Bible Study - Foundations - Jesus Died for Our Sins - Matthew 26 and 27 - April 1, 2012

Bible Study - Foundations – Jesus Died for Our Sins – April 1, 2012

This begins a new series of study entitled “Foundations of Our Faith.”

Our scripture for this lesson is Mathew 26:26-29, 36-39; 26:45-46, 50-54.

Our lessons for the next five (5) weeks will be taken from Matthew, Luke and John.

This is a fitting series since we are approaching Easter and without Easter, Christians would have no basis for believing in JESUS as their Savior. We must keep in mind that true Christianity is not a religion but CHRIST in you. No religion will get you to heaven. The only way to heaven is through the rebirth of your spirit by believing and accepting the atoning death of JESUS as payment in full for the penalty for sin. JESUS gave HIS life as the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for sin. Those who desire to be Christians must believe that HE died for them, ask HIM to forgive them for their sins and ask HIM to come into their lives. All who do experience the miracle of rebirth, which is the union of their spirit with the Spirit of GOD! In that instant, all who acknowledge their faith in CHRIST are conceived Spiritually and nothing will ever change the fact that they are GOD’S Sons and Daughters.

Those Spiritually conceived need the right Spiritual nourishment to grow, develop and mature as born-again Christians. Some born-again Christians may get off to a good start but decide they can run their lives better than GOD and stop their Spiritual nourishment, thus not develop as GOD planned for them. GOD gives all HIS children the right to choose. Once Spiritually conceived he/she is GOD’S Son or Daughter. If you received CHRIST as your Savior at a moment in your life but have not developed Spiritually, confess it. Ask CHRIST to restore the joy of your salvation and study the Bible, beginning with the Book of John. Talk to HIM, which is prayer. Ask HIM to restore your relationship with CHRIST, Who is the true vine. Allow HIS nourishment to flow from HIM to you and then through you, as HE leads and directs your life.

It is not repeating certain words. It is always about the attitude and desires of your heart. Do you want to be GOD’S obedient Son or Daughter and have an intimate, loving, dynamic relationship with HIM? If so, then tell HIM. When you choose for HIM to be preeminent in your life, you will discover the joy and power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. This next statement is not to frighten you but to inform you. When you are GOD’S child you become an enemy of Satan but know that “Greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Memorize the scripture found in 1 John 4:4 - You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One (CHRIST) who is in you is greater than the one (Satan) who is in the world. GOD has defeated Satan.

GOD is in you through the presence of the Holy Spirit. You are GOD’S Son or Daughter and you are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Christians can take themselves out of the circle of protection by exercising their will but they never take themselves from being GOD’S Sons or Daughters. HE never leaves you or abandons you. If you have left HIM, HE is waiting and eager for you to return exactly where you left HIM. Please make that decision to return to HIM now!!!

GOD’S redemptive plan for mankind is magnificent. Sin came into the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed GOD and ate the forbidden fruit. GOD promised Adam if he ate the forbidden fruit the result would be death. Disobedience/sin breaks fellowship with GOD. Adam’s sin broke fellowship and direct access to GOD. It took GOD’S only SON, JESUS, to leave HIS heavenly home, leave HIS Glory in heaven, and come to earth to be born a human, live as a human, be tempted in all ways as we are tempted, yet without sin and give HIS sinless life as the perfect, acceptable sacrifice to pay the penalty for sin.

HE gave HIS life to pay the sin debt in full. How do we know that HE paid it in full? The resurrection!!! The consequence for sin is death. CHRIST’S sinless death redeemed all who would accept HIM as their Savior.

Our lesson begins the night before JESUS was crucified. The timing of GOD is awesome. This was the week of Passover. The Jews had celebrated their redemption or deliverance from Egyptian bondage and slavery in the same way their ancestors had done the night before they were released from the Egyptians. Passover is still celebrated today. It is referred to as the Seder meal. JESUS and HIS disciples were celebrating this Passover meal in the upper room.

Only GOD can plan so perfectly. Passover was a special time of celebration in Jerusalem. It was the time the Jews celebrated their ancestors release from the bondage of Egyptian slavery. As you may recall, GOD instructed the Israelites to choose a lamb to be sacrificed and place the blood of the lamb over the door posts of their home. GOD would send the death angel to take the life of the first born Egyptian animals and male children. The obedient Israelites who placed the blood of the lamb over the doorpost of their home and remained in their home were spared. Like the blood of the lamb that saved the obedient Israelites from destruction in Egypt, the shed blood of CHRIST redeems all who believe in HIM from the power of sin and death. GOD gave the Israelites specific instructions on preparing for their exodus from Egypt, which is celebrate in the Seder meal today, which marks the beginning of Passover.

The crucifixion and death of CHRIST was the defining moment that HE gave HIS life so that whoever will believe in HIM will be redeemed from the bondage of sin and eternal Spiritual death. CHRIST is GOD’S perfect sacrificial Lamb Who took away the sins of the world. So that all who believe in HIM will be redeemed from sure eternal death. Let’s explore. JESUS and HIS disciples are in the upper room partaking of the Passover meal and also establishing the new covenant.

Let’s read Matthew 26:26-29:
The First Lord’s Supper
26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is My body.” 27 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood [that establishes]* the covenant;[5]it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 But I tell you, from this moment I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way[6]in My Father’s kingdom with you.” 30 After singing psalms,[7] they went out to the • Mount of Olives.

JESUS instituted what Christians refer to as the Lord’s Supper the very night they were celebrating Passover. Out with the old and in with the new.

