KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Sunday, November 13, 2016
Chapters: Matthew 27-28
Message: By Popular Vote
Hello My Friend,
Popular, Beloved by the people; enjoying the favor of the people; pleasing to people in general. I was watching a program and in the beginning I enjoyed it because it was pretty family friendly, but the more I watched the more I began seeing topics addressed that would shock a person even twenty year ago. By popular vote, things like fornication, homosexuality, abortion, and drug use, while always have been since the fall of man, are now considered family friendly. True Christians, while respectful to all no matter what they believe, do not fit in with what is popular because they are not of the world, they belong to Jesus, and for that reason they will always be the target. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” – John 15:18-19.
By popular vote, money and the acceptance of those who are in the world are desired, many people will resort to doing the unspeakable in order to get those things. 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 and the recognition of the Pharisees, but as soon as he did his deed he realized 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, repented himself,” How often do you make a decision and the second you did you immediately felt condemned for it? Now, imagine doing something so unimaginable that you feel there is no restitution? When Jesus told the disciples that the person who would betray Him would wish he were never born, I imagine this was what Judas thought. In fact, he was so ashamed of what he had done that he killed himself. Let me tell you, suicide is not the answer, you cannot change things that happen, but that is not an excuse to end your life. This is where Jesus comes in, had Judas done more than admit he sent an innocent man to jail, and accepted Him as his Saviour he would have been saved, but he ended up in hell. Jesus died for all, no matter what we have done, but we must acknowledge and accept His finished work on the cross before we die because then it will be too late. “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.” – Romans 10:9.
By popular vote, the man called Jesus Christ is against everything they believe or stand for. You can say you believe in God all you want, but the second you mention Jesus it is as if you stuck a knife in their heart. You see, the world will always despise Jesus because He brings personal conviction, and that is something they do not want to deal with, they will do anything to try to destroy Christ. The Pharisees were ecstatic that they finally got Jesus, and they were going to make sure they put an end to all this once and for all, they stood before Pilate to not only condemn Jesus, but put Him to death.
“Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 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? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 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. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 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.” – Matthew 27:15-20,24.
“persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.” Persuade, To convince, draw or incline the will to a determination by presenting motives to the mind. All it takes is one person to start fussing to a group of confused, angry, or discontent people for them to be persuaded into believing their lies over the truth. A good majority of the time the reason they side with them is because they do not want to be destroyed themselves. As Christians, we cannot live in fear, sure, we are going to face prosecution, some of us may even lose our lives just for disagreeing with the popular vote, but we must not fear them, Jesus will take care of us.
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” – Matthew 10:28-31.
By Popular vote, all the miracles and incredible acts of Jesus are merely myth, and all the testimonies of those who walk with Him are fables. They could not wait to crucify Jesus, even getting the Romans involved, while He was hanging on the cross they taunted, provoked, and mocked Him. “They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. 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 sitting down they watched him there; 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.” – Matthew 27:34-36,40-42.
“let him now 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. If you think that the chief priests and scribes did not know Scripture, think again, in fact, they tried to change it to win the popular vote. They knew that Jesus would raise on the third day, and even came up with a plan to say to the people 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.
“Say ye, His disciples came by night,” 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. By popular vote, no man can save man by dying for their sins, by popular vote, no one can come back to life after being dead. As Christians, we are not put on this earth to be the popular vote, we are 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, By popular vote everything I believe and stand for about You is a joke and untrue, but I am so glad that I am not part of the popular vote. I understand that not by my works of righteousness I am saved, but by my believing in what You did for me and receiving You as my Savior I am saved. I am trusting only in You Jesus to keep me out of hell and I 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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