Approaching Easter... thoughts...

PART 2 OF .... JESUS FORGIVES...

We are Christians. We are different. We are not citizens of this world anymore. We are sojourners here, waiting for our Father to call us home to heaven. The world should notice a difference in us. Our whole life should reflect Jesus.

Romans 12:2
"Be not conformed to the world."

Some want to be a little like the world, and a little like the Lord. They try to be on both sides. Their escape from the assaults of the devil, is to join his ranks, allow sin to be a normal in their lives. They let worldliness be their way of life. No, the ‘crucifixion’ events do not come when we side with the devil’s side. When we take a stand for Jesus, when we refuse to compromise our love for Him, the crucify-ers begin to do their work.

Sometimes, the devils get saints to be weakness in the flesh, ‘sick’ in the spirit. Then the ‘fear’ takes over, bringing many to cowering instead of ‘bearing the cross. Fear has become the main oppression of many Christians. There are many, many phobias. Psychiatrists claim to have named more than 700.

Christians battle fear. Many battle the fear of past sins. Many fear due to the worldliness that has replaced the holiness of their salvation past. Some fear that God didn't really forgive them. Some fear that they've sinned the unpardonable sin. Some fear that God may give a minister a word of knowledge about them. Others fear sickness. Some fear dying.

With those fears, it is hard to be as Jesus, and say ‘Father, forgive’. The devil takes advantage of our insecurities and encourages fears. He wants to paralyze the Christian soldiers with fear. Fear is not just an inconvenience, as you have tried to tell yourself. It does prevent you from having the spiritual joy and victory that you should have. The devil is trying to rob you, and many Christians, of their joy, victory, and peace - by inspiring fear. Fear robs the fruit of the Spirit from your heart.

To maintain the fruit of the Spirit, to be able to pray as Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them...’, we need to maintain a relationship with Jesus throughout all the other events. If you lose that relationship with Jesus, all fruit of the Spirit dissolves, and the trials of life become insurmountable. Relationship with Jesus is vital to maintain your faith.

What we need to find in the Christian life is victorious living.

Psalms 51:12
"Restore unto me the joy of my salvation."

David sinned, and found a life to be miserable until he repented. Peter denied his Lord, and was forlorn. Through carelessness in prayer and Bible study, many Christians lose the relationship with Jesus. The miracle of Christianity and its joy, is the relationship.

John 1:12
"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."

The key is to "receive Him." That simply means to accept Him. He has knocked on the door, all we must do is open it and commune with Him. Many receive trashy magazines, receive questionable T.V. programs, receive gossip of a friend, receive criticism against another... etc. We all do much receiving. The moment we ‘receive’ the assaults of the cursed world, and try to live with them, we lose Jesus.

Just simply keep receiving Jesus on a daily basis. Learn to greet Him "good morning" in the morning when you wake. Talk with Him as you toil through the day. Say "good night" to Him at bedtime. This Christianity is a relationship.

The fruit of the Spirit, will continue to one who receives Jesus, and His Word, and His truth. It is not difficult. It is so easy. Most church people will even think you strange, but you will be a very "happy" strange. Many in churches who have lost this relationship are the miserable, the hypocrites, the abusers. Those who have a relationship with Jesus, are the ones who can truly smile, and can love others, and can radiate the real Christ-life. When wronged by others, they, like Jesus, can say ‘Father, forgive them...’

When we have Jesus, we do not need to have fear anymore. Jesus said to John on Patmos:
Revelation 1:17-18
"FEAR NOT, I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST... I AM HE THAT LIVETH, AND WAS DEAD, AND BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOREVERMORE..."

This loving, forgiving Jesus wants to be living within us, living through us, manifesting His nature of forgiveness out of us.

JESUS EVANGELIZES EVEN FROM THE CROSS

Luke 23:
38 And a superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, If thou be Christ, save Thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this Man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.


Verse 38
superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS

Some people will argue over anything, even the petty. There has been some controversy over the differences of what was written on the cross. All four gospels have different wording. Mark and Matthew mention "the accusation", different from the "title" in John 19:19. The accusal in Matthew and Mark is the same, however Mark omits "This is Jesus." Mark gives part, while Matthew gives the whole. They do not say the writing was in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, but Luke and John do. Is this a big deal? No, unless you have nothing greater to worry about, and worry is what you do best. The different wording could be due to the three languages each explaining the message in various ways. There is no disagreement really, and one could have left off the words unimportant to their way of explaining the message.

The idea was to show how upset this message from Pilate was to these who had conspired to kill Jesus. The message was true, that Jesus is the King. He is King of the Jews, King of kings of all this universe. The joy the conspirers likely felt in seeing Jesus upon the cross, was greatly lessened by seeing this sign upon the cross. This sign was good advertising to the thieves who hung on each side of Jesus. They would have noticed this sign, noticed this man, and wondered how this man, this ‘King’, could be so gentle, and at peace, and so able to take this cruel treatment.

The conviction of this truth upon the sign brought different reactions to these two ‘malefactors’.

Verse 39
one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him

The thief is called a "malefactor". The word used, "kakougos", is one of two which could have been translated as such. Luke did not use "kakopoios" which was a milder word meaning "a bad doer". The word that Luke chose to describe this man was much, much stronger, and means "one who creates, and originates with energy, aggressive criminal acts." Therefore, this man was very evil, diabolic, sinister, profane, and corrupt.

Verse 40
Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?


These two may have been friends in crime, with similar evils in their resume. Yet, suddenly, they are diffferent. One had come under conviction, and had changed. One continued to mock Jesus, demonstrating utter lack of conviction on his soul. The other demonstrated the conviction of the Holy Spirit. One now feared God, rebuked the other for not fearing God. He now acknowledged his own helpless condition, and recognized the justice he was receiving. He was ready to confess his faith in Jesus and admit Jesus was as the sign said, ‘King’. He foresaw that this King would not end the Kingship here, but would be ‘coming into His kingdom’. That is ‘faith’ brought into his heart, via the repentance and humbling confession to Jesus.

Jesus had led a soul into the kingdom, in the last hours of his life, this thief found Jesus as Savior. He walks streets of gold, and worships at the throne of God now, saved in the last moments of his life, due to a Savior Who while in pain and agony on the cross, was concerned about winning souls to the kingdom of heaven.

We will find the Lord leads us to some who would not be our natural choice of friends, with which to fellowship. Some who do find the Lord from our witness will be ones who did horrible things in their sinful life. I have had ‘satanists, KKK henchmen, come to Jesus. It was beautiful to see God change such people. Yet, in the natural, many Christians would rather avoid those kind of converts, and preach only to the moral, the rich, the powerful leaders. NO! God leads us to hungry hearts, and seldom are the latter group ‘hungry’ for God. The criminal, the hated, blatant sinners get hungry for help, and we can more easily win them, than most any other group. We who carry the cross, will find on either side of us, as Jesus did, on one side a sinner who mocks, and on the other side, a sinner who accepts Jesus.

Any person who objects to sudden conversions should give attention to how this man was converted. For if a person must live a consistently good, and errorless life to get to heaven, this thief on the cross did not have a chance. It was only the worst of the criminals who were condemned to the cross. This thief was not a insignificant and minor burglar guilty only of trivial crimes. Whatever his crimes, they were serious.

When a prominent man dies, people often ask what were his last words. When Christ was dying upon the cross, when most would have been thinking only of their own troubles, this Person, Jesus Christ, spoke hope, forgiveness, and promise to a person that was hated by the moral and ethical of the day. Christ Jesus' last act upon the cross was to save a sinner. He took this thief from the jaws of death. This thief was on the borders of hell-fire, in the grasp of a merciless devil. Christ saved one of the two thieves who while hanging on the cross changed from a reviler to a saint.

What was it that converted this thief?

He had reviled Christ shortly before salvation. What brought the change? Justice demanded death, but Christ was there to give eternal life. Christ did not offer judgment, but offered concern, and comfort. Some today are so very evil, immoral, and corrupt that Christ Jesus, and those who truly are in tune with His nature will have mercy.

The sign identified this Man to the thief. Perhaps it brought back memories of someone who had witnessed to him about Jesus, the ‘King’. Perhaps a relative had tried to get him to come hear this Jesus. Perhaps, he had, and had rejected Jesus then, to continue in his sinful ways.

Or, perhaps it was the prayer of Christ Jesus that changed the thief's heart. This thief had heard Jesus pray:
Luke 23:34
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!"

Jesus forgave a sinner who had be lowered down through the roof to be healed by Jesus. The man was a hated sinner in the town. Matthew, a hated tax collector saw and heard that forgiveness freely given to that man, and dropped all his tax collecting things, to follow Jesus that day.

Stephen later prayed a similar prayer to this prayer of forgiveness of the Lord, and it was which likely one of the main reasons that Paul became a Christian.

This thief had likely been beaten, scourged, and publicly condemned. Yet, what all that could not do, a prayer from the lips of Jesus changed, converted, and transformed him.

This thief realized that this Jesus is not the same stock as others he had met. For he had watched Jesus be mocked, reviled, spat upon, have his garments stolen, and yet this same Jesus was asking for God to have mercy on them. This great love of Jesus "moved" the thief.

It is the "goodness of God
that leadeth men to repentance."

The goodness of Jesus, the forgiveness of an innocent man being unjustly punished, made a change come upon this thief. The goodness of God is shown in His revelation of His willingness to forgive even the worst of sin, if the person repents. That goodness puts within one the ‘fear’ or reverence of this awesome God.

The fear of God came upon him, for the convicted, and repentant thief asked the unchanged thief:
'DOST THOU NOT FEAR GOD?"

Solomon had said: "THE FEAR OF GOD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM!" And it was the fear and reverence for God, awakened and inspired by a dying Savior that made this thief different from the other thief.

The two thieves were alike when they were put upon the cross, but soon one was bound for paradise, and the other was bound for hell. Some today, hear the same message of love and forgiveness, but some will respond and accept God's offers, and others will callously reject. Why can some be cold-hearted to the loving Jesus? Why can some can be insensitive to offers of mercy?

Yet, why can some others, as the thief who accepted Jesus, change? We had better examine the changed thief, for if we studied the other thief, we would only find what stupid, moronic, and absurd reasons he had for stubbornly refusing to change, even while at the gates of hell. But the other thief had found reasons to change his life.

SIGNS OF THE CHANGE IN HIS HEART

1. HE BEGAN TO FEAR GOD

From reviling Jesus to fearing and reverencing this same One. It showed that conviction had begun to grip his heart. The Holy Spirit is the Author of conviction, and He will bring to sinners the desire to be saved. Some will decide, via the conviction of the Spirit, to value the offers of salvation of the Lord.

2. HE JUSTIFIED CHRIST

The thief said to the unrepentant thief: 'THIS MAN HAS DONE NOTHING AMISS.' He had perhaps seen and heard of Jesus. He knew that Jesus was perfect, not guilty. Until we put Christ Jesus into the proper perspective, we cannot be saved.

To many, Jesus, is only a cuss word. To some He is only a historical character. To some Jesus is an imaginary character believed on by what they consider to be fanatical religious people. But in reality, Jesus is deity, One of the Trinity Who became a man to live and die for sinners, and Who now is resurrected and at the right hand of God the Father to intercede for those who come to Him.

3. HE RECOGNIZED HIS OWN SINS, AND HIS GUILT

This thief said: "WE SUFFER JUSTLY!" Until a person realizes that their sins have condemned them to punishment, and sin demands hell-fire, the person will not seek to find the way of escape offered by Jesus. Too many try to deny sins, deny guilt, but it is still there.

The Bible says: "FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD" (Romans 3:23). One thief realized this, and the other did not. One thief faced this hard truth, and was saved, the other tried to lie to themselves and others, and ended up in a devil's hell.

The Bible says: "THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH!" (Romans 6:23). Our sentence is just, and our punishment of hell is well deserved, but if we, like the thief, would realize that "WE RECEIVE OUR DUE REWARD OF OUR DEEDS" then we could be saved. Sins must be admitted, and confessed before Jesus, to be saved from such sins.

4 HE HAD FAITH

This faith of the thief was extraordinary faith. For compare his faith with the faith of:

Abraham or Moses:
They had faith, but God had time in building up their faith.

The disciples:
They had seen many miracles, but had temporarily lost their faith while this thief was finding reason to believe.

This thief, in the face of death, in the midst of what made the disciples lose their faith, in the midst of terrible torture and pain, had faith! He did not demand miracles to believe. He did not ask for blessings and prosperity to have faith. He simply believed and had faith in a loving Savior!

This thief went from the filth of being a sinner to the purity and joy of being a saint. The step only takes a moment of faith in the Lord Jesus, it is so easy people marvel at it.

5. HE ACCEPTED JESUS AS MESSIAH AND KING OF KINGS

The thief said: "REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM". Only when you accept Jesus as the "King of kings" can you find His kingdom. The thief called Jesus to be "LORD". He was ready to follow and obey this Jesus, however, he did not have much time to follow!

SEE PART 2

PART 2

Verse 43
Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise

Jesus died that day, and He went to paradise, in the lower parts of the earth. There, in paradise, this thief also arrived later this day. The other thief went to hell where the rich man mentioned in Luke 16:19-31 was. This repentant thief, heard a great message from Jesus. ‘To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.

These were blessed words to hear, when dying. Words like this take the fear out of dying, they give comfort and joy. The anticipation these words gave replace the hopeless state of sin, the joy they give replace the misery of a guilty conscience. The grace and mercy it took to bring this guilty, sinful, malevolent man to salvation is too awesome to comprehend. The words “Today, thou shalt be with Me in paradise.” brought peace to this man.

Several copies of early church gospels left out this verse. Some find it hard to understand how Jesus could allow this criminal, at the end of a sinful life, to go to paradise. Many still today find it hard to comprehend the grace and mercy of our Lord. Some want ‘good works’ to be piled up in earning a salvation so great. But, Jesus wanted this story in the Bible, so we can see that His desire for mankind to find salvation, reaches even to those who have wasted their whole lives in sin, but in the end, come to Him. His mercy is unfathomable, mystifying, and awesome.

This thief that was given mercy was, according to writings in the early church time, named ‘Titus’. He repented. He succumbed to the Lord’s love. Early church writings also tell us this man was a brother to ‘Luke’. He had a reputation for evil and hatred, and it was hard for Christians of that day to see Jesus, in a moment, forgive all the evil they knew of this man.

This man met Jesus in ‘paradise’. This is where Jesus went, in the heart of the earth, for three days.
Matthew 12:40 (KJV)
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jesus ministered to those in paradise, who had been awaiting His sacrifice so they could then ascend to heaven.
Ephesians 4:8-10 (KJV)
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the Same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.)

When Jesus ascended, those like Abraham, Moses, and other saints that had been waiting for the price for sin to be fully paid by the blood of Jesus, were taken to heaven. They had been waiting in the part of sheol called paradise.

Psalm 16:10-11 (KJV)
10 For Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell (sheol, the inner earth where hellfire, paradise, and the abyss are located); neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.
11 Thou wilt shew Me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Paul had been shown this place, after his stoning. There he had seen things he could not adequately describe and had to have a thorn in the flesh to make him able to not think only of the glories of paradise.

2 Corinthians 12:1-7 (KJV)
1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

This was a wonderful place for the thief to sit down and get to know Jesus, his Savior. This place, filled with saints of the Old Testament, having there Jesus that all were rejoicing in His work for them, and the anxious anticipation of all those there of finally getting to ascend to heaven. What a glorious place to meet Jesus.

Jesus cared about winning souls, even at the time of a painful death. We need to care about souls. Some have wronged us, spoken lies, stolen from us, hurt our loved ones horribly. These thieves had done those kind of things, and Jesus forgave the repentant one, and he went to heaven. We need to preach 'repent', and allow the Holy Spirit to convict. We can then rejoice when a sinner accepts the merciful forgiveness of the Lord.

HIS WORDS TO HIS MOTHER

John 19:
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

“Woman, behold your son... Behold, thy mother.” (John 19:26)

John refers to himself here as ‘the disciple that Jesus loved’. Of course, Jesus loved the other disciples, He even loves me. John reveled in the fact that he was loved by the Lord. He enjoyed the closeness of relationship. We must also do that. We need a close, personal, loving relationship with Jesus.

Some today shy from talking about Mary. Some, in certain denomination, have honored Mary far beyond what the Bible shares about her. They teach that to get close to Jesus one needs to go through Mary. Mary was a human, unable to have omniscience to hear prayers of all, she was not deity, she was not infallible. She is not able to tell Jesus what to do. The answered prayers, the miracles of statues crying, etc. are not from the real Mary who is currently in heaven with the other saints, but are from an evil spirit impersonating Mary. We do need to beware of mariolotry.

The real Mary was about 12 years old when betrothed to marry Joseph. Joseph was likely about 40 years old. The betrothal was the only legal ceremony. It took a divorce to be break the betrothal. The betrothal was the acceptance of the marriage to come, taken before witnesses. Jacob took seven years paying the dowry for Rachel, and seven years for Leah... During the betrothal period, unfaithfulness was "adultery" (Deuteronomy 22:23, Matthew 1:19)

The fact that Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus, was very significant. He had the legal right to the throne of David. His lineage is significant. The Jews put much emphasis on genealogies, so the fact of Jesus being descended from David, of vital importance.

In Matthew, the genealogy is in three parts.
From Abraham to David
From David to the captivity
From the captivity to Christ
Matthew goes back to Abraham to show that Jesus was not just of Judah, but of the same lineage as all of Israel...

It was unusual to mention, but there are four women listed in the lineage of Jesus:
Tamar, committed adultery with Judah to bring about the lineage as prophesied.
Rahab, was a Gentile who by faith in the God of Israel was included by God into this lineage.
Ruth, a Gentile that love for the people of God, and a love for the God of that same people, was brought into the lineage.
Bathsheba, a Gentile that David reached out to bring her into the lineage.


In the lineage, Joseph is called the "husband of Mary" not the "father of Jesus". Jesus was the legitimate son of Joseph, therefore entitled to the throne.

After being legally betrothed, Joseph learned of Mary's pregnancy. A betrothed man had a duty in the matter.

Being just, righteous, he could not overlook the apparent sin" of Mary. Being loving, he desired to deal tenderly, not wishing to expose her. So he decided to put her away privately.

Matthew 1:24
"Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife."

The alternatives of Joseph were public exposure and public humiliation possibly leading to stoning, or to quietly cancel the betrothal.

The dream of Joseph gave Joseph the answer. The angel addresses Joseph as a "son of David" to remind him of the expectancy he was to have as to having the Messiah through his lineage. With the revelation of the identity of the unborn child, Joseph ceased from brooding doubts. Then, Joseph was told the name "Jesus" a name all of Judah wanted to give their sons.

God gave more guidance: "Arise, take the child and His mother."

The Old Testament had foretold of a Son born of a virgin, and so Joseph hesitated no more and took Mary into his house to assure Jesus the legitimate claim to be Joseph's heir.

This father, Joseph, was a carpenter.

Matthew 13:55
"Is not this the carpenter's Son? is not His mother called Mary? and His brethren, James and Joses, and Simon and Judas?"

Joseph was also a just man.

Matthew 1:19
"Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily."

The annunciation to Mary at Nazareth is recorded in:
Luke 1:26-38
"...Hail, thou who art highly favored, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women... Fear not, for thou hast found favor with God."

After learning from the angel of her blessed CHILD being placed in her womb... Mary departs to "hill country" "with haste" "into a city of Judah" to see Elizabeth, her aunt... There Elizabeth greets her with:
Luke 1:39-55
"(vs. 42) Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb."

Mary stayed with Elizabeth three months
Luke 1:56
"And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house."

At Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph were visited by shepherds.
Luke 2:8-20
"And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field... And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."

The Levite shepherds told of the angelic chorus that they had witnessed and these same shepherds became the first preachers. Mary pondered these sayings of the shepherds for many years.

Mary "highly favored". She was more favored than any other woman, to be the mother of the Lord.

The Son she was to bear– was:
to be called "the Son of the Most High" (Luke 1:32)
to be given the "throne of David".
His reign to be eternal... (Luke 1:32-33, Isa. 9:6-7)
He was to be holy from the womb... (Luke 1:35)
He was to have the name "Jesus"... (Luke 1:31)
He was to be sinless.

Mary accepted all these truths in humility.
Luke 1:38
"And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."

Mary was to not only have the blessing of a sword to pierce through her own soul.
Luke 2:35
"(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Mary's character was one to be greatly admired. For she had a quietness of spirit, a meditative, inwardness of disposition, self-control, and she was very devout. She was honored and favored of God for such character.

Mary continued to have such disposition and character, because she knew that she was raising the Messiah. The love of offspring was deeply embedded in Hebrew women. (Jacob obeyed his father and mother, the law said to honor father and mother, a child that strikes a father or mother was killed (Exodus 20:15-17). Thus showing the great respect given by God to the mother.

The Psalmist says that the deepest grief is for a mother.
Psalms 35:14
"I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother..."

The Lord tells us that the greatest human comfort comes from a mother:
Isaiah 66:13
"As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you."

Who did God choose to be the mother of Jesus? Mary, a descendant of David, a young girl, a devout person.


There are many false doctrines about Mary.

1. sinlessness

This doctrine is not Scriptural, for "all have sinned..."

2. perpetual virginity

This doctrine cannot be true, for the Bible speaks of the "brethren of the Lord"

Mary had five sons.
Jesus, the Son of God, and four brothers of Jesus:
James, Joses, Simon, and Jude, the sons of Joseph

Mary had three daughters, three half sisters of Jesus.
"are not His sisters here with us."
Mark 13:55-56, Mark 6:3

Jesus was called Mary's "firstborn".
(Matthew 1:25, Luke 2:7)

The terminology "only begotten" is used only of Jesus to the Father (John 1:14, 18, 3:16, 18, I John 4:9)

The O.T. prophecies say Jesus was to have siblings:
Psalms 69:8-9
"I am become a stranger unto My brethren, and an alien unto My mother's children."

The brother's of Jesus did not believe on Him until after the resurrection (John 7:3-10, Acts 1:14).

3. Mary's glorification and ascension

This is not true, not recorded in Scripture, nor in early church history, but added into Roman Catholic history hundreds of years later. The grave of Mary is found in Ephesus.

4. perpetual sonship and subordination of Jesus to Mary

Jesus accepted subordination to Mary, only as it applied to His earthly life. Even at age 12, He showed His Own decisive sovereignty, as He remained behind to begin His Father's work.

5. Mary is an intercessor and mediator of mankind to Jesus

There is only 'One Mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus', and Mary has the same intercessory ministry as all other saints of God, no more, no less.

These kind of false doctrines keep many from talking much about Mary, but we do talk of Paul, Peter, etc.

For forty days, Mary could not come into the temple proper area, but after 7 days, on the eighth day, the male child would be circumcised. (Leviticus 12:1-4).

After the circumcision, as Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus were traveling back to Bethlehem, the wise men followed the light in the sky. In Bethlehem, the wise men worshipped this new born King of Kings.

The gold, frankincense, and myrrh financed the flight to Egypt to keep Jesus safe from Herod. They then fled to hide in Egypt. The flight to Egypt, right after the departure of the Magi was the plan of God, to hide the new born King from the slaughter of 14,000 babies back in Judah.

In Egypt, Jesus was safe... for He had "come to His Own, and "His own received Him not."

Note the obedient nature of Joseph, for he was willing, for the safety of a child, not his own, to flee his own country, his professional career, and hide from Herod. How long was his stay in Egypt? a few months? years? We are not sure, but likely around a month. For Herod died in less than a month of the flight of Joseph and the family from Bethlehem. Imagine how many babies would have been killed, if Herod had lived years following the order to kill the babies 2 years and younger!!!

Herod died at Jericho, rotten in body, and was the most unmourned man of his time. News of his death spread rapidly, but Joseph waited for direction from the Lord.

Mary was still a virgin, and technically should not have needed to sojourn for purification for 40 days. On the ninth day after the birth, following the visit of the wise men, Joseph, Mary and the babe had fled to Egypt. On the 40th day, Joseph came back to Jerusalem with Mary and the babe, and likely the death of Herod had already taken place. There in the Temple, on the 40th day, a pair of turtle doves offered as part of her purification, and five shekels were offered by Joseph, making Joseph the legal father (Numbers 18:15-16).

Jewish law required that on the eighth day, the newborn male was to be circumcised and receive His name (Luke 1:59-63). Then on the 40th day, the purifying of Mary, via the sacrifice of two turtle doves, 5 shekels of silver to be given. The two turtle doves, one for burnt offering, one for a sin offering were offered, indicating that Joseph had already spent the money gained by the gifts of the wise men. Lodging, food, and travel... had cost much. He was anxious to return to his profession.

While in Jerusalem for this sacrifice, Simeon prophesied that this child was born "for the falling and the rising of many... sword should pierce through Mary's own soul" (Luke 2:34-35). Anna also blessed Jesus.

see part 2

part 2 of 'Jesus' words to His mother...

Archelaus, reigned in his father's place. He had a kindred nature to Herod, he was suspicious, hateful, and would have been nearly as bad a threat to Jesus, as was his father. He was the worst of Herod's sons.

Archelaus was later banished, deposed by Romans for misgovernment in 6 A.D., about the time Jesus would be nearing 12. This is likely why we do not see more of Jesus in Jerusalem, until He was 12 years old.

The nation of Israel had been divided into three parts. The three parts were ruled by three men.

