Matthew 27:51-66 ~ Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud

Representation of the Temple Curtain by A. Gardere

2 Chronicles 3:14
He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it.

Matthew 27:51-66

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

55 There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 

61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

If you ever wanted to own a Roman coin, they sell on ebay for not much money. The coins come from Roman soldiers frequently burying their treasure before war, the coins come with instructions to wash millenniums of soil away. Roman soldiers faced death all the time, if not from war, then in decimation from discipline.
Why doesn't the history from the Scriptures, Josephus, from Sanhedrin Council records say the praetorian guard was killed? There was too much going on, if Pilate was frightened and personally flogged Jesus himself (John 19:1) , how must Pilate have felt when all of these events occurred? Even the soldiers surrounding Jesus must have reported to Pilate saying among themselves Jesus was the Son of God. Eclipse, earthquake, Temple steps, Temple curtain, dismissing His own spirit, forgiveness and early death. The tombs opened and bodily resurrection reported, not just of the Lord, but the holy. Pilate's own sign proclaiming in three languages Jesus was King of the Jews.
Did Pilate stand on the steps to see the sky become dark and feel the earthquake on the Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs, transfered from the archaeological ruins of Pilate's Palace to the Vatican? (Scripture for Today Link) Without doubt, Pilate was later informed.

Pilate was later fired, struck down in his military standing, for his inability to rule in orderly methods with the Jews. There were many examples of Pilate and his extreme tactical mistakes, in later years Jesus' trial was known throughout the Empire and beyond for being unjust.


Of more impressive significance is Joseph of Arimathea. Never one exposed to war, death, criminal death, capital punishment. The Great Sanhedrin was the supreme religious body in the Land of Israel during the time of the Holy Temple and at this time chosen by Herod. So Joseph stepping up to take care of Jesus is truly the mark of the diligent and earnest soul to God.

The meaning for today - might be this. The Body of Christ is concerned again about violence. Violence has met the Kingdom of God many times. There is no reason why every Church should not have a silent alarm and an idea for security. God is pleased with our diligence and security. 

Thank You, Father God for the relief to the story of Jesus' sufferings. We thank You, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 12:35-48 ~ Keep your lamps burning

 

Luke 12:35-48

35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 

37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 

39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 

45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 

48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.


It's hard to fine the balance. The balance is why Joshua kept on for 40 years.
God named His Son - Yeshua. 

God is for perseverance.  In dire circumstance and in routine.

We say too much. Pushed aside.

We are thrust out of the inner group. We are suckered in. Made much of. Rejoiced in and relied upon.

We are used. Respected.  Why not stay home - with all comfort and ease - safety?
Traveling when home is loved.

We are in circumstance wildly beyond expectation. In a slow lane of regular old, rut.

We are in endurance. We are thriving. We are in joyful expectation.

Told to be bold. Told to hush.
Why not quit when no one is pleased?
Because. Usually Someone is pleased! When you want to please God.
The goal is not applause. God is pleased and pleased more completely. 
Pleasing God is putting the steam in your soul to go forth.

Just like the beginning of Jesus Christ's Church. For four centuries. Evil days happen. It is our godly desire not to fall away and fall back away from doing the Call of God.

Usually when someone will speak up to put you down - you did something.
Something worth while. Even Winston Churchill said so. Scripture can be difficult. Life can be difficult.

Few people comment on the outrageous aspects of their lives.

Some days are difficult. Really difficult.

 Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home.

We are Loved Cherished Believed Strong

Children of God. 

That is what is important. 

Each of us is unique, important and special to God. And in life, the just and the unjust get rained on and sunny days. We get to decide we are living a life worthwhile.  We can focus on the stain on our shirt or on the immeasurable grace Jesus gives us daily. God will listen. Love. And Care. Always.

Father God, thank You for giving us the ability to see real care. And the drive in the Holy Spirit to endure with hope - tough times. The gratitude of good circumstance. In Jesus we find the joy of each day, the sufficiency and the ability to complain in moderation and rejoice in optimism. We lift up our lives to you and the ones we love - to be the people You are pleased to dwell and live with. 

Bless the people of Charleston. During the healing - in the faith knowing  the cost can be great. And Jesus' Words remind us - this present sufferings will not compare to the Glory Jesus has gone ahead to prepare for us.

In expectation, we will hear again from the surviving mother who will speak of Jesus being put forth and knowing her acceptance - Jesus has made a path for her beloved prayer group and for the believers in this life.

