How often have we given people unbelievers the reason to doubt our faith? How often have we sent wrong signals to people about what Christianity is? We lift up hands in worship like the saints of God but our minds are full of bitterness and animosity. We can afford to lay the offerings of our substances on the altar of God but we are not willing to let go of our egos, bitterness, malice and dishonesty. For how long shall we keep living in self-deception? True Christianity is not in the abundance of gifts that we give for kingdom projects. It is not in how well we dress on Sundays; it is not in the softness of our voices or in the strength of our voices while condemning the wrongs of others. True Christianity is not measured by how often we attend church meetings…
e all should already know that ‘without faith – we cannot please God.’ (Heb. 11:6) So, we know the importance of faith. We all should already know that the Bible defines faith as ‘…the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ (Heb. 11:1) So, we see that ‘hope’ is actually a prerequisite for faith. But there is another very important element connected to faith that is too often overlooked. And that important element of faith is patience.
There are lots of scriptures about patience… (As you read them note the relationship between faith, hope and patience.)
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Rom 5:3-4 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for…
Sermon Notes: Matthew 27:11 (KJV) And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
Psalm 135:6 (KJV) Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
Matthew 27:12-14 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. [13] Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? [14] And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
Isaiah 46:9-10 (NKJV) Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
Matthew 27:15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. [16] And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. [17] Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? [18] For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
Psalm 29:10 (NKJV) The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, And the Lord sits as King forever.
Isaiah 43:13 (NKJV) Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?”
Matthew 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
Our God Is Always In Control
Our God orchestrates – and oversees – all that occurs among mankind. I must confess that I do not understand how His Sovereignty and human free will work together, but I must believe that God is always in control. The Scripture declares this without apology. One of my favorite texts is:
Romans 8:28-31 (NKJV) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
The Comfort of the believer is to know that we are in the hand of God at all times.
God Decreed The Cross
The King of Kings stood before Pilate, a minor governor. “Are You the King of the Jews?” he asks Christ. “It is just as you have said”. Jesus was not broken. Beaten, mocked, accused, He did not stand in front of Pilate because the devil won.
He stood in victory, obeying the decree of God His Father.
God decreed the Cross. The Cross was not optional. The Cross was absolutely necessary, so God decreed the Cross. The Cross is necessary because we are all sinners. The Scripture states:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
As a pastor I meet many people, and I have to say I have never met anyone who is not broken in some way. I have met people who thought they were not broken. Every one around them realizes they are broken, but they – like the Pharisees – feel they have it all together. But they are broken.
The first step to spiritual wellness is to realize your brokenness. God wants to make you well. He wants to bring you into His arms, to fold them about you, to bless you and love you. God calls out to whosoever will:
Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV) “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.”
The “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The sinner has committed an eternal offense against an everlasting God. That is something that we cannot fix. But Christ can fix it. Christ did fix it. Pilate asked Jesus:
Art Thou The King Of The Jews?
What did Jesus reply? The King James text is a little ambiguous, “Thou sayest”. The better translation is:
IT IS AS YOU HAVE SAID.
When Jesus was asked by Caiaphas the High Priest “Are You the Messiah” Jesus said “IT IS AS YOU SAID”. Caiaphas then accused Jesus of blasphemy (see Matthew 26:63-65). Jesus is the Messiah sent of God. When God refers to “The Jews” He speaks of those who believe in Him. The Apostle said:
Romans 2:28-29 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But A JEW IS ONE INWARDLY, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
A “Jew” is one who has received the Grace of God this comes from Jesus Christ. Jesus came to save His people. I say again, the Angel declared to Joseph the husband of Mary that Mary …
Matthew 1:21 (ESV) … will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
Jesus Is The King Of His People
Not The Puppet Of Darkness
He is the King Who saves His people from their sins. As Jesus stood in front of Pilate He was not fearful of Pilate, nor of those who brought accusations against Him. I love this. We can learn much from this.
Matthew 27:12-14 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. [13] Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? [14] And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.
The Light earns nothing by arguing with the darkness. Here’s a practical point – stand on the truth of Scripture, and do not debate the darkness. The darkness will not hear anyway. Stand on what truth God has said, stand on, ignore the foolishness, but stand! This is Jesus!
It amazed Pilate to see someone stand before him in this state of mind. Everyone else who had stood before Pilate were fearful, willing to do or say anything to save their lives. His accusers gathered around Him and spoke lies, accusing Him of the most horrible things. And yet the Bible says:
Jesus answered nothing
Pilate then asked Jesus
Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
Jesus answered not a word. He stood silent. Jesus did exactly as the Prophet said:
Isaiah 53:7 (NKJV) He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
Jesus stood before Pilate not because of the High Priest nor the elders, but He stood before Pilate trusting in the Sovereignty of God. The Blood of the Lamb must be shed.
Jesus stood silent for His Church.
Jesus stood triumphant for His people.
Jesus stood willing to die for us!
Will we not stand for Him?
It is the Blood of Christ that purchased the Church.
“the Church of God which He purchased with His own Blood.”
It is the Blood of Christ that saves us from the wrath of God.
“justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him”. (Romans 5:9)
It is the Blood of Christ that redeems us from sin and Satan.
1 Peter 1:18-19 (NKJV) … you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
It is the Blood of Christ that brings us who were far from God near to Him.
Ephesians 2:13 (NKJV) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
It is the Blood of Christ that:
Makes us clean before God (Hebrews 10:19)
Separates us from the world (Hebrews 13:12)
Cleanses our conscience so we can serve God (Hebrews 9:14)
Makes us complete for every good work (Hebrews 13:20-21)
Bring us into the Eternal Family of God (Hebrews 9:12)
As Jesus stood before Pilate, He stood silent. Pilate was an evil man. Pilate knew there was no sin in Christ. Caiaphas and the elders knew there was no sin in Christ. The religious but lost rejected Christ because of sin in their lives. Pilate saw no sin in Jesus, but moved forward to convict an innocent man because of the sin that was in Him.
God Is Sovereign, But This Does Not Excuse Pilate’s Sin
Throughout his term in office Pilate was both unjust as well as unscrupulous. C.H. Spurgeon said:
“He had been an unjust and an unscrupulous ruler of the Jews. The Galileans and the Samaritans both felt the terror of his arms, for he did not hesitate to massacre them at the slightest sign of revolt. And among the Jews themselves, he had sent men with daggers into the midst of the crowds at great gatherings, and so had cut off those who were obnoxious to him. Gain was his objective, and pride ruled his spirit. At the time when Jesus of Nazareth was brought before him, a complaint against him was on the way to Tiberius the Emperor, and he feared lest he should be called to account for his oppressions, extortions, and murders.”
What Pilate did next was not out of mercy. We read:
Matthew 27:15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. [16] And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. [17] Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? [18] For HE KNEW THAT FOR ENVY THEY HAD DELIVERED HIM.
Jesus stood honorable, but Pilate sat dishonorable.
Jesus stood for His people, but Pilate sought to manipulate his people.
Jesus stood righteous, innocent, but Pilate sat unrighteous, guilty.
This crooked judge made of practice of releasing a prisoner during the Feast of the Passover. Pilate knew that for envy they had delivered Jesus to him. There was no sin in Christ. There never has been sin in Christ. So Pilate had a notable prisoner named Barabbas. Who was Barabbas? He is mentioned in all four Gospels, and was a man …
Luke 23:19 (NKJV)… who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.
Today we would call Barabbas a “Community Organizer”, but in those days Barabbas was known as a “Rioter”, a man who was treasonous, who sought to overthrow the lawful government. Barabbas was also a murderer. The Bible says that the first command God gave Noah when he got off the Ark concerned murder.
Genesis 9:5-6 5 Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man. 6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.”
Life is precious, and the greatest of all sins is to without justification take a human life. Barabbas was a murderer, and according to the Scripture, was to be executed.
Revelation 21:8 (KJV) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Barabbas deserved death. He deserved damnation. But Pilate asked the crowd:
Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
What happens next shows that the majority rule does not always work. Who should be released – the murdering riotous Barabbas, or Jesus Who had never done wrong. The crowd replied:
Matthew 27:22-23 (KJV) … They said, Barabbas. [22] Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. [23] And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
Three times Pilate asked the crowd whether they would release Barabbas or Jesus, the murderer or the innocent Son of God. And three times the crowd demanded the crucifixion of Christ. Pilate asked “what evil has Christ done?” Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent. Even Pilate’s wife sent word to him:
Matthew 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
I cannot find a Bible prophecy that declared Pilate would condemn an innocent man.
God sent a message through Pilate’s wife to “have nothing to do with this just Man”. Jesus was innocent, she said. Leave Him be. Let someone else pull the pin on that grenade. But the crowd would not be stilled. Christ must die. Barabbas must be set free.
What Pilate did was evil.
What Caiaphas did was evil.
What the mob did was evil.
But God was still in control.
Even the devil is still under God’s thumb!
When Peter preached in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost he told those who listened about Jesus of Nazareth:
Acts 2:21-26 (KJV) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. [22] Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: [23] Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: [24] Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. [25] For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: [26] Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
Jesus was “delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God” – God oversaw what was done – but “by wicked hands He was crucified and slain”. God was in the trials of Christ. Christ was not a victim of circumstances, but God sent His Son to Calvary for you and for me.
Barabbas Is A Beautiful Picture Of The Atonement
There is an interesting study in the name “Barabbas”. The name Barabbas is a compound comprised of “Bar” which means “Son of” and “Abba” which means “Father”. The name BarAbbas means “Son of the Father”.
We are all children of our Father Adam.
We are all descendants of our Father Noah.
But we are all broken, incomplete without God.
We were meant to be in God’s image, but like the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) we are born serving not God but ourselves and our senses. We deserve punishment.
BarAbbas was released and Jesus was crucified.
He was given life because Jesus took his death.
Jesus was innocent of sin, but BarAbbas – the son of Father Adam – was guilty. The guilty was set free because of Christ.
Matthew 27:24 (KJV) When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
A sinner condemned an innocent, claiming himself innocent. No water will wash away our sins. No water cleansed what Pilate did that day.
Matthew 27:25-26 (KJV) Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. [26] Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
Jesus died in the place of Barabbas. Jesus died in my place. Jesus was innocent, but we are Barabbas. Jesus died so that we might be released. This is the atonement of God illustrated. We triumph because of Jesus!
Sermon Notes: Matthew 27:45 (KJV) Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
We’re suppose to have a lunar eclipse tomorrow, August 21st. I’m told that the total eclipse will have a magnitude of 1.0306 and will be visible within a narrow corridor 70 miles wide crossing fourteen states: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. According to those who claim to know, the time for the eclipse in Nashville, Tn will be:
Beginning (moon touches sun’s edge) 11:58 am
Full Eclipse begins 1:27 pm
Maximum Eclipse 1:28 pm
Full Eclipsze ends 1:29 pm
End (moon leaves sun’s edge) 2:54 pm
If you plan on watching the Eclipse, don’t look directly at the sun, even if you’re wearing sun glasses. Staring at the sun – even during an Eclipse – can blind you. The Sun’s UV radiation can burn the retinas in the eyes leading to permanent damage or even blindness. NASA recommends using welder’s glasses rated 14 or higher.
On the day that Christ went to the Cross the Bible tells us that
from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour
Was This An Eclipse?
An “Eclipse” is a natural phenomenon that God designed to be. The earth rotates around the sun, and the moon rotates around the earth. When the moon is behind the earth – that is, the earth is directly facing the sun with the moon on it’s backside – this is when we have what is called “A Full Moon”. The moon has no light of it’s own, but reflects the light of the sun. But when the moon passes between the earth and the sun it blocks out the sun’s light, giving us what we call an “Eclipse”. During an Eclipse we are looking at the dark side of the moon as it blocks the sun from us. Monday’s Eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the United States since July 11, 1991, and then it was only seen in Hawaii. This is the first visible Eclipse from the contiguous United States since 1979.
