Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 2, 2018

Scripture teaches the compassion of God demonstrated by His “Unconditional Election”: “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 1:40-45.

“And a leper *came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”  Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and *said to him, “I am willing;  be cleansed.”  Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.  And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, and He *said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone;  but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”  But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas;  and they were coming to Him from everywhere.”  Mark 1:40-45.

——————-

Jesus was compassionate.  He demonstrated His compassion by healing the leper.

But, Jesus also demonstrated His compassion by His preaching.

We remember the verse from yesterday’s devotion.  “He *said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also;  for that is what I came for.”  Mark 1:38.

We see the follow-up to that verse and the primacy that Jesus placed in His preaching in today’s Scripture.  “And He sternly warned him (the leper) and immediately sent him away, and He *said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone;  …”  Verses 43-44.

Jesus knew that His preaching would be crowded out by the demands of the people for healing which in fact did happen.  “But he (the leper) went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas;  and they were coming to Him from everywhere.”  Verse 45.

And yet how many preachers and teachers and other church leaders think they are compassionate when they focus on how they can improve man’s life on earth and do comparatively little for his spiritual life and salvation!  And, they will furthermore portray those preachers and teachers, especially Calvinists, who do focus on his spiritual life and salvation as cold and uncompassionate!

But, Scripture teaches the compassion of God demonstrated by His “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:15-16.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 1, 2018

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” – “repent and believe in the gospel.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 1:29-39.

“And immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever;  and immediately they *spoke to Jesus about her.  And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them.

When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed.  And the whole city had gathered at the door.  And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons;  and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.  Simon and his companions searched for Him;  they found Him, and *said to Him,  “Everyone is looking for You.”  He *said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also;  for that is what I came for.”  And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.”   Mark 1:29-39.

——————

Although only One (Jesus) could heal, and although only Jesus’ healing ministry was mentioned in verses 29 to 37, and although everyone was gathered and looking for Jesus because of His healing miracles, Jesus considered His preaching His primary ministry.

“He *said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also;  for that is what I came for.”  Verse 38.

And yet how many preachers and teachers and other church leaders seem much more interested in how they can improve man’s life on earth than they are interested in his spiritual life and eternal destiny!  They will deny it, but compare how much space in their publications and web sites is devoted to each area.

Reformed Doctrine proclaims the primacy of preaching and “TULIP”, the one true Gospel, the only truly good news, the doctrine of salvation. 

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:26.

Jesus said:  “… The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;  repent and believe in the gospel.”  Mark 1:15.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 31, 2018

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 1:14-28.

“Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;  repent and believe in the gospel.”

As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea;  for they were fishermen.  And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.  Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.  Immediately He called them;  and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.

They *went into Capernaum;  and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach.  They were amazed at His teaching;  for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.  Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit;  and he cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have You come to destroy us?  I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”  And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”  Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him.  They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this?  A new teaching with authority!  He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”  Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.”   Mark 1:14-28.

———————

In today’s Scripture, Jesus demonstrated His authority in different ways.

Jesus demonstrated His authority by His teaching.  “They were amazed at His teaching;  for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”  Verse 22.

Jesus demonstrated His authority by His command over men to follow Him.  “And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”  Verses 17-18.

Jesus demonstrated His authority by His casting out the unclean spirit from the man.  “And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”  Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him.”  Verses 25-26.

Elsewhere in Scripture, we see Jesus demonstrate His authority to heal and forgive sins.  “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He *said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.”  And he got up and went home.”  Luke 9:6-7.

But, Jesus’s authority was not limited to these examples of His authority.  Jesus summarized His authority.  “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”  Matthew 28:18.

Nevertheless, other doctrine futilely denies or minimizes or hides God’s total and complete (“all”) sovereign authority to save, preferring man’s alleged free-will, man’s alleged wisdom, and man’s alleged goodness. 

But, Reformed Doctrine, recognizing God’s authority, proclaims God’s right and power shown throughout Scripture to elect people for salvation (“Unconditional Election”), to atone for all the sins of those elect (“Limited Atonement”), to command people to follow Him, even making them “fishers of men” (“Irresistible Grace”) and to preserve them (“Preservation of the Saints”), the “U”, “L”, “I” and “P” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.”  Jude 24-25.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 30, 2018

“You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” – “in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 1:9-13.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;  and a voice came out of the heavens:  “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”  Mark 1:9-11.

————————

God is well-pleased in Christ.  And, God is well-pleased that we are in Christ.

Scripture often refers to Christians as “in Christ”.  And, it should make sense from today’s Scripture that because God is well-pleased in Christ, He is also well-pleased that we are in Christ.

Other doctrine cling to man’s alleged free-will and independence.  But, Reformed Doctrine clings to God’s Will that we are in Christ and our dependence on Christ.

Here are a few Scriptures in Ephesians chapters 1 and 2 about our being in Christ and our blessings resulting therefrom.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”  Ephesians 1:3.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.  …”  Ephesians 1:7-8.

“…  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,”  Ephesians 1:10-11.

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”  Ephesians 1:13-14.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.
.
“remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”  Ephesians 2:12-13.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 29, 2018

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 1:1-8.

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,
WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’”

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem;  and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.  John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.  And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.  I baptized you with water;  but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  Mark 1:1-8.

—————-

Q. 53.  What dost thou believe concerning the Holy Ghost?

A.  First, that He is true and co-eternal God with the Father and the Son;  secondly, that He is also given me, to make me, by a true faith, partaker of Christ and all His benefits, that He may comfort me and abide with me for ever.  Heidelberg Catechism.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;  that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”  John 14:16.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”  John 14:16.

