Commentary

During His 3-year ministry, Jesus walked on water; healed the sick; opened blind eyes, deaf ears, and tongue-tied mouths; restored crippled limbs; cast out demons; stilled a violent storm; and raised the dead. He taught truth, and could ask questions even wise men could not answer. He preached of God, and how we should live, so that someday we may enter heaven.

He was the only perfect person to ever walk the earth. He called on twelve men to be 'fishers of men'. They followed Him and aided in His ministry, listened and learned to preach to others also.

Because He could do all these miracles, and called himself the Son of God, the peoples' anger got worse and worse. This simple man trying to call Himself the Son of God! They were furious, and did not believe.

They Came for Jesus

During the Jewish Feast of Passover, Jesus was taken by an angry crowd to the Roman hall of justice, and stood before Pilate, at that time governor of Judea. He was accused of saying he was the king of the Jews. They sentenced Him to death with public execution. He was taken to a place called Calvary, beaten, and placed on a cross between two criminals. While the three were on the cross, the soldiers broke the two criminals' legs to hasten death, but pierced Jesus' side to make sure he was dead. Many watched; friends, loved ones, enemies, and the Roman soldiers.

The Crucified Man

When Jesus was arrested in the garden, all but two of the disciples ran away and hid, afraid for their own lives. Peter and John followed Jesus to the place of His trial. John was the only disciple that followed to stand at the foot of the cross, along with Mary (the mother of Jesus), His mother's sister, and Mary Magdalene. To so identify with a crucified man could mean certain death, so they endangered themselves for Jesus. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

The other disciples, however, stood at a distance, with the crowds and watched, for fear of being arrested. Jesus was very moved by the devotion and love of the four that stood by Him. It was at this time he said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to John, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour John took her into his own household. It was to John that he committed the care of the dearest person in all the world to Him - His very own mother.

The Empty Tomb and Resurrection

They put him in the tomb. The following day, to prevent anyone from tampering and removing Jesus' body, a Roman Seal was attached to the tomb. Guards were place by it so no one would tamper with the tomb. This was so the words of Jesus returning in three days could not happen.

At the end of the sabbath, very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were going to the tomb where Jesus lay, and there was a great earthquake. When they arrived at the tomb, the angel appeared and told them, "He is risen" and he told them to tell the disciples to go into Galilee and they would see Him. Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene, and as she told others, they did not believe her.

Then He appeared to two of them (who loved Him) as they walked, and when they told of it, no one believed either. Then Jesus appeared to the disciples, and for forty days he remained on earth to speak of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Many people saw Jesus.

Then the eleven disciples went into Galilee, on the mountain where Jesus had appointed them, and they saw Him, and and worshiped Him. But some doubted. Jesus came to them saying: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye 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 things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matthew 28:19-20)

The Apostles Changed

The apostles, after Jesus was crucified, were afraid, and even in denial of Jesus. But, soon after, they underwent a total change, and stood and preached that Jesus was the Christ. Many died for their beliefs. Most of the apostles died because of their beliefs, because of their preaching, and teaching.

Judas, after betraying Jesus hanged himself. Matthew, Simon, and John were the only three to have died natural deaths; the others were tortured, beheaded, and hung on a cross till dead, but none varied from their teaching that Jesus is the Christ. And some say John, after his return from the isle of Patmos, was the only one who died a natural death. The exact manner of their deaths are uncertain, but what is certain is that they all taught the unbelievers until their deaths.

John being on the Isle of Patmos saw visions from the Lord of what was to come, and kept a record of it. (The Book of Revelation)

Sunday is now recognized as "The Lord's Day." It was at this time that the Jewish followers of Christ began to worship with the Gentile believers on the new day, Sunday. The first day of the week day was now called "The Lord's Day", since it was the day that Christ had risen from the dead. And it was believed that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ had cleared the way for a new relationship with God.

The new laws were brought through His teachings on earth. The Old Testament teachings are thought of as 'history' and life prior to God coming to earth, in the form of man, called Jesus, the Son. Many of the old laws now were past, such as the sacrifice of lambs. Jesus brought, from the Father, new laws ... The teachings of Jesus, the Son of the living God were now being heard by multitudes. They came to hear and learn. Many healings and miracles from Jesus were seen.

The Son of God was brought forth on earth to live as man, but also to be the ultimate sacrifice for man's sins, thus a bridge between man and Heaven. Jesus preached and taught in many places, but one of His greatest sermons was the Sermon on the Mount, which is found in Matthew 5-8. He set forth the new teachings in the way we should live. He said "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfil." "But if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that up raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:11).

Christ died to pay the price for our sins, and those who believe in their heart that God has raised Him from the dead will be saved (Romans 10:9-10). This salvation that Christ offers is not a reward for effort, but a gift to all who believe and put their trust in him.

Written by Kentucky Lady©

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