This generation rarely knows the pain of a child that goes Home first. Allowing the surviving and grieving mother several years to recover - is needed. To be gracious to the families and survivor and allow real emotions - is a path of God. Father God - help us to be sensitive to the needs of others.  Thank You Father God for the bravery of people who have counted the cost - and go forth in Jesus for millenniums. Jesus is always needed. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

Matthew 5:1-17 ~ When He sat down, His disciples came to Him.

My Savior My God - Aaron Shust (with lyrics)

Matthew 5:1-17

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.



2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

~  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

~  "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

~  "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

~  "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

~  "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

~  "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

~  "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

~  "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

~  "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.


12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.



13 "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.


17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

When we are young, we are filled with invincibility. And we add to our joy to have children. Studies say the hardest part in life is when we are truly responsible for the ones we love. And my Psychology class at Texas A & M professor said he looked at the statistics, really put his PhD mind to them and opted out of children.

If you visit a Memory Loss Unit - what remains are the conversations in the Dementia area of raising children - long grown.

Today a man arrested twice for heavy drug usage in the past few months - sat with a Bible Study in Charleston - beautiful, beautiful, gracious Charleston - and killed 3 older people and others - sat with them an hour - and killed an Anglican Priest's wife and five others.  Saying to a mother lying in the blood of her dying son - you will live.

Peacemakers and persecuted for righteousness' sake is a little bit on the same actual side.

The face of the shooter betrays the deep inner turmoil.  Jesus also lived knowing this type of betrayal,
 
JESUS IS THE TRUTH.

In this manifestation of evil - Jesus will still triumph.

Jesus is the destination. Jesus is the bridge. Jesus will be the healer for the grief stricken. The Father never forgets His Children.  Isaiah 49 assures us of this.

Haters will hate. Ephesians 4 tells us God is the size of this Universe. And because of His greatness - Love has an open door policy. And this life tells us - in God's Word - this time is temporary. A life to establish our choices - developing our souls. The eternal life is a choice.

The people who went to this Bible Study - emerged unexpectedly as martyrs.  I am sure some of the people spoke to the deranged shooter of forgiveness. And Love has won again. There is a cost.

When we've been there 10,000 years - Bright Shining as the Son - we've no less days to sing God's Praise - than when we'd first begun.

In Jesus Christ - for this Church, Pastor-less. for these families, for this city, for this state, for this nation - Jesus assures us - there will be a Great Reunion. And parting will never be required again.

The name of the shooter will fade. The Love these people shared will endure. Jesus has overcome the enemy - death. The Victory is still with Jesus The Lord.

Imperfect - you bet. Jesus knows the ways of mankind - intimately and decides to SAVE THE WORLD.

Father God we see too many stories of hate. Yet if we were to continue to follow the lives of the saints left to deal with this destruction - we would find lives will continue to put their Faith in Jesus. We would see the honest time needed to recover. We would find grief, pain and tears. Yet in this endurance and these prayers to be offered, the strong Love for the Father - will create a new path. The doors of this Church will continue to be open to those seeking Jesus. The hearts of those who Love You, will continue to hold out open hands to do the Work of Their Father - who has supreme Joy in healing. We pray for You to uphold their journey in healing. In the Highest Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

Luke 20:34-40 ~ He is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to Him

The magnitude of this cloud over Lake Texhoma was amazing. Even more amazing, the cloud stood there for about two hours. We decided this was an Archangel. Suddenly the cloud was gone. A few clouds remained, none in the shape of an angel.

Luke 20:34-40

And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 

37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” 39 Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

Perhaps this photo is an analogy, Jesus said bring Heaven to earth. And be a tree where the birds of the forest can dwell among the branches and in this striving - we all have one Angel  -Matthew 18:10 

Angels are part of God's Heavenly Host. When you have Jesus, He covers all of the Heavenly Host.

The New Testament and the Gospels have many references to Angels. There are 60% more references to Angels in the New Testament.






Because Jesus says this:

Matthew 18:10
See that you do not despise one of these little ones.
 For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

Father God boldly tells of balance. God - Himself - is our worship.

Colossians 2:18
Don't let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial 
or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud

Angels have been in eternal life a long time - they fully understand who God is.
Seeing His Kingdom and some sing to Father God day and night.

 

Revelation 19
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory

Jesus says the position of Heaven to earth is quite different.

Matthew 11:11
Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet

Hebrews 2:9
But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

1 Corinthians 6:3
Do you not know that we will judge angels?

And who would do this and where?

Daniel 7:22
Until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.








