The Merry Go Round

TITLE: The Merry Go Round
DATE:  October 8, 2019

Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.
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TEXT: Matthew 17:12 – NIV - 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”

It was in the 1800’s that an old couple walked to town to see the carnival.

Each of them had a dime to spend. Most of the time they just spent walking around and looking at the sights and sounds of the carnival and the other people who had come. When it was just about time to go home, the husband suggested that they should spend their money.

She said, "You spend your dime, I'm going to keep mine."

 And so he spent his dime on the merry-go-round. The music began and around he went.

When he got off, his wife criticized, "Well, there you are. I certainly hope you are satisfied. The way I see it, you managed to get off just about where you got on. You ain't been nowhere, and worst of all, now you're broke."

As Jesus thought about death of His cousin  John (referred to in our text as "Elijah"); as He thought of the centuries of  prophets who had been rejected before Him; He couldn’t help realizing that He had come to earth to be the most recent Servant of the Lord trying to share the Lord’s story of salvation.

But He was doing far more than telling the story of life....He was sacrificing Himself to make forgiveness, salvation and reconciliation a reality. In short He had cone to earth to die.

He could easily have become discouraged.

You see,  God's plan of salvation and all His attempts to help His people always seemed to accomplish nothing. Things went round and round but nobody ever seemed to get anywhere.

Nobody ever learned.

God kept sending prophets to help the chosen race and the chosen race kept rejecting the prophets. The Baptizer had come, done a good job, but eventually he was beheaded.

Now it was Jesus' turn. He would do His job flawlessly, perfectly. He would be beaten. He would be spit upon, whipped, crowned with thorns and made fun of. He could endure these things. He would have nails pounded into His feet and hands. He could bear all of these sufferings without complaint.

But when all was said and done would there be any change in the lives and hearts of men?

There should be a change, but is there? Which is why the ultimate question of life is, “Has Jesus' suffering,  death and resurrection made a difference in your life? Of course it has!

But how about for the unbelievers you know? Have you shared Jesus with them? Please don't let their lives end at the same place they began - broke, without hope and without a Savior. Help them get off the merry-go-round.

THE PRAYER: - Lord Jesus, I give thanks that Your suffering has helped me get off the merry-go-round of life. Because of You, I know where I'm going. When I get to heaven, because of you, I won't be broke, I will be richer than I could ever have imagined.  Thank You. 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