InHisCare Bible Study Community Group
I love to study God Word, so I create bible studies for personal study and for other to join me, if they like. My way of staying focus is to study Gods Word daily. I desire this group to become a place of haven for me to meet other Christian who like to pray and study Gods Word. I will share bible studies, prayers, and devotions I love. Please join me if you wish. Thank...
Bible Study “Passion Week” Seven Last Words of Jesus from the Cross
Date: (4/3/15)
(Week # 1)
Beginning Prayer:
Father God, as this Word goes forth, please send it straight to our hearts, so we will never forget what You did by sending Your Son Jesus to die for our sin. Bless these Words to fall on good grounds, so that all would bring forth good fruit in their season. Thank You for the opportunity to share Your Word about our Savior Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Title: “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
Reading: Gospel of Luke 23:34-38 King James Version (KJV)
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” 38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Cross References:
Matthew 6:14; Acts 7:60; Isaiah 53:12; Luke 22:32; John 17:9; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; James 5:15; I John 1:19
Theme: (The Passion of Christ)
Warm-up Question: What is Forgiveness?
Goal: Walk in forgiveness
Our Study……..
One of the thorniest and most difficult things we humans are ever called upon to do is to respond to evil with kindness, and to forgive the unforgivable. We love to read stories about people who have responded to hatred with love, but when that very thing is demanded of us personally, our default seems to be anger, angst (dread or anguish), depression, self-righteousness, hatred, etc. Yet study after study shows that one of the keys to longevity and good health is to develop a habit of gratitude and let go of past hurts. Want to live a long, happy life? Forgive the unforgivable. It really is the kindest thing you can do for yourself. Your enemy may not deserve to be forgiven for all the pain and sadness and suffering purposefully inflicted on your life, but you deserve to be free of this evil. As Ann Landers often said, "hate is like an acid. It damages the vessel in which it is stored, and destroys the vessel on which it is poured." Jesus speaks to the Father on the behalf of human. Jesus is asking for forgiveness, He is showing His Father’s heart. These were the unforgivable, the hardhearted, and self-righteous people in His time. God desire us to live this kind of life. Pray for forgiveness, and then forgive too. It makes sense that the first word of Jesus from the cross is a word of forgiveness. That’s the point of the cross, after all. Jesus is dying so that we might be forgiven for our sins, so that we might be reconciled to God for eternity. But the forgiveness of God through Christ doesn’t come only to those who don’t know what they are doing when they sin. In the mercy of God, we receive his forgiveness even when we do what we know to be wrong. God chooses to wipe away our sins, not because we have some convenient excuse, and not because we have tried hard to make up for them, but because he is a God of amazing grace, with mercies that are new every morning.(Lamentations 3:22-23)
As we read the words, “Father, forgive them,” may we understand that we too are forgiven through Christ. As John writes in his first letter, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9). Because Christ died on the cross for us, we are cleansed from all wickedness, from every last sin. We are united with God the Father as his beloved children. We are free to approach his throne of grace with our needs and concerns. God “has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west” (Ps 103:13). What great news!
Reading Scripture in another version:
Luke 23:34-38 New International Version (NIV)
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
God’s Compassion:
Forgiveness is another way to show compassion toward others. As Jesus hung on the cross God’s compassionate heart was revealed toward His people. God is moved by His compassion, and His compassion is drawn to humility. Like a river of love, God's compassion flows to the lowest situation in your life, your greatest need, your greatest weakness, and your greatest failures. Whatever you lay low before the Lord He will be drawn to that area of your life. God gives grace to the humble, and His strength is made perfect in your weakness.
God says to you "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." Jesus says, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Jesus Christ’s pity and loving concern for the lowly and the needy. His words and deeds show God’s merciful and gracious nature in action.
Jesus Christ shows the compassion of God. The compassion of Jesus Christ is the basis of Christian confidence. The Greek word here translated “sympathise” has the sense of “be compassionate towards.”
