Hot, Cold Or Lukewarm?

The Plot to Kill Jesus - Mark 14:1-2

After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”

The Passover commemorated the “passing over” of Hebrew households in Egypt by the angel of death. Before Pharaoh released the Hebrews from slavery God told Moses “instruct My people to take the blood of a lamb and spread it above the doorpost of their homes” this was to be a sign that they trusted in God by faith. If they didn't listen the firstborn male of each household would die. So the people listened to the Lord and that night when the death angel went through the land he passed over the homes that were “covered by the blood”.

The firstborn of the Egyptians perished but the Hebrews were delivered, this caused Pharaoh to release the people. This event of course is still observed by Jews today in the Passover meal. The unleavened bread was a picture not only of their quick departure from Egypt but also the absence of sin, the leaven (or the yeast) symbolized sin, so as they departed they departed cleansed, cleansed by the blood of the lamb through faith. This took some passion and faith to carry out.

Few things picture the Lord Jesus Christ more clearly than the Passover & the feast of unleavened bread. How is a person saved? How is sin washed away? The Scripture says in Hebrews 9:22 that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin but it’s not only that justice has been served with the “shedding of blood” it’s that people trust in God by faith, faith that in the death of Christ their sins have been forgiven!

Jesus came as the lamb of God, that’s what John the Baptist said of Jesus when he saw Him, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world!” He didn’t come just to take away the sins of the Jewish people (that’s who He came to first, the lost sheep of the house of Israel) but Jesus came to take away the sins of the whole world, that is all people, from every nation, tribe and tongue! When you consider His mission – a mission of mercy, how amazing is it that the reaction of the Jewish leadership was to plot to kill Him?

You would think they would be grateful! God is willing to bless them, forgive them, the kingdom is offered, eternal life is offered – how could they possible respond this way? A week or so ago the deacons and myself talked about some of the challenges the church faces. In some ways it’s the area we live in, in some ways in the nation we live in, in some ways it’s the times we live in….. The fact of the matter is God is reaching out to lost and dying world and people flat out don’t care! They either presume God’s grace or they don’t feel they need it!

They are not necessarily looking to plot your demise but really that all depends. I promise you if a man rose up and preached the way John the Baptist preached, if he had a national platform and was willing to stand up to the powers that be and get personal the way John did with king Herod, what do you think would happen? If you preach at someone directly and you get personal you may not die a martyr’s death but I promise you people would be plot against you in some way shape or form!

But generally speaking, people don’t care! They don’t care about Jesus, they don’t care about the Bible, they don’t care about church and they have no concern about being forgiven of their sins! Unbelievers just don’t care! Christians however are different. Right? Are Christians different? I would say yes…and no! Let’s see what the Lord says – turn to the book of Revelation 3:14-22

And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches