His Servants' Ministry

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HIS SERVANTS' MINISTRY

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Who Crucified Christ??

To begin this article, may I say that I am NOT anti-Semitic in any way. I love the Jews, and it burdens my heart and soul to hear anyone speak badly about the nation of Israel. Believers are to love the Jewish people, and if you are a believer in Jesus (a Jew), and hate the Jews (God's chosen people), it is very doubtful that you are saved.

Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. [KJV] I believe this verse!

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Many say the Jews were responsible for sending Jesus to His death. This is indeed a truth. YES! They certainly were responsible!

Matthew 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; [KJV]

Matthew 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. [KJV]

What about the Romans? YES! They too were responsible for Jesus’ death.

Mark 15:15-21 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. [16] And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. [17] And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, [18] And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! [19] And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. [20] And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. [21] And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. [KJV]

What about Judas Iscariot? YES! He too was responsible for Jesus’ death.

Matthew 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. [KJV]

Mark 14:10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. [KJV]

What about God the Father? Could He too have been responsible for His only begotten Son’s death? YES! God the father was responsible (answerable) for Jesus’ death too.

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [KJV]

Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: [KJV]

Everything that happened to Jesus was completely under God’s control. God’s plans were never interrupted by the Roman government or the Jewish officials. Jesus’ death was God’s act; that of wonderful grace and wisdom, for which we should be eternally grateful.

Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? [KJV] God gave His Son for you, He isn’t going to hold back the gift of salvation, or anything else.

Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [KJV] Jesus was NOT questioning God; He was quoting Psalm 22:1. The anguish He felt when He took on the sins of the world; this is what caused Him to be separated from His Father, for God cannot look on any sin, let alone the sins of the entire world! This was what Jesus dreaded as He prayed to God in the garden to take the cup from Him (Matthew 26:39). The physical agony He suffered was horrible, but so much worse was that period of spiritual separation from God. Jesus suffered what could be explained as a double death so that we would never have to experience eternal separation from God. If you have not thanked Jesus today, do it!

That brings us to the last party responsible. YOU! And ME!

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. [KJV]

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. [KJV]

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. [KJV]

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. [KJV]

God loves you, more than you can imagine, so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins. Jesus also loves you more than you could know. Jesus had NO sins of His own. Yet when He willingly hung on that cross for us. Your sins, my sins, the sins of all who have ever lived or ever will live, were placed on Him. He paid a debt He didn’t owe, because we had a debt we couldn’t pay!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [KJV]

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: [KJV] Yes, Jesus died for our sins, but He was raised! He lives!

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. [KJV]

Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; [KJV] Have you refused the love of God and His Son? Don’t wait a moment longer to accept the blessings offered to you. Now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2).

WHAT WILL IT COST ME TO FOLLOW CHRIST?

Have you heard the saying: “Come to Jesus, it will cost you nothing! The price has all been paid, it will cost you nothing!”

This is really a dangerous half-truth. Salvation (eternal life) truly is a Gift! It truly is free! (Rom.6:23; Eph.2:8-9). But, there is always a price connected with salvation and with discipleship. YES! God’s grace is absolutely free, there is no doubt about that. No one in the world can make any human payment towards eternal life or the forgiveness of sins.

Some believe that everybody has faith. All you have to do is turn your faith loose in the right direction of Christ and everything will be OK. The teaching that everyone has faith and all you have to do is use it is wrong. Human faith is not the faith that saves.

Only Nicodemus, out of all the religious leaders, came to Christ. I think it was because he was sensitive to God’s voice and God’s Spirit. Some people have been brought up in Christian homes, gone to Sunday school. Yet, still, to this day, you are not right with God. Some have made a halfway profession but have never been able to delight themselves in the Lord. WHY? Lack of sensitivity to the voice of God, and you could care less about the will of God.

If the voice of the Spirit of God does not move something within your spirit every day, you are not much of a Christian, if you are a Christian at all! I think Nicodemus had a sensitivity within his own spirit that caused him to move, act and inquire. I think he was more receptive to spiritual impulses than other leaders among the Jews in their day.

Nicodemus was a strict Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin, and took pride in his high position; yet he still was receptive to his spiritual impulses. We should strive to keep that kind of spiritual receptivity alive within our own soul. I would rather be a cripple, or blind or deaf, than to lose my sensitivity to God and to His voice and to spiritual things. How I pray to keep that within me, within my soul!

Nicodemus must have had a basic humility that other religious leaders did not have. There are many people among us who will NEVER get right with God, and the simple reason is that they will not humble themselves, ever! Some won’t even humble themselves enough to go to church. It does take some humility to join with people who are serious enough about spiritual priorities that it causes those on the outside to feel we must be in need of psychiatric help. Even my own immediate family think I’m crazy!

Our Lord Jesus was considered to be a very strange kind of Man in His time, so those who gave up all to follow Him were also thought to be very strange. Nicodemus later met with the Sanhedrin (John 7:50-52), where he protested against the planning of Christ’s death. And he took part in the preparation for the burial of the body of Christ (John 19:38-42). After that we hear no more about him. There is little doubt in my mind that he became a true disciple.

What did it cost Nicodemus to follow Christ?

The possibility of the other Pharisees ridiculing him, and of the Romans putting him in prison when he went for the Body of Jesus. It cost him to follow Jesus.

What Did It Cost These People?

Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son (Gen.22:1-2).
Esther risked her own life (Esther 4:11-5:2).
Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den for ceasing to pray to God (Daniel 6:1-28).
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were put into a blazing furnace for refusing to worship the idol of gold (Daniel 3:8-18).
John the Baptist was beheaded (Matthew 14:1-12).
Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 7:54-60).
James, the brother of John, was killed with a sword (Acts 12:2-11).
John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos (Rev.1:9).
Paul suffered terribly for the cause of Christ (2 Cor.11:23-27).

Jesus died on the cross.

(1) Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (KJV)
(2) Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (KJV)
(3) John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! (KJV)
(4) Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (KJV)
Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (KJV)
(5) John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. (KJV)
(6) John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (KJV)
(7) Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (KJV)

I can’t back up the following Biblically. This is Bible history and tradition concerning these men:

Andrew was crucified on a St. Andrews cross.
Bartholomew was supposedly flogged to death.
Peter was crucified, supposedly head down.
Thomas suffered a martyr’s death.
Matthew supposedly died a martyr in Ethiopia.
James, the younger, was crucified in Egypt.
Jude died a martyr in Persia.
Paul was beheaded.

What does it cost you? IF you persevere in following Jesus, it WILL cost you something.

Following Jesus is not always easy or comfortable. It could mean great cost and sacrifice, with no earthly rewards or security. Jesus didn’t even have a place to call home. You may find that following Christ costs you popularity, friendships, leisure time, or treasured habits.

But while the cost of following Christ is high, the value of being Christ’s disciple is even higher. Discipleship is an the best investment you can ever make, one that lasts for eternity and yields incredible rewards. Matthew 8:19-20; Acts 5:40-42. The cost could be great, as the apostles found out. But if you are not willing to suffer for Him, you are not worthy of Him. (Matthew 10:37-38).

Below are some instances of what it cost some people.

Gen.39:20; 2 Ch.16:10; 18:26; 1 Ki.22:27; Jer.15:15; 29:26; 32:2; 33:1; 36:5; 37:15; 38:6; Ps.44:22; 69:7; 105:18; Lam.3:53; Da.3:23; Mt.4:12; 10:18; 11:2; 14:3; 20:23; Mk.1:14; 6:17; 13:9; Lu.3:20; 6:22; 21:12; Jn.3:24; Ac.4:3; 5:18,40; 8:1,3; 9:16,28; 11:19; 12:4; 15:21,26; 16:3,23; 22:4; 22:19; 23:35; 24:27; 26:10,29; 1Co.1:28; 4:9,11,13; 15:19,31; 2Co.1:5,7; 4:8; 6:4,5; 11:23,27; Ep.3:1; 4:1; 6:20; Rom.8:17,36; Php.1:7,13,29; 2:30; 3:6,10; Col.1:24; 4:3, 4:18; 1 Tim.1:13; 2 Tim.1:8,16; 2:9,12; 4:10; Phlm.1,9,23; Ga.1:13; Heb.10:33; 1:25-26,36; 13:13; 1 Pet.4:14; 1 Thes.2:2,14; 2 Thes.1:5; Ja.5:10; 1 Pet.2:20; 3:14,17; 4:13,16; 5:10; Rev.1:9; 2:10; 6:9.

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JESUS, LORD AND KING

A Gift Unequaled

All Fulness of Christ

Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

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