The Patience of a National Ruler

 David's Patience

2 Samuel Chapter 5

If we remember, we first met David when we studied the First Book of Samuel.

We should all remember when David defeated that Philistine named Goliath who was a giant of a man but he was weak man because he defied Jehovah and the people of God.

If we know one thing for sure, it is the fact that after we met the Lord Jesus Christ and began a personal relationship with Him, our lives began to have real meaning.

We know that one of the traits of David was his patience, waiting on God and we need to have that same patience.

As we studied in the Book of Mark, the Bible is a book about our Savior, but is also the Book of Promises and God will always keep His promises.

Knowing this, then we need to have patience when waiting on the truth of God to manifest itself in our lives.

Godly patience can be described as, that calm and unruffled temper with which a godly man bears the evils in this life.

God is also the God of patience and the Word of God contains the promises of God that will comfort us in those days when our patience is lacking.

Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 

Rom 15:5  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 

Rom 15:6  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Rom 15:7  Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

To the world David was nothing but a lowly shepherd up until the time when he killed Goliath.

He was only about seventeen, too young to be in the army of Israel when this took place and David accomplished this thing because of his faith in Jehovah God.

David was no match for Goliath in his own power.

We do not have the power to stand against the giants that come before us today unless we have the power of God living within us!

At the end of the Book of First Samuel, King Saul and three of his sons had died at the hand of the Philistines and David was made King of Judah and Abner the general to King Saul had convinced the remainder of Israel to choose Ishbosheth the only remaining son of Saul to be King.

We know that this went against the Word of God because Jehovah had chosen David to be King of all of Israel.

The name Ishbosheth has the meaning of "a man of shame" and he was the youngest of King Saul's sons.

Ishbosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, but it was Abner who handled all the affairs of the state and all negotiations with King David of Judah.

Abner was brother to the father of King Saul, who was Kish.

They went to war on several occasions as Abner sought revenge upon David, when it was the Philistines who had taken the life of Saul and his family.

We know that David had no part in that war but had gone back home, which was another one of our lessons.

He considered David a traitor to King Saul.

When Abner died, Ishbosheth had no support for his Kingship and because he was such a feeble man, some of the men of Israel murdered him in his sleep.

Abner's death came when he tried to turn on Ishbosheth and tried to be friends with King David but he was killed by Joab and Abishai in revenge for Abner killing Asahel who was King David's nephew the son of David's sister Zeruiah.

Our lesson begins today as King David of Judah becomes King of all the tribes Israel.

We should understand that David has been the most famous of the kings of Israel throughout their history.

Israel still flies the flag that is called the "Star of David".

A new weapon they have used in the war with Hamas is called the "sling of David".

Israel is still waiting on the King in the line of David to sit upon the throne of Israel just as Christians are also waiting on the return of the Messiah who will return as King of kings and Lord of lords after He has removed the Church.

*****2Sa 5:1  Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. 

2Sa 5:2  Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

2Sa 5:3  So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. 

2Sa 5:4  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 

2Sa 5:5  In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. 

After seven and a half years of war and skirmishes King David was finally able to unify the nation of Israel.

It had been twenty years since a teenager named David, whose father was Jesse, had been anointed by Samuel, to be God's choice as King of all Israel.

This is a lesson on patience because David had to wait on Jehovah to do these things that he could not do himself.

This is a great lesson for us all!

David had faith.

David certainly had courage as we saw as he faced Goliath.

David was a warrior, which showed his ability to lead.

David was God's chosen man to lead Israel.

But David was not a complete man of God without patience!

We should not look past the fact that before these things David was a shepherd, which showed that he was a responsible man.

1) These tribes of Israel found out that their strength as a nation came from their unity.

This is the truth of our own nation but we have allowed foolish sin and corruption and immorality, to divide our nation and the world now sees us as a weak nation.

Just like David and just like Israel, our true strength comes from God and we had better get back to obedience and patience.

We see it was these tribes of Israel that approached King David stating that they were all one family, the descendants of Abraham and Sarah.

2) They knew that King David was a proven military leader. He had been the leading military strategist in King Saul's army. He had led his own small army to victory on every occasion because he had the help of God.

3) They acknowledged that David was God's choice to be ruler and judge of all of Israel.

They looked more on his military experience, but God looked more upon him as a shepherd to lead His people who acted more like sheep, just as we do here in America today.

Even much of the Church would rather be sheep than the saints of God!

David was to be first a shepherd, and then, a prince over the people of God.

If we are paying attention, we can easily see King David as a type of Christ.

The Lord Jesus may see us as sheep but He sees us as the sheep of His pasture and not the goats of this world!

The one thing we had better understand as a nation is, that we will suffer and fail if we fight against the Divine purposes of the Lord, as would David if he went against the Lord.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

We must be in harmony with God's purpose as an individual, as the Church, and as a nation!

Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 

Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

This is the only way we can conquer our enemies and it is by the power of the Lord Jesus and this through the power of the Gospel.

Our nation has become corrupt, wicked, and divided and these things will ruin any nation and cause their downfall.

The people of Israel were not created for the king but King David was created for the people.

The Lord Jesus Christ was not created at all, He just is, but He came for the people.

All religions are just the opposite, the people are created for all false religions, because they are all man-made religions.

The Church is a creation of God and the Messiah is sent for the people of God!

We know that shepherds, lead, provide, and protect their sheep, and this is the same way that Jesus Christ leads the people of God.

What does a good shepherd do?

1) He guides the sheep to his pasture and away from dangerous places.

2) He seeks and saves all those who are lost.

3) He protects the sheep, willing to sacrifice his own life for the sheep to be saved.

4) He restores those sheep that go astray and returns them to the sheepfold.

The Lord Jesus Christ is proven the Ruler over God's people.

David was thirty years old when he began to reign over all of Israel.

The Lord Jesus Christ was thirty years old when He began His ministry.

We must never forget that our Savior is also the Sovereign Lord and Majesty of the universe, all His creation!

It was King David that made Jerusalem the capitol city of all of Israel.

Psa_122:6  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

We had better pay close attention to what this verse says today as the world and much of America are turning their backs on Israel.

Some of the so-called churches are saying things they do not understand if they go against the Word of God.

Gen_12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Gal 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 

Gal 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 

Rom 4:11  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 

David became a mighty king and part of the reason was because he moved his capitol city from Hebron to Jerusalem and in his heart he loved Jehovah.

By choosing Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel, Jerusalem became the city of peace between all the tribes of Israel.

Jerusalem will again one day be the City of Peace and not the city of turmoil that it is today!

Solomon, the son of David chose Jerusalem to be the place for the Temple that was to be a House of Prayer for all of Israel.

He did this because his father David insisted that the city of Jerusalem would be the place to house the House of God, the House of Prayer.

Jerusalem also became known as the city of David.

*****2Sa 5:10  And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. 

2Sa 5:11  And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house. 

2Sa 5:12  And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. 

David was not a perfect man and he made many mistakes in his life, but he never forgot where his strength came from.

It can be the same for every Christian if we never forget that our strength comes only from the Lord Jesus Christ!

David called Him Jehovah, we call Him the Lord Jesus, they are one and the same.

Once we give our life to the Lord we will grow and mature in Him!

The phrase the “Son of David” is mentioned twenty-six times in the Bible.

Sometimes it was spoken of Solomon the son of King David, but many times it refers to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Son of David is proclaimed from Heaven as King of those who love Him and He will rule by treating everyone according to justice and reason.

Psa 98:9  Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

We are to grow more and more, to be like the Lord Jesus Christ.

