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April 20

Scripture for today: Joshua 21:1-22:20; Luke 20:1-26; Psalm 89:1-13; Proverbs 13:15-16

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“So they failed to trap him by what he said in front of the people. Instead, they were amazed by his answer, and they became silent.” (Luke 20:26 NLT).

From: April 20, 2019

JESUS ANSWERS AN UNANSWERABLE QUESTION

The Jewish leaders sent spies to entrap Jesus with what they thought was an unanswerable question. They asked Jesus, “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” They had carefully crafted the politically charged question, so that if he answered in the positive, he would offend the Jewish crowds. And if he answered in the negative, he would be charged with a crime against Rome.
 
Yet, Jesus surprised them by answering their question with his own question, “Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied, not realizing that Jesus was about to overcome their political trap. “Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
 
They were both amazed and silenced with Christ’s answer to their question. I wonder how many of our carefully thought out, difficult questions for God, will one day be answered in similar fashion. Leaving us, as they were, both amazed and silent?
 
PRAYER: Lord, we are often filled with doubts and questions. We know that you are not afraid of our questions. Even though some of them are filled with accusations towards You. Forgive us our lack of faith. Help us to understand that which You want us to know. And help us to accept that which is beyond our understanding, trusting that You are both Sovereign and Omniscient. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”’ (Luke 20:8 NLT).

From: April 20, 2018

THE QUESTION OF AUTHORITY
When the leading priests, teachers and elders interrupted Jesus’ teaching in the Temple to ask the source of His authority, it was actually the source of theirs that came into question. For when He challenged them to answer whether John the Baptist’s authority was from heaven or from man, they balked. The very men that were supposedly set apart to judge whether a prophet was true or false were afraid to give an honest answer because they feared the people who believed in John’s calling from God. So, they lied saying they didn’t know. Their answer revealed their authority, or should I say the lack thereof. For their authority was merely human and dependent on keeping the right people happy. Jesus’ refusal to answer their question actually revealed that His authority was greater than theirs. He felt no obligation to answer to these people-pleasing hypocrites. So, these so-called leaders scurried away, with the tails of their robes tucked between their legs, back into their darkened rooms where they would plan their next scheme for ridding themselves of Jesus.
 
Jesus’ authority came from God. As the gospel of John quoted Jesus saying, “I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say” (John 12:49-50).

“I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: ‘Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations.’” (Psalm 89:3-4 NKJV).

From: April 20, 2017

The physical fulfillment of this promise was unbroken until the Babylonian overthrow of Judah in 597 BC. Yet, the spiritual fulfillment always pointed to Christ, who is the “Seed of the woman” who would crush Satan’s head (Gen. 3:15), the “Seed of Abraham” through whom all nations of the earth shall be blessed (Gen. 26:4), and the “Seed of David” whom God will raise up to reign forever.
 
As the apostle Paul wrote, “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ” (Gal. 3:16). Jesus Christ is the promised Seed.

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘Then what does this Scripture mean? “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.'” (Luke 20:17 NLT)

From: April 20, 2014

After hearing Jesus tell the parable of the evil tenants, the people wondered at how terrible the tenants treated the Owner’s son. At this, Jesus pointed them to the Scripture found in Psalm 118:22 that described how their spiritual leaders would reject the true stone for the temple which would turn out to be the Cornerstone that undergirds their entire worship. The Jewish leaders knew that Jesus was comparing them to the evil tenants and they fulfilled the Psalm by rejecting Him and turning Him over to Pilate to be crucified. Yet, on the third day He arose. The stone the builders rejected became the Chief Cornerstone. The Resurrected Christ is the foundation of our faith! The Church is built on Him!