Daily Archives: March 15, 2019

Reading 10 for Lent from The Soldier Who Killed a King

15 Friday Mar 2019

Posted by in Lent, The Soldier Who Killed a King

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A journey to the cross is a journey to repentance. It’s a journey to deep personal change. Will you take this journey with me?

In today’s reading, Marcus recruits his nephew, the young soldier Claudius, to spy on the activities of a man he sees as a dangerous threat—Jesus of Nazareth.

“Look, Claudius. We need to keep an eye on this man. I mean what I’m saying. All our lives could be in jeopardy.
“You’re a natural choice,” I reasoned. “Like I said, you’re a new face around here. You speak Aramaic very well—better than I do. And you’ve got a brain in your head. Right now, you’re the best man I have for the job.”
I could see he was thinking.
“Couldn’t we just get some paid informants or something?”

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“Ha! In a case like this, paid informants will tell you whatever you want to hear and collect afterward. How do you think I managed to nail Barabbas? It wasn’t with paid informants!” I scoffed at the idea. “No, he’ll feel the spikes on Friday because I went out and got the facts on him—myself.”
Determined to press home my point, I continued, “Look, there are times in this business when you’ve got to put your own life on the line. You got to dirty your own fingers. When good men like Hermes and Andreas go down, you don’t sit and polish your brass. You get out there and sniff out the stinking truth for yourself. You owe it to your men.”
I drew a deep breath and plunged on. “As for Barabbas, he’s a tin-pot hooligan. A brainless bloody terrorist!” I spat the words out. “Now Jesus . . . Jesus, on the other hand, there’s a different dog on the prowl. He’s got followers. He’s got a crowd around him. He’s got heaven on his side. You don’t let Jewish messiahs strut around under your nose and just ignore them.”

To download a free study guide for this high-impact, bible-based novel visit: https://www.davidkitz.ca/centurion.php/free study guide PDF

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Be Still Before the Cross

15 Friday Mar 2019

Posted by in Psalm 46, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 46
(Verses 8-11)
Come and see what the LORD has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress (NIV).

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He was pierced for our transgressions.

Reflection
As I write this it’s the second week of Lent—forty days of contemplation leading to Good Friday—leading to our Saviour’s death on the cross. The opening line of this reading from Psalm 46 grabs me: Come and see what the LORD has done.  

Yes. Come and see what the LORD has done! Come and see what has happened to God’s son. Come and see the desolations he has brought on the earth—the desolations He has brought on the dust-formed bundle of flesh that at birth was laid in a manager. Now he is laid on a cross. He is not wrapped in swaddling clothes. He is stripped naked; arms pried wide open and nailed to a cross.

Come and see what has happened to him. This is the LORD’s doing. This is the Father’s will. This is the Son’s willing obedience. Now hear the Spirit’s beckoning call, “Come and see what the LORD has done!”

This is what love looks like—not our love for God, but God’s love for man. Love looks like Jesus on the cross. Love looks like a bloody sacrifice, engineered by God, inflicted on God, God come-in-the-flesh. Love looks painful. It looks painful because it gives to the last drop. It calls us near to the last breath. “Come and see what the LORD has done!”

And when you come be still. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

This is not the time to rush on by. Eve reached for the forbidden fruit. Adam rushed after her. Rushing has brought us this mess—this messed up world—this mess on the cross. Self-centered rushing hurtles us into sin with no thought for tomorrow—no thought for the man on a cross. Instead today, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 

Be still. Be still before the cross. He is God. The man on the cross is God. Love has a price, always has a price. It’s written in blood—the Savior’s blood.

Response: LORD God, alter me at the foot of the cross. I need you to change my heart, my life, my attitude. Help me be still before you as I contemplate your love—love that I don’t deserve—that I have not earned. But Jesus, you offered yourself freely. Thank you. Amen.

Your Turn: Has your life been altered by the cross?