Mon.’s Devo - Jesus’ Trial

Read: Exodus 30:12-31:18: Matthew 26:47-68; Psalm 32:1-11; Proverbs 8:27-32 When it came time to do a census of the number of people, every person 20 and over had to give a small piece of silver equal to half a shekel. This was to atone for their soul since it is being “counted”. This was also to keep a plague from striking the people because they were being accounted for. The half-shekel was their ransom for their soul. If only David had collected the Temple tax in his day…but there was no temple. David counted the people without giving them a way to pay for their soul, so the plague hit and killed many. *** A laver, which was a large bowl for washing was make of bronze and placed between the altar and the Tabernacle. It was so the priests could wash the blood off their hands and clothes before going in to meet with God. *** God gave them the recipe for the spices to make holy anointing oil. It was to smell sweet and fragrant. All the furniture for the tabernacle was to be anointed with this oil. Aaron and his sons were also anointed with this oil to be consecrated as holy priests. It was never to be used for anyone or copied by anyone who was not a priest. If they did, they would be cut off from the community. *** Incense was made of oils and spices to be used at the table of incense. No one was to use this incense for personal use. *** God chose Bezalel, whose name means “in God’s shade,” and filled him with the Spirit of God. God gave him special ability and wisdom to expertly craft all the furniture for the tabernacle. He engraved the gemstones and carved the wood. God gave Oholiab to be his assistant. His name means “tent of father.” Together they meant that the tabernacle of God would abide under the shelter of his wings. *** God warned the people to keep the Sabbath holy. If it is desecrated then the people must be put to death. The Sabbath was to be a permanent sign of his covenant with us that for six days the Lord created the heaven and the earth, but on the seventh day, he stopped working and was refreshed. The Sabbath day has stood the test of time. We still honor one day out of the week to rest. *** God then gave Moses the two tablets he had written with his finger. *** In Matthew, Jesus had just told his disciples it was time for him to be betrayed and Judas showed up with men wielding swords and clubs. The priests and elders of the people had sent them to arrest Jesus. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and all hell broke out. When they grabbed Jesus, Peter pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s’slave, cutting off his ear. Jesus told him to put his sword away; he could have called for thousands of angels to protect him - he didn’t need man’s weapons. *** Jesus questioned them about why they had to do this in the night time instead of during the day, but this was done to fulfill scripture. They would need to look that one up later. *** The disciples fled, just like Jesus said they would and Jesus was led to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest for a illegal trial. All the Sanhedrin was gathered there, as well as false witnesses. The only testimony that would stick was the one where they quoted Jesus of saying, “I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.” *** The high priest asked Jesus if he had a defense for himself and he told them that from now on they will see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. The high priest rent his clothes in dramatic fashion and said Jesus was speaking blasphemy. They needed no more witnesses. He charged Jesus guilty of death. They spit in Jesus’ face and slapped him with the palm of their hands while mocking him. *** It is so hard to read about all the persecution Jesus received. Lord Jesus, thank you for enduring the shame of that night. Thank you that you did that for mankind and for me. May we never complain of the little persecution we face here on earth when you, as the sinless lamb, bore our sins and endured the shame and pain of the cross. Thank you! You are worthy of our worship and praise.