The Book Of Genesis Chapter 1. Contemporary English Version.
1. In The Beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.
2. The Earth was barren with no form of life;
it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness.
But the spirit of God was moving over the water.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
He Is Risen! The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Matthew 28 (Contemporary English Version)
Matthew 28
Jesus Is Alive
(Mark 16.1-8; Luke 24.1-12; John 20.1-10)
1The Sabbath was over, and it was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2Suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and the Lord's angel came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead.
5The angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. 6He isn't here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying. 7Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you."
8The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They went near him, held on to his feet, and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said, "Don't be afraid! Tell my followers to go to Galilee. They will see me there."
Report of the Guard
11While the women were on their way, some soldiers who had been guarding the tomb went into the city. They told the chief priests everything that had happened. 12So the chief priests met with the leaders and decided to bribe the soldiers with a lot of money. 13They said to the soldiers, "Tell everyone that Jesus' disciples came during the night and stole his body while you were asleep. 14If the governor [a] hears about this, we will talk to him. You won't have anything to worry about." 15The soldiers took the money and did what they were told. The Jewish people still tell each other this story.
What Jesus' Followers Must Do
(Mark 16.14-18; Luke 24.36-49; John 20.19-23; Acts 1.6-8)
16Jesus' eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus had told them to meet him. 17They saw him and worshiped him, but some of them doubted.
18Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! 19Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Holy Week (The Last Supper, Suffering and Death Of Jesus). Part 2.
The Gospel according to St. Matthew 27 (Contemporary English Version)
Matthew 27
Jesus Is Taken to Pilate
(Mark 15.1; Luke 23.1,2; John 18.28-32)
1Early the next morning all the chief priests and the nation's leaders met and decided that Jesus should be put to death. 2They tied him up and led him away to Pilate the governor.
The Death of Judas
(Acts 1.18,19)
3Judas had betrayed Jesus, but when he learned that Jesus had been sentenced to death, he was sorry for what he had done. He returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and leaders 4and said, "I have sinned by betraying a man who has never done anything wrong."
"So what? That's your problem," they replied. 5Judas threw the money into the temple and then went out and hanged himself.
6The chief priests picked up the money and said, "This money was paid to have a man killed. We can't put it in the temple treasury." 7Then they had a meeting and decided to buy a field that belonged to someone who made clay pots. They wanted to use it as a graveyard for foreigners. 8That's why people still call that place "Field of Blood." 9So the words of the prophet Jeremiah came true,
"They took the thirty silver coins, the price of a person among the people of Israel. 10They paid it for a potter's field, [a] as the Lord had commanded me."
Pilate Questions Jesus
(Mark 15.2-5; Luke 23.3-5; John 18.33-38)
11Jesus was brought before Pilate the governor, who asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
"Those are your words!" Jesus answered. 12And when the chief priests and leaders brought their charges against him, he did not say a thing.
13Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear what crimes they say you have done?" 14But Jesus did not say anything, and the governor was greatly amazed.
The Death Sentence
(Mark 15.6-15; Luke 23.13-26; John 18.39--19.16)
15During Passover the governor always freed a prisoner chosen by the people. 16At that time a well-known terrorist named Jesus Barabbas [b] was in jail. 17So when the crowd came together, Pilate asked them, "Which prisoner do you want me to set free? Do you want Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" 18Pilate knew that the leaders had brought Jesus to him because they were jealous. 19While Pilate was judging the case, his wife sent him a message. It said, "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man. I have had nightmares because of him."
20But the chief priests and the leaders convinced the crowds to ask for Barabbas to be set free and for Jesus to be killed. 21Pilate asked the crowd again, "Which of these two men do you want me to set free?"
"Barabbas!" they replied.
22Pilate asked them, "What am I to do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?"
They all yelled, "Nail him to a cross!"
23Pilate answered, "But what crime has he done?"
"Nail him to a cross!" they yelled even louder.
24Pilate saw that there was nothing he could do and that the people were starting to riot. So he took some water and washed his hands [c] in front of them and said, "I won't have anything to do with killing this man. You are the ones doing it!" 25Everyone answered, "We and our own families will take the blame for his death!"
26Pilate set Barabbas free. Then he ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus with a whip and nail him to a cross.
