The frantically losing Leftists are blaming the 2024 election’s shift of Latinos to Trump on Racism. That is always their pitiful argument when things don’t go there way.
Stab in the Back and the Passion of Christ
We finished previously with the completion of the Last Supper (See A New Commandment, Communion, and the Holy Spirit.)
Thursday (cont.)
It is late in the evening as the 11 apostles accompany Jesus to the garden of Gethsemane, lying at the foot of the Mount of Olives, to pray.
Jesus first prayed for His glorification through His death and resurrection, to mark the completion of His earthly mission:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.” Jn. 17:1 – 5. NLT
God is placing Jesus in position to reign and rule over all. Christ revealed the Gospel and demonstrated to us what God is like.
This is another Scripture that proves Christ was alive before creation itself. It is also corroborated by the Holy Spirit to the apostle Paul:
(Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ, just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will— Eph. 1:4, 5. AMP)
Next, Jesus prayed for His apostles to His Father, for them to be able to share the joy of His Son, to be protected from the devil, unified in purpose, and to be showered with God’s love.[1] Lastly, He prayed for those same blessings for all His believers for all time.[2]
The night grew later still. Jesus took Peter, James, and John deeper into the garden and said:
“My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Mt. 26:38 NLT
It was Jesus’ earthly human flesh that was fearful, not His Spirit. He went a little further into the garden by Himself to pray, when that same fearful flesh motivated Him to say:
“My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.” Mt. 26:39a NLT
Yet immediately after He utters that plea, Jesus gets past His fleshly weakness and declares His divine imperative:
“Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Mt. 26:39b NLT
An angel came and strengthened Him. Afterwards, He prayed so hard that His sweat was like drops of blood.[3] He continued to pray until morning.
Friday:
When Jesus finished praying, He found His ‘watchful trio’ sleeping. He wakes them and says:
“Are you still sleeping and resting? Listen, the hour [of My sacrifice] is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners [whose way and nature is to oppose God]. Get up, let us go. Look, My betrayer is near!” Mt. 26:45, 46. AMP
Exactly when Jesus said those words, Judas Iscariot entered the garden, accompanied by the Temple guards provided by the chief priests. They were accompanied by an armed crowd.
Judas immediately approaches Jesus to identify Him to the guards. Jesus addresses him:
“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Lk. 22:48 CSB
Like a stab in the back.
At that very moment, Peter draws a sword and cuts the ear off a servant of the high priest. Jesus immediately reaches out and heals him. He turns and rebukes Peter:
“Put your sword back in its place; for all those who habitually draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” Mt. 26:52, 53. AMP
Then, just as Christ previously prophesied, all His apostles deserted Him.
Jesus was arrested, bound, and dragged before Annas, the father-in-law of the reigning high priest (Caiphas). Annas had just finished his term in the high priest office, which still afforded him some authority. He questioned Jesus about His teachings. Christ responded by referring to His own guileless transparency:
“I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple [area], where all the Jews habitually congregate; and I said nothing in secret.” Jn. 18:20 AMP
One of the arresting officers did not care for Jesus’ answer and slapped Him across the face, telling Him to give greater respect to Annas. Christ simply countered the officer by saying that He had done nothing to deserve such violent abuse, especially because He was only telling the truth.
This was the first blow that Jesus took for us in His ‘passion’. Passion is a word that is defined as ‘an extreme emotion’ or ‘an act of extreme emotion’.
The ‘passion of Christ’ refers to His extreme love for all humankind, and His demonstration of that love from the beginning of His ministry, even to His sacrifice.
Annas wasn’t getting anywhere with Jesus, so he sent Him to Caiaphas, as he was the only one who could bring formal charges against Him.
Caiaphas had gathered with the Sanhedrin, who were bringing up false witnesses to accuse Jesus of blasphemy. Yet, none of their testimonies corroborated, which is required by Jewish law.
Jesus remained silent throughout the kangaroo court. Frustrated, Caiphas asked Him directly if He was the Son of God. Christ replied:
“You have [in fact] said it; but more than that I tell you [regardless of what you do with Me now], in the future you will see [Me revealed as] the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Mt. 26:64 AMP
Jesus ‘declaration of His Sonship was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Caiaphas, who accused Him of blasphemy, and the council sentenced Him to death. They spat in His face, mocked Him, and they beat Him.
All the while, Peter is watching the proceedings from the courtyard. During this time, 3 different people approach him, saying that they recognized him, having seen him with Jesus. Peter denied knowing Jesus to all 3 of them. During the 3rd denial, a rooster crowed – just as He had prophesied. Jesus turned His eyes to meet Peter’s. The apostle wept.
Judas was also slinking nearby. When he heard the court’s pronounced death sentence, he was filled with remorse. He tried to return his ’30 pieces of silver’ to the priests, pleading:
“I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man. What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.” 27:4 NLT
The betrayer threw the money into the temple, and went out to hang himself…
The Sanhedrin did not have the authority to execute Jesus. So, they bound Him and sent Him to the one who did – Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea.
Pilate asked the Sanhedrin for the nature of Jesus’ crime. They balked a little and blamed Him for being an ‘evil doer’. In addition, they claimed that Jesus was misleading the nation, by calling Himself a ‘king. Finally, they said that He was telling people not to pay their taxes to Caesar.
Pilate directly addresses Jesus:
“Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is just as you say.” Lk. 23:3 AMP
Jesus answered, “You say [correctly] that I am a King. This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth [who is a friend of the truth and belongs to the truth] hears and listens carefully to My voice.” Jn. 18:37 AMP
Pilate responds:
Pilate said to Him [scornfully], “What is truth?”
And when he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no guilt in Him [no crime, no cause for an accusation].” Jn. 18:38 AMP
Pilate then learned that Christ was from Galilee. So, he shipped Him off to the Jewish governor in that region – Herod Antipas. Herod was excited because he thought he was going to see Jesus perform miracles. Instead, He remained silent, even when the chief priests and scribes accused Him falsely.
Herod and his soldiers mocked Him and then sent Him back to Pilate. He approached Jesus’ accusers again and said that neither he nor Herod found any fault in Him.
Pilate now realized that Christ was innocent of any wrongdoing, and that His detractors were motivated purely out of envy.
Even Pilate’s wife sent him a message regarding Jesus:
“Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.” Mt. 27:19 CSB
Pilate had an idea. During the Passover feast, it was customary for the Roman governors to release one Jewish prisoner as a gesture of good will. This year, it was to fall upon a murderer named Barabbas.
He thought to release Jesus instead of Barabbas. But first, Pilate had Him scourged (flogged with a whip with metal and glass attachments to rip out large chunks of flesh) to try to appease the Sanhedrin.
Then Pilate had Christ adorned with a purple robe and a crown of thorns. And he presented Him to the crowd, who, by this time was whipped into a frenzy by the Sanhedrin, calling out for His execution.
Still trying to find a way to get out of being an accomplice to Jesus’ death, Pilate asks the crowd to clarify His crime. And they answered:
“We have a law [regarding blasphemy], and according to that law He should die, because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.” Jn. 19:7 AMP
When Pilate heard that, he became more fearful of his complicity. He asked Jesus where He was from, but He remained silent. Frustrated, Pilate told Him that he has the power to release Him. Jesus breaks His silence:
“You would have no authority over Me at all if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the sin and guilt of the one who handed Me over to you is greater [than your own].” Jn. 19:11 AMP
Pilate tried to release Jesus, but the crowd demanded he free Barabbas. Furthermore, they told him that they would go to Caesar and tell him that Pilate wouldn’t punish a criminal who declared himself a ‘king’.
So when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but rather that a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands [to ceremonially cleanse himself of guilt] in the presence of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this [righteous] Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” Mt. 27:24 AMP
Goodnight and God bless.
[1] Jn. 17:6 – 19.
[2] Jn. 17:20 – 26.
[3] Lk. 22:44
Building Better Americans 199
Destroying the planet that the Green Energy activists claim to be saving
A New Commandment, Communion, and the Holy Spirit
Previously, we examined Wednesday of Christ’s Holy Week – where Jesus reveals the exact day of His crucifixion to the apostles, and where Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus to the chief priests and temple guards. We also looked at part of Thursday of the same week, during the Last Supper where Judas is exposed in his treachery. (See Wednesday of the Trip to the Cross and a Glimpse of the Last Supper.)
Thursday (cont.):
Let’s return to the Last Supper, right after Judas fled into the night, and Jesus declared that both He and the Father would be glorified immediately.[1]
Christ is referring to His death and resurrection, indicating that everything has been set in motion for that to pass now; (glorifying Jehovah for the commencement of His salvation plan). It also glorifies Jesus for His passion for God’s children, and for His willingness to be our sacrificial substitute, taking the punishment we deserve for our sins.
(He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. Is. 53:3 -7.)
Jesus continues, but on a new path, speaking about a new command that He charges to the apostles:
“Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Jn. 13:33 – 35. NLT
Jesus is ‘evolving’ the Mosaic Law: ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ to a higher application, i.e., to make love the primary drive behind all our thoughts and actions in an attitude of selflessness and servitude, as we strive to emulate Christ.
However, Jesus’ love commandment must have sailed right over Peter’s head, because his thoughts are still stuck on where Jesus said that He is going to leave. Peter tells Him that he would follow Him anywhere, even laying down his life if necessary.
Christ shocks Peter with His response:
“Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” Jn. 13:38 NLT
Jesus turns to the other 10 apostles and declares:
“Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’[2] But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” Mt. 26:31, 32. NLT
Next, Jesus introduces the sacraments of Communion:
He had taken bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant [ratified] in My blood.’ Lk. 22:19, 20. AMP
And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the [new and better] covenant, which [ratifies the agreement and] is being poured out for many [as a substitutionary atonement] for the forgiveness of sins. Mt. 26:27, 28. AMP
When we take ‘Communion’, we are performing a ritual, whereby we take something physical (often referred to as a ‘sacrament), to remind us of the offer of Jehovah’s grace through Jesus Christ.
We visibly use the sacrament to act out Christ’s proclamation, in faith, trusting in the power of the grace of the New Covenant that replaces / transcends / enhances the Mosaic Law.
We do not put our faith in the physical sacrament itself. That would be trying to earn
salvation by works. Doesn’t fly. Rather, it is by our faith in Christ’s forgiveness of our sins that is replayed and renewed in our memories when we accept the sacraments.
Jesus concludes the Communion, and begins to administer their last in-depth teaching, beginning with our trip to heaven:
“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.” Jn. 14:1 – 3. AMP
(For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 Co. 5:1 NLT)
Awesome. Christ picks us up and drives us home. And then He shares about His exclusivity with regards to His sole ownership for that task:
“I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Jn. 14:6 AMP
Christ is the only door to the Kingdom of God. He is the living Word of Jehovah and the giver of life[3] Choosing Jesus is a choice for life. God told His children to “Choose Life”[4], and He still says it today.
Jesus moves on, telling the apostles that He is a vessel for God’s essence, and expresses it through Himself. So, they have essentially had God in their midst the entire time that He was with them:
“If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” Jn. 14:7 NLT
The apostle Philip pipes up and asks Jesus to show him his Creator. Jesus gently rebukes him, but with sadness that he hasn’t caught on:
“Have I been with you for so long a time, and you do not know Me yet, Philip, nor recognize clearly who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not say on My own initiative or authority, but the Father, abiding continually in Me, does His works [His attesting miracles and acts of power]. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe [Me] because of the [very] works themselves [which you have witnessed].” Jn. 14:9 – 11. AMP
What Jesus is doing is empowering His disciples. He sees the future, and He knows that things will bode harder for them when His physical presence is gone. So, the Son of God is bolstering their faith:
“…anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name [as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son.” Jn. 14:12, 13. AMP
Then He shifts gears, telling them how to best express their love for Him and their Father in heaven:
“Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
“Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”
“Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” Jn. 14:21 – 23. NLT
Jesus presses in further:
“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples. I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you”]. Jn. 15:7 – 9. AMP
“I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing. “This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you. No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends. Jn. 15:11 – 13. AMP
The apostles are uneasy at the thought of Christ’s departure. To dispel their fears, Jesus introduces them to the Holy Spirit:
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.
“I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you.’ Jn. 14:15 – 18. AMP
What do we know of the Holy Spirit in our Bible studies thus far?
We first meet Him on the 6th day of creation:
Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]”… Gn. 1:26 AMP
So, the Holy Spirit was present in the Godhead during the act of creating humans. We also learned through the brilliant theologian, Thomas Acquinas’ Holy Spirit inspirations, (Summa Theologica), that God is Father, God is Son, and God is the Holy Spirit. And these are not three Gods but one God. (See How Does the Old Testament Mesh with the New – 4/). Acquinas further postulated that God is infinite, thus he cannot be divided, or He would be reduced to a finite state.
Thus, Christ and the Holy Spirit must be incorporated into Jehovah’s essence. And being that God is perfect, so are Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Word of God. God’s love is expressed by the Holy Spirit, as it is by Christ Himself. Incorporated, the Three must be One, existing in perfect harmony.
Ultimately, God is the Father, Jesus is the Son, who emanates from the Father, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from them both.
The Holy Spirit also inspired all the authors of the Old Testament (e.g., the prophets) with the words of God.
Let’s return to Jesus, as He continues teaching His apostles about the Holy Spirit:
“I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you”. Jn. 14:25, 26. AMP
Thus, Jesus gave His apostles so much information in His Gospel, that they couldn’t keep it all in their heads. So, the Holy Spirit would also brand that Gospel on their souls. Furthermore, there was not enough time for Jesus to reveal the entire Gospel in the short 3 years of His incarnation.
This is important, because the Holy Spirit would impart the remainder into the minds of the apostles, which rounded out the remainder of the New Testament.
Christ continues:
“But I will send you the Advocate[a]—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.” Jn. 15:26 NLT
“It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” Jn. 16:7 – 11. CSB
“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear [to hear] them now. But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future]. He will glorify and honor Me, because He (the Holy Spirit) will take from what is Mine and will disclose it to you.” Jn. 16:12 – 14. AMP
Next, Jesus offers the apostles (and all His followers) further comfort:
“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.] You heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming back to you.’ If you [really] loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going [back] to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” Jn. 14:27, 28. AMP*
*(God and Jesus were co-equals since Christ was begotten. But Jehovah was greater while Jesus was incarnated in human flesh. Once He was resurrected, and His flesh was transformed, equality was resumed.)
Jesus then let’s His companions know that His time on earth is winding down and that He must submit to Satan’s violence:
“I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of the world (Satan) is coming. And he has no claim on Me [no power over Me nor anything that he can use against Me]; but so that the world may know [without any doubt] that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father has commanded Me [and act in full agreement with Him]. Get up, let us go from here.” Jn. 14:30, 31. AMP
Christ leaves them with a description of His relationship with Jehovah, and our relationship to them both:
“I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit].” Jn. 15:1, 2. AMP
It’s not enough to know God. We must live according to His Word. And like any good Parent, our Father in heaven will dole out a little divine discipline to keep us on track. Indeed, we need this relationship:
“Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” Jn. 15:4 – 6. AMP
“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you.” Jn. 15:16 AMP
Finally, Jesus tells His disciples that His trip to the cross must continue now:
But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Jn. 16:32, 33. NLT
Goodnight and God bless.
[1] Jn. 13:31, 32.
[2] Zec. 13:7
[3] Jn. 1:4
[4] Dt. 30:19