Highlighted New Testament Bible

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Thursday, September 24, 2015

St. Matthew, Chapter 20, verse: 18b-19a, Betrayal: The Mockery, Dishonor, and Horror.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The third prediction of the passion) Part 3. 

Christ has spoken to his disciples and tells them of what he faces as he travels onward to Jerusalem.  They do not know.  They do not understand but they continue to follow and believe in him.  They continue to see the miracles that he performs, the message that he provides, and the hope that he gives to them and to the people around him.

He is the Messiah.  He is the Chosen One.  He is the Son of Man and the Son of God.  Yet he walks toward death.  He walks toward betrayal.  He walks toward mockery, dishonor, and the shear horror of crucifixion.  The disciples know what has happened to the prophets.  They know what has happened to those that transgress the will of the high priest.  And Christ has treated them unkindly.  He has scorned them, and told them of their sins even in the presence of the public.  And he tells his disciples:  "And they will condemn him to deathand will deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified." 

And he will be mocked, and scourged, and crucified.  These are the words that come from the Christ, the Chosen One, the Messiah.  And the disciples understand scourging, and crucifixion and mockery.  They have seen these things.  They know of mockery.  They shudder at the thought of crucifixion.  For they live daily in the real knowledge of these words.  Yet they cannot believe that one would willingly accept such fate.  But this is the will of the Christ.  This is the will of the Father.  This is what must be done.

We can look back on these happenings and try to understand what they understood.  We can look back on these events and try to feel what they felt.  We can look back on this journey and attempt to believe what happened in that time and place.  Or we can reject the message as simply a story that was told many years ago and continue to live blindly in the world today.  The choice is ours to make.  The belief is ours to believe.  The knowledge is ours to have if we choose.

In making our choice we must live with the consequences.  And that is also the choice that we make.  I pray that we will have the opportunity to reconsider all the choices that we make in this world.  I pray that we will have the opportunity to understand the consequences of our choices.  I pray that the love and mercy of God our Father will continue to follow us that we may not fall from his grace.  For had it not been for his mercy and grace I would not be here.  Had it not been for his love and forgiveness, I would suffer the consequences of the choices that I made in life.  Had it not been for the passion of his son, Christ Jesus, I would not have the life that I have today.

Today I understand.  Today I know.  Today I believe.  Today I trust.  Today I see the miracles that happen in my life on a daily basis.  And today I know that I am loved by my Father.  And today that knowledge and his love is overwhelming.  Today that knowledge is fulfilling.  Today that knowledge protects and provides for my every need.  Today I know that there is nothing in this world that can equal the love that comes from the Father.  Today I know that the only thing that I strive for and live for is to be with him.  You too can know!  You too can see!  You too can understand the truth of who you are in his sight!  Come!  Seek that which is yours that is freely given, his love. 

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.