One
of the most debilitating emotions the disciples must have experienced
at the death of Jesus was that of disbelief. It has been said that
Jesus was who He said He was or He was the greatest con artist of all
time. If Jesus was not the Messiah, how could He have been so cruel
to perpetuate such a hoax? His disciples had loved Him with all their
hearts. They had been loyal followers and it was unthinkable that He
would betray them in such a fashion. If Jesus was not the Messiah,
how could He have performed such miraculous feats as He did? By what
power, or authority, or slight of hand, or human trickery could He
have done such miracles. The disciples had seen Him stop funeral
processions and raise the dead. He appeared to heal the sick, open
blind eyes, heal the lame and all manner of diseases. They were with
Him when He fed the multitudes (5000 and 4000) with only a few loaves
and fishes. The disciples themselves collected the leftovers which
amounted to more than what they had at the beginning. How did He
accomplish that if He was not who He said He was? How could He have
performed such miraculous feats in such flawless fashion that they
(the disciples) could be so completely fooled?
And
if He was the Messiah, how could God have allowed Jesus to be taken
from them? Jesus, who was the foundation and head of the Church. It
was upon the understanding that He was the Son of God that this New
Movement was established. Matt. 16:13, “...he asked his disciples,
saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said,
Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others,
Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He saith unto them, But whom say
ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto
him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not
revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say
also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build
my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Jesus' promise was to build and establish His Church upon the
revelation that He was the Son of God. Why would God taunt them with
the promise of salvation and deliverance and then abandon them at the
11th hour? How could God really love them and allow such a thing to
happen? The disciples were looking at the circumstances. How could
they understand the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God and miss
the prophecy of His death, burial, and resurrection?
We
can apply the same principle to our relationship in Christ. How can
we receive the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior,
our Messiah and fail to embrace other promises relative to our walk
with Him? God has always been faithful! He is faithful now! He will
always be faithful!
Hebrews
9:28, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and
unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without
sin unto salvation.” Jesus Christ is everything we need as
believers in His gift of life through His sacrifice on the cross.
However, the culmination of our faith will be at His appearing to
catch away those who are ready and looking for His coming. The night
is upon us and no one will work. The time for work will be over.
Nothing can distract us from the mission Christ has given us.
Complete TRUST in the leading of the Holy Spirit is essential to our
victory and the salvation for all who will hear this message! The Day
Is Far Spent! Our Departure Is At Hand!
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