The demonstration of Jesus Christ’s compassion in supporting the weak, in healing the sick, in comforting the bereaved, in feeding the hungry, in finding and forgiving lost sinners, and in giving rest to those who are burdened or abandoned can be found in these scriptures. (cf. scripture; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Chronicles 36:15; Psalm 86:15; Hosea 11:4, 8-9; Luke 1:72,78; Luke 15:20; Matthew 12:20; Luke 9:11; Luke 18:42-43; Mark 5:36. )
Reading Scripture in another version:
Luke 23:34-38 New Living Translation (NLT)
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”[a] And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
God’s Mercy:
God is known to be a God of mercy and grace. Understanding mercy is often difficult for people as we tend to be a generation of “I’ll get him for that” and “I hope they get what they deserve.” Many have developed a nature of harsh criticism and want others to get what they have coming to them and then some. God, however, is merciful to even the worst offenders, sinners, and law-breakers. This means that even though He knows of our guilt, He doesn’t always issue the punishment deserved. To elaborate, the verse in Romans 3:23-24 says “...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Simply, we are all sinners and do not meet the standards of righteousness that God intends us to have. But, through His mercy and grace He provided a way for our sins to be forgiven through our acceptance of Christ Jesus—even though we don’t deserve it. Coupled with grace (being given God’s free gift of forgiveness though we’ve done nothing to deserve it), mercy is shown because He loves us and only asks that we accept His Son by faith. God of Mercy – To whom it is given The God of mercy calls for the following in Micah 6:8: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? “To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” These are words to all of mankind. Mercy is offered to you and me alike. He has shown us what is good and answers what is required of us. Micah asks God in Micah 7:18, “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” This passage shows that God enjoys being merciful, and is still showing mercy today. One example of God’s mercy today is the remarkable story of a woman called Jeanette. Her grandmother, Carla, tried to urge Jeanette to go into drug rehab without much success. Carla prayed to God, asking for His intervention with Jeanette. Carla was reminded by the words from God, “Who do I need to do anything, remember who I AM. I can take that drug away from your granddaughter, squash it and it will not return.” Carla said she prayed for Jesus to come into their broken family and heal her granddaughter. Jeanette is now drug free and enjoying a blessed relationship with her family. Carla stands on Luke 1:50, “His mercy extends to those who fear [revere] him, from generation to generation.” There are many references about God’s mercy throughout the Bible. For instance, in Genesis 37 through 45 we find the story of Joseph, son of Jacob. God’s mercy toward Joseph’s brothers for their betrayal is certainly evident in this story. Other illustrations are found throughout the prayers of King David in the Psalms. God’s mercy is endless and found throughout the ages to the present. God of Mercy – The Ultimate Benefit Saying that He is a God of mercy is a minimized description of what He is willing to do. Remember, in the first section we said God offers a pardon even though He knows of our guilt. Paul gives a good picture of this in Ephesians 2:1-10. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. “ “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace we are saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Point of Interest: Salvation
Questions:
1). What happen between 6am and the 3rd hour of Jesus ’life?
2). In reading the timeline, what happen in Luke 23:6-12?
3). Which book of the Gospel give more on Jesus before Pilate?
4). How long did Jesus’ final hours of suffering last on the cross?
5). What is Via Dolorosa?
6). When did Passion Week begin?
7). Do you really believe God has forgiven your sins?
8). Do you take time on a regular basis to confess your sins so that you might enjoy the freedom of forgiveness?
9). Do you need to experience God’s forgiveness in a fresh way today?
10). What compelled Jesus to go to the cross?
Ending Prayer:
Father God, forgive us our debts, as we forgive those who have trespassed against us. Help us to walk in forgiveness as Jesus did when He was dying for us on the cross. Gracious Lord Jesus, it’s easy for me to speak of your forgiveness, even to ask for it and to thank you for it. But do I really believe I’m forgiven? Do I experience the freedom that comes from the assurance that you have cleansed me from my sins? Or do I live as if I’m “semi-forgiven”? Even though I’ve put my faith in you and confessed my sins, do I live as sin still has power over me? Do I try to prove myself to you, as if I might be able to earn more forgiveness? Dear Lord, though I believe at one level that you have forgiven me, this amazing truth needs to penetrate my heart in new ways. Help me to know with fresh conviction that I am fully and finally forgiven, not because of anything I have done, but because of what you have done for me. May I live today as a forgiven person, opening my heart to you, choosing not to sin because the power of sin has been broken by your salvation. All praises be to you, Lord Jesus, for your matchless forgiveness! Amen.
Reading: Week # 1 (John 1-3)
Date: (4/3/15)
(Week # 1)
Beginning Prayer:
Father God, as this Word goes forth, please send it straight to our hearts, so we will never forget what You did by sending Your Son Jesus to die for our sin. Bless these Words to fall on good grounds, so that all would bring forth good fruit in their season. Thank You for the opportunity to share Your Word about our Savior Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Title: “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
Reading: Gospel of Luke 23:34-38 King James Version (KJV)
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” 38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Cross References:
Matthew 6:14; Acts 7:60; Isaiah 53:12; Luke 22:32; John 17:9; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; James 5:15; I John 1:19
Theme: (The Passion of Christ)
Warm-up Question: What is Forgiveness?
Goal: Walk in forgiveness
Our Study……..
One of the thorniest and most difficult things we humans are ever called upon to do is to respond to evil with kindness, and to forgive the unforgivable. We love to read stories about people who have responded to hatred with love, but when that very thing is demanded of us personally, our default seems to be anger, angst (dread or anguish), depression, self-righteousness, hatred, etc. Yet study after study shows that one of the keys to longevity and good health is to develop a habit of gratitude and let go of past hurts. Want to live a long, happy life? Forgive the unforgivable. It really is the kindest thing you can do for yourself. Your enemy may not deserve to be forgiven for all the pain and sadness and suffering purposefully inflicted on your life, but you deserve to be free of this evil. As Ann Landers often said, "hate is like an acid. It damages the vessel in which it is stored, and destroys the vessel on which it is poured." Jesus speaks to the Father on the behalf of human. Jesus is asking for forgiveness, He is showing His Father’s heart. These were the unforgivable, the hardhearted, and self-righteous people in His time. God desire us to live this kind of life. Pray for forgiveness, and then forgive too. It makes sense that the first word of Jesus from the cross is a word of forgiveness. That’s the point of the cross, after all. Jesus is dying so that we might be forgiven for our sins, so that we might be reconciled to God for eternity. But the forgiveness of God through Christ doesn’t come only to those who don’t know what they are doing when they sin. In the mercy of God, we receive his forgiveness even when we do what we know to be wrong. God chooses to wipe away our sins, not because we have some convenient excuse, and not because we have tried hard to make up for them, but because he is a God of amazing grace, with mercies that are new every morning.(Lamentations 3:22-23)
As we read the words, “Father, forgive them,” may we understand that we too are forgiven through Christ. As John writes in his first letter, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9). Because Christ died on the cross for us, we are cleansed from all wickedness, from every last sin. We are united with God the Father as his beloved children. We are free to approach his throne of grace with our needs and concerns. God “has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west” (Ps 103:13). What great news!
Reading Scripture in another version:
Luke 23:34-38 New International Version (NIV)
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
God’s Compassion:
Forgiveness is another way to show compassion toward others. As Jesus hung on the cross God’s compassionate heart was revealed toward His people. God is moved by His compassion, and His compassion is drawn to humility. Like a river of love, God's compassion flows to the lowest situation in your life, your greatest need, your greatest weakness, and your greatest failures. Whatever you lay low before the Lord He will be drawn to that area of your life. God gives grace to the humble, and His strength is made perfect in your weakness.
God says to you "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." Jesus says, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Jesus Christ’s pity and loving concern for the lowly and the needy. His words and deeds show God’s merciful and gracious nature in action.
Jesus Christ shows the compassion of God. The compassion of Jesus Christ is the basis of Christian confidence. The Greek word here translated “sympathise” has the sense of “be compassionate towards.”