1) Living righteous and holy lives.

2) Showing love and compassion to all people.

3) Forgiving others as we have been forgiven.

4) Helping others when they have a need.

5) Walking humbly before all others, acknowledging them, and building them up.

6) Most of all being obedient to all the Word of God, rightly divided.

We do this by growing in Christ!

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

As David grew in the LORD, the Philistines became aware that if they had any chance to defeat David, then they had better get started before he became too powerful.

This is the same thought the false priests and elders in the time of Jesus.

They decided they had better get rid of Him before He had too many followers to overcome them.

The world has the same thought today as the hatred for the true Church continues to grow because we are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ!

If were possible, though it is not, for the world to get rid of the Jews, the world would immediately turn to attempt to get rid of the Church and they will continue until they find this out. God loves His people!

*****2Sa 5:17  But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. 

2Sa 5:18  The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 

2Sa 5:19  And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. 

The Philistines, the Palestinians of today, had not bothered David up until this time, because Judah and Israel were fighting with each other almost constantly, but as soon as David was made king over all the tribes of Israel, they decided to attack him before he could get his armies organized.

They feared David's growing power!

David was not only a man after God's own heart, but also a shrewd politician and a mighty general and we will see for many years David would always consult with God before he jeopardized the lives of the armies of Israel.

Only Israel does this today!

George Washington did this same thing and some few others, but I dare say it is only the mothers and fathers and the Church who pray for our militaries today.

The Philistines invaded Israel to try to stop Israel from growing into a dominant nation and they had gathered their entire military forces to do this.

It was the wrong time for these wicked people to attack God's people!

The Philistines marched their armies within a mile of Jerusalem.

Rephaim, at one time meaning the valley of the giants was the same place that Og the king of Bashan belonged.

There were a few remaining of these giants in the days of David.

The Philistines had an old quarrel with David and they came to make all of Israel their slaves, at least this way their intent.

Jos 15:8  And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward: 

It was a place of very fertile land:

Isa 17:5  And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim. 

We see that David enquired of the Lord something we should all do before we make major decisions and probably before every decision we make.

This is an example for us all and especially for every national leader!

I am sure the leaders of Israel have done the same thing many times today before they went after Hamas. 

We can also see they did not rush into this war; they made the proper preparations.

It amazes me that the world sees the so-called Palestinians as innocent victims when few of them are.

They have to go to a place where they can learn the truth and see the truth and come to know the Lord Jesus in a personal way to ever change.

I saw one in the news reports the other day and i was impressed with him as he reminded me of Mary Magdalene amazed that God could forgive him of the things he had done. A sinner just as we all are.

Most of the Palestinians no matter where they are located remain partners with Hamas, a terrorist’s group who may be more wicked and evil than all the rest in the likes of ISIS!

This week I saw where they had roasted a baby in an oven in that raid into Israel and maybe more than one and beheaded several.

The abortionists cannot say much about this because they are just as guilty of atrocities like this.

The Lord told David to go up against the Philistines and He would give David victory over those wicked people.

*****2Sa 5:20  And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. 

2Sa 5:21  And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

2Sa 5:22  And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 

2Sa 5:23  And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 

2Sa 5:24  And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. 

2Sa 5:25  And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.  

Baalperazim would be known as the place where, not David, but "the Lord led Israel to a great victory" over these Philistines.

Many times in the Old Testament we have seen where the Lord just took over the battles that came against Israel.

The world had better be really careful today because the Lord could take over the battle, the war Israels faces with Hamas because much of the world has sided with terrorist. Far too much of the world has sided with them!

Israel is still God's people.

This world one day will wake up to the fact that there is a God and He is the God of Israel and the God of the Church.

In retreating from this first battle the Philistines left behind the idols that they worshipped as gods.

Some say that it was only after these idols were paraded through the streets of Jerusalem before these idols were burnt but either way, they were burnt till there was nothing left but ashes.

The Philistines later regrouped and came after Israel repeatedly again David prayed to the Lord.

This time the Lord gave David a strategy to pursue in defeating the Philistines.

One thing we should notice in these battles is the God is never on the side of the Philistines.

God will never be on the side of the Palestinians!

The Palestinians had better figure out the God is never on their side unless they accept His Son Jesus.

God told David not to attack these Philistines head-on on but to flank them and to circle around behind and attack them in front of mulberry trees.

David would catch his enemy by surprise and this time they would not be able to retreat.

Many passivist would frown on this tactic today saying it was a war crime because Israel could slaughter the Philistines.

In verse twenty-four we see that phrase "hearest the sound of going".

This "going" would be "the sound" of a massive army all marching in step, when there was not one!

In other words, these Philistines would hear this sound like a massive army coming at them, and they would retreat and run right into Davids army waiting upon them and they would have nowhere to run and they would be slaughtered.

David and his army pursued the few stragglers that tried to get away for over twenty miles until they all had been slaughtered them all.

Israel had desired a king to lead them into battles and they had gotten Jehovah back.

King David proved to Israel that it was far better to allow the Lord to lead them in all their battles rather than any king.

A great lesson for us all today, especially as we see where this world is headed.

A world that is on the side of the enemies of God, when God cannot be defeated!

Even with all these things we read that happened, still the most important thing we read is, that it is prayer that is most important!

The greatest power we have today is prayer and we must not wait till troubles come before we ask God for help!

We need to be in daily contact with our Holy but All-Powerful God, who is always on our side!

God promises us He will deliver us no matter how terrifying our trials.

He promised to make us conquerors.

Rom_8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

And one of the most important prayers in the Bible for Israel and for the Church.

2Ch 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 

Jer 29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 

God has His rules and we just need to obey them all!

Amen

Faith Is Still the Key

 The Servant's Victory

Book of Mark Chapter 16

The Lord Jesus Christ expressed victory for every believer with the fulfillment of His resurrection!

Jesus Christ had predicted His resurrection on several occasions, but His disciples never really understood Him.

Most of this world still does not understand the reality of the resurrected Christ today!

Mat 16:21  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 

Mat 17:22  And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: 

Mat 17:23  And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Mat 20:18  Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 

Mat 20:19  And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. 

Mar 8:31  And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

Mar 9:31  For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. 

Mar 10:33  Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 

Mar 10:34  And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. 

Luk 9:22  Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. 

Luk 18:32  For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 

Luk 18:33  And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 

We also see that the Lord Jesus specified that He would rise again on the third day showing His omniscience and His obedience to the Word of God.

All the Gospels stress the "physical" resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

There were many witnesses to His resurrection.

Joh 20:1  The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 

Joh 20:2  Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 

Joh 20:3  Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 

Joh 20:4  So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

Joh 20:11  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 

Joh 20:18  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 

Mat 28:9  And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 

Mat 28:10  Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. 

Then there were the two witnesses on the road to Emmaus.

Then the ten disciples in the upper room.

Then the eleven disciples a week later.

Then the disciples who decided to go fishing.

Then eleven disciples in Galilee, where Jesus had told them He would meet them there.

Then the disciples in Jerusalem.

Let us see what Mark wrote by the Holy Spirit.

The actual words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luk 18:2  Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 

Luk 18:3  And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 

Luk 18:4  And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 

Luk 18:5  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 

Luk 18:6  And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 

Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 

Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

Let us analyze what John wrote:

Joh 20:7  And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 

We know one meaning is that when Jesus placed His napkin aside as this verse states means, that He will return.

There is another meaning.

As John wrote he described this napkin as being still rolled up.

