Monday, October 20, 2014

Whom Are You Seeking?

John 18:7-14

Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" and they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way," that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, ''Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 

So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. 


For whatever reason even these officers of the chief priests had a hard time  believing Jesus was who He said He was! Who can understand this? Who did they think He was?  Did they see something different in Jesus? We're they astonished that as He spoke they were unable to stand in the previous verses? Why didn't Jesus have this same affect on everyone? Why doesn't He have an affect on people today, too?

The next sudden event was Peter cutting off the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant. And why is this so important?  Malchus' name is never mentioned again! Just a flurry of activity. 

And Jesus continues to rebuke Peter for striking out and trying to prevent prophetic events to occur. And His command that the officers take Him and leave the others...that the order of historic, prophetic events would take place. All that He had come to do had to happen...and there was such a confusion among the people.

I'm afraid I have not much to say this time! Just a lot of questions. This is John 's account of all this and he does not refer to the fact that Jesus healed Malchus' ear! That alone would be yet another cause for even these men to wonder who this Man was...and maybe believe. Who knows, maybe when all was said and done, they did. I do know that this would have been Jesus' last healing...maybe it's why Malchus was named. And yet...Jesus still heals today! 

Whom are you seeking? That's a good question for us all. What miracle or healing would cause you to believe without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is Who He says He is? You have no clue what may already have transpired in your life that just may have been His hand upon you so that some day you might believe...and seek Him.  You have no idea what might transpire in the future that will cause you to give your life over to Him, the One who gave His life over for you.

He knows...He has plans for those who seek Him. He knows what holds you captive, even of you don't think you are being held captive. Do you hold unforgiveness, pride, willfulness, conceit, surety in self, self-centeredness; are you experiencing physical ailments and no possible healing; do you struggle with drugs, alcohol, depression, anxiety, hopelessness? He desires to set you free. 

Before I knew for a fact who Jesus was, not just the head knowledge, but the heart,  little by little things occurred that we're clearly leading up to the day I would meet Him and then seek more of Him. I was searching for spirituality in the wrong places and He prevented me from falling prey to the occult! It IS possible for Him to captivate you to Him and not the things in this life that do hold you captive.  He can free the hardest of criminal, or the hardest of hearts, the worst of the worst. And if you don't fit into that worst category, He can heal you too!

Jeremiah 29:11-14a - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity...

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