The readings today, especially the 1 Kings passage and the reading in John, are some of the richest material we've encountered so far. In 1 Kings we are introduced to the ministry if Elijah, who is one of the Old Testament's truly great men. He announces a drought brought about by God's judgment on Israel, then provides miraculously for a widow, and later brings her son back from the dead. Then, in chapter 18, we see his famed encounter with King Ahab and the false prophets on Mt Carmel. These are some of the most exciting stories in the Bible.
Of course, the greatest story ever is the death of Christ for our sins. John 18 recounts Jesus' trial before Pilate and his crucifixion. It is the historical act on which our eternal destiny depends.
It is hard with so much rich material to focus on one truth. But that is what we must do. I would encourage each of you to take a little extra time today to consider the wonder of these recountings of some of God's greatest works of power. But we must pick one flower from among this beautiful garden and examine its glory.
It seems almost to read of the brutal torture and crucifixion of Christ and focus on anything else. Look at what human beings did to Jesus in these awful moments. First, Jesus was flogged in the horrifying Roman way. Then, to add insult to injury, the soldiers commenced to ridicule the beaten man. They put a crown of thorns on him, gave him a purple robe, slapped him and chanted "Hail, King of the Jews." The Lamb of God was giving himself for their sins and all they could do was mock. The priests and other religious leaders manipulated and schemed to get him convicted according to their laws and to bring him before Pilate. Time and again, Pilate tried to find a way to get him off the hook, but in his cowardice, he gave in to the pressure and gave the order for crucifixion.
It can be said that the day of the Cross was the low point in human history; that moment in which sinful human beings reach their moral nadir as they laid hands on the Creator himself and nailed him to a tree. It was an awful day.
It was also the day that changed history, the day that your sins and mine were forgiven, the day that a place was prepared for us in eternity. That is the way of our God. He takes the worst that sinful, rebellious humanity can throw at him and turns it to his glory.
When terrible things happen to you or in your life, or even when you fail in a monumental, shameful way, remember the power of this God. The God of the Cross is not fazed by the wickedness of the wicked. He takes it and uses it to accomplish his glorious purposes.
It is an amazing God that we serve. If he can turn the crucifixion into glory, he can take whatever struggles, trials or even tragedies that you are facing and turn them to blessing.
Father, I confess that you are an great God, one who is able to turn even the most awful things of life into your glory. I thank you for doing that in my life.
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