Life-spark: One sentence can change your life forever. (John 18:12-24)
Politics and religion are like oil and water. They don’t blend well.
Under arrest, Jesus was taken to a religious, political circus. He stood first before Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest. Annas bullied Jesus, bound him, and sent him to Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people. John 18:14, NLT)
Wise old Caiaphas thought he would take the bull by the horns, have Jesus arrested, turned over to the Romans, found guilty of sedition, and crucified.
“It is better that one man should die for the people.” That sentence is true. Caiaphas got it right. But he was wrong in thinking that handing a death sentence to Jesus was his clever, original idea. Actually it was God’s idea first.
Someone else thought it was his idea too. Satan, “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4),”was sure he thought it up. He pulled the puppet strings on Annas, Caiaphas, Judas and others, but actually he was playing right into God’s hands.
So what does this say to me? First, like I mentioned earlier, that politics and religion don’t blend well. (Just think of Isis) Next, it says that God is in control even when it looks like He isn’t. Then, it reminds me that God gave His much-loved Son to die under my death sentence.
He came up with the amazing idea that one could die for many, taking their death sentence and giving them a life sentence. Here is that sentence: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever would believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)” This sentence changed my life forever!
Life-question: Is there any area of your life where you think you are in control, but actually God may be in control?