The parts of the kingdom, Archelaus ruled were:
Judea, Idumea, Samaria

Antipas ruled:
Galilee and Peraea

Philip ruled:
Batanea, Trachonitis, and Auranitis

Following the death of Herod, Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and the other siblings born to Mary and Joseph went to Nazareth to live, unable to visit Jerusalem for Archelaus was alive, until Jesus was 12. Then the visits to Jerusalem could be yearly.

Joseph -- was a simple, hard working, God-fearing man. He had a warm heart. He was a strict observer of Jewish law. In face of possible slanderings by neighbors, he and his family stayed in Nazareth. He had made complete self-sacrifice (fled to Egypt) to save Jesus from Herod, but now in this small, Galilean town, of Nazareth, he would raise the Son of God.

Nazareth called el-Medinat el- baidah, "the white town" for it was built of white stone supplied by limestone rocks. This little town was on the western and N.W. slopes of a hallow among the hills of Galilee. It was half-way between the sea of Galilee and Haifa (on the Mediterranean).

At the foot of the north hill, a good spring provided water for the little town. A conduit took water to a fountain where women and children would get water to carry home in jars. Another tiny spring in the side of a western hill supplied more water.

On the Northwestern hill was a synagogue. The attempt on Jesus' life may have been on the high cliff of Nazareth, not far from the synagogue.

The view from the hilltop near this synagogue is awesome. The view from which could be seen the Mediterranean Sea, when looking West. Mt. Hermon, the same mountain on which the transfiguration occurred, could be seen to the North. Mt. Bashan could be seen to the East. Samaria could be seen to the South. The whole valley of Megiddo could be viewed from this hilltop.

Jesus first sermon preached there.

Luke 4:16
"And He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read."

The people had much unbelief, and found it difficult for them to accept the Boy from Nazareth Who now was preaching, and performing miracles.
Matthew 13:58
"And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief."

Nathanael said:
"Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" John 1:46

Jesus learned to be a carpenter (Greek "tekton" a craftsman, a worker in wood, doors, doorways, locks, furniture). But He also studied the Scriptures found in the synagogue of Nazareth, and was told by Mary of the events of the nativity...

By the 12th year of Jesus, Jesus had grown, learned, and become very wise:

Luke 2:40-52
"Jesus grew and waxed strong, filled with wisdom and grace of God was upon Him... advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."

At 12, Jesus "tarried behind" (Luke 2:43) and was lost for three days. The parents had gone a day's journey, and had rushed back (perhaps a half day to return). Therefore, they were looking for Jesus for one and half days. Imagine the deep distress of Mary and Joseph, and the stress of watching out for the 7 younger siblings of Jesus.

The rabbis went to certain rooms within the Temple to teach, and Jesus went "in the midst" sitting at the feet of these scholars, asking questions (as pupils were permitted to do). The learned men were startled with His wisdom.

To His distressed parents, Jesus said:
Luke 2:48-49
"How is it that ye sought Me? ...be about My Father's business."

At 12, Jesus was to be apprenticed to His Father... and He obviously reasoned that Father to be Jehovah, not Joseph... Jesus had been well-taught by Mary.

At the age of 30, Jesus traveled to a wedding at Cana. It was at that age, 30, that priests would begin their ministry in the Temple. At this wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11), there was a crisis of need. Mary turned to Jesus and was rebuffed by Him. Undaunted, undisturbed by His reply, Mary still prepared the servants to await and to obey His answer. Mary's quiet and yet forceful personality was thereby shown.

When Mary learned of the plot of the religious of that day to kill her Son, she brought His brothers with her to dissuade Jesus from going to the dangerous area of the country.
Matthew 12:46
"While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without desiring to speak with Him."

At the cross, Mary was there. (John 19:25) Mary was about 46 years old at the time. Jesus could not have spoken as He did there, had he not maintained and fulfilled the role of "eldest son". The words of Jesus to John and to His mother, shows the tender love and mutual understanding for each other. Jesus gave a sacred charge to John. She then went with John to Ephesus, more cognizant of the warning of Simeon, that a "sword would pierce her" via this Son.

At Pentecost, (Acts 1:14), Mary was being obedient to the command of Jesus to "tarry until".
"And they (the disciples) continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren."

This is the last mention of Mary in Scripture.

Mothers today do not have "perfect children". Mary had one of eight children who were "perfect". So even Mary raised imperfect ones. Mary's four other sons would not follow Jesus until after the resurrection. Mary certainly encouraged them to believe in the Lord Jesus, but they could only see a "big brother", and could not see the "Messiah".

Jesus loved Mary. The earthly work was to be done in 43 more days. After His resurrection, before His ascension, Jesus was going to be very busy. So, Jesus assigns John the special privilege to be like a son to Mary. Mary was likely about 46 years old at the time. John was the one who would not face martyrdom, and he was going to live many more years. Therefore, this loving apostle was a good choice of the one to watch over Mary’s welfare. John and his brother James had been known as ‘sons of thunder’, but their natures had greatly changed. Jesus knew that John would gladly take responsibility.

While carrying our cross, we will still have family concerns. Jesus bore the concern for His mother. We will have siblings, children, a mate, parents, etc for whom we also will have to bear some responsibility. This concern and need to address their needs, is a part of bearing our cross. We may only intercede, we may witness, we may have to call for help from others, as did Jesus utilizing John to aid His mother.

Jesus was concerned for her welfare. He trusted John more than He trusted His own brothers, James and Jude, who had not yet come to accept Jesus as the Messiah, and as deity. They did after the resurrection, and became great apostles for the Lord, but Jesus still chose John to care for His mother, whom He loved and appreciated greatly.

Hanging on that cross, in great pain, suffering mocking and hatred from many at the foot of such cross, Jesus was still feeling concern for His mother, the woman who gave Him birth, raised Him, taught Him, and loved Him. She knew He was deity, she respected Him as authoritative.

THE RELATIONSHIP

Jesus had come to earth, to take human form, human identity. He left behind the glories of deity, and was for a while only human in power. The Holy Spirit gave the power for Him to do miracles, God the Father informed Him with words of knowledge and guidance.

Philippians 2:6-8 (KJV)
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

So, during the first twelve years of His earthly life, Jesus was obedient as a son to Mary. After twelve, a son was to learn His father’s trade, but His Father was God. So, in the Temple, He made it clear that He was already ‘about His Father’s business.’ The obedience to His mother had ended, and now He was learning from the Father, and working at His Father’s work.

The idea that Jesus is still subservient to Mary is ridiculous. Jesus answered that hypothesis with a definite no. Look at what He taught:
Matthew 12:46-50 (KJV)
46 While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak with Him.
47 Then one said unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with Thee.
48 But He answered and said unto him that told Him, Who is My mother? and who are My brethren?
49 And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of My Father Who is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.

Jesus, even then, before He left this earthly time, had already wanted it known that Mary, His earthly mother, was no more family, nor in charge of Him, than any other disciple. I do not tell Jesus what to do, and neither can Mary. We are all in His family now, but He now is totally Supreme, and we all answer to Him as earthly children of God.

This passage in the words of Jesus on the cross of ‘Behold, your mother.... Mother, behold your son...’ was put into the Scriptures, to show us that Jesus wants all of us to likewise remember, that we are all family. Jesus, after the death of Mary’s husband, Joseph, was the firstborn charged with caring for, providing for His earthly mother. He was in charge, making provision for her. Upon leaving this earth, Jesus chooses to have John take over that work for Him. Mary might have chosen James, or Jude, her other two sons. Yet, Jesus made the determination. Jesus chose the disciple that was closest to Him, knowing John would know what Jesus would have done in various decisions to make. Mary was not even John’s boss, let alone Jesus’.

THE DEPARTURE WORDS of JESUS
... AS HE LEFT TO GO TO PARADISE


Matthew 27:
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Mark 15:
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.


John 19:
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Luke 23:
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.


HIS HEARTBROKEN WORDS

THE DARKNESS

The darkness at the time of the crucifixion was unusual. This was Passover time, and the Passover is always at the time of the full moon. There cannot be an eclipse of the sun at the time of the full moon. This as some sort of unnatural darkness. There was an eclipse of the sun that year, but it was on November 24th.

To us, darkness is the absence of light. Scientists have discovered that in space there is another kind of darkness, called a dark nebula. It is a darkness with substance, that will not allow light to pass through it. This darkness can be felt, and God sent some of that darkness to the earth for the three hour period. This same kind of darkness afflicted the Egyptians during time of the exodus. A shrine in Egypt says of this darkness that no one "could see the face of those beside them," and that there, at that time, was three days of such darkness.

This darkness startled many, and was written about in historical records for that time also.




5 A.

Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?


“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’

This is a quote from Psalms 22. (Eli, Eli, lamah sabachthani). It could have been better translated as ‘My God, My God, to what sort of persons hast Thou left Me?’

This is a reference to the obstinate nature of the crucifiers. Jesus was astonished at the wickedness of mankind, of the heartless, cruel, uncaring nature of those who had likely killed many in this way. Their minds were uncaring of the pain and suffering which they had put upon these victims. He was feeling saddened by the treatment, by the harshness of their hatred for Him.

Jesus would see someone suffering hunger, blindness, leprosy, lameness, etc. and would immediately be moved with compassion. Yet, here, with pain and suffering, these people were mocking, reviling. Jesus was shocked by this evil. We sometimes are shocked by the evil we see in the world, and even sometimes see in the churches. When death would come to us, we would not want our enemies present to heartlessly mock our suffering pains.

David had been a ‘man after God’s own heart’, and some of his Psalms reveal that David was made privy to the feelings of the Lord Jesus at various times. In Psalms 22, we find revealed much of what Jesus was to feel when He was upon the cross.

Psalm 22:1-31 (KJV)
1 My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? why art Thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but Thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
...
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see Me laugh Me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the LORD that He would deliver Him: let Him deliver Him, seeing He delighted in Him.
...
13 They gaped upon Me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of My bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and My tongue cleaveth to My jaws; and Thou hast brought Me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed Me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed Me: they pierced My hands and My feet.
17 I may tell all My bones: they look and stare upon Me.
18 They part My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture.

Jesus was deeply saddened at this abuse, this hatred, this evil in mankind. We too get shocked at the evil in this world. They can mock we Christians for righteousness, and then rape, murder, abort, steal, and blaspheme, with nary a conviction of guilt. We feel trapped in this sinful world, and it hurts.

Psalm 69:20 (KJV)
20 Reproach hath broken My heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

These words in Psalm 69, are also prophetically given thoughts of Jesus, given long before He said or thought them, to David, a ‘man after God’s own heart.’ David wanted to know and understand the thoughts and feelings of God, and many of his psalms show God’s revelation to him of what God, and Jesus, would be feeling at various times in the future. These words of Jesus at the crucifixion time show a ‘broken heart’ due to the ‘reproach’ that He was suffering from friend and foe.

The words ‘broken heart’ are figurative language. It is not speaking of a literal ‘heart’ that was ‘broken’. The words rather express of one who is suffering deep inside from pain and sorrow over the hurtful deeds of another. One’s life feels shattered, and hence the ‘broken’, one’s love has been rejected, hence the word ‘heart’.

God expresses that He even is brokenhearted due to mankind’s behavior and their unfaithfulness to Him. Jesus was brokenhearted when He came to the night of the betrayal, the arrest, trial, crucifixion, and especially from the disciple who denied Him. God understands brokenness due to the sins of others.

Many of the things we need healed from are due to our own sins. Brokenheartedness is sometimes due only to the sins of another. God was brokenhearted, Jesus was brokenhearted, and neither of them sinned. Yet, the pain of the brokenness is real to them.

When someone is brokenhearted, they feel an inner pain that needs to be healed. The pain is real, though a doctor could never find its scar. The medicines that the world offer, do not heal the broken heart, they dull the mind, they calm the system, but the broken heart, when the medicines wear off, is still there.

When broken in heart, it is constantly upon their minds. Some must find outlets to express their emotions of the broken heart. Others refuse to feel at all, and hide well their hurts. Some will mourn over the hurts. Some will create ways to cope and distract from the hurt. While some will need encouragement on a constant basis, others will need to create other victims to achieve revenge.

Tears are far from uncommon when one is brokenhearted. They flow and should flow, for one is greatly hurt. God sheds tears over those who have forsaken His loving gifts. Jesus wept greatly in Gethsemane at the time Judas was betraying Him for the price of a slave. Crying is not sinful, it is an emotional release that God has designed for us, and for Himself. Someone once said: ‘if someone you love hurts you, cry a river, then build a bridge, and get over it.’ Crying is often the first step in getting over it.

Since Jesus knows first hand what it feels like to have a broken heart, He can also know the steps of healing. Not all who broke the heart of Jesus, then and now, will ever return to repent of their evil to Him, so healing is not dependent upon restoration of the hurting relationship. God wants to work on the heart of the one who is broken and hurting. He can heal that heart, no matter what the perpetrator ever does.

