Before The Suffering Of The Cross
Tuesday - September 11 - A Day Like All Other Days
Dead Flies And Folly
Before The Suffering Of The Cross
(Kent Heaton)
The scene of Jesus on the cross is one of unimaginable suffering. The means of crucifixion were designed to create the greatest level of suffering possibly endured by man. When Jesus was crucified, the Romans had perfected it to a level of science. They knew how much a man could take and yet still live. The condemned lingered for hours at the brink of death. Relief came only when the last breath was expelled and the soul returned unto God. The cross of Jesus is the focus of our lives as we see His suffering and His pain. The glory of the resurrection is the hope we share of heaven. However, the suffering of Jesus was not contained alone in the cross. Before His crucifixion, Jesus had already suffered greatly.
The scene unfolds with a prostrate man in a garden called Gethsemane. The companion's of Jesus are at a distance with three special friends nearby. Yet sorrow and distress overwhelms His heart as He cries out, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." While His disciples sleep, Jesus pours out His heart in earnest pleas to His Father, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." The real suffering begins.
Jesus agonizes in the garden but resigns His will to the Father. Angels are sent to strengthen him. "And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." A cruel blow is sent to Jesus heart as his friend and companion for three years comes to betray him with a kiss and a greeting of, "Rabbi." The hands of Jesus are bound and He is led away to meet His death.
He is forced to walk more than two and one half miles to and from the various places of His trials. First He is taken to a high priest, Annas. Being questioned by Annas, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand. Annas then sent Jesus bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Jesus is placed in the center of a loud mob of accusers and false witnesses who bore testimony against him. "The men that held Jesus mocked him, and beat him. And some began to spit in his face and buffet him. They blindfolded him and some smote him with the palms of their hands saying, 'Prophecy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?' And the officers received him with blows of their hands. And many other things spake they against him, reviling him." Sometime in all of these things, Jesus turned and looked at Peter and the cock crew the second time. Jesus was so alone with Peter cursing and swearing, "I know not this man of whom ye speak."
Again Jesus is bound and lead away to Pilate, the governor and it was early dawn. Jesus had already endured a traumatic and sleepless night of abuse. During the Roman trials, Jesus is grilled by Pilate, delivered to Herod where Jesus remained silent as the chief priests and the scribes vehemently accused Jesus. The soldiers of Herod set Jesus up and mocked him, arraying him in gorgeous apparel and then sent him back to Pilate. The vicious crowd cry for Jesus to be crucified as even Pilate proclaims the innocence of Jesus. Bowing to the wishes of the crowd, Pilate takes Jesus and scourges him. Here he is severely whipped as the lacerations would tear into his flesh and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh. The soldiers then mocked Jesus by placing a crown of thorns on his head and again arraying him in a purple garment and striking him with their hands. As they removed the robe, the flesh tore again. They spit on Jesus and struck Jesus on the head with a reed. Then they took Jesus and crucified him.
Tuesday - September 11 - A Day Like All Other Days
(Kent Heaton)
The eleventh day of September will go down in the history of the United States as a day of greater infamy than the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The horror of every minute is transposed upon the mind of each individual who witnessed the carnage of hatred and felt the rage of a world gone mad. In living and horrible color, we stood in stunned silence as we watched the security of our nation be torn apart. Cries of terror engulfed our hearts as our voices shrieked an unspeakable plea of disbelief. The explosions, the fire, the smoke, the second plane, the bodies falling, the third plane and then the fourth ... all directed by human hand's intent on killing as many people as possible ... innocent victims of men filled with hate.
And yet, this day is not unlike any other day in the history of man. The scope of the terrible event overshadows all others but this day reflects a continual philosophy of man that has been repeated over and over again. It is the fullest expression of man's inhumanity to man. We find what man can do to man in a most sinister way. Before our eyes is the reality of how man can take the lives of thousands of innocent people without blinking an eye. It is the reality of what man will do without God.
What happened Tuesday is not about politics, religion or economics. The brutal nature of every minute of death is born from hearts that are blackened with hatred. This hatred is the fuel that takes men to their own deaths and the deaths of people who are living in what was believed to be safety and security. It would be easy to blame the Moslems but the Moslems are not to blame. There are many fingers pointing at various causes that brought this tragedy upon us. The truth lies deep within the nature of what man will do when he believes that he is the sum of his own existence. This is what makes September 11, a day like all other days.
The apostle Paul wrote about days like this. Romans 1:28-32 says, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." Notice the basis of these actions: "They did not like to retain God in their knowledge." The root of the problem is what man does apart from God.
The early world became so wicked that God destroyed it with a flood. (Genesis 6-9) No doubt, events such as Tuesday were repeated often during the days before the flood. The horror of man's inhumanity to man was the common story of those days. The world became so evil that God destroyed all living flesh save eight souls. God has brought judgment upon nations throughout time for their unwillingness to acknowledge the Creator. The world of Adolph Hitler was destroyed as he sought to inflict his terror upon the world. The empire of Japan was brought to its knees for the madness they brought upon the world. Man is as dust before God. (Isaiah 40) Without giving honor unto God, man will bite and devour himself to destruction.
Are there lessons to be learned from Tuesday? Sadness fills the soul at the magnitude of such loss. Tears continue to flow for the families impacted by such a horrific day in time. Anger is kindled upon those responsible. Vengeance is sought. Plans are made. Voices raised. Let us ponder the moment of that day to understand the frailty of life. Allow the trumpet of God to sound clearly what men will do to other men apart from Him. Remember the great day of our country is found when hearts are united in prayer ... prayer to the Creator ... pleas for help and understanding. Do not allow the moment of night to be the only time we remember our Creator.
Now is the time for our nation and our people to stand again upon the principles that made our country great - trusting in God. While we pray that days such as Tuesday will not happen again, as long as men are apart from God, tragedy will befall us. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD ... Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." (Psalm 33:12; Proverbs 14:34)
Dead Flies And Folly
(Kent Heaton)
Character is the attribute or feature that makes up and distinguishes an individual. The character of a man is found in who he is and how he is perceived by others and by God. Noah was a man of upright character when the Lord said of him, “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations.” (Genesis 6:9) The reason for Noah’s character was that he walked with God. Joseph had a sterling character even though he was taken captive into a foreign land, he still sought to serve God. ”How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9)
Paul commended Timothy to the church at Philippi when he said concerning Timothy: “For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.” (Philippians 2:20-22) Dorcas was a woman of great character as in her death, her life spokes of the wonderful deeds she did for others. (Acts 9:39)
Solomon wrote about character in his study of life as found in the book of Ecclesiastes. Wisdom is shown to be of greater value that foolishness and strength of armies. “There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. Then I said: ‘Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.’" (9:14-18) The word “wisdom” is found more than 75 times in the Proverbs and the book of Ecclesiastes. The wisdom literature is replete with admonitions to seek after wisdom from God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)
Folly can destroy wisdom. Folly is foolishness and will destroy all the good accomplished by wisdom. “Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly.” (Proverbs 16:22) Solomon follows up his observation of wisdom in Ecclesiastes 9 with the result of wisdom tempered by folly. “Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.” (10:1) The swarms of flies prevalent in the land would very soon destroy the worthiness of anything left uncovered. Such is folly to wisdom.
The character of a man must endure the temptations that attack it each day. While it takes a lifetime to establish a good name, a moment’s reckless folly will destroy it in a single blow. The worth of costly perfume can be ruined in a moment and the greatest feast can be destroyed if the flies of folly are allowed to swarm over the good character of the child of God. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
Our character should not be overwhelmed with flies. Live in such a way that you present yourself a sweet-smelling aroma. (2 Corinthians 2:1