Hell has many people who have turned away or never accepted Jesus, but only one betrayed Him that was Judas. He betrayed Jesus and brought disgrace to his family name.
"And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him." (Joh 13:2)
The devil had done everything he could to stop Jesus for three years. Now it looks like he will succeed to stop Him when he puts the deceit of betrayal in Judas heart. This man has been in the company of the Messiah for three years and yet he was not committed to Him, he was still living the revenge he seeks from the Roman control over the Jews. Judas believed that the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus would bring Him so much popularity that there could be a revolution of the Jews and freedom from the Romans.
Oh! What a black web the devil wove for Judas and planted that in his heart. Yet Jesus knew what was too happened, He told Judas, “Go do what you have to do.” So what is in our daily lives that because we want to compromise with the world we end up betraying our Lord, are too occupied with the world and the environment we have become pleasured by. Today we need to repent and check out our lives, to see if in any way we are betraying our Saviour. Amen.
APR 2
FACING TOMORROW
Sleepless nights can be the darkest kind of agony. When we know we are facing tomorrow that we have no desire to face. Perhaps at work or in school, maybe even in our family or our church.
"And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly." (Luk 22:43,44)
I know that none us have faced the tomorrow Jesus faced when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane. But that is why He faced the cross and not us. He did it for us. When we are facing a horrible tomorrow and find we cannot find peace or sleep, we need His angels; we need the Holy Spirit to comfort us. To reassure us that we will get though tomorrow and that with the Holy Spirit we will have a victorious tomorrow.
We too have angels around us; we have other Christians that will pray earnestly with us. Those dear ones are on our side and they share the agony with us. Jesus needed the company of angels and we need the company of other Christians. Perhaps you are not facing what some other dear one is facing. In that case they are in need of your prayers and your company. Wonderful, how the family in Christ, was birthed at the cross. Today you can call someone you need or call someone that needs you, because we are all family with Jesus. Amen.
APR 3
STRENGTH FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT
Jesus told us that He would send us a comforter, and He did, He sent us the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit is more than a comforter, he wants to strengthen us and give us power to overcome our adversaries. We know when we feel the presence of the Holy Spirit; we are being assisted with a supernatural presence.
"And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him." (Luk 22:43)
Angels are supernatural beings here on earth. Jesus has known angels from eternity from His Heavenly home. But at this time the angels were not at home, they were needed here on earth. Jesus needed them, because now Jesus was a human and in the flesh. We too are in the flesh and in need of help here on earth from our Heavenly Father. For us He sent the Holy Spirit, to live with us and in us. That also makes us supernatural to the human existence. Whatever we have to face in our lives we have the supernatural help to overcome the world. Today we have nothing to fear because we have the strength of the Holy Spirit in us. Amen.
APR 4
THE ENEMY OF THE CHURCH IS UNDER ARREST
Have ever seen these films where the police are going out to make an arrest of a very dangerous criminal. SWAT, police, FBI, guns, dogs, they have everything with them to catch this criminal.
"Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came with lanterns and torches and weapons." (Joh 18:3)
Did you know that Jesus was the enemy of the Jewish leaders at the time of His arrest? Look at the picture, a young man, 33 years old and His 12 friends. The young man had been a carpenter and now was a preacher, His friends were fishermen. Judas that knew them, he gets his blood money and asks for an army to arrest the preacher. Why would he want so many people to just arrest one man? Answer, he knew that Jesus was the most powerful man on the planet. And he was right. They were arresting the Son of God.
Now if you agree with me, why don’t you find this picture very strange, our beautiful Saviour, being arrested like a dangerous criminal? The Jewish leaders definitely feared God in the flesh, Jesus. They had tried so many times to trick Him and to catch Him breaking their laws. Their laws, not God’s laws. Are you following your church laws or are you following God’s laws? Today the church compromises God’s laws to fit their fleshly and financial desires. All about me and all about money that is the way so many churches operate today. Check out your church, if you follow God’s laws, will you be their enemy today? Amen.
APR 5
ARE YOU GULLIBLE TO GOSSIP
I don’t know about you but, I have to be very careful with gossip. At times it is right to reveal the truth about someone to protect another person, but I think that we have a bad habit of talking too much about other people.
"Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came with lanterns and torches and weapons." (Joh 18:3)
There must have been a lot of rumours and gossip about Jesus around the city. He was a preacher, a teacher, a maestro, could it be He was the Messiah or a King. Just think about all those rumours about Him. These men that came to arrest Him brought lanterns and torches, just so they could really see who this great man was. They brought weapons, weapons against a preacher, how foolish was that? They listened to Judas; he told them, “I need a band of men and soldiers with me to arrest Jesus.” These Jewish leaders did not question Judas, “Why do you need all of them?”
The leaders had tried many times to take Jesus, and He vanished from them, they wanted to be sure this time that they had enough power to take Him. How foolish again, to think they had power against the Son of God. These leaders had heard rumours, but not the right rumours, about the birth of Jesus when angels announced His birth and kings came from a far off land to honour Him. If they had heard those rumours, perhaps things would have been different.
That is the same for us we need to be more careful with our rumours, understanding the harm they can cause. Good News with the gospel is the best gossip to put out among your friends and neighbours, hoping that today they are gullible for your gossip on Jesus. Amen.
APR 6
KISS OF DEATH
Have you ever felt like someone you loved has given you a kiss that in time you recognized it to be very dangerous for you? We have a very well known comment for a kiss like that, “Judas Kiss.”
"And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goes straightway to him, and said, Master, master; and kissed him." (Mar 14:44-45)
I am sure you were devastated when you were treated so badly, how do you think Jesus felt when the same friend, His disciple, was embracing Him and giving Him a kiss, so He would be arrested and executed in only two days. We know Judas was deceived by the devil, concerning his task as the treasurer for Jesus' financial affairs. He was probably embezzling from Jesus' accounts. That might be the reason for the “thirty pieces of silver” he acquired from the Jewish leaders, to make up for his stealing. We know he wasn’t aware of their ultimate plan for Jesus.
He was a thief to start with, so he was the best target for the devil to use to remove Jesus for good. Jesus was a victim of Judas's kiss. I hope you have never been betrayed by someone you worked with or a friend. Maybe they did not kiss you good-bye, but their betrayal felt the same as a kiss of death. Judas was not a true friend to Jesus; perhaps that is what you have also recognized with someone. True friendship is honesty, when we are honest with our friends or loved ones we find out just what our friendship is worth to them. Today is a new day for discovering the worth of your friendships. Amen.
APR 7
SUBMITTING TO AUTHORITY
Are you easily willing to listen and learn from others? Submitting to authority over your position is not always a comfort zone for each of us. In fact many times we might find that submission is very uncomfortable for us.
"And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goes straightway to him, and said, Master, master; and kissed him." (Mar 14:44-45)
So Judas was given a task to care for the accounts of Jesus. Did that make him arrogant? Was he jealous of the attention that Jesus gave to Peter and John? How could he take it on himself to decide Jesus' future in Jerusalem during the Passover? He was a disciple, but he did not truly respect Jesus authority over him.
If we are learning from a teacher, he is in the place of authority over us during the time we are his student or disciple. We may not always be in complete agreement with our teacher, but we are with him to learn from him and submit to his leadership during our time with him. Judas was not such a student or disciple. He thought himself higher than the authority of Jesus. How about us, are we still in the process of learning from others in authority? Is today a good day for us to be more submissive to someone we can learn from, and to submit to others authority? Amen.
APR 8
POWER FROM THE GREAT I AM
We know that Jesus is the great, "I AM.” That has been His identity since the day Moses met God in the burning bush on Mount Horeb.
"Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek you? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground." (Joh 18:4-6)
Let us look at the picture of Judas with an army with him charging up to the Garden of Gethsemane to make an arrest of a preacher. First Judas goes up to Jesus giving Him a kiss and saying, “Master.” Jesus steps forward asking the soldier, “Who are you looking for?” The soldier replies, “Jesus of Nazareth.” He should not have said that, because Jesus replied “I AM.”
I got this picture of all the army falling over like dominos lined up, supernatural power of the Son of God, knocked them all flat. Now that was the power of Jesus' authority. We may not have an army against us, but we may have an illness or a financial problem or, maybe a relationship problem that is like nothing we can overcome. If we have that same Holy Spirit in us that Jesus promised us, we have that same authority and power that He had over the Roman army. When we are facing our problems we can use the ”Name of Jesus” to overcome them, He is "the great I AM” yesterday, today and forever. Amen.
APR 9
SINCE WHEN WAS PETER PATIENT
Peter was spontaneous; he was always jumping in without thinking ahead. He would speak out of turn and act before contemplating the results of his actions.
"When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear." (Luk 22:49-50)
The great saint, Peter, was a “hothead.” Jesus did not suggest violence at His arrest. But our hot-headed Peter in his spontaneous character pulls a sword and strikes the servant Malchus. Of course Jesus corrects the problem Peter has caused, and heals the servant’s ear. In other words Peter made a mistake and Jesus fixed it.
Even to the last miracle in His ministry before the cross He healed His enemy’s ear. I know we are far from perfect, I daily make mistakes. I am a new born-again Christian, therefore when I make a mistake, I ask repentance, ”Father I come to You, through the Holy Spirit in the Name of Jesus asking for forgiveness for my words, my thoughts and my actions today.” What is so wonderful is when I ask from my heart I am forgiven. With my wrong, foolish, spontaneous words and actions, I can come to Jesus and ask Him to give me another chance; I truly want to please Him. Perhaps you too need to ask Jesus today for another chance. Amen.
APR 10
A FRIEND NEEDS HELP
Do you have friend that needs help? Are you praying for someone that needs help in a situation that seems out of control? Are you able to help them even if it may cost you your time, energy, or maybe more?
"When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer you thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him." (Luk 22:49-51)
Jesus could have left Peter facing criminal charges, for pulling out a sword and attacking the servant of Caiaphas. But Peter was His friend and He would not let His friend stay in that kind of difficulty. Jesus made everything right for the servant, healing his ear. What a friend Peter had in Jesus, and what a friend we have in Him also.
So we know what Jesus does for His friends which is a perfect example of what we should do for our friends, always show them our love. The next time your friend is in need, can you put yourself out of the picture putting them in the picture and concentrating on their needs first.
This is the example Jesus gives us, and yet not an easy example to follow. Sometimes your friend’s needs are their own fault, why should we help them? We should follow Jesus example, when He helped Peter, after making a mess of his life, facing prison. Perhaps you have a friend you could call today and help them also. Amen.
APR 11
SUPERNATURAL ANGELS
You are aware that you have angels around you, right? How many times in the week could point out ”that must have been angel”? For myself I see them in action every day I leave the house. In other words they are there when and if I need them.
"Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" (Mat 26:53)
I believe if I needed a legion of angels I too can pray for them. Fortunately I have never been in such a dangerous situation where I needed that much help. Jesus was in a very bad condition on the cross, but He did not call for help. Angels had ministered to Him earlier at the Garden where He was in agony processing what was going to happen to Him. There He needed comforting and the presence of supernatural friends.
I think a good message today is “don’t try it yourself, ask the Lord.” We could never take on the cross of Jesus as He did. But we do bare small crosses in our lives. We have the love and grace, the help we need to carry our crosses is there for us, we only need to pray. Why do we always want to process our situations and problems, before bringing them to cross, where we can unload them forever?
Back to our supernatural friends, angels, you see they are also our friends because we too are natural citizens of Heaven. Born-again here on earth through the precious blood of Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit. That is why we Christians are supernatural on this planet. We are not bound to live according to the world’s rules; we are free to live to God’s rules. Today when you think about supernatural angels, give thanks to the Lord, because He has them all around you. Praise the Lord, Amen.
APR 12
AN ACCOUNT OF HIS POWER IN THE GARDEN
When you read the four gospels you have a picture through many healings and resurrections of the dead. If you counted them, I am sure I could count one more than you.
"And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked." (Mar 14:51-52)
This young was following Jesus because he wanted to know who had resurrected him from his tomb. Oh yes, this young man had been dead. How did this happen? Jesus stated “I AM” in the garden when He spoke to the Roman soldier. Then everyone fell flat, it was the power of Jesus that knocked them flat, and shook the graveyard at the foot of the garden. His power resurrected this young man from his tomb. The young man was naked after losing his linen cloth, which he was buried in. He was naked because at his burial he was cleaned, and was naked and wrapped in a linen cloth, that was only used for burials.
