I wanted to talk about the resurrection of our Lord because I think there are a few discrepancies surrounding the who and the why and wherefores. Jesus said, "As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come." something like that. I'll look it up later.
Yesterday, I had Holy Eucharist at an Anglican church and was delighted to find that they served real wine. And it wasn't cheap wine, either. So, as I was receiving the cup, the lovely lady priest tipped it right up and I got a nice gulp. Then, a man priest came along also holding a silver cup and I looked up at him and smiled. But before I could hesitate, he put the cup to my lips and tipped up another swallow. Just like that. I really had to pinch myself to prevent myself from laughing. I guess I got doubly blessed!
So, since Jesus said, "as often as ye eat..." I have communion with myself every day. When I break the bread and think of how Jesus's body was broken for me, it brings tears to my eyes. I was thinking today, "They treated Your body like it was a piece of meat to be eaten. First they beat You to tenderize Your flesh completely. (Right through to His bones! Jesus looked down and could see His ribs sticking out.) Then they hung You up in the sun to age Your flesh a little. Hung you on meat hooks and let the blood run out.
The Jews treated their lambs for sacrifice with more mercy.
And here's the thing I wanted to talk about. We believers seem to like to blame the Romans for torturing Jesus. But, was it really the Roman's fault that He fell into their hands? Yes, they were barbarians. That was their deal. That's how they conquered the known world. But, don't put all the blame on them for the torture and death of our Lord. After all, Jesus Himself asked God to forgive them and He even told God the reason, "They know not what they do."
How could they? They were Roman soldiers. Heathens. What they were taught was everything it took to torture, humiliate, and slowly, slowly kill a malefactor. That was their job and they did it well. But, did Jesus tell the Romans that they were of their father the devil?
Nope. That was the Pharisees, whose modern day successors are today's Christian hierarchy that love the praises of men and choose the best seats in the temples. It was the Pharisees that arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was the Pharisees who paid Judas to betray Him. And it was the Pharisees who insisted that Barabbas be set free instead of Jesus. Not the other way around.
Pilate tried hard to deliver Jesus out of the hands of His enemies because his wife warned Him that He was an innocent man. And because he could feel the love in the few words that Jesus spoke to him.
A Roman centurion who saw Jesus die, cried out, "Truly this man was the Son of God."
You didn't see any of the Pharisees confess that Jesus was the Messiah, although they probably had a feeling that He was. After all, Jesus fulfilled all the scriptures that they had studied throughout their careers. So, if anyone was accountable, it was those of the Sanhedrin.
They knew what they were saying when they screamed, "Crucify Him!" They knew just how cruel and terrible crucifixion was. But they hated Jesus. Jesus had exposed them time and again for their selfishness, mercilessness, hypocrisy and pride. They had many reasons to hate Him. It was either repent, like Nicodemus, or hate Him. And, obviously they chose wrong. I'm sure they regret their decisions now. Wouldn't wanna be 'em.
So, please, let's quit putting the blame on the Romans. They were only the instrument the Sanhedrin used to bring about salvation for the whole world.
WE ALL CRUCIFIED HIM. I put Him on that cross with my sins and so did you. There was no other way for us to be allowed into the perfection of Heaven. To be born again into new life. To sit on the very throne of God with Jesus, our King. He went to Hell for us so that we don't have to. He suffered for us so that we don't have to. He took the sting out of death for us. Little old us! Go figure that.
I'm not saying either that the Jews were totally to blame for the death of Jesus. Yes, they instigated it. But, it was all a part of God's plan. Some of the most on-fire dedicated disciples were Jews. Some of the best of the best were Israelis.
Many Israelis coming to Christ nowadays have said that they were not told the truth about Jesus. Growing up, they were taught to spit at the name of Jesus. It was only through the sincere reading of the scriptures that they eventually came to realize that Jesus Christ has indeed fulfilled all the prophecies written in their Torah about the Messiah.
Yes! He has come! He came! He healed! He delivered! He died! And He has risen again and sits on the right hand of God the Father. AND He will COME AGAIN!
He will come again to gather His elect from the four corners of Heaven from one end of Heaven to the other! Then He will rescue His bride and take her to the WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB. I do love to eat lamb but I don't think we'll be eating lamb at that feast. Who can think about food at a time like that? We'll have our new bodies! We'll have supernatural health and freedom like never before. No mortgages, no rent, no taxes, no electric bills, no medical bills! Just pure, unadulterated bliss.
That is IF you have received Jesus Christ the Messiah as your personal Savior! DO IT TODAY. That is one decision you will NEVER regret. I promise!
