Chuck Larsen

Yesterday I mentioned that we often look for Jesus in all the wrong places. The women who came to anoint Jesus’ body was asked “why do you seek the living among the dead?”  As that story proceeds we get to ease drop on their conversation. On their way to the tomb, Mark 16:3 tells us that, “they were saying to one another, who will roll away the stone for us and from the entrance of the tomb?”

We often worry about things we shouldn’t. I don’t know about you but when I don’t have anything to worry about, I worry about that! Worry can become a bad habit. George Mueller suggested that faith and worry are antithetical. If you’re in the midst of one, you are out of the other. Worry accomplishes nothing. It’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere. Like the two Mary’s we often worry about things that we shouldn’t worry about. Mark 16:4 says, “when they looked up, they saw that the stone was already rolled away.” I love the last little comment, “It was very large.”

I have very “large” problems! Don’t you? I have many “large” issues to deal with, don’t you? I have  “large” relationship issues, don’t you? They are like alligators rising up to devour me! Who’s going to roll the stone away? Guess what! It’s already been taken care of. Jesus said, “…don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” In the context of that verse in Matthew chapter 6, we read, instead of worry, “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” and all the things we worry about are already taken care of.

Chuck

“The Psalmist tells us “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” Psalm 46:1-3

When we look more closely at the so called “Triumphal Entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem to assume His God ordained role as their King and Savior, we see it wasn’t all that triumphant. There was a lot of show, but no true acceptance of Him as their King. On his way into the city again on the second day Jesus cursed a fig tree for its lack of fruit. If you look at the surrounding passages, you see that Christ was using the barren fig tree to teach His disciples something they desperately needed to know. This might be called a living parable.

Jesus knew how shallow their acceptance was. (by the way, He still recognizes shallow acceptance today.) The fig tree was an object lesson on barrenness which always results from shallow acceptance and empty worship. The Nation had been called to bear fruit of “righteousness” in their own lives and to be a shining example of righteousness to the peoples around them. But instead, they used their positions for personal profit. Thus, Jesus drove out the sellers and money changers from the temple area. He then cursed the fig tree, a symbol of the nation, for its fruitlessness.

What is fruit in the Christian life? According to the scriptures there are several different kinds of fruit. First, it’s Character; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control. Second, fruit is right conduct, doing the right things and avoiding the wrong things are often referred to as fruit. Third, those who come to Christ through our witness is often referred to as fruit in the Bible. Fourth, we may also bear fruit with our lips by giving praise to God and thankfully confessing His name. Fifth, we bear fruit when we give money. In summary fruit includes; (1) a Christlike character, (2) a life characterized by good works, (3) a faithful witness, (4) a pair of lips that praise God, and (5) a generous giving of one’s money.

Chuck

“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:2

In Mark 11:1-2, we read about Jesus entry into the city of Jerusalem. It says, “Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples  and said to them, ‘Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it.’”

You can still make this walk today through Bethany. There’s an ancient church in Bethany in which is a door that leads down into an old tomb which is supposed to be the tomb of Lazarus whom Jesus brought back from the dead. From Bethany, you can continue the journey to Bethphage where there stands an old stone that is said to have been set there to commemorate the place where Jesus mounted the donkey. You could then cross over the top of the Mount of Olives and see the view of the city of Jerusalem. As you approach Jerusalem you’ll go by the tombs of the prophets, descend down into the Kidron Valley and then ascend back up into the old city of Jerusalem. Jesus made the journey from Bethphage to Jerusalem on the back of donkey that had never been ridden.

Why did Jesus call for an animal that no one had sat upon? The red heifer was used as a sacrifice for the sins of the people. It was to be chosen from among animals that have never been used for plowing. It was set aside for a sacred purpose. So too was the donkey. It was set aside for a sacred purpose. The red heifer was a type of Christ. It speaks to us of our purification from sin. It was by the ashes of the red heifer that the nation was purified and it’s through the blood of Christ that the believer is purified. The bible teaches us that without the shedding of blood there is no “purification” from sins, no forgiveness. According to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Forgiveness is only through the blood of Christ.

Chuck

“For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Hebrews 9:13-14

 For all the archives of past daily devotions: www.chucklarsen.com

After Jesus’ baptism and temptation he struck out on His ministry to accomplish God’s will. He demonstrated in every possible way that He was what God the Father said He was at His baptism. He healed their sick. He drove out demons! He taught as no man had ever taught. He fed thousands, He walked on water, he raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, all according to the prophecies of Old regarding the coming of God’s Messianic King.

Finally, he moves to take up his rightful place in Jerusalem. On, what we call Palm Sunday, Jesus entered into the city, riding on a donkey according with the Old Testament Prophecy and the people rejoiced at his entrance into Jerusalem. We often refer to this as the “Triumphal Entry.” But it was anything but triumphal. The crowds abandoned him when he didn’t draw his sword and kill their Roman enemies.  They abandoned him because they were disappointed that he wasn’t what they were looking for.

Many people abandon Jesus today as well. They come to Jesus to get something they think they need or want and when they find that Jesus has a different agenda they abandon him. We come to church and “shout” about Jesus, but it’s always good to consider what kind of Jesus we are shouting about. Do we shout for the social Jesus? Are we shouting for the prosperity Jesus? Are we shouting for the physical healing Jesus? Are we shouting for a political Jesus? But, Jesus came for one purpose. He’s the saving Jesus! He came to save us from our sins. He came in humility on the back of a donkey, not a white stallion, and he came that me and you, sinful men and women, could be forgiven and find peace with God.

Chuck

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus Journey that led to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and then to the cross & the grave (Good Friday), to Glory (Easter Sunday) with His resurrection actually began at his baptism.  At that time, according to Mark 1:11, the skies opened and God the Father spoke out “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” It was God’s announcement to the world that Jesus was the Messiah and was to reign over His very own people forever, as promised in the law and the prophets of the Old Testament.

He was, as Isaiah 9:6 proclaimed, “The Prince of Peace.” In the verse immediately preceding God speaking from heaven, Mark mentions the descent of what appeared to be a dove upon Jesus at his baptism. Symbolic of the Spirit, the dove appeared to represent the coming of God’s peace with man that would be procured by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. After the great deluge of Genesis 9 the iniquity of the world was washed away in what might be described as a baptism of total immersion. After the deluge that washed away the iniquity upon the earth, the dove returned to the Ark carrying the universal symbol of peace, the olive branch. The wrath of God has been satisfied.

As Jesus entered into his ministry of healing and teaching there was an acute awareness of His role. Jesus quotes Isaiah 61:1, as it referred to himself, in Luke 4:18. He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.” At His baptism, Jesus was God ordained (so to speak) as a declaration to the world that He was the suffering servant who would save the people who would surrender to him from all their sins!

Chuck

“And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.” Mark 1:10