Our King: Remembering His Death and Resurrection |
by the Editor |
We remember at this time of year the heroic and selfless actions of our King, the Son of God. Eostre (Easter) is not the appropriate name for us remembering our King's death and resurrection as Eostre is a pagan fertility Goddess. It just so happens this year that the memorial of our Saviour's death and resurrection and the Eostre celebration are happing around the same time, but some years they don't. Many know our King as Jesus Christ, although I have seen arguments that Joshua the Messiah is an accurate English translation. We should remember the agonising death He suffered to benefit us. I also like to think of the joy that the Messiah must have felt when He was awakened from death. Imagine how He must have felt knowing He had done the job, defeated the devil and that now God's children have a road home from sin. Imagine His joy at knowing He would soon return to His Father. Imagine that joyful and triumphant reunion in Heaven. I have quoted some scripture below for you to read: Matthew Chapter 26: 1 And it came to passe, when Iesus had finished al these sayings, hee said vnto his disciples, 2 Ye know that after two dayes is the feast of the Passeouer, and the Sonne of man is betrayed to be crucified. 3 Then assembled together the chiefe Priests, and the Scribes, and the Elders of the people, vnto the palace of the high Priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 And consulted that they might take Iesus by subtiltie, and kill him. 5 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there bee an vproare among the people. 6 ¶ Now when Iesus was in Bethanie, in the house of Simon the leper, 7 There came vnto him a woman, hauing an alabaster boxe of very precious ointment, and powred it on his head, as he sate at meat. 8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? 9 For this ointment might haue bin sold for much, and giuen to the poore. 10 When Iesus vnderstood it, he said vnto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good worke vpon me. 11 For ye haue the poore alwayes with you, but me ye haue not alwayes. 12 For in that she hath powred this ointment on my body, shee did it for my buriall. 13 Uerely I say vnto you, Wheresoeuer this Gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memoriall of her. 14 ¶ Then one of the twelue, called Iudas Iscariot, went vnto the chiefe Priests, 15 And said vnto them, What will ye giue me, and I will deliuer him vnto you? and they couenanted with him for thirtie pieces of siluer. 16 And from that time he sought opportunitie to betray him. 17 ¶ Now the first day of the feast of vnleauened bread, the disciples came to Iesus, saying vnto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passeouer? 18 And he said, Goe into the citie to such a man, and say vnto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand, I will keepe the Passeouer at thy house with my disciples. 19 And the disciples did, as Iesus had appointed them, and they made ready the Passeouer. 20 Now when the euen was come, he sate downe with the twelue. 21 And as they did eate, he said, Uerely I say vnto you, that one of you shal betray me. 22 And they were exceeding sorowfull, and began euery one of them to say vnto him, Lord, Is it I? 23 And he answered and said, Hee that dippeth his hand with mee in the dish, the same shall betray me. 24 The sonne of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe vnto that man by whom the sonne of man is betrayed: It had bin good for that man, if hee had not bene borne. 25 Then Iudas, which betrayed him, answered, and said, Master, Is it I? He said vnto him, Thou hast said. 26 ¶ And as they were eating, Iesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gaue it to the Disciples, and said, Take, eate, this is my body. 27 And he tooke the cup, and gaue thankes, and gaue it to them, saying, Drinke ye all of it: 28 For this is my blood of the new Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes. 29 But I say vnto you, I will not drinke henceforth of this fruite of the vine, vntill that day when I drinke it new with you in my fathers kingdom. 30 And when they had sung an hymne, they went out into the mount of Oliues. 31 Then saith Iesus vnto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night, For it is written, I will smite the Shepheard, and the sheepe of the flocke shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen againe, I will goe before you into Galilee. 33 Peter answered, and said vnto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I neuer be offended. 34 Iesus said vnto him, Uerily I say vnto thee, that this might before the cocke crow, thou shalt denie me thrise. 35 Peter said vnto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not denie thee. Likewise also said all the Disciples. 36 ¶ Then commeth Iesus with them vnto a place called Gethsemane, and saith vnto the Disciples, Sit yee heere, while I goe and pray yonder. 37 And hee tooke with him Peter, and the two sonnes of Zebedee, and beganne to be sorrowful, and very heauie. 38 Then saith he vnto them, My soule is exceeding sorrowfull, euen vnto death: tary ye heere, & watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my father, if it be possible, let this cup passe from me: neuerthelesse, not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40 And he commeth vnto the Disciples, and findeth them asleepe, and saith vnto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one houre? 41 Watch and pray, that yee enter not into temptation: The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weake. 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my father, if this cup may not passe away from me, except I drinke it, thy will be done. 43 And he came and found them asleep againe: For their eies were heauie. 44 And he left them, and went away againe, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then commeth he to his Disciples, and saith vnto them, Sleepe on now, and take your rest, behold, the houre is at hand, and the sonne of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let vs be going: behold, he is at hand that doeth betray me. 47 ¶ And while yet spake, loe, Iudas one of the twelue came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staues from the chiefe Priests and Elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him, gaue them a signe, saying, Whomsoeuer I shall kisse, that same is he, hold him fast. 49 And forthwith hee came to Iesus, and said, Haile master, and kissed him. 50 And Iesus said vnto him, Friend, Wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid handes on Iesus, and tooke him. 51 And behold, one of them which were with Iesus, stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and stroke a seruant of the high Priests, and smote off his eare. 52 Then said Iesus vnto him, Put vp againe thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword, shall perish with the sword. 