Jesus made it plain that rejecting the eternal life he offered would result in the misery of eternity in hell: “Whoever does not believe is condemned already….the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:18, 36).

But for those who trust Christ, the best is yet to come. “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). We will see the all-satisfying glory of God. “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

For all these reasons and more, Christ suffered and died. Why would you not embrace him as your Savior from sin and judgment, and live with God eternally?

If you are moved to embrace God’s Son in this way, tell God in words like these:

Dear God, I’m convinced that Jesus suffered and died for my sins. I gratefully trust in him now as my Lord and my precious Treasure and the only way I’ll ever receive your forgiveness and your promise of eternal life. Amen.

To know more about the salvation of God in Christ, click here to read the five things God wants you to know.
 

So what is good about this Friday that saw the betrayal, the arrest, brutal beating, disciples disowning Jesus, a fake trial quickly put together full of flaws, Jesus suffering with a heavy cross, Jesus being nailed, I mean nailed! on both hands and feet to the cross, even on the cross he wants to drink, they give him vinegar! Then they pierce his side with a spear, he is forsaken as he says himself, even thieves insult him, soldiers take away his cloth, then he dies with his mother standing there watching helplessly. Hmmm! So much stuff. But he declares "It is finished!" and that is where the GOODness of this day begins. As I write, it has been about 2 hours since Jesus died and has definitely been taken down by Joseph of Arimathea and buried just time before the official opening of the Passover taking place this time around. Now read more about this Goodness of Passion Friday here: http://passionweekblog.pacoci.com/

Why is Good Friday referred to as “good”? What the Jewish authorities and Romans did to Jesus was definitely not good (see Matthew chapters 26-27). However, the results of Christ’s death are very good! Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” First Peter 3:18 tells us, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”

No wonder the bible says: had they known, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory.

"the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;"  1 Corinthians 2:8

It was early on Friday, April 3, 33AD. Before sunrise that Jesus was betrayed by the "Judas kiss" and arrested. By this time, the power of darkness reigns over Jerusalem.

Judas led the crowd to the garden, then approached Jesus by himself, saying, "Greetings, Rabbi!"

As he drew near to kiss Jesus, Jesus asked, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" Judas kissed him anyway, and Jesus responded, "Friend, do what you came for."

Jesus then approached the crowd and asked them, "Who is it you want?" The interaction described in John followed. The men then arrested Jesus.

The disciples asked if they should strike with swords, and Peter went ahead and cut off the ear of the high priest's servant. Jesus healed the servant, rebuked Peter, and again addressed the crowd, asking them why they didn't arrest him earlier.

First, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples and thereby instituted the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion (Luke 22:19-20). 

At the Passover Feast, Jesus and his disciples share the “Last Supper”. Jesus blesses his bread and wine as his flesh and blood and shares it with his disciples (Communion). He informs them that one of them will betray him. They go back to the garden of Gethsemane.

Second, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as an act of humility and service, thereby setting an example that we should love and serve one another in humility (John 13:3-17).

Of these two, Jesus himself expressly recommends the communion to be taken regularly in remembrance of him. When last did you partake of the communion?

The washing of feet was neither expressly recommended or forbidden. I recalled doing it with some brethren down in the US and it was a very humbling experience having to litterally wash brothers and sisters's feet.

The word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word for “command.” The “Maundy” in Maundy Thursday refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love and serve one another.

The betrayal of Jesus is of such significance and sometimes misunderstanding that we found it necessary to elaborate more here on the blog.

Text

Luke 21:37 – 22:6

[37] Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, [38] and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.

[1] Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, [2] and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. [3] Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. [4] And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. [5] They were delighted and agreed to give him money. [6] He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

A shocker!

To the Eleven, Judas betrayal was a shocker! Twenty centuries later the Bible's account of Judas' treachery still raises all sorts of questions — several of which we don't know the definitive answers to. But as we consider this week's text, let's not to spend as much time speculating about what we don't know, as trying to understand what we do know about Judas.

