1Timothy 1:13-15 - ... I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

We all start in darkness, blindness, ignorance, unbelief and denial. But God...

Oh, that unbelief. We can know who Jesus is and still not have belief. Even churches vary in their beliefs. Some teach unsound doctrine, twist scripture or teach outright falsities. It's why we need to know Jesus and the truth of His Word, not a man's.

So here we have the Apostle Paul. He admits to have been (one of) the worst of the worst. He has shared a lot in the Epistles of the New Testament of his conversion, the truth that was revealed to him, the change that took place and his eventual dedication to God and sharing of the Gospel wherever he was sent.

We think we know it all. We think we know what we need to know for right now, today, for whatever suits us. There is a world beyond ourselves and our wants. Sure, we need money, food, a house and transportation. God allows us certain niceties too.

However, it’s not about the here and now but about eternity. It's about all of us sinners that Jesus came to die for. The Bible says, For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. (1John 2:16)  We have things in this world to get us by, but our eternal life is what is most important. Ask anyone who has gotten dreadful health news or gone bankrupt or everything lost in a fire. Sometimes we have to lose something in order to know what’s most important. Jesus said this: For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Mark 8:36)  Nothing more important than your soul. The Word says to lose is to gain.

The Bible also shows us that if we choose to trust in Christ, all we need (not want) will be given to us, those things necessary for life. Through our knowledge of Him and gaining His wisdom we realize the important things. We’ll be satisfied with basics. I don’t care about the size of my house but I do so enjoy seeing what’s outside the windows. To watch God's creation grow, flourish, fade and die knowing it will start all over again! Wow. God doing what He does.

So, where am I heading with these thoughts?? I was a sinner saved by the grace and mercy of our God. I had nothing to contribute to this but accepting His offer. The truth of Christ became part of my life. I see what’s most important. I love that I can talk directly to God and know He hears and even answers requests. I love that there are people in my life who share this wisdom, who can spend time talking about the things of God, who just understand. There’s a unity and it’s center cord is Christ. Had it not been for Him I’d still be in darkness, blindness, ignorance, unbelief and denial. We can all have those conversion moments, maybe not all like Paul’s, but it can happen. We are all ignorant of the real truth until we really yearn for it.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus...(1Timothy 2:3-5)

1John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Standing for Truth

Matthew 12:14 - Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

The Pharisees plotted against Jesus, that they might destroy Him. Pretty harsh word, destroy. His ways were not like theirs. I see vindictive men standing opposed to the words of One who loved and cared deeply for all people. And they wanted to destroy Him. 

We are either for Him or against Him. There's no middle ground. Either we heed His words or we ignore them. We either believe them or scoff them. 

As the Pharisees plotted to kill Him because what He spoke was so opposed to their religious traditions, Jesus continued to walk forward knowing He would die for all mankind. He stood His ground because it was truth. He stood for truth. But the Pharisees could not see it.

The Pharisees would much rather have condemned a man for doing something that by human nature was natural, good and far from sin. And so they condemned Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. They believed His miracles were of the devil.

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees in return and added that He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. (Matthew 12:30)  And Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matthew 12:32)

We are in the age to come. His words today are just as truthful as then. Do our words praise the Lord? Or are they idle words? All our words and thoughts will be accounted for some day. Will God find Himself anywhere there? 

The miracle of Jesus' resurrection was that we might recognize His power and all He holds for us when we seek and receive Him. How can we not think more highly of Him than we do? How can we not want to learn of Him apart from the entertainment value of the History Channel or some Hollywood movie? How can we not want the very truth of only His Word? 

Two thousand years ago Jesus began His last days. The plot to kill Him was in full force and all that had been prophesied would take place. He would pray in earnest to the Father that ...if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭39‬)

He has made Himself very known. There is no excuse for not knowing Him. The sun rises and sets, the seasons come and go, there are births and deaths...year after year. Who controls it all? 

Jesus preached the Parable of the Sower. There were four types of soil into which seed was sown. He likened it to man's ability to hear and understand His words. 

Seed tossed on ground without soil is like His words spoken to one who does not understand. Absolutely no rooting can take place.

Stony soil causes quick growth but no strong root. Stony hearts receive for only a short time because it also has not rooted firmly.

Seeds sown in thorny places get choked out by the thorns. This is like the Word that is received but the things of the world are just too important to carry on in the understanding and knowledge/wisdom of the Word.

Seeds planted in good soil, however, goes on to produce a crop and more seed. This is like those who hear, understand, rejoice in and share the Word that this Word would continue to produce.

Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. Do we stand for real truth? We either hear or we do not. We either believe or we do not. We either share or we do not. He has made it clear through His Word what is truth. While the Pharisees of long ago sought to kill Him, He lives on. He was victorious in death. 

John 17:17 - Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

The Greater Sin

John 19:1-11

So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, "Hail King of the Jews!" and they struck Him with their hands.

Pilate went out again, and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him." then Jesus came out, wearing the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, "Behold the Man!" 

Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, the cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him." the Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God."  therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?"  But Jesus gave him no answer. 

Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have the power to crucify You, and power to release You?" Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."


What Jesus had to endure. And He endured out of love. What we must endure also, out of love, in love and forgiveness.

My mind is focused on forgiveness. Jesus pleaded, as we will see later, with the Father that He forgive those who hated Him and those who were a part of His death. They did not know what they were doing. They did not know or believe that Jesus was Who He said He was as is evidenced here by the Jews.

