The Reading: Matthew 26: 36-55
Most of the
explanation and description of scriptures are from the (Life in the Spirit)
King James Study Bible. A bible I use when studying that I highly recommend for
your studies. If their any other study bible that you recommend, by all means
do share by leaving a comment in the box below.
Stage One: (Chp.26:37-39) THE PRAYER OF
SORROW
This was the
beginning of Jesus sorrow. I believe he felt great sorrow come upon him as he
walked to the place called Gethsemane meaning (Olive Press) with his disciples
and because of the sorrow he felt it drove him to prayer even the more. Jesus went away to do just that and took
Peter and the two sons of Zebedee James and John with him to be a look out
while he prayed. I believe he knew his
time was very close and that’s why he asked them to watch. Jesus prayed three times and after each
prayer He would find his disciples sleeping instead of watching. I wonder if that’s the reason Jesus went back
and prayed the second and third time?
I'm thinking he was also praying for the disciples that they would learn
and understand how important it is to watch and pray. I believe each time Jesus prayed to the
Father he asked if he would take this (his) cup from him, but only if it be
Gods Will to except it.
Somethings we just
have to go through and suffer for one reason or another (only God knows)
"to each his own" is what I always say and believe. Jesus knew by him drinking from this cup it
means he was going to be separated from His Father by allow all mankind sins to
be poured upon him. Remember Paul also plead with God three times in prayer
that the thorn in his flesh would be taken from him, but what did the lord say
to him? "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect
in weakness," 2Corinthians 12:7-10.
I wonder if God said those same words to Jesus, but it wasn't
documented, I wouldn't be surprise. Everything happened and was said did not
make it to the bible, theirs not a book that can hold all the words and events.
I also believe at
this stage of sufferings, because Jesus
was in the flesh, he knew he would feel
every part of what he must suffer, and because he knew what was coming I don't
blame him for asking his Father to take his cup from him, and I don't think
anyone could argue that Jesus was not happy go lucky about what he knew what
was to come before the cross. I mean,
come on, he's in the flesh and no matter what anybody says no body is happy
about being beaten and whipped to the point of death with the cat of nine
tails, etc. I know theirs some people in
this world that enjoy pain and being torched and some in a sexual way, but
that's a demonic spirit and Jesus is holy and God in the flesh, so
therefore no demonic spirit could touch
him. Also knowing that he would now
experience the full payment for sin by physical death and spiritual separating
from his heavenly father in order to achieve our salvation, which is the worse
of all. Who wouldn’t cry out with strong tears? We know that God heard his prayer because in
verse 46 with anticipation and excitement he told the disciples "Rise, let
us go! Here comes my betrayer!" Tells me that he received his strengthen
to move forward. I believe once we
receive Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior we too have a cup we must drink
giving to us by God.
Stage Two: (Chp.26:67) THE BETRAYAL
Jesus feeling the
betrayal by Judas with a kiss and bringing with him was a large crowd with
swords and staves (clubs) sent by the chief priest and elders of the people and
feeling the abandonment by his disciples.
Jesus was then brought before Caiaphas and the Jewish council. He was blindfolded, mocked repeatedly, spat
on and struck in the face. Taunted him
by asking him as they kept hitting him. "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit
you?"
Stage Three: (Chp.27:2) THE
FACING OF HIS ENEMIES
In the morning,
Jesus, battered and exhausted, the chief
priests and the elders of the people came
to the decision to put Jesus to death.
He was then bound and taken to the governor's palace in Jerusalem to be
interrogated by Pilate and the Governor.
I noticed in verse 11 when Jesus stood before the Governor, he was asked
by the governor. "Are you the king
of the Jews? Jesus replied "Yes, it is as you say". But when Jesus was
accused by the Elders and chief priest he mumbled not at word to the governors
surprise. Now it was the Governors
custom at the Feast to release a prison chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a prisoner named
Barabbas who was a notorious murderer, thief, etc. The people and the Jews (whom they persuaded
the crowd) to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. They insist to release Barabbas instead of
Jesus. Pilate knew it was out of envy
that they handed Jesus over to him. Now,
this is what got me in verse 25. "Then answered all the people, and said,
His blood be on us, and on our children". Wow! They were so evil and stupid, that they just
curse themselves and the generation to come, which makes me wonder. If that’s one of the reasons why the Jews
went through so much, especially the Holocaust? Was it that their forefathers
cursed them??? Pilate then asked the
crowd. What should he do with
Jesus? The crowd answered with one
accord, "Crucify him!" Pilate
then washed his hands stating "I am innocent of the blood of this just
person". He gave Jesus over the
Roman Soldiers to be flogged (beaten) and crucified.
