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Tag: Matthew

  • Am I the One?

    Am I the One?

    The Plot to Kill Jesus

    ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’

    In the evening, Jesus arrived with his twelve disciples. [from the Gospel of Matthew]

    Jesus has cleansed the Temple, clearing its courts of the money-changers and sinners selling the sacrifice of God for a price of no heavenly value. Now Jesus will cleanse the disciples, in preparation for the sharing of the meal of the Passover.

    Jesus IS the servant. His Disciples are being prepared for their exodus from Jerusalem and journey into all the world to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. And like usual, they don’t even know it. Although they have been with Jesus for worship, prayer, meals, miracles and sermons for three years, they are clueless.  Aren’t we, who ‘go to church’ just like them sometimes?

    John 13:8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”

    Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

    9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

    10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said,“You are not all clean.”

    Peter: quick to speak, quick to act, sometimes right, often clueless… like some of us who are bold in our faith, but don’t quite get it when we do not look to what the Lord wants for us to do (or to say or not say).

    Are YOU clean at the Table of our Lord?

    We will return to the scene of this First Holy Communion in a moment, but first, in keeping with our theme of the cluelessness of some followers of Christ (with no intention to betray our Lord), let’s look in on an after-dinner conversation.

    Luke 22:24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you.

    Does this sound familiar? Remember after their witness of Jesus transfiguration how James and John had asked to sit on Jesus’ right and left in His Kingdom? And how the other Disciples became angry at James and John for this? Yet Jesus rebuked them all and told them how this was not in His authority to grant.

    Jesus is with them, in a family meal. And here they are doing things like arguing and bickering. (If this was our table, they would probably ‘share’ their opinions with their ‘friends’ and ‘tweet’ their position to the world.)

    OH, JESUS?  Were You saying something?

    (Sorry, I got distracted.)

    It’s just a ‘family dinner,’ right? Just an ordinary every-day thing, right? I know Jesus and what He wants for me, right?

    OH, JESUS? What was that you said during the toast… that part before one of us is a devil who will betray you?

    (I would NEVER do that.)

     Mark 14:

    Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”

    19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?”

    Have you ever been BETRAYED?

    I have…

    I think you have, too. Most of us have been betrayed by someone we love.

    And who betrays us? It is not those for whom we have no love, for they only betray their own.

    It is only the ones nearest to our love who can wound us mortally with the kiss of betrayal.

    Judas was a Disciple, a ‘follower.’ He was one Jesus loved, though the Lord knew who would betray Him. Yet the sin of Judas was against God our Father. This is why after David confessed his sin of adultery and came before God in complete repentance and acceptance of whatever punishment God our Father would impose on him that David said:

    Psalm 51:

    Against You, You only, have I sinned,
    And done this evil in Your sight—
    That You may be found just when You speak,
    And blameless when You judge.

    GOD will judge you! This is why you must be cleansed in the Blood of Christ Jesus. It is only by His grace that we are redeemed and saved from the Pit of Hell, the place of eternal darkness and the punishment we so justly deserve.

     John 1:16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

    Do you understand the seriousness of your adultery against the Bridegroom of the Church? Is your sin against the Blood of your Savior?

    If you have never fully understood the apostasy of Judas, look to how you who once walked with Jesus Christ (and called Him ‘Lord’) have turned away from the narrow path of His love, mercy and grace. Sometimes called ‘backsliding,’ often noted as ‘rebellion,’ apostasy is always a turning away from GOD as your Lord.

    Eleven Apostles at the Communion Table with Christ Jesus would betray their ‘Lord’ by word and deed, then later repent and witness forever to His faithfulness.

    One Apostle would turn against His ‘Lord,’ repent too late, hang himself after Jesus Crucifixion and be condemned for eternity to his just reward of Hell!

    Judas said he was a christian, but Judas had never given his soul to Jesus as his Lord.

    Mark 14 NKJV:

    20 He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. 21 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.”

    Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper

    22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said,

    “Take, eat; this is My body.”

    23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them,

     “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.

    25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

    26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

    You have been part of the family and followers of Christ Jesus.

    You have shared in Communion of the Broken Bread of His Body and drunk the Blood of Jesus shed for your sins on the Cross.

    Yet not every one who says, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

    Do you, dear believer, do the will of Jesus, our Lord and Savior?

    For He will he look at one who did not truly worship Him and say, “I never knew you.”

    IF you do not repent, while it is yet today; IF you continue to harden your heart against the Lord, Christ Jesus: what will be HIS answer to you when you ask:

    ‘Am I the one?’

     

     

  • The LORD Is Our Righteousness

    The LORD Is Our Righteousness

    Jeremiah 33: 14 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”

    The crowds surrounding Jesus in Jerusalem were thinking of their City. The religious officials were thinking of their position.

    God was thinking of you. God was thinking of me.

    Romans 3

    English Standard Version (ESV)

    “None is righteous, no, not one;
    11     no one understands;
    no one seeks for God.
    12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
    no one does good,
    not even one.”
    13 “Their throat is an open grave;
    they use their tongues to deceive.”
    “The venom of asps is under their lips.”
    14     “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
    15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
    16     in their paths are ruin and misery,
    17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
    18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

    21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

    23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

    24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

    The sons of Korah and their families were destroyed by the LORD when they rebelled against God and Moses. (Read about it in Numbers 16:28-35)

    A Psalm, written for worship of Jerusalem at the time of David was known to the Jews of Jesus’ time of incarnation as the Son of Man, Son of David, our Righteousness: Son of God. Psalm  49 is addressed as a caution to the wise from the remaining sons, who did not rebel against God.

    Psalm 49

    The Confidence of the Foolish

    To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. 

    Hear this, all peoples;
    Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
    2 Both low and high,
    Rich and poor together.
    3 My mouth shall speak wisdom,
    And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.
    4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
    I will disclose my dark saying on the harp. 

    5 Why should I fear in the days of evil,
    When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
    6 Those who trust in their wealth
    And boast in the multitude of their riches,
    7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
    Nor give to God a ransom for him—

    8 For the redemption of their souls is costly,
    And it shall cease forever—

    9 That he should continue to live eternally,
    And not see the Pit.

    Do you continue to rebel against God and the blood of His only Son, Christ Jesus?

    Do you turn against the Blood of the Cross, yet expect not to ‘see the Pit?”

    You with ears to hear, hear the words of the Sons of Korah; hear the words of the Prophets; hear the words of the One Redeemer of our souls, Christ Jesus, Who was crucified, died and was buried with your sins and with mine.

    Matthew 23

    New King James Version (NKJV)

    33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?

    34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes:

    some of them you will kill and crucify,

    and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,

    35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth…

    You, with ears to hear, hear the trumpet of Christ Jesus, Who IS.

    You, with ears to hear, heed the call of Christ Jesus, Who will return on the clouds in final and eternal victory over sin!

    “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

     

     

     

  • The Stone the Builders Rejected

    The Stone the Builders Rejected

    “‘The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone’

    Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” – Luke 20:17b-18

    Jesus had taught at Temple before. He was welcomed as a learned Rabbi (teacher) in synagogues throughout Judea, a Godly teacher with power. He works miracles. No other man did that.

    Prior to this entry into Jerusalem, Jesus had even raised a man from the dead! Lazarus, who walked out of a tomb, would also likely come to Jerusalem for the Passover with this powerful Teacher of the Law.

    Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

    Luke 21:5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

     Even so, the multitudes following Jesus hoped for the power of David over God’s enemies and the power of Moses over the rule of God’s Holy Place. 

    32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

    Watch Yourselves

    34 “But watch yourselves your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

    37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.

    Matthew 21:15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant…

    Matthew 21:26 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

    What had happened, after Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, with the multitudes of people shouting, ‘Hosanna,’ with the Temple officials standing in their ‘thousand dollar suits’ of religious symbolism among them?

    This ‘Prophet of Nazareth’ went into the marketplace of the Temple, among the tourists and the businessmen in the courtyards of the Holy place where all were doing very well (as at the time of every religious festival). In fact, business was booming and the economy of the rich Jerusalem merchants was never better. They were ready for the huge crowds coming for the BIG EASTER SALE… (that is, Passover sale).

    Matthew 21:

    12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.

    This peaceful Prophet, who had entered Jerusalem on a colt, entered the Temple. The multitudes were ready to hear His teaching once more. But this time, Jesus showed righteous indignation against the merchants. He was a mad man in the mall!

    13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

    The Place were the Lord IS Present must be made HOLY! Worship presupposes the preparation of the cleansing of the place of worship and most of all, the worshipers.

    REPENT! had been the message of preparation. TURN BACK to the LORD your God!

    Three years of teaching and miracles has brought Jesus to Jerusalem only to find a Temple in need of cleansing. The very priests and officials responsible for preparation of the Holy Place, have defiled the House of the Lord.