How Would You Answer, What Would You Say?

When that time comes and you sense that inner voice that says, “This night your soul will be required of you,” suddenly you find that you are standing before Almighty God, and He says to you, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” What would you say? How would you answer?

First you might consider this before dismissing these very pressing questions; 

The fool says in his heart, there is no God (Ps 14:1 & 53:1)

Knowing in your heart that you are no fool you might respond by saying, “I have been a good person and tried to keep your commandments and have not broken any civil laws that I know of, I have paid my taxes, have given to the needy and have done right by my community. I have always been loyal and loving to my spouse, have loved and cared well for my children!” 

These attributes are commendable but an individual’s own righteousness is insufficient and falls short of the criteria set by the Creator. Even the most casual student of the bible must eventually realize that the ten commandments which God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai was but a yardstick whereby mankind can measure their own failures before a righteous and perfect God. The following verses bring into focus and clarify the problem we are facing.

“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.” (Proverbs 16:2)

(Speaking of God) “You who art of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on wrong.” (Habakkuk 1:13)

(Speaking to us) “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) 

“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” (James 2:10) 

The Apostle Paul points out;“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

The Lord is a loving and merciful Creator, but He is just and righteous and has vowed to punish sin. The word “Sin” simply refers to falling short, a failure to meet absolute perfection.

Some might say, “I am a member of a certain church, synagog or denomination, I tithe a portion of my income and support good works. But this is not the criteria that God has set before us. We have to understand that there is no way that mankind can reach up or elevate themselves to a standing that would be acceptable to God. Suppose that you made your best friend a three egg omelet but one of the eggs was bad, when you served it to him would it be acceptable? So it is with our lives, we cannot serve up the good things to God that we have done long with the bad, because it fouls that which is good and is unacceptable just as the bad egg ruined the omelet.

God had different plan and it was very simple as it says here; “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)

This has been God’s plan even before the foundation of the world, that mankind would know both good and evil even as He does, but those He would save would choose good over evil. The prophet Isaiah spoke of it long before the advent of Christ when he said; “Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53: 1-6)

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 )

But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, (Acts 3: 18-20)

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) Faith is more than just hearing and giving mental assent, faith requires action as a response, here is an excellent example of faith; During the winter of 1858, the 34-year-old French acrobat named Jean François Gravelet, better known as Monsieur Charles Blondin, traveled to Niagara Falls hoping to become the first person to make the crossing on a tightrope. He drew an enormous crowd and he said, “Do you believe that I can make the 1300 foot crossing over the falls on this tightrope?” The crowd roared saying, “Yes you can we believe in you!” Then Blondin said, “Do you think I can do the crossing with a man on my back?” The crowd responded once again saying, “Yes, we know you can do it!” Then Blondin said, who will trust me enough to get on my back for the crossing?” The remainder of the story is a perfect example of faith and how it works between the Savior and those who trust in his salvation. Blondin successfully made the crossing, appearing on the Canadian end of the rope with his manager Harry Colcord clinging to his back. Blondin gave Mr. Colcord the following instructions: “Look up, Harry, you are no longer Colcord, you are Blondin. Until I clear this place you become a part of me, mind, body, and soul. If I sway, you sway with me. Do not attempt to do any balancing yourself, trust me lest you fall to your death.” 

Today is the day of your salvation if you by faith will acknowledge and trust in Him, repent of your shortcomings and ask Jesus to come into your heart.

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.”   
(1 Thessalonians 5:9-10) 

Persecution By Antichrist

Down through the ages Christians have wondered, who will be the dreaded Antichrist? The question should be not who, but what is the Antichrist?  In a previous commentary posted 11/15/2015 entitled "Satanic Religion" we discussed the attributes of Islam, a death cult belief system consuming adherents with envy and hatred of Jews and Christians. In a later posting on 11/5/2015 entitled "Daniel's Prophecies And ISIS" we looked at ISIS and it's activities in the Mid-East close to the Israeli border and how it appears to be the second half of a bible prophecy in the works. And again on 1/23/2016 in a commentary entitled "Western Civilization Under Siege" we note how the gates of hell have been opened on Europe and the West as hundreds of thousands of angry displaced Moslems have been unleashed and are flooding across the European continent, many of whom are Jihadist terrorists intent on supplanting Western Civilization by the establishment of a world dominating Islamic Caliphate committed to the obliteration of Judaism and Christianity from the face of the earth.

