KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, November 13, 2017
Chapters: Matthew 27-28
Message: In Disbelief
Hello My Friend,
As I was reading the chapters today several passages caught my attention, the ones that struck me most are about the Jews disbelief, no matter what they saw, nothing changed their minds, even to the point of making it look like Jesus was the liar in all of this. So, bare with me, there is a lot of Scripture in this message, but I will try to keep it to two pages. Still today many try to discredit Jesus, they believe the lies told from the Jews and other religious groups, and that is why we it is so important that we who live by faith never stop defending the cross, while Jesus in no way needs to defend Himself, we are the only one who keep the truth out, and perhaps help save some souls in the process. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 10:32-33.
Disbelief; Refusal of credit or faith; denial of belief. First of all, disbelief often has two things attached to it, pride and conviction, no one wants to admit they have done wrong, and when they do see the error of their ways pride wants to immediately get rid of the source rather than admit their wrongdoing. Judas Iscariot loved the things of the world, he would do anything to be accepted of the Pharisees, even if that meant he had to step on people to get it. Judas did the unspeakable when he turned Jesus in for thirty pieces of silver merely for the recognition of the Pharisees, but the second Jesus was captured he knew what he did was wrong.
“Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.” – Matthew 27:3-8.
“when he saw that he was condemned,” Condemn; To pronounce to be guilty; to sentence to punishment. You see, the second they carried Jesus off, Judas immediately knew that he was guilty and while he did repent of what he had done he thought that what he had done was unforgivable, and killed himself. Another thing that disbelief does is tempt, they want to see physical proof that God is real and that Jesus is really who He says He is. They falsely convicted Jesus, and as if the Jews did not ridicule Him enough the Romans decided to get in on it too, mocking and teasing Him. Now, here He is, hanging on the cross as thousands of lookers watch, some in pain as their Saviour was dying, some just waiting to see if angels or God would show up and doing something crazy, yet many were in disbelief, making all sorts of comments.
“And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.” – Matthew 27:35,39-43.
“let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.” Who were they kidding, did they actually think they would believe if Jesus did come down from the cross? Jesus, could have at any time come down from there, but what would that have proved, they would have still found something to discredit Him. The Jews never believed, but the Romans sure did.
“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.” – Matthew 27:50-54.
“the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom;” That veil, the one that separated God from man was ripped down the second Jesus died. He became the only source for not only redemption, but direct one on one communication with God. We no longer have to speak to a prophet or priest to connect with God, we can go directly to Him as long as we know Christ as our Saviour. If you think that the chief priests and scribes did not know Scripture, think again, in fact, they tried to change it. They knew that Jesus would raise on the third day, and even convinced Pilate to place guards at the tomb to prevent that from happening.
“Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.” – Matthew 27:62-66.
“we remember that that deceiver said,” The deceiver, were they serious? Of course, they were, these were the chief priests and Pharisees, the ones who refused to believe anything about Jesus, and they knew they were wrong, they were just too proud to admit that everything Jesus said was true. It was the first day of the week, the sabbath ended so some women went to the tomb to embalm Jesus only to witness something incredible.
“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” – Matthew 28:1-6.
“And, behold, there was a great earthquake:” There it is, the earthquake that was spoken of in Chapter 27, the one in which the graves of the saints opened and thousands of souls were brought into heaven after His resurrection. You see, before Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and resurrected, the saved went to a place called paradise, Jesus was their too, along with one on the men who was crucified beside Him. The angel of the Lord; all throughout the Old Testament this was Jesus, fitting that He would be the one to open the tomb. The ones that mocked Jesus, told Him to come down and will believe saw first hand that He had risen, yet because of their disbelief refused to admit their wrongdoing and even came up with a plan to say that the disciples came in the night and took Him.
“Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” – Matthew 28:11-15.
“So they took the money, and did as they were taught:” The wicked will do anything to discredit Jesus still today, and right now they may seem to have the last laugh, but there will come a day when every knee will bow, and then where will they be, in hell. As Christians, we are not put on this earth to blend in with the crown, we are here to stand out in faith, knowing that everything in the Bible is true. Our only defense is to get in the Word of God and show them that we will not give up on our God and King. “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.” – Isaiah 45:22-24.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” – Matthew 28:6.
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, To the world, everything I believe in and stand for about You is a joke and untrue, I am so glad that I am not part of them. I understand that I am not saved by my works of righteousness, but by my believing and accepting that Your work on the cross saved me. I am trusting only in You Jesus to keep me out of hell and know that no matter what I have done or will do I am forgiven and that You will never leave nor forsake me. To show my appreciation and love for You I want to live my life with You in it. Lead me and guide me, help me to be a witness and a testimony to the amazing life that I now live with You, and let me be bold to speak the truth when others want to tear me down for my faith. I love You, Lord and pray in Your name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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