The demonstration of Jesus Christ’s compassion in supporting the weak, in healing the sick, in comforting the bereaved, in feeding the hungry, in finding and forgiving lost sinners, and in giving rest to those who are burdened or abandoned can be found in these scriptures. (cf. scripture; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Chronicles 36:15; Psalm 86:15; Hosea 11:4, 8-9; Luke 1:72,78; Luke 15:20; Matthew 12:20; Luke 9:11; Luke 18:42-43; Mark 5:36. )
Reading Scripture in another version:
Luke 23:34-38 New Living Translation (NLT)
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”[a] And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
God’s Mercy:
God is known to be a God of mercy and grace. Understanding mercy is often difficult for people as we tend to be a generation of “I’ll get him for that” and “I hope they get what they deserve.” Many have developed a nature of harsh criticism and want others to get what they have coming to them and then some. God, however, is merciful to even the worst offenders, sinners, and law-breakers. This means that even though He knows of our guilt, He doesn’t always issue the punishment deserved. To elaborate, the verse in Romans 3:23-24 says “...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Simply, we are all sinners and do not meet the standards of righteousness that God intends us to have. But, through His mercy and grace He provided a way for our sins to be forgiven through our acceptance of Christ Jesus—even though we don’t deserve it. Coupled with grace (being given God’s free gift of forgiveness though we’ve done nothing to deserve it), mercy is shown because He loves us and only asks that we accept His Son by faith. God of Mercy – To whom it is given The God of mercy calls for the following in Micah 6:8: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? “To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” These are words to all of mankind. Mercy is offered to you and me alike. He has shown us what is good and answers what is required of us. Micah asks God in Micah 7:18, “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” This passage shows that God enjoys being merciful, and is still showing mercy today. One example of God’s mercy today is the remarkable story of a woman called Jeanette. Her grandmother, Carla, tried to urge Jeanette to go into drug rehab without much success. Carla prayed to God, asking for His intervention with Jeanette. Carla was reminded by the words from God, “Who do I need to do anything, remember who I AM. I can take that drug away from your granddaughter, squash it and it will not return.” Carla said she prayed for Jesus to come into their broken family and heal her granddaughter. Jeanette is now drug free and enjoying a blessed relationship with her family. Carla stands on Luke 1:50, “His mercy extends to those who fear [revere] him, from generation to generation.” There are many references about God’s mercy throughout the Bible. For instance, in Genesis 37 through 45 we find the story of Joseph, son of Jacob. God’s mercy toward Joseph’s brothers for their betrayal is certainly evident in this story. Other illustrations are found throughout the prayers of King David in the Psalms. God’s mercy is endless and found throughout the ages to the present. God of Mercy – The Ultimate Benefit Saying that He is a God of mercy is a minimized description of what He is willing to do. Remember, in the first section we said God offers a pardon even though He knows of our guilt. Paul gives a good picture of this in Ephesians 2:1-10. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. “ “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace we are saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Point of Interest: Salvation
Questions:
1). What happen between 6am and the 3rd hour of Jesus ’life?
2). In reading the timeline, what happen in Luke 23:6-12?
3). Which book of the Gospel give more on Jesus before Pilate?
4). How long did Jesus’ final hours of suffering last on the cross?
5). What is Via Dolorosa?
6). When did Passion Week begin?
7). Do you really believe God has forgiven your sins?
8). Do you take time on a regular basis to confess your sins so that you might enjoy the freedom of forgiveness?
9). Do you need to experience God’s forgiveness in a fresh way today?
10). What compelled Jesus to go to the cross?
Ending Prayer:
Father God, forgive us our debts, as we forgive those who have trespassed against us. Help us to walk in forgiveness as Jesus did when He was dying for us on the cross. Gracious Lord Jesus, it’s easy for me to speak of your forgiveness, even to ask for it and to thank you for it. But do I really believe I’m forgiven? Do I experience the freedom that comes from the assurance that you have cleansed me from my sins? Or do I live as if I’m “semi-forgiven”? Even though I’ve put my faith in you and confessed my sins, do I live as sin still has power over me? Do I try to prove myself to you, as if I might be able to earn more forgiveness? Dear Lord, though I believe at one level that you have forgiven me, this amazing truth needs to penetrate my heart in new ways. Help me to know with fresh conviction that I am fully and finally forgiven, not because of anything I have done, but because of what you have done for me. May I live today as a forgiven person, opening my heart to you, choosing not to sin because the power of sin has been broken by your salvation. All praises be to you, Lord Jesus, for your matchless forgiveness! Amen.
