4/17/2019
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So Pilate, wishing to satisfy
the crowd, set Barabbas free for them; and after having Jesus scourged {Being scourged
means being whipped with a short whip of metal-tipped
leather thongs. There was no limit to the number of lashings. Frequently, the
body was so lacerated that the intestines gushed out. It was not uncommon for a
prisoner to die from scourging.}, he handed Him over [to his soldiers] to be crucified. Mark 15:15
In ALL FOUR GOSPELS it is recorded that a
policy existed by which a prisoner was released during Passover {Matthew 27:15; Mark 15:16; Luke 23:7; John 18:39}. It is made clear in these scriptures
that neither Herod nor Pontius Pilate wanted to hand down a sentence on Jesus
Christ, because neither of them could find any fault in Him. We also learn in
these proceedings that the “RELIGIOUS LEADERS” were encouraging the crowd of people
to choose Barabbas instead of Jesus Christ {Matthew 27:20; Mark 15:11}. From scripture we learn the crowd was
unified in their decision to release Barabbas, a criminal {Matthew 27:22, 23; Mark 15:13; Luke 23:21; John 19:15} and to REJECT JESUS CHRIST {The KING of
the JEWS}.
Though Barabbas does not
speak in the Bible, all four gospels name him {Matthew
27:16, 17, 20, 21, 26; Mark
15:7, 11, 15; Luke
23:18; John
18:40}. While the descriptions of
him vary, the gospels agree that Barabbas deserves to be on trial.
Barabbas is known as:
- Notorious Prisoner {Matthew 27:16}
- Committed Murder in the Insurrection {Mark 15:7}
- Robber {John 18:40}
- Murderer {Acts 3:14}
Despite the FACTS, the peoples heart’s had
grown so cold from their sin, they chose a man of sin {Satan} over the Holy and
Righteous One {Jesus Christ}. The people were so blinded from the TRUTH of
JESUS CHRIST that day; they actually gave honor to the god of this world {Satan
– 2 Corinthians 4:3-4}. The
crowd was stirred into frenzy, willing to believe the worst about the best
regardless of the facts. Passion overrides judgment.
There is a
tragic irony in their shocking selection. Jesus Christ is targeted because of His
popularity and growing influence yet the crowds who are responsible for His
influence are also behind His execution. You see mankind is more inclined to
vote for the one who is more like themselves instead of the ONE who can RESCUE
their SOULS from HELL. Just as Satan had individuals posing as “Holy Men” on
that horrible day, Satan has individuals posing as “Holy Men and Women” today
still leading easily influenced human beings to hell where they will spend an
eternity with him.
The crowd’s choice is indicative of a greater ideology.
Barabbas represents the world’s way of doing things while Jesus presents a
radical Heavenly alternative.
R.
Kent Hughes writes:
The
crowd preferred Jesus Bar-Abbas to Jesus Bar-Joseph, the real son of the
Father! Why? Because Barabbas was a
grotesque form of the Messiah Israel wanted! He was a leading Zealot, a
political activist who had taken to the bandit trail. He was a man of action
who would even murder to reach his own ends {cf. Acts
3:14; Matthew
27:16; Luke
23:19; John
18:40}. In the twisted thinking of
some, he was a patriot. His vitality and elan {energy} appealed to the mob.
Jesus, however, had disappointed them with his inaction. The people chose
lawlessness instead of righteousness, violence instead of love, war instead of
peace. The world is
still the same. (Hughes, Mark:
Jesus, Servant and Savior, Volume Two (Preaching the Word), 193)
David
E. Garland (b. 1947) writes:
The choice of
Barabbas represents the human preference for the one who represents our narrow
personal hopes—in this particular case, a perverted
nationalism. He appeals to our basic
instinct to protect our interests, with violence if necessary. In contemporary
culture, we have been indoctrinated to prefer the violent answer over the
peaceful one...Our heroes become the Barabbas’ of the world, who take matters
into their own hands and dispatch the enemy with brute force or clever
trickery. If the vote came today, then, Barabbas would likely win again, hands
down. (Garland, Mark (The NIV Application
Commentary), 583)
When you look at the state of AMERICA today you will find
that the people have been blinded by Satan once more by choosing Trump as their
leader because he represents the narrow personal hopes – a PERVERTED
NATIONALISM. Trump invokes violence every day of the week. He is relentless in
promoting an atmosphere of HATE and VIOLENCE in AMERICA instead of the PEACE
that comes through JESUS CHRIST. Trump is Satan’s man of the hour and we find
the “FAKE” Holy men and women singing his praises while pushing for America to
re-elect him for another 4 years. AMERICA’S people have chosen the FALSE CHRIST
once more over the Holy One of Israel; the REAL JESUS CHRIST who sits at the
RIGHT HAND side of the Father in Heaven making His final plans to TAKE BACK
this world from Satan {the current god of this world}.