For millenniums prophets of God have told of so great a Salvation - searching, inquiring carefully, predictions about the sufferings of our Jesus and the subsequent glories Jesus would give us -

What did the angels do?

1 Peter 1
12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

How shall we, the children of God respond?

1 Peter 1
13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. 
Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 

14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 1 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” 

18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.

21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. 
And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.



Matthew 16:27

For the Son of Man is going to come 
with his angels 
in the glory of his Father, 
and then he will repay each person 
according to what he has done.

Father God, as Your children fled from Romans - the children hearing of the Good News of Jesus Christ for the first time were in awe to learn that God would just "give." You have given to us by choosing Your Plan for us long before time began. You have given us a Hope and a Future for those who have called upon Your Son Jesus earnestly.

Angels have seen for millenniums the amazing wonders and signs of God. We will live to see 75 references to Angels in Your Book of Revelation. We have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Our new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living Word of God.

Night will be no more. We will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be our light, and Jesus will reign forever and ever. These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the Spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants - Jesus will be coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the Words of God. We thank You, God, you are the fulfillment of the Law.

Father God, even the darkness is not dark to You; You formed my inward parts and You knitted me together in my mother's womb. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance.

Your love had You write my name, in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Your Love is higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe. This is the Fullness of You, Father God. Open the eyes of all people. We pray for unborn baby Jackson - his chin has now profoundly grown. We pray for his eye to form and his face and mouth to receive the blessing and joy of the healing of Jesus Christ the Lord, with earnestness.

I am still with you. Upon Your mercy and grace, in Jesus, we hold fast and ask Your favor for us and for the ones we Love. You have blessed us. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

Psalm 18:1-20 ~ The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.

Psalm 18:1-20

1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Earthquake painted at the foot of the Cross, James Tissot

3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

Calvary Rock of the Earthquake geologist forensically say occurred in 33 A,D. Jerusalem

4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.

7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.

8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.

9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.

10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.

12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

13 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.

14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies ,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.

15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
 

17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.

18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.

19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.

20 The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.

This Psalm of David is rejoicing with an overflowing heart in the mercy of God.

 Prophetic David is telling of events of Jesus Christ before the Temple is built and before the birth of Jesus our Lord a thousand years before Jesus.

The earthquake & events after Jesus forgave us and dismissed His Spirit. 

Because Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit, the Psalm is about us, individually. In our day of trouble, we call out to Him and He saves us forever.


Father God, We call out to You when we have circumstances to call upon You. We pray for the people in low lying areas of Tropical Storm Bill. And our roofs to hold well all over the area.

I pray for my loved one's employment opportunity, to go be blessed by You, to walk with Your People. Thank You for this opportunity and the name given to me with great care 23 years ago. You give us Hope in our lives. Thank You, Father God.

I pray for the communication in our family to be complete and in Your mercy.

Your great Love assures us that Your Plan in us enables us to do our lives learning how high, how wide, how deep is the Love You have for us. I lift up all of this week to You in expectation of Your goodness.

Thank You, Father for Jesus. Amen.


 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

Luke 6 ~ He said to him, “Stretch out your hand.”

Luke 6:1-16

On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” 

3 And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” 5 And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 

8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. 

11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

The best place for our cares is in the hands of Jesus, our hero.

Proverbs 3:26-28
26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

Jesus is the Word of God fulfilled. Proverbs of Solomon is from 9 B.C. and, a millennium later, Jesus fulfills what Solomon explains.


Father God, You have already done an engraving on Your hand of our name. You have remembered us with compassion. Your lives, our words, our heart is always in Your thoughts. Psalm 139 assures us. Your hand, Father God, is for good on all who seek You. Your right hand assures us not to fear You because You listen earnestly.

No one is able to take us from Your hand, Father. We always want to know, Father, Your hand is upon us.

Father, Your hand laid the foundation of the earth, and Your right hand spread out the heavens; when You call to them, they stand forth together.

We pray for Your comfort, beauty from ashes,the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that we may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that our Father God may be glorified. We shall call upon You to build up the ancient ruins; and they shall raise up from former devastations; In You we shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of generations.

We Will set You, Father God, always before us! Because You Are at my right hand, we shall not be shaken. Our hearts will be glad, and our whole being rejoices! We will dwell secure.

Father God will not abandon us, we will not see corruption. We will live. Father God in you are the paths of life. Because of You, Jesus, there is fullness of joy! Because being at Your right hand is always a pleasure. Thank You God. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †