The Death of Jesus

 Mark 15: 33 – 41

 

July 12, 2020

 

 

The Death of Jesus

And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.   And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”   And some of the bystanders, hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”  And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.”  And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.   And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he^] breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.   When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

What was the sixth hour, it was noon and the darkness lasted till three p.m., for Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God; God’s only Son, who had never known sin, took all sins that had to happen, that means from Adam (the past) to what you and I refer to as the future, till time is no more.  And that darkness was not scheduled; it was supernatural and was God’s judgment over the sins of mankind. 

 

 It may be of encouragement to some to find that God had to use darkness when Pharaoh and Egypt had been under the plague of Locusts, and Pharaoh confessed to Moses about sinning against both God and Moses, and Moses asked God to remove the Locusts.  God did, but for His divine purpose, God hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the Israelites go. Exodus 10:21-23, “Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.”   So, Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days.   No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.”

 

The chosen people of God who had come out of Egypt had to go to an intercessor to approach a Holy God.  But on that day when Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, in that He was our pure Lamb, that was killed for sin, past, present, and future.  ^“And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” They no longer needed a priest to be a go-between to God, nor do we. Talk with Jesus and the Father; they desire your praise.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

 

 

The Crucifixion

  

 

Mark 15: 21 – 32

 

July 11, 2020

 

 

 

The Crucifixion

“And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.   And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull).   And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.   And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.   And it was the third hour when they crucified him.   And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.”   And with him, they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.  And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!”   So, also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.   Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.”

 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.   The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2)

“Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.  So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them”.  (Genesis 1:26-27)

I know of no one who will argue that my iPhone 11 did not have a designer, yet many very intelligent people will say that the universe just happened.  I’ve always wondered how they could believe such foolishness, after exploring the amazing design, which calls for a Creator.  Could it be that man has the same problem that Satan has? They want to be exalted to the same level as the one who designed them.  

Now, shall we look into what the Holy Spirit shared with John the apostle?  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.  In him was life,^[a] and the life was the light of men.   The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  (John 1:1-5)  The Word is Jesus, He is our Creator, our designer, but not only ours, for all that was made He made.

Most of us understand that mankind is not improving!   Kings, dictators, or governments have no answer to the problem of man not wanting a moral authority over them, nor does religion.

One should read and understand Psalms 139:15-16, “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”  Your Creator, Jesus, not only knew you before you were born, but He loved you, and not one thing you have done will change that love.

 

In 1 Peter 1:19-21, ^“ but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.  Through him, you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”   Before Jesus created you, he knew that you would sin and that He would have to meet the Father's requirement of a Holy and Pure sacrifice, and that is why before Christ came, God the Father required a lamb without spot or blemish to be sacrificed for the sins the people had committed that year.  That is why John 3:16 is not something to put on a drink cup, but to keep in our hearts.

This is why, as a follower of Christ, I am thankful for God loving me so much that he would take on flesh and die on a cross for me.  But it is also painful to read the account and know that my God and Creator had to die for my sins.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Jesus Is Mocked

  

 

 

Mark 15: 16 – 20

 

July 10, 2020

 

 

Jesus Is Mocked

“And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion.  And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him.   And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”   And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him.   And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.”

The prophet Isaiah lived in the eighth century B.C. He anticipated Messiah’s coming with remarkable clarity.  That should not be a surprise in that we are told in 2 Peter 1:20-21, “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.   For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 

 

 Now, shall we explore Isaiah 53:1-10, “Who has believed what he has heard from us?  And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?  For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.  He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.   But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds, we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.  By oppression and judgment, he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?  And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.  Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”  

 

The Holy Spirit directed Isaiah’s thoughts about 700 years before Christ came to earth, and it all took place. It is still taking place as people reject our Lord’s gift of forgiveness and grace. Could it be they have no understanding of what their redemption cost God the Father, to take His full wrath out for your sin and mine on His only Son, who has never known sin.  

 

You may be like one I know well who was raised in the church, heard the message of God’s love, had parents who had received Christ, but he was going to wait till he had all the fun the world could offer.  One night in Victoria, Texas, in a hotel room, I opened my Bible to Romans 10:9-10, and the Spirit of God spoke to me very clearly: Bob, tonight is your last chance to receive my offer.  This is what Romans 10:9-10 states: “If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.   For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”  That night, I entered into Christ, and He entered into me, and yet it has taken many mentors and teachers training me in how to allow Jesus to do it all for me.  I often fall back on my own ability, and it never works out.  

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice  

Abide

  

Abide

 

It was March 30, 2007, and if my math is correct, that was 18 years ago, and I had the same problem as I have today, not being able to sleep.  It was before my friend Rod Cadenhead talked me into writing "From Our Back Porch".

 

 

Good morning, it is very early, and most of you are enjoying a good night of rest, I hope.  But that is not the case with me, so I am going to let you in on a big word that has been on my mind for some time.  

 

The word is “ABIDE”; now I know it does not seem to be that large of a word, it is only five letters, but do you know what it means?  My friend Webster defines the word “abide” as: to stand fast; remain; go on being. And the word “abiding” is defined as: continuing without change; enduring; lasting.)

 

Why do I believe it to be such a “big” word?  Because as I look around, it seems that so little in my world is standing fast, or continuing without change.  It seems as if the things we valued, not that long ago, do not carry the same worth.  Big things like the love of family, the love of truth, honesty, and doing what you said, even the love of God and country.  

 

I have come to this conclusion, is it because we, and I mean you and me, are no longer abiding by the truth?  We talk about truth, but where is the source of this truth?  Is it from TV, Fox, Friends, Clay Travis, and Buck Sexton, or some other talk show? Where is the source of your truth?  Many years ago, Pilate asked this question of Jesus, “What is truth?” It was in reply to a statement Jesus had made: “You say that I am a king.  For this purpose, I was born, and for this purpose, I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

 

Is Jesus the truth?  Can I abide by this truth?  Jesus did not leave any wiggle room. He is God, or he is a liar, or worse, a lunatic.  I must confess that I believe He is God and that He is the only way to the Father, and I must “abide” only in Him.  After making that statement, I need to once more look at that very large word, “abide”.  I must stand fast, I must remain in the only source of truth, and I believe that is the God-man, Jesus Christ.

 

In the book of John, we find in the fifth chapter that the Jews were seeking to kill Jesus because He was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.  Later in this same chapter, Jesus replies in this way: “and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.  You search the Scripture because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”  It sure reads as if this man Jesus can give life to those who come to Him.

 

Often, I ask this question: “But How?” How can I abide, or stand fast?  I have established that the Bible is a great starting place.  I like to think of it as the “manufacturer's handbook on living life on planet Earth.” It is a great place to look for answers.  In John 8:31, Jesus is talking to Jews who had believed in Him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  Once more, the big word abide comes into play, those who stand fast in Christ.  That is becoming more unpopular in our world, and it is coming to a place where those who abide in Christ will or may already be paying a price for abiding in the Truth.

 

Jesus often makes a statement that seems strange to those who are not of the faith.  Statements like, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.”  Jesus did not mean He was a vine, but was using a word picture that we could understand.  In John 15, we see this statement: “Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”  I believe the great news is that I am not the only one who is abiding.  Jesus is abiding in me.

 

Jesus goes on in verse 7 of chapter 15 to say, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”  It’s all about “standing fast,” not listening to the latest fables that Hollywood or our United States Congress has come up with.  It is also not a name-it-and-claim-it gospel; Jesus makes it clear that when we abide in Him and His word abides in us, we will have new desires that line up with His word.

 

Often it would seem that we should not have read the next verse, often it is the next verse that we are not ready to obey (continuing without change or standing fast), John 15:9 is one of those verses.   “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”  Jesus goes on to state that he has done this so that our joy may be full.  How are you at keeping rules or commandments, are you like me, often trying it your way?  But have you thought that keeping commandments brings about joy in your life, and removes the fear of punishment?

 

One of the last verses on abiding or standing fast in Christ that I looked at was John 15:16. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”  Jesus, who is God, chose you and me and appointed us that we would bear fruit and that that fruit should abide.  Wow, and I mean Wow, we can go into the presence of the Father. 

 

What a word, and yes, Rush is right in this one area, “Words mean things”.  To abide: Webster defines the word “abide” as: to stand fast; remain; go on being. And the word “abiding” is defined as: continuing without change; enduring; lasting.)  My hope is that when you hear the word “abide,” you will think of this letter.  Often, I wish we could turn the clock back to where we as a people abide in something, where we stood fast in our beliefs at any cost.  

