Monthly Archives: September 2015

They Knew!

Bible Study, , , ,

THEY KNEW!

At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ (which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’). When some of those standing there heard this, they said, ‘Listen, He’s calling Elijah.’

Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ‘Now leave Him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down,’ he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last. The curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom. And when the centurion who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how He died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’ (Mark 15: 33-39)

Jesus’ killers thought they knew. They were so certain that they had at last destroyed this blasphemer that they stood there to make sure that He was dead. They mocked and insulted a dying man because they believed they were right. They could go to bed that night with the satisfaction that they had finally rid themselves of the one man who got under their skin. They could get on with their lives in peace. But could they?

Strange how there were others who had no vested interest in Jesus but they knew. What about the earth and sky? For three hours the sun knew! Everything went black around the scoffers – so black that they could not see their hands in front of their faces. God veiled the light of the sun to shield His Son from their hostile eyes. This was no ordinary storm and certainly not a normal solar eclipse. Whoever heard of an eclipse that lasted for three hours? What went on the minds of His enemies as they stood there, unable to move in the darkness?

And the veil of the temple? How and why did it rip from top to bottom? It was so thick that it was said that not even a team of horses could rip it apart. Who tore it? How could it tear? There was no one in Israel who would dare to do something like that, even if they could. Only the high priest was allowed beyond that curtain and only once a year, with a strict ritual so that he would not die in that inner shrine if he did not fulfil his duty perfectly.

If God was responsible for the darkness, He must have also been responsible for tearing the veil in the temple. Why did He do that? What was He saying to His people? The ancient rabbis believed that the veil was God’s clothing, hiding Him from the prying eyes of His people. When He tore the veil, was He mourning for His Son by tearing His clothes, as the Jews did when they grieved for a loved one? Was He finally able to reveal Himself to His people because there was nothing between Him and them any more? Sin had been atoned for and removed. God was satisfied, and He invited His people to draw near. No more animal sacrifices or priests to intervene.

The Roman centurion knew. He was a pagan. He had no interest in the Jewish religion. He was there to do his duty, as unpleasant as it was – that was all. He had supervised and witnessed many crucifixions, but this one was different. Never had he seen a man die with such serenity and dignity. He was used to the victim’s screams and curses. He had heard it all and his heart was calloused to indifference by the suffering his men inflicted on them. As far as he was concerned, they were getting what they deserved.

He felt nothing for them, but this man . . .? His verdict was, ‘Not guilty.’ Why was Jesus being crucified? What had He done to deserve this terrible end? His very words and behaviour protested His innocence. When we put together the witness of all four gospels, what do we read? The words and attitude of an evildoer? He protested the loss of His Father’s felt presence in the words of His famous ancestor, David. He welcomed a sinner into Paradise with Him. He forgave those who did this to Him. Only once did He give an indication of His severe suffering – ‘I am thirsty!’ He entrusted His spirit to His Father and He died with a victory cry on His lips.

Was there any other person on earth who died on a cross like this? No! The centurion came to the only conclusion that fitted the evidence. Whatever he might have meant by it, he declared, ‘This man was the Son of God!’ Like Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian despot, a pagan through and through, who had to admit that the man he saw in the fire was no ordinary man, the centurion, not the Jews, admitted that Jesus was, after all, exactly who He claimed to be, Saviour, Messiah and the Son of God.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my new book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or kindle version or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

Watch this space. My second book, Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing), companion volume to Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master, will soon be on the bookshelves.

Check out my Blog site – www.learningtobeason.wordpress.com

 

 

 

 

Bullies Of The Worst Kind!

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BULLIES OF THE WORST KIND!

The written notice of the charge against Him read, ‘The king of the Jews.’ They crucified two rebels with Him, one on His right and one on His left. Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself.’ In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked Him among themselves. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but He can’t save Himself. Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.’ Those crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him. (Mark 15: 26-32)

Why hit a man when he is down? These bullies had to rub it in when they had Jesus pinned down so that there was no escape. One day they would eat their words when the truth was exposed. Imagine their shock if Jesus did summon a legion of angels to rescue Him from their hands. Would they really have believed then? I don’t think so. They had every opportunity to believe in Him when He was among them but they refused.

Let’s examine their accusations and their taunts. The first came from the passers-by. They had no interest in Jesus except for what the religious leaders had said about Him. At the outset of His ministry, according to John, He had ripped into the merchants and money changers in the temple for turning the Court of the Gentiles, the only place in the temple where non-Jews were permitted to pray, into a corrupt market.

With the blessing of the chief priests and the religious rulers, opportunists had taken over the Court of the Gentiles to ply their trade under the guise of providing a service for the worshippers who came from out of town. Under the surface they were ripping the people off with their little business and, no doubt supplying the authorities with a cut of the profits.

The religious authorities were livid when Jesus upset their business by causing pandemonium among the birds and animals, and overturning the tables of those dealing in forex. They demanded an explanation for His behaviour. “Who gave you authority to do this?”

“Destroy this temple,” He retorted, “and in three days I will raise it up again.” It was an invitation to kill Him, but they didn’t get it. “Do you want to know where I get my authority?” He asked in effect. “Put me to death, and I’ll show you by coming back to life.”

False witnesses at His trial tried to pin His words on Him as a reason to condemn Him to death. No one could threaten to destroy God’s temple and get away with it. But, unfortunately for them, they couldn’t agree on His exact words and their testimony did not hold water. They accused Him of threatening to destroy the physical temple made of stone. Only a madman would make a threat like that,but the accusation stuck and was bandied about in Jerusalem until the words He was supposed to have spoken were on everyone’s lips.

He looked so vulnerable and powerless hanging there, skewered onto two pieces of wood like a kebab. It’s no wonder the uncomprehending and unfeeling passers-by could taunt Him without giving it another thought. They were just mindlessly mouthing their leaders’ words. To Jesus, what they had to say did not even merit a reply. He ignored them. All they were doing was exposing the foolishness and ignorance of their own hearts.

What about the spiritual leaders who were gazing at their handiwork? It was not enough that they had succeeded in getting Him executed. They had to be there to sign Him off to their great satisfaction. They had to add their bit to the insults of the rabble just to make sure that everyone around could witness the exposure of their own hearts as well.

“Save yourself and come down from the cross.” They thought that they were responsible for putting Him there because of their power. They were claiming, in effect, to have absolute power over Him. If He were the Son of God as He had claimed, why didn’t He show it by overriding their puny human control?

Never in a million years did they understand that He was there by His own will because He had submitted Himself to the Father as an obedient son. Had He not declared, in the Garden of Gethsemane, ‘Not my will but yours be done’? This was the culmination of a plan set up by the triune God before creation. If they had really known their Scriptures as they claimed, they would have recognised Him as the one of whom Isaiah spoke.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer . .  (Isa. 54: 10).

Why should He save Himself and come down from the cross when it was all going to plan? The Jews refused to believe that He was their Messiah because the cross was foolishness to them, but in effect, it was through the very thing they despised, death on a Roman execution stake, that provided forgiveness and new life, if they only believed Him. But not even His resurrection convinced them that He was their Messiah. How tragic to be right but in the end to be so wrong!

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my new book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or kindle version or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

Watch this space. My second book, Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing), companion volume to Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master, will soon be on the bookshelves.

Check out my Blog site – www.learningtobeason.wordpress.com

 

 

 

A Unwilling Partner

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AN UNWILLING PARTNER

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the placed called Golgotha (which means ‘the place of the skull’). Then they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. And they crucified Him. Dividing up His clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. It was nine in the morning when they crucified Him. (Mark 15: 21-25)

Mark tells his story in short bursts of information – no embellishments; no details; just the bare facts.

After His sleepless night without food to build His strength, walking long distances and having to stand for hours, then being flogged until He was close to death from severe shock, blood loss and pain, Jesus was exhausted. He could no longer walk, let alone carry the heavy crossbeam of His cross. The soldiers knew that He would never reach Golgotha if they forced Him to go on.

None of them would carry it for Him. Strong as they were, not one of them would shoulder His burden, so they pressed a stranger into service to carry it for Him. Did any words pass between Simon and Jesus? Did Jesus express gratitude to Simon for doing this small deed of kindness for Him although Simon was coerced into it? He did not dare protest lest he get more than carrying Jesus’ cross for a mile or two to the place of execution. How did he feel about this unexpected imposition? Was he angry, resentful, or rebellious against the Romans?

Mark slipped in a comment which fills this little detail with significance. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. Who were Alexander and Rufus? Why did Mark connect Simon with his sons rather than with his father? Other Bible characters were linked to their fathers by way of identification, for example, Simon son of Jonas (Peter), Bartimeaus (son of Timeaus) etc. Bible scholars generally agree that these two men were known to the Roman readers (and may have been prominent Christians in the local church), while their father was not. Mark’s letter was written for Romans, hence the many explanations of Jewish customs as well.

The mention of the name Golgotha, where crucifixions took place, also needs a comment. The translation of the name, again for the benefit of the readers, implies some sort of natural formation which resembled a skull. Tradition has it that the place where Jesus was executed was on a hill. However, biblical details imply something different. Jesus was crucified next to a thoroughfare outside the city and next to a rock formation that looked like a skull. The Roman authorities chose this spot so that the executions would be spectacles to passers-by to serve as a warning to stay within the boundaries of their authority or face the same fate.

He was offered a cocktail of sour wine and myrrh before they drove in the nails and lifted the cross into the hole into which the upright was dropped but He would not drink it.

“Why did Jesus refuse the wine and myrrh mixture? He did not want to die from poisoning or have his senses numbed while on the cross. He knew that He had to shed his blood in order for Him to become the supreme sacrifice for the sins of all man, and He refused to take the easy way out of it.”

http://www.biblestudy.org/question/why-did-jesus-refuse-to-drink-wine-with-gall-while-on-cross.html 

Many false teachers have rejected the truth that Jesus’ death was real – either that He did not die on the cross or that He was not dead when He was taken down and buried. However, we have the “sure word of prophecy” that Jesus fulfilled what was written about Him centuries before. In Mark’s terse, undetailed account of Jesus’ crucifixion, without making reference to the Old Testament, he confirmed the fulfilment of prophecy.

They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar to drink. (Psa. 69: 21)

They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing (Psa. 22: 18)

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him and by His wounds we are healed. (Is. 53: 5)

This is a factual, eyewitness account of what happened to Jesus, not some fanciful, incomprehensible, philosophical religious waffle. Jesus suffered and died a terrible death so that those who believe in Him might have everlasting life.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my new book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or kindle version or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

Watch this space. My second book, Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing), companion volume to Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master, will soon be on the bookshelves.

Check out my Blog site – www.learningtobeason.wordpress.com

 

 

 

Who Killed Jesus?

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WHO KILLED JESUS?

The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on Him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on Him. And they began to call out to Him, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’

Again and again they struck Him on the head with a staff and spit on Him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him. (Mark 15: 16-20)

Imagine the scene! Jesus was a stranger to the Roman soldiers. O, they may have heard about Him, even encountered Him in Jerusalem, but what did they know about Him as a person? What had they heard about Him? Anything suspicious, or sinister and evil that prompted their vicious attack on Him? No, only good, except perhaps from the religious hierarchy who were so prejudiced against Him that there was no end of their criticism and lies about Him.

So why did they behave in this atrocious manner towards Jesus when they had no axe to grind with Him? Were they simply giving vent to the basest in their human nature? Were they trained to hate by their role as Roman soldiers? Had they picked up the offence of their Jewish subjects and used the opportunity to sympathise with their Jewish allies in the Sanhedrin? Were they using the opportunity to discharge their hatred of the Jews on this innocent Jew who did not fight back?

As we go through the story of the crucifixion, it does not take us long to realise that every section of society was against Him. Those who masterminded the plot, carried out the mockery of a trial and stirred up the crowd to condemn Him; the mob who arrested Him and treated Him like a common criminal; the Roman soldiers who mocked and abused Him; the crowd who yelled for His death; Pilate who sentenced Him on to death on behalf of Rome in spite of His innocence; those who carried out the sentence with callous contempt – they were all representative of the human race for whom He paid the ultimate price.

Before we protest our innocence, we must remember that we are all part of the reason why He was there. None of those who were physically involved in His murder can carry the blame alone. They stand for every member of the human race who was condemned to death for treason against the God of heaven.

Jesus’ response stands in sharp contrast to the behaviour of those who had anything to do with Him during the final hours of His life. Why did He not resist? Why did He not defend Himself? Why did He not protest His innocence and fight to preserve His life? Why did His disciples and those He had ministered to for three years not stand up for Him and challenge the authorities for the illegality of their actions? Why did He not prove His power by calling for heavenly backup as He could have done? Why the foolishness of the cross?

There was only one way to defeat the devil and expose the treacherous deceit he had perpetrated on the human race. His modus operandi for perpetuating evil was through hatred, retaliation and revenge. You hurt me, and I will hurt you back. You hit me once and I will hit you ten times. By swallowing the devil’s lie in the Garden of Eden, mankind through Adam, has destroyed the unity God intended between us and Him. True to his fallen nature, he has kept sin going and escalated it from one generation to the next.

What was the solution? Wickedness could only be brought to an end by one who had no sin of His own, and who absorbed everything the human race could throw at Him without retaliation, and with love and forgiveness.

When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. ‘He Himself bore our sins’ in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; ‘by His wounds you have been healed.’ (1 Peter 2: 23-24)

Who killed Jesus? We all did because:

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isa. 53: 6)

We cannot distance ourselves from those who treated Him with cruelty and contempt and crucified Him. We were there, siding with them because it was our sin that brought Him to that moment. And it was our sin that His death paid for so that we can go free.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my new book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or kindle version or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

Watch this space. My second book, Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing), companion volume to Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master, will soon be on the bookshelves.

Check out my Blog site – www.learningtobeason.wordpress.com

 

Son Of The Father

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SON OF THE FATHER

Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. ‘Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?’ asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

‘What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?’ Pilate asked them. ‘Crucify Him!’ they shouted. Why? What crime has He committed?’ asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify Him!’ Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified. (Mark 15: 6-15)

King of the Jews? Pilate had obviously not bought that one. From his point of view, Jesus was no more a threat to Rome than his pet puppy.

But the chief priests and religious leaders were adamant. Jesus must die! If Pilate did not find Him guilty, there was another way to get Him sentenced to death. The exchange! This was their trump card. They were play Barabbas against Jesus and Pilate could not wriggle out of that one.

According to the custom that the Roman governor release a prisoner during the Passover Festival, they demanded the release of one, Barabbas, an insurrectionist and a murderer. Can you credit their hypocrisy? They accused Jesus of treason when He was clearly not guilty. On top of it, He was a man who healed the sick and gave life to the dead. Instead they demanded the release of a man who had taken life and who was among those who rebelled against Rome. How devious could they be?

But Pilate was not stupid. He knew the reason why they had condemned Jesus. He was too good for their liking. They preferred the company of those who were like them, wicked to the core but covered with a veneer of religious “righteousness” which Jesus had seen through and exposed, time and again to their discomfort. The quicker they got rid of Him, the better, and they would not hesitate to stoop to murder, just like the one they chose for release.

Who was this Barabbas anyway? This is the only time his name appears in history, and what a record! Bar-abbas. His parents gave him the name “son of the father”. Was that prophetic? Was he destined to become just like his father?  Was he the offspring of a criminal like he had turned out to be? He certainly was the offspring of Adam, father of the human race, flawed from birth. All he had to do was to live up to his nature and he would be a replica of his father.

Who was his father? Jesus put his finger on the core problem during a debate with the religious leaders. They were adamant that they were the children of Abraham. “How can that be?” Jesus demanded, “when you are plotting to murder me? Your real father is the devil because that’s who you resemble.”

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8: 44)

Yes, according to the Scriptures, Barabbas was a true son of his father, the devil, and that’s the one they chose for release. How true is the proverb, “Birds of a feather flock together.” These men had shown themselves up for who they were.

But what about Jesus? This was their accusation – that He had claimed to be “the Son of the Father”. His nature and actions, like Barabbas, were evidence of the identity of His Father. Just as Barabbas mirrored his father, the devil, so Jesus was the image of His Father, God.

And they chose Barabbas because they were of the same family.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my new book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or kindle version or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

Watch this space. My second book, Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing), companion volume to Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master, will soon be on the bookshelves.

Check out my Blog site – www.learningtobeason.wordpress.com