Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #7 Matthew 27:32-37 – Executed at Golgotha

Matthew 27:32-37 – Executed at Golgotha

|| Mark 15:21-26; Luke 23:26-34, 38; John 19:17-24

MT27:32 Now as they were on their way they found a Cyrenian named Simon.[1] They forced this one into service so that he might carry the instrument of execution.[2] MT27:33 Upon reaching the placed called Golgotha[3] (also named ‘Skull Rock’) MT27:34 they gave to Jesus a drink of wine mixed with gall[4] but tasting it he refused to drink it. MT27:35 After they placed him on the instrument of execution they distributed his garments by casting lots.[5] MT27:36 They all sat there and watched Jesus. MT27:37 And then they posted above his head the written charge against him: “This is Jesus – King of the Jews.”[6]

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[1] A Cyrenian named Simon: Mark 15:21 adds, “… the father of Alexander and Rufus.” These are possibly Christians named later in the Bible.

[2] The instrument of execution: As it is called by the Dictionary of New Testament Theology. The Greek is STAURON. According to Vine’s Expository: denotes, primarily, “an upright pale or stake.” On such malefactors were nailed for execution. Both the noun and the verb stauroo, “to fasten to a stake or pale,” are originally to be distinguished from the ecclesiastical form of a two beamed “cross.” The shape of the latter had its origin in ancient Chaldea, and was used as the symbol of the god Tammuz (being in the shape of the mystic Tau, the initial of his name) in that country and in adjacent lands, including Egypt. By the middle of the 3rd cent. A.D. the churches had either departed from, or had travestied, certain doctrines of the Christian faith. In order to increase the prestige of the apostate ecclesiastical system pagans were received into the churches apart from regeneration by faith, and were permitted largely to retain their pagan signs and symbols. Hence the Tau or T, in its most frequent form, with the cross-piece lowered, was adopted to stand for the “cross” of Christ.

[3] Golgotha: It is also called “Calvary” (Luke 23:33, KJV, Dy). For details read, Biblical Archaeology Review, March/April 1986, p. 50; Biblical Archaeology Review (May/June 1986, p. 38)

[4] Wine mixed with gall: Or, PME: mixed with some bitter drug. This was a painkiller and Jesus refused it. It would seem he wanted his mind open to experience this suffering as the Father willed.

[5] They distributed his garments by casting lots: In fulfillment of Psalm 22:18, “They apportion my garments among themselves, and upon my clothing they cast lots.” John 19:23, 24 adds, “Now when the soldiers had impaled Jesus, they took his outer garments and made four parts, for each soldier a part, and the inner garment. But the inner garment was without a seam, being woven from the top throughout its length. Therefore they said to one another: ‘Let us not tear it, but let us determine by lots over it whose it will be.’ This was that the scripture might be fulfilled: ‘They apportioned my outer garments among themselves, and upon my apparel they cast lots.’ And so the soldiers really did these things.” (See the KJV on Matthew 27:35)

[6] This is Jesus – King of the Jews: John 19:19-22 adds, Pilate wrote a title also and put it on the torture stake. It was written: “Jesus the Nazarene the King of the Jews.” Therefore many of the Jews read this title, because the place where Jesus was impaled was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, in Greek. However, the chief priests of the Jews began to say to Pilate: “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered: “What I have written I have written.”

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Preceding

Matthew 2:1-6 – Astrologers and Priests in a Satanic Plot

Hebraic Roots Bible Matthew Chapter 27

Imprisonment and execution of Jesus Christ

Death of Christ on the day of preparation

Matthew 27 – The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – Bible Students Intro

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #1 Matthew 27:1-2 – Priests Hand Jesus Over to Pilate

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #2 Matthew 27:3-10 – Judas Hangs Himself

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #3 Matthew 27:11-14 – “Are You King of the Jews?”

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #4 Matthew 27:15-23 – Barabbas or Jesus?

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #5 Matthew 27:24-26 – “His Blood Come Upon Us!”

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #6 Matthew 27:27-31 – Jesus Afflicted by Troops

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #7 Matthew 27:32-37 – Executed at Golgotha

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Additional reading

1. Forbidden Fruit in the Midst of the Garden 4
2. Entrance of a king to question our position #2 Who do we want to see and to be
3. What is the truth asked also Pontius Pilate
4. The day Jesus died
5. After darkness a moment of life renewal
6. Jesus three days in hell
7. Solstice, Saturnalia and Christmas-stress
8. Jesus begotten Son of God #1 Christmas and Christians
9. Jesus begotten Son of God #2 Christmas and pagan rites
10. Church buildings having become a liability

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Related articles

1. Psalm 22:18
2. Luke.23Luke 23 Meditation
3. John 19 & Luke 23 – Read Aloud
4. First He Mocked, then He Received Grace
5. What was the most important thing to Jesus?
6. Seeing Jesus in Psalm 22: finding hope in darkness
7. Jesus, King of the Jews
8. The King of the Jews
9. Good Friday Reflection (Mark 15:40-47)
10. Mark 15
11. Mark 15:26
12. Always Putting Others First
13. The Death of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:32 – 44; Mark 15:21 – 32; Luke 23:26 – 43; John 19:17 – 27)
14. Jesus Suffered For Our Sins On The Cross
15. Sermon: See How He Died
16. Missing the Point
17. GOD and Human Suffering
18. A Cry From The Heart Of God – Pastor Carter Conlon – Times Square Church – 02.02.2020
19. Converted At The Cross (Luke 23:39-55)
20. The King on a Cross (Luke 23:26-38)
21. What was the most important thing to Jesus?
22. Eyewitness to the Crucifixion
23. “When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him.” ~Luke

To follow Christ

Matthew 16:24 (TS2009)
24 Then יהושע said to His taught ones, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his stake, and follow Me.

AND FOLLOW ME:

“Of the three things enjoined, the last is a vital thing: to follow. The other two are utterly essential because through the essential you achieve that which is vital. The reason is this. You can approve, and not follow. You can applaud and not follow. You can understand and preach, without following. You can defend the Truth pugnaciously, without following. You can tire yourself out on busy works – without following.. The central thing is the denial of self. It is utterly radical. Denial of self is the inward thing. Taking up the cross daily is the external manifestation of the inward condition. To talk of it is not to realize it. To write about it is not to achieve it. The use of the word ‘daily’ emphasizes that it is not just a theory but something that is real and practical; facing squarely every new circumstance; confronting bravely every impediment; grasping joyfully every new opportunity. In practice it means giving unhindered access to the Master into every chamber and esp into every dark corner. To think of that possibility might make us feel ashamed but at the same time it may do us good” (GD).

“The sentiment that Christ’s righteousness alone is to be the basis of our acceptance, is one of the countless and pernicious corruptions of clerical theology. It doubtless originated in the misapplication of a certain element of apostolic truth, namely that which informs us that all are under sin, and that our salvation is not of works; but through the righteousness of faith that is in Christ. Men have long ceased to perceive that this principle applies only to unjustified sinners, and not to those who have been placed in a justified or forgiven position, through the obedience of faith. Christ is righteousness for sinners in this sense, that God offers to forgive them for Christ’s sake, and to grant them a coheirship with Christ, of what Christ, as a manifestation of God, has achieved for himself. But when sinners become saints, they come into relation to a new principle. They are responsible to him as servants to a master, and he will judge them according to their works” (SC 164).

“The cross is the symbol of death. It stands for the abrupt, violent end of the human being. The man in Roman times who took up his cross and started down the road had already said goodbye to his friends. He was not coming back. He was not going out to have his life redirected. He was going out to have it ended. The cross made no compromise, modified nothing, spared nothing. It slew all of the man completely and for good. It did not try to keep on good terms with its victim. it struck swift and hard and when it had finished its work the man was no more. That evangelism which draws friendly parallels between the ways of God and the ways of man is false to the Bible and cruel to the soul of the hearers. The faith of Christ does not parallel the world. It intersects it. In coming to Christ we do not bring our life up on to a higher plane. We leave it at a cross. The grain of wheat must fall into the ground and die. That is the beginning of the gospel” (AWT).

“To give my life for Christ appears glorious. To pour myself out for others.. to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom – ‘I’ll do it. I’m ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory.’

“We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $1,000 bill and laying it on the table – ‘Here’s my life, Lord. I’m giving it all.’ But the reality for most of us is that he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $1,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Listen to the neighbor kid’s troubles instead of saying, ‘Get lost.’ Go to a committee meeting. Give a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home.

“Usually giving our life to Christ isn’t glorious. It’s done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at a time. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory; it’s harder to live the Christian life little by little over the long haul” (F Craddock).

I think it wouldn’t be going too far to say that there IS a discernible reason for every commandment which we are given.. and that that reason leads, without too much delay or detour, right back to the Atonement.

Christ’s sacrifice is not just about blood, and sweat, and tears.. and it is not just about the cross on that dreadful, but wonderful, day.

It is – and we all know this! – about the life he lived every day, every hour, before he arrived, finally, at that cross. Because it was his own unique life, built up day by day, with the building blocks of a thousand moments of ten thousand days, that made his cross meaningful.

Thousands of Jewish men died on thousands of Roman crosses across the length and breadth of Israel. But only one man died a sacrificial, atoning death on a cross. Because he was the perfect sacrifice, without spot or blemish.

So Christ’s sacrifice is really about a life of many choices, each one in one way or another a choice to deny himself, and his own will, and to serve his Father, and his Father’s will.

A lifetime of choices made the final choice – of the cross itself – a choice of cosmic significance.. a choice which resonates to this day, and echoes in our lives.

The essence of sacrifice is denial of self. And if we choose Christ and his cross, then we are also choosing denial of self.. as a way of life. It is the hardest choice we can make, but it is the most rewarding. Allowed to work in our lives, that commitment and that choice will change us.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his life? Or what can a man give in exchange for his life?’ ” (Mat 16:24-26).

We could run down a list of Christ’s commandments, and the commandments passed along by the apostles as well, and ask:

‘How does this relate to the Atonement?’

And in every case, I venture to suggest, we shall find the answer – and the meaningful example for us, of HOW to keep the commandment, and WHY we should keep it – in the “living sacrifice” of Christ.

Do we wonder why we are commanded this, for example?:

“Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Mat 5:39-42).

Well, of course, reason enough to do this – or (let’s be honest) to try very, very hard – is that Christ has commanded it. But was it just an otherwise pointless requirement plucked out of the air:

‘Let’s test them with this one, while we are at it’?

Of course not. We are told not to resist evil because Christ did not resist evil. And Christ did not resist evil because he had committed himself, wholeheartedly, to his Father who would ultimately judge rightly (1Pe 2:23). If we believe that that final judgment of our Father is sure and certain and righteous, then what does it matter if evil ones misuse us today, or tomorrow, or all the rest of our lives? God will set it right. What does it matter if we lose our coat, or our time, or our creature comforts – the loss of those things which we might hold dear will only reinforce to our minds the one thing that we MUST hold MOST dear – which no thief or bully or evil circumstance can take away from us:

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?.. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (Rom 8:31-32; Rom 8:35).

And suppose the “cross” we are called to bear at this very moment is not the loss of property, or health, or loved ones.. the terrible losses that Job, for example, bore? Suppose the “cross” we are called to bear at this very moment is.. simply.. the harsh word spoken to us, or the little slight we experience, or the brief delay because some driver cut us off in traffic, or the tiny barb that pricks our pride?

Maybe the “cross” that we are called to bear, right now, is not the great mountain of difficulty that looms in front of us.. but the little grain of sand in our shoe!

How do we respond? Do we give harsh word for harsh word, little grumble for silly slight, little whispered curse for minor inconvenience? Do we recoil at the least threat to our pride, or the least questioning of our intelligence, or our strength, or our goodness, or our wisdom?

Or.. do we recall that “even Christ did not please himself” (Rom 15:3)? And do we therefore “turn the other cheek” to the little slap, the little needle, the little attack – even if, and especially if, it comes from a brother or sister?

If we do, and when we do, then we are “living the atonement” in our lives.

Through fits and starts, and stops and blind alleys, sometimes failing but sometimes succeeding, we are learning to be, even in the small things of our lives, “living sacrifices” (Rom 12:1-2).

But the trouble with “living sacrifices” is that – as one writer put it

– “they keep crawling down off the altar”.

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Lord, help me to hold on to your altar, and “die a little bit” every day, so that I might show forth your death until you return.

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Agora on New Testament readings

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Preceding

Meaning of Sacrifice

We are redeemed; we are “bought with a price”

More than just a man with authority of speaking

Matthew 7:13-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #5 Matthew 7:28-29 – The Crowd’s Reaction

Matthew 9:32-34 – How others look at the blind, speechless and demoniac being healed

Matthew 9:35-38 – Looking at Jesus our shepherd

Matthew 10:24-31 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Do Not Fear – Preach!

Matthew 10:32-39 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: I Came to Cause Division

Matthew 12:46-50 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Family of Messiah

Matthew 16 Asking for signs from heaven

Matthew 16 Calvin’s view

Matthew 16 Spurgeon’s view

Matthew 16:1-4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Signs of the Times

Matthew 16:5-12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Watch Out for the Leaven of False Teaching

Matthew 16:13-20 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Building a Hades-Proof Congregation

Matthew 16:21-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Think God’s Thoughts

Matthew 16:24-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: A Disciple Must Disown Self

Demanding signs or denying yourself

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Additional reading

1. John 4 exhortation: The one that broke the mould
2. Lost senses or a clear focus on the one at the stake
3. Biblical Yeshua/ Jesus or Another European Greco- Roman Jesus ??
4. The Atonement in Type and Antitype 1 Sacrifices and High Priests
5. Many were made sinners through one man and justified by one man
6. Faith coming by hearing and sent preacher gift from God
7. Redemption #3 The imperfect animal sacrifice
8. Redemption #4 The Passover Lamb
9. Redemption #5 The perfect sacrifice
10. Redemption #6 Partaking his sacrifice
11. Redemption #7 Christ alive in the faithful
12. A perfect life, obedient death, and glorious resurrection
13. To sacrifice our being for Christ
14. Not everyone in the churches of Christ are “ungodly”
15. Vision blurred by cumulative burden of divisions
16. Disciple of Christ counting lives and friends dear to them
17. Who are you going to reach out to today
18. Wanting to live in Christ’s city