 

You’re Friend,

 

Bob Rice

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

 

 

 

 

Mark 15: 6 – 15

 

July 9, 2020

 

 

 

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

 Now at the feast, he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked.   And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas.   And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them.   And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”   For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up.   But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead.   And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”  And they cried out again, “Crucify him.”   And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.”   So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

 

It seems the Holy Spirit uses Mark to give an overview not the full picture of all that took place as he examined Jesus, how his wife told Pilate to wash his hands of the just man, so he sent him to Herod Antipas, who was Pilates enemy at that time, hoping to not have to be part of this act.  You will find that account in Luke 23:5-12, and when that did not work, Pilate gave the people a choice, as was the custom.  They could free one man each year; this year's choice was Jesus Christ or Barabbas, who had committed murder during a rebellion.  Mark tells us they chose Barabbas.  It is Mark’s personality to seem to be in a hurry to deal with this matter in his writing. Have you noticed how often Mark uses the word immediately?  

 

It has happened before in history that when a group of people in leadership envies a person, they might also fear them and want to have them removed.  That is what is taking place; fear and envy are powerful tools of the enemy of our souls.  You see Satan envies and fears Jesus, for he desires a place of authority higher than Jesus.  When you allow him to control you using fear and envy, you have given Satan authority over yourself.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Jesus Delivered to Pilate

                                                   Mark 15: 1 – 5

 

July 8, 2020

 

 

Jesus Delivered to Pilate

And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate.   And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.”   And the chief priests accused him of many things.   And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.”   But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

 

I do not know where the name “a kangaroo court” came from but as you look at what the chief priests and elders and scribes you must see the definition of a kangaroo court: an unofficial court held by a group of people to try someone regarded, especially without good evidence, as guilty of a crime or misdemeanor.

 

The Illegal Trial before the Sanhedrin had to happen in a private place, not as required by law, where there would be only the witnesses they wanted.  “Thus, for the first stage of the Jewish trial, Jesus is taken speedily to the home of Caiaphas on the Western Hill of Jerusalem, near the "upper room." (This trial was illegal, as trials were never to occur in a private home, but in a public place where witnesses could be found.) His enemies (again, illegally because witnesses could not be called at night) attempt to find an indictment against Jesus that could be taken to Pilate.” (Quote from Christianity.com)

 

Jesus did  say to Pilate, “You have said so.”   Do you find it of importance that when asked by the high priest Are you the Messiah, Jesus answered, “I am.”  It is one of those questions where your answer is just as good as mine.  Could it be that Pilate, being a gentile, had no understanding of the King, the Jewish people had been looking for so many years?  And the high priest was well aware of who the Messiah was?

 

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

 

 

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

 

Mark 14:43-50

 

July 5, 2020

 

 

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

“And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.   Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.”   And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him.   And they laid hands on him and seized him.  But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.  And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me?   Day after day, I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.”   And they all left him and fled.”

 

Mark seems to be in a hurry to give us the facts, for I am sure you noticed the uses of the word immediately, Mark's favorite word.  When Mark tells us, “And they all left him and fled.” He is referring to the disciples.

The same story is in all of the gospels, but each recalls something a little different.  Beginning with John’s account in chapter 18:1-11, only John gives this insight; that Judas came with a company of soldiers and some temple police and identified Peter as the one who cut off the high priest servants ear, and only John recalls the servant's name but calls him a slave, his name was Malchus.  John also shares the point that Jesus was in total control with this report; John 18:4-8, “Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, 'Whom do you seek?”   They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.”  Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.  When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.   So, he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”   Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”

 

Dr. Luke is the only one who shares Jesus addressing Judas that night; it is found in Luke 22:63, “but Jesus said to him, 'Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”  One would expect the doctor to recall Jesus touching the servant of the high priest's ear that had been cut off by Peter and healing him.

 

Looking at all the gospels Matthew gives us, the most ink on the subject is Matthew 26:47-56.  Only Matthew gives us this insight in Matthew 26:52-54.  “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.   Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?   But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

 

That is why we are instructed to study the whole word of God so that we will be workers who need not be ashamed.

 

From our Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice