The Twist On A Twisted Plot
Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” — John 7:19
I wish we had a recording of this message. What Jesus says in these three sentences is theologically and oratorically incredible. Keep in mind he knows precisely what they are thinking and what they have been planning.
Here's what Jesus does.
He cites Moses and the Law given by God. A law they knew well. He then points out that they are unable to keep the Law. Which is also something they knew well, given their sacrificial system. He then exposes that they are conceiving a plot to kill him, which they will deny in the coming verse.
But here is the twist in this moment. By conceiving a plot to kill him, they use the law to their advantage. They're plotting to kill Jesus by using the law to condemn him and thus justify themselves as righteous men plotting a righteous murder. And what is so ironic about this is that the Just Judge is standing before them. Jesus is the only one capable of keeping the Law of Moses. He is the only one righteous standing on the Temple grounds. He is the only sinless man who does not need to bring a sacrifice to the Temple. And these men are plotting to kill the only one with the right to kill them.
Now imagine if you were John at this moment. The author who is writing and reflecting on this particular moment with Jesus. Don't you think that in light of what he had seen, he looked back at this moment with great wonder? Jesus, the Just Judge with the absolute power and right to stop these men dead in their tracks, chooses not to because he has a better plot. A plot that would out plan all their twisted plans. And instead of annihilating these men, he's going to twist their twisted plot to give them an opportunity to know how much he loves them.
Fellas, you are not going to out-plot Jesus, but you can become part of his plot by confessing your sin and receiving his love.
ASK THIS: Are you ready to join Jesus's plan?
DO THIS: Confess your sinful plans and receive his love.
PRAY THIS: God, I love your plan. It's way better than mine.
PLAY THIS: The Way.
SIGN UP — THE DAILY DEVO
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Read through the Bible daily with Vince Miller.
God, I love your plan and want to be in your plan always. Help me to stay focused on you and you alone.
Amen
Jesus we pray Ps 32:8-9 over our brother David. Right now we surrender to your guidance. We place our hearts in receiving mode and we accept your instruction and counsel. We make you Lord of our lives right now. In Jesus’ name.
Shalom Vince,
This is my third day on the daily devotional and your words through scripture are really hitting home with me. Being a full blooded Italian (FBI) I grew up in the Catholic Church where reading scripture wasn’t encourages. I’m in a non-denominational (Pentecostal) church and in the church’s Prison Ministry (HIS PRISON MINISTRY in His Providence Church. That how I stumbled upon you aka using your book to prep me the Mentorship program…I will be giving your book to an inmate and we will study it together!! But my heart is not aligned right now to go into the prison.
my home is not aligned with my wife of 34 years and we have 6 amazing God believing children. There is no infidelity but more so she says I don’t speak to her heart. So am diving into the Word more than ever to learn how.
Brothers in Christ please keep me in your prayers in my walk and for me to Love my wife as Christ loves the Church
God Bless, Vinny
Vince, you are on my prayer list.
May God bless you always.
thank you Brother..HAVE A WONDERFUL RESURECTION DAY
Jesus, we pray for our brother Vinny. We ask that you heal his marriage and transform him into the husband that you want him to be. We pray 2 Cor 3:16-18 over him.
Right now we surrender ourselves to your rule. We pray that you would be the ruler and Lord in Vinny’s life. Jesus please give Vinny a deep hunger for your Word and your Spirit. Please send some men to walk alongside Vinny as he grows in his faith.
God, I want to be a part of your story till the day I die. 🙌
Vince,
Put me in that same camp with you. The more I study His Word, the more I truly understand our purpose here…. As Jesus told us, Love God, love others!! But if walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his son, cleanses us from all our sin!!