Eclipses only occur rarely, and as you have seen, last a very short time. I am told that the most that a total Solar Eclipse could last is 7 minutes and 31 seconds. The darkening of the sun we see in our text could not be an Eclipse. It lasted from the sixth until the ninth hour – three hours long. Also, no Eclipse occurs during a full moon. It’s not possible.
The Jewish Passover or Pesach begins during the Full Moon in the first month of the Jewish Ecclesiastical Year. This could not be an Eclipse as we know it.
This darkness was “over the whole land”. This darkness was not a natural occurrence, but a sign from God as to the significance of the Cross of Christ.
The Darkness Was Unnatural, But So Is Sin
We normalize sin in our America. The so called “Left” normalizes sin. The so called “Right” normalizes sin. People of all colors normalize sin. We wink at sin, thinking it is nothing. The Biblical word for “Sin” is the Greek HAMARTANO which means “to take aim, shoot, and miss the mark”. Sin is a missing of the mark. It is an aberration.
1 John 3:4 (NKJV) Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
No fault was found in Christ. Pilate declared Jesus innocent, and if he had been a just Judge Christ would have been released. Instead we see Christ turned over to the soldiers …
Matthew 27:26-30 (KJV)… {Pilate} delivered him to be crucified. [27] Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. [28] And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. [29] And when they had PLATTED A CROWN OF THORNS, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! [30] And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
Sin mocks God and God’s Messiah. I want you to think for a moment of the CROWN that was placed on Christ’s head. It was a crown of THORNS. Thorns symbolize the curse of God on creation. When Adam sinned God caused creation to fall. The perfect Eden was cursed because of what WE did. The animal did nothing wrong, but sin hurts more than the sinner.
Sin hurts the innocent.
It is sin which caused God to tell Adam:
Genesis 3:17-19 …. cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; [18] THORNS ALSO AND THISTLES SHALL IT BRING FORTH TO THEE; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; [19] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Imagine a world without suffering, without pain, without crime, without aging.
Imagine a world where neither Obamacare nor Medicare was needed.
Imagine a world where people love and are loved.
Imagine a world where the tongue was used for tasting & saying good things
but was never misused as a knife to cut up others and to tear down a soul.
Sin is unnatural, destructive, evil.
Adam and Eve lost Paradise and the tree of life because of sin.
The world was destroyed by Flood because of sin.
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire and brimstone because of sin (Genesis 19).
Nadab and Abihu were consumed by fire because of sin (Leviticus 10).
Israel wandered 40 years in the wilderness because of sin (Numbers 14).
Moses lost the Promised Land at Kadesh because of sin (Numbers 20).
Israel was defeated in battle with tiny Ai because of sin (Joshua 7).
What are thorns? They are abnormal, the result of sin, unrepentant sin in the life. God says:
Hebrews 6:8 (KJV) But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Thorns are only worth burning. They are the curse. These soldiers made a crown of thorns to put on Christ’s Head to mock Him, but these thorns show something else. Jesus died because of sin. Jesus died to conquer sin.
As these soldiers mocked and beat an innocent and helpless Man we see the effects of evil unchecked in the human. Where Christ is unwanted and unloved, evil abounds.
The Unnatural Darkness Emphasizes The Darkened Hearts Of Sinners
The Bible tells us that:
… from the SIXTH hour there was darkness over all the land unto the NINTH hour.
The SIXTH hour was the time of day six hours from sunrise, or in our modern terms noon or 12 PM. When it is the SIXTH hour the sun is at it’s highest place, directly above our heads. There should have been light without shadow at the sixth hour. I want to say that again:
There should have been light without shadow at noon.
Though it should have been broad daylight, there was only darkness. There was darkness in the human heart. The Prophet said:
Jeremiah 17:9 (NKJV) The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
A person unrestrained by Law or Conscience becomes a monster. We read:
Matthew 27:31 (KJV) And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
As Jesus went down the road to Calvary He had to carry His own Cross. Every step was agony. He had been beaten, and blood loss and thirst made the Lord Who was a powerful Man weak. He collapsed on the road, falling in the dirt. The Bible tells us that:
Matthew 27:32 (KJV) And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
Simon of Cyrene is mentioned only in Scripture as the man who carried Christ’s Cross. Simon did not carry the Cross by choice. The Bible says:
The soldiers COMPELLED him to bear His Cross.
Simon carried Christ’s Cross, but is never mentioned again in Scripture or in history. He was not saved. Simon is a picture of legislated morality. You cannot legislate morality. You cannot force someone to be right with God and with man. Salvation is a choice that every person must make, a choice to WILLINGLY carry Christ’s Cross. Jesus said:
Matthew 16:24-27 (KJV) 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. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Salvation is a denial of self. You must deny yourself to be saved. You must place yourself in the service of Christ, even if that service is distasteful. You must follow Jesus. When Jesus walked that lonely path to Calvary He did so willingly, and for us.
Thus we follow Him willingly.
Not like Simon of Cyrene, but like Simon Peter.
Not because we are forced.
But because we love Him.
Matthew 27:33-34 (KJV) 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.
The word “Calvary” is only found once in the Scripture, in:
Luke 23:33 (KJV) And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
In all other places it is called “Golgotha”. What is the difference between “Golgotha” and “Calvary”? Nothing. We seem to like the word “Calvary” better because it sounds better, but either word is the same. The Latin for Golgotha is Calvary. It is “a place of a skull”. A place where people were executed. It should have been a sad place, but it had become a place of entertainment.
The Darkness Fell To Stop The Playing
Matthew 27:35 (KJV) And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
The darkness often falls on us, and on our nation, to get our attention.
We have a tendency to love the wrong things.
God made us to love Him and to love one another.
Yet often we love stuff, things, much more than the life which God has given us.
As Jesus hung dying on the Cross the soldiers knelt at the foot of the Cross playing games. Christ’s clothing was of more value to them than Christ Himself. As they did this Matthew recalls a prophecy that is fulfilled in this horrible scene:
Psalms 22:15-18 (KJV) 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.
Here is Him Who is without sin dying, but the world looks on blindly.
The cruelty of the Cross and the games the soldiers were playing was prophesied by God. Mark tells us that …
Mark 15:27-28 (KJV) And with Him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. 28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS.
Our innocent Redeemer dies on a Cross between two thieves. He is “numbered with the transgressors”, a prophecy of …
Isaiah 53:12 (KJV) Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Luke 22:37 (KJV) For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
Jesus was “numbered with the transgressors” though He was not one. A little girl was asked “What does love look like?” The little girl said “It’s when I let Johnny get in front of me at the drinking fountain line”. Art smiled and said, “Well, you must love Johnny very much.” She replied, “No, I don’t even like him”.
God so loved the world that He sent His only Begotten Son to die for us. God did not like what we were doing when He sent Christ. God doesn’t like what we are doing now. God does not like sin, but He loves the world. So Christ was “numbered with the transgressors” so that we who transgress can be saved.
When Darkness Falls, Who Will You Turn To?
Matthew 27:38 (KJV) Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
Matthew does not record the salvation of the thief on Christ’s right hand, but Luke does. Jesus was numbered with the Transgressors. He is not dying for His sins, but for our sins. But the Transgressors are dying for their sins. The thieves on either side of Christ are not there because of injustice, but because of justice. They have sinned against God, and against order. Their sins are put to rest by the state who has “the power of the sword” (Romans 13:4). The thief on Christ’s left speaks up.
Luke 23:39 (ESV) “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
Jesus cannot save the person whose heart is hardened toward God. Some people say “I will believe in Jesus and follow Him when I am older”. That is a foolish thing. It is possible to harden your heart to where God cannot reach you – and then you will die in your sins. TODAY is the day of salvation. TODAY is the day to call on God. The thief on Christ’s left was hardened to sin. But the thief on His right side said:
Luke 23:40-43 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
If it were not for the suffering he was going through, that thief might never have been saved. But Christ was with him in his suffering. Christ is with us all in our suffering, if we would but turn to Him.
Then darkness fell. We read:
Matthew 27:45-46 (KJV) 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?
The darkness is the symbol of the wrath of God being poured out on Christ. Christ stood in my place. Christ stood in your place. It was not the
crown of thorns
the scourge
or the Cross
that made Christ cry out. It was the absence of God in the midst of the darkness that made Him cry. But though He cried, He nonetheless triumphed. The Cross did not defeat Jesus, but the Cross defeated
The Devil
Death
Corruption and Sin
The Cross conquered darkness, and brought eternal life. The Cross stood though the darkness departed. The Cross will always triumph. Jesus will always triumph!
A Final Word
All light is dim where Christ is not. If Jesus is not there, what is there? We have a choice. Christ first, and we walk in light. Christ last, and we walk in darkness. Never let Him go. Cleave to Christ. Love Him. He is the power of God unto salvation both now, and forever.
1 Corinthians 1:17-24 (KJV) For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to PREACH the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the PREACHing of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of PREACHing to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we PREACH Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
We will be in page 1605 in the Pew Bibles.
Audio of Message:
The events in Charlottesville, Virginia shocked our nation. On August 12th 2017 people gathered in that city to protest, to attack one another with pepper spray, bottles, and rocks, and ultimately ended up killing one person and injuring 19 others. While the press busily places labels on who did what and the President is judged on whether his address in the aftermath was too harsh or not harsh enough, the nation wrings its hands. What are we going to do?
We need the Word of the Cross.
The only thing that will change the human heart is the Gospel of Christ.
The Word of God must be lifted up.
The Blood stained Cross must be shared over and over again.
The Apostle said: Galatians 6:14 (NKJV) But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
In our King James text the word “Preach” is translated four times. In each occurrence these are different words. Yet the word I’ve highlighted on your handout is not the same word over and over again, but four different Greek words. Let’s look at each one of the uses of the word “Preach”.
The World Is In Bad Shape, But God Has Good News
1 Corinthians 1:17 (KJV) For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to PREACH the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1 The word translated “Preach The Gospel” is the Greek is εὐαγγελίζω euaggelizō (pronounced yoo-ang-ghel-id’-zo), which means “to share the good news”. When we share the Gospel we are
… sharing the good news of God
The Angel of God told the Shepherds guarding their flocks by night,
Luke 2:10-11 (NASB) … Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
The Gospel is good news or good tidings for ALL people. A Savior came from Heaven to earth. We need a Savior. We desperately need a Savior. God looks down from Heaven and what does He see? God says:
Romans 3:9-12 (NASB) both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.
Every person is born into this life spiritually dead and separated from God. The One exception to this rule is Jesus Christ our Lord. He came from God to save the sinner. He came from God to redeem us from emptiness. He came from God to bring us into union with God, part of the Family of God, to live in Him. The bad news is that we’re sinners. The good news – the euaggelizō (yoo-ang-ghel-id’-zo) is that God reaches out to ALL through Jesus Christ. There is none that God cannot save. There is no broken person who cannot be restored. The beginning of salvation is to come to Christ.
The Apostle preached the Cross “not with wisdom of words”, not using philosophy or flattery. He didn’t try to dress it up. He just stated the truth. We are sinners. We are due damnation. Our thoughts are apart from God. But IF we come to Christ HE will save us. HE will bless us.
How does God save us? Does He just look the other way? No. We come to the second use of “Preach” in our text.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the PREACHing of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
It Is The WORD Of The Cross That Saves
2 This time the Apostle uses λόγος logos (pronounced log’-os) which means “Word”. What he literally says is:
For The WORD of the Cross is foolishness
to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved,
It is the power of God.
Two words are used for “Word” in the Greek – LOGOS and LALIA. The word LALIA is the spoken word whereas LOGOS is the logical word. Jesus told the Pharisees:
John 8:43 (NASB) Why do you not understand what I am SAYING (LALIA)? It is because you cannot hear My WORD (LOGOS).
Logos or the Word is the wisdom of God. It is the word LOGOS that is used for Jesus in John 1:1-3:
John 1:1-3 (KJV) 1 In the beginning was the WORD (LOGOS), and the WORD (LOGOS) was with God, and the WORD (LOGOS) was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made
The reason we have the “Good News” is because of the Word of the Cross.
John 1:14 And the WORD (LOGOS) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Do you want an answer to Racism? Here it is. The WORD became FLESH.
Jesus was not a white man.
Jesus was not a black man.
Jesus was not a yellow man.
Jesus was not a red man. Jesus was a Jew.
God became a Jew, out of the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As a Jew our Jesus Christ – the LOGOS or WORD of God – died for the sins of ALL.
The world doesn’t understand this. The logic of the world is “black lives matter” or “white lives matter” or “this or that life matters”. The Word of the Cross is “every life matters”. Every person is precious. Every person has potential. What does God say in the Word of the Cross?
1 Corinthians 1:19-20 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
The “Word” of this world is foolishness.
Anything that draws away from the Word of the Cross is foolishness, broken, doomed to fail. The Word never fails. The world fails, but the Word never fails.
Think about the difference between the word “Word” and the word “World”. When you take “Word” and add “l” to it, you make the “World”.
When you try human means to fix things it ends up foolish, lost, far from sane. But when you concentrate on the Word of the Cross you find the blessedness of God in Christ. The Word of the Cross comes to the sinner and says “I will heal you. I will lift you up.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV) Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
3 Now we come to the third time the word “Preach” is used in this text, and this is the word κήρυγμα kērygma (pronounced kay’-roog-mah). This word actually means “to be a public crier, to proclaim or herald”.
1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of PREACHing to save them that believe.
It Is The Gospel PROCLAIMED or SHARED That Saves
Kērygma (pronounced kay’-roog-mah) means to share or proclaim. It is not a whispered message, but a clear message. The Gospel was meant to be shared with those you know. People must understand there is no salvation without repentance. A person is to turn FROM sin and TOWARD Christ to be saved. Jesus did not whisper “come follow Me” – He spoke it clearly.
Christ is the centerpiece of the Gospel.
The Gospel is not self help but God help.
The Gospel is not continued sinning, but Godly sorrow and surrender.
The Gospel is the leper coming to Christ,
The blind staggering to Christ,
The cripple crawling to Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:23 But we PREACH Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
The Content Of The Gospel Is Christ Crucified
4 The fourth “Preach” is κηρύσσω kēryssō (pronounced kay-roos’-so) which refers to the content of the Gospel. We preach Christ CRUCIFIED. This is not a message that the world loves.
The Jews or the religious world finds the crucifixion of Christ to be a stumblingblock. The Jew thought that their sacrifices and rituals brought them close to God. The sacrifices and rituals all pointed to the Coming Christ, the Messiah, the Lamb of God sacrificed for the sins of the world. To the Jews God’s Gospel says:
Christ crucified
Romans 4:25 (NIV) (Jesus) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
We do not preach salvation BY good works.
We preach Christ crucified.
He died that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Charles Swindoll wrote: God declared that all who sin will die, both physically and spiritually. This is the fate of all mankind. But God, in His grace and mercy, provided a way out of this dilemma, the shed blood of His perfect Son on the cross. God declared that “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22), but through the shedding of blood, redemption is provided. The Law of Moses provided a way for the people to be considered “sinless” or “right” in God’s eyes—the offering of animals sacrificed for every sin they committed. These sacrifices were only temporary, though, and were really a foreshadowing of the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Christ on the cross (Hebrews 10:10).
The Greeks or the secular world considers the Cross of Christ to be foolishness, superstition, a rabbit’s foot in a modern age. Psychiatry and psychology mock religion. Philosophy makes god a man and Man a god.
But we preach Christ crucified.
The Cross has come and gone. God became man, perfect man, and went to the Cross to die for our sins. His Blood covers the sins of whosoever will.
But WE preach Christ crucified.
This is the theme that unites us, the love of God redeeming and reconciling. We glorify Jesus. We come together not elevating ourselves, but each of us representing our King and Savior. We are nothing without Christ. We end with these words:
1 Corinthians 1:27-31 (KJV) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Matthew 26:57-58 (KJV) And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. [58] But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
Audio of Message:
Why did Jesus come to this earth? The Bible tells us that:
1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Our Lord said:
Mark 2:17 (KJV) They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luke 19:10 (KJV) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Jesus came into this world to restore our relationship with God. The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We all are born separated from God. We all are born sinners. Jesus came to bring us back into a right relationship with God, with Him Who is the Author of life. Jesus said:
John 10:10 (KJV) I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Jesus Did Not Come To Make Us “Religious”
He Came To Make Us “Relational”
He Came To Bring Us Into God’s Family
Religion And Self Righteousness
Sent Christ To The Cross
When Jesus was seized He was not first seized by the government, nor by anarchists, but by RELIGION. We read:
vs 57 they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled
The High Priest of Israel was supposed to lead people toward God, not away from God. The High Priest was supposed to stand between Israel and God, to be the Mediator between the Lord and His people. But the High Priest had drifted away from God. Verse 58 speaks of the High Priest’s Palace. The High Priest was not supposed to be in a palace. He should have lived among the people, representing God to them, telling them to look for the Messiah Who was to come. But Caiaphas no longer represented the Lord, but he represented religion.
There are 783,137 words in the King James Bible. Of those 783,137 words, the word “Religion” is only used five times in three texts – Acts 26:5; Galatians 1:13-14 and James 1:26-27. Of those five times the word “Religion” is only used ONCE in a positive manner:
James 1:27 (KJV) Pure RELIGION and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Religion does not know Christ, nor can it. Religion is man’s attempt to make himself right with God. Christ came of God ands for God to bring us to God.
Religion hired a traitor to betray Jesus with a kiss. Religion grabbed Jesus and drug Him to the Chief Priest. The Scribes and the Elders of Israel gathered together, not to give Christ a fair trial, but sought to murder Him by falsehood. We read:
Matthew 26:59-60 (KJV) Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; [60] But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. …
Religion sought false witnesses against Jesus, to put Him to death. Religion does the same thing today. It twists the words of Jesus out of context. It violates the Law of God by false witness. The Ninth Commandment is:
Exodus 20:16 (KJV) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Religion does not bear false witness against a person, but against the person of God. It is a grievous thing to slander someone, to create lies about them and spread it. But how much more is it a horror to spread lies about God? Religion slithered into the Garden of Eden and said:
Has God really said that you should not eat of this Tree?
God knows that in the day you eat of it, you will be like Him,
Knowing evil and good.
Religion slanders God and mocks Christ. Religion was in the heart of Cain when he killed his brother Abel. Religion said:
I know that God requires a blood sacrifice for sin,
But I think the fruit of the field is just as good.
When God would not accept religion’s offering, and would not hear religion’s modifications to the will of God, then religion killed Abel. Jesus told the religious Scribes and Pharisees:
Matthew 23:33-39 (ESV) You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
God calls man into a relationship with Him through the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Religion rejects the Messiah. It seeks to kill Him.
Religion Would Prefer That Man Follow God
From Afar, Not Up Close
Religion would prefer that you come to God NOT as kings and priests, but that you come to God through a priest. The High Priest can have a palace when everyone must go through him for forgiveness of sin. The High Priest of religion hates Christ because Christ came to be our High Priest.
When Christ was born, Herod sought to kill Him
because He WAS competition for Herod’s throne.
When Christ ministered, Religion sought to kill Him,
because He IS competition for Religion’s throne.
Christ came to bring each believer into union – a close union – with God. What does the Scripture say?
Revelation 1:5-6 (NKJV) and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has MADE US KINGS AND PRIESTS to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Saved by faith in Him, every child of God is a king for we are of His Royal Family. Saved by faith in Him, every child of God is a priest, and Christ is our High Priest. We have direct access to God through Him if we but pursue it. Christ is our High Priest. The Scripture declares:
Hebrews 3:1 (KJV) Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and HIGH PRIEST of our profession, Christ Jesus;..
Hebrews 4:14-16 (KJV) Seeing then that we have a GREAT HIGH PRIEST, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. [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.
Hebrews 5:9-10 (KJV) And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; [10] Called of God an HIGH PRIEST after the order of Melchisedec.
Religion does not like this. Religion wants you following Jesus from afar, going through the middle man, not having direct access. Religion uses ritual and symbol, and false witness. It is religion today that is minimizing what God has said. It is religion that is normalizing the abnormal, bearing false witness.
But religion cannot stand up to scrutiny.
Matthew 26:60-61 (KJV) … At the last came two false witnesses, [61] And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
Religion loves to take Christ out of context.
In the beginning of His ministry Jesus came into the Temple and discovered that Religion was making money selling sacrifices to the people. Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers, and ran the animals out of the Temple. Jesus declared:
“Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”
“This is to be a House of Prayer!”
The Religious were upset that Jesus stirred up the moneychangers. They asked Jesus:
“What sign of authority will You show us that You are allowed to do this?”
Jesus replied:
John 2:19 (NKJV) “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
This confused the religious, as they had no relationship with God through Christ. They replied:
John 2:20 (NKJV) “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”
The Bible tells us that Jesus was speaking of the temple of His body. The sign of the resurrection is proof that Jesus acts for God. In Him is life, abundant life, life that cannot be ended.
I suspect the “false witness” that rose up against Jesus was one of the moneychangers who was still upset over the loss of the profit that day. “I heard this fellow say that I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days”. Religion twists His words. It wants to enslave you.
Religion Rejects The Christ
Throughout this mock trial Jesus has stood silent. Truth does not have to defend itself against a lie or a liar. Finally in frustration Caiaphas says:
Matthew 26:62 (KJV) … Answerest thou nothing?
what is it which these witness against thee?
But Jesus said nothing. I wish I could learn to do that. People ask me crazy things sometimes, and I feel compelled to just come back with something, anything. I guess it’s pride rearing its ugly head. How much better to just stand on the truth. These people fumbled around trying to convict an innocent person of blasphemy. When it didn’t work, Religion tried to get Jesus to incriminate Himself. Finally in frustration Caiaphas asked:
Matthew 26:63-64 (KJV) … I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. [64] Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
“Are you the Christ, the Messiah?” Caiaphas asks. Jesus says: “It is as you have said”. Yes, He is the Messiah. When Jesus spoke the the Samaritan Woman at the well she said:
John 4:25 (ESV) … “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
John 4:26 (ESV) Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
Jesus Christ is the Messiah.
When John the Baptist was imprisoned he sent his disciples to Jesus asking:
Matthew 11:3 (NKJV) “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
Jesus told the disciples:
Matthew 11:4-6 … “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Jesus did things only the Messiah could do. Is Jesus the Messiah? Are You the Messiah, Caiaphas asks Jesus. And Jesus says “It is just as you have said”. Does Caiaphas come to Christ? Religion will never come to Jesus. We read:
Matthew 26:65-68 (KJV) Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. [66] What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. [67] Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, [68] Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
We cannot of ourselves draw near to God unless we come through Christ. God wants an intimate and daily relationship with His Children through Christ Jesus our Lord. When we drift from Christ, spit in His face, beat on Him and mock Him, we refuse to enter the door of relationship with God.
What a terrible thing this is.
I want to turn our attention from religion to one who had a relationship with Christ. Let’s look just a moment at Peter.
No Christian Is Strong When Following Christ from Afar
Matthew 26:58 (KJV) But Peter followed Him afar off …
Peter had previously told Jesus:
Matthew 26:33-35 (KJV) Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. [34] Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. [35] Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
Peter declared he was strong enough to stay with Christ, to never deny Jesus. We have no strength in ourselves. Our strength is Jesus. Our strength is His power in us. We are to cling to Him, to read His Word, to draw near to Him as sheep to a Shepard. He is our strength.
What causes Peter’s terrible downfall?
First, He Tries Following Jesus From Afar. The weakest you will ever be is far from Christ. You cannot afford to have a once a week or once a month or twice yearly relationship with Christ.
When you were saved dear Christian you were called not to Religion but to the Savior’s side.The safest and most powerful place you can be is close to Jesus, close to His Word, close to His Family, His Church, close to Him in prayer and closely heeding His Word.
We all need to be like Joshua was as he entered the Promised Land. He said:
Joshua 24:15 (KJV) … choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Or as Elijah spoke on Mount Carmel:
1 Kings 18:21 (NIV) “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
The faith that Christ calls us to is to follow Him – not just part time, but daily. We are to draw as close to Jesus as possible, loving Him, serving Him.
Second, Peter Tried Blending In With The Crowd. If you belong to the Lord you are no longer your own. You are bought with a price. Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. You are no longer a part of the darkness, but are the Light of God. You do not belong huddled in among the lost pretending to be lost with them. You are God’s people. Shine for Him! Glorify Him. Live because Christ lives in you.
Following the Resurrection of Christ Jesus comes to Peter and asks him this question.
Peter, do you love Me?
Peter said “Yes, Lord, I love You”. Jesus told Peter “If you love Me, feed my little Lambs”. Then Jesus asked Peter again:
Peter, do you love Me?
Peter said “Yes, Lord, I love You”. Jesus told Peter “If you love Me, feed my Sheep”. Then Jesus asked Peter again:
Peter, do you love Me?
Peter said “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep”. What was the point? If you love Jesus, don’t follow Him from afar. Live for Him. Do what He has called you to do. Give as He has called you to give. Be the light that Christ has called you to be.
Matthew 26:36 (KJV) Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
Audio of 8 AM Message:
Audio of 11 AM Message:
Sermon Notes:
The Lord’s Table having been finished, and Judas having went out to betray our Master, Jesus leads His disciples to a Garden called Gethsemane.
Gethsemane means “very fat or plentiful”. It was a place where olives were pressed to squeeze the oil out of them. The oil press of Gethsemane was said to be in the middle of an olive garden, a wonderful and prosperous place.
It was in this Garden that Jesus Christ –theLast Adam – would wrestle in prayer with His Father. It was in this Garden that Jesus would prepare for Calvary.
We call Jesus “The Last Adam” because of what we are told in 1st Corinthians 15. The Apostle started that Chapter by presenting the Gospel message. This message is that:
1 Corinthians 15:3-5 (KJV) … Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen …
This Gospel has never changed.
Jesus died. Why? FOR OUR SINS. Jesus was buried. Why? BECAUSE HE DIED. Jesus rose again. Why? TO CONQUER DEATH.
He conquered death. Why did Jesus have to go through these things. Why did He have to “drink the cup of suffering”? The Apostle tells us that …
1 Corinthians 15:45-49 (KJV) And so it is written, The FIRST man Adam was made a living soul; the LAST Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
The First Adam – our forefather – was created from the dust of the earth “and made a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). God breathed into Him the breath of life. He received the image of God.
But the Second Adam “is the Lord from Heaven”. Jesus is the Only Begotten, the Sent Son.
John 3:17 (KJV) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
The First Adam was given an Eden. Eden means the Garden of God. It was a place of fatness, a place of richness. The First Adam was given a Garden that was perfect that he was to till, and a fruit that he was forbidden to eat.
The Last Adam was brought to a Gethsemane, a “Garden of Fatness”. It was not a Garden of God, but it was a rich place nonetheless.
The First Adam was given a fruit NOT to eat, and he failed because he listened to a serpent.
The Last Adam was given a Cup He must drink, and He would because He obeyed God.
Romans 5:12 (KJV)12 Wherefore, as BY ONE MAN (the First Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
What Adam did in the Garden of Eden would bring sin into an otherwise sinless world. Where there was no death, death would come. Men die because of what Adam did. We have cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, all types of disease because of sin. There was no sin in the original creation, but the First Adam brought it in by his act of disobedience.
Gethsemane Shows Us Sin Is No Trifle
In our world today sin is but a trifle. We think of sins as
little sins BIG SINS
I am sure that the serpent whispered to Adam:
“It’s just ONE fruit” “It’s just ONE indiscretion” Who’s to know?
Sin is an affront to a holy and righteous God. Sin says to God “I know better than You know. My thoughts are better than Yours. My will is greater than Yours. My design is superior to Yours.”
None of these things are true. When Jesus entered Gethsemane He said to eight of His disciples:
Matthew 26:36 (KJV) … Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
But then we read:
Matthew 26:37 (KJV) And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him to pray because He wanted the Leaders of His Coming Church to understand that sin is not a trifle. Sin is disobedience to God’s clear command. Sin is to do what God says not to do, and not to do what God says do.
As Peter, James, and John watched Jesus ..
He began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
The word translated “sorrowful” is the Present Passive Infinitive of λυπέω lypeō. The disciples had never seen Jesus overwhelmed, but now they do. Jesus is consumed with sorrow and grief. “Very Heavy” is the Greek Present Active Infinitive of ἀδημονέω adēmoneō which means “to be in great anguish or depression”. The Passive Voice shows that Jesus received the action. Jesus was hit with sorrow because He knew He was going to be judged for our sins. Sin would be poured out on Him. reflecting on this the Active Voice shows Jesus’ response. The thought of having to confront sin covered Him with sorrow, and brought depression to Him.
Jesus had never sinned, but what soon to stand in the sinner’s place. And this brought anguish and depression to His life.
Sin is a perversion of God’s design, a mocking of God’s moral character. Sin hurts people, but it hurts God more. Jesus is hurt by the very thought of what He must do on Calvary.
Sin hurts God. Sin offends God.
We were created to be mirrors of God. We are “made in God’s image”, and His moral Laws are written in our hearts. When we reject His Laws and harden our conscience we hurt ourselves, we hurt creation, and we hurt God. When Joseph was a slave of Potiphar in Egypt, Potiphar’s wife tried to have adulterous sex with Joseph. That precious brother rightly said:
Genesis 39:8-10 (ESV) {Joseph} refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge. 9 There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. HOW THEN COULD I DO THIS GREAT EVIL AND SIN AGAINST GOD?”
Every sin is ultimately a slap in God’s face. When King David had Uriah killed so that he could take his wife in an adulterous relationship – and David was found out – the King repented, saying:
Psalm 51:2-4 (NASB) … Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4 AGAINST YOU, YOU ONLY, I HAVE SINNED AND DONE WHAT IS EVIL IN YOUR SIGHT, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.
Since God is infinite, every offense against God is infinite. The effects of our sins do not diminish with time nor distance. When we offend the Lord, we are offending the Great I AM, the Ever Present and never diminishing God.
Matthew 26:38 (KJV) Then saith {Jesus} unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
Jesus said that “I am exceedingly sorrowful – even unto death”. Was it because He was going to have to die on the Cross? No! The Scripture tells us that …
Matthew 16:21 (ESV) From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
Mark 9:31 (ESV) for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”
Jesus was born to die. He was begotten once among humanity so that He could die once for humanity. Jesus did not dread death unto death. He knew His mission was to die. What Jesus agonized over was the cup of wrath that He must drink.
Ephesians 5:2 (ESV) …. Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Jesus knew that He was going to do this. He knew He was the Lamb of God, without spot or blemish. He knew He would die for the sins of His people. But the Cup of God’s Wrath for sin gave Him deep and horrid depression. Jesus normally needed no one to do what He did, but in this instance as He prepared He asked Peter, James, and John to:
Tarry here, and watch with Me
Jesus Prayed
Matthew 26:39 (KJV) {Jesus} went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
As Jesus prepared to drink the Cup of God’s Wrath for Sin He prayed. Jesus prayed:
O My Father, if it be possible, let THIS CUP pass from Me
God is angry with sin. God is wrathful against evil. The Lord declares:
Ezekiel 18:4 (ESV) Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.
It is God Who gives us life. He causes us. He gives us souls. We belong to Him. Sin says “I belong to myself. I am MY GOD. I am the center of the universe.” The Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche – the son of a Lutheran pastor – rejected God. He declared
“God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him.”
Sin says “we are gods – we do not need to moral compass of God’s Word”. Nietzsche ended up insane, dying of frontotemporal dementia. It is insanity to walk apart from God. The Psalmist wrote:
Psalm 75:8 (NKJV) For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, And the wine is red; It is fully mixed, and He pours it out; Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth – Drain and drink down.
And John the Revelator said:
Revelation 14:10 (KJV) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Jesus prayed in Gethsemane – a place He had often prayed at – “If possible, let this Cup pass from Me”. Yet Jesus went on to say:
Nevertheless, not My Will, but Thine be done.
At Calvary Jesus would drain God’s Cup of Wrath, His burning anger, down to the last drop. God poured out His wrath on His Son full strength, without mixture. Old Time Preacher Andrew Bonar said:
“The universe saw Him with {this Cup} at His lips. It was our cup of trembling; the cup in which the wrath due to the “multitude which no man can number” was mingled. What wrath, what woe! A few drops made Him cry, “Now is my soul troubled!” In the garden, the sight of it wrung out the strange, mysterious words, “Sorrowful unto death!” Though God-man, He staggered at what He saw, and went on trembling. Next day, on Calvary, He drank it all. I suppose the three hours of darkness may have been the time when He “was wringing out the dregs”; for then arose from His broken heart the wail that so appealed to the heart of the Father, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!” As He ended the last drop, and cried out, “It is finished!” We may believe angels felt an inconceivable relief— and even the Father Himself! So tremendous was the wrath and curse!—the wrath and curse due to our sin.”
The Apostle said:
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) For {God} made {His Son} who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Jesus prayed.
Jesus fell on His face.
He pushed Himself down into the ground.
He humbled Himself before God.
Jesus prayed ALONE.
Matthew 26:40-41 (KJV) And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? [41] Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Peter was the disciple who said “I will never leave You, Jesus”. But Peter could not even stay awake for one hour. Jesus told Peter
“Watch AND Pray” “The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”
If Adam had prayed and sought God before he ate that which was forbidden, then the world would not be in sin. If David had prayed before taking Bathsheba to himself, Uriah would never have been murdered and the sword would not have consumed David’s dynasty. Pray before you sin. Watch for sin. Jesus prayed, and looked to the Father.
And the Father answered His prayers. The second time Jesus prayed His prayer changed. The first time He said “If it be possible, let this Cup pass from Me”. But now He prays:
Matthew 26:42 (KJV) He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
He now did not pray that the Cup pass, but that the Father’s will be done. Jesus was willing to go forward for us. The Bible says that He
Matthew 26:43-44 (KJV) And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. [44] And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, SAYING THE SAME WORDS.
“if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done”
Jesus was prepared to drink the Cup of God’s Wrath. I praise Him daily that He did. We who believe in Him shall not see wrath – but we shall see LIFE. The
John 3:35-36 (KJV) The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. [36] He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
The unbeliever still has a cup that he or she must drink. It is the Cup of God’s wrath. That’s the bad news. God’s wrath abides on the unbeliever who will not stand up for Christ. God’s wrath is like a sword hanging above the head. It can fall at any time. But for those who are in Christ they are not Children of wrath, but Children of Life. The Apostle declared:
Colossians 3:1-10 (KJV) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. [5] Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: [6] For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: [7] In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. [8] But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. [9] Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; [10] And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
We who are His are no longer under the Wrath of God. Jesus drank that cup for us, praise His Holy Name. We rest in Jesus. Jesus said:
Matthew 26:45-46 (KJV) Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. [46] Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
Sleep on – rest! Jesus is being delivered into the hands of sinners for our salvation. Rise – let us be going! Follow Jesus.
Rest in what Jesus has done. Move forward in the Will of God.
You were the Word at the beginning One With God the Lord Most High Your hidden glory in creation Now revealed in You our Christ What a beautiful Name it is What a beautiful Name it is The Name of Jesus Christ my King
The events in Charlottesville, Virginia shocked our nation. On August 12th 2017 people gathered in that city to protest, to attack one another with pepper spray, bottles, and rocks, and ultimately ended up killing one person and injuring 19 others. While the press busily places labels on who did what and the President is judged on whether his address in the aftermath was too harsh or not harsh enough, the nation wrings its hands. What are we going to do?
Matthew 26:36 (KJV) Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 
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