The First Earthly Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ Part Two
The Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah Keeps the Passover as The Last Supper With His Disciples Before His Death for Our Sins in Gospel of Luke 22
Jesus said he had desired or looked forward to having this last passover meal with His disciples. This would be because it would be a last time in close fellowship with them before he was betrayed arrested and put to death but more than that that this would be an occasion for Jesus to give one last image of his approaching death in the bread and wine. Jesus said in Luke's gospel that he would not eat of the passover any more until he ate it in the Kingdom of God. Although many people Christians or other Gentiles especially would spiritualize this to mean when Jesus comes to bring Christians to heaven, I think there is a more accurate meaning. Jesus' disciples especially at that time were not looking for Jesus to bring Christians to heaven but to visibly restore Israel's earthly Messianic Kingdom. This is most likely what they thought and what Jesus meant by the Kingdom of God and eating the Passover again with them when the Kingdom of God comes. This will yet come for 1000 years after Jesus' glorious second coming with His Church from heaven to establish God's Messianic or Millennial Kingdom on Earth where the believing remnant of Israel from the tribulation will be rewarded to be the first of the nations and receptients of the blessings of the Covenants God made with their forefathers Abraham, Moses and David as well as their part in the New Covenant. The born again Christians that make up the Church will share in Jesus' glorious reign on earth during that time. Jesus took the Passover cup or the cup of the first Lord's Supper and instructed the disciples to divide it amongst themselves. Jesus also repeated that he wouldn't drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God come which again I believe is a reference to His future reign over the nations through Israel and Jerusalem in the Messianic Kingdom. According to Ezekiel 45:21 God says in His word that the Passover will be kept in the Messianic Kingdom including in reference with the Messianic Kingdom Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus then took the bread and broke it and gave it to his disciples and said to them that this was his body given for them and to do this in rememberance of him. Although it came as a surprise to me as a Gentile Christian and it would probably come as a surprise to a lot of other Christians or Gentiles or even Jews that don't read the Hebrew Scriptures there is probably at least as much importance in the Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament regarding the offering of the fat of the animal sacrifices as the offering of their blood. The fat in these sacrifices was burned on the altar of burnt offering symbolic of being devoted to the LORD after it was separated or broken from other parts of the body of the animal sacrifices. This is also the case in Leviticus 4 and 5 where the animal sacrifices is mentioned in connection with forgiveness from God. Although the offering of fat isn't mentioned very particularly with the offering of the Messiah in the New Testament I think the bread being broken and taken in rememberance of Jesus includes the offering of the fat that was sacrificed on the altar in the Old Testament Temple worship of the LORD. Jesus also took the cup after the Passover supper or Lord's supper and said to his disciples and also to all Christians since then that this cup is but is is in italics or is a supplied word and the word is could be replaced just if not more accurately with the word represents as Jesus was clearly not offering them his literal blood especially at that time but using the wine or fruit of the vine to represent his blood which he soon after that time shed on the cross to pay for our sins and of the whole world especially for those who confess their sins and receive the LOrd Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross as our Lord and Saviour and atonement or payment for our sins. The scripture reference from the Gospel of Luke 22 of the last Passover supper of the Lord Jesus Christ and his disciples before he went to the cross where he pointed out a new sign for the offering of his body and blood on the cross and His promise he would again eat of the passover with his disciples in the Messianic Kingdom is as follows:
Scripture Reference from Gospel of Luke 22 of the Last Passover Supper of the LOrd Jesus Christ Before and Pointing to His Death on the Cross for our Sins and Future Reign in the Kingdom of God through Israel After His Second Coming
And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament (covenant) in my blood, which is shed for you. Gospel of Luke 22:14-20
Prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father to Be Spared From Going
to the Cross in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26
After Jesus predicted Peter's denial of him and the forsaking of him by the other disciples they came to the Garden of Gethsemane. This garden is on the side of the Mount of Olives facing Jerusalem from the east. There is still a garden there. When they got to the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus instructed his disciples to stay at a certain part of the garden while he went a little further into the garden to pray alone to God the Father. Jesus then took of his twelve disciples minus Judas Iscariot his closest three disciples - Peter, James and John the sons of Zebedee with him. Jesus then became very sorrowful and very heavy in other words very sad and depressed. Jesus said his sorrow was so strong at that time it was almost killing him. That was because he was then passing the point of no return of going to the cross to pay for the sins of all people including you the reader and myself both with his physical suffering there and his enduring the spiritual suffering of being forsaken by his co-eternal and co-divine Father God the Father for the three hours of darkness on the cross. Jesus then instructed these three closest disciples to wait at this second spot and watch with him. Jesus then went a little further and prayer to God the Father to ask him if it was his will to take the cup or experience of sending His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to pay for the sins of the world from Jesus. This is a good example in the Gospels that supports the doctrine of the trinity since Jesus as God the Son was praying to the Father as another person of the Godhead. A "oneness" doctrine where the Father and the Son (and the Holy Spirit) are just different names for a God who is one in person as well as being would make no sense here as well as Jesus bearing God the Father's wrath for the sins of mankind on the cross. Although Jesus understood and was extremely depressed at dying for the sins of the human race and as he was tempted to avoid it he was willing to endure this experience if it was God the Father's will (which it was since we could not have