Seeking to Get Rid of Jesus (22:1-2)

Each group has strong differences with the others, but they have one thing in common — get Jesus. They are now beyond the inquiring and learning stage. They feel threatened and "were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people." (22:1-2) The word translated "get rid of" (NIV) or "kill" (KJV) is Greek anaireo, "to get rid of by execution, do away with, destroy," mostly of killing by violence, in battle, by execution, murder, or assassination.[7]

The problem is that "they were afraid of the people." Jesus isn't hiding, but he is surrounded during the days with hundreds or thousands of attentive listeners. If his enemies try to arrest Jesus publicly, it will probably trigger a riot, causing Roman military intervention, and perhaps cost them their jobs. They must both maintain the fragile peace in the city of Jerusalem and at the same time get rid of Jesus. They are stymied by how to get Jesus alone. Just then the answer to their problem walks in the door — Judas, who can provide insider information.

Satan, the Unseen Enemy (22:3)

But this is not just a wicked human conspiracy, there is a cosmic dimension at its root. Verse 3 mentions Satan. Satan appears several times in the Synoptic Gospels and Luke 4:8; 10:18; 11:18; 13:16; 22:31; and Acts 5:3; 26:18. Satan seems to be used synonymously with the term "devil" (Greek diabolos) which means "adversary" (Luke 4:2-13; 8:12; and Acts 10:38; 13:10).

I spoke to a clergyman today who suggests that Satan and the devil are likely beings that we humans have created to explain the evil we find in the world. I contend that unless we are prepared to accept the fact that Jesus himself believed in Satan, taught about Satan, and personally opposed Satan, we are unlikely to understand what is going on in the Gospels — or the Bible, for that matter. If you don't believe you have a real, external enemy, then you're a sitting duck for spiritual ambush.

The Apostle Paul saw the conflict in cosmic terms, too:

"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Corinthians 4:4)

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." (Ephesians 2:1-2)

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." (Colossians 1:13)

In Paul's view, unbelievers, the spiritually blind, follow the usurping "ruler of this world" without knowing it. They are subject to his worldview and open to his suggestions and promptings.

Jesus, too, teaches that people can be under the influence or direction of Satan without being aware of it. He rebukes Peter with the harsh words, "Get behind me, Satan" (Mark 8:33). He notes, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" (John 6:70). To his vocal adversaries he says, "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44).

People can become Satan's mouthpiece and agents without even knowing it. The only way to escape his pervasive influence is to cling to Jesus steadfastly. In the very context of being enslaved by Satan, Jesus says: "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).

Satan Enters Judas (22:3)

This phrase is curious:

"Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve." (22:3)

When I read this, questions flood my mind: What does it mean "enter"? Why does this happen to Judas? What can Judas be thinking? Does Judas have any control over his actions? Is he responsible? Why does Jesus select Judas if he knows he is untrustworthy? Or did Jesus even know what will happen? These are the big questions that underlie such heavy-duty doctrines as predestination, foreknowledge, as well as the perseverance of the saints, demonization, and a few more. We can't resolve all these questions in a single dissertation here, if ever. The questions are bigger than we are.

But let's begin with the meaning of "Satan enters Judas." Does this imply some sort of demon possession? The word translated "entered" is Greek eiserchomai, "to move into a space, 'enter'."[9] Eiserchomai is a very common word in the New Testament, used regarding evil spirits entering pigs and men and causing a kind of insanity or loss of control (Mark 5:12-13; 9:25; Luke 8:30, 32-33). The verb is also used in John 13:27 at the Lord's Supper: "As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him."

If we contend that Satan takes over Judas against his will, then Judas bears no responsibility for his action — he is an unwilling victim in the same way that an abducted child bears no guilt. But we know that this betrayal is both foretold by Jesus (John 6:70; 13:10-11, 21; Matthew 26:21; Mark 14:18; Luke 22:21) and the person who commits the betrayal is condemned by Jesus (Luke 22:22). "But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born" (Matthew 26:24).

Therefore, I conclude that Judas is not an unwilling pawn, and that "Satan enters Judas" is not like demon possession. Jesus built his ministry on casting demons out of unwilling victims. But you can't cast out demons from a person who wants them there; that would require a violation of the will. Modern-day deliverance ministers have found this to be empirically true.

We find some clues when we examine a parallel passage in John's Gospel:

"The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus" (John 13:2).

