- …saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” Matthew 27:4 – Here is an excerpt from Judas’ conversation with the priests and elders after he felt remorseful for what he did to Jesus. Notice their response, “See to it yourself.” While certainly an unholy way for a priest to speak with someone confessing sin, notice as well how similar their words were to Pilate’s words after he washed his hands of Jesus’ crucifixion. In verse 25 Pilate tells the mob crying to crucify Jesus to, “See to it yourselves.” Later in the passage we see the chief priests and elders around Jesus on the cross mocking him, just like the crowds, Roman soldiers, and even the criminals around Jesus. I highlight all this for us today so we can see how identical these religious leader’s language was to that of the rest of the pagan world. Their words matched that of criminals and even Roman governors. Church, let such things not be said of our language today. Let your words not match that of the unsaved person at your workplace. Let your speech not be identical to the world around you that doesn’t know Jesus and hasn’t been redeemed by Him. If someone couldn’t see a difference in your words than that of the pagan world around you, that ought to be an alarm sound for you as a believer. As our chapter today reminds us, Jesus was crucified for our sin. Every wayward word and every thoughtless remark sent Him to the cross. If you have been saved by Jesus, let the redemption He’s blessed you with also reach your mouth. If out of the mouth can come blessings towards God and curses on our brother, let’s choose blessing. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3349
- When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54 – Just the events that took place as Jesus died were powerful enough to change the hearts of Roman soldiers, what about the power of Jesus coming back to life? My hope is that by seeing this verse you never lose hope for the people in your life that currently want nothing to do with Jesus. If these soldiers when seeing the realness of Jesus were convinced of who He really was, our people we know can too. The soldiers though got to see Jesus on the cross, His love for people, and all the craziness that unfolded afterwards. Today people are going to see Jesus through you. Give them the chance to have their minds changed by the Jesus inside you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 881
- He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ Matthew27:43 – If he desires him… Sadly the way these leaders spoke is how so often I hear people today speak. They thought that if God wanted Jesus then He’d show that desire for Jesus by moving in a big way. That if God didn’t move like this then this was their evidence Jesus wasn’t wanted by the Father and wasn’t who He claimed to be. For God wouldn’t let His Son go through something so difficult…right? Yes, He would, and He did. God can desire you and still allow you to see pain. I know that seems so backwards and I don’t fully understand it either. Yet what we get with this story is the fuller picture. Jesus went through deep pain, the Father didn’t remove that pain or take Jesus off the cross, and Jesus died. But…Jesus rose from the dead. You have to remember God’s not done when you think things are done. Yes God may leave you on that cross of yours, and He may let you experience deep pain and death, but that is not evidence He’s done with you and no longer desires you. Trust He sees the resurrection on the other side of all this. Trust He loves you. Today you may find yourself on a cross and a God who deeply desires you will leave you on it. Trust He knows what He’s doing when you can’t see past the pain. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1977
Daily DEVO 