What Jesus Did!
It’s about what Jesus did for you and me! Let us start with some background. Last week, we looked at how Jesus had ridden a donkey into Jerusalem. A large crowd celebrated His arrival by spreadin’ out palm leaves and singin’ Hosanna! Palm Sunday! It was quite a day. And then, Jesus spent the week in preparation for what must come.
On Thursday evening, Jesus observed what most folks know today as the Lord’s Supper. He met with His disciples in an upper room that had been prepared for them. It was His Last Supper. It’s one of two ordinances given us by Jesus. (The other is Baptism; a public profession of one’s faith in Christ) He instructed the disciples to eat of the bread which represented His body that was given for us and to drink of the fruit of the vine for it represented His blood poured out. He announced that one would betray Him. Judas was that one.
After the meal, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus informed them that they would all deny Him. Peter, and then all the disciples, couldn’t believe how that could be possible! Jesus told Peter he would deny Jesus 3 times before the rooster crowed.
Then, Jesus and the disciples went to Gethsemane. He told them to sit tight while He went to talk to His Father. Three were to keep watch but three times, Jesus found them asleep. It was then that Judas came charging up the hill with a large group intent upon arresting Jesus. They grabbed Him and Peter proceeded to cut off the ear of one of the soldiers. Jesus stopped the action and healed the man’s ear.
Jesus was taken to Caiaphas, the High Priest. Peter denied knowing Christ. Jesus was asked if He was the Christ, the Son of God. And He acknowledged that He was. Peter denied Christ three times that night, just as Jesus had said he would.
The religious leaders eventually took Jesus to the governor, Pilate, to have Him killed as they didn’t have the authority. Pilate asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews and Jesus didn’t defend Himself. Pilate didn’t want this mess on his hands, so he offered a choice of releasing Barrabas. They chose to release Barrabas. Pilate was shocked; he washed his hands of the whole thing. The crowd was demanding Jesus be crucified.
So they beat Jesus with whips and turned Him over to be crucified. They stripped Him, put a scarlet robe on Him, and placed a crown of thorns on His head. They were yelling out things and they spit on Jesus.
Jesus was beaten so bad he could not carry His own cross! At Golgotha, the soldiers nailed Jesus’ hands and feet to the cross and a sign was put above Him that said, “This is Jesus, King of the Jews.” There were two robbers being crucified beside Him.
An unusual thing happened. As Jesus was on the cross, from noon until about three, the sky was dark! Jesus, let out, “It is finished!” and then Jesus died! Immediately there was a major earthquake, rocks and the ground split, and the curtain to the veil to the Temple split open. Jesus was then buried was wrapped in a white cloth and placed in a tomb and sealed with a huge rock. Jesus was dead and gone. Guards were placed in front of the tomb.
But at dawn on Sunday morning, Jesus wasn’t there He had risen! They then went to find the disciples to tell them and as they did they saw Jesus!
Jesus is alive! He Lives! They beat Him bad, nailed Him to a cross, killed Him, buried Him, sat guards on His grave, but He came back! He truly is the Son of God! He did it all to pay for our sins. Forty days later, He went to be with His Father and Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be with us. I ride for Him! And when the time comes, we will be with Him in heaven.
Choose Jesus, choose life and let your light shine! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! And hey, y’all let us all be of one accord and pray for some rain on this parched land! Amen!