Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-April 2, 2021- Good Friday

Good morning, Happy Good Friday,

-Jesus Prophesied That He Would Die On The Cross And Rise Again-

“Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.’”

(Matthew 20:17-19).

Jesus was thirty three years old, a young man, but His time to die on the cross was quickly approaching. He knew when He would suffer and die, where, and how. His prophecy in our text today, was very detailed and also included the statement that He would rise again. In fact, this is the third and final time He had told His disciples what would take place.

Jesus was born to die. His purpose was about to be fulfilled according to the Scriptures. Jesus said in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” He makes it very clear to His disciples that He would die and rise again. Which one of us would go to a place and time knowing we would be killed. I think that we would have avoided that place altogether.

• The Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes and they will condemn Him to death – Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot would betray Him for 30 pieces of silver. Judas was not a believer, but was in fact, a betrayer and an apostate. He was the first apostate in the NT. An apostate is someone who professes to be saved, but then turns against Christ, speaks against Him, against the Bible, and against all the truths we hold dear.

Jesus said of Judas during the Passover meal, “The Son of Man indeed goes as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born” (Matthew 26:24). Judas is called the son of perdition. He agreed to betray Jesus to His enemies the chief priests and scribes, who condemn Him to death in a complete mockery of justice. He who was innocent was found guilty.

• And to deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify – The Jews delivered Jesus over to the Romans, in particular to the Roman governor Pilate. He found no evil in Him and wanted to scourge Him and release Him, but the voices of the Jews prevailed and Pilate ordered Him to be crucified on the cross. Crucifixion began with the barbarians then continued with the Greeks, then the Romans perfected it. The Romans horrific public crucifixions were meant to deter others from crimes against Rome. It was a long, slow, agonizing death.

• And the third day He will rise again – In their sorrow, the disciples would forget this. Jesus promised to rise again which He did. Mark 9:32 says of this saying, “But they did not understand this saying, and they were afraid to ask Him.” Jesus told His disciples very specifically in Matthew 26:32, “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Betrayal, death by crucifixion, and resurrection awaited Jesus in Jerusalem. He marched on to fulfill the Father’s will. Nothing would deter Him. The Apostle Paul demonstrated this same determination in Acts 21:11-13. The prophet Agabus took Paul’s belt and bound his own hands and feet and signified that the owner of this belt would be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles. Paul responded, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13). Are we willing to do God’s will no matter what the consequences, even follow our Lord to death?

Have a blessed day thanking Jesus for going to the cross and dying for our sins and rising again. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-April 1, 2021- April Fools Day-

-The Fool Says No To God-

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good, no, not one.”

(Psalm 14:1).

Today is April Fools Day. Often it played out with practical jokes and nonsensical conversations. It is normally relatively harmless, although we must be cautious when someone tells us something today. The Bible has much to say about fools, nearly all of which is negative. The only verse that has some positivity is Proverbs 17:28, which amounts to a backhand compliment, “Even a fool is counted as wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.”

Proverbs 12:15 describes a fool, in what I would call, “The Rule of the Fool.” It says, “The way of the fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.” Throughout Proverbs, there is the contrast between the fool and the wise. The fool does not believe in God, rejects God and His Word, and builds his life on the sinking sand of this world. Our verse today says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God,’ or as it can be translated, ‘No, God.’ In other words, “God, I don’t need You, I don’t want You, leave me alone.” This is the ultimate foolishness. The fool will realize his foolishness one minute after he dies and is in hell, but by then it will be too late!

Jesus contrasted the wise man with foolish man in Matthew 7:24-27, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken to him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rains descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house and it fell. And great was its fall.” Both built houses, storms beat on both of them, but the results were totally different.

The wise man builds his house on the rock, which is Jesus Christ, but the foolish man builds his house on the sinking, shifting, sands of this world. When Jesus spoke of ten virgins, five were wise, and five were foolish. The former prepared their oil prior to the coming of the bridegroom and the latter did not. Both slept but when the bridegroom came, only the wise were able to enter to be with the bridegroom before the door was closed.

Though we as believers in Christ may at times say or do something foolish, and regret it, we are not fools. The world may call us fools for our commitment and zeal for Christ; let them, it is better to be a fool for Christ than a wise man in this world without Him. May we live by God’s wisdom each day and reject the foolishness and wisdom of this world.

Have a blessed day walking in God’s wisdom and praying for those who have rejected Christ to turn to Him. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-March 31, 2021-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

-Jesus Was Wounded and Bruised For Us-

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

(Isaiah 53:5-6).

It is amazing the detail of the sufferings of Christ that the Holy Spirit employs through the prophet Isaiah here in Isaiah chapter 53. There are many OT Scriptures that prophesy of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death, and resurrection, but the one before us today is by far the most powerful and detailed. It is best to begin reading Isaiah 52:13 through all Isaiah 53.

Jesus fulfilled every Scripture completely. Today’s text strikes me that He suffered in our place to save us from our sins. In verse five, we notice the word “our” used three times. We were sinners, helpless, going our own way, and doing our own will. God laid our iniquities on His Son, our Substitute on the cross.

• He was wounded for our transgressions – The word transgressions indicates that we disobeyed God by violating His holy Word. Jesus was wounded for us on the cross. The hymn writers W. G. Ovens and Gladys Westcott Roberts wrote the beautiful hymn entitled, “Wounded for Me.” Verse one says, “Wounded for me, wounded for me, there on the cross He was wounded for me; Gone my transgressions, and now I am free, all because Jesus was wounded for me.” The hymn writer Mr. Ovens had to have had Isaiah 53:5 in mind when he wrote it. Ms. Roberts added the other verses to it making if full and complete: dying for me, risen for me, living for me, and coming for me.

• He was bruised for our iniquities – We often do not think of bruises as being very serious. We may hurt ourselves and say, “It’s only a bruise.” But bruises are painful and take time to heal. In Jesus’ case, He was scourged unmercifully, beaten so cruelly, and nailed to the cross. Jesus suffered all this for us. Verse 10 of our chapter shows the spiritual bruises Jesus went through for us, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him…” Spiritual bruises are more painful than physical ones. God turned His back on our Savior as He bore our sins. He endured the wrath of God on our behalf.

• The chastisement for our peace was upon Him – Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He became our peace by bearing our sins. Jesus cried from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me” (Matthew 27:45)? Jesus fought the fight against the devil and won peace for us. Paul wrote in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

• By His stripes we are healed – Jesus healed many people in His three years of ministry while on earth, but the greatest healing of all was at the cross when He healed us of our sins. Psalm 129:3 pointing to the terrible scourging of our Lord says, “The plowers plowed on my back; They made their furrows long.” Jesus’ back was beaten raw by the Roman soldiers with their whips containing pieces of bone and glass.

As we celebrate this Easter week, especially Good Friday in two days, let us never forget what Jesus suffered for us on the cross. It was for you and for me. The song writer wrote, Oh how He loves you and me, Oh how He loves you and me. He gave Himself, what more could He give, Oh how He loves you, Oh how He loves me, Oh how He loves you and me. Jesus to Calvary did go, His love for sinners to show. What He did there brought hope from despair. Oh, how He loves you; Oh how He loves me; Oh how He loves you and me.”

Have a blessed day contemplating our Savior’s love and His sacrificial death for us on the cross. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-March 30, 2021-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

– Jesus, The Man Of Sorrows, Carried Our Sorrows-

“He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were our faces from Him; He was despised and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.”

(Isaiah 53:3-4).

Jesus is called the Man of sorrows here in our text. He was loved by so many people in His life, yet hated by so many in His death. The chief priests, scribes, and elders of the Jews stirred up the crowd to demand His crucifixion. He did so much good, healed so many people, taught the Word of God, and performed such wonderful miracles. Still, He was rejected and crucified on the cross.

Matthew 27:22-23 says, “Pilate said to them, ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said to him, ‘Let Him be crucified!’ Then the governor said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they cried out all the more, saying, ‘Let Him be crucified.’” Just days before the multitudes had shouted …”Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9)!” Oh how fickle are the hearts of men.

Jesus was despised and rejected. Men hid their faces from Him. He was beaten so unmercifully that He could not even be recognized. Isaiah 52:14 says, “Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.” There was no one to defend Him, no one to comfort Him, no one on His side. Verse 4 gives us the reason, “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted.”

Jesus’ main purpose in coming into this world was to die on the cross for our sins. He endured the wrath and judgment of God that was our due. 1 Peter 3:18 tells us, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” He died for us and rose again. Truly as the Man of sorrows He carried our griefs and sorrows. All our sins were put upon Him and He paid our sin debt in full. He tasted death for all of us and the whole world.

How can we thank our Savior enough. The hymn writer Philipp Bliss wrote, “Man of Sorrows, what a name for the Son of God who came ruined sinners to reclaim! Hallelujah! What a Savior!” Another hymn writer John Blackwell expressed, “Hail, Thou once despised Jesus! Hail, Thou still rejected King! Thou didst suffer to release us, Thou didst free salvation bring; Thro’ Thy death and resurrection, Bearer of our sin and shame! We enjoy divine protection, life and glory thro’ Thy name.” He is still despised and rejected by so many today. Let us bow down and worship Him our risen Savior!

Have a blessed day and Easter week contemplating the cross and the empty tomb. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-March 29, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

-God Laid Our Sins on Christ So That His Righteousness May Be Imputed To Us-

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

(2 Corinthians 5:21).

Easter, the resurrection day, is next Sunday. It is the most important holy day in Christianity. We cannot think of the resurrection without consideration of the cross. Today’s verse is so precious and holy that we must take off our shoes for we are standing on holy ground. The Lord told this to Moses at the burning bush and to Joshua before the battle of Jericho.

We see the role of the Father and role of the Son on the cross for us. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The Paul also wrote in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

In order for God to save us He had to lay our sins on His beloved and only begotten Son. God (The Father) made Him (His Son Jesus Christ) to be sin for us. Not only did our Savior bear our sins but He also became sin for us. He was our Substitute on the cross. He took our place and died the death that we should have died. It is hard for us to imagine or comprehend the depths of His suffering on the cross. He bore the wrath and judgment at Calvary.

The hymn writer Annie Ross Cousin wrote, “Jehovah lifted up His rod — O Christ, it fell on Thee! Thou wast sore stricken of Thy God; There’s not one stroke for me. Thy blood beneath that rod has flowed: Thy bruising health me.” It says in Isaiah 53:10, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His Seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall proper in His hand.” The reason it pleased the Father to bruise Him is because of His great love for us!

Because our Lord died for us and our sins, the Father has made us the righteousness of God in Him. We have been cleansed and forgiven of our sins and clothed in the righteousness of God. The Father now sees us through His perfect Son. Romans 5:19 says, “For as by one man’s (Adam) disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s (Jesus) obedience many will be made righteous.” Praise God we are so blessed to be saved from our sins and to be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Have a blessed day and Easter week rejoicing in our salvation. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean