Ascension Day
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Monthly Archives: May 2021
Mark 16- The Ascension of Christ
So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Mark 16:19
As Christians we often celebrate the different events of Christ’s life, such as the Incarnation at Christmas, His death on the cross on Good Friday, and of course the Resurrection of Christ on Easter. The Ascension of Christ is one of those important events that is often overlooked by the Church today
The early Church felt it was a central doctrine as it was in the early Creeds (Apostles and Nicene) however how many Churches today are celebrating and teaching about the Ascension today? Christ being Ascended into Heaven is an essential doctrine because it was a sign and accomplished several things
First we notice in verse 19, Jesus The Lord is sitting at the right hand of God the Father. The right hand of God is the highest place of exaltation, there is no other position higher that anyone could obtain, and there is nobody else who could ever obtain this position except Jesus the Christ
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen Mark 16:20
As we notice in the next scripture, when Christ was ascended, then his disciples went forth and preached the gospel everywhere! The responsibility of teaching went from Jesus to his disciples, we are responsible as Christians to preach the gospel to everyone and everywhere as stated in the Great Commision!
Jesus is the Head of the Church and we are the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1) The Ascension completes the exaltation of Christ! Also because Christ has ascended , he sent the promise of The Holy Spirit (Acts 1, Luke 24, John 16) The Holy Spirit has equipped the Church to be Christ Body and fulfill his work here on Earth
Because of the Ascension of Christ , we know that Jesus is sitting on the throne at the right hand of our Heavenly Father, Jesus is in complete control as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Amen
Mark 15- Crown of Thorns
And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! Mark 15:16-18
The Crown of Thorns was a symbol meant for shame and humiliation, but actually it was for our redemption. As the Roman Soldiers mockingly put that crown on Jesus head, they didn’t realize they were crowning the true King of King and Lord of Lords! Every drop of blood shed by those thorns and nails, was for the atonement of our sins.
They mockingly saluted Jesus as the King of the Jews, what the Romans soldiers didn’t realize is one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and King! Every knee will bow in Heaven, on Earth, and in Hell, Jesus is Lord and King over ALL
And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. Mark 15:19-20
Notice they put the color of purple on Christ, this is the color of a King. While the Roman soldiers were doing this mockingly , they were actually fulfilling prophecy and affirming who Jesus really is, the King of all Kings! Satan put the evil in their hearts to kill an innocent man, but God in his wisdom and glory used this moment to crush the head of Satan, and defeat sin and death forever!
Jesus took the punishment for our sins, he allowed the wicked to mock, beat, and crucify him, because Christ loved us enough to take our place! We deserve to be on that cross, not Jesus! Until you understand this, you will never understand the grace of God
As Jesus prophesied he is being led like a lamb to the slaughter, Jesus is the Lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world! Thank you Jesus! Amen!
Thank You Jesus
Mark 15- We Are Barabbas
Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them Mark 15:6-8
The trial of Jesus was such a sham, Pilate asked Israel to make a choice, either release a convicted murderer Barabbas or release the Son of God Jesus Christ. You would think the decision would be easy, however because of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their eyes, Israel choose a convicted murderer over their Messiah. Oh how the mighty have fallen
Now when we look at this event, I want you to see this from a spiritual and symbolic perspective. You are Barabbas! You might say well “I’m not a convicted murderer” Yes however we are all sinners and deserve the wrath of God. However Jesus took our place! We should be up there getting the death sentence on the cross, however Christ the sinless Lamb of God, took our place on the cross!
But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. Mark 15:9-11
Pilate in mockery called Jesus King, however he was correct! Jesus is the King of Kings, and by the evil Pilate and the religious leaders were performing, they were actually fulfilling prophecy. They were fulfilling scripture that Jesus the Messiah must be handed over to sinners and die for our sins. Notice the chief priests influenced the people to choose Barabbas, a convicted murderer! These men were supposed to be experts in the Law of God, but they were blinded and hardened by their own pride and arrogance.
And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. Mark 15:12-15
The same crowd that was shouting “Hosanna” a few days ago is now shouting “Crucify Him” Israel turned on their own Messiah and killed him, Gods own people killed Gods Son, how the mighty have fallen!
