Christ calls us, as Christians, to Sacrifice

To sacrifice anything is to place on an altar, with the intent of giving all to God, by means of death. When you place it on the altar, it is dead to you.

Romans12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, wholly, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

We are to present our bodies as this sacrifice, for it is to place the whole of our existence in the hands of the Holy Spirit of God, willingly.

It is to yield our bodies as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13), which means that the body is moved by the heart, mind, and will into the service of God, because of the love which is placed there by the Holy Spirit.

It is called a living sacrifice here, because we do not die physically, but we die to our love of the world.
Let me explain that “the world” in scripture is not the trees, birds, and our garden; but the world’s attitudes toward things.

1John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lusts thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”

(Yes, any “thing” or person can be an idol: something we worship or love more than the Lord. John warns us, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (1 John 5:21)

But this is to be a free-will sacrifice; something you do because you know, and love the Lord.

 

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

“And be not conformed to the world”.
The word “conformed” means to fashion.
(In the world we all know about fashion. We see movie stars wearing certain things; and we try and copy them, sort of.)
To fashion ourselves after the world is to “go along” with the opinions and attitudes of it, whether they are right or wrong.

So Paul says, we are to die to the attitudes and opinions of the world.
But how?

We are to be “transformed” or made different in our minds and thoughts, by the renewing power of the Holy Spirit within.
After conversion, which is to be born again by the Spirit of God; this renewing is usually a little at a time.

The Holy Spirit shows us how God feels about this thing, or that thought; and we go along with Him.
Some things are easy to let go of; others are not. But the Holy Spirit is there to empower us.

[Frankly, we like “going along with the crowd”. It saves us the trouble of being made fun of, or being an outcast.
But when it comes to Christ; we must choose Him.

The world is always looking for a “good” time. Our good time should be with Christ, and His people.

The world is always angry, which leads to resentments, hatred, and violence. We must forgive, and forgive, and remember how He has forgiven us; and forgive again. (That does not mean we should tolerate evil; Colossians 2:21 “Touch not; taste not; handle not;”
But that we should forgive the injury, so that it does not touch and influence our hearts.)

The world is always running here, and there for something new. We should follow Christ, no matter where He leads.]

 

“Which is your reasonable service”.
Reasonable means that you have considered this. You have not hurried into it because of emotion; but you have thought about it.

The reasons are there:
God’s mercies have been great to us; and we can expect that they will continue.
In His service is joy, and peace; with the constant help and Presence of the Holy Spirit.
His Will is best, though I often can not see it, till I go through it.
His grace will uphold me, when I fail (which is too often), and when I accomplish the work.
His love is my constant companion, as I yield myself to His Holy Spirit within.

He calls us to present to Him, ourselves.
Will we?

Abraham and the Great Sacrifice

(This is a “picture” of God’s great sacrifice of His beloved Son.
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.”)

Genesis 22:2 “And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, who thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”

Abraham and Sarah finally had a son by a miracle. Sarah had been enabled by God to have Isaac. They both had been past age for child bearing, and Sarah had been barren, as well.

But God had given them Isaac. And now, some years later, God calls Abraham to sacrifice this well beloved son.

The obedience of Abraham is necessary to see.
We often hesitate, or try and get around what God wants (and yes, this happened to Abraham, too, in the early life with God.), but Abraham believes God’s word: that in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Genesis 22:3. “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place which God had told him.”

Abraham gets up early. Not eager to go; but eager to return, and that would not happen without going.

He takes two servants to keep the donkey that carried the wood, and to carry the fire in a container.

He and Isaac go. It is a three days journey to Mt. Moriah, where God has told him to take Isaac.

Three days to contemplate his failures: was this in consequence for his many failures?

Three days to look at the promised son, and remember the love he and his mother have for him.
Three days to remember his first step, first word, and the strong quiet young man he had become.

Three days to consider this command, and therefore the obedience was more reasonable and honorable.

What did they speak of? Of the promises of God, I believe, for Abraham was counting on God to fulfill His Word.

Hebrews 11:17-19 “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”

They could have talked of the promise of the land in the future. The promise God had told him of future generations. And the promise that the coming Savior would come from them.

They come to the mountain, and Abraham leaves the servants with the donkey at the foot of the mountain and says:
Genesis 22:5 “And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye hear with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again unto you.”

“We will come again”

To believe is to place the whole of our being upon the thing or person we say we believe in.

Abraham believed God. Isaac and he would come back down the mountain.
Abraham believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead, if necessary.

So they climb up Mt Moriah (in the New Testament, it is called Calvary), together.
Genesis 22:6-8 “And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father, and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is a lamb for a burnt offering?
And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.”

“Together”, Abraham is trusting that God will bring Isaac back to life; and Isaac is trusting that God will supply the sacrifice.

