The Heaton File

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being Tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip Tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. (Luke 3:1-2)

Road Markers In Scripture

Luke is known as a physician, fellow-worker of Paul in his journeys and author of the gospel by his name and the author of the Acts of the Apostles. The gospel of Luke is a treatise on the humanity of Jesus Christ, revealing more details about the life of Jesus than any other writer. Writing his second account to Theophilus, Luke details the beginning and early years of the New Testament church. One of the characteristics of Luke’s writings is the detail of history sprinkled through all of his writings.

After telling the story of Jesus’ birth and early life, Luke begins to unfold the ministry of Jesus, beginning with the preaching of John the Baptist. Setting the scene for the coming of Jesus into the public conscience, Luke places historical road markers on the pages of his account to prove the validity of his claim that Jesus was a real person. Historical road markers are vital to the authenticity of the gospel of Luke. The beginning of the ministry of Jesus was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. According to Fausset Bible Dictionary, Caesar was Tiberias Claudius Nero, Augustus’ step-son and successor as emperor. He reigned from A.D. 14 to 37. Tiberius Caesar was the son of Tiberias Claudius Nero and Livia; born at Rome, November 16, 45 B.C. Luke establishes a real time in the life of a real historical character.

Pontius Pilate was the Procurator (Governor) of Judea, under the Proconsul of Syria, from A.D. 26–36. Early writers, including Philo, Josephus, and Tacitus, mention Pilate. In 1961 a stone at Caesarea Maritima was discovered with the inscription, “Pontius Pilatus, Prefect of Judea, has dedicated to the people of Caesarea a temple in honor of Tiberius.” Luke’s historical road marker was accurate. The Herod mentioned by Luke was of the Herodian family. He was Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great and Malthace. Herod was Tetrarch or ruler of a fourth part of the country. His brother Philip (Tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis) was the half-brother of Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great and Cleopatra. Philip reigned from B.C. 4 to A.D. 32. Lysanias was the Tetrarch of Abilene, the district round Abila, in the 15th year of Tiberius’ reign.

Sir William Ramsey was one of the most eminent archeologists of all time. He did not believe the accounts of Luke were accurate and, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, traveled to the Holy Land to disprove what Luke wrote. Ramsey reversed his position and went on to say, “Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy, he is possessed of the true historic sense. In short, this author should be placed along with the greatest of historians.” Luke did not put the historical markers there to fill space. He confirmed what he wrote was about a true story of a real man who lived in a real time of history. Luke was not an eyewitness of much of what he wrote, but he confirmed to Theophilus that he had carefully investigated everything from the beginning. He was writing an accurate account for Theophilus to be certain of the truth of everything he was taught about Jesus.

The story of Jesus is real. It does not take historical markers to prove Jesus is the Son of God, but the Holy Spirit placed these markers in text to show and prove the accounts historically speaking can be found in the writings of human history. Archeology proves the Bible to be accurate. The rulers found in the Bible can be found on numerous reliefs and records. Luke was affirming his examination of the life of Jesus was based on historical fact. These road markers identify the proof of the divine history and are found throughout the word of God. Jesus is real!

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:36-44)

The Final Hour

One of the absolute certainties of life is the frequent uncertainties that happen. Man prides himself in setting schedules, establishing patterns, and preparing for the future. The frustration of human wisdom is that with all the schedules, routines and plans, there are always interruptions and delays that come unexpectantly. There are unforeseen events that disrupt traffic flow and a person is late to work. Sickness robs the body of health and life changes. Accidents happen with frequency changing the plans carefully set out. Death is the greatest inconvenience when it suddenly is thrust upon the lives of loved ones who can never be prepared for the reality. Life is full of change and the unexpected.

In the beginning when God created man, He formed man of the dust of the ground as a creature that would exist without end. The eternal spirit of man is housed in a body of flesh that will die, but the spirit will never die. All men die, whether rich or poor, young or old, without respect to gender or nationality. The greatest reality that few men prepare for is the destiny of the eternal spirit that will never cease to exist. Jesus did not need to warn men of the reality of death as it was evident, but the coming of the judgment of God is a truth seldom realized. There is coming an hour when everything man knows will cease to exist. This is a global and universal event that takes place when the time of man’s existence ends. The earth, moon, sun, planets, and stars will explode with an incredible force of divine power into obliteration – in an instant.

