Scripture

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach the new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.”

Observation

The disciples go to the mountain that Jesus had instructed them. He then gives them the commission to go and make disciples of all the nations, and to teach them His ways. He promises to be with them to the end of the age.

Application

Jesus has given us this commission to make disciples of all the nations. In the Old Covenant, the nations, that is the Gentiles, were excluded from God’s people. But now the disciples must specifically go to the Gentiles to make them disciples.

We must “go” That means stepping out of our comfortable worship spaces and into the wild places of our neighbourhood where the unbelievers live. This is not easy, but it is Christ’s command. Some will be called to far away places, but whether it is far or near we must go.

We must make disciples. That means more than a prepackaged gospel presentation. It means sharing the gospel and our life. It means that we must clearly represent who Jesus is, in words and actions.

We must baptise the new disciples into the Body of Christ. It is no good leading somebody to Christ and then abandoning them. We need to integrate new believers into a church so they can be nurtured.

Finally, we need to teach these disciples how to become disciple makers themselves/ We show them how to “Go” and find new followers for the Lord.

Prayer

Here I am, Lord, send me. Amen.

Scripture

Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone and sat on it.

Observation

On Sunday morning after the crucifixion the two Marys go to the tomb. There is an earthquake, and an angel rolls the stone away from the entrance to the tomb and sits on it.

The angel speaks to the women and declares the good news that Jesus has risen from the dead, as He said He would be. He tells them to go to the other disciples with the message that they are to go to Galilee where Jesus will meet them.

The guards go into the city to tell the priests what has happened. The priests and elders bribe the guards to tell their superiors that the disciples came and stole the body in the night after the guards had fallen asleep.

Application

An earthquake announced the death of Jesus and another earthquake announces that He is alive. This is earth shattering news!

The seal of men, together with the large rock were meant to keep people out and the body in. But neither is a match for God.

Jesus did not need to move the rock to escape the tomb. He walked through walls and locked doors.

The stone was moved for our benefit so that we would know with certainty that Jesus really is alive.

Sin is dead and death has been defeated. This is the amazing news of the gospel.

There is so much fear around at the moment. In the midst of the pandemic, death seems to be winning. But Jesus tells us that, for His followers, death no longer wins. We will die, but it will be a new start, an entry into eternal joy with our Father.

Prayer

Hallelujah! Lord you have won the victory. No fear will hold me captive because you have broken the chains of death. Amen.

Scripture

The Roman officer and other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God.”

Observation

At noon darkness falls over the land. At three Jesus cries out to God, “Why have you abandoned me?” Then Jesus shouts again and releases His spirit.

The veil in the Temple is torn in two, the earth shakes and dead people come out of their tombs and enter the city.

The Roman soldiers are shaken by all they have seen and declare, “This man truly was the Son of God.”

Joseph of Arimathea goes to Pilate and requests Jesus’ body, which he places in his own new tomb. The tomb is sealed and guards placed in front of it to ensure that there is no fake resurrection.

Application

The Roman soldiers, the people responsible for the death of Jesus, are the first to declare that He is the Son of God.

Jesus’ death was not an accident and it was not a tragedy. It was God’s plan all along from the beginning of creation.

God knew that we needed a saviour so He sent His one and only Son to come and die for the redemption of our sins.

Jesus’ death is the sacrifice that God decreed would be enough to save anyone who will receive it.

Prayer

Thank you Jesus for dying for me. Help me to live for you. Amen.

Scripture

“He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him. For he said, “I am the Son of God.”

Observation

Some of the governor’s soldiers take Jesus away. They beat Him and mock him, placing a crown of thorns on His head and a reed for a sceptre in His hand.

They then lead Jesus to the place called Golgotha where they crucify Him. The soldiers gamble for His clothes. A sign is fastened to the cross that says, “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.”

All manner of people come and mock Jesus. They call out, “He saved others; Let us see Him save Himself.”

Application

The mockery of the people is completely undiluted. They have all forgotten the miracles and the hundreds of people healed. Now they only have contempt for Jesus.

The irony of all this is that the mockery and taunts were fulfilled. God did come and rescue Jesus from death, although not the cross. Even these non- prayers were answered by God.

When people rare determined to reject the reign of God, they will reject every attempt of God to save them. This is a very sad reality.

When people seemingly reject us because of our faith, we should remember that they rejected the Saviour first.

Prayer

Father forgive me for the times I may have rejected you and your salvation. I thank you that you rejoice over every sinner who truly repents. Amen.

Scripture

All the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death- we and our children.”

Observation

Pilate sees a way out of having to condemn an innocent man. His annual custom is to release a prisoner to the crowd. This year, he offers the people a choice of Jesus the Messiah or a notorious criminal called Barabbas.

