John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Yesterday in my Easter message I used words according to my understanding. Those words could just as easily be taken another way. Even the way in which they were spoken meant something different to those who spoke them and heard them two thousand years ago.

If they are just words, then what do they really mean? I have to admit with all honesty that your position helps define meaning. I will not expect a non-believer to see things my way. I would hope that I give them a new perspective, but looking at things in a different way does not mean you have changed your position.

The reason I chose this opening verse has everything to do with position. Jesus spoke these words and many others in chapter six of the gospel of John to many of His disciples. Then this happened.

V 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Why this happened was the positional condition of those who stopped following Jesus. Something He said they could not live with. For them, His words were not life. To some the message was offensive but since I am in Christ, I am not offended by anything said there.

So how does one change his position? It begins there in verse 63 where it is declared that the flesh profits nothing. There is nothing to be gained in remaining where you are if you are not in Christ. The first thing that happens to unbelievers that identifies a need to change position is dissatisfaction. Sin, even if it is pleasant for a season wears on the soul. There is a constant renewal required in sin, that it is only a temporary thing. Sin needs a fix, you have to keep feeding it. It wears you out from the inside.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

That is step one of just words.

Matthew 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Looking for something a little different for Easter Sunday I began searching the scriptures for something that I might have overlooked in all my readings of this glorious event that happened this day, so long ago. Praise the Lord, I found this.

“So the last error shall be worse than the first.”

Here we have words from the chief priests and the Pharisees to Pilate. They are saying, we made a mistake, let’s not make things worse. Let us not compound our mistake. We buried our mistake, let’s not have it dug up again.

I see a change in attitude here between when they begged Pilate to crucify Jesus and His burial. I do not know what that entailed. I don’t even want to speculate. What I would like to concentrate upon is the issue of mistakes and not allowing the last mistake to be the worst mistake.

We have all made mistakes. We know it. What are you going to do about it? The past is the past and there is nothing I can do about it. True? Yes, of course it is true. So what are we to do about it? Hidden within the verses after the one quoted is another profound offering.

V 65-66 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Be sure that the last choice you make is the right choice, be as sure as you can. We who believe have been baptized into Christs death, we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and we wait and watch for His second coming. Those mistakes, our sin, Jesus took and laid them before the Father to be reconciled by faith in Christ, the one who is the Atonement.

Your last mistake, if you make it, will be your worst, that being to reject that free will offering of forgiveness of your mistakes. Choose wisely, make sure.