If I could re-live a day, it would be the day a man named Terry deceived me, and led me to leave a place I loved to follow a lie. I thought I was doing the right thing, but he was the devil’s agent. Though God worked it out for me, my life was never the same again. I let a deceiver lead me from the Promised Land to a devil’s paradise.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Matthew 27:45-46 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?
After His brutal crucifixion, two disciples who had witnessed it were on the road to Emmaus, returning from the Feast of Unleavened Bread. As it was a seven mile walk from Jerusalem, they were discussing the horror they had seen. They were arguing about Jesus. Though the conversation wasn’t recorded, Luke 24:15 (LSB) states “they were conversing and debating (syzēteō, questioning, disputing)”. We can imagine what they were saying.
“That was horrible! Jesus must have been guilty of something, or else He wouldn’t have been crucified.”
“But I heard Pilate say he saw no guilt in the man. He was innocent. That was murder, not an execution.”
“Well, if He were the Messiah like we thought He was, He wouldn’t have been killed. I thought He was going to restore Israel, and defeat Rome. But now He’s dead. I am so disappointed.”
“I don’t understand it either. I really believed Jesus when He said He was the Son of God and the Son of man. I just don’t know how this could happen.”
While they were debating on that road to Emmaus, Jesus appeared to the unnamed disciples. They didn’t know it was Jesus, because the Bible says “their eyes were restrained, so they did not know Him” (Luke 24:16). What kept them from seeing Jesus? I personally believe that …
Jesus listened to them for a minute, then chastised them, saying:
(Luke 24:25-27 LSB) … O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in ALL THAT THE PROPHETS HAVE SPOKEN! [26] Was it not NECESSARY FOR THE CHRIST TO SUFFER THESE THINGS and to enter into His glory? [27] Then BEGINNING WITH MOSES AND ALL THE PROPHETS, He interpreted to them the things concerning Himself IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES.
Jesus had to fulfill everything – every prophecy of the Old Testament (the Bible at that time) – or else He would not be “THE Christ, the Messiah”.
There were over 300 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Though many then and even today claim to be Christ, only Jesus Christ fulfilled every prophecy.
The two disciples invited this Stranger to dinner. As they sat at the table Jesus broke bread, blessed it, and gave it to them – “and their eyes were opened, and they recognized Jesus”. Then Jesus disappeared!
I can imagine their shock! They didn’t wait, but ran back to Jerusalem to find the eleven Apostles. As they were telling the Apostles they had seen the Risen Savior,
“Jesus stood in their midst, saying, ‘Peace be unto you’”.
Again, being human, they though they saw a ghost. Jesus had them touch Him. Jesus ate a piece of cooked fish. And they believed. And then, just as Jesus did with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, He reminded them all:
(Luke 24:44-47 LSB) … These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN ABOUT ME IN THE LAW OF MOSES AND IN THE PROPHETS AND THE PSALMS MUST BE FULFILLED. [45] Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, [46] and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that THE CHRIST WOULD SUFFER AND RISE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD THE THIRD DAY, [47] and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Everything written about the Christ had to be fulfilled – and every part of His trial and crucifixion. Jesus would be betrayed by a close friend (Psalm 41:9; John 13:18), by a kiss on His cheek. Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariiah 11:12-13). The Bible tells us that when Jesus was tried, beaten, mocked, that He was silent. The Prophet said:
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; LIKE A LAMB THAT IS LED TO THE SLAUGHTER, and LIKE A SHEEP THAT BEFORE ITS SHEARERS IS SILENT, so HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH.
When liars spoke against Him at His trial, Jesus said nothing. When the soldiers beat Him, Jesus said nothing. When dragged before Pilate, we read:
(Matthew 27:11-14 LSB) Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “You yourself say [it].” [12] And WHILE HE WAS BEING ACCUSED by the chief priests and elders, HE DID NOT ANSWER. [13] Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” [14] And HE DID NOT ANSWER HIM WITH REGARD TO EVEN A SINGLE CHARGE, so the governor marveled greatly.
There is no indication in Scripture that Jesus even cried out when pushed the crown of thorns down over His brow, or when they drove the spikes through His hands and feet. Peter, watching some distance away, wrote:
(1 Peter 2:23 LSB) {Jesus} being reviled, was NOT REVILING IN RETURN; while suffering, HE WAS UTTERING NO THREATS, but kept entrusting [Himself] to Him who judges righteously.
Nailed to the Cross, Jesus PRAYED for His enemies:
(Luke 23:34 LSB) Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.
Jesus PROMISED a repentant thief next to Him eternal life:
(Luke 23:43 LSB) Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.
And Jesus PREPARED His mother for His departure:
(John 19:26-27 LSB) {Jesus} said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” [27] Then He said to {the Apostle John}, “Behold, your mother!”
And up to this point Jesus has not complained. Every word is measured. Though He is suffering immensely, Jesus is in control of Himself. Our Hero never loses control of Himself.
Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
In the Bible and among the ancient Jews, time was measured by the rising and setting of the sun. As the sun rose around 6 am, the SIXTH hour would be about noon. It’s about noon. The sun should be straight overhead, beating down on those on the Cross. But instead there is an unnatural darkness over Golgotha. It’s not a passing cloud.
The darkness lasts from the sixth to the ninth hour – THREE HOURS. From noon till three in the afternoon it was like nightfall. The Greek historian Phlegon of Tralles (c. 140 AD) stated:
“In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad [c. 32–33 AD], there was the greatest eclipse of the sun … it became night at the sixth hour of the day, so that stars even appeared in the heavens.”
Phlegon thought it was an eclipse, but it couldn’t be. It was so dark that even the stars were seen in the heavens. For three hours the sun was covered by the hand of God. Unnatural darkness signifies the judgment of God. This same thing happened in the Old Testament – not for 3 hours but 3 DAYS.
When God sent the ninth plague on Egypt, there were three days of thick darkness (Exodus 10:21-23), though all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. God’s people had light, but the unbelieving Egyptians suffered in darkness. God withdrew His hand of blessing, and cursed Egypt.
Later in the Scripture God through the Prophet Amos, God promised to punish Israel for rejecting His leadership. God told Israel:
(Amos 8:9 KJV) … it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I WILL CAUSE THE SUN TO GO DOWN AT NOON, and I WILL DARKEN THE EARTH IN THE CLEAR DAY
The sun going down at noon – the darkness of the earth when it should be clear day – shows the judgment of God.
When Pilate tried to free Jesus, but could get no where, we are told:
(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.
The mocking Jewish crowd cried out,
(Matthew 27:25 KJV) … His blood [be] on us, and on our children.
“We will bear the guilt of His death. Crucify Him! Our children will bear the guilt of His death. Crucify Him!” But God did not judge the evil of Israel that day, nor did He judge the wickedness of the Gentiles who were complicit in the execution of Jesus. The crowd blindly followed sin and Satan. The executioners blindly followed sin and Satan.
When Adam blindly followed the Serpent, he committed spiritual suicide. In fact, he was guilt of spiritual genocide, because his act would bring sin and Satanic destruction on all his children. Adam would experience the pain that sin brings when one son, Cain, would murder the other, Abel. How horrible that was! But here we see the horror of DEICIDE, the murder of God the Son. The ultimate sin. So horrible, that the sun is covered for three hours.
As time passed, the crowd became frightened. What was this unnatural darkness? God was judging. But He was not judging the mocking but now frightened crowd. God was judging His Son.
For three hours, the Bible says “The Father made Jesus TO BE SIN FOR US” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This was what Jesus prayed about in Gethsemane. This is what caused Christ to pray three times – and sweat drops of blood! In Gethsemane …
(Matthew 26:39 NKJV) {Jesus}… fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let THIS CUP pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You [will].”
Waking up His disciples, the Bible says:
(Matthew 26:42 NKJV) {Jesus} went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if THIS CUP cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
He returned to His disciples – and they were once more asleep. The Bible says,
(Matthew 26:44 NKJV) So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, SAYING THE SAME WORDS.
The “CUP” Jesus dreaded drinking was the cup of God’s wrath. The sin of the world could not be taken away until Jesus drank the cup dry. He paid our penalty in full. He alone is the satisfactory Payment for our sins (1 John 2:2)
For three hours Jesus endured the darkness. From noon till 3 pm there was no word from the Cross. Then …
Matthew 27:43 “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani”
It is amazing the depravity that sin will lead us to. Several years ago I was preaching from this text my Hero Jesus – my Savior and Lord – when an older gentleman in the audience got offended. I’ll never forget it. He sent another Pastor to me with the complaint that I was speaking in tongues while I was preaching. Sin closed this man’s mind to the Savior. Satan – that Old Serpent – blinded this man close to the end of his life with foolishness, rather than examining his own life and running to the Savior’s arms.
Oh, my Lord!
When Jesus said “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani” (Mark 15:34 records it as “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani”), He was speaking Hebrew and Aramaic.
The Jews of Jesus’ day had been in captivity for so long, that many of them (outside of the Pharisees and Priests) could not speak nor understand their own native language. Many spoke Greek, so many that about 3 years before Christ became incarnate that the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek by a group of Jewish scholars in Alexandria, Egypt. That what we call the Septuagint, the Bible most quoted by the Apostles. Not knowing their own language, when Jesus cried out:
“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani”
(Matthew 27:47 KJV) Some of them that stood there, when they heard [that], said, This [man] calleth for {ELIJAH}.
Like the old man I mentioned before, they spoke from ignorance. They couldn’t understand Hebrew, the language of their forefathers. The soldiers, misinterpreting what Jesus was saying, thought Him babbling from the pain. The Bible says,
(Matthew 27:48 KJV) And straightway one of them ran, {an executioner} and TOOK A SPONGE, and FILLED IT WITH VINEGAR, and put [it] on a reed, and GAVE HIM TO DRINK.
This was done to mock Jesus (Luke 23:36), because what was offered would not offer comfort. It would be like giving sea water to a person dying of thirst. There was no comfort in it. The crowd told the soldier:
(Matthew 27:49 KJV) THE REST said, Let be, let us see whether {Elijah} will come to save Him.
No compassion. Just mocking. Let’s see what happens. Leave Him alone. He’s out of His head. What was Jesus saying when He said? Was He cursing His tormentors? No! When our Lord said …
Matthew 27:46 “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani”
Jesus was praying. Matthew, himself of the Tribe of Levi, understands Hebrew and Aramaic. Matthew tells us what Jesus means:
(Matthew 27:46 KJV) … that is to say, MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?
Was Jesus babbling, complaining, out of His head with pain? No. My Hero was not out of His head. Our Savior and Lord was finishing the work set before Him.
Jesus said:
(Luke 24:44 NKJV) … ALL THINGS MUST BE FULFILLED which were written in the Law of Moses and [the] Prophets AND THE PSALMS CONCERNING ME.”
Jesus was not out of His head. He was in absolute control. He was fulfilling the Psalm which prophesied:
(Psalm 22:1-5 NKJV) MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME? [Why are You so] far from helping Me, [And from] the words of My groaning? [2] O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent. [3] But You [are] holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. [4] Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. [5] They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.
Jesus was fulfilling that which was prophesied of Him in the 22nd Psalm. He trusted in His Father. The Father delivered Israel. But the Father could not deliver the Son. How low is Jesus? The words of the prophecy go on to state:
Psalm 22:6-8 But I [am] a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. [7] All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying], [8] “He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”
God couldn’t deliver Him. Jesus died for us. He died for our sins. He died for our foolishness. He drank the cup of wrath, so that we would not have to suffer the wrath of God. Bible Scholar A.W. Pink stated:
“Here we see the absolute holiness and inflexible justice of God. The tragedy of Calvary must be viewed from at least four different viewpoints. At the Cross man did a work: he displayed his depravity by taking the perfect One and with “wicked hands” nailing Him to the tree. At the Cross Satan did a work: he manifested his insatiable enmity against the woman’s seed by bruising His heel. At the Cross the Lord Jesus did a work: He died—the Just for the unjust that He might bring us to God. At the Cross God did a work: He exhibited His holiness and satisfied His justice by pouring out His wrath on the One who was made sin for us.”
Jesus never lost control on the Cross. He was never out of His head. He suffered terribly for our salvation. God poured out His wrath fully on Christ as He hung on that terrible tree. Jesus became cursed in our place.
(Galatians 3:13-14 NKJV) Christ has redeemed us from THE CURSE OF THE LAW, having BECOME A CURSE FOR US (for it is written, “Cursed [is] everyone who hangs on a tree”), [14] that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
I don’t want to hear any of this pie in the sky “God loves everyone, and all are going to Heaven” nonsense. The Bible is very clear:
(John 3:16-18, 36 NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM should not perish but have everlasting life. [17] For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED. [18] He who believes in Him is not condemned; but HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. … [36] “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE, but THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDES ON HIM.
There is coming a day when you will stand before God. How will you stand? Those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will stand as sons and daughters of God. Why? Because Jesus took our beating. Jesus covered our sins. Jesus brought us peace with God through His agony.
Have you believed on Him? If not, you are daily playing Russian Roulette with a loaded gun. Run to His arms, the One Who gave Himself for you. He is MY HERO. Is He yours?
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Matthew 5: 3-9 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Last Sunday we started looking at the 7 characteristics of the spiritually healthy believer. The King of Kings went up a mountain and sat down. Here He is teaching those who come to Him what is expected of the believer under the New Covenant.
To review, the first four characteristics are:
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the POOR IN SPIRIT: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
1 I am spiritually impoverished before God. I must be born again of God. We all fall far short of God’s holiness, and have no hope of justification before God apart from faith in the Cross of Calvary. None can be saved unless they first repent and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that MOURN: for they shall be comforted.
2 To be saved, one must REPENT. You must realize your natural standing before God, and grieve. This is not a reference to mourning over some sad thing that happened in your earthly experience. It is a reference about grieving for your deficiencies before God, about wanting to be better than you are in God’s presence. Humans are emotional creatures. This is not a reference to worldly sorrow (sorry that you got caught) but a reference to godly sorrow. The Bible says:
(2 Corinthians 7:9-10 KJV) Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that YE SORROWED TO REPENTANCE: for YE WERE MADE SORRY AFTER A GODLY MANNER, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. [10] For GODLY SORROW WORKETH REPENTANCE TO SALVATION not to be repented of: but the SORROW OF THE WORLD WORKETH DEATH.
Repentance is preceded by godly sorrow. Our Lord Jesus said, “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5).
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the MEEK {praos}: for they shall inherit the earth.
3 Those saved by Grace are not wild eyed, but self controlled. To be “meek” (praos) means to have a gentle spirit. To have self control. To be meek doesn’t mean to be weak. Meekness is controlled strength. Not letting someone push your buttons. Trusting that God will look after you. When Jesus was reviled, the Bible says “reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23). The meek understand that God is our Shepherd, and nothing comes to the sheep except it come through Him.
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
4 Those who are saved hunger not for more sin, but for more God. Those who are God’s children by faith pursue not sin, but righteousness. They want to be more like Jesus. To those who pursue righteousness, Jesus said, “they shall be SATURATED {chortazō}”. If you work with God, God will fill your desires.
The reason many who profess Christ are like chaff in the wind is because they have no desire for the righteousness that comes by faith. They saturate themselves with other things. They want to be heroes, but don’t want to work with God the Holy Spirit, so they are only zeroes.
Follow the examples that the ancients have given us. The Prophet said:
(Isaiah 51:1-2 NKJV) Listen to Me, YOU WHO FOLLOW AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, You who seek the LORD: Look to the rock [from which] you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit [from which] you were dug. [2] LOOK TO ABRAHAM YOUR FATHER, And to SARAH WHO BORE YOU; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.
God blessed Abraham for following Him. God gave him and his progeny the Promised Land, while taking it away from the native pagans living there. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness” (1 Corinthians 10:26). It is God Who gives life to all, who sets the boundaries of the people (Acts 17:26; Deuteronomy 32:8).
Though Abraham fell many times, He was constantly looking for God. Abraham stepped out on faith, believing the promise of God. When Lot and his family was abducted by an alliance of four Mesopotamian kings led by Chedorlaomer, King of Elam, ABRAHAM TOOK 318 TRAINED MEN against FOUR COMBINED ARMIES, defeating the Rephaim, Zuzim, Emim, Horites, Amalekites, and Amorites. Destroying massive forces in the Valley of Siddim, Abraham recovered Lot and his family.
God fought for Abraham! Abraham followed God.
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
The Psalmist wrote of God our Father:
(Psalm 18:25-27 NKJV) With the MERCIFUL You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; [26] With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. [27] For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty {rûm, high or lofty, prideful} looks.
God our Father showed us compassion by sending His own Son to the Cross for us. The Holy Spirit, sinless and pure, shows us loving compassion by coming to us and causing us to be born again. Our offenses against God are infinite – something we can never pay back. But the offenses of others toward us are finite.
Not too long ago we studied the Parable of the Wicked Servant in Matthew 18:23-35. In that parable the King (representing God) forgave a servant ten thousand talents, a lifetime of indebtedness. “the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt” (vs 27). But then that same servant went out, and demanded immediate payment of one hundred denarius (a very small sum), and cast his servant in prison when he could not pay. When the King heard about this, Jesus said, “his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” (vs 34-35).
After teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus told us:
(Matthew 6:15 KJV) But if YOU FORGIVE NOT men their trespasses, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES.
At the foot of the Cross our Lord and Savior paid our immeasurable debt against God. As children of the Kingdom of God we are to default to mercy, not retaliation. We are to be like Christ in how we deal with others. Richard Chenevix Trench (1807 – 1886), the author of Synonyms Of The New Testament stated:
“the Christian stands in a middle point, between a mercy received and a mercy yet needed. Sometimes the first is urged upon him as an argument for showing mercy—’forgiving one another, as Christ forgave you’ (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32) … thus, while he is ever to look back on the mercy received as the source and motive of the mercy which he shows, he also looks forward to the mercy which he yet needs, and which he is assured that the merciful… shall receive”
There is not a day that we as believers do not fail God in some way or another. We always need mercy. If we want mercy, God demands that we show mercy daily to those around us. Showing mercy does not mean to justify bad behavior – but it means to “turn the other cheek” rather than raise the fist when you are offended.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the PURE {katharos} in heart: for they shall see God.
Word Study: The word translated “PURE” is the Greek katharos, which means “to be cleansed, freed from corruption, blameless”. When a person comes to Christ, God writes His Law on the hearts of His people. God promised that under the New Covenant:
(Jeremiah 31:33 LSB) But this is the covenant which I will cut with the house of Israel after those days, declares Yahweh: “I WILL PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM, and ON THEIR HEART I WILL WRITE IT; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
In the Book of Hebrews, the Apostle quotes this verse twice (Hebrews 8:10; 10:16) to emphasize that Christianity is not a DIY religion. The Christian is supernaturally changed by God from the inside out. Jesus told the Pharisees:
(Matthew 23:26-28 KJV) [Thou] blind Pharisee, CLEANSE FIRST THAT WHICH IS WITHIN THE CUP AND PLATTER, that the outside of them may be clean also. [27] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited {MAUSOLEUMS}, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men’s] bones, and of all uncleanness. [28] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
If the heart is not given to God, nor cleansed by God, then you shall never see God. A good picture of the cleansed heart is in Enoch and Noah:
(Genesis 5:24 KJV) And ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD: and he [was] not; for God took him.
(Genesis 6:9 KJV) These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] NOAH WALKED WITH GOD.
Those who are pure in heart walk with God daily. They pursue the light, not sin. The Bible says:
(1 John 1:6-7 KJV) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE, and DO NOT THE TRUTH: [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
(1 John 3:6 KJV) Whosoever ABIDETH IN HIM SINNETH NOT: WHOSOEVER SINNETH HATH NOT SEEN HIM, NEITHER KNOWN HIM.
(3 John 1:11 KJV) Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. HE THAT DOETH GOOD IS OF GOD: but HE THAT DOETH EVIL HATH NOT SEEN GOD.
Yes, Christians occasionally step into sin – we are all broken. But the Christian does not pursue nor justify sin. We pursue God. We love Jesus. We know what it cost Jesus to pay for our sins, so we do not chase after nor condone the darkness.
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS: for they shall be called the children of God.
Under the Old Covenant man made peace with God through the animal sacrifices of the Law. The Peace Offering required an animal – male or female – offered without blemish before the Lord. It could be a bullock, or a lamb, or goat without blemish. Regardless as to the animal, before it was killed:
(Leviticus 3:2 NKJV) … And HE SHALL LAY HIS HAND ON THE HEAD OF HIS OFFERING, and kill it [at] the door of the tabernacle of meeting; and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood all around on the altar. (also Leviticus 3:8, 13)
By laying the hands on the head the offering received the judgment of God. It was “an offering made by fire to the Lord” (Leviticus 3:3).Yet not all of the offering was burned. The sacrifice was offered to God, then the worshiper and his family shared in a fellowship meal.
Under the New Covenant, “we have PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST” (Romans 5:1). Under the Old Covenant the animal was brought, the hand laid on the head of the animal, then it’s blood was shed. Under the New Covenant Jesus Christ Himself came forward – of His own accord – to purchase our peace with God. The Bible says:
(Colossians 1:19-23 LSB) For in {Jesus Christ} all the fullness [of God] was pleased to dwell, [20] And THROUGH HIM TO RECONCILE ALL THINGS TO HIMSELF, having MADE PEACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HIS CROSS–through Him–whether things on earth or things in heaven. [21] And although you were FORMERLY ALIENATED AND ENEMIES IN MIND AND IN EVIL DEEDS, [22] but now He RECONCILED YOU IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH THROUGH DEATH, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach– [23] if indeed you continue in the faith firmly grounded and steadfast, and NOT MOVED AWAY FROM THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL, which you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
God the Son “laid down His life for His sheep” (John 10:15). The Father sent the Son, but the Son willingly came.
John 10:19 (HCSB) No one takes {my life} from Me, but I LAY IT DOWN ON MY OWN. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.
Jesus willingly came, and offered Himself for us. When we receive Him as Lord and Savior we are “putting our hand on the head of the Sacrifice”. Jesus doesn’t merely give us peace – HE IS OUR PEACE:
(Ephesians 2:13-16 LSB) But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been BROUGHT NEAR {to God} BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. [14] For HE HIMSELF IS OUR PEACE, who made both [groups] one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition [15] by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, the Law of commandments [contained] in ordinances, so that in Himself He might create the two into one new man, making peace, [16] and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having IN HIMSELF PUT TO DEATH THE ENMITY.
The Lord’s Table is a picture of the Peace Offering. It is at that Table that we drink the Cup, and symbolically eat the flesh of Christ. Jesus told us, “Unless you EAT THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN, AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, you have no life in you” (John 6:53). We have peace with God – not because of our works – but because of Jesus and what He did on Calvary.
Throughout the Old Testament and under the Old Covenant, God was called “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, for- giving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:6). But only in one place do we see God called “The God of Peace”. This is in Judges chapter 6, when God calls Gideon to lead Israel against the Midianites.
Gideon was hiding out in a wine press, thresh wheat there for fear of the Midianites. Amusingly the Bible says:
(Judges 6:12 NKJV) … the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD [is] with you, you mighty man of valor!”
He’s not now a “mighty man of valor”, but God has called him and will make Gideon into one. Gideon argued and doubted that it was God Who he was talking to. Then God had him make a peace offering – “And the Angel of the Lord departed out of Gideon’s sight” (Judges 6:21). Gideon cried out, “Alas, O Lord GOD! For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face”. Then we read:
(Judges 6:23-24 NKJV) Then the LORD said to him, “Peace [be] with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” [24] So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it THE LORD IS PEACE {YHWH-Shalom}
Who was the “Angel of the Lord”? I believe that was an Old Testament manifestation of Jesus. When the Messiah came, He would be “The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). The Psalmist wrote:
Psalm 29:11 The LORD will bless His people with peace.
(Hebrews 13:20-21 KJV) Now THE GOD OF PEACE, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, [21] Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
We who believe in Christ have peace with God. He is the “God of peace”. This is a favorite title that Paul gave God (Romans 15:33; 16:20; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20). Our God is the God of Peace. He seeks to reconcile the world to Himself through faith in Christ.
We are His Peacemakers.
We bring others to the peace of God through sharing the Gospel.
The SEVEN (a number representing completeness) Characteristics of the Spiritually Healthy believer in Christ are in verses 3-9. As God’s “Peacemakers” we should not expect our duties to be easy. The world is locked in the dark grip of sin and Satan. Jesus said:
(John 3:20 LSB) For EVERYONE WHO DOES EVIL HATES THE LIGHT, and does not come to the Light LEST HIS DEEDS BE EXPOSED.
(John 15:19 LSB) If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because YOU ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, but I CHOSE YOU OUT OF THE WORLD, because of this THE WORLD HATES YOU.
Ahab told Jehoshaphat: “ There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh, but I HATE HIM, because HE NEVER PROPHESIES GOOD CONCERNING ME BUT ALWAYS EVIL” (2 Chronicles 18:7 LSB). The Seven Characteristics of the Christian are hated by the world. If we would compromise, if we would compliment and speak the lie that the serpent spake in the Garden of Eden, then the world would love us. We can be a Church – like one who’s sign said out front “YOU belong HERE”. But do you? Have you recognized your way is a waste. Do you realize how broken you are in God’s eyes? Do you realize you are at war with God, and are under His wrath without Jesus? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness, or are you looking for every loophole to justify your sin? Do you have peace with God through Jesus?
These last three verses are a summary of what you can expect from the world if you are Kingdom Minded:
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Jesus repeats Himself, tying verse 10 back to the beginning of the discourse:
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Those who recognize their brokenness and their total inability to fix themselves, they run to Jesus – not to the world. And they will be persecuted for it. If you live RIGHTeously – not to the LEFT of God but RIGHT in His sight – you WILL BE HATED. But you must not hate back. They will do with you just what they did with Jesus.
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall REVILE YOU, and PERSECUTE YOU, and shall SAY ALL MANNER OF EVIL AGAINST YOU FALSELY, FOR MY SAKE.
It’s going to happen. They will tell lies about you. Love them anyway. Do good to them anyway. Tell them about Jesus. Jesus says that our attitude should be to:
Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN: for SO PERSECUTED THEY THE PROPHETS which were before you.
You are not prophets. You are priests of the Kingdom of God (Revelation 1:6). You represent God to the world. Be peacemakers. Lead others to Jesus. Do good, for “GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN”. Amen.
Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash
John 19:25-27 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.
When God led His people Israel out of Egypt it took this ragtag group of ex-slaves about 50 days to get to Sinai (compare Exodus 12:37 to Exodus 19:1-2). God would commemorate their arrival at Sinai by establishing the Feast of Pentecost (also called Shavuot). At Pentecost, Israel went from being Jacob’s family to being God’s nation.
God planted the seed of Israel in Egypt. But God, not Egypt, bore Israel. God made Israel, called Israel, was a Father to Israel, and gave Israel His Law.
God gave Israel the Law, starting with the Ten Commandments. These Ten Commandments would be that basis on which all other laws would be based. I don’t have time to talk about the Ten Commandments today, but I want to focus on the FIFTH Commandment. The first four commandments told Israel to worship the God Who saved them out of Egypt. You should honor the One who bore you – and God gave Israel life. God was a Spiritual Father to Israel. In like manner, each person should honor the physical ones who bore them. This is what the Fifth Commandment tells us.
(Exodus 20:12 ESV) HONOR {kāḇaḏ} your father and your mother, that YOUR DAYS MAY BE LONG in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
Word Study: The Hebrew kāḇaḏ means “to consider valuable, weighty. To respect and honor above ones self”. God’s people are to honor God. God’s people are to honor their parents.
When Pharaoh chased Israel to the Red Sea, God told Moses to “lift up your rod, stretch out your hand over the sea, and I will divide it so Israel can pass through” (Exodus 14:16). Then God said,
(Exodus 14:17-18 NKJV) … I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and THEY SHALL FOLLOW THEM. So I WILL GAIN HONOR {kāḇaḏ} OVER PHARAOH and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. [18] Then the Egyptians shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I HAVE GAINED HONOR {kāḇaḏ} for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
God gave Pharaoh life, and numerous chances to do the right thing. God didn’t ask Pharaoh to LOVE Him – God doesn’t expect the lost to love Him. But God demanded kāḇaḏ, honor and respect. When Pharaoh refused to honor God, he paid the consequence. He and the Army of Egypt drowned in the Red Sea.
When you fail to honor God and fail to honor your parents, it can lead to a shortened lifespan.
Honor. Kāḇaḏ. The first Law that God gave humans insofar as they relate to other humans is that you will HONOR {kāḇaḏ} your father and your mother. God doesn’t demand that you love your parents. God doesn’t even demand that you like your parents. But you are to HONOR your parents. God goes on to say,
that your days MAY BE LONG IN THE LAND that the LORD your God is giving you
This is another way of saying “that you will have a long life”. When Pharaoh and the Egyptians didn’t honor God, their lives were cut short. When children do not honor their parents, their lives will be degraded and very possibly cut short.
This command is brought into the New Covenant. The Apostle wrote:
(Ephesians 6:1-3 NKJV) Children, OBEY YOUR PARENTS IN THE LORD for this is right. [2] Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: [3] that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.
To honor means to be obedient to, to respect. Children are not commanded to be obedient to evil parents, to parents who molest or are godless in behavior. The command is to “obey your parents IN THE LORD”. To respect and follow their lead. This is the foundation of a civilized nation. This is the foundation of the Kingdom of God, the Church. Children learn to honor and respect authority while in the family. Jesus honored His mother even from the Cross.
Mary was an honorable mother. She was a woman who loved the Lord, engaged to be married to a godly man named Joseph, a carpenter. As she prepared to marry Joseph, the Angel Gabriel came to her. The Angel told her…
(Luke 1:28-29 NKJV) … Rejoice, highly favored [one], THE LORD IS WITH YOU; BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN!” [29] But when she saw [him], SHE WAS TROUBLED at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
The Angel revealed to Mary a wondrous thing. She would be the fulfillment of God’s prophecy of Genesis 3:15. God was going to work through this young virgin, and her firstborn Son would be God’s Incarnate Son. God would become flesh through Mary. The Angel told her:
(Luke 1:31-33, 35 NKJV) … you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. [32] “He will be great, and WILL BE CALLED TO SON OF THE HIGHEST; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. [33] “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and OF HIS KINGDOM THERE WILL BE NO END.” … [35] And the angel answered and said to her, “THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL COME UPON YOU, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, THAT HOLY ONE WHO IS TO BE BORN WILL BE CALLED TO SON OF GOD.
