He Is Risen - 2/8/09am

Matthew 26:47-56 -Jesus is betrayed and arrested
Although Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, remember that the other disciples did not. It’s easy to know the anger and dismay this would cause the apostles

Matthew 26:57-66 -Jesus is brought before the Sanhedrin
If you are Peter, having followed Christ, you see the Lord being obviously falsely accused, mocked, and smitten. You see Him obviously unjustly condemned by the council of those who are supposed to be judging according to the Law.
Matthew 26:67-68 -Jesus is mocked and struck

Matthew 26:69-75 -Jesus is again betrayed by one close to Him
With all of this, it is easy to understand why Peter would deny the Lord. And yet, we see his remorse after doing so. Truly, at this point, it must seem to Peter that everyone had lost faith.

Matthew 27:11-26 -Jesus is brought before Pilate
And now we see Christ before Pilate, the hand of Rome in Judea. Pilate, who had no great regard for Jews, finds the man obviously innocent. Nonetheless, in order to sate the crowd, he hands him over and frees Barabbas. In a sense, taking the man’s place.

Matthew 27:27-31 -Jesus is again mocked and beaten
And now Christ is mocked and beaten again, this time by gentiles. It is as though the entire world, Jews, gentiles, and His disciples, have turned against Him.

Matthew 27:32-44 -Jesus is crucified and mocked

Matthew 27:45-56 -Jesus dies
Jesus, the Son of God, God the Son, gave up the spirit. How dark an hour this must have been for His disciples.

We often complain about how bad things are now, in the year 2009. Yet consider that moment in time. It seemed as though the entire world had rejected Christ, Satan had won, and God had been shown powerless and unable to bring about His will.
Matthew 27:57-61 -Jesus is buried

Matthew 28:1-10 -Jesus is risen
And yet, at this darkest hour of history, God overcomes! Jesus is risen from the dead. And those who follow Him have the victory because of this.

No matter ho bad things may seem to be, whether in politics, the economy, world affairs, or whatever else may trouble us, we have the victory, if we are baptized into the Lord’s death, and rise a new creature. If we do not deny and betray Him, if we follow Him, then salvation awaits us. Have you obeyed the gospel?