Soldiers Make Fun of Jesus
(Mark 15.16-21; John 19.2,3)
27The governor's soldiers led Jesus into the fortress [d] and brought together the rest of the troops. 28They stripped off Jesus' clothes and put a scarlet robe [e] on him. 29They made a crown out of thorn branches and placed it on his head, and they put a stick in his right hand. The soldiers knelt down and pretended to worship him. They made fun of him and shouted, "Hey, you king of the Jews!" 30Then they spit on him. They took the stick from him and beat him on the head with it.
Jesus Is Nailed to a Cross
(
Mark 15.22-32; Luke 23.27-43; John 19.17-27)
31When the soldiers had finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the robe. They put his own clothes back on him and led him off to be nailed to a cross. 32On the way they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and they forced him to carry Jesus' cross.
33They came to a place named Golgotha, which means "Place of a Skull." [f] 34There they gave Jesus some wine mixed with a drug to ease the pain. But when Jesus tasted what it was, he refused to drink it. 35The soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross and gambled to see who would get his clothes. 36Then they sat down to guard him. 37Above his head they put a sign that told why he was nailed there. It read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." 38The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left.
39People who passed by said terrible things about Jesus. They shook their heads and 40shouted, "So you're the one who claimed you could tear down the temple and build it again in three days! If you are God's Son, save yourself and come down from the cross!"
41The chief priests, the leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses also made fun of Jesus. They said, 42"He saved others, but he can't save himself. If he is the king of Israel, he should come down from the cross! Then we will believe him. 43He trusted God, so let God save him, if he wants to. He even said he was God's Son." 44The two criminals also said cruel things to Jesus.
The Death of Jesus
(Mark 15.33-41; Luke 23.44-49; John 19.28-30)
45At noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until three o'clock. 46Then about that time Jesus shouted, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" [g] which means, "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?" 47Some of the people standing there heard Jesus and said, "He's calling for Elijah." [h] 48One of them at once ran and grabbed a sponge. He soaked it in wine, then put it on a stick and held it up to Jesus. 49Others said, "Wait! Let's see if Elijah will come [i] and save him." 50Once again Jesus shouted, and then he died. 51At once the curtain in the temple [j] was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and rocks split apart. 52Graves opened, and many of God's people were raised to life. 53Then after Jesus had risen to life, they came out of their graves and went into the holy city, where they were seen by many people. 54The officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and saw everything else that happened. They were frightened and said, "This man really was God's Son!"
55Many women had come with Jesus from Galilee to be of help to him, and they were there, looking on at a distance. 56Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John [k] were some of these women.
Jesus Is Buried
(Mark 15.42-47; Luke 23.50-56; John 19.38-42)
57That evening a rich disciple named Joseph from the town of Arimathea 58went and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate gave orders for it to be given to Joseph, 59who took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. 60Then Joseph put the body in his own tomb that had been cut into solid rock [l] and had never been used. He rolled a big stone against the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61All this time Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb.
62On the next day, which was a Sabbath, the chief priests and the Pharisees went together to Pilate. 63They said, "Sir, we remember what that liar said while he was still alive. He claimed that in three days he would come back from death. 64So please order the tomb to be carefully guarded for three days. If you don't, his disciples may come and steal his body. They will tell the people that he has been raised to life, and this last lie will be worse than the first one." [m] 65Pilate said to them, "All right, take some of your soldiers and guard the tomb as well as you know how." 66So they sealed it tight and placed soldiers there to guard it.
Isaiah 53 (Amplified Bible)
Isaiah 53
1WHO HAS believed (trusted in, relied upon, and clung to) our message [of that which was revealed to us]? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been disclosed?(A)
2For [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He has no form or comeliness [royal, kingly pomp], that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.
3He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him.
4Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].(B)
5But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.
6All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all.(C)
7He was oppressed, [yet when] He was afflicted, He was submissive and opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth.
8By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who among them considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living [stricken to His death] for the transgression of my [Isaiah's] people, to whom the stroke was due?
9And they assigned Him a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.(D)
10Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief and made Him sick. When You and He make His life an offering for sin [and He has risen from the dead, in time to come], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall prolong His days, and the will and pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
11He shall see [the fruit] of the travail of His soul and be satisfied; by His knowledge of Himself [which He possesses and imparts to others] shall My [uncompromisingly] righteous One, My Servant, justify many and make many righteous (upright and in right standing with God), for He shall bear their iniquities and their guilt [with the consequences, says the Lord].
12Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great [kings and rulers], and He shall divide the spoil with the mighty, because He poured out His life unto death, and [He let Himself] be regarded as a criminal and be numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore [and took away] the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors (the rebellious).(E)
Matthew 27
Jesus Is Taken to Pilate
(Mark 15.1; Luke 23.1,2; John 18.28-32)
1Early the next morning all the chief priests and the nation's leaders met and decided that Jesus should be put to death. 2They tied him up and led him away to Pilate the governor.
The Death of Judas
(Acts 1.18,19)
3Judas had betrayed Jesus, but when he learned that Jesus had been sentenced to death, he was sorry for what he had done. He returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and leaders 4and said, "I have sinned by betraying a man who has never done anything wrong."
"So what? That's your problem," they replied. 5Judas threw the money into the temple and then went out and hanged himself.
6The chief priests picked up the money and said, "This money was paid to have a man killed. We can't put it in the temple treasury." 7Then they had a meeting and decided to buy a field that belonged to someone who made clay pots. They wanted to use it as a graveyard for foreigners. 8That's why people still call that place "Field of Blood." 9So the words of the prophet Jeremiah came true,
"They took the thirty silver coins, the price of a person among the people of Israel. 10They paid it for a potter's field, [a] as the Lord had commanded me."
Pilate Questions Jesus
(Mark 15.2-5; Luke 23.3-5; John 18.33-38)
11Jesus was brought before Pilate the governor, who asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
"Those are your words!" Jesus answered. 12And when the chief priests and leaders brought their charges against him, he did not say a thing.
13Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear what crimes they say you have done?" 14But Jesus did not say anything, and the governor was greatly amazed.
The Death Sentence
(Mark 15.6-15; Luke 23.13-26; John 18.39--19.16)
15During Passover the governor always freed a prisoner chosen by the people. 16At that time a well-known terrorist named Jesus Barabbas [b] was in jail. 17So when the crowd came together, Pilate asked them, "Which prisoner do you want me to set free? Do you want Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" 18Pilate knew that the leaders had brought Jesus to him because they were jealous. 19While Pilate was judging the case, his wife sent him a message. It said, "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man. I have had nightmares because of him."
20But the chief priests and the leaders convinced the crowds to ask for Barabbas to be set free and for Jesus to be killed. 21Pilate asked the crowd again, "Which of these two men do you want me to set free?"
"Barabbas!" they replied.
22Pilate asked them, "What am I to do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?"
They all yelled, "Nail him to a cross!"
23Pilate answered, "But what crime has he done?"
"Nail him to a cross!" they yelled even louder.
24Pilate saw that there was nothing he could do and that the people were starting to riot. So he took some water and washed his hands [c] in front of them and said, "I won't have anything to do with killing this man. You are the ones doing it!" 25Everyone answered, "We and our own families will take the blame for his death!"
26Pilate set Barabbas free. Then he ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus with a whip and nail him to a cross.
Soldiers Make Fun of Jesus
(Mark 15.16-21; John 19.2,3)
27The governor's soldiers led Jesus into the fortress [d] and brought together the rest of the troops. 28They stripped off Jesus' clothes and put a scarlet robe [e] on him. 29They made a crown out of thorn branches and placed it on his head, and they put a stick in his right hand. The soldiers knelt down and pretended to worship him. They made fun of him and shouted, "Hey, you king of the Jews!" 30Then they spit on him. They took the stick from him and beat him on the head with it.
Jesus Is Nailed to a Cross
(
Mark 15.22-32; Luke 23.27-43; John 19.17-27)
31When the soldiers had finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the robe. They put his own clothes back on him and led him off to be nailed to a cross. 32On the way they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and they forced him to carry Jesus' cross.
33They came to a place named Golgotha, which means "Place of a Skull." [f] 34There they gave Jesus some wine mixed with a drug to ease the pain. But when Jesus tasted what it was, he refused to drink it. 35The soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross and gambled to see who would get his clothes. 36Then they sat down to guard him. 37Above his head they put a sign that told why he was nailed there. It read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." 38The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left.
39People who passed by said terrible things about Jesus. They shook their heads and 40shouted, "So you're the one who claimed you could tear down the temple and build it again in three days! If you are God's Son, save yourself and come down from the cross!"
41The chief priests, the leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses also made fun of Jesus. They said, 42"He saved others, but he can't save himself. If he is the king of Israel, he should come down from the cross! Then we will believe him. 43He trusted God, so let God save him, if he wants to. He even said he was God's Son." 44The two criminals also said cruel things to Jesus.
