September 18

Luke 22:63-71 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

67"If your are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right a hand of the power of God." 70 So they all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" And he said to them, "You say that I am." 71 Then they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.

Observation

Jesus was brought before the assembly of elders including the chief priests and the scribes. And here, they were attempting to catch Jesus in "false testimony," so they could have a reason to put him to death. And Jesus' claim to be the Son of God was all they needed to send him to his death. Interestingly, as leaders of the Jewish faith, I'm sure they were very familiar with the prophesies of a coming Messiah. And before them stood the perfect fulfillment of every prophesy and the One they had been waiting for. But, their hearts were so hard to the truth of who Jesus was, that they neither believed or sought to find out if Jesus' claims had any validity. Proof was everywhere in the form of first hand eyewitnesses to Jesus' teachings and miracles, but their hearts were already hardened to the truth. Jesus said as much when he told them, "If I tell you, you will not believe." Their intentions were already set.

Application

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus beautifully contrasts the educated, religious leaders with the tax collectors, the fisherman and the sinners to show that there are no societal prerequisites to believing. Our hearts just have to be open to the Truth.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for those you have placed in my life who do not know Jesus. I pray that the first step I take will be to pray for the Spirit to open their hearts to the Truth of the Gospel. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--sam w.