May 23-27, 2022
Reflections from Matthew 26-27
Salvation
May 27, 2022 • Joan Lonsway
Adam and Eve’s first sin corrupted every individual after them. Think about that. Every single person is born into this world affected by sin. I stopped going to church in my twenties. After that, as Frank Sinatra sang, “I Did It My Way,” and I continued on a self-destructive path for twenty-two years. The idea of dying was frightening because all I could picture was darkness. That makes sense to me now. We not only suffer a physical death but a spiritual death as well, if we do not trust the Lord. Spiritual death is a continued state of permanent separation from God and everything good forever. That explains the darkness… Anyone who turns to Christ for salvation is granted access to God’s presence, now and forever. Because we are forgiven our sins, we have life, and we are to be forgiving people. In the words of hymn writer Elvina Hall, “Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe, Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”
Substitution
May 26, 2022 • Joan Lonsway • 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 27
Jesus took our place. I have seen several movies where a child murders someone, and the father confesses to it. His love is so strong that he would rather die than have this happen to his child. Jesus chose to stand as our substitute. He did this because He loves us. He was not a victim but surrendered himself willingly to endure a death He did not deserve. Jesus was judged guilty, although He was innocent. But, because Jesus took their place, every believer stands before God and, though guilty, is declared innocent. People who do not recognize God’s just declaration of their guilt and fail to turn to Jesus as their substitute must bear the weight of their own judgment. Good works is not the answer. Jesus is the only acceptable sacrifice for sin. 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness, by his wounds you have been healed.”
Redemption
May 25, 2022 • Joan Lonsway • 1 Peter 1:18–19, Matthew 27
Every Sunday during Communion time we are reminded that Jesus paid our debt with His precious blood. That was God’s plan for Him from the beginning. We were enslaved to sin, and like slaves, needed someone to redeem us. And Jesus—in love, compassion, and obedience to His Father—paid that price and set us free. When I truly embraced my faith at the age of 47, the realization of how much my sin hurt God overwhelmed me. I called a friend and cried and cried. It is so easy to dismiss our own sinfulness or underestimate our own guilt before God. I feel I sometimes need to be hit on the head to remind me of the impact of sin. Jesus died for me! He died for me, and He died for you. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” So, just how much does God love you again?
Repudiation
May 24, 2022 • Joan Lonsway • Matthew 26—27
When Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny Him, Peter protested profusely. “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away,” he said (Matthew 26:33). Jesus knew Peter was going to deny Him, but Peter didn’t know. He thought he was strong enough in his faith to stand up for his Lord and Master. Peter even put himself in a position where he was recognized by others, while the other disciples ran away. That put him one step closer to denial. I often stop someone when they use the term “I would never do that,” because we, as humans, haven’t a clue what we might do. We don’t know for sure when Judas first decided to betray Jesus. It seems to be after Mary poured the expensive perform over Jesus’ head. Maybe it was before that. According to John 12:6, Judas was a thief and often stole the disciples’ money. Because of his love for money, Judas may have become disillusioned when he realized that Jesus did not intend to be a worldly king. Where would that leave Judas? The difference between Peter’s denial and Judas’ betrayal is faith and repentance. Peter felt both and turned to Jesus who forgave him, over and over. Judas regretted but did not repent. He never turned back to Jesus. Learn to always repent and not simply regret. Regret doesn’t get you anywhere.
Adoration
May 23, 2022 • Joan Lonsway • Matthew 26:6–13
Matthew 26:6-13 is about Jesus being anointed with expensive perfume poured over His head. It doesn’t say by whom, only that it was a woman. John’s version, however, says it was Mary, and that it was at the home of Lazarus. John also says she anointed his feet not his head. Mark’s account is similar to Matthew’s, and Luke doesn’t mention the incident at all (perhaps because he records a similar event earlier in Jesus’ ministry, 7:36-50). Despite the seeming differences, it appears Matthew, Mark, and John all refer to the same event. I have participated in discussions on these passages in the Bible. Mary, Lazarus’ sister, would seem the likely one to perform this act of love and kindness. After all, Jesus had brought Lazarus back to life! When Jesus visited their home on a previous occasion, it was Mary who sat at His feet to listen to what he had to say (Luke 10:38-42). Through this act of anointing, she seemed to recognize, better than the disciples, what Jesus was to endure. Jesus himself said she was preparing his body for burial, and that her good deed would be remembered wherever the Good News was preached throughout the world. When my niece, Lauren, was little, I spent an evening at my sister Judy’s home. My sister, Jeanette, was also there. After dinner, I played with Lauren while my sisters did the dishes. Jeanette made a remark about me getting out of doing the dishes. My reply was that Lauren would remember the times we played together, not the times I did the dishes. Now, I hated doing the dishes—but there was so much truth to what I said. Spending time with Jesus—and others—is such a Mary thing. How else do you get to know them? Invite someone out for lunch this week and leave the dishes in the sink.