The Death of Jesus
(Mark 15.33-41; Luke 23.44-49; John 19.28-30)
45At noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until three o'clock. 46Then about that time Jesus shouted, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" [g] which means, "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?" 47Some of the people standing there heard Jesus and said, "He's calling for Elijah." [h] 48One of them at once ran and grabbed a sponge. He soaked it in wine, then put it on a stick and held it up to Jesus. 49Others said, "Wait! Let's see if Elijah will come [i] and save him." 50Once again Jesus shouted, and then he died. 51At once the curtain in the temple [j] was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and rocks split apart. 52Graves opened, and many of God's people were raised to life. 53Then after Jesus had risen to life, they came out of their graves and went into the holy city, where they were seen by many people. 54The officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and saw everything else that happened. They were frightened and said, "This man really was God's Son!"
55Many women had come with Jesus from Galilee to be of help to him, and they were there, looking on at a distance. 56Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John [k] were some of these women.
Jesus Is Buried
(Mark 15.42-47; Luke 23.50-56; John 19.38-42)
57That evening a rich disciple named Joseph from the town of Arimathea 58went and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate gave orders for it to be given to Joseph, 59who took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. 60Then Joseph put the body in his own tomb that had been cut into solid rock [l] and had never been used. He rolled a big stone against the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61All this time Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb.
62On the next day, which was a Sabbath, the chief priests and the Pharisees went together to Pilate. 63They said, "Sir, we remember what that liar said while he was still alive. He claimed that in three days he would come back from death. 64So please order the tomb to be carefully guarded for three days. If you don't, his disciples may come and steal his body. They will tell the people that he has been raised to life, and this last lie will be worse than the first one." [m] 65Pilate said to them, "All right, take some of your soldiers and guard the tomb as well as you know how." 66So they sealed it tight and placed soldiers there to guard it.
Isaiah 53 (Amplified Bible)
Isaiah 53
1WHO HAS believed (trusted in, relied upon, and clung to) our message [of that which was revealed to us]? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been disclosed?(A)
2For [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He has no form or comeliness [royal, kingly pomp], that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.
3He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him.
4Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].(B)
5But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.
6All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all.(C)
7He was oppressed, [yet when] He was afflicted, He was submissive and opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth.
8By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who among them considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living [stricken to His death] for the transgression of my [Isaiah's] people, to whom the stroke was due?
9And they assigned Him a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.(D)
10Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief and made Him sick. When You and He make His life an offering for sin [and He has risen from the dead, in time to come], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall prolong His days, and the will and pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
11He shall see [the fruit] of the travail of His soul and be satisfied; by His knowledge of Himself [which He possesses and imparts to others] shall My [uncompromisingly] righteous One, My Servant, justify many and make many righteous (upright and in right standing with God), for He shall bear their iniquities and their guilt [with the consequences, says the Lord].
12Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great [kings and rulers], and He shall divide the spoil with the mighty, because He poured out His life unto death, and [He let Himself] be regarded as a criminal and be numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore [and took away] the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors (the rebellious).(E)
Monday, April 18, 2011
Holy Week (The Last Supper, Suffering and Death Of Jesus). Part 1.
The Gospel According to St. Matthew Chapter 26 Verses 17-75.
Jesus Eats the Passover Meal with His Disciples
(Mark 14.12-21; Luke 22.7-13; John 13.21-30)
17On the first day of the Festival of Thin Bread, Jesus' disciples came to him and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal?"
18Jesus told them to go to a certain man in the city and tell him, "Our teacher says, `My time has come! I want to eat the Passover meal with my disciples in your home.' " 19They did as Jesus told them and prepared the meal.
20-21When Jesus was eating with his twelve disciples that evening, he said, "One of you will surely hand me over to my enemies."
22The disciples were very sad, and each one said to Jesus, "Lord, you can't mean me!"
23He answered, "One of you men who has eaten with me from this dish will betray me. 24The Son of Man will die, as the Scriptures say. But it's going to be terrible for the one who betrays me! That man would be better off if he had never been born." 25Judas said, "Teacher, you surely don't mean me!" "That's what you say!" Jesus replied. But later, Judas did betray him.
The Lord's Supper
(Mark 14.22-26; Luke 22.14-23; 1 Corinthians 11.23-25)
26During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this and eat it. This is my body."
27Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He then gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this and drink it. 28This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their sins forgiven. 29From now on I am not going to drink any wine, until I drink new wine with you in my Father's kingdom." 30Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Peter's Promise
(Mark 14.27-31; Luke 22.31-34; John 13.36-38)
31Jesus said to his disciples, "During this very night, all of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say, `I will strike down the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.'