Death is real. Life insurance is a billion-dollar industry built upon the reality of death. Few men take into account the warning of Jesus of the day coming when the world will be destroyed in an instant. There will be no warning. The animals will not have their customary special sense of danger. A day will come upon humanity that will be a second of cataclysmic judgment where the earth will dissolve with intense heat. In the days of Noah, the judgment of the world was firm. All flesh would die except the eight souls in the ark. There was no warning for the world. The Lord closed the door of the ark and the rain began and the floods opened up. Life was going on its natural rhythms of life. Men were working in the field as they had done for generations. Women prepared meals, children scampered about and young people filled their lives with youthful pleasures. Noah and his family had been enclosed in the ark for seven days. Without warning, the heavens burst forth in torrents of rain and the fountains of the great deep were broken up. There was no place to run. The door of the ark was sealed by the hand of God. Everyone outside the ark died. All flesh died on the earth.

The flood is the model for the day the Lord will return. Jesus warns the final day of the earth will come without warning. The hour is coming when the world will end. If a man is not watching for the hour, he will be unprepared. No one knows when that day will be – not even the angels in heaven. The Father is the only one who will know that time. There is coming a day when the Son of Man is coming. That hour is known only to God, but when that hour comes, He will reveal Himself in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye. If you are not ready for that hour, you will perish in the face of divine judgment. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. (1 Chronicles 10:13-14)

The Sad End Of A Great Man

There was a man of Benjamin named Kish who had a choice and a handsome son whose name was Saul. His son Saul was the most beautiful man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land. Judges had ruled the land of Israel since the days of Joshua and everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Samuel was the last of the judges and when he was old, the people demanded a king to go before them. The Lord granted the request and Saul, son of Kish, was selected to command the people of God and save the people from the hand of the Philistines. Saul began his reign with great promise. When Saul was anointed king, God caused the Spirit of the Lord to come upon him and he prophesied among the prophets. At the new king’s coronation, Saul was not to be found. He was hiding among the baggage. Samuel ordained Saul as king as the chosen of the Lord.

Saul began with great promise as a humble man, but that would quickly change. Only a few years into his reign, the heart of Saul turned prideful and arrogant. His reign would last forty years and almost all of that time would be a time of turmoil and tragedy. He would chase the young son of Jesse, David, for much of his rule. His unlawful sacrifice set him on the wrong course and when he disobeyed the clear command of God to utterly destroy the Amalekites, God tore the kingdom from him. Samuel mourned for the tragedy of Saul’s life and the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.

The manner a man dies can often define the way he lives. When Saul went to war against the Philistines, he and his sons were killed. On the day following the battle, the Philistines came to strip the dead, and they found the bodies of Saul and his sons. Cutting off the head of Saul, they fashioned it to the temple of Dagon, the national god of the Philistines. The Holy Spirit writes that Saul died for his unfaithfulness, his refusal to obey the command of the Lord and for consulting the witch of Endor instead of seeking the counsel of God. So the Lord killed him and gave the kingdom to David.

David, son of Jesse, ruled over Israel for forty years and died. He faced many obstacles and trials in his life, but he maintained his faith in God. The Holy Spirit refers to David as a man after God’s own heart. He accomplished great things in his life for the kingdom of God. The story of David is an example of a sinner who faced the failures of life with the hope of the grace of God. What defines his life is his deep faith in God. When it came time for David to die, the record of his death was very different from Saul’s. David did not die in battle by his own hand. He died in a good old age, full of days and riches and honor. His son Solomon took the throne, surpassing the nation of Israel to a period of prosperity never matched before or after. The name David is synonymous with faith and courage. His story is found in the book of Samuel the seer, in the book of Nathan the prophet, and the book of Gad the seer.

Saul and David are stories of contrast. God chose both to lead the people, but Saul lost his faith. David faced his temptations and failed, but his faith never diminished. He died a man of faith. The tragedy of some is when they face their trials without hope and promise and they give up on God. David could have turned away from God after what happened with Bathsheba. He would suffer many things as a result, but his faith did not fail him and he did not fail God. Saul allowed his pride to exalt his heart above God and he forgot God and lost his hope. The people took the bodies of Saul and his sons, burned them, and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh. David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.

