He’s Alive!
I hope you all try to listen to the song ‘He’s Alive’ written by Don Francisco. My favorite version was sung by Dolly Parton, next favorite is by the writer himself.
Matthew 26:31-35 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” “Truly I tell you, ” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Mark 14: 24-31 “This My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” He said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today — yes, tonight — before the rooster crows twice, you yourself will disown me three times. But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.
Luke 22:31-34 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
His Death: His final Undeserved Torture
Matthew 27:45-54 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, tema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ . . . (Some waited anxiously, hopefully to see Elijah come, but he did not) And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up His spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. . . . When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Matthew 27:3-10 When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, “I have sinned, ” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” . . . So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury since it is blood money. So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. that is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. (9) then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Acts 1:16-18 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.” With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field: there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.
This week, was the beginning of Passover, the week long Feast of Unleavened Bread. The apostles and His followers were excited to share the Passover meal with Him. The 14th day of the first month, Nisan, was occurring the day before the Preparation Day and the Sabbath would begin at sunset the evening of the Preparation Day. But events did not happen as they expected. Jesus said someone at the table had betrayed Him, and then He indicated to John who it was, handing Judas a piece of bread He had dipped into the sauce. Before he had washed the feet of the disciples, Judas had left the group, never to experience that last act of service and servitude. snuck away to finish the betrayal of his rabbi, his teacher, a Man full of love and kindness.
After the meal, several of the men and Jesus went to His favorite garden. He asked the men to stay awake and be watchful while He went and prayed, pleading for the next several hours of His suffering and death not happen IF there was any other way. This time, God’s answer was “no.” The disciples had already started slipping away, too tired to stay and wait and pray with Him, they dozed. Even after He awoke them and asked for them to pray again, they slept. They already were not staying with Him. He was alone–and suffering.
Judas led the Roman soldiers to Him, and Judas tried to betray Him with a kiss. he was snatched–without any fighting or resistance from Him. He willfully went to the Pharisees and high priest, Caiaphas. From there He was led to Pilate after being beaten and ridiculed. Pilate could find no fault with the Man, and tried to have Him excused from the death penalty which the mob which had been excited and churned by the priests who then had them claiming to kill the Man they had been honoring and revering only five days earlier when He rode a donkey colt into town. These people did not yet recognize the significance of Jesus’s death starting on the night of the Passover, continuing to the Preparation Day when at noon He was nailed and hung on a cross. He was the Lamb of God, he was sacrificed for our sins and the sins of the world as they believed in Him and repented of His sins.
On Friday, Preparation Day, they should be preparing for the Sabbath meal. It was the most important day of the week. This was supposed to be a joyous family meal; a time of rest starting at sunset and lasting until sunset on Saturday. No work was to be done. They were to think of the blessings God had given them, the wonder of God, the Creator of all.
Peter had outright denied knowing Him. After using his boisterous personality do firmly deny ever leaving Him, he had denied even knowing Him, let alone following Him. He probably felt he was standing near, protecting His Messiah–until he heard the rooster crowing. Suddenly, his deception, his denial was sharply shown to him, reminding him of his terrible denial of the Man he loved and followed. Just as Jesus had told him–and he had refused to accept. In anguish he turned and hiding, he wept.
Did the others also feel they had let Him down, denied Him when they ran and now are helpless to change the outcome of the results of His “trial?” Were they next? Would the Romans be coming to round them up next? He was the Messiah was He not? Wasn’t He going to overcome the Romans? Wasn’t He going to free them from this oppression?
Did they slink nearby to watch the proceedings, or did they remain hidden behind locked doors? Did they see the procession proceed up to Golgotha? Did they see the cross being carried by Simon the Cyrene, with Jesus stumbling and trailing weakly behind? Did the crowd call out and jeer? Or were they fairly somber now, the reality of what was going to happen to the Man who had healed, fed thousands, showed love to all really going to be crucified?
Were they close enough to hear the shouts of “Crucify Him, crucify Him.”? Did they tremble? Did any want to edge closer to determine if there was anything they could do? But for sure they were ashamed they ran from the Romans and the grabbing of the Man they had followed and believed in. And yet, now they huddled in fear and shame. He alone stood facing the Pharisees and priests as they said their condemnation and sent Him forward to the Roman law. Now they know tension, fear, helplessness, anger, and shame and grief.
What do you think His followers were doing? Peter, John, James, the women? I cannot imagine that helpless, frustrating feeling knowing there was NOTHING they could do to stop this, to save their friend. Many of the men ran away–confusion and fear made them flee and hide. I imagine they were behind a locked door, trembling and wondering ‘what if…’ This was the Messiah. Wasn’t He? They saw Him do miracles; He healed the ill, the lepers, the crippled, the blind and the deaf. They thought He was going to set them free from Rome…and now He was being tried and charged by the Pharisees and the chief priests. He was being punished, and they remained away.
Peter was shaken and ashamed, filled with guilt and horror at the weakness he had shown after all his talking and bragging–and believing at THAT moment–that he would not run from the trouble that was coming. He would stay with the Lord, the rabbi he had lived and shared and learned from over the past couple of years, so sure of himself, his belief, and his desire to follow the Lord. When his Lord told him he would deny him three times before dawn (when the rooster crowed) he was sure that would NOT be him. He would stay strong. He was hothead, stubborn Peter.
We only know, of His apostles who stayed and watched the crucifixion, were John, Mary Magdalene, and His mother, Mary. There were several other women who had served with His group, but we know less about them than many others. But we are not told of any of the other apostles looking on, lending their support, love, and heartache. Were they watching from afar? Were they hiding in shame? Were they all nauseous as they watched from a distance as He, not even looking as a human being any longer from the beatings, scourging and tortures He had endured, only watch where His tomb was, then go to their homes? There would be no celebration on that Sabbath
Jesus died after suffering beatings throughout the previous night and early morning, hung on the cross about noon, and about 3 pm, He breathed His last. The curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple was split in two, the darkness had clung to the area for several hours, now a fierce earthquake shook the land. The Messiah had died. He was not visited by Elijah and taken down from the cross, there was no miracle of saving Him from death. The confusion and fear, shame and guilt was rampant. The aching and pain in the heart was terrible. It hurt to take a breath, it was hard to do anything–their minds were muddled, there was no energy to do anything. It was the Preparation Day and the Sabbath was starting at sunset. All they had hoped for, and worked for and learned was what? For naught? It meant nothing? Was this the end?
They all thought they had been chosen by this Man for a purpose. Hadn’t He said they had work ahead of them, they had to gather and sow, they had to tell others about Him, about love, kindness, and forgiveness. He had shown them how to cast demons away, had shown them to believe in miracles and to expect to accomplish miracles — to heal and to show others the Way, the Truth. He had fed them the Truth and shown them how they were to live their lives. And yet now Judas had betrayed Him, was dead, and he had killed himself. Their group was splintering, all hurting and unsure. Tonight was the Sabbath. Could any eat? Was their grief so deep they could not even pray the Sabbath prayers? Grief slows your actions, makes you somewhat clumsy, you do some things by rote, but your mind is not on the actual task. Would the women have put food out and yet no one could touch any of it?
At some point, Judas had tried to return the money he had been given to betray the Savior, his friend. Then word quickly spread that Judas was dead. What? How? He deserves to die for betraying the Messiah. But each felt sick, a little sicker than they had been feeling. What was happening? When did his suicide occur? Was there only anger from the other apostles and the women? Now they knew who had betrayed their Friend, their Messiah; did the men—Peter, and the Sons of Thunder want to beat him until he was dead? Did any grieve him? They had considered him a friend for a time also. Was there a myriad of emotions—shock, anger, horror, denial? How could he do this? Why would he do this?
He’s ALIVE!
Psalm 22:29-31 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him–and those who cannot keep themselves alive. No posterity will serve Him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim His righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!
Hosea 6:2,3 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.
Matthew 28:5-7 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples; ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ Now I have told you.”
Mark 16:6-7 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said, “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples, and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.”
Luke 24:5-7 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'”
Acts 3:15 You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.
Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Early on Sunday morning, the women went to prepare Him for the ritual of burial. He was gone. The huge stone rolled away, the entrance open, but His body was gone. Where? Why? How? Who could have taken Him? Why would anyone take Him? More horror added to their grief and agony, and now more anger as their Lord, Friend, Messiah was tortured and killed—and now removed. The indignity He could not even have a proper burial.
Yet Mary Magdalene was gifted with a brief conversation, was reassured He had still to rise and would see them again in Galilee. He was ascending to His crown in heaven — mission fully accomplished.
And His followers, the apostles and women were frightened. What next? Gathered together behind locked doors, Jesus suddenly appeared. What else could happen this weekend? He stood before them. The doors were locked, yet Mary had seen Him and He told her He had yet to ascend to heaven and to not hold onto Him. Now He appears in their locked room, a solid form, reassuring and asking for food. Dead, yet He stood before them alive.
Relief, fear, disbelief, astonishment, unable to take a breath…. He had defeated death. They still could not understand. Too many dreadful things had happened in a very short amount of time. They had to be physically and mentally, emotionally exhausted. What could happen next? They were privileged to have lived with Him for much of the three years of His ministry. But you know they had questions.
This Man, fully God and fully Man, had come to earth to save all those who choose to believe He is the Son of God, that He chose to die and take on the punishment for our sins although He is/was without sin, and to die a horrific death—for me, for us.
Each Easter, I feel grief as to the horrors and tortures done to Him. But that is overridden by the fact He chose to suffer this for MY sins, and for the sins of everyone who repents of their sins and chooses to follow Him as their Lord and Savior.
Dear Jesus, thank You for Your death on a cursed tree to be the curse and atonement for my sins. Thank You is not enough. I need to follow closely on the path You designed for me. Thank You for all You have done for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
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