02 October 2016
Two-Minute Features | 09 October 2016

Isaiah 53- Jesus Was Crucified an Innocent Man (TMF:510)

Friday, October 07, 2016
Peace to Live By: Isaiah 53- Jesus Was Crucified an Innocent Man (TMF:510) - Daniel Litton
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       But as Isaiah tells us, and as Matthew, Luke, and John confirm in their Gospels, the tomb in which Jesus’ body was laid was a ‘new’ tomb. But Isaiah tells us that apparently in the garden near the cross were buried other wicked men, and a rich man. The Gospels do not confirm this, but we know it’s true since God has said it in his Word. And again, the irony behind Jesus’ Roman execution was the fact that “he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth,” as Isaiah said. Jesus wasn’t guilty like Barabbas, the robber and murder that had led a rebellion in Israel sometime earlier (see Luke 23:18 & John 18:40). The Jews requested of Pilate that Barabbas be released instead of Jesus, and that Jesus be condemned to death. Mark, in his Gospel, blamed the release on Pilate, for really too it was Pilate’s decision (see Mark 15:15). He didn’t have to release Barabbas. Again, this just another reason why the condemnation of this generation of time will be greater than those in other times, like during the time Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God. So God crushed Jesus in the execution, putting him through grief.

Isaiah 53- Jesus Was Buried in the Garden (TMF:509)

Thursday, October 06, 2016
Peace to Live By: Isaiah 53- Jesus Was Buried in the Garden (TMF:509) - Daniel Litton
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       The next part of the passage states, “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt”” (Isaiah 53:9, 10a, ESV). We know from Matthew, Mark, & Luke’s Gospels that Joseph of Arimathea was the one who cared for Jesus body after he died, and he put it in his own tomb. Now this man from Arimathea named Joseph was a rich man, and we really don’t know if he had purchased the tomb literally for himself, or for someone else in his family. It was probably for himself, and he decides to use his tomb for Jesus. But as Isaiah tells us, and as Matthew, Luke, and John confirm in their Gospels, the tomb in which Jesus’ body was laid was a ‘new’ tomb. But Isaiah tells us that apparently in the garden near the cross were buried other wicked men, and a rich man. The Gospels do not confirm this, but we know it’s true since God has said it in his Word.

Isaiah 53- The Israelities Didn't Understand (TMF:508)

Wednesday, October 05, 2016
Peace to Live By: Isaiah 53- The Israelities Didn't Understand (TMF:508) - Daniel Litton
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       Now, we read, “and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?” (Isaiah 53:8bc, ESV). Here again, the fact is pointed out that many of Israelites, most as a whole, didn’t understand that Jesus was the Messiah, the one they were supposed to be waiting for. Note here the Jesus died first for the Jewish people—God’s chosen people—as the passage states. But, obviously, we Gentiles are also offered God’s salvation. Some theologians believe that because the Israelites saw Jesus’ miracles, and all the things he did, since they walked with him—that they are more responsible for their disbelief, and will face further punishment. As a matter of fact, Jesus himself talked about this fact in Matthew 11 and Luke 10. And some even point to the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit as only being possible for the people of Christ’s generation since they saw his works.

Isaiah 53- Jesus Did Not Fight Back (TMF:507)

Tuesday, October 04, 2016
Peace to Live By: Isaiah 53- Jesus Did Not Fight Back (TMF:507) - Daniel Litton
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       Continuing in Isaiah, we read, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away” (Isaiah 53:6-8a, ESV). Even though Jesus was oppressed and afflicted in his journey to the cross, we know from reading the Gospels that Jesus did not fight back, nor did he speak a word against his accusers or punishers. God, writing through Isaiah, says “like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” The animal doesn’t realize what is going on. In Jesus’ case, though, he knew exact what was going to happen—for he had told his disciples on multiple occasions what was going to happen to him. But the point here is that Jesus did not talk back. And this is an example we can all learn from. So, Jesus was lead to his accusers by both the oppression of the Israelites and the judgment of God, for he was paying for our sins.

Isaiah 53- Every Sin Can Be Forgiven By God (TMF:506)

Monday, October 03, 2016
Peace to Live By: Isaiah 53- Every Sin Can Be Forgiven By God (TMF:506) - Daniel Litton
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       But when we correct ourselves or are corrected by God, we repent of the sin. The Apostle John tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, ESV). Indeed, this is a continual process—for Jesus said and taught his disciples in the Lord’s Prayer to daily say to God, “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12, ESV). But every sin that we commit in our lives can be forgiven by God no matter what, as long as we turn from it and repent. If there was a sin that could separate us from God again, then wouldn’t Satan just focus on trying to get us to commit that sin? Or, look at it this way. Before God saved us he knew the things we would do, as a Christian, for he knows the future. If there was an unpardonable sin we could commit, and we did commit it, then why did God save us to begin with? No, all sins can be forgiven.