32But after I am raised to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you."
33Peter spoke up, "Even if all the others reject you, I never will!"
34Jesus replied, "I promise you that before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don't know me." 35But Peter said, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never say I don't know you." All the others said the same thing.
Jesus Prays
(Mark 14.32-42; Luke 22.39-46)
36Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
37Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John. [d] He was very sad and troubled, 38and he said to them, "I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me." 39Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. [e] But do what you want, and not what I want." 40He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, "Can't any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? 41Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak."
42Again Jesus went to pray and said, "My Father, if there is no other way, and I must suffer, I will still do what you want."
43Jesus came back and found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open. 44He left them and prayed the same prayer once more.
45Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, "Are you still sleeping and resting? [f] The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. 46Get up! Let's go. The one who will betray me is already here."
Jesus Is Arrested
(Mark 14.43-50; Luke 22.47-53; John 18.3-12)
47Jesus was still speaking, when Judas the betrayer came up. He was one of the twelve disciples, and a large mob armed with swords and clubs was with him. They had been sent by the chief priests and the nation's leaders. 48Judas had told them ahead of time, "Arrest the man I greet with a kiss." [g] 49Judas walked right up to Jesus and said, "Hello, teacher." Then Judas kissed him.
50Jesus replied, "My friend, why are you here?" [h] The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51One of Jesus' followers pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
52But Jesus told him, "Put your sword away. Anyone who lives by fighting will die by fighting. 53Don't you know that I could ask my Father, and right away he would send me more than twelve armies of angels? 54But then, how could the words of the Scriptures come true, which say that this must happen?"
55Jesus said to the mob, "Why do you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like a criminal? Day after day I sat and taught in the temple, and you didn't arrest me. 56But all this happened, so that what the prophets wrote would come true."
All of Jesus' disciples left him and ran away.
Jesus Is Questioned by the Council
(Mark 14.53-65; Luke 22.54,55,63-71; John 18.13,14,19-24)
57After Jesus had been arrested, he was led off to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. The nation's leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses were meeting there. 58But Peter followed along at a distance and came to the courtyard of the high priest's palace. He went in and sat down with the guards to see what was going to happen.
59The chief priests and the whole council wanted to put Jesus to death. So they tried to find some people who would tell lies about him in court. [i] 60But they could not find any, even though many did come and tell lies. At last, two men came forward 61and said, "This man claimed that he would tear down God's temple and build it again in three days." 62The high priest stood up and asked Jesus, "Why don't you say something in your own defense? Don't you hear the charges they are making against you?" 63But Jesus did not answer. So the high priest said, "With the living God looking on, you must tell the truth. Tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of God?" [j] 64"That is what you say!" Jesus answered. "But I tell all of you,
`Soon you will see the Son of Man
sitting at the right side [k] of God All-Powerful and coming on the clouds of heaven.' "
65The high priest then tore his robe and said, "This man claims to be God! We don't need any more witnesses! You have heard what he said. 66What do you think?"
They answered, "He is guilty and deserves to die!" 67Then they spit in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him 68and said, "You think you are the Messiah! So tell us who hit you!"
Peter Says He Doesn't Know Jesus
(Mark 14.66-72; Luke 22.56-62; John 18.15-18,25-27)
69While Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, a servant girl came up to him and said, "You were with Jesus from Galilee."
70But in front of everyone Peter said, "That isn't so! I don't know what you are talking about!"
71When Peter had gone out to the gate, another servant girl saw him and said to some people there, "This man was with Jesus from Nazareth."
72Again Peter denied it, and this time he swore, "I don't even know that man!"
73A little while later some people standing there walked over to Peter and said, "We know that you are one of them. We can tell it because you talk like someone from Galilee."
74Peter began to curse and swear, "I don't know that man!" Right then a rooster crowed, 75and Peter remembered that Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me." Then Peter went out and cried hard.
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Wisdom Of The Gospel Of Grace
The Single MOST important thing which separates Christianity from EVERY other religion is this:
The Gospel according to St. John Chapter 3 ;
16God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. 17God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! 18No one who has faith in God's Son will be condemned.
(Contemporary English Version.)