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak;  and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.”  John 16:13-15.

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”  1 Corinthians 12:13.

“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up;  and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.”  Acts 9:31.

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”  Ephesians 1:13-14.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 27, 2018

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” – “I have planned it, surely I will do it.”

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 28:16-20.

“But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him;  but some were doubtful.  And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;  and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:16-20.

——————-

Great Commission or Great Confession?

Teaching them to obey?  Or, teaching them to observe?

Other doctrine view today’s Scripture as the Great Commission as if God is only setting up a plan and commissioning man to obey the plan that is dependent on man’s alleged free-will and man’s sense of duty and man’s wisdom and man’s skill in performing it.

But, Reformed Doctrine views today’s Scripture as the Great Confession of God teaching man to observe God at work Who will accomplish all of His good pleasure.

Reformed Doctrine sees “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, written all over this concluding Scripture of the Book of Matthew.

Reformed Doctrine sees “Unconditional Election” and “Limited Atonement” in the part of today’s Scripture:  “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”  In other words, God has all authority to decide whom He will save, and Christ has all authority to perform the atonement and procure all the saving gifts for God’s elect that He purchased for them by the price of His death.

Reformed Death sees “Irresistible Grace” in the part of today’s Scripture:  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you”.  Yes, in a sense we do and obey all of that, but we do not do it and obey it based on our alleged free-will, our sense of duty, our wisdom, or our skill.  But rather, we do and obey all of that through faith in God’s “Irresistible Grace” giving us the will to do all of that and God working in us to do all of that.

Reformed Doctrine sees “Preservation of the Saints” in the part of today’s Scripture:  “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  As the Canons of Dordt states:  “Article 3.  By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength.  But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end.”  SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.  In other words, because Christ is with us always, Christ preserves us causing us to persevere.”

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken;  truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:9-11.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 26, 2018

Christ “was raised because of our justification.” – God “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace”

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 28:1-15.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28&version=NASB

I quote only verses 1-10.

“Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.  And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.  And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.  The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.  The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid;  for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.  He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.  Come, see the place where He was lying.  Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead;  and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him;  behold, I have told you.”

And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.  And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them.  And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.  Then Jesus *said to them, “Do not be afraid;  go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”  Matthew 28:1-10.

——————–

Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.

Q. 45.  What doth the resurrection of Christ profit us?

A.  First, by His resurrection He has overcome death, that He might make us partakers of that righteousness which He had purchased for us by His death;  secondly, we are also by His power raised up to a new life;  and lastly, the resurrection of Christ is a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection.

“He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”  Romans 4:25.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  1 Peter 1:3-5.

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”  Romans 6:4.

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”  Romans 8:11.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.

In the final verse of today’s Scripture, we discover with great joy, that consistent with these verses stating what the resurrection means to us, Jesus calls us His brethren and seeks to be with us, knowing that we “are raised up with Him”.

“Then Jesus *said to them, “Do not be afraid;  go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”  Verse 10.  “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father;  for which reason He (Jesus) is not ashamed to call them brethren,”  Hebrews 2:11.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 25, 2018

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 27:57-66.

“When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.  This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.  And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock;  and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.  And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.

Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’  Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”  Pilate said to them, “You have a guard;  go, make it as secure as you know how.”  And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.”  Matthew 27:57-66.

———————-

Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.

Q. 41.  Why was He also “buried”?
A.  Thereby to prove that He was really dead.

Q. 43.  What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross?

A.  That by virtue thereof our old man is crucified, dead, and buried with Him;  that so the corrupt inclinations of the flesh may no more reign in us;  but that we may offer ourselves unto Him a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;  for he who has died is freed from sin.”  Romans 6:4-7.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 24, 2018

“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD” – “He has performed it.”

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 27:27-56.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him.  They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.  And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand;  and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”  They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head.  After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.

And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall;  and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.

And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots.  And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there.  And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

At that time two robbers *were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left.  And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself!  If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”  In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, “He saved others;  He cannot save Himself.  He is the King of Israel;  let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him.  HE TRUSTS IN GOD;  LET GOD RESCUE HIM NOW, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM;  for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.

Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.  About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”  And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.”  Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink.  But the rest of them said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.”  And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.”  Matthew 27:27-50.

—————

Today’s Scripture, especially verse 46 which includes Jesus’ cry of anguish:  “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”, reminds us of the Messianic Psalm chapter 22.

It certainly appeared to the witnesses of these events that God had forsaken Jesus.

“But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.”  …”  Matthew 26:56.

But, God certainly did not forsake Jesus.  God resurrected and exalted Jesus.

In his cry of anguish, Jesus quoted the first verse of Psalm chapter 22 and also knew the following conclusion of Psalm chapter 22 which was available to help give Him strength to endure by knowing the purpose of God for His suffering, namely, the salvation of many.

“27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations will worship before You.
28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S
And He rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
30 Posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.
31 They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.”  Psalm 22:27-31.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 23, 2018

“His blood shall be on us and on our children!”

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 27:11-26.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you?  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”  For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man;  for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.”  But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.  But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”  And they said, “Barabbas.”  Pilate *said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”  They all *said, “Crucify Him!”  And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?”  But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”

When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood;  see to that yourselves.”  And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!”  Then he released Barabbas for them;  but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”  Matthew 27:17-26.

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The innocence of Jesus is sharply contrasted with the guilt of the chief priests and the elders who were envious of Jesus and who handed Jesus over to Pilate and who persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death despite knowing Jesus’ innocence and despite being given a chance to repent and release Jesus and despite knowing the consequences of their action.

“And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!”  Verse 25.

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