Genesis 22:9 “And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.”

Abraham bound his sons hands; those that had been held out to him when he was learning to walk. He bound his legs, and placed him on the wood. Perhaps taking a final kiss on the forehead of Isaac.

Let me mention here, that Isaac was a strong young man—not a child. If he had willed to, he could have resisted Abraham, anytime.
But he did not.

Genesis 22:10 “And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.”

Abraham begins to do exactly what God told him….
He does not hurry, nor delay to sacrifice his well beloved son.

Sacrifice means: to place on an altar with the intent of giving all to God, whither by knife, or fire, or other means of death. When you placed it on the altar, it was dead to you.

Genesis 22:11 “And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.”

The angel calls Abraham twice, to make sure he got Abraham’s attention.
God had wanted to test Abraham’s devotion to Him, by his obedience to Him.

Genesis 22:12-13 “And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything to him: for I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me.
And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns; And Abraham went and took the ram; and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.”

The test was done. God had provided the sacrifice.

 

Genesis 22:14. “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.”

Jehovah-jireh means in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen to, or provided.
God did provide the True Sacrifice through Christ Jesus; to take away the sins of the world.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

 

 

Hezekiah and the Sun Dial

Isaiah 38:1 “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.”

Hezekiah had just had a victory over one of the greatest armies of that time; the Assyrians.
God had interfered with Sennacherib, Assyria’s king, from destroying Jerusalem, and defeating God. (Of course that could never happen; but Sennacherib had boasted of doing so; foolish man!)

But now Hezekiah is taken with a disease, which will be fatal if God does not help.

Isaiah is sent for; and in the middle of a life of usefulness, Hezekiah is told to prepare for his death.

2 Kings 20:1 “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, set thy house in order, for thou shalt die, and not live.”

Some believe the pestilence which the angel of the Lord put on the Assyrians; was the same that came upon Hezekiah. It was a boil, or plague-sore; that afflicted him.
(Why send this on Hezekiah? It is not said, but perhaps a little pride had entered his heart, and God was trying to show it to him.
How often we take the praise that God should have, and put it on ourselves; or at least a little of it. )

Hezekiah was approximately thirty-nine years of age, and he had no son to be heir to the throne. God had promised that David’s line would have a man on the throne, and yet there was none to take over after his death.

These were many of the things he thought of as he lay dying.
What could he do?

He was a very good king and had done many things that had glorified God to the people in both Judah and Israel (this was a the time of the two kingdoms).
He had “removed the high places, and brake the images” (idols) that people had worshipped.
He “trusted in the Lord God of Israel;”
2 Kings 18:6 “For he clave (gave his whole heart) to the Lord, and departed not from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses.”

 

Hezekiah sees himself as dead. What could he do?
He turns his face to the the wall, probably toward the Temple; and prays:

First: he tells the Lord that when he dies, he will leave many things undone. “The residue of my years.”(Isaiah 38:10)

Second : he thinks on the wasting of his body. In weakness, he contemplates more weakness till death.

Third: he prays that God will “undertake for me”. (Isaiah 38:14). For there is nothing he can do. He is a king, a good king, yet nothing exempts him from death. So God is his only hope.

Forth: He begins to feel that God will act, and in fact; God is acting. He prays, “but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.” (Isaiah 38:17)

It is good to remember our sins, when we are praying to the Lord. That we may be sure they are confessed up to date.

This word “love” here is a very affectionate love.
(And certainly by looking forward to the merits of Christ, all Hezekiah’s sins were purged.)

Isaiah has given his message, and is leaving the palace, when God speaks to him:

2 Kings 20:4-6 “And it came to pass afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,
Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of My people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the House of the Lord.
And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for Mine own sake, and for My servant David’s sake.”

God has heard Hezekiah’s prayer, and answered it with peace.

Even in this miraculous message, there is a use of means: a way for the disease to be healed.
Hezekiah would have three more days of illness; then health.

Isaiah 38:21 “For Isaiah had said, Get them a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover.”

Hezekiah is grateful, and asks Isaiah for a sign.
2 Kings 20:8 “And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up into the House of the Lord the third day?”

Now we might think this was a bad thing; but it actually was often the way God affirmed His Word in the Old Testament.

2 Kings 20:9-11 “ And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the Lord, the Lord will do the thing that He hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or back ten degrees?
And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees, nay, but let the shadow turn backward ten degrees.
And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord; and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.”

Hezekiah asked that the sun might go back ten degrees; symbolizing that God gave him more life.

Isaiah prays for it; and it is accomplished.
Ten degrees the sun went backward. (Most believe that the sun dial of Ahaz was outside the sick chamber of Hezekiah; and that he could see the shadow cast by the dial actually go back.)
But it was not only that sun dial, that went backward. All over, they went back ten degrees.

Fifteen years were added to Hezekiah’s life. Fifteen more years, to do good for God and His people.

Our lives are in the Lord’s hand.
But no matter how long we have here; what He calls us to do with them is:

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whither therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

The Still Small Voice
1 Kings 19:12 “And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”

 

When we think of POWER; we think of miracles from the Bible, or the sun standing still (Joshua 10:12-14) or time going backward (2 Kings 20:8-11).
Indeed, there has been power there.
But, when God’s POWER is seen, it is usually thru His Word.
(He stressed this , at the first:
Genesis 1:3 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” He did not have to speak; All He had to do was Will it. But He did speak, to show the Value He places on His Word.)

To stress the real Power of His Voice, we would do back to a cave and a hiding Prophet.

1 Kings 19:9 “And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

Indeed, What was Elijah doing in that cave? How did he come to this?

Elijah was a man of Gilead, who was distressed at the low spiritual state of Israel. So he began to pray. God had told Israel that if they worshipped other gods , then He would withhold the rain. (Deuteronomy 11:16-17). Elijah prayed God would withhold rain, to get Israel’s attention, so they would turn back to God.

James 5:17 ” Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain:and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”
For six months Elijah prayed for God to withhold the rain, and He did.

Then Elijah was told to go to Ahab, king of Israel and tell him:
1 Kings 17:1 ” And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD GOD of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”

This might seem the wrong way to go about it….but Ahab did not believe in God…he had completely become an idol worshipper.
But someone coming and saying , in effect, God is listening to my prayers,
And HE is going to stop the rain until I pray again.

That got Ahab’s attention!

Elijah was told to go and hide…for Ahab would try and kill him. He did TRY. But God hid him till:
After 3 years, Israel was in famine….cattle, crops, everything withering,
Then…
Elijah was told (1Kings 18:1). “….Go, show thyself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.”

How would he do that? Through Elijah’s prayer…but first, Elijah wanted to showed Ahab and all the Israelites , the power of the prayer of God’s servant.
So , he set up a “contest” between the priests of the idol, and him.
1 Kings 18:19 “Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred which eat at Jezebel’s table.”
It was a simple contest :
1 Kings 18:23-24 “Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and PUT NO FIRE UNDER: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.”
So the prophets of Baal began:
1 Kings 18:26 “And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. BUT THERE WAS NO VOICE , NOR ANY THAT ANSWERED. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.”

So now it was Elijah’s turn. Remember Elijah began this, by praying that God would withhold rain, so Israel would be awakened to their sin of idolatry and come back to God. But how would they be awakened? By a mighty demonstration of God’s Power?
Called to a certain work: Which was to make everyone know that God was NOT pleased with Israel’s sin. This he did when he went before Ahab. EVERYONE knew that he had gone before the king and declared “No rain or dew” till he said.

And there had been no dew or rain for 3 years!

What were the means to Awaken the hearts to God’s demands for His people?
How were they to “hear” for themselves?

Elijah was told to go back and God would send rain. As for the “contest”, I believe Elijah got into this, by thinking (as most of us would), if the people could just see some MIGHTY WORK , that only God could do, then it would be settled –once for all–that God was God, and that he was God’s servant.

1 Kings 18:30-35 ” And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, ….And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it a second time. And they did….And he said, Do it a third time. And they did it the third time. And water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.”
(Where did he get the water? Mt. Carmel is about a few miles from the Mediterranean Sea)
He made the Altar so wet it could never burn….except by the Power of God.

Listen to the Prayer of Elijah:

1Kings 18:36-39 ” And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said,
LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know a that thou art the LORD GOD, and THAT THOU HAST TURNED THEIR HEART BACK AGAIN.
The the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.”

Two things to notice:
Elijah did not pray for rain, here.
And the people said “the LORD, he is THE God…..not OUR God.

The fire came down! First the burnt sacrifice was consumed, which meant God heard Elijah, and honored him before the king and the people.
Then the wood,
Then the stones of the altar, itself
Then the very dust on the ground where the altar sat.
And licked up the water in the trench.
Then the prophets and priests of Baal were slain!
This was a mighty demonstration; so….
Everything is set in order , RIGHT?

But what did it do for King Ahab, or the people?
Where was the rain?

It came, and at Elijah’s prayer, but who was noticing , then?
1 Kings 18:42-45 “So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, And said to his servant, Go up now , look toward the sea. And he went up and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand……..And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.”

