30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 23 06-17 THE LORD WATCHES 02 Luke 23 06-09 God’s purpose through His church
📖 Luke 23:6-17
Tue16Nov2021 – God’s purpose through the church - Luke 23:06-17 - THE LORD WATCHES (02) - Bible reading: Acts 8:32-35
The Lord has provided all the resources for us to live a victorious life. In us, there is nothing good. We, in our own strength, cannot please God. In the fullness of the Holy Spirit, we can live a life of glory.
Luke 23:6-9 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. (7) And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. (8) Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. (9) Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.
We have seen some background about Herod. Herod was interested only to be entertained by Jesus. Jesus did not answer Herod, which was how the Lord was, largely, throughout this trial.
This matter of Jesus being silent was the prophecy that was given regarding our Lord.
Isaiah 53:7-8 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. (8) He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
This prophecy was being fulfilled as the Lord underwent this mockery of a trial.
Even this matter of Jesus being silent, at the time of His trial, has had a tremendous impact in history.
Acts 8:32-35 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO THE SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH . (33) IN HIS HUMILIATION HIS JUSTICE WAS TAKEN AWAY, AND WHO WILL DECLARE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS TAKEN FROM THE EARTH." (34) So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" (35) Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
The Ethiopian Eunuch was reading this very same portion of scripture of Jesus being silent and he was captivated. He wanted to know who was being spoken of by the prophet. Philip began at the very same scripture passage and introduced Jesus to the Eunuch. We then know of his conversion, baptism and of him returning joyfully to his country.
God’s ways are far higher than ours, and Jesus being silent at the time of His trial was also a part of His message to the world, over generations.
The lesson for us is that we need not be troubled. We can entrust our lives, entirely into our Lord’s hands and we need not try to defend ourselves from the world that mocks and flings accusations against the church.
The world is making much noise against the church. They want to clamp down the voice of the church. We live in such times, when persecution against the church, worldwide, has increased manifold. Here we see a demonstration, from our Lord, as to how we must respond.
I Peter 2:21-24 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: (22) "WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH"; (23) who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; (24) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
We are living in this world not to save ourselves but to commit ourselves to Him who judges righteously.
Mark 8:35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.
We are here on earth to be a blessing to the world, which is hurtling towards an eternity of torment in hell. The world is not aware, where they are heading but our task, as the church, is to warn people and rescue people from perishing in the lake of fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels.
Romans 8:31-39 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (32) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (33) Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. (34) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written: "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER." (37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (38) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord .
This understanding must permeate and soak us, as the church, in the end times. This is in order that we can accomplish God’s purpose through us.
Thought to ponder
Are you rested in the Lord or are you anxious?