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Related

1. The Journey Begins
2. Cut the Ballast!
3. January 23, 2018: “Denial”
4. Sent Into A Hostile World
5. Take up our crosses and follow him
6. 7 Traits Godly Women Must Have Before Meeting Mr. Right
7. The Christian’ willingness to follow Christ
8. Follower of Christ
9. Don’t Follow Me
10. Follow the Son
11. You are Called.
12. When Life Gets Dark and Dreary – 1 Nephi 8:3-11
13. Christ Is The Light Of The World.
14. Our lord’s way – our way is the way of the cross
15. Take Up Your Cross And Follow Christ
16. Behold the Lamb of God
17. Why The Phrase “God Can Only Judge Me” is Toxic to the Soul

Matthew 16:24-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: A Disciple Must Disown Self

Matthew 16:24-28 – A Disciple Must Disown Self

|| Mark 8:34-9:1; Luke 9:22-27

MT16:24 [Because of this] Jesus told his disciples: “If anyone wishes to follow me[1] they must disown ‘self,’[2] heft a personal cross,[3] and then keep following me constantly. MT16:25 For whoever wishes to preserve their soul[4] will forfeit it; and, whoever forfeits the soul because of me[5] will find it. MT16:26 For how will a person benefit if upon gaining the entire cosmos[6] forfeits the soul?[7] Or, what will a person give in exchange for the soul? MT16:27 For the Son of Humankind is about to return into the glory of his Father[8] – all his angels with him.[9] Thereafter everyone will be compensated according to their practices.[10] MT16:28 I tell you this truth: It is very likely that some of you standing right here will not taste death[11] before they see the Son of Humankind returning[12] into his kingdom.”

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[1] If anyone wishes to follow me: Or, KJV: if any man will come after me; KNX: has a mind to come my way; TCNT wishes to walk in my steps; RIEU: wishes to walk in my footsteps; NEB: wishes to be a follower of min; BER: to walk behind me. It is the call to discipleship. Compare 1 Peter 2:21; Revelation 14:4, 5.

[2] They must disown ‘self’: Or, KJV: deny himself; TCNT: renounce self; NEB: leave self behind; GDSP: must disregard himself; WMS: must say ‘No’ to self. Compare the example of Jesus at Philippians 2:5-7.

[3] Heft a personal cross: Or, KJV: take up his cross; WMS: put his cross on his shoulders. The Greek for “cross” is STAUROS and means a simple upright stake or pole. Jesus is yet to be nailed to a cross or stake so it is unlikely he predicts a particular type of cross. See notes on cross or stake elsewhere.

[4] Whoever wishes to preserve their soul: The Greek is PSUCHEN and appears over 1,000 times in the Greek Bible. The “soul” is the life of a person or the person itself. The meaning here is like: “the person who tries to save their own skin…” Research the key word soul or PSYCHE. Or, KJV: whosoever will save his life; KNX: the man who tries to save his life; NEB: whoever cares for his own safety is lost; WMS: whoever wants to save his higher life will have to give up his lower life (Compare the parable of the materialistic farmer in Luke chapter 12).

[5] Forfeits the soul because of me: Or, KJV: whosoever will lose his life for my sake; NEB: if a man will let himself be lost for my sake, he will find his true self. Compare Matthew 10:28.

[6] If upon gaining the entire cosmos: The Greek is KOSMON. Or, KJV: gain the whole world; GDSP: gains the whole world at the cost of his life. Here the word “world” may mean whatever is the most important and all consuming in a person’s life: “music was his whole world.”

[7] Forfeits the soul: Or, KJV: lose his own soul; KNX: at the cost of losing his own soul; NEB: at the cost of his true self.

[8] Is about to return into the glory of his Father: The word translated “return” is generally rendered “coming” and gives the wrong impression based on the root verse it is drawn from (Daniel 7:13). The idea is more like John 6:62 where the Son of Humankind returns (or, ascends) to is previous position and place in heaven (John 17:5). Or, KJV: the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; BER: is about to come. See commentary on Daniel 7:13 in Nazarene Apocalypse.

[9] Angels with him: Compare Daniel 7:13, 14 with Acts 1:9-11.

[10] Everyone will be compensated according to their practices: The phrase is nearly identical to 2 Corinthians 5:10. Or, KJV: shall reward every man according to his works; RHM: give back to… according to his practice; RSV: he will repay every man for what he has done; TCNT: then he will give to every man what his actions deserve. Compare Matthew 12:36 and research the words judgment and judgment day (Revelation 20:13).

[11] Some of you standing right here will not taste death: This will occur within their life times. Or, WMS: will live to see. Compare Matthew 10:23 and Matthew 26:64. The disciples would live to see the fulfillment of Daniel 7:13.

[12] Returning: The Greek is ERCHOMENON, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2064 and is also defined as “1a1) to come from one place to another, and used both of persons arriving and of those RETURNING.” This thought is missed by most. The language of the Nazarene is drawn from Daniel 7:13 where “a son of man” (Jerome LATIN hominid) is seen returning or ascending to the Presence of the Ancient of Days – Daniel’s visionary location in heaven. The Aramaic (Hebrew) of Daniel 7:13’s “came” is athah (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance ##858) and may also mean “arrive” as in become present.

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Preceding

Ezekiel 18:4 – What the Bible teaches about Soul and Spirit

Matthew 10:24-31 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Do Not Fear – Preach!

Matthew 16 Asking for signs from heaven

Matthew 16 Calvin’s view

Matthew 16 Spurgeon’s view

Matthew 16:1-4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Signs of the Times

Matthew 16:5-12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Watch Out for the Leaven of False Teaching

Matthew 16:13-20 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Building a Hades-Proof Congregation

Matthew 16:21-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Think God’s Thoughts

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Who wants to follow Jeshua, Jesus Christ the Messiah wherever he goes or wants us to bring?

Related

1. Bible Study Notes on Matthew 16:1-12 – 20180122
2. Bible Study Notes on Matthew 16:13-28 – 20180123
3. Don’t Miss the Signs of the Times
4. Matthew 16, the demand for a sign, the sign of Jonah, Peter’s confession of Christ, Jesus predicts his death.
5. their hearts right, their heads wrong
6. The Forsake All Principle
7. The Power of Human Denial
8. Scarcity and Genuine Jesus-Followers
9. God’s Will, Not Mine – Ouch, That’s Hard!
10. The former possessed man wants to go with Jesus (Mk 5:18-5:18)
11. Staying Power
12. Lifted as We Labor in the Gospel of Jesus
13. Why do we bother with Church?
14. Being a Jesus-Following Neighbor
15. Who is Most Worthy?
16. Witnesses
17. Just Keep Learning
18. “Listen to Him!”
19. Would you Gain the Whole World and Forfeit Your Soul?
20. Jesus’ Challenge To Follow Him
21. Following Jesus
22. Why Don’t We Just Follow Jesus? Well, For Starters…
23. Follow Me; Learning Under Jesus
24. 8 Commands of Christ
25. Self-Denial — Is it a requirement of following Jesus the Messiah?
26. Put The Devil Behind You (Matthew 16:21–28)
27. Call and Mission of the Cross
28. Cross-Bearing: Help Wanted (Mt 16:21-28, Rom 12:9-21)
29. Attempt 10 – Pick Up Your Cross
30. Take Up Your Cross
31. Take Up The Cross, a prayer based on Matthew 16.24-28
32. Laying Down Burdens, Part I
33. “You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door.” ~Jesus
34. Second Coming – What does Jesus the Messiah say about it?
35. Spiritual Focus – A Study in Matthew 16

In the death of Christ, the son of God, is glorification

The God Creator the Most High His son

Jehovah God, the Most High, who never lies, had told the people who stood around Jesus that they could see God His beloved son.

“16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”” (Matthew 3:16-17 NIV)

That son of David and son of God had now given himself as a sacrifice to the Elohim. The Nazarene man has always tried to do only the Will of the Father in the heaven. Jesus was never interested to do his own will, but only wanted to please his Father. Like David he had in mind only to do God His Will, even in the hour of his death.

“I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”” (Psalms 40:8 NIV)

“”Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”” (Luke 22:42 NIV)

The one who served God His purpose

Like when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, Jesus fell asleep and was buried. But now a miracle happened. The only begotten son of God  was not laid to rest to stay there in the underground (the sheol or hell) He only stayed there in the darkness for three days. Then God took him out of the dead and let him walk again on this earth to meet his friends again and to show them that he was risen. He proofed them that his Father had not let his body to body to decay.

Icon of Jesus being led to Golgotha, 16th century, Theophanes the Cretan (Stavronikita Monastery, Mount Athos). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The blood poured out on the altar of the stake on Golgotha brought the ransom offer of the Lamb of God. By walking around on this earth again Jesus showed the apostles that his Father had accepted his offering and taken him under his alms. Now he could convince them, also by the Power of God, the Holy Spirit which came over the apostles, that he was the Messiah by whom people could come free — free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!

Jesus in his lifetime had always said he could do nothing without his Father, who is greater than him and that the Father could be glorified in the works he did. Never did Jesus take the glory himself, but it was his father who glorified him and made him higher than he was before.

 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18 NIV)

“And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.” (John 5:27 NIV)

“Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19 NIV)

“”You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28 NIV)

“So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”” (Hebrews 5:5 NIV)

“5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8 NIV)

United by bloodshed

Jesus thought of everything, provided for everything the apostles could possibly need, letting his disciples in on the plans he took such delight in making, trying to give them insight in the Torah. All the time he tried to make the Words of his Father clear, so that the people could fully understand the Holy Scriptures and could find the God of heaven and earth. It was this Jehovah God who set it all out before the apostles in Christ. In this son of God, the Nazarene man Jeshua (Jesus) who was brought to death on the wooden stake, his friends now became united to understand the long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. It’s in Christ that they found out who they were and what they were living for. Long before they first heard of Christ and got their hopes up, he had his eye on them, had designs on them for glorious living. We also may believe that God His Plan for the world is also part of us in Christ. Part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free — signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first instalment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.

“7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfilment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:7-14 NIV)

Our chief end

We in Christ have become freed from our sins, have redemption and be part of God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. But than we may ask “What is it that God really wants for us more than anything else? What is He really after for us?”

The Scottish catechism says, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God.”  Is that according to you also the top goal of living.  For sure God created the universe to be part of One Great Unit in Unison with His wishes.  We should strive to come in unison with the Creator of heaven and earth. That’s the great business of our lives.

God is displaying His glory in His Creation. And in the created order of the universe, what’s the universe doing? “The heavens declare the glory of God; the earth is full of his glory,” says Isaiah.

When God made man, what was his purpose? He made man in His image to bear His likeness and Hebrews tells us that we are crowned with glory.

Faithful to the Father

Jesus, the son of God in his life, always tried to follow the Will of his Father. For him that was very important, not to say the most important thing in his life. Jesus always said to others he could do nothing without his Father. Without God no man can do anything. Jesus also spoke of glorifying God’s name and finishing the work He had for him to do. He also spoke of God being glorified through His death.

God created the world like a theatre in which to display His Glory. He has sent His Son in order that we may see something of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ – He is now working by the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of His people that they may be changed into the image of His glory.

Jesus prayed immediately before His death, “Father glorify your Son.”

God who can not die, nor be seen by a living soul or that one would die, found a man who was willing to offer himself for all the other people. Jesus did not mind to have his blood streamed down onto the ground.

Glory and heaviness of action

The original meaning of the word ‘Glory’ in the Bible is really ‘weight’. That’s weight in the sense of the ‘heaviness’ of something.  In Jesus his case it meant the heaviness of his action. It was incredible that he, as an ordinary human from a workers family, wanted to present himself as a worker for God, going to many places preaching the Gospel.  God can not be tempted but Jesus was many times, and it was not always easy for him to make the right choice. Sometimes he had to worry his earthly parents or to ask a lot of his mother Mary (Miriam) He had to show them his good character. He also proofed to God and the adversaries of God that it is possible for man to be faithful to God.

The ‘Glory’ Christ Jesus got is the sign of what he is worth. Those people who take Jesus for God ridicule in a certain way his offering. Because God knows everything, is eternal, can not be tempted and can not die.  When Jesus would have been or would be God, than this God would not always have told the truth, because He spoke about His son and did not say “that is me” or “this is me” and the son said about his Father that He is bigger and he can not do anything about Him. Jesus, in case he was God would have not only faked his death but would also have brought a charade of doing like he was asking the Father in heaven to do something he could not do. God can do everything and knows everything, though Jesus told the people he even did not know when he would come back to the world.

A build up of character

God His character is the most Holy and righteous; It is not a misleading Spirit. Christ Jesus is also not a misleading person. He could have sinned (God does not sin). Jesus did not sin and proofed in that way his faithfulness to the Laws of his Father, never going in against the Will of his Father.

The Glory of both is implicated with their character. In other words, the glory of God is the display of His worth, of His character. Also the manner of behavement of Christ Jesus, following the Will of his Father even bringing him into death shows us how strong this man has been. This is why we see the glory of God as supremely displayed in the ‘Cross of Jesus’, Jeshua finding death on the stake.

John Calvin made this point: “Nowhere in the universe does God display His glory more fully than in the Cross of Christ.”

It’s because there at the torture stake and by the resurrection of His son, the wisdom, love, justice, mercy, goodness and faithfulness of God are on show in all that God has done.
It makes us who believe part of the people called ‘the forgiven much’. When we understand that, we will love much and will serve much, and worship much, and adore Him, out of a heart of devotion and not just do it because we are Christians and we’re meant to do that kind of thing.

As Paul writes in Second Corinthians 3:18:

“but we all, with [our] face having been unveiled, having beheld the glory of the lord as in a mirror, are being changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the lord spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 MKJV)

A reliable witness to God His power and His ways

Isaiah in his 24st chapter verse 20 wrote “the earth staggers like a drunken man … its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls ….” We see this as a fitting description of how our world is staggering today. Its transgression of the ways of God are causing it to fall apart. Let us not “put off” developing the faith and the patience and the earnestness, and a sense of “full assurance” – for, said Jesus, “the one who endures to the end will be saved.” [Mark 13:13] and will then be ready to inherit the wonder of what God has promised.

God had promised a Messiah and a Land for His people. In Jesus we should recognise this ‘Christos’ or Man of Salvation, the Christ. The apostle Paul was a devote Jew who knew the Torah very well. He only believed in One God, like Jesus also believed in that One and Only God, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah. In his letters to the Hebrews Paul clearly explains that the reality of Jesus as a Son. The apostles like Jesus did believe that the Scriptures also teaches that the heavens declare the glory of God and are a reliable witness to His power and his ways.

The Bible also appeals to us to carefully consider the evidence of God’s creations and what it tells us about God, and that it is a reliable source of knowledge.

When we do not want to accept the Words like they are written down, telling us who is who, we are not only ignoring the Truth, but we are minimising all the actions that took place. In case we do not accept Jesus his position we ignore the words of the prophets who lived before him and are not taking God His Words at heart when He talks about His beloved son. When we take Jesus to be God we do not want to believe a man could do such wonders by the Power of God, or we do not want to accept that God would give such Powers to a man of flesh and blood. By taking Jesus as God or by not accepting the written words ‘black on white’ of the printed Scriptures, in your ignorance of the Truth, you despise the evidence and so reject the knowledge of God that the heavens reveal night after night.

How much glory to the one who gave his life

God can not die but Jesus really did die.

Jesus gave his life for us, how motivated are we to accept what this man really did and to serve him as a result? Recall how Paul expresses it at the end of Romans 5, “…as sin reigned in death (before he/we knew Christ) grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Romans 5:21]

Let us see and understand the verse of dire warning in the letter to the Hebrews. After writing of the punishment of sinners under the Law of Moses the question is put, “How much worse punishment, do you think will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the spirit of grace?” [Hebrews 10:29] May we so live that we are among the “vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory – even us whom he has called …” [Romans 9:23-24] In the Scriptures we ‘hear’ him calling! Are you listening properly?

Are we willing to recognise the elements which show us the Grace of God in Christ? And are we willing to accept the position of Christ, who is seethed next to his Father, to be a mediator between God and man? Or do you prefer to think it is Jesus himself who has taken up the throne and the position of God?

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9 NIV)

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—” (Hebrews 2:14 NIV)

“For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17 NIV)

“Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12 NIV)

“In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you” (1 Timothy 6:13 NIV)

“”You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”” (John 18:37 NIV)

“Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”” (Acts 4:12 NIV)

“All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”” (Acts 10:43 NIV)

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” (John 17:5 NIV)

“Now I want you to realise that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” (1 Corinthians 11:3 NIV)

“When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:28 NIV)

“who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” (1 Peter 3:22 NIV)

“20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,” (Ephesians 1:20-22 NIV)

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,” (Philippians 2:9 NIV)

“22 Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.” (John 5:22-23 NIV)

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5 NIV)

“to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:24 NIV)

Coming to Jesus giving him the honour due to him

Are you wiling to accept that Jesus gave his life for you? Are you willing to come to Jesus, who presents us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God. We should recognise his position and not take it lightly.  When we make him not just a god but the God, Creator of all things, we do not accept that a man could proof to be faithful to God. Then we also do not believe Jesus is the Mediator of the covenant God made with His people. A mediator is namely a person who mediates between two parties, in this case God and the human beings.

God is an eternal Spirit, meaning that he had no beginning and no end. Jesus had a beginning when he was placed in the womb of the virgin Myriam (Miriam/Mary/Maria) God can not be tempted, but after many temptation Jesus had to endure he found an end to his life like it was ‘murder’, unlike Abel’s — a homicide that cried out for vengeance — which became a proclamation of grace.

Child Jesus with the virgin Mary, with the Holy Spirit (represented as a dove) and God the Father, with child john the Baptist and saint Elizabeth on the right (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

God is the Most High of all but Jesus, made “not quite as high as angels,” and then, through the experience of death, crowned so much higher than any angel, with a glory “bright with Eden’s dawn light.” In that death, by God’s grace, he fully experienced death in every person’s place. And therefore should receive our full recognition and the glory due to him.

The Saviour being of flesh and blood gave way to rescue us by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Adversary‘s hold on death.  [Hebrews 2:14]

Now we can trust God and his son who came before God as high priest to get rid of our sins. As God rewarded him extravagantly, we also should give Jesus the best of everything, the highest honours, because he looked death in the face and didn’t flinch, because he embraced the company of the lowest. Jesus took on his own shoulders the sin of the many, he took up the cause of all the black sheep and we should be grateful for that and give him praise for doing so.

We should be fully aware that  salvation comes no other way, because no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one, the man Jesus, son of God, who was promised many years beforehand. But the world had to wait such a long time, not because God was so much enjoying the suffering of the people, but because it took such a long time before there was at last a man who could proof to the world, to the many adversaries of God (in many Bibles translated with the word ‘Satan‘ or ‘devil‘) that it was really possible that a man could honour and love his Creator so much that he always preferred and did do the will of this Creator, the Only One God.

Not alone in our believes and glorification

Salvation belongs to Jehovah God. He allowed His son to be the human Saviour by bringing his life to an end at the stake, liberating the world form the spell of death.

Perhaps you may say there are not many people who take it for granted that Jesus was the son of God who died for our sins. Not many did want to testify of the wonders the Nazarene man Jeshua (Jesus) did.  But we’re not alone in this. Our witness that he is the means to forgiveness of sins is backed up by the witness of all the prophets and is clearly written down in the Book of Books, the Bible, which we consider the word of God.

It is that Word of God we want to follow and not the dogma‘s or certain teachings people just have to accept, because they are to difficult to understand. God is a God of order and clarity. He wanted all people to find Him and to love Him. He did not reserve the knowledge of Him only to very special educated people. No, everybody should be able to find out who God really is and to whom Glory is due.

Jehovah, God, was asked by Jesus to  glorify him with His very own splendour. God has a Plan and He foresaw the Messiah already from the beginning of the world. In the Garden of Eden when the first man went against God, Jehovah provided a solution to save all those who would come after Adam and Eve, so that the World of God could become a nice Creation into the end, a Kingdom of God, full of peace and tranquillity.

There in that Kingdom of God, the son of God, Jesus may have the glory and very splendour in the presence of the Most High Elohim, who has given him the authority to judge over us and to be king on this earth until Jesus Christ, having the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies,  shall have brought everything and everyone finally under God’s rule. Then Jesus, the Son of God, will step down, taking his place with everyone else, showing that God’s rule is absolutely comprehensive—a perfect ending! (1 Corinthians 15:28 )

Therefore let us accept the son of man Jesus (Jeshua) as the son of God,  the Father who handed over to the Son all authority to judge,  so that the Son will be honoured equally with the Father. Anyone who dishonours the Son, dishonours the Father, for it was the Father’s decision to put the Son in the place of honour. [John 5:22-23]

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Please do find also to read:

1. Some one or something to fear #6 Faith in the Most High
2. God about His name “יהוה“
3. God of gods
4. Pure Words and Testimonies full of Breath of the Most High
5. The radiance of God’s glory and the counsellor
6. Fearing the right person
7. History of the acceptance of a three-in-one God
8. Heed of the Saviour
9. Man’s plans prevailed by God’s purpose
10. Grace and beloved by God
11. A promise given in the Garden of Eden
12. About a man who changed history of humankind
13. Reasons that Jesus was not God
14. Jesus begotten Son of God #12 Son of God
15. Jesus begotten Son of God #15 Son of God Originating in Mary
16. Jesus begotten Son of God #16 Prophet to be heard
17. Jesus begotten Son of God #18 Believing in inhuman or human person
18. Jesus and his God
19. On the Nature of Christ
20. Clean Flesh #2 Purity of Jesus
21. Jesus spitting image of his father
22. Why did Christ not reveal the exact time of his second coming?
23. Christ having glory
24. One God the Father, a compendium of essays
25. Wishing to do the will of God
26. How is it that Christ pleased God so perfectly?
27. The meek one riding on an ass
28. Anointing of Christ as Prophetic Rehearsal of the Burial rites
29. A Messiah to die
30. Jesus memorial
31. No person has greater love than this one who surrendered his soul in behalf of his friends
32. The day Jesus died
33. Swedish theologian finds historical proof Jesus did not die on a cross
34. The Seed Of The Woman Bruised
35. Ransom for all
36. The redemption of man by Christ Jesus
37. Impaled until death overtook him
38. Jesus three days in hell
39. Christ has indeed been raised from the dead
40. Jesus is risen
41. Why did Christ not reveal the exact time of his second coming?
42. Ember and light the ransomed of Jehovah
43. A Jewish Theocracy
44. Observance of a day to Remember
45. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
46. Through Christ’s death you can be adopted as a child of God
47. The high calling of God in Christ Jesus
48. One Mediator between God and man
49. Festival of Freedom and persecutions
50. Not bounded by labels but liberated in Christ
51. The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
52. Without God no purpose, no goal, no hope
53. Man’s plans prevailed by God’s purpose
54. The truth is very plain to see and God can be clearly seen
55. Written to recognise the Promised One
56. A Living Faith #1 Substance of things hoped for
57. A Living Faith #5 Perseverance
58. A Living Faith #10: Our manner of Life #2
59. God make us holy
60. Growth in character
61. Character is built
62. Character transformed by the influence of our fellowships
63. Minimizing the power of God’s Force the Holy Spirit
64. Praise and give thanks to God the Most Highest

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