This is surely an account of the supernatural power of the Son of God, “I AM.” By the very words of Jesus, He told us that even greater works than what He had done on earth were for us to do in His Name and in His authority. Today is a new day for us to be what God wants us to be, and to do what God wants us to do. Today we can, because we have the same power through the Holy Spirit. Amen.
APR 13
DISGRACING THE KING OF KINGS
Have you ever seen the police arrest someone? There is no dignity in being arrested by the authorities.
"And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled." (Mat 26:57)
What a picture we have in the garden that night. First Judas's betrayal with a kiss, then all the soldiers laying flat on the ground, and Jesus healing the servants ear. At last with Jesus just standing there while all the army gets to their feet, throwing a noose around Jesus' neck and binding His hands, leading Him out of the garden and down main street, ”like a lamb to slaughter." No dignity, no honour to the King of Kings. Isaiah gives us a verse about this disgraceful arrest.
"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter." (Isa 53:7)
Now we know that Jesus was filling prophecy, as far back as Abraham, because this has always been God’s plan for salvation. So how are we when we are persecuted for Christ? Do we get angry; think we are being unjustly accused? Can you and I fill God’s plan for our lives with thanksgiving? Can we sing, “Thank You Jesus for the Cross,” when we are burdened with our own cross? On a scale 1 to 10, I think I might reach 5 half way. I want my dignity, I want my respect, and I want my justice. How many “I’s” are here, no concern about what God wants. I am disgracing Jesus by not listening to what God wants. Please Lord help me today, to listen, learn and obey to honour our King of Kings. Amen.
APR 14
THEY HATED SO MUCH THEY COULD SPIT
I have never spit on anyone except on the TV. I see things on the news that make me want to spit on those people. I am completely normal when I get that angry with a news-clip. I don’t hate the people, I just hate what they are saying, or doing, or supporting. I am completely normal with my feelings for them as I disagree 100%, to the point that I could spit on them.
"Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands." (Mat 26:67)
If I was facing these newscasters, I would be furious, but I wouldn’t spit on them. I don’t really know where my breaking point would be, to spit on another person. Only the devil and all the evil he could bring forward to Caiaphas's house and make these Jewish leaders spit and hit Jesus in the face. What an evil act from the devil. Those actions were physical actions against Jesus.
Today the world is using spiritual attacks on Him. Not only on the news do we hear what is happening to God’s people, but just leaving home we encountered spiritual spits and hits on Christians. Christianity is always a target for the world to aim at. Our precious Saviour took it all; He took it all for us. Today we have to be aware that there are those out there who still want to hurt Jesus and they also want to hurt us, because we love Him. Amen.
APR 15
HE WAS MORE THAN A PROPHET
We know that Jesus is the Son of God who gave His life on a wooden cross to pay the debt of sin for all mankind, and rose from a tomb three days after His burial. He is Lord and our Saviour. That is who Jesus is and was and forever will be for us.
"And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?" (Luk 22:64)
Three years Jesus was travelling and teaching, where all the Jewish leaders were following Him and trying to establish a trap to prove He was a fake. The problem with their strategy was they knew He was not a fake. They knew He healed the sick and raised the dead; He gave sight to the blind and provided a meal for at least 4000 men twice.
They couldn’t deny to themselves who He was, but they could lie to the public. They knew He was more than a prophet, so why would they say to Him “prophecy” when only an hour before they were all flat on the ground with His power. How stupid they were and how full of evil they were with their games. There are still religious leaders in the world that only call Jesus a prophet. Today our task is to spread the gospel, which tells the world He was a lot more that a prophet. Amen.
APR 16
TRUST IN GOD
Have you ever followed God’s plan for you, and got in a lot of trouble? I mean you find yourself in a situation that only a miracle can get you out of.
"And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor." (Mat 27:2)
Jesus was born to complete God’s plan of salvation. Everything Jesus did was designed by God. All the goodness was planned by God, and yet, He was bound, with a noose around His neck and drawn down the street like an animal, an animal on the way to his death. The Lamb of God was led like a lamb to slaughter.
What was Jesus doing through all this, remember He had already told God, “Not my will, but Yours will be done,” in other words Jesus was trusting God. This was a disgrace for the King of Kings, a tragedy for the Son of God and death for our Saviour on the cross, and through it all He was trusting God. He even trusted God to resurrect Him from the tomb. Today is a great day to say to the Lord, “I trust you, with my family, my home, my work, my church and ministry, I trust You Jesus.“ Amen.