The word translated "prompted" (NIV) or "put into the heart" (KJV) is a phrase that the KJV translates literally and correctly. The Greek verb is ballo, which can indicate both forceful action ('throw') as well as simple action ('to put or place something in a location, put, place, apply, lay, bring').[10] We see a similar expression in Acts:

"Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled (Greek pleroo) your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?' " (Acts 5:3).

Certainly Satan is the agent of planting the thought in Judas' and Ananias' minds, but then Judas and Ananias follow through by sinning rather than rejecting the thought.

Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness, but at each point he answers with scripture and resists the temptation. James gives us a helpful insight into how sin operates:

"When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (James 1:13-15)

For temptation to have any power, it must resonate with a sinful motive or desire within the person. That's what Jesus is referring to when he says, "the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me" (very literally in the KJV) or "He has no hold on me" (NIV; John 14:30). Paul writes, "In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold (Greek topos, 'place')" (Ephesians 4:26-27).

Martin Luther once said that it isn't your fault if a bird flies over your head, but it is your fault if it makes a nest in your hair. When we harbor sin in your hearts, we DO give the devil a foothold and can easily become his unwilling dupes. This is no game, but deadly warfare.

 I believe it is important to establish that "Satan entered into Judas" doesn't refer to some kind of irresistible demon possession, but a deliberate courting of sinful thoughts and beliefs that make Judas vulnerable to be manipulated by Satan, yet fully responsible for his actions.

This is not the place to argue for or against the Eternal Security of the believer. How you see Judas depends on your theological position more than what the text actually says about him.

Judas Negotiates the Betrayal (22:4-5)

"And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money." (22:4-5)

The officers of the temple guard are Levites who worked under the chief priests to keep order in the temple. They represent a small armed force the chief priests have at their disposal. Notice that Judas seems to initiate the betrayal, he is not seduced to do so by Jesus' enemies, but by Satan — and Judas' own desires. Matthew's account makes it clear that Judas is after money:

"Then one of the Twelve — the one called Judas Iscariot — went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Matthew 26:14-16)

It's a pretty simple negotiation. Judas has what Jesus' enemies need — inside knowledge of where Jesus can be found at night when he is not surrounded by crowds of people. And the chief priests have what Judas seems to desire — money. They agree on thirty silver coins, that they will give to Judas when he follows through on his end of the deal (Mark 14:11; Luke 22:5). The "thirty pieces of silver" are probably Tyrian shekels or tetradrachmas.[11] How much were they worth? Not that much, really.

Judas Seeks an Opportunity to Deliver Jesus (22:6)

"He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present." (22:6)

From now on, Judas is seeking his own interests rather than Jesus' interests. He has betrayed Jesus in his heart, and is about to betray him in fact.

Why Does Jesus Select Judas?

Before we conclude, let's examine a couple of unanswerable questions. Does Jesus have foreknowledge that Judas will betray him when he selects him to be an apostle? Apparently so. St. John says:

"'⁶⁴Yet there are some of you who do not believe.' For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. ⁶⁵He went on to say, 'This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.' …. Then Jesus replied, 'Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!' ⁷¹(He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)" (John 6:64-65, 70-71)

We just don't know all that Jesus knew about Judas when he selected him. We know, however, that he selected him with much prayer and consultation with his Father (Luke 6:12-16). The Father, who knows all things, knew. What he communicated this to Jesus at that time, we don't fully know. But to say that Jesus chose Judas so that he might betray him is speculative, a step beyond what we know. The Scripture doesn't tell us why.

Does Judas Have Any Freedom of Choice?

We'll discuss in a later passage the prophesies about Judas' betrayal. But does Judas have any freedom of choice? I believe that he does, though the debate of predestination vs. free will, Calvinism vs. Arminianism, isn't one we'll resolve here. Let's not debate among ourselves these unanswerable questions. We just don't have enough data from the Scripture to understand it well enough. But in a nutshell, here's what I believe, for what it is worth.

1. All men seem to have some freedom of choice, since they are held responsible for their actions.
2. Divine foreknowledge that Judas will in the future betray Jesus does not remove Judas' free will and responsibility for his action, it only indicates that God knows it ahead of time.
3. Judas harbors sins, such as greed and selfishness. These provide an opening for Satan to seduce him into larger and larger sins. This can be true of all of us.
4. Ultimately (though this is out of the scope of our study, since it is discussed only in Matthew 27:3-10 and Acts 1:18-19), Judas is remorseful, but loses all hope, and commits suicide. Peter, who also betrays Christ, is remorseful but continues to hope, and is ultimately restored.

Who knows "what if"? We don't, and speculation is useless here.

What Lessons Does Judas' Betrayal Teach Us as Disciples?

 To me, Judas is a very sober example of how a good disciple can go bad.

1. His betrayal is hidden from his closest associates. I find it interesting that though the Apostle John is aware of Judas' weakness for money and theft (John 12:6), he doesn't know who the betrayer is until Jesus tells him. All the disciples had weaknesses and patterns of sin — that's how sinful humans are. So that Judas has a recurrent sin is no indication to anyone that he is a betrayer. It is possible for you and I to betray Jesus in our heart without anyone knowing. Except Jesus. Jesus knows.
2. Judas' sin ruins him — and others. It makes him vulnerable to the seducing voice of Satan. Our sins can ruin us, too. And, very possibly, those around us whom we love.
3. Is it I? We'll look at this further, but the disciples at the Last Supper don't know who will betray Jesus, and each wonders if it might be himself? Each of us has in us the seeds of betrayal. We must be vigilant.
4. Even Jesus has one of his leaders turn against him. Sometimes as Christian leaders we castigate ourselves when one of our leaders turns against us. What did I do wrong? we ask. But even Jesus had this happen. Yes, good leadership is important, but the root of failure lies within the person, not necessarily the leader. 

Prayer

Father, have mercy upon all of us. Forgive us our sins and purge us of them, lest they cause us to betray you. Give us the grace of repentance. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

 adapted from an article in  http://www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/21_37-22_6.htm

  Our scripture reference today is: Luke 19:28-44

It paints the clear picture of the event that took place on Palm Sunday  (Exactly  2044 Years ago )

As someone once said, I've always been puzzled over the Triumphal Entry. On the one hand, the enthusiasm of the crowds is contagious. The King is coming into the Holy City! Hosanna! On the other hand, we see Jesus filled with pain. He accedes to the celebration — indeed, he initiates it. But he is somehow detached. Instead of lifting his hands in victory as might a politician or conquering war general, he is subdued. And when Jerusalem comes into sight he begins to weep — not for himself, but for the city and its inhabitants. The Triumphal Entry is essential in God's plan.  Please pause and read the entire passage if you haven't done so yet.

We are preparing a full discourse on the last seven days of Jesus on earth, but that is part of a fresh new website slated to be launched in a couple of month. For now, let focus on the following:

Key Verses

"Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' " (Luke 19:30-31)

"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:38)

What do we learn from this passage as Disciples

What are we disciples to make of this triumphal entry? Several lessons can be pointed out here:

• Regarding Jesus' instructions about obtaining the donkey, we are to obey Jesus when he tells us to do something. Just because we don't understand how everything will work out is no reason to refuse to budge when it is time to obey.
• We must be ready and willing for Jesus to claim use of our possessions and positions. Since he is our Master, they don't belong to us, but to him. When he sends a message, "The Lord has need of it," we must relinquish our control willingly and immediately.
• Praise can be received with humility. Jesus did not crave the praise of men, but neither did he silence it. It was fitting. It was appropriate.
• There is a time to be guarded about who we are in God, and there is a time to be fully open about it. We must not operate out of fear or self-absorption, but be sensitive to what God wants to do and then cooperate with that.
• Rejoicing and pain can co-exist. They did in Jesus at the Triumphal Entry, and they often coexist in our lives, too. There will be no complete rejoicing until we rejoice fully in heaven, after God has wiped away every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4).
• And, of course, one of the strongest lessons of this passage is that Jesus IS King! He IS the Messiah, the Son of David, and as such, it is fitting that we worship him.

Suggested prayer in response to this:

Lord, please help me to be willing to obey your instructions, even when I don't understand all the details or their importance. Thank you for the immense privilege you grant to me and to my brothers and sisters to be participants in your mission, to play important parts in what you are doing. Help me to rejoice in you and praise you with an open heart, not resist because of my pain or from the wound of a doubting or distrustful heart. In your holy name I pray. Amen.

Jesus Christ is King and Messiah: This was foretold thousands of years earlier!

