Thursday, March 21, 2013
John 18:10-11 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
HE BOWS TO THE FATHER'S WILL -- FOR US
God often has different ideas than we do about how to get things done.
Who would have expected Him to choose Moses, a man "slow of speech and tongue," to lead a nation out of captivity? Moses surely did not. Yet that was how God wanted it, and Moses led the Israelites away from Pharaoh.
When the prophet Samuel saw Jesse's handsome son Eliab he thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD." But when all was said and done, God had chosen young David, who had been out tending sheep, to be king over Israel.
And when God found a way to deal with the sins of men, sins that cried out for justice and punishment, His will was that His own Son should bear the iniquities of us all and suffer for them in our place. And that sort of solution was out of the ordinary as well.
But Jesus bowed His head and accepted His Father's will. Even though His friend Peter drew a sword and was ready to defend the Lord from death, Christ pointed out that it was the Father's will that He be crucified. "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
Jesus had prayed that there might be another way to redeem mankind, but when the answer came back, "No. This is the way," He did not argue, but went to the cross willingly to become the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus knew that His Father's will was best-- then and always. So do we.
God's time is the very best time.
In him we live, move and are, so long as he wills.
In him we die at the right time, when he wills.
Into your hands I commit my spirit;
You have redeemed me, Lord, you faithful God.
Glory, praise, honor and majesty
Be given to you God, Father and Son,
To the Holy Spirit by name!
God's strength,
Make us victorious
Through Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Johann Sebastian Bach, Cantata 106:2-4)
