U. What else did Isaiah say?
B. He even described how he would die. Isaiah 53:5.
U. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
I see that being pierced could refer to being crucified, but what does being crushed for our iniquities have to do with it?
B. That’s the whole reason for his death. By his death, Jesus provided a way that our sins could be forgiven. In effect, he ransomed us so we could be the people Isaiah spoke of in chapter 62:12.
U. They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD.
Redeemed from what?
B. From our past mistakes, our not obeying everything God has said for us to do. None of us is perfect, we all make mistakes so we all sin. By being redeemed, we are at peace with God. Read what Paul wrote in Galatians 3:14.
U. He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
He’s referring to the second promise to Abraham. So it came true through Jesus?
B. That’s right. Peter explained this redemption in this way. Read 1 Peter 1:18-21.
U. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
So life before Christ is empty? This calls him a lamb. Why would Peter do that?
B. When the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, God freed them out by performing miracles. On their last night there, they were told to kill a lamb, not break any of its bones, cook it and eat it. They were also told to put its blood on their doorposts, so the angel of the Lord would not visit their houses, only the Egyptians. Every year, the Hebrews remembered that night which they called the Passover. Jesus was killed on the night they were to kill their lambs for Passover, so he became the redemption for the new Israel, the Holy People Isaiah spoke of. And he died on the anniversary of the day they first killed the Passover lamb. The reason none of his bones were broken in the crucifixion was so he could be the perfect Passover lamb.
U. What do you mean, none of his bones were broken? Crucifixion was a cruel death, surely they broke some bones.
B. The point of crucifying a person was to make him suffer, so they were careful not to break bones which would hasten death. John tells us why they broke the legs of the other two men crucified that day. Read John 19:31-37.
U. Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."
John referenced these prophecies you mentioned. Why did Jesus die so much sooner than the other men? They had to have their legs broken.
B. Jesus said he would lay down his life and no one could take it. Read Jesus’ words in John 10:14-18.
U. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
B. Just before Jesus died, he said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. It was finished because Jesus had fulfilled his mission. He gave up his life and died. He came to redeem us, and he did.
U. So, you’re saying neither the Jews nor the Romans killed Jesus. He wouldn’t have died if it hadn’t been the plan.
B. Jesus himself said he could ask his Father to send him a whole army of angels to defend him. That would have been more than enough to defeat the whole Roman army.
U. Why didn’t he?
B. Because he came to die for us. John 3:16 tells us this.
U. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
So are you telling me that I’m condemned if I don’t believe?
B. Those aren’t my words, they are Jesus’ words. I believe them, I hope you do too.
U. Just what am I supposed to be condemned to?
B. The point is that no one needs to be condemned. That’s not why Jesus came to earth. Read John 12:47-50.
U. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."
So Jesus’ words condemn me?
B. Read it again. God’s command leads to eternal life, not condemnation. Rejecting those words is what condemns a person.
U. Condemns me to what?
B. No one is condemned to something good. Jesus was definite that condemnation awaits those people who reject him. The punishment is eternal. Not anything I want to experience. Jesus said this in John 5:24-30.
U. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."
OK, I get it. If I reject Jesus and don’t accept his words, I will be condemned but to what?
B. Jesus told about two men in Luke 16:19-31. One was a beggar named Lazarus and the other was a rich man who had the opportunity to care for Lazarus but who apparently did not. Want to read it?
U. Not really.
B. Go ahead, it’s instructive.
U. OK. "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
Yuck. Didn’t anyone feed him?
"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, `Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
"But Abraham replied, `Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
"He answered, `Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
Are you saying I would be condemned to this place?
B. I’m not your judge, but this is what Jesus discussed.
U. But if I believe, what will happen to my parents and grandparents? My parents don’t believe and my grandparents are dead.
B. Did the rich man want his brothers to join him?
U. No, he wanted Lazarus to warn them. Are you suggesting my grandparents are in this hell?
B. No, because I’m not the judge and don’t know who is there. God is the judge and he is fair. My job is just to tell you what the Bible says, not to justify or condemn you. The only actions you can do that will impact anyone else’s punishment or reward are to believe and teach them about Jesus.
U. Let’s change the subject. Is there any prophecy which says when the Jews should have been looking for Jesus, or did God just plan to surprise them?
B. Actually there are, and when Jesus came, secular history says the Jews were anxiously looking for their savior. I’m not sure they correctly interpreted the clues, because you know how difficult it is to determine what the clue really says. In hindsight we can see it. We can discuss that next time. But don’t forget about the judgment because it is coming and everyone will be judged. It’s your future, don’t neglect it.
U. Here’s what we discussed today.
· God had a plan but it was kept a mystery until the time was right, then Jesus came.
· Prophecy said where Jesus would be born.
· He would be born of a virgin as Eve was told and Isaiah prophesied.
· His mother was a virgin and his step father honored that condition until after Jesus was born.
· His family would be descendants of Abraham and Jesse, and King David.
· He would live in Galilee.
· Someone was to precede him and John the Baptist did.
· He spoke in parables as prophesied.
· Isaiah said he would come with vengeance and be non-violent
· Jesus came to die because of the plan.
· There were many prophecies about his death, we only mentioned a few.
· He redeemed us.
· He finished his mission and laid down his life for us.
· Those who reject Jesus’ words are condemned.
