And they mocked Him!

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

Don't Answer to Sin!

Good morning to all on this glorious Monday morning. All is well in the Kong household and Waine and I had a wonderful time in Kingston these past several days. Please continue to pray for ET and his family and thank your for your prayers for mine. Satan is busy and desires to keep confusion alive; let the peace of God rest, rule and abide in your hearts and homes this morning so that His will is done for you! Pray believing in the outcome and thank Him for all his mercies and grace.

I am continuing my journey in Matthew 27 verses 11-26, "Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. When He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He gave no answer. Then Pilate asked Him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against You?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. While Pilate was sitting on 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." But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor. 'Barabbas," they answered. What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify Him!" "Why? What crime has He committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify Him!" When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this Man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" All the people answered, "Let His blood be on us and on our children!" Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified. Wow! May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Holy Word.

And the crowd shouted "Crucify Him!" not once but twice. Boy what hatred the crowd had for Jesus. That kind of hatred is only produced by Satan and Sin who cannot stand in the midst of Jesus the Christ. What is funny is that Satan was once one of the greatest angels and still did not understand the Word of God and the  Love of God for all Mankind. If Satan understood the scriptures, he would have realized that neither he or sin could kill Jesus, the Christ. He would have realized that Christ gave of His life willingly so all you believed could have eternal life. Just as the Jews cried "let His blood be on our hands and on the hands of our children", Jesus' blood covers the door post of all who believed in the Power of His Name then and throughout the ages. You and I are the direct recipients of His love. Jesus was victorious on that day because He submitted to the will of His Father and endured sin so that we might have eternal life. That is some sacrifice and love; just thinking about His love should motivate you to love others despite the hurt they may have caused you through their sins. Even Pilate could have had eternal life if he had confessed his sins and declared Jesus as Lord. You see Christ always looks at the BIG picture. He does not dwell on the insignificant and every thing is insignificant compared to eternal life with Him.

Whatever sin you are holding onto today, just let in go. It is not worth your suffering one more day. Repent and let the love of God cover that sin and cover you. Don't crucify the love of God in your life; instead fan the flames of love with forgiveness and forgetfulness. God has not only forgiven us, as soon as we repent He forgets the sin because it is covered by the Blood of Jesus. Hallelujah and amen! Be blessed today because Christ has sacrificed so that we can all have the abundance of living that a life with Him affords.

Stephanie