A Word about the Master of Death

Today I want to share a word about the Master of Death, as I comment on passages from John 11. Let’s begin with John 11:1-7: 

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

Death is something that, if the Lord tarries, we all will face.  People almost universally fear death, and, in fact, there is very little difference in the way that believers and nonbelievers feel emotionally about death.  It is almost always a dreaded thing and most of us would also fight tooth and nail to keep our life.  A good example of this is a woman by the name of Jennifer Grunbeck, who’s story was told in the book, Nine Minutes, Twenty Seconds, written by Gary M. Pomerantz. 

She was a passenger in Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529 which crashed in rural Carroll County, GA. in 1995.  She was burned over ninety percent of her body.  By all estimates, she had no chance at all to survive, but she did.  She spent 106 days in a burn unit in Chattanooga, undergoing some of the most painful treatments known to medicine. After she returned home to Massachusetts, she had to endure six hours of physical and occupational therapy a day.  She fought to live and continued to do so.  Even what she endured was not as fearsome as the prospect of death.

The good news for us is that we have someone to turn to who is the Master of Death.  If we know Him, we should have confidence in His care for us, even in the most difficult of times. Let us look at the work of this master as we consider the events of John Chapter 11.

A MASTER WITH A PURPOSE: 

“A certain man” became ill. As we saw in yesterday’s devotional, this is a common occurrence in the world. It is common in the developed world, and it is common in the developing world. It was also common in the New Testament world. 

Also, when a person is sick, it is common to call on loved ones to help, and it was also common for people to call upon Jesus to heal them. Again, as we saw yesterday, Jesus did not come just to heal, but He could, would, and did heal.

This was not just any man, however. Lazarus was the brother of Martha and Mary. This was a family that Jesus had much contact with, and they were a family that Jesus loved. It would be reasonable to expect Jesus to rush over and save Lazarus, but Jesus is someone that you should expect the unexpected from. In fact, Jesus did not respond immediately, but in fact He delayed for some time.

Jesus was nothing if not in intentional in His ministry, and He deliberately delayed. He had good reason; He was not neglecting His friends, but He wanted to honor them. He wanted to use this event for a special miracle. When He was ready, and no sooner, Jesus decided to go to Bethany. How did his followers react to that decision? Let’s read John 11:8-16:

His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

A MASTER WITH DETERMINATION: 

In these verses we see that the Disciples were astounded at the idea of going to Judea They knew that there was great resistance to Jesus there and they were afraid that the resistance was too strong for Jesus. They believed that Jesus would be killed, and they did not think that Lazarus’ illness was worth the risk. The bottom line for them is that they were afraid of death, and they didn’t think Jesus was able to do anything about that.

Jesus, however, persisted. He was on a mission; He knew what He was doing. He also knew what He could do. He would not give in to doomsayers. Paul was echoing this ethos when he told young Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Jesus was fully confident in His purpose and abilities, even if His closest followers were not.

A lesson for us in this is that we must have confidence in Jesus if we are to follow Him.  We get scared, just like the Disciples. We want to run the other direction, just like the Disciples. We do this, even with entire Canon of Scripture available to us and when we do follow Jesus, we often do it like Thomas, with our hearts in our mouths, rather than like Paul, with a full-hearted confidence. 

So, in His timing, and despite the protests of the Disciples, Jesus went to Bethany. How was He received when He got there? We will find out as we look further in John 11:17-27:

Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

John 11:32-37 is also revealing:

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

A MASTER WITH COMPASSION: 

 Naturally, Martha and Mary (and some of their neighbors, too) were upset with Jesus.  Martha stormed out to confront Jesus, while Mary stayed home and sulked. Both of them blamed Jesus for Lazarus’ death. This blame was misplaced, however.

Human sin in the Garden of Eden brought illness and death into the world, not God. Lazarus, like all people, was a sinner and, like all of us, deserved death and Hell for falling short of the glory of God. Jesus did not owe them, or us, anything. We all need to come to God as beggars, with our hats in our hands.

Jesus reacted with patience to Martha and Mary. This is the classic reaction of God. We deserve judgment and punishment, but He shows us compassion, like a good parent does with an angry child. God will do what is right, not out of anger, but out of love. This patience comes out of confidence, and confidence out of competence. And Jesus was, and is, certainly competent to address the needs of fallen humanity!

Jesus was calm and confident, and verses 38-45 showed His ultimate level of competence:

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

A MASTER WITH POWER: 

 Jesus demonstrated His compassion by His power, but it is instructive think what would have happened had Lazarus not come forth? 

• Jesus would have hurt Martha and Mary beyond measure. 
• He would have risked His life and those of His disciples for nothing. 
• In Judea, the center of Jewish power and politics, He would have been a laughingstock. 
• His life and His ministry would have been in shreds.

Knowing this, many of us might have shied away from trying to raise Lazarus in the public eye the Jesus did. In fact, Jesus, acted in the opposite by crying out with a loud voice! Jesus did it this way on purpose so that He could show His power without any doubt. He knew that Lazarus had been dead four days, bound in grave clothes and placed in a tomb. Martha knew Lazarus was dead and didn’t want to smell the evidence. Yet, Jesus simply spoke, and Lazarus was revived!  No one knows who said it first, but many preachers have said that it is good that Jesus called Lazarus’ name or else everyone in the sound of His voice would have come forth!

Jesus marched into the midst of those who hated Him, risking death the hatred of His loved ones to show His power. Yet, this was no risk because the power was His to exercise and Jesus is still exercising this type of mastery today. This power is available to us today because He doesn’t change. He loves us and offers us access to this power even now!

CONCLUSION: 

 Jesus demonstrated He is the Master of Death and if this is the case, what is there that He can’t control? What is there in your life that He cannot master? Turn to Him and you will experience His power in your life!

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word about the Master of Disease

 

Today I want to share a word about the Master of Disease as I comment on verses from John 9. Let’s begin by reading John 9:1-7: 

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

We all get sick, and in many ways, it is amazing that we aren’t ill more often.  For example:

Little Johnny sat playing in the garden. When his mother came out to collect him, she saw that he was slowly eating a worm. She turned pale.  "No, Johnny! Stop! That's horrible! You can't eat worms!" 

Trying to convince him further she noted, "Now the mother worm is looking all over for her nice baby worm." 

"No, she isn't," said Johnny. "How do you know she's not?" said the mother. "Because I ate her first!" answered Little Johnny. 

Of course, after we do get sick, we rely on doctors and nurses and other medical professionals to help us get well.  On the other hand, these good folks are only people, too.  Here are some actual sentences found in patients' hospital charts:

• Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.
• On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared.
• The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.
• Healthy appearing decrepit 69 year-old male, mentally alert but forgetful.
• The patient refused autopsy.
• She is numb from her toes down. 
• The skin was moist and dry.
• Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.
• Patient was alert and unresponsive.
• Skin: somewhat pale but present.
• Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. Blank, who felt we should sit on the abdomen, and I agree.
• Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

We do fall ill, and we do know that while doctors treat us, there is only one true source of healing.  That source is the Great Physician, the Master of Disease, who we will see today in John 9.

THE WILL TO HEAL:

Many have questioned why illness happens. They ask question like, “If God is good why does pain exist?” Or “When you get sick is God getting even with you?” And “Why does God allow diseases like cancer exist?” Even “Why doesn’t God heal?” This is a serious issue, and it has existed from the beginning.

Some would answer these questions in ways that are not true to Scripture, such as, “God doesn’t care or, or God is evil.” Other, like those who hold to a theology of Deism. believe God is simply not engaged with the world.

We must remember that Jesus did not come to be a doctor. He came to save us from our sins by redeeming a lost and dying world and to defeat death and hell. All though His ministry the Gospel was His focus. In fact, the Scriptures reveal that Jesus would eventually leave a place where the people only wanted Him to do physical miracles, because He had more important work to perform.

Jesus, however, is God and He loves us, and He wants to bless us. He wants to give us abundant life and give us all good things. Therefore, He was willing to heal, and He did so regularly. He never withheld healing when it was sought.

Let’s continue by reading verses 8-12:

The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

THE ABILITY TO HEAL:

Having the willingness to heal is not the same as having the ability to heal. Many people think that God can’t act. They say He is too weak to prevent death and disease. This means that God is good, but hapless which would be comparing God to Barney Fife! Jesus is no Barney Fife!  

From other passages in the Bible, we know that He resisted temptation and brushed off Satan’s best shot. He stilled the wind and waves, and He delivered the demoniac from his demons. He did many other things that we haven’t considered yet, as John 21:25 tells us, 

And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

Of course, Jesus could heal! He healed this man, and He healed the woman with the issue of blood. He healed the Centurion’s servant, and He healed the ear of the High Priest’s servant in Gethsemane. When you have done it, why do you have to prove you can do it?  This is like the teacher asked why she hasn’t taken a particular standardized test for educators.  Her reply was, “I’m a certified teacher. I have been teaching for over a decade. Why do I need to take a test to prove what I show I can do every day school is in session?”

The fact the Jesus could heal should not surprise us, but neither is the fact that His acts were misunderstood. We can see that in verses 13-17 and 28-34:

They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet . . .

Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.  If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.  They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF HEALING:

Some of us have gained the wrong idea about disease, thinking that disease or disaster is the direct result of sin. I once knew a man who thought God was punishing him for his sin when child became ill. Yes, harmful health habits can lead to disease, but this does not explain all cases, like the young girl I knew who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

While we usually cannot trace individual diseases or other such tragedies to personal actions or sins, disease did come into the world by the way of human sin. The world was crested to be perfect, without disease or death. After Adam and Eve sinned, the world was changed and after sin came into the world, so did death and disease. If a building’s foundation is damaged, it will eventually fall and likewise is the effect of human sin on our lives and health.

The subject of divine healing has also generated significant misunderstanding as well. Some think it doesn’t happen ever while some think that it should always happen. There was a lot of misunderstanding going on in this event as well so, as we close, let’s see how Jesus viewed healing from verses 35-41,

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

THE DEPTH OF HEALING:

Jesus more important concerns than physical disease. He was more concerned with eternal health than physical. He was more concerned with spiritual health than physical health. He also was more concerned with the global root cause of disease than the symptoms experienced by individuals.

Though He proved to be willing and capable of physical healing, Jesus came to give us eternal health. The key to this eternal health offered by Jesus is to know and trust the Great Physician. If we believe in the Son of God, He will open our spiritual eyes. He will help us to escape the judgment and we will be well spiritually well forever!

