Overwhelmed

17th July 2020

Overwhelmed

What do you do when the pressure of work is so overwhelming, as you struggle to meet the demands of the client, and there is no imminent end nor solution in sight, not at least for another few weeks?  

Each night you lie down worrying about what may unfold the next day.  Even the weekend offers little rest as you think about the Monday following and your heart skips a beat each time you hear your mobile phone ring, which may be about work, again.  And the last piece of advice you want to hear is … “Try not to worry so much….”

Reduced to utter helplessness, there is no respite except to spend time in the presence of God.

You try to pray your way through the fog but you don’t see the lighthouse anywhere.  You fumble choosing the words to pray…

What to do when you do not know how or what to pray…?

You keep silent and by faith you just read His Word and let God speak to you, not exactly sure how He is going to do that…

Psalm 86 was a balm to my battered soul.

The psalmist, David, cried out, echoing the depths of my weighed-down heart ….

Hear me, Lord…

Guard my life…

Save your servant…..

You are my God, have mercy on me, Lord.

For I call to you all day long…!

Yes, practically all day long, I was pleading to God for a way out…

Bring joy to your servant, Lord, and remove this terrified spirit from me.

For I put my trust in you.

When I am in distress, I call to you

Because I know you will answer me

There is no one like you

I have no one, but you, Lord.

Teach me your way

And remind me of your faithfulness.

For you are a compassionate and gracious God

Slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness

Save me

Give me a sign of your goodness

I meditated on Psalm 86 for two days. 

Then two days later, my Bible Reading Plan took me to Revelation chapter 2. 

What ?  Revelation 2? 

The letters to the seven churches that are full of admonitions? 

How would that encourage me..?

As I started reading, a sense of God’s peace slowly started to seep into my soul…

It was as if the Lord was reminding me of His goodness :

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance

I know your afflictions

I know about those who slander against you

You will suffer for a little while.

Be faithful.

I know where you live (work) – where Satan has his throne.

Yes, the marketplace is so tainted & corrupted with the works of the evil one

I know your deeds, your love and faith,

Your service and perseverance

Strengthen what remains

Remember what you have received and heard

Hold it fast

Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

I know what you are going through….

Just like Job when God confronted him with the 64 questions, I was strangely silent in awe and reverence.

The dark clouds seemed to ease aside slightly, letting through a bit of light…

Two nights ago, I watched the movie “Greyhound” where Tom Hanks played the role of Captain Ernest Kraus, the commander of four American destroyers, shepherding a convoy of supply ships across the dangerous Atlantic to Great Britain during WW2, over a 5-day stretch.  And there were German U-Boats lurking in the ocean depths like a wolf pack, just waiting for the chance to ambush and wipe out the destroyers, and the supply ships.

What ensued were many heart-stopping and tense moments.

What really got to me was the simple and tireless faith of Captain Krause.

At the beginning of the movie, he prays on bended knees, 

“Dear Lord, let Your angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me.  Amen.”

He then stayed on the bridge a few days at a time, leading his convoy in a cat-and-mouse confrontation with the U-Boats, resulting in many casualties on both sides.

When the enemy U-Boats were finally eliminated, Captain Krause retired to his cabin,  praying before he went to bed:  

“I thank you, my heavenly Father, that You have graciously kept me this day.  Into your hands I commend myself, my body and soul.  Amen.”

Two short and simple prayers. 

But therein lies a great truth that I can once again lay hold of and claim for myself, in quiet and confident trust.

Such a welcome sight as I was watering the string bush in front of my house.  The evening sun shining through upon the budding flowers, after a period of dryness, offers a glimpse of fresh new hopes.

This, too, shall pass. With the help of God I shall get through this and come out the other side of the tunnel, stronger.

19th July 2020

Psalm 88

I continue to cry out to God who only can save me. (88:1)

Can God be glorified in my failure?  Will God be honoured when I suffer defeat and humiliation?

The honest cries of hurt from the psalmist resonated within my soul.  It is never wise to be dishonest with God.  He knows exactly what we are thinking, anyway.  He would prefer that more than our false cries of praise.....

In quiet and confident trust, I continue to pray that God will prosper the tasks and projects that He has so entrusted under my watch.
For His Name's sake and for His glory!

May God's favour be upon me.  

May I find favour in the eyes of my accusers...... 

