Reflecting God - The Global Church of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States – Embrace Holy Living for Saturday, 31 March 2018 - "With Fear And Trembling" by Sean Carr - John 20:19-31

Reflecting God - The Global Church of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States – Embrace Holy Living for Saturday, 31 March 2018 - "With Fear And Trembling" by Sean Carr - John 20:19-31

"With Fear And Trembling" by Sean Carr - John 20:19-31 16 The soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the headquarters building) and called together the whole battalion. 17 They dressed him in purple and wove thorn branches into a crown, which they put on him. 18 Then they began to salute him, “Hail to the King of the Jews!” 19 They hit him on the head with a stick, spat on him and kneeled in mock worship of him. 20 When they had finished ridiculing him, they took off the purple robe, put his own clothes back on him and led him away to be nailed to the execution-stake.
21 A certain man from Cyrene, Shim‘on, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country; and they forced him to carry the stake. 22 They brought Yeshua to a place called Gulgolta (which means “place of a skull”), 23 and they gave him wine spiced with myrrh, but he didn’t take it. 24 Then they nailed him to the execution-stake; and they divided his clothes among themselves, throwing dice to determine what each man should get. 25 It was nine in the morning when they nailed him to the stake. 26 Over his head, the written notice of the charge against him read,
THE KING OF THE JEWS
27 On execution-stakes with him they placed two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 28 [Mark 15:28 Some manuscripts include verse 15:28: And the passage from the Tanakh was fulfilled which says, “He was counted with transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12)] 29 People passing by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! So you can destroy the Temple, can you, and rebuild it in three days? 30 Save yourself and come down from the stake!” 31 Likewise, the head cohanim and the Torah-teachers made fun of him, saying to each other, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself!” 32 and, “So he’s the Messiah, is he? The King of Isra’el? Let him come down now from the stake! If we see that, then we’ll believe him!” Even the men nailed up with him insulted him.
33 At noon, darkness covered the whole Land until three o’clock in the afternoon. 34 At three, he uttered a loud cry, “Elohi! Elohi! L’mah sh’vaktani?” (which means, “My God! My God! Why have you deserted me?”)[Mark 15:34 Psalm 22:2(1)] 35 On hearing this, some of the bystanders said, “Look! He’s calling for Eliyahu!” 36 One ran and soaked a sponge in vinegar, put it on a stick and gave it to him to drink.[Mark 15:36 Psalm 69:22(21)“Wait!” he said, “Let’s see if Eliyahu will come and take him down.” 37 But Yeshua let out a loud cry and gave up his spirit. 38 And the parokhet in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw the way he gave up his spirit, he said, “This man really was a son of God!” (Complete Jewish Bible)
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“Peace be with you.” The Disciples are huddled together, scared and uncertain of what may happen next. Mary had been to the tomb and was certain that Jesus was alive. Peter and John had been to the empty tomb, but even they seemed unsure. Mary and the other women were so certain of His resurrection. They probably had told the story of their encounter with the angels and Jesus dozens of times. Despite the calm joy, and change that had come over the women, the majority of the disciples were afraid.
Into this setting of fear, uncertainty, sorrow, and just a little bit of hope, Jesus suddenly appears. The Prince of Peace speaks, not as when He spoke in power and authority to the storm, not with the dominion He used when He told demons to be quiet. Jesus speaks peace to calm the fear of being alone and lost, or comfort one who is wracked by debilitating illness. Jesus the Word-made-flesh, speaks peace and all fear, uncertainty, sorrow, and guilt are gone. All that remains is peace in Christ.
Hymn for Today: "The Lily of the Valley" By Charles W. Fry.

1. I’ve found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll.
Refrain: He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
2. He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tow’r;
I’ve all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart and now He keeps me by His pow’r.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal.

Refrain: He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
3. He’ll never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
From His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll.

Refrain: He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

Thought for Today: Ya’er Adonai panav eleikha vichunekka.
[May Adonai make his face shine on you and show you his favor.]
Yissa Adonai panav eleikha v’yasem l’kha shalom.
[May Adonai lift up his face toward you and give you peace.]’ (Numbers 6:25-26).

Please pray: That many people in the Philippines will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
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