Mathew's Account of Jesus' Death and Resurrection (Part three)

Through the eyes of Mathew 27

Morning came. All the chief priests and elders of the people wanted Jesus to be put to death. And so they bound him and took him to the governed, Pontius Pilot.

When Judas, who had sold Jesus out, saw he was condemned, repented and took the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders and said, "I have sinned. I have betrayed innocent blood." .But that didn't do any good. They didn't understand or even care. And so he throw down the silver in the temple and went away to hang himself.

The chief priests and elders took the money and use it to buy a potters field which was used to bury strangers in, That field was called, "The field of blood."

In the meantime, Jesus was standing before Pontius Pilot who asked him if he was King of the Jews. Jesus said, "Thou sayest." And when everyone started accusing him, he said nothing to defend himself.

At the feast, the governor could release a prisoner. And the people were given the choice of Jesus  or Barnabas. They wanted Jesus to be crucified. Pilot didn't really believe Jesus had done anything wrong but he washed his hand of it and released Barnabas and gave Jesus over to be crucified.

Thanks for coming by today Friends. We will finish up with Mathew's account nest time. In the mean time.....

Mathew's Account of Jesus's Death and Ressurection (part two)

Though the eyes of Mathew: Mathew 26

Those that were out to kill Jesus appeared. Jesus knew they were coming. He had foretold his friends that his time was coming that he would be put to death. And suddenly, there they were. Judas had been paid by the chief priests to identify Jesus so that they would know who he was. He hold told them that they would know which one when he kissed him.

When he saw Jesus, he went up and did kiss him. The deed was done. He had just given up the identity of the one that he had been following through out Jesus's ministry. And seeing that kiss, they grabbed  Jesus. to take him away.

But someone with Jesus took out his sword and cut off one of their ears. Jesus told him to put his sword away, that those that use the sword will die with the sword. He told them that if he prayed to his Father, he could have legions of angels come to his rescue but this had to be done so  the prophets would be fulfilled.

It was at this point that his friends, his disciples fled, leaving Jesus with the people that would ultimately kill him. And they led Jesus to the high priest Caiaphas where also the scribes and the elders had gathered.

Peter followed them from afar so as to watch and see what was going to happen. And the chief priest and elders looked for people that would tell them the things he had done wrong, and could find no one that could.But then two did come forward and said that Jesus had said that he could destroy the temple of God and then rebuild it in three days. .

Jesus said nothing in his own defense even when the high priest asked him what these people had against him. What he did say was that after this they would see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.

Everyone there yelled that he had spoken blaspheme and that he was guilty and should be put to death.They spit in his face and hit him. 

Peter was sitting out in the palace and a "damsel" came to him and said, "You were with Jesus of Galilee," And he denied knowing Jesus. After this he left the porch and another maid came along and told everyone that he was with Jesus of Nazareth. Again Peter denied knowing him. And after awhile someone else also said that he was with Jesus. 'For the third time Peter said he did not know him. Immediately the cocked crowed, just as Jesus had foretold at the last supper, it would when Peter denied him three times.

And Peter wept bitterly.





What an awful thing to happen. Peter denying he knew his friend. The One that he had been with during the Ministry of Jesus. He had said that he would never do this thing, that Jesus had said he would. And yet he did. and when he had, he must have felt terrible. So what comes next in this account of Mathew? Part three will be coming up.

Have a wonderful and blessed day on this the Lord's Day. Thanks for coming by. 

Mathew's Account of Christ's Death And Resurrection. (part one)

I was reading this morning, a post that Rachel Wojo had written about Jesus, back in April of 2014. I decided to share some of it with you and at the end of this post, will give you the link, in case you would like to read it in full.She stated that the disciples that told the Easter story, told it with different slants. That Mathew the tax collector had provided detail. Mark had been straight forward with his account, not beating around the bush. Luke, having been a doctor had a unique  perspective in his account.Where as John gives an eyewitness account of Christ's love in action.

With what she posted about those 4 accounts, I thought we would go back over them one at a time, and compare them with each other to see what differences there are.

Through the eyes of Mathew. Chapter 26

The priests, and the elders of the people wanted to end Jesus' ministry once for all. And so they gathered at the palace of Calaphas, the high priest.They wanted him crucified and so schemed on how this was going to go down.





While he was in Bethany a woman came to him with a very expensive jar of alabaster and poured it on his head. His disciples thought that this was a waste because it could have been sold at a very high price. But Jesus said she had done a very beautiful thing for him and that she was actually preparing his body for burial.

In the mean time, Judas went to the chief priests and asked them what they would be willing to  pay him if he took Jesus to them. They gave him 30 pieces of silver and he began to watch for the opportunity to hand him over.

After this came the Festival of the Unleavened Bread. Jesus was going to celebrate Passover with his disciples.That evening while at the table with his friends, Jesus told them that one of them would betray him.They began to look at each other asking who it was because it couldn't have been any of them. Jesus told them that the one that was going to betray him would be the one that dipped his hand into the bowl with him would betray him. But he warned that person that he should never have been born.

Judas in this account had already received the silver but he said, "Surely it can't be me, Lord."

Then Jesus took the bread and wine and said, "This is my body and my blood which is poured out for the forgiveness of sin for many."

And after that, they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.




Jesus also told them that Peter would deny him three times that night.Peter said he would never deny him, that he would rather die with him.

And with that, he and his disciples went to Gethsemane  Jesus knew his death was pending and he was overwhelmed thinking about it.He told the disciples to stay there while he went on and finally fell on his face. He prayed to his Father, wanting this thing that was about to happen, be removed, but even so, it was the Father's will that he go through it and he was willing. Three times he prayed this as his disciples slept. And then he finally told them to get up because his betrayer was coming.

Hi Friends. This is not the end of Mathew's account. Next time we will look at what happens next. In the mean time, God bless you!

What Religion Did to Jesus & Whimsical Wednesday - RachelWojo.com

What Do I know?

That is an easy question for me to answer. Especially because the celebration of his death and Resurrection are just a few short weeks away.  And so in light of that, what is the answer to that question?

Well, let me tell you friends. It is this:

How crazy is to think that Jesus even existed, let alone died on a cross, and rose from that grave, and ascended to heaven to be with his Father? And is now preparing a place for those that believe on him.? Really?

Really?   

Anyone that actually believes that fairy tale is just nuts, right?   So I answer that question about whether those people are nuts or crazy with the same answer. Really?

Really? 

But I would ask again.

Really?

But then, I would ask why? Why are people crazy if they believe in the life, death resurrection etc of Jesus Christ?

  Why? 

Why for goodness sake, is it any crazier to believe in Jesus, when there are so many that believe in false gods, are leaders in cults that teach people that they (the leaders) are Jesus Christ,or people trying to reach their dead loved ones during seances?

And then there are those that believe in aliens from outer space. I was watching a program last night about a man that is the head of a cult, and thinks that cats are the channel to which we get messages to and from the mother ship which is out in space. And he is the spokesman, I guess for the cats. Some nonsense like that anyway. 

Why is that not crazy? Because really friends, it is. But there are people that follow that kind of stuff as well as many other outrageous teachings and don't think they are crazy.

But the teachings of Jesus Christ? Now that is really what is crazy. Right?

Wrong!

We are given a choice in this life, to live and believe what we will. I however, am glad to know the truth. 

Jesus answered, "See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, I am the Christ and will deceive many."

Look around friends. Have you seen it? That scripture was foretold by Jesus himself thousands of years ago, and as back then it holds true today. And no doubt to a greater degree with crazier teachings.

Even in some of the so-called Christian Churches, it goes on. The devil is infiltrating into places he should never be allowed, and getting away with it because we are not vigilant about  it and not doing what Christ tells us to do in that scripture. See to it that no one deceives you. 

Many people will believe a lie and for those that do not believe the truth, they will be dammed. 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12.

As for me.....

I choose to believe the truth. Jesus was born of a virgin. His ministry lasted for some 33 years on earth. At which time, the devil used the Roman Soldiers of the day to rip him away from the truth he was teaching because they thought that would end it. However, God had other plans that they were not to know until he arose from his death and burial. 

