King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Saturday, November 13, 2021
Chapters: Matthew 27-28
Message: It Is All Over Now
Hello My Friend,
The world and religious have two things in common, they fear death and hate Jesus. Deep down they both know that hell is real, but have been deceived into believing that their “good works” can save them from hell. I quotated “good works” because they are basing their assumptions on what they reason themselves to be what is good and not what God sees as good. Well, God sees no works as good enough, meaning perfect, that would save us from hell because we have all come short of that glory, [Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;].
As I was reading the chapters for today, this song came to mind, I’m On The Winning Side, [Once I drifted out in sin, Had no hope nor joy within, And my soul was burdened down with pride. Then my Savior came along, And He showed me I was wrong. Now I know I’m on the winning side. Well, I am on the winning side. Yes, I am on the winning side, Out in sin no more will I abide. I’ve enlisted in the fight, For the cause of truth and right, Praise the Lord, I’m on the winning side.] Normally in church we just sing the first and last verses, but take a look at the second verse, [From the straight and narrow way, I was drifting every day, Out upon the waters deep and wide, But it all is over now, Glory light is on my brow, And my soul is on the winning side.].
This should be our motto, “It is all over now!” Since Christ shines His glory light upon our soul through our faith in Him alone, we are no longer sinking deep in the waters of uncertainty because of our sin, we are on the winning side of Christ who saved us from our sin and the uncertainty is all over now. Amen! And that is exactly why He sent Jesus, [John 3:16-19 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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.]
Do you see that? Because their deeds were evil, that is why God rejects their “good works”. It is pride that thinks that they do not need Jesus to save them because their own “good works” will save them. It is pride that thinks that their own “good works” are seen by God as something that is going to approve of. And it is pride that thinks that they are not sinners at all. As we continue in the reading of the Gospels, Matthew gives an account to when the chief priests and elders captured Jesus, they actually though that they were doing God a service by capturing this deceiver who made himself as an equal to Him. They were too blind and hardhearted to see that He was the one God sent to save them from condemnation. Of course, they were too cowardly to kill Him themselves so, they used the government to persuade them to do it.
[Matthew 27:1-2,11-14 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. 12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.]
[how many things they witness against thee?] Do you know what they are saying about you? This is often the question that Christians get when we are up against these reprobates who think they too are doing a service to God. However, they will learn rather quickly that they are the true deceivers, and that is exactly what Judas discovered after they took Jesus away. Matthew is the only one who records what happened to Judas after he realized what he had done in betraying Jesus, Acts also makes mention of it in regards to the prophecy.
[Matthew 27:3-10 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, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 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. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. 8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. 9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; 10 And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.]
[when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself,] Judas definitely admitted that Jesus was innocent and repented of what he had done, but there is nothing here that indicated that he believed Jesus to be the Christ. Right then and there, Judas knew that he was condemned, he confessed his sin, but to the men, and not to God Himself. Remember what Jesus said would happen as soon as Judas betrayed Him? [Matthew 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.]. Sadly, he ended his life, and as for those reprobates, they also knew that Jesus was innocent, but that did not stop them from wanting Him dead. Now, as Jesus stands before Pilate, the more the Jews pressed him to give the judgment to put Him to death the more he realized that Jesus was innocent as well, he even tried to have them release Jesus.
[Matthew 27:15-20 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.]
[For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.] There are three different religions of the world, and every one of them will send them straight to hell. The worldly Christian, who actually believes in the Gospel of Christ, but have never received Him because they trusted in their religion who taught them that they must believe in Him and maintain “good works” to save themselves. The agnostic, these are those who believe in God or a spiritual power, but believe that they have the power within themselves to save themselves. And then there are those who proclaim God, yet wholeheartedly despise Jesus, and they will do anything they can to try and destroy Christ’s testimony. This is what these Jews were doing, they wanted Jesus dead, and there was nothing that Pilate or anyone else could say to convince them otherwise. In fact, they did not just want to kill Jesus, they wanted Him to die in the most painful way possible, by crucifixion. And Pilate wanted nothing to do with it.
