Tired

I work nights, what that actually means is that I have gotten use to the feeling of being tired. It's a different feeling when you are leaving for work, and you know that by the time you get off work in the morning you will have been up for 24hrs. It's a strange feeling when you realize that you actually have a chance to get 7 straight hours of sleep on a certain day. You hear people say that they could never do it, but over the years you get so use to it, that you actually can't imagine anything else. That is why I have always felt an attachment to the verses in Matthew 11. Listen to what Jesus says to the people who are standing there.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The promise of rest is comforting to me. I have to admit I have days that I feel weary and burdened. When people meet someone who works nights, it seems like one of two things happens. Either they stay far away for fear of waking you up, or they think that it means you have a whole bunch of free time and that you are available day and night no matter what. For most people when someone calls or texts and they say that they want help, you genuinely want to help. So, sleep or no sleep, you try and help. So, as much as I would love it if Jesus was talking to a bunch of people who worked nights, I know that isn't the case. So, if he isn't talking to bunch of people about lack of sleep, who is he talking to and about what?

The first thing we need to address is the word yoke. When I first hear of yoke, I think of eggs. He's definitely not having a conversation about chickens or what is for breakfast. And, as much as people want to say that he is referring to oxen and how they work together, I've never thought that they made tons of sense either. The people of that time had priests who gave them direction, all those priests at some point had a rabbi that they learned from. When people heard certain priests talk, they could tell who their rabbi was. To give it a modern-day spin that most of us can relate to, I will put it to you like this, we all know that speeding is wrong. BUT, if I am on the interstate and the speed limit says 70MPH, how fast does that mean I can go. Depending on how you were taught, some might say 70, others might say 75, some creative people believe in some sort of highway patrol math and say that 77 is ok. So, if you said today that your priest told you that you could drive 75 on the interstate, you would know that his rabbi was a specific person, because that was in line with his training. So, the "yoke" refers to the teachings of a rabbi. What people were used to dealing with in those days was all of the laws they had to follow. They had 613 specific laws they had to follow, plus all of the other parts of the "yoke" from their rabbi that would help make sure that they never got close to sinning. So, if you were a good Jewish person, you had to follow all of these laws, and if you were not a Jew, well then salvation wasn't even an option. So now let's go back and read verse 30 from the listeners perspective.

30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Most people felt completely overwhelmed and in a lot of ways it felt hopeless. I can't raise a family, do all of my work and follow all of these laws. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt like being a good Christian person is just way too hard? Have you ever felt like every time you mess up the world is watching and judging, and they can't wait to tell you how you messed up and that you are probably going to hell now. What Jesus says is a lesson to everyone. First for the person who is feeling overwhelmed, Jesus said to come to him, and he will give you rest. He won't make sure you get a good nights sleep, he will give you rest for your soul. Yes, you are a sinner, but now you are saved!  And now to the person who loves to point out everyone else's mistakes. I hope you understand how you are hurting the church, I hope you understand that when you heap all of your judgement on people, they are leaving Jesus behind. Why do I want to be a part of something that makes people feel the way you made them feel. Jesus was saying that he can save you from that way of thinking. He isn't harsh or hateful, his burden is light.

Faith in Prayer

 

If we truly want to work on spending time with God and bringing things to him, where do we start? The older I get the more I appreciate the verses in 1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I know for the most part these verses explain themselves, but I think they are verses we should all memorize and come back to on a regular basis. On a daily basis am I rejoicing? Too often we think we need to have these long prayers where we pray for every sick child in the world, world peace and every single person we have ever met. Of course, we can pray for those things, but I think more importantly we need to focus on the things that cross our minds. If we are driving to work and we are worried about the crazy day ahead of us or a co-worker who is struggling in some way, pray about it. If we get a text that a family member is sick, pray about it. If we have something coming up in a few weeks and it's making us feel anxious or concerned, pray about it. The simple act of getting use to going to God with things when they come up will get us use to communicating with God and bringing things to him that impact us or concern us.

