KEY SCRIPTURE: John 19:40 KJV” Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.”

After the death of Jesus on the cross, His body had to be taken from the cross embalmed, nicely wrapped in a linen cloth, and then a tomb well prepared for burial. These were different processes that needed to be done by various persons to the body of Christ. If any of them failed to play his or her role, some big gap would have been created in the process leading to the burial of the body of the Lord.

There is always a kind of work that has to be done for the body of Christ. The general task available to be done for the body of Christ is to win more people to increase the building or forming of His body on the earth. The following is a scriptural presentation of such a work. Ephesians:4 The Passion Translation.

 [16] For his “body” has been formed in his image and is closely joined together and constantly connected as one. Every member has been given divine gifts to contribute to the growth of all; and as these gifts operate effectively throughout the whole body, to finally   build up and make perfect in love.” This is the task for all. Everyone. must play His role. The scripture says we are made perfect in love.

It is rather unfortunate when children of God see the church as a place of going to receive blessings only. Well, we received so we could work along with it. Just as our key scripture says, various things had to be done to the body of Christ before it was laid to rest, we must play our part to the body of Christ.

God has placed certain men and women in the church to help in the training or perfecting of the saints to do work in the body of Christ. Eph 4:11,12 KJV “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

 It is the church or members of the body of Christ that is perfected by these special gifts of God, to do the work of the ministry, which would eventually raise or build up the body of Christ.

What is the work of the ministry? This is to win souls for Christ and to establish them to be disciples of Christ. Remember that one becomes a disciple when he becomes stabilised in the faith, has an ongoing commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and has developed the basic disciplines of Christian living and service, so that the lifelong maturing process, is guaranteed as much as is humanly possible.

Dear one, this is the work of God, and you are being raised to do it. Make yourself available to do your part.

THOUGHT: GOD HAS EQUIPPED EVERYONE WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES, GIVE YOURSELF OVER TO BE USED

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 12:4 KJV” For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

John 15:16 KJV” Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

KEY SCRIPTURE; John 19:39 KJV” And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.”

Once again, we consider events about Jesus’ death. It is very important to establish the fact that He died. According to the bible, without Jesus dying, no one would be saved.

This time, Nicodemus, a religious leader brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about a hundred pounds. This was used to embalm His body from early decay. During such an embalming the whole body is covered with the mixture Now consider a hundred-pound weight of substance used to cover the whole body. In such a case if Jesus did not die on the cross, He could never have survived a hundred-pound substance used to cover the whole body.

In Rev 1:18, our Lord Jesus said ” I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death.” He said He died, but He has been raised back to life. “Jesus Himself tells John that He died, but was raised back into life, never to die again. Some religious group teaches it was somebody else, precisely Judas who was crucified. John said He stood by the cross and saw all that went on. I am emphasising again; the fact of His death would help anyone who has been taught that Jesus did not die. Our Lord Jesus died indeed, yet He was raised back to life by the Holy Spirit of God. His death brought anyone who believes in Him, from death to life.

Now because Jesus died, your sins have been washed away. You have also passed from death to life. Dear one if you were taught Jesus did not die then today take this great opportunity and surrender your life to Him and be born again.

THOUGHT: HIS DEATH ENDED SATAN’S LEGAL RIGHT TO HOLD MEN CAPTIVE.

FURTHER STUDIES

2Tim 1:10 KJV” But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”

1Co 1:23 KJV “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 19:38 KJV.  ” And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came, therefore, and took the body of Jesus.”

In our previous study, we learned that Joseph of Arimathaea brought his service out of his great love for the master. We also learned that it is our love for the Master that makes us known by Him or makes our service acceptable to Him.

How can one grow in our love for the master? Love is a product of quality fellowship. When we fellowship through prayer, studying the Word, and practicing the Word, we get to know the Lord more intimately. This helps our love for Him to grow.

Another aspect of appreciating Him is knowing His mighty grace shown to us. We can see that in the following verse;

Eph 1:3 TPT. ” Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus—all because he sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts!” In the teaching of God’s grace, we come to terms with so much favour lavished on us. We have become co-heirs with Jesus.

Jesus said a man would love according to the weight of offense that he or she has been forgiven.

Luke 7:47 KJV. ” Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

His forgiveness reveals an aspect of the grace of God that shows the depth of God’s love for us. This automatically causes us to appreciate him more and makes us offer ourselves to him in love.

 THOUGHT: OUR LOVE FOR JESUS GROWS WHEN WE KNOW HIM THE MORE.

FURTHER STUDIES:

2nd Corinthians 5:14 TPT. “For it is Christ’s love that fuels our passion and holds us tightly because we are convinced that he has given his life for all of us. This means all died with him, “

2nd Peter 1:2 KJV. ”  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 19:38 KJV. “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came, therefore, and took the body of Jesus.”

Joseph of Arimathea was an unknown disciple of Jesus. I believe He was a man of great influence among the people, and so out of fear for the popular view of the religious leaders, he kept his commitment to Jesus on the lower side. He did not come to the limelight, but when it was time for such a man of influence to show up, he was available to contact Pilate for the body of Jesus.

Dear child of God, no one in the body of Christ is less significant. You are very important, and your role is very important.

Please let’s consider what God says about our unique roles in the body of Christ.

Rom 12:4 KJV “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:” How can the body of Christ benefit from your unique role?

It is our love and personal devotion to the Lord that makes us offer ourselves for Him to make use of us. It all begins with your devotion. Your times of prayer, reading, and studying the word, as well as fasting and sacrificial giving unto God. These acts open you up to your special unique gifting to bless the body of Christ.

Joseph of Arimathea was not in the limelight, but he was known to the Lord. He loved Him and might have been secretly following the master. I believe he was in most of His meetings.  Without a personal devotion to God, your service to God will not be genuine.

 The issue is not about how much you are known by others, but how much the Lord knows you.

It is your sincere love for Jesus that registers you among the list of people the Lord knows. 1Co 8:2,3 KJV “And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing as he ought to know. But if any man loves God, the same is known of him.”

 Repent from any selfish way and love the Lord in truth.

 THOUGHT: YOUR LOVE FOR JESUS OPENS YOU UP TO OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE HIM.

FURTHER STUDIES

2Corinth 5:14 KJV. ” For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:”

Luke 7:47 KJV. “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 19:36 KJV “For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.”

Our Lord Jesus is the living word of God. He practically demonstrated the scriptures. The legs of the Lord were not supposed to be broken because it was a prophetic word.  That his legs would not be broken. Psalms 34:20 How can we make God’s word function and manifest in our lives?

Our lives are directed and controlled by the words of our mouths. The Lord taught that we receive what we say and believe (Mark 11:23).

The next thing that controls our life is the consistent and violent prayers that we offer unto the Lord continually.

Heb 5:7 KJV” Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared;”

The Lord ensured that His future and all that the Father had said about Him was established because He diligently endeared Himself in a consistent violent prayer life. Please note these words CONSISTENT, VIOLENT, and PRAYER. This is exactly what the Lord Jesus did.

Pattern your life after this order. Remember that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available, dynamic in its working.” James 5:16 AMPC. Your prayers are not empty or a waste of time. They are establishing for you a very secure future. The scripture says, “Come boldly to the throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy to find grace to help in the time of need.” (Heb 4:16)

Now, in addition to a life of prayer, you must speak out the promises or prophecies of scripture concerning your victory and stability.

Please, religion, which is men trying to do certain practices and beliefs to be acceptable before God, teaches that we either fail or win. It is in God’s hands. Please, this is a teaching from human traditions. Please listen to the truth. We are representatives of Jesus.

Jesus is forever victorious and can never know failure. We can’t be defeated because we are reflecting His victory. Any failure on our part means we dissociated ourselves from Him through fear or unbelief.

Use the words of scripture to wage good warfare. (1 Tim 1:18)

THOUGHT: MAKE USE OF THE WORD, TO MAKE THE WORD WORK IN YOU

FURTHER STUDIES

1Tim 1:18 KJV “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;”

Heb 4:16 KJV” Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 19:35 KJV “And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.”

Our key scripture tells us that John who recorded the events of Christ’s death, was also a witness of all that happened. The scriptures are very reliable because they are inspired by God. The scriptures are not mechanically dictated but are a collaboration between men and God. The natural qualities of these men were not ignored. The Bible is filled with lots of incredible things that call on men to believe and respond to it, to receive all that it has promised men. The birth of our Lord Jesus, the many miracles wrought by Jesus, the dividing of the Red Sea, and water coming out of stone, are all incredible things that reveal God’s power. To enjoy the power of God through the scriptures, one must be very humble and always approach the scriptures as God’s breath given to us to perfect us in this life.

The mistake certain people make is that they do not see the scriptures as a collaboration between God and men. The aim of God is for men to focus on the divine or supernatural part, because in the mind of God, the scriptures are His means of reaching men, yet He uses human instruments to record or write them.

Please let’s consider the following incident in scripture. In Joshua 10:1-12, five Kings gathered together to attack the people of Gibeon, who had entered into a covenant with Israel. Israel led by Joshua stood by the Gibeonites to fight the Amorites and the other kingdom. As they battled, these Kings were being defeated, but the night was setting in. Joshua prayed to God as follows. Jos 10:12 KJV” Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon”. Joshua asked the sun to stand still, yet In practice, the sun is already fixed in space. It is the earth that rotates and revolves around the sun. That day, the night did not show up because the ‘ sun stood still’, in Joshua’s understanding. It was the earth that stood still. Was Joshua or the Holy Ghost wrong? No. God was using men, to communicate His works, yet He used Joshua’s understanding at that time to communicate His power. If anyone would seek to find faults, then he would miss God and would not encounter the blessings and power of God.1Co 1:27 KJV” But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” Dear child of God, let no man deceive or confuse you, concerning the scriptures.

THOUGHT: RECEIVE WITH MEEKNESS, THE ENGRAFTED WORD.

FURTHER STUDIES

Tit 3:9 KJV” But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.”

James 4:6 KJV “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

KEY SCRIPTURE; John 19:35 KJV “And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.”

The Bible has come to us through various accounts or sources. Some accounts were recorded through a divine revelation as Moses did for the creation of the earth. Luke the recorder of the books of Luke and Acts of the Apostle said the following about how He developed his first book. Luke 1:3 KJV” It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,” Luke says he put down His record by making contacts with those who were eyewitnesses of the events in Jesus’ day and therefore recorded the outcome of his findings. Could such a work be the word of God, yes. The inspiration of scripture wasn’t by a mechanical dictation by the Spirit of God. The recorders wrote with their backgrounds, yet the Spirit moved over them, assuring them to write. What God seeks to communicate to men who read the scriptures is the divine hand of God seen in these events.

John the Apostle who recorded the gospel of John, says he was an eyewitness of all that transpired during the passion of our Lord Jesus. John saw the trial of the master, He was there when the Lord carried his cross, he stood close to the cross when the Lord made various statements while hanging on the cross. He was there when the legs of the two prisoners beside Jesus were broken, Jesus’ legs were not broken, but a spear was pierced through His side, giving out water and blood.  John says he wrote the things he saw, and that makes an accurate recording of the events.

Dear one, the bible is a very reliable document that teaches us about, God, men, sin, and a whole lot of issues that if one is to pattern his life after, he would surely have a great life. The Bible teaches that the man who follows the instructions of scripture would be well furnished with every good thing. Anyone who has diligently followed the writings of scripture has experienced the very life and power that the scriptures talk about. You can never be miserable leading your life according to the word of God.

THOUGHT: THE LIFE OF GOD RUNS THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES

FURTHER STUDIES

2Tim 3:16, 17 KJV “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

2Pet 1:20,21 KJV” Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 19:34 KJV “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”

The evidence that our Lord Jesus died is very significant in the message of man’s redemption from sin and Satan’s power. If Jesus did not die, then there would not have been any resurrection, and we would all be in our sins. We are saved because our Lord Jesus died and paid for our sins. Some have argued that the Lord Jesus was not dead but was taken into the tomb in an unconscious state, which he later rose up and then went to India. All these are baseless lies purported to deceive weak-minded ones. Col 2:8 KJV “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Our key scripture states that a spear was pierced into His side, giving out water and blood. Before he was pierced the Jews, in the light of the high sabbath, should not have anyone hanging on the cross on the sabbath, which would have defiled the land. The crucificants’ legs had to be broken so they could not move their bodies up to take in air. This killed them quickly. They broke the first person’s legs, but when they got to Jesus, they realised He was already dead. The Roman soldier, to establish that He was dead indeed pierced His side with the spear he held. The spear pierced the Lord’s heart. The heart is surrounded by a membrane called the pericardium. This membrane contains a serious matter or liquor resembling water. It prevents the surface of the heart from becoming dry by its continual motion. It was this part that was pierced as well as the tip of the spear reaching the ventricles of the heart, giving out the blood with the waterlike substance from the pericardium. This showed that He was dead indeed.

