>Reply-To: "Stu" <[log in to unmask]>
>From: "Stu" <[log in to unmask]>
>Caring When It's Not Convenient
>As Charles Dickens suggests, in the opening sentence of his classic
>A Tale of Two Cities," it was the best of times, it was the worst of
>times. So much of life was fitting together beautifully for Carol
>and her husband, Terry, in their new home.
>
>Carol was in the best shape since young adulthood, when her leg
>began to cramp uncontrollably late one night. It took more than
>three months of nearly constant pain before she discovered that a
>strange neurological phenomenon, not cancer, was causing the
>frequent spasms. As her leg was immobilized in a walking cast, she
>wondered about her neighbors, especially young Cynthia and elderly
>Dolores. Should she continue to care for their needs as she suffered
>with her own pain and discouragement, or should she take a break
>from those voluntary duties?
>
>Cynthia and Dolores's needs were radically different, but both this
>11-year-old Mexican girl and this 80-year-old diabetic had come to
>rely heavily upon Carol's love, attention, and practical help each
>week. This young neighbor girl, whose parents were either gone or
>too-often busy, was being mentored in practical ways each week, and
>an old woman who could no longer drive was being cared for by an
>almost-daughter, as her own family lived far away.
>
>It really was only a passing question that raced through Carol's
>mind. Of course, she must care for her friends; wouldn't they do the
>same if they could for her?
>
>
>1. Describe a time when others continued to care for you when they
>were suffering themselves.
>
>2. When we are helping others, what good may come to us in return?
>
>3. How does our service to others have an effect upon people's
>openness to the Kingdom?
>
>
>Focus: We can care for others, even when we're suffering.
>
>
>A Horribly Cruel Death
>
>
>John 19:16-24, KJV.
>16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And
>they took Jesus, and led him away.
>
>17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place
>of a skull which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
>
>18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side
>one, and Jesus in the midst.
>19 And Pilate wrote a fire, and put it on the cross. And the writing
>was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
>
>20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus
>was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew,
>and Greek, and Latin.
>
>21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The
>King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
>
>22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
>
>23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his
>garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his
>coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
>
>24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but
>cast lots for it, whose it shall be:
>
>
>The religious leaders took Jesus to Pilate because, as the
>Roman-appointed administrator of Judea, he had the authority to
>execute the sentence in capital crimes. But after Pilate
>interrogated Jesus, and had Him flogged, he concluded that no crime
>had been committed. Nevertheless, Pilate feared a bad report about
>his governance of the Jews would reach Rome if he denied the mob's
>lust for the blood of Jesus. So he turned Him over to the four-man
>(see verse 23), execution detail.
>
>Roman custom required a man marked for crucifixion to carry the
>horizontal beam of the cross, which could weigh 80 to 100 pounds, to
>the execution site (verse 17). Crucifixions were done outside
>Jerusalem at Golgotha, which is an Aramaic word, meaning "the place
>of the Skull", (verse 17, NIV; in Latin "skull" is calva, hence
>"Calvary"). This place could have been elevated and have a barren,
>rounded top, which resembled a skull. The spot was near a main city
>entrance (Hebrews 13:12), so that a maximum number of people would
>see the humiliation of the victims, and also the power that Rome had
>over Judea.
>
>According to John, Jesus was crucified between "two others." (John
>19:18). Luke identified the two as "criminals." (Luke 23:3233).
>Matthew specified that they were "robbers." (Matt. 27:44).
>
>It was customary to place a sign above the head of the crucified,
>stating his crime. The inscription prepared for Jesus read, "JESUS
>OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS." (John 19:19, KJV). Since the
>crucifixion was in a public place, and the charge against Jesus was
>written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek, every literate passerby could
>read the sign.
>
>The inscription was intended to insult and rebuke the chief priests
>for putting the governor in an awkward and potentially disastrous
>political position with Rome. Predictably, the chief priests wanted
>the assertion of Jesus' kingship changed to merely a claim. But
>Pilate adamantly refused their request.
>
>While Jesus hung on the cross, the four-soldier execution detail
>fulfilled prophecy by gambling for His clothing. (see Psalms 22:18).
>Typically, articles of clothing included sandals, a belt, an
>undergarment and outer cloak, and perhaps some type of headdress.
>Stripping a victim naked was intended to increase the shame and
>humiliation of crucifixion. Furthermore, since clothing items were
>expensive in the ancient world, executioners were allowed to take
>them as partial payment for their services.
>
>
>
>4. Why did the Jewish leaders protest to Pilate about the signboard
>on Jesus" cross?
>
>5. Why did the soldiers gamble for Jesus' clothing as He hung dying
>on the cross?
>
>
>A Caring Son And Savior
>
>
>John 19:26-30, KJV.