The fire falling was a mighty answer to prayer, but the people’s hearts were not turned back to God.
They might have been shown the true GOD . But I believe, that to turn their hearts back , required Elijah to preach to the people that he had prayed for, till their hearts said The Lord is OUR God.
That requires people hearing for themselves God’s requirements on their own lives.
And that comes through Preaching and Teaching and prayers.
(We can know God is able, without ever knowing God is able for me. That is the problem here; God was real now, They had to believe in His power…but they did not believe in Him for their lives)
Then what did this mighty demonstration do for Elijah? For Ahab? For the people?

For Ahab there was no change in his heart.
1 Kings 19:1 ” And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.”
He ran home and told Jezebel; nothing changed in life either.

For the people? Some say that the worship of Baal was never the same. But most did not turn back to God, even tho they knew He was “The God.”

And for Elijah? That is the saddest situation of all.
Having done such a Mighty Demonstration of God’s Power….
Since the rain was given in answer to his prayer….he thought:
Surely everything is over with….Israel will now worship The Lord God , and Elijah could go and relax.
Everything was fixed…they were God’s People again. Right?
God enables His servants….there was ample power at Elijah’s disposal.
But God requires His servants to see the job done; and Elijah thought the job was over with.

But it wasn’t:
1 Kings 19:2 “Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time”
Now as God’s Servants, we should expect trials, and enemies in this world.
But Elijah was thrown off guard, by thinking that the work was done, that he and God had won. There would be no opposition.
But, again, that was not the case.
1 Kings 19:3 “And when he saw that , he arose, and went for his life,….”
After such a mighty demonstration, then running for his life.

Now , I would not judge Elijah….I have been tricked up myself, thinking things were not what they actually were.
And thinking that if I could just somehow show God’s Power, too, things would be different.

What we need to come to is God’s Word, and Voice.
What was it that began Elijah’s ministry?
The Word of God spoken to Moses so many years before…a promise that God surely would; and did, bring to pass by his seeking it.
And what caused Elijah to return , to pray for rain, after three years….God’s Word to him.

So now let us consider a lesson that God used to teach His runaway prophet. (For He was not done with him, though he had run away.)

1 Kings 19:9-10 “And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life , to take it away. ”

Maybe he actually thought he WAS the only one left. A sure sign that no one seemed to stand with him. And here he was hiding inside the cave.

1 Kings 19:11-13 “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by , and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE WIND: and after the wind an earthquake; BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE EARTHQUAKE: And after the earthquake a fire; BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE FIRE: and after the fire A STILL SMALL VOICE. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And behold, there came a voice unto him and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

God’s Word and Voice began his ministry; and here God teaches His prophet a lesson about His Voice in comparison to Mighty Demonstrations of Power.

God calls Elijah to come out of hiding, after showing him He was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire….but it is His Voice that brings out His real servants to Himself. Here God gives his runaway servant some instructions, and Elijah just goes and does it. No need for anything else.

And what else does God show him? The prophet who said “I only am left”?
1 Kings 19:18 “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.”

There were seven thousand of God’s servants, through out Israel.

The important thing here, is: Having heard the Word of the Lord again, Elijah just goes and does it.
There is no fear, no hesitation, he just does what he is told.

This is true power…God’s Voice speaking to us. He can do what He says, and He can take care of us through it all, too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed.

On the third day, after Jesus died on the cross, He arose.

Shortly after there was an earthquake:
Matthew 28:2 “And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and come and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

The stone was rolled away, not to let Christ Jesus out; He was already risen; but to let his disciples in—to see and believe.

1st Were the women bearing spices to anoint Jesus. It had been the time of the evening sacrifice, and Passover, and there had been no time to anoint Jesus after death.
Luke 24 :1 “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.”
(You will remember He was anointed “aforehand”, by a woman with an alabaster box of ointment. John 14:6-8)

When they saw the stone rolled away and heard the words of the angel, they departed and told the disciples.

 

2nd. They went and told the eleven disciples, and Peter and John came to see. Though John came first, he looked but did not go in. Peter followed and entered the tomb and simply wondered. (Luke 24:12). But John then went in and believed. Then they went away.
John 20:4-8. “So they ran together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher.
And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
And the napkin, that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed.”

 

3rd. One of the women was Mary Magdalene. She was crying because she thought they had stolen the Lord’s body. (She stayed and actually saw Jesus, though at first she thought He was a gardener.)

John 20:11. “But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher”

Angels talked to her, but she cared only for her Lord. She would have tried to carry the body, thinking some had robbed the tomb.
But as soon as she heard Jesus say, “Mary.” She knew it was Jesus and believed.
John 20:16 “Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say Master.”
Then Jesus speaks to her, and shows her one of the greatest truths to Christians. God is our Father, not our Judge because of His sacrifice.

John 20:17 “Jesus saith unto her, ……but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”

She went and told the disciples she had seen the Lord.

 

4th. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came and again see the tomb and the angel tells them, “He is risen”. Then they see Jesus, and worship Him.
Matthew 28:9 “And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held Him by His feet, and worshipped Him.”

 

5th. He shows himself to the disciples in the upper room, but Thomas is not there.
John 20:19, 24 “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.”

 

6th. He walks along the road with two disciples, and instructs them about the death and resurrection from the scriptures. Proving by the Word of God that the Christ was meant to die a sacrifice for sin and be raised the third day.

Luke 24:13, 15-16, 26-27. “And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him.
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?
And beginning at Moses and at the prophets, He (Jesus) expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.”

Then he went in with them to eat, and as soon as He gave blessing they knew who he was, and returned to Jerusalem with joy and told His disciples.
Luke 24:30-31 “And it came to pass, as He set at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and break and gave to them.
And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight.”

 

7th. He shows Himself again, in their midst, and eats before them and again speaks to them of scripture, opening their understanding to it.
Luke 24:36,41-43, 45-47. “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself thus stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
And while they believed not for joy, and wondered, He said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and of a honeycomb.
And He took it, and did eat before them.
Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

8th. Eight days latter He shows Himself again to them in the upper room, especially for Thomas’s benefit.
John 20:26-29 “And after eight days His disciples were within, and Thomas was with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; And reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and My God.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

 

9th. He saw them on the Sea, and restored Peter from his sin of denying Him three times.
He asked him three times, “Do you love Me?”
John 21:15-17 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith unto Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith unto him the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He said unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, lovest thou me? And he said unto Him, Lord, Thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

Jesus knew Peter loved Him, but three times he had denied Him; so three times he affirmed his love to Him.
10th. Jesus stayed 40 days after His resurrection, teaching them.
Acts 1:3 “To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

Jesus ascended to heaven, after telling them to wait till the Holy Ghost was given them; for He would abide with them and empower them for the work. Acts 1:8-9 “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

His promise is to come again:
Acts1:10-11 “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel;
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”

Revelation 22:20 “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

He arose. He is risen, and at the right hand fo the Father in heaven for us as our Mediator.
He will come again, as He said.

Even so come Lord Jesus.

They mocked Him, beat Him, and Spit upon His Face

Three times Jesus had to endure the humiliation of mockery, and the cruelty of the various beatings:

The chief priests and elders:
Mark 14:63-65. “Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we of any further witnesses?
Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned Him to be guilty of death.
And some began to spit on Him, and to cover His face, and to buffet Him, and say unto Him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike Him with the palms of their hands.”

They first spit on Him, covering His face with their spit.

They struck Him and said, “Tell us who hit you?” “Tell us which hand hit you, left or right?”
But notice it is the servants of these priests and elders which do the striking. The chief priests and elders would not get their hands bloody, so they could say they were “clean” when it came to His blood.
(How they fooled themselves!)
Then they led Him away, so they could kill Him.

Herod and His soldiers:
Luke 23:11 “And Herod with his men of war set Him at nought, and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him again to Pilate.

Herod did the least, but mocked Him in his court.

He made Him contemptible in front of his soldiers, by putting a robe on Him. Then they bowed, and called Him king. Laughing at the sorry sight of Jesus with such a beautiful robe.

But Jesus was a king.
The King of kings: as He said later, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence…..To this cause I was born….that I should bear witness of the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:36-37)

Pilate and His soldiers:
John 19:1 “And Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him.”

The scourge was made of the sinews of oxen. Sharp bones were intertwined in places, so that every time the lash came down, these small bones would tear into the flesh of the prisoner.

Though Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent, yet he commanded Him to be scourged.
The cruelty of this is seen in Pilate washing his hands; saying he is innocent of Jesus’s blood.

Matthew 27:27-31. “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto Him the whole band of soldiers.
They stripped Him, put on Him a scarlet robe.
And when they had pleated a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews!
And they spit upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head.
And after that they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him, and put His own raiment on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.”

First they beat Him with out mercy with the scourge. Tearing into His flesh, and making the blood run.

But that was not enough sport: They stripped Him naked, giving only a scarlet robe and a crown of thorns to wear. They gave Him a reed as a scepter, but there was a cruel reason.

Bowing and mocking, first. Then taking the reed the whole band of soldiers beat Him on the head with it.

Isaiah 52:14 “As many were astonished at Thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men:”
(This was the prophesy concerning the beatings. His face was so beaten, they could not tell it was the face of a man.)

Jesus was beaten in cruel mockings. But He endured all of this for us.

Isaiah 53:5 “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”

Imagine, He did all of this for me.
Hallelujah, What a Savior!

The Seven sayings of Christ on the Cross

Luke 23:33:
“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”

Christ is now brought to the place of His greatest suffering. The beatings are past but the shame and desertion by God; death, and burial ahead.
But how does He meet them?

Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

The first thing He says on the Cross is: “Father, forgive them.”
He forgave them first. They did not ask for it; but He, as the greatest King, forgave the greatest debt, and He did it first.
The “them”, were those chief priests who tried Him and took Him to Pilate, the Jews who cried “Crucify Him”, and those who stood and mocked Him, even in His miserable suffering.
The people who refused to believe in Him, and the Gentiles, who under Pilate, beat and lead Him away; nailing Him to the Cross.(The Romans harshest type of death.)

As the mocking continues, the malefactors enter in. But then one speaks up for Christ:
Luke 23:40-42 “But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly;…but this man hath done nothing amiss.
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”

Here, one is saved, by belief in the Lord; and one is not. For the second thing Jesus said on the cross was another word of forgiveness, and also blessing:

Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be. With me in paradise.”

 

Then, looking down Jesus saw His mother, and John, the beloved disciple, who was the only one who had followed Him from the Garden to the Cross. He, alone of the disciples, stood at the foot of the cross, ready to be arrested, if necessary, to stay close to Jesus.

So Jesus speaks the third sayings:

John 19:26 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!”

John 19:27 “Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

Here, Jesus sees to His mother, committing her into the hands of John, the beloved disciple.
She was to look on him as the son she lost.
He was to look on her as his mother, and take care of her, seeing to her in her old age.
This he did, and it is said, that she went with him on his preaching tours; that her bones are buried in the wall of Ephesus.

Six hours the sun had shone down upon all of this suffering.
Luke 23:44-45 “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.”

The sun “was darkened”: The awful agony of the sin bearer, fulfilling the suffering of the wrath of God on our sin, was “darkened”. No one but God and Christ, could enter into this propitiation.
God darkened the sun, to show that this was not for view; no one would understand such suffering, and so, no one could truly view it in it’s terror. This suffering went on until He paid the price for all His.

In this time, Jesus spoke the fourth saying:
Matthew 27: 46 ” And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani ? That is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
God forsaking Him was because of our sin; for God can not look upon sin, without wrath. And Jesus was “‘made sin for us”. (2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.”)

The price paid, Jesus spoke the fifth saying:

John 19:28 “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”

They had offered him wine mingled with myrrh to deaden the pain, earlier; but He refused it. He would feel every moment of pain, that He would be able to pay the full debt of our sin.
Mark 15:23 “And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.”
But this time, they gave him vinegar.
John 19:29 “Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.”

Then, He spoke the sixth and seventh sayings:
John 19:30 ” When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

Luke 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, (That is He cried for all who would hear, to hear “It is finished”) he said, Father, into they hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

Jesus, having finished the work of Expiation, cried out; but then he gave his spirit unto the Father, in the last solemn moment before death.

Christ was our High Priest, who offered Himself as the Sacrifice for sin, for us. In every saying there was love, offered again and again, for those who would receive it.
He drained every drop of suffering for us. And died, was buried, and rose again to give us His Eternal Life.

Pilate

Matthew 27:22 “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They say unto him, Let him be crucified.”

This is a question each person will answer for themselves. What will you do with Jesus who is called the Christ?

Pilate was a common politician. He cared for nothing in Israel, except political gain for himself.
His headquarters were usually in a city by the Mediterranean Sea, but because of the Passover feast and the multitudes of people which could cause problems, he came up to Jerusalem.

This put him right in the middle of Christ’s trial. (The chief priests only brought Him to Pilate, because by Roman law they could not put any prisoner to death. Only Rome had that power. (John 18:31)

Pilate knew that for envy the chief priests had brought Jesus to him. That there was nothing in their accusations.
Mark 15:10 “For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.”

And he tried three times to back out of a judgement against Jesus.

He knew Jesus was innocent of the charges brought against Him, but refused to stand with the truth; choosing rather to try and wiggle out of making a decision. (As I said, a common politician.)

1st. They brought Jesus to Pilate accusing Him of perverting the nation. They said He told them not to obey Caesar or pay taxes. And for being Christ, a king.
Luke 23:2 “And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a king.”

Pilate asks Jesus if He is a king. Jesus reply’s, “Thou sayest it.” And tells Pilate that His kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36-38)

Pilate again asks, “Art thou a king then?”
Jesus answered, “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, ad for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.
Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.”

Pilate’s classic answer: “What is truth?”
(Certainly Pilate was not usually acquainted with the truth. Deals, flattery, and deceit were what he knew. But he was standing in front of the Truth.)

But he knew Jesus was innocent, so he went out and tells the rulers he found no fault in Him. If they wanted to take Him and beat him, they could.
But His death was what they wanted.

 

2nd. When Pilate hears that Jesus was from Galilee, he thinks to get out of a judgement by sending Jesus to Herod.
But Jesus would not even speak to Herod, so Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate.

Luke 23:7, 11 “And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself was at Jerusalem at that time.
And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.”

Pilate can not get rid of Him.
Faced with a decision about Jesus, he again tries to release Him. (Even his wife tells him to “have nothing to do with that just man”. Matthew 27:19)

Luke 23:13-16 “And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people; and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him, and , lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
I will therefore chastise him, and release him.”

Jesus is then beaten, and brought again before Pilate. He thinks that if they see that Jesus was punished, they might think he had done enough.

 

3rd. When the chief priests see that Pilate might not put Jesus to death, they tell Pilate that Jesus made himself the Son of God. (John 19:7)

This frightens Pilate and he asks Jesus, “Whence art thou?”

Jesus refuses to speak, and Pilate speaks the words that will condemn him forever:

John 19:10 “Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?”

Yes, he had the power; but refused to use it as he knew he should.

John 19:12-13 “And from thencefore Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If you let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: Whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and set forth down in the judgement seat….”

That was the breaking point: they told him that he was not a friend of Caesar if he released Jesus, for Jesus had made himself a king.

The politician’s heart in Pilate ruled that day.

Jesus was led out before the mob. He had been beaten and was wearing a crown of thorns and the purple robe.
Pilate cried: “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?”
The chief priests had persuaded the people to ask for Barabbas, instead of Jesus. (Mark 15:11)
So Jesus was rejected one last time by a mob, crying, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.”

Three times Pilate tried to get out of the judgement of Jesus Christ, when all he had to to was do the right thing: Jesus was innocent, so release Him.

Pilate tried to persuade himself that he was innocent, and he washed his hands in front of the mob (Matthew 27:24), but Jesus’s blood will be required of him for eternity.

Mark 15:15 “And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.”

 

We all make choices according to the ruling attitudes of our hearts and minds.
That is why it is so important for us to let Christ rule in our hearts as our King.
Then He can choose for us.

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
What will we do with Jesus? Will we acknowledge Him as our King?

 

Gethsemane

Matthew 26:36 “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder.”

Three times it is written of the battles, when our Lord Jesus faced the Adversary alone.
The first was in the temptation in the wilderness for forty days. (Matthew 4)
The second was in Gethsemane.
The third was on the cross.

Here, we will speak of Gethsemane, and the terrible mental and physical battle which was brought against Jesus, by the forces of darkness.

Jesus knew He would have to face the cross alone.
John 16:32 “Behold, the hour cometh, Yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.”

But at Gethsemane, He wanted His closest disciples to be near to Him as He wrestled against the devil’s suggestions. (I believe the devil’s suggestions were: “He would be forsaken in death, and lose everything. Everything He has done was for nothing.”)

But they slept for sorrow.
He had told them He would be leaving them, and that one of them would betray Him, so they were sad, and sleepy. (John 16:5-6, 17, 28)

At Gethsemane, a garden which Jesus often visited for times of prayer, Jesus left eight of His disciples at a small distance, and took the three closest disciples: Peter, James, and John further. Then He went a little farther on to pray.

He asked them to wait with Him in prayer. He wanted them to pray for the trials that would be coming up.
For their own faith to be strengthened, and for their courage in the face of His leaving them.
Matthew 26:38 “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”

They had been told many times that He was going to Jerusalem, and that the chief priests and elders would kill him and He would be raised the third day.
But they had not really heard what He said.
Luke 9:22 “Saying, the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.”

They were not prepared, as they could have been. And their sorrow at His leaving, was weighing down their hearts, and affecting their hearing.

(If you read John 15-17 , where He plainly tells them of things to come; you will understand that their “hearing” was not working right)

Jesus left them, and went and fell down to pray; His greatest comfort was the Father and Holy Spirit with Him.
But now the time for the Lamb of God to be slain for the sins of the world was very near.
Everything from the Last Supper, where Judas went out to betray Him, till He died on the cross, was one continuous piling on of sufferings.

The horror of the coming attacks, both from Judas,   the chief priests and ruling religious body,    the Roman soldiers beatings,     And the rejection of the very people who had hailed Him: “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna to the highest.” (Matthew 21:9) a few days earlier.

And the cross. The agony of the nails, the thirst, the mocking crowds, and mostly: our sin being put upon His holy person, and the separation of the Father from Him for a time, because of this.

Sufferings He went through alone.

But here in Gethsemane the devil’s attacks mentally and emotionally were so severe: “even unto death”, Jesus said.

We are not permitted to hear what the devil says to Jesus, but the thoughts of being deserted forever:
“ God will not bring You out of the death of sin. Sin brings death, and if you go to the cross and become the sin bearer, You will forfeit God’s promise of life. It will weigh You down and You will never come out of death.”

Also the thought that with all these sufferings He would have to go through as man, that He would not be able to go through these sufferings without breaking down. Then He would fail and He would not bring salvation to the world.
The devil’s attacks were so great against the Lord, that “being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44)

The first prayer:
Matthew 26:39 “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”

Mark 14:36 “ And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto Thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless, not what I will, but what Thou wilt.”

Jesus came on the basis of relationship: “O my Father” and asked that if it were possible, according to His Will, that “this cup” or salvation through the cross, might be changed.

Jesus asked because “all things are possible unto Thee”. God could come up with another way of Salvation.

But Jesus would not have God’s Will changed.

He knew the Value of The Father’s Will, and yielded to it.

His Father sent an angel unto him, “strengthening him.”(Luke 22:43)

The second and third prayers:
Matthew 26:42 “And went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.”

“Thy will be done.” “Not my will, But Thine be done”

Three times Jesus prayed. Once, for conformation of God’s Promises :to find out if it were possible to change the way of salvation—the cross.
When He received His answer, God’s Will was yielded to.

The other two were prayers that the Father’s Will might be honored in His sacrifice, and resurrection.

You see, by the end of the battle at Gethsemane, Jesus was confident in His Father’s love,
in His Father’s strength to help Him go through everything,
and in His Father’s Promises, to raise Him up and save His people from their sins by this.

Even though He would be alone; He trusted in God, and His trust was honored.

He went through everything, He died on the cross for us, and was raised again the third day in Victory over every enemy.

His Salvation is a complete Salvation. Do you have Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

 

 

 

 

The Centurion’s Faith

Matthew 8:5-7 “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him.
And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.”

(In Luke, it says that he sent the elders of the city, and then friends, which represented him to Jesus. Luke 7:1-10. He thought himself unworthy of the Lord coming to his house, for he was a gentile.
This representation was, as if he came himself)

Jesus has said he would come and heal the centurion’s servant.
And this draws a statement of faith from him, which marveled, or pleased the Lord a lot. So much so; that He speaks of it to the crowd.

Matthew 8:8-10 “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say unto this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith took hold in this centurion’s heart, when he heard of all that Jesus was doing, both in Capernaum, and other places.
(Capernaum was the place Jesus lived, after leaving Nazareth. It was the place he did many miracles.
Luke 4:31-32 “And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.”
Luke 4:36-37 “And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! For with authority and power he commanded the unclean spirits, and they come out.
And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.”)

When this centurion heard of these things, he must have thought they were wonderful, for he loved Israel. BUT, until he needed Jesus’ power for himself (for his sick servant, who was dear to him), it was just information.
Good news, but it had not touched him.

Then, his servant got sick, grievously tormented, and ready to die.

Suddenly, those things he had heard about Jesus, were for him.

(How many times we are the same: we have heard Bible lessons for years, even, and they are good news, but then something happens that affects us, and “Wham”, that good news hits us where we live.
We can have this! This is real! This is for me.)

Faith has made the information real from the first. We believe it.
Then faith evidences that information within us, because we have a need that is only met by this. (By Christ Jesus)

The centurion also knew, by faith, that if Jesus heard of the need, He could meet it.
Faith reached out, through the elders, and friends, to Jesus; and stated the need.

When Jesus said He would come, the centurion’s faith reached out further by the evidence of Jesus’ coming; and said:
“Speak the word, only”
Why? Was he testing Jesus?
No. But he felt unworthy that Jesus should come into his house.

And why did he feel Jesus could do this? Was it just because of what he had heard?
No.
It was from his own experience. He was a voice of Rome, as a centurion (he had one hundred men under him).
Under all the authority of Rome, he spoke and told men what to do. And they did it.

So he knew that Jesus, was the voice of God, and had the authority to speak, and make things happen, because He spoke.
He could heal, because He was the Son of God.
This was the centurion’s faith. Wow!

Matthew 8:13 “And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”

Believe is the action of faith. And as he believed Jesus could heal by his word, only; so it was.

What of us? We say we have faith in God. We say we believe what Jesus has said, and done for us.
Are we using this faith with God, and evidencing His authority and power in our lives, first; and in the lives of people we pray for?

The Lord honors true faith in Himself. (Not presumption, or to ask of Him, what we know is not His will). But real faith, reaches out to Him, that He will do what He wills.

Jesus’ will was to heal the sick; both sin-sick and many illnesses, while He was here on earth; as He preached that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand.
He did this to meet the need of the people, that the chief priests and scribes had discounted; and for the most part, had abandoned.

But God never abandon’s His people. Those that come unto Him, He will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)
But it takes humbling of our hearts, to come. (As this centurion did)

John 6:40 “And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life. And I will raise him up at the last day.”
The centurion’s faith was real. He had heard. And he came, humbly to Jesus; and honored Him.
What is our faith doing?