HERE, WE COME TO THE LAST OF MATTHEW’S RECORD OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST. IN THIS FINAL LOOK AT THE TAX COLLECTOR’S DETAILED ACCOUNT OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, WE GET THE SYNOPTIC VIEW OF CHRIST’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION. JESUS DIED FOR ALL MANKIND TO PAY THE RANSOM ON MANKIND’S SOULS FOR THE HOPE OF A BLESSED ETERNITY. NO GREATER GIFT WAS EVER GIVEN TO THIS FALLEN WORLD, TO YOU, OR YOUR FAMILY.
SAINT MATTHEW CHAPTER 26 SYNOPSIS
JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES,
“YOU KNOW THAT AFTER TWO DAYS IS THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER, AND THE SON OF MAN IS BETRAYED TO BE CRUCIFIED.”
THEN THERE WAS AN ASSEMBLY OF CHIEF PRIESTS, SCRIBES, AND ELDERS, IN THE PALACE OF THE HIGH PRIEST, WHO WAS CALLED CAIAPHAS. THEY CONSULTED ON HOW THEY MIGHT TAKE JESUS BY TRICKERY AND KILL HIM.
THEY SAID, “LET’S NOT KILL HIM ON THE FEAST DAY, LEST THERE BE AN UPROAR AMONG THE PEOPLE.”
NOW WHEN JESUS WAS IN BETHANY, IN THE HOUSE OF SIMON THE LEPER, THERE CAME A WOMAN WITH AN ALABASTER BOX OF VERY PRECIOUS OINTMENT, AND POURED IT ON HIS HEAD, AS HE SAT EATING MEAT. WHEN HIS DISCIPLES SAW IT THEY WERE INDIGNANT, SAYING, “TO WHAT PURPOSE IS THIS WASTE?”
JESUS SAID TO THEM,
“WHY DO YOU TROUBLE THIS WOMAN? FOR SHE HAS WROUGHT A GOOD WORK UPON ME. FOR YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE POOR WITH YOU; BUT ME YOU DO NOT HAVE ALWAYS. FOR SHE POURED THIS OINTMENT ON MY BODY FOR MY BURIAL”.
(COMMENTARY: THE APOSTLES COMPLAINED BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE PRICE OF THE OINTMENT COULD HAVE BEEN SOLD AND THEN GIVEN TO THE POOR. THAT IS, UNTIL THEY UNDERSTOOD THE PURPOSE OF IT.)
THEN ONE OF THE TWELVE, CALLED JUDAS ISCARIOT, WENT TO THE CHIEF PRIESTS. HE SAID TO THEM, “WHAT WILL YOU GIVE ME, AND I WILL DELIVER JESUS TO YOU?”
AND THEY COVENANTED WITH HIM FOR THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER.
AND FROM THAT TIME ON JUDAS SOUGHT OPPORTUNITY TO BETRAY HIM.
(COMMENTARY: SATAN HAD ENTERED JUDAS ISCARIOT AS PART OF GOD’S PLAN TO ENSURE A LIFELINE TO MANKIND’S ETERNAL SALVATION IN THE DEATH OF HIS SON JESUS. GOD KNEW JESUS WOULD NOT BACK DOWN FROM OFFERING HIS BODY AS THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR SIN. )
ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD THE DISCIPLES CAME TO JESUS, SAYING, “WHERE WILL YOU WANT US TO PREPARE THE PASSOVER MEAL?”
JESUS SAID, “GO INTO THE CITY TO A CERTAIN MAN, AND SAY TO HIM, THE MASTER SAYS, MY TIME IS AT HAND; I WILL KEEP THE PASSOVER AT YOUR HOUSE WITH MY DISCIPLES”.
AND THE DISCIPLES ARRANGED IT.
WHEN EVENING CAME JESUS SAT DOWN WITH THE TWELVE. AND AS THEY ATE, HE SAID, “VERILY I SAY TO YOU, THAT ONE OF YOU SHALL BETRAY ME”.
AND THEY WERE EXCEEDINGLY SORROWFUL, AND EVERY ONE OF THEM BEGAN TO SAY TO HIM, “LORD IS IT I?”
AND HE ANSWERED, “HE THAT DIPS HIS HAND WITH ME IN THE DISH, THE SAME SHALL BETRAY ME.”
THE SON OF MAN GOES AS IT IS WRITTEN OF HIM: BUT WOE TO THAT MAN BY WHOM THE SON OF MAN IS BETRAYED! IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR THAT MAN IF HE HAD NOT BEEN BORN.”
THEN JUDAS, WHICH BETRAYED HIM, SAID, “MASTER, IS IT I?”
JESUS SAID TO HIM, “YOU HAVE SAID.”
AND AS THEY WERE EATING, JESUS TOOK BREAD AND BLESSED IT, AND BROKE IT, AND GAVE IT TO THE DISCIPLES, AND SAID, “TAKE THIS TO EAT; THIS IS MY BODY.” AND HE TOOK THE CUP, AND GAVE THANKS, AND GAVE IT TO THEM, SAYING, “DRINK ALL OF IT; FOR THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, WHICH IS SHED FOR MANY FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS. BUT I SAY TO YOU, I WILL NOT DRINK HENCEFORTH OF THIS FRUIT OF THE VINE, UNTIL THAT DAY WHEN I DRINK IT NEW WITH YOU IN MY FATHER’S KINGDOM.”
(COMMENTARY: HERE IS WHERE JESUS INSTITUTES THE FIRST SACRAMENT AS A RITE OF OBSERVANCE FROM HENCEFORTH.)
AND WHEN THEY HAD SUNG A HYMN, THEY WENT OUT INTO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. THEN JESUS SAID TO THEM,
“YOU ALL SHALL BE OFFENDED BECAUSE OF ME THIS NIGHT: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, I WILL SMITE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED ABROAD. BUT AFTER I AM RISEN AGAIN, I WILL GO BEFORE YOU INTO GALILEE.”
PETER SAID TO JESUS, “THOUGH ALL MEN SHALL BE OFFENDED BECAUSE OF YOU, YET WILL I NEVER BE OFFENDED.”
JESUS SAID TO HIM, “THIS NIGHT, BEFORE THE COCK CROWS, YOU SHALL DENY ME THREE TIMES.”
PETER SAID, “THOUGH I SHOULD DIE WITH YOU, YET WILL I NOT DENY YOU.” LIKEWISE SAID ALL THE DISCIPLES.
THEN CAME JESUS WITH THEM TO A PLACE CALLED GETHSEMANE, AND SAID TO THE DISCIPLES, “SIT HERE WHILE I GO AND PRAY OVER THERE.”
AND HE TOOK WITH HIM PETER, JAMES AND JOHN AND BEGAN TO BE SORROWFUL AND VERY HEAVY. HE SAID TO THEM,
“MY SOUL IS EXCEEDINGLY SORROWFUL, EVEN TO THE POINT OF DEATH: WAIT HERE, AND WATCH WITH ME.”
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 YOU WILL.”
AND THERE APPEARED AN ANGEL TO HIM FROM HEAVEN, STRENGTHENING HIM.
AND BEING IN AGONY HE PRAYED MORE EARNESTLY: AND HIS SWEAT WAS AS GREAT DROPS OF BLOOD FALLING DOWN TO THE GROUND. (ST. LUKE CHAPTER 22:43-44)
WHEN HE ROSE UP FROM PRAYER, AND CAME TO HIS DISCIPLES, HE FOUND THEM SLEEPING FROM SORROW. (ST. LUKE CHAPTER 22:45)
HE SAID TO PETER, “WHAT, COULD YOU NOT WATCH WITH ME ONE HOUR?”
“WATCH AND PRAY, THAT YOU ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION: THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK.”
HE WENT OUT AGAIN THE SECOND TIME, AND PRAYED, SAYING,
“O MY FATHER, IF THIS CUP MAY NOT PASS AWAY FROM ME, EXCEPT I DRINK IT, YOUR WILL BE DONE.”
AND HE CAME AND FOUND THEM ASLEEP AGAIN: FOR THEIR EYES WERE HEAVY.
AND HE LEFT THEM, AND WENT AWAY AGAIN, AND PRAYED THE THIRD TIME, SAYING THE SAME WORDS.
THEN HE CAME TO HIS DISCIPLES, AND SAID TO THEM,
“SLEEP ON NOW, AND TAKE YOUR REST: BEHOLD, THE HOUR IS AT HAND, AND THE SON OF MAN IS BETRAYED INTO THE HANDS OF SINNERS.
“RISE, LET US BE GOING: BEHOLD, HE IS AT HAND THAT DOTH BETRAY ME.”
AND WHILE HE STILL SPOKE, JUDAS, ONE OF THE TWELVE DISCIPLES, CAME, WITH A GREAT MULTITUDE CARRYING SWORDS AND STAVES (WOODEN STICKS), FROM THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS OF THE PEOPLE.
NOW JUDAS GAVE THEM A SIGN, SAYING, “WHOMSOEVER I SHALL KISS, THAT SAME IS HE: HOLD HIM FAST.”
AND FORTHWITH HE CAME TO JESUS, SAYING, “HAIL, MASTER; AND KISSED HIM.”
JESUS SAID TO HIM, “FRIEND, WHEREFORE ARE YOU COME?”
THEN THEY TOOK JESUS.
AND PETER DREW HIS SWORD, AND STRUCK A SERVANT OF THE HIGH PRIEST’S CUTTING OFF HIS EAR.
AND JESUS SAID TO HIM,
“PUT AWAY YOUR SWORD: FOR ALL THEY THAT TAKE THE SWORD SHALL PERISH WITH THE SWORD. DO YOU THINK THAT I CANNOT NOW PRAY TO THE FATHER, AND HE SHALL PRESENTLY GIVE ME MORE THAN TWELVE LEGIONS OF ANGELS? BUT HOW THEN SHALL THE SCRIPTURES BE FULFILLED, THAT THUS IT MUST BE?”
THEN JESUS SAID TO THE MULTITUDE,
“HAVE YOU COME OUT AS AGAINST A THIEF WITH YOUR SWORDS AND CLUBS TO TAKE ME?” I SAT DAILY WITH YOU TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE, AND YOU LAID NO HOLD ON ME THEN.”
BUT ALL THIS WAS DONE, THAT THE SCRIPTURES OF THE PROPHETS MIGHT BE FULFILLED.
THEN ALL THE DISCIPLES FORSOOK HIM AND FLED
JESUS WAS LED AWAY TO CAIAPHAS, THE HIGH PRIEST, WHERE THE SCRIBES AND ELDERS WERE ASSEMBLED.
PETER FOLLOWED FAR BEHIND TO THE HIGH PRIEST’S PALACE, TO WATCH THE END OF IT.
NOW THE CHIEF PRIESTS, ELDERS, AND THE COUNCIL, SOUGHT FALSE WITNESS AGAINST JESUS, TO PUT HIM TO DEATH.
THEY HAD TROUBLE FINDING THEM. AT LAST CAME TWO FALSE WITNESSES. THEY SAID, “THIS FELLOW SAID, I AM ABLE TO DESTROY THE TEMPLE OF GOD, AND TO BUILD IT AGAIN IN THREE DAYS.”
THE HIGH PRIEST SAID TO JESUS, “WILL YOU SAY NOTHING? WHAT ABOUT THESE WITNESSES AGAINST YOU?”
BUT JESUS HELD HIS PEACE. THE HIGH PRIEST SAID AGAIN TO HIM, “I ORDER YOU BY THE LIVING GOD, THAT YOU TELL US WHETHER YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.”
JESUS SAID TO HIM,
“YOU HAVE SAID IT: NEVERTHELESS I SAY TO YOU, HEREAFTER YOU SHALL SEE THE SON OF MAN SITTING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, AND COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN!”
THEN THE HIGH PRIEST RENT (TORE) HIS CLOTHES SAYING, “HE HAS SPOKEN BLASPHEMY; WHAT FURTHER NEED DO WE HAVE FOR WITNESSES? WHAT DO YOU THINK?”
THEY ANSWERED, AND SAID, “HE IS GUILTY OF DEATH.”
THEN DID THEY SPIT IN HIS FACE, AND ATTACKED HIM; AND OTHERS SLAPPED HIM, SAYING, “PROPHESY TO US, YOU CHRIST, WHO IS HE THAT SMITES YOU?”
NOW PETER SAT OUTSIDE THE PALACE: AND A YOUNG WOMAN CAME TO HIM SAYING, “YOU WERE WITH JESUS OF GALILEE.”
BUT HE DENIED BEFORE ALL OF THEM, SAYING, “I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.”
AND WHEN HE HAD GONE OUT TO THE PORCH, ANOTHER YOUNG MAID SAW HIM AND SAID TO ALL THOSE PRESENT, “THIS FELLOW WAS WITH JESUS OF NAZARETH.”
AGAIN PETER DENIED WITH AN OATH, “I DO NOT KNOW THE MAN.”
AND AFTER A WHILE CAME THOSE TO PETER WHICH WERE STANDING BY AND THEY SAID, “SURELY YOU ARE ONE OF THEM; FOR YOUR SPEECH IDENTIFIES YOU.”
PETER BEGAN TO CURSE AND SWEAR SAYING, “I DID NOT KNOW THE MAN.”
AND IMMEDIATELY THE COCK CROWED.
HE THEN REMEMBERED THE WORDS OF JESUS, WHO SAID, “BEFORE THE COCK CROWS; YOU SHALL DENY ME THREE TIMES.
AND PETER WENT OUT, AND WEPT BITTERLY.
SAINT MATTHEW CHAPTER 27 SYNOPSIS:
WHEN MORNING CAME, ALL THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS OF THE PEOPLE TOOK COUNSEL AGAINST JESUS TO PUT HIM TO DEATH. THEY BOUND HIM AND LED HIM TO PONTIUS PILATE, THE GOVERNOR. (THIS MAN HAD GREAT CONTEMPT FOR THE JEWS AND THEIR RELIGION.)
THEN JUDAS SAW JESUS WAS CONDEMNED, AND HE REPENTED, AND BROUGHT BACK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER TO THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS, SAYING, “I HAVE SINNED IN THAT I HAVE BETRAYED THE INNOCENT BLOOD.”
AND THEY SAID, “WHAT IS THAT TO US? YOU SEE TO THAT.”
JUDAS THREW DOWN THE PIECES OF SILVER IN THE TEMPLE, AND LEFT TO GO HANG HIMSELF.
THE CHIEF PRIESTS TOOK THE SILVER PIECES, AND SAID, IT IS NOT LAWFUL TO PUT THEM INTO THE TREASURY, BECAUSE IT IS THE PRICE OF BLOOD.”
THEY TOOK COUNSEL AND DECIDED TO BUY WITH THAT SILVER THE POTTER’S FIELD, FOR A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS IN.
THEREFORE, THAT FIELD WAS CALLED “THE FIELD OF BLOOD”, TO THIS DAY.
THEN WAS IT FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY JEREMIAH THE PROPHET,
“AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF HIM THAT WAS VALUED, WHOM THEY OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DID VALUE; AND GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER’S FIELD.”
JESUS STOOD BEFORE PILATE: AND THE GOVERNOR ASKED HIM, “ARE YOU THE KING OF THE JEWS?”
JESUS REPLIED, “YOU SAY IT.”
AND WHEN HE WAS ACCUSED OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS, HE ANSWERED NOTHING.
THEN PILATE SAID, “DO YOU HEAR HOW MANY THINGS THEY WITNESS AGAINST YOU?”
AND JESUS SAID NOTHING.
PILATE MARVELED GREATLY.
NOW AT THE FEAST THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO RELEASE A PRISONER TO THE PEOPLE, WHOMEVER THEY WISHED TO FREE. THERE WAS A PRISONER NAMED BARABBAS. WHEN THE PEOPLE GATHERED TOGETHER, PILATE SAID TO THEM, “WHOM WILL YOU WISH THAT I RELEASE TO YOU? BARABBAS OR JESUS WHICH IS CALLED CHRIST?” FOR HE KNEW THAT FOR THE CAUSE OF ENVY THEY HAD DELIVERED JESUS FOR DEATH.
