The Cover of Books

TITLE: The Cover of Books
DATE: April 26, 2019
TEXT:  Mat. 26:66-68 – ESV-  5 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?

Although it’s not always wise, it’s almost always easy for us to judge a book by its cover.

I cannot vouch for the authenticity of the story which follows.  It was given to me by a minister who said ”It is true.” But I’m not convinced. In order to tell a good story, he has been known to stretch the truth,

This is what he shared with me:
About a year-and-a-half ago, one of my church members picked up a small bouquet of flowers for his wife. Wishing to surprise her, he rang the front doorbell. When his wife opened the door, she saw him with flowers and a great big (she says: "idiotic") smile.
She found herself saying, "Listen, hubby, the baby has a touchy stomach; the washing machine broke, and your son got into a fight at school. You've made my day by coming home drunk." Looking at the cover, she misread the book.
The soldiers who were beating Jesus did the same thing!
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Under the influence of Satan they had assumed Jesus was a very weak Man. They beat Him as if He were a coward. They shouted at Him as if He were unable to defend Himself. They cannot believe that Jesus is the most powerful Person Who has ever lived. It is His powerful love, not human weakness, which allowed Him to receive their taunts.

As Christians, who have read the Scriptures, we know that Jesus was neither enemy, nor weakling. 

On the contrary, Jesus was the suffering Son of God, the Messiah who had voluntarily left the glories of heaven to come to earth where He fulfilled the prophecies about the Messiah.
Just as importantly

• He kept the laws we have broken
• And resisted the temptations which have so regularly seduced us.

Jesus was on a Divinely designed mission to save us.

If He had to take spit and mockery to save our, souls, so be it. He would not be turned from the way of sorrows which was leading Him to death on the cross. Today, give thanks for our Savior Whose intentions are still misunderstood by a world who would still judge Him wrongly.

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see, appreciate, and share Your Divine intentions to save the souls of sinful humanity. Keep me and mine from any activity which would tarnish Your Name. In our Name. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html