Equipping

When Jesus Christ in His resurrection body ascended into heaven, He didn’t leave us to “feel our way” through the Christian life.

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers.” Ephesians 4:11

Why: “For the equipping of the saints for the work of service.” Verse 12

Christ has established a system on the earth for the specific purpose of training His people to do a job. That system is called the local church. He gave specific gifts to His church called communication gifts (teaching), through which His Word could be rightly divided and systematically fed to those able to receive it (saints, holy ones). There is a profound purpose to all this---“to the building up of the body of Christ;”

How long do we build?

“Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” Verse 13

So we are to build each other up, thereby building up the church, by keeping each other’s best interest in mind; speaking, doing and offering that which instructs, edifies and brings saints to maturity in Christ.

This is equipping. It means outfitting for service, fully preparing for an assignment. In the King James Version this New Testament Greek work, katartismos, is translated “perfecting,” implying completeness.

Now, if Christ has given us teachers and ordered us to be equipped (and He has), then doesn’t it follow that personal training in the word of God and spiritual growth to maturity should be priority #1 on each believer’s list?

“…if you abide in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.” John 8:31
The word “abide” in Greek is meno. It means to continue, to endure. This is an ongoing process.

“…give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation and teaching.” I Timothy 4:13
“Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all.” 4:15

“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching, persevere (continue steadfastly) in these things…”4:16

And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2

And on the Word of God goes, commanding pastors to teach and congregations to learn that which is taught only through His church…the mind of Christ!

Thank God for His Word. That Word in our souls is what sets us apart from the world-system. Without it, even though we are saved, we will think and behave like unbelievers. We are different from the world because of what we know.

2 Peter 3:17-18: “…knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and forever. Amen.”

God's Policy

A policy is a plan or course of action established by an authority to determine decisions, actions and other matters.

Since the disobedience of our original father, Adam, the human race has been contaminated by a corrupt genetic structure (Romans 5:12). There is nothing we humans can do to become sinless, making us acceptable to our Holy God. If we can’t do anything about our condemnation, who can? Only one person is able to change our status from condemned sinner to child of God. That would be the Sovereign One, Himself. He devised a policy; a plan whereby we could be made sinless and fellowship with Him, our creator, forever. That policy is called grace.

Here’s how it works: God Himself became a human, born without sin through the virgin birth (no sin nature inherited through human father). He lived 33 sinless years and died on a cross, bearing in His perfect human body your sins, my sins, all the sins of the human race, and was judged in our place for those sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains that He took our sins and gave us His righteousness:

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

When He said from the cross, “it is finished” (still physically alive), the judgment was over. Once, for all time. Nothing can be added. Having died spiritually, being separated from the Father and the Spirit while under judgment, He dismissed His Spirit (John 19:30). The work was done. He had accomplished what He came to do. That’s why you and I cannot do anything to earn our salvation. It’s God’s work. All the good deeds of a sinner add up to one big, fat zero. The only work that counts was done for us sinners on Calvary’s cross.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one should boast.”

And what is faith? Faith is knowing the person and work of Jesus Christ, and receiving that work on our behalf.

“And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” I John 5:11-12

Once we are in Christ, by having believed in His finished work, then we are children of God and can begin to grow up by studying His Word and applying it to our daily experiences. The resulting produce will be the fruit of the Spirit, against which there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Then we become like Jesus.

Knowledge of Sin

...by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20

"The Law" here and elsewhere in the New Testament refers to the Old Testament writings of Moses. In those first five books of the Bible, Moses gives the history of civilization as God revealed it to him, and the "knowledge of sin," meaning God's norms and standards of attitude and behavior for the people He calls His own.

The Law is a lengthy and complicated series of rules, codes and common sense instructions which, if followed exactly, would result in perfect peace and security for all mankind. The problem with the Law is not the Law. The problem is within the souls of those to whom the Law is given.

All human beings are born in sin, as the result of Adam's disobedience to God. Sin is a fact of our genetics which causes us to be blind to God's absolute righteousness. We sin because we're sinners, and we tend to justify our own misdeeds and failures by trying to compare ourselves favorably to other sinners (my gossip is not as bad as your lying, etc.). This is relative righteousness, which adds up to all minuses on the great eternal balance sheet that so many seem to be relying on for "points."

Well, the bad news is we can't earn any points. That's not the purpose of the Law. The Law has accomplished its purpose by giving the human race a correct standard: "the knowledge of sin." Never mind what sister Susie's been doing, here's what God's righteousness requires, and guess what: you've already messed up. Here's what else: you can't change it.

"But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law (of Moses) and the Prophets (Old Testament writers), even the righteousness (which belongs to) God..." Romans 3:21-22

How?

"....through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:22-23.

We cannot change the condition of our birth. But God made a way:

"Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” Acts 10:43 "and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses." Acts 13:39

Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Psalm 106:1

God's Solution

“Then Aaron (the High Priest) shall offer the bull of the sin offering which is for himself and make atonement for himself and for his household, and he shall slaughter the bull of the sin offering which is for himself. Leviticus 16:11...Moreover, he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; also in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. v.14....He shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the impurities of the sons of Israel and because of their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and thus he shall do for the tent of meeting which abides with them in the midst of their impurities. v.16.... for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. v.30

The mercy seat was first described by God in Exodus 25:17-22, as He gave Moses specifications for its design and purpose. “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. You shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends. The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat. You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you. There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.

"...and there," God said, "I will meet with you." The word translated mercy seat in Moses' writings means "propitiation"--satisfactory substitute. The two cherubim represent the Righteousness and Justice of God. They look upon the blood offering and are satisfied. God will deal with the sins of the people by receiving a satisfactory substitute for His own righteousness, to cover their transgressions.

Of course, this involved the blood of an innocent animal, which required the death of that animal on behalf of the one seeking atonement. You'd need to have faith in God's promise to believe in a system like that. Very few people had that kind of faith, which explains why they come up with so many goofy man-made ordinances, to try to establish their own righteousness, supplementing the plan of God. (Okay, we'll do the sacrifices, Lord, but it doesn't seem quite enough. Besides, it's so gross!)

The result was a lot of ritual with no faith in the reality being portrayed in those rituals. Man's faithlessness never hinders the plan of God. It just confirms the arrogance of man. Arrogance is a choice. God's plan just moves on. He always had the solution to our sin problem:

"...being justified* as a gift by His grace* through the redemption* which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness*, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;* for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness* at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Romans 3:24-26

*Justified: declared righteous. A gift by His grace: we couldn't do it, He did it. Redemption: purchase price. To demonstrate HIS righteousness: our righteousnesses are no good. Passed over sins previously committed: saved them for judgment. I say, of HIS righteousness. I guess Paul thinks we may not be getting it. Are we?