The greater sin. Here the greater sin was a Jew handing over Jesus to the Roman authority because they failed to believe Him, thought Him blasphemous and wanted Him killed. But there was also a greater sin in Genesis in the Garden, which sin caused this incident to take place. It was part of God's plan of salvation after that Garden incident. Man sinned, has sinned ever since. Will continue to sin...and for that reason Jesus had to die. He had to die by the hands of both Jew and Gentile (anyone not Jewish) that the words all mankind would be fulfilled. (1Corinthians 5:15, Romans 5:8,18, 6:32)

Pilate was guilty because he did not find fault with Jesus yet punished Him. The Jews were guilty because they did not believe Jesus' claim to be their Messiah and they handed Him over for Roman crucifixion. My mind can't grasp the minute details of all this. I know He had to die for my sins and yours. I know that, as Jesus stated here to Pilate, it was the power of God that was bringing all this about and nothing would stop it. It's why Jesus had nothing to say. It had to be. No excuse. God's plan must take place.

When we are looked upon as different because we believe in the gift and power of salvation in Jesus Christ alone, when we remain strong in those beliefs, when we are looked upon as intolerant because we believe what the Word of God says is right and true and believe the sins He points out in His Word are not something we can ignore, we must endure also. We must ask the Lord's forgiveness for those against our beliefs...and for forgiveness when we struggle with their beliefs.

If we do not believe what God says is true, we are His enemies. It's why we need Jesus...to understand what is truth. It's a struggle to constantly remember they know not what they do in regard to those who do not know the truth. It's an area where I need help.

2Corinthians 5:11,13,15,21 - Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ...He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 

Marvel at Unbelief

Mark 6:6 - And He marveled because of their unbelief.

There are many of us who wonder at the unbelief even today...those who don't see this nation and the world crumbling. Just because we have always gotten through the worst of times many think it will happen again. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. Is there a connection between what happens in this world and belief or unbelief in God? Oh, you better believe that! And depending upon the amount of faith in God that happens, again maybe it will, maybe it won't.

To be honest, I hope we don't have to go through tough times, that things work themselves out. Wouldn't we all want that? I don't think I'm truly prepared for tough times. Many of us have lived in an era of the silver spoon. But think about it. It was because our parents worked hard after their parents struggled. Working hard is the key. Today that concept is fading fast with the idea that it is pointless to try at all if we are all "graded the same" in the end.

But back to unbelief. Jesus was in His own hometown doing miracles and healing and His own people were offended. They saw Him as the carpenter's son only. How could He be doing miracles, call Himself the Son of God? The word offend seems to be cropping up a lot these days, especially in regard to Christianity, or maybe if you want to narrow it even more, because of Christianity. How could anyone believe there is only one God and He created all things, and that He controls all things and that He would allow a distinction between heaven and hell? That He would dare separate the sheep from the goats some day and would dare to bring judgment on a world that has its own ideas how things should be done, that no longer believes God is necessary and to be looked up to or relied upon? How dare we?

The unbelief grows. And so does offense...those who are followers of Christ are an offense for saying they are saved, redeemed, holy because of Jesus Christ, the biggest offense, and because God says they are.

And I marvel at the unbelief of even those who call themselves Christians. I marvel at the Church because many will not stand even stronger for the Truth of Jesus Christ. I marvel at the watered down versions of Jesus being preached...all for the sake of not offending those who are in their sins or lifestyles which are abhorrent to God. And God's abhorrence is offensive. I marvel at the fact we have turned evil into good and good into evil. And just to be on God's side is offensive. The unbelief that what His Word says is truth is staggering.

This world, this nation, for the most part, continues to believe what they wish. The Word of God is scorned. Many think we are to be one with nature, equal with the trees, that nature is more important than the lives of humans, or that we are even one with God. Many laugh at the idea that killing unborn children because they are an inconvenience is murder. Others sneer at the idea that  lifestyles should only be what the Bible says they should be. All the unbelief. I'm sure Jesus marvels at it too.

The word marvel used in the description in Mark 6:6 means to wonder at, to be had in admiration; to wonder [with great wonder i.e.] exceedingly; to behold, look upon, view attentively, contemplate. I wonder at that! I half expected it to be some other definition I'd never heard before, a more negative form of marvel, certainly not exceeding admiration. But then this is Jesus marveling. He understood in His own way...and accepted it. He might even had had some thought of the future days in which we would be living.

Not so easy for me, or others to marvel the way Jesus did. We are frustrated with the unbelief because we know the truth...and the Truth.

The prophet Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet because of his love for God and His people Israel, and grieved over their unrepentance and stubborn nature. He knew, as many of us also know, that there will be a coming judgment and a great disaster that lies ahead for our nation and the world. With that will come much pain and death, bitterness and loss of hope. Those who know the Lord may not be totally removed from this, but we will know we have a hope...in this Jesus who marveled at unbelief.

Jeremiah made many statements regarding offense...based on this unbelief. Let me end with a few to think about. We should not, in the end, be surprised at the unbelief. We should not expect any less than what either Jeremiah or Jesus went through. Let's let Jesus marvel at it all. It is He Who will take care of it some day! Let us, however, grieve as Jeremiah did over those who are filled with unbelief and pray for eyes to be opened, hearts to be softened and wisdom to come as a result of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord.  Read these words and contemplate those days with these days; the similarity is amazing.

Jeremiah spoke the words of the LORD: To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the Lord is a reproach to them; they have no delight in it...they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.
And Jeremiah grieved: For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, “Violence and plunder!” because the word of the Lord was made to me a reproach and a derision daily.
(Jeremiah 6:10, 7:26, 20:8)