Good morning to all from Orlando, Florida. Waine and I are being Nanna and Poppop to Kai and Hailee while their Mommy and Daddy have some R&R at a wedding. Waine is out playing golf and will bring the kids home around 1 pm as I anxiously await the wet kisses and hugs. I have been on the road for a week and have not been able to keep my postings going but am determined to finish Matthew and start another journey. I also want to tell you how good God is. Waine's BMW received a brake replacement about a month ago and the mechanic that replaced his brakes failed to put the lug-nuts back on one of the wheels. Waine called me yesterday to tell me that the car was driving sluggishly and then just stopped. We found out later from the BMW dealer that the lugg-nuts were not on the one wheel. God is good all the time and protects us through all types of calamity and I just praise Him today for protecting my Waine specifically and all of us collectively! Continue to pray for ET and his family as he continues his chemotherapy and I thank God for each of you.
Let's continue our journey in Matthew 27, verses 27-44, "Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around Him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt in front of Him and mocked Him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on Him, and took the staff and struck Him on the head again and again. 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. As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it. When they had crucified Him, they divided up His clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. Above His head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Two robbers 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 saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked Him. "He saved others," they said, "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 robbers who were crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him." May the Lord add a blessing to the reading, hearing and understanding of His Word. Amen and amen.
As you know, Cyrene (now Libya) is on the continent of Africa so an African was made to carry the cross for Jesus when Jesus was being led to His crucifixion. There were Jews, Greeks and Africans that occupied Cyrene however most Biblical scholars believe that Simeon was an African. The fact that he is mentioned by name probably means he was a follower of Christ and if you talk to most African Americans there is little doubt that Simeon was an African and that African Americans have been carrying the "Cross" for Jesus ever since. One of those questions I will ask Jesus when I see Him.
What struck me about this passage is that the Roman soldiers felt a need to ridicule Jesus and the Jewish observers had a need to mock Jesus. This is how sin works when you are standing for Jesus. You will be ridiculed for your faith and as you stand firm, Satan will continue to send those in your path to challenge your faith. Just know that you are not alone in this challenge. Christ faced the same challenges BUT without sin! Our conversion does not promise that we will be free of challenges; our conversion and faith only promises that we will be without fear when challenged. Christ was definitely without fear; His silence was not fear it was sadness because of the sin and disbelief of the very people (Romans and Jews) that He was giving His life for. He could have sent angels to defeat the mocking Romans and Jews and then you and I would not have this prize, ETERNAL LIFE WITH JESUS. There is a lesson here. We will be challenged by doubt and fear, just remind yourself that these emotions are not of God but from the father of lies and hate, Satan himself. Faith is a gift from God; Fear is the result of the hate and sin of Satan.
Never doubt that you are the child of the King and you are loved beyond measure. Have a safe and wonderful weekend.
Stephanie
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