" JESUS' Final Week of Work - Crucifixion Day "

    

      Today is the day that everything has been walking towards. We have seen where JESUS never missed a beat in continuing to teach HIS disciples. There is NO pity party for HIMSELF, there is NO hesitation to go and do what HE knows needs to be done.  HIS work is not yet finished and HE has much physically to go through, but that is not what causes HIM dread. There is another part of HIS work, that HE has never gone through, and it will nearly crush HIS SPIRIT to go through it;  and only for US would HE do it.  Today we will see the LORD's betrayer, we will see the LORD's tenderness in healing a severed ear, Peter's denial of HIM, false witnesses paid to lie about the LORD, HIS trials, beatings and mockings.

This day will try even the LORD, but there is a Scripture verse in Hebrews 12:2-3a that sums up why the LORD allowed sinful man to do to HIM what was more horrific than we as finite humans can even fathom.  Hebrews 12:2-3a says,  " looking unto JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith, WHO for the JOY that was set before HIM endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of GOD. For consider HIM WHO endured such hostility from sinners against HIMSELF..."  We'll pick up right where we left off in Luke.

Luke 22:48-53   BUT JESUS said to him, " Judas, are you betraying the SON of MAN with a kiss ?" When those around HIM saw what was going to happen, they said to HIM, " LORD, shall we strike with the sword ?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But JESUS answered and said, " Permit even this. " And HE touched his ear and healed him. Then JESUS said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to HIM, " Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs ? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize ME. But this is your hour and the power of darkness."

      The Roman soldiers and religious rulers and elders took JESUS to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year. We will now go over to John 18 and pick up there the LORD's first Jewish trial before Annas.

John 18:12-23   Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested JESUS and bound HIM. And they led HIM away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that ONE MAN should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed JESUS, and so did another disciple(John). Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with JESUS into the courtyard of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door outside. The the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, " You are not also one of this MAN's disciples, are you ?" He said, " I am not." And the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

The high priest then asked JESUS about HIS disciples and HIS doctrine. JESUS answered him, " I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask ME ? Ask those who have heard ME what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said." And when HE had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck JESUS with the palm of his hand saying, " Do YOU answer the high priest like that ?" JESUS answered him, " If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil, but if well, why do you strike ME ?"   

Luke 22:58-71   And after a little while another saw him and said, " You also are of them." But Peter said, " Man, I am not !" Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, " Surely this fellow also was with HIM, for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, " Man, I do not know what you are saying !"  And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.  And the LORD turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the WORD of the LORD, how HE has said to him, " Before the rooster crows, you will deny ME three times."  Then Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Now the men, who held JESUS mocked HIM and beat HIM, and having blindfolded HIM, they struck HIM on the face and asked HIM, saying, " Prophesy ! Who is it that struck YOU ?" And many other things they blasphemously spoke against HIM.

As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led HIM into their council, saying, " If YOU are the CHRIST, tell us." But HE said to them, " If I tell you, you will by no means believe, and if I also ask you, you will by no means answer ME or let ME go. Hereafter the SON of MAN will sit on the right hand of the power of GOD."  Then they all said, " Are YOU then the SON of GOD ?" And HE said to them, " You rightly say that I AM."  And they said, " What further testimony do we need ? For we have heard it ourselves from HIS own mouth !"

     The Jews made a mockery of their 2 trials against CHRIST because they had already condemned HIM not only physically but in their hearts and minds.  This is why the LORD said in John 1:11  " HE came to HIS own and HIS own did not receive HIM."  Now we are not going to go deeply into the first trial of Pilate or the first trial of Herod. We will pick up the narration at Pilate's second trial of the LORD.  Needless to say, HE has been treated very badly, physically and in every other way. Beatings, mockings, scourgings, plucking out HIS beard, the crown of thorns. All kinds of physical and mental torment was laid on CHRIST and in the mist of all that was going on with HIM, there was a little footnote in Matthew 27:3-10 about what Judas, the LORD's betrayer was doing.  

