AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Thursday – December 24, 2020, Tevet 16, 5781
THE PAYMENT IS MADE
Greetings dear and precious friends and partners and welcome to this ongoing Bible Study of the Book of John. It is Christmas Eve, such a wonderful time of year, what a special time of commemoration. God is so good to us. Please take a moment and share these teachings as widely as possible to expand the reach of the Truth. Thanksgiving and Christmas are quite different this year in the era of COVID-19 for the prudent person. For the imprudent person there may not be a 2021. Follow the guidelines imposed for our own good, safety, develop a cheerful and thankful attitude forsaking rebellion and defiance (both of the devils). Determine that you will, as Donna and I have, have a joyous and special Holiday season.
I find it quite amazing that the text we are dealing with in this Christmas season is the Crucifixion of our Savior. The sacrificial Lamb of God, not that God needed a sacrifice for any sin He committed but we, mankind, desperately needed forgiveness and restoration (for all who will choose) to the family of God. Why someone would choose darkness is beyond me today however there was a time when I too choose darkness. You might be thinking this is not Resurrection Sunday week but Christmas. Jesus did not come to be a cute little tike in a manger (although no doubt He was) but THE sacrificial Lamb. Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text and read it aloud, yes, out loud.
John 19:25-30 (KJV)
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
We have now entered the last few moments of Jesus’ life in the earth as a man, a natural life like yours and mine. It is now approximately three in the afternoon. It is Passover Eve, the first day of Passover starts in about three hours. Now, let’s take a look to Jesus’ final three hours from the other gospels.
Matthew 27:45-50 (ESV)
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink.
49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
In verse forty-six and forty-seven we see Jesus separated from the Father for the first time in all of eternity past. It is hard to imagine the loneliness He must have experienced. Never ever forget, all of this was done for you, done for me. We see a total eclipse on the earth for three hours. Normal, natural eclipses, only last for minutes in one location so we know this was supernatural for it was three hours. The sixth hour is noon and the ninth hour is three in the afternoon. Jesus has been made sin in our stead and the wages of sin is death, spiritual death (just like Adam and Eve in the Garden) and He was thus separated from His Father. Now, let’s look at the gospel according to Mark.
Mark 15:33-34 (ESV)
33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Does Jesus know the answer to this question? Finally, let’s see how Dr. Luke records this same event in his gospel.
Luke 23:44-46 (ESV)
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,
45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
Please notice that all four gospel writers record that Jesus gave up the ghost at the time His spirit man separated from the body.
Mark 15:37 (KJV)
37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
Jesus had recorded earlier that no man could take His life He surrendered it and would take it up again. And so, it is with us. Thank you, Jesus, for taking my sin, my punishment, giving me eternal life and full citizenship in the Kingdom of God as a son.
Have a wonderful Christmas, enjoy the food and family, but do not neglect the reason that this day is even on the Calendar, Christ the Lord, the Messiah.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here next week. Next stop New Year’s Eve and Day.
2 Chronicles 20:20b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name! Quit asking God to bless you, you are already blessed, you have the Blessing, give Him something to do by the words of your mouth. Once you know the will of God, decree the thing (Job 22:28, Isaiah 45:11, Mark 11:23). (The Blessing is the Holy Spirit) We have left God way to long with nothing to do in our lives.
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
PRAYERS AND QUESTIONS – please, anytime you have an issue that you want me, this ministry to pray for you, a person you love or a situation contact me. Accordingly, if you should have a question about the Bible, please do not hesitate to ask it.
PARTNERSHIP AND GIVING – Those of you who are not Partners of this Ministry and you find this ministry to be of value to you and perhaps others with whom you share it, we ask you to consider becoming Partners. A Partner is one who prays for the Ministry on a regular basis and contributes to the Ministry on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, annually). Thank you and may the Lord be pleased with your decision.
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
BLOG: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/awakearisetriumphministries
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PastorDavidWood
MAILING ADDRESS: 10 Village Green Circle, Oakland, Maine 04963
MY BOOKS: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org/shop/