forgiveness or eternal life any other way). Jesus then came back to his three disciples and found them asleep and with some frustration asked them why they couldn't wait with him for an hour or a short time. Jesus repeated his instruction to them to watch and pray so they wouldn't enter into temptation which would especially refer to the temptation at that time to deny or forsake him when Jesus' enemies were plotting and taking action against him or anyone who supported him at a critical level. Jesus again prayed to God the Father to take the experience of the cross away from his destiny if it was God the Father's will to ask for some confirmation. This time Jesus was more resigned to accept that it was God the Father's will for Jesus to go to the cross which shows that Jesus was faithful to the Father to Jesus' death for our sins. Jesus then came back to the three disciples who again had fallen asleep. Jesus then departed from them and prayer the same prayer to God the Father for a third and final time. This is a possible indication that for Christians praying earnestly and faithfully for something three times is sufficient for God to hear our prayers although other scriptures mention to continue in prayer but it is good for us to leave our prayer requests with God instead of taking them back to ourselves with lack of faith. Jesus then got up from the third session of prayer resolved to do the Father's will and go to the cross to die for our sins and the sins of every person who ever lives on this world. Jesus also instructed his disciples to get up and face Jesus' final hours before he went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and he told them he was on the verge of being brought into the hands of (Judas Iscariot) his betrayer and some of his adversaries of the office of the high priest. The scripture reference in the Gospel of Matthew 26 of the time of the Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah) in the Garden of Gethsemane to beseech God the Father to deliver him from going to the cross to die for our sins if it was the Father's will is as follows:
Scripture Reference from Gospel of Matthew 26 of the LOrd Jesus Christ (Messiah) Spending Time in the Garden of Gethsemane to Ask God the Father to Spare Him From Dying on the Cross For Our Sins
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder (over there). And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee (James and John), and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, his is at hand that doth betray me. Gospel of Matthew 26:36-46
Betrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ by His Disciple Judas Iscariot from Matthew 26
Although Judas Iscariot had already agreed with the chief priests to betray his master the Lord Jesus Christ, it wasn't until after the last supper of Jesus with his disciples including Judas that Judas actually carried out this betrayal. This was also just after Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsamane about going through with his death on the cross for our sins. Then Judas came with an armed contingent of chief priest and elders and their guards to arrest Jesus. Judas has told the priests and elders that he would give them a sign that the one they were to arrest would be the one he would kiss. Judas then went on to greet the Lord Jesus with a kiss and as usual was willing to call Jesus master but not Lord. Jesus then as he had done before and as God did in the Garden of Eden asked a question for which he already knew the answer but which he wanted to use to get someone in this case Judas considering his way when he asked Judas why he had come. God had a similiar purpose when he asked Adam after he sinned in the Garden of Eden where he was. The soldiers of the chief priest then arrested Jesus. Then one of Jesus' disciples who was Simon Peter struck out at one of the guards and cut off his ear but this could have been worse I heard if he had had a more accurate aim. Jesus then instructed Peter to put his sword back and then them take him away as Jesus knew that going to the cross was the purpose God the Father sent him into this world to die for the sins of all the people of the world and rise again. Jesus however asserted that he did have the authority to protect himself saying that he could have then called forth twelve legions of angels which is about 72,000 angels which would have been more than enough to protect him from the Jewish religious authorities. Jesus then said that if he did that then the scriptures couldn't be fulfilled as the scriptures prophesied that the Messiah would did for the sins of the world such as in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 and other Old Testament scriptures. Jesus then asked the armed contingent why they didn't arrest him when he was teaching in the temple. Then the disciples all forsook Jesus and ran away which was a fulfillment of the scripture in Zechariah 13:7. The scripture reference from Matthew 26 of the betrayal and arrest of the Lord Jesus Christ led by the disciple that was the traitor Judas Iscariot is as follows:
Scripture Reference from Matthew 26 of the Betrayal and Arrest by Judas Iscariot of the Lord Jesus Christ Leading to the Cruxifiction of the Lord Jesus Christ for Our Sins
And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray unto my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I say daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. Matthew 26:47-56
Background of Jewish Sects the Pharisees and Saducees and Their Part in Having the Romans (Gentiles) Put to Death the Lord Jesus the Messiah (Christ) in Matthew 26
One thing God by His Holy Spirit has clarified to me and which I was seeking to know better lately in my reading His word the Holy Bible (now in the Gospels) is the background of the Saducees and Pharisees and other names of Jewish groups in the Gospel. I also looked in non-bibical sources. Some of these sources are the notes in the Ryrie Study Bible, Unger's Bible Dictionary and the book A History of the Jews by author Solomon Grayzel. I believe these are all very reliable sources. One thing I found was that the sects of the Pharisees and the Saducees really started to diverge after the battle of the Jews to protect their identity against the Greek attempt to assimilate them during the latter time of Greek rule over Israel. This came to a crisis in the time of Antiochus Ephiphanes in the 160s BC and the revolt by the Jews led by the Maccabbees against the Hellenizing or assimilating policy. This revolt by the Maccabbees was mostly successful and is prophesied in God's word the Holy Bible in the prophet Daniel in the earlier part of Daniel chapter 11. It is also recorded in the extra-biblical book of 1st Maccabbees. The divergence of the Jewish scribes and priests according to one of the above sources started in the time of biblical person Ezra who was both a scribe and a priest and who was one of the main persons used of God in restoring Israel and the Temple worship of God after the Babylonian captivity as recorded in the Book of Ezra in about the late 6th century BC.