53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my father, and he shall presently giue me more then twelue legions of Angels? 54 But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? 55 In that same houre said Iesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thiefe with swords and staues for to take mee? I sate daily with you teaching in the Temple, and ye laide no hold on me. 56 But all this was done, that the Scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the Disciples forsooke him, and fled: 57 ¶ And they that had laid hold on Iesus, led him away to Caiaphas the high Priest, where the Scribes and the Elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed him afarre off, vnto the high Priests palace, and went in, and sate with the seruants to see the end. 59 Now the chiefe Priests and Elders, and all the councell, sought false witnesse against Iesus to put him to death, 60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the Temple of God, and to build it in three dayes. 62 And the high Priest arose, and said vnto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it, which these witnesse against thee? 63 But Iesus held his peace. And the high Priest answered, and said vnto him, I adiure thee by the liuing God, that thou tell vs, whether thou bee the Christ the Sonne of God. 64 Iesus saith vnto him, Thou hast saide: Neuerthelesse I say vnto you, Hereafter shall yee see the Sonne of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heauen. 65 Then the high Priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemie: what further need haue wee of witnesses? Behold, now ye haue heard his blasphemie. 66 What thinke ye? They answered and said, He is guiltie of death. 67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him, and others smote him with the palmes of their hands, 68 Saying, Prophecie vnto vs, thou Christ, who is he that smote thee? 69 ¶ Now Peter sate without in the palace: and a damosell came vnto him, saying, Thou also wast with Iesus of Galilee. 70 But hee denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou saiest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maide saw him, and saide vnto them that were there, This fellow was also with Iesus of Nazareth. 72 And againe hee denied with an oath, I doe not know the man. 73 And after a while came vnto him they that stood by, and saide to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them, for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then beganne hee to curse and to sweare, saying, I know not the man. And immediatly the cocke crew. 75 And Peter remembred the words of Iesus, which said vnto him, Before the cocke crow, thou shalt denie mee thrice. And hee went out, and wept bitterly. Matthew Chapter 27: 1 When the morning was come, all the chiefe Priests and Elders of the people, tooke counsell against Iesus to put him to death. 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and deliuered him to Pontius Pilate the gouernour. 3 ¶ Then Iudas, which had betraied him, when he saw that hee was condemned, repented himselfe, and brought againe the thirtie pieces of siluer to the chiefe Priests and Elders, 4 Saying, I haue sinned, in that I haue betraied the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to vs? see thou to that. 5 And hee cast downe the pieces of siluer in the Temple, and departed, and went and hanged himselfe. 6 And the chiefe Priests tooke the siluer pieces, and said, It is not lawfull for to put them into the treasurie, because it is the price of blood. 7 And they tooke counsell, and bought with them the potters field, to burie strangers in. 8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood vnto this day. 9 (Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Ieremie the Prophet, saying, And they tooke the thirtie pieces of siluer, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value: 10 And gaue them for the potters field, as the Lord appointed me.) 11 And Iesus stood before the gouernour, and the gouernour asked him, saying; Art thou the King of the Iewes? And Iesus sayd vnto him, Thou sayest. 12 And when hee was accused of the chiefe Priests and Elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then saith Pilate vnto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witnesse against thee? 14 And he answered him to neuer a word: insomuch that the Gouernour marueiled greatly. 15 Now at that feast the Gouernor was woont to release vnto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said vnto them, Whom will ye that I release vnto you? Barabbas, or Iesus, which is called Christ? 18 For hee knew that for enuie they had deliuered him. 19 ¶ When he was set downe on the Iudgement seate, his wife sent vnto him, saying, Haue thou nothing to doe with that iust man: for I haue suffered many things this day in a dreame, because of him. 20 But the chiefe Priestes and Elders perswaded the multitude that they should aske Barabbas, & destroy Iesus. 21 The Gouernour answered, and said vnto them, Whether of the twaine will ye that I release vnto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate said vnto them, What shall I doe then with Iesus, which is called Christ? They all sayde vnto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the Gouernour said, Why, what euil hath he done? But they cried out þe more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 ¶ When Pilate saw that he could preuaile nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, hee tooke water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this iust person: see yee to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on vs, and on our children. 26 ¶ Then released hee Barabbas vnto them, and when he had scourged Iesus, he deliuered him to be crucified. 