Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for March 11

JESUS TORE OPEN THE CURTAIN OF SEPARATION

From: March 11, 2024

“And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom” (Mark 15:37-38 ESV).

At the sound of Jesus’ last cry, the thick curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, was rent from top to bottom, opening the way. This must have been quite startling to the priests who witnessed it during the exact time of afternoon prayers. For it was at the “ninth hour” that Jesus cried out, which was the final time of daily prayers.

The Jews counted time from sunrise at 6AM which they called the “first hour,” so the “ninth hour” would have been 3PM. There were three daily prayer times, except on the Sabbath when there were four. The daily prayer times were: Morning prayers at 9AM, Midday prayers at Noon, and Afternoon prayers at 3PM. It was during the third prayer time that Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying “It is finished!” (John 19:30). And the temple veil was torn asunder.

From that moment, Jesus, our Great High Priest, opened up “a new and living way” by His blood, so that we are able to enter the “Holiest” place and bring our requests before the Father (Heb. 10:19-22).

Do you understand what Jesus accomplished for us? He took what appeared to be defeat and turned it into victory. He accomplished His mission to pay for our sin and to open up the way for us to be reconciled to the Father.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are so thankful for the love and sacrifice expressed in the giving of Your Son. It is beyond our understanding, yet it is the fullest revelation of Your love and holiness. We offer ourselves back to You as living sacrifices today, in Jesus’ name, amen.

SECRET FOLLOWERS NO MORE

From: March 11, 2023

“Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)” (Mark 15:46 NLT).

A prominent member of the Sanhedrin named Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus after He was crucified. At great personal risk to his own reputation and huge financial cost, Joseph bought linen and spices to prepare Christ’s body for burial and then placed the body in his own newly carved out tomb. The tomb had never been used before. Joseph had probably purchased it for his own family. Yet, he could not bear to see the body of Christ thrown into the valley of Gehenna, where the bodies of criminals were often cast.

The gospel of John reported that another member of the Sanhedrin named Nicodemus joined Joseph in taking care of Christ’s body (John 19:39). Both of these men had secretly become followers of Jesus, but now they courageously came out to care for the body of Jesus.

That Jesus’ body would be buried in a rich man’s tomb was prophesied by Isaiah (Isa. 53:9). And this prophecy was fulfilled. Yet, Jesus only needed the tomb for a short while. For three days later, He was raised to life, just as He had said. And Joseph and Nicodemus were secret followers no more.

PRAYER: Dear Father, sometimes we behave as secret followers of Jesus. We are afraid to share our faith with others for fear of being rejected. Strengthen us to walk by faith, overcoming our fear, so that we can openly proclaim our faith in Jesus. We want the world to know that Jesus saves. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise” (Mark 15:5 NLT).

From: March 11, 2022

JESUS WAS SILENT

As Christ’s accusers made charge after charge against Him, the Roman governor was surprised at His silence. Pilate already suspected that the Jews were acting out of “envy” (Mark 15:10), but he was amazed that Jesus offered no defense. No doubt he was accustomed to seeing the accused blubber out a passionate defense when facing his court. Yet, Jesus uttered not a word. Certainly, he must have also marveled at Christ’s dignity and self-control. He had never seen a man such as this.

Jesus could have easily offered a verbal defense that would have made Pilate see Him as innocent and His accusers as fools. But Jesus said nothing. Jesus could have responded with a devastating military defense, as He had told Peter when he tried to defend Jesus in the garden, “Put away your sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:53). Yet, Jesus took no action.

As the prophet Isaiah prophesied concerning the Messiah, “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth” (Isa. 53:7). Jesus was silent.

And as the chorus of Ray Overholt’s 1958 hymn declares:

“He could have called ten thousand angels

To destroy the world and set Him free.

He could have called ten thousand angels,

But He died alone for you and me.”

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are amazed by Your love that You would send Your only begotten Son to die for our sins. He was silent before His accusers, but today He speaks on our behalf. We are thankful for so great a salvation! In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Then he placed Him in a tomb cut out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb” (Mark 15:46 HCSB).

From: March 11, 2021

SECRET FOLLOWERS NO MORE

A prominent member of the Sanhedrin named Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus after He was crucified. At great personal risk to his own reputation and huge financial cost, Joseph bought linen and spices to prepare Christ’s body for burial and then placed the body in his own newly carved out tomb. The tomb had never been used before. Joseph had probably purchased it for his own family. Yet, he could not bear to see the body of Christ thrown into the valley of Gehenna, where the bodies of criminals were often cast.

The gospel of John reported that another member of the Sanhedrin named Nicodemus joined Joseph in taking care of Christ’s body (John 19:39). Both of these men had secretly become followers of Jesus, but now they courageously came out to care for the body of Jesus.

That Jesus’ body would be buried in a rich man’s tomb was prophesied by Isaiah (Isa. 53:9). And this prophecy was fulfilled. Yet, Jesus only needed the tomb for a short while. For three days later, He was raised to life, just as He had said. And Joseph and Nicodemus were secret followers no more.

PRAYER: Dear Father, sometimes we behave as secret followers of Jesus. We are afraid to share our faith with others for fear of being rejected. Strengthen us to walk by faith, overcoming our fear, so that we can openly proclaim our faith in Jesus. We want the world to know that Jesus saves. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:37-38 NKJV).

From: March 11, 2020

DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT JESUS ACCOMPLISHED?

At the sound of Jesus’ last cry, the thick curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, was rent from top to bottom, opening the way. This must have been quite startling to the priests who witnessed it during the exact time of afternoon prayers. For it was at the “ninth hour” that Jesus cried out, which was the final time of daily prayers. The Jews counted time from sunrise at 6AM which they called the “first hour,” so the “ninth hour” would have been 3PM. There were three daily prayer times, except on the Sabbath when there were four. The daily prayer times were: Morning prayers at 9AM, Midday prayers at Noon, and Afternoon prayers at 3PM. It was during the third prayer time that Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying “It is finished!” (John 19:30). And the temple veil was torn asunder.

From that moment, Jesus, our Great High Priest, opened up “a new and living way” by His blood, so that we are able to enter the “Holiest” place and bring our requests before the Father (Heb. 10:19-22).

Do you understand what Jesus accomplished for us? He took what appeared to be defeat and turned it into victory. His accomplished His mission to pay for our sin and to open up the way for us to be reconciled to the Father.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are so thankful for the love and sacrifice expressed in the giving of Your Son. It is beyond our understanding, yet it is the fullest revelation of Your love and holiness. We offer ourselves back to You as living sacrifices today, in Jesus’ name, amen.

“Present a cake from the first of the flour you grind, and set it aside as a sacred offering, as you do with the first grain from the threshing floor” (Numbers 15:20 NLT).

From: March 11, 2019

FIRST GIFTS FROM FIRST FRUITS

As the Lord gave the people of Israel all that they needed to live, He instructed them to make an offering of the first part of a new harvest. Even as they made the first cake from the newly ground flour, they were to offer the first cake to the Lord as a sacred offering. In this way, the people of God were to express the priority of their love for God and their gratitude for His provision. First gifts from their first fruits were sacred to the Lord.

How can we express our love to the Lord with first priority today? How does the principle of first gifts from first fruits inform our expression of love and gratitude to our God?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we are so quick to complain and to forget Your provision. Forgive us. We repent of our ingratitude and lukewarm love. We freely offer the first part of our time, talent and treasure to You. For You are all in all to us. The first day of the week, the first part of the day, the first portion of our income, the first part of our hearts… these and more, we offer to You. Lead and guide us, O Lord. Show us what You want to do in and through us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise” (Mark 15:5 NLT).

From: March 11, 2018

JESUS WAS SILENT

As Christ’s accusers made charge after charge against Him, Pilate was surprised at His silence. Pilate already suspected that the Jews were acting out of “envy” (Mark 15:10), but he was amazed that Jesus offered no defense. No doubt he was accustomed to seeing the accused blubber out a passionate defense when facing his court. Yet, Jesus uttered not a word. Certainly, he must have also marveled at Christ’s dignity and self-control. He had never seen a man such as this.

Jesus could have easily offered a verbal defense that would have made Pilate see Him as innocent and His accusers as fools. But Jesus said nothing. Jesus could have responded with a devastating military defense, as He had told Peter when he tried to defend Jesus in the garden, “Put away your sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:53). Yet, Jesus took no action.

As the prophet Isaiah prophesied concerning the Messiah, “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth” (Isa. 53:7). Jesus was silent.

And as the chorus of Ray Overholt’s 1958 hymn declares:

“He could have called ten thousand angels

To destory the world and set Him free.

He could have called ten thousand angels,

But He died alone for you and me.”

“And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:37-38 NKJV).

From: March 11, 2017

At the sound of Jesus’ last cry, the thick curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, was rent from top to bottom, opening the way. This must have been quite startling to the priests who witnessed it during the exact time of afternoon prayers. For it was at the “ninth hour” that Jesus cried out, which was the final time of daily prayers. The Jews counted time from sunrise at 6AM which they called the “first hour,” so the “ninth hour” would have been 3PM. There were three daily prayer times, except on the Sabbath when there were four. The daily prayer times were: Morning prayers at 9AM, Midday prayers at Noon, and Afternoon prayers at 3PM. It was during the third prayer time that Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying “It is finished!” (John 19:30). And the temple veil was torn asunder.

From that moment, Jesus, our Great High Priest, opened up “a new and living way” by His blood, so that we are able to enter the “Holiest” place and bring our requests before the Father (Heb. 10:19-22).

‘And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”’ (Mark 15:39 ESV)

From: March 11, 2016

Roman soldiers were expert executioners. They had seen men die in the cruelest of ways. They had witnessed their various human responses to torture and death. Yet, this officer had never seen anyone endure suffering as Jesus did. What was it about Jesus that moved this hardened death squad centurion? Was it his dignity and demeanor amidst such ugliness and disdain? Was it his care for the thief crucified beside him or his forgiveness of the taunting crowd? Perhaps it was the darkening of the sky or the ground that shook when he cried out his last? Maybe there was a way that he looked at the Roman leader with compassion in his eyes even as he was dying? Whatever it was, this officer was moved to affirm Christ’s identity. His normally sarcastic, biting tongue was moved to childlike wonder. I wonder. What became of this Roman officer? Did he turn in his sword for a seat at the Lord’s table? Did he exchange his Roman helmet for one of salvation? Will we see the soldier who once stood at the foot of the cross, someday a servant bowing at the feet of the Christ?

“So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, ‘Truly this Man was the Son of God!'” (Mark 15:39 NKJV)

From: March 11, 2015

Roman soldiers were expert executioners. They had seen men die in the cruelest of ways. They had witnessed their various human responses to torture and death. Yet, this officer had never seen anyone endure suffering as Jesus did. What was it about Jesus that moved this hardened death squad centurion? Was it his dignity and demeanor amidst such ugliness and disdain? Was it his care for the thief crucified beside him or his forgiveness of the taunting crowd? Perhaps it was the darkening of the sky or the ground that shook when he cried out his last? Maybe there was a way that he looked at the Roman leader with compassion in his eyes even as he was dying? Whatever it was, this officer was moved to affirm Christ’s identity. His normally sarcastic, biting tongue was moved to childlike wonder. I wonder. What became of this Roman officer? Did he turn in his sword for a seat at the Lord’s table? Did he exchange his Roman helmet for one of salvation?