However by the time of the Maccabbees and Antiochus Ephiphanes a stronger divergence of these two groups occurred. From among the scribes arose the group called the Pharisees and from among the priests arose the Saduccees. The term Pharisee means separation in the sense that they sought a purely religious form of authority and resistance from Gentile or non-Jewish power while the term Saduccee is named after the godly high prist in the time of King David and means righteous. However the Sadduccees became very involved in economic and political power and believed they could maintain some Jewish sovereignty by being strong that way and to resist Gentile control. The involvement of the Saduccees in the priesthood included the high priest and the chief priests including in the New Testament being from their group. The term lawyer or doctors of the law in the New Testament are both references to some of the scribes or Pharisees rather than the Saduccees. Although the chief priests and high priest were usually, including in New Testament days, associated with the Sadduccees some of the regulations for their functioning in the Temple etc. was specified by the scribes and Pharisees. The council of the chief priests from the Saduccees that controlled day by day operation of the Temple and the priests there including in New Testament times including the priestly worship of the LORD, the collection of tithes into the treasury and the guarding of the gates of the temple complex was a council of 14 chief priests and was called "the council of the temple". This 14 council members included the high priest and an assistant high priest who could take the place of the high priest if the high priest was unable to attend to his duties. The assistant high priest was called the "Sagan". All this is according to Merrill Unger in Unger's Bible Dictionary in the article under Priesthood, Hebrew and the subsection Regulations. I heard Mr. Unger was a Messianic Jew or a Jew who came to trust in Jesus (Y'Shua) as his personal Lord and Saviour who died for our sins on the cross an rose again to give us eternal life.
There are many people, especially from a more liberal background, that particularly criticize the Pharisees as being overly legalistic and very intolerant in putting Jesus to death. It is true that they were quite legalistic or at least many of them and that they had a main role in putting Jesus to death but one thing among others I have learned from this study is that the Saduccees that one could say were more liberal also had a main role in putting Jesus to death and in some other times persecuting Jesus or being critical or narrow. This is when one realized that it was primarily from the Saduccees that the chief priests and the high priest were members of (although they were compelled to adopt some of the legalism of the Pharisees or the tradition of the elders). There were significant numbers of both Pharisees including those called scribes and Saduccees including the high priest and those called chief priests in the Sanhedrin or council that Jesus (and later the apostle Paul) appeared before. In Matthew 26:57-59 both the Saduccees (in the high priest and the chief priests) and the Pharisees (in the those under the term the scribes) had a part of judging Jesus as worthy of death in their hearing in Jerusalem before the Sanhedrin before they sent Jesus to stand trial before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. The Romans in the person of the governor Pontius Pilate not the Jews even the Sanhedrin were the ones at that time that only had the authority to sentence someone to death. The scripture reference from Matthew 26 about the trial of Jesus before the high priest and the Sanhedrin including both prominent Saduccees and Pharisees that contributed to Jesus put to death (that was the payment for all our sins if we trust in Him) but soon after Jesus rising from the dead is as follows:
The Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah Before Caiaphas the High Priest and the Sanhedrin the Council in Matthew 26
On that last Thursday night before Jesus' death the soldiers of the Temple took Jesus and brought him to the palace of high priest where the high priest and other scribes and elders of the law and the Jewish Sanhedrin or council were gathered. The apostle Peter also followed Jesus and the soldiers taking Jesus and sat with the servants of the high priest in his palace. Although it wasn't consistant with the law of Moses, the chief priests and the elders and all the council sought false witnesses against Jesus to put him to death because they weren't interested in a fair trial only to put him to death and they thought, very wrongly, to be done with him. Although they brought many false witnesses there were none that could point an irrefutable charge against Jesus and another Gospel says their witness didn't agree with each other. Some of the false witness included the twisted interpretation of Jesus' claim that if they destroyed this temple he could raise it again in three days although Jesus was speaking symbolically of the temple of his body not of the physical temple. This statement which the Jews either thought or claimed referred to the physical temple greatly incensed them as they suspected Jesus was some type of rebel or radical who was trying to lead a destruction of the Jewish temple as well as the laws of Moses through what they wrongly thought was a heretical sect or Jewish cult but was actually the promotion of the New Covenant.
Jesus remained silent at this and other charges which angered the high priest and made him impatient for an answer from Jesus to these charges although he was probably looking mostly from some words of Jesus that could be held against him as grounds of blasphemy, a man claiming to be God, and reason enough to put him to death. The high priest then demands on the basis of an oath to God that Jesus state clearly whether he was the Christ (Messiah) and the Son of God or not. I don't think it was just Jesus saying he would come in the clouds of heaven at the right hand of power that made the sanhedrin think he was guilty of blasphemy but also that they understand the term the Son of God was a title of divinity. The Sanhedrin would be aware and understand the Old Testament including some Messianic scriptures like Psalm 2. This has two references to the Son of the LORD or Son of God in ways that could easily suggest to the Sanhedrin that Jesus was claiming to be divine and as they didn't think he was God come from heaven they thought He was a man wrongly claiming to be God and so was committing blasphemy. I couldn't find any better reference in the Old Testament from where the term Son of God could have been derived than Psalm 2 and so I think this is probably what the Sanhedrin would have in mind. Jesus then affirms that claim and then adds, using his title as the Son of Man, that afterward the high priest would see him (Jesus) coming in the clouds of heaven at the right hand of power (God the Father or the LORD, Jehovah or Yahweh of the Old Testament). The high priest then tore his clothes which was a demonstration of grief and anger and astonishment and said this claim of Jesus were the words of blasphemy in him claiming to be God. Then the Sanhedrin or council agreed Jesus was worthy of death. Then they mocked him and treated him despitefully by striking him, spitting on him and mocking his claims to be the Christ or Messiah. One thing that I just realized in reading through the Gospel of John in 2012 is that Jesus was mistreated three times not twice but three times by different groups of people before he went to the cross. There is this time here by the Jewish temple guards and not once but twice by Roman soldiers. This occurred once by Herod's soldiers and once by the soldiers of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Although the treatment of the high priest and the Sanhedrin here of Jesus was despicable it should be noted that at other times in Old Testament history they did much good in calling the people back to God's Word and serving God in the Temple and Temple sacrifices that speak of Jesus the Messiah' death on the cross and the high priest and Sanhedrin will also do good in calling Jews back to the scriptures and the Temple in the tribulation in preparation for the worship of Messiah Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem in the 1000 year Messianic Age. The scripture reference from Matthew 26 of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah's) trial before the Jewish high priest and Sanhedrin that would lead to his dying on the cross for our sins is as follows:
Scripture Reference from Matthew 26 of Trial of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Before the Jewish High Priest and Sanhedrin
And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witnesses against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God. Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of his hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ (Messiah), Who is he that smote thee? Gospel of Matthew 26:57-68
Background of Reference to the Son of the LORD as the Son of God and Reference to Jesus in Psalm 2
In verse 7 of Psalm 2 there is a statement attributed to the LORD (God the FAther) saying of the Messiah that he was His Son. This is a statement in the Old TEstament in a very well known passage even then that the Messiah would be the Son of God. The Sanhedrin understood this by sometimes putting these two characteristics together in asking Jesus is He was the Messiah which would be the Son of God as in Matthew 26:63. Annointed in Psalm 2 means Christ or Messiah in Matthew 26. The phrase this day I have begotton thee is referred to as God the Father raising Jesus from the dead in Acts 13:33 and Hebrews 1:5 and Hebrews 5:5 as prophecies of Messiah or Christ Jesus' resurrection by God the Father. I do not know if the Sanhedrin were aware that this reference to the Son of God would be to the Messiah's resurrection but I believe they did believe this reference to the Son of God was to the Messiah's divinity and they understood that this was what Jesus of Nazareth was claiming when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. I think verses 9 to 12 of Psalm 2 however look past Jesus' first coming to His Second Coming when He comes to judge the world including the world powers and set up God's kingdom on Earth. The phrase kiss the Son I heard might more accurately be translated pay homage to the Son (as King of kings etc.) so I think verse 12 of this psalm also supports the use in this psalm of the title Son of God for the Annointed One or Messiah as a title of divinity as it is only God that has the right to take over this world and receive the worship of all people. However there have been humans that have tried this before and the antichrist or beast out of the sea will succed for the future 7 year tribulation but they won't be doing this rightfully but be Satan's presumptive claims to world rule and worship. The scripture reference from Psalm 2 of the title Son of God (of the LORD) as a divine title that was claimed rightfully by Jesus of Nazareth and that the Sanhedrin recognized he was claiming but that they wouldn't accept he deserved is as follows:
Scripture Reference from Psalm 2 of Reference to the Son of the LORD as the Son of God and Reference to Jesus in Psalm 2 and the Sanhedrin's Understanding of This but Not Acceptance of It
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against he anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotton thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Psalm 2
The Apostle Paul Applies Part of Psalm 2 Regarding the Son of God to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in Acts 13
In Acts 13 the apostle Paul applies part of Psalm 2 with the verse of about the LORD (God the Father) begetting His Son on a certain day as the day that God the Father raised His Son the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. In Gospel of John 10:17-18 the Lord Jesus Christ said He also had a part in His resurrection from the dead. The statement of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God or Son of the LORD is a statement of Jesus divinity and this aspect referring to His resurrection could have been part of the basis that the Sanhedrin understood Jesus term in reference to Himself as the Son of God as a (actually rightful but they did not accept that) claim to divinity. The scripture reference from Acts 13 of the apostle Paul applying the LORD or God the Father begetting His Son to Jesus' resurrection is as follows:
Scripture Reference from Acts 13 of the Apostle Paul Applying Reference in Psalm 2 of the LORD (God) Begetting HIs Son to Jesus' Resurrection
And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Acts 13:32-33
The Lord Jesus Christ in His Resurrection from the Dead Associated With His Title the Son of God Also in Romans 1
Although this passage does not use the term begotten from the dead to refer to Jesus' resurrection, it does associate Jesus' resurrection from the dead with His title the Son of God and with both of them as being proof of His divinity and that His divinity is at least a main part of the meaning of His title the Son of God as also based on Psalm 2. This passage also relates Jesus as the Messiah in the line of King David which was another of the qualifications for the Messiah. Although it is not mentioned in Psalm 2 that the Messiah would be in the line of David, it is in many other scriptures such as Psalm 89 and 2 Samuel 7. The scripture reference from Romans 1 of the term Son of God associated with Jesus' resurrection from the dead with both indicating His divinity as well as that Jesus was the Messiah in the line of David is as follows:
Scripture Reference from Romans 1 of the Title for the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God Associated with His Resurrection from the Dead Indicating His Divinity
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Romans 1:3-4
The Lord Jesus Christ Persecuted by Roman Soldiers of King Herod in Luke 23
From a careful reading of the gospels there are two times the Lord Jesus Christ appeared on trial before Pontius Pilate and I don't know if the time Jesus appeared before Herod was before both of those times or in between them. Anyway after Jesus appeared before King Herod, Herod and his soldiers which were probably Roman soldiers beat up and mocked Jesus. This included putting on Jesus a splendid robe that was probably owned by Herod and meant to mock Jesus' claim to be king. Jesus suffered all this harm and mistreatment for each of us on the way to his full payment for our sins when died on the cross and shed his blood of God in the form of man and rose again. Jesus and God the FAther were willing to do this because he knew that all human beings are sinners to some degree and couldn't meet God and His standards of perfect righteousness ourselvess so Jesus died in our place so we might have his righteousness and be able to dwell with HIm and God the Father in heaven and the new earth and new heavens instead of being sentenced to punishment in hell that we all deserve. The scripture reference from the Gospel of Luke 23 of the Lord Jesus Christ being mistreated by the Roman soldiers of Herod and Herod himself is as follows:
Scripture Reference from Luke 23 of the Lord Jesus Christ Being Mistreated by King Herod and His Soldiers
And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him to Pilate. Gospel of Luke 23:11
The Lord Jesus Christ on Trial Before the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate in John 18
The chief priest and their officers or guards brought Jesus to the judgment hall of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate but they did not enter there probably because it represented a legal body of the nations especially one that was oppressing Israel and restricting their sovereignty. The chief priests would probably prefer that Israel would again be a theocratic monarchy or a theocracy under the Messiah which is what they were looking for in the Messiah and why they didn't accept Jesus as the Messiah. The chief priest and others that brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate also wanted to keep themselves ritually pure to be prepared to celebrate the Passover. Pilate then asked the chief priests what accusation or charge they were bringing against Jesus. The Jewish chief priests, perhaps including the high priest and other members of the Sanhedrin charged Jesus as a malefactor which probably means someone trying to incite and raise up a revolution in this case against Pontius Pilate and Roman authority. Pilate didn't notice any uprising caused by Jesus and said that the Jews should put him on trial in their court, the Sanhedrin, instead. The Jewish leaders then said that it wasn't legal for them to put anyone to death which was true and this was the main reason they delivered Jesus to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Then Pilate called the trial of Jesus to order by entering into the judgment hall and asking Jesus if he acknowledged himself as the King of the Jews as this was part of the basis the chief priests and Sanhedrin were using to say that Jesus was leading an insurrection or rebellion against Rome. Jesus responded with his own question to Pilate about whether these were charges he was bringing against Jesus or just charges levelled against him by the chief priests and Sanhedrin that were intimidating Pilate to charge Jesus with. Pilate tried to pass the blame and acknowledged that it was the Jewish authorities that were leading and originating the charges against Jesus and then he asks Jesus again what he had done. Jesus then responded that his kingdom was not of this world meaning it is from heaven and that if his kingdom was of this world then would his servants fight (with earthly weapons) to prevent him from being delivered into the hands of the Jewish authorities in the first place. Jesus concluded that now his kingdom is not of this world but implies it will be later which is a reference to when he sets up his 1000 year Messianic Kingdom over all the earth after his second coming in glory at the end of the tribulation. Pilate then asks Jesus directly if he is a king. Jesus affirms that he is and that that is why he came into the world but he also says his kingdom has some higher values than other earthly kingdoms that part of his kingship was to testify of the truth and that whoever is of the truth would hear his voice. Jesus was faithful to testify of the truth as a feature of his offering the kingdom to Israel for the first part of his public ministry and has postponed the earthly kingdom to Israel until the Messianic Kingdom after the Church Age aspect of the kingdom of God in a spiritual but not political way is completed at the rapture. Pilate didn't understand what Jesus meant by the truth he was a witness of but sees and announces he sees no grounds for charges especially unto death of Jesus' actions as King of the Jews. The scripture reference in John 18 of Jesus' trial before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate representing the Gentiles or nations is as follows:
Scripture Reference in Gospel of John 18 of Jesus' Trial Before the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate
Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness of the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. Gospel of John 18:28-38
Description of the Assault on Jesus by the Soldiers of the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate from Matthew 27
The third incident of violence against the Lord Jesus Christ before he went to the cross was by the Roman soldiers of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. This was after similiar experiences for Jesus with the Jewish temple guards and the Roman soldiers of King Herod as mentioned above. The soliders of Pontius Pilate stripped him and put on him a scarlet robe. They then put a crown of thorns on his head a reed in his hand. These were meant to be a mocking representation to Jesus and his claims to be a king with the crown of thorns representing the crown of the king and the reed representing a sceptre. The soldiers then bowed the knee to Jesus and said hail king of the Jews but they said this in mockery. These soldiers then spat in Jesus' face and hit him over the head with the reed. Jesus endured all this as well as going to the cross for our sakes to give a righteous substitutionary payment for our sins that we could never pay for ourselves since we are all sinners to some degree and can't save ourselves before the true God that is completely holy and righteous as well as completely loving. But because God is also full of grace and mercy he will count Jesus' suffering on the cross and resurrection from the dead as the full payment for our sins for anyone who trusts in Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour. In the Old Testament in Isaiah 50:6 God also prophesied through one of his prophets that the Messiah would be spat upon that happened in this passage to Jesus in fulfillment of prophecy. The soldiers then took off this mock robe and put Jesus' regular clothes back on him and led to be crucified. The scripture reference from Matthew 27 of the Lord Jesus taking physical and verbal abuse also from the soldiers of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate is as follows:
Scripture Reference from Matthew 27 of the Lord Jesus Christ Roughed Up Also by the Soldiers of the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate
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 it upon 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 mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. Gospel of Matthew 27:27-31
Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Crucified by Peter Paul Rubens
1610-20 property of M. K. Ciurlionis National Museum of Art, Kaunas, Lithuania
The Death of Jesus of Nazareth the Christ or Messiah from Gospel of Matthew 27
God showed the depth of his hatred of evil and his wanting to keep it confidential by causing a supernatural darkness from the sixth hour to the ninth hour which especially in Matthew, Mark and Luke's Gospel are referring to the Jewish hours that start at sunrise or about 6 AM or in other words from 12 noon to 3 pm when it would normally be bright daylight. God or course considers sin spiritual darkness as is often mentioned in his word the Holy Bible. Although Jesus was from the 6th to the 9th hour in these gospels bearing all the sins of the world and there was spiritual darkness there was also physical darkness with the sun being darkened at that time according to Luke 23:45. This is interesting because God's word also says the sun was (will be) darkened just before the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as part of the signs in the heavens during what will also be a very solemn time according to Matthew 24:29. God may cause this to remind people then on earth that the one then coming to judge the earth and set up God's kingdom on earth the Lord Jesus Christ was also the one that 2000 years before died for the sins of potentially every human being and actually of all who trust in Him as our personal Lord and Saviour. At the ninth hour Jesus cried out loudly in Aramaic or a Syrian dialect which was the language in Israel of the common people at that time Eli, eli, lama sabachthani which means my God, my God why have you forsaken me. By this Jesus meant why did God the Father forsake him for the three hours when there was darkness over the land and God the Father separated himself from his co-divine and co-eternal son the Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah) for the first time since eternity past. This would of course be a very traumatic experience and what he would dread the most as evidenced by his wanting this cup or experience to pass from him when it was still in the future when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane but Jesus endured this separation from God the Father for our sakes anyway so we might not have to be separated from God in the Lake of Fire forever for our sins. Some of the people listening to Jesus and located near the site of the cruxifiction might not have known much Aramaic and thought that Jesus was calling for Elijah or Elias to save him since this sounded similiar to the Aramaic word Eli or Eloi. Then some of these people took a sponge and soaked it in vinegar and offered it to Jesus to drink but which another gospel says he refused. Others said, perhaps mocking, to see if Elijah would come and deliver Jesus as they weren't sympathetic for his suffering. They probably either didn't understand or care that Jesus was then in the process of dying for the sins of the world including mine and yours reader and these people unsympathetic to Jesus located near the site of cruxifiction. They Jesus gave another indication that he was unique as God come in the form of a man in having control when he died and gave up the ghost or his spirit which none of us as mortal men and women have the power to control. The scripture reference in the Gospel of Matthew 27 of the death of the Christ or Messiah the Lord Jesus of Nazareth is as follows:
Scripture Reference from Matthew 27 of the Death of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 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? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. Gospel of Matthew 27:45-50
Scripture Reference from Luke 23 of the Sun Being Darkened During the 3 Dark Hours When the Lord Jesus Paid for Our Sins on the Cross
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. Luke 23:44-45
Scripture Reference from Matthew 24 of the Sun Being (to Be) Darkened Just Before the Second Coming in Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ to Earth at the End of the Tribulation
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: Matthew 24:29
Natural and Supernatural Effects of the Death of the Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah) from Gospel of Matthew 27
A most noteworthy and critical effect of the death of Christ was probably God the Father tearing from the top to the bottom the veil of the second or Herod's temple into the holy place that would be quite impossible for a human being to do readily since it was woven very tightly and at least 4 inches thick. This action took place at 3 PM which would be the usual time for the start of the daily evening burnt sacrifice and was no doubt a message to especially the high priest and Jewish priests and Levites and other religious people that they could enter into God's presence starting at that time in a much fuller way through the sacrifice of His son Jesus the Messiah (Christ). This was shown by there being free access to the holy place with the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat over which in times past God's glory on earth was situated although this removal of this barrier upon Jesus's death was also showing God from time on provided from access to anyone to Himself and His presence in Heaven. However after the removal of the Christian Church at the rapture or catching up of the Church with Jesus to Heaven God will allow the building and resumption of Jewish worship under the law for the first half of the tribulation until the Antichrist takes control and then allow the Jews a temple on earth in Jerusalem in combination with the New Covenant in the Millennnial Kingdom Temple where Jesus the Messiah Himself will rule the world from the Holy of holies of that temple and probably God the Father's glory will hover over it. This temple will also have in a modified way animal sacrifices but as memorials and reminders of Jesus one perfect sacrifice that only takes away all our sins. Just after Jesus' death there was also a great earthquake in Jerusalem and the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints or believers from the Old Testament period rose from the dead. It should be noted at that time it was only saints or believers in God not any ungodly people who rose from the dead. Also their graves were opened at Jesus's death but other New Testament scriptures make clear these saints or believers didn't rise from the dead until after Jesus Himself rose from the dead on the third day later. These saints would be mostly righteous Jews of the Old Testament but they could have included some Gentiles or people of the nations that lived around Jerusalem and had believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These saints that rose from the dead clearly had bodies and weren't just spirits as they appeared to many in the holy city (Jerusalem). One of the people that this has a great even life changing affect on was a Roman centurion who after watching Jesus and the earthquake and the other things that happened at that time believed and confessed Jesus as the Son of God. Also many of Jesus' women disciples watched these things from a distance and ministered unto Jesus or served him probably in looking after his body. The scripture reference in the Gospel of Matthew 27 of the natural and supernatural affects immediately after the death of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) are as follows:
