The warning from the Pharisees that Jesus should leave Galilee because Herod wanted to kill him was a temptation hidden in the pretense of caring. Jesus crushed the temptation, trusting that his times were in the Father's hands. He was determined to carry out the Father's will no matter what threats he faced. We are thankful that he crushed this temptation for us because we often take shorts out of temptation instead of the way out that God has provided. May we trust that our times are in God's hands and are determined to carry out his will no matter what threats we face.

Pastor Raymond Beckmann

By resisting every temptation perfectly, living with out sin, Jesus can sympathize with us, offer help to us when we are tempted, but most importantly, his perfection is credited to us by grace through faith.

Being yoked to Jesus means that we get the benefit of his live, death and resurrection.

Jesus prepared his disciples for his suffering and death by letting them see his glory, and to see Moses and Elijah in glory. When his suffering tempted them to question whether he was the Christ they would be strengthened and encouraged by what they saw on the mount of transfiguration, and the words from the Father which reminded them to listen to Jesus who had also promised that he would rise from the dead on the third day.

The world says, "stand up for yourself. Don't get mad, get even." God says, "bless and pray for those who persecute you. Overcome evil with good." Jesus overcame evil by taking it on himself. He overcomes our evil with the good of the forgiveness he won for us. Only in view of his mercy to us can we bless those who persecute us.

What may seem to be a blessing may actually be a curse, what may seem to be a curse may actually be a blessing. Example: Paul's thorn in the flesh.

Jeremiah, Moses, David, the Apostles - They are not people we might have expected God to choose to proclaim his word. But that's who God usually chooses. People who are humble, who realize they can't do what they Lord is asking of them on their own. They need God to forgive them, enable them and inspire them so that they respond with Isaiah, "Here Am I, Send Me!"

Jeremiah received a message from God that was very unpopular. God told him he must say what needed to be said, to speak the word he had given him. Paul tells Timothy the same thing. There will always be those who don't want to hear what God's Word says. If we are faithful, we speak the words God has given us in the Scriptures even when they are unpopular.

When even Jesus who never said or did anything wrong is rejected, should we be surprised if people reject our witness? The Bible makes it clear that, because of our sinful nature, we all reject Jesus by nature. Only the Holy Spirit working through the word can bring anyone to faith in Jesus. May God grant us the ability through the Spirit the boldness to share the word no matter what the reception we receive.