10:00 pm

Just got encouraged from a webinar:

"To surrender at the lowest point of your life is to find yourself in the hollow of God's Hands and the only way to go next is up!"

"Even when we are faithless, He remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself!" (2 Timothy 2:13)

20 July 2020

Isaiah 33

"Be my strength every morning
My salvation in times of distress.." (Isaiah 33:2)

21 July 2020

Pslam 89

"May your love and faithfulness go before me" (Psalm 88:14)

"For you are my glory and strength, and by your favour your Name is exalted!" (Psalm 88:17)

22 July 2020
6:00 pm

Finally, a glimmer of light! 
The client was willing to meet halfway with the Schedule of Rates that we submitted today! 
A very small victory. 
But it is still a victory worth celebrating!
Praise God! :D

In every victory (however small)
May it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
Is Christ alone!

24 July 2020
Deuteronomy 7
What do you do, when God brings you to a place of great trials and you ask "How, God?"
Do not be afraid.
Remember your Egypt and how God delivered you with His mighty and outstretched arm?
He is a great and awesome God.
He will drive out your adversaries before you, little by little..

26 July 2020
I was informed by my boss that the client wanted to see us the next day (Monday) at 3:00 pm.  Oh, dear, I got that feeling of heaviness in my chest again.  Not another round of hard negotiations.... When is it ever going to end..?

27 July 2020

Did not sleep well last night.
Woke up late on purpose.  Did not feel like waking up at all today.  But I have to go to work.

I reluctantly sat down to read God's Word.  Did not expect much.

Isaiah 35

The desert & the parched land will be glad
the wilderness will rejoice & blossom
it will burst into bloom
It will rejoice greatly & shout for joy
they will see the glory of the Lord
the splendour of our God
Strengthen the feeble hands
Steady the knees that give way
Say to those with fearful hearts
Be strong, do not fear.
Your God will come
He will come to save you.
Then will water gush forth in the wilderness
& streams in the desert
They will enter Zion with singing 
Everlasting joy will crown their heads
Gladness & joy will overtake them
& sorrow & sighing will flee away....

I was speechless.  I did not choose this Psalm.  It was next on my Bible Reading List.  I secretly wished and hoped against hope that this will come true, soon......

Came 3:00 pm.  We entered the meeting room with a tensed feeling.


It was 4:30 pm.  I was speechless again.  

Like Job again, I was silent and in awe before God...

We will finally be signing the Contract Documents with the client tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 pm!  :D :D :D

Praise God !!!!!

Thank you, Father, for being patient with me.
Thank you, Father, for you never left my side, even during my most terrified moments when I felt so alone.
Thank you, Father, for never letting go of my hand.
I still have so much to learn of the ways of the heroes of faith from Hebrews 11.
Thank you, Father.  I do not know what to say, anymore....
Thank you!

Amen!

29 July 2020
Deuteronomy 8
It is funny how my daily scripture reading keeps on being relevant to my situation.
Moses reminded the Israelites that the Lord led them into the desert to humble and to test them, to reveal what was in their hearts.  How He humbled them, caused them to hunger, and then fed them, to teach them that man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord!
As a man disciplines his son, so the Lord disciplines us..
And when the Lord has granted us victory, we are to be careful that we do not forget the Lord our God!
Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives us the ability!

Forbid it Lord that I should ever forget the Lord and follow other gods!

God certainly has a way of speaking to those whose ears are open to listen to Him.....

Truly, the Word of God is living and active. 
The Word of God is a fountain of peace, comfort and strength through the storms of life.

"Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people..." (Psalm 85:8)

"Great peace have those who love Your law.." (Psalm 119:165)

God's love and peace are never taken away when things go bad.  Those moments are precisely when we can rely on His mercies to always be available.  He wants us to seek Him in good times and in bad times...

"'For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but My steadfast love shall not depart from you, and My covenant of peace shall not be removed,' says the Lord, Who has compassion on you." (Isaiah 54:10)

Some Thoughts About Tithing

Some Thoughts About Tithing

Tithing in the church is never taught in the New Testament. 

What?  Are you surprised?

The New Testament only referred to it a few times as a historical reference but not as a requirement for the church.  Tithing, in the Old Testament, was meant to be a system of taxation to fund the government and its religious activities and welfare needs. 

The nation of Israel was a theocracy, ruled by God through priests.  When the conquered land was given to the twelve tribes of Israel, the tribe of Levi was taken out because they were the priestly tribe and they were not allowed to own any land.  The tribe of Joseph was then split into two tribes, Ephraim & Manasseh, to make up the twelve tribes of Israel.

Tithes were therefore an Old Testament taxation system to support their religious system of government, in addition to other voluntary giving like first-fruit giving & free-will offerings.

The word tithe literally means one-tenth in Hebrew.

There were 3 types of tithes in the Old Testatment :-

a) The 1st Tithe (known as the Lord’s Tithe, or Levitical Tithe) (Leviticus 27:30, Numbers 18:21~32)

10% of agricultural produce and livestock goes to sustain the Levites and priests who had no inheritance in the Promised Land.

b) The 2nd Tithe (known as the Festival Tithe)  (Deuteronomy 14:22~27)

Another 10% of agricultural produce and livestock to be consumed at the national festivals, in God’s presence, in nationwide celebration of God’s provision.

c) The 3rd Tithe (known as the Poor Tithe) (Deuteronomy 14:28~29)

Every 3^rd year, 10% of agricultural produce are to be collected to be given to the poor (aliens, fatherless, widows, etc..)

So, if a Christian wants to practise Old Testament tithing, then he has to tithe at least 23.3% of his income, in addition to other voluntary, free-will offerings!

The New Testament, however, teaches on free-will giving from the heart.

We are to give :

1)  In response to need (Acts 4:35, 11:27~29, Romans 12:13)

2) In a systematic and purposeful manner (1 Corinthians 16:2~3)

3)  In a secret and humble way (Matthew 6:1~4)

4)  In a cheerful manner (2 Corinthians 9:7)

5)  As a form of worship (Philippians 4:18, Proverbs 3:9)

In fact, one of the main purposes of giving is to support the work of the local church, the preaching of the gospel, to pay the church worker’s salary, to pay the utility bills, and meet the needs of the community.

Giving is not about the money – it is about the heart.  God loves us when we give and when we don’t give.  It is a way to show that we trust God with our lives and our finances.  It reminds us that we do not own anything in this life. God is in control, and we are only managers of what He has given us.

Even though the New Testament does not specify how much we are to give, I have personally used 10% as a guide.  Try not be legalistic.  God sees the heart of the giver rather than the size of the gift. (Mark 12:41~44)

I got serious about giving when I started working way back in 1982.  Back then, when I got my salary, straight away I would take out 10% and put it in an envelope reserved for giving to God’s work.  (We were paid in literal cash during those days; the older ones will remember).  I was earning about RM300 then, so I put aside RM30.  I am glad that I adopted this habit from young, at a time when my salary was so little.  Because as my salary increased over the years, the value of the 10% also increased, and it was not so difficult for me to give more.

Let me explain:

It is easy to give RM30 if you are just earning RM300. But to give RM500 when you are earning RM5,000, you may want to think twice about it…!  However, if we have disciplined ourselves to be faithful in little, it will not be difficult to be faithful in much (Luke 16:10).

My wife and I are average wage-earners.  In good times and in bad times, we try to honour God in our giving.  There were times of financial emergencies and additional expenses in the family when we were tempted to cut back on our giving.  But God has always honoured our obedience and faithfulness (Matthew 6:33, 1 Samuel 2:30).  From 2018 to 2019, I did not receive any salary from my employer for ten months.  We trusted God and lived on my wife's salary, our savings and some part-time work and we continued giving to God.  Praise God, came CNY of 2019, I was paid back in full the salaries owing to me.

God is no man’s debtor.

“For I will honour those who honours me…..” (1 Samuel 2:30)

“Honor the Lord with your wealth,

    with the firstfruits of all your crops.” 

(Proverbs 3:9)

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that 
     in all things 
       at all times, 
          having all that you need, 
             you will abound in every good work." 
(2 Corinthians 9:8)

As at this time of writing, my employer has again owed me 4 months' salary.  He promised to pay me once the MCO is lifted.  

Am I worried, with the news of many employees getting pay-cut and losing their jobs during this MCO?  Well, maybe, just a bit..... 😁

But,

I will encourage myself in the Lord, as David did (1 Samuel 30:6)
I will recall God's faithfulness and goodness in the past and how He has never failed us, just like the Psalmist did.
I will trust His heart when I sometimes cannot discern His hand.
For the Lord sits enthroned over the flood (Psalm 29:10)

Our God is a good God!