All of these blogs are on http://thinkersdiscuss.weebly.com/blog
B. He even described how he would die. Isaiah 53:5.
U. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
I see that being pierced could refer to being crucified, but what does being crushed for our iniquities have to do with it?
B. That’s the whole reason for his death. By his death, Jesus provided a way that our sins could be forgiven. In effect, he ransomed us so we could be the people Isaiah spoke of in chapter 62:12.
U. They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD.
Redeemed from what?
B. From our past mistakes, our not obeying everything God has said for us to do. None of us is perfect, we all make mistakes so we all sin. By being redeemed, we are at peace with God. Read what Paul wrote in Galatians 3:14.
U. He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
He’s referring to the second promise to Abraham. So it came true through Jesus?
B. That’s right. Peter explained this redemption in this way. Read 1 Peter 1:18-21.
U. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
So life before Christ is empty? This calls him a lamb. Why would Peter do that?
B. When the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, God freed them out by performing miracles. On their last night there, they were told to kill a lamb, not break any of its bones, cook it and eat it. They were also told to put its blood on their doorposts, so the angel of the Lord would not visit their houses, only the Egyptians. Every year, the Hebrews remembered that night which they called the Passover. Jesus was killed on the night they were to kill their lambs for Passover, so he became the redemption for the new Israel, the Holy People Isaiah spoke of. And he died on the anniversary of the day they first killed the Passover lamb. The reason none of his bones were broken in the crucifixion was so he could be the perfect Passover lamb.
U. What do you mean, none of his bones were broken? Crucifixion was a cruel death, surely they broke some bones.
B. The point of crucifying a person was to make him suffer, so they were careful not to break bones which would hasten death. John tells us why they broke the legs of the other two men crucified that day. Read John 19:31-37.
U. Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."
John referenced these prophecies you mentioned. Why did Jesus die so much sooner than the other men? They had to have their legs broken.
B. Jesus said he would lay down his life and no one could take it. Read Jesus’ words in John 10:14-18.
U. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
B. Just before Jesus died, he said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. It was finished because Jesus had fulfilled his mission. He gave up his life and died. He came to redeem us, and he did.
U. So, you’re saying neither the Jews nor the Romans killed Jesus. He wouldn’t have died if it hadn’t been the plan.
B. Jesus himself said he could ask his Father to send him a whole army of angels to defend him. That would have been more than enough to defeat the whole Roman army.
U. Why didn’t he?
B. Because he came to die for us. John 3:16 tells us this.
U. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
So are you telling me that I’m condemned if I don’t believe?
B. Those aren’t my words, they are Jesus’ words. I believe them, I hope you do too.
U. Just what am I supposed to be condemned to?
B. The point is that no one needs to be condemned. That’s not why Jesus came to earth. Read John 12:47-50.
U. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."
So Jesus’ words condemn me?
B. Read it again. God’s command leads to eternal life, not condemnation. Rejecting those words is what condemns a person.
U. Condemns me to what?
B. No one is condemned to something good. Jesus was definite that condemnation awaits those people who reject him. The punishment is eternal. Not anything I want to experience. Jesus said this in John 5:24-30.
U. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."
OK, I get it. If I reject Jesus and don’t accept his words, I will be condemned but to what?
B. Jesus told about two men in Luke 16:19-31. One was a beggar named Lazarus and the other was a rich man who had the opportunity to care for Lazarus but who apparently did not. Want to read it?
U. Not really.
B. Go ahead, it’s instructive.
U. OK. "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
Yuck. Didn’t anyone feed him?
"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, `Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
"But Abraham replied, `Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
"He answered, `Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
Are you saying I would be condemned to this place?
B. I’m not your judge, but this is what Jesus discussed.
U. But if I believe, what will happen to my parents and grandparents? My parents don’t believe and my grandparents are dead.
B. Did the rich man want his brothers to join him?
U. No, he wanted Lazarus to warn them. Are you suggesting my grandparents are in this hell?
B. No, because I’m not the judge and don’t know who is there. God is the judge and he is fair. My job is just to tell you what the Bible says, not to justify or condemn you. The only actions you can do that will impact anyone else’s punishment or reward are to believe and teach them about Jesus.
U. Let’s change the subject. Is there any prophecy which says when the Jews should have been looking for Jesus, or did God just plan to surprise them?
B. Actually there are, and when Jesus came, secular history says the Jews were anxiously looking for their savior. I’m not sure they correctly interpreted the clues, because you know how difficult it is to determine what the clue really says. In hindsight we can see it. We can discuss that next time. But don’t forget about the judgment because it is coming and everyone will be judged. It’s your future, don’t neglect it.
U. Here’s what we discussed today.
· God had a plan but it was kept a mystery until the time was right, then Jesus came.
· Prophecy said where Jesus would be born.
· He would be born of a virgin as Eve was told and Isaiah prophesied.
· His mother was a virgin and his step father honored that condition until after Jesus was born.
· His family would be descendants of Abraham and Jesse, and King David.
· He would live in Galilee.
· Someone was to precede him and John the Baptist did.
· He spoke in parables as prophesied.
· Isaiah said he would come with vengeance and be non-violent
· Jesus came to die because of the plan.
· There were many prophecies about his death, we only mentioned a few.
· He redeemed us.
· He finished his mission and laid down his life for us.
· Those who reject Jesus’ words are condemned.
All of these blogs are on http://thinkersdiscuss.weebly.com/blog