Matthew 26
You thought you had a bad day?
We all have bad hair days – Maybe you are having one today but consider this story from Lt Cliff Judkins.
It had all started in the brilliant sunlight 20,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean as I nudged my F-8 Crusader jet into position behind the lumbering, deep-bellied refueling plane. After a moment of jockeying for position, I made the connection and matched my speed to that of the slowpoke tanker. I made the graceful task of plugging into the trailing fuel conduit so they could pump fuel into my tanks.
In June of 1963, Lt. Cliff Judkins' F-8 Crusader jet fighter caught fire over the Pacific Ocean during refueling. His ejection seat failed and he was forced to bail out manually (something that no one had ever done successfully from an F-8). Judkins leaped from the aircraft, but his parachute did not open. He hit the water and was pulled out alive about two and a half hours later. He returned to flying after a six-month hospital stay. He says - Within a few months I was all systems go again. My ankles were put back in place with the help of steel pins. The partially collapsed left lung re-inflated and my kidneys and intestines were working again without the need of prodding. When the cut-off switch failed, this allowed the tank to overfill and it burst like a balloon. This then caused the fire and flameout. We will never know why the ejection seat failed to work since it is in the bottom of the ocean. The parachute failure is a mystery also.
Do I feel lucky? That word doesn't even begin to describe my feelings. To survive a 15,000-foot fall with an unopened chute is a fair enough feat. My mind keeps running back to something Dr. Rhodes told me in the sickbay of the Los Angeles during those grim and desperate hours.
A while before Judkins had had his spleen removed.
He said that if I had had a spleen, it almost certainly would have ruptured when I hit the water, and I would have bled to death. Of the 25 pilots in our squadron, I am the only one without a spleen. It gives me something to think about. Maybe it does you as well.
question.
Bad hair day?
Was this a good day or a bad day?
There is a bible verse that says:-
Romans 8:28 >>
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Many of the events in this story conspire in a way that sees Cliff Judkins survive and live to fly another day and he prays in the middle of it all. Sometimes bad things happen but God is working out his purposes.
This morning I want to encourage you that God has a purpose for your life and a destination.
Both of these are able to be gauged from the bible and here is a couple of passages from the book of Ephesians that can clarify both your purpose and destination:-
Ephesians 2:4: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.” According to this verse, it is because of God’s great love for us that we have been redeemed in Jesus Christ. The foundation, the source of our salvation, is the love of God.--------------------------------
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
His destination is heaven and his purpose is to use us as his workmen on earth. But in order for us to fulfil our God given destinies it may be necessary for us to undergo what may be considered some bad days. But the bad day that we have may be fulfilling in some strange way God’s eternal long term plan and purpose that we don’t understand right now.
Matthew chapter 26 is a passage that covers a few days in Jesus life that are the funnel that leads him to the cross.
For anyone who has ever had a bad day or Something coming up that they dread I believe there are important principles and lessons here for us to explore to help us understand something of what is happening during those days that we label bad hair days.
Matthew 26
The Plot Against Jesus
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
The first lesson that we can learn from this passage is Jesus is mindful of what season it is – so if a bad day comes he understands what he is dealing with. .
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things – Jesus had just delivered a huge body of teaching warning about religious hypocrites and giving warnings about the end times. But having completed that Jesus turns to the next thing that God has placed before him.
“As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” The Passover lamb is a substitute a forerunner for Jesus who will come and take away the sin of the world. Just as in Moses day when the blood of the lamb was smeared on the doorposts of the Israelites homes in Egypt and sparing all who lived in it so now Jesus was about to be sacrificed on our behalf so that all who believe in him might be spared by his blood.
Isaiah chapter 53 4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Understanding the season of our life will help us understand the circumstances we are in.
Jesus is well aware of the seasons of his life at the wedding in Cana when his Mother wants him to save the day he says:-
<< John 2:4 >>
"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come
---he does it anyway and in so doing honours his Mother as the scriptures tell us to
On another occasion in John chapter 7 Jesus is careful about going up to the feast of tabernacles because as he says -
<< John 7:6 >>
Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.
We need to be mindful of the seasons.
Secondly Jesus doesn’t allow criticism and opposition to spoil a beautiful act.
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you,[a] but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
People are often thrown by undeserved scheming and criticism and the criticism ends up dominating the event and their day. Jesus doesn’t allow that to phase him.
The Pharisees and Scribes are scheming to kill him behind his back trying to plot his death and in the midst of a beautiful act his friends -= the ones he should be able to depend on - his disciples – are grumbling. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Jesus is not phased by any of this and explains the purpose of what this was about 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Imagine if you were one of those there at the time.
You might talk or think like this – “Well hang on! Didn’t Jesus tell us to give to the poor and when he sent us out didn’t he tell us not to take anything and weren’t we taught not to hold onto the treasures of this world but rather value the treasures of heaven? “
What’s the deal then?
In the midst of criticism – plotting by your enemies- none the less - Seize God’s moment.
Thomas Carlyle once said:- “The final question which each one of us is compelled to answer is, “Wilt thou be a hero or a coward?” This question constantly confronts us in one form or another. Faith is always confronted with a choice.
A young Scotsman had come to hear an address by a celebrated missionary. Following his conversion several years earlier, the young man had begun to grapple with the question, "What shall I do with my life?" The Great Commission had come to have a singular hold upon his mind. Its majestic syllables had for him a contemporaneous significance:
"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Matt. 28:18-20).
"All authority is given unto me." The same power is available!
"Go and evangelize all nations." The same program is operative!
"Lo, I am with you." The same Presence is assured!
The young Scotsman had completed his medical education, involving two years of study in Glasgow, and was ready for some high call to which he could give his utmost. His eyes were fastened upon the speaker, Robert Moffatt, with his flowing white beard and his vehement concern for Africa's perishing millions. The depths of his soul rose up to meet the challenge of the missionary, especially that contained in one sentence of twenty words. Those twenty words are historic, used of God to write an amazing history. The twenty words used by Robert Moffatt that epochal day were these:
"I have sometimes seen, in the morning sun, the smoke of a thousand villages where no missionary has ever been."
The picture embodied in these stupendous words captivated his entire being and fired his soul with a passion which only death could quench. He would go to Africa! He would be a forerunner for Christ in the Dark Continent! He would search out the thousand villages, and other thousands, where no missionary had ever been.
This young doctor was David Livingstone, born in Blantyre, Scotland, March 19, 1813. He became the Pathfinder of Africa, whose eventful career is the story of many long, exciting, winding trails.
Jesus seized God’s moment and was prepared for his burial and what courage that took as it was one step closer to his suffering and death.
The third point with relation to having a bad day is that when bad things happen it is not necessarily your fault and it may be part of God’s plan.
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
Judas had had three years with Jesus he had scaled the heady heights of Jesus fame and power.
He had seen the dead raised – the leprous cured – the blind receive their sight and the demons rebuked. But on the other side of the equation was his love affair for money – also he was patently dishonest. In the end it was a fatal flaw and it ended up ruining his life and the heading of the next –chapter is Judas hangs himself.
But none of this web of greed – and betrayal is Jesus fault. In fact Jesus makes it clear elsewhere that it was bound to happen. The third point was with relation to having a bad day is that when bad things happen it is not necessarily your fault and it may be God’s plan. “The intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth,” says God (Genesis 8:21).
“All have sinned.” (Romans 3:23) “If we say that we have no
sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1
John 1:8) The Bible declares repeatedly that in God’s sight, no
person is righteous (Psalm 143:2).
Good people? According to God’s criteria, there are no
good people. Sometimes as the saying goes bad things happen to good people –
If you are having a bad hair day then perhaps you can take some help from these passages we have read today from Matthew 26 and understand
1. We need to be mindful of the seasons that we are in with God.
2. We should not allow outside circumstances to ruin the beautiful thing that god is doing and
3. It may not be your fault.
an example is:- I was blessed to grow up in a loving Christian home. Both my parents had committed their lives to the full-time ministry of serving God and His people. Our little family, my parents, my elder sister Johanni, younger sister Steffani and I were instructed in the Way of the Lord – always placing Him first. We were taught the Word of God from an early age – learning it verse by verse and reciting it to guests visiting our home. We were basking in the love of the Lord and I felt blessed, and at a young age was starting to comprehend the Father's Heart for His children here on earth.
In primary school I excelled at both academics and sport. I was a happy child and was experiencing God's true blessings in my life. My parents loved each other and protected and challenged us on every level – always offering their support and motivation. My parents were going through a crisis in their marriage and it became evident that my pretty picture of home was going to change. At the age 15 my parents chose to get a divorce. I was asking more and more questions about life and God – especially how a loving God could allow this to happen. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do families get separated? I realised only later that this isn’t Gods plan, but we live and die by the decisions we make. In Deutoronomy 30 God says: “I lay before you life and death, blessing and cursing, so choose life..” Yet alot of times we blame God for the decisions we make.
This was a very big blow to my world. My picture of family was shattered – no more family holidays or Christmas’s together. The security I'd known until that point was plucked out from under me. Through this pain I made a decision that one day I would make a success of my marriage and I would learn from the mistakes my parents had made.
You also have to make that decision... its not good enough to say because your parents did it, that's why you are doing it, you’re better than that! Turn your pain around. Learn from it. You can do it!
Instead of seeking God in all of my pain I found consolation with my friends and became more and more influenced by the group. Peer pressure, like what people thought of me, trying to be someone else, brought about a lifestyle of self-centeredness. I was always in pursuit of acceptance and acknowledgement, but ironically only feeding the void in your soul, being empty when I was alone.
This was adding a lot of pressure to our situation and financially we were struggling to make ends meet. I remember a time I invited friends over to our house, advising them that they could only visit our home, but could not eat there because we did not have enough money for food to entertain our guests.