We know [for a
fact] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] lies in the power of
the evil one [opposing God and His precepts]. 1 John 5:19
We have heard President Trump proclaim at The Family
Leadership Summit that he does not believe he needs to ask God for forgiveness.
Listen up folks, if The Family Leadership Summit, which is annual get-together
of thousands of Americans with a heart for God and a heart for America, has
chosen to support a man of this world who thinks he does not need forgiveness
while claiming to be a “Christian” then you know from their actions that they
have become a “WORLDLY INSTITUTION” not a GODLY one.
Trump claiming to be something he IS NOT - a Christian
According to the Word of God you are NOT a CHRISTIAN if you have NOT asked for FORGIVENESS for your sins. ALL have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of GOD Romans 3:23.
Acts
3:19 So
repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and
return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped
away [blotted out, completely erased]
1 John 1:9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful
and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and
cleanse us continually from all
unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and
purpose].
This is the
message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now
announce to you, that God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful, He is
perfect in righteousness], and in Him there is no darkness at all [no sin, no
wickedness, no imperfection]. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and
yet walk in the darkness [of sin], we lie and do not practice the truth; but if
we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity
with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true,
unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the
blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin,
keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]. If we say we
have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and
the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.] If we [freely]
admit that we have sinned and
confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and
promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything
not in conformity with His will and purpose]. If we say that we
have not sinned [refusing to admit acts of sin], we make Him [out to be] a liar
[by contradicting Him] and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10
It never ceases
to amaze how many people praise and worship the man of sin {controlled by
Satan’s demonic forces}; while daily REJECTING the ONE who can save their SOUL
– JESUS CHRIST…
If you were to
compare the leaders from the top to the bottom in our “American Government” to
the statement about GOD and the cleansing of sin by Jesus Christ you would find that
they absolutely fall short of what is required to be a TRUE FOLLOWER of Jesus
Christ. As a matter of FACT if you were to compare the MASSIVE RELIGIOUS
ORGANIZATIONS to the same you would find they do NOT qualify as TRUE MINISTRIES
for GOD.
Remember, Satan
has put into place millions of demons posing as “Ministers of the Gospel”
convincing people they are authentic by performing signs and wonders.
For such men
are counterfeit apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of
Christ. And no wonder, since Satan himself
masquerades as an angel of light. So it is no
great surprise if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness,
but their end will correspond with their deeds. 2
Corinthians 11:13-15
Jesus Christ is
[eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not
be carried away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart
to be established and
strengthened by grace and not by foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals],
which bring no benefit or
spiritual growth to those who observe them. Hebrews 13:8-9
Do
not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to
bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief] Matthew 10:34
While Satan is busy
trying to “UNITE” all the Religions of the world under ONE UNIFIED CHURCH;
Jesus has His TRUE followers busy bringing in the lost souls including the lost
souls from the “man-made” church which represents a building and NOT the TRUE
CHURCH {the Body of Christ}.
As you continue on this
journey called life; I pray you will choose the REAL JESUS over the FAKE JESUS {Satan}.
I pray the Holy Spirit will open your heart, your ears and your eyes to the
sinful nature of Satan that has been creeping into the “Church” body for years.
When you see it may you call it out and remove it from the congregation so they
may see the glory of God manifest in their presence.
Forever in Jesus
Christ Service,
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