Reading: Week # 1 (John 1-3)
Today I give thanks to our Father in heaven for sending His son Jesus to die for my sins. I give praises to Jesus for obeying His Father and going to the cross for my sins, and I thank His Holy Spirit for keeping my mind stayed on eternity. The more I study and read God's Word, the more I am grateful. During this time and other time too, but this time of the year my heart is poured out with thanksgiving, and I love to watch movies about the Jesus' death, burier, and resurrection. It inspire me so much. Some of my favorites are Ben Hur, Ten Commandments, the Robe, One Night with the King, Jesus of Nazareth, Spartacus, the Big Fisherman, and many more that I have in my library. I watched Killing Jesus last night. Today is a good day to sit and meditate on what Jesus did for us, and then remember it when we are so caught up in what is happen to Christians today. Remember it happen to them years ago, amen. We have been blessed! Thank You, Jesus! All praises, glory, and honor to God Almighty, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, and He saith, Behold, I come quickly, blessed id he that keepth the sayings of the prophecy of this book (BIBLE). Let's stay focus on Who and What Jesus did, amen. God bless you today.
Forgiveness is a decision of the will. Since God commands us to forgive, we must make a conscious choice to obey God and forgive. The offender may not desire forgiveness and may not ever change, but that doesn't negate God's desire that we possess a forgiving spirit (Matthew 5:44).
National Forgiveness. In one case God forgave a nation other than Israel and did not bring the punishment on it that he had planned. God as righteous was compelled to bring judgment on Nineveh, but God as merciful sent Jonah to warn the city of the impending judgment. The Ninevites, including the king, believed and repented of their evil ways and their violence (Jonah 3:8). As a result God as merciful relented from the evil that he had planned to bring on them. This is an illustration of the general principle by which God deals with nations (Jeremiah 18:7-8).
Forgiving others is sometimes very hard, but it is essential if you want to break out of the bondage that it's brought you under. Forgiving others opens you up for the Lord to begin healing your soul (inner healing). Since unforgiveness blocks us from receiving God's forgiveness of our sins (Matthew 6:15), it puts up a wall between us and the source of our healing.
Unforgiveness is actually taking something that belongs to God, and taking matters into our own hands. God's Word tells us clearly that we should allow God to bring His wrath upon that person, and let Him have the room to repay those who wrong us:
Romans 12:19, "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
Those who have wronged us will reap what they sow. If you chose to forgive somebody, they may be off your hook, but that doesn't mean they are off God's. God's Word tells us clearly that what we sow, we shall reap:
Galatians 6:7, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
Today I give thanks to our Father in heaven for sending His son Jesus to die for my sins. I give praises to Jesus for obeying His Father and going to the cross for my sins, and I thank His Holy Spirit for keeping my mind stayed on eternity. The more I study and read God's Word, the more I am grateful. During this time and other time too, but this time of the year my heart is poured out with thanksgiving, and I love to watch movies about Jesus' death, burier, and resurrection. It inspire me so much. Some of my favorites are Ben Hur, Ten Commandments, the Robe, One Night with the King, Jesus of Nazareth, Spartacus, the Big Fisherman, and many more that I have in my library. I watched Killing Jesus last night. Today is a good day to sit and meditate on what Jesus did for us, and then remember it when we are so caught up in what is happen to Christians today. Remember it happen to them years ago, amen. We have been blessed! Thank You, Jesus! All praises, glory, and honor to God Almighty, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, and He saith, Behold, I come quickly, blessed is he that keepth the sayings of the prophecy of this book (BIBLE). Let's stay focus on Who and What Jesus did, amen. God bless you today.
In order for us to be forgiven, we must forgive, amen. Walking in forgiveness means we love the Lord, and obey His Word. Each day our goal should be to walk in forgiveness. While Jesus was upon the cross dying for our sins, His passion was forgiveness, He died for us so we could be forgiven by God. Apostle Paul taught us to walk in forgiveness, amen. In reading these scriptures, (Daniel 9:9; Acts 5:31; 26:18; Galatians 5:16; Luke 6:37; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13) I found and do believe that God want me to walk in forgiveness, and Jesus demonstrated forgiveness on the cross. Our goal is to walk in forgiveness.
