Easter 2024: Convicted by the Rooster

 

I left my fishing business, my home, and most of my friends, to follow Him. Luke 5:8–11 – I saw Him heal my mother in-law. Luke 4:38-39 - I was with Him when Moses and Elijah appeared to Him. Matthew 17:1-3 - When He asked Who do we think He is, I was the one that said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:15–16 - When they came to arrest Him, I was the one that pulled my sword and tried to stop it! John 18:10

Why would He say I would deny Him?

Matthew 26:31–35…Jesus said… “You will all fall away because of Me this night” …But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away…I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.”

One of the individuals who questioned Peter if he was with Christ was a relative of the man who had his ear cut off by Peter. If any of us are honest, when we consider how Peter could deny Jesus time and time again on that Friday, we need only look in the mirror! Our flesh is weak, and when our lives are on the line, our flesh will never stand the test!

When that rooster crowed, Peter’s heart was crushed. Failure to keep his promise – convicted! Failure to control his fear – convicted!

I did not walk with Jesus in the flesh, but He has walked with me for 40+ years since He forgave my sins and made me a child of God.

I also have failed many times! If it were up to Satan and my flesh, the guilt would have eaten me up and, at one point, almost did.

Thanks be to God for the gift of the Holy Spirit that entered me the moment I trusted Christ as my Savior!

He sealed me, adopted me, regenerated me, placed me into the Body of Christ, and is willing to fill and control me when ever I am willing to yield to His lead!

A wonderful new life has been offered to all of mankind from a horrible death, if we will only ask for it.

Sadly, most of our country's leaders and citizens have believed the enemy's lie. This is now Spring Break. How terribly tragic!

A break in the season will never satisfy a soul thirsting for a relationship with its Creator and an understanding of the wonderful destiny and life offered by the One that Loves so much that sacrificing the ultimate to supply a bridge for us to Him was worth it in His mind!
What a God! That is what makes this GOOD Friday!  

Easter 2024: The Night Before

Matthew 26:20 Now, when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.

It was Thursday night. He had walked with them, taught them, ate with them, and slept with them for three years.

They had witnessed His power…Power like they had never seen! There was nothing He could not do if He decided to do it! No food, He could make some! No boat, no problem, He would just walk on top of the water! Dangerous storm, He would just Hush it! They had no idea that His greatest Powerful work was just ahead. Power to deny self. Power to deny instinct. Power to conquer death. Power to pay a complete price for everyone’s sin…even though He Himself had no sin. Power to defeat Satan, the grave and death! Power and Authority to offer eternal life to any that would accept it.

I will discuss all of this in the coming days, but I want to stop at “deny self and instinct” today.

Jesus is the Godman, fully God and fully human. How does that work? If I could explain, I would be God. I believe what He claimed about Himself.

Being human, He possessed an ego and an instinct to survive. He did the opposite. For us! 

As He shared that last meal with His disciples, He knew exactly what was going to happen that night, into the early morning, and ending on a Cross.
 
Philippians 2:5–8…Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Please take some moments today to ponder this Truth. All other gods in this world require you to give to them. Jesus, the Godman, has given all that He was for you, yet will not force this gift on you! You can choose to live with Him or separate from Him. He is not offering you a destination; He is offering you a life—one filled with His love, grace, and mercy. He will guide and lead you into a full experience of Life.
 
You will still be you, as He enables you to break free from the sin nature that controls all of us. When you do fail, He will help you seek restoration in fellowship and growth in maturity.

Let this be the last Easter that is about chocolate and bunnies! Let it be about a new life and a new You!