Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

Anna Ruth’s lifelong friend, Miriam Charles, gifted Anna Ruth with these lilies for her 90th birthday.

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

Matthew 27:57 – 61

Can it be that Jesus’ disciples dispersed and went into hiding during these hours when the most wonderful, amazing and agonizing thing that ever happened on the earth was occurring – Jesus taking on himself all the sins of the world?  It seems so, except for John, as we already noted.

We recall that a few hours ago the disciples clustered around Jesus in that upper room.  They were closer to Jesus than anyone else as they ate that memorable meal with him. As though physical proximity was not sufficient, Jesus gave himself to each one of them in that blessed wine and bread, his body and his blood!  Who can understand that?  And who can understand that as Jesus hung there on the Cross none of them except young John were with their Jesus?  What about Jesus’ desire that his close disciples would take the Gospel to the ends of the earth? Looks bad, indeed.

I find myself wondering who this Joseph is who took down the limp lifeless body of Jesus Christ. By doing so, he obviously identified himself as a believer in Jesus. He loved Jesus so much that he put his body in the new tomb that he had just had hewn out of rock for his own burial.  He was a member of the Jewish Counsel, a wealthy man, but a lover of Jesus, no reason given.

With him to help was a man we first met three years earlier, Nicodemus, also a dedicated Jew who served as an elder of Israel. Together they did what Jesus’ closest friends did not do – took Jesus’ body to a tomb.  John 19:19 – 20  Once again I stand in amazement and am awed by the ways of God.  Two most unexpected men appeared to bury Jesus’ body.  The mysteries of God are beyond telling.  With all saints, I bow in reverence and believe.

I note that after these men buried Jesus’ dead body, nearby, watching it all, were two  women, Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary.” Matthew tells nothing of their emotions, just that they could not leave until they saw where Jesus was laid.  Jesus’ own disciples were nowhere to be seen!

It is a great joy to stand among the lovely flowers that the staff at Longwood Gardens prepare and tend with unbelievable care.  The day was overcast but that did not distract from the beauty of it all. This visit was Jane and Glenn’s birthday gift for Grandma, her 90th!

Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

Matthew 27:55, 56

“Many women…watching from a distance.”  Who are these grieving women?  I suppose the burning question is, where are the disciples of Jesus?  Except for John they were not to be seen.  They were friends of the one being crucified – not a happy situation to be in, by any means.  They vanished!

Who are these three women mentioned by Matthew?  First, Mary Magdalene. Of all daughters of Israel, she was the most desolate, ruled by seven powers of hell. Her state was worse than death.  Seven demons of Satan sealed her fate. The local exorcists could do nothing.  She was helpless. She had to meet the demands of every demon, a life of perpetual torture. This is to me, not an unknown mystery. Having lived in East Africa it is a horrid reality. I prayed for such. It is doing battle with the powers of hell. Unless she is delivered she will die a terrifying death, when the demons are done with her.

One day, not recorded, Jesus met this demonized Mary and by the power of his name drove out those seven demons.  The change that overcame Mary was astounding. She owed her life to Jesus so she wanted to do what she could to help him. So, she left her little village, Magdala, and joined the small band of caring women. She must have felt hugely inferior to Jesus’ mother and Mary, the mother of James and John. But bless them, they incorporated her into their little fellowship of worship and care.

I find it amazing that Mary Magdalene is mentioned 12 times in the Gospels, more often than most disciples. She owed everything to Jesus.

This must be among our favorite flowers.  Every Spring we are amazed, all over again, at its symmetry, colors, marvelous shape, etc.

Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

Those who passed by hurled insults at him…In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.  ^“He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.  He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”  In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him

Matthew 27:36 – 44, here and there.

“This is jesus, the king of the jews.”  This was written in hate!  But, dear reader, truer words were never written!  I suppose the Roman officials wrote it. It was a warning to the Jews that they were ruled by Rome and should be content with that.  No insurrection will be tolerated!

Of course, the rulers of the Jews were happy with the sign because they hated Jesus fiercely.  He would never be their king!  So, even things like the sign spoke volumes.

Jesus endured their taunts. “He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.”  The scoffers struck at the heart of the issue.  They challenged his credibility.  I am quite sure nothing, at this point, could cause them to believe. Jesus had performed one miracle after another in their towns and homes.  He healed the blind, fed multitudes with a few fish and loaves and many other miracles.  As I hear their taunts I find myself doubting if these Jewish leaders would change their minds about Jesus no matter what he did or said. It was a dark hour for Jesus, indeed.  He said not a word.

The two criminals who were hanging there on their crosses turned on Jesus. I find that hard to believe.  But that is not the end of their story, one believed in Jesus.  He declared his faith openly as he breathed his last breaths.

Every year the magnificent old Japanese cherry tree burst out in a hymn of light and beauty.  We are fortunate that we have this tree on our property, thanks to the former owner.  Even though it is old, each flower is as new as the morning sun, and as breath-taking.

While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”  But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.  Matthew 27:19, 20

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”  All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”  Matthew 27:24, 25.

Strange things are happening in Jerusalem.  Listen, “…the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.”  Execute Jesus, the promised Messiah?  They, who were looked up to as the religious leaders of the Jews hated Jesus with a passion. Release the convicted felon Barnabas and kill the sinless one? How could this be?  They were the masters of all the Scriptures, including the prophecies that the Messiah would appear at the proper time.  When he did appear, they did not simply ignore him, they determined to kill him!

I shudder as I try to understand this.  The Jewish leaders should have bowed before the Messiah in humble adoration and proclaimed that Jesus Christ, the Messiah is among them at that very moment.  The Scriptures of which they were official interpreter described the coming of the Messiah perfectly.  Instead of exalting God’s Messiah, in their blind hate they wanted to kill him.  The Romans had no problem with Jesus at this time.

The Jews were not permitted to kill people.  That was the doleful task of the Roman rulers.  Pilate and his wife saw no reason to put Jesus to death.  In fact, his wife had a direct revelation that it was horribly wrong to kill Jesus.  So, Pilate was in a dilemma.  He bowed to the wishes of the leaders of Jews whose favor he sought.  I am amazed.  The Roman rulers recognized Jesus while the Jewish leaders wanted him dead.

I live in a world that does not recognize Jesus Christ as the Savior, the only Savior of all mankind. Of course, our cultures admire some aspects of Jesus but by not receiving Him as the Son of God, they do what the Jewish rulers did, kill him.

Praise God, millions of people believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the number is growing.  Those who have not given their hearts to Jesus are left without hope.  The Kingdom of God is among us, including every believer no matter what culture or social class.  The miracle is happening this very moment.

This is one of my favorite spring flowers, bursting froth from the brown bark, without leaves!  This is a statement of resurrection, unexpected but real.

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”  “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”  But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

Matthew 27:11 – 14

The time had come for the Roman rulers of Judea and the leaders of the Jews to come together to confront Jesus.  It was a hastily arranged meeting, not the typical Roman trial. The Jews obviously told Pilate that Jesus claimed to be the “king of the Jews.”  I have no idea what they meant.  The Jews did not have a king for many, many years, and were at the time subservient to Rome.  Furthermore, we have no record that Jesus ever claimed to be a secular king.

So, to satisfy the Jews, Pilate asked Jesus in the presence of the Jewish accusers, “Are you the king of the Jews?”  What could Jesus say?  He did not come to earth to be an earthly “King.”  So, he simply shrugged of the absurd question.  Pilate then asked, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”  Jesus did not even try to explain that he came to establish the Kingdom of God, not a political kingdom.  Pilate had no way of understanding that.  So, Jesus said nothing.  What could he say?

I recall Jesus words, “My kingdom is not of this world.”  John 18:36  He spoke often and in great detail about that kingdom.  He had no intention of re-establishing the Kingdom of Israel.

As Isaiah prophesied, “It is too small a thing for you to… restore the tribes of Jacob…I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” 49:6

Two thousand years have passed since this scene.  The Kingdom of God is spreading around the world without regard to secular kingdoms at all.  This is a new thing!  Rejoice and be glad.