St. Matthew, Chapter 20, verse:19b, The Triumph over death.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The third prediction of the passion) Part 4. 

The journey to Jerusalem was taking place as Christ led his disciples to his end.  He told them what was to happen.  He warned them that he would be handed over to the Gentiles and that he would face death.  The horror of what he was about to do was unimaginable.  The dishonor of what he surrendered himself to was unbelievable.  The mockery and pain that he would suffer was beyond the comprehension of those who followed him. 

They knew who he was.  They believed in him.  They loved him.  They saw with their own eyes, heard with their own ears, and felt with their deepest emotions the love that he had for them and the love that they felt for him.  But to have him intentionally give himself up to death was beyond their understanding.  Yet beyond all that he would face, all that he would experience, all that he knew about what was to happen, he trusted in his Father and the knowledge that he would triumph over death.  So he told them: "And on the third day he will rise again."

This is the Christ that lived some two thousand years ago.  This is the Christ that came down from heaven to walk among us.  This is the Christ who taught us of love, and peace, and mercy, and forgiveness.  He was here.  He was present.  He was and is with us.  He gave us the example.  He left us his words.  He showed us what we should do.  And most of all he redeemed us from eternal damnation. 

Do we follow?  Do we believe?  Do we know that we are saved?  Many will fear.  Many will not believe.  Many will be lost to what is believed to be unknown.  Yet nothing is unknown if we believe.  Nothing is unknown if we seek to know.  Nothing is fearful if we trust in what has been given us by our Redeemer.  He loved us.  He died for us.  He gave up his heavenly crown to come and be with us.  And now he waits for us to come home to him that we may know how much he loves us.

We know the world.  We can see what is here.  We can test, and experiment, and extrapolate the truth of the physical.  We know not the spiritual.  We cannot test, or experiment or know what lies beyond the door of death.  Yet Christ has given us an example to follow.  He has shown us the way.  He has left us his words.  He has given us a path to follow.  He has brought forth the truth that we may know with certainty who we are in him.  The flesh profits nothing.  It is the spirit that gives life. 

We are spiritual beings in a physical body living in a physical world.  Our time here is limited.  Our physical life is limited.  But our spiritual life is eternal.  Look beyond the physical!  Look beyond that which is before you.  See the life that is within you and you will know the truth of who you are.  We are eternal being living in a physical world. Celebrate the life that is within.  For death is but a transition into that which you will become.  And you will know the truth of who you are in Christ.  Of his free will, God gave us life eternal.  Seek that which is spiritual and you will know the truth of where you belong. 

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.

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 death, and 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.

St. Matthew, Chapter 20, verse: 18b, Betrayal: The Prediction of Death.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The third prediction of the passion) Part 2. 

Christ has taken his disciples aside and told them of his future.  He is going up to Jerusalem where he will face death.  He is going on a suicide mission because he knows that he is going to die as a result of his trip to Jerusalem.  He clearly understands his mission.  He knows what is at stake.  He has given himself up to the outcome of his journey.  He follows the will of his Father.  And it is that will which he has accepted that will lead to his death.

Christ tells his disciples the details of how his death will happen.  He knows and his disciples know that the powers that be are out to end his teachings and his popularity with the people.  The rulers do not like what he is doing, they do not like his teachings, they do not like his criticism of how they control the people of Israel.  And yet he proceeds to Jerusalem knowing that his life is in danger.  He tells his disciples:  "And the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the Scribes; and they will condemn him to death." 

And they will condemn him to death.  How many of us today would do the same?  How many of us today would do something that we knew would lead to our death?  Quite the contrary most of us would run from death.  Most of us would do anything that would take us out of harms way and preserve the life that we have.  This is only human nature.  This is our natural instinct to protect ourselves, to keep us from harm, to preserve the life that we have.  We are not the Messiah.  We are not the chosen one.  We are not the Christ.  But we are Christ like.

Our father created us in his image and likeness.  He gave us the same life spirit that he himself has.  He took of himself and gave to us.  We are spiritual and physical.  We are flesh, body and spirit.  Yet we do not recognize that part of ourselves that is spiritual, that part of us that is eternal, that part of ourselves that is real and everlasting.  The spirit does not die.  The body is dying everyday, decaying before our eyes.  We all must face death.  It is inevitable.  It is necessary.  It is a part of who we are, part physical, part spiritual.  Why is it then that we treasure the physical more than we do the spiritual?  Why is it that we do not embrace the spirit within us, acknowledging that there is more than just the physical?

Christ came that we would know the truth of who we are.  He came that we would have an example.  He came to teach us the truth of our Father, our creator.  And he gave us a path to follow, a knowledge to believe, a light to help us in our walk in darkness.  We should have no fear of death.  We should embrace the transition of death for it is but a gateway that leads to our true home in heaven with our Father.  Many await our coming.  Those who have gone before us will rejoice at our coming.  Happy is that day that we go home to the Father.  Happy is that day that we meet our maker.  Happy is that day that we see ourselves as we are seen in heaven.  Happy is the day that we are embraced by the all fulfilling love of our Father.  Christ went up to Jerusalem to face his death but he went up to Jerusalem to go beyond death and to go home to his Father.  Come!  Let us understand that Christ awaits our coming home that he may rejoice with us in heaven.

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.