Seek TRUTH - Choose LIFE
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is a narrative of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. It's a documented historical journey of the Isaelite nation through which God revealed Himself to all the nations of the world (Luke 2:32). The gospel fulfilled God’s promises that He made to the Children of Israel through the many prophets for the coming of Jesus Christ (the Messiah - the anointed by God), King of Israel (Isaiah 9:6), who would save the people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). The bible is a narrative that has up to 67,779 cross references documented to show that it was inspired by God. God is not bound by time, space or matter and is the only one capable to direct history in a way to fulfill His divine plan, for the salvation of the world from damnation.
The gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John tell about the ministry of Jesus Christ from birth to death and resurrection. The only faith in the world that stands the test of time, oppression, objective truth, morality, justice and documented history through outside sources. Every narrative listed in the four gospels completes one another even though they highlight Jesus’ life from different perspectives. This variation in the narrative gives deeper validation of historical facts and corresponds to the scriptures written before the time of Jesus.
The last week of Jesus' ministry began with His triumphant entry into Jerusalem not simply as Jesus of Nazareth as many have though Him to be, merely a man. Jesus entered as the sacrificial Lamb of God, Jesus Christ - the messiah who would take away the sins of the world and as Son of God. many people welcomed Him with open arms and placed their garments under His path as Jesus came in humbly on a donkey - king of Israel. The elders however saw this as a threat to their authority and feared that the nation would seek to rebel the imperial Roman occupation and be destroyed as a result. Jesus has been challenging the traditions of the religious leaders who neglected their purpose and only sought power. This would be the final act of Jesus before He is betrayed by one of His disciples and thus fulfill the prophecy written long ago.
As the religious leaders gather to decide Jesus' fate of execution, Jesus is gathering His disciples one last time. Jesus gives them teachings and blessings to overcome the events that were about to take place in their lives. Jesus demonstrates His love and wisdom through servitude to the disciples who only sought to be served and not serve others. He not only taught them to remember His sacrifice of redemption for the world until He comes back in glory - but also warned them about the events that must take place next. As we unfold the meaning of the Lord's supper with His disciples we can understand the depth of God's love and provision He had spoke about through thousands of years to His nation Israel. How they have been rehearsing the spring feasts ordained by God as a shadow of the things that Jesus would fulfill through His life.
After the last supper with the disciples Jesus went into the garden of Gethsemane to pray once more before facing the trial that will condemn Him to capital punishment. Crucifixion was reserved for the worst of criminals and as a warning to others of the consequences of rebellion against the Roman Empire. Jesus would also have to endure the betrayal by a close friend, rejection by His nation, execution while innocent, the weight of all the sins of mankind upon Him and giving up His life to God's wrath to pay the penalty of all sin. The pressure that built up in anticipation of this was so great that Jesus asked in His prayer if any other way was possible to redeem mankind from eternal damnation. He submitted His will to ensure we can be redeemed though His sacrifice.
That night Judas Iscariot led priest guards into the garden to have Jesus arrested and delivered to the elders who would lead Him to be executed. Judas who sold Jesus to these pharisees for a price of a slave seeing that Jesus is condemned to death returned the money. Being overwhelmed with guilt he hanged himself. Peter being afraid for his life denied Jesus before people and only later realizing what he had done - repented in weeping and humility. Both Judas and Peter had committed horrible sins against Jesus who strongly warned them about those acts. But Peter reacted with contrition and repentance while Judas reacted with grief and self destruction. This reveled that Peter loved Jesus and while Judas only loved himself.
That early morning Jesus was delivered from one court to another and the false witnesses followed Him to make sure He was executed. He was finally delivered to the governor of Judea - Pontius Pilate and he declared Jesus innocent publicly. But the mob having been fueled by bribery and the rage of the religious leaders persisted to accuse Jesus. They finally declared that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and this blasphemy was worthy of death. The mob even threatened the governor of political compromise with Ceasar if he released Jesus. Soon enough Pilate washed his hands "in innocence" while releasing a common criminal and condemning Jesus to be executed by crucifixion - a punishment reserved for enemies of the empire.
Once Jesus was led to be crucified the mob followed to make sure He died in humiliation. The day soon turned dark at noon time and darkness persisted for three hours until Jesus died. This was the moment that Jesus - the Son of God - had come into the body of flesh and blood for. This was the time of Jesus' agony when He took upon Himself the sin of all mankind from all times and bore the punishment of suffering and death. The punishment for sin is God's wrath expressed through death - and Jesus the Lamb of God took our condemnation upon Himself. The perfect sacrifice to who could carry the sin burden of the whole world as the son of God but also able to die for that sin as son of man. Once the sin of the world was laid upon Jesus - He exclaimed that "IT IS FINISHED" - the penalty for sin has been paid. He then gave up His Spirit and died.
On the third day the women went to the tomb to finish embalming Jesus but found the it empty with angels who told them that "He is risen". In frustration, fear and confusion then told the other disciples about their encounter who refused to believe until Jesus Himself came to them in the flesh. They saw Jesus' resurrected body and spoke to Him but did not recognize Him - only in His actions and words. Jesus was no longer bound by physical reality and could manifest Himself to many people simultaneously and fully interact with them. Seeing the promise of Jesus' words He spoke before His execution come to pass fueled their testimony and faith to believe the things which have not yet come to pass.
Having spent another 40 days with His disciples he commanded to carry the news of the gospel into all the world until he returns. Having entrusted them with this great commission Jesus Christ ascended up into heaven before their eyes - promising this will be the place and the way He would also return. The disciples then spread out into cities and other nations to organize churches made up of believers in Jesus and those who would commit their lives to do His will. Many of them suffered persecutions from the secular polytheistic religions who tried to maintain power over the people through fear of death. Yet, those who live by faith in Jesus Christ are living in freedom from fear; spreading life through hope and truth through love - as the testimony of their new heart.