>26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing
>by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
>
>27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that
>hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
>
>28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished,
>that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
>
>29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a
>spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
>
>30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is
>finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
>
>
>In agony from the cross, Jesus observed His mother's sorrow.
>
>Out of deep concern for Mary's welfare, Jesus placed her under the
>care of John, the disciple "whom he loved." (verse 26). Since Mary's
>other children probably lived in Galilee, they would have been
>unavailable to take care of her.
>
>After Christ had been on the cross for several hours, He said, "I
>thirst." (verse 28, KJV). Earlier, before the crucifixion, Jesus
>refused the offer of drugged wine, intended to deaden pain (see
>Matthew 27:34; Mark 15:23). He apparently did so, because He wanted
>complete control of His senses as He died for the sins of the world.
>
>Jesus was not only lucid near the end of His life, but He was aware
>that His words and the drink offered fulfilled the details of
>prophecy. (John 19:28; see Psalms 69:21). Jesus drank wine vinegar,
>a poor quality wine gone sour, knowing "that all things were now
>accomplished." The drink was offered on a sponge attached to the
>"stalk of the hyssop plant." (verse 29, NW). One variety of hyssop
>grows in many places in the Holy Land, including on the walls of
>Jerusalem today, with a stalk two to three feet long.
>
>As recorded by John, immediately before our Lord's death, He uttered
>a single word in Greek, tetelestai. Translated, it means "It is
>finished." (verse 30). Tax receipts found among ancient papyri have
>the same word written across them. In that context, the meaning is,
>"paid in full." The meaning here is that with Christ's death, the
>price for our redemption from sin was "paid in full."
>
>Finally, Jesus "bowed his head and gave up his spirit." (verse 30).
>Normally, the head of a crucified person fell forward, as death
>slowly claimed its victim. Our Lord, however, had complete control
>over the dying process. He bowed His head at the time of His
>choosing, and then gave His spirit permission to depart. Jesus
>Christ was nailed to the cross by men; He was kept on the cross by
>love for those who could not pay the price for their own sin.
>
>
>6. What instruction did Jesus give the Apostle John from the cross?
>
>7. Why did Jesus say "It is finished" on the cross?
>
>
>A Painful Witness
>
>
>How could Jesus have thought so much of others, as He, Himself, was
>suffering, and dying on the cross? There may be no greater challenge
>for us as His followers, than to do the same thing. Remember what 1
>John 2:6 says: "The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to
>walk in the same manner as He walked." (New American Standard Version).
>
>One example of what this can mean comes from the life of a man named
>Matthew. When Matthew took off with 11 other skydivers one Saturday
>morning, he had no idea what lay in store. As the plane attempted to
>clear the trees at the end of the runway, its right engine failed,
>sending them all down in a giant fireball. Fortunately, most onboard
>survived; only one skydiver and the pilot were killed, but Matthew
>was horrifically burned over one side of his face and upper body. It
>would take more than30 surgeries and 10 years before Matthew's life
>seemed functional again.
>
>That was more than 20 years ago. Today, Matthew is in full-time
>ministry, bringing the joy of Christ's loving presence to people
>everywhere. He not only ministers in churches and conferences, but
>he also has effective evangelism ministry, through the sharing of
>his testimony to secular audiences around the world.
>
>What most people don't understand about the bubbling,
>seemingly-always-joyful Matthew, is that he is in constant pain from
>his injuries and surgeries. As he lightens the hearts of those in
>his audiences, he often grimaces to simply finish his message. Yet,
>Matthew's life is full, and his joy is complete, as he sees Christ
>come alive in the hearts of lost people.
>
>
>8. Does a person who has been through this kind of ordeal have a
>unique authority to reach others? Explain your answer.
>
>9. Without going through an ordeal like Matthew's, can you develop
>the kind of compassion he has for others, in spite of his own suffering? How?
>
>10. Why are people sometimes unwilling to show compassion if they
>are suffering themselves?
>
>
>Opportunities To Care
>
>
>It's easy to be distracted by our own troubles so much that we do
>not care about what's happening to others. But oftentimes, our own
>moments of suffering are the best times to reach out to those around
>us. If we show and proclaim Jesus during our troubled times, we show
>and proclaim Him in a way that the world notices and remembers.
>
>
>Form small groups and brainstorm a list of ways that we are still
>able to care for others, even if our own lives may be in turmoil or
>distress. Pray about which of these you might be able to do in the
>next few weeks.
>
>
>KEY VERSES
>When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by,
>whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then
>saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that
>disciple took her unto his own home.--John 19:26-27, KJV.
>
>
>Stu
>Stuart Swartz
>616 E. Boothe
>Cleveland, Tx. 77327
>281-659-0629
><mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask]
>WHAT YOU ARE IS GOD'S GIFT TO YOU AND WHAT YOU BECOME IS YOUR GIFT TO GOD
|
