BACCALAUREATE SERVICE

My granddaughter, Rylie Grace Kerstetter, is graduating from high school in a couple of weeks.  It’s raised a bit of nostalgia in me. 

WARNING!

Old guy thoughts about to be shared!

My graduation from the New Brighton, Pennsylvania High School, took place fifty-six years ago!  Wow! Unbelievable!

Graduating from high school in our culture is still a big deal!  It’s a milestone in moving toward adulthood – a rite of passage! 

In 1969, the culture was much more unified in respect of religion.  All graduates – at that time – looked forward to two opportunities to wear that cap and gown:  first: Baccalaureate, and second: Commencement. 

Both were open to the public.  Both services featured the graduates entering – usually in alphabetical order – in those wonderful caps and gowns!  It was a dual celebration of our accomplishments.

Baccalaureate was a formal service largely planned by the local ministerial association.  It often involved music by the choral and musical departments.  School officials attended, but did not play a role in this service. 

Various local pastors led the service with one designated to bring the message.  Not all students participated, but most did.  In New Brighton, the local Roman Catholic priest participated – which allowed for a whole community response! 

But I must tell you that this service quickly fell by the wayside in the cultural and social changes initiated by the ‘turbulent sixties’. 

My official role as a pastor began in 1976, when I was ordained.  During those early years, I helped plan Baccalaureate services and participated in them.  But, as the years passed, more and more students began skipping this recognition of their accomplishments by the local ministerial group. 

During my time of service in New Middletown, Ohio, [2003-2012] the Baccalaureate service was dying a rapid death.  I recall one of the latter years when only one graduate participated. 

I don’t know of anywhere that even has Baccalaureate services anymore. 

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I don’t mourn the loss of Baccalaureate services, however, I do mourn the loss of spiritual emphasis and unity.  Many have observed the lack of respect for religious institutions and the growing cultural irrelevance of the Bible and its teachings. 

Public ignorance of the content of the Bible has magnified by a power of ten over recent decades. 

From 1997 through 2003, I served on the staff of a fast-growing church in Akron, Ohio.  The Lead Pastor – Brenda Young – had catalyzed growth in this congregation, and invited me to join the team.  She was an amazing teacher/preacher whose messages were relevant and filled with help and hope!  She rarely was out of the pulpit, however, when she was, it became my role to give the message. 

The first time she turned it over to me she gave me a very pointed reminder:

“Hal,

At Cornerstone, you can’t make a reference to a Bible story and expect people to know it.

If you mention Jonah, then you’ve got to tell his story!

You can’t assume that people will know the stories that you know so well!”

This was a wake-up call to me regarding the enormous change that our culture had already experienced!

And guess what, folks?

That conversation took place twenty-seven years ago!  Of course you know that it certainly hasn’t gotten better.  If anything, biblical knowledge has significantly diminished! 

Our current culture is less respectful of clergy and ecclesiastical bodies than ever before.  They consider Christianity to be much ado about nothing!  Christianity now maintains its strength behind its walls with very little vital impact on the culture. 

But we can change this, right?

By being fully devoted followers of Jesus and letting our light shine brightly everywhere and all-the-time!  Are you in?

[If you have three minutes, pray along with John Rich by clicking this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvMQ_xStg9M ]

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE RESURRECTION?

Easter Sunday is over along with its special emphases and excitement.  But what was happening back in the first century when these things were actually occurring?

Luke clearly tells us in Acts 1:3-5  [All quotes from the NCV]

After his death, he showed himself to them and proved in many ways that he was alive.

The apostles saw Jesus during the forty days after he was raised from the dead,

And he spoke to them about the kingdom of God.

Once when he was eating with them, he told them not to leave Jerusalem.

He said, “Wait here to receive the promise from the Father which I told you about.

John baptized people with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

JESUS’ POST-RESURRECTION APPEARANCES: 

[The first five occurred on Resurrection Day!]

1.    He appeared to Mary Magdalene as a gardener (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18).

2.    He appeared to the other two women who were with Mary Magdalene—Salome and Mary the mother of James (Matthew 28:9-10).

3.    He appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34).

4.    He appeared to two on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32).

5.    He appeared to the apostles, except for Thomas (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25).

 

6.    He appeared to the apostles with Thomas (John 20:26-29).

7.    He appeared to seven of His disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-25).

8.    He appeared to the apostles on a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18).

9.    He appeared to over 500 brethren (1 Corinthians 15:6).

10. He appeared to His brother James (1 Corinthians 15:7).

11. He appeared to the apostles and ate a meal with them (Acts 1:3-8; Luke 24:36-49) [This may be a combination of #'s 4&5 above].

12. His ascension (Acts 1:9-12; Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:50-53).

13. He appeared to Paul (1 Corinthians 15:8; Acts 9:1-6; 18:9-10; 23:11). 

How do we come up with fifty days between the resurrection and the celebration of Pentecost?

FIRST – A review of Acts 1:3-5 [above] tells us specifically that Jesus ascended into Heaven in the sight of His apostles forty days after His resurrection!

SECOND – We have no biblical evidence that the apostles were in the upper room for ten days before Pentecost.  However…

The word ‘fifty’, in the Greek comes from ‘pentekostos’ and it simply means fiftieth.

By considering the Hebrews’ original instructions for celebrating the ‘sabbath year’ every seventh year, we can make some observations that may have guided this process.  During this year, the Israelites were to allow the land to rest. [Leviticus 25:1-7]

However, after seven ‘sabbath years’ [49] the people were to celebrate a ‘year of jubilee’ [50^th year]!  This was to be a huge celebration for the people!  Property was to return to its original owners. There was to be no planting or harvesting. It was to be “a special time for you to celebrate” [Lev. 25:11]. 

The Bible gives very little evidence that these ‘sabbath years’ were actually observed.  One would think that the ‘Jubilee’ years would occasionally be mentioned in scripture, but they are not.  It may be that people’s greed interfered with God’s original plan to sustain some measure of equality and justice. 

Regardless, our practice is to count off fifty days and then celebrate Pentecost! 

PENTECOST

The birthday of the New Testament Church! 

If the Old Testament was the season directed primarily by the Father, and the New Testament period – though shorter – was focused specifically on the Son; then the Holy Spirit is now directing the affairs of the Church [the “body of Christ”]!  One God in three Persons! 

SOMETHING TO REMEMBER

The apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit!  They broke out into the crowded streets of Jerusalem and mingled with the crowd who had gathered for the celebration.  After some quick research on the size of the crowd that day I find there is little agreement.  It was the celebration of the ‘Feast of Weeks’.  We can assume that there were anywhere from 250,000 to a million guests in the city for this special day!

Here however is the amazing part!  Luke reports that the crowd was “from every country in the world”.  He goes on:

As the apostles – filled with the Holy Spirit – broke into the streets preaching, the people

...were all surprised, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were completely amazed at this. They said, “Look! Aren’t all these people that we hear speaking from Galilee? Then how is it possible that we each hear them in our own languages?

We are from different places:

Parthia

Media

Elam

Libya

Rome

Crete

Arabia

Peter proceeded to give a message that was heard by many!  [You can read it in Acts 2]  At the end of his message 

...those people who accepted what Peter said were baptized. About three thousand people were added to the number of believers that day!

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And this Church would grow and expand to this very day!

  HALLELUJAH! 

SURPRISED BY JOY

The renowned 20th century author, C. S. Lewis, describes his journey into faith in his book, SURPRISED BY JOY. His candid - but highly intellectual observations, explanations and illustrations challenge me as I read. I won't pretend to understand it all. However, I am mesmerized by his honesty and transparency.
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The title of the book may be a double-intender. Lewis [1898-1963] married late in life. His relationship with Joy Davidman began as a friendship in 1952, before her divorce in America was completed.  She - like Lewis - was a recent convert from atheism to theism to Christianity!  A friend wrote:  "For Jack (C. S. Lewis) the attraction was at first undoubtedly intellectual. Joy was the only woman whom he had met... who had a brain which matched his own in suppleness, in width of interest, and in analytical grasp, and above all in humor and a sense of fun."

The circumstances of their relationship are a love story of great depth, surprising decisions that were questioned by many of Lewis' friends, and remarkable twists of fate.  In the end, however, Joy became the great treasure of Lewis' life!  It was a romance for the ages!  

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His 'awakening' took place unexpectedly while riding on the upper level of a bus! He suddenly felt himself being offered a free choice. His response: "I chose to open, to unbuckle, to loosen the reign...For the first time I examined myself with a seriously practical purpose. And there I found what appalled me; a zoo of lusts, a bedlam of ambitions, a nursery of fears, a harem of fondled hatreds. My name was legion.""

He writes: "You must picture me alone in that room..., night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet."

He goes on to explain that this initial conversion was not to Christianity, but to theism - the belief in a god. His response was logical: "I started attending my parish church on Sundays and my college chapel on weekdays...I thought one ought to 'fly one's flag' by some unmistakable overt sign."

His humor erupts on this topic: "But though I liked clergymen as I liked bears, I had as little wish to be in the Church as in the zoo." Lewis struggled with the hymns, disappointments and "time-wasting botheration of it all", but persisted.

Finally, he describes his critical moment: "I know very well when, but hardly how, the final step was taken. I was driven to Whitsnade one sunny morning. When we set out I did not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and when we reached the zoo I did. Yet I had not exactly spent the journey in thought. Nor in great emotion. 'Emotional' is perhaps the last word we can apply to some of the most important events. It was more like when a man, after a long sleep, still lying motionless in bed, becomes aware that he is now awake..."

The journey toward faith is as endlessly varied as the people who take it. No cookie-cutter formula can describe it. Neither can the outcome of this journey be reliably predicted. Many snares, pitfalls and diversions line the way. We are free people and there are two options: to fall on our knees or turn on our heels. Either we may seek to conform our desires to the truth, which leads to conviction, or we may seek to conform the truth to our desires, which leads to evasion. But what is important is that WE DO HAVE A CHOICE! 

Make your choice with eternity's values in view!

EASTER AFTERTHOUGHTS

The records provided by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John vary in details, but when taken together they give us a colorful account of the miraculous resurrection of our Lord! 

It was clearly a group of women who found the empty tomb and were spoken to by angels. One account reports that the apostles simply didn’t believe them, but Luke and John report that Peter and John had a foot-race to the tomb, but found it empty. 

It’s not possible for us to imagine the fear and confusion that these early followers of Jesus experienced.  But this confusing news did seem to bring them together!  Should they believe these incredible reports of the women? 

That’s when we read:

So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.   [John 20:19-20 All quotes from the NASB unless otherwise noted]

But doubting Thomas was not present that evening!  Poor Thomas! Can you imagine his regret?  When they told him about the visit, he said:

“Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

But John continues his account:

After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here with your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

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We are incapable of grasping the significance of a change that would soon take place among these Jewish believers in Jesus!  For centuries upon centuries they had worshipped on the seventh day – the Sabbath!  This tradition and its exercises had been DEEPLY entrenched in Jewish practice.

However, the death and resurrection of Jesus impacted them so powerfully that somewhere along the way, they gave up the sacred practice of observing the Sabbath and began worshipping the Lord on the first day of the week – clearly to honor the resurrection of Jesus and the hope that His redemptive work had instilled in them! 

We do not know how quickly this massive transition took, but we have hints:

Luke probably wrote his record of the Acts of the Apostles by 62 A.D. In this record we find:

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart the next day…   [Acts 20:7]

This leads us to believe that within thirty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus this worship transformation had been initiated.

We find further evidence of this transition in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian Church. It is strongly believed that this letter could have been dated as early as 56 A.D. [a mere twenty-six years after the resurrection]!

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I [Paul] come.

Let’s look at one more incidence in Revelation which was likely not written until 95 A.D. – probably the last written book to be included in our Bibles.

I [John] was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet…   [1:10]

So, by the close of the first century this remarkable transition seems complete.  The followers of Jesus now worshipped on the first day of the week [instead of the last] and they commonly referred to it as the Lord’s Day [instead of the Sabbath]!

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And we continue this practice today in 2025!  Every Sunday is a celebration of the first encounter with the risen Lord!  Therefore, every Sunday is a ‘Little Easter’! 

The enthusiasm and joy we saw this past Sunday should indeed be replicated EVERY SUNDAY – EVERY LORD’S DAY! 

THE FIRST STREAKER

I'm certain that the idea of running naked has been done quite a number of times throughout history. The earliest report of this activity is based on a legend from the 11th century: Lady Godiva, an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman, rode naked on horseback through the streets of Coventry to protest her husband's strict taxation policies. This incident also spawned the term "peeping Tom" — so named for a town resident who disobeyed Lady Godiva's order that nobody watch her nude voyage. Tom, according to lore, was struck blind or dead for his indiscretion.   [https://theweek.com/articles/490290/streaking-timeline]

From my research, the term 'streaker' originated in March of 1974 when  a Washington, D.C., reporter tried to give a live description of a mass nude run at the University of Maryland. "They are streaking past me right now," the reporter said. "It's an incredible sight!" The phrase was picked up by the Associated Press the following day, and the rest is history.

Less than a month later, the University of Georgia organized the largest streaking event ever, with 1,543 students participating.  There were so many copycat events that year that Ray Stevens came out with a parody music video - 'The Streak' - that leaped to #1 on the charts!  

But actually, there was an earlier case that's a part of the record: 

George William Crump became the first American college student arrested for streaking. Crump was suspended for the term from his Virginia school, Washington College (now Washington and Lee), but went on to serve in Congress and as ambassador to Chile. With Robert E. Lee's blessing, this activity later became a rite of passage for Washington and Lee men. [Gasp!]

But for those of you - who like me - are in the midst of the remembrance of our Lord's arrest, trials, crucifixion, and burial, we are surprised to find the story of the first streaker!  Are you shocked?  Are you about to accuse me of sacrilege?  

Hold on! Don't judge me too quickly!  Let's look at the evidence.  We find it in our Bibles at Mark 14:43-52,   [All scripture quotes are from the NCV]

At once, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, came up. With him were many people carrying swords and clubs who had been sent from the leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the Jewish elders.

Judas had planned a signal for them, saying, “The man I kiss is Jesus. Arrest him and guard him while you lead him away.” So Judas went straight to Jesus and said, “Teacher!” and kissed him. Then the people grabbed Jesus and arrested him. One of his followers standing nearby pulled out his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

Then Jesus said, “You came to get me with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal. Every day I was with you teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me there. But all these things have happened to make the Scriptures come true.” Then all of Jesus’ followers left him and ran away.

A young man, wearing only a linen cloth, was following Jesus, and the people also grabbed him. But the cloth he was wearing came off, and he ran away naked.

It was late at night - probably around midnight! Jesus led His eleven apostles to the Garden out of a great need to pray for strength before the unspeakable things that were about to occur. Most of us are aware of the disappointment when His apostles couldn't seem to stay awake.  

But all of the scriptures led us to believe that Jesus and the eleven were the only ones there!  What's this?  A young man had also accompanied them?  Who was this?  Did the apostles know he was there?  Did it take the light of the soldier's torches to expose him when the chaos broke out and even the apostles began to flee?  In their running away, did it fleece this young man out of hiding?

But somebody grabbed him by a piece of his clothing!  However, being young and terrified, he left his clothing in their hands as he ran off into the dark!

Aha! The mystery of the first streaker has been solved!

However, we're not done yet!

Some may be aware that it was common in that day for writers to refer to themselves without using their name. The most common incident of this is in the gospel of John. In John 21:20, it says, 

Peter turned and saw that the follower Jesus loved was walking behind them. (This was the follower who had leaned against Jesus at the supper and had said, 'Lord, who will turn against you?') [John 21:20]

Four verse later it says: 

That follower is the one who is telling these things and who has now written them down. [John 21:24]

John never mentions his own name, but consistently refers to himself as the 'follower Jesus loved'.  

It is thought that the writer of Mark did the same.  It is commonly believed that the Apostle Peter took on the training of a younger man as the apostles began to age, realizing that Jesus might not return during their lives.  A consensus agrees that this protege of Peter's recorded the gospel of Mark under the guidance of the great Apostle Peter!  This young man's name was John Mark - also the one who accompanied Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary journey [Acts13:5].

So, John Mark - while writing under the guidance of Peter - conceals his own identity in this somewhat embarrassing moment - by simply referring to himself as "A young man..." [Mark 14:51].  The gospel he wrote is known to us today by his name - Mark!

And now you know THE REST OF THE STORY!  

THE WOMEN OF HOLY WEEK

MANY WOMEN

Most of us would be surprised at the number of women followers that Jesus had acquired.  For instance:

Mark 15:40-41 [All quotes are from the NCV, unless otherwise noted]

Some women were standing at a distance from the cross, watching; among them were Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph. (James was her youngest son.)  These women had followed Jesus in Galilee and helped him. Many other women were also there who had come with Jesus to Jerusalem.

John 19:25

Standing near his cross were Jesus’ mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.   

Matthew 27:55-56

Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee to help him were standing at a distance from the cross, watching. Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John were there.

Obviously, Mary was a common name in Jesus’ day!

•  Mary, Jesus’ mother
•  Mary Magdalene
•  Mary, the sister of Lazarus
•  Mary, the mother of James and Joseph
•  Mary, the mother of James and John
•  Mary, the wife of Clopas, Cleophas  Alphaeus (different forms of one name).

Apparently, some very influential – and perhaps wealthy – women began to follow Jesus!

Luke 8:1-3

After this, while Jesus was traveling through some cities and small towns, he preached and told the Good News about God’s kingdom. The twelve apostles were with him, and also some women who had been healed of sicknesses and evil spirits: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; Joanna, the wife of Cuza (the manager of Herod’s house); Susanna; and many others. These women used their own money to help Jesus and his apostles.

 PILOT’S WIFE

 Matthew 27:15-20, 24-26

Every year at the time of Passover the governor would free one prisoner whom the people chose. At that time there was a man in prison, named Barabbas, who was known to be very bad. When the people gathered at Pilate’s house, Pilate said, “Whom do you want me to set free: Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?” Pilate knew that they turned Jesus in to him because they were jealous.

 While Pilate was sitting there on the judge’s seat, his wife sent this message to him: “Don’t do anything to that man, because he is innocent. Today I had a dream about him, and it troubled me very much.”

 But the leading priests and elders convinced the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be freed and for Jesus to be killed.

 Pilate genuinely tried to negotiate the release of Jesus…

 At least some of his perseverance was surely based on the urgent message he had received from his wife!

...but the Pharisees had control of the crowd and continued to call for Jesus to be crucified.

When Pilate saw that he could do nothing about this and that a riot was starting, he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. Then he said, “I am not guilty of this man’s death. You are the ones who are causing it!”

Again, it is possible that this action was intended to show his wife that he had done everything possible to secure the release of Jesus!

All the people answered, “We and our children will be responsible for his death.”

Then he set Barabbas free. But Jesus was beaten with whips and handed over to the soldiers to be crucified.

This role that Pilate’s wife played raises our curiosity and questions:

   §  Had she – in some way – been impacted by the ministry and teaching of Jesus?

   §  Had she become a follower of Jesus?

   §  Was she being influenced by someone - perhaps Joanna, the wife of Cuza (the manager of Herod’s house [mentioned in Luke 8:1-3 – quoted above]?

   §  Was her ‘troubling dream’ caused by God?  If so, what might have been God’s purpose?  Perhaps it was part of God’s plan to influence Pilate?

Mary Magdalene

There are several things that we know for certain about Mary Magdalene:

• She was from a village on the western coast of the Sea of Galilee about 16 miles from Nazareth – where Jesus was raised.
• She had an encounter with Jesus in which He cast seven demons out of her (Mark 16:9)!
• She was a follower of Jesus and cared for His needs (Mark 15:40-41).
• She was present when Jesus was crucified (Mark 15:40).
• She witnessed Joseph of Arimathea placing Jesus in the tomb (Mark 15:47).
• She brought spices on the morning after the Sabbath to anoint Jesus’ body (Mark 16:1).
• On that Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and at least one other woman, saw and spoke with the resurrected Jesus (Matthew 28:1,8-10)!
• She loved Jesus deeply (John 20:17).

John 20:1-18

Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb while it was still dark. When she saw that the large stone had been moved away from the tomb, she ran to Simon Peter and the follower whom Jesus loved. Mary said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him.”

So Peter and the other follower started for the tomb. They were both running, but the other follower ran faster than Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down and looked in and saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in. Then following him, Simon Peter arrived and went into the tomb and saw the strips of linen lying there. He also saw the cloth that had been around Jesus’ head, which was folded up and laid in a different place from the strips of linen. Then the other follower, who had reached the tomb first, also went in. He saw and believed. (They did not yet understand from the Scriptures that Jesus must rise from the dead.) 

Then the followers went back home. But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she bent down and looked inside the tomb. She saw two angels dressed in white, sitting where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and one at the feet.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

She answered, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have put him.” When Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus.

Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Whom are you looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said to him, “Did you take him away, sir? Tell me where you put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

Mary turned toward Jesus and said in the Hebrew language, “Rabboni.” (This means “Teacher.”)

Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, because I have not yet gone up to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going back to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went and said to the followers, “I saw the Lord!” And she told them what Jesus had said to her.

It’s so interesting to me that Jesus seems to have deliberately chosen to appear to a woman first!  If He had shown Himself just a little earlier, then Peter and John would have still been there.  But He didn’t!  It’s as though His timing was precise to intersect with Mary Magdalene - from whom seven demons had gone out.

This takes my mind back to Genesis 1:27-28.

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

This is called Co-regency.  The responsibility for the rulership of the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth was clearly assigned to both the man and the woman!  God’s original creation was a composite of maleness and femaleness and they were challenged to co-rule.

Many fail to recognize and appreciate the role of women in Jesus’ life and ministry!  His post-resurrection appearance to Mary Magdalene screams a message to all of us!

IS HE YOUR LORD?

It is such a blessing for us to have four different versions of the gospel!  We get to read about many of the episodes in Jesus’ life – often from several different perspectives.  Comparing these can be fascinating and revealing! 

Since we’re closing in on our celebration of the resurrection, I thought it might be good to look at a particular exchange that took place during the Lord’s Supper.  All four gospels tell us about this evening meal, but Matthew gives us information that is unique from the others.

Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.”    [For accuracy, this is from the NASB – Matthew 26:20-25]

In comparing the other gospels, we get a much deeper picture of the events of this evening.  It was obviously a powerful time as Jesus conveyed some of His last teaching to these men [see John 13-17 for the most comprehensive and detailed teaching.]

These were sacred moments filled with passion and likely very emotional in nature.  This – and the night of prayer that followed – was the last time that Jesus would be with these devoted followers!  He knew it, but they were not clearly aware of this fact. 

Jesus knew that He had a betrayer in His midst, and He knew who it was.  It was time to release Judas to negotiate with the Pharisees for the betrayal.  All of the gospels report that after this particular exchange – JUDAS LEFT!