This napkin was retaining the circular shape as though the head of Jesus were still in it but lying in a place by itself. It was detached from the rest of the wrappings, but the shape of this head piece and the wrappings tell us that the body of Jesus passed through those wrappings and left them undisturbed.

The Body of Christ had certainly risen even through His death wrappings.

The Body of Christ, the true Church, those alive and the bodies of those in the grave, may truly rise very soon, as we witness the signs going on in our world today!

The atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ reached its climax when He arose from His death!

The Rapture of the Church will be the climax of the period of the Grace of God and period of the Jews will begin.

The Apostle wrote:

Rom 1:1  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 

Rom 1:2  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 

Rom 1:3  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 

Rom 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 

Let us pick back up on our lesson with verse nine.

*****Mar 16:9  Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 

Up until this moment no human eye had seen our risen Savior.

The Lord Jesus Christ had conquered death.

The Lord Jesus Christ had conquered the grave.

The Lord Jesus Christ proved that life "by Him" had no ending!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Giver of life!

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and "the life": no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

God is not the God of the dead!

Later the Apostles taught the "Gospel" as the truth of the Word of God and it is, but they taught the resurrection of Christ as fact, because they were eyewitnesses to the resurrected Christ!

They became bold in the preaching to the Gospel because the "Good News" is a fact!

The key to the New Testament is the fact that the Apostles were eyewitnesses to the death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah!

If you look into the scrolls of the Catholic Church, the Sinaiticus and the Vaticanus you will see that these are two of the many verses that were left out so Bibles translated from those altered scrolls do not include these words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know that sin is sin and we sometime try to decide which one sin is greater than another as we try to hold on to our pet sins but this is not the complete truth.

The sin of lying will be treated the same as the sin of murder though there may be different degrees of suffering for some sins.

If we look at Mary Magdalene, we see a sinner just like we are all sinners.

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Mary felt that the Lord Jesus had forgiven her so much more than others because she felt her sins had been so great.

In fact, this Mary should be an example for us all in her devotion to the Lord after she was forgiven.

It is said that Jesus had cast out seven devils from her.

What do we see of this Mary, she was not afraid to be seen as a believer!

Mary stood by cross through the whole ordeal of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus.

Mary was even present when the Lord Jesus was taken down from that terrible cross, another witness to His death.

Mary was the one who led in the preparations for the embalming of His body over the weekend.

Mary was the first to visit the tomb after the Sabbath.

Mary refused to leave the tomb after Peter and John verified that the body of Jesus was no longer in the tomb.

Mary was a precious saint of God who was truly devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ making her a great example for us all.

The Lord Jesus took the time to comfort His devoted follower before He met anyone else.

These things make Mary Magdalene a great witness to the death and resurrection of our Savior and a loving friend of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joh 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

To be a Christian is to know that the Lord Jesus Christ died in our place for our sins, He had no sin.

To be a Christian is to know that the Lord Jesus Christ arose from that death to live evermore and to show each believer that death has no power over us and we will live evermore with our Savior and our Redeemer.

To be Christian is to know that the Lord Jesus is forever with us in the hour of our need, meeting every need and responding to our love for Him.

To truly be a Christian is to do our best to be like the Lord Jesus Christ in all His ways and be in the will of God for our own lives.

*****Mar 16:10  And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

Mar 16:11  And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.  

In the fulness of believing faith, Mary hurried back to Jerusalem to inform the eleven disciples of what she had discovered at the tomb of Christ.

They were still mourning over the loss of not only their Lord but also their dear friend.

They just could not find the faith to believe what Mary was saying to them.

There is no doubt they were also mourning for every time they had let down the Lord Jesus Christ.

There was also mourning because they did not know what to do now, seeing their leader was gone.

Mary came with faith that the Lord Jesus had done what He said He would do!

We need to understand that the things that Jesus said He would do as written in the KJV, He did accomplish.

Rom 4:23  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 

Rom 4:24  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 

Rom 4:25  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 

All the prophecies that led to the coming of the true Messiah are fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ!

The disciples of the Lord Jesus had not believed Him when He said these things would happen, so they did not believe Mary Magdalene.

It is probably more that they could not understand rather than could not believe.

They insisted that this true believer then had to be a liar even though they highly valued her.

We should realize that as Christians today, we are not the only ones who have mourned for Christ Jesus!

We are not the only messengers who have been rejected, but we are sure beyond any doubt that the Lord Jesus arose from that tomb!

In our hearts we do not care what all the doubters believe!

We need to show the faith that this Mary had and have no doubts about our Savior!

If this happen and there was a need for a courtroom, there is more evidence that Jesus arose from His death than most any other historical event, yet the world doubts the truth of God.

Most of this world will remain lost because of this doubt.

Remember:Mat_7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Once these disciples knew the truth then they would die before they would renounce their faith in the truth of the Gospel.

This says a lot about the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

They were slow to believe, but once they knew the truth, they could not be unconvinced and neither should we!

We have to stand on the truth of the Gospel simply because we know it is the truth!

If we want to mourn and weep let us mourn and weep for those who reject the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote:

1Co 15:1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 

1Co 15:2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 

1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 

1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 

1Co 15:5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 

1Co 15:6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 

1Co 15:7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 

1Co 15:8  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 

Paul could write these things because he knew they were the truth!

The Lord Jesus knew all these things would happen so; He began to show Himself to them.

*****Mar 16:12  After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

Mar 16:13  And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.  

We should understand that one of the proofs of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is the immediate unbelief of His disciples.

They had to be convinced of the truth of the resurrection.

Once they realized this truth, they never doubted the Lord Jesus ever again.

All but John died because they could not be convinced otherwise.

They could have rejected the truth of the Messiah and lived!

There was a distinct change in the appearance of our Savior after His resurrection!

He was the same and yet not the same.

They knew the voice of the Lord Jesus this had not changed.

The Lord Jesus bore the marks of His crucifixion on His hands, His feet, and His chest.

He ate with His disciples, He had conversations with them, and He blessed them and yet He was not the same.

The body of our Messiah was no longer subject to the laws of space and time!

He came and went as He so chose!

One moment He was with them and another moment He would vanish out of their site.

This is what happened on the road to Emmaus. (Book of Luke 24:13-35)

Christ Jesus made Himself known to a select group of people.

We can understand these words of the Apostle Paul if we let this sink in.

2Co 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; "that every one may receive the things done in his body", according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 

Paul was referring to the glorified body of our Lord Jesus.

Paul wrote to the Colossians that we would all appear with Jesus and be like Jesus when the Lord Jesus returns to claim this world.

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, "then shall ye also appear with him in glory". 

Again Paul was talking about this glorified body that the Lord Jesus showed to the Apostles after His resurrection, the same body He went back to Heaven with.

**The Lord Jesus had come to this earth as Spirit and took on the form of a new baby to make a point that we all must be "born again" in His Spirit.

**The Lord Jesus grew to adulthood to reach the age when He would begin His ministry.

We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior so we can become a servant of the Lord and be in His will, which is our ministry.

**The Lord died to show us that death had no power over Him and He rose again to prove it was true.

Once we are faithful believers, we know that death has no power over us ever again.

**The Lord Jesus raised Himself in a glorified body to show us that at the moment of our death, there will be no death, but we will begin a new everlasting life and it will be in a glorified body just like that of the Lord.

The difference is, He will show His battle scars and we will be brand new!

Though He was glorified, He was still the man Christ Jesus with all His individual characteristics.

This is the body He returned to Heaven in so we can all be alike body wise in Heaven but we all will still be different.

We should never listen to anyone who tries to get rid of the form of Christ or substitute some vague image of Him as the truth.

The Apostles were not confused and they were eyewitnesses!

The "Body of Christ", the Church will one day soon resemble Jesus Christ's resurrection body when we return with Him.

Joh 3:34  For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 

Joh 3:35  The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 

Joh 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. 

The Lord Jesus continued to show Himself to His disciples. 

*****Mar 16:14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. is victory over death.

There are two major hindrances to being a true witness for Jesus Christ.

1) Unbelief.

2) The hardness of the heart.

The Lord Jesus Christ scolded these disciples for both of these things.

They had not believed the words He had taught them!

They had witnessed the power of God for about three years and there was no excuse for their unbelief.

They had seen His power over nature and disease.

They had witnessed His power over death when He raised up the daughter of Jairus and Lazarus and others.

They had witnessed the sinless life of Jesus, His purity, and His holiness. The Lord Jesus Christ was without sin therefore death had no power over Him!

They had been taught time after time that He was to die and be raised again.

They had rejected the testimony of His resurrection!

Their hardness of heart to not even believe other disciples was a very serious problem that they had to overcome!

We are all to be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ to spread the truth of our Holy God!

These things had to be dealt with!

The cause of unbelief and the hardness of the heart is the misinterpretation of Scripture and the misinterpretation of words of Jesus Christ which today we see them in red letters if we want to.

All the Scriptures are the Word of God!

2Ti_3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

They refused to see Christ as the suffering Savior and could think only of Him as the conquering King and He will be this too when it is time!

They refused to see the Kingdom of God as a Spiritual Kingdom, thinking only of a physical kingdom, which takes place as the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, which is a temporary thing, at least for only one thousand years.

They simply did not understand the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Until these things were understood completely, they could not be given the "Great Commission".

*****Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

All the Word of God is to be treated as the commandments of God and the "Great Commission" is as straight-forward as can be said.

The Lord used very few words but this command cannot be misunderstood.

The Lord was teaching this thing to His disciples.

If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ then you are also a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ!

That word preach is used here and it means to declare the truth of God!

It means for us to declare the truth of God, especially the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The "Gospel", meaning the "Good News" of the work the Lord Jesus Christ has done for our salvation.

The Lord Jesus has done all the work and we are to believe and proclaim what He has done for us, including all the world.

Though most of the world will ignore the Gospel, the world still needs to hear what the Lord has to say, because He is the Lord of Life!

That word preach, does not mean that only those who are called to preach are to share this message, but every child of God is to share the "Gospel" message.

We are not to preach our own thoughts about the Gospel.

We are not to preach our own ideas about the "Gospel".

We are not to preach humanistic or man-centered beliefs about the 'Gospel".

We are not to preach what world religions think about the "Gospel",

We are not to preach what philosophers think about the "Gospel".

We are to preach the "Gospel", just as it is revealed to us by the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God!

This is the Divine work that has been assigned to us.

No Christian is exempt from this duty.

None of us are excluded from the privilege and honor of taking part in this work given to us by our Savior!

The "Gospel" must be heard and it will do its own work!

The "Gospel" must be carried out into all the world.

The Great Commission was given to all the Church, to every believer!

Notice that the Lord Jesus does not give us a list of reasons why we cannot do this command.

In other words there are no excuses for anyone!

It is a permanent commission given to every believer, in every generation to do, until the Lord takes us home or He returns to take us all home on the day of the Rapture.

What is the truth to those after they have heard the Gospel?

*****Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

What the world has a tough time believing is the fact that we are all doomed from the day of our birth.

We may look down at an innocent baby and say how can this child be a sinner, but it does not take many days until we see the truth as that child begins to lie.

We see that baptism is mentioned in this passage and we know that baptism is not part of our salvation in the sense that it is necessary.

What we must understand is, that being baptized is being obedient to the Word of God!

In the sense of that obedience, it is then necessary as becomes part of our beliefs.

We believe in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ that He has done for our salvation, the "Gospel" and we believe in the truth of all the Word of God and in this context the Lord Jesus says we must be Baptized.

To be baptized is a sign of our belief!

Baptism is an act of obedience to God's demand just as belief is an act of obedience to God's demand.

We should also know that believing also includes, repentance, while obeying the "Gospel".

To be saved we must believe the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!

If we then believe, then God demands that we be baptized!

It could be said that how can a person be saved if that person immediately rebels against being baptized?

If we are saved, then God expects obedience to all the Word of God!

This is where the so-called progressives are failing today!

If that obedience does not exist, then that salvation does not exist!

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 

Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 

Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 

Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Every saved soul who believes in the Lord will not have a problem in obeying all the Word of God!

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 

Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 

Obedience is then tied to our salvation!

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

It is by faith alone that we are saved but after that salvation then there are some works to do and baptism is that first works as is making a public confession of our sin.

We are all sinners saved by the "Grace" of God.

None of these things mean we can never fail; we will certainly fail in our service to the Lord!

We will fail, but we will not continue in sin.

We will get up out of our sin, ask God for forgiveness, and follow the Lord even more diligently.

Is it possible to be saved without following the Lord Jesus Christ which is the meaning of being a Christian?

Those who are lost are those who do not believe the Gospel!

Joh_3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We should ask ourselves just what does this belief "in Him" really mean?

Not being baptized is not a reason that is mentioned for a reason for salvation.

What we need to understand is, that believing is making a commitment to the things that God says, the infallible Word of God.

A person is not saved if they do not believe, which is a rejection of what God says!

To believe is a Spiritual event!

To be baptized is a physical event!

The Lord Jesus then is saying in verse sixteen, that when a person is saved and filled with the Holy Spirit they will not fail to be baptized unless they are physically unable to do so.

The moment of salvation is not at the time of salvation, but is at the time of believing!

A true believer will then be baptized and be obedient to all the Word of God!

This thing is not that confusing and each believer must work through these things with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Php_2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

It is our Savior who started His work of salvation in us, but we are to carry it to the end with the help of the Holy Spirit and following the Word of God being obedient to it!

*****Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 

Mar 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 

To all those who are saved and have not grieved the Holy Spirit by ignoring the Word of God, then they will be able to work through the power of the Holy Spirit!

The pure fact of witnessing for the Lord Jesus Christ is the fact that it cannot be done under our own power, but only with the power of the Holy Spirit!

Our world has always been a dangerous place and it is even more so today.

Dangers come not only from the enemies of the Church but also natural calamities.

And we must not forget what the Word of God says.

Eph_6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

It is these things that are the most dangerous and it is also these things that we hear every day that are Israel's enemy!

Now we must not get confused.

There will be some who become martyrs.

There will be some who will suffer major persecution, but God will not allow all His children to die, except in the fashion of the Rapture.

Things will not always be smooth for believers even here in America!

The point God is making is that as God's people carry out the "Great Commission", God will make some of His power known to this world.

Many of these things mentioned here were necessary when the Church had its beginning but the Lord did not mean they are all needed today.

Some are to plant seeds.

Some are to water and nourish those seeds.

Some will receive the seed and believe immediately.

Some will reject the seed and never receive the truth of God.

We know that even in the time of Paul the speaking of tongues, which have always been about known languages and not some gibberish trying to imitate this power that was given to the first Apostles and a few others in the beginning of the early Church.

1Co 14:21  In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 

1Co 14:22  Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, "but to them that believe not": but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 

We now that Paul also seemed to have power over serpents at one time.

Act 28:3  And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 

Act 28:4  And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 

Act 28:5  And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 

No evangelist has this power over serpents today.

Snake handlers are not preachers of the truth!

We can also be sure if we test God and drink any substance that could kill us then it probably will.

Today we have the complete text of the Bible and it is the Bible, the Word of God that has the power needed to reach the dark soul of each sinner!

Faith is still the key to salvation that still comes by the Grace of God!

Faith is a distinct relation between the lost soul and the believing soul! 

The triumph of the believing soul is that it can now live through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ!

There is safety in "faith" in Jesus Christ and it is eternal!

Psa 91:14  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 

Psa 91:15  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 

Psa 91:16  With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. 

There is safety in the Church if we remain in the Church.

Heb_10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Amen

The Sin Debt of the World is Paid

 The Servant's Sacrifice

Book of Mark Chapter 15

The Lord Jesus Christ will die on that cross on this day that began when the Lord Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The Sanhedrin Court met in the wee hours of the morning to finalize the charges against Jesus Christ on this day.

These charges had to be strong enough to convince the Romans, so false witnesses were used.

The only charge that would work would be the charge of insurrection in which Rome could condemn Jesus to death.

They said that Jesus had claimed to be King of the Jews, which He had not because it was not time for this to be true.

Some of His disciples had used the term but not Jesus.

Pilate was the procurator of Judea.

Notice Rome still used the term Judea and Rome only changed the name of Judea to Palestinia just to get back at the Jews.

Without this change by Rome there would be no area called Palestine and no people referred to as Palestinians.

Most of these so-called people follow the teachings of the Muslim Brotherhood and this is why no other Muslim nations want them in their nation.

There has never been a nation called Palestine.

Judaea was a Roman province from 6 to 132 CE, which incorporated the Levantine regions of Judea, Samaria and Idumea, extending over parts of the former regions of the Hasmonean and Herodian kingdoms of Judea. 

The name Judaea was derived from the Iron Age Kingdom of Judah.

It included what is now called Gaza and what is called the West Bank.

This is the land that has always belonged to Israel since the time of Moses.

Pilate despised the Jews and the Jews despised Pilate.

When Pilate first rode into Jerusalem he came showing the Roman Standard, with an eagle setting atop a pole.

All previous governors had removed the eagle because of the Jews opposition to idols but Pilate despised the Jews did many things to cause turmoil.

This is what being dominated by a foreign power means!

Pilate launched the construction of a new water supply which was needed but he stole the money for the project out of the Temple treasury.

The Jews never forgave him for these things but they set these things aside in order to murder the Lord Jesus Christ.

They needed the cooperation of Pilate to get this done!

Pilate was a weak and immoral man!

Pilate was indecisive and he rejected the Lord Jesus despite convincing evidence of His innocence.

The major charge against the Lord Jesus was that He claimed to be king of the Jews.

Everyone knew that Herod was a false king appointed to the throne by Rome.

Pilate noted that the Lord Jesus did not dress as a king.

Jesus was humble and meek in His appearance.

Jesus had no supporters or followers who could make Him king.

Jesus dressed as a peasant with no means to dress as royalty.

Pilate surmised, "how could this man be a king of any country"?

Jesus said, "what you say is true".

Mar 15:2  And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. 

But Jesus said He was not a king of this earth.

Joh 18:36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 

Joh 18:37  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. "Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice". 

Pilate compromised and he offered up Barabbas as a substitute, but the Jewish religious leaders and the Jewish elders convinced the crowd of that day to choose to crucify the Lord Jesus.

Most all the people did not know this was going on as it was done in the night hours and so early in the day.

We should understand that God will never compromise when it concerns His Son Jesus.

It was the religionist who swayed the people to choose Barabbas and not Christ!

Just as we see today, men who are set upon evil will try their best to influence others in order to get their way.

Morally weak men are just too weak to act justly and responsibly.

This is the theme of a certain political party today as they are morally weak men and women.

We also see this today not only in our government but in the false church.

We see this also in the war going on in Israel today.

That terrorists group called Hamas are morally weak men and truly cowards, how could we expect them act differently than they do?

It was a big deal to them that they could overpower babies and people who could not defend themselves!

This is the same thing those who profess abortion do every day.

They are really brave when they confront those who cannot defend themselves!

We are fools if we ever allow our nation to take away our defensive weapons!

Pilate could not do what was right because it went against his character!

Pilate was a man who would always give in to worldly pressure to keep his position in government!

The death of the Lord Jesus Christ upon that cross was the most phenomenal event in history, in fact the most crucial point in world history.

Eternal salvation for all men and women was secured by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on Mount Calvary.

We can see that it was the providence of God to have the right people in place at the precise time in history, for this thing to take place!

Pilate’s soldiers first abused Jesus.

They put upon Jesus the robes of royalty and then took them back off of Him.

They stripped Him of His clothes to do this.

The Jews considered it a great sin to show yourself naked from the time of Adam and Eve and the teachings of Moses.

We can see the actions of Pilate's soldiers were almost as depraved as those men who call themselves Hamas but even, they can be forgiven if that would turn to Christ and repent.

God will not allow men to mock Him for very long!

We can see that this world has not changed very much it its attitude toward the Lord Jesus Christ.

When Simon of Cyrene bore the cross of Jesus it was a picture of conversion.

We are all to pick up our own cross and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luk 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 

Simon of Cyrene was a changed man after this thing that he was forced to do!

Our lesson begins with the place that Our Lord Jesus was crucified.

*****Mar 15:22  And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. 

Golgotha was known as a place of death long before the Lord Jesus was crucified there.

The Lord Jesus died just like everyone else who had been crucified upon that hill.

The name Golgotha means the place of the skull, the place of death, the place of execution.

It was a place outside the gates of the city but it was still near the city.

Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 

Joh 19:20  This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. 

It was located on a thoroughfare leading into the country and there was a garden at that same location.

Luk 23:26  And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. 

Joh 19:41  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. 

It was this place, a symbol of death, where God chose that His Son would die to deliver all mankind from the bondage of death!

*****Mar 15:23  And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. 

It was the Lord Jesus Himself who refused to take this drug concoction. 

The Lord Jesus wanted to feel the pains of death at its bitterest moment!

This mixture of alcohol and drugs was intended to ease the pain of death much like what is done in the hospices of today.

Jesus would have no part in it because the Lord Jesus was on a mission!

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 

Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

The Lord Jesus died for our deliverance from death!

Men who had witnessed death so many times had no concern for the property of that one who was to die.

*****Mar 15:24  And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. 

The Lord Jesus was laid upon that cross.

That arms of our Savior were stretched as far as they could be on the cross beam and His feet were nailed as were His hands and He was lifted and with a jolt that cross was dropped into a hole snapping His joints into but breaking no bones.

Psa_22:14  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

Mary, the mother of Jesus was standing at the foot of the cross, but these soldiers showed no compassion whatsoever in giving her His belongings but gambled to see would get them.

The Lord Jesus wore a particular robe that was knitted without seams.

The Lord Jesus had been stripped of His clothing again exposing Him naked to the world in an attempt to convince the world that this was just a man and not the promised Messiah.

The Lord Jesus allowed His mortality to be stripped from Him so that He might abolish death and bring life and immortality to light.

2Ti 1:10  But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 

*****Mar 15:25  And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. 

The Lord Jesus Christ was crucified at 9 AM, (the third hour) and the darkness swept across the land from 12 noon until 3 PM (the sixth until the ninth hour).

God the Father demonstrated His great love for us, not sparing His Son, but allowing Him to die for the sin of all mankind.

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

We know that Pilate had a sign placed over the head of Jesus which said "the King of the Jews" in three languages.

