CHAPTER 9 (The
Great Controversy)
The Crucifixion of
Christ
The Son of God was delivered to the people to be
crucified. They led the dear Saviour
away. He was weak and feeble through
pain and suffering, caused by the scourging and blows which he had received,
yet they laid on him the heavy cross upon which they were soon to nail
him. But Jesus fainted beneath the
burden. Three times they laid on him the
heavy cross, and three times he fainted.
They then seized one of his followers, a man who had not openly
professed faith in Christ, yet believed on him.
They laid on him the cross, and he bore it to the fatal spot. Companies of angels were marshaled in the air
above the place. A number of his
disciples followed him to Calvary in sorrow, and with bitter weeping. They called to mind Jesus’ riding
triumphantly into Jerusalem, and they following him, crying, Hosanna in the
highest! and strewing their garments in the way, and the beautiful palm
branches. They thought that he was then
to take the kingdom and reign a temporal prince over Israel. How changed the scene! How blighted their prospects! They followed Jesus; not with rejoicing; not
with bounding hearts and cheerful hopes; but with hearts stricken with fear and
despair they slowly, sadly followed him who had been disgraced and humbled, and
who was about to die.
The mother of Jesus was there. Her heart was pierced with anguish, such as
none but a fond mother can feel. Her
stricken heart still hoped, with the disciples, that her Son would work some
mighty miracle, and deliver himself from his murderers. She could not endure the thought that he
would suffer himself to be crucified.
But the preparations were made, and they laid Jesus upon the cross. The hammer and the nails were brought. The heart of his disciples fainted within
them. The mother of Jesus was agonized,
almost beyond endurance, and as they stretched Jesus upon the cross, and were
about to fasten his hands with the cruel nails to the wooden arms, the
disciples bore the mother of Jesus from the scene, that she might not hear the
crashing of the nails, as they were driven through the bone and muscle of his
tender hands and feet. Jesus murmured
not; but groaned in agony. His face was
pale, and large drops of sweat stood upon his brow. Satan exulted in the sufferings which the Son
of God was passing through, yet feared that his kingdom was lost, and that he
must die.
They raised the cross after they had nailed Jesus
to it, and with great force thrust it into the place prepared for it in the
ground, tearing the flesh, and causing the most intense suffering. They made his death as shameful as
possible. With him they crucified two
thieves, one on either side of Jesus.
The thieves were taken by force, and after much resistance on their
part, their arms were thrust back and nailed to their crosses. But Jesus meekly submitted. He needed no one to force his arms back upon
the cross. While the thieves were
cursing their executioners, Jesus in agony prayed for his enemies, Father,
forgive them, for they know not what they do.
It was not merely agony of body which Jesus endured, but the sins of the
whole world were upon him.
As Jesus hung upon the cross, some who passed by
reviled him, wagging their heads, as though bowing to a king, and said to him,
Thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days, save
thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come
down from the cross. The Devil used the
same words to Christ in the wilderness, If thou be the Son of God. The chief priests and elders and scribes
mockingly said, He saved others, himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come
down from the cross, and we will believe him.
The angels who hovered over the scene of Christ’s crucifixion were moved
to indignation as the rulers derided him, and said, If he be the Son of God let
him deliver himself. They wished there
to come to the rescue of Jesus, and deliver him; but they were not suffered to
do so. The object of his mission was
almost accomplished. As Jesus hung upon
the cross those dreadful hours of agony, he did not forget his mother. She could not remain away from the suffering
scene. Jesus’ last lesson was one of
compassion and humanity. He looked upon
his mother, whose heart was well nigh bursting with grief, and then upon his
beloved disciple John. He said to his
mother, Woman, behold thy Son. Then said
he to John, Behold thy mother. And from
that hour John took her to his own house.
Jesus thirsted in his agony; but they heaped upon
him additional insult, by giving him vinegar and gall to drink. The angels had viewed the horrid scene of the
crucifixion of their loved commander, until they could behold no longer; and
veiled their faces from the sight. The
sun refused to look upon the dreadful scene.
Jesus cried with a loud voice, which struck terror to the hearts of his
murderers, It is finished. Then the veil of the temple was rent from the
top to the bottom, the earth shook, and the rocks rent. Great darkness was upon the face of the
earth. The last hope of the disciples
seemed swept away as Jesus died. Many of
his followers witnessed the scene of his sufferings and death, and their cup of
sorrow was full.