What about when things have been rough for a while, and we know that part of the reason is because we have been distant from God? I wish everyone was comfortable with admitting that sometimes we go through stretches when we don't feel completely in it. Let's be honest, sometimes the phone rings during prayer time and we have to take it. If we don't have a designated prayer time, sometimes we get to the end of the day and our minds haven't stopped racing for the day and we just can't concentrate long enough to have a good prayer. And, if we are completely being honest, sometimes we doze off during prayer time. If you ever have had those stretches you have two choices, you can just decide to stop praying, or you can take a few minutes to regroup. When that happens, I think it helps to have a verse to go to. Let's look at 2 Chronicles 7:14-15

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

I know that maybe your first thought is that missing a few prayer times or just racing through a prayer isn't necessarily wicked, but, if we don't get ourselves straightened out, satan will use that guilt we have and make us feel like we are the most wicked person in the world. My opinion-it's better to humble myself as a wicked person then have too much pride and continue to sin. 

My challenge to you this week, try and take as many things as possible to God in prayer. No matter how big or how small, bring it to God in prayer. Also, see if you can every day this week read the verses from 1 Thessalonians.   Rejoice, Pray and Give Thanks! 

How big is your faith?

This is how Matthew ends his version of the story of Jesus heals a demon possessed boy.

Matthew 17:20

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Hearing Jesus say "if you have faith as small as a mustard seed" makes me think, Obviously I haven't moved any mountains lately, So I don't have faith the size of a mustard seed. So, if my faith isn't the size of a mustard seed, what size is it? Before we try and answer that question, I want to look at the same story, but in the book of Mark.

Mark 9:14-29

Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Impure Spirit

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” 19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Look at the man's reply starting in verse 22, he says "But, if you can do anything?" Jesus calls him out right away. I love what the man says when Jesus calls him out. This is my answer to the size of my faith. He responds, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief".  What? Before I continue, I want to just say, I believe everything that is in the bible. I think that some people believe that certain parts are not supposed to be taken literally, but I believe that all of those parts are literal. Everything that it says happened, 100% truly happened. I like to tell people that on the day I was born my parents taught me about the bible and on the second day they taught me about baseball. I don't know if that is completely accurate, but I just want to point out that 45 years later I still love the bible and baseball. So it makes me sad to admit I still have unbelief. I know that God has the power to heal, I know that no matter what the situation, God is in control. Especially when it comes to everyone else. But my unbelief always involves me. I know my sins, I know my faults. How can I have faith even the size of a mustard seed with the mistakes I've made. Doesn't that mean that I am part of the unbelieving nation mentioned in verse 19?  I'm not sure why the father had unbelief, I'm guessing that in the moment some part of him was having flashbacks of every single mistake he had ever made and was worried that because of those mistakes the man who had the ability to heal his son would hold it against him. I looked up the definition of faith, it says, complete trust or confidence in someone or something. A strong belief in God or in the doctrine of a religion based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof. I've come to the conclusion that the two main reasons that we don't have enough faith on a regular basis are lack of time spending time with God in prayer and not bringing everything to God that we should bring to him. If we aren't talking with him, we don't have a relationship with him. If we don't have a relationship with him, why would we have faith in him. When I was younger and something big was going on in my life, I knew that I should pray about it. But, I convinced myself that I shouldn't pray because it was unfair of me to go to God with something big when I didn't go to him with the little things. After awhile, I decided the only way to fix that in my mind was to start going to him with the little things. What can I do today, to start working to have faith the size of a mustard seed?

Mustard Seeds

 For some reason I really want to talk about mustard seeds now that we have talked about the resurrection. Mustard seeds are mentioned in two separate ways in the gospels. The first time it is mentioned when discussing the Kingdom of God. 

Matthew 13:31-32

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” 

Mark 4:30-32

30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” 

Luke 13:18-19

18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” 

I showed all three times it was mentioned in this way, mostly because every time it was similar. Here is the interesting part about these scriptures. When you look at commentaries some of them disagree about who or what the mustard seeds represent. On a positive note, you have the mustard seeds being like the church or Christians. What started off small has become or can become something huge and save everyone who accepts it. What a beautiful image! But other people believe that this is a warning about corruption within the church or believers. If I am being completely honest, I don't know that it matters because I think they are both correct. You can start off doing something small to improve your relationship with God or trying to get people to come to church, and over time it can become something huge and life changing for many people. You can also be living a wonderful Christian life and let a little bit of something in and it can change you over a period of time. Either way, positive or negative when you let a little into your life, in can change you over time.

Now to discuss the other time that a mustard seed is mentioned. This time Jesus is talking to his disciples who just had the experience of not being able to heal a demon possessed boy. Jesus tells them why they couldn't do it.

Matthew 17:14:21

14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” 17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [21] 

This parable is told in Mark and Luke also, but they do not have Jesus talking about a mustard seed. Jesus says that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Sounds like a good place to stop for now, we can pick in back up in a few days.

He is Risen Indeed

 From a very young age I remember one very specific thing about Easter Sunday. It wasn't the candy or anything with a bunny. It was going to church and having someone stand up at the beginning of the service and proclaim, " HE IS RISEN!" and then the congregation responding, "HE IS RISEN INDEED". I'm not sure why this meant so much to me, but it's one of the things I remember most about being a child and growing up going to church. 

    As I continue to look at Matthew chapter 27, something sticks out to me.

The Guard at the Tomb

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” 

65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. 

When I read this, I think one of two things, One, after everything that they had seen when Jesus died, there was a part of them that worried they were wrong, and he was the Messiah. Or, Two, they were so crooked, that they were thinking to themselves "What would I do in this situation". And that is what conclusion they came up with. 

Now let's look at the good part of the story, again continuing with Matthew chapter 27.

Jesus Has Risen

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” 

I've been showing the book of Matthew the most this weekend, so it's only fair that I stick with that for the last day. The main thing I want to point out as I read the book of Matthew was verse 2-4. The earthquake had to have happened before the two Mary's got there and no one else must have heard or felt this earthquake. If I was one of the Mary's and felt an earthquake, I think I would have run to the tomb to make sure that everything was ok.  

Let's look at a few of the other gospels to get their perspective. This what I love about Mark chapter 16.

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” 8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Two things that I want to point out. One, I'm not sure why but I love that it points out that they were bringing spices and that they had a conversation about how they would move the stone in front of the tomb. But two, I also want to point out verse 7. It says go tell his disciples and Peter. I had no problem discussing what Judas did, but I never spent any time on Peter and the three times he denied Jesus. something more for next year. I just want to point out that they are not including Peter with the disciples right now, meaning something is going to happen soon to reconcile all of this. 

In the book of John I just want to point out a few things, lets look at John chapter 24 verses 1-8.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. 

I love verse 5! Why do you look for the living among the dead? What a powerful thing to say and something that maybe we need to focus on more. I feel like on a daily basis I need to say to myself, " Why are you treating him like he is dead, when you know that he is a wonderful, living God". My point being that if we look at what we truly ask from God on a regular basis we surely don't treat him like a powerful living God. When our main focus is praying that he somehow blesses our 1,000-calorie lunch and makes it healthy or we pray that he helps our headache go away, we are not treating him like a living God. I also love how we read how now that he has risen, they remember his words and find out that he was being literal the whole time. They kept thinking he was talking about a kingdom rising up, or in some cases they didn't have a clue what he was saying. Now all of the sudden everything is completely clear. 

As we celebrate Easter today, or even if you are reading this on a random day, remember, We have a powerful living God, and we need to recognize that!

The Crucifixion of Jesus

 It's hard to sit down and write about the crucifixion of Jesus. To write about it, is to take responsibility for the part you had in it. Jesus died a harsh and cruel death because even though I know everything about what Jesus did for me, I still can't stop sinning. I think it would be one thing if I was really good in almost every area, but I had one thing I completely struggled with, but Jesus died because I have 15-20 areas of my life that I can't seem to keep straight.  I have days when 2-3 things don't go the way I thought they would, and it makes me want to either eat everything I see or just go back to bed. Let's look at some of the things that Jesus went through in Matthew 27:27-31

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. 

What is your definition of Mock? When I think of someone mocking me, I think of maybe someone going over the top making fun of the way I laugh, walk or say a certain word. I've never been stripped, had a crown of thorns pierced through my head or been spit on while being beat. I think when we read that the soldiers mocked Jesus, we read what it says but our mind translates it to some school kid mocking. I think that's part of why the movie The Passion of the Christ is so powerful. When I am watching those scenes, the word mock doesn't come to my mind. Let's continue with Matthew 27.

38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. 

Now he is up on the cross and it still doesn't stop. You have people passing by yelling things at you, they are making fun of everything you have ever said about who you are. You also have all of the religious leaders walking by and leading the charge of questioning everything about you. At least all those people finish walking by at some point, but he stills has the criminals next to him making comments. 

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” 

Finally, after seeing Jesus die, the curtain in the temple torn, an earthquake and bodies of holy people who had died walking around, someone finally admits he was the Son of God. 

Jesus did all of that so that 2000 years later I can be forgiven for all of the times I make a mistake. It's hard to write about the crucifixion of Jesus because when I read about it, I just don't understand why I don't do more. I don't understand why I struggle.

Betrayal

 Have you ever gone to say something and realized that you were about to contradict yourself? The smart thing to do would be to not say one of things you wanted to say, then no one would know the battle you had with yourself. Me, I think I just want to say whatever is on my mind and then pick up the pieces when it's all said and done. That leads me to this post! If you plan on talking about a subject for many years, it's ok to leave some things out. Whatever you don't get this time, just make sure you get them the next time. But, when it comes to some things, I think you have some sort of obligation to tell certain parts every time you visit the subject. It's Easter weekend and today is Good Friday! For some reason every time I think about what to write, I keep coming back to Judas. I challenge everyone to look around at their friends and family, the people they are closest with. What if I told you that in three years, one of them is going to betray you? Not a small betrayal, but something huge. On top of that, even though you know that they are going to betray you, you have to spend every day with them and treat them just as you treat everyone else. Could you do it? When Jesus started his ministry, he picked twelve people that would be close to him. They would spend every day with him and get to see up close who Jesus really was. When a miracle happened, they would be there. They would hear everything that Jesus said, but in the end, someone would turn on him.  If you knew this three years ahead of time, how would you treat them? Here is what it says in Matthew 26:14-16

14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. 

Judas has agreed to betray Jesus and Jesus knows all this, So how does he handle it when he sees him again. For that answer we need to go to John Chapter 13.

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. 

He washed Judas' feet! Couldn't he have waited until after Judas left? I know I would have handled it differently, but in the end, did it have a bigger impact on the disciples when they realized that Jesus knew what was going to happen, but he still washed his feet? So many lessons are here. In life, we are going to have people that disappoint us, we are going to have people betray us in some way. How are we going to treat them back? In case you didn't know, how does the Judas's story end? We hear about that in Matthew chapter 27.

Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. 3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

One of the most controversial thoughts I have ever had, and again I want to say thoughts, I have no idea what the truth is, but deep down I wonder if Judas went to heaven. Don't yell at me, but please feel free to express your opinion, I just want to point out that the scripture says he had remorse and he admitted that he sinned. Isn't that some of things we are told we need to do? I could be way off, but it would be an amazing lesson in forgiveness. When Jesus talks about forgiving people the way he forgave us, this sure would be a good example of how far he is willing to go with forgiveness. 

I'm hoping I can post three days in a row! I know that I didnt talk about Jesus being arrested or the trial at all, but again, hopefully we have many years to talk about all of this and I will get it next time. Until tomorrow, be thinking of who you need to forgive.