APR 17
PASSING THE BUCK
When you have to take responsibility for something you don’t want, what do you do? Do you try to get out of it? Do you look around for someone to pass it on to, graciously, so you won’t look so bad?
"When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time." (Luk 23:6-7)
Pilate did not want to take responsibility for Jesus' court case, so he found a way to ”pass the buck.” Fortunately Herod was in town and could take the task of Jesus's arrest. But it didn’t go how Pilate had planned. Pilate didn’t want to crucify Jesus, but the power was out of his hands. Jesus told him, ”You have no power that was not given to you from above, from God.” The Sanhedrin wanted Jesus out of the way permanently. Jesus was passed three times to very responsible Heads of State, but no one wanted to take the responsibility of His crucifixion. The final result was Pilate passing it again, by just washing his hands of all responsibility.
When God calls you to do something, do you look for a way to pass the buck? The final countdown was that Pilate had to make a decision. He did everything within the law to get out of his responsibility as governor, a Roman procurator. Is there something in your life today concerning a responsibly that you would like to pass on to someone else? Whatever it is, you had better be sure that it didn’t come from God. Pilate received his responsibility from God, no matter how he tried to pass it on, it came back and he had to take his task seriously. Are you struggling with something God has given you? Don’t waste time trying to “pass the buck,” get on with it and take your responsibility. Amen.
APR 18
ANTICIPATING A NEW INTRODUCTION
Have you ever been excited about meeting someone very well known? Perhaps you are getting the opportunity to meet a high up official or a world known evangelists or preacher, and you are anticipating this introduction.
"And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him." (Luk 23:8)
I would be very excited I think if, “out of the blue,” I was told a very well known preacher was coming to my house. I would have taken into account who he is and why is he so famous, has he done anything that made him famous? In other words there must be some sort of history on this preacher, and since he is coming to my house I want to know his history.
Herod thought the same as I do, except, my thinking is positive and his was negative. This Herod‘s name was Antipas, which in Greek means, “one who is against everything and everyone.” Jesus knew the attitude of this negative high official. Naturally his position as a Governor did not phase Jesus, because He is a King. Jesus was not there in this man’s house to entertain him, Jesus was there appointed of God. As a result of Jesus ignoring Herod’s request to see a miracle the other Jewish leaders went into a frenzy, “You are a fake, no miracles, you’re a fake.” They shouted so this was no casual encounter in Herod’s house that evening. Jesus is with His Father in Heaven today, but because I have not seen him in the flesh, has not changed my faith in Him.
I have a complete history book on His life that I can refer to everyday. I have faith in a man; the Son of God, whom I have never shook hands with. My anticipation for an introduction with Him is increasing daily. Wow one day I will see Him and many others I love. I have no doubt, because in 1975 I committed my life to Him, and that has never changed, so one day I will see Him. Have you the same feeling with the same anticipation for that introduction to see Him as I do? Have you committed your life Him, today so you will see Him someday? Amen.
APR 19
EXCESSIVE MISTREATMENT
Have you ever been mistreated? So many forms of mistreatment can happen to us. There is physical, mental and spiritual mistreatment.
"And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate." (Luk 23:11)
Jesus was so mistreated by those malicious Roman soldiers, that mistreatment was physical, mental and spiritual, surely any normal man would have been broken with that treatment, but not Jesus, He only had His eyes directed to Calvary. Herod orders that they place a royal robe on Him and later they tortured Him by placing a crown of thorns on His head. What fools they all were mistreating the great ”I AM,” the true King of the Jews.
Anyone who mistreats another person is a fool, and perhaps manifesting evil. These Roman’s were manifesting evil, but only a far as God would allow, nothing was to distract Jesus from the cross, that God had planned from the day of creation. There are those that mistreat Christians today also. My family and I have gone through mental and spiritual mistreatment back in the 90’s. Then our children were mistreated at their school and our car was stolen and wrecked, we were all mocked because we were known as Christian’s, not Catholic’s. All this mistreatment we went through only reminded us of our Lord and His mistreatment. If you feel someone had excessive mistreated you because you are following Christ, just thank Him today that you are not alone. Amen.
