Matthew 27 - Psalms 22 Fulfilled!

Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest itin three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Matthew 27: 38-44.

If one wants an idea as to what our Savior was experiencing while hanging on the cross, just read Psalms 22 - which, amazingly, was written by King David some one thousand years BEFORE Jesus was born in Bethlehem and BEFORE crucifixion was invented by the Roman empire. It describes the physical suffering as well as the spiritual suffering that He endured, AND it describes what propelled Him to stay there on the cross and to finish the work. Yes, He was obedient to what the heavenly Father required, but He also saw us, His brethren, the fellow sons of God, who would be born again IN Him and be partakers of the glorious kingdom that God would introduce to the world in 70AD. Like a loving parent who is willing to sacrifice for his or her children, Jesus sacrificed Himself for us, the children of God. (See Hebrews 12:2).

Psalms 22 is bookended by "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" and "He has done it!" or "It is finished." It is no coincidence that these are the first and last words spoken by Jesus before He physically died. The heavenly Father has revealed to us through the Gospels that Psalms 22 is really the words of the Savior while suffering for us.

One additional comment on the thieves hanging on either side of Jesus on their respective crosses-- Matthew reveals that they both gnashed their teeth and cursed at the Lord while He hung there, suffering, but in Luke 23, it is revealed that one of them eventually repented and believed. This is an encouragement to us all not to give up on our friends and loved ones who are stubborn in accepting Jesus. The heavenly Father knows how to draw His children to Himself, and He will do it. Stay vigilant and keep praying and believing and God's plan will be fulfilled!

Just as the Father fulfilled His plan for Jesus set forth in Psalms 22, He will fulfill His plan for all of His sons of glory!

Links:
https://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/unheeded-or-misinterpreted-signs-the-destruction-of-jerusalem-70ad/

http://bible.christiansunite.com/jos/warindex.shtml

http://www.allthingsfulfilled.com/

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/haggadah.html

Matthew 27 - Sent to the Cross

Then released he [Pilate] Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put itupon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. Matthew 27: 26-31

It is very upsetting for many of us in the body of Christ to think about the pain, suffering, torture and humiliation our Savior went through for us. Just one viewing of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, is enough to last a lifetime. The first time I saw that movie was in the theater, and it was difficult to process. I think I was in shock afterward. The second time, I wept like a baby. But as I cried, I sensed the heavenly Father telling me to stop my theatrics. Why? BECAUSE HE IS NO LONGER HANGING THERE! Yes, He suffered and died and descended into the depths of the grave, BUT He was raised up AND glorified at the right hand of God. And the good news is, We are there with Him! Everything Jesus has, we have IN HIM.

Keep that truth in the forefront of your thoughts, regardless of what you may be taught in your denominational churches and bible studies. We are joint heirs with Him. Our minds may not be able to comprehend all that took place on the day of the crucifixtion, but BY FAITH, we believe that in the spiritual realm, a legal event happened whereby spiritual laws were satisfied. Sin was put away and condemned, the curse satisfied, the Law fulfilled, and Death's sting removed. We now have authority and power over sin, we are no longer under the curse of the Law, God's laws are written on our hearts, His love has been shed abroad in our hearts, and Death can no longer separate us from our heavenly Father. 

Selah! Think about all of that and receive it, if you may! How can we walk out this truth in our lives and advance the kingdom on earth, in this physical realm in which we live now? Let's all believe in God's Word, that's how, despite the pressure and temptation to do otherwise! Have faith and believe!

Links:
https://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/unheeded-or-misinterpreted-signs-the-destruction-of-jerusalem-70ad/

http://bible.christiansunite.com/jos/warindex.shtml

http://www.allthingsfulfilled.com/

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/haggadah.html

Matthew 27 - Standing Before Pilate

When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Matthew 27:1-2. And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Matthew 27:11-14.

We see from these scriptures that Pontius Pilate knew Jesus was innocent of all the charges brought against Him by that wicked generation of Jews. He knew they were jealous of Him, because Jesus was a man of authenticity; He loved people and went about doing good everywhere He went. He wasn't caught up in religion or pretense, and yet He was able to amass a large following who hailed Him as a king. Pilate did not view Jesus as an insurrectionist who could be a danger to Rome--on the contrary, I feel certain that Jesus impressed a man like Pilate.

Pilate tried fairly hard to free himself from the tough decision of condemning Jesus. We know from history that Pilate was a ruthless man who had probably condemned many innocent men to death, but this Jesus of Nazareth was different. Perhaps Pilate's soul sensed the spirit of God that was in and on Jesus. Ancient Rome was a culture that revered the supernatural and the world of gods and goddess, unlike today's culture that mocks it. If it turned out that Jesus was a son of the gods, then Pilate did not want His blood on his hands. That is why he figuratively washed his hands of Jesus' death.

Before that, Pilate attempted to release Jesus for the Passover week, which was the custom of that day--one prisoner would be set free to appease the Jews. He offered a choice between Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and bad dude, or Jesus, an innocent man. I'm sure Pilate viewed this as an easy decision, but the crowd thought otherwise; they cried out for Jesus' crucifixion like ravenous dogs. Pilate's wife had a dream, warning him that Jesus was a holy man, but the threats from that murderous generation won over. Pilate caved under pressure and went against his better judgment. 

The bottom line is this: regardless of the decisions made by Pilate or the Jewish leaders, Jesus was going to the cross. One way or another, He would be beaten, mocked, spit upon, nailed to a tree, and left there to die; it was His destiny and He was going to be obedient to that plan. He was and is the lamb slain before the foundation of the world! Praise God for all He did for us!

Links:
https://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/unheeded-or-misinterpreted-signs-the-destruction-of-jerusalem-70ad/

http://bible.christiansunite.com/jos/warindex.shtml

http://www.allthingsfulfilled.com/

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/haggadah.html