Matthew 27
The events of Matthew 27 leading up to the cross:
The chief priests and elders of the people made plans to have Jesus executed. They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
When Judas saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, “I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood.” He threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
Jesus stood before Pilate for he had been accused by the chief priests and the elders. It was custom for the governor to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd at the festival. At that time, they had a well-known prisoner who name was Jesus Barabbas. Pilate asked the crowd, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
While Pilate was sitting at the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
He asked the crowd again, and they answered, “Barabbas.”
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” After asking the crowd again and asking them why they want to crucify this man, the crowd continued to shout, “Crucify him!” He saw he was getting nowhere, so he took water and washed his hands and said to the crowd, “I am innocent of this man’s blood, it is your responsibility!” The people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” So he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Matthew 27: 27-31
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
My heart breaks every time I think of the events of this day, yet the most beautiful gift of all came through this painful day - the gift of salvation, freedom from sins, victory over the enemy, done! Once and for all.
Above his head, they placed the written charge against him:
THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and mocking him for saying he would destroy the temple and build it in three days. “Save yourself, come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” they said. The chief priests and elders of the law mocked him in the same way, “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 trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
And finally, in verse 50, Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. Verse 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Jesus was buried by his disciple Joseph and he rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
To see that the disciples would not steal the body and tell people that he has been raised from the dead, the chief priests went to Pilate the next day because they remembered he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So Pilate told them, “Take a guard. Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and secured the tomb by putting a seal on the stone and posting a guard.
Matthew 28
The events of Matthew 28:
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away filled with joy to tell the disciples when suddenly Jesus met them. They fell at his feet and worshiped him. Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Some of the guards went to make a report to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests met with the elders they devised a plan and gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
THE GREAT COMMISSION:
Jesus came to his disciples and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus was. . .
Mocked.
Crucified.
Buried.
But, the third day. . .
HE IS RISEN!
And He gave us the Great Commission to go and tell the good news to all!
When you are feeling tired and weary and feel hopeless because you can’t see the light around the corner, remember Jesus is alive and He has a plan for your life!
When you feel like no one loves you, remember Jesus died for you because He loves you SO much!
When you feel the weight of the world is on you be it a tragedy, trauma, relationship issues, financial crisis, illness, or mental health diagnosis – remember Jesus is healer and He has power and strength to help you overcome every trial you face.
When you feel all alone, remember that God is always with you. You are never alone if you have Jesus in your heart.
On Easter Sunday, it seems to be the most prevalent time for us to share the love of Jesus. But He is the same today as He is tomorrow, as He is next week, next month, and every day of the year. Let us share Him boldly every day of the year, for the good news of His resurrection came on Easter and we can share that same good news all year through!
Wishing you the “Hoppiest” Easter holiday today! Remember Christ your Savior. Remember you are loved. Remember your life has great purpose. Remember you belong in the family of God. Come to the table. Jesus is calling YOU!
I love you dearly my friends. I’m praying for you to allow the Holy Spirit to speak into your soul. Block out the noise of the enemy trying to tell you that you’re not enough, that God died for everyone but you, that surely you aren’t included in this great love story. The devil is a liar and a thief, and he wants nothing more than to keep you busy, distracted, and alone in your life without the Father to help you and guide you. You don’t have to believe his lies anymore. He doesn’t have you shackled in chains. He just makes you think you’re shackled in chains. Truth is, it is as though the devil is walking behind us with a chain and our hands are behind our back. For a while, we think we are in cuffs until we realize what Jesus did for us on the cross. All of a sudden, you break free from your chains, realizing all along they were never locked. The devil just made you think they were.
The very moment that Jesus gave his life for you and for me on the cross is the very moment that He covered all sin for all humanity. The only thing keeping us in chains at this point is not the devil, nor our sins or our failures. It is our lack of belief. Just as one believes they are unworthy who comes to the belief that they are worthy, their entire perspective on life changes. So, it is the same with Christ. The moment you realize that Jesus is who He says He is and that He does love you, He did die for you, your sins are covered by His blood, He is alive and He is for you and you accept Him into your heart – this is the moment your perspective on life changes forever, and you will never be the same again because His Holy Spirit comes to live in you. Praise Jesus, hallelujah! Praise the one who set the captives free!
Friends, I urge you, if you know Jesus – What are you doing with Him? Are you in a local church? When was the last time you invited someone to church, or invited someone to Jesus?
If you want more information on sharing the love of Jesus and inviting people to Him, please join me in my Share Jesus Without Fear group to ask questions, attend a discipleship event, and be a part of the Great Commission in Matthew 28 that He has called us all to. Click here to join me! Join Me!
And friends who don’t know my Jesus – Who do you say Jesus is? Do you know where you will spend eternity? If you want more information on who this Jesus is I speak of, join me in discussing who He is and how you can come to know him! I would love to hear your story and get to know you. Join me here! Join Me!
Be blessed my brothers and sisters,
Your beloved sister in Christ,
Mandy
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
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