APR 20
NO FAULT IN HIM
I am full of faults and maybe you are also. I wonder what it would be like, thinking I am perfect, I have no faults.
"Said unto them, You have brought this man unto me, as one that perverts the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof you accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him. (Luk 23:14-16)
Jesus was standing in front of a court being accused of crimes that He was not guilty of, He was absolutely not guilty. He was being passed to the houses of three high officials, found not guilty, but still a prisoner. Herod with his evil streak mocked Him and abused Him, Pilate to please the Jews tortured Him and beat Him, and all this did not please these evil Jewish leaders. They wanted him dead. He was led to the cross to fill God’s plan for salvation, God’s Son was to die as a guilty man for sin. Jesus had no debt; He paid our debt in full on the cross.
I consider chastise as a thing that is done to someone that has done something wrong, He had done nothing wrong, He was, is and always will be perfect. There is no fault in Jesus, but we need Him to correct the faults in us today. Amen.
APR 21
HEALING AT THE SOUND OF A WHIP
I am speechless and shake a little when I read the suffering my Saviour went through for me. I know that Jesus was a man of flesh, and that He was so beaten that Mary could not look at Him, she was broken at the cross. Therefore Jesus gave her a new son, His disciple John, to care for her. The results of the Roman scourging only left half a man. His body was ripped to shreds, losing blood and liquids, so His blood pressure was dropping constantly. Few men lived long enough through the scourging to go to the crucifixion.
When I look at my life, what have I ever done that would cost another person their life. I never thought of myself so bad. Although I believe the Word of God, and know there was no worth in me before I came to Jesus, and repented for my sins. Sins I might have not even remembered but still wanted God to forget. Jesus body was broken, so that mine can stay healthy. I don’t have to have illness or pain, He had that for me, and I am whole and healed because of Jesus. I don’t know about you, but I can never stop giving thanks to Him. Amen.
APR 22
MOCKED AND EXPOSED HIS NAKEDNESS
Can there be anything less dignified than a person being stripped to nakedness?
"Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!" (Mat 27: 27-29)
It says Pilate’s soldiers that numbered 300-600 were in his courtyard which was very public; they were mocking Jesus, as He was dying. Remember they had just beaten him and now His body was bleeding and blood pressure dropping, He was dying. When I think of these evil monsters in the presence of Jesus, and having control over Him, I shudder. I know His gentleness, His kindness, and love and now in a courtyard dying at the foot of these monsters. They stripped Him of His garments and looked upon a naked man, but they never really saw Jesus the Lamb of God, who was there to take away the sins of the world.
If they had known who they were dealing with, they would have bowed flat on their faces before Him. They had forgotten that is where they were, two nights before in the garden with Him, flat on their backs with no power within themselves. These evil minded men will actually bow before Him in the future and will not hail Him, “King of the Jews,“ but they will declare Him, “King of Kings.”
I know from the TV and newspapers that there are such evil men today also. They too will bow to Jesus in the future, and hail Him as Lord. Christian believers have gotten the first opportunity to be with Him, but I am concerned about my loved ones that don’t believe in Him. I am concerned of their future after death. I am sure you also have loved ones that you are concerned about also. Perhaps you should talk with them today. Amen.
APR 23
THE FIRST SINNER AND US PAID FOR
Matthew wanted to show the Jewish belief about where Jesus was crucified. First, he names the Libyan man who the soldiers demanded to carry Christ’s cross. This was just feedback from the activities of that Memorial Day.
"And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull." (Mat 27:32-33)
There is a Jewish tradition about Golgotha; I think that is why Matthew brought up these verses. This story is amazing when you think it may be true. They believe that this place, Golgotha, is where Noah’s son Shem buried Adam’s skull just outside of Jerusalem and that the High Priest, Melchizedek had this place continually guarded.
Another part is what the Christian Jews believe that as Christ was on the cross there was an earthquake and the place of the skull opened and Christ’s blood dripped down to Adam’s skull under the rock. Perhaps you are thinking what has that got to do with my salvation, or God’s plan of salvation? Well Adam, being the first sinner after creation was being washed by the blood of Christ on the hill of Golgotha. In other words the 2nd Adam’s blood is cleansing the 1st Adam’s sins. Could this story be possibility true, if so it is amazing, but not as amazing as Christ‘s blood cleansed our sins. Perhaps you could tell this story to someone that does not believe in salvation. You can tell them how thankful you are for Jesus and the cross. Amen.
