Discovery Journal

Barbara G. - May 10, 2011

Scripture:

Matthew 27:1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death.
Matthew 27:4 "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied, "That's your responsibility."
Matthew 27:12 When He was accused by the chief priests and the elder, He gave no answer.
Matthew 27:20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

Observation:

The chief priests and the elders were envious of Jesus and made a conscious decision to get rid of Him. It didn't matter that Jesus had not done anything wrong! They didn't like Him and so wanted Him gone! Jesus knew this and thus didn't even try to defend Himself. He knew that God had a plan for Him and that what looked like evil was going to be used for good: His death bringing Life for those who believe.

Application:

There are times in my life that I have been in situations where someone has decided that they didn't like me or something that I did, and then proceeded to do anything they could to discredit me. It wasn't fair and it wasn't easy, but I realized that there wasn't anything that I could do to change how this person thought about me--although it wasn't for lack of trying to figure out a way! The one thing I did know was that the Lord is in control of my life and that nothing touches me without Him knowing it. Just like Jesus didn't try to defend Himself to the chief priests and the elders, there have been times in my life that I dodn't need to defend myself to others--although it was very hard not to do! I had to trust the Lord to take care of me. As I look back, I can see where the Lord used those times to make me more like Him, answer a prayer of mine and bless me in a way that was only possible through this process. Again, when I embraced these situations and relied on the Lord for the strength to walk through them, what others meant for harm the Lord has turn into a blessing for me. And He gets all the glory for it because I didn't do anything but trust Him to change the situation.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You that You are trustworthy! I am so blessed by You. Help me to see situations through Your eyes and not make decisions based on what I see, but to turn to You for guidance in every situation that I face--even the ones that I think I know what is best. Thank You for Your continual supply of strength to walk out the path before me and Your peace in the midst of uncertainty.