Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to Him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." John 18:4
Fernando Marti was a handsome 14-year-old boy. He was.
Some time ago, Fernando Marti was kidnapped and held for ransom. Fearing for his son's life, Fernando's father paid the ransom and waited for the teen's return.
On August 1st, the boy's dead body was found in the trunk of a car in Mexico City. Several policemen have been arrested for the boy's kidnapping.
In recent months, the citizenry of Mexico have been rocked by many high-profile kidnappings and an assortment of gruesome murders. Fearing for herself, as well as her children, one housewife, a lady by the name of Maria Carman, commented, "We are all prisoners in our own homes."
Apparently, she is not alone in her feeling of frustration. Last week, across Mexico, people took to the streets in shared outrage. In Mexico City alone, more than 150,000 folks came together to protest the lack of safety and protection.
Many of them carried signs saying, "Enough Is Enough." All of them were hoping Mexico's president would step up and keep his election promises to get tough on crime. You and I know political promises are easy to make but hard to keep.
That is just one of the reasons I love the Savior. Read through the Gospels. Again and again you will see Him keeping a promise His Father had made or fulfilling a prophet's inspired prediction.
By His perfect life, Jesus said enough is enough to sin; by resisting temptation, Jesus said enough is enough to the devil; through His third-day resurrection, Jesus said enough is enough to the grave's finality. Jesus stepped up and did everything that was necessary to win our forgiveness, freedom, and salvation.
Look at the text for today's devotion. Jesus knew what the next hours were going to bring Him. He was aware of the pain. Still, when they came to arrest Him, He stepped up and boldly let Himself be taken.
Why did He do it?
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, twenty centuries ago, You said "Enough Is Enough" to sin, devil, and death. Because of what You have done, I am able to live my life in freedom and forgiveness. May I share You, the committed Christ, with others. In Your Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 27-28 Acts 19:1-20
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