5 Promises of Joy for All Who Trust God
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. He had displayed God’s Glorious Power over life. He had given the apostles and disciples a glimpse of what was to come; although, they still did not fully understand at that time. Yet, of the crowd that was gathered at the event—some believed in Jesus and some did not. There were some who ran to tell the Pharisees what they had seen. It would be hard to say what they were thinking. Did they want to gain the praise of these men? How had they watched such a magnificent display of God’s Glory and still not believe? They were skeptics of their own eye witnessed account or perhaps they believed that this miracle was some hoax. Whatever their reason, they ran quickly to tell the priests. Up until now, the Pharisees had plotted to kill Jesus by sudden out bursts of anger for his “blasphemy.” He had made them look like fools too often. Now the Pharisees and Sadducees would meet together. They would conduct a trial of Jesus without His presence. Caiaphas was the appointed High Priest over the Jewish Nation. He was appointed as High Priest with the blessings of the Roman rulers for his political savvy and ability to keep peace among the Jewish nation during their submission to the Romans. In such, He had been able to negotiate the protection of the temple as well.
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE LEADERS
Caiaphas looked at the situation in horror. Instead of marveling at the miracles of Jesus and seeing that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah, he feared what political upheaval would occur as a result of Jesus’s miracles. Suddenly, he knew his own powerful position was threatened. If the Jewish people gathered behind this Jesus to follow Him; then, there would be war with the Romans. It was for that reason that Caiaphas’s verdict was to “kill” Jesus. Yet, the irony of all ironies comes in the words that came from Caiaphas’s mouth. “You know nothing at all! Nor do you understand that it is expedient and politically advantageous for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish” (John 11:49-50 AMP). Think about this!! It actually was God’s plan from before creation; yet, God spoke through this prideful, self-serving unbeliever to accomplish His own plan.
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OVER LIFE AND THE DEATH OF JESUS FOR JOY
“14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses…. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one (Adam) many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many” (Romans 5). It was God who had sentenced Christ to die to pay the penalty for our sins, long before Caiaphas had ever been born. Look at Isaiah 53—Jesus was the Lamb.
GOD USED CAIAPHAS TO FULFILL ISAIAH 53:
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU AND ME?
1. God is sovereignly in control of every detail of my life. There is nothing that can enter my life but that He has ordained it for my good as His child.
2. God was willing to sacrifice His own Son that I might find in Him my greatest treasure and joy. He will move all of Heaven and earth to accomplish that in my life.
3. I can trust Him even in the storms; because, He knows what is best
4. God loves me with a perfect love
5. God will accomplish in me and through me all that He has planned to both bring Him Glory and to display His Glory through me. Even if that means I must be purified by fire.
Knowing this, I can find joy in Him through any circumstance. So can you if you know Him as your Father!!! The question then is, “Do you know Christ as your Savior?”
The song I chose for you today is Grace Wins
Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.