Category: Holy Spirit

  • Murder – death of Jesus for our sake

    four crows on a tree branch

    Today, I saw a murder of crows in the tree. In case you don’t know, a murder is the formal name for a gathering of crows.

    Seeing the crows brought murder to mind. I started to think about all the murder mysteries I have watched and read over the years. They all had something in common, besides the body. In all of them, as far as I can remember, the victim was unable to prevent his own murder.

    There is one murder, however, that I know of, where the victim willingly submitted to being murdered for a greater cause. I’m Speaking of course, of the murder of Jesus, planned by the Jewish leaders, and carried out by the Roman rulers.

    The Jewish leaders perceived Jesus as a threat, and when they could not discredit him, they planned to kill him. They used Pontius Pilate to have him crucified, a most ignominious death.

    Let’s set the scene, before Jesus was taken to Pilate, one of his disciples betrays him and shows up at the Garden of Gethsemane with troops to arrest him

    Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. Matthew 26:50-56 ESV

    Jesus willingly goes with them and submits to being convicted in a kangaroo court on completely fabricated charges. He is mocked, rejected, tortured, and eventually killed on the cross.

    Why would the God of the universe permit himself such indignities? Because he loves us. He humbled himself, set aside his rights, and came to earth to die.

    “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:8 ESV

    If that thought doesn’t amaze you, you need to stop and think about what he has done for you.

    Praise God for all his mercies.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    For the Birds – God’s provision
    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear

  • Simply Dovely – Doves in the bible

    pair of eurasian collared doves

    I was awakened gently this morning by the cooing of a dove. It’s  a soothing sound the first few times, but after that, it tends to get very annoying. This morning, the doves decided to have an extended conversation, and the sound moved quickly, from comforting to annoying, to very irritating, to me wanting to yell, Shut up already!”

    There are about half a dozen species of dove that live in British Columbia. The most common is the Eurasian collared dove, a species introduced to the Americas in the 1970s that promptly took over. We still have a few mourning doves and plenty of rock doves (common pigeon). 

    I learned a fascinating fact about doves this morning. According to one source, “[Doves] are also a nurturing family of birds, with both parents caring for the babies, and both sexes capable of creating a substance called crop milk, which feeds their fledglings after they hatch.”

    Thinking of doves drew my mind to the Bible. Doves appear frequently, both in the literal sense of physical birds and also heavily in symbolism.

    I attempted to identify the species of dove the Bible refers to, but as there are many native to that part of the world, I was unable to find the information through some quick searches.

    What comes to mind when you think of doves and the Bible?

    Perhaps the dove comes to mind when we think of the Flood narrative (Genesis 6:11–9:19).

    Perhaps you think of the sacrifices given by people who couldn’t afford larger animals. (Leviticus 1:14-17)

    Some of you may think of the dove in calls for purity or as a symbol of peace.

    I think when most people think of doves in the Bible, they think of the appearance of Holy Spirit. All four gospels testify to that event.

    Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22

    And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. Matthew 3:16

    And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. Mark 1:10

    And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ John 1:32-33

    That’s a massive event because the Holy Spirit isn’t visible to us. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “

    The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:38

    The event symbolized so much. God spoke at the appearance, testifying that Jesus was His Son. The appearance of the dove symbolized purity and sacrifice.

    Jesus, the Lamb of God, would soon be a sacrifice for the sins of others. The spirit didn’t come as a ram, lamb, or goat, the sacrifices only the wealthy could afford. He came as a dove … the sacrifice that even the most lowly of people could afford.

    Jesus came for all people regardless of position, status, or wealth. The Spirit sealed that.

    Next time you see or hear a dove, give thanks that Jesus came for all who would open their hear.

    Be blessed, 

    Kevin

    Check these out

    A chubby cheeked squirrel teaches us a lesson

    Read the word

    Your identity in Christ

    For the Birds – God’s provision