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Apr 29, 2024 06:00am

Unmasking the Root

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For years, I complained of headaches. The pain was mainly around my temples and above my eyes. I always figured it to be sinus pressure. Over-the-counter pain medicine helped for a bit but never prevented the pain. I began taking a daily allergy pill, and that helped with other things, but not the headaches.

One day, I was walking down the residency hall at work, and Dr. Speights stopped me to ask a question. After talking for a few minutes, the topic of my headaches came up. He immediately took his hands to the sides of my jaw and said, “Open and close.”

I did as he said, and without hesitation, he said, “You’ve got TMJ. Stop chewing gum. Go get a mouthguard.”

What?

I had seen a TV commercial about TMJ a gazillion times but never thought I had it.

The next time I saw my dentist, he confirmed that I clenched my teeth at night, which was part of the TMJ pain and headaches. He gave me a guard for my mouth to see how it worked and if it would help.

And I wear it every night.

No more headaches like I used to have.

We had to get to the root of the issue. Everything else was just treating the symptoms and would never last. But by going to the source of the problem, I was freed from pain.

John 11:45-48

“Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees and told them what things Jesus had done.
47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.”

The priests and the Pharisees had long been angry at Jesus and wanted Him gone. Why?

On the surface, they could say it was because He was blasphemous, but they tried that, and it wasn’t true. They tried to catch Him in a lie, but that didn’t work either. They tried to claim that He was breaking the law, but again, it wasn’t the law of Moses, and He wasn’t guilty.

But again, why? What was the real reason for their hatred towards Him? What was at the root of the problem?

Verse 48 lays it out.

“If we let him thus alone, all men will believe in him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.”

The root.

Pride. Status. Financial standing. Authority.

The root of the issue has been revealed. But, what they do about it will determine if they are helped. If left untreated, they remain in pain and spiritually dead because they are only focusing on the outward appearance and not the issue within. However, if they recognized these issues and that they were just as much in need of Jesus as everyone else was, they could be freed from their pain. They could have eternal life.

But this is what they chose:

“And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
53 Then from that day forth, they took counsel together for to put him to death.”

If you haven’t trusted in Christ, what’s holding you back? What’s at the source? Is it pride, fear of losing your status, finances, or family? Just like the Pharisees, who were faced with the truth, we must make a decision about what we will believe about Jesus.

The Bible says God created man and woman and enjoyed a good relationship with them. But because man chose sin over God, that relationship was broken, and a huge chasm was formed. Only a perfect, sinless sacrifice could cover the sin and repair the relationship. But it wasn’t just between Adam and Eve and God; sin was passed down to all men. We are all guilty of sin. That sin keeps us from having a right relationship with our Holy God, our Creator. Only a perfect, sinless sacrifice can cover that sin and repair our standing with the Lord. God sent His Son Jesus to become that sacrifice for us. He lived a perfect life and chose to die on the cross for our sins. But it didn’t end there. He was buried and three days later rose from the grave, having victory over death! And that’s the gift that He offers today. Whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life in Heaven. They can be freed from their sins and have a restored relationship with our God, our Creator.

My friend, whatever is keeping you from accepting His beautiful gift of love, forgiveness, and hope for a future, I pray you will consider it today. Is it worth it?

If what the Bible says is true (and it is), those who do not accept His gift of salvation will receive the wrath of God. Anyone not covered by Jesus’ blood and forgiveness will experience death, not just in this life but eternally. Even if you’ve done a lot of good in your life, if you’ve never accepted Jesus as the only true way to salvation, those good deeds won’t do you any good.

I pray you’ll see the truth today, turn to Jesus, and ask Him to save you.

He alone can save.