God’s Son would be born into the world through Mary. But this puts Mary in a tough position. In her world, to be pregnant prior to marriage is anathema. But Mary trusted God, and believed His Word. She said without hesitation,
“I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be to me according to Your Word!” (Luke 1:38).
The Angel appeared to Joseph, Mary’s betrothed. Joseph honored God, and trusted His will. When both Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem because of the decree of Caesar, they had to lay the newborn Child in a manger. After Jesus was born, according to the requirements of the Law Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple to present Him to the Lord. It was there that an old man named Simeon saw Jesus. Taking Jesus in his arms Simeon said,
(Luke 2:29-32 NKJV) Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; [30] For MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION [31] Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, [32] A light to [bring] revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
Simeon looked – not at Joseph and Mary, but just Mary and said:
(Luke 2:34-35 NKJV) Behold, this [Child] is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against [35] “(YES, A SOUL WILL PIERCE THROUGH YOUR OWN SOUL ALSO), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Mary and Joseph took the family to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover (Luke 2:41). Traveling with a caravan, they went up, then after the Feast ended they returned to Nazareth their home town. But Jesus was missing! He didn’t return with them! The Bible tells us that Mary and Joseph returned to Jerusalem. We read:
(Luke 2:46-49 NKJV) … after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. [47] And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. [48] So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, YOUR FATHER AND I HAVE SOUGHT YOU ANXIOUSLY.” [49] And He said to them, “WHY DID YOU SEEK ME? DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT I MUST BE ABOUT MY FATHER’S BUSINESS?”
That may have hurt Joseph’s feelings, because Joseph was Jesus’ stepfather, a carpenter. But Jesus was not being disrespectful to Joseph His stepfather. Jesus was honoring HIS Father by being at the Temple. The Bible tells us that “Jesus returned with them to Nazareth, AND WAS SUBJECT TO MARY AND JOSEPH” (Luke 2:51). Jesus honored His Heavenly Father. Jesus honored His mother and His stepfather.
We see Mary at the Wedding Feast in Cana of Galilee. Out of wine, Mary asked Jesus to help. Jesus turned water to wine at the request of His mother .… with some resistance.
(John 2:3-4 NKJV) … when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” [4] Jesus said to her, “WOMAN {gynē}, what does your concern have to do with Me? MY HOUR HAS NOT YET COME.”
Preach! It was not time for Jesus to reveal Himself as Messiah. But Jesus honored the request of His mother. He kept the Fifth Commandment.
Though Jesus honored His mother, He never called her “mother” nor even “Mary”. Jesus called her “WOMAN”.
This was not out of disrespect. Mary was the handmaiden of God through whom Jesus was incarnate. But Mary had no special relationship to Jesus insofar as the Kingdom of God is concerned. When Jesus was teaching one day, we read:
(Matthew 12:46-50 NKJV) While {Jesus} was still talking to the multitudes, behold, HIS MOTHER AND BROTHERS stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. [47] Then one said to Him, “Look, YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR BROTHERS ARE STANDING OUTSIDE, seeking to speak with You.” [48] But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “WHO IS MY MOTHER, AND WHO ARE MY BROTHERS?” [49] And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “HERE ARE MY MOTHER AND MY BROTHERS! [50] “For WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN IS MY BROTHER AND SISTER AND MOTHER.”
Jesus was not disrespecting Mary. Jesus was showing honor to His Heavenly Father. There are some in Christendom who believe that Mary is the Queen of Heaven, and that the saints should pray to Mary, and Mary will tell Jesus what to do. This is idolatry. I believe that Jesus looked down through eternity, and only called His mother “WOMAN” to tell us we do not worship or pray to Mary. Mary was saved by faith in God, as we all are. On hearing she would be the vessel of the Messiah, Mary said …
(Luke 1:47-48 NKJV) And MY SPIRIT HAS REJOICED IN GOD MY SAVIOR. [48] For He has regarded the LOWLY ESTATE OF HIS MAIDSERVANT; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
Jesus addresses Mary directly as “WOMAN” twice in the Scripture. Once at the Wedding of Cana. And in today’s messsage, as He hangs on the Cross!
The Lord Jesus warned His disciples:
(Matthew 26:31 KJV) All of you SHALL BE OFFENDED {skandalizō} because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
All of the Apostles would run when Jesus was taken. They would be ashamed – scandalized – to be found in Jesus’ company. They ran because it was not safe to be with Jesus anymore. They were, in short, broken humans. Just like us.
When Jesus was hauled before the Sanhedrin and questioned by the High Priest, the Bible says “he asked Jesus ABOUT HIS DISCIPLES and HIS DOCTRINE” (John 18:19). Jesus said nothing of His disciples. What could He say? Multitudes had followed Him, crowds gathered around Him to hear His Word and be touched by Grace. Now they have reviled Him. The Bible says,
(1 Peter 2:23 NKJV) … when He was reviled, DID NOT REVILE IN RETURN; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but COMMITTED HIMSELF TO HIM WHO JUDGES RIGHTEOUSLY;
It was prophesied that when Jesus died, that
Isaiah 63:3 I have trodden the winepress alone, And from the peoples NO ONE WAS WITH ME.
Matthew 27:55-56 … there were many women there, LOOKING ON FROM AFAR, who had followed Jesus from Galilee … among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James
Those who believed “stood at a distance” (Luke 23:49). None were with Jesus as the spikes were driven into His flesh. None but the soldiers and the thieves who died with Him. None but the mockers, the scoffers, the wicked who made sport of the Messiah. After the Cross was raised some came forward, led by Mary the mother of Jesus.
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.
Three Mary’s are there. At the foot of the Bleeding Savior his mother stands. Her name is first, because she was the first to overcome her fear and lead others to come with her. But the women are not the only ones there. One of the Apostles saw the women come forward, and he came with them.
(John 19:26 KJV) When JESUS THEREFORE SAW HIS MOTHER, AND THE DISCIPLE STANDING BY, WHOM HE LOVED…
Only one disciple came back with Mary. He is called “THE DISCIPLE… WHOM JESUS LOVED”. Who is this man who does not even use his own name? He just calls himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. This nameless disciple was at the Last Supper. Where was he as Jesus and the eleven gathered around the table?
(John 13:23 KJV) Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES, WHOM JESUS LOVED.
He is nearest the Master, leaning into Him for comfort. He is the weakest of the sheep, who want to cling to the Shepherd. After the resurrection Mary Magdalene would return to Christ’s tomb. She would run, and tell two men:
(John 20:2 KJV) Mary Magdalene runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to THE OTHER DISCIPLE, WHOM JESUS LOVED, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him.
Racing to the tomb, the disciple whom Jesus loved would outrun Peter (John 20:4). Why was he faster than Peter? Because he wanted to be near His Lord. When Peter got to the tomb, he was puzzled at the empty linen clothes and the napkin wrapped together. Peter was puzzled. But the disciple whom Jesus loved, the Bible says:
(John 20:8 KJV) Then went in also that OTHER DISCIPLE, WHICH CAME FIRST to the sepulcher, and HE SAW, AND BELIEVED.
Who is this “disciple whom Jesus loved”? His name is never mentioned in the Book of John. He is humble. His identification is simply “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. We find out who he is at the end of this book. As the Book of John ends, Jesus tells Peter that he would eventually die crucifixion (John 21:18-19). After receiving this news, Peter turns and looks. We read:
(John 21:20-22, 24 NKJV) .. Peter, turning around, SAW THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED FOLLOWING, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper… [21] Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But LORD, WHAT ABOUT THIS MAN?” [22] Jesus said to him, “IF I WILL THAT HE REMAIN UNTIL I COME, what [is that] to you? You follow Me.” … [24] THIS IS THE DISCIPLE WHO TESTIFIES OF THESE THINGS, AND WROTE THESE THINGS; and we know that his testimony is true.
John is the disciple whom Jesus loved. In his fear, this little lamb ran away with the other disciples when the soldiers came. He stood far off with the women, rather than near to his Master. But when Mary the mother of Jesus came forward, the disciple whom Jesus loved came and stood with her. He came back to where he should have been all along – near to the Great Shepherd of our souls.
Let’s return to the foot of the Cross. Jesus is the eldest Son of Mary, the Son of God Almighty, the Savior of the world. On the Cross He is bringing us eternal redemption. But as He looks down from that Cross, Jesus sees His mother. As the eldest Son living, it is His responsibility to care for His mother. Joseph is gone. All have run away. We read:
(John 19:26-27 KJV) 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 THE DISCIPLE TOOK HER INTO HIS OWN HOME.
When John returned to the Master’s side, Jesus did not rebuke him for running away. He gave His mother to John to care for. He commanded His mother to receive John as if he were her own – and for John to care for Mary as his own mother. What a blessed commission.
Jesus will soon die, and will lay in a grave for three days and three nights. At the end of that time, Peter and John will race to the empty tomb. Going into the tomb, Peter will be puzzled, but John will believe. The Bible tells us that …
(John 20:10 KJV) Then the disciples went away again UNTO THEIR OWN HOME.
Jesus put Mary in John’s care. John took her into his own home. As soon as he believed at the empty tomb, John hastened to go home to see Mary, to tell her what would mend her broken heart. Jesus is alive. The tomb is empty. Death is defeated. Your Son is, indeed, the Son of God.
Preach! Have you ever wondered why all of the disciples but John died at the hands of men? Some died by sword. Paul was beheaded. Peter and Andrew crucified. Thomas speared to death. Philip hanged. James the Less thrown from the Temple and beaten to death. Simon sawn in two. But John – the disciple whom Jesus loved – died naturally, of old age. Why?
Preach! Because Jesus gave John a duty at the foot of that Cross. He was to look after Mary until she died. Jesus told Peter that he would die by crucifixion, but that the disciple whom He loved would live until He returned. And John did. John saw Jesus on Patmos, and some time after that passed into glory.
John and Mary stood by the Cross. And it was at the Cross that blessing came. I want to end with these words from A.W. Pink:
Mary stood by the Cross. And as she stood there, the Savior exclaimed, “Woman, behold thy Son” (John 19:26). There, summed up in a single word, is expressed the need of every descendant of Adam – to turn they eye away from the world, off from self, and to look by faith to the Savior that dioed for sinners. There is the divine epitome of the Way of salvation. Deliverance from the wrath to come, forgiveness of sins, acceptance with God, is obtained not by deed of merit, not by good works, not by religious ordinances; No, salvation comes by Beholding – ‘Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world’. … There is life in a look … Have you seen Him dying on the Cross, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God? Mary the mother of Christ needed to ‘behold’ Him, and so do you. Then look, look unto Christ and be ye saved.”
Honor the Father by honoring the Son. Believe on Him, receive Him at the foot of the Cross, and follow Him both today and every day into eternity. Amen.
Photo by Vlad Kiselov on Unsplash
(Matthew 5:3-9 KJV) Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4] Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. [5] Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. [6] Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. [7] Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. [8] Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God. [9] Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
The Bible tells us that Jesus,
Matthew 4:23 Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom
As Jesus preached, the broken and hurt came to Him – and Jesus healed them all. Some were diseased. Some were demon possessed. Some were demented. The Bible tells us that great multitudes followed Him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and Jordan. Everybody wanted to be near Jesus. Then Jesus does something unexpected.
While in Galilee (Matthew 4:23) Jesus went up into a mountain.
There are a dozen mountains near the Sea of Galilee. We don’t know what mountain Jesus went up – the Bible doesn’t tell us – but the fact that He went up a mountain is significant. The Bible says:
(John 1:17 NKJV) For THE LAW was given through Moses, [but] GRACE AND TRUTH came through Jesus Christ.
Under the Old Covenant Moses went up Mount Sinai, and there God gave him the Law. The Law was not given to save us, but to lead us to understand we need the Savior. The Bible is very clear that “no one is made right with God by the works of the Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16). “By the deeds of the Law no flesh is justified in God’s sight. The LAW GIVES KNOWLEDGE OF SIN” (Romans 3:20). Israel was not saved by the Law, but by faith in God. The Law was given to teach Israel – and us – that our works do not make us right in God’s eyes. “The LAW WAS OUR SCHOOLMASTER to BRING US TO CHRIST, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).
Moses went up a mountain and came down with the Law, a Law which cannot save but diagnoses. Jesus went up a mountain and sat down to teach. God was not giving a diagnostic Law through Jesus. God the Son was going to teach His followers how to be blessed by Grace.
(Matthew 5:3 KJV) BLESSED {makarios}
Word Study: There are two Greek words to note blessing from God. One word, eulogeō, means to be outwardly blessed. This word is used by Jesus in Matthew 5:44, “BLESS {eulogeō, outwardly bless} those who curse you”, telling us that when people outwardly mistreat you, you should outwardly do good to them. When Jesus “BLESSED” food before He had the disciples distribute it (Matthew 14:19), once more we see eulogeō used. Jesus did this so that it was seen. To contrast this, the word we see used today in the beginning of Jesus’ sermon is makarios, which means to be inwardly blessed. Jesus is going to give us the seven characteristics of the spiritually healthy believer.
When Jesus went up the mountain, people had to follow Him up the mountain to hear Him. Jesus sat down to teach. Where did His the people sit? I suspect – knowing human nature – some sat or stood above Jesus on the mountain, trying to hear what He said. Where did those who wanted to learn sit? We are told:
Matthew 5:1 … His disciples CAME UNTO HIM
Sheep come to the Shepherd. The Pharisees and Sadducees probably came and stood above Jesus, judging His every word. But Jesus sat down to teach … and His people sat down also.
There is no blessing without sitting down and shutting up! When Jesus fed the 5000 hungry followers what was His first command?
(Matthew 14:19 NKJV) Then HE COMMANDED THE MULTITUDES TO SIT DOWN on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
There is no feeding, there is no blessing from God until you SIT DOWN. I see people disfiguring themselves on their faces with tattoos and scars and rings. These people are trying to remake themselves without God. That which drives them is the demon within.
(Matthew 5:3 KJV) Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed [are] the POOR IN SPIRIT”. God is not talking about the poor in physical things. It is “POOR IN SPIRIT”. Those who realize how badly they need help. They have tried living life their way, and failed miserably. As the Psalmist said:
Psalm 40:17 I AM POOR AND NEEDY; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my Help and my Deliverer; MAKE NO TARRYING, O my God.
The reason that David was “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22) because he realized that his only hope was the God of scripture. David failed God many times. When David was fleeing Saul and was found by Achish, King of Gath, David let fear take control. The Bible says:
(1 Samuel 21:13 LSB) {David} disguised his sanity in their sight and acted insanely in their hands and scribbled on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down into his beard.
God had promised that David would be King. But in fear he sought to save himself – and shamefully did so. At one point David lost faith in God’s promise, and “said in his heart, I shall now PERISH ONE DAY BY THE HAND OF SAUL” (1 Samuel 27:1). Once David became King the Bible says David numbered Israel (2 Samuel 24:2) though Joab his general warned him not to do so. David committed adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:3-4) and had her husband murdered (2 Samuel 11:14-15). When David’s son Amnon raped Tamar (2 Samuel 13:21) David was angry, but did nothing to punish the boy. In fact, his lax parenting led Absalom to rebel against David, trying to seize the throne (2 Samuel 15:1-14). His poor parenting eventually led to the death of both Amnon and Absalom.
Though David failed repeatedly, each time God disciplined him he REPENTED, saying “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13). David sat down at the feet of Jesus, and cast his sin upon the Master.
The phrase “POOR IN SPIRIT” refers to a frame of mind, a person who is humble before God, a person who realizes how low they are in God’s presence. Salvation cannot come unless a person is “POOR IN SPIRIT”. It is a state of humility, of lowliness, a self emptying conviction that we cannot fix ourselves. We must have Jesus.
Jesus started with this “BLESSED”, because this is the foundation of being blessed by Christ. Who were those who came to Jesus? People who had exhausted all resources, and were now giving up. The diseased, demon possessed, demented. When someone is “POOR IN SPIRIT”, they are ready to lay down any resistance, and to come humbled to God for blessing. It is like the woman with the issue of blood. The Bible says:
Mark 5:26 {she} suffered MANY THINGS OF MANY PHYSICIANS, and had SPENT ALL THAT SHE HAD, and was NOTHING BETTERED, but rather grew worse
The woman in her pride tried everything – EVERYTHING – until she lost everything. Then she came to Jesus. She emptied herself of herself, and surrendered to the “Shepherd and Bishop of our souls” (1 Peter 2:25).
Jesus can bless you and give you peace, but first you must empty yourself of yourself. You must be “poor in spirit” before God.
– The Samaritan woman at the well “had FIVE HUSBANDS, and was living with a man not her husband” (John 4:18). She thought she could fix herself with the right man. The only right Man is Jesus. Finding Him, she was made whole.
– The man born blind was only healed when he “washed in the pool of Siloam” (John 9:7). After he was healed, and cast out of the Temple by the Pharisees, the Bible says that Jesus came to him “and he worshiped Him” (John 9:38).
– The official Jairus, whose daughter was sick. He came to Jesus only when he was “POOR IN SPIRIT”, as his daughter “lay at the point of death” (Mark 5:23).
“POOR IN SPIRIT” means to operate through the Spirit of God, just as Jesus did. Though God Incarnate, Jesus “cast out demons by the Spirit of God” (Matthew 12:28). Jesus was “led of the Spirit” (Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:1), though Jesus Christ is GOD (John 1:1; 20:28; Hebrews 1:8; Titus 2:13; Colossians 2:9; 1:15-17). The Bible tells us to imitate Christ:
Philippians 2:5-9 LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS: 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. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name..
To be “POOR IN SPIRIT” is to surrender your mind to God. To stop making yourself the center of the universe. To serve God with all your heart. Just as Jesus did.
(Matthew 5:3 KJV) Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
There is only one Throne in Heaven. You see it in the Book of Revelation:
(Revelation 4:2, 10-11 LSB) … A THRONE WAS STANDING IN HEAVEN, and ONE SITTING ON THE THRONE [10] the twenty-four elders WILL FALL DOWN BEFORE HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE, and will WORSHIP HIM WHO LIVES FOREVER AND EVER, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, [11] “Worthy are You, OUR LORD AND OUR GOD, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Who is in this Throne? It is Jesus. Jesus is the manifest member of the Godhead. Jesus said:
(Revelation 3:21 LSB) He who overcomes, I will grant to him to SIT DOWN WITH ME ON MY THRONE, as I also overcame and SAT DOWN WITH MY FATHER ON HIS THRONE.
Jesus is on the Throne in Heaven (Hebrews 1:8). Jesus is sitting on this mountain as a King. And Jesus says,
(Matthew 5:3 KJV) Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Heaven belongs to the poor in spirit – not the arrogant. This is the foundation of salvation. This is the foundation of blessing in Christ.
(Matthew 5:4 KJV) Blessed [are] THEY THAT MOURN: for they shall be comforted.
This is not a reference to the mourning that comes from suffering or loss in this life. Jesus uses the word “BLESSED” (makarios) to tie all these teachings together. Once you realize your spiritual destitution, how lowly you are before God, you MOURN YOUR CONDITION. We see this several times in the Scripture.
When Elijah became frightened at the threat of Jezebel (1 Kings 19:2-3), he let fear drive him into the wilderness. Once he stopped running, Elijah came face to face with his own weakness, his failure before God. At that point Elijah prayed, saying:
(1 Kings 19:4 LSB) .. It is enough; now, O Yahweh, TAKE MY LIFE, for I AM NOT BETTER THAN MY FATHERS ..
Elijah mourned his failure, and wanted to die. But God sustained him by sending an angel to feed him (1 Kings 19:5-6), and sent him on to Mount Horeb (here’s another mountain!). On the mountain, God comforted Elijah. He told Elijah:
(1 Kings 19:15-16, 18 LSB) .. Yahweh said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and you will arrive and ANOINT HAZAEL KING OVER ARAM; [16] and JEHU the son of Nimshi YOU SHALL ANOINT KING OVER ISRAEL and ELISHA the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah YOU SHALL ANOINT A PROPHET IN YOUR PLACE. … [18] “Yet I WILL LEAVE 7000 IN ISRAEL, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
Elijah mourned his spiritual lowliness – but God comforted Him. And again, when the Prophet Isaiah looked into Heaven and saw God he cried out:
(Isaiah 6:5 LSB) Woe is me, for I am ruined! For I AM A MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS, And I LIVE AMONG A PEOPLE OF UNCLEAN LIPS; For my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of hosts.
What did God to to comfort Him? The Bible says “one of the angels flew to me with a burning coal from the altar of God” (Isaiah 6:1, 6-7). Touching hip lips, Isaiah’s “iniquity is taken away, and his sin purged”. Only God can purge sin. When we mourn, God will comfort us. He comforts us through the Cross of Christ.
(Matthew 5:5 KJV) Blessed [are] the MEEK {praus, adjective}: for THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH.
Word Study: The word rendered “MEEK” does not mean humble, but it means “to have a gentle spirit, to have a mild disposition”. Jesus used the noun form praos to describe Himself. He said:
(Matthew 11:29 KJV) Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am MEEK {praos} and lowly in heart: and YE SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
Jesus was confident, trusting in the Word of God and the calling that was put on His life. Jesus epitomized strength under control. The “MEEK” are those who know who THEY are, know who GOD is, and stand fast on what God has said. They are confident, not in themselves, but in the power of God to overcome any challenge they meet.We are not to be arrogant with the unbeliever, but certain in the knowledge Christ can save whosoever will. The Bible says for the Christ follower ,,,
(Titus 3:2-5 LSB) … to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate, demonstrating all GENTLENESS {prautēs, meekness} to all men. [3] For WE OURSELVES WERE ONCE FOOLISH, DISOBEDIENT, DECEIVED, ENSLAVED to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. [4] But when the kindness and affection of God our Savior appeared, [5] HE SAVED US, not by works which we did in righteousness, but ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes were all arrogant in their faith. But Jesus was “MEEK”, emphasizing the power of God to save. We are only saved because God in His mercy saved us. Period.
(Matthew 5:6 KJV) Blessed [are] they which do HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS: for they shall be filled (chortazō, saturated).
Those who are saved by Grace, who realize they are spiritually deficit, hunger for righteousness. We despise the sin that so easily besets us.
(Isaiah 51:1-2 NKJV) Listen to Me, YOU WHO FOLLOW AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, You who seek the LORD: Look to the rock [from which] you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit [from which] you were dug. [2] Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah [who] bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.
God blessed Abraham for following Him. God gave him and his progeny the Promised Land, while taking it away from the native pagans living there. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness” (1 Corinthians 10:26). It is God Who gives life to all, who sets the boundaries of the people (Acts 17:26; Deuteronomy 32:8).
When Joshua followed God and led Israel into the Promised Land, God promised him:
(Joshua 1:3, 5 NKJV) Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. … [5] NO MAN SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND BEFORE YOU ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE; as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
Joshua trusted and followed God’s directives – and God blessed him. Other than the failure of Achan at Ai (Joshua 6-7), Joshua was undefeated. And Joshua was not responsible for Ai. Sin in the camp destroyed the people of God. When Joshua retired, he told Israel:
(Joshua 24:14-15 LSB) So now, fear Yahweh and serve Him in integrity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve Yahweh. [15] If it is evil in your sight to serve Yahweh, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE YAHWEH.”
The way to blessing is to seek righteousness – to do that which God tells you to do. Let us endeavor to do this while we live on this earth.
We will return to the Beatitudes next week. Amen.
Photo by Sebastien Gabriel on Unsplash
Last week we saw Jesus’ first sermon from the Cross, where He prayed for us:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”
This week we are looking at His second sermon, a message He preached to a dying thief. Jesus told him:
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.
There are things that we as humans believe about God and Heaven that are just untrue. We believe that only good people go to Heaven. We believe that “There are good people, and bad people”. We believe that God judges us on a scale, and if our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds, we go to Heaven.
That’s not true.
Our Lord Jesus has said in Matthew 19:17 … there are NONE GOOD, but ONE, THAT IS GOD
The Apostle Paul wrote quoting Psalm 14:1-3 and Psalm 53:1-3:
(Romans 3:10-12 LSB) 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 WORTHLESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.
A popular liberal talking point is to “Defund The Police” and “Get rid of prisons”. This is based on the thought that people are generally good. The Bible doesn’t support this myth.
Even the word penitentiary – a word we use for prisons – is a myth. According to the dictionary, “penitentiary comes from the Latin roots paenitentia (repentance) and paenitere (to regret or be sorry), evolving through church terminology into a term for a house of correction.” It was a place where someone was to be sentenced until they repented of their sins. Guess what? It doesn’t work. The Law of man and the Law of God cannot fix the human heart. The Apostle said:
(Romans 3:19-20 LSB) Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are in the Law, so that EVERY MOUTH MAY BE SHUT and ALL THE WORLD MAY BECOME ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD; [20] because BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW NO FLESH WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT, for THROUGH THE LAW COMES THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.
Preach: The Law points out sin – but it cannot fix it. As we look at this Hill called Calvary today, we see three Crosses. Two of the Crosses are methods of execution, occupied by criminals who violated the Laws of humanity. But the man in the middle is innocent. His Judge Pilate said, “I find NO FAULT in this Man” (Luke 23:4). The Bible tells us that when Pilate found out Jesus was from Galilee:
Luke 23:7 … as soon as {Pilate} knew that {Jesus} belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction {Galilee}, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
Herod examined Jesus, and mocked Him, but sent Jesus back to Pilate because HE COULD FIND NO LEGAL FAULT in Him. Pilate told Jesus’ accusers:
Luke 23:14-15 … I, having examined Him before you, have FOUND NO FAULT IN THIS MAN touching those things whereof ye accuse Him: 15 No, NOR YET HEROD: for I sent you to him; and, lo, NOTHING WORTHY OF DEATH IS DONE UNTO {Jesus}.
Had Herod found a legal reason to execute Jesus, he would have done so immediately. Herod mocked Jesus, made fun of Jesus, dressed Him in purple robes, but sent Him back to Pilate.
I don’t think I can impress on you, dear listener, how horrible a cancer sin is. Sin starts in one person, and spreads like a disease to others. Judas betrayed Jesus, and this betrayal spread outward to all but one of the Apostles. All abandoned Jesus as He headed toward the Cross. The Pharisees started sinning against Jesus because He called them to repentance. From the Pharisees, the sin of rejecting Christ spread to the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders (Matthew 22:52). Then the religious leadership, bathed in sin, incited the crowd that just a few days before were praising God for Jesus. The Bible tells us:
Luke 23:1 … the whole MULTITUDE {plēthos, great number, huge crowd} OF THEM AROSE, and led him unto Pilate.
What started with a few sinners has grown into a mob. Sin has made a mob. The mob doesn’t care. It doesn’t listen to reason. The mob mentality is “Let’s kill Jesus”. Why? They can’t tell you. Pilate is astonished. Here is an innocent Man the mob wants to kill. The Bible says:
Luke 23:20-24 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. 22 And he said unto them the THIRD TIME, Why, WHAT EVIL HATH HE DONE? I have FOUND NO CAUSE OF DEATH IN HIM: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. 23 And THEY WERE INSTANT {epikeimai, imposed themselves, were insistent} WITH LOUD VOICES, requiring that He might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
Peter denied Jesus THREE TIMES before the cock crowed, just as our Lord prophesied. But PILATE tried THREE TIMES to stand up for Jesus and justice. He was shouted down.
Then the Bible says “Pilate gave sentence that it should be AS THEY REQUIRED” (vs 24). Sin has twisted the Law of Man. Jesus is not sentenced as the Law of Rome required. He is sentenced as the sin diseased crowd demands. Sin creeps in, and rips apart the Law. Release Barabbas, but execute Jesus!
So the Man on the middle Cross is there unjustly, according to human laws. When the Law was given at Sinai, it was “Tables of stone, written on both their sides … written with the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:10). The hands that wrote the Law that Israel has broken this day, those hands are nailed to that center Cross. The Bible foretells us that the Messiah would be “numbered with the Transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). He is numbered with the Transgressors, but He is not one of them.
All three men are on the Cross because of sin. The “two other, MALEFACTORS {kakourgos, evil doers}, led with {Jesus} to be put to death” were sinners who violated Rome’s Laws. They are going to the Cross because of their sins. These men are called “MALEFACTORS”, literally EVIL DOERS. Pilate didn’t question their executions. But for Jesus Pilate asked, “What EVIL did Jesus DO? What is the fruit of His lawlessness?” Beloved, Jesus is not going to the Cross because of His sins. He is going to the Cross FOR OUR SINS.
It is man’s sin that perverted justice, and nailed an innocent Man to the Tree. It is for the cancer of sin that Jesus is executed that day. BEHOLD, the LAMB OF GOD Who TAKES AWAY THE SIN of the world!
What the Law could not do – and can never do – Jesus accomplished on that middle Cross. The Bible says:
(1 Peter 2:21-25 LSB) For to this you have been called, since CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED FOR YOU … WHO DID NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; [23] who being reviled, was not reviling in return; while suffering, He was uttering no threats, but kept entrusting [Himself] to Him who judges righteously. [24] Who Himself BORE OUR SINS IN HIS BODY ON THE TREE, so that having died to sin, we might live to righteousness; by His WOUNDS YOU WERE HEALED. [25] For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to THE SHEPHERD AND OVERSEER OF YOUR SOULS.
The cure for the disease of sin is the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. His wounds healed us from the slavery of sin. When we receive Him as Lord and Savior, we walk with Him. He is our Shepherd, we are His sheep. The Bible says:
(Galatians 3:10-14 LSB) For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse, for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM.” [11] Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident, for “THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” [12] However, the Law is not of faith; rather, “HE WHO DOES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.” [13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us–for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”– [14] in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
The Law sets the standard. But the Law does not correct the heart. The Law does not make one righteous. The testimony of the Bible is that “no one is justified by the Law before God”. Jesus is on that Cross because of sin, but not because of HIS sin, but because of MY sin and YOUR sin. He is bearing the punishment for sin. He is bearing the punishment for sin for those two thieves crucified with Him. He is bearing the punishment for sin for the mocking crowd.
We are all born thieves!
A.W. Pink wrote: “We have to be abased before we can be exalted. We have to be stripped of the filthy rags of our self righteousness before we are ready for the garments of salvation. We have to come to God as beggars, empty handed, before we can receive the gift of eternal life … we have to acknowledge ourselves as thieves before we can have a place in the family of God … The sinner dissipates his strength and wastes his time in the pleasures of sin. He has robbed God.”
Why are there TWO MALEFACTORS, two evil doers hanging on either side of Jesus? Because sin loves a crowd. The Apostle warned the Church at Corinth:
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: ‘BAD COMPANY RUINS GOOD MORALS.’
God warned Israel not to intermarry with unbelievers, for the unbeliever will pull you down to their level. The sinner who loves sin is like leaven or yeast in bread. “A little leaven, leavens the whole lump” (1 Corinthians 5:6). There are two evil doers, and both know one another. They are not strangers, but partners in crime, perhaps friends. One said, “Why don’t we ____”, and the other thought about it and said “Yes! Let’s do that”. Now they are caught, and hanging next to Jesus. When Jesus spoke His first words from the Cross,
Luke 23:34 … Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Those thieves heard it. As the crowd passes by, the thieves hear how Jesus is attacked. We are told in another Gospel:
Matthew 27:38-43 Then were there TWO THIEVES crucified with {Jesus}, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 And they that passed by REVILED HIM, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. IF thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross. 41 Likewise also the CHIEF PRIESTS MOCKING HIM, WITH THE SCRIBES AND ELDERS, said, 42 He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the Cross, and WE WILL BELIEVE HIM. 43 He trusted in God; let {God} deliver Him now, if {God} will have Him: for {Jesus} said, I am the Son of God.
The crowd is mocking. They are making fun of Jesus. They revile Him as He prays for their forgiveness. And what of the thieves, the malefactors. The Bible tells us:
Matthew 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with Him, CAST THE SAME IN HIS TEETH.
The two friends, two thieves, two evil doers “CAST THE SAME IN HIS TEETH”. They are suffering as badly as Jesus is. Their bodies are nailed to crosses, and they cannot get loose. But their hearts are nailed to sin, to evil. The crowd yelled out:
Mark 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.
We’ll believe if You’ll just get down, Jesus. And what of the thieves on either side of Jesus?
Mark 15:32 … And they that were crucified with {Jesus} reviled Him.
Both thieves joined in with the mob, mocking and spitting on Jesus. But then something miraculous happens. The Holy Spirit moved on their hearts. Here is a mystery. Both of these thieves, these malefactors, are on the Cross because they have violated man’s Law. Both are hardened criminals. The Holy One touches both – but only one responds. One thief says:
Luke 23:39 … If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
But then his friend speaks up. God has been working on his heart. He says:
Luke 23:40 Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
God had been working on his heart. He knew that there was a future life where retribution would be given by God. He tells his companion, “Don’t you fear God? Don’t you know that judgment is coming?” He has just heard Jesus pray “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing”, and the Father responded. He sent the Holy Spirit to “convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8). This thief came face to face with impending judgment. This thief acknowledged his sin, saying:
Luke 23:41 … And WE INDEED JUSTLY; for we RECEIVE THE DUE REWARD of our deeds:
He admits he is a sinner, that what is happening to him on that Cross is not society’s fault, nor his companion’s fault, but HIS fault. He recognizes he is a transgressor, deserving of death. He goes on to say:
Luke 23:41 … but this Man hath done nothing amiss.
The thief sees Jesus as sinless. And Jesus was and is sinless. Jesus was “in all points TEMPTED LIKE WE ARE, yet WITHOUT SIN” (Hebrews 4:15). After Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, he declared “I have sinned in that I have betrayed THE INNOCENT BLOOD” (Matthew 27:3-4). The difference between this thief and Judas (who was also a thief – see John 12:4-6) was that Judas was sorry within himself that he had betrayed Jesus. The thief repented before God, and stood apart from the crowd to glorify Jesus.
Beloved, repentance is more than just feeling sorry for what you did. Judas killed himself after feeling sorry for what he did. Repentance acknowledges that you are a sinner worthy of death. Repentance is when you release all other means, and reach out to Jesus in faith.
The thief turned his heart toward Jesus. Notice his words:
Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, LORD, remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom.
The thief heard Jesus pray “Father, forgive them”. The Holy Spirit caused him to realize that Jesus is the Savior. But more than this, Jesus is LORD. The Bible says:
1 Corinthians 12:3 … NO ONE CAN SAY, “JESUS IS LORD,” EXCEPT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The Holy Spirit has opened this man’s spiritual eyes. He realizes that Jesus is Lord. Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, preaching from Joel 2:32:
Acts 2:21 … it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.
And Paul preached,
Romans 10:12-13 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “EVERYONE WHO CALLS UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
Jesus is Lord. He is “the Savior of HIS PEOPLE” (Matthew 1:21). Before this moment, the thief’s companion was his Lord. The crowd was his Lord. The thief himself was his Lord. But now he humbles himself. “LORD, remember me”.
Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, LORD, remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom.
Jesus is a King with a Kingdom. On the Cross, the only crown upon Jesus’ head was a crown of thorns. There is a sign above His head that reads,
Luke 23:38 … a superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews.
The thief says, “Lord, when you come into Your Kingdom”. He believed beyond that moment. And he asked Jesus simply, “remember me”. Just think about me, dear Jesus. Pray for me as I stand before the Almighty, and receive the punishment I so richly deserve.
The Crosses were only a few feet apart, and both Jesus and the unrepentant thief could hear and respond. What would Jesus respond? Would He say, “You have waited too long. You should have come to Me sooner!” Did Jesus do that. No. Jesus said:
(John 6:37 LSB) All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and THE ONE WHO COMES TO ME I WILL NEVER CAST OUT.
As Jesus was being reviled, He did not respond. As He was being cursed, He ignored their curses. But as this thief prays, Jesus hears. The Bible says, “NOW is the acceptable time. NOW is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2). The thief’s spiritual eyes are opened. His hands and feet are nailed to the Cross. He can do no good work. He can go no where to serve God. His body is immobilized in agony and suffering. But his heart goes out to Jesus. His lips confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. Jesus prayed for him when He said, “Father, forgive them”. The Holy Spirit opened the thief’s eyes. And Jesus, seeing his heart, responded:
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, TODAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.
Jesus will do more than remember him. Before the day ends, the thief will be with Jesus in Paradise. Jesus said,
John 12:26 If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and WHERE I AM, THERE SHALL ALSO MY SERVANT BE: if any man serve Me, him will my Father honor.
And one of my favorite Scriptures,
John 14:3 if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and RECEIVE YOU TO MYSELF; that WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO.
This thief would be the first person saved by the Blood of the Cross. He is the first of the New Covenant. Those under the Old Covenant were saved by believing on the Jesus Who was to come. Today we are saved, like this thief, by calling on the name of the Crucified Christ. The thief asked just to be remembered, but Jesus promised he would be with the Messiah in glory.
What happened to the thieves after Jesus died? Since the next day was a High Sabbath, the first day of Unleavened Bread (John 19:31), the Jews went to Pilate and asked that those who were hung on the Cross be killed before the sunset. The soldiers did this by breaking the legs of the crucified. If their legs were broken, they could not push themselves up to exhale – and they would suffocate. The Bible says:
John 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first {thief}, and of the other {thief} which was crucified with Jesus.
The thief that rejected Christ as Lord and Savior suffered the hell of the Cross. Then his kneecaps were smashed with a sledgehammer, and his body dropped. After a few minutes, he died in agony. And like the rich man “in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments” (Luke 16:23). He went from hell on earth, to hell beyond earth. He played with sin until that cancer took his body and his soul. Lord have mercy!
But the thief who received Christ as Lord and Savior suffered the hell of the Cross. Then his kneecaps were smashed with a sledgehammer, and his body dropped. And, like Lazarus the poor believing man “he is comforted” (Luke 16:25). He is with Jesus in Paradise. It was this blessed expectation that caused the Apostle Paul – knowing he would be beheaded in Rome – to say:
Philippians 1:23 {I have} a desire TO DEPART, AND TO BE WITH CHRIST; which is far better …
When a believer leaves this life – even if through the worst of circumstances – we depart to be with Jesus in Paradise. As A.W. Pink wrote:
“The moment a sinner believes, that moment is he “made meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:12). “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified”. (Hebrews 10:14). Our fitness for Christ’s presence , as well as our title, rests solely on His shed blood.”
Do you know Him?
“Three crosses on a lonely hill,
A thief on either side;
And in between the Son of God,
How wide the gulf, how wide!”
Photo by The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Unsplash
(John 13:34-35 KJV) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [35] By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
When I was in the Air Force we often had to go out to the gun range to “qualify”. Qualification consisted of 8 hours of instruction on handling a firearm. The first thing you always did was sight in your weapon. You’d aim at the target, fire a test round, then adjust your sights to correct for the drift of the bullet. You learned to breath, how to control yourself so that you could hit the target. If you were off target, you could die in a fight. If you’re off target you can’t win a battle. You’re a casualty!
We live in an off target world!
People stare at their phones rather than talking to one another. I’ve seen a family of five sitting in a restaurant, all ignoring one another while locked onto their phones. Technology is destroying the family, the place where children used to be taught how to live in civilized society.
Medicine – which should be helping and healing people – several years ago started “surgically correcting” children who felt they were born the wrong gender. Children need to be taught and loved, not scarred and mutilated in the name of progress. Several years ago I heard of a man named Thomas Beatie who became pregnant in 2007. Beatie has had THREE children since then. The Guinness Book of world records notes that Thomas Beatie is the first man to give birth in Bend, Oregon (USA) on June 29, 2008. Isn’t that amazing. But as Paul Harvey would say …. “Here’s the rest of the story”. When this individual was born, SHE was born Tracy Lagondino. Tracy underwent chest reconstruction surgery, and was legally recognized by the State of Hawaii as a man, allowing HER birth certificate to be amended. Because “Thomas” wanted to have children, SHE never had her female reproductive system removed. Even with surgery, a female has two X chromosomes, and is scientifically still a female – though the law allowed recognition of this person as a male.
That’s off target!
The world lives in a state of confusion created by sin itself. Someone should have told Tracy Lagondino before being medically altered to Thomas Beatie that men don’t have babies – women do. No one told Tracy/Thomas because the world itself is covered in the darkness of sin. Satan doesn’t want the world to see the truth. We are told in:
(2 Corinthians 4:3-4 ESV) … OUR GOSPEL IS VEILED, it is VEILED TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING. [4] In their case the god of this world has BLINDED THE MINDS OF THE UNBELIEVERS, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
The Christian and the Church are a people that have have seen Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Bible says:
(Colossians 1:13-14 ESV) {God} has DELIVERED US FROM THE DOMAIN OF DARKNESS and TRANSFERRED US TO THE KINGDOM OF HIS BELOVED SON, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
We live in a dark and sin confused world. The world is off target because it is without Christ. Sadly, many churches are off target. Too many churches today think that they are service organizations like the Lion’s Club, the Rotarians, The Kiwanis, or the Masons. Service organizations do good, but many of them compromise with the dark world in order to function. The church is something else.
Though we do good, the Church is “The Kingdom of God’s Beloved Son”. The Church’s job is not to entertain, nor is it a political headquarters. The Church is to be the manifestation of Heaven on earth. The Apostle defines the Church in:
(1 Peter 2:9-10 LSB) But you are A CHOSEN FAMILY, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR [God’s] OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; [10] for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
We are the Family and Kingdom of God. We preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We adhere to “God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Anyone can be saved if that person REPENT and RECEIVE the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.
People are fond of saying “God is love”. Yes, this is in the Scripture. But this is only part of the quoted text. The whole text is this:
(1 John 4:7-12 LSB) Beloved, let us love one another, for LOVE IS FROM GOD; and EVERYONE WHO LOVES HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD AND KNOWS GOD. [8] The one who DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD, because God is love. [9] By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. [10] In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, IF GOD SO LOVED US, WE OUGHT ALSO TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. [12] No one has beheld God at any time; IF WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER, GOD ABIDES IN US, and His love is perfected in us.
An active love is the proof that God has caused a person to be born again. A person who says “I love God”, and yet shows no love toward their brother or sister IS JUST AS CONFUSED AS TRACY LAGONDINO/ THOMAS BEATIE. This woman tried to make HERSELF into a man – and the dark world applauded that. Science declares that you cannot change someone born with XX chromosomes into XY chromosomes. You are what you are born. No miracle of modern medicine will legitimately change that. No miracle of human law fare will change that. Up is up and down is down . But here’s the thing:
You can be born again! Not medically, but spiritually. Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ you can be “born again to a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3). You can be “born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible seed – through the LIVING and ENDURING WORD OF GOD” (1 Peter 1:23). If you are born again, Jesus says:
John 13:34 A NEW (kainos) commandment I give UNTO YOU, that ye LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Word Study: Just before Jesus goes to the Cross, He gives a “NEW commandment”. The word “NEW” is the Greek kainos, which means “something novel, unprecedented or unheard of”. This new commandment is something that was never addressed under the Old Covenant. Under the Old Covenant God told Israel:
(Deuteronomy 6:5 LSB) YOU SHALL LOVE YAHWEH YOUR GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
And God told His people
(Leviticus 19:18 LSB) You shall not take vengeance, and you shall not keep [your anger] against the sons of your people, but YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF; I am Yahweh.
Loving your neighbor didn’t mean just the Israelite, but also the stranger in Israel (Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:18-19). You were to “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR (or stranger) AS YOURSELF”. The way YOU wanted to be treated is the way you were to treat others. But then Jesus comes along, and establishes a NEW COVENANT. This was prophesied in …
(Jeremiah 31:31-33 LSB) Behold, days are coming, declares Yahweh, when I will CUT A NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, [32] not like the covenant which I cut with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, but I was a husband to them, declares Yahweh. [33] But this is the covenant which I will cut with the house of Israel after those days,” declares Yahweh: “I WILL PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM, and ON THEIR HEART I WILL WRITE IT; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
The OLD Covenant was written on external sources. It commanded that man – in his own power – do the things that God said to do. And of course, man failed to do it. But the NEW Covenant was written on the heart. God would “PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM, and ON THEIR HEART I WILL WRITE IT”. Jesus ushered in the New Covenant. At the end of the Feast of the Passover, just before Jesus went to the Cross, the Bible says that
(Luke 22:20 LSB) {Jesus} took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD.
Jesus gave the NEW Command to those under His NEW Covenant, to those who would be born again by faith in Him.
Jesus did not give this command to those who adhered to the OLD Covenant. The Scribes and Pharisees were people who professed to know the Lord, but only knew tradition and ritual. They were bound to an OLD Covenant. They were more concerned about eating bread with unwashed hands (Mark 7:2-3) than they were with a man suffering a withered hand. The hearts were like stone. We see these people in …
Luke 6:6-11 On another Sabbath, {Jesus} entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched {Jesus}, to see whether He would heal on the Sabbath, so that THEY MIGHT FIND REASON TO ACCUSE HIM. But {Jesus} knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Arise and stand here.’ And he arose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?’ And after looking around at them all he said to him, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he did so, and his hand was restored.
The unsaved religious crowd looked like they were the people of God, but they were not. Jesus condemned them, saying …
Mark 7:6-9 … Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. {7} Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. {8} For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. {9} And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Those that are under the Old Covenant cannot “love one another, as Jesus loved us”. Religious people can’t do this. Only those who are supernaturally born again can do this.
Who else was Jesus NOT ADDRESSING when He said, “Love one another, as I have loved you”. Jesus was NOT ADDRESSING PRETEND CHRISTIANS. Before our Lord gave this command in verse 34, He addresses the false or pretend Christian in:
(John 13:21, 25-27 KJV) {Jesus} was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ONE OF YOU SHALL BETRAY ME. … [25] He then lying on Jesus’ breast {this was the Apostle John} saith unto Him, Lord, who is it? [26] Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped [it]. And when He had dipped the sop, HE GAVE IT TO JUDAS ISCARIOT, [the son] of Simon. [27] And after the sop SATAN ENTERED INTO HIM. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
The false Christian looks good on the outside, but is not indwelt of the Spirit of Christ. When a person is born again, God the Holy Spirit comes to that person and changes them. The Spirit of God takes up residence in the soul of the believer, enabling us to “love one another as Jesus loved us”. The Bible tells us that …
(Romans 8:6-9 LSB) For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, [7] because the mind set on the flesh is [at] enmity toward God, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able [to do so], [8] and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God. [9] However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
Judas Iscariot’s mind was set on the flesh, not the Spirit. Judas was a thief (John 12:4-6), more concerned with his own earthly possessions than he was with being possessed of Christ. The Holy Spirit did not indwell Judas, nor does the Spirit indwell any who have not surrendered their lives to Jesus. So “Satan entered Judas”, possessing him so that he could betray our Lord.
To whom is the command given? Not to the religious. Not to the pretend Christian. But to those who have become as little children before Jesus. Jesus illustrated this in:
Matthew 18:2-4 Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, {3} And said, Verily I say unto you, EXCEPT YOU BE CONVERTED, and BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YOU SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. {4} Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Word Study: Who are the saved, the born again? Jesus said “Except you be CONVERTED {strepho}”, turned around, stop following yourself and follow the Good Shepherd”. You must turn from the ways of this world. You must turn from the darkness. You must quit operating along the lines of the selfish, pitiful ways of this current age. You have to turn away from the me above all others mentality and become like little children. Give it to Jesus. Obey Him. Let Him lead you.
The world clings to its evil. The worldly, the Iscariots among us, do not want to turn from the darkness. Jesus said:
John 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, because THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL. {20} For EVERY ONE THAT DOETH EVIL HATETH THE LIGHT, NEITHER COMETH TO THE LIGHT, LEST HIS DEEDS SHOULD BE REPROVED.
The Christian who is a Christian indeed is “crucified with Christ”:
Galatians 2:20-21 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME. {21} I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
The Christian is saved by Christ to love as Christ loved.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that ye also love one another.
How did Jesus love us? He loved us to the end.
(John 13:1 KJV) Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, HAVING LOVED HIS OWN WHICH WERE IN THE WORLD, HE LOVED THEM UNTO THE END.
When Jesus looked at His disciples, they were “HIS OWN”. Jesus knew they were broken. Jesus knew Peter’s heart. When Jesus went to wash Peter’s feet, he fought the Master:
(John 13:6-9 KJV) Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? [7] Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. [8] Peter saith unto him, THOU SHALT NEVER WASH MY FEET. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me. [9] Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head.
Peter loved Jesus, but he was filled with pride. It was not humility that said to the Lord “THOU SHALT NEVER WASH MY FEET”, but defiance. When Jesus said “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me”, Peter replies “well, wash my feet, my head and hands too!”. Peter wants to be the boss of Jesus. He wants to be known as the most excellent disciple – the best of the bunch.
When Jesus later is reclining at the table with the Apostle John leaning against Him (John 13:23), Jesus reveals that one of them will betray Him. Peter once more takes charge:
(John 13:24-25 KJV) SIMON PETER THEREFORE BECKONED TO {JOHN}, that he {John} should ask who it should be of whom {Jesus} spake. [25] He then lying on Jesus’ breast {John} saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
Peter wants to be in charge. Peter is the BOSS! When Jesus reveals that it is Judas who will betray Him, the disciples still didn’t understand, for they were NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT JESUS SAID AND DID. The Bible tells us:
(John 13:26 KJV) Jesus answered, HE IT IS, TO WHOM I SHALL GIVE A SOP, when I have dipped [it]. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave [it] to Judas Iscariot, [the son] of Simon.
Jesus took a piece of unleavened bread and dipped it into the Charoset (Passover Paste made of crushed fruit, wine, and spices). He plainly showed them that Judas was the betrayer. But they were not paying attention, and were confused because the SOP was normally given to someone being honored.
Jesus honored Judas, though Judas would betray Him.
Jesus then told His disciples that He was going to the Cross. He told Peter that he could not follow Him, where He was going. We read:
(John 13:37-38 KJV) Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. [38] Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
Jesus loved them all to the end. He loved Peter, though Peter would deny Him at His time of greatest need. In fact, Jesus loved them though they all went to sleep in the Garden of Gethsemane, leaving the Lord alone in His agonizing prayers.
Jesus loved them all by lowering Himself, by washing their feet. Let’s finish with these Scriptures:
(John 13:12-17 KJV) So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? [13] YE CALL ME MASTER AND LORD: and ye say well; for [so] I am. [14] IF I THEN, YOUR LORD AND MASTER, have washed your feet; YE ALSO OUGHT TO WASH ONE ANOTHER’S FEET. [15] For I have given you an example, that YE SHOULD DO AS I HAVE DONE TO YOU. [16] Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. [17] IF YE KNOW THESE THINGS, HAPPY ARE YE IF YE DO THEM.
Jesus is not establishing a new ritual here that the born again are to follow. Servants in the ancient world washed the feet of guests to a meal. But Jesus, the Host of the Last Supper, lowered Himself to serve those who should have been serving Him. This is the love that God calls us to. This is the target of every Church, of every Christian. Jesus said “as I have loved you, that ye also love one another”. Are you aiming at this target?
If you are born again as little children then, dear friend, you must practice the love of God. You cannot do this at home sitting in front of Charles Stanley or Adrian Rogers watching the television. We gather together as believers to love one another. You cannot love one another from afar. You are called to be together, to practice loving one another, to actually help each other by obeying God’s Word:
Hebrews 10:24-25 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 gather together to provoke one another to love and good works. Just like we encouraged one another to hit the target in the military, we as believers encourage one another to hit the target of love. We must – for Christ’s sake – fulfill this eleventh commandment, else the midnight hour will come to our land. Love one another so that all men will know you are Christ’s disciples.
Jude 21-23 Keep yourselves in the love of God,… making a difference: {23} And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;
Photo by The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Unsplash
(Luke 23:33-34 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. [34] Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Our Lord Jesus came from Heaven to this earth to bring the Word of God to us. Jesus preached His first sermon to the devil in the wilderness. As Satan tempted Him, Jesus repeatedly replied “It is written” (Matthew 4:4-10). After John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod, Jesus preached:
(Matthew 4:17 KJV) Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
In Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown, He preached in the Synagogue that He was the Messiah that Israel had been waiting for (Luke 4:16-21). Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) while sitting on a mountainside. When Jesus preached His Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:17-49) He was standing on level ground. Jesus preached in the Temple. He preached in the streets. He preached parables.
Preach: To shut Jesus up, religious hypocrites and crooked politicians had Jesus executed by crucifixion. Crucifixion was a method of public execution reserved for the worst of criminals. Large 7 inch long spikes were driven through the wrists, tearing the median nerve. Spikes were also driven through the feet, impaling the plantar nerves. Before being pinned to the Cross, the criminal was beaten with whips and canes. King David prophesied the horror of what Jesus went through in:
(Psalm 22:6-8 NKJV) But I AM A WORM, AND NO MAN; A reproach of men, and DESPISED BY THE PEOPLE. [7] All those who see Me RIDICULE ME; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying], [8] “HE TRUSTED IN THE LORD, LET HIM RESCUE HIM; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”
The Prophet Isaiah also declared …
(Isaiah 53:2-3 NKJV) … He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, [There is] NO BEAUTY THAT WE SHOULD DESIRE HIM. [3] He is DESPISED AND REJECTED by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, [our] faces from Him; HE WAS DESPISED, and WE DID NOT ESTEEM HIM.
Preach: Beaten with rods and whips, the Messiah did not even look human. His visage was marred. He was a mass of blood and open wounds. The crucified were stripped naked to further shame them, and the Messiah was no exception. There was a crowd there that day watching the Man in the middle. What they said and did was without pity.
(Luke 23:35-37 KJV) And the PEOPLE STOOD BEHOLDING. And the rulers also with them derided [him], saying, He saved others; LET HIM SAVE HIMSELF, IF HE BE THE CHRIST, the Chosen of God. [36] And the SOLDIERS ALSO MOCKED HIM, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar, [37] And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
Preach: Those crucified did not die of blood loss. The spikes caused excruciating pain, but effectively sealed the holes they made in His hands and feet. The primary cause of death was usually asphyxiation – by slow suffocation. Hanging by the arms you could inhale, but you could only exhale by pulling yourself up on shredded wrists and spiked feet. When a person became exhausted they could no longer do this – and they would suffocate.
Jesus would preach seven short sermons from His cross. Each sermon would require that Jesus pull Himself upright so He could breath and speak. Hounded throughout His ministry, unjustly accused, and illegally executed – what would Jesus preach from the Cross? Would He call for His enemies to be defeated? Would He ask that the criminals that made Him a criminal be punished? The mockers that stand at the foot of the Cross, will Jesus damn them? His lips move. Is He crying out for mercy for Himself, crying out that pain be removed? That’s what you and I would do. But no, Jesus is doing – as usual – the unexpected.
In the midst of the mocking, the shame of His nakedness, the spitting, our Lord Jesus prays. He pulls Himself up on the spikes and says:
Luke 23:34 Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
The first Sermon Jesus preached from the Cross shows our Lord in prayer. Jesus’ entire life on this earth was characterized by prayer. When Jesus was baptized …
(Luke 3:21-22 KJV) … Jesus also being baptized, AND PRAYING, the heaven was opened, [22] And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Jesus prayed! Jesus prayed as He went under the water, and prayed as He came out. Baptized in water, the Holy Spirit likewise covered Him, while the Father praised Him. “YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON – My only Son – and I am WELL PLEASED WITH YOU”. As Jesus ministered and brought healing on earth, He prayed. As Jesus traveled, He prayed. The Bible says:
(Luke 11:1 KJV) And it came to pass, that, as JESUS WAS PRAYING IN A CERTAIN PLACE, when He ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, TEACH US TO PRAY, as John also taught his disciples.
The disciples that followed Jesus are all but gone. The Apostle John is there, with Mary His mother. But all the others have abandoned Him. Peter, who swore he would never abandon Jesus, denied Him three times – wept bitterly – then ran away (Matthew 26:75). What does Jesus do? He prays. He is not bitter. He prays.
Luke 23:34 Father, forgive them…
As they mocked Him, Jesus prayed for them. I have heard people despair of the hard heartedness of sinners. Jesus did not believe anyone was beyond the hope of prayer. Before Jesus went to the Cross, He prayed for us all. Praying for His disciples first, He then prayed:
(John 17:20-21 KJV) Neither pray I for these alone, BUT FOR THEM ALSO WHICH SHALL BELIEVE ON ME THROUGH THEIR WORD; [21] That THEY MAY ALL BE ONE; as thou, Father, [art] in Me, and I in Thee, that THEY ALSO MAY BE ONE IN US: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Though nearly all mocked Jesus and were entertained by His suffering, He prayed for them. Jesus prayed for us all before we ever knew Him.
How do I know that Jesus and Jesus alone is the One and Only Messiah, the Representative of God? Because He prayed from that Cross not for the “good”, but for those who were pure evil. He did not pray for their judgment, but for their forgiveness.
It was prophesied of the Messiah:
(Isaiah 53:12 KJV) 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.
The Messiah would “pour out His soul unto death”. Though they nailed Jesus to the Cross, no man killed Him. Jesus “lay down His life for His sheep” (John 10:15). “Hereby perceive we the love of God, BECAUSE HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US” (1 John 3:16). He poured out His soul. He was numbered with the transgressors. Three died on that Hill called Calvary, but only Jesus was without sin. Jesus died on that Cross to “bare the sin of many”. He died suffering for your sins and mine. And Jesus “MADE INTERCESSION FOR THE TRANSGRESSORS”. He prayed for His enemies. He prays for us yet today when we fail Him. The Scripture says:
(Hebrews 7:25-27 KJV) 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. [26] For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; [27] Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for THIS HE DID ONCE, WHEN HE OFFERED UP HIMSELF.
Luke 23:34 Father, forgive them…
When Jesus walked this earth, He never prayed that the Father forgive anyone’s sins. Jesus forgave sins. The Bible tells us that when four friends brought a paralyzed man to Jesus for healing, that they could not get to Jesus because the place He was in was packed with people. So they carried their friend to the rooftop, and opening a hole in the roof, lowered their friend down to Jesus. The Bible says:
(Mark 2:5-7 NKJV) When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “SON, YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN YOU.” [6] And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, [7] “Why does this [Man] speak blasphemies like this? WHO CAN FORGIVE SINS BUT GOD ALONE?”
“WHO CAN FORGIVE SINS BUT GOD ALONE?”. When Jesus was invited to Simon the Pharisee’s home a woman known as a sinner came and washed His feet. The Bible says:
(Luke 7:48-50 NKJV) {Jesus} said to her, “YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.” [49] And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “WHO IS THIS WHO EVEN FORGIVES SINS?” [50] Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
When questioned as to why He Himself could forgive sins, when only God can forgive sins, Jesus said:
(Matthew 9:6 NKJV) … the SON OF MAN {a term for the Messiah} HAS POWER ON EARTH TO FORGIVE SINS”…
At all other times Jesus Himself forgave sins. As Peter would later preach, “JESUS IS THE ONE APPOINTED BY GOD TO BE THE JUDGE of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42). The Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 4:1) also said the same thing. And Jesus told us:
(John 5:22, 24 NKJV) For THE FATHER JUDGES NO ONE, but has COMMITTED ALL JUDGMENT TO THE SON, … [24] “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
Jesus granted forgiveness while He was on the earth. But now, “lifted UP FROM THE EARTH” (John 12:32), Jesus is on that Cross not as God, but as Perfect Man. He cannot forgive sin while being made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus intercedes for sinners – but cannot forgive. The Father must forgive.
Jesus lowered Himself from God to Perfect Man to pay for our sins on that horrid Cross. The reason that Jesus gave in asking the Father to forgive was:
Luke 23:34 Father, forgive them; for THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.
Sin usually brings with it ignorance. When Adam sinned, he had no idea that his action would bring death on all his children. Sin looks like a good idea at the time – but has unintended consequences that lead to death. When they brought Jesus before Pilate to be executed we read:
Luke 23:1 … the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, We found this fellow PERVERTING THE NATION, and FORBIDDING TO GIVE TRIBUTE to Cæsar, saying that HE HIMSELF IS CHRIST A KING.