Satan did not then exult as he had done. He had hoped that he could break up the plan
of salvation; but it was laid too deep.
And now by Jesus’ death, he knew that he must finally die, and his
kingdom be taken away and given to Jesus.
He held a council with his angels.
He had prevailed nothing against the Son of God, and now they must
increase their efforts, and with their cunning and power turn to Jesus’
followers. They must prevent all they
could from receiving salvation purchased for them by Jesus. By so doing Satan could still work against
the government of God. Also it would be
for his own interest to keep from Jesus all he could. For the sins of those who are redeemed by the
blood of Christ, and overcome, at last will be rolled back upon the originator
of sin, the Devil, and he will have to bear their sins, while those who do not
accept salvation through Jesus will bear their own sins.
Jesus’ life was without worldly grandeur, or
extravagant show. His humble,
self-denying life was a great contrast to the lives of the priests and elders,
who loved ease and worldly honor, and the strict and holy life of Jesus was a
continual reproof to them, on account of their sins. They despised him for his humbleness,
holiness and purity. But those who
despised him here, will one day see him in the grandeur of heaven, and the
unsurpassed glory of his Father. He was
surrounded with enemies in the judgment hall, who were thirsting for his blood;
but those hardened ones who cried out, His blood be on us and on our children,
will behold him an honored King. All the
heavenly host will escort him on his way with songs of victory, majesty and
might, to him that was slain, yet lives again a mighty conqueror. Poor, weak, miserable man spit in the face of
the King of glory, while a shout of brutal triumph arose from the mob at the
degrading insult. They marred that face
with blows and cruelty which filled all heaven with admiration. They will behold that face again, bright as
the noonday sun, and will seek to flee from before it. Instead of that shout of brutal triumph, in
terror they will wail because of him.
Jesus will present his hands with the marks of his crucifixion. The marks of this cruelty he will ever bear. Every print of the nails will tell the story
of man’s wonderful redemption, and the dear price that purchased it. The very men who thrust the spear into the
side of the Lord of life, will behold the print of the spear, and will lament
with deep anguish the part they acted in marring his body. His murderers were greatly annoyed by the
superscription, The King of the Jews,
placed upon the cross above his head.
But then they will be obliged to see him in all his glory and kingly
power. They will behold on his vesture
and on his thigh, written in living characters, King
of Kings, and Lord of Lords. They
cried to him mockingly, as he hung upon the cross, Let Christ the King of
Israel descend from the cross, that we may see and believe. They will behold him then with kingly power
and authority. They will demand no
evidence then of his being the King of Israel; but overwhelmed with a sense of
his majesty and exceeding glory, they will be compelled to acknowledge, Blessed
is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
The shaking of the earth, the rending of the
rocks, the darkness spread over the earth, and the loud, strong cry of Jesus, It is finished, as he yielded up his life,
troubled his enemies, and made his murderers tremble. The disciples wondered at these singular
manifestations; but their hopes were all crushed. They were afraid the Jews would seek to
destroy them also. Such hate manifested
against the Son of God they thought would not end there. Lonely hours the disciples spent in sorrow,
weeping over their disappointment. They
expected that he would reign a temporal prince; but their hopes died with
Jesus. They doubted in their sorrow and
disappointment whether Jesus had not deceived them.
His mother was humbled, and even her faith
wavered in his being the Messiah.
But notwithstanding the disciples had been
disappointed in their hopes concerning Jesus, yet they loved him, and respected
and honored his body, but knew not how to obtain it. Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counsellor,
had influence, and was one of Jesus’ true disciples. He went privately, yet boldly, to Pilate and
begged his body. He dared not go openly;
for the hatred of the Jews was so great that the disciples feared that an
effort would be made by them to prevent the body of Jesus having an honored
resting place. But Pilate granted his
request, and as they took the body of Jesus down from the cross, their sorrows
were renewed, and they mourned over their blighted hopes in deep anguish. They wrapped Jesus in fine linen, and Joseph
laid him in his own new sepulchre. The
women who had been his humble followers while he lived still kept near him
after his death, and would not leave him until they saw his sacred body laid in
the sepulchre, and a stone of great weight rolled at the door, lest his enemies
should seek to obtain his body. But they
need not have feared; for I beheld the angelic host watching with untold
interest the resting place of Jesus.
They guarded the sepulchre, earnestly waiting the command to act their
part in liberating the King of glory from his prison house.
