Christ Or Barabbas. Part [3] 03/01/2024 (Evening thought)

Luke 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luke 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? 23 And he said unto them, You will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

Luke 4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

Obviously, Christ’s first sermon didn’t go well at all, and from that time forth the leaders of the chosen people would seek to destroy Jesus, until it reached a tipping point at His mock trial. At that time Jesus was accused of all sorts of unsubstantiated crimes, but none of them stuck.

Luke 4:28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

Christ Or Barabbas. Part [2] 02/29/2024 (Morning thought)

Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Sadly, located in that prophecy was the intimation that Jesus would die an unnatural death, which was to bring the daily sacrifices to a permanent end, as it pertained to the earthly sanctuary services. All of the sacrifices executed in the temple, from day to day, and from year to year, pointed squarely to the Messiah.

Therefore, in harmony with the precise fulfillment of the prophecy, the final command to build again the wall was issued by king Artaxerxes in 457 B.C, which was actually issued in three stages, beginning with Cyrus, and thus, brought the chosen people of God down to that prophetic week, referenced in our first passage beginning in A.D. 27 and ending in A.D. 34.

As Jesus began His ministry, there was an immediate animosity manifested towards Him, for as He gave His first sermon, He was met with an apprehension that you would not expect from the chosen people who were supposed to be expecting Him in eager anticipation.

 Luke 4: 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!