APR 24
AT THE CROSS
The crucifixion on a cross was the worst barbaric act of torture the Romans had to bring anxiety and fear among the public to keep them from committing crimes against the Roman Empire.
"And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him." (Mat 27:34-35)
The Romans had women make up a mixture of wine and a painkiller (gall) that was given to victims of the cross to make it easier with their dying and hanging there. Jesus had said to His Father in the Garden, ”Please take this cup from me.” But the cup of the cross and His sanctification was not taken from Him by the Father; there was a cause that was greater than any cause in history of the world before.
He was hanging there. He refused the painkiller, because He was dying, for you and me. He was hanging on the cross for you and me. His pain was for our healing. His death was for the cost of cleansing sin from mankind and paying the price of the blood of the unblemished Lamb of God. The hours He hung there with all the pain was for us. The agony He endured was for us. How can I make clearer on paper? The blood of this “Passover Lamb” was dripping from His body for the salvation of mankind. What more can I share with you, except to ask you, “Is Jesus your Saviour?" Amen.
APR 25
THE HOLY OF HOLIES NO LONGER HOLY
The Holy of Holies was only open to Caiaphas the High Priest in Jerusalem. Pilate was the governor of Romans and Caiaphas the governor of the Jews, who sent Jesus to execution. He did not go out of the temple to see Jesus die on the cross. So he couldn’t have heard Jesus words on the cross. He hated Jesus and he hated Pilate for placing a sign “King of the Jews” over Jesus head on the cross. Caiaphas thought he was safe in his sanctuary in the temple until the earth began to shake, and his world as he knew it was over.
"And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent." (Mat 27:51)
We all know what an earthquake is, and have seen on the TV what it can do. The day that Jesus died there was an earthquake, because the earth was mourning His death. There were many unbelievable occurrences that day. Graves were opened and the dead were resurrected.
That must have been an amazing sight, but what was God’s best plan? Moses' law, with the temple, had now disgraced the Lord. No, the High Priest sitting on his glorious chair will witness who is Holy and who is the only High Priest? Jesus is in the eyes of God. The very curtain that divides the status of men in the temple was ripped top to bottom. There was no more division between the Pharisee and the Publican. The ultimate sacrifice had been made; the ultimate price for sin had been paid. Do you believe that? Do you believe that Christ died on the cross for you? I repent everyday as I come to Lord giving Him thanks for Jesus and His sacrifice for me. Do you also repent and thank Him? Amen.
APR 26
HOW CLOSE ARE YOUR FRIENDS
After Jesus death came two of His friends that never stayed with Him or travelled with Him, in fact they were secret friends.
"And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury." (Joh 19:38-40)
There were many of Jesus' friends mentioned or told of in the four gospels, only once did we hear of a Pharisee wanting to be near Jesus. Perhaps you remember Nicodemus (Joh 3:1) he wants to see Jesus in secret. No wonder he want to see Him secretly, Nicodemus was in the Sanhedrin. He would have been in big trouble if he was exposed to the Sanhedrin as a follower of Jesus.
Nicodemus also had a friend in the Sanhedrim that secretly also was listening to Jesus' teaching and he had a longing for the Kingdom of God. These two are the ones that step forward to Pilate and request Jesus' body. Of course they were both very wealthy and had their own properties, including their own tombs in very lovely places. Not only did they ask for the body, but they already had the expensive mixtures that the wealthy were anointed with for burial. When they got the body they prepared it in the best of linen and spices.
All this was very strange for Pilate because those that died on across were just discarded and never were buried. They were concerned enemies of the Roman Empire. We don’t need a lot of friends to find the ones that would be with us to the end. On the other hand, we need to look at ourselves and what kind of friend are we to those we know? Are we the kind of friend praying for them, the kind of friend that believes in them and will stand by them, (thick and thin)? Take a look at your friendships today, which ones are close, and are you their best friend? Amen.
APR 27
RICH MAN'S GRAVE
We know that Jesus’ body was laid the grave of a rich man.
"Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand." (Joh 19:41-42)
All those days of suffering Jesus endured started in a garden and the end of His suffering also was in a garden. The Garden of Gethsemane was where Jesus was in agony knowing what was in His future and in the other garden Jesus is in peace awaiting His Father’s presence in the tomb. This tomb had recently been dug out of the rock and was the property of a rich man that was very devoted to Jesus in secret. I wonder what the others in the Sanhedrin said when they found out what Joseph of Arimathea had done, requesting Jesus’ body and laying it in His sepulchre in his garden.
There were many legal things that must take place to have Jesus buried in his sepulchre. First they must legally receive the corpse from the Roman governor Pilate. Then the Sanhedrin insisted the tomb be sealed with the Roman sealing and a large stone be placed at the entrance of the sepulchre. On top of all that the Jews requested Roman soldiers to guard the garden, and everyone of authority in the Jewish court must checked to see that Jesus is dead at His burial. All this was OK with God because this security only made the amazing Sunday morning even more amazing for the Romans and the Jews had no explanation for the body of Jesus missing that morning. God is so amazing, don’t you agree? I gave my life to Christ in 1975 and from that year to this God has amazed me with His protection, His provision, and His love. I am sure you can say the same. Amen.
APR 28
WHO GOT PAST THE GUARDS?
That night four Roman guards were watching one tomb. There they were with a little campfire in the garden just to keep them warm throughout the night while they were on watch. Who got past four guards on night watch?
"And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it." (Mat 28:2)
The guards were waiting to see if anyone was going to try to steal the body of Jesus. So that peaceful night was a night these guards will never forget. First the earthquake to quickly wake them all, then the sight of an angel sitting on the stone made them so fearful they all fled from the garden. This angel must have been very large. Matthew says when they saw him they shook and were stiff with fear, they panicked and ran. Perhaps they also saw Jesus resurrecting out of the tomb.
How strange when the women came to the tomb knowing nothing of the occurrence that night, they were not frightened, they just went in and didn’t find Him. They were confused, first the stone is lying on ground and the entrance is open, then they see two angels and ask where Jesus is. He is raised; He is raised that is the good news of that day. That is the good news today also. Amen.
APR 29
THEY HAD TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES
Are you the kind of person that wants to see for yourself if what you heard can be true?
Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre." (Joh 20:3-4)
Bless his heart, John is writing this and yet in humility he does not say I was there. He backs up and calls himself “the other disciple.” Peter started out to see what has happened, this woman chatting about the tomb is empty, and he had to see for himself. Peter and John take off to the garden. Well I understand John being a young man was running faster than Peter. But I wonder if Peter is having second thoughts about facing Jesus. He denied Him 3 times the night He was taken. Jesus told Peter He was going to build His church with Peter. Therefore they must meet again and Peter must be free of his guilt.
I too many times must be free of a guilty feeling when I have done something wrong. I am so fortunate to have my prayer time so I can repent and start over free and faithful. I make it a number one task in the morning “repent and give thanks”. Have you tried that today? Amen.
APR 30
THEY ALL WENT HOME BUT MARY
The women had told the disciples what they had seen, and then the disciples went to see themselves what had happened to Jesus. After observing everything and not finding anything they all went home, except one woman.
"But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeing two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why are you weeping?" (Joh 20:11-13)
Mary Magdalene followed the men hoping to find out what had happened to Jesus. With no answers the group all left, but not Mary. She could not believe Jesus was gone. As normal when your heart is broken she was crying. She was not afraid to enter the tomb, she was Jewish and Jews were not to touch a corpse. She went in looking for Him and instead, she meet with messengers from God. They were angles and she wanted to know where Jesus was. While she is crying they tell her “He is not here, He is raised” She must have just turned around leaving the tomb when she saw a man, she thought to be the gardener, and asked him also.
What I love about his morning was how His voice must have made her heart jump with joy! You remember Jesus said you will recognize the shepherd’s voice. She needed more and He called her by name “Mary” immediately she wanted to hug Him, but it was not possible that first morning. I love people that are now in Heaven, and I don’t know whether I would be afraid or at peace if I saw them again here on earth. But I know I will be very happy when one day I see them in Heaven. Are you too looking forward today, to see those you love once again, in Heaven? Amen.