You have a story to tell. What will be the end story? Will you be like Saul, who began with such great promise and lost his faith, or will you be like David, who endured the trials of life and kept his faith? The end story is the most important part of life because as a man dies is how he will live. Facing the reality of death with a heart filled with hope and promise in Jesus Christ is a life of faith. It is sad to know of people of God who once named the glorious call of the King of Kings who turned back to the world. Like Saul, they face the certainty of eternity in unfaithfulness. They do not keep the word of the Lord and seek the pleasures of life rather than the word of God. David died in peace. Saul did not die in peace. Let me live to be like David, resting with my fathers.

I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. (Philemon 10-11)

The Value Of A Christian Life

Onesimus was a runaway slave that in unknown circumstances, encountered the apostle Paul while Paul was in prison. Nothing is said in scripture of how the two men met. The runaway slave was owned by a Christian and coworker of Paul named Philemon, who lived in the city of Colosse. Paul sent the slave back to his master with the good news that Onesimus had become a Christian. It took faith on the part of Onesimus to trust in the advice of Paul to return to his master. Paul was writing Philemon to assure him of the confidence he would have in a man who is now a fellow brother in the kingdom of God. Obedience to the gospel did not take away the obligations of the slave and master, but it changed the circumstance of their relationship.

Paul appeals to Philemon to recognize the value of his slave in the light of spiritual matters. As a slave, Onesimus had value simply as one who was indebted to his master. Slavery was common in the First Century. Wealthy patrons could buy slaves from pirates, which was a booming economy at the time. Many enslaved people came from conquered lands of the Romans and were sold in slave markets. Paul was keeping Roman law to admonish Onesimus to return to his master, but the circumstance had changed for Philemon. He was receiving back a man who was a child of God with greater blessings than when he left.

Obedience to the gospel of Christ changes the heart of man to enjoy the blessings of the heavenly Father. There are untold joys associated with the feeling of eternal life. Many of the blessings go beyond the knowledge of salvation in Christ to the changing of hearts of men to one another. When Onesimus became a slave of Philemon, he was not a Christian. He ran away from his master but found a greater master in Christ when Paul taught him the gospel. Becoming a Christian did not remove the obligation of Onesimus to return to his master, but the slave and master now share the same spiritual master. The bond of a holy alliance was confirmed in the relationship the two would share as fellow Christians, workers, brethren, and recipients of the grace of God. Onesimus was now “brother Onesimus,” and Philemon was now “brother Philemon.” What a joy to find the kindred spirit of Christ in others. Becoming a Christian opens up a wonderful family relationship of brotherhood not found in the world.

Paul is exhorting Philemon to receive Onesimus back in a greater manner than he might have on other occasions. There were questions to ask about why the slave ran away. Onesimus would have to answer these questions, but the unfortunate circumstance’s concerns had turned into an eternal reward of salvation and joy. Onesimus had left unprofitable but now returns with a greater value than ever before. That is what becoming a Christian will do. It changes a marriage when a husband joins a wife in the spiritual bond of the blood of Christ. There are few joys greater than children who obey the gospel of Christ, creating a family united in Christ. Fellow workers who learn of God’s grace and become Christians change the landscape of the relationship. Close friends who are baptized for the remission of sins become dearer friends than before. There are blessings in the eyes of God when a man and woman obey the gospel, but those rewards multiply for those who know them. What a joy to see the new birth coming out of the waters of baptism. A man who was unprofitable before is now profitable to the world. Praise God.

Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)

Paul’s Prayer For Thessalonica

The prayers of the apostle Paul are some of the most sublime utterances of endearment in scripture. Paul had a deep love for the people of God and he often wrote telling them of his longing to be with them. He had not yet found occasion to be with the church in Thessalonica, attributing his delay to the hindrance of Satan. The church at Thessalonica was a beacon of spiritual joy to Macedonia, Achaia, and every place because they had turned from idols to serve the living and true God. Their faith was not hidden under a basket but shining like a brilliant ray of hope to the world. Paul’s earnest desire was to be with this kind of people – his kind of folk.