CONCLUSION:

Jesus is the Master of Disease. He can and does heal your body, but more importantly He can and will heal your soul. Turn to Him and you will be made well, well for eternity

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word about the Master of New Life

 

Today I want to share a word about the Master of New Life as I comment on verses from John 3. Let’s begin by reading John 3:1-8:

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

In my younger days I had the privilege of serving my country in the US Army and also in the National Guard.  From time to time I had the opportunity to fly in helicopters which I thought was quite exciting and actually safer than flying in fixed wing airplanes.  After all, helicopters don’t have to charge down a runway at over 100 miles an hour just to get off the ground.  Of course, that does not mean there is no risk involved in riding in a helicopter.  One risk that I learned about is what pilots call the “Jesus Nut.”

The fuselage of a helicopter basically hangs from its rotors.  On smaller helicopters, these rotors are attached to the helicopter by a single, very large nut. The slang name for this nut is the “Jesus Nut,” because, it that nut came loose, or gave way, everyone in that bird could find themselves meeting Jesus before they were expecting to.  

Of course, under those circumstances you might find that you would be surprised at what you discovered!

Nicodemus was a prominent member of Hebrew society who also met Jesus.  When he did so, he also got surprised at what he discovered. Let’s begin by looking at John 3:1-8, above.

JESUS SAID WE NEED NEW LIFE:

Jesus associated with all kinds of people:

• Poor and rich. 

• Sick and well.

• Powerful and humble.

Unlike a politician who sticks his finger in the wind to see which way it was blowing, He told them all what they needed to hear, not just what they wanted to hear.

Nicodemus was a powerful leader in Israel and a prominent member of Jewish society. He was a member of the “right” religious party, and he was hosting Jesus in his own home. All of these would lead him to believe Jesus might cater to him, and he probably expected Jesus to approve of his life and himself.

Jesus, however, told him Nicodemus the honest truth. He said that his life was empty, rotten, and useless. He said that the Spirit of God went where it wanted to go, but it didn’t want to go into the life Nicodemus had. He said he needed to abandon it and get a new one. As one of my former pastors said, “He didn’t need to turn over a new leaf, he needed a new life!”

Next let’s look at verses 14-18:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

JESUS SAID THAT WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED NEW LIFE:

Jesus, who said that He had come to seek and save that which was lost, wanted Nicodemus to have new life. He wanted to give him what Nicodemus could not do for himself. God has been doing this since Adam and Eve first sinned. For example, when the Israelites rebelled on the way to the Promised Land, God sent snakes to kill them, but he gave them a way out, by simply looking at a bronze snake lifted on a pole. Jesus now was offering more than physical life.  He was giving eternal life.   

One important fact that Jesus told Nicodemus is that this world is already condemned. The Scriptures are clear about that. Everyone all sinned, and we have gone our own way. We have all rejected God’s way, and we have all decided to take the path to destruction.

There is hope for us today, however, the same hope that Nicodemus was being offered. New life comes through Jesus: It comes by a person, not a program. It comes by a sacrifice, not a system of belief. It comes by believing, not by our behavior. It come though the personal work of Jesus!

Finally, let’s consider verses 17-21:

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

JESUS SAID THAT WE MUST CHOOSE NEW LIFE: 

The choice in the matter belonged to Nicodemus:

• He could choose God and God’s way or another way.
• He could choose to be freed from condemnation or to remain in it.
• He could choose light, or he could choose darkness.
• He could choose truth or evil.

To believe means to choose and we choose by believing in Jesus as the source of our new life. To believe means to trust in Jesus for your salvation. To believe is to rely on Jesus only for your salvation. To believe is have no “Plan B”.

In the example from the Old Testament above, the Israelites who looked upon the snake lived, those who didn’t, died.  In the same way, those who trust only in Jesus receive eternal life, and those who don’t die eternally.

We, too, must choose. We will either choose for or against Jesus. We will choose either for or against grace. We will choose either eternal life or eternal death.We must chose before it is too late!

CONCLUSION:

Jesus is the Master of New Life. The only way we can have the new life we need is for Jesus to give it to us. The only way Jesus will give it to us is for us to trust in Him alone. Have you chosen Jesus today?

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word about the Master of Temptation

 

Today I want to share a word about the master of temptation, as I comment on Matthew 4:1-11. This passage reads: 

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you,  and they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Temptation is something we all face, and we usually face it daily.  Temptation is so common that we use it to sell products.  Remember the potato chip commercial that says “You can’t eat just one!”

We even use temptation to market our entertainment acts.  A mild example of this is the singing group “The Temptations.”

Leave it to the late Christian comedian Jerry Clower to come up with the most unusual example of temptation.  He said that one day he went by his uncle’s farm and saw a hog out in the field with a wooden leg. He stopped and asked his uncle about the pig.

Jerry’s uncle told him, “That pig is like a member of our family.  When our house burned down, he rushed in to save my grandmother.  When our little girl was drowning in the creek, he jumped in and saved her.  He’s just like a member of our family.” 

Jerry asked, “Why does he have a wooden leg?”

His uncle replied, “Son, when you have an animal of that quality, you eat him only one ham at a time!”

While we can use temptation to sell products, and while we can make light of it, the truth is that temptation is a serious problem that we all face.  The very fact that we resort to it so much for our own purposes shows us that temptation is powerful and that we often fall prey to it. 

We are tempted to sin in many ways, and none of us in our own power can resist temptation.  There is a Master of Temptation, however and we will see that Master at work today. He will show us the way out of temptation and if we follow Him and His example, we will be able ourselves to resist more effectively.

THE IDENTITY OF THE TEMPTER:

Everything except God has an origin and we know that good things come from God. Jesus said that good and bad cannot come from the same source. God can no more do an evil thing than can the shade of black become white. It will never happen. Evil also has an origin; it originated with Satan, and so did temptation. Knowing where temptation comes from helps us learn its purpose.

Satan was Lucifer; He was the beautiful “Day Star” of Heaven. He was the archangel, the most privileged servant of God who played beautiful music to glorify God. Sadly, for all concerned, he became proud and so he rebelled against God. Because of this he was banished from heaven.

Now, in his bitterness and anger, Satan wants to cause pain. Satan’s response to this conflict was to become bitter and he wants his revenge against God and to hurt Him. He wants to hurt God through turning God's highest creation, humankind, away from Him.  His main tool for this desperate and dastardly plot is temptation.

His main tactic is not control or possession, but temptation. This is why the Bible calls him a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He is a roaring lion because he is defeated and toothless, and he’s trying to scare people into siding with him against God. Like many dogs, his bark is worse than his bite; but he can entice or scare God's people into sin, then he can hurt God. And that's his real intent!

THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE TEMPTER:

Why did Satan decide to tempt Jesus at this time? Was it because Jesus was in a weakened situation? Was he kicking someone when they were down? No!

In fact, Jesus was in a spiritually strong condition. He had just been baptized and heard His Father’s approval. He was completing a fast and the purpose of a fast is to grow closer to God. Jesus may have been closer to God later in His life and ministry, but I would argue that He had never yet been so close to God as when He was in the midst of this fast.

In fact, in Matthew 6, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught:

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their fac-es to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is un-seen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Fasting is tough, physically, but it is revitalizing, spiritually!

Satan likes to try to play hardball because he wants to be just like God. He wants to show his power and all through Bible he attacks people during/after spiritual highs:

• Adam and Eve in the garden
• Noah after the flood
• David after the covenant from God
• Elijah after Mount Carmel
• Paul and Silas during a powerful ministry in Philippi
• And Jesus after His baptism and affirmation of God from Heaven.

So, we need to be aware of this trend, this tactic. When things are going well we need to guard our hearts. Satan wants to score as many points as possible by knocking off a successful person, family, or church.

THE METHODS OF THE TEMPTER:

From this passage we can see some of the techniques that Satan uses. These are probably not inclusive of all his wiles, but they do seem to attack three basic motivations in our lives.

First, we see that Satan appeals to the flesh.  I call this the "Temptation to Greed."

We live in a world that is fascinated by physical possessions. As one pastor friend put it, "People try to get all that they can, put it in a can, put a lid on the can, and then sit on the lid!" This temptation makes our flesh our God and it denies that God is sufficient to care for our physical needs.

Next, we see that Satan appeals to our vanity. I call this the "Temptation to Gaudiness."

People have always seemed to crave fame and notoriety, and this especially is true today when we create stars of people who have never achieved anything but a mastery of manipulating social media. People want to be known; they just don't want to put in the effort to be known for something they have actually accomplished!

Finally, we see that Satan appeals to our spirit of rebellion. I call this the "Temptation of Glory."

We, like Satan, want to think we are "large and in charge," but there is only one Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent God of the universe. When Frank Sinatra sang about doing things "my way" he is singing the theme song of this temptation, the temptation to place ourselves on the throne of our life and not Almighty God.

Again, Satan may use many other techniques than the ones he tried with Jesus, and we must stay on the alert for his manipulations and deceptions. Satan is the chief of liars and we can never trust him!

THE DEFEAT OF THE TEMPTER:

Satan tried to play hardball with Jesus. He was going head-to-head, and hand to hand with God, and while he is powerful, his strength pales in comparison with God's. In fact, the contest wasn't even close. Jesus brushed away Satan with little effort, the way we might brush away a fly or a piece of lint on our jacket.

• The results of this contest present us with some important lessons: 
• Jesus had a relationship with His Father from His childhood.
• Jesus’ relationship with His Father continued into adulthood.
• Jesus’ relationship with His Father was fresh and renewed.
• Jesus made wise use of God’s Word in defeating Satan.

We can take advantage of these principles as well and if we do, we too can have victory.

Consider what Paul taught us in 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says, 

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

We need to remember, that while Satan is a cruel liar, God showed His true nature in that passage of Scripture and in Matthew 4:

• He gives us help to escape the tempter.
• He nurtures us and cares for us.
• Jesus showed us the way to use Scripture to overpower the tempter.

CONCLUSION:

In our text for today, we have seen how Jesus took Satan's best shot and walked away unscathed. He is truly the Master of Temptation, and if we let Him be our Master, then we can master temptation as well. If we turn to Him in times of test-ing, He will help us and, like Him, we can be victorious

A Word about Playing Taps

Today I want to share a word about playing Taps as I comment on Genesis 35:9-21. This passage reads: 

And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel. And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day. And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

I served on Active Duty in the Army in the Headquarters of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, HI. One day I went into the office where the post public address system was operated.  Every Army post uses bugle calls to mark out the periods of the day, but at that time they had all been recorded on audio tape and projected over loudspeakers.  In any case, I noticed that the PA system had been labeled with a name: “Private Prewitt.”

Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt was the character played by Montgomery Clift in the movie “From Here to Eternity.”  Pruitt was a talented bugler assigned to the band at Fort Shafter, but he was also a skilled boxer.  After he blinded a man in a boxing match, he refused to box anymore, and was transferred to Schofield Barracks as a rifleman.  

The only time Prewitt played the bugle in the entire movie was when his best friend died in the post stockade. That evening, at lights out, he played Taps.  

The haunting notes of that tune always stir the soul, but on that occasion the clear crisp sound of the bugle would chill you to the bone.  You could feel Prewitt’s grief pouring out though the bell of that instrument.  He was grieving his lost friend, his lost career, his lost avocation, and the lost sight of his erstwhile opponent.  The emotion of that moment could rip the heart out of your chest.

Jacob faced a similar moment when he lost his beloved Rachel. Let’s consider from God’s Word how He dealt with that heart-rending event.

JACOB LOST HIS BELOVED:

Jacob loved Rachel like no other person on earth. He loved her better than his first wife, Leah, and Rachel was his soul mate. He had worked for Rachel’s father for fourteen years to earn the right to marry her, and his world revolved around her.

Jacob also loved Rachel’s children. His favorite was Joseph, but he loved them all. Rachel knew that God wanted Jacob to become a great nation, and she wanted to give him more and more children. Trying to give him one more child, she died while giving birth, but not before calling the baby, Benoni, or “Son of My Sorrow.” Jacob, out of his deep love for her, changed his name to Benjamin, or “Son of My Right Hand.”

Then, Jacob buried his beloved. He had no other choice. He could not hold her back; she was gone, and he had to let her go. So, he buried her, put a headstone on her grave, and then went on his way. It was all over.  Their love was finished.  Or was it?

JACOB GRIEVED HIS BELOVED:

Although the Bible does not explicitly say it, there can be little doubt that Jacob grieved Rachel. Humans long for what they have lost and like the father of the Prodigal Son, they want their beloved back. They wish they could turn back the clock for even a moment, like the line from the song, Me and Bobby McGee, says, “I’d trade all of my tomorrows for a single yesterday . . .” with the singer’s loved one. 

How do we know Jacob grieved Rachel? Because he grieved the reported “death” of his favorite son, Joseph, in Genesis 37:34-35:

And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

My experience in ministry has shown that it is particularly difficult for a man to be widowed. Husbands usually die first, and men are often less emotionally resilient than women. Truth be told, many men really do need a woman to look after them, though this may be changing some as our culture develops.

Like Jacob, we, too, grieve our lost loved ones. It usually takes up to a year or more to adjust to the loss of a loved one. Often it can take much longer, and people can lapse into depression as they fixate on the loss of their beloved. It is as if they played Taps over and over and over again.

Jacob’s grief was all the worse because he probably had no hope of seeing Rachel again. He did not know all we do today because, while God had revealed Himself to Jacob, he did not have the full counsel of the entire canon of Scripture as we do today. Life after death was not assured at that time and Jacob probably felt that, once lost, Rachel was lost forever.

When death comes, it is all over.  We play Taps, relationships are finished, and that’s all she wrote. Or is it? Let’s consider what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

JACOB WILL SEE RACHEL AGAIN:

The early Christians had a similar problem to Jacob. They knew Christ was coming again for His people, but in the meanwhile, believers were dying. Where did they go?  Were they lost?  What happened to them? Paul, understanding their grief and confusion, wrote to the church at Thessalonica to help them.

Paul taught that Christians are not to grieve as those with no hope. We can and should grieve because we miss the departed, for this is part of the human condition. Christians, however, have a hope that others do not have. Our hope is in Jesus!

Jesus has saved us from our sins, and He will come again for His people. When He comes, He will also bring with Him those that have gone before. That means those who have gone before are safe with Him. A horn will play, but it won’t be playing Taps!

• There will be a shout.
• The archangel will announce that Jesus is coming.
• A trumpet will sound in victory.
• Jesus and all our loved ones will come for us.
• We who remain shall rise-up and meet them in the air.
• There will be a reunion such as the world has never seen.

I don’t know what the archangel’s horn will sound like, but I believe it will sound more like Charge than Taps!

CONCLUSION:

 For the Christian, we have the assurance that our loved ones are safe in the arms of God. They are not playing Taps in heaven, so, although we miss them, we should not be playing Taps continually for them on earth. One day, Jesus will come for us, with our beloved ones in His wake, to take us home to be with Him and them also. Will you rise-up to meet them? You can if you have Christ in your heart!

Every Blessing, 

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word about Our Master and Commander

Today I want to share a word about our Master and Commander as I comment on Matthew 28 verses 18-20. This very familiar passage reads:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you always even until the end of the world. Amen.

From time-to-time people like to assert their authority and I've collected several stories to illustrate this but not most appealing side of human behavior. From the business world comes this story:

Employed by the Human Development Center of a corporation in the Midwest, a young lady trained employees in proper dress and etiquette. One day, as she was stepping onto the elevator, a man casually dressed in jeans and a golf shirt got on with her. Thinking of her responsibilities, she scolded, "Dressed a little casually today, aren't we?" The man replied, "Well, that is one benefit of owning the company.”

Police officers also exercise authority. One officer reported, "It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking and I saw a little boy staring in at me. 'Is that a dog you have back there?' he asked. 'It sure is,' I replied. Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then he looked at the dog and then he looked back at me and said, "What did he do?"

We all know that teachers must control their classrooms for learning to take place and that's why one child reported this after she had just finished her first week of school” "I'm just wasting my time," she said to her mother. "I can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk." 

Finally, there comes this story from the home front. A mild-mannered man was tired of being bossed around by his wife, so he went to a psychiatrist. This psychiatrist said he needed to build up his self-esteem and gave him a book on assertiveness, which he read. As soon as he had finished the book and confronted his wife. He pointed a finger in her face and said, 

"From now on, I want you to know that I am the man of this house, and my word is law. I want you to prepare me a gourmet meal tonight and when I am finished eating my meal, I expect a sumptuous dessert afterwards. Then after dinner you're gonna draw me my bath so I can relax and when I'm finished on my bath guess who's gonna dress me and comb my hair?”

“The funeral director,” interrupted his wife. 

We all like to exercise what little authority we may have but there is one person who has ultimate authority. He is Jesus our master and commander. Let's see his authority today.

FIRST, OUR MASTER AND COMMANDER HAS ALL AUTHORITY:

Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and because he is the sovereign ruler, he has all authority. This is what sovereignty means. Sovereignty means all authority. Our government in the United States is sovereign, but its powers are limited by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Jesus, however, is King and his authority is unlimited.

 One great advantage of the church serving the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is that his church also has authority. Some people think that Satan rules hell like God rules heaven, but this is not so. Jesus is ruler over all of these things. And that's why Jesus told Peter this about the authority of the church in Matthew 16:18-19, 

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The authority of the Church doesn't come from what we do in church. It doesn't come from our worship or our worship music or even our pastors. The authority of the Church descends from our Lord. But not only that, but Jesus’s authority also extends to us personally.

We Americans are rebellious and we're individualist and we're proud. As an example, a kindergarten teacher, was observing her classroom of children while they drew. She asked one little girl, "What are you drawing?" The girl replied, "I'm drawing God." The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like." And without missing a beat or looking up from her drawing, the little girl replied, “They will in a minute.”

We often forget that we too are under the authority of Jesus, and we can think we can do what we want, but we can't. 1 Corinthians 6: 20 says that we were bought with a price and therefore we should glorify God in our body and in our spirits which are the Lord's. They belong to God. We must to bow our knee to Jesus as our King, our Master and Commander is our Sovereign. He has all authority. And our Master and Commander sent us to all nations. 

OUR MASTER AND COMMANDER SENT US TO ALL NATIONS:

Jesus gave us a mission. He wants all people to have a saving knowledge of Him. He wants all people to understand the truth and be set free from the lies of Satan. He wants us as His Church and as His people to be the tools to make that happen. To do this, we must have power.

The old television show, Home Improvement, always had a joke about “more power,” but Acts 1.8 says that God’s people will receive more power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, Then, we will be witnesses to Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Jesus knew we couldn't do this work on our own, so He sent us power to give us the ability to do this work.

Today we have the Holy Spirit. Today we have the entire Word of God, the entire Council of God's Word, the entire Canon. We have our own testimony of salvation and so much more. We all those things He gave us, because our task is huge, and our task is difficult. And to do this task, we must go outside our comfort zone.

We often think that Jerusalem meant our hometown or the disciples' hometown, but that's wrong. The disciples were from Galilee. was not their home field. And it's not our home field either. This world is not our home field, we are just passing through it. We never have any advantage here except the advantage that God gives us. 

So, our Master and Commander had all authority and he sent us to share the Gospel with all peoples. He also told us to do all things.

OUR MASTER AND COMMANDER TOLD US TO DO ALL THINGS:

Our Master and Commander also told us to do all things and to teach people all that He has taught us. So, we need to be “full gospel preachers”. I don't mean that in a Pentecostal sense. What I mean is that we need to preach the full counsel of the Word of God. We don't need to keep people in ignorance; we need them to know what the full richness of God's love is for us. 

You don't need to know very much to be saved. You just need to know that Jesus died for you, and He wants you to commit yourself to Him, that you need to repent of your sins and that He would take care of the rest. But we do need to know a lot about being a disciple. The Psalmist said we should sing with understanding so we must teach people the full gospel. 

So, what is the full gospel? Since we come to the Lord as a child. it can't be hard to understand. What we need to teach is that:

• The Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost.
• That we need to love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and mind and with all of our being.
• We need to love our neighbors as ourselves. 
• We need to obey the commands of Christ and we need to help people become disciples. 

Before we can help other people become disciples, we too must become disciples. Doctors were medical students first. Lawyers were flaw students first. Generals in the Army were first cadets first. Senior NCOs in the army began as privates. We must ourselves grow up to be disciples and we must be full gospel people before we are full gospel preachers. If we are not disciples ourselves, we can't make disciples. We can't lead by example if we don't know where we're taking people. We are not making disciples if we're disobeying our Lord and we really don't want to disobey our Lord, our Master and Commander, our King. Hebrews 10 :24 -27 says, 

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries.

The one organization in the whole world that I'm afraid of is the Internal Revenue Service, not because I cheat on my taxes but, because I'm afraid of making mistakes. Some people do try to cheat on their taxes, and the IRS is there to find them and to bring them to justice. Many of those tax cheats live in fear that they will be found out. 