[Matthew 27:22-26 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.]
[I am innocent of the blood of this just person:] For years, growing up Catholic, we were led to believe that it was Pilate who wanted Jesus to be crucified. This is another thing that religion does, it deceives people into believing that it is the world that is to blame for the shed of innocent blood, when they are really the ones to blame. Now, the world despises Jesus not because He exposes their sin, but because they too were deceived into believing that those religions tell the truth. Think about it, who would be convinced that Jesus can save them when they are taught that they could end up in hell anyway after accepting Him as their Saviour? That is what I was taught, in fact, I was convinced that it did not matter if I was good or bad, I was going to end up in hell so why bother following all these commands. Of course, and thank God, I learned the truth and broke free from their deception, but a lot of people do not as millions of souls are condemned to hell because they fell for their deception. Why? Ignorance saves no one. At some point, every believer of God is presented with the truth about Christ, if they reject that truth, Jesus will reject them as well, [Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.]
I do not care how many times I read this, it always brings tears to my eyes. No matter how much pain I am in or go through, it would never compare to what Jesus went through to save my soul. Since Matthew’s account of the Gospel is addressed toward the Jews, he goes directly into Jesus being on the cross for quite some time.
[Matthew 27:33-36,39-43 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. 35 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. 36 And sitting down they watched him there; 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 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. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 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. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.]
[And sitting down they watched him there;] They just sat there as Jesus hung there, after they had ripped His clothes and gambled for a piece of the cloth, perhaps to watch Him die, or see some miracle take place, or even if He would come down. Then came the Jews, mocking every word He said as they passed by, and did they honestly think that they would have believed Him to be the Christ even if He did come down? So, here is Jesus, watching all this, is such serve pain, and I am sure very thirsty, all He could do is cry out to His Father.
[Matthew 27:45-51,54 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 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; 54 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.]
[and they that were with him, watching Jesus,] These soldiers sure believed, and were saved, but the Jews, even though they realized Jesus is more than a man, still did not. In fact, they knew what they did was wrong, look at their response when He was taken down and placed in the borrowed tomb.
[Matthew 27:57-60,62-64 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 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.]
[we remember that that deceiver said,] Deceiver? This is where I want to say, “I hate people who accuse you when they are the ones who are the deceivers.” But that is the human side of me that gets tired of being people’s punching bag because they are offended by my faith. Let me tell you, what does not kill us definitely makes us stronger, and not in our own strength, but in the strength of Jesus Christ. We are on the winning side, it is all over now, because we are no longer bound to a religion or the chains of our deception of believing that we must obtain “good works” in order to be saved. Satan is the true deceiver, he will never admit that, and will continue to use people like these chief priests and Pharisees, to keep not only their followers from knowing the truth, they will deny it themselves. These were the ones who prided themselves for crucifying Jesus, and knew they were wrong, they were just too proud to admit that everything Jesus said was true, and even after He arose three days later. In fact, when they found out that Jesus was not in the tomb, they paid the soldiers to say that the disciples took His body.
[Matthew 28:11-15 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. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.]
[they gave large money unto the soldiers,] Our faith in Christ definitely promises to save our soul from the uncertainty of death and hell, but it does not promise that we are not going to face any challenges, especially for our faith. The wicked will do anything to discredit Jesus still today, and there is always someone willing to be paid off in order to keep their secrets hid. Remember, those who sin in secret will be exposed in the worse way, [Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.].
We are on the winning side! Out in sin no more will I abide because it is all over now, Jesus has given us the victory. It may even seem as though they have the last laugh, but there will come a day when every knee will bow and in fact, they will be crying, begging for forgiveness, and even repenting of what they did to us, but just like Judas, they will die in their sin, [2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.]
Let Us Pray: 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 a 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 is all I need to save 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, it is all over now, I am forgiven and 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. Lord, Lead me and guide me, help me to be that faithful witness and a testimony to the amazing life that I now live with You, even when I am suffering, 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, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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