QT 31/01/2024 Wednesday Matthew 27. Recognise & Obey. 认清及顺服。
QT 31/01/2024 Wednesday Matthew 27
http://www.esvbible.org/matt27
Many testified for Jesus. Matt 27 continues this trend.
Even Judas recognised Jesus' sinlessness (Matt 27:4);
The prophets (Jeremiah & Zechariah) are cited again (Matt 27:9-10), referring to Jesus' suffering;
The wife of Pilate also referred to Jesus as "that righteous man" (Matt 27:19), referring to Jesus' impeccable life (see also Matt 4 devotion);
Pilate recognised that the crowd handed Jesus over "out of envy" rather than being guilty of crime (Matt 27:18). He even asked, "Why? What evil has he done?" (Matt 27:23). The trial judge literally "washed his hands before the crowd" (Matt 27:24);
Even in the Roman Praetorium (Matt 27:27), he wore the "SCARLET robe" of a king (Matt 27:28), wore "a CROWN of thorns" and addressed as "KING of the Jews" (Matt 27:29). Mis-trial & the wrong motives aside, the accessories WERE fit for Jesus, who was truly king!
Even the sign above Jesus head spoke the TRUTH, "THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS" (Matt 27:37);
The cherubim guarded mankind's access to God (Gen 3:24) & their representations were also woven into the inner curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Exo 26:31). Upon Jesus' death, "at that moment" (Matt 27:51), that inner curtain "was TORN in two from top to bottom", silently speaking of the effective work of Jesus as regards mankind's unhindered access to God again (Matt 27:51).
The resurrection of the dead "holy people" (Matt 27:52) testified to the life giving power of Jesus' death. The tombs "broke open" (Matt 27:52). Death was defeated by the life giving Jesus Christ.
Even the Roman centurion executioner in-charge blurted out, "Truly this was the Son of God" (Matt 27:54).
REFLECTION (1): Are you already convinced that Jesus IS the Son of God and the Messiah that has come?
REFLECTION (2): Do you also RECOGNISE this AUTHORITY vested in Him and endorsed by the Heavenly Father?
REFLECTION (3): Are you ready to obey WHATEVER Jesus says in view of His authority to COMMAND YOU?
星期三 2024年1月31日 今日读经：马太福音27章
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Mat/27/
许多人为耶稣作见证。太27也持续了这个趋势。
就连犹大也承认耶稣是无罪的(太27:4)；
先知(耶利米和撒迦利亚)又再次被提到(太27:9-10)，说的是耶稣所受的苦；
彼拉多的夫人也称耶稣是“义人”(太27:19)，所指的是耶稣无懈可击的生活(也见太4的灵修);
彼拉多知道众人把耶稣交出是出于“嫉妒”而不是因为犯罪(太27:18)。他甚至问，“为什么呢？他作了什么恶事呢？”(太27:23)。那审判官还“拿水在群众面前洗手”(太27:24);
甚至到了罗马人的总督府(太27:27),他穿着那国王的“朱红色的外袍”(太27:28)，戴着“用荆棘编成的冠冕”并被称作“犹太人的王”(太27:29)。把误审和不良动机撇一边不说，这些饰物都是耶稣配得的，因祂就是王！
就连耶稣头上的那块牌子也说出了事实，“这是犹太人的王耶稣”。(太27:37);
那基路伯守住了通往神的门(创3：24)，象征基路伯的图案也绣在隔开圣所和至圣所的幔幕上(出26:31)。耶稣死时，就在那一刻(太27:51)，“圣所里的幔子从上到下裂成两半”，默默诉说着耶稣的工作已完成，人又可再次没有阻隔地通往神那里(太27:51)。
死去的“圣徒”的身体复活(太27:52)，见证了耶稣的死给予人生命。坟墓“开了”(太27:52)。死亡被给予生命的耶稣击败了。
就连负责执行斩首的罗马百夫长也忍不住说道：“这个人真是神的儿子”(太27:54)。
反思(1):你是否深信耶稣就是已经来到的神的儿子和弥赛亚？
反思(2):你是否也认清天上的父所赋予祂的权柄？
反思(3):耶稣有权柄命令你，你是否预备好顺服祂所说的一切？
