March 31, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away. But whoever takes refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain. And it will be said: ‘Build up, build up, prepare the road!
Remove the obstacles out of the way of My people.’” (Isaiah 57.13,14)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

We are called to do whatever it takes to keep those who will be called God’s “My people” from not getting to God. It is for that reason we take seriously “the call on one in the wilderness who cried out ‘Prepare the way of the Lord and make straight His paths.’” We know those words from Isaiah 40 as well as from the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) who introduce the ministry of John the Baptizer, Jesus’ cousin. At first glance and hearing, we might think that the path is being cleared for the Messiah. The scenes recorded of Jesus’ “Triumphant Entry” into Jerusalem at the beginning of that fateful Passover Week in His life help to support such consideration. Yet, His most triumphant entry into Jerusalem would happen eight (8) days later. I will pause there for a moment. I pause for you to let that statement settle in. His, Jesus, most triumphant entry into Jerusalem to date was the day of His resurrection and His return to the Upper Room where He made Himself known to the disciples and close followers with whom He shared Seder. We glory in the cross of Christ because it testifies of His great love for His Father, our God; His God, our Father; and us. No greater love was there than that, that such a man would lay down His life for the sake of others. His life was a series of acts of obedience to the commanded Word of God to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus said this when His cousin John stopped short in baptizing Him. When John sought to defer baptizing Jesus on His cousin’s thirtieth birthday (the age of becoming a rabbi) saying, “I am not worthy even to untie Your sandal [so that you may enter the water where we stand],” Jesus replied, “We must do this to fulfill all righteousness.” As we know, righteousness is the result of living for God and making the choice to follow Him always. Jesus, in that regard and in all regards, was righteous. Without Him, righteousness would be impossible. We know, however, that what is impossible for us is not impossible for God!

Yet, in such obedience when Jesus entered into Jerusalem amidst the shouts and praises of the people who had gathered for Passover (and many staying over for Pentecost) it was not to be crowned as the One for whom the road was cleared. Jesus was still in the act and ministry of “clearing the road” and “making paths straight to God.” This is the purpose and function of righteousness. Jesus was preparing the way for the Lord and the Lord’s “My people” to connect and come into His presence with thanksgiving. In the recollections of that morning when Jesus road on a donkey as an humble and prophetic servant of God into Jerusalem we still see roadblocks and stumbling stones such as those which the Elders and Priests represented. Jesus was stir in the “world moving” business from the east gate to the Temple on Sunday as He was from the Temple to the west gate which led to Golgotha. Even at Calvary we are presented with the final clearing phases of His ministry of righteousness. Even there we find the stumbling blocks and impediments of unrighteousness which still had to be cleared out of the way so that the path between God and God’s “My people” would be made straight. It was through forgiveness and surrender that the work was finally finished. When Jesus declared with His last breath “It is done” it was done. The evidence, however, was not His death but His resurrection. At His resurrection, the last barrier was removed. It was the stone which had been rolled into place sealing Joseph’s tomb where Jesus was buried. It was sealed as a witness to all who would come there of what had happened and who it was that occupied the tomb and by whose authority. Guards were put in place to be eyewitnesses and living testimonies that it was indeed “Finished and done!”

Here is the vital information Jesus wanted for all the world to know and recognition. He lived and died and was raised on the third day according to His Father’s will for us. God offered His only begotten Son to “clear the road” and “make straight the paths.” Jesus was that instrument of peace, redemption and reconciliation. We, mighty ones of God, are to be such instruments as well in the world here on earth. We are to reflect His image in life and in death so that the world will know until the day of His return who and what God truly is as the “I AM that I AM.” Who is He? In the words of the shepherd psalmist who was King, “Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.” (Psalm 100.3) Live, mighty ones of God, so that this truth becomes clear for all to see. They may still refuse the truth and thus stand as witness against themselves. We will not, however, bear false witness. We will clear the road, make straight the paths and declare the coming of THAT DAY when nothing shall separate us from the love of God and we shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever. AMEN.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness which we know is folly but righteous works which declare Your glory and further witness the truth that can set all who believe free from death. So may we live by the name of Jesus our Christ. AMEN.