It was during this time that my sister Johanni, 22 years old at the time and in her final year of LLB, fell pregnant with her long-time boyfriend. This was another blow to my understanding of life and family. A family so committed to serving God? What would everyone say? How would this look to the world? Our core moral values were in question.
Johanni was faced with the choice so many women in her situation are faced with – the question of having an abortion. This proved to be the easy way out. In our home we were taught that the pain of discipline is worth more than the pain of shame. Taking responsibility was the right thing to do – it would bring forth fruit in the long run.
Johanni chose to take responsibility for her actions and not to give up, but to follow through with the pregnancy. God blessed her with a beautiful baby girl called Milla two weeks before her final LLB Law exam. Milla was a miracle and came to us in such a difficult time. Today we cannot imagine our lives without this little princess. Now she’s 7 years old and a bundle of life-giving joy!
God blessed me with sporting talent.
After high school I signed a contract with the Blue Bulls and was given a full bursary to study at the University of Pretoria. I was experiencing the honor of man and I was riding this wave of glory. However, at the World Championships the unexpected happened when I broke my arm. The break was bad and the injury would initially keep me sidelined for at least two months. My mind was filled with so many questions. This was supposed to be my time and my breakthrough after everything I had invested. Why me Lord? Why now? My gran shared the Bible verse from John 13:7 with me, and I would only later fully understand it's relevance. God has a plan with everything.
By the end of 2004 I had no goals and no motivation, and was totally unfocussed. On top of all this my arm refused to heal. It was at this time I believed things could not get any worse. I was so wrong. I got the shocking news that my father had a heart attack and had died at the age of 53. How sudden! How could this be? Lord this is too much! Why now? I need my dad, my father, my mentor...
But God had a divine plan...
I was immediately confronted with questions of my life, mortality and eternity. This was the moment my life changed. I knew that I desperately needed to get my life right with God. I started asking what the goal of my life was and chasing God's plan. I was not sure of what would happen to me if I died. I needed to connect with God and make a few radical decisions for what I believed.
My father had been the cornerstone of my security. He was my foundation, my protector, my guide. My dad called himself the “Groot Leeu” – he was 6 ft 4 and had an My rugby career started to soar and I was chosen to play for the Springboks in 2006. My test debut was a nightmare losing 49-0 to Australia and then being dropped from the team. But I got a second chance and then gave a Man of the Match performance against the All Blacks in Rustenburg.
2007 was a World Cup year and the excitement was building. Having had a successful Super 14 with the Bulls which culminated in us winning the title I was anticipating being part of the tournament in France. I was selected in the World Cup squad, and was being touted as a favourite to win the Player of the Tournament by some respected rugby men.
Two weeks after the squad announcement I started to cough up blood, had chest pains and breathing pains. Our team doctor took me for tests and the shocking news hit me.. .I had blood clots on my lungs!
I thought: What? Blood clots? God, you must be joking? We’re on our way to the World Cup? The highlight of my career? I'm walking in your ways God? I live a healthy life, look after my body and train hard and don’t use illegal substances?
Doctors said I had to take a course of blood-thinning medication for a minimum of six months and I was under strict instructions never to play rugby during that period.
Immediately I knew God was in control. I didn’t know exactly how but His word says He has great plans for our futures and that we’ve been healed by his wounds.
I walked in faith and I wrote on a big poster : "Healed in Jesus name” because I knew God had the power to heal me. My faith was tested, but I made a decision to praise God even if I stayed sick or got healed because I knew God's plan is bigger than mine and I had to submit to His will. It was an unconditional choice, in the same way He loves us unconditionally.
There was a lot of medical tests done, from head to toe. I would always put on a praise and worship cd in my car on the way to the hospital, screaming and praising God with a loud voice, knowing that whether my lungs are sick or if they’re healthy, I was going to praise God because HE IS GOOD. You keep with your decision... you keep on keeping on.
Man has limitations, but with God all things are possible.
Then... after the six months of medication a miracle happened. GOD HEALED ME.
Doctors said it was impossible. They said I would never play again. Most people with blood clots never get off the medication, but God is moved by faith and not by belief in world systems. I was able to play rugby again and pursue my career. I got married at the end of 2008 which shows His great love and mercy. He did great work in me and he can do the same for you.
God will fulfil his plan for you if you trust Him. Jesus has used me as an instrument to reach my family and friends and help them change their lives by loving them the way He instructs us to. Through my rugby career I have been honoured to visit many exceptional countries and places and meet wonderful people. Many doors have been opened to me to share His Name and His Love.
My message to you is that God has a plan for your life. He has a passion for YOU. He speaks to you everyday through that small voice inside you. Yes, you probably know it. Once you have decided to follow Him and live for Him, He will do more for you than you ever could have imaged. Take His hand, He will do the rest.
... with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people can be. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad." "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Oh Yeah" said the son. "So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."
With this the boy's father was speechless. Then his son added, "Thanks, dad for showing me how poor we are."
Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not just to those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.
