Infusion Ministries - Ireland

Please pray for the Royal Family and for the United Kingdom as we collectively mourn the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Her quiet, dignified passing is reflective of Her service for over 70 years. May God grant us the gift of faith as a nation, and turn us to the One who was an influence on Her life of servitude and faithfulness.

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Rev 14v17

AJB

"AND THEIR VOICES BEGAN TO PREVAIL.”

Luke 23v18-25 (NASB)

"But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!” (He was one who had been thrown into prison for a revolt that took place in the city, and for murder.)

But Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, but they kept on crying out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!”

And he said to them a third time, “Why, what has this man done wrong? I have found in His case no grounds for a sentence of death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him.” But they were insistent, with loud voices, demanding that He be crucified.

And their voices began to prevail.

And so Pilate decided to have their demand carried out.
And he released the man for whom they were asking, who had been thrown into prison for a revolt and murder; but he handed Jesus over to their will."

The events in Jerusalem of that dark Friday as recorded here in Luke’s gospel were driven by behavioural irregularity. Two chapters previously, we read about Jesus’ triumphal arrival into Jerusalem. Crowds of people flocked to shout “Hosanna!” to the Messiah as He rides into the city on a young c**t. Palm leaves and cloaks were strewn across the roadway in adoration of the One they believed would set them free from occupation and subjection of the Romans. But they didn’t understand His Message or His Mission.
In Jesus’ oration at the Synagogue in Nazareth (Luke4), He reads a scroll containing the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
To proclaim the favourable year of the Lord.”

Jesus was the fulfilment of these words. HE was anointed by His Father to bring good news, to heal the sick and to set captives free.
But it was not freedom from political/social captivity. It was captivity from sin and death! He came to open the eyes of our hearts to our true condition before God and to give us a way out!
Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord!
HOSANNA!!

But it became apparent to the Jews at Jerusalem that this Jesus was not about to topple the Roman Governor, let alone Caesar. He wasn’t going to execute a coup attempt.
Instead the Jewish leaders felt threatened by this “teacher” and rejected His claim to be the Messiah. They wanted rid of Him but they wanted the authorities to do it for them to deflect their culpability. Instead, the Romans were manipulated into to dealing Him.
A frenzy ensued. A set-up, whereby Jesus , not the freedom fighter they expected, was replaced, as part of a bizarre custom, by the sort of fellow that better represented the insurrection that the Jews wanted. Despite Pilate’s efforts to declare Jesus innocent, their voices began to prevail.

The same voices that hailed Jesus arrival were now shouting Crucify Him, Crucify Him!!

There is an old saying, “the squeaky wheel gets the oil”. The loudest and most distracting and irritating noises need to be removed. The inconvenient message needs to be diminished and silenced. The message that calls for repentance and a turning back to God needs to be eliminated as it doesn’t fit the agenda of an “informed” and “enlightened” age.
What voices prevail in our lives today? What messages don’t suit the world's agenda and make us uncomfortable, even as believers? What messages and narratives are from God and what are from Man? It’s arguably becoming harder to tell these days, isn’t it?
The message of Salvation is marginalised, declared fake, irrelevant and offensive. Virtues, as taught by Jesus are cancelled, and declared as troublesome. The preaching of the Gospel is now considered "hate speech". Just like it was here in Luke’s Gospel, with deadly intent. But let’s not be put-off telling it! The Good News is the same and just as powerful as it was on that dark Friday.
And that leads me to another thought - what message are we putting out there? And with what voice are we speaking? Condemning? Judgemental? Aggressive? Divisive? Fearful? Are these aligned with the fruits of the Spirit? (Galatians 5v22-23)
As we reflect this week on the events of leading up to “Good Friday”, as we observe the prevailing voices both here in this text and in the present time, let us consider the One who said the least on that day - Jesus Himself.
“Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before it’s shearers, So He did not open His mouth.” Isaiah 53v7

Dear Lord, as we reflect on your sacrificial death and the circumstances around it, may we pause and examine ourselves. Lord, reveal our irregular behaviour and may our beliefs that shape that behaviour be challenged and reset in accordance with Your Word. Thank you afresh for the Cross, for what you achieved on my behalf with great pain and sorrow. For enduring the separation from the Father so that we can be reconciled to Him. We thank you that you prevailed! You rose again and you reign. May our prevailing voices shout in unison, and with conviction: Hosanna in the Highest! AMEN!

AJB
(Edited and reposted from 2021)

I KNOW YOU ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS

Matthew 28v1-10

Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb.
And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.
And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
The guards shook from fear of him and became like dead men.
And the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”
And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to report to His disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Rejoice!” And they came up and took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go, bring word to My brothers to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

The appearance of angels in the Gospels always heralds, and is associated with a significant cosmic event: The annunciation by Gabriel to Mary of the Saviour’s conception, the appearance of the angelic choir to the Shepherds outside Bethlehem to announce His birth, and here, once again at the Garden Tomb, angels deliver the news of His Resurrection.

Angels are God’s messengers - they are not deity, they are not sovereign and they are not to be worshipped. They are however, formidable, hence the fear experienced by those guarding the tomb. How many times have we read the words “do not be afraid” spoken by them.

They are evidently physically strong. The movement of the stone at the tomb was no mean feat for an individual. Indeed it would have taken a number of strong men to have placed it there in the first place.

There are a number of accounts recorded in the Gospels of this episode. From these accounts we can determine that there were a number of angels, and that “the women” would have made numerous journeys to the garden tomb. But this particular visit was very different and dramatic. The stone had been removed and the tomb where the Saviour was laid was empty.

It required an angel to explain what had happened so that there was no doubt, no hint of human involvement and no room for human conjecture or conspiracy theory.

For me the striking thought around this event is that the stone wasn’t rolled away to let the risen Lord out. It was to let His followers in!!

“Come see the place where He was lying.”

As we celebrate this Resurrection morning may we reflect on the thought that we do not have to scramble to experience the Risen Lord. We do not have to search long and hard to find Him and receive forgiveness for our sins.

Our access to Him is unimpeded, without obstacle and carries no visceral fear for anyone.

Why don’t you come afresh to Him this day. Receive Him and all that He promises. HE IS RISEN!

AJB