We are thankful for permission to post this film which is not intended as an endorsement of Joshuastone-whatis by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Please watch it with an open mind and heart.

https://billygraham.org/video/persecution-and-the-gospel/

The Coming Great Day Of The Lord

As had been prophesied, there has been a world-wide falling away from faith in God by many Jews and nominal Christians alike, we have reached the point in time referred to by the Prophet Isaiah where there are many who call that which is evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness. We have entered an era much like in the days of Lot who was a righteous man sorely vexed by the abominable licentiousness of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Even today the thoughts of many men’s hearts seem to be bent on doing things that are inherently evil just as was recorded in the days of Noah before the flood. As we note the disturbingly sinful attitudes that surround us and the murder of close to 90,000 Christians each year by ISIS and other Islamic forces we cannot help but realize that we are approaching of the close of the age. This time had been prophesied long ago beginning with the breakup and scattering of the nation of Israel into a world wide diaspora beginning in 70 AD. After almost 2000 years on May 14, 1948 Jews reconvened in their former land and Israel once again became a nation according to God’s plan as prophesied by Ezekiel. 

Therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God: Thus says the Lord God to the mountains and the hills, the ravines and the valleys, the desolate wastes and the deserted cities, which have become a prey and derision to the rest of the nations round about; therefore thus says the Lord God: I speak in my hot jealousy against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who gave my land to themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and utter contempt, that they might possess it and plunder it. Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I speak in my jealous wrath, because you have suffered the reproach of the nations; therefore thus says the Lord God: I swear that the nations that are round about you shall themselves suffer reproach. “But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they will soon come home. For behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown; and I will multiply men upon you, the whole house of Israel, all of it; the cities shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt; and I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and be fruitful; and I will cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and will do more good to you than ever before. Then you will know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 36:4 - 11) 

The nation of Israel, the apple of God’s eye, is currently becoming surrounded by the forces of many nations intent on her destruction while the United Nations conspires against the Israelis with continual anti-semitic slurs, issuing crippling economic sanctions, even calling for it’s breakup and questioning Israel’s right to exist. Moscow is reconstituting power and control over it’s Islamic neighbors who are bent on the murder of Jews and Christians, the stage is now set for an astounding event.

The word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus says the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: “Lo, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the peoples round about; it will be against Judah also in the siege against Jerusalem. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it shall grievously hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will come together against it. (Zechariah 12: 1-3)

Behold, a day of the Lord is coming, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in the midst of you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women ravished; half of the city shall go into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives which lies before Jerusalem on the East; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that one half of the Mount shall withdraw northward, and the other half southward. And the valley of my mountains shall be stopped up, for the valley of the mountains shall touch the side of it; and you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Us′iah king of Judah. Then the Lord your God will come, and all the holy ones with him. On that day there shall be neither cold nor frost. And there shall be continuous day (it is known to the Lord), not day and not night, for at evening time there shall be light. On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea; it shall continue in summer as in winter. And the Lord will become king over all the earth; on that day the Lord will be one and his name one. (Zechariah 14:1-9)

Long after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, John a follower of Jesus had been banished to the Greek isle of Patmos by the Roman Emperor Domitian for proclaiming the gospel, here on Patmos is where he was swept up into a vision by the spirit of the risen Christ and given details of future events leading up to the victorious return of Jesus the risen Christ, here is his account:

“I John, your brother, who share with you in Jesus the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”(Revelation 1:9)

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses. From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords.”(Revelation 19:1-11)

The following two passages from Zechariah and Ezekiel were written in the 5th and 6th century BC. These two prophets could hardly have known what it was they were envisioning in terms of the power unleashed against the invading hordes at the time they prophesied, however in modern day context it gives  sobering credence to the probability that nuclear weapons may be in use during this event when it finally comes to pass.

And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will smite all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh shall rot while they are still on their feet, their eyes shall rot in their sockets, and their tongues shall rot in their mouths. And on that day a great panic from the Lord shall fall on them, so that each will lay hold on the hand of his fellow, and the hand of the one will be raised against the hand of the other. (Zechariah 14:12-13)

“On that day I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers east of the sea; it will block the travelers, for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried; it will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog. For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. All the people of the land will bury them; and it will redound to their honor on the day that I show my glory, says the Lord God. They will set apart men to pass through the land continually and bury those remaining upon the face of the land, so as to cleanse it; at the end of seven months they will make their search. And when these pass through the land and any one sees a man’s bone, then he shall set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog. Thus shall they cleanse the land. (Ezekiel 39:11-16)

“And the Lord will give victory to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not be exalted over that of Judah. On that day the Lord will put a shield about the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord, at their head. And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a first-born. (Zechariah 12:7-10)

“On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.” (Zechariah 13:1)

At that time a special dispensation will be given to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem even though they had turned away from Jesus and refused to acknowledge him as their Messiah. This had been God’s plan from the beginning so that the entire world would have an opportunity to respond to God’s offer of forgiveness and eternal life. At that time Israel’s dispensation will not be afforded to the rest of humanity because that opportunity will have already passed. In light of that knowledge then consider that now is time to ask Jesus into your life as Lord and Savior before it’s too late. Now is the time for your salvation, you may never have another chance!

Common Thread Binding Passover And Easter

Last November we noted that the dates for Hanukkah and Christmas coincided and that the first half of the Messianic prophecies had been fulfilled. In April of 2017 Easter and Passover will intersect, we will look at the connection between those two events and examine the significance of the remaining prophecies concerning the life, death and resurrection of Jesus  of Nazareth.

Let us consider the common thread that binds Passover to Easter. The Hebrews had sojourned to Egypt, having been experiencing a great famine and hearing that there was plenty for all in Egypt. After several hundred years the Egyptians became tired and wary of the Hebrews who had flourished in Egypt and they put them to great servitude under harsh conditions. Moses petitioned the Egyptian Pharaoh for their release using various signs and wonders in an attempt to change the stubborn Pharaoh’s mind until God told Moses to have each Hebrew household select a lamb without blemish and mark the lintel and doorposts with the blood of the lamb and eat the lamb that night and remain prepared to leave. The angel of death would then visit the homes bringing death to the firstborn of those whose doorposts weren’t marked by the blood of the lamb. This was the event that caused the Pharaoh to release the Hebrews from their bondage and allow them to leave Egypt and the oppressing servitude behind. ( Exodus 12)

The first Passover was a foreshadowing of what was to come. Jesus was and is the final sacrifice for the sins of mankind, He releases all who call Him Lord and Savior from the bondage of sin, eternal death and separation from God as we mark the lintel and doorposts of our hearts with the blood of God’s Lamb without blemish. In a clear reference to Passover the risen Christ calls us, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”  (Revelation 3: 20)

This is a lengthy examination of fulfilled prophecies dealing with God’s answer for the sins of all mankind and proof beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the promised Messiah and leads up to a commentary that will follow regarding the promise of His victorious return as the avenging Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of kings, Lord of lords, Savior of the world and Creator of the Universe.

Messiah would be rejected by his own people.

OT - I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother’s children;

(Psalm 69: 8)

OT - He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

NT - He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. 

(John 1:11)

Messiah would be declared the Son of God.

OT - I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. (Psalm 2:7)

NT - And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3: 16-17)

Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek.

OT - The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchiz′edek.” (Psalm 110-4)

NT -  So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee”; as he says also in another place, “Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchiz′edek.” 

(Hebrews 5:5-6)

 Messiah would be called King.

OT - “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.” (Psalm 2:6)

OT - Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9)

NT - And they brought the colt to Jesus, and threw their garments on it; and he sat upon it. And many spread their garments on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!” And he entered Jerusalem, and went into the temple; and when he had looked round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. (Mark 11:7-11)

Messiah would be betrayed.

OT -  Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9)

OT -   Then I said to them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty shekels of silver. Then the Lord said to me, “Cast it into the treasury” the lordly price at which I was paid off by them. So I took the thirty shekels of silver and cast them into the treasury in the house of the Lord. (Zechariah 11:12-13)

NT - While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?”

(Luke 22: 47-48)

NT -  Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Matthew 26: 14-16)

Messiah would be falsely accused.

OT - Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I know not. 

(Psalm 35:11)

NT - And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” (Mark 14:57-58)

Messiah would be silent before his accusers.

OT - He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. (Isaiah 57:3)

NT - And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate wondered. (Mark 15:4-5)

Messiah would be spat upon and struck.

OT - I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. (Isaiah 50:6)

NT - Then they spat in his face, and struck him; and some slapped him, 

(Matthew 26:67)

Messiah would be hated without cause.

OT - Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause. (Psalm 35:19)\

OT - More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore? (Psalm 69:4)

NT - If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. It is to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’ (John 15:24-25)

Messiah would be crucified with criminals.

OT - Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)

NT - Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 

(Matthew 27:38)

Messiah would be given vinegar to drink. 

OT - They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (Psalm 69:21)

NT - they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. (Matthew 27:34)

NT - After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), “I thirst.” A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished”; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

(John 19:28-30)

Messiah's hands and feet would be pierced.

OT - Yea, dogs are round about me; a company of evildoers encircle me; 

they have pierced my hands and feet (Psalm 22:16)

OT - “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. (Zechariah 12:10)

NT - So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:25-27)

Messiah would be mocked and ridiculed.

OT- All who see me mock at me, they make mouths at me, they wag their heads; “He committed his cause to the Lord; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” (Psalm 22:7-8)

NT -  And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 
(Luke 23:35) 

NT - And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. 

(Matthew 27: 39-45)

Soldiers would gamble for Messiah's garments.

OT - they divide my garments among them, and for my raiment they cast lots. 

(Psalm 22:18)

NT -  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Luke 23:34)

NT - And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 

(Matthew 27:35 -36) 

Messiah would be forsaken by God.

OT - My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? (Psalm 22:1)

NT - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, la′ma sabach-tha′ni?” that is, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

Messiah would pray for his enemies.

OT - In return for my love they accuse me, even as I make prayer for them. 
(Psalm 109:4)

NT - And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Luke 23:34)

Messiah's bones would not be broken, soldiers would pierce his side.

OT - In one house shall it be eaten; you shall not carry forth any of the flesh outside the house; and you shall not break a bone of it. (Exodus 12:46)

OT - He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. (Psalm 34:20)

OT - “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a first-born. (Zechariah 12:10)

NT - but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of him shall be broken.” (John 19:33-36)

Messiah would be buried with the rich.

OT - And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 

(Isaiah 53:9)

NT - When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathe′a, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. (Matthew 27: 57-60)

Messiah would resurrect from the dead.

OT - For thou dost not give me up to Sheol, or let thy godly one see the Pit. 

(Psalm 16:10)

OT - But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. 

(Psalm 49:15)

NT -  And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you.” 

(Matthew 28: 2-7)

NT - “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will dwell in hope. For thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let thy Holy One see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy presence.’

“Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. (Acts 2: 22-32)

Messiah would ascend to heaven.

OT -  Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! (Psalm 24: 7-10)

NT - So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19)

NT - While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. 

(Luke 24:51)

Messiah would be seated at God's right hand.

OT - Thou didst ascend the high mount, leading captives in thy train, and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there. (Psalm 68:18)

OT - The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.” (Psalm 110:1)

NT - So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19)

NT - ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet’. (Matthew 22:44)

NT - But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” 

(Acts 7:55-56)

Messiah would be a sacrifice for sin.

OT- But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand; he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:5-12)

NT - While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5: 6-8)

“You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake. Through him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” (1 Peter 1: 18-21)

Ask Jesus into your heart and into your life and today will be the day of your salvation.

Understanding The Beatitudes

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” 

(Matthew 5: 3)

Jesus simply meant that we must be humble in our spirits. If you put the word “humble” in place of the word “poor,” you will understand what He meant. In other words, when we come to God, we must realize our own faults and our emptiness and poverty of spirit. We must not be self-satisfied or proud in our hearts, thinking we don’t really need God. If we are then God cannot bless us. The Bible says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” 

(James 4:6).

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” 

(Matthew 5: 4)

This is not a reference to the morning for the loss of a loved one, it refers to the mourning that comes when one mourns over their own failures and disappointments and begins to acknowledge that they have sinned and have been living outside of God’s will. Mourning comes to those who recognize the sin of having lived an ego-centric shallow life, leading to a sense of loss and emptiness followed by a repentant heart and a desire for God’s forgiveness. 

