510. The "eye of the needle" was the phrase Jesus used in Mark 10:25 when He said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." Those words must have shocked His original audience, who had thought that prosperity was a sign of God's blessing. In recent years some people have tried to identify a particular gate into Jerusalem as "the eye of the needle," thereby missing Christ's main point: Someone committed to worldly wealth is probably not as interested in heavenly gain.
511. Jesus was not alone in works of healing. Just as other men claimed messiahship to attract political followers, numerous wonder-workers and healers wandered the Roman Empire in that day. Jesus even referred to others who were healing in His time. The Jewish Talmud discusses several wonder-working rabbis of Jesus' time. But none made the claim that Jesus' followers made that He had the ability to raise the dead and had done so on three occasions with witnesses.
512. Jesus was well-received by the people as long as He was performing miracles and teaching, but they did not look to Him as the King of Kings. Sadly they were looking for an earthly king instead of a heavenly one. As a result their love for Jesus was short-lived.
513. Jesus took three of His most trusted disciples up on a mountain, where they experienced an extraordinary event. While the disciples watched, Jesus was miraculously "transfigured." His physical being was transformed, and the figures of Moses and Elijah, the two great prophets of Judaism, stood beside Him. The disciples also heard the voice of God saying Jesus was God's beloved Son. The accounts all say Jesus' face shone as Moses' did when he encountered God on Mount Sinai in Exodus.
514. As Christ rode a donkey into Jerusalem, He was hailed by the people with palm leaves and shouts of "Hosanna!" The people celebrated Him as their king. They did not want the greatest gift that Christ offered and that they needed most. They wanted freedom from the Romans and a nation of their own instead, and thought Christ brought that, despite the many warnings and explanations given to His ministry.
515. Satan provoked Judas to betray Jesus, as it is stated in the Gospel of John. The treachery of Judas has provoked some speculation over motives, including the notion that he might have been an anti-Roman zealot who was disappointed that Jesus had not proved to be the rebel leader many were expecting. The Gospel of Mark tells how Judas went to the chief priests to betray Jesus before being offered a bribe, suggesting that he had some other motive besides money. Matthew specifically states that Judas asked how much he would be given, and that he was paid "thirty pieces of silver" in fulfillment of ancient Hebrew prophecy.
516. The Last Supper was a preparation for Jesus Himself as He readied Himself for the end, which He knew was near. Judas Iscariot was even confronted by Christ at the table. The Lord celebrated a final supper with His disciples, His most trusted companions. This special dinner was given to Christians in order to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for His people.
517. The words "Take and eat: this is My body," and "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matt. 26:26,28) are part of a sacrament of the Christian church that originated with the Last Supper. Communion is based on the events of the Last Supper and serves as one of two main sacraments in the Christian church to this day.
518. After the Last Supper, Jesus spent His last night of freedom in the Garden of Gethsemane on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. The name means "olive presses." In Jesus' time the Mount of Olives was covered with a luxuriant growth of these trees, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem often rested there to seek relief from the sun.
519. "Today-yes, tonight- before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown Me three times" (Mark 14:30). On the way to Gethsemane, Jesus told His disciple Peter this prophecy. The roosters first crowed about midnight, and they were so punctual that Roman soldiers used the sound as a signal for changing of the guard. The roosters crowed a second time about three o'clock in the morning, which awakened the second watch of soldiers.
No comments:
Post a Comment