Matthew 26:69-75 "What is Your Resolve?"

Read Matthew 26:69-75.

"I don't know the man!" NIV

Five terrible little words that can change a life for eternity. I know thousands of my brothers and sisters around the world throughout centuries were faced with this dilemma - Do you know Christ? When said in a friendly conversation, it's a wonderful opportunity to share what Jesus means to you. But amidst persecution, your answer could mean death. And for too many, it has.

You really can't cast too much animosity toward Peter for denying Christ. How many of us would have done the same thing? Even though Jesus had warned His disciples that this would happen, when faced with reality, the human resolve can be very weak. Peter had been traveling for three years as a close confidante of Jesus. He had watched a gentle carpenter's son reach out to people all over the region to offer healing from their sicknesses and demons. He heard the parables Jesus told the people and the great wisdom He layed before them. So if these religious leaders would want to kill this gentle giant of a man, then what would happen to a simple fisherman that had followed Him? Peter probably thought he was a dead man walking and the fight for preservation kicked in big time. Notice how his denial escalated each time he was accused of being with Jesus. He was reaching panic mode.

Fortunately, that is not the end of the story. Peter's resolve later turned from self-preservation to complete surrender. Peter died for his beliefs because He would not deny his Lord again and is one of the great fathers of the Christian church for the leadership He gave after Christ's resurrection.

Not many in America have been faced with death for being a follower of Jesus Christ, but we do face a verbal persecution all the time. The same question, Do you know Jesus? when said in a hostile, hateful way takes on a whole new meaning. How many times have I been sitting in on a conversation that turned to a "those Christians" diatribe. A little part of me wants to run from the conflict. It's not easy being in the minority or having to defend what you believe when you are standing alone. What do we do with Jesus then? Deny or defend? Flee or stand?

When we are confronted with opposition to our beliefs, we don't have to prove anything. We do not have to have twenty Scriptures to rattle off, commentaries to whip out, or extensive debates to prepare. We need to know one thing - what Jesus did for me. I sat in church last week and watched video testimonies of fellow believers given right before they were baptized. Some were children that had the simple faith only a child-like heart can have. Others were older that had faced a lot of life. But all of them had one thing in common -- they'd met Jesus. There is nothing more powerful than hearing how Jesus transformed someone's life. That is why I believe what I believe - because Truth touched me and I was changed forever. That's what I can stand on. That is why when faced with opposition for being a Christian - physical, verbal or emotional - I can stand.

Further Thoughts:

1. Think of a situation where you were tempted to deny Christ. How did you handle it? Why? How would you do it differently next time?
2. Read further about Peter after Christ's resurrection? What was Peter's resolve? How did he reach that? How did he pay for that?
3. What Scriptures can we rely on when faced with opposition to Christ? Search for and memorize them so you are ready to face temptation.

Matthew 26:1-16 "Choose Your Response"

Read Matthew 26:1-16.

"....will be handed over to be crucified." "...an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head...." "Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over." NIV

These three passages sum up the three possible responses to Jesus - get rid of Him, love Him, or betray Him.

In vs 1-5, the chief priests and elders are plotting to have Jesus killed. They want to be rid of Him because He has upset their way of life. In the same way the world wants to be rid of Jesus. He tends to rock the boat still two thousand years after He walked this earth. And those in opposition simply want Him to be gone. Has it ever struck you that people want religious freedom for everyone but the Christians. They scream for tolerance of other religions, but call the Christian's stance narrow-minded and intolerant. Are they not being intolerant of Christianity? So in their minds it's best just to get rid of it. We've not faced that in the extreme in America yet, but in personal hearts it is prevalent. "I don't need Jesus" is the thought of the day. "I'm strong on my own; He is just a crutch for the weak and a wall for the intolerant to hide behind." And they kill not just the idea of a Messiah, but Christ Himself.

Then Jesus goes to Bethany where a woman anoints Him with oil. She represents the believer who will give their all to serve Jesus. He is treasured and adored to the exclusion of caring for what appears to be self's best interest. Jesus is to be lifted up, loved, and prioritized in our lives. We may face ridicule, but we continue to raise Him up as the true God; the One and Only Savior. Our hopes and dreams are centered around Him and His will. Our lives are not our own, but surrendered to the One who gives freedom through service. No longer are we bound by sin because we serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. His name is the only name we lift up in praise for He and He alone is worthy. Even if no one else around us believes, we will stand in this truth.

Lastly, the betrayal. Judas sells Jesus out. He's looking out for number one and abandons the very One who gave him life. Judas had lived and ministered with Jesus for three years, yet he still couldn't see the better way. He had witnessed miracle after miracle; prophesies fulfilled. He called Him Lord and Master while sitting at His feet, learning from His teachings. But self won the day and Jesus was betrayed. How many people call themselves Christian yet sell Jesus out each and every day. When decisions must be made that place Christ above personal wants and ambitions, He is placed on a shelf to be dusted off for Sunday services. I guess this makes Judas the first Pharisee of the Christian church. But the practice continues daily where hypocrisy abounds. Hearts not completely surrendered to Jesus will find that a commitment to His ways will collapse under the pressures of the enticement of sin and self.

Crucify, anoint, or betray. How do you respond to Jesus?

Further Thoughts:

1. What does the Scripture say about full devotion or holiness? Find passages from Paul's letters, James, 1 Peter, and 1 and 2 John on this subject.
2. Hypocrisy is rampant in a relative world. Even Christians are drawn into the fallacy that we can make our Christian walk relative to our wants and needs. The Pharisees are a prime example for us of the dangers of and punishment for hypocrisy. Read again the seven woes in chapter 23 as a warning. Compare and contrast a devoted follower to a Pharisee.
3. How do we become complacent in our Christianity? I'm sure Judas didn't leave His family without being devoted to Jesus in the beginning. What happened along the way?
4. Are you who you say you are? This is a question I ask myself often. We can preach something all day long, but if we are not living it, is it embedded in our hearts? Write a complete definition of "Christian." Is your life lined up with this definition? If no, why not?

Matthew 12:22-29 "The Illogical Argument"

Read Matthew 12:22-29.

"It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." NIV

It just absolutely amazes me the illogical arguments that people will make against Christ and Christianity. Here is a prime example. Teachers of the law, God's law, accuse Christ of being a conduit of Satan to drive out demons. Why would Satan ever do that? He put the demon in the man in the first place to do his work. Yet that is the Pharisees' answer for who Jesus must be. And these were the wise men of the day -- the learned? Reminds me of Matthew 11:25 when Jesus says, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." Now I'm not against education at all. I'm an educator. But really, some common sense has to come into play sometime.

Jesus answers so beautiful with pure logic. "If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?"

So it just seems that this is the kind of argument that we still face to this day. People want truth yet they embrace relativism exactly like the Pharisees did. The Pharisees didn't want to see Jesus as the Messiah or their own sins and hypocrisy would be exposed and their power ripped away. Maybe that's the same reasoning today. If Jesus is embraced as the truth, then I will be shone as a person that does not follow truth. Therefore, I will create my own truth that I can follow religiously. The problem with creating our own truth is that it's truth for only us. And it can change with our whim. We stand on nothing concrete and so flounder in a world of our own making that shifts like the sand. Who are you really and what do you believe in? I guess it comes down to you only believe in yourself so you are making yourself your own god.

The Almighty does not change with the wind. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is a foundation that will never shift or crack because He is not only just, but loving. He is the perfect balance. God is good in all circumstances and His precepts are true. With God, there is no compromise. Full devotion is normal, not the exception. He is a mighty fortress, a strong tower. He will never leave me or forsake me. His decisions are not based on hormones, profit margins, or present circumstances. He is always right and in control. His truth is unwavering, and the path to Him is straight and narrow. He lives in the realm of black and white, no gray. Rigid, probably. Compassionate, absolutely. He embodies pure mercy and grace through His Son, Jesus Christ and desires that none of His children should perish. He is the Caring Shepherd pursuing tirelessly His lost sheep. He is never taken by surprise and never confused. His way is sure.

This is the Truth that I stand on. This is my argument against the shifting views that so many want to take today. Call me, conservative; call me, rigid; even call me, intolerant. I serve a jealous God and must remain true to Him. Any way other than His is the wrong way. Truth is still truth even if no one believes in it.

Further Thoughts:

1. How does Noah and the flood support my last statement?
2. Do you struggle with compromise like the Pharisees? Why? In what areas? What in your life needs to change to be back on the straight and narrow road?
3. Do you face constant opposition because of your faith? View their arguments in light of God's truth and stand on His firm foundation. You are not the one being rejected, He is. And He can stand up to anyone.