March 18, 2014: Wilderness Challenge / Can You? Should You?

Mark 15:26-47

Amplified Bible (AMP)

26 And the inscription of the accusation against Him was written above, The King of the Jews.

27 And with Him they crucified two robbers, one on [His] right hand and one on His left.

28 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, He was counted among the transgressors.

29 And those who passed by kept reviling Him and reproaching Him abusively in harsh and insolent language, wagging their heads and saying, Aha! You Who would destroy the temple and build it in three days,

30 Now rescue Yourself [from death], coming down from the cross!

31 So also the chief priests, with the scribes, made sport of Him to one another, saying, He rescued others [from death]; Himself He is unable to rescue.

32 Let the Christ (the Messiah), the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see [it] and trust in and rely on Him and adhere to Him! Those who were crucified with Him also reviled and reproached Him [speaking abusively, harshly, and insolently].

33 And when the sixth hour (about midday) had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour (about three o’clock).

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?—which means, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me [deserting Me and leaving Me helpless and abandoned]?

35 And some of those standing by, [and] hearing it, said, See! He is calling Elijah!

36 And one man ran, and, filling a sponge with vinegar (a mixture of sour wine and water), put it on a staff made of a [bamboo-like] reed and gave it to Him to drink, saying, Hold off! Let us see whether Elijah [does] come to take Him down.

37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed out His life.

38 And the curtain [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

39 And when the centurion who stood facing Him saw Him expire this way, he said, Really, this Man was God’s Son!

40 Now some women were there also, looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome,

41 Who, when [Jesus] was in Galilee, were in the habit of accompanying and ministering to Him; and [there were] also many other [women] who had come up with Him to Jerusalem.

42 As evening had already come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, [the day] before the Sabbath,

43 Joseph, he of Arimathea, noble and honorable in rank and a respected member of the council (Sanhedrin), who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, daring the consequences, took courage and ventured to go to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

44 But Pilate wondered whether He was dead so soon, and, having called the centurion, he asked him whether [Jesus] was already dead.

45 And when he learned from the centurion [that He was indeed dead], he gave the body to Joseph.

46 And Joseph bought a [fine] linen cloth [for swathing dead bodies], and, taking Him down from the cross, he rolled Him up in the [fine] linen cloth and placed Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock. Then he rolled a [very large] stone against the door of the tomb.

47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary [the mother] of Joses were [attentively] observing where He was laid.

Two thoughts are running through my mind this morning.
1. Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD.
Jesus had the power to come off the cross. Jesus could have called fire from heaven and destroyed everyone. He could have caused the ground to open up and swallow everyone. Then they would have known for sure Who He was!!!
He was in a horrific situation. But He humbly stayed on the cross all the way to His death. 
So, yeah. When I could easily say or do something that would cut someone down and shut them up in a hurry, should I? No. 
2. Joseph, the man in verse 43, impresses me. He loved God and took a huge risk! Anything could've happened. He could have been put to death himself! And what he did was heroic! Burying the precious wounded body of our Lord. Wow. He reminds me of queen Esther. She also took a huge risk and saved a nation (Book of Esther). 
Take a risk for Jesus! Be daring! Be bold for the cause of Christ. What is it that God is asking you to do? Something that scares and excites you at the same time. Just do it. "Dear Jesus, I am in awe of You once again. First of all, I awakened at 1:30 this morning with junk on my mind. After tossing for a half hour, I got up and used my little brain to find a clear, concise answer. 
I seriously believe my brain is clearer in the middle of the night. It's embarassing when I think of how simple the answer is. And I have been complicating everything! 
And then I read about how You chose to hang on the cross and endure the suffering. It had to be hard, knowing You could eliminate all Your accusers with just a swipe of Your mighty Hand. This lets me know that just because I CAN, doesn't mean I SHOULD. And then I read about Joseph. He took the risk of His life!!! For You. I want to be like You, Joseph, and Esther. I want to take the high road! I love You and I embrace whatever You have planned for me! In Jesus name, AMEN."