Pilate’s wife send a message to Pilate to leave this innocent man alone as she had a dream about him the previous night.

So Pilate asks the crowd who they want released. Again they call for Barabbas. Pilate then washes his hands of the blood of Jesus.

The people then say they will take responsibility for His death, and their children also.

Application

How terrible it is to claim responsibility for the death of the Messiah. The crowd essentially called down a curse on themselves and subsequent generations when they said, “We will take responsibility for the death of the Messiah, the Son of God.”

This call gave satan and the armies of Rome a spiritual authority to destroy the city of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A.D.

Everybody who refuses to receive the pardon of Jesus also suffers from this curse. Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. To reverse the curse of sin, we must come to Jesus and ask His forgiveness. Our sins nailed Jesus to the cross, and unless we receive forgiveness for our sins, we too are guilty of killing the Lord.

Prayer

Oh Jesus, what a terrible curse was released by those people on their own heads and the generations to come. Than you for lifting from me the effects of this curse and turning it into blessing. Amen.

Scripture

“I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”

Observation

The leading priests and elders meet early in the morning to plan Jesus’ death. They tie Him up and take Him to Pilate.

Judas regrets his decision to betray Jesus. He hadn’t realised that they intended to kill him. He tries to return the money and reverse the deal, but the priests will not have it. Judas throws the money down on the floor and then goes and hangs himself.

The priests decide that they cannot put the money back into the Temple treasury as it was payment for murder, so they decide to buy a field to be used as a cemetery.

Application

When Judas realised that he had participated in the death of Jesus, he was struck be remorse. He tried to stop the process, but having no further value to the authorities, he was powerless to change anything.

Judas recognised too late that he had sinned. The consequences of his sin continued relentlessly, as they often do. The only thing left for Judas to do was to kill himself.

If only he had turned to the Lord and asked for forgiveness. Even this sin would have been forgiven.

Instead, Judas allowed his feelings of guilt to be the final word.

God’s word of grace is always greater than our sin.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the awesome power of your grace. There is no sin that you will not forgive if only we will come to you in humility and repentance. Amen.

Scripture

Suddenly Jesus’ words flashed through his mind, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.

Observation

While Jesus is undergoing a travesty of a trial in the high priest’s house, Peter is sitting outside. Some servant girls identify Peter as a follower of Jesus. Peter denies knowing Him.

Later some other bystanders come over to Peter and say they can tell by his Galilean accent that he must be a disciple of Jesus. He again denies it. Then the rooster crows, and Peter remembers the words of Jesus that he would deny knowing Jesus three times.

Application

The prophecy of the Lord about Peter’s three- fold denial of Him brings a terrible burden of guilt to Peter. He weeps bitterly.

We may wonder if this prophecy was a help or a hindrance to Peter. Would he have been better off if Jesus had not warned him of his impending sin?

The Lord only does things that will bring about our greatest good. In warning Peter about this sin, Jesus was not just wanting to burden him with guilt. His intention was to prompt him to repent.

And repent he did! Peter fell for a moment, but he went on to follow Jesus faithfully for the rest of his life.

Judas was also warned about his sin, but he failed to repent, preferring to kill himself rather than facing the mercy of the Lord.

Prayer

Lord, when you convict me of my sin, either before or after the event, please give me grace to turn back to you. Amen.

Scripture

Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?”

Observation

Judas comes with a mob of men to arrest Jesus. They grab Him, but one of the disciples pulls out a sword and slashes off the ear of the High Priest’s slave.

Jesus says, “Those who use the sword will die by the sword.” He could call up thousands of angels to rescue Him, but then He would not die in order to fulfil the Scriptures.

Jesus is taken to Caiaphas the High Priest. They try to find a reason to have Jesus crucified, but even the false witnesses cannot agree on their lies.

They accuse Jesus of blasphemy and beat Him and spit on him.

Application

How awful it is that people should so seriously abuse the Son of God.

As I read this passage again just now, I am struck by the vile hatred in the hearts of these people. It is as if they are possessed by the devil, and this outpouring of hatred is satan working through them.

It is interesting (and sad) that they, the so-called Holy Men jeer at Jesus. They mock His ability to prophesy, but He knew beforehand who would slap Him.

They jeered at His role as the long- awaited Messiah, the Holy One of God who was to rescue God’s people. When the Messiah is before them, He wasn’t what they wanted or expected.

They mocked him, knowing that there really was something different about this man; something different about the miracles, the healings, the authority with which He taught.

So they spat in the face on the Son of God.

Prayer

Lord, I confess that there are times in my life when, in my sin and unbelief, I spit in your face. Please forgive me for my arrogance and anger towards you. Amen.