The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 18:22,
"When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. 'Is this the way you answer the high priest?' he demanded."
In a preliminary investigation before the former high priest, Annas, Jesus refused to provide any new "evidence" for the purported charges he was arrested for. Annas apparently thought he could get Jesus to say something that could be held against him before the Sanhedrin. Jesus simply told Annas that anything he could say was already said publicly and openly.
Refusing the intentions of the high priest prompted a half-wit official to slap the Son of God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the redeemer of mankind, the object of God the Father's intense love. Whoever this official was, can you imagine what he must think today, knowing what he knows now? What must he think of his actions when he was in this life? How could he have been so obtuse, so foolish?
Obviously it was not just him but all who unwittingly participated as the useful idiots Jesus used to effect his atonement for the sins of all mankind on that cross.
It is not just those then to be marveled at for being given to such foolhardy decisions. "How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' and again, 'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:29-31.
"When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. 'Is this the way you answer the high priest?' he demanded."
In a preliminary investigation before the former high priest, Annas, Jesus refused to provide any new "evidence" for the purported charges he was arrested for. Annas apparently thought he could get Jesus to say something that could be held against him before the Sanhedrin. Jesus simply told Annas that anything he could say was already said publicly and openly.
Refusing the intentions of the high priest prompted a half-wit official to slap the Son of God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the redeemer of mankind, the object of God the Father's intense love. Whoever this official was, can you imagine what he must think today, knowing what he knows now? What must he think of his actions when he was in this life? How could he have been so obtuse, so foolish?
Obviously it was not just him but all who unwittingly participated as the useful idiots Jesus used to effect his atonement for the sins of all mankind on that cross.
It is not just those then to be marveled at for being given to such foolhardy decisions. "How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' and again, 'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:29-31.
Just how do you think people who reject Jesus Christ in this life will feel following this life, knowing then what their lack of faith prevented them from seeing today?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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