Someone once said, ‘God can heal a broken heart, but He needs all the pieces’. The brokenhearted need to come to Jesus, and lay out all the ‘hurting and shattered pieces’ of their lives, and let God begin to put things back together. Many times, if not most always, restoration of a relationship is not found, for God will not overrule the stubborn will of sinners, who arrogantly hurt Him, or His children. Allowing that relationship that brought so much hurt to go, is not symbolic of ‘weakness’, but it takes a holy strength to let go, and let God heal in another way.

God is close with those that have broken hearts, for He knows their agony and pain. When Jesus asked ‘who do men say that I am’, one of the answers was ‘Jeremiah’, for Jeremiah was the ‘weeping prophet’. Jesus likewise was a ‘weeper’, feeling the pain of the rejection of many, the coming pain of the cross and its perpetrators. God knows what ‘brokenhearted’ means, and has been ‘touched with the feelings of our infirmities.’

Hebrews 4:15-16 (KJV)
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Therefore, the brokenhearted can find help from the Lord when they turn to Him.

Psalm 34:18 (KJV)
18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

The Lord is ‘nigh’ to the broken of heart. He does save those who come with a humble and contrite heart to Him for such healing.

Psalm 147:3 (KJV)
3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

In these words from the cross, ‘My God, My God, why have these wicked ones done this?’ we find Jesus going to the Father, and expressing His broken heart to Him. He came to God for healing, for these wicked men were speaking harshly to Him, and condemning Him. He felt pain from that rejection, but kept faithful to His love and trust in God. The translation of those words, the common conception of what they meant, is far from their real meaning. We see in Psalm 22, a real love and trust in God the Father, and only brokenness at the mistreatment of the world. It was heartbreaking to have all the people wanting him to die. But Jesus called out to God in humility and God was there to comfort Him.

Whereas, we are sometimes brokenhearted in damaging situations with humans, we now have a divine relationship with a God Who loves us tenderly and completely. We have Jesus Who has also felt brokenhearted.

Hebrews 4:15-16 (KJV)
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus understands, has felt the same kind of pain as the brokenhearted. He has an answer, He knows how to heal.

Hebrews 7:25 (KJV)
25 Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Jesus asks of the brokenhearted, to have ‘faith’ in Him. The brokenhearted need to realize that He will ‘reward’ those who come to Him for their healing.

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

There is no need for loneliness, for being in the presence of the Lord makes a difference in the life of the seeker.

Acts 4:13 (KJV)
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

SEE PART 2

PART 2

God has riches of His glory, ready and prepared to give to the brokenhearted.

Romans 9:23 (KJV)
23 And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory,

Therefore, the brokenhearted should draw near to God. We can have ‘full assurance’ that He will wash us with ‘pure water’. Hold fast to this healing of your broken heart.

Hebrews 10:22-25 (KJV)
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We can pray for the ‘mountain’ size problem to be healed, and the Lord does answer.

Mark 11:22-24 (KJV)
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.


Look in Psalm 69:1-21 (KJV), and notice here, more of the thoughts of Jesus, prophetically revealed, so we can see how He thought, while on the cross. This passage is following the ‘law of double reference’, and speaks a bit of the brokenness of David himself, but with passages inserted that truly speak mostly of the brokenness that Jesus felt upon the cross.

Psalms 69:
1 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto My soul.
2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow Me.
3 I am weary of My crying: My throat is dried: Mine eyes fail while I wait for My God.
4 They that hate Me without a cause are more than the hairs of Mine head: they that would destroy Me, being Mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
...
20 Reproach hath broken My heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave Me also gall for my meat; and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink.

Approaching the time in which we commemorate the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus, is a time we need to get into the Written Word of God and examine the many, many, truths revealed to us therein. We too often have tried to squeeze multitudes of truths about that time, into an 'Easter sermon'... IMPOSSIBLE!

The written Word of God is full of truths, it is full of God's revealed plan, which we are to share with this sinful world. We get weary from this world's heathen opinions, its mockeries of gospel truths. We need to refresh ourselves with truths, and God has provided an accurate record, in which we can rejoice as we read. God speaks to us, using this Written Word, that He transcribed to prophets of that age. The Written Word of God enables us to feed our weak and frail human spirit, and to cleanse ourselves from defilements of the world.

GOD’S WORD IS PURE.

Psalms 12:6
“The Words of the Lord are pure words,
as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.”


The Words of God are pure and clean. His spoken words to us, are tested by that written Word... We find that if it is truly His voice spoken to us, it will not disagree or be not in harmony with His Written Word. The spoken and written Words then help to clean our lives, our inner selves from the defilements of all else that is about us.


GOD’S WORD IS PROFITABLE.

II Timothy 3:16
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Yes, the Word of God is ‘profitable’, it is great for ‘reproof’ of errors we may commit, it is profitable for ‘correction’ of wrongs we stray toward, and it is wonderful ‘instruction’ into Godly living.


GOD’S WORD IS INFALLIBLE.

The Bible contains the mind of God. It is infallible in its original language. Therefore, it is a message we can trust. God is infallible, so His written Word is also infallible. We need to rightly interpret it, we need to correctly translate it from its original language, and we need to be sure our interpretation of it is consistent and harmonious with its entirety.

I Kings 8:56
“... there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant...”

Since the Author is God, the Bible is truthful, for He is Truth. The Bible is an accurate guide, for He is the Way. The Bible is an accurate revelation of the future, for the Author is the Light. The Bible is eternal, speaking to all generations of mankind, for the Author is eternal.

The Author of the Bible is the Creator of the universe.
Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth...”

The Author of the Bible is the Father of us all.
Acts 17:29
“Forasmuch, then as we are the offspring of God...”

Many question how much of the Bible has suffered from transmission errors of editors and copyists? How much is to be understood literally, figuratively, symbolically, historically, and poetically? If we read, study, and verify the harmonious interpretation of it, it is obvious that One mind inspired the whole of the Bible. The Word of God all harmonizes, and has one central theme.

The Bible is God’s attempt to reach mankind. That makes the Bible to be the rule of faith and rule of conduct. That makes the Bible to be the final authority, for it is from the Divine Mind. It also makes the Bible to be the hope of mankind in their search for God and salvation. It makes the Bible to be the test and standard by which to judge all other writings and things.


MANKIND’S ANSWERS ARE SOURCED FROM THE DEVIL,
AND ARE TOTALLY FALLIBLE.
THE VOICES OF EVIL SPIRITS, PRETENDING TO BE 'GOD'
ARE TOTALLY FALLIBLE...

Yet, many to whom we minister always want to be the final authority, and to intellectually decide on their own, what to believe, and decide what is truth.
So mankind often see the Bible as foolish.

I Corinthians 2:14
“But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Many today are challenged by the ‘satanic’ suggestion, that the Bible, today’s passer of the message of God, may not be accurate and truthful. As the devil challenged Eve, with ‘hath God said?’, many today believe that doubt that the Written Word called the Bible is truly ‘God’ saying what we need to know.


The devil went on to say ‘ye shall not surely die...’ (Genesis 3:4) The devil wanted to take the fear of judgment out of the equation.

The devil then said: “ye shall be as gods”. (Genesis 3:5). The gnostic dogma, the new age dogma, the majority of false religions all have this common teaching. It is the ‘man-centered’ philosophy that false religions offer to challenge the Bible’s message. They want converts to look inside themselves for the answers, for the power and wisdom. They do not want mankind to listen and read, accept and believe the message of the Bible, God’s Word.

They promote a 'voice' that is supposed to be 'God' but proves to often denigrate, belittle, or challenge the Written Word of God. That alone identifies the 'voice' as not deity at all.

The written Word of God is God’s message to us, who are far from ‘gods’, far from omnipotent, omniscient beings. We need His message for any inner message from our soul will be errant and dooming. Any message from any outside source other than God, is also dooming to our souls. The Written Word of God, is our only hope of right understanding. We need that help.


Every conspiracy of the devil involves the plan to eliminate the idea of the atonement through Jesus’ blood, from the minds of mankind. The Bible which teaches that concept from beginning to end, must therefore be attacked, challenged, ridiculed, and belittled. Yet, the Written Word of God always stands the test!


GOD MIRACULOUSLY PRESERVED THIS ‘HELP’ FOR US.


The Word of God has been preserved. As God preserved Moses in the ark of bulrushes, so the Bible has been protected down through the ages.


One time, during Josiah’s reign, the Written Word of God had been neglected for many years, the original copy of it was lost amidst the piles of trash in the Temple. But, then God had it found, and did not let it continue to be lost.


II Kings 22:8
‘and Hilkiah, the high priest said unto Shaphan, the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord...’


The spiritual power confirmed in miracles and wonders, has made the Bible a book unlike any other.


Mark 16:20
‘And they went forth and preached everywhere. The Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following.”

And therefore, when the original gnostic challenger of the message of the Bible, i.e. Simon the sorcerer, performed his own ‘magic’ wonders, Peter (as early church history confirms) followed him, and showed miracles and wonders of the Lord, in healings, and such... that the crowds could see, that the Word of God preached by Peter was far superior to the heresy of Simon magus. The Word of God has survived the challenges of the past, the present, and will survive the challenges of the future.

All confusion, all apparent contradictions and errors come from mankind, not from the Word of God. The Bible was written by 44 secretaries of the Author, over a span of 1500 years. The Bible claims to be authored by God in I Peter 1:10-11, Revelation 19:10, John 5:39, 46, and Luke 24:7.


The Bible is accurate. There were 25 specific prophecies concerning the betrayal, trial, death and burial of Jesus given over a period between 500 to a 1000 years before it occurred. Yet, Jesus fulfilled all of them in 24 hours.



THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE IS UNIQUE.

The written Word of God reveals God and His messages to us.

Hebrews 1:1-2
“God, Who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds.”


God revealed Himself by Jesus, by His deeds and His words. The Bible is the declaration of God about Jesus Who would come, and of His revelation of God’s plan for us would be written.


THEREFORE, THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD IS A HELP
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY FOR US TO HAVE.


II Peter 1:21
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit...”


The prophecies from God of old, were written down, and many of them are contained in the Written Word of God called the Bible. The messages of the Holy Spirit today will harmonize with the Written messages in the Bible. Therefore, we need this ‘help’ from God, so that we can be sure the messages and voices we hear are truly God.

I Corinthians 14:37
“If any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”

We need to study the Word, and prove from its messages that these truly are the Written Word of God. God challenges us to do so, and any true study of the Word will come to that undeniable conclusion, that God’s Written Word, i.e. the Bible, is His infallible and true message to us.

The Bible is intelligible. We can understand it. The Bible is a ‘revelation’, meant to reveal, not conceal.

Romans 15:4
“...whatsoever things were written afore time, were written for our learning...”

The mysteries of God are no longer to be mysteries. The Bible is God’s attempt to tell mankind what mankind is able to receive. God’s Word does not surpass mankind’s reason. God did not have the Bible written to tease mankind with ‘non-understandable’ truths.

The truths of the crucifixion and of the resurrection of Jesus are wonderful truths, in which we can glory... Let us continue to study the truths of the Written Word of God... and see the messages of the passion week...

Ephesians 3:4
“Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.”

WE ARE COMMANDED TO STUDY THIS HELP CALLED THE BIBLE.

II Timothy 2:7, 15
“Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things... study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God...”


The Bible (rightly understood) is authoritative. We need to beware error, for some things do require a bit of study. But when we correctly have studied and harmonized the message of one part with the totality of the Bible’s truths, then we can trust this authoritative passage.

THE WORDS EXPRESSING HIS BEARING OUR GUILT AND SHAME

John 19:28 (KJV)
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.


“I thirst.” (John 19:28)


Prophetically, it was prophesied that Jesus would be thirsty and dry. We read that in Psalm 22:14-15 (KJV):
14 I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of My bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and My tongue cleaveth to My jaws; and thou hast brought Me into the dust of death.

The heat, the loss of blood, caused this thirst. They offered vinegar, mingled with gall. This was a stupefying sour wine, frankincense and myrrh. It was used it to assuage sufferings making victims unaware of the pain.

Proverbs 31:6-7 (KJV)
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Christ was suffering. He had wanted something for thirst, not something to make Him drunk.

Psalm 69:20-21 (KJV)
20 Reproach hath broken My heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave Me also gall for My meat; and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink.

Jesus refused to make this death for us to be easier. He had come to take our sins upon Himself, to suffer and to die for those sins. He did that, and did not inebriate Himself to make it easier.

Three times, there were drinks were offered to Jesus.

1. Upon arrival at Calvary

Mark 15:
23 And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but He received it not.

Matthew 27:33-34 (KJV)
33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
34 They gave Him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when He had tasted thereof, He would not drink.

2. During the suffering time on the cross

Luke 23:36 (KJV)
36 And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar,

3. At the end of life

Matthew 27:48 (KJV)
48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink.