The unbeliever rejects God's solution. Natural man wants to earn points, jump through hoops, impress God. Do something to boast about.

"Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law." Romans 3:27-28

Salvation is free because Jesus paid.

Excuses?

The Apostle Paul, writing from prison to the Philippian Christians, made this statement:

Philippians 1:12-14 “Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole Praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.”

The Praetorian guard that Paul referred to was a unit of special soldiers, highly trained and experienced, who served as palace guards for Roman governors; and in this case, Nero Caesar himself. Paul was not wasting away in some dungeon, as we might be prone to think. Instead, as a Roman citizen, he had personal quarters where he could receive visitors. He was at all times, however, chained to a Roman Soldier. NO PRIVACY.

Now, what would a zealous, spirit-filled apostle do about his prayers, his doctrinal letter writing, his Bible teaching, his evangelism….with a Roman soldier (!) always at his side?

He prayed. He wrote and dictated letters to the churches, teaching the mystery doctrines of the Church age. He taught those who came to him the meaning of the Old Testament scriptures. He proclaimed the gospel message to all who would hear.

Result: Roman soldiers saved and equipped to carry the gospel wherever they served. Result: the timid brethren who had left the evangelism up to Paul now saw the necessity of speaking the word of God without fear. Result: GREATER PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL.

I Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

We human vessels tend to wait for God to arrange our circumstances in a certain comfortable order before we can effectively serve Him. If we wait for that, we will never serve. The key to effective service for Christ is in being prepared with the word of God, filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to do His will WHERE WE ARE.

You are what you think. Proverbs 23:7

You speak what you know. John 3:11

God’s word will not return empty. Isaiah 55:11

He that is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much. Luke 16:10
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Paul, imprisoned for preaching Christ, continued to present the gospel to all who would hear; in this case, the guards who kept him in chains. That's what a committed Christian does, no matter the circumstances, no matter the audience. We have the goods, brethren. We will be placed where the hearers are most needy and most ready for God's Truth. Seeing the courage of Paul, other believers were emboldened to speak the Truth in their own surroundings, further spreading the gospel where they had been planted. The faith and determination of other believers encourages you and me to continue the work we have been given for the Kingdom. No matter what.

God's Perfect Timing

“And Jacob went down to Egypt and there passed away, he and our fathers.…But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, until there arose another king over Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph.“ It was he (the other king) who took shrewd advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive. And it was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God; and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home.” Acts 7:15-20


The birth of Moses was timely, as were the births of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Noah, David and all men and women whose lives have contributed to the fulfillment of God’s plan. God’s plan unfolds throughout history with continuing developments, and as it does, God provides future leaders to carry out His purposes on earth.

Moses spent the first 40 years of his life as a prince in Egypt. He spent the second 40 years as a shepherd in the wilderness. These experiences of his life came together as leadership qualities in the final 40 years, after God had commissioned him to lead Israel to freedom.

David, Israel’s greatest king spent his boyhood and young adulthood tending his father’s flocks. There he learned responsibility and humility, and he came to have an intimate knowledge of God.

Saul of Tarsus was a legalist, a Pharisee and a persecutor of the Church. Then he received Christ. He became the Apostle Paul, the greatest theologian of the Christian Church. Who better to understand the futility of legalism? Who better to cheerfully withstand persecution? “He loves more who has been forgiven more.” Luke 7:47

Some believers have had the great good fortune to have been brought up by Christian parents in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Others have “scratched and clawed” their way through life until coming to understand the issue in salvation which is faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Believing in Him, they were saved.

God knows your circumstances. He can take all your accumulated experiences and make them work together for your good, your blessing and the benefit of those to whom you minister. “All things work together for good to those who love God; to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.  Yes, that’s ALL THINGS.

There are children yet to be born who will accomplish great things in the plan of God. He knows who they are. Jesus Christ controls history. Every person has the opportunity to be saved; every person can have a relationship with Christ, no matter his situation. Every believer has opportunity to learn and live the Christian way of life. God’s timing is perfect, in this generation and the next and the next. He is preparing His chosen ones to meet the requirements, to perform the jobs He has assigned them. Exodus 3:13:

“Then Moses said to God, ‘Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, the God of your fathers has sent me to you.’” 

Former Pharisee

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” Acts 9:1-6

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;” Acts 9:10-15

Flashing forward to Acts Chapter 9 we see the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. His one objective in life at that time was the annihilation of the Church. He got all the legalities in order (of course), and set out to arrest all the believers he could find at Damascus and bring them back to Jerusalem. An interesting thing happened on the way there, though. He was overwhelmed, knocked off his horse and blinded by a great light. Out of the light, he heard a voice calling his name and accusing him of “persecuting Me.” Stunned and frightened, he asked who this was. Apparently he knew Who it was, but had not ever known Him by the Name of Jesus.

Ananias was a faithful, dependable disciple living in Damascus, and the Lord had him prepared to deal with this amazing development. From Ananias’ response to Jesus’ command, it is clear that the Damascus believers were expecting Saul and knew exactly what his mission was. They were afraid of him, and even Ananias didn’t want to have anything to do with him. Jesus made it clear, however, that this was Ananias’ assignment. Saul was blinded and frightened. He knew he had been confronted by the Sovereign Lord of the Universe, Whose name is Jesus. He had been told someone would contact him and help him regain his sight, then lead him in understanding the Truth.

“He is a chosen instrument of Mine.” Saul was an ambitious Pharisee, no doubt with a grand career plan in the hierarchy of Israel. This unexpected redirection was to change his life forever, and would be a major factor in the growth of the Church.

“to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings” up to now, only Jews had been targeted for evangelism. “To the Jew first…” (Romans 1:16) “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel..”(Matthew 10:6, 15:24). That was Jesus’ primary mission, and His disciples’, while He was with them in the flesh. Now, to have recruited this fire-breathing Pharisee as an evangelist to the Gentiles is remarkable in its irony. What a delicious demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit. When we think about and talk about repentance, brethren, Saul of Tarsus is the poster child.

“and the sons of Israel.” Being the Pharisee that he was, Saul knew the Old Testament scriptures. He knew the whole history of Israel; all the symbolism, all the ancient teachings in the feasts and rituals. The original twelve apostles were not formally educated men, but had Holy Spirit empowerment to preach and teach and nurture the Church. Saul, however, was highly educated and had made the law his lifework. He had faithfully served the God of Israel as best he understood Him until now. Now, he had actually met the God of Israel. He instantly grasped the meaning of this event. He would spend some time alone with Jesus, being further familiarized with the doctrines he would spend the rest of his life teaching. He therefore became the expert in showing how this Jesus was the fulfillment of the Plan of God for Israel and for the whole human race. He became the primary expositor of the New Species: no longer Jew, no longer Gentile: CHURCH.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 6:15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Martyrdom, Persecution

In Acts Chapter 6 we are told of the necessity and choosing of deacons to do the "grunt" work of the Church, so that the apostles could devote their time to prayer and preaching. Seven men were chosen, ordained, and straightway went to work, taking care of details.

The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7

The Word was doing its work throughout Jerusalem, even being believed by some of the priests. One of the deacons, Stephen, in the filling of the Holy Spirit, stood one day and delivered a sermon. His message (Acts 6:8-Ch. 7) included the entire history of Israel, through the death of Jesus:

“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.” Acts 7:51-53

Peter had been repeatedly telling the religious leaders of Israel this, now Stephen was telling them. They not only neglected their responsibility to God's Word, they had murdered His Son!

But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:57-60.

Having delivered his eloquent, scathing message to the Jewish mob, Stephen's work was done. He prayed for their forgiveness and breathed his last. There was mention of a young man present there who held the coats of the stoning mob. Saul. Of Tarsus. He was a fervent, hyperlegalistic Pharisee who took great pleasure in the death of this Church deacon. There would be much more written by and about Saul in the years following. Jesus had important plans for him. His work for Jesus would begin, though, right here. He would lead the charge of savage persecution against the Church of Jesus. Jesus had told the believers: "you will be witnesses to me...to the ends of the earth." For sure. It started at Jerusalem and fanned out across the world, as these persecuted believers were hounded by the legalists who were as intent upon killing all of them as they had been intent upon killing Jesus.

Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.
And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Acts 8:1

They were not silenced, however. They were inflamed with Holy Spirit power and determined to tell the world about Jesus, the Savior.

Legalists' Outrage

When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:27-29

But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Acts 5:33-42

The beginning of the persecutions of the Church at Jerusalem only fueled the Holy Spirit's power among the believers. Their testimony became even bolder and more frequent. They stayed together, sharing assets and supplies for the benefit of those among them who might need assistance, and set up an order in the Church. Right away, the Church had to exercise discipline upon two believers who were dishonest in their financial dealings and trying to gain favor with the congregation. That resulted in the sin unto death for both of them, for having publicly lied to the Holy Spirit. Sin unto death removes a believer from this earthly life because of unrepented carnality, bad influence, etc. It is not the same as the unforgivable sin, which can only be committed by unbelievers who reject and blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Such deception was totally unnecessary, for they were under no coercion to contribute all their money. It was grandstanding for approbation. Pride. (Acts 5:1-11)

The apostles kept preaching and healing. The multitudes kept coming to them and "being added to the Lord, both men and women." Acts 5:14. And the religious leaders kept becoming more and more outraged and desperate to do away with these men. They jailed them and an angel set them free to continue their ministries in the temple. They were brought back before the council. The high priest was frantically demanding: You have been ordered to stop teaching in this name! You have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine (KJV), and here's the real problem--you are blaming us for his death! Bingo. In every speech Peter had made he had plainly stated "this Jesus, Whom you killed.." They were sick of that accusation, but they were going to keep hearing it every time Peter spoke. There was a simple solution: "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved." The conspiracy and the betrayal and the murder were forgivable ("they know not what they do"), but total rejection of the atonement of Christ cannot be forgiven.

Peter made it very clear once again: "we must obey God rather than men." And then he hit 'em again with their responsibility for the death of Jesus.

What an outrage! These apostles must be silenced. We will have to kill them.
Enter Gamaliel; Pharisee, expert in the law, highly respected scholarly sage. He ordered the apostles to be removed from their presence while the discussion continued. Then he spoke the first logic we've heard from this body of leaders. Logic and legalism don't blend well. They are mutually exclusive. "This is a dangerous situation. You'd be wise to let these men alone. If what they are doing is of men, it will fizzle out just as other such movements have done. If it is of God, they cannot be stopped and you will find yourselves fighting against God." Wow. What a genius!

Well, they couldn't be released without a flogging (!) and being ordered yet again not to speak in the name of Jesus. The stubborn contempt of those legalists is truly amazing. The apostles took their release, praising God that He found them worthy to suffer shame for the Lord. And they kept on preaching.

The Name

In Acts Chapter 3 Luke gives us the account of Peter and John healing a lame man through the authority of Jesus Christ the Nazarene. Of course, the man himself and the crowd observing were astounded by this event. Peter made it clear that it was not by the apostles' power that this was done, but by the name (authority) of Jesus, Whom they had crucified.

As chapter 4 begins, the temple officials had decided they could not tolerate the apostles' proclaiming salvation through Jesus Christ. The men must be jailed and silenced. They were a little too late, though, because Acts 4:4 tells us that already 5,000 of those who heard the message had believed. Nevertheless, the religious leaders put the men on trial, demanding to know "by what power, or in what name, have you done this?" (Acts 4:7). In the filling of the Holy Spirit, Peter replied:

"..let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12

Acts 4:12 is among my top five favorite scriptures. There is no denying the absoluteness of it. Anyone who thinks there are "many ways" to God does not know or believe the Bible, for in the Bible Jesus is presented as the ONLY way. Wise sages, brilliant philosophers, heroic champions, extreme ascetics, "good" men come and go, but only one person has paid the penalty for your sins, died and been resurrected to demonstrate power over death. Only one name is given Who is the provider of our salvation. Jesus. You cannot rationalize this. He, Himself said it: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6. Another of the top five. You can't do it yourself. No one else except Jesus can do it for you. So, who you gonna call?

Israel's leaders couldn't stop Jesus the Man from teaching and miraculously healing those who came to Him for help. Now that they'd "killed" Him, the miraculous gifts were being multiplied in His apostles and throughout the Church. They still could not stop it. It has always been beyond their control, but the legalists don't ever seem to grasp that reality. They keep trying to plug the opening that the glory is shining through. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5. The light always finds an outlet and bursts through.

What could the religionists say? Nothing. They recognized these apostles as being Jesus' men, and knew that they had not had professional scholarly training, yet spoke eloquently about the scriptures, applying the Old Testament prophesies to their Master, Jesus of Nazareth. So, they had to confer among themselves:

..saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.” (Can you believe the arrogance? These Galileans are performing miracles in their midst and they are going to WARN them?!) And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:16-20

The Holy Spirit was indwelling and filling these men. They had a mission to fulfill and no man would be able to silence them. God's Word and God's commission take priority over the demands of the world. Having entered into the work they had been called and equipped to do, they could only keep preaching. This was their destiny.

What Shall We Do?

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:37-47


God's Word does the work. Exposure to God's Word, delivered in the power of the Holy Spirit, will render one receptive to the truth of one's desperate need for a savior, and of God's perfect provision. At Pentecost that Word was delivered orally, miraculously, by newly empowered believers speaking languages they had not learned. The New Testament Canon was yet to be written and translated, but God had other means of getting the people's attention and convicting their souls.

Isaiah 55:11-So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Hebrews 4:12-For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The hearers of Peter's sermon were pierced, indeed. "OK, men, we've heard your message and we realize Jesus is the Messiah and we are responsible for His death. What can we do?"

Answer: Repent. That means change your attitude about Jesus Christ and God's plan. You did not believe before; believe now. That is repentance and repentance brings forgiveness of your sins. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, making you a member of the Body of Christ--His Church. In Him forever. Openly declare your belief by being baptized in the name of Jesus. This applies to you and your children and everyone everywhere who listens to God's call through His Word. There is no reason to remain trapped in legalism. Salvation has been provided.

Three thousand of those souls were added to the Church that day. They received baptism. They stayed with the apostles, to learn from them, fellowship with them, pray with them and share together their possessions and foodstuffs. Most of these people were pilgrims, remember, to celebrate the great feasts in Jerusalem. Now that they had entered a new life, their priority was to learn as much as they could about this life and the Author of it before going back to whatever occupations they came from. This was a time of great excitement, as they continued to meet and worship and learn and evangelize. More were saved each day, as this wave of Holy Spirit awakening continued. It would be hard to tear oneself away from such momentous happenings. One might rather sell his stuff and stay around for a while, soaking up the glory. And when they did go back to their own cities, they went back as born-again believers in Jesus Christ, having a magnificent testimony to share with the folks back home. This is how the gospel spread in the newborn Church. Like fire.

Peter's Message

But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says, ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy. ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE. ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. For David says of Him,
‘I SAW THE LORD ALWAYS IN MY PRESENCE; FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN. ‘THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE; BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES, NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY. ‘YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE.’
"Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:
‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”’
Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” Acts 2:14-36

God is one in essence, three in personality. God the Father (unseen; spirit only) made the plan in eternity past. God the Son (became flesh to live among us and redeem us) executed the plan of creation and redemption. God the Holy Spirit (also unseen, but sometimes felt) has various functions throughout history. He participated in the creation, the Old Testament manifestations of God to His people, the prophesies of the Messiah and future things. He enabled individual believers in Old Testament times for whatever special work they were appointed to perform. That was temporary enablement in the dispensation of Israel and before, but now comes the Church Age, in which all believers are universally indwelt by God, the Holy Spirit. He, the Holy Spirit, is the person Who convicts us of our need for a savior. He opens our understanding for the reception of the Savior's atonement. He brings us to a comprehension of the finished Work of Christ on our behalf. Then, when we believe and receive Jesus Christ, He fills and permanently indwells us, baptizing us into Christ's Body forever. We are now Children of God, made in His likeness, positive to His teaching and useful soldiers in the Angelic Conflict.

The Day of Pentecost was the initiation into the Church of all born-again believers in Jesus Christ. It was a mass baptism in Himself of all present there who had previously believed and had been symbolically baptized in water. Peter had to explain to the thousands in attendance what was going on. No, we're not drunk at 9 am, people. What you are seeing and hearing is fulfillment of prophecy. This is a manifestation of the Spirit Who will also produce the phenomena prophesied in Joel 2:28-32 regarding the last days. You know that prophesy as a work of the Spirit, so you should recognize this as such.

Then Peter referred to the miracles and signs that many of these same people had witnessed in the ministry of Jesus, Whom the Father had sent and Who had been nailed to a cross to appease these very people. Yes, He died, but death could not hold Him. Peter quoted David's Psalm 16:8-11, citing God's promise not to abandon the Christ to the grave or allow His body to decompose. Pointing out that David's body IS dead, and still in the grave, Peter states that this promise could only be about Jesus, descendant of David and Lamb of God. He's at the Father's right hand, now, and has sent God, the Holy Spirit to continue the work of redemption in the earth. That work will be accomplished through the Body of Christ--His Church.

Know this, Israel: God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified.

Peter and the other apostles had, like Abraham, left family and home to go with Jesus into the unknown, just because they believed in Him. They spent three years in close company with the Messiah as He presented Himself to Israel. They had witnessed his arrest and crucifixion. They had seen the empty tomb; had visited and shared meals with the risen Lord. Since the resurrection they had had six weeks of doctrinal training by Jesus, Himself. And now, at last, the power has descended. Now they can see what this whole experience has been about, to which they were appointed. Now they can articulate God's plan to any Jew in whatever language he speaks! They can do that now, because they are a NEW SPECIES. Not Jew, not Gentile----CHURCH. The one for whom our Lord endured the shame of the cross.

The brand-new Church would have much more to do and to teach in those intense first years of existence. They still could not know what sorrows and joys lay before them, but they were supremely equipped to evangelize, baptize, train and teach those who would be born into this new species. Those first miraculous sign gifts would phase out as the canon of Scripture was completed; during the lifetime of the apostles. The work continues, though, with perhaps quieter, but just as profound miracles in the daily lives of all who name the Name of Jesus, as we await His glorious return.

The Church is Born

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.” Acts 2:1-12

Pentecost: Pent means 50. This is the fourth of the annual feasts of the Jews. It comes 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits, which is the first Sabbath of Passover. These feasts were important symbolism for the Jews, and intricately timed to commemorate special events in the history of Israel (past and future). The symbolism was heavily Messianic, designed to keep them reminded of the Savior Who was promised of God to His people. Pentecost is an early harvest feast, also called the Feast of Weeks. As we see in this passage, thousands of devout Jews from all parts of the world assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate these feasts. God's timing is perfect.

The believers were still gathered and waiting, when it happened! Sound of rushing, mighty wind. Tongues of fire resting on each one. When they opened their mouths to speak, what came out were "other" languages and dialects that these men had not learned. Not language unknown to humanity, but known languages, in common usage, but which these individuals did not, themselves, know. The Spirit was giving them utterance. The Babel phenomenon was reversed.

Isaiah had prophesied of this sign to the Jews in Isaiah 28:11-12. It was a sign that Israel would soon suffer national discipline for their unbelief: Indeed, He will speak to this people Through stammering lips and a foreign tongue, He who said to them, “Here is rest, give rest to the weary,” And, “Here is repose,” but they would not listen. "This people:" Israel. "Stammering, foreign tongue:" Gentile languages. Israel, the people of God, the keeper of the Word of God, who took great pride in their beautiful Hebrew language, were to be evangelized in guttural, Gentile languages! Why? Because they had not done their job. Now these uneducated Galileans would do the job, because the Holy Spirit empowered them with abilities they did not naturally have, to distribute His Gospel to Jews from all over the inhabited world.

