"And He Was Numbered With the Trangressors"

"Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.  And the inscription of His accusation was written above: 'THE KING OF THE JEWS.'  With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.  So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.'"
(Mark 15:25-28)

When I first went to Golgotha (Skull Hill) this last time in Jerusalem, my daily reading had me in our text.  As I walked toward Calvary, I could envision myself approaching, "the place of a skull," with the group being led there to die.  

"With Him they also crucified two robbers,"----------- and me.  Forgive me, but the absolute utterly stupid accusation over the years towards the Jews that they "killed the Christ."  The Jews did not kill Jesus; the Romans did not kill Jesus; I killed Jesus, my sin, my rebellion, my estrangement from the Godhead took Jesus to the Cross.  "And He was numbered with the transgressors"-------------------- which includes you and me. 

And may we never forget that Jesus went to the Cross on His Own, in Father's purposes, in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus chose the cross.  Neither the Jews, nor the Romans, nor anyone else chose that Death for Jesus.  John 10 records that Jesus said of His impending death, "No one takes it (My life) from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This command I have received from My Father."

The Gospel, which center in the Cross of Jesus and Resurrection of Jesus, has been in danger of being marginalized in the last 40 years.  "Movements," pop religion and other highly personalized and man-glorifying emphasis have in many places turned Christendom into man-centered religion rather than the Christ-Centered Covenant of the Blessed Trinity.
    "Lest I forget Gethsemane:
    Lest I forget Thine agony;
    Lest I forget Thy love for me,
    Lead me to Calvary."

"It was here.  The battlefield was here....2000 years ago.  I was here."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thankfully embrace, "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him."  Amen.
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I will be preaching in the Word of Faith Outreach International Center meeting in Berlin this coming Sunday, Isaac Oppong, Pastor.  The time will be between 05:00 and 07:00 EST.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Jerusalem, Not a Memorial, A Destiny

"Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified.  So they took Jesus and led Him away.  And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center."  (John 19:16-18)

There is a green hill far away,
outside a city wall,
where our dear Lord was crucified
who died to save us all.

We may not know, we cannot tell,
what pains he had to bear,
but we believe it was for us
he hung and suffered there.

He died that we might be forgiven,
he died to make us good,
that we might go at last to heaven,
saved by his precious blood.

There was no other good enough
to pay the price of sin,
he only could unlock the gate
of heaven and let us in.

O dearly, dearly has he loved!
And we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do.

I remember singing this song when I was very young.  We usually sang it in the Thursday evening service before Good Friday.  The photo which I sent of Sarah looking to Golgotha (Calvary) brought this old hymn to mind.  Billy Graham referred to the Cross as "the pivotal point of history."  It was.  Prior to the shedding of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, His death and resurrection, the world had no hope of salvation.  Had Jesus given in during the Gethsemane struggle, the human race would have been lost to eternity.  He didn't, and we are not.  Praise Him.

Someone here asked me what I have sensed this time in Jerusalem.  I said, that the Church should see Jerusalem less as a "memorial" and more as the prophetic destiny of the world.  Look not to the past in the sense of memorializing or enshrining sites and locations.  Rather, "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing," not looking to the past so much as an active watchman awaiting His Lord's return.  King Jesus came and conquered sin and the grave in His first Appearing.  In His Second Appearing, He will take over Jerusalem as His Capitol, and the earth as His Kingdom. 

So, dear Follower of King Jesus, "let us run the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus...."  As we do, we will miss out on absolutely nothing.  No one knows, "the day nor the hour."  This is why Jesus is calling us to be watchmen, not "know-men."  So, "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is."

Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me in an ever watchful mode.  Amen.
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I will be sharing with some medical personnel with whom Vivian works here in Jerusalem tomorrow evening, November 13.  Please keep this time in prayer.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"....A Male Child Who Was to Rule All Nations...." (From Jerusalem)

"His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.  And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.  She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron."
(Rev 12:4, 5a)

This is Veterans Day in the United States of America.  It was on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, 1918, that the Armistice was signed between the waring factions in World War I.  The dictionary defines an "armistice" as "a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the waring parties."  This defines the close of World War 1 and the Korean War, "suspension of hostilities."  Nobody won either.  Almost 20 years after November 11, 1918, Europe revealed just how "unfinished" was WWI.  The final chapter on the Korean War is still to be written. 

Be that as it may, I am thankful for those who have served in our military from the very beginning of the nation right to this moment.  Many, if not most, did so and do so in order that others who could not fight, or would not fight, could still be "free."  America was born in war and has been kept free by war.  Of course, no one in their right mind would choose this "way" of freedom, but it is the enemies of mankind who are the aggressors in their attempt to enslave and dominate the Planet.  Faithful men and women have given their lives and continue to do so to thwart aggressors.

According to our text, our Eternal Freedom also came in war.  From the moment of Jesus' Appearing (His "birth"), the forces of Darkness were attempting to kill Him.  The Enemy planned Jesus' destruction from one Garden to another.  As He walked the hills and lanes of the Galilee and the streets of Jerusalem, sometimes Jesus just walked through crowds attempting to kill Him; sometimes He fled.  But always His Face was towards Jerusalem, the Jewish leaders, the Roman Government, The Cross, the Grave, the Resurrection.  In His Cross of Blood, Jesus' war against the enslavement, destruction, condemnation, and eternal judgment of you and me was, "It is finished."  It is up to you and me to, "stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free," and, "labor to enter that rest." 

Charles Wesley's song declares, "ours the cross, the grave the skies, Allelujah!"  It is ours, because Jesus is ours and we are His.  Romans 6 says that those who receive Jesus Christ take the same path in Jesus, "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."  Today Americans celebrate all who have served in the military.  And, today all who have seen, "The Light of the world," celebrate Him.

Father, in Jesus' Name, those of us who are Americans today thank You for those who gave their lives in defense of our nation.  May all of us give our lives for You, Your Church, and Kingdom.  Amen.  

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2