It is Finished!

Just going to let the scripture talk for its self this morning, let it soak in!



John 19



The Soldiers Mock Jesus

1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. 3 Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.

4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

Pilate’s Decision

5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”

8 Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, 9 and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

10 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”

11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

12 From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

16 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away.

The King on a Cross

17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, 18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:

JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. 24 They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:



“They divided My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Therefore the soldiers did these things.

Behold Your Mother

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

It Is Finished

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb

38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.



Tom

Is God's Word the Finale Authority?

Wow I was really disheartened yesterday. What a sad state we are at in the United States. My devotion was about marriage and homosexuality and I expected to have some resistance but not like I got. The non-believers don't bother me because they don't believe God's Word. What does bother me is those who claim to be Christians who flat out argue and believe in outright contradiction to God's Word. So that brings me to my Question for today, Is God's Word the Finale authority in your life?



For me it is. What God says goes. It is the ultimate truth and finale authority. If I find my life going in opposition to the Word it is my responsibility to repent of my sin and with the power of the Holy Spirit head in the opposite direction of that sin. So lets look at a few scriptures about God's Word:



Isaiah 55:11

11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.



Psalm 119:89



89 Forever, O Lord,

Your word is settled in heaven.



Deuteronomy 4:2

2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.



Revelation 22:18-19

18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.



Hebrews 4:12-13

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.



Matthew 24:35

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.



John 8:31

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.



Matthew 4:4

4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”



As you can see from this small sample from God's Word it is obvious of who we had better listen to....God! Not man. No telling how many times I have heard folks say "I think" and then state something contradictory to God's Word. Excuse my rudeness here but I don't care what you think, I stand on God's Word and all believers had better get this right in their hearts! God is the final authority not man.



Oh and by the way, when we stand upon and defend God's Word we are not judging we are doing what Jesus said to do and He told us we would face persecution for it so be ready!



So my brothers and sisters, is God's Word THE FINALE AUTHORITY in your life? It better be for whom else knows more than God?



Tom

Supreme Court and marriage.

I don't understand it!!! It is not that complicated for a nation who claims to be Christian. According to statistics some where around 80% claim they are Christians. Just for the record I do not believe that stat because our nation would be much different if it was true. Our Supreme Court once again has a major decision to make over gay marriage. If we were a nation that stands upon the Word of God this decision would be cut and dried. Look at these scriptures:



Genesis 2:24

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.



Proverbs 18:22

He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD



Matthew 19:4-6

"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' ? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."



1 Corinthians 7:1-16

Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?



Ephesians 5:22-23

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.



Colossians 3:18-19

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.



Hebrews 13:4-7

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.



Mark 10:6-9

"But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."





1 Corinthians 6:8-10

8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.



Romans 1:26-28

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;



1 Timothy 1:8-10

8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,



Jude 1:7

7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.



Remember this is God's Word not mine. We are not above God. Man's opinion does not matter when it conflicts with God's Word. Our feelings do not matter when it comes to God's Word. Our love does does not matter when it contradicts God's Word. His Word is the final authority, case closed. If you are a Christian and you disagree with God then you had better check to see if you are really a Christian because God is God and what He says goes. There is no other option.



People will say who are you to judge, I am not the judge God is and I stand upon His Word! He has told us what is sin and right, we must obey and follow. I have given my life to Christ and I will follow his Word til death.



It really isn't that complicated if we will get self out of the way, and follow Jesus. Hate sin, love people, and above all love God!



Tom

Think about this week!

For a follower of Christ this week is the most important week of the year as we remember Holy Week. Starting in Matthew 21 read the Word of God and reflect what Jesus has done for you and I this week. Jesus is preparing to head to the cross and will be crucified on Good Friday!!!



Please don't let this go in one ear and out the other. Take some time to read and listen for God to speak to your heart. It is of utmost importance. Your eternity is at stake!



Mark 10:15

Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”



Tom

What ever it takes!