Salvation is deliverance from danger or suffering. To save is to deliver or protect. The word carries the idea of victory, health, or preservation. Sometimes, the Bible uses the words saved or salvation to refer to temporal, physical deliverance, such as Paul’s deliverance from prison (Philippians 1:19).
More often, the word “salvation” concerns an eternal, spiritual deliverance. When Paul told the Philippian jailer what he must do to be saved, he was referring to the jailer’s eternal destiny (Acts 16:30-31). Jesus equated being saved with entering the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24-25).
What are we saved from? In the Christian doctrine of salvation, we are saved from “wrath,” that is, from God’s judgment of sin (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9). Our sin has separated us from God, and the consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Biblical salvation refers to our deliverance from the consequence of sin and therefore involves the removal of sin.
Who does the saving? Only God can remove sin and deliver us from sin’s penalty (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5).
How does God save? In the Christian doctrine of salvation, God has rescued us through Christ (John 3:17). Specifically, it was Jesus’ death on the cross and subsequent resurrection that achieved our salvation (Romans 5:10; Ephesians 1:7). Scripture is clear that salvation is the gracious, undeserved gift of God (Ephesians 2:5, 8) and is only available through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).
How do we receive salvation? We are saved by faith. First, we must hear the gospel—the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection (Ephesians 1:13). Then, we must believe—fully trust the Lord Jesus (Romans 1:16). This involves repentance, a changing of mind about sin and Christ (Acts 3:19), and calling on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:9-10, 13).
A definition of the Christian doctrine of salvation would be “The deliverance, by the grace of God, from eternal punishment for sin which is granted to those who accept by faith God’s conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.” Salvation is available in Jesus alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12) and is dependent on God alone for provision, assurance, and security.
Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. His whole purpose was to come and deliver us from the penalty of sin. Forgiveness is what we need from God because of what Adam and Eve did in the beginning. Thank You, Jesus!
1). What happen between 6am and the 3rd hour of Jesus ’life?
Jesus stands trial before Pilate, Jesus sent to Herod, Jesus returned to Pilate, and Pilate sentenced Him to death, then Jesus is led away to Calvary.
2). In reading the timeline, what happen in Luke 23:6-12?
I really enjoyed reading the timeline. In this part of the timeline, Pontius Pilate (Governor or Procurator of Judaea) declares Christ innocent, but the high priests was angry saying, Jesus was stirring up the people to believe Him, and not their doctrine. Pontius Pilate sent Jesus to King Herod (the Tetrarch or Ruler of Palestine). Pilate didn’t want Jesus’ blood on his hands. King Herod was glad to see Jesus because he wanted to see miracles done by Jesus, but didn’t believe Him at all. The chief priests and scribes stood and accused Jesus before Herod. They mocked Him, and put royal clothing on Him, and then sent Him back to Pontius Pilate.
3). Which book of the Gospel give more on Jesus before Pilate?
All four Gospels record this event (Matthew 27:1-2; 11-14; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-38).
4). How long did Jesus’ final hours of suffering last on the cross?
It lasted from 9am that morning until 3pm that evening, which was the ninth hour of the day. Total hours was six (6) hours.
5). What is Via Dolorosa?
The Via Dolorosa, literally “the sorrowful way,” is the traditional route in Jerusalem which our Lord traveled on the day of His crucifixion from the judgment seat of Pilate, also called the Praetorium (Matthew 27:2-26), to the place of His crucifixion on Mount Calvary. After his judgment by Pontius Pilate, the Lord Jesus was beaten, mocked and spit upon by the Roman soldiers (Matthew 27:26-31). Then he was forced to carry His own cross through the streets of Jerusalem to Golgotha, where He was crucified (Matthew 27:32-50). The Via Dolorosa is now marked with fourteen "stations of the cross" commemorating fourteen incidents that took place along the way. At least five of these incidents are not recorded in the Bible, springing instead from Roman Catholic tradition. Of the ones that are mentioned in Scripture, the actual place of the events along the way, such as the scourging (John 19:1-3) and the carrying of the cross by Simon of Cyrene (Matthew 27:32), are not known. The Bible does not specifically mention the Via Dolorosa. All we know from Scripture is that Jesus carried His cross from the Praetorium to the site on Mount Calvary where He was crucified. The locations of these two sites are not known for certain, but wherever they were, the route between them was truly a sorrowful way. The scourging and physical pain the Lord Jesus suffered was minor in comparison to the pain caused by the real burden He was bearing—the burden of the sins of all believers. He bore our sins to the cross where He paid the penalty for them all.
6). When did Passion Week begin?
It last from Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday (Resurrection Sunday).
7). Do you really believe God has forgiven your sins?
Yes, I do! I believe that in my heart. I asked Him for forgiveness, and He is trustworthy to forgive as the Word says.
8). Do you take time on a regular basis to confess your sins so that you might enjoy the freedom of forgiveness?
Yes, I do! The Word says that King David was a man after God’s own heart because he always asked forgiveness. Sometimes we may not know we have sinned against our Holy God, therefore I truly believe we should ask continuously not because we don’t believe He forgives, but because we still live in this flesh and still make mistakes.
9). Do you need to experience God’s forgiveness in a fresh way today?
Always! I ask God for forgive throughout the day, especially when I acknowledge a wrong I made, or when I am just talking to Him. I practice this daily.
10). What compelled Jesus to go to the cross?
What a question!!! Jesus went to the cross because of His love for the world, and His compassion for people and their needs.
Nazareth:
Jesus spent his boyhood years in Nazareth before beginning his ministry when he was about 30. After moving his home to Capernaum, Jesus returned to teach in the synagogue of Nazareth twice more, but was rejected both times. On one occasion the townspeople were so outraged at Jesus that they tried to throw him off a cliff to his death.
Jesus grew up in Nazareth, which was a very small village near the Plain of Esdralon in Galilee. Although it is not mentioned in the Old Testament, there have been excavations revealing settlements in the area dating back to the Bronze Age, and tombs dating from the iron age to the Hasmonean period. The Biblical narrative reveals that Joseph and Mary lived here after their betrothal, in the announcement of Jesus' birth came to Mary here in Nazareth (Lk 1:26). Joseph made his living here as a carpenter possibly because it was near Sepphoris, a Hellenistic city being built by Herod Antipas.
Jesus left here at age 30 to be baptized by John (Mk 1:9), and returned to Nazareth before beginning his public ministry (Matt 4:13) and was violently rejected by the people of His town, and thus He moved on to Capernaum (Lk 4:16-30). There is no mention of Him ever returning back to His home town of Nazareth, but he was always identified with it (Matt 21:11), having been called a "Nazarene" which comes from the Hebrew root meaning "branch", in accordance with the promises made to David that King Messiah would be a descendant (branch) from the royal line of King David.
Nazareth was right on the Roman Road to Jerusalem and therefore contact with the whole known world could be made from this small village. In Jesus' time there is a synagogue located there (Luke 4:16), and Jews were living there after the destruction of the second Temple. Eusebius makes mention of a small village called Nazareth in the 4th century A.D. Its first church was built there during the Time of the Emperor Constantine.
Jesus was referred to as “Jesus of Nazareth” for several reasons. For one thing, in Bible times people were often identified by their native area or place of residence. The man who carried Jesus’ cross when He was no longer able to, for example, was called Simon of Cyrene, noting his name and his place of residence (Luke 23:26). This distinguishes him from all other Simons and from all other residents of Cyrene who were not named Simon. Although Bethlehem was the place of Jesus’ birth, Nazareth was the place where Jesus had lived until He began His public ministry, and therefore He is said to be “of Nazareth.”
Matthew 2:23 tells us that Joseph settled his family in Nazareth—after returning from Egypt where he had fled to protect Jesus from Herod—in order to fulfill “what was said through the prophets: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’” The words here are not found in any of the books of the Old Testament, and there has been much difficulty in ascertaining the meaning of this passage. Most commentators agree that the prophecies respecting the coming Messiah were that He was to be of humble origin and would be despised and rejected (Isaiah 53; Psalm 22) and that the phrase “he shall be called” means the same as “He shall be.” When Matthew says, therefore, that the prophecies were “fulfilled,” his meaning is that the predictions of the prophets that the Messiah would be of a low and despised condition and would be rejected, were fully accomplished in His being an inhabitant of Nazareth.
