Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1-3

The Gunshot rang out in the middle of the night! My whole world crashed around me—suddenly. Rushing into the living room, slumped in a recliner was Pete gasping for air. Blood was dripping from his mouth. The gun in his lap with his right hand around it. The cousin who witnessed it pacing in horror. The sudden screams of panic coming from Alberto’s bedroom, “Mom, I can’t breathe.” Terror filled his voice.

Quickly, I pushed the back of the recliner into a reclined position and tipped back Pete’s head to open the airway so he could breathe. I ran to Alberto, opened the windows and assured him I was doing everything I could. Running back to the living room, the cousin still pacing was too panicked to help. I called Pete’s brothers. I needed an ambulance! I called a cousin who was a doctor. The ambulance came. No sirens. No fancy equipment; but, off to the hospital they went. By this time several family members had arrived. One cousin offered to take the children. I had to awaken Ron who had slept through it all and the children left to another home as I headed to the hospital. Pete was on a respirator. I awaited the neurologist; but, I knew. The CAT Scan confirmed that the exploding bullet had destroyed the entire left side of the brain. A priest came to give Pete his “last rights.” I wasn’t Catholic; but, I had requested this for the sake of the family. It was comforting for the priest to say, “Even though God does not condone suicide. God understands mental illness and this is NOT an unpardonable sin.”

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The 7 Greatest Statements of Grace to the World

In this study through the gospel of John, we now come to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. After this mockery of a trial shrouded in the darkness of night, Jesus must carry His cross to the top of the hill. His body wrenching in pain from the beatings, blood dripping from His back and His brow; a stander by was asked to help Him to carry the cross. An inscription was placed at the foot of His Cross written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin that read: JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. His hands were nailed to the cross beams of the cross and His feet to a small piece of wood. The cross was raised and then dropped three feet into the ground with a thunderous bang—ripping at the blood drenched hands and feet. The pain so excruciating that it was nearly impossible to breath. Speech was nearly impossible; yet, from that cross Jesus spoke 7 of the Greatest Statements of Grace ever spoken to the World. I want us to take a moment to look at these 7 statements and ponder on what they mean to you and to me.

Picture used by permission of the artist Ronald Barba and is protected by copyright.

1. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). These were the first words that came from the lips of Jesus as they placed Him on that cross. Did he mean that they were ignorant of their cruelty or that they were ignorant to their hanging an innocent man? No, but they were ignorant of the enormity of the sin within their own hearts. Yet, while the pain was so great; Jesus made intercession for the sinner. He made intercession for you and for me as well. On that cross He made intercession for every man, woman, and child; yet, not all would accept that gift of forgiveness. Some would mock at it. Some would say they don’t need it. Some would deny the very existence of God. Yet, Jesus whispered this prayer so that all who would accept this gift of forgiveness; are forgiven. “He poured out His soul unto death: He was numbered among the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).

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What Really Is The Truth You Desperately Need To Know?

The truth. What is it? We search for it. We seek it. We really want to know. In our conversations, in our own lives, in our relationships, in our family and even our court rooms we say we want truth. Yet, do we always? Or do we only want “our truth”? When I look back at the memories of my past do I see the truth of all that happened? Then why sometimes is my memory different than what mom remembers or to that which my children may remember? Have I softened my own guilt in a situation? Where is the truth? Somewhere in the midst of all the different memories of an event, there is hidden there the real event with all the facts of it.

Of all the places we desire to seek truth, none are more notable than in a courtroom. Truth is needed; yet, even there can we ever really know the truth? Eye witnesses often recall an event with variances as to what they saw. Can I really trust my own memory of things? And so it was as Pilate wanted to know, “What is the truth about this man from Galilee, called Jesus? Why did the priests send Him to be tried under the roman rule?”

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Why Is It A Matter Of The Heart?

As we looked at Monday, it really is the heart of the matter. Our love, though an imperfect, broken hearted love for Jesus is just that—it is a heart that is seeking after Jesus, longing to learn of love. It is not so much about our frailties nor our strengths as it is the heart of the issue. We see that most clearly in I Corinthians 13 where love is the key. So it is here. God looks upon the heart of man. With all the “righteousness of the Pharisees” they did not truly love Jesus; nor could they see Him for who He really was. Again Jesus presses on, “Don’t let your heart be troubled. I am your peace, your hope and your joy.” They asked, How if you go away? Once more came the piercing words, “If a man love me?” But, instead of it being the perfect following of the law; truly, it is a matter of the heart.

“If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.²⁴ He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.²⁵ These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.²⁷ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:23-27)

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“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1).

Jesus has just told the apostles that He is leaving them. He has told them that one of them will betray Him. Judas has left—but the apostles still don’t know that it is Judas who will be the betrayer. Look at John 13: no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night”. Jesus has just told them they cannot follow Him where He is going next. He had told Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31-32). Peter had whispered to John to find out “who” was the betrayer. Could he be afraid that it could be himself?  Behind all the outward strength, behind that face of stoicism was Peter afraid he might be the one who would betray His Beloved Jesus?

PETER’S AGONY AND JESUS’ LOVE

Then as Peter in great devotional love has declared his loyalty; Jesus tells Peter that “the truth is that you, Peter will not even make it through the night before you deny me three times.” What agony must Peter have felt!! How troubled would his heart be!! His mind must at that moment have been filled with so much pain, so much turmoil that he could barely hear the rest of the words that would come. Have you ever been there? I have. I have fallen before God with such agony of heart—fearing my own failure. I have spent days and nights in agonizing prayer because of my own sin. I wanted to follow Him. Like Peter I have wanted with all my heart to be a shining light to a world in need of a Savior. Yet, I have failed at times. My words were not as kind as they should have been. My feet have stumbled along the path and I have fallen head on into the mud and the mire of sin. At those moments when my heart is crushed by the weight of my own failure.

Continue reading 5 Reasons Not to Let Your Heart Be Troubled →