Stage Four: (Chp.27:26) THE WOUNDS &
BRUISES
Now Jesus had to
suffer at the hands of the governor Soldiers.
Here is were He was beaten with the cat of nine tails and crowned with a
crown made of thorns that was pressed on his head while still being mocked. Below is a description of how and what
techniques were used to torture Jesus. This description is taken from the (Life
in the Spirit King James Study Bible) verse 27 notes. Warning! Read at your own risk (just make sure you have some
Kleenex on hand)
- The Roman flogging consisted
of the victim being stripped and stretched against a pillar or bent over a
low post, and the hands tied. The instrument of torture was a short wooden
handle to which several leather thongs were attached, with bits of iron or
bone tied to the thongs. The blows
were laid on the victim's back by two men, one lashing the victim form one
side, one from the other side. This
resulted in the flesh being cut to such an extent that veins, arteries and
sometimes even inner organs were exposed.
Often the victim died during the flogging.
- Flogging was hideous
torture. The inability of Jesus to
bear his own cross was no doubt due to this sever infliction. "But he
was pierced for our transgressions he was crushed for our iniquities; the
punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds were are
healed" (Isaiah 53:5, 1Peter 2:24).
Stage Five: (Chp.27:28-29) THE
HUMILIATION
Jesus
was untied and placed in the middle of the company of Roman soldiers. The soldiers put a scarlet robe across his
shoulders, placed a stick in his hand and pressed a circle of branches covered
with long thorns on his head mocking him as a King. The soldiers started striking him across the
face and head, driving the thorns deeper
into his scalp. It was hard for
me to understand and know that people can be so evil, and hard to type each
word knowing Jesus went through this torture for you and I, and generations to
come. That we/they can live forever with
Jesus and his Father (God) in his Heavenly Kingdom being free from pain and
suffering of this world. Like the bible
says in Revelation 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." WHO IS WILLING TO DIE FOR HUMANITY? And why?
I'll tell you why, because of John 3:16 "God so loved the world (humanity)
so much that He (God) gave his only begotten son (Jesus), that whosoever
believe(th) (continually) on Him (Jesus) should not perish, but have
everlasting life (salvation)".
Stage Six: Chp.27:30-31 THE LONG JOURNEY
The heavy beam of
the cross was tied to Jesus shoulders.
The cross was generally carried by the prisoner and the transverse piece
was usually carried separately and attached by a rope to the vertical pole at the place of
execution, but not with Christ, he didn't get that opportunity and evidently,
the weight was more than He could bear, and due to His server scourging
together with sheer physical exhaustion, caused him to fall. He tried to rise, but could not, that's when
Simon (a Hebrew from Cyrene) was then pressed/forced by the soldiers into
service to bear Christ's cross. After
that experience with Christ Simon ended up receiving Christ as his Lord and
Savior. Can you just imagine carrying
two big logs on your back after being wiped and strike with the cat of nine
tails over and over and the tear of your back has been left opened? Thank you
Jesus for bearing our cross with yours. I say our cross, because in Matthew
16:24 Jesus says "If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." I believe because Jesus carried his cross
with the weight of our sins, that made our cross a lot lighter, which makes us
able to bear it. THANK YOU JESUS FOR
THINKING OF US WHILE BEARING YOUR CROSS!
Stage Seven: Chp.27:35-37 THE
OPEN SHAME
The place they
took Jesus to be crucified was called
Golgotha which means (The Place of The Skull).
At Golgotha the cross beam was placed on the ground and Jesus was laid
on it. His arms were stretched along the
beam and a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail was driven through his hand (or
wrist), first into the right, then into the left hand, deep into the wood. Next Jesus was lifted up by means of ropes or
ladders, the crossbeam was bound or nailed to the upright beam and support for
the body was fastened on it. Lastly, his
feet were extended and a larger piece of iron was driven through them. They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with
gall which brought forth the fulfillment of Psalm 69:21. "They gave me also gall for my meat; and
in my thirst they gave vinegar (sour wine) to drink". Then Pilate placed over Jesus head with the
accusation: "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS". Note that vinegar mingled with gall was
customarily given to condemned prisoners to serve as a kind of anesthetic or
anodyne. It was literally a drugged
"wine". The statement that he
would not drink indicates that Jesus refused any mitigation
(the action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of
something) of his suffering on our
behalf. This tells me that Jesus loves
us so much that he made sure that he felt every pain and suffering to the
max. Theirs not one human on this earth
that can go through want Jesus went through and live. The torcher would have
killed them alone . Truly some of us
can't even take a headache without the help of medicine. I know, because I will pop a pill in a minute
and I'm sure theirs more mini me's in this world. I prefer not to feel pain in my flesh at all
if I could help it. So I'm sure not a good
candidate for torcher. That's is why I
gave my life to Christ and doing all that I can and what is require of me to do
in order to keep my salvation. Basically I prefer not to miss "The
Rapture" nor be here during the seven years of the tribulation
period. At that time believers will die
for Christ sake, which again is another study you can find on my blog under the
title (THE END OF GRACE).
Stage Eight: Chp. 27:39 THE HATE CRIME
Jesus was now a
pathetic spectacle, blood-streaked, covered with wounds and exposed to the view
of the people. He experienced hours of
pain in his entire body, fatigue in his arms, great waves of cramps in the
muscles and skin torn from his back.
Then another agony began a crushing pain deep in the chest as fluid
began to compress the heart. He felt an
intense thirst (Jn 19:28) and was aware of the abuse and ridicule of those who
passed by the cross (vv.39 - 44) and the two robbers who also were being
crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left that also mocked him
(Matt.27:38), but Luke was the only one
that recorded one of the robbers Jesus
forgave and stated "Verily I say unto thee,
Today shalt thou be with me in paradise". Read vv 39 - 43 for why
he was forgiven. Jesus was mocked and insulted by the people that was
passing by shaking their heads and saying.
"You, who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three
days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"
The chief
priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him saying, "He saved others, but he can't
save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross,
and we will believe in him. He trust in
God, let God deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of
God." From a personal experience
with mocking and insults, these words remind me that we too go through the same
thing. For instinct, I've been going
through bodily pain for some years now, believing and trusting God for my
healing. I have searched high and low
through the word of God on healing trying to find an answer, and like Paul I
have prayed for deliverance more than thrice and I would always hear "My
grace is sufficient for thee" and remembering Paul's words. So now I don't pray concerning my
afflictions, but only thanking and praising God that he find me worthy, and
like Jesus he was only relieved and healed of his affliction when he gave up
the ghost to be with his Father. Like
some of us we too may see our healing when our name has been called from the
Father to be with Him or at The Rapture, whichever comes first. I've had people say all kinds of negative
things concerning my afflictions and confessing Jesus to be my lord, and like
Jesus when he prayed to the Father that this cup be taken from him, only if its Gods Will, which it wasn't. I believe Jesus also heard his father say
"My grace is sufficient for thee".
So like Paul again, I too rejoice in my sufferings that I may magnify
the Lord.
Stage Nine: Chp: 27:46-49 THE FORSAKEN
These words mark the
climax of the sufferings of Christ for a lost world. His cry in Aramaic, "My God, My God, why
have you forsaken me," testifies that he experienced separation from God
as the sinner's substitute. Here the
sorrow, grief and pain were at their worst.
He was pierced for our transgressions and gave himself as a
"ransom". In Matthew. 20:28
Jesus said, "Even as the Son of man came not
to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
(kjv)
Him who had no sin
God made "to be sin for us" 2Corinthinan 5:19-21. If we just take on
the mind of Christ concerning our purpose, then we would win more souls then we
have won as of this day. Jesus came to do one thing and one thing only, to reconcile
the world back to God. He died being forsaken, that we might (only through salvation) never be forsaken", Psalms
37:25, Hebrews 13:5.
Stage Ten: Chp. 27:50 THE FINISHED WORK
Jesus uttered his
final words with a loud voice, "it is finished"
see also John 19:30. This cry signified
the end of his sufferings and the completion of the work of redemption. The debt for our sin had been paid in full,
and the plan of salvation established.
Only then did he offer a final prayer, "Father,
into your hands I commit my spirit" see also Luke 23:46.
Some have literally experience death of the cross
(martyr) by anti Christ's in some countries for reading or teaching the bible.
In the United State the law protects us from being martyr and we are free to
practice and faith and religion, but after the day of the Rapture those who
will be left behind and did not get a chance to hear the gospel, they will get
a chance then, but will be martyr for Christ sake during the 7 yrs of
Tribulation. Others who heard the gospel before The Rapture, but did not receive
it or turned away from there faith, God will bring on a strong delusion and
they will believe the lie that the Anti-Christ is God and will worship him. For
more studies on this please see (THE END OF GRACE)
Lord Help Us All,
Sista LoLo