Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
In Matthew 26:53 Jesus says, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” which makes v.27-32 remarkable when you consider Jesus’ restraint.
In Matthew 26:53 Jesus says, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” which makes v.27-32 remarkable when you consider Jesus’ restraint.
Love … it is the only answwer to the reason He did restrain Himself …. Love for the Father and for us … in otherwords He loved Himself by loving us.
Love … it is the only answwer to the reason He did restrain Himself …. Love for the Father and for us … in otherwords He loved Himself by loving us.
🙂 Just read the chapter and it hit me again how in control of all situations He was … this was not the first time His life had been threatened … He did not make himself available to death and torture and pain until this time … He died before the normal person dies if you read the account in John and the earth itself responded in sorrow and anger when He died …. darkness and an earthquake … He gathered His own to Him even there while He seemingly hung in defeat.
The centurion watching Him die said, “Surely this is the Son of God”
I found this interesting about the mention of the women at His crucifixion. Mary the mother of James the Less and Joseph and Salome… throughout three accounts Mary Magdalene seems to be a constant but Mary the mother of Jesus is only mentioned once in John as His mother. The Mary here is the mother of James the Less and Joses and Salome. In Matthew she is the mother of James and Joseph. Are these the same Mary? and are these Jesus’ siblings? I wonder whatever happened to Joseph? Did he die?
And as usual .. it’s good to see that time hasn’t changed anything, it seems to be mostly the women and only a couple of men standing with Him to the end … lol
🙂 Just read the chapter and it hit me again how in control of all situations He was … this was not the first time His life had been threatened … He did not make himself available to death and torture and pain until this time … He died before the normal person dies if you read the account in John and the earth itself responded in sorrow and anger when He died …. darkness and an earthquake … He gathered His own to Him even there while He seemingly hung in defeat.
The centurion watching Him die said, “Surely this is the Son of God”
I found this interesting about the mention of the women at His crucifixion. Mary the mother of James the Less and Joseph and Salome… throughout three accounts Mary Magdalene seems to be a constant but Mary the mother of Jesus is only mentioned once in John as His mother. The Mary here is the mother of James the Less and Joses and Salome. In Matthew she is the mother of James and Joseph. Are these the same Mary? and are these Jesus’ siblings? I wonder whatever happened to Joseph? Did he die?
And as usual .. it’s good to see that time hasn’t changed anything, it seems to be mostly the women and only a couple of men standing with Him to the end … lol
I watched The Passion Of The Christ about a month or so ago. Mel Gibson did a wonderful job with the movie. The images springing to my mind while reading the last two chapters. Through his actions, he forced what was to happen, to happen. How many times had he verbally beat the Pharisees and others. When taken to Pilot, he could have easily persuaded him that he had done nothing wrong and should not be punished, but he did not. Yes, he was in complete control of the situation.
I watched The Passion Of The Christ about a month or so ago. Mel Gibson did a wonderful job with the movie. The images springing to my mind while reading the last two chapters. Through his actions, he forced what was to happen, to happen. How many times had he verbally beat the Pharisees and others. When taken to Pilot, he could have easily persuaded him that he had done nothing wrong and should not be punished, but he did not. Yes, he was in complete control of the situation.
Wendy, I get all those Mary’s muddled too!
Wendy, I get all those Mary’s muddled too!
We often breeze past v. 38 without a second thought but it must be about the most understated verse in the whole book. This event, the veil being torn from top to bottom, must have been amazing. It was a big, heavy curtain. The priests who where there at the time must have been beside themselves they probably expected to die because they had seen into the Holy of Holies.
It would have been amazing to have been ‘a fly on the wall’ when it happened.
We often breeze past v. 38 without a second thought but it must be about the most understated verse in the whole book. This event, the veil being torn from top to bottom, must have been amazing. It was a big, heavy curtain. The priests who where there at the time must have been beside themselves they probably expected to die because they had seen into the Holy of Holies.
It would have been amazing to have been ‘a fly on the wall’ when it happened.
That particular incident enthralls me completely … It was not only a message that the veil was gone now between us and the Father and we would now enter boldly to the throne of grace … but it was a loud and unmistakable message to those religious leaders who thought they had put an end to Him. I’m sure they were waiting for Him to manifest in some way and swallow them all up.
A message of freedom to those who love Him and a message of “who’s the boss” to those who mock Him.
That particular incident enthralls me completely … It was not only a message that the veil was gone now between us and the Father and we would now enter boldly to the throne of grace … but it was a loud and unmistakable message to those religious leaders who thought they had put an end to Him. I’m sure they were waiting for Him to manifest in some way and swallow them all up.
A message of freedom to those who love Him and a message of “who’s the boss” to those who mock Him.
v.36-37 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
Elijah didn't come but God did and took him away through death.
God does not act in the way we expect. He does not conform to our ideas.
v.36-37 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
Elijah didn't come but God did and took him away through death.
God does not act in the way we expect. He does not conform to our ideas.
v.2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
There is a time to speak and a time to be silent. Now it was time to speak.
We need wisdom to know which time we are in.
v.2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
There is a time to speak and a time to be silent. Now it was time to speak.
We need wisdom to know which time we are in.
v.44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died.
God is able to take those who are his when he wants to. God orchestrates events. We are not left to the whims of chance.
v.44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died.
God is able to take those who are his when he wants to. God orchestrates events. We are not left to the whims of chance.