Thoughts From the Bible

M atthew 27: 11- 14-   ‘ Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “ Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?”  but He gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.’   Why would Jesus not defend Himself? Why  did n’t   Jesus  use this as an opportunity to preach to Pilate and to those who were there and explain to them the plan of God ?   Isaiah  53:7 says this, “ He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not  His mouth.”   Jesus knew His  role,  and He respected the word of God and respected how prophecy was important.  Jesus knew He was sent...

Read Matthew 27: 1- 10-   Judas was consumed with money. He was quick to take those thirty pieces of silver to betray Jesus. He also  later  kne w  he had committed an egregious sin. When he tried to reverse his betrayal, it was too late. In his remorse, Judas killed himself.  Unfortunately, Judas’ sin of betrayal served a part of God’s plan. That is hard to consider when we study all Jesus had to endure. As difficult as all of that was, it was important for us  because it was Jesus’ blood that covers our sins. It is a hard plan to sometimes understand. It is also hard to understand how someone could love us that much.  Through  all the machinations of this night, w e see yet another prophecy fulfilled that escaped the religious leaders at that time. Faced with the return of the thirty pieces of silver, they called it blood money  themselves,  so they sought to do something positive with it. They bo ught a potter’s field to bury stranger...

Read Matthew 26: 69- 75 -  My guess was that Peter was scared. This host of people arrived and arrested Jesus. Peter had taken a swing at one of the people there and Jesus had miraculously  healed the man’s ear, yet the people arrested Him, nonetheless. Peter may have thought the religious leaders were going to have all the disciples arrested.  Peter did not know what may happen, not only to Jesus but to him.  Regardless of how high the emotions may have been running that night, Peter denied knowing Jesus. Three times. Pe ter had two other chances to correct his  initial  denials and stand up for  Jesus,  but Peter failed three times.  I need to prepare myself for a time when I may be asked whether I know Jesus or not. I need to not  allow my emotions to  run away  with me and know I will stand as a believer and Jesus Christ and not only testify I am a believer but do so proudly. I need to kn ow  now how I will respond . I...

Read Matthew 26: 63- 68-   According to this passage of scripture, the  h igh  p riest asked Jesus a question that would either en d the drama surrounding Jesus or it would reveal Jesus for who He  actually was .  Verses 64 and 65 says,  ‘Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the hig h  priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered bla sphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard His blasphemy.’   Jesus knew it was time to remove all doubt as to who He was.  As I  r ead through   this exchange between Jesus and the high priest,  I  also think about what   was to follow this questioning. I know all that Jesus would be going through and it does not escape me that He was doing this for me, for all of  us. He was not drawing a line in the sand against the religious...

Read Matthew 27: 26- 33-   What  good is there  in these seven verses?  We see some horrible things in our society today but what Christ went through with this physical torture is horrendous.  Simon the Cyrene was chosen to carry Jesus’ cross after Jesus had been so brutally beaten so there was something  positive. A person to help Jesus in a broken and weakened state.  Verse 32 says,  “Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.”   I need to  never forget that there will be times when we  all will  need help in our lives. I need to make sure I am not too proud to accept help when those times come. Jesus  was weak and bleeding. Simon helped Him. I need to allow others to help me when life gets  hard . Jesus, as Lord of the universe, allowed Simon to help Him when He could have ended  all  the torture and upcoming crucifixion.  I need to realize ...

Read M atthew 26: 57- 62-   Jesus was now facing the religious leaders. He had been arrested by  the religious   leaders,   so this  late-night  trial began.  Verses 59, 60 and 61 say,  “Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put Him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward.  At last, two came forward and said, ‘This man said, “I  am able to  destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.”’”   The religious leaders saw these comments in the physical and not in the spiritual sense. The religious leaders were looking for any reason to do away with Jesus . Once the testimony began,  they  did not find what they were looking for. They did n ot find any false testimony.  I think it  is interesting today how many people find reason to question the principles  Jesus spoke and the life He lived. Many scho...

M atthew 26: 51- 56-   The time for Jesus’ ordeal had arrived. I can imagine the commotion that ensued after Judas betrayed Jesus.  In the face of this commotion, Jesus speaks to those who came to arrest Him and reminds them all this is what was prophesied many years before. In verses 54 and 56 Jesus says ,  “But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that I must be so? But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”  Jesus knew  what was coming. He had prayed that this ordeal or cup as He said, would pass from  Him,  but He knew His Father’s plan. This cup would not pass.  He knew He had to s uccumb to this ordeal  in order for  God’s plan for all of us to be fulfilled. I need to fully  understand  this was done for me. I need to ma ke sure I personalize all Jesus went  through .  Once I have adequately contemplated this event and what Jesus was willing to do, I need to mak...

Read M atthew 26: 43- 50-   Our society does not use the name of Judas to name their children today.  No one wants to have their children’s name associated with someone who betrayed Jesus Christ. Knowing what we know, it is so hard  to imagine anyone living with Jesus and following Him day-in and day-out betraying Him.   This is where Jesus teaches all of us a lesson.  In verses 48, 49, and 50 we read this,  ‘Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one  I   will kiss  is the man; seize Him.” And he came up to  Jesus  at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed Him . Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hand on Jesus and seized Him.’   Jesus called Judas friend.   In looking at several translations of the Bible, there  is a term a familiarity used each time. Jesus did not simply say , “Do   what you came to do.” Jesus  used a word  simi...

Read Matthew 26: 36- 42-   Jesus knew what was going to happen to Him. His disciples thought they knew but they lacked the intensity of knowledge that Jesus  p ossessed . The words to Peter were  very interesting  and a lesson for me for today.  Verses 40 and 41 say,  ‘And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And  he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with  me  one hour? Watch and pray that you may not  enter into  temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”’   I know I need to be prepared to stand for Christ at any  time,  but I also need to understand there will be temptations in my way.  Jesus said to watch and pray. I need to be alert to what is happening around  me,  so I am not blindsided by temptation and fall when I should be standing tall. I need to pray so  I will be actively listening for the  H oly Spirit  to alert me when Satan is worki...

Read Matthew 26:  36-42-   So   much of what Jesus did was to set an example for us to follow. In verses 38 and 39, He gave us another example of what we need to do in our lives,  ‘Then He said to the m, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch with me.” And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”’   Jesus was about to experience something very awful. He prayed. His followers would scatter. He prayed.  Jesus knew this was why He was on earth. He prayed. Jesus  made time  to pray. Regardless of what was swirling around Him, He prayed.  That is the example He left for us. We should be praying whether we are going through good or  bad times . We need to take His example and graft it into our lives so we can stay  sensitive to the Holy Spirit and know God will provide what we will be nee...