The Gospel According to Matthew
Question of the Day: Have you ever been left somewhere?
This week we study the death of Jesus. It is a sobering topic. Death in general is a sobering topic. Most likely everyone in class has been touched by death. Just this past year many of us have lost someone close to us. We have mourned the loss of members of our class!
This past week Orlando has experienced lots of death. First a singer, then the 49 at the club, and then the little boy wading on the beach at the happiest place on earth with his parents and then in moments he was gone.
When death affects us what are some of the things we talk about or reflect on?
We often embrace those still with us more.
Talk about loving one another more.
I have a great uncle, a Dr, an atheist, who climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and almost died. After getting down with the help of his guide, he called home and told his sister to sell everything he owned. He stayed in Africa and has been running mobile clinics all over ever since. He dedicated his life to helping those who had helped to save him.
Death or near death changes us. Death or near death often brings into focus that which is most important!
The death of Jesus, how does it bring into focus that which is most important?
READ: Matthew 27: 45-56
The Death of Jesus
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[c] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[d]
Have you ever felt like God has forsaken you?
What do we do with those moments?
Death can make us feel forsaken by God.
How do we, or how should we be in these moments?
What did Jesus do?
Continue READing:
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Can you imagine what it would have been like to experience that moment?
An earthquake alone can be a scary event.
Can you imagine those who saw the dead walking out of the tombs?
What must it have been like to be someone who had been mocking him, yelling, "give us Barabbas" and then they experience all that happened after His death?
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Have you ever had an experience where you knew Jesus was VERY REAL?
Have those moments ever made you feel bad for the moments when you doubted him?
Why is it that we so quickly doubt?
55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,[f] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
How can we care for Jesus?
I would like to challenge you to read the chapter in Desire of Ages titled, "It is Finished". Ellen white beautifully talks about the great controversy. About what Jesus defeated and how! It is beautiful to be reminded that it is He, it is Jesus and only Jesus who can defeat Satan! I found the following quote interesting.
"God could have destroyed Satan and his sympathizers as easily as one can cast a pebble to the earth; but He did not do this. Rebellion was not to be overcome by force. Compelling power is found only under Satan's government. The Lord's principles are not of this order. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the presentation of these principles is the means to be used. God's government is moral, and truth and love are to be the prevailing power."
"HIS AUTHORITY RESTS UPON GOODNESS, MERCY, AND LOVE; AND THE PRESENTATION OF THESE PRINCIPLES IS THE MEANS TO BE USED!"
Jesus' death, is it just another bible story?
Jesus' death how does it change you?
Jesus' death, what do you contemplate on?
Who are we because He died?
When our precious Jim died, we all shared how much he had changed and touched our lives. Listening to each of us talk about him was incredibly moving! It was one of the most powerful memorial services I have ever attended. People were changed! We heard from children how much they had learned from Papa Jim, we heard from his family how much they loved him, and we heard from each other how he had impacted our lives!
If we were to have a memorial service for Jesus, what would you say?
What has he done for you?
How has he changed your life?
Like the women who cared for His body, what can we do to "care" for Him?
Who am I?
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