Scripture Reference in Matthew 27 of the Natural and Supernatural Effects of the Death of the Lord Jesus the Messiah (Christ)
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his ressurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children. Gospel of Matthew 27:51-56
The Burial of the Lord Jesus from Gospel of John 19
There are some groups or indivuals especially Muslims and some skeptics from the west that doubt the ressurrection of the Lord Jesus because they believe he didn't die but that he just fainted and then revived. This is sometimes called the swoon theory. However here in the gospel of John with the mention that the soldiers were confident enough that Jesus was dead that they pierced him with a spear and there came out blood and water there is a clear indication that Jesus had already died and this would likely have killed him even if he wasn't dead already. This is in verses 33 and 34. Also when some of the women disciples embalmed Jesus and wrapped him with spices and in linen clothes he would not be able to breath and this would kill him also if he wasn't dead already. Although I believe the gospel account can stand up well enough without it, I believe the Shroud of Turin is authentic and the patch dated to medieval times is just that a patch and the bulk of the shroud is from the 1st century as Jerome Corsi in his new book about the shroud of Turin has been the latest to emphasize. A matching napkin that covered Jesus' face or head as mentioned in John 20 has also been found and is kept in Oviedo Spain and perfectly matched the head part of the shroud of Turin. Joseph of Arimathaea sought the body of Jesus and Pontius Pilate granted him it and Joseph with Nicodemus sought to bury it in a new tomb. I think one of the other gospels makes clear it was Joseph's tomb. This would fulfill the scripture in Isaiah 53 that the Messiah would be buried with the rich in his death. This garden tomb was just nearby to the place where Jesus was crucified and the empty tomb that is now a tourist attraction and just outside the old city gates or walls and near a rock outcrop that looks like the outline of a skull where Jesus was probably crucified is probably the authentic spot of Jesus' burial. Of course it is an empty tomb because Jesus is risen and ascended to heaven bodily and is now bodily at God the Father's right hand in heaven waiting for his coming again first for his church at the rapture and then about seven years later to judge the world and set up his and God the Father's kingdom over all the earth centred in Jerusalem and Israel. The scripture from Gospel of John 19 mentioning the burial of the Lord Jesus is as follows:
Burial of the Lord Jesus Christ from Gospel of John 19
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. Gospel of John 19:31-42
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illustration used by permission of the copyright holder National Publishing Company
as it appears in their publication Family Faith and Values Bible copyright 1997
Angelic Message of Comfort Concerning Ressurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ to Some of His Women Disciples That Were Looking for Him in Gospel of Matthew 28
After the sabbath or sabbaths had ended, at least for the remainder of the present Church Age that will end with the rapture or catching up to heaven of the Church of born again Christians, and the first day of the week began Mary Magdalene one of Jesus' main women disciples came to his sepulchre or tomb where he was buried. While she was at Jesus' tomb or sepulchre there was an earthquake caused by a mighty angel of God descended from heaven. He came for the special and extremely honourable purpose of rolling away the stone blocking the entrance to the tomb of Jesus after which the angel sat on this stone. His appearance is described as like lightning or radiant and his raiment or clothing white like snow. His appearance must have been quite intimidating as this plus their possibly connecting him as the one responsible for rolling away the stone or even causing the earthquake caused the Roman keepers or guards to become as dead men. However an even more likely earthly reason they could have been fearful was that they were commanded in the name of the Roman Empire and Caesar to guard Jesus' tomb and they had failed with the angel rolling away the entrance stone and the penalty in the Roman Empire for soldiers failing to obey orders was death. The angel then said to Jesus' women disciples not to fear him or the things then happening or what had become of Jesus but it is interesting he doesn't instruct the soldiers not to fear. The angel then shows he knows why the women came to Jesus' tomb and sympathizes with them in saying he knew they sought Jesus, which was crucified and that he died not just fainted or something like that. The angel then tells the women the utmost joyful and hopeful news that Jesus was not there, in the tomb, but was risen from the dead as Jesus had said or foretold. The angel then invited the women disciples to see the place where the Lord lay or was buried confirming that he had died and was buried before he rose from the dead. The angel then gives further joyful instructions and news to the women: to tell his other (male) disciples and that Jesus Himself was at that time on his way to Galilee and that they would see him (alive) there. The scripture reference in the Gospel of Matthew 28 of the angelic announcement to Mary Magdalene and some of the other women disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ of his being risen from the dead is as follows:
Scripture Reference from the Gospel of Matthew 28 of the Angelic Announcement to Mary Magdalene and Other Women Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ of Jesus' Ressurrection from the Dead
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. Gospel of Matthew 28:1-7
The Risen Lord Jesus Christ Appears to Some of His Disciples Including Thomas and Thomas Believes After Touching the Lord From Gospel of John 20
Thomas, who was one of the 12 disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, was not with the other disciples the first time he appeared to them after his resurrection. The other disciples told Thomas that they had seen the risen Lord Jesus Christ but he told them he could not believe them unless he got more undeniable proof by not only seeing the risen Lord Jesus but seeing the marks of crucifiction in his hands and putting his finger in the prints of the nails in Jesus' hands and putting his hand onto Jesus' side (where a spear had pierced him). A week after the previous appearance Jesus appeared again to his disciples this time including Thomas. Jesus appeared to them in a room of a building even though the doors were shut because although he had a body in his resurrection, it was a spiritual body and it could go through walls or ascend to heaven but still physically manifest itself such as being felt or eating food. Jesus then appeared in the midst of the disciples in this room and said peace be unto you. Jesus then rebuked Thomas and demanded that he observe his hands and with Thomas' hands to touch Jesus' side and not to be faithless or doubting. (This is where the expression of being a doubting Thomas comes from.) Thomas did this and then exclaimed my Lord and my God. This was referring to the Lord Jesus Christ and Thomas recognized Jesus as not only HIs Lord but as God Incarnate. Jesus approved of this since he did not criticize Thomas for saying this. Jesus then rebuked Thomas for his unbelief saying that he has only believed Him because he had seen him and felt his wounds and then added a blessing that all true Christians of this generation as well as most of Church history can claim that Jesus and God especially blesses us if we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and God in the flesh without seeing him visibly. The scripture reference from Gospel of John 20 of the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ after his resurrection to his disciples including Thomas and Thomas' unbelief turned to faith in Jesus after Thomas saw and felt Jesus in his wounds is as follows:
Scripture Reference from Gospel of John 20 of The Resurrection Appearnace of the Lord Jesus Christ Including Thomas and Thomas Believing In Jesus Only After Seeing and Feeling Jesus in His Wounds
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then said he unto Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, but have believed. Gospel of John 20:24-29
Description of the Lord Jesus Christ Stating He Had a Part in Accomplishing His Resurrection (and the Time of His Death) from Gospel of John 10
The Lord Jesus Christ stated one of the reasons God the Father loved Him was Jesus' faithfulness to God the Father regarding Jesus' death and resurrection. Jesus stated that he voluntarily laid His life down and took it up again. Jesus went on to elaborate that He had the power when and how to lay His life down (when He died on the cross) and to raise it up again on the third day afterwards when He rose from the dead according to the Bible the word of God. Other scriptures state that God the Father and the Holy Spirit also had a role in Jesus' rising from the dead. Jesus states that His laying down His life and taking it up again, rising from the dead, were also a commandment from God the Father. Jesus stating that He also had power to lay down His life and to take it up again are an indication of His divinity and His claim to be divine with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. The scripture reference from John 10 of the Lord Jesus Christ stating that He had a part and that it was partly by His own power that He laid His life down and raised it from the dead is as follows:
Scripture Reference from Gospel of John 10 of the Lord Jesus Christ Stating That He Had Power to Lay His LIfe Down and Power to Raise it Up Again Indicating His Deity
(Jesus said:) Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. Gospel of John 10:17-18
Participation of God the Holy Spirit in the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the Dead from Romans 8
In Romans 8 verse 11 the scripture continues about the life giving work of the Holy Spirit. In this verse it is stated that the Holy Spirit had a part in the raising of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. This is another indication of the divinity of the Holy Spirit and of the whole Godhead or divine trinity involved in the raising fo the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. In the latter verse the work of the Holy Spirit to quicken or make alive the bodies of born again Christians who have received the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour is mentioned. The scripture reference from Romans 8 of the work of the Holy Spirit in raising the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is as follows:
Scripture Reference from Romans 8 of the Participation of God the Holy Spirit in the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:11
Background of Reference in 1 Peter 3 of Work of the Holy Spirit in Raising the Lord Jesus Christ from the Dead
The beginning of this verse, verse 18, tells the effect of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ that He suffered or paid the penalty for our sins as He was the just suffering for we the unjust. In doing this He brings us into a relationship with God the Father now spiritually and when Christians leave this world to God the Father in location in the Third Heaven. To do this Jesus was put to death in the flesh or shedding his blood and his body broken but this scripture also says Jesus was quickened or made alive or raised from the dead partly by the Holy Spirit. The scripture reference from 1 Peter 3 of the effect of Jesus's death and resurrection for those who become believers in Him or Christians and that Jesus' resurrection was partly accomplished by the Holy Spirit raising Jesus from the dead as follows:
Scripture Reference from 1 Peter 3 of Effect of the Death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Resurrection Partly Accomplished by the Holy Spirit
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: 1 Peter 3:18
Ascension to Heaven of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Promise to Send the Holy Spirit in Gospel of Luke 24
This scripture makes clear that Jesus' last promise to his disciples before he ascended and returned to heaven was that he would shortly after that time send the Holy Spirit to indwell his disciples and work on unbelievers especially in this age. This is referred in this passage as Jesus' promise that his disciples would be endued with power from on high (from heaven). This working and ministry of the Holy Spirit continues at this time and will continue in this way a little longer until the restrainer of evil or he who now lets (restrains) is taken out of the way to heaven at the end of the present Church Age at the rapture or translation to heaven of the Church of born again believers. These are those who have personally placed our faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died for our sins and rose from the dead to give us new life. Jesus then led the way for with his disciples as far as Bethany on the Mount of Olives. He then lifted up his hands and blessed them symbolizing his blessing the Church. This is the last way his disciples saw him on earth with Jesus in this pose he was carried up or caught up to heaven. His disciples then had a commendable response to Jesus' life including death and resurrection, ministry and blessing with their last being pictured in this gospel as constantly worshipping, rejoicing in Jesus and praising and blessing God in the temple. Christians can praise and bless God anywhere although when Jesus comes back to the Mount of Olives to set up his among God's Kingdom Jesus as the Messiah and King of the earth will then also be worshipped in the temple. In the meantime Jesus is at God the Father's right hand although he will come to take his church to himself before the tribulation and before his return to the Mount of Olives to set up God's Kingdom on Earth at the end of the tribulation. The scripture reference in the Gospel of Luke 24 of Jesus promising the sending of the Holy Spirit and his being carried up to heaven from the Mount of Olives is as follows:
Scripture Reference from Gospel of Luke 24 of The Lord Jesus Christ Promising the Sending From Heaven of the Holy Spirit and His Jesus' Then Being Carried to Heaven
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry (wait) ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued (indwelt) with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. Gospel of Luke 24:49-53
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