The phrase “Jesus of Nazareth” is first used in the Bible by Phillip who, after being called by Jesus to follow Him, told Nathanael, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (John 1:45). By calling Him Jesus of Nazareth, Phillip may also have been making a statement about the lowliness of His birth. The character of the people of Nazareth was such that they were despised and condemned. Nathanael’s response, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46) would seem to indicate such. To come from Nazareth, therefore, or to be a Nazarene, was the same as to be despised, or to be esteemed of low birth. The Messiah who would come to save His people would be “a root out of dry ground, having no form or comeliness” (Isaiah 53:2). He would be “despised and rejected of men” from whom men hid their faces and “esteemed him not” ((Isaiah 53:3).
Jesus of Nazareth was born and grew up in humble circumstances, but His impact on the world has been greater than anyone ever born before or since. He came to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21), a feat that could be accomplished by none other than God incarnate.
"Why is Jesus often referred to as Jesus of Nazareth?"
Answer: Jesus was referred to as “Jesus of Nazareth” for several reasons. For one thing, in Bible times people were often identified by their native area or place of residence. The man who carried Jesus’ cross when He was no longer able to, for example, was called Simon of Cyrene, noting his name and his place of residence (Luke 23:26). This distinguishes him from all other Simons and from all other residents of Cyrene who were not named Simon. Although Bethlehem was the place of Jesus’ birth, Nazareth was the place where Jesus had lived until He began His public ministry, and therefore He is said to be “of Nazareth.”
Matthew 2:23 tells us that Joseph settled his family in Nazareth—after returning from Egypt where he had fled to protect Jesus from Herod—in order to fulfill “what was said through the prophets: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’” The words here are not found in any of the books of the Old Testament, and there has been much difficulty in ascertaining the meaning of this passage. Most commentators agree that the prophecies respecting the coming Messiah were that He was to be of humble origin and would be despised and rejected (Isaiah 53; Psalm 22) and that the phrase “he shall be called” means the same as “He shall be.” When Matthew says, therefore, that the prophecies were “fulfilled,” his meaning is that the predictions of the prophets that the Messiah would be of a low and despised condition and would be rejected, were fully accomplished in His being an inhabitant of Nazareth.
The phrase “Jesus of Nazareth” is first used in the Bible by Phillip who, after being called by Jesus to follow Him, told Nathanael, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (John 1:45). By calling Him Jesus of Nazareth, Phillip may also have been making a statement about the lowliness of His birth. The character of the people of Nazareth was such that they were despised and condemned. Nathanael’s response, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46) would seem to indicate such. To come from Nazareth, therefore, or to be a Nazarene, was the same as to be despised, or to be esteemed of low birth. The Messiah who would come to save His people would be “a root out of dry ground, having no form or comeliness” (Isaiah 53:2). He would be “despised and rejected of men” from whom men hid their faces and “esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3).
Jesus of Nazareth was born and grew up in humble circumstances, but His impact on the world has been greater than anyone ever born before or since. He came to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21), a feat that could be accomplished by none other than God incarnate.
I have read chapters 1-3. Good read!
Father God, forgive us our debts, as we forgive those who have trespassed against us. Help us to walk in forgiveness as Jesus did when He was dying for us on the cross. Gracious Lord Jesus, it’s easy for me to speak of your forgiveness, even to ask for it and to thank you for it. But do I really believe I’m forgiven? Do I experience the freedom that comes from the assurance that you have cleansed me from my sins? Or do I live as if I’m “semi-forgiven”? Even though I’ve put my faith in you and confessed my sins, do I live as sin still has power over me? Do I try to prove myself to you, as if I might be able to earn more forgiveness? Dear Lord, though I believe at one level that you have forgiven me, this amazing truth needs to penetrate my heart in new ways. Help me to know with fresh conviction that I am fully and finally forgiven, not because of anything I have done, but because of what you have done for me. May I live today as a forgiven person, opening my heart to you, choosing not to sin because the power of sin has been broken by your salvation. All praises be to you, Lord Jesus, for your matchless forgiveness! Amen.