We know that there were two thieves who were placed one on each side of our Savior.

Isa 53:12  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. 

Then there was the mob of those who made mockery of our Lord who congregated at the foot of the cross.

There was the mockery of the two thieves.

1Pe 2:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

Then the sixth hour brought darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

It was ninth hour that the Lord Jesus cried out to His Heavenly Father this time saying, “My God" "My God" know that because of our sin, not His, he had none, that His Father had forsaken Him for a moment in time.

This is sure proof that for a moment in time the Lord Jesus was forsaken by His Heavenly Father. His Father became His God!

*****Mar 15:34  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

The Lord Jesus Christ cried out because He had never been separated from His Heavenly Father.

For a moment in time the Lord Jesus was just as guilty in sin as we all are, in fact more so because He carried the sin of all the world.

Jesus did not mean the suffering and the terrible treatment He had received on that cross!

We need a clear understanding of what the Lord Jesus means here.

1) The Lord Jesus sensed that God had withdrawn His presence from Him. He sensed that God was no longer with Him!

2) The Lord Jesus sensed that God had withdrawn His deliverance. God had always met His need but Jesus now felt alone for the first time!

3) The Lord Jesus sensed that He was bearing the "curse" of God by Himself.

 The curse of being separated from God.

The curse of judgment.

The curse of condemnation.

Gal 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 

Gal 3:14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Heb 9:26  For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 

Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

4) Jesus sensed that God's holiness had left Him.

Both sin and death are things that God had never felt. God had only known life and holiness!

Psa 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 

Psa 22:3  But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 

For a moment in time, the Lord Jesus Christ had to bear the sin for mankind, therefore He had to bear the penalty of separation from a perfect and holy God!

2Co 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

The only thing that could have caused God the Father to separate Himself from Christ Jesus, His Son, was sin!

Isa 59:2  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 

It was "our sin", the sin of the entire world, which caused this to happen because the Lord Jesus Christ had no sin of His own!

*****Mar 15:35  And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. 

Mar 15:36  And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. 

It was out of total darkness that the Lord Jesus had cried out and many of those standing at the foot of the cross had gotten confused and others just began to mock Him.

Someone just wanted to see if some remarkable thing were about to happen because they did not understand any of these things and they could not understand what was taking place.

The ground is level at the foot of the cross, but there must come an understanding of what the Lord Jesus Christ had accomplished.

The Lord Jesus had fulfilled the first part of His mission to provide a means of salvation for all believers!

The Age of Grace had begun for the believer, and the Age of the Curse had begun for the unbeliever!

The Lord Jesus was not calling out to Elijah, who was just a man, but now was a saint of God.

Then the Lord Jesus said that He was thirsty in a pitiful cry.

One man who had compassion of the Lord tried to give the Lord a drink.

Joh 19:28  After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 

Joh 19:29  Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 

Joh 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. 

This time Jesus was offered water with just enough vinegar in it to kill the parasites in the water.

This is the way the Romans purified the water they drank in any nation where they were located.

It is also true that Elijah will return before the return of Christ, but not at that time.

The Lord Jesus Christ died at this time; His work completed but some other things happened that we also need to understand.

*****Mar 15:37  And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. 

Mar 15:38  And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. 

Mar 15:39  And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. 

The Lord had been timid when He asked for water, but He is now bold as He completes the work He came to accomplish.

This was a glorious triumph over the acts of the Devil.

The Lord Jesus Christ died for a specific purpose!

The Lord Jesus Christ did not die a martyr, He gave His life for all of mankind to be saved.

He gave up the Ghost, which means that He willingly gave His life and His Spirit so that we can be saved.

While the body of Jesus lay in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, He was busy with a few other important things in His Spirit.

On the cross and after His death:

1Pe 3:19  By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 

1Pe 3:20  Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

After His death:

Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 

Eph 4:9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 

Eph 4:10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 

The Lord Jesus Christ died at 3 PM and His body had to be buried before 6 PM by Jewish law.

The veil of the Temple was rent into from the top to the bottom, not the bottom to the top.

This showed that it was God who had done this thing and not some man or group of men.

This now meant that there would be unrestricted access into God's presence, into the throne room of God.

This is the curtain which separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place, the most sacred part of the Temple.

Up until this time, only the High priest could go beyond this curtain and this only one time a year on the Day of Atonement.

At the very hour of the death of Christ, the High Priest was rolling back the outer curtain in order to expose the Holy Place for worship and they were amazed when they saw the inner veil was torn right down the middle from the top to the bottom.

Being torn from top to bottom means that it was God Himself who had ripped this veil.

Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 

Now through the body of Christ, any believer can enter into the presence of God, at any time and at any place.

Heb 10:10  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

With all the things that happened, the Roman Centurion in charge of the crucifixion of Christ realized that the Lord Jesus Christ was indeed the true Messiah!

This man was a Gentile and in type, he symbolized all those who would confess the Lord Jesus in the coming generations.

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

Because of what is going on in Israel today we may be at the end of the time of Grace which began with the resurrected Christ.

Amen

The Passover That Saved Our Souls

 The Pain of God's Servant

Book of Mark Chapter 14

As we open up chapter 14 in the Book of Mark, we see that Our Lord Jesus will be facing His last day before His murder on Mount Calvary.

Mark first mentions the Jewish Passover because the Passover was the time that a sacrificial lamb would be slaughtered in order for sin to be forgiven for one year.

But if the right sacrifice were offered then this forgiveness could be forever.

Heb 9:11  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 

Heb 9:12  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 

Heb 9:13  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 

Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 

Heb 9:15  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 

Heb 9:16  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 

Heb 9:17  For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 

Some perfect man had to die in payment for our sin or we all would be held accountable for our own sin, and we are all guilty of sin!

Heb_10:4  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

This is why the Lord Jesus came to this earth, to die in sacrifice for all sin from the time of Adam until last human to be born.

We next see that the chief priests and the scribes, the religionists, are plotting to murder the Lord Jesus Christ not realizing that He came to die.

The murder of the Lord Jesus was premeditated murder, but the sacrifice of Jesus was by the hand of God!

We also know it is the religionists of today who are plotting the downfall, the murder of the true Church!

Mark ties the death of Jesus Christ to the Passover, for the Lord Jesus Christ is our Passover!

1Co_5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us":

The same people in the streets, who were openly preparing to praise God and their religious leaders, were now hiding in darkness preparing to kill God!

These religionists had been exposed by Jesus and they hated Him for it, even when it was the truth.

The things Jesus spoke of were always true!

We see many of these same things today!

Those who serve Satan are always plotting to murder the followers of Christ and the Jews!

All religions are corrupt and they hate the true Christian for pointing this out to the world.

It is many false, so-called, Christians who are ruining the testimony of the Church!

False preachers are also being pointed out and they are even turning on the true Church!

In this chapter we see Mary, in the house of Simon the leper, who showed true love to our Savior by anointing Him with oil and washing His feet with her tears and drying them with her hair.

The Lord Jesus rewarded Mary by making sure all those who read the Word of God would know of the thing she had done for Him.

Mar 14:9  Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. 

We see where the heart of Judas Iscariot had turned to his own pocketbook, rather than to the Lord.

Judas went to betray Him!

Mar 14:10  And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. 

This fit right into the plan to murder our Savior, but it also fit right into the plan of God for our salvation.

This anointing of Jesus points us toward His burial, His death.

Mar 14:8  She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 

It is fact that the Lord Jesus Christ had to die to save the believers of this world! 

The Lord Jesus did die for all mankind, but it must be believed!

We must understand that when jealousy and envy enter into our hearts, we had better find a way to deal with them before they fester into major sin!

Judas had convinced himself that he had been mistaken about Jesus, and He could not be the true Messiah if He came to die.

These are the thoughts of false religion!

Many say a God who could die would be weak and could not be much of a God, yet the grave of Jesus is still empty and the graves of all false messiahs are still full of their bones.

We know that the Lord Jesus gave Judas every chance to repent, but he could not find repentance in his heart.

In this same chapter we have the Lord's Supper.

The Lord Jesus took the bread and divided it among all His disciples.

This bread symbolized the death of Christ!

His body was so broken by the things the Lord went through, but not one of His bones were broken.

He gave the bread to His disciples to eat.

"Take, eat this is my body"  This means we are to take and receive Christ into our life.

Next, He took the cup.

The bread and the cup are to remind us that Jesus gave His life freely, no one could take the life of Christ!

Jesus gave thanks and He thanked God the Father for forgiveness knowing God the Father would deliver Him through His sacrifice.

It is the same for each believer who will be delivered through the sacrifice of the true and perfect Messiah.

He gave the cup to all the disciples showing that we all must partake of the blood of Jesus, if we are to live eternally with Him in His Father's house.

Jesus identified His blood as the blood of the New Testament!

These things accomplished our Lord wanted to sing.

One day soon the Lord may allow us the privilege of singing along with Him.

*****Mar 14:26  And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 

No doubt that Jesus sung with the voice of happiness and the voice of salvation.

God was singing to and with His disciples.

It is believed they sang these hymns from the Book of Psalms, in celebration of the great hope which God gives us in His deliverance and His salvation.

Psa 113:1  Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. 

Psa 113:2  Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. 

Psa 115:3  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 

Psa 116:1  I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 

Psa 116:2  Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. 

Psa 116:3  The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 

Psa 116:4  Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 

Psa 117:1  O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. 

Psa 117:2  For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD. 

Psa 118:8  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 

Psa 118:9  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. 

Psa 118:10  All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them. 

Psa 118:17  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. 

Psa 118:28  Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. 

Psa 118:29  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

Then Jesus said to His disciples that they all would be offended in Him, because of the things He was about to do.

This would have sounded like very strange words coming from Him, but it was the truth.

*****Mar 14:27  And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 

Mar 14:28  But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. 

The Lord Jesus Christ knew there were only a few hours left before His murder on Mount Calvary.

He also knew that His disciples would become afraid of their own death and they would flee away from Him.

Once accepting the truth of Jesus, we do not ever have to fear death again!

Anytime we flee from Jesus it is a sin!

Jesus said "all ye shall be offended of me this night".

That word offend means "to stumble", "to fall", or "a falling away".

Much of the modern Church is doing the same thing today!

The Church has become too afraid to stand on the truth of the Word of God, and are fleeing from the truth of God, and compromising on God's Word.

We are witnessing the "Great Falling Away" from the truth of God, today!

The Church is afraid of being called, "racist", "bigots", and many other names, when we are to let the Word of God speak for us.

The Lord Jesus stated that it was Jehovah, His Father, who would be behind His death.

The Scripture said, "I will smite the Shepherd".

The Lord Jesus had already said that He was the Shepherd of His people.

Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

This Prophecy of the Old Testament applied to our Savior!

Zec 13:5  But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. 

Zec 13:6  And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. 

Zec 13:7  Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 

It is a shame that we do not take our stand on the One who has the power to save us! His name is Jesus the Messiah.

For the disciples, the threat coming from the world and the weakness of their flesh, would be too much to overcome.

This is the same crossroads that much of the Church faces today!

Are we going to take our stand with Jesus or are we going to be so afraid of the world that we scatter and hide from them?

Yes, our flesh is weak, but we are home to the Holy Spirit who has all power.

Then the Lord says, I will meet you at the Sea of Galilee after His resurrection.

The Lord Jesus is informing these disciples that He had already forgiven them for the things they did by fleeing from Him.

He would have to rise from that death to do this!

Our power comes from our resurrected Lord, and not the death of our Lord!

There is no power in His death!

In His death the Lord took all our sin and placed it in the Burning Lake of Fire where it belongs!

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 

Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

Our faith is most important in this issue of the truth.

1Co 15:16  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 

1Co 15:17  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 

1Co 15:18  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 

1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 

1Co 15:20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 

1Co 15:21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 

God the Holy Spirit raised up the Lord Jesus Christ on the third day.

God the Father showed the Lord Jesus openly to chosen witnesses and many did eat and drink with Him.

We know that Jesus appeared to over five hundred people at one time. There were plenty of witnesses to the resurrected Christ.

We know that Christ Jesus made this special appointment to meet with His disciples to gather them, to assure them, to comfort them and to strengthen them, proving what He said was true.

If the Lord Jesus Christ has called us, He will always return to us in our time of need and in the time to redeem us!

It was now up to the disciples to trust Him in His Word!

Again Peter speaks up, not realizing what he would do.

*****Mar 14:29  But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. 

What did Peter do?

1) Peter contradicted the Words of Jesus Christ.

Peter could not face his weakness nor his failure.

The Lord had said these things because they would be true.

2) Peter prefers himself, putting himself above all the others.

He said they might Lord, but I never will and Peter was wrong again.

None of us are as strong as we think we are, and the Lord Jesus Christ understands this.

We are still to do our very best, our very best is what we owe to the Lord.

3) Peter placed his strength, his confidence, and his boldness, in his own strength.

Our true strength comes to us when we rely on the Lord and seek His protection in all things!

Peter had to be informed of just how miserable his strength would be, and we can be sure Peter was hurt by this truth.

*****Mar 14:30  And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. 

Mar 14:31  But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all. 

Certainly, Peter was sincere!

The Lord Jesus was not harsh, He just wants us to realize our weaknesses before they get us into trouble in this world.

Certainly, Peter was loyal to Christ and He would remain that way, but we are all just sinners in need of the power of God that comes by Jesus Christ.

We have no power ourselves!

We must depend upon the Holy Spirit who lives within us and the Lord Jesus Christ who loves us and God the Father who is Almighty.

This is our defense in this world and we have no other defense!

We must trust the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Peter became vehement which was close to violent, or furious, that the Lord would say such a thing and the other ten said the same thing.

Judas had already left to do his dirty work.

The Lord Jesus said to Peter, when you hear the cock crow, you will remember these words you have said.

Peter and the other ten were still blind to the cross.

It may have been the image of Jesus hanging on a cross that caused Peter to deny Him.

The world still has this same image today, a crucified Christ. 

The Catholic Church still displays the Lord Jesus Christ dangling from a cross, but I serve a risen Savior!

A person who died on a cross had to be guilty of something, but the Lord Jesus was innocent of all charges.

We must realize just how weak we are in our flesh!

We are not above sin!

We are also not above failure!

We just do not know our strength under certain circumstances unless that strength is in the Lord, who cannot fail and who cannot sin!

The Word of God is true in all cases and we must never deny the truth of the Word of God.

The Lord Jesus is our Creator, and He knows us better than we know ourselves!

We must be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Jer 17:5  Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 

Jer 17:7  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 

Keeping the words of Jesus insures us of the power of the Holy Spirit!

Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

Joh 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 

Joh 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 

Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 

It was time to pray for the strength of the Lord.

It is time today to pray for the strength of the Church!

