The whole meaning of life is in Jesus and Him crucified for our sins. How solemn a testimony that He was crucified with a sinner, just like us, on either side.
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
It was hard for the Jewish believers to understand that Jesus came to offer salvation to the world not only to the Jew.
John 19:17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, 18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS
20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. 21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” The New King James Version
Holy Spirit strives for unity in all believers and all the world’s leaders. In the peace of governments we have peace. God is love!
1 John 5:14-16 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
In the Old Testament the Spirit came upon believers but in the New Testament He lives and abides in us. The power of Holy Spirit in us changes us and enables us to do God’s will in our lives. He never leaves us alone or forsaken.
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
Faith, in the redemption of Jesus in the Cross, to accomplish what only our Creator could. Faith in His birth, His death and His resurrection is salvation. He died for our sins, in our place, and in His resurrection it was finished.
Romans 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
In the end of our days we will be judged according to our faith in Jesus Christ so that no one could boast.
Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Romans 3:1-2 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
Romans 3:9-10 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
To God alone all honor and glory! Carla
The majority of Judaeans would have understood Aramaic. Latin was the official language across the Roman Empire. Government documents, well-educated people, and the Roman military and guard used Latin. Greek was the common language of commerce and writing used in the eastern part of the Roman Empire. Faithlife Study Bible
Of all the apostles, John alone witnessed the crucifixion. However, he spares his readers the revolting details. The two others were thieves.
It was a Roman custom to write the name of the condemned person and his crime on a plaque to be placed above his head at the execution. Mark calls this title “the inscription of His accusation”. Multilingual inscriptions were common. The title was written in the local, common, and official languages of the day. Everyone could read the message in his or her own language. The addition of the phrase of the Jews to the title chief priests (probably referring to Caiaphas and Annas) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The addition probably corresponds to the title given Jesus.
The chief priest of the Jews objected to Jesus being called King of the Jews. They did not want a messianic designation connected with Him.
Pilate refused to change the title. As did Caiaphas, Pilate affirmed more than he ever intended. The title proclaimed to all that Jesus is indeed the promised Messiah. The NKJV Study Bible
As our Lord suffered for the sins both of Jews and Gentiles, it was a special part of the counsel of Divine Wisdom, that the Jews should first purpose his death, and the Gentiles carry that purpose into effect. Had not Christ been thus rejected of men, we had been for ever rejected of God. Now was the Son of man delivered into the hands of wicked and unreasonable men. He was led forth for us, that we might escape. He was nailed to the cross, as a Sacrifice bound to the altar. The Scripture was fulfilled; he did not die at the altar among the sacrifices, but among criminals sacrificed to public justice. And now let us pause, and with faith look upon Jesus. Was ever sorrow like unto his sorrow? See him bleeding, see him dying, see him and love him! love him, and live to him! Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Luke 23:32–43 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left…
Matthew 27:31–44 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross…
Mark 15:21–32 Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull…
John 19:13–14 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”
Luke 23:26 Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.
God is never evil, and He never tempts people to do evil (James 1:13). But we also know God sovereignly uses and redeems even the worst situations for His good purposes (Isaiah 45:7-9; Romans 8:28). And God used the monumental separation of Israel's kingdoms to deliver a message: Division is a reality of this fallen, sinful world. Complete and total unity is found only in Him.
God's design is wholeness and peace, and as believers in Him, we can and should work toward unity here and now, knowing we will experience it completely in God's presence in eternity (Ephesians 4:13; Romans 15:5-6).
As Christians today, what is God's plan for us? Romans 12:18 says, "If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (CSB). Jesus Himself also prayed that His followers would "be one" (John 17:21, CSB). We speak Truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We "let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from [us], along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave [us] in Christ" (Ephesians 4:31-32, CSB). And we pray and trust the Holy Spirit to guide us (John 14:26; John 16:13; Romans 8:26). First5
Henri Nouwen, “I feel a tension within me. I have only a limited number of years left for active ministry. Why not use them well? Yet one word spoken with a pure heart is worth thousands spoken in a state of spiritual turmoil. Time given to inner renewal is never wasted. God is not in a hurry.” Excerpt from Sabbath Moments
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