Our God wants us to obey Him. Jesus said if you love me, keep my commandments. We don't need to put ourselves in the position of becoming afraid of God because we have not done what He's asked us to do.

FINALLY, OUR MASTER AND COMMANDER IS ALWAYS WITH US:

In this passage we can see a final truth which is as, good thing for us: our master and commander is always with us. 

We often let our fears prevent us from obeying God. We are just ordinary people. We feel incapable of doing the tremendous ask that He has given us. Sometimes we try to duck that task and let someone else do it who we think are more qualified. Sometimes we say, "Hey, I'm no hero." 

Interestingly, I've actually known some heroes. There was a man by the name of Al. Al who served in the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, the old 3/4th Cav as is it was called in Vietnam. He wasn't in the country but for three months when he'd been wounded three times and sent home. He limped the rest of his days, but that didn’t prevent him from retiring as a senior NCO many years later. 

My first platoon sergeant when I was a brand-new platoon leader in the Army was a man by the name of Chuck. He won a Silver Star escorting a convoy in Vietnam with the 4th MP Company because he was the sole survivor of the escort team.

I once knew a senior NCO when I was serving in the headquarters of the 25th Infantry Division in the United States Army, who won a Medal of Honor in Vietnam.

I know a fellow by the name of Jeff who was a missionary, but who had to resign because of a tropical illness that he caught in Africa, sacrificing his body for the cause of missions.

And then there's William, William who was a martyr at the Jibla Baptist Hospital, killed by an Islamic terrorist while helping to heal people in a very impoverished area of the world. 

The truth is that each of these was an ordinary person:

• Al had a bad temper. A really bad temper.
• Chuck, had his own stubborn, crazy way of doing things. His nickname was Crazy Harold and he sort of was.
• Jeff had a fixation on a particular kind of theology. He was saved and a man of God, but he was fixated that if you didn't believe about a certain thing a certain way that your faith was flawed.
• Bill was a very mild, avuncular, unassuming man. He didn’t look like the popular image of a hero.

All these folks were heroes, but they were just real people, regular people. And they needed God's help to do the work that they did.

We can obey God because He's always with us. Jesus will never leave us, nor will He forsake us. He will always help us whenever we step forward for Him and He sent the comforter who will help us do the things He's asked to do.

An old recruiting poster says, “Uncle Sam wants you!” Well, Uncle Sam may not want you. He does not want me anymore as old as I am. But God wants us. Jesus, our Master and our Commander, wants us. So the question comes, are we obeying Him today? Are we allowing Him to be all authoritative in our life? Are we going to all peoples for the cause of the gospel? Are we doing all the things that Jesus asked us to do? Are we resting in the fact that God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is always with us? 

Are we obeying our Master and Commander today? 

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

Word about the Master of Salvation

Today I want to share a word about the Master of the Salvation as I comment on Luke 24:13-49. Let’s begin by reading Luke 24:13-24:

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.  And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 

My dad was a very frugal man because he had grown up during the Depression era. I remember very clearly when my mother and father had a long debate one night about buying an electronic calculator so they could do their taxes.  It was sort of like buying a computer today because sone couples might debate buying an expensive computer. They were debating this purchase because my father was very frugal, and he liked to save money as well as other useful things. In fact, he never threw away a screw or a nut or a washer or anything that could be useful someday. 

My dad had a big wooden box where he had stashed all of fasteners. It was a big wooden ammunition crate that he had scavenged from somebody, somewhere. If he needed a screw or a nut for a project, he would get an old scrap of a cloth tarpaulin and he would lay that out. Then, he would tip that wooden box over, and he'd go through all those little items he had saved over many years until he found what he needed. Then he'd pack it all back up again until the next time.

My dad was good at saving things that might be useful someday, down in the future. Well, our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, came to seek and save that which was lost. He was the Master of Salvation as we will see in Luke 24. We began by reading verses 13 through 24 and seeing some surprised disciples.

FIRST, WE SEE SURPRISED DISCIPLES:

After the Crucifixion, the disciples were defeated, and they were demoralized. This actually began before the Crucifixion, because they had been so excited about celebrating Passover in Jerusalem. That was something so exciting that it was the highlight of their life up to that day. So, they were shocked, they were dismayed, they were upset and surprised, by Judas and his betrayal of Jesus.

They'd been frightened by His arrest and by His trial. And when He was crucified on the cross, they were more than surprised, and they were more than saddened. They were shattered. They saw something they never expected to see, and it just destroyed their faith. Because of their shattered faith, these disciples scattered to the four winds.

Some of them, like these two who went to Emmaus, left Jerusalem. Some of them were holed up in the upper room. The doors were shut and barred, and they were hiding out in a place they hoped was safe from the Jews and the Romans. Later on, we see in the Scriptures, that Peter decided, "I'm going fishing." When you are in trouble, “you go with what you know.” Peter was a fisherman, so he went back to what he was comfortable with. Thomas, the doubting disciple, just disappeared. Nobody knew where Thomas went. He had a bolt hole, and he went there to hide out.

Now, these two that were on the way to Emmaus were discussing these events when they were met by Jesus. They were talking about the events of the past week because that's what people do. When someone has a situation in their life, they talk about it. They tell their story until they're finished telling it. Then when they're finished telling it, they don't talk about it anymore. These two, these followers of Jesus, were doing just that, talking about what was happening.

When Jesus came upon them, Jesus said, "What's all this about?" They were surprised because surely, everybody knew what was going on in town. They looked at Jesus and they basically said, "You ain't from around here, are you?" He couldn’t be from Jerusalem, because everyone there knew what was happening.

Of course, Jesus knew what was happening as well, but Jesus wanted to use this as a teaching moment because they didn't understand what was happening. They had seen it with their own eyes. They had heard the stories from others, and they were at a loss, and they had no idea what these things meant. They were surprised.

• They were surprised by the betrayal.
• They were surprised by the trial.
• They were surprised by the scourging.
• They were surprised by the Cross.
• They were surprised by the Resurrection.

But, if we read verses 25-32, we see that Jesus had a superior explanation.

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

NEXT, WE SEE A SUPERIOR EXPLANATION:

Jesus is not only the Master of Salvation, but here we also see Him being the Master Teacher. Jesus was often called Rabbi, meaning “teacher,” and he wanted people to have a saving knowledge of him and to understand the truth. As He said in the scriptures, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free."

These folks wanted to know the truth and they were genuinely confused. Today, many people are confused spiritually as well; even a cursory review of social media outlets will confirm that fact. But even before social media, there were plenty of spiritual ideas around in the world in any case.

The key element is that Jesus said, "You need to know the truth." Then He went to the beginning of Scriptures and started to teach them all that they should have already known. We need to remember that Jesus and the early church did not have the same total Bible that we have today. The Bible that they had was the Old Testament. Jesus said, in essence, "If you understand the Old Testament and you know me, you know everything you need to know to find salvation." Again, Jesus was saying, that those who know the truth will be set free. But what is the truth?

• Truth is not a philosophy of life.
• Truth is not an abstract concept.
• Truth is not a system of belief.
• Truth is not a list of principles.

Truth is much simpler than all these things. Jesus said very simply in John 14:6, “I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life.” So instead of complex theories, what they needed was the Savior.

They didn't need to understand all the reasons why the Jews rebelled against Jesus, and they didn’t need to understand the legal reasons why the Romans were the ones that had to put Jesus to death. They didn't need to understand the reason why God worked it out so that almost all known humanity at that time were responsible for the death of our Savior and Lord. What they had to know was there was a Savior who suffered and died for them. What they had to know was there was a Savior who rose from the dead for them and what they needed to know was a Savior who could warm their hearts. 

No doubt they were a little embarrassed at the situation they were in.  It's embarrassing when you don't recognize someone that you should know. These disciples were embarrassed, but what is more embarrassing than what they experienced is to cross over into eternity without recognizing your Savior. That's much worse than anything.

Next, let’s read verses 33-43:

And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.

WE ALSO SEE SCARED SINNERS:

What we see in the upper room were a group of scared sinners. To put their situation in context, we need to remember who these people were. We know what they became in the rest of the New Testament. We know their ministries. We know that they all died as martyrs for the cause of Christ. But at the time that we see them here, they were just regular ordinary people. None of these folks were what we today would call opinion leaders or influencers.  

They were nobody in particular and so when Jesus came in their midst, they were scared. They were scared because they finally understood He was different. He was the son of a carpenter, but He was also the Son of God. Because He was God, they were scared.

They also knew that they had really betrayed Him. All of them had run away. Thomas hadn't even come back yet. They were frightened. And frankly, we would have been frightened too, because they knew they were hopeless sinners in the presence of extreme Holiness. 

This situation is really not about the disciples, however. It is about Jesus coming to the disciples. They were nobody important. They were smelly fishermen, and they were rebellious people, and they were traitors, and they were scared, and they had run away and they had betrayed Him and yet Jesus came to them anyway. He saw fit to come in their midst and to talk to them and to bless them. What did He say when He came in? “Peace be unto you!” So, in the upper room we see some scared sinners, but we also see a sufficient Savior.  

Let’s read verses 44 through 49:

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

FINALLY, WE SEE A SUFFICIENT SAVIOR:

Jesus is the sufficient Savior.  Jesus is sufficient because he fulfilled the law. Jesus said, "I didn't come to abolish the law, I came to satisfy the law."

• He satisfied the law by His life; He lived a perfect life.
• He satisfied the law by His sacrificial death.
• He satisfied the law by rising from the dead and completing all of His work.
• He fulfilled the law in a way that we are incapable of doing for ourselves.

Jesus is sufficient because He has done for us those things that we can't do for ourselves. Because He fulfilled the law, He gave us freedom from our sins by relieving us from the debt of sin. When we are in Jesus, we are freed from the power of sin. In Jesus, we are able to live an abundant life here on earth.

Finally, Jesus is sufficient because He sent us the Helper.  He sent us the Holy Spirit to write God’s law on our hearts the way God said He would in the Old Testament. He sent us the Holy Spirit to help us live out our life without fear and He sent us the Holy Spirit to give us authority for being a witness. 

CONCLUSION:

Jesus is the Master of Salvation. He was the Master of Salvation for these disciples, and He is the Master of Salvation for us because He is the way, the truth, and the life. 

The question for today is this, have you met the Truth?  Has your heart been warmed by His presence in your life? Have you allowed Him to save you from your sins?

My daddy loved to save stuff. Jesus does too. And He would love to save you today.

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt