Author: Chad Bandy

Last month, I wrote about Matthew 27, the capture, conviction, and crucifixion of Jesus.  The book of Matthew was written by one of Jesus’ closest confidants and a disciple who followed Jesus during His teachings and witnessed the events of Jesus’ life.

Today, I write about Mark 14.  Mark, also called John Mark, was an early evangelist of the church with Paul.  He is known to have traveled with Paul and Barnabas to spread the Gospel after Jesus’ death and resurrection

Mark 14 outlines the plot to kill Jesus and the final days He spent with His disciples before His capture.  What weights heavy on my heart about this chapter is the betrayal Jesus knew would happen from His closest confidants and yet He still forgave them.

Jesus spoke on Mark 14:18 “assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me with betray Me.”  During the Passover meal, Jesus knew that Judas would turn Him over to the Jewish authorities. Scripture tells us that Judas was one of the original twelve disciples, and he traveled with Jesus for three years during Jesus’ ministry.  Three years of travel and companionship with anyone would assumedly lead to a productive and positive relationship.  We would suppose that Judas supported Jesus in His ministry and was a confidant of Jesus.  One would think Jesus would grow to know, trust, and like Judas during their ministry.

In Mark 14:30, Jesus said to Peter, “assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”  Peter was identified in the Bible as one of the closest confidants of Jesus amongst the disciples, as mentioned in Mark 14:33 when Jesus went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane “And he took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.”  Hours before His capture, He brought Peter with Him, knowing the entire time that Peter would “turn his back” on Jesus and deny knowing Him on three separate occasions.

Has someone betrayed you?  Have you been hurt in a relationship, physically, emotionally, or mentally?  The pain caused by the betrayal from others can be devastating and sometimes, life-altering.  Each of us has our own story with likely very good reason to resent, dislike, or mistrust a person. We might resent the way they treated us, abused us, disregarded our relationship, our trust, our friendship, and might have damaged any possible future relationship with them. Unfortunately, carrying the burden or “baggage” from that betrayal can derail our lives. Perhaps we allow one incident to steal our trust, joy, belief, or even happiness in future relationships.  It is difficult to be hurt and not allow that hurt to carry over to other areas of our lives.

But then we read in Mark 14:24, when Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper and He said, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.”   At the very same table with Judas and Peter, Jesus forgave them.  He introduced the Lord’s Supper as the act to recognize the “new covenant.”  Luke 22:19-20 describes this event in a bit more detail in verse 19 And He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying “This is My body which his given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. Verse 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying “this cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”

The new covenant was God’s commitment to forgive us of our sins, through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  We can be assured that God forgives us of our sins, no matter how awful, if we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness.  The new covenant provides us the opportunity to spend eternity in Heaven, when we commit to and believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  What a magnificent gift we have been given, for free.

So, during His final hours on earth, knowing that He would be betrayed by two of His closest confidants, He forgave them.  He not only forgave them, but He gave them communion teaching them how to forgive others.

Yes, forgiveness is hard.  We may forgive but we may never forget.  That’s ok but we must resolve and absolve hatred, resentment, animosity, and strife for others.  Jesus modeled for us, hours before His death, the ultimate gesture of forgiveness.  Perhaps we can muster the courage and confidence to forgive others, even when it might seem impossible at the time.

Mathew 27, in my opinion, is the most impactful and riveting chapter in the Bible.  The Bible is composed of sixty-six books, written by 40 men, over a period of 1500 years.  Every prophet, every vision, and nearly every parable that was taught was leading up to this moment.   The death of Christ, God’s Son, our Savior.

I cannot help but focus on the manner in which our Savior was convicted of crimes He did not commit and was sentenced to a horrible death by people who had no evidence of Him doing anything wrong.  Jesus was murdered because the Jewish leaders in charge felt threatened by Him.

Here is a riveting part of Christ’s death.  In Matthew 24, verse 23, Pilate said “Why, what evil has he done?”  What was in Pilate’s heart at that moment?  Why was he asking this question? More on that in a moment.

Verse 24 goes on to state “When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just person. You see to it.’”  Verse 25 goes on to say the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children.”

There are hundreds of people who contributed to the murder of Jesus.  The Sanhedrin, consisting of chief priests and elders, Judas, bystanders at the trial, the false witnesses who testified against Jesus, and the guards.  Even Pilate’s wife contributed to Jesus’ conviction as she told Pilate “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”  All contributed and supported the crucifixion of the Son of God.  But, one man could have stopped it.  Pontius Pilate.

When are those moments in life when we need to stand for something and have courage?

Pontius Pilate is arguably one of the most known names in the history of the world.  He is remembered, for eternity, for the horrible crucifixion he allowed.   But yet, the Bible inferred he had questions about Jesus’ guilt.  He seemed to have doubts but did not have the courage, in the moment, to stand up for Jesus and save Him from the mob.

The courage to stand up for our own opinion can be difficult. To rid ourselves of the ease to “follow the herd,” because it seems like the popular or easy thing to do, can be a difficult proposition.  We need to focus on what feelings control us in the moments of decision, when we have to make a choice.  We should not allow ourselves to go along with negative feelings of envy, jealousy, the feeling of “getting attention,” or perhaps the sense of anger or rage against others.

The most fascinating aspect of Matthew 27 to me is that Jesus died to save the exact people that murdered Him.  He took the beatings, the spitting, the ridicule, the torture and the unfathomable pain to provide the salvation for believers to spend eternity in Heaven.

What is on my heart today is that if Jesus had the courage to make the sacrifice He did at His crucifixion, I should be able to muster the courage to love and appreciate people when it might not seem popular.  Loving or supporting others might not seem accepted at the time, but in the end, could have a massive impact on someone’s life.  We never know when our support will mean the most.

Jesus commanded, before His death, in John 13:34-35.

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

By loving others, we show our love for Jesus.

Growing up in the heart of farm country in Central Illinois, we were surrounded and engulfed in farming.  Every friend lived by a field and every trip involved a drive that through mile after mile of soybeans and corn. Although no one in our family were farmers, the conversation of the weather, the condition of the crops to grow throughout the seasons, as well as the yield were a consistent dialogue.

In chapter 13 of the book of Matthew, Jesus taught eight parables all related to the Word of God and its ability to prosper and grow in our lives.  He also spoke about judgment day when Jesus comes back to earth and the sinners will be separated from the believers.  The parables were about seeds, soil, tares (weeds), and yield.  I can understand these parables well.

As we live our lives, we are influenced in many ways.  We are exposed to different people who have different views and opinions on religion and faith in Christ.  We participate in different personal and professional gatherings.  We live in homes and neighborhoods where we associate with different people.  Some of us are close to our families, and we spend a significant amount of time with them.  Social media also has an impact on our thoughts and beliefs as well when we are exposed to information daily that is influenced by the people we associate with online.  And the most significant influence, our spouse or significant other.

Does the “tribe” of people you associate with influence your faith in a positive or negative way?  When you speak of faith, or even going to church, do your friends and family encourage and acknowledge in a positive way? Or do they shun you like you are crazy to believe that “religion stuff?”

My prayer for you today is that you guard your life and who you associate with carefully.  Surround yourself with individuals who push you to grow in your faith.  Spend time with people who care for your well-being and constantly put you before themselves.  Guard your spiritual life and ensure you spend time with those that help you grow your faith in Jesus by living out His Word daily.  Find a great church family that inspires you to dig into the Word of God and study it daily.

The parables in chapter 13 speak of the “evil one” or “enemy” who pull us away from God.  Be careful.  The devil does not always appear to us in obvious ways.  Evil can come in the simple form of creating doubt in Jesus and our faith.  That may come from your friend group. Evil can pull us away from attending worship, reading our Bibles, or even reading daily devotions like this one.  That could be your neighbors or, unfortunately, members of your family. Our thoughts that are generated from a place of pity and self-doubt can gradually erode our faith and pull us farther from God.  That may come from our own frustration when our prayers are not answered.

I think the biggest “trap” that can pull us away from our faith is pain and disappointment.  Many times, friends or family may question our faith because of tragedies, pain, or unanswered prayers.  How can you believe in that “religion stuff” when (fill in the blank) didn’t work out?

Paster Andy Stanley says “The foundation of our faith in Jesus is not answered prayers and everything going our way. It’s always a mistake to wrap our faith and confidence in God around the fulfillment of our dreams or answered prayers. Dreams that don’t come true say nothing about the presence or faithfulness of God.”

When you question your faith, perhaps due to the influence and elements around you, remember that some of the most inspirational believers to ever walk the earth went through terrible challenges and pain.  Our faith should not be based on every wish and dream coming true.  Our faith is based on knowing Jesus is our Lord and Savior, is with us all the time, and will provide a “soft place to land” when the bad times come.  Although we do not understand in that moment, He is using the challenges and difficulties to grow our faith in Him.  Yes, bad things can create good.  Guard the people and places you associate with in your life as well.

My final thoughts today are wishing my bride, Kim, a Happy 24^th Anniversary (the best 20 years of my life LOL! Kim will get this).  She has been such a blessing in my life. We have had an amazing life together with many adventures.  Our marriage has been filled with joy and happiness as well as sadness and tragedy.  What I love about our marriage is that we lean on our faith, both individually and as a couple, to partner in our union together.  We give credit to Christ in the happiness and turn to Him for strength in the sadness. As every day brings uncertainty and challenges, I know with Jesus at the center of our lives, we will continue to grow in our faith together as a couple.

The one hundred and thirty fifth Psalm was written by an author that is not identified. This unknown person contrasts the greatness of God with the powerlessness of idols.  Verses fifteen to eighteen say the following:

15 The idols of nations are silver and gold,

The work of men’s hands,

16 They have mouths, but they do not speak;

Eyes they have, but they do not see;

17 They have ears, but they do not hear;

Nor is there any breath in their mouths,

18 Those who make them are like them;

So is everyone who trusts in them.

What do you think of when you hear the word idol?  Perhaps you think of a statue or alter with weird images or depictions of a god.

Idol is defined as “an object of extreme devotion, a person or thing that is greatly admired, love or revered.”  The passage today caused me to think more broadly about the definition of an “idol.”  In modern day, it seems a bit out of touch to think about worshipping a physical idol but what are the “idols” that we worship today?  My thinking today is that anything that takes us away from worshipping our God should be considered an idol.

“Idols” come in many shapes and sizes.  We may idolize money.  We may idolize success.  We may “worship” and devote our lives to our career.  Perhaps recognition and attention through social media has become an addiction or “idol” for us.  Guilty as charged on all the above.

What I know is that when I spend time studying, reading, learning, and listening to the Word of God, I find more application and understanding for God’s purpose for my life.  The scriptures are packed full of guidance and application how God has asked us to live our lives.   The opportunity to sing, pray, learn, and worship our Lord each week at worship service is a small sacrifice to offer to our God after He continuously preserves and loves us throughout our daily lives.

I understand that the routine and busyness of life can pull us away from attending worship and communing with God.  Raising children to be active in sports or hobbies can conflict with spending time with God.

Say no to the Sunday morning golf match, running club, tennis match, or whatever the “idol” is that prevents you from attending church with your family.  Say no to the sports team that offers your child practice on Sunday mornings.  Say no to the biking club that insists that the only day of the week to meet is Sunday morning. Preserve time to spend time with God.

Don’t let the “idols” of this life prevent us from recognizing our God, who has shown us more love and mercy than we could ever repay.

Psalm 87 speaks to the glorified position that Jerusalem has in the eyes of God.

The Psalmist speaks about the great and wondrous events in the history of God that occurred in Jerusalem.  From the days of Isaac’s willingness to sacrifice Jacob, Kind David’s rule, the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, as well as where the apostles launched Christianity.  Jerusalem is the epicenter of our faith.

Where is the city, town, or home that is special to you?

Home has become an important part of our lives over the past year as that is where we have spent the majority of our time since COVID-19.  Our family activities, travel, clubs, sports, hobbies, and even church have been cancelled or moved online.  Some homeowners are remodeling, expanding, painting, upgrading, and evening buying new homes, because they are spending so much time or have extra time to work on their home.  Many are working on their “home” to make it a place where they want to be.

Reflecting on the word “home” for this journal, I prayed to receive wisdom about this chapter.  I have been reflecting on the fact that no dwelling, structure, town, or city is my home.  My home is in Heaven with our Savior.

The greatest joy and comfort to me is to know that this life is temporary.  Yes, I love my family deeply and want to stay here with them on earth as long as I am able.  I want them to stay on earth as long as possible to experience the love and joy that comes from our relationships.  I live with conviction that when we die on this earth, we will see each other again in Heaven. Honestly, I long for my true “home.”  I want to live in Heaven with my savior Jesus Christ.

The Bible speaks of Heaven in both the new and the old testament.

“But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11:16 

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”Revelation 22:1-5

“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Corinthians 5:1

Our home or city on earth is where we hope to feel protected, comfortable and at ease.  Our home in Heaven will be beyond what we can comprehend.  I yearn for a “home” with no pain, no heartache and no sadness.  I yearn for constant celebration, adoration, joy and peace with our Lord.

May the promise and hope of your Savior wash over you with His presence and peace to know that through Christ, you are saved, and will dwell with Him forever, in the “home” He has prepared for you.

My favorite Christian song about Heaven is by Chris Tomlin called Home.

Faith in Jesus Christ requires humility and reservation, which are not always traits that I possess.

As we go about life, we witness many around us who appear to “get ahead” without sacrifice.  Perhaps their business ventures take off with grand results.  Perhaps their family goes on lavish vacations.  Perhaps their social media posts profess happy times without what appears to be much sacrifice.  Every time you hear from them, their kids are going to great colleges and schools, their spouse just got promoted, and they just finished remodeling or buying a new home.  Life is good for them no matter what happens.

On the contrary, you struggle.  Your life seems to take two steps forward and one step back.  You do the right things.  You pray the “right” prayers.  You are kind and non-judgmental.  You tithe or give back to your church, charities, or those around you in need.  You do not wish for material things, but you don’t seem to accomplish or succeed at advancing comfort or solace in your life.  You lost your job.  Your family member is sick. Your children are struggling, and you cannot seem to get a break in your life.

Or worse yet, you see people perform terrible acts and seemingly never suffer the consequences.  A criminal is acquitted of a crime. A thief gets away with taking valuable items.  A murderer is never caught or forced to “pay the price” of their crime.

Where is justice for the believers?  Why are the trials and struggles a part of the lives of true believers in Jesus Christ?  Shouldn’t the “bad people” and the sinners suffer on earth?

True belief and faith require us to give all of our trials and tribulations to God.  Our Lord says in Psalms 75 titled “Thanksgiving for God’s Righteous Judgement” says the following:

4“I said to the boastful, ‘Do not deal boastfully, And to the wicked, Do not lift up the horn. Do not lift up your horn high; Do not speak with a stiff neck.’”

Scripture tells us that our reward for faith and loyalty to our God do not come on earth.  No matter the sacrifice and cost of our time on earth, our true reward will come in heaven when we stand before our Lord and hopefully hear, “well done, true and faithful servant.”

As an example of the ultimate humility and sacrifice, Jesus came to earth and lived His life as a man.  He endured pain, heartbreak, temptation, ridicule, betrayal, lies, and ultimately, He was put to death for no viable reason.   I ask you, does our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ understand our trials and sacrifices?  Can he relate to our hateful co-workers, negative neighbors, and spiteful relatives who always seems to outdo us?

As we approach Easter, let us recognize the significant and meaningful turn of events Jesus endured the week of His death.  On Palm Sunday (yesterday), He came to Jerusalem with the Jews waving palms and throwing their cloaks on the ground as he entered the city.  Four days later, the same Jews were screaming, spitting, and hitting Him asking for Him to be killed.  Yes, our Lord, knows what it feels like to be betrayed and the “bad people” get away with “bad things.”

Let us study the Easter story this week and hear the counsel of Jesus as he prepares us for the greatest, most unselfish sacrifice of any human, ever known to mankind.  Our Lord sacrificed every ounce of His being so that you and I don’t have to suffer, for eternity.