The  Messiah’s Secret – Numbered with the Transgressors

Coming from within the Bible: clock, Garden of Gethsemane, sword, the cross.

Luke 22: 35 – 62.

Faith in Jesus

When we send an email we rely on the connection between our computer and the server Yahoo, BT internet, Gmail, hotmail etc. The server connects us to the persons email address server and they connect the email to their computer.

Faith works by our connection to Jesus in prayer to throne of God’s grace where prayers are answered.

What the computer cannot do is prophecy events that relate to the future, whereas God has planned appointments (prophesies) for people written down in his book the Bible.

Prophecy fulfilled  

“Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.” 
Isaiah 53: 12.

Jesus quoted from this verse, “And he was reckoned with transgressors;” he went on to say, “For what is written about me has its fulfilment.” Jesus identified himself as being numbered with the sinners and the fulfilment of God’s plan of salvation..

The Clock

Shortly before entering the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said to his disciples, “When I sent you out with no purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one. For I tell you this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was reckoned with transgressors; for what is written about me has its fulfilment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”  or “It is sufficient.” 

The clock was ticking a change of attitude coming from the people, instead of welcoming Jesus and his disciples, the opposite: disbelief and aggression coming against them. The hour of darkness approaching and Peter being sifted like wheat.                                 

The Garden of Gethsemane (pop up - the white is a fountain)

Luke continued connecting these words with what followed in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pray, that you may not enter into temptation.” Peter and the others fell asleep we don’t know if they realised what Jesus was saying. Jesus prayed to resist the temptation of not going to the cross. “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”  

The sound of voices coming into the Garden of Gethsemane changed the atmosphere as Judas came up to Jesus and kissed him. 

Jesus said to him, “Would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?”                                                                    

Judas greeted Jesus with a superficial kiss, the hour had begun.  “But this is your hour and the powers of darkness.” Verse 53

The Sword

The rest of the disciples would now have been aware that there was something going on and sensed the danger. Why would Jesus say these words to Judas? The tension grew as the aggression in the voices of the crowd stirred Peter who was carrying a sword, with it he struck the high priest’s slave Malchus cutting off his right ear.  When Jesus saw what Peter had done, he stepped in between them saying “No more of this!” Jesus touched Malchus’ ear and healed him.                       

Jesus filled with remorse for what Peter had done stepped in to heal the wounded Malchus.

The disciple Peter acted in response to the aggression coming from the crowd, but he was wrong in doing what he did. Jesus felt responsible by association for his actions, even though Jesus had done nothing wrong he had not incited Peter to use his sword. When Jesus healed Malchus’ ear, he was full of remorse, sorry for Peter’s actions.

Peters Remorse

After Jesus was arrested, Peter followed them to the high priest’s courtyard, there he stood by the fire, someone asked him did he know Jesus? He said he didn’t know him and left. Outside the courtyard remorse filled his heart. Was it for both his words and actions that he felt remorse as he wept bitterly? Matthew 26: 75. John 18: 26, 27

The Cross

When a person feels a deep sense of remorse for sin against God Jesus steps in between God and the person, bringing healing. Jesus bore sin and the causes of sin on the cross where in his innocence he took the punishment for sin resulting in his death. God raised Jesus from the dead and in his resurrection he has justly disarmed principalities and powers, and restored our broken relationship with God.

The Messiah’s Secret Revealed.

Jesus’ resurrection changed the disciples situation the hour of darkness was past.

In the house at Jerusalem, Jesus breathed on his disciples the Holy Spirit. He opened their minds to understand the scriptures that spoke of his suffering and resurrection.

At Pentecost Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said, “Let all the household of Israel know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ. Jesus, who you crucified.” Acts 2: 36.

God made Jesus the Saviour of the world, after his death, resurrection and ascension. Jesus was born a King and Messiah, to become the Saviour he had to die and be resurrected from the dead. The Centurion speared Jesus’ heart blood and water was reported issuing from his heart.

Continuing verse 37, “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”  

Fifty days later those responding to his words about Jesus were full of remorse, most of them would not have been there at the trial of Jesus shouting for him to be crucified. But by association they responded to Peter in verse 38 “Repent, and be baptised everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” 3,000 people that day came to faith in Christ.

Today the feeling of remorse by association for the actions of others.                       

Maybe we can identify with Peter or with Jesus when we have fallen into temptation and caused other Christians to feel the pain of remorse or we have cared enough like Jesus to stand in the gap and feel remorse to bring forgiveness and healing.. Whatever our situation we are able in prayer to lift the broken hearted, the burden of it, and the remorse on to the cross.

Jesus understands through what he suffered, all our circumstances that we face, having gone through them himself. By his love he goes through our situations with us and through grace in suffering blesses us his children.