Just as Christian’s observe the Lord’s Supper today, JESUS took bread and broke it. HE referred to the bread as representing HIS body. John 6:35, 48 and 51:

• John 6:35
“I am the bread of life, ” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.

• John 6:48
I am the bread of life.

• John 6:51
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh. ”

Then HE took a cup of wine, gave a prayer of thanks and stated that the wine represented HIS shed blood that established the covenant. The old covenant would be obsolete in a matter of hours but the new covenant would be far superior to the old covenant. It would go into effect the instant HE gave HIS life for the redemption of mankind. The giving of HIS sinless life gives direct access 24/7 to all who accept HIM as their Savior. It also sanctifies the human body of all who will believe in HIM such that the body of the Christian can be indwelled by the Holy Spirit. In essence, every place the true Christian steps becomes Holy ground because of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Ponder that!!!

Did HIS disciples fully understand all HE was telling them? No!!! They all went out singing. They went to the Mount of Olives and to the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas was on his way to betray JESUS.

Let’s read Matthew 26:36-39:
The Prayer in the Garden
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,[10] and He told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow[11]—to the point of death.[12]Remain here and stay awake with Me.” 39 Going a little farther,[13] He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Just think about it. The original decision to disobey GOD and eat the fruit from the forbidden tree was made in the Garden of Eden. JESUS had a decision to make regarding the redemption of mankind. HE made that decision in the Garden of Gethsemane. How fitting. The redemption of mankind centered on the obedience of JESUS. That is why Christians worship CHRIST as their Savior. HE saved them from that which was impossible for them to save themselves, which is eternal death.

JESUS was approaching the moment and purpose for which HE had come to earth. Satan did all he could to get JESUS to take a short cut. At the beginning of HIS ministry, while in the desert, Satan offered paths for CHRIST to take to avoid the cross. JESUS had to ponder whether or not this was the right moment or a plot of Satan.
JESUS needed serious prayer, both from HIS disciples and Himself. JESUS knew that Judas would betray HIM. Could it be that JESUS was so concerned for Judas and his destiny that HE was asking HIS Father for some other way for HIS will for HIM to be accomplished? We don’t know but we do know that JESUS prayed so hard that in Luke 22:43-44 - [ 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 Being in anguish, He prayed more fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.][12] Notice that this scripture is bracketed meaning that it was not found in other manuscripts.

It is clear that JESUS was making sure that this was the absolute right moment. HE received confirmation and continued HIS appointed purpose.

There are times when we need to ask for prayer and receive strength when we face certain situations or circumstances. JESUS asked HIS disciples to watch and pray. Evil is all around us and Satan seeks to prevent us from accomplishing the plan that GOD has for our lives. Pray and ask GOD to confirm HIS leadership in your life. When HE confirms it, then do not be dissuaded, as we see in our next scripture.

Let’s read Matthew 26:45-46 and 50-54:
45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?[18]Look, the time is near. The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up; let’s go! See—My betrayer is near.”

This is why I believe that JESUS was distraught over the fact that Judas’ life would be ruined because he betrayed JESUS. There was no other alternative. JESUS stated in Mark 14:21 - 21 For the • Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

The deed had been done. JESUS had been betrayed. I think JESUS was broken hearted because Judas had betrayed HIM. I think that Judas was ambitious. He knew that JESUS was extraordinary and had powers like he had never seen. I believe his motive and plan was to back JESUS into a corner and force JESUS to use HIS power to declare HIS kingdom. He likely believed that JESUS would thank him later and put him in charge of something special in HIS earthly kingdom. It is very sad when we realize that we have missed the whole point of something so important. I think that Judas saw the truth after it was too late to turn things around and being distraught he went and hanged himself. Notice in our next scripture that JESUS called Judas “friend.”

50 “Friend,” Jesus asked him, “why have you come?”[19]Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him. 51 At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in place because all who take up a sword will perish by a sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions[20]of angels? 54 How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

JESUS addressed Judas as friend. I can see the love that JESUS had for Judas radiating from HIS eyes to the eyes of Judas.

Peter was ready willing and able to fight to the death but JESUS told him to put his sword away. Peter and HIS other disciples were looking for a political Messiah. JESUS set the record straight. He told HIS disciple, don’t you know that I could have called more than 12 legions of angels to come to fight for ME. A legion was a unit measuring the size of the Roman army – 3,000 to 6,000 infantry troops and 100-200 cavalrymen. Bottom line JESUS had more than enough angel power to take care of business. HE did not use angel power, which may have been a huge temptation, because HIS mission was to give HIS life to pay the penalty for sin.

We all get notions about what truth is. The disciples had placed their trust in JESUS thinking that HE was going to establish an earthly kingdom. They wanted a part of it and were committed to fight for HIM. It would take them more time before they would comprehend and understand why JESUS had come to earth. It took HIS resurrection, ascension and the return of the Holy Spirit before it would all come together for them. The beauty is that it DID!!! Seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened. Father take the shackles off our minds so that we can see and understand truth.
Most of us have notions about what CHRIST is all about. We live in a time when being a Christian is not the thing to be. We as Christians have gotten our fire insurance, so-to-speak, that is we have received our salvation but stopped growing, maturing and obediently serving. Satan has muted our voices and obedient service to GOD. GOD’S power is still as real and relevant today as any time in the history of the world. It is time that we cast aside our false notions and say LORD here I am as I am; make me into the obedient Christian YOU desire for me to be.

It is time!!! CHRIST gave HIS life to redeem you from sin and death. You are a child of GOD. Do you believe it? If so, do you act like it? Now, is time to step up to the plate! Blessings!!!