KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, November 08, 2016
Chapters: Matthew 26
Message: Beware Of The Wolves
Hello My Friend,
Wolves, they are some of the most beautiful creatures that God has made, and while they look all playful and loving, they will tear you up in an instant when they are hungry. People can be a lot like wolves, they appear loving, but deep down they are looking for ways that they can get your trust, and as soon as they get hungry they will destroy you. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” – Matthew 7:15-17.
“Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Wolves may appear to be just like every other faithful Christian, but they give off subtle hints that question their faith. Caiaphas, The Jewish high priest at the beginning of Christ’s public ministry, in the reign of Tiberius, and also at the time of His condemnation and crucifixion, held office during Pilate’s administration. To see Caiaphas and his followers they appeared godly, as if they followed the Scriptures, but that was far from the case. Caiaphas was a Sadducee, they did not even believe in the resurrection, let alone what Christ would do, he was a member of the Sanhedrin council, and he despised Jesus, he could not give the authority to kill Him on his own so he got a group of Jews got together and plotted to have Him killed.
“And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.” – Matthew 26:1-5.
“And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty,” Subtle, Cunningly devised. They did not want to take Him in front of people because they knew it would cause an uproar, they did this on the sly. Let me tell you, wolves are sneaky, the devise and plot until they have just enough to get you where they want you. Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, a man of Kerioth, walked with Jesus for three and a half years, he saw the miracles, even taught the Gospel to others, yet when he heard about the plot to kill Jesus, he was quick to respond. “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.” – Matthew 26:14-16.
“What will ye give me,” You see, there are many false Christians, wolves who do the very things that we do, go to church, talk about Jesus, even praise Him, but something is off and they are quick to sell you out in a heartbeat. Why Jesus chose a man He knew was going to betray Him to be one of His disciples we will never know, perhaps it was to show that walking with Jesus does not mean they are all believers, He pointed that out many times. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” – Colossians 2:8-9.
From the moment Judas knew he was going to get something out of turning Jesus in he sought the opportunity to betray Him, Christ lets His disciples know that someone was among them was about to betray Him. When there was occasion, He let them know about it. He had often told them that the Son of man should be betrayed, now He tells them that one of them should do it, that when they saw it, they might not only be the less surprised, but may give him a chance to change His mind. “Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.” – Matthew 26:20-25.
“Master, is it I?” Think about what they were asking? Here these men are eating and singing with Jesus and all of a sudden He says one of them will betray Him. They all begin to wonder if they were capable of betraying their Saviour. Of course, Judas had to ask the same question so he would not look guilty. No faithful Christian sets out to betray Jesus, and there is a difference between betrayal and doing things out of fear. Jesus seeing them decides to tell them that they would all run out of fear when all these things come to pass.
“And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.” – Matthew 26:30-35.
“I will go before you into Galilee.” Those who love Christ really do not intend to turn on Him, but they can become offended (stumble or fall) given certain circumstances of deep fear of persecution. We do not have to live in fear, if we keep our eyes on Jesus, even when we are being mocked, tested, and tried of our faith, we can get through it. To be absent from the body means to be present with the Lord, if they kill our body, at least we will be with Jesus and any loved ones who were saved. “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” – II Corinthians 5:6-8.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” – Matthew 26:28.
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for watching over us and protecting us as we walk this journey with You. It is not always easy with wolves coming around and those willing to sell us out for their own selfish greed. Lord, lead us and guide us, give us wisdom to know how to speak to everyone, discernment to know if someone is a wolf, Your mercy and grace to see us through, and the courage to always proclaim You as our Saviour. With You by my side, I know I can do and endure all things. In Your name, Jesus…Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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