He Has Risen (HW14)

'Holy Week'

Jesus the King?

Luke 24:19-21  And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.

The Jews were expecting Him to come as their King to deliver them from the Roman rule.

Surprised of His Resurrection

Luke 24:22-23  Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive."

His disciples could not believe that He had risen even though He had told them many times that on the third day He would rise from the dead.

Gospel of Christ (Grace)

Luke 24:46-47  Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Whoever believes the gospel of grace that Jesus, the Son of God was made flesh, suffered, died and on third day He rose from the dead, is saved and then sealed with the Holy Spirit of redemption.

First Born Again Christians

John 20:19-20  Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

When His disciples believed that He had risen from the dead on the third day, they had believed the complete gospel of grace (Christ). Our Lord then gave each of them the Holy Spirit making their bodies the temples of God.

John 20:21-22  So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

Risen Christ Taught Disciples

Luke 24:44-45  Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

Our Risen Lord was with His disciples for 40 days before he went back to heaven. He enlightened their understanding of Scriptures and taught them the New Covenant's grace and truth. With the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they were able to write the NT Gospels and Epistles.

He also showed them many signs and wonders.

John 20:30-31  And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

Fulfillment of Law

During this short Holy Week, our Lord Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic Law of the Israelites.

1. At the crucifixion Jesus was the Passover Lamb. He was also the Bread of life, thus fulfilling the Feast of Unleavened bread.

2. At His resurrection, Jesus was the first fruit of resurrection and 50 days after His resurrection was the harvest at Pentecost this fulfilling the Feast of Weeks (First fruits).

3. When His disciples believed His resurrection, He gave them the Holy Spirit to dwell inside their physical bodies (tabernacles) thus fulfilling the Feast of Tabernacle in remembrance of God dwelling in the tabernacle in the wilderness.

Having fulfilled the Law, He made it obsolete with the New Covenant of His blood so that every Israeli Christian in Christ Jesus has also fulfilled the Law.

Pierced After His Death (HW13)

'Holy Week'

John 19:33-34  But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

Even after the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, his dead body was abused by the Roman soldier who used the spear to pierce the side of his body. Immediately, blood and water poured out of his dead body.

Most Wicked Persons

Acts 1:18-19  (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)

Judas Iscariot committed the worst sin, which is unpardonable, for betraying the Messiah Jesus. After his death his stomach burst open and poured out blood. Similarly with the death of Queen Jezebel, the most wicked queen who massacred many prophets of God and also forced His husband King Ahad and the Jews to apostate by worshipping Baal.

2 Kings 9:33,35  Then he said, "Throw her (Jezebel) down." So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot... So they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands.

Precious Blood of Jesus

The blood that poured out from Jesus' death body was able to cleanse even the worst sin committed by men. So all men can be saved by the grace of God.

Jesus Replaced Animal Sacrifices

Heb 10:4, 9-10  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins... then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

It is God's will that the death of Jesus replaced the imperfect animal's sacrifices and also the Mosaic Law of the Old Covenant (first) with the New Covenant of His precious blood.

Living Water from Jesus

John 7:37-39  On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

All those who sincerely trust and believe Him (as God, Father, Saviour, Healer, Provider, Protector, Comforter, etc) will be blessed with the overflowing of the living water.

All those who believe Jesus by keeping His word, the Father will give them the Spirit of truth, who will guide them into all truth and tell them the things to come.

Freedom with Truth

Heb 10:22-23  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

The pure or living water poured out from Jesus is His truth given to all Christians who abide in His word. The truth will set us free from the bondages of the flesh (washed) and the evil conscious of the soul.

John 8:31-32,36  Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free...Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

John 1:14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Blood shed on the cross was His Grace for the remission of sin.

The Water shed was His Truth for the sanctification and transformation into His image.

Death of Jesus (HW12)

'Holy Week'

John 19:28,30  After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!".. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Jesus died at about 3pm as the sacrificial Lamb of God at the time of the evening sacrifice. He died very contented for He had accomplished His work as given by God the Father. Though He appeared to be suffering from the crucifixion, He was rejoicing for He knew that men would now be passed from death to life. He knew that His success was mainly due to His perfect love for the salvation of men.

His death destroyed the devil who had the power over death and set Christians free from the bondage of the fear of death.

Heb 2:14-15  Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Heb 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Our Lord willingly suffered the taste of His death, godly Christians who keep His word will not suffer the taste of death being martyred or at their beds.

Painless at Martyrdom

Mat 16:27-28  For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

Stephen saw our Lord Jesus in heaven and the Lord protected him before the first stone hit his body. Because Stephen was not in pain but was rejoicing for being with the Lord, he was able to pray to God to forgive them

Acts 7:55-56  But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!".

The New Covenant

Mat 26:27-28  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

Our Lord Jesus was a devout Jew and He kept the Law till death. At His death Jesus, having fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, replaced the Old Covenant of the Law with the New Covenant of Grace by His blood.

Heb 9:16-17  For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.

Paradise for Believers

Luke 23:42-43  Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Christians (believers) whose sins are cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus will go straight to Paradise instead of being sent into the depths of the earth (1 Sam 28).

Resurrection of the Saints of the OT

Mat 27:52-53  and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Jesus at His death, immediately, became the sacrificial lambs offered by the saints of old, who had kept the Mosaic Law (Moses, David, Daniel, etc.) and the Prophets (Abel, Enoch, Noah, etc.) so that their sins were also cleansed by Jesus' blood, and just as the repented and faithful Christians, they too were made righteous and holy by His blood. Only then, they were worthy to be raised from the depths of the earth and follow our resurrected Lord back to heaven.

Crucifixion of Jesus (HW11)

'Holy Week'

Mark 15:25-26  Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Our Lord Jesus chose crucifixion the most painful death meant for serious criminals. He suffered being hung on the cross (tree) for six hours before His death to free us those were under the curse.

Gal 3:13  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree")

Blessings and Curses

Deu 11:26-28  "Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.

Most unbelievers who have committed abominations such as idolatry, adultery, sodomy, wickedness, covetousness, etc. were under the curse.

Horror under the Curse

Deu28:16-18,20-22  "Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks... The Lord will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me. The Lord will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish.

Set free by Jesus on the Cross

Thank God for Jesus who was hung on the cross (tree) to set us free from the curses caused by our abominations before our salvation.

Col 3:5-7  Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

Jesus, the Lamb of God

John 1:29  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

The Word was made flesh so that Jesus, the Son of God, was crucified as the sinless and perfect Lamb of God for the remission of men's sins.

Mat 26:28  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Fulfillment of the Law and Prophets

Mat 5:17-18  "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."

At the cross, our Lord Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets by becoming the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God thereby replacing all the imperfect offerings and sacrifices mentioned in

1. the Prophets as found in the Adamic and Noahide Covenants for all mankind.

2. the Law for the Jews only.

Jesus the Only Way to God

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Since all the offerings and sacrifices of our godly ancestors from Adam till the crucifixion of Jesus were replaced by Jesus the Lamb of God, then they too were saved by Jesus when they believed God's word by willingly and joyfully offering their sacrifices to God.

Carry the Cross (HW10)

'Holy Week'

John 19:16-17  Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away. And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,

Our Lord Jesus willingly carried His cross in His walk to His death to relief us of men's painful burden through life.

Mat 11:28  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Men in this world are laden with lots of fear, worry and sorrows. When young they are fearful of failures in examinations, jobs, marriages, security and future. Majority are fearful of health, old age and death.

Our Lord told us to carry His cross (yoke) which is light and easy, for He had already taken away the pains, worry and sorrows in life when He carried His cross to Calvary.

Mat 11:29-30  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Luke 23:26  Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenaic, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.

Our Lord required man to help Him carry His cross. He needs His disciples to bring the gospel of the message of the cross to reach every human on earth for their salvation.

Mat 10:38-39  "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."

Our cross will be based on that of our Lord's - the message of the cross. Just like Him, we must be prepared to lay down our lives for the sake of the gospel - to reach all men and to disciple all Christians to be His disciples.

Mat 28:18-20  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Luke 23:27-28  And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

Our Lord told us not to weep for Him. He took upon Himself all the sufferings meant for us. He enjoyed them because He knows that His children need not suffer.

When we see our Lord suffering such great pains, we should be shedding tears of joy in appreciation of His great love for us.

Crown of Thorns (HW09)

'Holy Week'

Mat 27:26-28  Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.

After Jesus was scourged, the soldier took Him to the Praetorium (general's tent) and there they dress him up with a scarlet robe instead of the king's robe.

Mat 27:29-30  When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head.

They placed the crown of thorns (instead of the royal golden crown) on Him and bowed down to Him (unknowingly) as the king of all sufferings (bloody robe and a crown of thorn)

Once again before our Lord sacrificed Himself on the cross, He accepted the pain of the crown of thorns so that Christians do not need to suffer the pains from the thorn and thistles (reed).

The thorns were so sharp that the Roman soldier was not able to press down the crown of thorns with their bare hands so he used the reed to hit the crown of thorns thus forcing the thorns to pierce Jesus' head resulting to blood oozing out from the head.

Gen 3:17-18  Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field.

The blood of Jesus caused by the thorns and reed (thistles) falling on to the ground, removed the curse on Adam by removing them from the lives of Christians.

Gen 3:18b.  Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field.

Curse of the thorns

In our everyday life we will always meet those who are jealous of our salvation, blessings, successes, statuses, good families, secured jobs and businesses and do forth.

Some of these may even sow discords, doubts, reviling and even false accusations to upset, annoy and hurt us.

Thank God for our Lord Jesus' love that we can forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. In fact we should pity and pray for them for they miss the love, joy, peace and comfort of God.

Curse of the Thistles (Reed)

In life, we will find many obstacles blocking the path to our desires, ambitions and successes. These people may take away our future spouses, our businesses and contracts.

Thank God for them for our Lord Jesus has used them to remove all those not beneficial to us for He prevents us from future sorrows and sufferings.

Those future spouses will likely be incompatible, cruel, habitual sinners or even addicts thus causing untold sorrows.

Businesses and contracts taken away may likely be losing concerns, deceptions or even corruptions, which will result to many sorrows and our damnation.

By His Stripes We Are Healed (HW08)

'Holy Week'

Luke 23:22  Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."

He offered Himself to be scourged to fulfil scriptures. Please note that no one can harm Jesus for He could easily call upon the angel to defend Him and kill all His persecutors and accusers.

I Pet 2:24  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed.

Because of Jesus great love for His believers, He Himself wanted to be scourged so that by His stripes, Christians can be healed of their sicknesses and also their hurts, sorrows, fears, worries, doubts, bitterness, and insecurities

Isa 53:3-6  He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Mat 27:20-22  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!" Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"

The multitudes, who only a few days earlier had welcome Jesus as King of Israel while He entered Jerusalem on a donkey, were so quickly deceived by the priesthood to crucify the innocent Jesus against the judgment of the governor. They wanted to crucify their Messiah.

Mat 27:23  Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"

Jews Condemned Themselves

Mat 27:24-25  When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it." And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."

The Jews condemned themselves by killing the innocent and putting the innocent blood upon themselves and their descendants. At the death of Jesus, the Jews (Israelites) were removed from being the people of God thereby ending the Mosaic law or Judaism.