God had blessed the church in Thessalonica in the face of a perverted world. They had turned from the idols of the world and set themselves apart as holy people of God. Paul prayed for the faith of these saints to increase and make their love for one another and for all people grow and overflow. As a congregation of God’s people, the community of Thessalonica saw the example of Christ in the saints who called themselves the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. These brethren lived before a pagan world with the example of Christ. They were neighbors who shared the faith in their lives and their actions. When the word of God came to these brethren, they accepted it as the word of God and not as the word of men. Paul longed to hear of the faith of the Thessalonians.

Timothy had been sent to visit the church in Thessalonica, returning to Paul with the good news of their faith and love. Paul was excited. He longed to meet with the brethren and prayed for them. His desire for the Thessalonians was for their hearts to be made strong and for their lives to be examples of a blameless character and to be holy. The example of the church was well known and became a pattern to the church worldwide. This was unlike the first time Paul visited Thessalonica on his second missionary journey. The church had not been established yet and Paul spent three weeks preaching in the synagogue of the Jews. Some of the Jews were persuaded and a great multitude of the Greeks (including a few of the leading women), but many Jews did not believe. After a tumult caused by the Jews, Paul and Silas went away to Berea. Luke notes in his account of the story the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. Now, as Paul is writing a letter to the church at Thessalonica, he is thrilled to see the power of the gospel in the city of Thessalonica.

Paul’s prayer for the church shows the power of God’s grace on a city that was at first non-receptive to the teachings of Christ. As Paul writes his letter, he prays for the faith of the church as it grows in a place where persecution is evident. Trying to be a Christian in Thessalonica was a struggle to maintain faith in Jesus Christ. The church was thriving though and Paul was thankful for their faithful example. He prays for them and exhorts them to continue to let their light shine in a dark world.

Pray is a powerful tool to recognize congregations thriving in the fellowship of the kingdom. Paul was thankful for those brethren he longed to meet and worship with. He prayed for them to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Their example of a congregation in a dark world of idolatry was a refreshing story of grace and the power of what happens when devoted saints live for Christ. He wanted their love for one another to grow and abound in love. May the work we engage as a congregation be known as a beacon of hope and light in this dark world. Pray for the work of the Lord. The world needs more light.

And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. (Acts 7:9-10)

God Delivers When Men Imprison

The story of Joseph is a familiar Biblical event of a young man who, at the age of seventeen, was sold by his brothers into slavery. Joseph was a treasured son of his father Jacob, who did not fail to flaunt his love for Joseph before his other children. He gave Joseph a coat of many colors symbolizing his love and becoming a symbol of hatred to his brothers. After Joseph revealed dreams where he described his brothers bowing before him, the hatred for him intensified. On a day when Joseph was seeking his brothers, his life would change forever. Nine of the brothers wanted to kill their younger brother, but Reuben stepped in to save his life. Throwing Joseph into a pit, Reuben hoped to spare the young boy’s life and deliver him back to his father.

While Reuben was away from the encampment, a caravan of Ishmaelites on their way to Egypt passed by. Seeking a monetary profit from their brother, the brothers sold Joseph as a slave for twenty shekels of silver. When Reuben returned and found the pit empty, he tore his clothes crying out in despair. Taking the coat of many colors, the sons of Jacob dipped it in the blood of a kid of a goat and showed it to their father. For nearly thirty years, Jacob believed his son to be dead. Unknown to the great patriarch, Joseph had survived the trip to Egypt and was sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

God looked after Joseph while he was in the house of Potiphar and blessed him along with the home of Potiphar. Falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, Joseph was thrown into the inner prison where the king’s prisoners were kept. Again God blessed Joseph while he languished in prison. Years later, Joseph would be released from prison after telling the meaning of a dream the Pharaoh had and was made second in command of the nation of Egypt. A terrible famine was coming and Joseph spent seven years preparing for the famine. Through his wisdom, the world came to Egypt for grain and this is where he would be reunited with his brothers and family.

During the early church days, Stephen was accused of blasphemy and brought before the Jewish council. He recalls the history of Israel, including the journey of the Hebrews to the land of Egypt. Through the providence of God, Joseph was sold into slavery and became the savior of the people by his faith and wisdom. Stephen shows that the brothers sold Joseph into slavery because of envy. His brothers were wrong in selling Joseph. There were many reasons Joseph could have felt anger and hatred toward his brothers, but he believed what happened to him was the will of God. The faith of Joseph rested upon something Stephen said in his defense. Joseph was sold for envy, but God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles. God did not stop Joseph from being sold as a slave. The Lord did not stop Joseph from doing the labor of a slave in Potiphar’s home. Joseph did the humiliating work of a slave until he was rewarded with being in command of the household. God was with him.

God did not stop the advances of Potiphar’s wife. The Lord did not send His angel to defend the honor of Joseph when he was falsely accused. Joseph was sent to prison and stayed for several years. God did not keep Joseph from the harsh realities of being a slave, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison. Joseph knew wherever he was; God was with him. He also knew that the Lord would deliver him and every day he worked as a slave, he was delivered. Living in the dark and horrible Egyptian prison was a day of deliverance for Joseph because he trusted God to care for him. Eventually, Joseph was delivered from the harsh and cruel life and blessed with living like a king.

The Lord always delivers His people. Like Peter, some will be released from prison, but some will die like James. Many Christians suffered at the hand of their persecutors and by God’s grace were granted life. There were many Christians who suffered at the hand of persecutors who were delivered by the grace of God and died. Stephen makes a clear lesson: God is with His people and will deliver His people. Joseph was sold as a slave through envy and God was with him. The envy of the Jewish leaders killed Jesus and God delivered Him. What can man do you the people of God that He will not deliver them? If a Christian dies in a war, they are as blessed as those who are delivered. The trials we face in life will make us stronger when we trust in God and know that He will always be with us and deliver us. Come, Lord Jesus, come.

But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.” (Matthew 19:11-12)

Divorce – Not Everyone Can Accept The Teaching Of Jesus

Divorce was a subject Jesus did not hesitate to discuss when pressed by the Pharisees about the teaching of Moses’ law. The aim of the Jewish leaders was not to find some truth about marriage and divorce but to entrap Jesus in a legal quagmire of doctrinal inconsistencies. Some Pharisees came to Jesus and tried to trap him with a question of whether a man could divorce his wife for any reason. Appealing to the law, Jesus took the Pharisees back to the Garden of Eden, showing that God had created Adam and Eve and that the marriage bond was created in that union. What God had joined together was not to be separated.

The first answer Jesus gave the Pharisees was the law of marriage. God intended for the man and woman to be married to one another and remain faithful to their union. In the creation, the Father established the law of marriage as a binding covenant. There were going to be challenges in marriage. One of the purposes of Satan coming to the garden was to bring division between the woman and the man. He has succeeded throughout the ages as marriage is ignored as a divinely established covenant. The philosophy of human wisdom is that marriage is not sacred and sexual immorality and divorce are accepted norms. Men and women fight and argue and are unfaithful to one another and Satan smiles. The devil has won a victory when the marriage is dissolved and the partner’s divorce, but God hates divorce.

After Jesus answered the Pharisees, a second question was given: the trap the religious leaders had hoped for. They knew what Jesus would answer whether a man could divorce his wife under the Law of Moses. Hearing Jesus answer correctly, they pressed the Son of God to explain why Moses would say in the law that a man could give his wife a divorce and send her away. This was a misrepresentation of the true nature of the law, but Jesus did not flinch. He put the blame squarely upon the hearts of men who had hardened themselves against the pattern of God’s will. Moses permitted divorce because of the people’s hard hearts, but from the beginning – IT WAS NOT THE WILL OF GOD! The Son of God then declares that divorce can only be granted for one reason and one reason alone: infidelity. He further commands that any marriage ending in divorce for any other reason than sexual immorality is sinful. Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. The only exception is for the cause of sexual immorality.

The teaching of Jesus stunned the disciples. Their response to what Jesus said about marriage and divorce left them speechless. They responded that if what Jesus said was true, it would be better for a man and woman to remain unmarried. The eternal consequences of marriage and divorce had never been considered as serious as Jesus taught when questioned by the Pharisees. Jesus knew what He taught would not be popular to a world craving self-satisfaction. Divorce was common in the days of Jesus and it is common in the world today. What men fail to see is the teaching of Jesus has not changed. Not everyone would accept the will of God two thousand years ago and sadly, the teaching of Jesus on marriage and divorce is not readily accepted today.

Jesus knew not everyone would believe His teaching on divorce. There is only one reason for divorce. Incompatibility is not a reason, falling out of love is not a reason, not liking one another is not a reason; in the eyes of God the only reason for divorce is sexual immorality. Not everyone will accept this teaching, but it does not change the will of God. There are many lives turned upside down because of divorce. It will take the courage of a devoted man or woman to follow the will of God; and in some cases, the person may have to remain unmarried the rest of their life. What is that compared to the eternal destiny of those who refuse to accept the teaching of Jesus? Divorce is a tragedy of sin. From the beginning God made man and woman to be united as one. What God has joined together, let no man dare to separate.

Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. (Luke 23:20)

Pilate’s Wish

The trial of Jesus was a travesty of Jewish and Roman law. Multiple laws of the Jewish canon were ignored and rejected as the scribes, elders, and High Priest brought charges against Jesus to condemn Him to death without any evidence of wrongdoing. Pilate was faced with the legal presumptions he was pressured to follow when the Jews brought Jesus to his court. The accusers of Jesus moved the crowds and Roman court to condemn Jesus because He was perverting the nation, refusing to pay taxes, and calling Himself a king. All of this was a lie, but it fulfilled the eternal plan of God to show the hatred of the human nature and the murderous lengths humanity will go to kill a fellow human being.

Pilate was the final authority to condemn Jesus to crucifixion. The Romans allowed the Jews to execute their own citizens by stoning, but the Jewish leaders wanted no blood on themselves. They knew if they could convince the Roman court to condemn Jesus to crucifixion, their hands would be washed clean of an innocent man’s blood. Pressuring Pilate to condemn Jesus, the crowds shouted for His crucifixion. Pilate examined Jesus on multiple occasions and sent him to Herod to be questioned, but Jesus was brought back to the judgment seat of Pilate. He could find no fault in Jesus and desired to release Him. Trying to appease the crowd, Pilate said he would scourge the man from Nazareth and then release him. Scourging was a horrific punishment that would bring a man near death. The Jews refused. They shouted the more to crucify Jesus.

The will of God was being accomplished in the death of Jesus. Everything about the trial of Jesus was a travesty of justice, but the travesty of the event brought justice to the world. Jesus was going to die for sinful man. The crowds were filled with hatred and envy, shouting to kill the Galilean. Roman law could not protect an innocent man because Pilate was too cowardly to stand for what was right. The world stood at the brink of destruction as the Son of God was nailed to a cross and died. But through the act of hatred, love conquered the world and salvation was given to all men. In the middle of the story stood a man wishing to do the right thing – but he could not do it.

There are eternal realities about the death of Jesus as demanded by the providential law of God, but the people involved in the death of Jesus reflect the struggles men have with themselves. The crowds were filled with hatred. There was fear in the hearts of the disciples. The Jewish leaders pressed their hatred to kill a man. Pilate stood in a place of authority wishing to do the right thing. Because he did not do the right thing – he did the right thing. He wanted to release Jesus. He desired to let Jesus go home. But he did not release Jesus. He failed. Many like Pilate wish to serve God but lack the courage to face the crowds of hatred, doubt, and fear. Wishing to obtain eternal life will never happen. Salvation does not come from a wish but from commandment-keeping. Jesus told His disciples in the sermon on the mount the only people who will be saved are those who do the will of God. That is not wishing for salvation. To be saved requires doing the will of the Father. Pilate wished and then he died. His wishes changed after death, but it was too late. Do not let death overtake you while you wish to live right and serve God because one day will come when there is nothing to wish for.

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Serving The Chief Shepherd

Leadership within the church of Christ is established by the authority of scripture. When Jesus built His church, the Holy Spirit inspired men to write down the organizational structure of how the leadership of the church of God would be established. Men have corrupted the pattern of leadership through the ages, but the Biblical design has remained intact. Jesus is the only head of the church and within each local congregation of saints are men called elders, pastors, shepherds, and bishops. These men are specifically qualified leaders who have definitive traits outlined in Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus. Along with their wives, elders have certain qualities that God commands. The work of a bishop is an exhausting, intense, and untiring activity of shepherding the flock of God.

Peter was not only an apostle and preacher of Jesus Christ, but he also served as a shepherd of a local congregation. This would prove Peter was married (Mark mentions his mother-in-law; Paul confirms it) and had children. The apostle writes in his first epistle to encourage his fellow elders to be strong in the face of opposition and to continue to guide the church through the turbulent times of the early church. There was a need for strong leadership as the Christians faced increased persecution. Peter exhorts his fellow elders to be shepherds of the flock of God, caring for the members as a shepherd tends his sheep. Shepherding was a difficult and sometimes dangerous job. A shepherd would have to feed his sheep, protect the flock, and seek out the lambs that strayed. There was a constant watch for the danger of predators and thieves. Elders were not cowboys or CEOs – they were men who smelled like their sheep.

The work of the bishop was a love devoted to the cause of Christ. Peter reminds his fellow elders that serving the congregation is not by a grudging heart of necessity but a heart willing to sacrifice for the needs of the flock. Some men seek leadership to gain prestige and power. This is not the kind of man who will shepherd the family of God. There must be a love for God and a deep love for the brethren to seek their well-being. A shepherd of the church sacrifices his life in service of the congregation. Peter warns the elders not to lord over those entrusted to them. It is easy to take on an attitude of a ‘boss’ instead of a shepherd. The greatest work an elder can do is to lead by example. Cattle are driven – sheep are led. Shepherds call out their sheep by name and the sheep follow them because they trust their voice.

Serving as an elder is exhausting work. Peter encourages his fellow elders to act with diligence and faithfulness; not for anything they may gain from the experience but for the realization that one day each man who served as a shepherd will stand face to face before the Chief Shepherd. Elders will be held to a stricter judgment because of their responsibilities. Standing before the Chief Shepherd is a humbling thought to consider. Serving the local congregation will bring many blessings but not so great as to be in the presence of Jesus Christ and hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful shepherd.” May God raise up more men and women who live before Him in such a manner they can show forth the light of Christ in service to the Chief Shepherd.

Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit and who trembles at My word. (Isaiah 66:1-2)

Nothing But A Footstool

The earth is one of nine planets in the solar system traveling around the sun. It would take about a million earths to fit inside the sphere of the sun. The equatorial circumference of the earth is 24,902 miles. Traveling an average speed of 66,00 miles per hour, the earth moves around the sun in 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, and 9.54 seconds. The earth stays about 93 million miles away from the sun. Walking around the circumference of the earth would take 345.85 days of continuous walking (which is impossible for him to do). The earth is huge compared to the size of a man. Astronauts have witnessed the earth from space, but only half can be seen at one time. The area of the earth is 196,940,400 square miles, with 71% covered by water and only 29% by land. About 5,100,00 square miles of land is in Antarctica, which is too cold to be settled.

A footstool is a low stool for resting the feet on when sitting. The function of the footstool is either as furniture or support used to elevate the foot. It is a secondary piece of furniture that serves more a function than a necessity. At its best, a footstool is a small, insignificant but useful tool to rest a foot upon. To this figure, the Lord draws attention to the expanse of the earth where all men dwell. The angels are bemused by the pride of man as the earth is a vast place for men to inhabit and yet it serves as nothing more than a footstool in the presence of God. There is no comparison to the magnitude of the Lord God and the existence of a man. God can hold the universe in His hand. A man can barely hold a clump of dirt in his.

Perspective helps men identify the vastness of God’s existence and the puny efforts of humankind to exalt themselves above their station. Isaiah declares the earth is nothing more than a footstool to God. The earth is not unimportant to the Lord God, but the immense feeling of grandeur men feel of their place on earth is nothing compared to the whole world being a place for God to rest one foot. How can a man be filled with pride when there is nothing to boast about? Heaven is the throne of God and earth is His footstool. One of the most significant accomplishments of human wisdom is the International Space Station. There are times the reflection of the ISS can be seen by the naked eye on a dark sky. What can also be seen are the trillions of stars surrounding the small reflected light that God holds in His hands. And lest man boasts in his wisdom, the Lord has a name for every star.

Understanding the place of man begins by knowing how big God is. The Lord did not only give the universe to declare how great He is but to remind man how small he is. Earth is nothing more than a footstool. The heavenly look down upon the human race as ants upon a small hill in the middle of a vast field. There is no comparison. Heaven is the place of the glory and majesty of the One who created the earth and placed it three rocks away from the sun. As a faint blue dot in a universe of blackness, God sent His Son to His footstool to save its inhabitants. Thank God for His love. Praise God for His power. Bow in the presence of the one who is so incredibly huge, the expanse of the earth is nothing more than a footstool.