They thought that by their action they were getting rid of a mere Rabbi from Nazareth. They claimed that Jesus was a Zealot, Someone plotting the overthrow of the nation of Rome. They were purposely blind and ignorant of Who Jesus actually was. The Apostle Paul wrote:
(1 Corinthians 2:7-8 NKJV) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden [wisdom] which God ordained before the ages for our glory, [8] which NONE OF THE RULERS OF THIS AGE KNEW; for HAD THEY KNOWN, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD OF GLORY.
Sin had blinded their eyes, and closed their ears. Jesus upset their routine. So their fix was the have this simple Rabbi killed by the state. Problem solved. They had no idea of the enormity of what they were doing. They were killing the very Son of God. They ought to have known Who they were killing. When they heard Jesus preach, the Temple Police said:
(John 7:46 NKJV) “NO MAN EVER SPOKE LIKE THIS MAN!”
When the crowds heard Jesus preach,
(Luke 4:32 NKJV) they were astonished at His teaching, for HIS WORD WAS WITH AUTHORITY.
Everything Jesus said and did was marked by His Lordship. Jesus “CAST OUT DEMONS WITH THE FINGER OF GOD”, proving the He is the King over the Kingdom of God. They saw Jesus’ miracles, and ignoring what He did, demanded a sign. Jesus will give them a sign, the same sign He has given us all. The Bible says:
(Matthew 12:38-40 NKJV) Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, WE WANT TO SEE A SIGN FROM YOU.” [39] But He answered and said to them, “An EVIL AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION SEEKS AFTER A SIGN, and NO SIGN WILL BE GIVEN TO IT EXCEPT THE SIGN OF THE PROPHET JONAH. [40] “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will THE SON OF MAN BE THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH.
Preach: As Jesus hung on that Cross, we see the utter horror of the unsaved human heart. Here is a Man Who has done no wrong – but is cast out to die with two criminals. Here is a Man in Whom they could find no sin, but they nailed Him to the tree anyway. Neither Pilate nor Herod found evil in Jesus (Luke 23:13-17). Yet He hangs there struggling to breath anyway. Sin blinds us to the horror of sin. Like the beautiful snake, its bright colors hide the deadly poison within.
We all need the Savior.
Luke 23:34 THEN said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Before Jesus was brought to the Cross, He told us:
(Matthew 5:43-45 NKJV) You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ [44] “But I say to you, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and PRAY FOR THOSE WHO SPITEFULLY USE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU, [45] “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
The Bible teaches that:
(Galatians 3:22-26 LSB) But the SCRIPTURE HAS SHUT UP EVERYONE UNDER SIN, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE. [23] But before faith came, we were held in custody under the Law, being shut up for the coming faith to be revealed. [24] Therefore the Law has become our tutor unto Christ, SO THAT WE MAY BE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH. [25] But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. [26] For YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.
When Jesus prayed “Father, forgive them”, He did not personally forgive them, but He practiced what He preached. As the Son of God He was gracious to His enemies. He prayed that those who harmed Him be forgiven. Now, here’s a good question:
In Matthew 5:44 Jesus did not ask us to FORGIVE our enemies, but to PRAY for them. Forgiveness does not come without REPENTANCE. Jesus said:
(Luke 17:3-4 LSB) Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and IF HE REPENTS, FORGIVE HIM. [4] “And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I REPENT,’ FORGIVE HIM.”
Pastor A.W. Pink put it this way:
“The one who has wronged me must first repent, that is, judge himself for his wrong and give evidence of his sorrow over it. But suppose the offender does not repent? Then I am not to forgive him. But let there be no misunderstanding of our meaning here. Even though the one who has wronged me does not repent, nevertheless I must not harbor ill feelings toward him. There must be no hatred nor malice treasured in the heart. … Does God ever forgive where there is no repentance? No, for scripture declares, ‘IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, He is FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).”
There is no forgiveness of sin without repentance, without surrendering your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Atonement for our sins. Hanging on that Cross, the Lamb of God prayed for us all. Salvation and peace with God comes only through Him. Three days and three nights later Jesus will sit down and eat a meal with His disciples. He will tell them (and us):
(Luke 24:44-47 LSB) These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” [45] Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, [46] and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that THE CHRIST WOULD SUFFER AND RISE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD THE THIRD DAY, [47] and that REPENTANCE FOR FORGIVENESS OF SINS would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
When Jesus prayed “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing”, He prayed for their forgiveness – but they were not forgiven unless they repented. Dear friends, have YOUR sins been forgiven? Are you one of the blessed who can say,
(Ephesians 1:7 LSB) In {Jesus} WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, the FORGIVENESS of our transgressions, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE
Oh, how God loves you and me! We sing this song, and can barely comprehend what Jesus did for us on that Cross.
Oh, how He loves you and me, Oh how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give?
Oh, how He loves you; Oh, how He loves me;
Oh, how He loves you and me.
Jesus to Calvary did go, His love for sinners to show.
What He did there brought hope from despair.
Oh, how He loves you; Oh, how He loves me;
Oh, how He loves you and me.
When Samson came to the end of his life – tied to two pillars in a coliseum – he prayed for his enemies. His prayer was:
(Judges 16:28 NKJV) O Lord GOD, REMEMBER ME, I PRAY! Strengthen me, I PRAY, just this once, O God, that I MAY WITH ONE BLOW TAKE VENGEANCE on the Philistines…
He prayed to kill his enemies. And God gave him strength to do so. When the Evangelist Stephen was being stoned to death by the Jews, notice that he prayed for himself first:
(Acts 7:59-60 NKJV) And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on [God] and saying, “LORD JESUS, RECEIVE MY SPIRIT.” [60] Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “LORD, DO NOT CHARGE THEM WITH THIS SIN.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Stephen prayed for himself FIRST, then for his enemies LAST. But when Jesus prayed, He prayed for His enemies first. “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Jesus loved us while we were still His enemies. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). In fact, Jesus loved us even before the world was created (Ephesians 1:4-5). Will you not come to Him this very day? Will you not repent, and cling to Him Who prayed for you on the Cross? Look to the sign that Jesus has given you. Look to the Cross, to the empty Tomb. Run to Him while you can. Give Him your life – TODAY. Amen.
Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash
The Book of John focuses on Who Jesus is, and who we are not. A few weeks ago we looked at the first command of Jesus, which is to “Repent”:
(Matthew 4:17 KJV) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, REPENT: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
John the Baptist had just been imprisoned, and Jesus’ ministry was starting. He preached “REPENT”, which means to reject yourself and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. To choose a new god, a god better than the god you have been following. Jesus is the Good Shepherd Who loves His sheep, and lays His life down for His sheep (John 10).
If you’re going to go to Heaven, if you’re going to walk with Jesus, you must be a sheep, not a dog or a pig. Sheep follow the Shepherd. You must be born again.
We’re going to be in chapter 3 of John tonight, but before we go to chapter 3 let’s look at chapter 2. In chapter 2, Jesus is invited to a Wedding Feast in Cana, and they are out of wine. Jesus’ mother asks Jesus to intervene. Jesus has the servants fill six water pots to the brim with water. Each pot held from 102-162 gallons of water. Jesus turned that water into wine (vs 10), the “good wine” that out-shined all wine that had been served up to this point.
Jesus changed common water into exceptional wine. Water can be found anywhere. Wine requires special care and handling of grapes.
Then Jesus went to the Passover, and drove all out of the Temple that were using it as a money making endeavor. The Temple is where you worship God. They were worshiping not God, but money. Jesus ran them out of the House of God. Chapter 2 ends with these words:
John 2:23-25 Now when {Jesus} was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, MANY BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But JESUS DID NOT COMMIT HIMSELF TO THEM, because HE KNEW ALL MEN, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for HE KNEW WHAT WAS IN MAN.
People saw Jesus turn water into wine, and “BELIEVED IN HIS NAME”. They saw Jesus chase the moneychangers out of the Temple. They saw the miracles that Jesus did. Oh, they “BELIEVED IN HIS NAME”. Jesus was a miracle worker! He did great things! But notice that:
JESUS DID NOT COMMIT HIMSELF TO THEM, because HE KNEW ALL MEN
Jesus is the “GOOD SHEPHERD Who gives His life for His sheep.” (John 10:11). Jesus is the “GOOD SHEPHERD Who knows His sheep, and is known by His sheep” (John 10:14). The people in Jerusalem “BELIEVED IN HIS NAME”, but NOT UNTO SALVATION.
Jesus looked in their hearts. He knew what was in their hearts. He could not be their Shepherd, because they were not sheep. Oh, they believed He could do the miracles. But they had not surrendered their lives to Him. They were not born again. God spoke through the Prophet:
(Jeremiah 17:9-10 KJV) The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and DESPERATELY WICKED: who can know it? [10] I THE LORD SEARCH THE HEART, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.
People came to Jesus believing He was a miracle man. They followed Him because He could improve the quality of their lives. Yet Jesus was not their Shepherd. He would not commit Himself to them, because their hearts were not changed. YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN. Jesus does not Shepherd the lost. YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN. Your heart must be changed.
John 3:1-3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus BY NIGHT, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art A teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
The Shepherd loves His sheep, and is concerned for His sheep. He loves everyone. But Jesus will not commit Himself to those who are not “born again”. That doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love us all. The Bible says:
1 John 4:19 We love him, because He first loved us.
Jesus will tell Nicodemus later in this chapter:
John 3:14-17 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that THE WORLD THROUGH HI MIGHT BE SAVED.
God loves His world. Jesus loves us, and laid His life down for us. But before Jesus can be our Shepherd, before we can be saved, we must do more than “BELIEVE IN HIS NAME”. A lot of people saw Jesus’ miracles and “BELIEVED IN HIS NAME”, but Jesus would not commit Himself to them. Why? They were NOT born again.
John 3:2 (Nicodemus) came to Jesus BY NIGHT
Nicodemus was curious. He was a Pharisee, and His friends were Pharisees. Nicodemus “BELIEVED IN HIS NAME”. He didn’t believe Jesus was the Christ, the Savior of the world. Nicodemus said what he believed about Jesus:
John 3:2 … we {Pharisees} know that Thou art A TEACHER COME FROM GOD: for no man can DO THESE MIRACLES that thou doest, except GOD BE WITH HIM.
There are a lot of people on the Church rolls today who believe the same things about Jesus. There are people who believe that Jesus is “ A TEACHER COME FROM GOD”. There’s a lot of teachers that God that God sent. He sent Moses, and Elijah, and Elisha. God sent Samuel, and David, and Hosea. Your Bible is filled with teachers sent by God, good men of God who wrote Holy Scripture. Beloved, Jesus is not just another teacher sent by God.
Jesus told Nicodemus:
John 3:11-13 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, WE speak that WE do know, and testify that WE have seen; and ye receive not OUR witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And NO MAN HATH ASCENDED UP TO HEAVEN, but HE THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, even THE SON OF MAN WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.
As Jesus talks to Nicodemus, He says “WE speak that WE do know, and testify that WE have seen”. Who is the “WE” Jesus is speaking of? It can’t be Nicodemus, for Jesus said “YE RECEIVE NOT OUR WITNESS”. Some have said that Jesus was referring to Himself, and John the Baptist. It can’t be this, because Jesus is talking about things that “WE KNOW, AND WE HAVE SEEN”. Jesus said “NO MAN HATH ASCENDED UP TO HEAVEN, but HE THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN”. John the Baptist has not ascended unto Heaven. So just Who is the WE Jesus speaks of? It is the Triune God. Jesus said, “I am telling you things that WE – Father, Son and Spirit, know … and YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE OUR WITNESS”. Then notice what Jesus says:
NO MAN HATH ASCENDED UP TO HEAVEN, but HE THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, even THE SON OF MAN WHICH IS IN HEAVEN
John the Baptist has not ascended to Heaven – but Jesus has. Jesus came down from Heaven. And Jesus – AT THIS VERY MOMENT – as Messiah “IS IN HEAVEN” as He speaks to Nicodemus. Jesus is not just A teacher sent from God. Jesus is God Himself. Jesus is the Son of God. The Father addresses Jesus:
(Hebrews 1:5-8 NKJV) For to which of the angels did {God the Father} ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? [6] But when He again brings the Firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” [7] And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.” [8] But TO THE SON HE SAYS: “Your throne, O God, [is] forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness [is] the scepter of Your kingdom.
Nicodemus has “believed in His name”, but not as God, not as the Son of God, but as A teacher Whom God has sent. He came at night, because he was afraid of what the other Pharisees would say. Nicodemus is religiously lost. He must be born again.
When Jesus told Nicodemus “You MUST be BORN AGAIN”, Nicodemus said “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”. He was puzzled. The Bible tells us that:
(1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV) But the NATURAL MAN DOES NOT RECEIVE THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD, for they are FOOLISHNESS TO HIM; NOR CAN HE KNOW THEM, because THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.
The “Natural Man” is detached from the Shepherd, but attached to sin, the flesh, the world and Satan. A mere “Teacher” cannot open the eyes of the soul. God must intervene.
A lost person – even if they are religious – cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God. Nicodemus is a “Teacher of Israel” (vs 10). He intellectually understands great teachings of the Bible. But he cannot receive spiritual truth – EVEN FROM JESUS – until he is born again. The Bible tells us:
(Romans 8:7-8 LSB) because THE MIND SET ON THE FLESH IS AT ENMITY TOWARD GOD, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able [to do so], [8] and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.
A lost person must be born again. This is something that person cannot do for themselves. They must repent, and lay their lives down to Jesus, believing on Him as both Lord and Savior. They must call on the power of His Name as their Great Shepherd. Jesus told Nicodemus:
John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be BORN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH; and that which is BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.
Adrian Rogers said, “Do you know what we have done? We have begun to talk about Christians in categories. We say, ‘Well, he’s a born-again Christian.’ May I tell you very plainly that saying ‘born-again Christian’ is redundant and besides, that’s the only kind there is! It’s like saying female woman or tooth dentist. Jesus said, ‘Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.’”
You are not a Christian unless you are born again. When Jesus spoke of “being born of WATER and of the SPIRIT”, He was not talking about water baptism. Jesus was appealing to Scripture. God promised His people that there was coming a day when …
(Ezekiel 36:25-27 LSB) … I WILL SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER ON YOU, and YOU WILL BE CLEAN; I WILL CLEANSE YOU from all your uncleanness and from all your idols. [26] “Moreover, I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART and PUT A NEW SPIRIT WITHIN YOU; and I WILL REMOVE THE HEART OF STONE from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. [27] “I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to do My judgments.
It is God – not man – that saves the believer. It is God Who washes us, “THROUGH THE WASHING OF REGENERATION AND RENEWING BY THE HOLY SPIRIT” (Titus 3:5). It is God Who “GIVES US A NEW HEART” and “PUTS A NEW SPIRIT WITHIN US”. It is God Who gives us His Spirit, and causes us to walk in His ways.
Though Nicodemus was a “teacher” of the Law, he was spiritually dead. Those who are spiritually dead walk apart from God. Jesus told the Pharisees:
(John 8:37-39, 42-44 LSB) I know that you are Abraham’s seed; yet you are seeking to kill Me, because MY WORD HAS NO PLACE IN YOU. [38] “I speak the things which I have seen with [My] Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from [your] father.” [39] They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, you would do the deeds of Abraham. … [42] Jesus said to them, “IF GOD WERE YOUR FATHER, YOU WOULD LOVE ME, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I HAVE NOT EVEN COME OF MYSELF, but THE FATHER SENT ME. [43] “Why do you not understand what I am saying? [It is] because YOU CANNOT HEAR MY WORD. [44] “YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER, THE DEVIL, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [nature], for he is a liar and the father of lies.
The spiritually dead cannot see the spiritual Kingdom of God. Nicodemus was standing next to the King of Kings, but he called Jesus “A teacher”. Humanity is divided into two camps:
those born of the flesh
those born of the Spirit
Jesus said of the Spirit:
John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
The wind moves around us without our intervention. The Holy Spirit also moves. When we REPENT, and call on the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit moves into our lives. The Spirit does not improve us morally. The Spirit gives us life. We are given new eyes to see. We are born again.
Before he was born again, Nicodemus came to Jesus “by NIGHT”. Pastor Kyle Idleman wrote:
“At night no one would see him. At night he would avoid awkward questions from the other religious leaders. At night he could spend time with Jesus without anyone knowing. If he could speak with Jesus at night when no one was around, maybe he could begin a relationship with Jesus without having to make any real changes. …. Here is the reality that Nicodemus is about ready to have impressed on him: There is no way to follow Jesus without Him interfering with your life….. Following Jesus always costs something. For Nicodemus it would cost him a powerful position. It would cost him the respect of his co-workers. It would cost him the source of his income and livelihood. It would cost him friendships. It would cost him family relationships.”
Before he was saved, Nicodemus hid his relationship with the Lord Jesus. Jesus said:
(Mark 8:38 LSB) For WHOEVER IS ASHAMED OF ME AND MY WORDS in this adulterous and sinful generation, the SON OF MAN WILL ALSO BE ASHAMED OF HIM when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
After Nicodemus was saved by faith in Christ, his heart changed. Sheep love the Shepherd. When the Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus, Nicodemus stood up against them:
(John 7:50-51 LSB) Nicodemus … being one of them (a Pharisee), said to them, [51] “Does our Law judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing?”
They were not pleased with Nicodemus, and mocked him. But Nicodemus stood with Christ. Later when Jesus was crucified, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus would retrieve His body from the Cross. Then Nicodemus would provide the supplies to prepare Christ’s body for burial (John 19:39). Whereas he was previously ashamed of Jesus, he was not now. The sheep follows the Shepherd. Period. But we do not make ourselves sheep. God makes us sheep, when we REPENT and RECEIVE the Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Peter 1:3 LSB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to HIS GREAT MERCY HAS CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Those who are “born again” are changed forever. We will fail, but we will fail upward. As Jesus rose from the grave to live forever in glory, we will one day rise to walk with Him in glory. The sheep belong to the Shepherd, and we belong to Him. We are no more dogs or pigs, but are sheep, HIS sheep, children of God by faith in Christ.
Peter betrayed Jesus at the worst moment of our Savior’s life. Paul murdered Christians before he was saved. We are not saved because we are flawless. We are saved because HE is flawless. Our Shepherd is our Lord Jesus. Peter wrote:
(1 Peter 1:22-25 LSB) Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a love of the brothers without hypocrisy, fervently love one another from the heart, [23] for you have been BORN AGAIN NOT OF CORRUPTIBLE SEED, BUT INCORRUPTIBLE, [that is], THROUGH THE LIVING AND ENDURING WORD OF GOD. [24] For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, [25] BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word which was proclaimed to you as good news.
One day you will stand before Almighty God. Imagine this, if you will. God asks you, “Why should you be allowed into My Heaven?” What is the first word you will say to Him? Will you say “Because I”, and then tell Him all the good things you did? If so, you have a problem. Your response should be – if you are sheep – “Because Jesus Christ is my Shepherd. He died for me. He owns me. I am His, and He is mine. I deserve nothing – but I cling to the Word of Christ’s Gospel”. Amen.
Photo by Logan Armstrong on Unsplash
When God saved Israel from Egypt, He saved His people from a nation filled with idolatry – with false gods. When God sent Moses to Pharaoh with the message,
Exodus 5:1 Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.
Pharaoh was quick to answer:
(Exodus 5:2 ESV) Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.
Pharaoh believed – along with his people – the HE HIMSELF was god. Egypt worshiped numerous gods and goddesses, animals and leaders. It was idolatry and defiance of the God of the Bible that caused Egypt – at one time a world power – to lose it’s power and influence among the nations.
When God stopped Israel at the base of Mount Sinai, He was going to take this ragged group of people and constitute them as a nation. The Bible tells us that “God reigns over the nations” (Psalm 47:8), and that:
(Daniel 2:21 ESV) God changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
God established Israel as His nation at Sinai. So in Israel’s constitution God established a series of principles of Law that His people were to follow. We call this foundation “The Ten Commandments”. The very first part of the commandments deal with WHO is God, and HOW God is to be treated.
(Exodus 20:2-7 NKJV) I [am] the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [3] “You shall have no other gods before Me. [4] “You shall not make for yourself a carved image–any likeness [of anything] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth; [5] you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth [generations] of those who hate Me, [6] but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. [7] “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold [him] guiltless who takes His name in vain.
If Israel was to survive as a nation, she needed to follow the God Who saved her. Israel was not to follow any other gods or goddesses. She was to cling to the Word of God, obeying Him in all that they did without question. Israel’s blessing relied on being obedient to God, honoring and upholding His Word.
Idolatry is a tool of Satan. Satan invents false gods to seek the destruction of mankind. When Satan revolted against God, he declared “I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14). Satan carried this thought into the Garden of Eden in the guise of a serpent. Idolatry always follows this pattern:
1. Question the clearly presented Word of God. “Has God really said that you shall not eat of every tree”? (Genesis 3:1). Once humans decided to debate what God said, the devil next carries us to …
2. Defy the clearly presented Word of God. “God said you will die, but He lies. You will not surely die!” (Genesis 3:4). God just said that. God doesn’t know what He’s talking about. From this point, the devil …
3. Questions the integrity of God Himself. “God knows the day you eat of it, you’ll be just like Him!” (Genesis 3:5). Once Satan deconstructed humanity’s faith in God and His Word, then we progress to ….
4. Elevate human experience and feelings over what God has said. “The tree is good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and can make us wise like gods” (Genesis 3:6).
Then they eat – and sin enters Paradise. Idolatry destroys Paradise. Idolatry destroys a nation. Think about America today.
1. Teens are rising up, taking over areas of our country in riots. Police are being attacked. Why? Because children are not being taught:
Exodus 20:12 Honor your Father and Mother
Children are being raised not to honor authority, but to BE the authority. The Bible says “FATHERS, bring up your children IN THE DISCIPLINE AND INSTRUCTION OF THE LORD” (Ephesians 6:4). But many of the children born today do not have the presence of the father in the home. When the family unit breaks down, the nation breaks down.
2. Cities are demanding that governments “de-fund the police”. Why? Because if children are raised without respect for God, or are told that they themselves are gods, then they have no respect for authority. The Bible says:
(Romans 13:1 NKJV) Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD, and the AUTHORITIES THAT EXIST ARE APPOINTED BY GOD.
3. There is a push to endorse Socialism and Communism as replacements for Capitalism in America. We as Americans are on a pathway to destruction because of idolatry.
An oft quoted text is something that God told Solomon on the day that the Temple was constructed and dedicated to the Lord. God came to King Solomon at night, saying:
(2 Chronicles 7:12-14 NKJV) I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. [13] “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, [14] “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
What God was saying to Israel under Solomon was “If you sin, I will punish you. I’ll stop the rains. I’ll have the locusts consume the crops. I’ll send sickness into the populace. BUT if you, as My people, REPENT and RETURN to Me, I will forgive you and bless your nation.”
Before Moses could even get off the mountain with the Law that constituted Israel, God’s people began to create idols. We read:
(Exodus 32:1-5 LSB) Then the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain. So the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Arise, make us gods who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” [2] And Aaron said to them, “Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring [them] to me.” [3] Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought [them] to Aaron. [4] And he took [this] from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” [5] And Aaron looked and built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow [shall be] a feast to Yahweh.”
The first commands God gave Israel was to avoid idolatry. And yet the first disobedience of Israel was to create an idol. Israel learned idolatry from Egypt. We learn idolatry from the lost world. As Christians, we are supposed to …
(2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV) … WALK BY FAITH, not by sight
An idol is a man created image or thing that visually represents God. But it doesn’t represent God. It represents our idea of Who God is. An idol lowers God to our level. God is not to be lowered, but exalted. The Bible says:
(Hebrews 11:6 KJV) … 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.
We are to believe what God has said about Himself in His Word, and to pursue Him. God does not chase us. He is not a good luck charm that we wear about our necks, nor a little statue we put in our pockets. He blesses us when we PURSUE AND GLORIFY HIM.
The same King Solomon that God came to by night (remember this?) and said “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”, this wise King ailed to heed to Word of God. The Bible says:
(1 Kings 11:1-2 ESV) Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, [2] from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” SOLOMON CLUNG TO THESE IN LOVE.
Solomon let his heart lead him, rather than the Word of God. The Bible says in 1 Kings 11:4, “Solomon’s wives TURNED AWAY HIS HEART AFTER OTHER GODS, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God. This started what I call a “domino effect” of destruction. God told Solomon:
(1 Kings 11:11-13 ESV) .. you have not kept MY COVENANT and MY STATUES that I have commanded you, I WILL SURELY TEAR THE KINGDOM FROM YOU AND WILL GIVE IT TO YOUR SERVANT. [12] Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I WILL TEAR IT OUT OF THE HAND OF YOUR SON. [13] However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I WILL GIVE ONE TRIBE TO YOUR SON, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.”
Solomon had a servant – a General named Jeroboam. Because of Solomon’s idolatry, God was going to take the Kingdom from Solomon’s son Rehoboam and give ten tribes to Jeroboam. God sent a Prophet named Ahijah to Jeroboam:
(1 Kings 11:29-37 ESV) And at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had dressed himself in a new garment, and the two of them were alone in the open country. [30] Then AHIJAH LAID HOLD OF THE NEW GARMENT THAT WAS ON HIM, and TORE IT INTO TWELVE PIECES. [31] And he said to Jeroboam, “TAKE FOR YOURSELF TEN PIECES, for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and WILL GIVE YOU TEN TRIBES [32] (but he [REHOBOAM] shall have one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), [33] BECAUSE THEY HAVE FORSAKEN ME AND WORSHIPED Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have NOT WALKED IN MY WAYS, DOING WHAT IS RIGHT IN MY SIGHT and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did. [34] Nevertheless, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of David my servant whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes. [35] But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand [REHOBOAM] and will give it to you, ten tribes. [36] Yet to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name. [37] And I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your soul desires, and you shall be king over Israel.
God was going to divide Israel both North and South because of idolatry. It was a “domino effect” that started with Solomon
All of the tribes but Judah and Benjamin followed Jeroboam north, and Judah and Benjamin became known as Judah or Southern Israel. What happened to the Levites?
The Bible says that:
(2 Chronicles 11:13-16 ESV) And THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES who were in all Israel presented themselves to {Rehoboam} from all places where they lived. [14] For the Levites left their common lands and their holdings and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because JEROBOAM AND HIS SONS CAST THEM OUT FROM SERVING AS PRIESTS OF THE LORD, [15] and HE APPOINTED HIS OWN PRIESTS for the high places and FOR THE GOAT IDOLS and FOR THE CALVES THAT HE HAD MADE. [16] And those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
God took the Kingdom from Solomon because of idolatry, and gave ten tribes to Jeroboam because of idolatry. Did Jeroboam honor God Who gave him the Kingdom? No! Idolatry, like poison in the life blood, spreads where it is allowed.
Jeroboam set up an idolatrous place of worship in Samaria in order to keep the ten tribes from going to Jerusalem to worship. The Bible tells us that:
(1 Kings 12:26-31 ESV) And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. [27] If this people GO UP TO OFFER SACRIFICES IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD AT JERUSALEM, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah. [28] So the king took counsel and MADE TWO CALVES OF GOLD. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. [29] And he set ONE IN BETHEL, and the other he put IN DAN. [30] Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. [31] He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, WHO WERE NOT OF THE LEVITES.
Jeroboam did not trust in the power and decree of God, Who had told him that ten tribes would be given him to rule as King. He was afraid to allow the ten tribes to go to Jerusalem to worship, so he set up his own system of idolatry to protect his reign.
Preach: The Ten Tribes that were broken off because of idolatry continued to pursue idols rather that the God of Scripture. Because of this Northern Israel would fall under Assyrian conquest 722 BC, about 136 years before Southern Israel would fall to Babylon (586 BC).
The Apostle Paul described the horrors of idolatry in the first chapter of Romans:
Romans 1:18-23 (ESV) For the WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, THEY DID NOT HONOR HIM AS GOD or GIVE THANS TO HIM, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and EXCHANGED THE GLORY OF THE IMMORTAL GOD FOR IMAGES RESEMBLING resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
You cannot serve God and an idol. You must “turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). When Paul and Barnabas preached Christ crucified, they chastised the Gentiles for idol worship, saying:
Acts 14:15 … we bring you good news, that you should TURN FROM THESE VAIN THINGS TO A LIVING GOD, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
An idol cannot save. An idol cannot bless, or bring good fortune. God tells His Church, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). Idolatry is one of the sins we are not only to recognize, but to run from:
(1 Corinthians 10:14 ESV) Therefore, my beloved, FLEE FROM IDOLATRY.
We live in a day of idols. Idolatry has crept into our nation. It is in our schools teaching “wokeness” and biological nonsense. We as God’s people must flee idolatry.
I found an interesting parallel that ties in to Solomon losing the Kingdom to his servant Jeroboam. Jeroboam was the first King over the Northern Tribes of Israel. King Ahab was the seventh King of Northern Israel. Jeroboam established the golden calf worship in Bethel and Dan. But King Ahab went even farther. He openly defied God, and killed the Prophets that God sent into the land.
So God raised up Ahab’s servant Jehu. The Prophet Elisha sent a messenger to Jehu, saying:
2 Kings 9:6-7 I anoint you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel. And YOU SHALL STRIKE DOWN THE HOUSE OF AHAB YOUR MASTER, so that I may avenge on Jezebel THE BLOOD OF MY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS
Jehu did as God asked. He not only destroyed Ahab and his family, but Jehu “destroyed Baal from Israel” (2 Kings 10:28). But Jehu was selective in what idols he destroyed. The Bible says:
(2 Kings 10:29, 31 NKJV) However JEHU DID NOT TURN AWAY FROM THE SINS OF JEROBOAM the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin, [that is], FROM THE GOLDEN CALVES THAT WERE AT BETHEL AND DAN. … [31] But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin.
The Ten Northern Tribes of Israel (Reuben, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim, Manasseh) will eventually be taken into exile by Assyria. These tribes today are called “The Lost Tribes of Israel”. God will one day regather His people, and through 144,000 Hebrew Evangelists bring Israel to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (see Revelation 7:4-8). Two of the Ten Northern Tribes – Dan and Ephraim – are not mentioned in Revelation 7. I suspect that has to do with unrepentant idolatry.
Flee idolatry. Cling to God. That is the only way to blessing and peace.
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