to destroy and kill what God is doing.
Soon it would be the time of the Jewish Passover. John moves us on so quickly.
A million or more Jews would be making their way to Jerusalem. Some were wondering if Jesus would be present at the Feast.
We often wonder if Jesus will be present. He always shows up.
Over all these years, Jesus has always been present. There can be times when we sense him more than at other times, but he is present. Jesus has promised to be present with his disciples.
As we come to the table which has its own unique blessed experience, as we approach the table with obedient loyal loving hearts, anything can happen.
When you come to the table, hold out your hands and let Jesus feed you and fill you and satisfy you.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Word from Scotland" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.