Postscript
4th June 2020 - Praise God! I have received my 4 months' salary owing to me. :D

We Were Robbed....

During these long MCO (Movement Control Order) days, I spent some time going through some of my clutter and I chanced upon a copy of this letter that I wrote to a pastor in 1993 immediately after we were robbed.

27 August, 1993

Dear Mr Lieow,

We were robbed last Monday.

We withdrew RM20,000 from the SEA Park Maybank and proceeded to the MBf Finance at PJ New Town.  Just as I parked my car right in front of the Finance, a man smashed my window screen with a chopper knife and demanded for the money in my trousers pocket.  I gave him all of the RM20,000 in cash.  What else could I have done?  I could have tried to be a hero, but who knows whether I would have been slashed?  The man then left immediately with an accomplice waiting on a motorbike.  We reported to the police immediately but I think the chances of getting back the money are practically nil.

Question:  Why did it happen?  Probably the best secular answer would be, I was careless.  I did not expect it to happen.  I thought this only happens in the newspapers and in the movies.

Should I search for a spiritual lesson from it? (Romans 8:28)  I can’t; it is difficult to find a satisfying lesson/reason.  Do I always need to search for a reason for everything that happens?  I mean, things just happen, don’t they?  I kicked my toes accidentally against the wall, I cut my finger with a knife, I slipped on a slippery floor, I get sick because I fail to observe physical health laws, I get summoned because of a traffic offence, etc . . . . they just happen because of human carelessness.  But to search for a spiritual lesson for all that happens, that’s tough!  So, in order not to let this event have any opportunity to shake my Christian faith, I just accepted the fact that it happened.  Period.  Is that a correct attitude?  We even refused to reveal this incident to our friends or relatives, for fear of shame, embarrassment, ridicule, and most of all, a further humiliation of my male ego, for not having been able to do anything.

Probably an item of thanksgiving would be our safety and protection.  We were not harmed, at least not physically.  If I had resisted and fought back, I could have been injured, but then again we will never know, will we?  It is not easy to get over a bruised ego, especially in the presence of your wife.

I am taking it pretty well.  But on and off, my wife would bring up the “what would have happen if we had or had not?” question.  The money lost is not at all a small amount.  But it did not make us paupers overnight either (1 Cor. 10:13)

God has been gracious to my family.  He has provided all our needs, a house, home, car and other reasonable luxuries of life.  Maybe, the spiritual lesson should be a timely reminder of the fact that “the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away”?

Regards,

Some restrospective reflections:

a) Christians are not immune to misfortunes (see many Bible characters...)

b)  Crisis & adversity will bring out either the best or worst in us.  Things that we love the most are the things that will hurt us the most when taken away.  Our responses to these crises will reveal our grade.

c)  Reminder of God's mercies

d)  Blessed is the man who does not fall away because of the Lord (Luke 7:23).  Thank you for counting me worthy to undergo this event.

e)  We have to finish (undergo) the examination before we can know the results of the examination.....  

Remembering Good Friday

Remembering Good Friday

The last week of Jesus’ life was called the “Passion Week”, and that week takes up about 30% of the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. As a matter of fact, in the gospel of John which has 21 chapters, the Passion Week actually starts right in the middle, at chapter 12.  God does not want us to think that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was just something that sort of happened at the end of his earthly life.  What took place on the cross on that last week is the central part of a central life which is the central point of the Bible.

This is a story about the worst day of human history.  A story about the creation’s killing of the Creator.  

This is the story of Good Friday.

It all began with one miracle of Christ.  It was the straw that broke the camel’s back. 

Lazarus, who was one of Jesus’ best friend, had become ill and died.  And then after being dead for four days, Jesus came and raised Lazarus from the dead.  The raising of Lazarus was so dramatic that great crowds came from Jerusalem just to see Lazarus. 

The leaders of Israel said, “The whole world has gone after him!”  And they feared that the Romans will see this as a threat and send their soldiers to clamp down on the apparent unrest.

Caiaphas, the high priest said, “Do you not know that it is expedient for one man to die than for the whole nation to perish?” 

And from that time on, Israel’s leaders plotted to kill Him.  Jesus became an official enemy of the state.