I praise him that he has revealed the truth to those of us that want to know him. Because at the end of our lives, that is when our destiny becomes real. Heaven or Hell. 

Which choice will/did you make?

Truth or Fiction. 

It is up to you. 

Thanks for stopping by today Friends. Have a blessed start to your new week!

Spiritual Warfare

Hello Friends. I am switching topics now to other subjects. And today's topic has to do with something we are engaging in as Christians, whether we like it or not (which we don't) or whether we know it or not. (because we are )

Over a year ago, about this time in 2019 our family was blessed by two new presences in our family. No, they weren't twins and they weren't babies. Nor were they even born in our blood line.

They were and are two very needy preteen children. Adopted by my son and his wife whom I will call them Mike and Sally.

At the time, my husband and myself still lived in our home state of Ohio but we had already met them the year before when we went down to Florida where at that time Mike and Sally were fostering them. And we had begun to know these precious children that came from backgrounds that no child should ever have to know.

Since we moved here last summer, it has become a regular routine of hearing all the good things that have been happening. But there were many that haven't been so good.

Their now daughter is doing well with all the changes that her new life has brought her. But, sadly the boy is having a very difficult time and his behavior has gone from bad to worse and then from worse to recently much worse.

I won't go into all that. But when it started to get to the worst part, a couple weeks ago, I asked for prayer on another site. And low and behold, his behavior changed to being much better for the next perhaps seven days. But then all of a sudden it seemed that it zoomed down again only this time going from the worst to the much worst all at once. I hope that makes sense.

It was then that Mike and I both realized that this was a real spiritual problem. As a matter of fact, in just the last day we realized that it is time to vamp up our prayers even more then we had. Because we know the enemy is out there. Ready to devour who he can. 1 Peter 5:8, He wants to devour this little boy, who did nothing wrong by being born, yet was thrust into this horrible family life. Most of which we probably don't even know. (What we do know is bad enough)

As a grandmother to 7 children, and now 2 more adopted ones, I realized that even though the things I have gone through even up to the  last year and this move to a new state, has sometimes been hard, it is not time to get sloppy on my prayers, nor my commitment to them and God. Sad to say, that is what I have done.

With a renewed vow to God (after first asking his forgiveness, of course) I am back to doing what I used to do. And that is to really use my spiritual warfare against the enemy that is causing these problems in a home where he is not allowed to be, nor is he welcome there.

Hence first, asking many people on a site, to pray for them. And they have. And I saw change for the good almost immediately.  The problem is, that just woke that devil up to know that those that have been praying are storming heaven's gates and not in his favor. And he doesn't like it all.

Hence the change again. This time for the worst of the worst.

And so I have been going after him and so has Mike. We know what his tactics are. But we also know that the battle has already been won. Jesus did it the day he died on the cross for us. And it is his promise to us. But we can't just expect it to happen. We have to put our faith, and trust in him, and to also use his word and our prayers so that the devil does not tear us and our loved ones apart in the process. It is not a time for me to go soft. It is not a time for me to give up. It is time for me to stand in the midst of it and be the kind of warrior in my prayer life that God wants me to be.

I hadn't planned on doing my blog on this today. But all of sudden, when I pulled up a new one to post, there it was instantly on my mind. Perhaps there is someone that needs to be reminded that spiritual warfare is something you need to return to. Maybe you have done it before and it didn't seem to work so you gave up. God wants you to know or be reminded that the battle is his. He will fight for you in the spiritual realm if you want him to. And you should never, ever give up until he gets the job done.

Or maybe you are the one that doesn't even know where to begin when it comes to spiritual warfare.
I recommend in that case that you get one of the several books you can get from Charles Stanley that explains this topic so that you will understand what you are up against.  I will leave the link to those, at the end of this post.

God wants us to know that we are in that warfare. Why else would he tell us that Satan walks around like a  roaring lion waiting to devour us. He didn't just leave us with the bad news. His word about how to handle the devil is the good news. And one we can rely on. Why? Because he loves us.

God to:   charles stanley books spiritual warfare - Google Search to find his books.

Thanks for coming by Friends. Have a wonderful day today because this is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice in it. Psalm 124:24

I Am Preparing A Place For You

I sort of got off on a different footing yesterday about this love note. I guess it is because I have a heart for people that are in need. At one time I did have a problem with giving money or food to homeless people. But something my daughter said to me once, got me to thinking that I had the wrong attitude. She had said, "Who knows what they have been though that brings them to those times when they live on the street, are addicted to drugs, and have nothing to eat. They may have a very good reason for where they are in life. If I was homeless, I would probably want to drink or take drugs too, just to escape what I am going through, if only for a few hours."

Neither my daughter nor myself and our families have ever been homeless, praise God. But we have come close and thank him that there were people who at times reached out to us with some help to keep our head above water. There were times when we had tread some pretty deep water, but  God promises when we pass through them, he will not let them over come us. (Isaiah 43:2) And sometimes he uses people to keep others from drowning.

I believe, that if I give money or food to someone on the street, it is not up to me what is done with it. I do not know and cannot therefore judge what their situation is. Only God knows. Only he can.

What I do know is that scripture is clear in that we are to give to everyone that asks of us. Do we do that?  I would say, not nearly enough. Because it might mean I have to give up something. And God knows that I don't want that. And yet, if I don't, then it shows that I don't care about people like I say I do.

Moving on to this love note from God however, about Jesus preparing a place for us is what life is really all about. The things of this world will one day pass away. Whatever we have will be gone. We will be eventually gone because life is about death. The death of our physical bodies at least. Where will we be then? Because our spiritual bodies will live on. Either in heaven-which we look forward to, or to a place where fires burn forever and people live in torment.

Jesus had told his disciples: "...in my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you unto myself, so that where I am, there you will be also. John 14:2-3,

Our home here in earth, is important. We do need a place to live and raise our families. But it only temporary. We are just passing through on our way to something greater and much more exciting than we can ever imagine. For those that know God and has excepted Jesus as their Savior. Because not doing that, will mark our place in something that we truly do not want. Are you waiting for your place in God's house, where we will be with Jesus?  I know that I am. And hope the same for you.

Thanks for coming by, Friends. Until next time, may the Lord bless and keep you everyday!

I Am Preparing A Place For you!

Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me as well. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you in to my presence so that where I will be, you will be also. John 14:1-3

Have you ever known anyone to be homeless? Or on the verge of being homeless. Have you ever seen a homeless person on the street, begging for anything from food, to money. Do you hesitate to give them money because they may spend it on alcohol and/or drugs?

You figure that they don't deserve getting handouts because they should just go get a job.

Many Christians feel that way. They don't want their money that they have worked hard for, to become....dirty. What was that you said? I said, "dirty." I don't want my money to become dirty by  giving to the poor man on the street, or the mother that was in a Walmart parking lot asking for money to buy her baby diapers and food, with the possibility that they will spend it in the way which we don't approve.. The lady at Walmart was oriental, but I do not know where she was from. She had her request written out on a card, which she showed my husband and myself, and with her was a teenage girl. 

Did I give her any money?  Yes. GASP!!!!

Shame on me for giving money to someone who had to have her request written out because she may or may not have been able to ask in English. And if she did indeed have a baby, it was not with her. And how could I trust that she was not going to spend it on something that would....dirty my money?

Well, I can tell you, I have sort of been on that side of the fence, as it were. Not completely homeless, but getting there and not always knowing where the food for my kids was going to come from.

It isn't our business to know what anyone's situation is. What happens to that money that leaves your hand, the end result becomes God's and whomever is on the receiving end. 

We could argue about with God Why really should I have to give to the poor? But we would only lose that argument.

Whoever gives to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have. Proverb 18:17

Give to everyone that asks you....Luke 6:30

There is other scripture about giving to the poor and I have not found one that says we are to judge, put them down or ignore them. 

God's heart is with them. And he is for you and I. Poor or not.  

I know today's love note is a little different then its title, but I will be back tomorrow to talk about Jesus preparing a place for us. Thanks for visiting today. God's blessings and perfect love on you!

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