Good morning. This is a devotional for single adults from Parenting Solo, but the message also applies to single adults without children who may one day marry a single parent and be a step-parent. Feel Free to forward it to a friend.
Scripture: John 11:45-48 (The Message) Then one of them – it was Caiaphas, the designated Chief Priest that year – spoke up, “Don’t you know anything? Can’t you see that it’s to our advantage that one man dies for the people rather than the whole nation be destroyed?” He didn’t say this of his own accord, but as Chief Priest that year he unwittingly prophesied that Jesus was about to die sacrificially for the nation, and not only for the nation but so that all God’s exile-scattered children might be gathered together into one people.
God can and will use anyone for his purposes. In this case, he uses the High Priest to prophesy that one man would die for the people. Jesus kept providing miracles and healings, and that upset the Pharisees. They plotted to kill him because of his claims of being God – blasphemy in their eyes. Consequently, Jesus had to hide out rather than go out in public in and around Jerusalem because it wasn’t quite his time.
Caiaphas become an unwitting bit actor in God’s plan. The Pharisees couldn’t catch Jesus giving any false teachings, so they had to concoct another story in order to kill him. Jesus was pulling believers away from the Jewish sect because of his powerful teaching about his Father. It wasn’t faith that led the Pharisees to want to kill Jesus; it was simple greed. The Pharisees had a good thing going financially, and their power base would be destroyed if Jesus continued to teach in the countryside and in the Temple. One man had to die for all as a sacrifice for the people. Even Caiaphas said so.
Though Jesus’ time on earth was drawing short, he didn’t stop teaching his disciples. The next thing we know, he has withdrawn from public eye to neighboring Ephraim, where he could be alone with his disciples (vs. 54). Passover was coming, which would be his time to die, so he used those last few days for last-minute preparation with the disciples. Their jobs would begin soon, and he knew they needed more development. God’s plan for them was to change the world.
Jesus never seems to take a break from teaching the disciples. Throughout his 3-3 ½ year ministry, we constantly see him go off and seclude himself from the disciples to pray and seek God’s guidance. At other times when he isn’t teaching the masses, he secludes himself with the disciples, giving them all the God-wisdom he has. Though Jesus spent many evenings just eating and hanging out with his buddies, he didn’t waste any time. He was always building relationships. That is one of the central themes of Christianity, then, now and always. God wants to use us for his purposes in one way, every day – to build up the faith of our family, friends and neighbors. That’s our purpose.
How does this apply to my life?
Today’s prayer: Lord, help me to be there for people you put in my path. Help me to see those who need ministering to. Amen
Doug Mead
Parenting Solo
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Vol. 3, No. 169
This week’s reading plan can be found at http:/www.oneyearbibleonline.com/december.asp?version=51
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