Devotion: Caiaphas
Caiaphas
Please read the scriptures from the weekend: John 11:45-50 & Matthew 26:57-67
God’s plans are perfect. We say this, but do we believe it in our hearts? If we examine our deepest feelings about this, trust in His plan can become a stumbling block. We have tragedies all through life. And often we are prompted to think or even say, “Why, God?” “What part of this is your ‘plan?’” I felt some of this for just a moment when my mom passed suddenly on December 9, 1998.
For those of you who didn’t know my mom, she was a gentle soul that couldn’t have lied if her life depended on it (for one of my birthdays, she planned a surprise party for some of my friends but she walked around with a big shy grin on her face all day). The morning of Dec. 9, I knew something was up. I got a phone call from my dad, I heard; “I can’t wake up mommy!” I raced to their house praying, “Mommy, wait for me please, I’m coming. The EMTs were working on her when I got there and said, “We got a pulse so we’re taking her to the hospital!” At the hospital, it was her doctor that was on ER rotation. Finally, the doctor came to us in the waiting room with tears in his eyes. “I couldn’t save her.” I instantly dropped to my knees. “Why?” At that moment, God had a plan. Even if I didn’t want to see it. She was tired of fighting a heart that was out of rhythm, tired from her fight with breast cancer the year before. Just tired. Soon after my heart began to see a bigger picture. That God’s plans were different from my own.
There was one Sunday I remember Pastor Greg saying something to the effect of …good or bad, outcomes usually vary with our reaction to things that happen in our lives. God’s perceptive is beyond our understanding just as Romans 8:28 says; “And we know in all things, God works for the good of those who love his purpose.” God’s purpose not our own. God loves us, but His plan for His creation and its outcome comes first. This weekend, in his sermon, Pastor Greg quoted Tom Berlin’s book, Courage, where Berlin says, “…This voice tells you that the good you long for is not possible, that while God made everything and called it good, you are the exception….it takes courage to quiet that voice.” God gives us the free will to choose our own way and seeing God’s plan in hard times, takes courage.
Caiaphas was an individual bent on his own purposes. Focused on getting into a position of power, he was willing to do or say anything to further that cause. For him, Jesus would be his “target”. The last portion of the weekend’s scripture from Matthew 26:67 struck my heart as I read, “Then they spit him in the face and struck him with their fists.” Just one of the moments Jesus suffered for me. Jesus said nothing, nothing in response. That took courage! Jesus knew what he was doing and had a purpose. Courage to “quiet that voice”, courage to not lash out in his own defense. He knew his Father’s plan. That was conviction! What would we do in that instance? I firmly believe God’s plan was put in motion, and for Caiaphas’ heart to be part of that plan. God knew Caiaphas’ heart of deceit.
God knows our hearts as well. Our true hearts. When we hurt. When our hearts want to lash out for any reason. But I also believe He wants us to sometimes be still, to be silent and that’s the tough part. Maybe we just need to again draw from scripture. Psalms 46:10 is one of my favorite well-known scriptures reminding us to; “Be silent, and know that I am God.” Be silent and trust that God is providing direction for our lives. Seek courage to wait for his direction and guidance.
Heavenly Father,Thank you for the scriptures as they seek to dwell in our hearts. Let us ask your understanding of the words. Help them be seeds that find root to grow with the living water of Christ and mature our trust in you to handle our lives. And let Christ be seen in me today. Amen
Written by Fran Baatz
Fran has been a lifelong member of Sheridan as the first baby girl to be baptized back in 1953 as her parents were charter members.
She loves to serve as a part of the Hospitality team as well as one of the Sheridan quilting teams. She is also a member of Lydia Circle.
Fran has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren she adores as well as her two daughters.