Words are so important!  In the above passage, Jesus makes it clear that “one of you will betray Me.”  Matthew wants us to know that the group was immediately grieved!  How could this be true? Yet the Master had said it – so it must be true!  Who would do such a thing?  Who among us – His closest followers – would betray Him?

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As a counselor, I find it very interesting that “they each…began to say to Him, ‘Surely not I, Lord?’”

Why would these men- who had been called out of other trades to become fishers of men – ask this question?  These were men who had briefly been empowered to heal and cast out demons, These were men who had seen incredible miracles and witnessed remarkable healings.  They had been there when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead – just a few weeks earlier!  Why would they ask: "Surely I wouldn't betray You, would I, Lord?"

These deeply devoted, faithful following, completely committed men had to ask the question: “Lord, is it I?” [KJV].  In spite of the fact that they had been following Him for at least two years, apparently each one of them asked that evening if they were the one who would betray Him! 

 

Dr. Haddon Robinson was a highly respected preacher/leader/teacher in the Christian community.  He served as professor and president at several different theological seminaries.  He was a regular contributor on the ‘Discover the Word’ radio program for twenty years. I was a frequent listener because of his responses and perspectives.  His obituary describes him as “one of the world’s foremost experts in Biblical preaching.”  One day on the radio broadcast I heard him say, “If people knew the thoughts that cross through my mind on any given day, they wouldn’t listen to a word I say.” 

 

 

I frequently type out prayers in the early morning hours of my day. These are VERY PRIVATE prayers that are only between me and God!  I confess my sins and call on Him for help in reforming me. I spare no details. It’s raw. I am painfully open and honest with Him.  Remarkably, it’s a healing process for me. It helps me to remember how corrupt I am and how dependent on His grace I am!  And when my devotional time is over - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I delete the document.

 

The biblical accounts are clear in making us aware that all twelve apostles asked Jesus: “Surely not I, Lord?” [TM]. Doesn’t this indicate that each one of them had some sense that it could – possibly – be them. It’s always been surprising to me that Peter didn’t bellow out: “Well, it won’t be me, that’s for sure!”

But he didn’t. Even brash Peter needed to know if it would be him.

A little later in the meal Jesus tells them – after Judas’ departure – that “Tonight you will all stumble in your faith on account of me…” At that point, Peter does speak out: “Everyone else may stumble in their faith because of you, but I will not.”  We all know how that ended.

All of us who love and serve Jesus lament our personal weakness.  It’s painful to admit that we fail, doubt and sin. We want to be faithful and true, but this sinful nature is hard to harness.  All of us – without fail – are dependent on the marvelous grace of our loving Lord! 

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But let’s make one more observation before we leave this pregnant passage.

We’ve already made the point that each of the twelve asked Jesus “Is it I…”

However, if you look closely at Matthew’s record [above], you’ll see that Judas’ response was slightly different than the response of the others. 

Eleven apostles asked, “Is it I, Lord?”

But Judas asked, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” [vs.25 NASB].

Notice the difference!  It’s a very significant one! To eleven apostles Jesus was Lord! To one apostle – He was just ‘Rabbi’.

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How about you today?  Is Jesus Lord for you, or just a great, influential teacher?

The difference is MASSIVE!  If He’s just your teacher, you have NO ASSURANCE of making Heaven!  To have the kind of peace and assurance of making it to Heaven – He must be your LORD!!!!!

The implications of this are enormous!  To make Him your Lord means that you totally submit to Him.  It has been noticed elsewhere that it is not possible to say ‘No, Lord.”  When someone is our Lord, the answer is ALWAYS YES!!!!!!

If you want to live a life free of chronic repentance [such as described above], you must learn to say “Yes, Lord!” consistently!

Right now might be a good time to start practicing this. 

Hymn written by Julia H. Johnston in 1911:

1 Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

2 Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross. [Refrain]

3 Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today. [Refrain]

4 Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive? [Refrain]