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Real Face Of Jesus Christ ( The Image On The Shroud Of Turin
The image on the Shroud Of Turin is The Cloth Which WAS the Burial Shroud of the Lord Jesus Christ and PROVES that Jesus went through HELL for ALL of US when He was crucified so that We can go to Heaven and live with Him when we DIE as long as we put our faith in Him and we recieve the gift of Salvation which he has provided by paying the debt of ALL of Our SIN.
My friend, eternity is a very, very long time.
If YOU Died TONIGHT, would you go to Heaven?
NOT SURE?
LET ME QUICKLY SHARE WHAT THE BIBLE READS:
1. ROMANS 3:23 – “We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
2. ROMANS 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.”
Romans: Chapter 10 verse 9-10-13
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shall be
Saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto Salvation. For whosoever shall call
upon the name of the Lord shall be Saved…….
Eternal Life and your ticket to Heaven is a prayer away,
PRAY THIS PRAYER OUT LOUD TO GOD:
“Heavenly Father, I know that I have broken
your laws and my sins have separated me
from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want
to turn away from my past sinful life
toward You. Please forgive me, and help
me avoid sinning again. I believe that
Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins,
was resurrected from the dead, is alive,
and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to
become the Lord of my life, to rule and
reign in my heart from this day forward.
Please send your Holy Spirit to help me
obey You, and to do Your will for the rest
of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
Did you say the prayer from YOUR heart? Then, congratulations YOUR name has been written in Heaven’s Book of Life and YOU are saved from an eternity in The Lake of Fire (Rev: 20:15)! If YOU died today, Heaven would be your new home!
If you have received Christ into your heart, I
welcome you to the Kingdom of God. All the
angels in Heaven rejoice whenever one soul is
saved. Now, your job as a Christian is to learn
about God, and obey Him. Read your Bible every
day, and you will be like a tree planted by a spring,
never thirsting. You will grow in knowledge and
wisdom, and your relationship and closeness with
your God will become the meaning of your life.
Please, find a good church, and get baptized in
the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy
Spirit immediately. Learn the teachings of Christ,
and follow Him everyday. Remember, loving God
and loving people is a Christian’s role in this dark
and hurting world. We are commanded to go into
all the world and preach the gospel to save souls.
Do not delay, save today!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
No Condemnation For Those Who Believe in Yeshua (Jesus).
Romans 8 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
Romans 8
God’s Spirit Makes Us His Children
1So those who are believers in Christ Jesus can no longer be condemned. 2The standards of the Spirit, who gives life through Christ Jesus, have set you free from the standards of sin and death. 3It is impossible to do what God’s standards demand because of the weakness our human nature has. But God sent his Son to have a human nature as sinners have and to pay for sin. That way God condemned sin in our corrupt nature. 4Therefore, we, who do not live by our corrupt nature but by our spiritual nature, are able to meet God’s standards.
The ONLY way to become Righteous is to put your faith in Yeshua (Jesus) because of the fact that everyone of us is guilty of breaking God's laws.
1. ROMANS 3:23 – “We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
2. ROMANS 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.”
Romans: Chapter 10 verse 9-10-13
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shall be
Saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto Salvation. For whosoever shall call
upon the name of the Lord shall be Saved…….
Eternal Life and your ticket to Heaven is a prayer away,
PRAY THIS PRAYER OUT LOUD TO GOD:
“Heavenly Father, I know that I have broken
your laws and my sins have separated me
from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want
to turn away from my past sinful life
toward You. Please forgive me, and help
me avoid sinning again. I believe that
Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins,
was resurrected from the dead, is alive,
and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to
become the Lord of my life, to rule and
reign in my heart from this day forward.
Please send your Holy Spirit to help me
obey You, and to do Your will for the rest
of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
Did you say the prayer from YOUR heart? Then, congratulations YOUR name has been written in Heaven’s Book of Life and YOU are saved from an eternity in The Lake of
Fire (Rev: 20:15)! If YOU died today, Heaven would be your new home!
If you have received Christ into your heart, I
welcome you to the Kingdom of God. All the
angels in Heaven rejoice whenever one soul is
saved. Now, your job as a Christian is to learn
about God, and obey Him. Read your Bible every
day, and you will be like a tree planted by a spring,
never thirsting. You will grow in knowledge and
wisdom, and your relationship and closeness with
your God will become the meaning of your life.
Please, find a good church, and get baptized in
the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy
Spirit immediately. Learn the teachings of Christ,
and follow Him everyday. Remember, loving God
and loving people is a Christian’s role in this dark
and hurting world. We are commanded to go into
all the world and preach the gospel to save souls.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)