Christ’s murderers were afraid that he might yet
come to life and escape them. They
begged of Pilate a watch to guard the sepulchre until the third day. Pilate granted them armed soldiers to guard
the sepulchre, sealing the stone at the door, lest his disciples should steal
him away, and say that he had risen from the dead.
See Matthew 21:1-11, 27:32-66; Mark 15:21-47; Luke
23:26-56; John 19:17-42; Revelation 19:11-16
Mat 21:1 And
when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount
of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
Mat 21:2
Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye
shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto
me.
Mat 21:3 And
if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and
straightway he will send them.
Mat 21:4 All
this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet,
saying,
Mat 21:5 Tell
ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting
upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
Mat 21:6 And
the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
Mat 21:7 And
brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him
thereon.
Mat 21:8 And a
very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches
from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
Mat 21:9 And
the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to
the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in
the highest.
Mat 21:10 And
when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is
this?
Mat 21:11 And
the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
Mat 27:32 And
as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled
to bear his cross.
Mat 27:33 And
when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a
skull,
Mat 27:34 They
gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he
would not drink.
Mat 27:35 And
they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them,
and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
Mat 27:36 And
sitting down they watched him there;
Mat 27:37 And
set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE
JEWS.
Mat 27:38 Then
were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another
on the left.
Mat 27:39 And
they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
Mat 27:40 And
saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save
thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Mat 27:41
Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders,
said,
Mat 27:42 He
saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now
come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Mat 27:43 He
trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am
the Son of God.
Mat 27:44 The
thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Mat 27:45 Now
from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth
hour.
Mat 27:46 And
about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama
sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mat 27:47 Some
of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for
Elias.
Mat 27:48 And
straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and
put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
Mat 27:49 The
rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
Mat 27:50
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51 And,
behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom;
and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And
the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And
came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and
appeared unto many.
Mat 27:54 Now
when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the
earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly
this was the Son of God.
Mat 27:55 And
many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee,
ministering unto him:
Mat 27:56
Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the
mother of Zebedee's children.
Mat 27:57 When
the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also
himself was Jesus' disciple:
Mat 27:58 He
went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to
be delivered.
Mat 27:59 And
when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
Mat 27:60 And
laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a
great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Mat 27:61 And
there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the
sepulchre.
Mat 27:62 Now
the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and
Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Mat 27:63
Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After
three days I will rise again.
Mat 27:64
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his
disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is
risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Mat 27:65
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye
can.
Mat 27:66 So
they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a
watch.
Mar 15:21 And
they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the
father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
Mar 15:22 And
they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place
of a skull.
Mar 15:23 And
they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
Mar 15:24 And
when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them,
what every man should take.
Mar 15:25 And
it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
Mar 15:26 And
the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE
JEWS.
Mar 15:27 And
with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on
his left.
Mar 15:28 And
the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the
transgressors.
Mar 15:29 And
they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou
that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
Mar 15:30 Save
thyself, and come down from the cross.
Mar 15:31
Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes,
He saved others; himself he cannot save.
Mar 15:32 Let
Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and
believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
Mar 15:33 And
when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the
ninth hour.
Mar 15:34 And
at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?
Mar 15:35 And
some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth
Elias.
Mar 15:36 And
one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him
to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him
down.
Mar 15:37 And
Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
Mar 15:38 And
the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
Mar 15:39 And
when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and
gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
Mar 15:40
There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and
Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
Mar 15:41 (Who
also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many
other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
Mar 15:42 And
now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day
before the sabbath,
Mar 15:43
Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the
kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of
Jesus.
Mar 15:44 And
Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion,
he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
Mar 15:45 And
when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
Mar 15:46 And
he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid
him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the
door of the sepulchre.
Mar 15:47 And
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.
Luk 23:26 And
as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of
the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after
Jesus.
Luk 23:27 And
there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed
and lamented him.
Luk 23:28 But
Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep
for yourselves, and for your children.
Luk 23:29 For,
behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the
barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave
suck.
Luk 23:30 Then
shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover
us.
Luk 23:31 For
if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
Luk 23:32 And
there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
Luk 23:33 And
when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified
him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the
left.
Luk 23:34 Then
said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they
parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Luk 23:35 And
the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying,
He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of
God.
Luk 23:36 And
the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
Luk 23:37 And
saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
Luk 23:38 And
a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and
Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Luk 23:39 And
one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be
Christ, save thyself and us.
Luk 23:40 But
the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou
art in the same condemnation?
Luk 23:41 And
we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath
done nothing amiss.
Luk 23:42 And
he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luk 23:43 And
Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee today, shalt thou be with me in
paradise.
Luk 23:44 And
it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until
the ninth hour.
Luk 23:45 And
the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
Luk 23:46 And
when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I
commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Luk 23:47 Now
when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this
was a righteous man.
Luk 23:48 And
all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which
were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
Luk 23:49 And
all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar
off, beholding these things.
Luk 23:50 And,
behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and
a just:
Luk 23:51 (The
same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea,
a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
Luk 23:52 This
man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
Luk 23:53 And
he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was
hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
Luk 23:54 And
that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
Luk 23:55 And
the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld
the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
Luk 23:56 And
they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day
according to the commandment.
Joh 19:17 And
he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which
is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
Joh 19:18
Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus
in the midst.
Joh 19:19 And
Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF
NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Joh 19:20 This
title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was
nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
Joh 19:21 Then
said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews;
but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
Joh 19:22
Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
Joh 19:23 Then
the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four
parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without
seam, woven from the top throughout.
Joh 19:24 They
said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it,
whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They
parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These
things therefore the soldiers did.
Joh 19:25 Now
there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the
wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
Joh 19:26 When
Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he
saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Joh 19:27 Then
saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple
took her unto his own home.
Joh 19:28
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the
scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
Joh 19:29 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.
Joh 19:30 When
Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed
his head, and gave up the ghost.
Joh 19:31 The
Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not
remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high
day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be
taken away.
Joh 19:32 Then
came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was
crucified with him.
Joh 19:33 But
when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his
legs:
Joh 19:34 But
one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out
blood and water.
Joh 19:35 And
he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he
saith true, that ye might believe.
Joh 19:36 For
these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him
shall not be broken.
Joh 19:37 And
again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
Joh 19:38 And
after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for
fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus:
and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
Joh 19:39 And
there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and
brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Joh 19:40 Then
took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as
the manner of the Jews is to bury.
Joh 19:41 Now
in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new
sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
Joh 19:42
There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the
sepulchre was nigh at hand.
Rev 19:11 And
I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was
called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make
war.
Rev 19:12 His
eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a
name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And
he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word
of God.
Rev 19:14 And
the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine
linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And
out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations:
and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And
he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD
OF LORDS.
*******
The weight of sin.
Have you ever felt guilty about something? Do you recall the weight of that
guilt? The spiritual weight? Because guilt doesn't have a physical weight and
yet if you say to someone that you are heavy with guilt they know exactly what
you mean. They understand the burden of sin and it isn't a light burden. Once a
person is convicted of sin they feel its heaviness. If you sin and feel no weight of that sin,
then you are not truly convicted of that sin at all. If you sin and are
forgiven for that sin, the weight is lifted off of you and placed upon another.
Remember this is a spiritual weight we are talking about because it is a
spiritual guilt.
We don't know
something is wrong with our actions unless there is a standard of right and
wrong, correct?
I can say that a
person wronged another when they lied about them, but unless the person I’m
talking with agrees lying is wrong, they will not comprehend any wrong doing.
Universally lying is
deemed wrong. Those who make a show of being a good liar and being commended
for it, are in a league of their own and not accepted by the vast majority. We
often hear about what liars politicians are- and that it is part and parcel of
their profession but we don’t usually hear that in a context of commendation,
but rather derision.
When lying is accept
in the companies of thieves and such you'll have a small pocket of those who
applaud the ability to lie without detection. And those liars do not feel the
weight of their lies, of their sin, there is no conviction in their hearts of wrong
doing. Again, take their actions and
bring them into the light of the majority and they will be condemned, not
lauded.
The weight of sin
will be heavy and the reason I'm mentioning this at all is because truly when
Jesus, our Lord and Savior, was dying upon the cross, He took upon Himself the
weight of all confessed sin and such a weight that must have been. Jesus took away our guilt placing it upon
Himself so that He might be able to redeem us. He wanted to save us from the
death we deserved, the second death, the death from which there is no returning
from.
Ultimately all the
sin ever committed that has been confessed will be given to the originator of
sin- Satan. The heavy weight belongs to Satan, and he will bear it to his
eternal, everlasting, annihilation.
The sin that Satan
won't bear the weight of is the sin that is unconfessed, and unforgiven. That
sin will belong to those who commit it and choose to never rid themselves of
it.
*******
Jesus, please save
us from all sin, keep us in You!
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