Jeremiah 8 and 9 run together with two common themes: a condemnation of Judah by the LORD, and mourning for the loss by Jeremiah. Remember, the original versions of the Scriptures had no chapter or verse markings. As we read Jeremiah 8 and 9, the entirety is filled with the LORD’s words of condemnation for a people that had turned away from Him, and chased after false gods. As a result the LORD promised to scatter them. In the midst of this, Jeremiah cries out in mourning for his people. We see this often among the prophets. They know the LORD’s judgment is right, but they want their people to repent, to turn away from their wickedness and back to the LORD. Isn’t that what each of us wants for those we love? We often know the sin of those we love, and we would do anything to get them to turn or return to the LORD, but all we can do is stand and watch, and cry out to the LORD for His love, mercy, and truth to bring them back. We can also live our lives in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit so they will experience the truth and love of God through us.
Jeremiah 10 states something so obvious, yet it is a lesson human beings learn so slowly, if at all: idols made with human hands cannot save us. When we think of someone cutting down a tree, carving an idol, then decorating with silver and gold, or paint and worshiping it we laugh. But when we laugh, we must also look in the mirror. How many times have we worshiped our money, or our homes, or cars, or other material goods? How often have we worshiped position, or status, or a sports team, or a particular performing artist or actor? The LORD would laugh, if it didn’t make Him weep, when He sees us who He created worshiping created things. In Jeremiah’s day the people’s abandonment of the LORD led to their literal destruction. In our day, when we abandon the LORD, we might seem fine, but no one can ever be fine who ignores the life, love, truth, and grace of our LORD and Creator!
As we return to John 18, we return to John’s account of Jesus’ arrest, and trial by the Jewish leaders, and then Pilate. As we reread the account, what strikes me is how calm Jesus remained throughout the entire encounter. In the Garden of Gethsemane, when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Jesus was calm and they were all kinds of agitated. They were afraid of Jesus, as we see when Jesus said, “I am He.” They all fell backward to the ground. The very name of Jesus was a fearsome thing to them. After arresting and binding Jesus, they took Him to be examined but the chief priests. Jesus answered the priests questions in a way that offended those standing near Jesus, so they struck Him. Jesus didn’t strike back, or call angels to His aid. He simply asked why they had responded in a such a way when He had done nothing wrong? After being taken to Pilate, Jesus again remained calm as Pilate became more and more agitated. If Pilate had been a true leader, he would have set Jesus free, because he found nothing wrong with Jesus, no offense worth imprisonment, let alone crucifixion. But Pilate wasn’t a true leader. He was a “puppet” put in place by Rome to govern an unruly people, and in order to keep his “power,” he succumbed to the cries of the crowd to crucify Jesus.
As we review the events of the night, where do you think you would have been in the mix? Would you have run away? Would you have been Peter who followed behind Jesus only to deny you knew Him when your life was in danger? Would you have been part of the crowd who cried out for Jesus’ crucifixion, because of some coercion from the religious leaders? It’s always easier to look at a scene from the vantage point of hindsight and say, “I would have stood with Jesus,” but remember –no one did. In His moment of greatest need, He stood alone. He knew it would be that way. He had come to die for all of us and each one of us. He had to do that alone. Thank God Jesus didn’t run from His appointment with death, because that death has brought the opportunity for freedom from sin and death to us all!