Now I am not going to waste much time about Judas, but he realized that what he had done was going to result in the LORD's death, so he tried to give back the 30 pcs.of silver to the religious rulers, but they could not take back, " blood money " into the treasury, so Judas threw it down and ran out an hanged himself, and the money was used to buy a field to bury strangers. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, " And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of HIM WHO was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter's field, as the LORD directed me." Matthew 27:9-10 

      Now JESUS' final examination before HIS crucifixion is before Pilate. He tries everything to get JESUS released but the religious rulers had paid men to get the crowd in an uproar and also many in the crowd had thought that the LORD may have been the one to come and take down the Romans rule over them, so they were angry at HIM for not doing what they thought HE came to do. Pilate's wife even warned him not to have anything to do with this JUST MAN.  So Pilate thought that he could get JESUS released through a tradition of releasing one prisoner during Passover, as a kindness. Now Pilate thought surely they would call for JESUS, a JUST MAN to be released because the other choice was a murderer and a notorious criminal named Barabbas. So Pilate brought, the beaten and tortured JESUS before the people and Barabbas, and left it up to them who they would have released.  And nearly with one accord, they screamed for Barabbas to be released and Pilate asked what he was to do with JESUS and again they screamed, " CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM !" We are going to look at just a few verses before the LORD walks to HIS cross. 

Matthew 27:22-31  Pilate said to them, " What then shall I do with JESUS WHO is called CHRIST ?" They all said to him, " LET HIM BE CRUCIFIED !"

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, " I am innocent of the blood of this just PERSON. You see to it." And all the people answered and said, " HIS blood be on us and on our children." 

Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged JESUS he delivered HIM to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took JESUS into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around HIM. And they stripped HIM and put a scarlet robe on HIM.

When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on HIS head, and a reed in HIS right hand. And they bowed the knee before HIM and mocked HIM, saying, " Hail, KING of the Jews !" Then they spat on HIM, and took the reed and struck HIM on the head. Then when they had mocked HIM, they took the robe off HIM, put HIS own clothes on HIM and led HIM away to be crucified.

      JESUS was so badly beaten and scourged that HE was unable to carry HIS cross alone so the soldiers compelled a man from Cyrene whose name was Simon. They walked the path to Golgotha, known as the place of the skull, they gave HIM sour wine mingled with gall to drink but HE would not take of it. They striped HIM and divided HIS garments among themselves and laid HIM out on the cross and put large spikes through each of HIS hands and put HIS feet, one on top of the other and put a spike through them into the cross.  The solders put a sign over HIS head saying:  THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS  and they sat at HIS feet casting lots for HIS garment which fulfilled the Scripture in Psalm 22:18 which says: " They divided MY garments among them, and for MY clothing they cast lots."

      We are also told that there were 2 thieves crucified at the same time, with HIM, one on HIS left and one on HIS right sides; which fulfills another prophesy of Isaiah 53:12 which states " And HE was numbered with the transgressors." One of them cursed and mocked HIM, and said, " if YOU are the CHRIST, save YOURSELF and us." The other thief said, " Do you not even fear GOD, seeing you are under the same condemnation ? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this MAN has done nothing wrong. Then he said to JESUS, ' LORD remember me when YOU come into YOUR kingdom.' "  And JESUS said to him, " Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with ME in Paradise." Luke 23:39b-43.

      There were 7 sayings of CHRIST while HE was on the cross:

1.) Luke 23:34  Then JESUS said, " FATHER forgive them for they know not what they do." And they divided HIS garments and cast lots.

2.) Mark 15:33-34  Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour JESUS cried out with a loud voice, saying, " Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani ? " which is translated, " MY GOD, MY GOD, why have YOU forsaken ME ? "

3.) John 19:26  When JESUS therefore saw HIS mother,and the disciple who HE loved(John)standing by, HE said to HIS mother, " Women, behold your son !"

4.) John 19:27  Then HE said to the disciple, " Behold, your mother !"

5.) John 19:28  " I  thirst !"

6.) Luke 23:46  " FATHER, ' into YOUR hands I commend MY spirit.' "

7.) John 19:30  " It is finished !"

     Now I promised to give you a little insight into what one of the LORD's sayings really encompassed. This was the one point, of HIS walk to the cross and HIS death, that brought out the " sweat as great drops of blood "  and also made HIM ask the FATHER, " if this cup could pass from HIM ?"  HE knew that the cup had to be taken.  This was not a cup in the physical sense of something that we drink out of, but the cup HE was talking about was saying # 2 above, " MY GOD, MY GOD why has though forsaken ME !"   I have prayed and tried to come up with something, in human terms, that would describe in the most graphic detail of what was happening to the LORD at this moment.

     GOD the FATHER, spiritually laid on JESUS the sin of us all. The sin of Hitler, the sin of Jack the Ripper, the sin of Nero, the sin of all the Ceasers', the sin of Stalin, the sin of Henry the 8th, and your sin and mine.  GOD the FATHER cannot look at or be part of sin, so when all the sin of every man, woman and child to every occupy a soul, was laid on our SAVIOR's shoulders, the FATHER had to look away, or for a brief time, detach HIMSELF from HIS SON.  This had never happened before, the FATHER and the SON being separated.  I told you that I had a really hard time trying to come up with a situation that would even share a tiny glimpse of what happened in those moments.  The LORD gave me this human analogy, grip a section of your skin and start taring it off your flesh, no anesthesia. Spiritually speaking the LORD was torn from the FATHER because of our sin that was laid on HIM. The LORD did not want to be separated from the FATHER, that was the cup that HE wanted taken from HIM, but HE knew that this was the only way of Salvation for us. HE DID IT ALL FOR US !!!

      Now because it was Preparation day, none of the bodies were allowed to hang on the crosses, so they broke the legs of the thieves so that they would suffocate and die quicker.  When they came to JESUS they saw that HE was already dead, so to make sure they pierced HIS side with a spear which was also a prophesy of Zechariah 12:10 "They shall look on HIM WHOM they had pierced."  And about HIM not having any broken bones, Psalm 34:20 states, " Not one of HIS bones shall be broken,"

John 19:38-42  After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of JESUS, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of JESUS; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of JESUS. And Nicodemus, who at first came to JESUS by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of JESUS, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 

Now in the place where HE was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. (This was Joseph of Arimathea's unused tomb)  So there they laid JESUS, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

      Now a large rock was laid against the opening of the tomb so that nothing and no one could disturb the LORD's body. As the LORD said, "It is finished !"  

HIS work on the cross, for redemption of mankind, was finished.  There was one thing yet that had to be done.  Would HIS sacrifice be enough to redeem us from our sin ?  What would be the final sign that would show that HIS sacrifice was perfect and was accepted by the FATHER ?  We will see the answer to these questions on Resurrection Sunday.  I will do a short post of what occurred on that Saturday before HE arose.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

      

" JESUS' Final Week of Work - Thursday to approx.Midnight

     Today we are walking with JESUS through the day that would end in Gethsemane.  We will be looking at the disciples preparation of their " Last Supper ", unbeknownst to them, with their FRIEND whom they had been walking with for approximately 3+ years. We also will be looking at how the LORD is still teaching by rebuking their jealousy, a good foot washing and HIS testifying that one of them will betray HIM.  We will be using Scripture from the books of Luke and John, today.  We will be picking up the activity in Jerusalem and the disciples are buzzing about preparing someplace for the Passover with the LORD.

Luke 22:7-23   Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And HE sent Peter and John, saying, " Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat." So they said to HIM, " Where do YOU want us to prepare ?" And HE said to them, " Behold when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, ' The TEACHER says to you, " Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with MY disciples ?" Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready."  So they went and found it as HE had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

And when the hour had come. HE sat down, and the twelve apostles with HIM. Then HE said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of GOD."

Then HE took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, " Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of GOD comes." 

And HE took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, " This is MY body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of ME."

Likewise HE also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in MY blood, which is shed for you.   BUT BEHOLD, the hand of MY betrayer is with ME on the table, and truly the SON of MAN goes as it has been determined, but WOE to that man by whom HE is betrayed !"

Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.

      Now JESUS announced that one of them would betray HIM and in other accounts of the " Last Supper " HE all but told them that it was Judas but they were too busy talking among themselves to look up and see Judas and JESUS dipping their bread in the sop at the same time, which is who HE said it would be.  But all this had to take place for Scripture to be fulfilled and for our sin debt, to be paid.  No one would be able to stop these events as they unfolded because each one was part and parcel of the LORD's walk to Calvary.  We will now pick up where the supper had ended and Judas had left to betray the LORD.

John 13:1-20   Now before the feast of the Passover, when JESUS knew that HIS hour had come that HE should depart from this world to the FATHER, having loved HIS own who were in the world, HE loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray HIM. JESUS knowing that the FATHER had given all things into HIS hands, and that HE had come from GOD and was going to GOD, rose from supper and laid aside HIS garments, took a towel and girded HIMSELF. After that, HE poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which HE was girded. Then HE came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to HIM,

" LORD, are YOU washing my feet ?"  JESUS answered and said to him, " What I AM doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." Peter said to HIM, " YOU shall never wash my feet !" JESUS answered him, " If I do not wash you, you have no part with ME." Simon Peter said to HIM, " LORD, not my feet only but also my hands and my head !" JESUS said to him, " He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." For HE knew who would betray HIM; therefore HE said, " You are not all clean." So when HE had washed their feet, taken HIS garments, and sat down again, HE said to them, " Do you know what I have done to you ? You call ME TEACHER and LORD, and you say well, for so I AM. If I then, your LORD and TEACHER, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, happy are you if you do them. I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ' He who eats bread with ME has lifted up his heel against ME.' "

" Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I AM HE. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives ME; and he who receives ME receives HIM WHO sent ME."

      There is still a lot of teaching going on by JESUS and we will go back to Luke 22 to see the disciples arguing over who is the greatest; and Peter standing strong for the LORD, but will deny HIM.

Luke 22:24-34   But there was also rivalry among them as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And HE said to them, " The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ' benefactors.'

But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves ? Is it not he who sits at the table ? Yet I AM among you as the ONE WHO serves. But you are those who have continued with ME in MY trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom just as MY FATHER bestowed one upon ME, that you may eat and drink at MY table in MY kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

And the LORD said, " Simon, Simon ! Indeed, Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat ! But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to ME, strengthen your brethren."  But he said to HIM, " LORD, I am ready to go with YOU, both to prison and to death."

Then HE said,  " I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know ME. "

      Peters denial will nearly cripple him. The LORD's final hours of teaching, before the Roman Guard come for HIM in Gethsemane, include the Scriptures of John 14:1 through the LORD's real prayer in John 17.  John 17 is the most intimate prayer to the FATHER. HE prays for HIMSELF in 17:1-5; for HIS disciples 6-19; and for ALL Believers that will believe in HIM through the disciples word, which would include every TRULY BORN AGAIN BELIEVER from HIS Ascension to the time the LORD comes for HIS Bride.  I would love to include John 14:1 - 17:26 but I am confident that you can honor the LORD by reading this section on your own.  The last Scriptures that I will use today is in Gethsemane, at the point of betrayal by Judas Iscariot in Luke 22.

Luke 22:39 - 47   And coming out, HE went to the Mount of Olives, as HE was accustomed, and HIS disciples also followed HIM. When HE came to the place, HE said to them, " Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And HE was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and HE knelt down and prayed, saying, " FATHER, if it is YOUR will, remove this cup from ME; nevertheless not MY will, but YOURS, be done."  Then an angel appeared to HIM from heaven, strengthening HIM.

And being in agony, HE prayed more earnestly. And HIS sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. When HE rose up from prayer, and had come to HIS disciples, HE found them sleeping from sorrow. Then HE said to them,  " Why do you sleep ? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation. "

And while HE was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to JESUS to kiss HIM.  BUT................

      And we will stop there for this post. Tomorrows post will pick up right where we left off, with the  BUT.

As I have been doing this series, so many things have jumped out at me.  The disciples callous attitude, Judas' greed,  JESUS's humility and love through it all. 

The hours are ticking down to the event that HE knew was so needed for mankind to have fellowship with the FATHER, but there was also something that filled HIS heart with dread, a moment that would be like no other moment in history, and we will dwell long and hard on that moment tomorrow.  PLEASE don't miss any of this series of JESUS' walk to the cross and HIS wonderful resurrection.

Your servant in the LORD,

Julie

" JESUS' Final Week of Work - Wednesday "

     Yesterday I told you that Tuesday and Wednesday were not clearly defined so we left off with JESUS teaching HIS disciples about giving while in the temple and the widow came in and gave what she had but those with large wallets gave in grand splendor so that their giving would result in the accolades of men. 

Today we will pick up with the LORD leaving the temple in Jerusalem and walking with HIS disciples toward a time of teaching in the Mount of Olives. Nearly all of this days happenings will be in the book of Matthew 24:1 - 26:16. The LORD teaches about the future, the Parables of the Ten Virgins, the Talents and the Day of Judgement. HE also speaks to them again about HIS death; HE is anointed by Mary at Simon's feast. Today's teachings by the LORD to HIS disciples will culminate to the time of Judas Iscariot's contract with the religious rulers to betray the LORD, even though he walked with HIM and saw HIS miracles, for three years.

Matthew 24:1 - 14  Then JESUS went out and departed from the temple, and HIS disciples came to HIM to show HIM the buildings of the temple. And JESUS said to them,  " Do you not see all these things ? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

Now as HE sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to HIM privately, saying, " Tell us, when will these things be ? And what will be the sign of YOUR coming and of the end of the age ?"

And JESUS answered and said to them;  " Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in MY name, saying, ' I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows. 

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you and you will be hated by all nations for MY name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then false prophets will rise up and deceive many, and because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

      The LORD continues speaking about future events such as the " abomination of desolation " that will stand in the middle of what will be the new temple that is to be built in Jerusalem.  HE speaks of those in Judea who should flee to the mountains when this happens.  These are things that will happen to Israel during the Great Tribulation period; false Christs and false prophets will arise showing signs and wonders, but no one should believe them. Matthew 24:15-26

      Then in Matthew 24:27-25:46  the LORD teaches of future events, of HIS second coming and the kingdom of heaven through teaching and Parables.  I will write some of these teachings, and ask you to read the whole account so that you get the full sense of what the LORD was doing to get HIS disciples ready for what was coming.  I will give the Parable of the Fig Tree and the Days of Noah illustration in Matthew 24:32-44 as follows:

" Now learn this parable from the fig tree:  When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it(HIS Second Coming), is near, at the very doors. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but MY WORDS will by no means pass away.

But of that day and hour no one knows, no not even the angels of heaven, but MY FATHER only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the SON of MAN be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the SON of MAN be.  Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your LORD is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the SON of MAN is coming at an hour when you do not expect HIM."

      Now the LORD starts HIS teaching on the kingdom of heaven through the Parables of the 10 Virgins and the Talents in Matthew 25:1-30 and judgement of the gentiles right before the Millennial reign of CHRIST in Matthew 25:31-46. I will give the Judgement of the gentiles portion if you then would read the Parables of the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 25:31-46   When the SON of MAN comes in HIS glory, and all the holy angels with HIM, then HE will sit on the throne of HIS glory. All the nations will be gathered before HIM, and HE will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.  And HE will set the sheep on HIS right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then the KING will say to those on HIS right hand, ' Come, you blessed of MY FATHER, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  For I was hungry and you gave ME food; I was thirsty and you gave ME drink; I was a stranger and you took ME in; I was naked, and you clothed ME; I was in prison and you came to ME.'

Then the righteous will answer HIM, saying, ' LORD when did we see YOU hungry and feed YOU, or thirsty and gave YOU drink ? When did we see YOU a stranger and take YOU in, or naked and clothe YOU ? Or when did we see YOU sick, or in prison and come to YOU ?

And the KING will answer and say to them, ' Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these MY brethren, you did it to ME.'

Then HE will also say to those on the left hand, ' Depart from ME you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

 for I was hungry and you gave ME no food; I was thirsty and you gave ME no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take ME in; naked and you did not clothe ME.' 

Then they also will answer HIM, saying, ' LORD when did we see YOU hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to YOU ?'

Then HE will answer them, saying, ' Assuredly, I say to you inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to ME.'   And these will go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into eternal life. "

      We will finish today with the plotting by the Jews to kill JESUS, Mary's anointing of the LORD for HIS burial and Judas Iscariot's agreeing to betray JESUS, which is written in Matthew 26:1-16

Matthew 26:1-12   Now it came to pass, when JESUS had finished all these saying, that HE said to HIS disciples,  " You know that after two days is the Passover, and the SON of MAN will be delivered up to be crucified."   Then the chief priests, the scribes and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take JESUS by trickery and kill HIM. But they said, " Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people."

And when JESUS was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to HIM having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on HIS head as HE sat at the table. But when HIS disciples saw it they were indignant saying, " To what purpose is this waste ? " ( Think of this, they thought it was a waste to humbly show care and tenderness to the LORD, just days before HE will nearly be beaten to death and crucified on the cross, but they still did not see the truth of all HE was to them) For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor."  But when JESUS was aware of it, HE said to them, " Why do you trouble the woman ? For she has done a good work for ME. For you have the poor with you always, but ME you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on MY body, she did it for MY burial.  

Assuredly,  I say to you, wherever this Gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her. "

     In another of the Gospel accounts, the one complaining the loudest about what Mary did was Judas Iscariot, the future betrayer of the LORD.  He yelled the loudest, especially when he spoke that the fragrant oil, which by the way was worth a years wages, could have been sold and given to the poor.  If you remember what role Judas played within the LORD's disciple unit, he was their treasurer, he kept track of their finances and held the money box;  he was also a thief.  It still amazes me that the LORD did not force the issue of his stealing from them, but as we see in most of the Bible, the LORD will not force HIMSELF on anyone.  If Judas was to make the choice to be a TRUE follower of CHRIST and not just someone who followed HIM to see what HE could get from HIM, it would have to be a choice that Judas needed to make on his own, not forced by any confrontation from the others.   Today's final Scripture will be Judas' agreement with the chief priests to betray the LORD.

Matthew 26:14-16   Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said,  " What are you willing to give me if I deliver HIM to you ? "   And they counted out to him 30 pieces of silver.  

So from that time he sought opportunity to betray HIM.

      Thirty pieces of silver !!!  The thief made his choice.  The thief would not change and as a thief he saw the LORD as a means of $$$.  The LORD has Paul write, " The love of money is the root of all evil " in 1st. Timothy 6:10 and we can see by Judas' example that it was his downfall and of course satan used this love of money to push Judas to betray the LORD JESUS.

      We will pick up with the LORD tomorrow as HE and HIS disciples prepare for the passover as we continue to walk with the LORD to HIS cross and resurrection.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" JESUS' Final Week of Work - Tuesday "

 Tuesday and Wednesday of the week of the LORD's crucifixion and resurrection are not clearly defined, so we are going to attempt to look at as much of what happened right before the Last Supper and the betrayal.

Yesterday the LORD came to a fig tree looking for figs at a time of the year when there are not usually figs on the trees.  When HE found none HE cursed the tree and the next morning when HE and HIS disciples passed by the tree, it had withered and died. We will pick up in Mark 11:20-26 with the LORD's answer.

     Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to HIM, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which YOU cursed has withered away."

So JESUS answered and said to them, " Have faith in GOD.

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your FATHER in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your FATHER in heaven forgive your trespasses."

During this time the Sanhedrin would challenge the LORD's authority and HE would answer them in Parables of the Two Sons, the Wicked Vinedressers and the Marriage Feast. We will pick up with the LORD's conversation with the Sanhedrin and their questions in Matthew 21:23 - 22:14.

     Now when HE came into the temple, the Chief Priests and the elders of the people confronted HIM as HE was teaching , and said, " By what authority are YOU doing these things ? And who gave YOU this authority ?"  But JESUS answered and said to them, " I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell ME, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things:   The baptism of John, where was it from ? From heaven or from men ?" 

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' HE will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him ?" But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John as a Prophet." So they answered JESUS and said, " We do not know."  And HE said to them, " Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

     "But what do you think ? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard,'  He answered and said, 'I will not, but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go.  Which of the two did the will of his father ?"  They said to HIM, " The first." JESUS said to them, " Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of GOD before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him and when you saw it you did not afterward relent and believe him."

     "Hear another parable:  There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.

  Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'  But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" They said to HIM, " He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons."  JESUS said to them, " Did you never read in the Scriptures:  

               'The stone which the builders rejected

                Has become the chief cornerstone.

                This was the LORD's doing, 

                And it is marvelous in our eyes' ?

Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of GOD will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him into powder." Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard HIS parables, * they perceived that HE was speaking of them.* But when they sought to lay hands on HIM, they feared the multitudes, because they took HIM for a Prophet.

     And JESUS answered and spoke to them again by parables and said:  " The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ' Tell those who are invited, "See I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding."'  "But they made light of it and went their ways one to his own farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, ' The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.'  "So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment ?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'  For many are called but few are chosen."

Now all these parable were directed at those who would not believe what John the Baptist had been preaching about nor would they believe, when the SON was sent to them. Sadly most of what was written about Tuesday and into Wednesday was a barrage of tests by the Pharisees, Elders, Sanhedrin and the Herodians to see if anyone could catch HIM in saying something that could be used as a condemning accusation to get rid of JESUS.   They did not realize or know that the LORD was born to lay down HIS life on the cross in a couple of days. But they still would continue seeking an accusation against HIM.  This barrage of antagonism continued from Matthew 22:15-23:39.  I will not write this very large discourse but will hope that you will read it on your own.  I will, however, give you some select Scriptures as highlights.

 

   

     They questioned HIM about taxes in Matthew 22:17-21 which verse 21 states:  They said to HIM, "Caesar's." And HE said to them, " Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to GOD the things that are GOD's."

     They also questioned HIM about the resurrection and whose wife will a woman be in Matthew 22:23-33 and the LORD ends this discourse with:  "I AM the GOD of Abraham, the GOD of Isaac, and the GOD of Jacob ? GOD is not the GOD of the dead, but of the living."

     They also questioned HIM about which was the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:34-40 and they questioned HIM on what HE thought about the CHRIST and whose SON is HE in Matthew 22:41-46.

     Now actually Matthew 23:1-39 is the LORD giving instructions to the people about how to do what the Scribes and Pharisees say but not to do as they do. HE upbraids the Scribes and Pharisees and calls them hypocrites.  If you go through verses 13-39 and count how many WOE's the LORD states against them. Verses 37-39 shows the LORD's sadness over Jerusalem and the things that would befall it.

     The last thing spoken within Jerusalem, at this point in the week, was the story of the widow's mite in Luke 21:1-4.  HE wanted to show that giving is not a statement of the wallet but comes from the attitude of the heart.  Many wallets were overflowing and those who had them made a big show out of their giving but this poor women, who had next to nothing, gave all that she had, knowing from where it came and that HE would always provide for her needs.

     We will stop there for today and the conversations from the LORD will move from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives as HE continues to get HIS disciples ready for the days, weeks, months and years ahead.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" JESUS' Final Week of Work - Monday

   

      Mark 11:12-14  Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, HE was hungry, And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves.  HE went to see if perhaps HE would find something on it. And when HE came to it, HE found nothing on it. And when HE came to it, HE found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  In response JESUS said to it, " Let no one eat fruit from you ever again."  And HIS disciples heard it.

The Monday after Palm Sunday, as we call it, the LORD was traveling out of Bethany.  Now to recap, the LORD had just been hailed and welcomed into Jerusalem by a large crowd.  This will be in part, the same crowd that will call for HIS crucifixion in just a few days. Some of the crowd will be paid, by the Pharisees, to arouse others and to get a mob against the LORD.

Now many have thought about what the cursing of the fig tree represented, since it had not been the time for figs to be on the tree.  The LORD's disciples will ask HIM about this on Tuesday morning as they are traveling.  We shall see, tomorrow what the LORD had to say about it.

Now the next thing that was written about the Monday after Palm Sunday was the LORD's cleansing of the temple.

      Mark 11:15-19  So they came to Jerusalem. And JESUS went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold doves. And HE would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then HE taught, saying to them, " Is it not written, " MY house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations' ? But you have made it a ' den of thieves.' " And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy HIM; for they feared HIM, because all the people were astonished at HIS teaching. And when evening had come, HE went out of the city.

      Now in the Book of Jeremiah 7:11 he also talked about the LORD's house becoming a den of thieves and the verse states, " Has this house, which is called by MY name, become a den of thieves in your eyes ? Behold I, even I, have seen it, " says the LORD.  The Gospels of Matthew and Luke also have their inspired events of the day. There were specific guidelines given about how things were to be done within the Temple confines; buying and selling were things to be done out in the markets. What they were selling were birds and animals that would be given in sacrifice by those who traveled from far away. The travelers would go to the corrupt moneychangers and get the correct currency then they would go and purchase the appropriate sacrifice needed for their family size. Also, the moneychangers were crooked and would give low exchange rates for money that was from other provinces. This was just some of what the LORD was talking about when HE cleansed the Temple; none of this was to be done within the Temple area.

Now the Gospel of John gives some of the other teachings that JESUS did that day. In John 12:20-50 JESUS teaches on the significance or attraction of sacrifice and those verses are as follow:

      Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see JESUS." Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told JESUS. But JESUS answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the SON of MAN should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves ME, let him follow ME; and where I AM, there MY servant will be also. If anyone serves ME, him MY FATHER will honor. Now MY soul is troubled, and what shall I say ? 'FATHER, save ME from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. FATHER, glorify YOUR name."  Then a voice came from heaven, saying, " I have both glorified it and will glorify it again."  Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to HIM." JESUS answered and said, " This voice did not come because of ME, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I AM lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to MYSELF."   This HE said, signifying by what death HE would die.

The people answered HIM, " We have heard from the law that the CHRIST remains forever; and how can YOU say, 'The SON of MAN must be lifted up'? Who is this SON of MAN ?"  Then JESUS said to them, " A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."  

These things JESUS spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. But although HE had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in HIM, that the word of Isaiah(53:1), the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:

              " LORD, who has believed our report ?

               And to whom has the arm of the LORD

               been revealed ?"

Therefore they could not believe because Isaiah(6:9,10)said again:

               " HE has blinded their eyes and 

               hardened their heart. Lest they

               should see with their eyes and

               understand with their heart, lest

               they should turn, so that I should

               heal them."               

These things Isaiah said when he saw HIS glory and spoke to HIM. Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in HIM, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess HIM lest they should be put out of the synagogue; * for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of GOD.*

Then JESUS cried out and said, " He who believes in ME, believes not in ME but in HIM WHO sent ME. And he who sees ME sees HIM WHO sent ME. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in ME should not abide in darkness, And if anyone hears MY WORD's and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects ME, and does not receive MY WORD's, has that which judges him--the WORD that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on MY own authority; but the FATHER WHO sent ME gave ME a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that HIS command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the FATHER has told ME, so I speak.

JESUS's death will be a shock to those around HIM, including HIS disciples. But it should not have been. The LORD spoke, to HIS disciples, of HIS death many times during the approximate 3+ years of HIS adult ministry,but they were unwilling and unable to listen or believe it. When the LORD spoke about HIM being lifted up, this was a reference to the cross but also a reference to the bronze serpent that Moses was instructed to make for the children of Israel when they had sinned. The serpents started to bite them and they would die from the bite. Moses was instructed by GOD to make a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole, then instruct the people who were bitten to look up at the bronze serpent and they would be healed.  Those who looked were healed and those who refused such a simple remedy for their affliction, died. Numbers 21:4-9 gives the account of the judgement with serpents and redemption with the serpent up on a pole.  Think of it, this was a picture of what would happen to the coming of Israel's Messiah nearly 1500 years later.

* Take note to this asterisked phrase and what was really most important to many that heard the LORD speak and either refused to believe HIM or believed in silence.

We will look into more of JESUS' teachings tomorrow as we walk along with HIM on HIS way to the cross and HIS resurrection.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" JESUS' Final Week of Work - Sunday ( Palm Sunday )

     Zechariah 9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion !  Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem !  Behold, your KING is coming to you; HE is just and having Salvation,  Lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Nearly 500 years before CHRIST was born, the above passage was spoken by the Prophet Zechariah and GOD gave him this window of insight into the future coming of Israel's MESSIAH.  A colt or donkey was considered, in those days, a Kingly way to travel.  When JESUS rode into Jerusalem on a foal of a donkey that had never been ridden on (which would have been very dangerous for anyone else, the colt was unbroken) this would have been a sign of HIS royalty.  All 4 of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John ) have described the "Triumphal Entry" of JESUS into Jerusalem and each of the Apostles wrote what they saw from their own perspective as GOD inspired them.  I chose Luke's version as the one I will include, since it gives a precise look at what happened that day. Precise, because Luke had been a Physician before he became one of the LORD's disciples.  Luke 19:28-44  is as follows:

When HE had said this, HE went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when HE came near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that HE sent two of HIS disciples, saying, "Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose him and bring him here. And if anyone asks you, "Why are you loosing him ?" thus you shall say to him, "Because the LORD has need of him.' " So those who were sent departed and found it just as HE had said to them. But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" And they said, "The LORD has need of him." Then they brought him to JESUS. And they threw their own garments on the colt, and they set JESUS on him. And as HE went, they spread their clothes on the road.

Then, as HE was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise GOD with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying:  "Blessed is the KING WHO comes in the  name of the LORD!"  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

And some of the Pharisees called to HIM from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke YOUR disciples." But HE answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

Now as HE drew near, HE saw the city and wept over it saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

JESUS was giving a prophecy of things to come to the beloved city of Jerusalem. HE made mention of them " not knowing the time of their visitation." There is another place where this same time of blindness was mentioned in John 1:9-11 which says:

That was the true LIGHT which gives light to every man who comes into the world. HE was in the world, and the world was made through HIM, and the world did not know HIM.  HE came to HIS own (place/people)and HIS own did not receive HIM.

The Jews, the religious rulers, and others should have known who HE was but never bothered to find out. They assumed HE was the illegitimate son of Mary and Joseph. They assumed HE was from Nazareth, because that is where HE came from, but no one ever asked HIM where HE had been born.  If they had they would have known that HE was born in Bethlehem around the time of Rachel's grief over the death of all the children. But their eyes were blinded to WHO HE was and is.

Monday I will continue with some of the things that JESUS did on the Monday before HIS crucifixion. Each day I will give you a glimpse of what preceded HIS agony on the cross, HIS burial and HIS resurrection.  I hope you will peek in each day to walk along the path that our SAVIOR walked and maybe get an insight into what HIS priorities were right up to the moment HE gave up HIS SPIRIT on the cross.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie