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Dec 20, 2022 18:30pm

Stark Contrast

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A short time ago, I was going through some old photos and sent one to a friend of us way back in the day. It was the start of a great friendship! And, I thought, “I sure was young in this picture!” We talked about the wrinkles we have now, the weight we’ve gained, the changes that have taken place and how we wished we still looked like that.

Anybody else?

But the more I looked at that picture, the more I realized how much I don’t envy that girl.

There is a stark contrast between that Yalanda and this Yalanda. She was far different than I am now in her choices, her actions, her devotions, and her lifestyle. As we say, that’s before Jesus got a hold of me.

In Matthew 26, we see a stark contrast between the religious leaders and the high priest with the real high priest, Jesus Christ.

“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: 3-5)

Let’s look at the stark differences here:

While the chief priest met with the “important” people, Jesus was meeting with the least of these. The religious leaders were meeting in a palace without want, Jesus was meeting in the streets and homes of those in need.

In verse 4, it says they had a plan to take Jesus by subtilty, or trickery. But Jesus made no attempt to hide what was to come for Him or His disciples. They carefully planned their attack in the shadows of darkness and decided not to do it during the Passover as to not cause too great a stir among the people due to Jesus’ popularity. But Jesus was always open and honest with His plans, bringing light in the darkness.

The high priest and religious leaders sought to bring death to Jesus, while Jesus came to bring life to those that were dead in their sins.

It’s easy to see the stark contrast between the “religious leaders” and the true high priest. But many were blinded and couldn’t see the truth. They denied that Jesus was the Messiah. They refused to listen to the truth, choosing that which they felt or thought was right.

Where are we today? There is a stark difference in what the world says is right and what God says is right. God says there is only one way to heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ, but we are told by various “religions” there are multiple ways to reach heaven. In today’s world, we are encouraged to do whatever it takes to be successful, but the Lord says we are to follow the path of righteousness.

Will we, too, be mistaken, blinded by the things and people around us? Will we deny His truth and decide to do what we think or feel is right? Or will we choose Jesus, His truth, His way, and His love?

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)