*****Mar 14:32  And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. 

Mar 14:33  And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 

Mar 14:34  And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 

Mar 14:35  And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 

Not any of us could ever understand the depth of sorrow and agony experienced by the Lord Jesus at Gethsemane.

We have just read about this thing with the disciples whom Jesus loved, and He loves all His disciples.

Even greater than this was the fact of His death as He took upon Himself all the sin that had ever been committed and all the sin that would be committed until the end of time upon Himself so He could bury all that sin in Hell where it belongs.

Even great than this, Jesus knew that His Heavenly Father could not look upon sin and for a moment in time, He would lose fellowship with His Father.

The Holy Spirit would leave Him for a moment and He would truly be on His own in this sinful world.

Certainly, there was a search for relief that could not be found.

Certainly, He was disappointed with His close friends.

There was no answer from His Father for a better way, His death was the only way!

These things must be done according to the Word of God, the plan of God!

Our Lord Jesus had a great need for prayer and Gethsemane had been His place of comfort and a place for prayer upon this earth!

Jesus began to sweat as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground.

The conflict within Him began to cry out.

"O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me."

He received no answer from His Father.

This had never happened to Him before.

Jesus felt the need for His friends to give Him strength and all they knew was sleep.

Psa 69:20  Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. 

Our Lord Jesus suffered much more than we can imagine and the Devil tried his best to kill the Lord Jesus at this time rather than allow Him the death of the cross.

The Lord Jesus had to die on that cross in order to free us from sin.

Joh_12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

You see in our hour of weakness; the Devil will try his best to kill us all!

He is still a coward looking for any weakness we have.

When we have any separation from God, the Devil will try his best to kill us or ruin our testimony!

Jesus prayed harder because He could find no relief.

*****Mar 14:36  And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. 

We must understand that once we are saved, we are then the adopted sons and daughters of the Almighty God.

Since we are then family, we are permitted to address our God with Abba which could be said to mean "Daddy", showing our love and affection for our Heavenly Father.

By being adopted into the family of God, we are also heirs of the Heavenly inheritance.

Because we are family, we are forgiven, and justified, and filled with the Holy Spirit.

Our Heavenly Father could not take what Jesus refers to as "this cup" because Jesus would have to do this Himself, which He had the power to do.

Jesus could have said no to these things if He so chose to do so.

He would have then been unholy and unrighteous and He could not change His character!

Sin is a heavy burden and the Lord took upon Himself all the sin from the time of Adam and Eve until He returns with His wrath.

The Lord Jesus needed to be alone with His Father, but He kept His disciples near to Him, about as far as we could throw a stone.

The Lord Jesus prayed to ask His Father if there was some other way to secure salvation for believers.

He was not trying to get out of His death on that cross.

Jesus just did not want to lose fellowship with His Father even if it would be for just a moment in time.

The Lord Jesus addressed His Father in the most tender of ways saying Abba Father.

The Lord Jesus acknowledged that nothing is impossible for His Heavenly Father.

But God the Father only does what He has willed to do and it is God's will that all be saved.

It was God's will that He gave His Son to bear the judgment of sin for every person.

The Lord Jesus knew all these things but His flesh struggled with this truth.

The pressure of being cut off from His Father for any amount of time was just too heavy.

He knew His Father would not, but He cried out with His love.

We must understand that the Lord Jesus was not fearing nor shrinking from death itself!

Joh 10:17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 

Joh 10:18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. 

In reality, death for a cause is not such a great price to pay.

We know that over 2500 members of the terrorist group Hamas gave their lives for a useless cause and it meant nothing to most of the world other than stupidity.

Notice also that their leaders are always far away in another country safe and secure, what a joke that people would blindly follow a false messiah of their own.

There are many who have martyred themselves for many different causes and the only ones that were important where those who gave their lives for the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ did not come to this earth to be a martyr!

The Lord Jesus came to this earth to be a sacrifice for our sin, not His, He had no sin.

The Lord Jesus was the sacrificial lamb of God, given to take away the sins of the world.

How can we describe this cup?

1) Isa 51:17  Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out. 

This is the cup of God's fury.

2) Psa 11:6  Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. 

This is the cup of God's wrath.

3) Psa 116:13  I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. 

This is the cup of our salvation.

The Lord Jesus wanted the disciples to pray with Him to give Him strength for His own prayer, but after an exhausting day and a special meal and songs of rejoicing, they were just too tired to help their Master.

This is the same excuse many of us will use when it is our time to serve the Lord!

We should ask ourselves, why does God love us so much? Most of us are of little use to Him.

*****Mar 14:37  And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? 

Mar 14:38  Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. 

Mar 14:39  And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. 

Mar 14:40  And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. 

It is no wonder that the Lord Jesus Christ gets so disappointed with us some days.

When we put on the armor of God, we must always be ready for the battle with evil that surrounds us!

The Lord spoke to all three of them, but the Lord addressed Peter so he could remember what he had said earlier.

Peter declared that he would stand with the Lord Jesus through anything that would happen to Him yet, he could not stand with Him with prayer.

Notice the Lord used Simon rather than Peter. 

These were things the old Peter would say and do, and not the new Peter.

When we allow our own flesh to get the best of us, we are a disappointment to our Savior!

The Lord had not asked the disciples to pray all night, He had only asked for one hour.

Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

Even under such a burden, the Lord returned to His prayers searching for strength.

We should understand that if the Devil could have caused the death of the Lord Jesus Christ this night, there would be no salvation for anyone.

Jesus had to die upon that cross.

Joh_3:14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

Joh_12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

The Lord Jesus had found no relief from His Father so He continued with His prayer.

The Lord Jesus got no answer to His prayer and He was disappointed with His disciples, but He knew the will of God for His life and He continued with His ministry of the truth.

He was satisfied with the task that lay before Him.

*****Mar 14:41  And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 

Mar 14:42  Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand. 

God the Father had given the Lord relief in His soul.

We can see this as we read these words in this passage in the Book of Psalms.

Psa 138:3  In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 

There was no shrinking away from the task at hand for the Lord.

Jesus also knew He had been betrayed into the hand of sinners.

We know that this death of the Messiah was the most heinous crime in history for He was the Son of Man, the Perfect man, and was killed by foolish men from Israel but this was also the plan of God for our Salvation.

It is the sin of the world that would cause the death of our Savior beginning with the sin of Adam!

Jesus' relief came to Him because He knew He was in the will of God the Father.

We are never happy nor content until we are in the will of God the Father!

Being in the will of God is the safest most joyous place we can be!

Here comes Judas the traitor.

*****Mar 14:43  And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 

Mar 14:44  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. 

Mar 14:45  And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him. 

Mar 14:46  And they laid their hands on him, and took him. 

In the darkness of the night He could see the light of the torches coming to get Him.

None of those with Judas would have known where the Lord and His disciples were located without Judas providing that information.

Judas was a follower who turned against the Lord Jesus Christ.

Much of the modern church could be called the Judas Church today!

The modern church is full of swords and staves as they crucify our Lord again and again and again.

Jesus was treated as a false Messiah even though He was the true Messiah and the world has not been the same since.

A kiss on the cheek of our Savior pointed the enemy to this simple humble Savior who had done no wrong.

Judas was a thief, a robber, but also a traitor.

Joh 18:3  Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. 

Joh 18:4  Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

Then they laid their hands upon God and God's plan moves right along just as He planned it.

Act 13:26  Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. 

Act 13:27  For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. 

Act 13:28  And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 

Act 13:29  And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 

Act 13:30  But God raised him from the dead: 

The Lord Jesus arose from that death as our Savior because death has no power over the Messiah, our true God!

Amen