(COMMENTARY: THIS ‘ENVY’ OF SECULAR PEOPLES WOULD FOLLOW CHRISTIANS FOR THE NEXT 2000 YEARS. PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT YET EMBRACED THE MAJESTY AND PERFECTION OF CHRIST REMIND ME OF FOLKS THAT DON’T WEAR SEAT-BELTS, WHEN THE DEAD STOP OR COLLISION OF THEIR LIVES PRESENTS ITSELF SUDDENLY THEY FIND THEMSELVES UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE 3000 POUNDS OF FORCE GOING FORWARD TOWARD THE STEERING AND WINDSHIELD OF THEIR LIVES. EACH ONE OF US WILL HAVE A MAJOR LIFE CRISIS, OR MANY, IN OUR LIVES AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS, AND BEING A CHRISTIAN DOES NOT NECESSARILY PROTECT ANYONE FROM ALL THINGS. BUT, I CAN EASILY TESTIFY THAT EMBRACING CHRIST AS A LIFE MODEL IS THE ULTIMATE HIGH TECH SEAT-BELT OF RESTRAINT FROM THE CRISES WE FACE. TRUE CHRISTIANS FACE ADVERSITY BETTER THAN ANY OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE WE HAVE HOPE, FAITH, PROPER LIFE PERSPECTIVE, AND THE PROMISE OF ETERNITY.)
WHEN PILATE SAT DOWN ON THE JUDGEMENT SEAT, HIS WIFE SENT WORD TO HIM SAYING, “HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT JUST MAN: FOR I HAVE SUFFERED MANY THINGS THIS DAY IN A DREAM BECAUSE OF HIM.”
BUT THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS PERSUADED THE MULTITUDE TO RELEASE BARABBAS, AND DESTROY JESUS.
PILATE SAID TO THEM, “WHAT SHALL I DO THEN WITH JESUS WHICH IS CALLED CHRIST?”
THEY ALL SAID, “LET HIM BE CRUCIFIED.”
WHEN PILATE SAW HE COULD PERSUADE NOTHING, AND THAT THE PEOPLE WERE IN AN UPROAR, HE TOOK WATER, AND WASHED HIS HANDS BEFORE THE MULTITUDE, SAYING, “I AM INNOCENT OF THE BLOOD OF THIS JUST PERSON: SEE YOU TO IT.”
THEN ANSWERED ALL THE PEOPLE, “HIS BLOOD BE ON US, AND ON OUR CHILDREN.”
(COMMENTARY: THE FASCINATING HISTORY OF THE JEWS PIVOTS ON THIS ONE DECREE WHICH THEY HAD CHOSEN FOR THEMSELVES. DID THEY THINK GOD WAS NOT LISTENING? AS THEY SAID, “HIS BLOOD BE ON US, AND OUR CHILDREN” SO IT HAS BEEN, SADLY THE NON-MESSIANIC JEWS ARE STILL SPIRITUALLY PAYING FOR KILLING CHRIST.THIS IS NOT A SOCIETAL MYTH OR ANTI-SEMITIC BATHROOM WALL PARABLE. BY CRUCIFYING THEIR SAVIOR THEY SEALED THEIR FUTURE OF CONTINUOUS PURIFICATION THROUGH PERSECUTION, POGROMS, AND MASS GENOCIDE AGAINST THEM FOR CENTURIES.GOD WOULD ALLOW THE GENTILES TO DESTROY (OR NEARLY DESTROY) THEIR CULTURES WHEREVER THEY SPRANG UP UNTIL 1948 WHEN HE ALLOWED THE JEWS WORLDWIDE TO RETURN TO ISRAEL, AND ALL OF THIS AS SET-UP FOR THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, WHEN ALL JEWS COME TO A KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST.
THE ONLY PROMISE LEFT TO THE JEWS WAS THAT IN THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PURIFICATION THERE WOULD BE A RIGHTEOUS REMNANT TO SURVIVE.
YOU SEE, THE GOSPEL HAS NOW BEEN AROUND FOR 2000 YEARS OFFERED TO ALL NATIONS IN FULL GRACE. WITH THE 7-YEAR TRIBULATION VERY NEAR, THIS “GRACE” PERIOD IS ENDING. THIS IS LAST CALL FOR THE RAPTURE, LAST CALL TO FOLLOW CHRIST AND FORSAKE THE CYNICISM OF THE DYING, SECULAR WORLD.)