On Sunday, Palm Sunday, Jesus, in fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy, entered Jerusalem on a colt, the foal of a donkey, a humble servant and king.  It was called the “Triumphal Entry”.  

The multitude removed their coats and laid them before him like a red carpet.  They cried, “Hosanna!”, which means, “Save us.  Rescue us.”  They believed that this Jesus, who could raise the dead, will deliver the nation of Israel from their Roman oppressors.

Jesus then entered the temple and saw them buying and selling animals, and exchanging money in the house of God. And taking a length of rope, he drove the animals from the temple, overturning the money-changers’ tables. 

The chief priests and the elders gathered around him and demanded, “By whose authority do you do these things?” 

His answer?  “My father’s house shall be a house of prayer for all the nations, but you have made it into a den of robbers.” 

For five days, Jesus would answer challenges and attempts to discredit him.  Daily he would come to the temple, and taught them about the kingdom of God, and he ended the week with a harsh denunciation of Israel’s leaders,

“Woe unto you, Pharisees, hypocrites, sons of serpents, white-washed tombs…,” and he prophesied that Jerusalem would soon become desolate and Israel would never see Him again until they cry out, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

As Passover approaches, it became obvious that a betrayal was needed.  Jesus could not be arrested publicly, because a riot would occur amongst the common people, creating the very problem that Israel’s leadership was trying to avoid.  
But.., if someone from the inside, could find out where in Jerusalem Jesus would eat his Passover, and then inform the leaders, a private arrest could be arranged. 

Judas, the treasurer, was that man.  He looked for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to the chief priests.  Jesus, knowing this, circumvented Judas.  

When the question arose, “Where would we eat the Passover?”, and Judas was leaning closely listening for the place where they will be alone, Jesus simply said, “Two of you.  Go into the city.  You will find a man carrying a pitcher of water.  Follow him.  He will take you to a room upstairs which is fully furnished.  And there we shall eat the Passover.”  Thus, the disciples did not know where the room was until they got there.

And so they gathered together in the upper room for the Passover meal.  During the meal, Jesus said, “One of you who breaks bread with me will betray me”.  And then he said to Judas, “Whatever you are going to do, do it quickly.”  So, Judas arose and went out.

Then Jesus and His eleven disciples went over to the garden of Gethsemane, and there he submitted himself completely to the will of God, accepting the cross.  “Not my will, but Thine be done.”

Judas came back to the upper room with a band of soldiers.  Finding Jesus had left, he knew where he would be, where he had gone so many times with his disciples.  And he brought the soldiers to Gethsemane to arrest Jesus.

Jesus said to Judas, “Will you betray the Son of man with a kiss?”
In no way was Jesus surprised.

“Whom do you seek?” he asked the soldiers.

“Jesus, the Nazarene”, they answered.

“I am, who speaks to you,” Jesus said.

And at the sound of the divine Name, the soldiers just fell to the ground!

You take me only because I allowed you to take me.  Where I want to go, soldiers are not needed.  A little child could have led me to the cross.

Peter then rushed forward with his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.  Jesus cried out, “Stop!  No more of this.”  And Jesus then performed the last miracle of his earthly life when he restored the servant’s ear. 

The plan of the Jewish leaders were simple.  But it was complex in the doing.  

Jesus must be found guilty of sedition.  Crime against Rome.  
He must be found guilty twice, with a day intervening the two trials, according to Jewish custom.  
But the trials must be late at night, and then early in the morning, so that the populace can remain sleeping, and they could not react and defend whom they thought was their deliverer.  

So, how do you betray a man, arrest him, try him illegally, twice, bring him before a Roman judge, press charges and indict him, and crucify him on a public cross, all before Jerusalem began to stir?

First, he was led to Annas, the godfather, the former high priest of Israel.  His conviction carries weight.  He asked Jesus about his teachings and his disciples.  Jesus said to him, “Ask those who heard me.  I did not teach anything in secret.”

One of the guards immediately struck Jesus on the mouth.  Annas had no more to say.  The trial had backfired. 

Jesus was immediately taken to Caiaphas and the awaiting Jewish council for His second trial.  False witnesses came forward but their lies contradicted each other.

One of them then said, “He said he would destroy the temple.”  Actually what Jesus said was, destroy his body, which is the temple, and he would raise it up in three days.  It was a mis-quote.  With no corroboration, there was no guilt to be implied. 

Caiaphas, the high priest, seeing he was losing the set, sought to win the match.  He arose and played his trump card, “Are you the Christ, the son of the living God?” 

Jesus replied, “I am. And you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of God in power, and returning in the clouds of glory.” 

Caiaphas rent his clothes at this blasphemy.  “What further need have we for witnesses? We have heard it from his own mouth,” he said.  Jesus was found guilty not of crime against Rome but of crime against God, of blasphemy. 

The Sanhedrin then surrounded him, laid hands upon him, blindfolded him, and beat him, mocking him, saying, “Prophesy, O Christ.  Who hit you?”

They then placed him in Caiaphas’ dungeon to await the next day.   

Just before dawn, the Sanhedrin quickly assembled as Jerusalem slept. 

Again, the question was put to Jesus.  “Are you the Christ?”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not listen.  And if I ask you a question, you will not answer.  But from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power.”

This third trial was the shortest of all the trials. Jesus knew his death was sealed and pre-arranged.  Three times he has been tried, by Annas, Caiaphas & the Sanhedrin, and three times he has been found innocent of sedition.  And the multitude of them arose and they hastily led him to Pilate, the governor of Judea, who awaited to pass a pre-arranged judgement of crucifixion.

“What evil has he done?” said Pilate. 

The crowd replied, “If he was not an evil doer, we would not have delivered him up to you.” 

He said, “Then try him yourself according to your law.” 

They replied, “We are not allowed to put anyone to death.  Only Rome could formerly execute.” 

Then someone calls out, “He claims to be a king!” 

That, Pilate could not ignore.  He took Jesus into the ruler’s residence called the praetorium for a private audience.

“Are you a king?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.  I came to bear witness to the truth. Those of the truth hear my voice.”

Pilate saw that this has turned not into politics and law but into metaphysics and religion, and he simply dismissed him, “What is truth?”

He returned to the platform to the gathering crowd, and announced, “I find nothing in him worthy of death.”  
Meaning: Jesus may be a religious fanatic but he is not a threat.  Definitely not to Rome.

The crowd cries, “He stirs up the multitude all the way to Galilee.” 

Aha . . . , Pilate thought.  

Galilee.  

The ruler of Galilee, Herod, is in Jerusalem for the Passover feast.  If this man is from Galilee, then to Galilee’s leader he shall go.  And Pilate delightedly sent him away to Herod.

Four times Jesus has been tried.  Four times he has been found innocent.

Now, Herod has heard much about Jesus and merely wanted to see a miracle from him, but Jesus would not even speak to him.  He consigned Herod to his own darkness. Herod placed a purple robe on him and a reed in his hand and mocked him and sent him back to Pilate, finding no guilt in him.

Jesus has now been tried five times and found guilty of only claiming to be the Son of God, a confession that was not punishable by Roman law.

It is now about 7:00 am.  This is now taking much longer than planned.  The leaders feared a riot may ensue.  A crowd is gathering in an awakening Jerusalem.

Pilate announced that he and Herod have found Jesus not guilty concerning insurrection.  That he will have him released.  The crowd, however, cried for his execution. 

There was a custom to release a prisoner on Passover.  Pilate thought that if he were to put Barabbas, a convicted criminal and murderer, next to Jesus, and offered to release one of them, they would have no choice but to have Jesus released.

“Shall I release for you Jesus or Barabbas, who is a known insurrectionist?”  
And yet they cried out, “Give us Barabbas.  Away with this man!”

Pilate then tried another means of release.   He had Jesus scourged.

Man frequently die from scourging.  In Jewish law, a man can be beaten 39 times, no more than 40.  But these were Romans.  First they played what was called the game of the king, where the would-be messiah was surrounded blindfolded and beaten.  “Who beat you?  Who hit you?  Prophesy.”  And then his robe was removed.  And he was chained to a post where two lectors lashed him with a cat-of-nine-tails, leather straps embedded with bones and metal.  And then a crown of thorns was placed on his head. And a purple robe was laid over his wounds. 

And after the scourging, Pilate brought him out.  Isaiah prophesied that he was more disfigured than any man.  And he pronounced to the crowd, “Behold, the man.”  

Meaning: Look on him.  He is no threat.  He is nothing but a weak man. 

“Crucify him!” cried the crowd again.

Pilate said, “Take him yourself, for I find no guilt in him.” 

Then someone said, “We have a law.  And he ought to die because he made himself to be the son of God.” 

And now the truth was out.  This man claimed divinity.   We normally would think such a man mad.  But Pilate had never seen a man like this man.   He took Jesus back into the praetorium privately and looked at him, with his bleeding, wounded, nigh unto dead body.   And he asked him, “Where are you from?” 

Roman mythology spoke of God walking amongst men.   Pilate thought, am I trying Apollo?

Jesus was silent. 

Pilate said, “Don’t you know I have authority to release you or to crucify you?” 

Jesus said, “You have no authority unless it has been granted to you from above”.

And because of this answer, Pilate was more afraid and made efforts to release him to which the crowds call out, “Release this man and you are no friend of Caesar.” 

A friend of Caesar was a political inside position.  Pilate has to make a choice.  Do I do what is just?  Or do I do what is expedient for my career? 

He said to the crowd with contempt, “Behold your king.”  This was his crime.  Not sedition.  He was just a king you did not want.

“Away with him and crucify him!” 

“Shall I crucify your king?” 

“We have no king but Caesar.”

Suddenly a note from his wife was stuffed into Pilate’s hand. Pilate’s wife has had a nightmare.  The note read, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man.  I suffered much because of him.” 

That righteous man.  She and her husband knew already who he was.  Pilate knew he was being used as an executioner in a political setup. 

Pilate called for water and he washed his hands.  And he said, “Let it be known that I find no guilt in this man”, to which the nation responded with words that have echoed for 20 centuries.  “His blood be on us and our children.”  And thus he handed Jesus over to be crucified.

Six times tried.  
Six times found innocent.  
Guilty of being divine.

It is now 8:00 am and the march to Calvary began.  
Six trials will be followed by six hours of suffering.  
Three at the hands of man.  
Three at the hands of God.

Jesus is too weak to carry his cross.  His soul would bear the sins of the world but his body could not bear his cross.

A Jew from North Africa, Simon of Cyrene, was forced by the Roman guard to carry it.  

They arrived outside the city, on the hill of Calvary.  Criminals cannot die within the gates of Jerusalem.  They were considered unclean.  The book of Hebrews said he died outside the camp bearing our reproach.

They came to a hill called Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, or in Latin, it was called Calvary.  Myrrh is offered to Jesus as a type of sedative to make a man easier to handle at his time of execution.  Jesus refuses it.  He will offer no resistance. 

“The cup which the Father handed to me, shall I not drink it?” 

And he was crucified between two criminals.  Isaiah said, “he was numbered among the transgressors.”  And as the nails were being driven in, he utters the first of seven words from the cross.  It was a prayer of mercy for the Roman soldiers:  

“Father, forgive them.  They do not know what they do.”  

These Romans had no idea who he was.  Had they known, Paul said, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

A sign indicating his crime was placed above him, as was the custom.  The sign merely read,

Jesus of Nazareth.

King of the Jews.

And it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, because of the open and public place of his crucifixion.  Pilate ordered the sign as a testimony to Jesus’ innocence. 

It is about 9 am.  The soldiers beneath him divided his garments. His seamless robe cannot be torn so they cast lots for it.   Those who passed by, mocked him.  “You saved others.  You cannot save yourself.  Come down from the cross if you are the Christ.” 

Both thieves cursed him, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.” 

But Peter said, “while being reviled, he would not revile in return.”  While suffering, he uttered no threat. 

Then, one of the thieves, perceiving his character, hearing the mocking, seeing the signs of his innocence and his claim to messiah, knowing it is Passover when a lamb has to die, suddenly has his first light pierced onto his soul, and he cried to his partner, “Do you not fear God? We are receiving what we deserve for our deeds. This man, he has done nothing wrong.”

And then to Jesus, “Remember me, when you come into your kingdom.” 

This man understood that Jesus was the messiah, the King. 

He understood that he was not dying for himself; He has done nothing wrong. 

He understood that he dies for others. 

He offered to Christ only faith and repentance, when he said, “Jesus remember me.” 

Jesus said, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.” 

His faith saved him.

It is now 12 o’clock noon.  Jesus looks upon his mother.  The last thing a Jewish son did for his mother was to care for her. 

Jesus said, “Woman,” and then looking towards John, said, “Behold thy son.” 

“Son,” he said to John, and looking to Mary, “Behold thy mother.” 

And thus, he did his obligation to his mother as his last act of faithfulness.  Mary was told 33 years earlier by Simeon, “A sword shall pierce your soul.”  She wondered no more at those dark words.

And then the sky went dark in divine displeasure as the light of God’s countenance was turned away. 

A nation has committed its highest crime. 

A soul would receive its highest punishment. 

Here God would lay on him the iniquity of us all. 

Here he who knew no sin, would become sin. 

Here God caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him, we who have strayed like sheep. 

Here one dies, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. 

Here God gave his only begotten Son. 

For 3 hours from 12:00 to 3:00 he hangs in silence.  There is no record of Jesus saying anything.  

Like the Holy of Holies, we are forbidden access.

At 3:00 pm, a voice breaks through the darkness. 

“My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?” 

It was not a question.  It was an announcement. 

He was forsaken of God but for no sin of his own. 

He died for sinners for whom the stroke was due. 

His tongue, cleaved to his mouth and so he said, “I thirst.”  And to his mouth was pressed a sponge on a stick.  A sponge of sour wine and vinegar. 

He has poured out his soul unto death.  

There was nothing left under the burning Sinai of God’s judgement as the Passover lamb was roasted. 

He then cried aloud with his last remaining strength for all to hear. 

“It is finished.”  

And he lowered his head like an obedient soldier.

Not that he was defeated by death. 

But prophecy was fulfilled.

Sin was paid for. 

The shadows of the Old Testament sacrifices were fulfilled in the substance. 

Divine wrath was satisfied.

And with his life’s purpose completed, the son now returns home. 

He recited what Jewish women taught their little boys,

“Father into thy hands I commit my spirit.”

Suddenly an earthquake shook the earth.  The veil of the temple was torn from God to man.  The captain of the guards, seeing the nobility of his death, said, “This man was innocent.  This man certainly was the son of God.”

Many of the crowds, terrified at the events, have fled.  They now returned, beating their breasts, knowing that they have taken the innocent life of their brother.

Sabbath, beginning at sundown, was approaching.  The body could not be taken down on Sabbath nor could it hang all night until Sabbath. Death would thus have to be hastened. A soldier would approach with a flagerian, a club, to break the legs of those who were hanging, causing them to hang with no support and suffocating to death.  The criminals’ legs were broken.  Jesus, however, was already dead.  The Bible says of Jesus, the Passover lamb, “not a bone on him shall be broken.”

The captain, perceiving that he was dead, pierced his heart with his spear, and blood and water poured forth.  Jesus was already dead.  John would later write from a verse in Zechariah, “They shall look on me, God, whom they have pierced.”

Normally a criminal’s body was cast cursed into the Hinnom valley.  But two members of the Sanhedrin, Joseph and Nicodemus, requested for the body from Pilate.  They took it down, wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid it in a nearby garden tomb, the tomb of Joseph.

The Pharisees came to Pilate.  They said, that deceiver said in three days he will rise from the dead.  If his disciples come and steal the body, the last deception will be worse than the first.  If this man was thought to have risen from the dead, then all that he has said will be regarded as true.

Pilate said, take a guard and make the tomb as secure as you know how.  Make it physically impossible for anyone to steal that body from the tomb.  A stone was rolled in place over the tomb. A Roman seal was placed on the tomb.  And a Roman guard was placed with soldiers around the clock.

Friday night passed.  And on Saturday, Sabbath began.  Then, Sunday morning will come either to give evidence to the greatest deceiver who has ever lived, or to the greatest event that has ever occurred for the salvation of man.  Will He rise from the dead on Sunday, or was He the greatest liar who ever lived?  

That is another story for Easter Sunday...

The story of Good Friday is so simple that even a child can understand. 

Either Jesus dies or I die. 

If Jesus dies. I don’t need to die. 

It is finished. 

Our perfect life we could not live, was lived by Jesus.

Our punishment which we deserved was laid upon the back of Jesus. 

It’s done. 

It’s finished. 

And in Christ, I receive my salvation. 

In Christ I receive redemption. 

In Christ I am filled with the Holy Spirit and made a new creation, that the marred image of God may be restored in me. 

Without Good Friday, Christmas would be meaningless.
Without Christmas, there would be no Good Friday.

The apostle Paul would later testify : 

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: 

that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 

(1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NIV)