Friday, July 7, 2017

Morning Moments with God: Day 120

                           Image result for Book of Matthew
Day 120: Victory Has Come!
Please read the Bible verses for today:
Matthew 27:45-56

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, lema sabachthani?” (which means My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?). (Matthew 27:45-46) As the sin of the world was put on Jesus, God the Father could no longer be in Jesus' presence. Jesus could feel the abandonment of God the Father. They were never separated, but here on the cross we see that Jesus even endured abandonment. Abandonment from His Father. Jesus knows what it is to feel abandoned and alone. 
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." (Matthew 27-47-49)
In John 20:30 it reads, "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." In the Books of Matthew and Mark it says with a 'loud cry' He gave up His Spirit. "Jesus died as a victor and Had 'completed' what he came to do." (Bible Commentary) I love hearing the words, Jesus died as a victor! Death could mean defeat. He lost. But with Jesus, He came to this earth to take on the sin of the world and die for us so that we would have life and victory in Him! He finished what He set out to do.
51 "At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." (Matthew 27:51) This is where my heart starts to pump more quickly and hope comes and a smile returns to my face. My 'One Volume Bible Commentary' explains this so well. "Two veils, (or curtains) a cubit apart, hung before the Holy of Holies. They are said to have been 40 cubits, (60ft) long, 20 wide, and of the thickness of the palm of the hand. Both were rent. The significance of the rending of the veil is variously understood. Some see in it a sign that the old covenant was a at an end, the sacrifices abolished, and the diving presence withdrawn from the Temple, even the Holy of Holies being now made common ground open to the feet of all. Others who regard the Holy of Holies as a type of heaven, and the rest of the Temple as a type of earth, see in the rending of the veil the removing of the barrier between heaven and earth. The reconciling of God and man though the death of Christ." (page 718) This is what Jesus set out to do: reconcile man to God. 
"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 went into the holy city and appeared to many people." (Matthew 27:51b-53) Read that again. "The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life." A picture of the resurrection. The Power of the resurrection! How could anyone have doubted now? 
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!” (Matthew 27:54) A centurion, one over one-hundred soldiers. A high ranking officer, not a Jew, a Gentile. A man who worshipped Caesar and was a pagan. This man said, "Surely he was the Son of God!" He saw it and believed. There were Jewish authorities there and still did not believe. God has done everything for us and still gives us the free will to believe or not believe. It is our choice to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, Savior of the world or not. 
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, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons." (Matthew 27:55-56) 
Pray with me:
Jesus, I believe!!! Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins-past, present and future. Thank you for declaring, "It is finished!" Thank you that I have the victory in your name! Jesus, set me free from the sin that so easily binds me. Set me free from generational sin. Break every curse that has been placed on me. Set me free Jesus that I may live freely for you. Thank you for freedom! In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

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