Day 28
‘I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. “I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you. They will do these things to you, because they have not known the Father nor Me. They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he is offering a service to God. # “I have spoken these things to you so that you will not fall away. ‘ John 16:1-4 MEV
This should highlight the importance of knowing what Jesus said about the last days and the end times.
‘When He comes, He will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I am going to My Father, and you will see Me no more; and of judgment, because the ruler of this world stands condemned.’ John 16:8-11 MEV
It is not our job to convict, but to preach.
‘On that day you will ask Me nothing. Truly, truly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.’ John 16:23-24 MEV
In the future, on that day, and now.
‘I came from the Father and have come into the world. As I said, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.”’ John 16:28 MEV
The word Father has to be understood deeper in the meaning of the word, not just earthly human terms.
‘“I have revealed Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. ‘ John 17:6 MEV
Do you know His name? Does He know you?
‘I have declared Your name to them, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”’ John 17:26 MEV
Again, do you know? Can He trust you? Can you be trusted? Luke 16:10
Day 29
When He said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. John 18:6 MEV
I need to find a deeper meaning to this passage. Yes, they fell because of the power of God, but what caused this particular manifestation? Psalm 48:14
Therefore Pilate said to Him, “Then are You a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37 MEV
Everyone who is of the truth. If you are human, you can decide. In Psalm 52:3 we read “You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah”. Colossians 3:2 tells us to set our minds on spiritual and not the natural. Though God created the natural, when Man fractured reality by sinning, now natural is part of the fallen (so are parts of the spiritual) and therefore is not of the truth. False religions seek out the spiritual thinking it is pure, not realizing that the parts of the spiritual that they can access is fallen. Therefore, seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Do not be merciful to unrighteousness.
They all shouted again, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber. John 18:40 MEV
Jesus died for Judas, which is derived from Judah, God is praised.
Jesus died for Barabbas, which means the son of the father.
Jesus was the substitute for our sins.
Psalm 65:1-4 NKJV Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; And to You the vow shall be performed. [2] O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come. [3] Iniquities prevail against me; As for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them. [4] Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple.
Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him at all. John 18:38 MEV
What is truth? I don’t think that all the words in all the languages throughout history are sufficient to answer this simple question, but it is a person. His name is Jesus. John 14:6 NKJV Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged Him. John 19:1 MEV
Isaiah 53:5 NLT But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
Psalm 103:4 NKJV Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
From then on, Pilate tried to release Him. But the Jews cried out, “If you release this Man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!” John 19:12 MEV
Who are you friends with? What influences your decisions?
But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John 19:25 MEV
Lots of Marys, if you ask me.
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away His body. John 19:38 MEV
Does this mean that we have to redefine what a disciple of Jesus is? Can we be one secretly for fear of repercussions or prosecution? While it could have been true at the time of Joseph of Arimathea, before the new covenant was enforced by the Holy Spirit, it is not so now. Afterall, the Holy Spirit gives us boldness, but always remember to have the wisdom from/of God and be wise. Just don’t let fear fool you into silence.