The Galileans just opened their mouths and spoke the gospel message. The Jews and proselytes assembled there were from at least 16 (count 'em) different nations. Their families had migrated there, and these Jews had grown up speaking the languages of the nations in which they were born. And each was hearing the message in his own language! God, the Holy Spirit was putting His Gospel on the fast track, with as much mass distribution as was possible at that time and place.

The target audience heard it. Most of them were greatly impressed and wanted to know more. Some were skeptical, and as is typical of unbelievers, they made ridiculous accusations of drunkenness; as if being drunk would give an uneducated Galilean the ability to speak fluent Italian.

God's plan is perfect. God's provision is perfect. God's timing is perfect. The Day of Pentecost was the birthday of the Church; an organism who embodies the Spirit of Jesus Christ on the earth until His return in glory to claim His own.

Elected Apostle?

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said, “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the book of Psalms,
‘LET HIS HOMESTEAD BE MADE DESOLATE, AND LET NO ONE DWELL IN IT’;
and,
‘LET ANOTHER MAN TAKE HIS OFFICE.’
Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. Acts 1:12-26

Peter took charge. The Lord had ascended, with instructions for the disciples to wait together for the Holy Spirit baptism. The whole assembly of about 120 believers stayed together and prayed, as they waited. Interestingly, Jesus' brothers were mentioned among the believers. Notice these people were all "of one mind" in their devotion and prayer. The brothers had not believed in Him before the crucifixion (Mark 3:20-21, John 7:5). No doubt, He had been an embarrassment to his natural brothers. He must have been perceived by them as the oddball in the family. Perhaps more than a little different. In Matthew 10:34-38 Jesus had spelled out the conflict that would occur in families because of Him, stating that a man's enemies would be the members of his household. There is no mention of brothers at the cross; but here, 40 days later, they are meeting and praying "of one mind" with their mother and the other believers. Praise God! They finally understood. There's hope for your family, too.

Peter announced that they must replace Judas, who had gone his way "to his own place." He asked for nominations of men who had been with them throughout Jesus' ministry, death and resurrection. An apostle must be an eyewitness of the risen Christ. They nominated two, prayed for God's choice and drew lots. Matthias was chosen and added to the roster, making them Twelve again.

And that is ALL we know about Matthias. Jesus, Himself was not present there and the Holy Spirit had not yet been given. Matthias was probably a good and faithful disciple, but after his election as an apostle, there is no further mention of his name.

There was to come, in Acts 9:15-16, the account of Jesus' appointment of His Own choice to be His apostle "...he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” None other than Saul of Tarsus, who had savagely persecuted the Church as a legalistic Pharisee, before the risen Jesus clobbered and subdued him on on the Damascus road.

The Ascension

So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:6-11


Jesus' disciples didn't understand about the Church. They were still expecting the glorious kingdom, and thrones. Not yet. There is much, much more to be done. More to learn, and they were about to be equipped for that new knowledge. Jesus wouldn't talk timetables with them. Only the Father has that information. "You will receive power" to do the work of evangelizing the world, and here it is again: "you shall be My witnesses." This is not a command. It is a statement of fact. They will be. It is a certain occupation of their immediate and lifetime future. They are changed people. They are about to experience an even more dramatic and permanent change. There is a new and wonderful creation they are part of, and are about to take leadership in. They have become children of God by faith in Christ Jesus and there is no going back.

The transition will begin right here in Jerusalem, the center of all God's dealings with His people. Then it will spread throughout Judea and Samaria, and then into all the earth. Those Galileans standing there were to be the agents of this marvellous work, because of Whose they were.

Then He was taken up, out of their sight, into heaven. They stood there, mesmerized, gazing upward. Two angels stood by and told them to get on about their business. "THIS Jesus," not another, will return someday in just THIS SAME WAY. That is our assurance, when we hear about mysterious men here or there who claim, or whom others claim to be the Messiah. No. When He returns, it will be in this same manner as His disciples saw Him go. And no one knows when that will be, but the Father.

New Beginning

The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 1:1-5

Continuing with Luke, who wrote the gospel that bears his name, we now move into his narrative of the beginning of the Church. The Church was not known to Old Testament believers. It did not yet exist and there were no specific prophesies of it in the Age of Israel. It was a mystery, known only to God. Luke's "first account," addressed to his friend Theophilus was the book known as Luke's Gospel. Here he continues to give Theophilus the facts as he knows them, having observed the birth and early work of the Church. Luke was the companion and personal physician of the man we know as the Apostle Paul. Acts is the New Testament's only book of history. It records the transition between the Age of Israel and Jesus' new creation: His Church.

Jesus stayed close to His disciples "whom He had chosen" for about six weeks after His death and resurrection, showing Himself to be real and teaching them about His kingdom. V.3: "speaking"- Greek word lego. It means to lay forth a systematic discourse. "things"- Greek word logos. Treatise concerning doctrine. Divine Expression. These were not just spooky pop-up appearances, but lengthy visits and lectures regarding the important things His Apostles to the Church would need to know as this momentous event occurred. They would need to have solid doctrinal training to prepare for the rigors of evangelism and the certain persecution they were going to face. I praise God for His written Word, and for the dedicated scholars who have made it their life's work to translate the books and record the references that enable us to understand exactly what is communicated therein. Works such as Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. That is a wonderfully handy, basic tool for learning what the original language is telling us.

His command: stay together at Jerusalem and wait for the promised power from on high. It is coming. I told you about it. You were baptized in water by John, but the Holy Spirit will baptize you in Himself. It will happen soon. Baptize: identify by immersion. As the warrior's sword, dipped in blood, identified that instrument with battle, our baptism in the Holy Spirit identifies us with Jesus and makes us His Church. Church: ecclesia. body of called-out ones. There was no way these believers could have anticipated what that experience would be like, or how it would change their being. They loved and believed Jesus, however, and if He promised them this, it had to be a good thing; and yes, they would wait.

Jesus came to atone for the sins of the world. He came first to His people, the Jews, to introduce this perfect plan of grace. These few gathered with Him at Jerusalem were the only ones who believed and belonged to Him at the time of His resurrection and ascension, but that was about to change. These few Jews, and those to whom they would preach, would soon evangelize the entire known world. Jesus had to go back to His home in glory in order to send the "helper" Who would energize His spiritual body, the Church, to continue His work in the world. "...unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." John 12:24

And Peter

So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67-69

Peter's confession. "We have believed and have come to know." Faith = what we know about Jesus. Not wishful thinking or feel-good fuzzies, but facts about the God-Man, the Messiah. Very early on, Jesus' disciples had made the decision to believe and follow Him. Where else would they go? Nobody else had what Jesus offered: eternal life. Boisterous, volatile Peter did not hesitate to state that sentiment for the whole group. He saw no other way.

And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Matthew 16:17-Only God could reveal the truth of Jesus to the ones He came to save. Human intellect cannot grasp spiritual truth. Jesus named him Peter (petros: a little rock). "Upon this rock (Petra: a mass of rock; faith in Jesus Himself) I will build My church (assembly of called-out ones)." Nothing can overcome the corporate faith of believers in Jesus Christ.

We have examined Peter's miserable failure on the night of Jesus' arrest. That was in Luke 22:54-65, posted on January 1, 2012 as The Denial. It is interesting, then, to see the announcement of Jesus' resurrection to the women, specifically notifying Peter:

And he *said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” Mark 16:6-7

How like our Lord to add "and Peter"--knowing
That one would walk the world in cruel shame,
Forever haunted by a far cock crowing,
An idle boast, and eyes that held no blame
But looked with grave compassionate reminding
Into his own. How like our Lord, to know
That somewhere Peter, stumbling through blinding
And bitter tears, would need that message so.

That somewhere Peter, all his spirit broken,
Past pride, past fear, past all save grim regret,
Would find in two small words a tender token
That all his lifetime he would not forget:
The sweet assurance that he still belonged,
In spite of all, unto the Lord he wronged.

by Helen Frasee-Bower


Then there was the morning by the lake:

This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead. So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep.” John 21:14-17

Jesus was asking Peter (please notice: three times) if he loved Him in a Godly way, unconditionally (agapao). Peter kept answering that he loved Jesus in a brotherly, familial way (phileo). Well, if you do, Peter, you will tend My lambs (baby believers). If you do, Peter, you will shepherd My (hard-headed, rebellious) sheep. If you do, Peter, you will tend My (mature) sheep. Pastor them, feed them, teach them.

J. C. Metcalfe faithfully writes: "It is more than comforting to realize that it is those who have plumbed the depths of failure to whom God invariably gives the call to shepherd others. This is not a call given to the gifted, the highly trained, or the polished as such.
"Without a bitter experience of their own inadequacy and poverty they are quite unfitted to bear the burden of spiritual ministry. It takes a man who has discovered something of the measures of his own weakness to be patient with the foibles of others. Such a man also has a first-hand knowledge of the loving care of the Chief Shepherd, and His ability to heal one who has come humbly to trust in Him and Him alone. Therefore he does not easily despair of others, but looks beyond sinfulness, willfulness, and stupidity, to the might of unchanging love. The Lord Jesus does not give the charge, 'Be a shepherd to My lambs ... to My sheep,' on hearing Peter's self-confident affirmation of undying loyalty, but He gives it after he has utterly failed to keep his vows and has wept bitterly in the streets of Jerusalem.

-from The Complete Green Letters by Miles J. Stanford

Peter got that message: I Peter 5:2-4 "shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

About Judas

Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!”And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. Matthew 27:1-5

Judas Iscariot. From the tribe of Judah, a man who was probably respected in the community. Luke's gospel doesn't mention him again after the kiss of betrayal, but we can learn some things from the other gospel writers. He was numbered among the original Twelve, called by Jesus to assist in His ministry and learn of the Kingdom. Jesus always knew Judas was not a true believer. In John 6:71, immediately after Peter's confession of faith in the Messiah, Jesus called Judas a devil. Matthew 10:4 also numbers him among the Twelve. John 12:6 identifies him as the treasurer of the group, so he was considered trustworthy. Certainly, he was always concerned about money, as when he criticized Mary for wasting expensive ointment on the feet of Jesus. Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, *said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. John 12:3-6.

He was confronted by Jesus at the Last Supper, John 13:26, when he was identified as the traitor who would soon betray the Lord to the Jewish leaders. In Mark 14:10 and Matthew 26:14-16 we see his offer to the authorities and the deal he made with them, to betray the Lord for the price of a slave. And then we saw the kiss. Of betrayal. Luke 22:47. Jesus was expecting it.

So, what about Judas? Matthew 27:3 tells us he "felt remorse." Please notice the technicality here, that Judas did NOT repent. The Greek word for repent is metanoeo. It means to change one's attitude. Think differently than before. Do an about face. The word in Matthew 27:3 is metamellomai. Regret. Sorry about the consequenses. Not a change of mental attitude about the Person of Christ. Hey, guys, you can have the money back. This wasn't what I wanted, after all. That is not repentance. That is remorse for a stupid mistake one cannot undo.

And he went away and hanged himself. That sealed Judas' eternal fate. Not the act of suicide, but the lack of true repentance. Being sorry doesn't fix anything. Changing one's attitude does. When a person who did not believe in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ changes his mind about that, and does believe, that is repentance. That is new birth. It happened to the thief on the cross. It happened with many who encountered Jesus in His ministry. It has happened with many of us. It did not happen with Judas Iscariot. Betrayal didn't condemn him. Unbelief condemned him. Others failed Jesus in their human weakness and lack of comprehension, but they held fast to their faith in Him, no matter what.

Acts 1:18 gives the details of Judas' gory end. Having bought a field where he hanged himself, his body apparently hung there until it bloated, fell and burst. Sorry. I don't like that imagery, either. Judas is one of many individuals in the Bible who were threads in the tapestry of God's plan of grace. God didn't make him evil, but his willingness to be an agent of the evil plot to kill Jesus simply became part of the outworking of destiny. He is forever famous for being a traitor to the Lord of Life. We don't know his motives, but Jesus does, and He treated him graciously throughout their ministry together.

Judas was a respectable man. A respectable, evil man, whose human viewpoint ideals didn't approve of the direction the Messiah's career was taking. He agreed to participate in an evil deed that brought about the suffering and death of the Messiah. He was sorry about the way things turned out, but he never received Jesus Christ as Savior. He just decided to die in his sins.

You Are Witnesses

Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God. Luke 24:44-53


The risen Lord now had the attention of the gathered disciples at Jerusalem. He had spoken to them, had shown them his body with its scars; He had eaten food in their presence. Now He had some important truths to impart, beginning with "this is what I've been trying to tell you about."

"All things" written about Me (The Messiah) in the Old Testament had to be fulfilled. Then He lectured them about the "all things," after opening their minds to comprehend what He had to teach. Even those who fervently believed in Him needed some spiritual help understanding these doctrines. That was before the universal indwelling of all believers by the Holy Spirit, Whose help we now have at all times. "It is written." There's that phrase again, always used by Jesus when teaching about Himself. No ad lib, no winging it, no guesswork, speculation, or "some says." This is what the Word says about Me. The Word, which is God, (John 1:1). The virgin birth, sinless life and perfect atonement of the Messiah has been accomplished. His suffering. His rising from the dead on the third day. Forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed to all the nations, but it all had to start at Jerusalem. ....to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Gentiles), Romans 1:16.

Next, this wonderful statement: "You are witnesses of these things." Not I want you to be, not I command you to be, not I expect you to be...."YOU ARE." We who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ ARE witnesses to what we believe about Him. Believers who love the Lord do not have to be coaxed or shamed or bribed or taught or even encouraged to be His witnesses. We cannot help ourselves. WE ARE. Humans invariably talk about what we know and what we love. If it is football or music or movies or books or our kids or our Lord Jesus Christ. That was true of the original apostles. After what they had seen and heard with Jesus, and now seeing Him alive, there would be no way to silence them about Who and What He is. They would need to stay together at Jerusalem, though, until the Holy Spirit descended to empower them.

Then it was time for His departure. They accompanied Him a ways, to Bethany, and there He lifted those unique hands and blessed them before He was lifted into heaven. They watched, worshipped, and returned to the city, where they continued to praise God in the temple while they awaited the promised power from God.

Hands, Feet and Food

While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be to you.” But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them. Luke 24:36-43

"They:" the men from Emmaus. They had returned to Jerusalem, to the gathering of disciples, to tell them of the visit they had with the resurrected Jesus. Then Jesus Himself suddenly joined the gathering, with a pleasant greeting. What a shock! This must be a spirit.

What is it with you people? There are those hands again; the ones they've seen heal and help and comfort. The ones they've seen break bread and distribute it to the thousands of hungry followers. The ones they've seen serve them at table for the Passover meal. The ones with the nail scars. His feet bore scars, too. He was a man of flesh and bones, as they could plainly see. They would have been ecstatic, wouldn't we? They would be so overwhelmed with excitement they wouldn't know how to respond; what to say to Him. How do you converse with One who was dead and now lives in your midst? How do you actually believe such a thing is really happening? Yes, He had told them and told them, but it just never became reality in their minds, having never happened before. But here He was. "And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD." John 20:20. He asked for food. Probably not because He was hungry, but to demonstrate His physical reality, He ate the fish in their presence. Spirits don't eat, do they?

Here we have a glimpse of what the resurrected body of Jesus Christ is like, and we are told elsewhere in scripture that we will be like Him. It is a physical body of flesh and bone (no mention of blood). It can appear and disappear through various dimensions. It has all the characteristics of the original physical body of the individual, but is superior and eternal. It can consume and metabolize food. (I'm really happy to know about the food. I hope to be able to eat lots of good food, without the negative consequences.) Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is, I John 3:2. who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself, Philippians 3:21.

And Jesus' unique body still bears the scars of the crucifixion, which brand Him forever as our One and Only Savior.

Burning Hearts

Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. Luke 24:27-35


He began with Moses (The Pentateuch, first five books of the Old Testament) and all the prophets, explaining the Messianic prophesies throughout all the scriptures. Such passages as Psalm 16, Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. They were about Him. Jesus always referred to written scripture to teach about Himself and about God's whole plan of grace. One cannot believe in the person of Christ and ignore or deny written scripture. "In the beginning was the Word.." it is about Him, it is within Him, it IS HIM. He loves it and always quoted it when He taught. Furthermore, these were Jews, to whom He was speaking. They knew the scriptures. A Jewish male didn't become an adult without learning the Old Testament. It was required.

They entreated Him to stay overnight with them, since it was late. He agreed, and they began their evening meal. "He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, began giving it out to them. (v.30)." Then something changed.

I heard David Jeremiah teach this passage many years ago, and he theorized that it was the sight of Jesus' hands at the table, distributing the bread, that opened their eyes. Jesus' nail-scarred hands. We can't know for sure that was what opened their eyes, but I like it.

Then He disappeared. Now they realized that there had been something different and special about Him all along. Their hearts had "burned" within them as He spoke ("My sheep hear My voice" John 10:27). They went immediately back to Jerusalem, to tell the others what they had experienced that day, and that it was surely He, the risen Lord, who had visited with them. ("This is My body which is given for you" Luke 22:19)

They had recognized Him in the breaking of the bread.

Him They Did Not See

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Luke 24:13-26


Two walking along, talking about all the recent sad and peculiar events. A stranger comes alongside, overhearing the conversation. "What are you talking about?" "You must be visiting Jerusalem alone, stranger, and has nobody told you about the things that have been going on here?" He asked for an explanation. "About Jesus, the Nazarene. A mighty prophet and a miracle worker. We thought He was the Messiah, but the chief priests and rulers had him arrested and crucified three days ago.

The latest development is that some of the women went to the tomb this morning and His body was gone! Some of the disciples went to see for themselves and found that it was exactly as the women had said. He is not there. The angels said He is alive."

How dense could they be? ("O foolish men!") The prophets had been proclaiming this doctrine for centuries! The Christ must suffer first. The cross before the crown. These Jews just never would comprehend that the Messiah would be tortured, humiliated and would die as a man, in order to bring about the redemption of mankind. From Abel's offering through the offering of Isaac and the annual offering of the Passover lamb, they had been taught that without the shedding of blood there is no redemption. All of those Old Testament blood offerings of the lamb without spot or blemish were illustrations of the final atonement by the death of the sinless Lamb of God. Isaiah 53 gives the prophesy in graphic detail. All Jews knew that scripture, as well as others that indicated the suffering and death of Messiah, before His glorious reign. It is hard to get through to humans with truths that they don't want to hear, even though the Passover Lamb Himself has repeatedly told them.

Not Here

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” And they remembered His words, and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened. Luke 24:1-12


The first day of the week. Sunday morning. The Sabbath was over, and the women could get on about their spicing and perfuming of Jesus' body. They thought they could, but He was not there. The stone had been rolled away (a large, round stone, shaped like a wheel), so they entered, but found no body. Well, this is strange!

What they did find were two men, dazzling bright, and of course being frightened, they hid their faces. The angels chided them. "You should not have expected to find a body here. He is risen. Remember, He told you all about this." The women did remember, now that it was mentioned. They all must have been so shocked by His torture and death that all these things He said had left their consciousness. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and other women who had been with Jesus throughout His ministry had heard all of His teachings, just as the Twelve had. Obviously, the Twelve had forgotten it, too, or just couldn't grasp the reality of it.

The women hurried back to the other friends and followers of Jesus and reported all they had seen and heard. The apostles scoffed at them ("silly, emotional women! Who could believe such things?"). Well, a silly, emotional man, for one. Peter may not have completely believed them, but apparently he thought it was worth investigating. SOMETHING clearly was out of the ordinary at that tomb. He RAN to the tomb and looked in. There was no body in there. But there were linen wrappings there, where a body had been, and in perfect order. Anyone taking that body would have taken it wrapped, or if they took the time to unwrap it, the cloths would have been strewn around, not in the original shape as these were found.

The last we saw of Peter, he was weeping bitterly in the streets of Jerusalem. This may not be full recovery, but at least he was back to his normal response mode: emotional, impulsive, and open to evidence. And utterly astounded by what he had just seen.

Joseph of Arimathea

And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.
And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. Luke 23:50-56



There were some Pharisees who were true believers. They stayed quiet about it, during Jesus' public ministry, and there were not many, but they did exist. Joseph of Arimathea was one, or a Sadducee. If the Bible calls him a good and righteous man, that means he was a man who understood and believed the plan of God, and wanted to obey it as best he could. The only righteousness is God's Righteousness, and the only way to have that is by believing in His perfect plan of grace. It is a gift, never earned. It is received by faith, never calculated or bargained for. Those who believed and identified with God's plan of grace before Jesus' atonement were saved by the same means we are, who believe and identify with Him since the atonement. God is timeless. There was an appointed earthly time for the atonement to be fulfilled, but it was an accomplished fact in eternity past, by order of the Divine Decree of God. Adam and Eve were saved by it, as were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the patriarchs. They looked forward to the cross, as we look back to it. The atonement applies across all times and dispensations.

Joseph had stood aside during the conspiracy to arrest and crucify Jesus, knowing that the Savior had a divine appointment with destiny, which would atone for the sins of the whole human race. However he understood this, he was waiting for the fulfillment of the kingdom. This righteous man asked for the body of Jesus and took care of the burial arrangements, wrapping it in linen cloths (in much the same way He was swaddled at birth), placing Him in Joseph's own tomb, wherein no one had ever before lain. The women of Galilee who had been followers and supporters of Jesus took note of the place where the body was laid, and made plans to come back and prepare the body with spices and perfumes, as was the custom. It was Friday night. The Sabbath had begun, and they must rest.

Regarding Joseph: it is important for us to realize that no matter what we think of certain "Christian" groups and practices, there are usually some within that organization who understand the gospel message of Jesus Christ and believe it. Whatever their reason for staying in the religion, they are saved by receiving the same grace that saved you and me, and "the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his." 2 Timothy 2:19. Joseph turned out to be a true and loyal believer, and became part of the most important story ever told, because of his faith and his willingness to provide a proper burial for the Lord of Life. He who shares my faith is my brother, and I thank God for his act of love.

Remember Me

And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.” Having said this, He breathed His last. Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.” And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts. And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things. Luke 23:35-49


Mocking. Humiliation. The crowd was watching as our Lord hung there, bruised and scourged, bloody and injured. The rulers (ranking temple authorities) chimed in, childishly, chanting that He should save Himself, if He was the Messiah. Interestingly, I saw a letter to the editor in today's newspaper expressing the same kind of ridicule for the plan of God for His Messiah. Suggesting that if God were able to prevent this awful punishment, He would have, as any father would do. Just more deliberate blindness to the grace provision of God. Using insults as a cloak of armor against the truth they are unwilling to receive. The soldiers, too, in offering Him sour wine (as a comfort, we think, for His pain and thirst; and perhaps to relax the victim's muscles, so that his breathing would be hampered), also jeered and challenged His power. The inscription above Him announced: "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS." Luke doesn't give us the details, but other gospel writers tell us it was written and placed there by Pilate. He, who found no guilt in Jesus.

Wouldn't you know? One of the criminals hanging beside Him also began to blaspheme. "If you are the Messiah, save yourself and us!" The other one, though, protested. We are guilty as charged. He is innocent. Why are you not afraid to say such things? And then: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!" Now, that is faith. That is "deathbed" confession of faith. And the Messiah honored that expression of faith with the promise: "this day you will be with Me in Paradise." Paradise was the abode of the believing dead. The thief was born again as he hung on that Roman cross, dying beside the Messiah. Hallelujah! What a Savior.

At the sixth hour (noon), the sun was obscured. A deep darkness covered the earth for three hours, while the Son of God received in His sinless person the cup of the wrath of God. This was the accumulated sins of the entire human race, from Adam to the last man who will ever live. The heavy veil in the temple was torn down the middle, opening the way to the Holy of Holies. The sin barrier between man and God was now removed. Jesus' atonement removed it. What happened after the atonement was completed was entirely in the control of God the Son. Nobody killed Him. He cried out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit My Spirit." Then He breathed His last. It was done. Finished. The penalty was entirely paid.

The crowd was stunned. The centurion praised God and said "this man was righteous." The bystanders and supporters of Jesus stood in quiet mourning, not understanding what just happened here. Our Lord has died. What do we do now?

They Know Not

When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.
And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US.’ For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.

When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. Luke 23:26-34


The trials were over. The sad procession started. Jesus was already weakened by the torture he'd received throughout the ordeal. A man was grabbed and compelled to carry Jesus' cross and walk behind Him. Interesting that Luke makes a point of giving us the name of Simon of Cyrene. There is always a reason for any information found in the Word of God. We can only speculate about the reason this man is named, since I find no other reference, except mention by other gospel writers of this same event. Cyrene was in North Africa and many Jews lived there. This narrative shows again what a large ingathering was occurring in Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. People from all nations and all races and walks of life were present there, and a great many of them witnessed this horrible spectacle being performed in the city.

There was still a large crowd who were following Jesus out of love and great concern. Many women were grieving along the way as they watched our Lord being led to His death. Perhaps others were just lookers-on, or even enemies of Jesus, who continued to follow, anxious to see Him die. Even in His weakened physical state, He had words for those who were listening: "don't weep for me." It is you and your children who will soon see great suffering, so grievous that it would have been better not to have children during that time. There will be great devastation upon Jerusalem in the coming days. If the world will treat an innocent man (green tree) in this manner, there is no limit to what the Jewish nation (dry: unbelievers) will have to endure in time of war. They will beg to die.

Jesus and two criminals who were being executed with Him were taken to the place of the Skull, and Luke simply states they were crucified, with the two criminals on either side of Him. And Jesus prayed for His executioners! "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." This grace came from the heart of God.

Then the executioners claimed their fringe benefits by casting lots for His garments. This was a fulfillment of Psalm 22:18. The royal robe was a particularly nice piece to take as a trophy, no doubt. This, the atoning execution of the Lamb of God, was just routine business for those hardened soldiers. What did they care about a miracle-working Jew? Nothing. Drive the nails, divide the garments, get on with the business at hand. They did not know what they were doing, but He knew what He was doing. He was paying the penalty for their sins.