The Lord died on the cross. His death fulfilled what many prophets of old had prophesied, hundreds or a thousand years before the appearance of Jesus. Apostle Paul wrote about it this way. 1Co 15:3,4 KJV” For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” All that Apostle Paul said is the message called the good news. Jesus died for our sins. It was through His death, that his blood washes away our sins. For one to be saved, you MUST believe that Jesus died for your sins and that He was raised to life on the third day. The next is to confess Him in truth as the Lord of your life. If you do this from a sincere heart you would be saved.

THOUGHT: YOU ARE LOST IN YOUR SINS IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS FOR YOUR SINS

FURTHER STUDIES

Gal 1:4 KJV “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”

Isa 53:6 KJV “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 19:30 KJV “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

The Lord successfully came to the end of His ministry on earth because He made up His to finish His task. He said from the beginning of His ministry that He was sent by the Father to do all that pleases Him, and to finish it. A man who has decided on what he or she wants, finds his energies focused on getting that particular thing done. Prov 13:19 KJV” The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.” It was a desire for the Lord to finish what He started, and so He eventually had His soul satisfied. Isaiah 53:11a says” He shall see the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied…” In Proverbs 13:19 b, the scripture says, it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.” As the wise focus on their task, the fool does not, rather he does not depart from his uncommitted life. At the end of the day, he has achieved nothing because he did not depart from his clueless life.

Some make great plans to get certain tasks done yet, at the end of the stipulated time, nothing is done, why? The Lord Jesus did not just desire to finish. He was passionate about finishing it. His constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit through His moments of prayer and meditation stirred up this resolve to stay on course. This is the way Apostle Paul explains his sustaining abilities. Philippians 3:13. I don’t depend on my strength to accomplish this; however, I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.” He says further,” I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory prize through the anointing of Jesus.”

Apostle Paul says he sees before him, a heavenly call, or a task given by God, and therefore, it demands the highest attention. Alongside the task from above, there is also a prize or reward for the one who finishes that heavenly call. In light of this, He presses hard to fulfill the call as well as win the prize. Apostle Paul also came to the end of His mission and said the following 2Tim 4:7 KJV” I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” He said, that because of this he would be crowned with the crown of righteousness. Dear one, what are you committed to? Do you have the prized glory before your eyes?

THOUGHT: THERE ARE ALWAYS TWO THINGS IN SIGHT: TO COMPLETE THE TASK AND TO WIN THE PRIZE

 FURTHER STUDIES

1Corinth 9:24 KJV “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

Philippians: 3:14″ I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.  Holy Bible (TPT) The Passion Translation

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 19:30 KJV” When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

There is a special joy that always comes along when a task is well executed. The bible said, He considered the joy that was set before Him and so went through all the pain. (Heb 12:2) He persisted through all the pain, shame, and every other thing that He had to endure. The Lord got His hands on the plough and would not look back as early as age twelve. Luke 2:49 KJV” And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” In John 4:34 He said,” My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

What made Him stay through such a task? We can get the answers from several statements He made.

1. He said His yoke was easy, and His burden was light because He was meek and lowly in heart. Matt 11:28. This means He chose to put down His egos and placed the Father’s will first. The Lord humbly submitted himself to the Father’s will.

2. He decided to please the Father who had sent Him. John 8:29″ And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”

3. In Luke 9:62, “He said the following “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” This statement was a guiding order that kept Him continually looking forward. It would have applied to Him, also, if He had looked back.

4 The Lord also made the following statement in Luke 14:26 as follows: “if any man would come after me, and does not hate His mother, father, sisters and brothers, wife or husband, children, and His very life he cannot be His disciple”. Once again, such words were guiding principles that controlled His actions.

5 Above all was His love for all men, who needed to be free from Satan’s bondage. It was this love that made Him bear the sins, shame, and sufferings of all men. John 3:16.

We can also learn the following from the master to keep us focused on any task that is given to us. We must love the Lord above ourselves and be ready to lay our lives for Him. May we learn this word of wisdom? Death is certain for most men. It is far better to choose to die honourably for Him than to die any other way, that would give no eternal reward for it.

The Lord kept making positive statements that impacted His actions so much. We must also make positive statements that show allegiance and submission to God.

God almighty is the ultimate and final judge of all our actions, and we will do so much good to and for ourselves to always please Him

THOUGHT: LIFE IS ONLY MEANINGFUL IF LIVED OUT FOR THE MANUFACTURER’S PURPOSE

FURTHER STUDIES

Luke 9:62 KJV:  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Heb 12:2 KJV” Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”