Jesus willingly went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world Amen!
Reconciled
Mark 14- The Trial of Christ
And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together. Mark 14:55-59
The religious leaders were desperately looking for any evidence they could use against Jesus to legally put him to death, however they couldn’t find anything. Many false statements and accusations were made against Jesus, however none of their stories would line up. Finally one tried to quote Jesus by saying “I will destroy this temple in 3 days” , now we know that this is a reference to John 2:19 “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days”
Obviously the religious leaders had no idea what Jesus was talking about, they took Christ’s statement out of context and twisted it to fit their agenda, does that sound familiar? We know that Jesus was prophesying about his own resurrection, Jesus was referring to his own physical body not the physical temple
And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Mark 14:60-62
Finally the religious leaders just ask Jesus straight out, “Are you the Messiah”? Jesus makes it clear by saying “I AM”, notice the reference to the Great I AM statement by God in Exodus 3. Jesus makes 7 “I AM” statements throughout the gospel of John demonstrating his deity
Jesus adds further that he is The Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Father, coming in the clouds! This is an obvious reference to Daniel 7, the religious leaders knew exactly what Jesus was talking about, he is the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecies
Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands. Mark 14:63-65
The amazing thing is, even after Jesus revealed his deity to them, the religious leaders rejected all the evidence and sentenced him to death! The religious leaders killed their own Messiah! Just as Jesus predicted they would do in the Parable of the Wicked Tenants
All of this was to fulfill the mission that Jesus came to do, to do for the sins of the world. The time was coming for the Lamb of God to be the atonement for our sins, to be the suffering servant, to bear our curse on the tree, Amen!
What Is A Mother?
What is a Mother? A mother to me is core and center of a family. Without the mother there would be no life, as only a womb and the love of a special woman can bring life into existence. As a Father I cant provide all the essential things that a Mother could. I cant provide the loving compassion of a Mother, I can try but always come up short. I cant provide the gentle soothing voice of a mother, I can try but will never sound right. I cant be the gentle place to fall , I can always try but probably the fall would still be rocky
The truth is we cant duplicate or replicate Mothers. Mothers are a special gift from God that provide every essential for human life. And yes woman can accomplish amazing feats just as men, but woman can never be replaced as a Mother because they have been chosen by God for this special purpose
So today I wanted to honor our Mothers and let them know that just as God highly chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus, he highly chose all of you to be the mother of your children. This is not a calling that should be taken and seen lightly. It’s a calling that only special woman can fulfill. And I just wanted to say that I respect and love all of you from the bottom of my heart!
Mark 14- The Garden
And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. Mark 14:32-34
The Garden of Gethsemane was the location where the fulfillment of our sins began to take place. It’s interesting that Sin entered into the world at the Garden of Eden but atonement began at the Garden of Gethsemane. How was Jesus to begin this agonizing event where he crushed the head of the serpent, by prayer to the Father!
He asked his disciples to stay with him , however they didn’t understand the significance of this event and fell asleep. This seems like the Church today, we don’t understand the significance of what Christ did for us, and the Church has fallen asleep again! If we understand the importance of Christ for our salvation, we would be on every street corner preaching the gospel to every soul headed to Hell
And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Mark 14:35-37
Jesus , being in human form, knew the punishment and suffering he was going to face to pay the penalty for our sins. However he was still obedient to the will of our Heavenly Father, even to the point of death on the cross!
The cup which Jesus talks about is the cup of wrath. The wrath of God for the wages of our sins. Jesus took that cup in our place, God poured out his wrath on Christ to be our sacrificial lamb. The debt has been paid all because Jesus loves you!
Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Mark 14:38-41
The hour has come, for the Son of Man to be crucified in the hands of sinners! The Hour has come for Christ to pay the penalty for our sins! The Hour has Come for Jesus to rise on the 3rd day , defeating sin and death forever!
What were the discipes doing? Sleeping! What is the Church doing today? Sleeping! Wake up Brothers and Sisters in Christ! The Hour is coming when Jesus will return to rapture His Church and establish His eternal Kingdom Amen!
Are You Ready?
Unashamed of Jesus 