Steps of Faith for the Deaf
41525
Hello,
Easter Sunday will be coming soon this month.
There is a part of the “Easter Story” —-when the soldiers come to get Jesus—that I would like to talk about.
John 18:2- 8 “And Judas also, which betrayed him (betrayed—went against him, was not faithful)
Judas knew the place: (a garden–vs. 1) for Jesus often times went there with his disciples.
Judas, then, having received a “band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees (church leaders) —-came near with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Jesus, knowing all things that should come upon him,—-went forward—-and said—-”Whom do you seek (look for)?”
They (the band of men) answered, “Jesus, of Nazareth.”
Jesus said to them—”I am he.”
And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
As soon then as he (Jesus) said, “I am he.”—-they went backward, and fell to the ground.”
Then, he (Jesus) asked them again, “Whom do you seek?”
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus answered and said, “I have told you that I am he.—if you seek me—–then let these others go their way.” (Meaning —to let the disciples go —not to take them.)
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When Jesus said the words “ I am he.” He was using God’s holy name.
In Exodus 3:14—Moses asked God —What is the name of the God who is sending me to speak to Pharaoh.
Who —-shall I tell Pharaoh (Egypt’s king)—is sending me to speak to him?
God said, “Tell Pharaoh that “I AM That I AM” — has sent you.
God’s name, “I AM”—means—the One who is—–always in the present tense.
We would name time as “Past, present, future”. But with God—time is always in the present—now.
God always has been. God always will be. God is eternal.
He had no beginning. He has no end.
“I AM”
That is who God is. That is his holy name. That is his essence—his nature, his form, who and what He is.
When Jesus spoke his name—-”I AM He”—to that band of men—-soldiers with weapons to take Jesus—-the power of God’s name was so great—the whole group of them—-fell backwards to the ground.
God’s holy name—spoken—knocked them down!
Jesus never touched them. He just said his name.
And down they went —to the ground—big strong men with weapons.
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I wonder what they thought when that happened?
They had to be shocked and afraid.
One second they were holding their weapons—planning to take Jesus—-and the next second—they were on the ground !
Don’t you think—they would have stopped what they were planning?
Don’t you think they would have wondered how they could be knocked to the ground with a few words?
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It did not stop them. They got up— still planned to take Jesus.
I wonder how they thought they could do that. Jesus could say more words and they would be down on the ground again.
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The reason they were able to take Jesus —-was because Jesus let them—take him.
Jesus said, “I have told you, “I AM He”—now let the other men go.”
Jesus was willing to let them take him—-but the disciples were to be let go.
John 10:17,18 Jesus said,” I lay down my life, that I might take it up again.
No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself.
I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it up again.”
An ordinary man—may be able to kill himself—but he does not have the power to bring himself back to life again.
In the garden, with that large group of men (soldiers)—-they saw power —that no one could touch Jesus—-unless Jesus let them.
No one would be able to take Jesus’ life from him—-unless He let them.
And no one—would be able to “keep him dead”—-because Jesus had power within himself to come to life again.
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Jesus chose—to let them take him.
That was the reason Jesus allowed himself to be born into a human body—-and live as a human—-so he could die as a human—man —-to pay man’s punishment for sin—for man—-so that man did not have to pay his own punishment.
That is love!
It was a hard thing for Jesus to do—-his human body—-feelings, —-did not want to go through being put on a cross.
The Bible tells us—that as Jesus prayed there in the garden—he sweat drops of blood—-because of the struggle of being willing to go through the dying on the cross. It was not an easy thing for him to do.
Plus—-when Jesus was on the cross and knew he was to take his last breath soon—he cried out, “My God, My God—why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46—Mark 15:34
Hal Lindsey—a well known Bible teacher—said that—- in that moment —–that Jesus cried out those words—-Jesus’ divine nature (God within him) was taken away—and he was fully a man—an innocent man—no sin——-dying as a man—-for men (every human everywhere).
For Jesus to feel that His Father—God—had left him—-and he bore the sin of the world—was worse than the beatings—- and suffering of the cross.
To be separated from God—-was the worse thing that could happen.
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That is true for us humans, too.
To be separated from God—-forever—-eternally—-would be the worse thing that could happen to us.
For Jesus—his separation from God—did not last long. Only, a very short time.
But for us, as humans—-if we are separated from God—when we die—–we will never be joined to God again.
Death for us—happens one time—and then the “judgment”—-Hebrews 9:27
Salvation and forgiveness of sin—–is not offered after death.
Salvation and forgiveness of sin—-has to happen before our death.
That is the reason Jesus came to earth—-to pay our punishment for us—-and give us the opportunity—-to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness—-from Jesus—-because He is the one who paid the punishment for us.
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Easter time is a very important spiritual time.
It is when we remember what Jesus was willing to do— to keep us from paying for our own sins and going to hell.
Easter is more than the cross—-it is that Jesus came to life again—and Jesus said, —that if we believe in Him—-we, too, will come alive again after death—and live with Jesus forever in heaven.
John 11:25 “Jesus said unto her, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever, liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
Believest thou –(Do you believe) this?”
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We all have a choice to make.
Will we believe in Jesus? Will we confess our sins to Him and ask for forgiveness? Will we accept this “eternal life” that He offers to us?
Today—-would be a good time—-to make that decision and choice.
Take time to pray—and do it now.