Read this please:



Mark 2:1-12



1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”



Whoever these guys were that brought this paralytic to Jesus were some true friends! Think about it, first they had to carry their friend, they figured out how to get on the roof with their friend, they tore a hole in the roof, and then they tied a rope to him and lowered him to Jesus! Wow!



Do you have friends that would do that for you? Are you the kind of friend that would do that for someone else? The point here is we need to do whatever it takes to get folks to Jesus. He is our only hope. Did you catch what Jesus observed about these men? "When Jesus saw their faith". This is one of those occasions that changed a mans life because of his friends faith! They believed Jesus could heal him if they could just get him to Jesus. They did whatever it took!



Are you willing to do whatever it takes to get your friends to Jesus? Do you have that kind of faith? Something we all need to ask ourselves and then do whatever it takes!



Tom

Takes a real man to be like Jesus!

In today's society, there are all kinds of definitions of what it takes to be a man. Things like big muscles, superior looks, womanizers, tough, ball player, ect. All these are wrong. Being a real man is to be a man of God. It is the hardest, toughest thing a man can ever do! Let's see how to be a real man:



1 Timothy 2:8

8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;



So what do we see here? First, A man that prays. Are you a man that prays? Not one that just blesses the meal which is good, but one that spends large amounts of time with God in prayer. It is not an easy thing to do. It is not an easy thing to do as the devil will battle you so your mind wanders. The bible says pray, men we have to battle in prayer for our families, for the lost, for the church, and for our own walk with God.



Second, be a holy man. A holy man does not care what others think! He will sing praises to his Lord and might even raise his hands in worship! God is clear what a holy man looks like here:



2 Timothy 2:22

22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.



Do these characteristics describe you? It is a description of a holy man.



Third, When we lift them hands we are praising God. God wants us to be men of praise. Think about your day to day life. How much time do you spend praising God both to yourself and to others? Give God some praise! He alone is worthy. Many go about praising their college football team, or favorite singer ect, but they don't praise the the one who created them! Don't make sense does it?



Fourth, be a peaceful man. That characteristic is in both verses above! Being a man of constant strife is not what Jesus was all about. Jesus only got angry when it came to dishonoring God and we should be the same. Peacefulness draws folks in for us to love, anger drives folks away!



So when looking at this can all of us say we are men or women of God this morning or so we have some major work to do?



Tom

What do I lack?

Many folks today think they are pretty good people. They read their bibles, go to church, help their neighbors, don't lie, don't cheat, don't steal, just down right good folks. This is awesome! We need more people like this. Bu there is one problem....they still lack something for eternal life. Check this guy out:



Matthew 19:16-22



Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.



First, I want you to notice that this man knows he is lacking something. This is called conviction. I believe the Holy Spirit has come upon this young man and convicted him that he was not right with God. So he went to Jesus to find out what he lacked!



Second, Jesus lets him know up front, he is a sinner by telling him their is only ONE who is good and that is God! Nothing we can do to make ourselves good on our own!



Third, next Jesus tells him to keep the commandments, which if one could do perfectly would make him right with God. We all know it is impossible to live a perfect life which this young ruler says he has done since his youth, which is a lie right there!



Fourth, The young man asks again what do I lack and Jesus knowing what is keeping him form totally surrendering to God (his riches) tells his to sell all and give i to the poor and follow Him. The young man couldn't give the riches up and walks away. Notice, the young man is sorrowful but not sorrowful enough to give up the sin that has a hold on his life!



Now before we shake our heads at the young ruler we better examine our own lives and see if there is something lacking in our own lives. Is there something that is keeping you from total surrender to Jesus. Come to Jesus! He will help you give up what ever it is. He loves you and knows what is best for each of us. This sin for the young ruler cost him eternal life, my friend there is nothing in life more valuable that a relationship with Jesus! Come find out for yourself.



As always if I can assist you in anyway, just message me. I am here for you anytime my friend!



Tom