John 19:29-30 (KJV)
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.

The drinks offered were meant to relieve the pain. Jesus wanted only water to relieve the thirst. The thirst is typical, a teaching, and has a great lesson for us.

There are times that some have sought to alleviate the pain by taking prescription drugs, alcoholic beverages, eating binges, etc. to relieve the inner spiritual pain. When we alleviate the pain, we cease to look for a remedy of the problem. Guilt and shame are covered over by many, with drugs and alcohol. Many feel no need to repent of sin, for their mind is stupefied by these drugs. It is wise to keep a clear mind, and to set about the task of curing the problem of sin and of guilt. The thirst is a reminder to be looking to conquer the problem. We must keep our mind alert, even if pains are seemingly unbearable.

THE THIRST OF JESUS WAS BROUGHT UPON HIM DUE TO HIS BEARING OUR SINS. HE BORE OUR GUILT AND SHAME. HE HAD NONE OF HIS OWN, FOR HE WAS SINLESS.
Infamous
THERE IS A ‘THIRST’, A DRYNESS OF SPIRIT, A GUILT AND SHAME OF SOUL THAT SHOULD BE ON THOSE WHO STILL BEAR THEIR OWN SINS.

THIS SHOULD BRING A GUILT AND FEAR, SO THAT THE PERSON SEEKS TO ALLEVIATE THE ‘THIRST’ BY SEEKING THE LIVING WATER OF GRACE IN JESUS.

DRUGS, TO ERASE THE PAIN AND SENSIBILITY OF GUILT ARE NOT THE ANSWER, AND JESUS REFUSED THE VINEGAR AND GALL. HE WOULD NOT DRINK. THEY FINALLY, MOMENTS BEFORE HIS DEATH, PUT A SPONGE UP TO HIS MOUTH WITH VINEGAR UPON IT.


Our Lord said: ‘If any man thirst.’ We do ‘thirst’ i.e become dry and needy of the Living Water of salvation in Jesus. Bodily thirst is a infamous and painful sensation. Those who have traveled in deserts, under a hot sun, find that it is miserable feeling to be totally dry and thirsting for something unobtainable. The rich man in hell’s tormenting heat, cried out, ‘Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame’ (Luke 16:24). His desire was for even a ‘drop’ of water, to help with the thirst. It is terrible and hard to thirst in heat, to be totally dry of water.

But if bodily thirst is so harmful, how much more is the thirst of the soul? Physical suffering is not the worst part of hell’s punishment. The inward guilt, shame, conviction for sin, is a thirst, a dryness that is unbearable. Jesus bore our shame, guilt and sin, and to illustrate that, we find His body had a physical thirst. For sinners without the atoning work of Jesus applied to them, there is a spiritual thirst, that drinks up soul and spirit. And this is the thirst that Jesus bore for those who accept His atoning work on the cross.

This is the thirst which many experienced when Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. They were "pricked in their heart, and said, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’" (Acts 2:37). Their guilt and shame of sin made them spiritually thirsty.

This thirst was felt by the Philippian jailer felt, when he awoke, feeling the consciousness of spiritual danger. He ‘came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’" (Acts 16:30).

When convicted by the Holy Spirit for sins, the money, power, pleasure, honour, of this world does not quench that thirst of guilt. The natural man is called in Scripture ‘dead’, and ‘sleeping’, and ‘blind’, and ‘deaf’, and is therefore, without the Holy Spirit, unaware of the ‘thirst of his soul’ for God. Conviction makes one aware. The wine that Jesus refused in the beginning of the crucifixion would have deadened that guilt and shame of sin, but Jesus chose to bear our guilt, shame for sin, for us..

The church of Laodicea, had deadened their guilt and shame, and Jesus said ‘Thou knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked’ (Revelation 3:17).

FEAR OF GUILT SHOULD ENCOMPASS SINNERS

Acts 2:42-43 (KJV)
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

When the early church began to minister to this world, they preached, and signs and wonders followed. The result was ‘fear’ came upon all. Why would a rousing sermon, a miracle or ten, make people fear? We do not see that reaction now very often, and perhaps the church has been giving spiritual tranquilizers, or sedatives to the world to remove the ‘fear’ that the gospel message is supposed to arouse.

THE KIND OF FEAR THE CHURCH MESSAGE IS TO ENGENDER

The word for ‘fear’ in Acts 2 is the Greek word “phobos”. It is from the primary root word “phebomai (to be put in fear)” It is translated ‘fear’ 41 out of 47 times in the New Testament. It is a feeling of terror suddenly to some thing considered alarming. We shall look in more depth to the word shortly.

Fear was a natural result to the gospel message being preached, and to the events seen in the church. When Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit amidst that early revival, they fell dead. Fear upon the church resulted.

Acts 5:11 (KJV)
11 And great fear came upon all the church, upon as many as heard these things. (Ananias and Sapphira die)

They realized that sin would bring judgment, and their own guilt made them fear. They could have had polite, politically correct sermons to assuage their guilt, calm their fears. Yet, it is guilt and fear of God that brings repentance.

God promises blessings and attention to those who ‘fear Him’ with this reverent, respectful awe of His being.

Psalm 111:5 (KJV)
5 He hath given meat unto them that fear Him: He will ever be mindful of His covenant.

The Christians should be ‘walking with God, fearing Him, keeping His commandments, obeying Him, serving Him, cleaving unto Him, not out of dreadful fear, but of a reverent respect for His Person, His omnipotent power, and His perfect holiness.

Deuteronomy 13:4 (KJV)
4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him.

This kind of ‘fear’ amidst the saints of the church will bring signs and wonders, and those demonstrations of God’s power will bring a ‘fear’ to all of the world. Too many churches, and too many saints, have lost the key elements that brought ‘fear’ to the communities of this world. We have been preaching messages that inspire spiritual sleep, not reverent repentance. We have been telling the world that God requires no change from their sinful life. The homosexuals want to be invited into the church and accepted without changing. Wife abusers, child abusers, abortion doctors, rapists, persons living in sin, drug abusers, find pats on the back, handshakes, and not the loving presentation of how to repent and be saved by Jesus. Therefore, there is no ‘fear’ amidst the world of what God is doing, for the Lord is outside those churches, knocking and wanting to come in and change things.

Fear and guilt are like the ‘thirst’, needing a remedy, not needing a dulling of the reason for the thirst.

TWO KINDS OF FEAR

The disciples were in a boat, crossing the Sea of Galilee, when a great tempest arose, the sea roaring and flooding the small boat they were in. Great ‘fear’ came over them, but Jesus calmed the storm. Then He mentioned another kind of ‘fear’ that came upon them.

Mark 4:40-41 (KJV)
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? (deilos) how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared (phobeo) exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

In verse 40, we see the word ‘fearful’, and Jesus questions the reason for this fear. It is the Greek word “deilos”. The root of this word is deos meaning dread. It is a word signifying ‘fear’, a cowardly timidity, a sense of dread that is lingering, creating a life of panic and resignation to defeat when confronted by the object or reason for the fear. The disciples were terrified, and always would be in the midst of such turbulence of water, such overflow into the ship, and the fact that it would be impossible to swim amidst such a storm, and perishing seemed certain. Most would be ‘terrified’ at such kind of situation. Jesus marveled that their faith had not yet grown to the place where they could trust that Jesus had said that they were ‘going to the other side’, and what Jesus speaks will come to pass.

In verse 41, we see the disciples have a different kind of ‘fear’, and they ‘feared exceedingly’. This is the Greek word “phobeo” which refers to the kind of fear where one is suddenly confronted by something startling, and the reaction is to avoid, run, withdraw, in being startled by the event, person, idea. It is sometimes translated ‘awe’, ‘fear’, ‘reverence’.

We get the word ‘phobia’ from this Greek word, and a ‘phobia’ is often of something that is not really ‘fearful’. One may have a phobia of ‘peanut butter sticking to the roof of one’s mouth’ (arachibutyrophobia), or a fear of computers (logizomechanophobia). Phobias do not always need rationale, they can sometimes be an emotional response to something one is not truly prepared to face. The feeling of alarm is a phobia.

THE ‘FEAR’ WE SHOULD HAVE IS A REVERENT AWE OF GOD’S POWER. A THIRST FOR FORGIVENESS, A DESIRE TO REPENT. SOME SEEK TO DO AWAY WITH GUILT AND FEAR, WITHOUT REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS AS THE CURE FOR IT.

see part 2

part 2

WE, AS CHRISTIANS, DO NOT NEED
A TERROR FEAR OF OUR LOVING LORD.

WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE GUILT
AS A THIRST FOR THE MERCIFUL FORGIVENESS OF GOD.

OUR FEAR SHOULD BE A MOTIVATOR TO RESTORATION
IN THE GRACE OF GOD.

OUR FEAR NEED NOT BE THE ‘TERROR’ FEAR,
FOR WE HAVE JESUS,
OUR EVER ABUNDANT SOURCE OF LIVING WATER.


Jesus said to John on Patmos:
Revelation 1:17-18
"FEAR NOT, I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST...I AM HE THAT LIVETH, AND WAS DEAD, AND BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOREVERMORE."


Christ will still be ruling, and in control when the future arrives that you have been fretting. "The First" will still be in charge in "the Last" of our days. Jesus is the "same yesterday, today, and forever."

"Fear not" is in the Bible 80 times. God seems to want to make sure that we know that it is a command. He expects us to be full of faith, not full of fear.

THE SAVIOR IS THE CURE FOR THIRST OF FEAR AND GUILT.

John 4:13-14 (KJV)
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.


Luke 2:10-11
"FEAR NOT, FOR BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY... UNTO YOU IS BORN... A SAVIOR."

The angels announced that the shepherds did not need to fear, because a Savior had been born. We have that same Shepherd. We can go to Him when fearful thing s arise. Too many are full of fear, because they have gotten their eyes off of the Savior.

Luke 12:22-23
"FEAR NOT, LITTLE FLOCK, FOR IT IS YOUR FATHER'S GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM."

We are still the flock of God. Jesus is still our Shepherd. Our Shepherd still wants to give us, the kingdom. Our Shepherd still wants to take care of us. As a good Shepherd, He still provides for us.

II Timothy 1:7
"GOD HATH NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER, AND OF LOVE, AND OF A SOUND MIND."

Isaiah 43:5
"FEAR NOT...I AM WITH THEE."

The Lord is still with each of us. He is with us whenever we go through the times of deep "waters". When we go through the times that are like "fire", He is with us. He is with us, during our times of battles.

Deuteronomy 20:3-4
"YE APPROACH THIS DAY UNTO BATTLE AGAINST YOUR ENEMIES, LET NOT YOUR HEART FAINT, FEAR NOT, AND DO NOT TREMBLE, NEITHER BE YE TERRIFIED BECAUSE OF THEM. FOR THE LORD YOU GOD IS HE THAT GOETH WITH YOU TO FIGHT."

Psalms 118:6-7
"THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE: I WILL NOT FEAR WHAT MAN CAN DO TO ME. THE LORD TAKETH MY PART."

The Lord is with us to strengthen us. He does not want us to be weak soldiers , fearful to go to battle.

Isaiah 41:10
"FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH THEE, BE NOT DISMAYED FOR I AM THY GOD, I WILL STRENGTHEN."

The spiritual battles of life create a soul thirst, the sins and failures of life create a thirst for forgiveness in God’s grace. That thirst should only be relieved by the LIVING WATER, THE FLOWING WATER FROM THE THRONE OF GRACE. The people offered Jesus vinegar and gall. The world today wants to alleviate guilt, shame, remorse for sin, with words and beliefs that deny its presence, that dull the senses to the guilt there.

John 7:37 (KJV)
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.

Revelation 7:16-17 (KJV)
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.


THE CHURCH IS NOT TO BE PASSING OUT SPIRITUAL SEDATIVES, SPIRITUAL TRANQUILIZERS, THAT MAKE THE SINNERS OF THE WORLD FEEL UN-NEEDING OF REPENTANCE, FORGIVENESS, AND A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. WE PREACH REPENT, AND POINT SOULS TO THE LIVING WATER OF JESUS.

Fear comes to the sinful world when the gospel is preached.

Luke 1:65 (KJV)
65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.


When sin is rebuked, righteousness is promoted, sinners then fear.

1 Timothy 5:20 (KJV)
20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.


Those that apostatize lose their fear of God. They have taken the vinegar and gall offered by the devil, and do not see their sin, their unrepented guilt of sin.

Jude 1:11-12 (KJV)
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

There are many blessings to a ‘fear’ of God. The spiritual thirst has a reason, it draws us to the Living Water.


Fear and guilt for sin is the beginning of wisdom.

Proverbs 1:7 (KJV)
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Fear is like the ‘thirst’ that brings us to the throne of grace. Fear helps one depart from evil, and will bring forth a hatred for evil.

Proverbs 3:7 (KJV)
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Proverbs 8:13 (KJV)
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Proverbs 16:6 (KJV)
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.


Fear brings a true humility.

Isaiah 2:10-12 (KJV)
10 Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.
11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:

The sterile, formal, ear-tickling, lukewarm, hypocritical, fault-finding, weak, impotent congregation, is not God's way. Sin is to bring a ‘thirst’, and that thirst is to be quenched only with the Living Water.

Yet, the church has not lived up to the intent of God. It has bickered, fought, slept, and pew-sat for most of its existence. Its sermons are too little on the wicked sins that rob one of God’s blessings. The sermons in many congregations, the witness of many Christians, are sedatives, and tranquilizers to the world, not an offering of the Living Water of grace and forgiveness.

In the Lord's description of the best of the seven churches described in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, the church of Philadelphia is told:
Revelation 3:8 (KJV)
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name.

Though this church receives much praise, still there is the statement that the church has "but little strength” There is little power in many churches today. Why is the church, even at its best have just a "little" of the power that it should have? We, in the church today, have the hope to make great impact on this world. We desire to see many signs and wonders. We want to see the world won to Jesus, therefore, we must not give them tranquilizers, but let the ‘fear’ of God, the spiritual thirst for repentance, upset their sinful lives.

Jesus even indicated that the church would, or should, have great impact.

Matthew 16:18
"Upon this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

How do we get the church to live up to the great desire of the Lord. How do we take the church from the horrible reputation that it now has to the great revival of the last days that is prophesied in the Bible? We have so much to do. We must first get our own house in order. We must then tell the world of the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then we must prepare the world for the second coming of Jesus. This will require action and articulation. It requires us to not give sedatives for guilt and shame of sin, but to offer the real cure for that thirst, to offer Living Water.


OUR REAL MISSION MUST BE DISCOVERED.

First, we have a mission to worship the Lord. He has said that we are to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

John 4:24
"God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

Some are going through the motions of worship. Some have not spoken to the Lord for more than a minute a day for a long time. Others have not heard the Lord speak back to their hearts. Some neglect His Word. Some who do hear from Him refuse to obey His Word. To yield to the Lord and His Word, and to then worship Him in spirit and in reality, is a goal we must soon accomplish as a church. This will awaken the world from the tranquilizer the church has been to them. Their hearts will be stirred by the presence of God that comes to inhabit our worship.

Secondly, another part of our mission is to evangelize and make disciples. The message of the gospel must be taken and presented to the world. This requires first a study of the Word of God. Then we will be ready to take the great message of God and trumpet it before the world. The lost of the world must hear the gospel message. Sinners need regeneration. They must know that they have sinned, and we must offer only Living Water, i.e. Jesus the Savior, not some sedative of guilt.

There is great value in every soul. It is a tremendous tragedy that many will meet God unprepared for eternity. We need the Holy Spirit's enablement to witness to the lost souls. We must proclaim to the world a message of hope and love. We are instructed to admonish, proclaim, declare, herald, exhort, preach, prophesy, testify, witness, teach, instruct, and indoctrinate the gospel. This is quite a challenge.


LABORERS MUST BE ACTIVATED.

We cannot activate laborers until the church itself comes into a holy, reverent, fear of the Lord. As we ourselves come into a relationship with Jesus, this fear and reverence will encompass us. Those who have this ‘fear’ will be able to be His ‘laborers’. Those who do not have that ‘fear’ will be passing out spiritual tranquilizers and sedatives to the sinful world.

II Chronicles 7:14
"If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

The early church did not pass out those sedatives, they spread a holy, reverent fear, and the signs and wonders that followed that message brought revival, salvation of souls.

Too often, preachers today, strive to be the ‘greatest’. They plaster their weekly letters to their congregations with their picture, their accomplishments, their degrees and awards. Instead of preaching Jesus and His power, they preach messages to satisfy the people. The church of Laodicea, is spiritually tranquilized, and their name means ‘please the people’. They had no thirst for Jesus. They had no desire to see sins revealed in their lives. They took spiritual sedatives, and saw no need for the Living Water, i.e. Jesus, Who stood at their door knocking.


The Lord can heal the pathetic state of the modern church. The fear of the Lord can again overwhelm the world. Surely, some will persecute, some will slander us. It is better to be in the Lord’s will, doing His work when they do, rather than trying to escape the hatred of the world by not presenting a Lord Who is worthy of an awesome reverence. The Lord will back up that kind of ministry with signs and wonders. They always follow that kind of preaching.
When Jesus came to the ‘dust of death’, bearing our iniquity, our guilt, our shame, He physically thirsted. The waters of life were about to burst forth, and the bitter, the dry, sins of life that He bore for us were to have a cure. Jesus ‘thirsted’, and sinners without Him still thirst. We must not offer them sedatives for guilt, nor quench thirst with anything but the Living Water of salvation in Jesus.

“It is finished”


What is finished? That is the first question we should be asking. Jesus had chosen to come to earth, to become a man, to give up His powers of deity, in order to live a sinless life, and then die for our sins. The Father had sent Him, had instructed Him along the way, and Jesus had been obedient, even unto death.

The word ‘finished’ is in the passive perfect tense. Jesus was speaking of the work the Lord had done here, not just the work He was doing. God had planned to offer a Sacrifice for sin, and He sent Jesus to be that Lamb. Jesus’ work was to live sinless so He could be that Perfect Sacrifice, and could then be resurrected and conquer sin and death. God had His part of that work now finished, in the Sacrifice. Jesus had maintained a sinless life so the Sacrifice would be spotless, pure, and able to be a Sacrifice for all of those who repent to Him of their sins. Now, Jesus is finishing His work at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. The Spirit is finishing His work in leading mankind toward Jesus, and empowering the church for the works they need to do. The Father’s work was finished, here, in the sacrifice that He had provided. Salvation was now available.

Reconciliation means ‘to restore favor’. God had been offended by sin. Mankind is the offender. Christ is still being our Mediator. The blood of an innocent Sacrifice has been presented and offered. The remission of sins is now possible.

Romans 3:24-25 (KJV)
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Romans 5:10 (KJV)
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

The Sacrifice part is finished. Our part is not finished till the rapture, resurrection part. We have a part to continue therein. We have a mission to complete, to do the works of the Lord, winning souls to the kingdom.

Jesus finished His work, as He hung nailed to the cross. We often get in a hurry for God to get us off our cross, we want the ‘throne’ for now. Yet, our work will be finished here, not while sitting on the throne, but while hanging on the cross we have been given. We cannot say ‘it is finished’, for our work is not finished here. We have a charge, to continue the works of Jesus, until He returns.

Luke 19:13 (KJV)
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

The word ‘occupy’ is the Greek. “pragmateuomai’ meaning to trade, to stay busy. We are to be busy doing our assigned work, until He comes. We have a mission, we have a cross to bear, we have a destination to reach for the Lord. Until we have done so, we cannot say, as did Jesus, ‘it is finished’.


5. D.

‘Into Thy hands, I commend My Spirit.’

Jesus had said that no one would take His life, but He would lay it down, and then be able to take it up again.

John 10:17-18 (KJV)
17 Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father.

Laying down His life, willingly giving His life, so that the Sacrifice might be completed, was the finishing work of the Lord. When He had done all else that He had been sent to do, He laid down His life.


Jesus wept at Lazarus’ tomb. He knew that He would momentarily raise Lazarus from that tomb, but still Jesus felt the pain of death. He knew what Mary and Martha had suffered for the four days, missing their brother. Death does have pain, for every one of us. Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave, for his work was not yet finished. Lazarus, we are told in church history, ministered for thirty more years, witnessing of the Jesus that he knew.

We someday will face the death of our own selves. As Christians, we know we will soon see Jesus, and the glories of heaven. Yet, the leaving of our responsibilities, our unfinished dreams, our uncompleted hopes is painful. The Lord has a mission for each of us, and many a saint has reached heaven and there still not able to say as Jesus it, that their work was ‘finished’ here on earth.


Psalms 116:15 NKJV
"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints."

What is a "saint"? We have heard certain religious bodies use that word for some few, special, beloved Christians who few could claim to have equaled in works, St. John, St. Peter, etc. Yet, the Greek word is "nagios" meaning "a holy one". It is used in the Bible to refer to all Christians. When we accepted Jesus as our Savior, the Lord took away all our sins, and we became "new creations" in Christ Jesus. Our sins were forgiven by God, and when God looks at a forgiven Christian, He sees "a saint." But, if we die with unfinished work, with a mission we ignored, or shunned, will the Lord find our death as ‘precious’ as He would have, had we truly ‘finished’ our work for Him?

In the death of any of us, His saints, the Lord is on the receiving end of the event, and we, those who do not die, are on the losing side. We see the body left in the casket, the person is gone. We may grieve their loss from us. The presence of the saint has been acquired by the Lord. The Lord acquires a loved one to His heavenly abode, and we must relinquish the same loved one from their earthly sojourn with us. Therefore, we sorrow in the loss, and the Lord rejoices in the gain. We miss their presence, but the Lord welcomes them home.

The person in the middle of this event, is gone from us, gone from the earthly work they were to be doing for God, and now standing before the Lord, with the necessity of explaining if they had ‘finished’ their mission.

Death is the separation of the soul and spirit from the body. At death, we see the body of the beloved saint, but the real person, the soul and the spirit of the saint, is no longer in our midst, but is safely in the presence of the Lord. The Lord and His angels are rejoicing with the saint. While the Lord is seeing the coming as ‘precious,’ and as the angels are seeing the coming as ‘joyous’, the saint is going to have to answer the Lord as to their mission here. Did they ‘finish’ their mission?

2 Corinthians 5:6-9 NKJV
6. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
7. For we walk by faith, not by sight.
8. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
9. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

Our aim, our goal, our intended end is to be able to say, ‘It is finished’ when asked about our work for Jesus.

Surely, every saint in heaven misses their husband or wife, their family, and their friends. Heaven does not subside our love for one another. The departed saints have the Lord to comfort them. The Lord knows all things, and can tell the departed saints of the exact times of the arrivals to that heavenly place of all their ‘left-behind’ loved ones. This will comfort them. From the lips of the Lord, the ones in heaven already can hear all about how the rest of us here are doing, for He knows all things. We will be comforted when we reach heaven.

Still, down here, the ones left behind will grieve, miss, sorrow, and await. They have each other for comfort. That is one of our missions down here, to help the bereaved and grieving. We must exercise our faith in the Lord, in the reality of heaven, and in the certainty of our salvation, knowing in such faith, that we will soon be reunited with the saint who has gone on ahead.

The saint has much to say to Jesus, many questions to ask, much learning to do, as the saint stands before the Lord. Yet, there is one thing that will make the saints far happier in that moment of meeting our Captain of the Lord of hosts, i.e. if we can truly tell the Lord, that our work here was ’FINISHED’.


1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (KJV)
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, Who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The word for ‘sting’ is the Greek word ‘kentron’. It refers to a ‘goad’ that was used poke a stubborn ox, to make him move on and on. That constant pain of the goad kept him moving forward, if only for the desire to have it finally quit. Well, death for the saint, has lost its ‘poking ability’, for we know that one moment after death, we face our loving Savior.

We are not, as Christians, to be ‘prodded’ to move on to heaven. We must, as did Jesus, willingly pick up our cross, finish our work here, and be able to joyously arrive with the words ‘it is finished’. Our work here is to be completed, and though not all we witnessed to were saved, we have done our job, and given the witness.

Jesus hung upon that cross, forgiving the sinners who had just nailed Him there, forgiving the ones who remained evil and defiant to the end. Jesus was not responsible for their response to His work, He was only responsible for doing the work God had given Him.

We may not have multitudes of souls to claim as respondent ones to our work, but we need to be able to say, we gave the witness, we taught the lessons, we prayed the intercession, we ministered. If we have done that which the Lord requires of us, then we can say ‘it is finished’.

As the St. Paul of the Bible times, we can see life as a race, a contest. We all have three score and ten years, maybe a bit more. Death is not to be hurtful to us, but it should be seen as the ‘crossing of the finish line’ in this race in which we are. This life is a difficult contest and we can rejoice to be be finished.

St. Paul sat in a lonely cell writing his last letter to Timothy before they came to take him to his execution. Shortly before his beheading, Paul the apostle wrote:
2 Timothy 4:6-8 NKJV
6. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

When someone down here on earth finishes a race as the winner, we applaud, we joy for them. When our favorite team wins its football game, we cheer, and applaud. When we have finished our race, have run a good race, have finished our course, and enter into the presence of Jesus and begin receiving much reward, we will no longer think of ‘death’ as a ‘hurt’, but as a blessing beyond measure.

God wants to cheer our arrival, our Lord Jesus wants to greet us too, with 'Welcome home, child!'

Jesus’ hurt of dying on the cross was lessened by His having finished the works that He had been given. Jesus knew that having finished giving the sinless Sacrifice that He is, the church from that point on would be powerfully blessed.

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
2 Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We, too, can endure the pain of death, by being busy in our ministry for others. We have work we are to finish. We are to worship the Lord, do His works, see souls come to Him, intercede for them to grow in the faith, and finish that work we are assigned, before we leave this earth.

How wonderful it is to see a soul come to Jesus. The greatest joy, other than our own salvation, is to win someone to Jesus. To busy ourselves with soul winning, with planting seeds of truth, with intercession for sinners, will bring soon a day, when we can joyously stand face to face with Jesus, and say ‘it is finished’.

When Jesus Himself was in the midst of His own death, He led someone to salvation. He also prayed for those who had beaten and crucified Him.

When Paul and Silas sat in a dungeon, with a sentence of death on them, they had a worship service, and led the Philippian jailer and his family to Jesus that night.

As we finish our work for the Lord, we can be intercessors, witnesses of the love of God, and see great victories.

SEE PART 2

PART 2 of IT IS FINISHED

OUR MISSION TO FINISH IS TO PREACH:
THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS


Luke 9:23-26
"And He said to them all: If any man will come after Me, let Him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whomsoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it."

Galatians 5:11
"Then is the offense of the cross preached."

The offense of the cross has never ceased. To suppose that it would - is absurdity. The religion of Jesus is the most peaceful, mild, benevolent, and yet history has shown it to be the most attacked and hated. The sinners are offended by the cross. The times of the early church were well-acquainted with the cross. The worst of sinners were put upon crosses and were made to die the most humiliating deaths upon crosses. To be told that the Savior of the world, the Son of God, the Messiah, was put in such a humiliating place for our sins was repugnant to those of that day. It offended them.

Mankind has never liked to admit that he has sinned.
Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

Mankind deserves death, but they are unwilling to admit it.
Romans 6:23
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life."

Mankind is too proud, and wants to cover sin, and wants to call their sins to be mistakes. The cross humbles mankind. To defend against the humbling effect of the cross, mankind takes offense, and is angered by the cross. They consider it to be foolishness.
I Corinthians 1:18-24
"preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that perish."

People of the early church period wanted to think they could save themselves. People today think likewise. Government cannot save your soul. The United Nations cannot save your soul. No charity can save your soul. Turning over good leaves cannot save your soul.

Sinners of the early church period protested the religion of the cross, and wanted to proclaim that they could be "all right" if they did their best. Any who believe otherwise, are persecuted. Believers are called "old fashioned", "fanatics". Believers in the cross are criticized, called 'weak minded'.

I John 3:13
"Marvel not if the world hate you."

Many in Christianity today have also been offended by the cross. Many have done away with songs and sermons on the blood, and on the cross. They reject doctrines on Christ's death and sacrifice for us. They do not want the cross, for they do not want to admit there is a real hell, or sin that could send them there. So many churches preach a bloodless, cross-less gospel. They substitute "social change", "riot", and "marches".

Those in the early church soon began to wear small crosses on a chain or ring about the neck. They loved the cross, they valued what it meant. They wanted to wear such a symbol. Yet, the Lord wants to have us to do so much more than wear just a symbol. The Lord has to us to "take up a cross, and follow Him." We are not ‘FINISHED’ with our work, until we have borne the cross.

Though the world hated the symbol, though the whole idea of a Savior, a Messiah Who would die such a horrible death was repugnant to mankind, still the saints of the early church proudly wore a small cross around their neck. It meant reproach in greater measure, for it identified them to the world as a believer in the Jesus Who died upon an old wooden cross as a horrible criminal would.

In the Psalm quoted by Jesus while He hung upon the cross, we see how He was feeling at that time.

Psalms 22:6
"But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of people."

We all must bear a cross for our Lord, finishing the mission we have been given. This will involve suffering, agony, pain, sorrow, etc.

Psalms 31:11,13
"I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and a fear to mine acquaintance; they that did see me without fled from me. ...For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side; while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life."

Because of the cross, because of the life we must live for the Lord, and because of the message we must proclaim to this world, we find a cross that is difficult to bear. Our friends will reproach us, our friends will even lie against us, misunderstand what others tell them about us, will believe every lie told about us. They will take counsel against us, plot against us.

Psalms 41:5
"Mine enemies speak evil against me, When shall he die, and his name perish?"

Yet, though it be hard and difficult, we are to FINISH our work. When Jesus was dying upon the cross, in the human, mortal body He had chosen to take, He could then say ‘it is FINISHED’. We too can carry the cross given to us by the Lord, and bear it, finally then able to say ‘it is finished.

Yesterday, we talked of 'it is finished', that Jesus said from the cross. It was on the day before the Passover of this year, and that was the day Jesus was crucified. So, this year, we could call that 'Good Monday'.

Now, this is the first day of Passover of this year, the first day Jesus' body was in the grave, and His spirit was in paradise...

There were 'three days and three nights' in which He was in the 'heart of the earth'.


THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS

　

Where was Jesus during that three days when His body lay in the tomb? What was He doing? Some wonder about this sort of thing, and yet, too many, have never pondered it, let alone to have studied it.

Matthew 12:40

"For as Jonah was three days, and three nights in the whale’s body, so shall the Son of Man be three days, and three nights in the heart of the earth."




Jonah went to paradise while in the belly of that fish.

Jonah 2:2

"out of the belly of hell (sheol) cried I..."

Jonah 2:6-7

"I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me forever."



Jesus went to sheol also. The time period was the same, and the location to which they went was the same.


Jesus had been horribly mistreated in the days just preceding this trip to the inner earth. He had been put on trial before Herod, who had claimed to be the king of the Jews, and yet, he was not even a Jew himself.


Jesus had been taken before the Roman governor, Pilate. This Roman tyrant ignored the advise of his wife who had had a warning in a dream. Pilate, a tyrant at the time, later was saved. In this initial meeting of Jesus, he relented and had him put upon the cross to die.


Bar-abbas, whose very name was a claim to be a ‘son of the heavenly Father, was a zealot of hate and murder. Yet, despite his evil and false claim, was chosen by the people to live, while Jesus was chosen to die, though He was perfect, and sinless.


The mistreatment of Jesus, His agony on the cross, with its hours of darkness, pain, and loneliness, was then followed with death, and the departure of His spirit from His body. What happened then?


Where did Jesus go?
What was He doing in these three days, and three nights.



Jesus went to paradise, also referred to as the garden of Eden. There is the same area, from which mankind had been expelled millennia before, Jesus met saints who were awaiting His death and resurrection, so that they could go to heaven.

In this place, saints of the Old Testament awaited the atonement provided by Jesus.

Moses and Elijah came to the Mt of Transfiguration to talk to Jesus some days before the crucifixion of Jesus. The Bible tells us that they discussed the things shortly to come (the passion week). They then departed and could take the exciting news back to the others in paradise. How paradise must have rejoiced when the message was brought to them by Moses and Elijah. It is too bad the disciples on that mount had slept and missed the full discussion of Jesus with Moses and Elijah!

Psalms 16 was inserted by the Lord into the Word, to show us prophetically the thoughts of Jesus while there in paradise.

Psalms 16

"...Preserve Me, O God; for in Thee do I put My trust.... My goodness extendeth not to Thee, but to the saints that are IN the earth... My heart is glad, and My glory rejoiceth, and My flesh shall rest in hope. For Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell (sheol), neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption."

There, in that passage, we see that Jesus would, during the three days and three nights, be in sheol, and be ministering to the saints "IN the earth."

Psalms 68 also speaks of this time, and in verse 18 we read:

"Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive, Thou hast received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them."

This shows us that Jesus, Who had descended to paradise, had then ascended to heaven. Jesus took those saints in paradise to heaven. The gift of grace, the atonement of the blood for mankind, had been given as gifts for mankind. Now, when a saint dies, his/her spirit goes directly to heaven, and not to paradise. The grace of God has been extended so that at death, we can dwell with the Lord.

Jesus, after the three days and three nights, was reunited with the body, and its resurrection startled even those who had been foretold of this event. He had destroyed the devil’s power, and even taken some from paradise back with Him (Hebrews 2:14-15, Matthew 27:52-53). Upon His return to the resurrected body, Jesus had already ‘bruised’ Satan’s head (Genesis 3:15).

Where is this ‘paradise’?

The Jewish people believed in seven abodes, called ‘heavens’. The first heaven is the clouds above us on this firmament. The second heaven is the atmosphere of this earth above the clouds. The third heaven is paradise in sheol. The fourth heaven is our solar system, with its planets, comets, etc. The fifth heaven is the stars and galaxies of the universe. The sixth heaven is the planet we call ‘heaven’. The seventh heaven is the throne room within that planet.

Sheol is the location of the third heaven. In the place called ‘sheol’ is paradise, hell fire, and an abyss between the two. The earth is nearly 8000 miles in diameter, so if hell fire is in the center, it is nearly 4000 miles from us. Hell fire is the innermost part of sheol.

The word ‘sheol’ is often translated ‘hell’ in the Bible, but it only contains ‘hell fire’, it is not only hell fire that is there. According to the Bible, sheol is the ‘lower parts of the earth’, and the ‘nether parts of the earth.’ Sheol includes hell fire, the abyss (the great gulf, the bottomless pit), and the garden of Eden in paradise.

The Bible says that there are ‘heavenly places’. This is not teaching that there is more than one ‘heaven’ as we think of it in our culture, but there are more than one ‘heavens’ wherein beings dwell in this universe.

Ephesians 6:12

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness (evil spirits) in high places.(epouranois, heavenly places)’

Ephesians 1:3-20 tells us that we are ‘blessed ... with all spiritual blessings... in heavenly places... Whom He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places...’

　

Ephesians 2:6 tells us that we are ‘raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places."

Note that all these speak of a plural, multiple places called heaven. The Greek word for heaven is ‘ou-ranus’ meaning ‘places above the ground.’ The Word ‘epouranois’ means ‘a rising from above the ground.’ Therefore, the culture of that time saw 7 areas that could be called a place of rising above the ground. The clouds, the upper atmosphere, the solar system, etc. are all reached by rising above the earth. Another word, ‘shamen’, means ‘heaven’, and is never used in the Bible in the singular, but always in the plural (shalayim).

Paul was taken to the ‘third heaven’, which was then identified as ‘paradise’.

II Corinthians 12:1-4

"...I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord... whether in the body, I cannot tell, whether out of the body, I cannot tell, such a one caught up to the THIRD HEAVEN... how that he was caught up into PARADISE, and heard unspeakable words (rhema), which is not lawful for me to utter..."

Paradise is where Jesus met the thief on that same day as the crucifixion, and paradise is called the ‘third heaven’. This same paradise is in the ‘heart of the earth’ where Jesus spent the three days and three nights.

Jesus descended into paradise.

Ephesians 4:8

"Wherefore, He saith, when He ascended up on high (heaven), He led captivity captive (saints from paradise), and gave gifts to men. Now that He ascended, what is it, but that He also descended first, into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the Same also, that ascended far above all heavens that He might fill all things."

The ‘nether parts of the earth’ are spoken of oft in the Bible.

Ezekiel 31:16-18

"I made the nations to shake at the sword of his fall, when I cast him down to hell (sheol), with them that descend into the pit (abyss); and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth. They also went down to hell (sheol) with him that was slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under the shadow of the midst of the heathen. To whom art thou thus like in glory and greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet thou shalt be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth."

So, Ezekiel shows the location of Eden is in ‘the nether parts of the earth’. It is in ‘sheol’ where also is the abyss, and hell fire.

HELL FIRE

Hell fire is the part of sheol that most think of when it is mentioned. It is in sheol, in the lowest part of sheol.

Deuteronomy 32:22

"...a fire is kindled... shall burn unto the lowest hell (sheol)...’

Psalms 86:13

"... Thou hast delivered My soul from the lowest hell (sheol)...’

Proverbs 9:18

"...her guests are in the depths of hell (sheol)...’

Luke 16:19-31

"...rich man... in hell (hades, Greek equivalent to sheol), he lifted up his eyes, being in torment... I am tormented in flames."

THE ABYSS

The ‘great gulf’ was between hell and paradise in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, is the ‘pit’, the abyss, the bottomless pit. In that middle area of sheol, the gravity pulls in all directions evenly, and becomes a ‘bottomless’ area, as described by the Bible.

PARADISE

‘Paradise’ comes from the Greek word ‘paradeisos’, and means ‘a park, a pleasure ground, a forest or orchard.’ In the Septuagint, the word ‘paradeisos’ is used of the garden of Eden. The Jewish people called ‘paradise’ to be ‘Abraham’s bosom’. This paradise is located in the lower parts of the earth.

Matthew 12:40

"three days and three nights... in the heart of the earth.’

Ephesians 4:8-10

"...He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth.’

Paradise is the same location of the garden of Eden. This place is within the earth, within a huge open area of the inner earth. In the center of this open area is hell fire. Between the hell fire and paradise is the abyss.

Why was this paradise and Eden not flooded by the flood of Noah?

Genesis 8:2

"...the fountains of the deep (inner earth) and the windows of heaven were stopped (closed) and the rain from heaven was restrained..."

Ezekiel 31:15

"... I covered the deep (inner earth) for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed."

Before the resurrection of Jesus, the righteous saints went to paradise at death. After the resurrection of Jesus, saints go directly to heaven at death. Angels carried the righteous souls to paradise, and men carried the body to the grave.

Luke 16:22-26

"...beggar died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom’

II Corinthians 5:8

"...to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.’

Philippians 1:21-24

"...having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ...’

This paradise had had men expelled from it, when sin came.

Genesis 3:24

"So He drove out the man; and placed at the east of the garden of Eden, cherubim, and a flaming sword who turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.’



WHAT WAS JESUS DOING IN PARADISE?

FELLOWSHIP

Luke 23:43

‘Today, thou shalt be with Me in paradise.’

Jesus spent time with the ‘thief on the cross’ that same day as the crucifixion. Jesus was there three days, and three nights. Fellowship with the thief, and with other saints there, was a first order of business. Elijah and Moses had told all there, that Jesus was soon to arrive. The joyous meeting was fellowship beyond description.

Jesus did not plan to stay, and His body would not see ‘corruption’ during that time. He would soon be resurrected, but had some important things to do while in paradise.

Psalms 16:10

"Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell (sheol).. Neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption."

PREACHING

Jesus went to paradise to preach to ‘spirits in prison’.

I Peter 3:19

"By which also He went and preached to the spirits in prison.’

Jesus preached a sermon to souls awaiting to be released from that holding place, wherein they were limited from going on to heaven, till the blood had done its work of atonement. The messages and revelations of Jesus to the twelve disciples, were shared with these saints in paradise during that three day period.

Psalms 16 prophetically showed some of the teachings of Jesus during that three day period.

Psalms 16:2-3

"My goodness extendeth not to Thee (God), but to the saints that are IN the earth... For Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell (sheol)..."

Psalms 68 is a sermon of Jesus in paradise.

SEE PART 2

SIMON CYRENE, the CROSS BEARER

Jesus was betrayed by a friend. This broke His heart, and the day that surpasses all previous days of history had begun. Jesus was led to Caiaphas’ house and was falsely accused. Then they took Him to Pilate, and there He was again falsely accused. Pilate questioned Him, and then Pilate sought a way to not have this obviously innocent man to be punished. He gave the people a choice between a feared and hated criminal, named Barabbas, and this Jesus, a healer and teacher of righteousness. The people chose to have Barabbas freed. Jesus was then beaten, spat upon, mocked, crowned with thorns.

The trip to Golgotha, for a crucifixion, began. Six soldiers led by a centurion walked with Jesus. One carried a sign, supposed to notify on-lookers of the crime of the criminal... but Jesus’ sign said, ‘This is Jesus, King of the Jews’. The walk was a long one, walking about the town, so many would see and know the fate of criminals. Jesus was weak from the 39 stripes, the mocking and jeering had weakened His stamina, and the long night of no sleep made Him unable to carry this heavy cross. He falls under the weight of the cross. The soldiers press into service a slave from Cyrene, named Simon.

The Old Testament had prophesied that the Messiah would be weak in His crucifixion time.
Psalms 109:24-25
“My knees are weak from fasting; and My flesh has grown lean, without fatness– I also have become a reproach to them; When they see Me, they wag their head.”

This man, Simon, was from the city of Cyrene. Cyrene was a city of Libya, in North Africa. (latitude 32 degrees 40' North, longitude 22 degrees, 15' East) This city was therefore West of Egypt, and separated from Egypt by the Libyan desert. It was where Barca and Tripoli are now. This city was 2000 feet above sea level, and ten miles from the ocean. There was a high range of mountains to the south, (about 80 miles away). This range of mountains sheltered this area from the Sahara heat. The area has a great variety of climate and vegetation. The soil is very fertile.

Cyrene was a Greek colony in 630 B.C. It was a center known for its great education. Many Jews were transported there in the dispersion. The Jewish occupants and the converts of such made frequent trips to Jerusalem for feast times. In Jerusalem, the Jews who had been raised in Cyrene, had their own synagogue (Acts 6:9). At the time of the persecution of Stephen, some Cyrenians converted to Christianity. Some of the Christian converts of Cyrene went to Antioch, and preached there the ‘Word ... to the Jews only.’ (Acts 11:19)

Matthew 27:32 NAS
‘As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon, who they pressed into service (compelled in the KJV, Greek aggareuo, to be a courier, to press or draft into public service) to bear His cross.”

Mark 15:21 NAS
“ They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His cross.”

Luke 23:26 NAS
“And they led Him away, they seized (KJV ‘laid hold upon’, Greek epilambanomai, to take hold of)a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed (Gk, epiththemi, imposed upon) on him, the cross, to carry behind Jesus.”

Paul mentioned Rufus and his mother, as being in the church of Rome.
Romans 16:13
“Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.”

So, this Simon, had two sons... Alexander and Rufus. ‘Alexander’ meant ‘defender of men’, and ‘Rufus’ meant ‘red, or reddish’. The name Rufus was a common ‘slave’ name.

Mark, at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus was a young person, and he is the one who mentions Simon as being the father of Alexander and Rufus. So, it is likely that Mark and these two boys were near the same age. Likely, Simon was in Jerusalem for the Passover feast, and had brought his family with him. These two young persons became well known in the Christian church, and Mark seems to assume the readers all knew who these two were. The mother of the two sons, and wife of Simon, had obviously done some kindness to Paul, and Paul considered her like his own mother.

Since Rufus and his mother are mentioned in the list of those in the church at Rome, it is likely that they had been taken there in their ‘servitude’. This pressing into service by the Romans may have been made permanent, and this family was transported to Rome to serve further. In the lists of names of the servants of Nero, we do find the names of brothers, Alexander and Rufus. So it seems that these two became household servants of the most wicked and despicable man of the age... Nero. Servants of the emperor of Rome, indentured to the most anti-Christian gentile of the time, these two not only had found Jesus as Savior, but were in the toughest place to serve their Lord. Rufus, is called by Paul to be ‘chosen of the Lord’... so, he likely was one of the leaders of the church in Rome.



Xxx

CROSS BEARING CAN LEAVE WOUNDS.

Matthew 16:24 (KJV)
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Mark 10:21-22 (KJV)
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

This is quite a challenge, in fact, it is more than that, it is a command. We are to bear a cross. Sometimes, we feel we do not deserve the cross, like Simon may have initially felt. We may want to put it down, let another carry it. Yet, sometimes, even though we do not feel we deserve the cross, we must carry one.

Crosses are heavy, and they are not just a weight, they are a place where we will be nailed, lifted up for the world to mock, and left to die there. Yet, there is also a resurrection for us. We do not bear these crosses to be defeated there, but we bear the cross to go to the victory Jesus has assured us by His cross.

Jesus was betrayed by a friend. This broke His heart, and the day that surpasses all previous days of history had begun. Jesus was led to Caiaphas’ house and was falsely accused. Then they took Him to Pilate, and there He was again falsely accused. Pilate questioned Him, and then Pilate sought a way to not have this obviously innocent man to be punished. He gave the people a choice between a feared and hated criminal, named Barabbas, and this Jesus, a healer and teacher of righteousness. The people chose to have Barabbas freed. Jesus was then beaten, spat upon, mocked, crowned with thorns.

Crucifixion was not a mode of punishment of the Jewish people. The Maccabean King, Jannaeus, did use it once to kill over 800 in Jerusalem once. Even the Romans did not use crucifixion until the time of Caesar. During the last siege of Jerusalem 68 to 100 crosses a day were utilized for crucifixions. The soldiers began to amuse themselves with variations of the crucifixions. Crucifixion was of Phoenician origin, and Rome had later adopted it. The punishment was reserved for only those crimes of idolatry and blasphemy.

There were three kinds of crosses used. The Andrew’s cross was a large X, the crux commission was a T, and the Latin cross which was a t. Most believe it was the last one, for a sign was posted above the head, and this is only possible with the third one.

The location of the crucifixion was called ‘Golgotha’, which means ‘the place of the skull.’ Some think that ‘skulls’ littered the area, and therefore it was called that name. Yet, it was illegal to allow skulls to lay around, so it is likely due to the shape of the hill that the place was called ‘golgotha’. The site is located two to three minutes from the roadway, and it has a high, rounded, skull-like rocky plateau, with a sudden depression beneath, as though the jaws of a skull had opened.


The results of Simon of Cyrene bearing the cross were that Simon himself was saved; Alexander and Rufus, his sons, were saved; the church at Rome was blessed with their testimonies; Rufus became a leader in the church at Rome; many in the household of Nero were saved (including the wife of Nero); and the story has been in the Bible for countless more to be blessed by it.

Our cross bearing will lead to souls being saved too, if we do it as we are called to do. Jesus had a purpose in His carrying of the cross, and He has a purpose in telling us to do the same. The first one to bear the cross of Jesus, was this Simon of Cyrene. He bore it, and his family became part of the early church. Many have been blessed by his story, and by the following events due to his carrying of the cross. The wounds of the cross we bear, are great. So are the benefits of carrying this cross.


Jesus arrived at Golgotha around 9 a.m. First, the upright of the cross was planted into the ground. It was not high, but the victim’s feet were only a foot or two off the ground. The lips could be moistened with a sponge attached to a short stalk of a hyssop. The transverse part of the cross was placed on the ground, and the victim was laid upon it. The arms would be bound, then ropes were used to draw up the victim to the upright piece.

In the case of Jesus, his hands and feet were also nailed to the wood.

Women in Jerusalem collected money to pay for strong wine with myrrh in it, to deaden the pain. Jesus refused this.

Two others were crucified on this day. One was to the right of Jesus, the other was to His left. There was a sign at the top of the cross of the Lord Jesus, written in Latin, in Greek, and in Aramaic, stating that this was ‘Jesus, the King of the Jews. This was meant by Pilate to be a mocking of those who had pressed him to crucify this man he had deemed innocent of any real crime.

Before the nailing, the soldiers gambled over the garment of Jesus.

Isaiah 53:5-8 (KJV)
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken.

Jesus was oppressed, afflicted, betrayed by a friend, led as a Lamb to slaughter, falsely accused, forsaken by all. The lives of we who today bear the cross that Jesus gave us leave us ‘wounded’, ‘bruised’, ‘oppressed’, ‘afflicted’, ‘stricken’, and also feeling like a ‘lamb’ brought to slaughter. These afflictions are real and at times, the pain is felt deep through our souls.

The supreme religious council had plotted and planned His death. An insulting price of a slave was paid to a betraying friend to secure the arrest of Jesus. A few days before, all of His disciples had declared to ‘never forsake’ nor betray Him. The darkest hours of His earthly life had come, and crowds had cried out, ‘crucify Him’, though’ He had never done any of them harm.

The words of others, crying out, to or about us, hurt us deeply. Jesus felt the pain of unkind, unloving words. We too, bearing this cross He gave for us, feel the hurt of cutting words.


Yes, Jesus bore a cross for us, paid that great price for us. Simon the Cyrenian carried it for a time, but it was Jesus Who died upon it for us. We need to bear a cross also, as we were instructed to ‘take up our cross and follow Him.’

Galatians 6:14 (KJV)
14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

It is by this wondrous work of the Lord, done on that cross, that we crucify the world unto ourselves, and crucify ourselves to this wicked world. We have a ministry of crucifixion, that depends totally on the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. His work makes our work possible.

Taking up the cross of Jesus and glorying in it, and in what the cross has done for us, creates two more crucifixions. If you truly glory in the cross of Jesus, you will crucify the world and its sin to you, and you will crucify yourself and your cravings and desires for the world. We need to make the world ‘dead’ to us, and make ourselves dead to our own desires to be like the world.

In place of those, we glory in the cross of Jesus. He bore that cross, and then was placed upon it, and it bore Him. He laid down His life, shed His blood, brought victory to us, gave us the right to a resurrection too, by what He did for us on the cross..

With our cross, that we each bear, we need to realize too that there is no miracle, unless we have a problem. There are no victories, unless we enter the battle. There is no resurrection, without cross bearing.

The early church often portrayed Jesus as a Shepherd, often holding a cross instead of a crook. Soon, early depictions of Jesus showed the cross with a Lamb upon it. Jesus is the Lamb of God, Who bore a cross for us, taking our place as the Sacrifice of God, paying the price for our sins.

THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS

Luke 9:23-26
"And He said to them all: If any man will come after Me, let Him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whomsoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it."

see part 2