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5: 5)

The meekness the Lord is referring to can be best described by picturing a team of horses drawing a carriage in a circle track race. The inside horses refrain from running as hard and fast as those on the outside, they are referred to as the meek horses. Being meek is continually exercising humility and restraint even under the most trying circumstances. Jesus gives us an example of meekness during the confrontation and his arrest at Gethsemane when he spoke to his apostles saying, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” Knowing that he had infinite power and could save himself from the beating, torment and death on a cross Jesus chose to submit to the will of the father. “Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand;” (Isaiah 53:10)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5: 6)

There comes a time in life when one begins to wonder, “Is this all there is?” In spite of everything that has been done and all the goals attained, it has not been fulfilling and something seems to be missing. The bible provides us with an answer to that gnawing question. So he came to a city of Samar′ia, called Sy′char, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samar′ia to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samar′ia?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?” Jesus said to her, “Every one who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” (John 4: 5 - 15)

(Verse 16 - 18) Jesus catches the woman in a lie and exposes her sinfulness when she says that she has no husband and he says, “No you’ve had five husbands and the one you are living with now is not your husband” 

The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” 

(John 4: 25 - 26)

(Verse 28 - 30) So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city, and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the city and were coming to him.

The woman experienced an epiphany having had a face-to-face meeting with the savior, it was such profound experience that she left her water jar behind and ran off to the city to tell everyone. When confronted by the inadequacy of a hedonistic and self-absorbed lifestyle she had a hunger and thirst for something more which could only be satisfied through a personal knowledge and relationship with God which came to her through Christ, and so it is with us.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5: 7)

Jesus left us with a good example of a man who shows mercy to a debtor.

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. (Matthew 18: 23 - 27)

The debtor had showed a repentant and contrite heart and was forgiven his debt by the King. Likewise when we come on our knees to the Lord with a repentant and contrite heart, we can be assured of forgiveness by the only one who can truly forgive all that we have done.

However with every blessing there is conversely a fearsome penalty for those who themselves have been forgiven of much and fail to offer reciprocal forgiveness to others. 

But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:28 - 35)

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5: 8)

Who are the pure in heart? These are they that have repented of their sins of a former lifestyle and who have turned away from all that is not right. For them there is no more cheating, lying, no more evil thoughts, unbridled anger, foul mouth or pornography and so on, there’s is a renewed heart and mind.

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4: 8)

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” 

(Matthew 5: 9)

One might think this refers to those who intervene in disputes between people and settle fights, not so it is much deeper than that! There is a considerable gulf and a dispute between man and God that has been positionally settled by the death and resurrection of Christ, but that peace is only acquired on an individual basis when the gospel is heard, not just by one’s ears but is received by the heart of a man. The peacemakers that Jesus is referring to here are they that proclaim the gospel with the good news of Jesus Christ and are closing the gap between God and His creation, changing a world who doesn’t know or revere God. 

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5: 10)

“Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

(Matthew 5: 11 - 12)

Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “He that would love  life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile; let him turn away from evil and do right; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil.” Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? But even if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God’s will, than for doing wrong. 
(1 Peter 3: 9 - 17)

“The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.” (2 Peter 2: 9 - 10)

A Carnal vs. Spiritual Life

Paul writes to the church at Galacia concerning the dichotomy of a life lived in wasted pursuits with a carnal mindset opposed to one living a Christ centered life….

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” 

(Galatians 5: 16 - 21) 

“But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law.” The law he is referring to is the law of sin and death epitomized by personal failures, self loathing and lack of self-worth which all who fail to acknowledge Christ and abide in Him suffer under. However those who do abide in Him are given the desire and the will to abstain from living a carnal existence and prefer instead to experience the continual joy of living a clean and upright life which in turn brings forth good characteristics that these verses refer to as spiritual fruit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another. (Galatians 5: 22 - 26)

Jesus uses the following analogy to make His point clearly understood alluding to how the vines in a grape vineyard respond to the tending of the viticulturist when He says…..

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15: 1 - 11)

Those who understand the word and pay mental assent to who Christ is and then just walk away reverting back to their old ways, they then are essentially spiritually dead, still-born lifeless stiffs who will in the end be cast out.

“Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes”  For those who continue to abide in Christ, He does away with the dead and useless works that have been produced, just as the viticulturist removes the dead pieces from otherwise healthy vines so that they can flourish and produce fruit more abundantly. This is an ongoing spiritual process and a beautiful picture of the relationship between God and His own as He helps them develop and mature until that great day when He receives them into His eternal realm.