Author: Aaron Hufty

Aaron Hufty is the Associate Pastor for Worship and Music at FBCSA.

Humility

Re:Verse passage – John 19:17-27 (day two) Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. vs 23

If we are humble or display humility we ‘bring ourselves low’. We do this out of reverence or deference to authority or respect. The root of humiliation is the same, but it is something done to you. Christ shows an incredible amount of humility in his discourse with Pilate and in all the mock proceedings. He also allows this death penalty theatre to play out in a way that had to be hard to watch at any level. The soldiers after they had done driven spikes into human flesh and hoisted them up on display went about the business of gambling over the garments. Jesus’ mother and friends we witness to this, and had to stand in horror. Jesus, meanwhile, endured the scene. More than that, he allowed it. In light of the resurrection power to come, this humility should overwhelm us. We too often sanitize the passion of Jesus as we tell the story again and again, but it was gruesome. Take a moment to that the Lord for enduring the agony in order that we may have eternal life.

A Way Out

Re:Verse passage – John 19:5-16 (day tw0) As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.” vs. 12

No one is past redemption. There are times and circumstances, however, where the weight of your sin compounds and leads inexorably to more sin. This is where Pilate found himself, and this is where the mob found themselves as well. No amount of rhetoric, argument, or reason would stop this train…it had already left the station. Jesus was going to die. This was how it was designed. Jesus must endure this so that we might have the hope of salvation. It was the ‘joy set before him’ that kept his focus.

It is because of what Jesus did for us that we can escape the crushing load of sin. You may find yourself in a similar position as Pilate where you are trying to do the right thing, but the world is set against you. It is here that Christ intercedes. Jesus will make a way for you. Look to the cross as a way of hope not as the end. Jesus paid that price of sin so you/we don’t have to.

As you make final preparations for your Christmas celebrations, don’t ever forget as you read Luke 2 that he had John 19 in mind the whole time.

Choices

Re:Verse passage – John 19:1-5 (day one)  Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” vs. 4

This isn’t leadership; this is cowardice. We must ask ourselves, however, how often we make similar choices. Making someone else make the call when you know the right thing to do doesn’t get you off the hook. There is never a wrong time to do the right thing, but there are many times when doing the right thing will force us into a difficult position. Pilate was unwilling to put himself in that kind of political maelstrom, and if we are honest his decision is one we make time and time again. Faced with a choice to be ridiculed and hated is never easy, and each situation has nuance, but I would posit that more often than not we choose a path that causes us the least amount of friction. Perhaps we can re-examine Pilate’s choices and prayerfully consider which path to take the next time we are confronted with a choice.

King

Re:Verse passage – John 18:33-40 (day two) 

Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” vs. 37

Joy to the world, the Lord has come; Let earth receive her King

As I prepared the hymnody for this week’s scripture I was looking at different scripture references specifically describing Jesus as King. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many carols included in the list. Jesus’ words to Pilate indicate in no uncertain terms that he came as a child as King. Let it be clearly understood that Jesus knew of his divinity and his purpose. The dignity he displays at this interrogation is remarkable. Meek and humble yes, but with all the authority of heaven and earth at his command. All so we could have the hope of heaven. As we celebrate this coming of the Christ child, may we never forget to honor Christ the King.

Don’t Deny

Re:Verse passage – John 18:15-18, 25-27 (day two) “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” vs. 17b

Taking a hard look at our own journey, we deny Christ countless times, and rarely, if ever, are we publicly castigated for it. We deny him when we are dishonest, when we are unkind or unfair. We deny him when we do not confess sin that we know is impacting our testimony. We deny him when we fail to witness with a lost soul. We deny him daily.

Thanks be to God that this is not the end of our story. It was not the end of Peters. We just finished a study with the redeemed and restored Apostle Peter and his incredible letter speaking of how to treat others and to embrace the sufferings of Christ. Do not let the denials define you. They didn’t define Peter. Let us be defined by the restorative power of Jesus to be more like him every day.

Sharing Suffering

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 5:7-14 (day two) But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. vs. 9

Have you ever broken a bone? Had a knee replacement, or rotator cuff surgery? If you’ve ever had a traumatic experience and find someone else who has gone through something similar, you are automatically connected. You sway stories of scars and rehab. You talk about the process of healing. The same should be true for what you are experiencing in the faith. Mind you, this isn’t an opportunity to ‘one up’ each other in terms of suffering, but rather this is a chance to recognize that you are not alone. Peter has assured us that suffering is something that actually connects us. We can gain confidence as we endure trials, and perhaps, pray for others whose faces we may never see who are enduring in the same way.

Charity for All

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 5:1-6 (day two) and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another…vs. 5

“With malice toward none with charity for all with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right let us strive on to finish the work we are in to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan ~ to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.” Abraham Lincoln – Second Inaugural Address – March 4, 1865

President Lincoln had an uphill battle for which he would pay the ultimate price. His words resonate now as much as they did at the end of the Civil War. We are divided and fractious as a nation and even among believers we cling to what separates us rather than what unites us. The Apostle Peter has spent his entire letter clearly outlining how we are to treat other people as we all share in the sufferings of Christ Jesus. May we be a people marked by our charity and compassion rather than by our divisiveness.

No Surprise

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 4:12-19 (day two) …but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. vs 13

Outside the love of Jesus Christ that verse makes no sense whatsoever. Peter can only make this bold of a statement with full assurance of the truth. He knows Jesus, and walked the path of a disciple that would ultimately lead to his own martyrdom. If Peter can make such claim we are wise to listen. Our present sufferings for the savior are an assurance of his promise. To be sure these sufferings are ones faced in opposition to the world and for the cause of Christ. As you put on the full armor of God there is a full expectation of resistance, but anyone who keeps the faith and fixes their eyes on Jesus will be reminded these obstacles are not the end. Faithfulness to Jesus will have its final reward in eternity.

In Control

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 4:1-11 (day one)  Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. vs. 8

There are so many things that are out of your control on a daily basis. Situations arise that you are unprepared to handle. There may be financial crises that seem to never allow you to get ahead. Many things will happen to you, but what matters is your ability to manage what you can control. You are in control of your response, particularly to other people. No matter what comes your way, allow no one to say that you lacked charity or grace. Make people marvel at the way you handle difficult people, adversity, or stress. Focus on what the Lord has blessed you with, and start there. Sometimes all you have is all you need.

Made Clean

Re:Verse passage – 1 Peter 3:18-22 (day two)

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, vs. 21

Make sure to read the full passage when you encounter this verse. It is easy to get hung up on the first phrase and think that the act of baptism has some salvific property. Galatians 2:19-21 serves as a reminder that keeping a command or work is not the act of salvation. Continue reading Peter’s thoughts that our appeal to Christ through the power of his resurrection is the action that leads to salvation. Baptism is a wonderful reminder of the cleansing of our hearts from our own sinful pursuit and desires to a life redeemed and made worthy by Jesus.