Jesus’ purpose in riding into Jerusalem was to make public His claim to be the Messiah and King of Israel in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Matthew tells us that the King coming on the foal of a donkey was an exact fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Jesus rides into His capital city as a conquering King and is hailed by the people as such, in the manner of the day. The streets of Jerusalem, the royal city, are open to Him, and like a king, He ascends to His palace, not a temporal palace, but the spiritual palace which is the temple, because His is a spiritual kingdom.

He receives the worship and praise of the people because only He deserves it. No longer does He tell His disciples to be quiet about Him (Matthew 12:16, 16:20), but to shout His praises and worship Him openly. The spreading of cloaks was an act of homage for royalty (see 2 Kings 9:13). Jesus was openly declaring to the people that He was their King and the Messiah they had been waiting for.

That is the first major prophecy of the passion week. And we will unpack all of them in the days ahead.
 

Reference: John 12:1, Matthew 21:17; Matthew 26:6-13;

Jesus arrived in Bethany (a village on the eastern slope of the mount of Olives, about two miles fromm Jerusalem and the final station on the road from Jericho to Jerusalem) six days before the passover to spend some time with his friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

On the following Tuesday evening, while Jesus was still in Bethany, Mary anointed his head and feet with very costly perfume as an act of humility(for it was always in those days, a servant's work to attend to the feet). This tender expression indicated Mary's devotion and her willingness to serve him. Jesus himself said "she did it to prepare me for burial".

By her actions, she was setting the tone and fulfiling part of the pieces of Jesus' Journey towards mankind liberation.

Join me in the next eight days as we walk in the path of Christ during the passion week.

It may be interesting for us to look at what Jesus did not teach about fasting, then we will get some peace in our mind:

Jesus did not give any regulations on how often or how long his followers should fast. He did not actually COMMAND his followers to fast, but he EXPECTED them to fast. Let them that have ears hear!

He did, as we have already established in a previous entry, expect his followers to fast and he laid out two principles for that. To show this, I want us to go back to a previous scripture I mentioned in this blog a while ago, Matthew 9: 14-15 "Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"

 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. "

First, he was stating that fasting is rooted in an expression of sorrow. We see this clearly in the old testament when those who fasted tore their garments(symbolising the fact that he/she felt that his/her heart has been torned from his body),  put on sackcloth(sackcloth was very uncomfortable, symbolysing the fact that the person fasting was in some kind of discomfort, spiritually or other ways) and ashes(always referred to the loss of something or someone precious).

So, the disciples who were close to Jesus at the time of his earthly ministry could not fast because Jesus radiated so much joy, peace, purpose and the saving grace of God for all those who came around him: siknesses cured, demons casted out, the lame walked and the blind saw again, etc… There was no sorrow associated with Jesus in any shape or form, and no manifestation of sorrow was appropriate around him.

Secondly, Jesus pointed to a time(after he ascends to Heaven) when his disciples will fast: they would fast when they are troubled in the spirit, when they don't see the miracle-producing power of God at work in their ministries, when the preaching of the good news is not yielding any new souls, when they face persecution or witness the persecution of their fellow believers.

Jesus in essence told them(As I will share with you in next entries) that they will need to fast to discern the will of God, the methods and strategies of God. They will need to fast and pray in order to have the power of God resident in them so they can victoriously face satanic attacks, interferences, intensions, provocations and cases of demonic possessions and oppressions.

Unfortunately, many believers, including church leaders who dodge or "combat" fasting have not yet gotten the burden for the remaining work of God. Many times, these are the same believers who don't believe in the various manifestations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in terms of signs and wonders, evangelism and missions. When our spiritual eyes are not open to see lost and harassed souls in need of healing and redemtion, there is no burden; and without burden, there can be no sorrow; and no sorrow, no fasting! (I will expand a little more on the issue of sorrow in the some other entry in this blog).

Finally, as we see through the New Testament, there is no mention, in many instances of how long or by what method the people fasted. We can conclude they fasted as they were led by the Holy Spirit. We should do likewise! The length, method and purpose of the fast are to be of the Lord's choosing (In the next entries, we will examine some signs that can indicate the need for a fast in your life or ministry, as well as the practical tips for times of prayer and fasting).