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November 13th

The bible reading today is in Luke 23, and John 18 and 19.

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.”

‭‭John‬ ‭18:1‬

On the eastern side of Italy, there is a beautiful little stream called the Rubicon...falling into the Adriatic Sea. This insignificant river acquired a name in history and the proverbs of men.

When Caesar led his army to the bank of the Rubicon he stopped and spoke to his officers, “We can yet turn back. But if we cross this stream, all must be decided by the sword...everything will be changed.”

The night was passed in anxious deliberation. Then at daybreak, as the legend goes, an angel took a trumpet to his lips and blew the signal for advance. Immediately, Caesar plunged into the river and his army followed.

The die was cast...the decision was made...to cross the Rubicon ...to victory...or death!”

Years before this, there lived a king named David. He crossed his own Rubicon...the stream just down the mountain from Jerusalem named, Kidron.

David was in a dark place of his life...2 Sam 15. His son, Absolom, was leading a rebellion against him and his kingdom. Knowing that the city and its inhabitants were in grave danger, David chose to leave the capital. He lead his people, with great distress, to cross over the brook of Kidron.

He knew that the present crisis would mark him forever...either the loss of his kingdom or the loss of a son forever.

After this crossing, David went to his grave a sorrow-stricken man. But his inner man was changed for the better...with a revived love for his kids and a more beautiful faith vision of God to pass on to Solomon.

And what happened to David happened to David’s son, Jesus a thousand years later?

The die was cast...the decision was made...the moment was life-changing...for so many...when Jesus crossed the Chedron valley and the stream that ran through it.

He had proven himself a great rabbi and a miraculous healer among his people for the last three years. But that evening, crossing to the other side of the brook kidron, Jesus became the Great Sacrifice for sinners...for you and me.

Did he think about it? His own death for sinners?

Did Jesus see riverlets of blood flowing in the stream? Where did it come from?

65,000 sacrificial lambs had been slain on the golden altars that week of Passover...and blood “ran red” down the mountain into the stream.

Did he think about it? His own impending death? I believe so.

“Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him...” most certainly was thinking about the cross and his own blood that would soon run red in that stream for those who believed him.

‭‭John‬ ‭18:4‬

O Lord, thank you for crossing the Kidron that Thursday evening...you would sweat droplets of blood as you prayed in the garden. You came for your own and your own received you not. That rejection had to hurt in and of itself...not to mention the denial of your friends to come.

Thank you for your promise to be with us as we face our own death valley. We believe that you will lead us across even as the Spirit led You.

Have a great day