THEN PILATE RELEASED BARABBAS TO THEM: AND WHEN HE HAS SCOURGED JESUS, HE DELIVERED HIM TO BE CRUCIFIED.
THE ROMAN SOLDIERS STRIPPED JESUS, AND PUT ON HIM A SCARLET ROBE. AND WHEN THEY HAD MADE A CROWN OF THORNS, THEY PUT IT ON HIS HEAD, AND PLACED A REED IN HIS RIGHT HAND: AND THEY BOWED THEIR KNEE BEFORE HIM, AND MOCKED HIM, SAYING, “HAIL, KING OF THE JEWS!”
AND THEY SPIT ON HIM, AND TOOK THE REED FROM HIM, AND HIT HIM ON THE HEAD.
AND AFTER THEY HAD MOCKED HIM, THEY TOOK THE ROBE OFF HIM, AND PUT HIS CLOTHES BACK ON HIM, AND LED HIM AWAY TO CRUCIFY HIM.
AND AS THEY CAME OUT TO THE STREET, THEY FOUND A MAN OF CYRENE CALLED SIMON, AND THEY PERSUADED HIM TO BEAR THE CROSS OF JESUS.
AND WHEN THEY CAME TO GOLGOTHA (THE PLACE OF SKULLS) THEY GAVE JESUS VINEGAR MINGLED WITH GALL (BILE) TO DRINK: AND WHEN HE TASTED THEREOF, HE WOULD NOT DRINK.
AND THEY CRUCIFIED HIM, AND THEY DIVIDED HIS GARMENTS AMONGST THEMSELVES TO GAMBLE ON THEM.
(COMMENTARY: ROMAN SOLDIERS, USUALLY FOUR IN NUMBER, ATTENDED THE CRUCIFIED FOR THE DURATION OF THE PROCESS UNTIL DEATH, WHICH USUALLY TOOK 3 DAYS.)
THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET,
“THEY PARTED MY GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND UPON MY VESTURE (ALL MY CLOTHES) DID THEY CAST LOTS” (GAMBLE).
AND SITTING DOWN THEY WATCHED HIM THERE.
AND SET ABOVE JESUS’ HEAD WAS AN ACCUSATION WRITTEN, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
THERE WERE TWO THIEVES BEING CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, ONE ON THE RIGHT AND ANOTHER ON THE LEFT.
AND PEOPLE PASSED BY REVILING JESUS, SHAKING THEIR HEADS AND SAYING, “YOU THAT DESTROY THE TEMPLE, AND BUILD IT IN THREE DAYS, SAVE YOURSELF. IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS.”
LIKEWISE THE CHIEF PRIESTS SCRIBES AND ELDERS MOCKED HIM, SAYING, “HE SAVED OTHERS; BUT HE CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF. IF HE IS THE KING OF ISRAEL LET HIM COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS, AND WE WILL BELIEVE HIM. HE TRUSTED IN GOD; LET GOD DELIVER HIM NOW, IF HE WILL HAVE HIM: FOR HE SAID, I AM THE SON OF GOD.”
THE THIEVES ALSO, WHICH WERE CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, CAST THE SAME INSULTS AT HIM.
NOW FROM THE SIXTH HOUR THERE WAS DARKNESS OVER ALL THE LAND UP TO THE NINTH HOUR.
AND ABOUT THE NINTH HOUR JESUS CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”
SOME OF THEM THAT STOOD THERE, WHEN THEY HEARD THAT, SAID, “THIS MAN CALLS FOR ELIAS.”
AND RIGHT AWAY ONE OF THEM RAN, TAKING A SPONGE, FILLED WITH VINEGAR, AND PUT IT ON A REED, AND GAVE IT TO JESUS TO DRINK.
THE REST OF THEM SAID, “LET IT BE, LET’S SEE WHETHER ELIAS WILL COME TO SAVE HIM.”
AND JESUS, WHEN HE HAD CRIED AGAIN WITH A LOUD VOICE, “FATHER INTO YOUR HAND I COMMEND MY SPIRIT, IT IS FINISHED”: AND HAVING SAID THUS, HE GAVE UP THE GHOST. (SEE LUKE 23:46, JOHN 19:30)
AND BEHOLD AT THAT MOMENT THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE WAS TORN IN TWO FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM: AND THE EARTH DID QUAKE, AND THE ROCKS WERE TORN. AND THE GRAVES WERE OPENED; AND MANY BODIES OF THE SAINTS WHICH SLEPT AROSE AND CAME OUT OF THE GRAVES, AND WENT INTO JERUSALEM, AND APPEARED UNTO MANY PEOPLE.
NOW WHEN THE CENTURION, AND OTHER WITH HIM, WATCHING JESUS, SAW THE EARTHQUAKE, AND THOSE THINGS THAT WERE DONE, THEY FEARED GREATLY, SAYING,
“TRULY THIS WAS THE SON OF GOD.”
AND MANY WOMEN WERE THERE WATCHING AFAR OFF, THOSE WHICH FOLLOWED JESUS FROM GALILEE, MINISTERING TO HIM. AMONG THEM WERE MARY MAGDALENE, MARY (JESUS’ MOTHER), HER SISTER MARY AND THE MOTHER OF JAMES AND JOHN (THE DISCIPLES).
(COMMENTARY: THESE DETAILS ARE TAKEN FROM THE RECORDS OF MARK, LUKE AND JOHN ALSO.)
THE JEWS DESIRED THAT THE THREE BODIES ON THE CROSS SHOULD NOT REMAIN ON THE COMING SABBATH DAY. THEY ASKED PILATE TO BREAK THEIR LEGS (AS WAS THE CUSTOM OF CRUCIFIXION) AND TAKE THEM AWAY.
THE SOLDIERS CAME AND BROKE THE TWO THIEVES LEGS BUT WHEN THEY CAME TO JESUS, SEEING HE WAS ALREADY DEAD, THEY DID NOT BREAK HIS LEGS.
BUT ONE OF THE SOLDIERS PIERCED HIS SIDE WITH A SWORD, AND IMMEDIATELY THERE POURED OUT BLOOD AND WATER.
FOR THESE THINGS WERE DONE, THAT THE SCRIPTURE SHOULD BE FULFILLED, “A BONE OF HIM SHALL NOT BE BROKEN.”
AND AGAIN ANOTHER SCRIPTURE SAYING, “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.” (ST. JOHN CHAPTER 19:36-37)
WHEN THE EVENING CAME THERE CAME JOSEPH OF ARIMTHEA, A RICH MAN WHO WAS JESUS’ DISCIPLE. HE BEGGED PILATE FOR THE BODY OF JESUS. THEN PILATE CONSENTED.
JOSEPH TOOK THE BODY AND WRAPPED IT IN A CLEAN LINEN CLOTH, AND LAID IT IN HIS OWN NEW TOMB, HE ROLLED A GREAT STONE TO THE DOOR OF THE SEPULCHER, AND DEPARTED.
AND THERE WAS MARY MAGDALENE AND THE OTHER MARY (HIS MOTHER? HIS AUNT?) AWARE OF WHERE JESUS WAS LAID.
NOW THE NEXT DAY THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND PHARISEES CAME TO PILATE SAYING, “SIR, WE REMEMBER THAT THE DECEIVER (SPEAKING OF JESUS) SAID, WHILE HE WAS YET ALIVE, AFTER THREE DAYS I WILL RISE AGAIN.
COMMAND THEREFORE THAT THE SEPULCHER BE MADE SEALED UNTIL THE THIRD DAY, LEST HIS DISCIPLES COME BY NIGHT, AND STEAL HIM AWAY, AND SAY TO THE PEOPLE, “HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD.”
PILATE SAID TO THEM, “YOU HAVE A WATCH: GO YOUR WAY.”
SO THEY WENT, AND MADE THE SEPULCHER SEALED, AND SET UP A WATCH.
SAINT MATTHEW CHAPTER 28 SYNOPSIS:
IN THE END OF THE SABBATH, AT DAWN ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, CAME MARY MAGDALENE AND THE OTHER MARY TO SEE THE SEPULCHER.
AND THERE WAS A GREAT EARTHQUAKE: FOR THE ANGEL OF THE LORD DESCENDED FROM HEAVEN, AND ROLLED BACK THE STONE FROM THE DOOR AND SAT UPON IT. HIS FACE WAS LIKE LIGHTNING AND IS CLOTHES WHITE AS SNOW.
THE ANGELS TELL THE WOMEN, “FEAR NOT, FOR I KNOW THAT YOU SEEK JESUS, WHICH WAS CRUCIFIED. HE IS NOT HERE: FOR HE IS RISEN, AS HE SAID.
COME, SEE THE PLACE WHERE THE LORD DID LAY. AND GO QUICKLY, AND TELL HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD; AND BEHOLD, JESUS GOES BEFORE YOU INTO GALILEE; THERE YOU WILL SEE HIM.”
AND THEY LEFT QUICKLY WITH FEAR AND GREAT JOY AND RAN TO THE DISCIPLES.
ON THE WAY THERE, JESUS MET THEM, SAYING, “ALL HAIL.” AND THEY CAME AND HELD HIS FEET AND WORSHIPED HIM.
JESUS SAID TO THEM,
“BE NOT AFRAID: GO TELL MY BRETHREN TO GO INTO GALILEE, AND THERE THEY WILL SEE ME.”
NOW WHEN THEY WERE GOING, SOME OF THE SPIES WHO WERE WATCHING THE TOMB CAME INTO THE CITY, AND SHOWED THE CHIEF PRIESTS ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE DONE.
THEY ASSEMBLED WITH THE ELDERS AND TOOK COUNSEL AND DECIDED TO BRIBE THE ROMAN SOLDIERS WITH LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY.
THE SOLDIERS WERE HIRED TO SAY, “HIS DISCIPLES CAME BY NIGHT, AND STOLE HIM AWAY WHILE WE SLEPT.”
AND THIS FINAL ACT OF CONSPIRACY IS A SAYING IS COMMONLY REPORTED AMONG THE JEWS UNTIL THIS DAY!
THEN THE ELEVEN DISCIPLES WENT TO GALILEE, INTO A MOUNTAIN, WHERE JESUS HAD SENT THEM.
AND WHEN THEY SAW HIM, THEY WORSHIPED HIM: BUT SOME DOUBTED.
JESUS CAME AND SPOKE TO THEM SAYING, “ALL POWER IS GIVEN TO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH. GO THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST: TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THING WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU: AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. AMEN.”
(COMMENTARY: WE ARE ONLY HERE 80+ YEARS IF WE ARE TO LIVE THAT LONG, THIS IS THE MAXIMUM TIME OF POSSIBLE LENGTH OF HUMAN LIFE MENTIONED BY THE SCRIPTURES. DUE TO HUMAN INIQUITY GOD HAS SHORTENED LIFE SPANS ON A HISTORICAL LEVEL DOWN TO 80-90 YEARS. LIFE WAS NOT ALWAYS SO FEW IN YEARS, AS WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT RECORDS. THE BIG QUESTION IS—WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN 80+ YEARS, KNOWING WHAT YOU DO AFFECTS YOUR ETERNAL DISPOSITION? I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY OWN LIFE THAT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN EAT/SLEEP/WORK/SHOPPING/ROMANCE/TV/COMPUTER. THERE IS SOMETHING MORE THAN FRIENDS AND FAMILY. THERE IS THE COMMUNING OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT WITH THE HOLY GHOST WHICH COMES UPON EVERY PERSON WITH INVITATION. THIS HOLY GHOST TESTIFIES OF THE TRUTH OF THESE THINGS AND WILL TEACH AND LEAD YOUR LIFE IN WONDROUS WAYS YOU HAVE NOT YET IMAGINED. YOU WILL KNOW PEACE AND JOY SUCH AS NEVER FELT. PLEASE MAKE THAT INVITATION.
WE HAVE ONE PERSON TO LOOK TOWARD AS THE EXAMPLE OF THE ONLY PERFECT MAN THAT EVER LOVED US ENOUGH TO DIE FOR OUR SINS. WE CAN’T RUN FROM JESUS CHRIST FOREVER. STOP RIGHT NOW AND CLOSE YOUR EYES, AND FEEL GOD CALLING YOU.)
NEXT: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RECORDS OF LUKE AND JOHN ABOUT THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST.