by Steve Liersch
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Read Matthew 26:47–56
I read that a Roman legion had 6,000 soldiers. How amazing would it be to have the capacity to call on more than 70,000 angels to look after you in some of life’s toughest moments? Jesus did. I could’ve used just a couple of them back in my school days to get rid of a mouthy older kid in the playground and certainly in the sports arena. Some people are just painful and bullies. Come to think of it, I’ve come across a couple of them throughout my adult life. Sadly, I keep reading and seeing how an imbalance of power gets to intimidate, harm and even kill the so-called lesser person.
Our society, and indeed our church, runs campaigns to end things like domestic violence and bullying in the workplace. We’ve created safe place and child-safe strategies and policies. I really wish and pray that the legions would step in and protect the innocent and vulnerable. And I certainly can’t see the will of God being done as evil seems to run rampant. I struggled with this one. So, what can we learn from today’s lesson?
Jesus said he had 12 legions of angels at his disposal by simply calling on his Father to intervene. Jesus’ arrest would have been a no-contest event, but that was never God’s intention. His plan of salvation needed to unfold, and it included Jesus having to suffer incredibly so that you and I would ultimately be free from the effects of sin.
We believe and confess that our Almighty God can do anything, but so often, we want the easy way out. Maybe, just maybe, God lets us enter many of life’s toughest situations with the end goal in mind. If life were so easy, how would I learn to trust him no matter what? How would I ever learn patience? And I can see my pride levels rising as I cruise through without any obstacles to test my resilience or reliance on his strength.
Keep struggling with this one, but continue trusting in a God who has your back.
Almighty Heavenly Father, teach me your ways and help me always trust you no matter what happens in this life. I thank you for the best life that’s still coming through faith in Jesus. Amen.
Pastor Steve Liersch and his wife, Angelyn, are now empty-nesters living in Port Kennedy in the southern coastal suburbs of Perth. Steve says that he sees every day as a gift from God, allowing him to discover new ways to journey with Jesus and learn more about the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as well as how his Heavenly Father wants to use him in some small or great way.
by Steve Liersch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will’ (Matthew 26:39).
Read Matthew 26:36–46
The prayers below could be lacking something. If they sound familiar, give yourself a point.
- Dear God, please give us a fine day on Saturday so that the family gathering in the park can be a success and we all have a great time. Amen.
- Dear God, please help our dog respond to the medication so that she doesn’t have to suffer and gets well soon. Amen.
- Dear God, of all the beautiful people in the world, why is Grandma so sick? Please make her better so that we can spend Christmas together again. Amen.
These prayers are great. They call on God to do what we can’t do as people. Control the weather (1), provide healthy pets (2), and heal the sick (3). I have prayed these sorts of prayers all my life. It’s what I’ve been taught to do. It’s what I desire to have happen for the wellbeing of all … or is it?
Without sparking a huge debate so that my email inbox or phone doesn’t go ballistic, could it be possible that by stopping the prayers as I have, they are missing what God’s will is actually trying to bring about? As a result, am I open to that so that his will might be done?
Consider this:
- What if God sent rain because a drought was in progress?
- What if God wanted to show that some people care more about their pets than their family?
- Grandma has a beautiful faith. What if God is calling her to heaven?
Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane reveals more than just his desire to have the cup of death taken away from him. Although it would suit him from a human perspective to be spared the impending agony, his prayer also shows how he is reliant on his Heavenly Father’s will to be done as he surrenders in complete obedience. ‘Yet not as I will, but as you will’ (verse 39).
Consider adding these words to your prayers more, and be at peace with God’s response.
Heavenly Father, help me to trust you more, so that your will is also my desire. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Pastor Steve Liersch and his wife, Angelyn, are now empty-nesters living in Port Kennedy in the southern coastal suburbs of Perth. Steve says that he sees every day as a gift from God, allowing him to discover new ways to journey with Jesus and learn more about the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as well as how his Heavenly Father wants to use him in some small or great way.
by Steve Liersch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
But Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the other disciples said the same (Matthew 26:35).
Read Matthew 26:26–35
We see it time and time again. A group united around its brave leader – until …? Sadly, politics provides many of these moments where a campaign leading up to an election constantly shows many of the party faithful, colleagues and those who believe in the promise of the leader before them, all gathered around together nodding their heads in agreement as the leader speaks. Until? Yep, if the party loses the election, many of those who were bravely following their now-defeated leader are suddenly running for the door. Nowhere in sight to face the barrage of constant questions of where it all went wrong.
Peter was his name. ‘Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will’ (verse 33). To which Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times’ (verse 34). And here’s the kicker: ‘And all the other disciples said the same’ (verse 35). Within hours, the disciples deserted Jesus in the garden following his arrest. Their leader is gone, their bravery melted away, and Jesus’ words become reality.
We all want to be on the winning team. Words are cheap if actions don’t follow them. When Jesus predicted his death in Matthew 16:21–28, Peter said to him, ‘Surely not, Lord. This will never happen to you.’
Peter put himself out there as the brave leader designated by Jesus to lead his disciples. Yet he needed to learn a few lessons that had to be lived through rather than just spoken about in one of Jesus’ teaching sessions on a mountainside.
Sometimes, our failures can teach us more about ourselves than we care to learn. I would never do that – until …? I couldn’t see myself ever being part of that – until …? I wouldn’t dare say anything like that – until …? Yet nothing surprises Jesus about the humans he came to save. Sin, human failure, even Satan’s joy at the scene on Golgotha, seemed to have won – until …? Until Jesus spoke salvation over creation, ‘Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing’ (Luke 23:34).
How many ‘untils’ do you need to repent of?
Heavenly Father, please keep drawing me back to you in repentance. Please help me to live here on Earth by your grace until I live with you forever. Amen.
Pastor Steve Liersch and his wife, Angelyn, are now empty-nesters living in Port Kennedy in the southern coastal suburbs of Perth. Steve says that he sees every day as a gift from God, allowing him to discover new ways to journey with Jesus and learn more about the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as well as how his Heavenly Father wants to use him in some small or great way.
by Steve Liersch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Jesus replied, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me’ (Matthew 26:23).
Read Matthew 26:17–25
It took around three years to form and train the group that we have come to know as the 12 disciples. All along, you can’t help but think that Jesus would have chosen only the best followers to train and carry on his ministry. Judas was among them. The gospels of Matthew (26:14–16), Mark (14:10,11) and Luke (22:3–6) all refer to Judas as the one who would betray Jesus into the hands of his enemies. God knows, and Jesus knows, that Judas would be an integral part of his plan of salvation. Go figure!
How often do we hear stories of an ‘insider’ doing damage to an organisation? For example, a club captain doing drugs or scheming to move to another club (topical to a couple of AFL teams), a childcare worker abusing a child, or a business manager diddling the books. So many times, we hear of trust being betrayed and comments like, ‘I never thought they were that sort of person.’
In Jesus’ case, he knew what was about to unfold. He even knew who would do what and predicted it so that people would be aware that nothing is beyond his knowledge. ‘Peter, you will deny me three times before the rooster crows.’ It wasn’t just Judas who would fail.
In verse 25 of today’s text, we read, ‘Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.”’ No-one likes to be called out for doing the wrong thing.
Yet this is no ordinary meal being shared with Jesus. In just a few minutes after this exchange with Judas, Jesus speaks words that he, along with you and I, need to hear constantly, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’
This is the best ‘bombshell’ that Jesus could ever speak. Betrayal, denial, scheming, deceitfulness – the list goes on. And Jesus’ response is: ‘Forgiveness is available through what I am about to do for you.’ If only Judas had waited a few days to see how it all turned out. That forgiveness could have been his despite what he had done.
Don’t wait too long to repent and make peace with God as you receive his forgiveness. The results will be life-changing.
Thank you, Jesus, for your forgiveness. Please work through your Holy Spirit so that I may ask for it every day. Amen.
Pastor Steve Liersch and his wife, Angelyn, are now empty-nesters living in Port Kennedy in the southern coastal suburbs of Perth. Steve says that he sees every day as a gift from God, allowing him to discover new ways to journey with Jesus and learn more about the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as well as how his Heavenly Father wants to use him in some small or great way.