A Claim Too Far

“If you are the Christ, tell us.”

But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?”

And he said to them, “You say that I am.”

Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.” -Luke 22:67–71

Jesus has been arrested and now finds himself before the religious council of elders and scribes. Serious are the accusations against him, but it is the perceived affirmation that he is the Son of God that is a claim too far for them.

To claim that you were God, the Son of God, or the Messiah promise from the ancient of days, was blasphemy. It was punishable by death, never taken lightly. You simply didn't go around claiming to be God, no matter how well-behaved or priestly you might have been.

You did not make the claim, unless you were in fact God. The council is bating Jesus: “Tell us if you are the Christ, the anointed One, the Messiah.” Jesus knows they won't believe him; their minds are set on destroying him. But he will tell them that the Son of Man (using a prophet name for the Messiah, for himself) will reign at the right hand of God from that moment on. This is the straw they have been waiting for.

We can look back and recognize that this is the moment the fever spreads through the crowd who will end up chanting for Jesus' crucifixion in a matter of hours. He will be led to a death he never deserved to cover wrath for sin he never committed. This is our great moment, and it was accomplished—not by a mere prophet, or even a stand-out good guy, or a gifted speaker. It was accomplished by God himself.

You are not an afterthought or just a individual on the periphery of history. Jesus, the God-man, who created you, knew you and knows you now. He determined to choose you and to live an obedient life knowing you could never do it perfectly. He died a death you didn't want to with the full knowledge that it was covering your sin. You are the joy set before him as he hangs on a cross in agony.

God loves you with a love that drives him to do the absurd so that he can call you child. That is amazing news. What else can get in your way today if God is for you in this way? Live knowing you are his, and he is God.

Joy In Heaven

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” -Luke 15:7

Jesus is telling the parables of lost things—the sheep, the coin and the son—to tell of the great joy the Father and angels have when sinners turn to Jesus.

When one sinner repents, there is more joy in heaven than excitement over the 99 righteous people who need no repentance.

Everyone is in need of repentance. We are all, by birth, sinful in nature and in need of saving. Thank God that Jesus is our Savior; he comes to us by the Spirit, regenerates our hearts, and equips us to repent. He enables us to turn from our sin and turn instead to him.

Where we get wonky is when we think we are above repentance, not needing to be forgiven This might be the most grave and common mistake for those assuming we have faith.

When we attempt to soften the law of God, when we lower the standards of perfection, we don't actually make ourselves free from sin. All we do is permit it. We slide down a slope of no need—no need for Jesus to save us and transform us, no need for repentance. Oh, the way that grieves the Spirit, and should grieve us!

Instead, the biblical model is to recognize and own our sin — all of it, none excused away — and then run to Jesus in repentance and petition for deliverance. This brings rejoicing in Heaven. And it brings freedom to us as we lean on our Savior, not our own “righteousness.”

Try it today. See sin, call it what it is, and run to Jesus. He loves you and will tell you so.