April 1, 2010

Thursday: Day of Deception

Dear FBCO Friends:

I got a text message from a “friend” at 6:00am. It said, “Due to an unexplainable phenomena all roads going south into Tulsa are closed. The only way to get to Tulsa from Owasso is to go north to Bartlesville, then go to Hominy and follow a back road into Tulsa from Sand Springs.” I scrolled down farther and in the smallest font you ever saw it said, “April Fools!”

Deception scars us. We have the remarkable ability to mislead each other to get our way.
From pranks, to celebrity affairs, to political cover-ups, the history of the world could be written as the story of delusion. The serpent in the Garden was the first to deceive and we’ve learned his ways well.

Consider the deceptions Jesus faced on Thursday of Passion Week.

• Jesus washed his disciples' feet and called them to humble service. (John 13:31-35) The apostles spoke of love but didn’t practice it, clean feet and tainted hearts.

• So that we would remember His love for us, He initiated the Lord's Supper. Judas took communion, all the time scheming to sell out the Savior.

• After Judas slithered away, Jesus encouraged His disciples (John 14-16) and prayed for them and us. (John 17) In the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas betrayed Jesus with the kiss of deception.

• After His arrest, Jesus had to stand trial 3 times before the Jews, then 3 times before the Romans.  His trials were conducted illegally in these ways: Jesus was arrested without a formal charge; He was given no opportunity to prepare a defense; they began with a private trial by Annas, not the public trial required by law; the Sanhedrin was not permitted to initiate charges, only consider them; the proceedings were conducted at night (Mishna Sanhedrin 4:1); witnesses were paid to lie. Deception to the max.

• Truer words were never spoken than those by Pilate, “I find no fault in Him.” (John 19:4). Pilate who found Jesus “not guilty” bowed to political correctness and sent our Savior to the cross.

All this awaited Jesus when he chose Thursday night in Gethsemane to bear your sins and die on your cross. Whatever is going on in your life today, know that you are loved by the God who made you. He knows your deceptions and mine - yet He alone can transform the heart - will you submit yourself to Him today in ALL areas? Jesus thinks your eternal life is worth His illegal death.

I pray these devotions deepen our appreciation of our incredible Savior. He loves you more than the universe. We walk through the deceptions of this world together knowing His “grace is sufficient.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) I am praying for you and eager to gather Sunday with you to celebrate the victory He won. Until then may we all know, “We are loved by the King and it makes my heart want to sing!”

The shepherd loves the sheep,

Pastor Roger