27 Then the souldiers of the Gouernour tooke Iesus into the common hall, and gathered vnto him the whole band of souldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 ¶ And when they had platted a crowne of thornes, they put it vpon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Haile king of the Iewes. 30 And they spit vpon him, and tooke the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they tooke the robe off from him, and put his owne raiment on him, and led him away to crucifie him. 32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to beare his Crosse. 33 And when they were come vnto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34 ¶ They gaue him vineger to drinke, mingled with gall: and when hee had tasted thereof, hee would not drinke. 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet, They parted my garments among them, and vpon my vesture did they cast lots. 36 And sitting downe, they watched him there: 37 And set vp ouer his head, his accusation written, THIS IS IESVS THE KING OF THE IEWES. 38 Then were there two theeues crucified with him: one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 ¶ And they that passed by, reuiled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the Temple, & buildest it in three dayes, saue thy selfe: If thou be the Sonne of God, come downe from the Crosse. 41 Likewise also the chiefe Priests mocking him, with the Scribes and Elders, said, 42 He saued others, himselfe he cannot saue: If he be the King of Israel, let him now come downe from the Crosse, and we will beleeue him. 43 He trusted in God, let him deliuer him now if hee will haue him: for he said, I am the Sonne of God. 44 The thieues also which were crucified with him, cast þe same in his teeth. 45 Now from the sixth houre there was darkenesse ouer all the land vnto the ninth houre. 46 And about the ninth houre, Iesus cried with a loud voyce, saying, Eli, Eli, Lamasabachthani, that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken mee? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and tooke a spunge, and filled it with vineger, and put it on a reede, and gaue him to drinke. 49 The rest said, Let bee, let vs see whether Elias will come to saue him. 50 ¶ Iesus, when hee had cried againe with a loud voice, yeelded vp the ghost. 51 And behold, the vaile of the Temple was rent in twaine, from the top to the bottome, and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent. 52 And the graues were opened, and many bodies of Saints which slept, arose, 53 And came out of the graues after his resurrection, and went into the holy citie, and appeared vnto many. 54 Now when the Centurion, and they that were with him, watching Iesus, saw the earthquake, & those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truely this was the Son of God. 55 And many women were there (beholding afarre off) which followed Iesus from Galilee, ministring vnto him. 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, & Mary the mother of Iames and Ioses, and the mother of Zebedees children. 57 When the Euen was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Ioseph, who also himselfe was Iesus disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Iesus: then Pilate commanded the body to be deliuered. 59 And when Ioseph had taken the body, hee wrapped it in a cleane linnen cloth, 60 And laide it in his owne newe tombe, which he had hewen out in the rocke: and he rolled a great stone to the doore of the sepulchre, and departed. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting ouer against the sepulchre. 62 ¶ Now the next day that followed the day of the preparation, the chiefe Priests and Pharisees came together vnto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiuer said, while he was yet aliue, After three daies I wil rise againe. 64 Command therfore that the sepulchre be made sure, vntill the third day, lest his disciples come by night, & steale him away, and say vnto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last errour shalbe worse then the first. 65 Pilate said vnto them, Yee haue a watch, goe your way, make it as sure as you can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. Matthew Chapter 28: 1 In the ende of the Sabbath, as it began to dawne towards the first day of the weeke, came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord descended from heauen, and came and rolled backe the stone from the doore, and sate vpon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snowe. 4 And for feare of him, the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the Angel answered, and said vnto the women, Feare not ye: for I know that ye seeke Iesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as hee said: Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And goe quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. And behold, hee goeth before you into Galilee, there shall ye see him: loe, I haue told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre, with feare and great ioy, and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 ¶ And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Iesus met them, saying, All haile. And they came, and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Iesus vnto them, Be not afraid: Goe tell my brethren that they goe into Galilee, and there shall they see me. 11 ¶ Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the citie, and shewed vnto the chiefe Priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the Elders, and had taken counsell, they gaue large money vnto the souldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the gouernours eares, wee will perswade him, and secure you. 15 So they tooke the money, and did as they were taught. And this saying is commonly reported among the Iewes vntill this day. 16 ¶ Then the eleuen disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountaine where Iesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Iesus came, and spake vnto them, saying, All power is giuen vnto me in heauen and in earth. 19 ¶ Goe ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to obserue all things, whatsoeuer I haue commanded you: and loe, I am with you alway, euen vnto the end of the world. Amen. King James 1611 Version Please think on these scriptures. Without this humble, selfless and heroic action we would all be doomed. This all links back to what happened in the Garden of Eden. You can read more about how the sinful rebellion started in these articles. The Saviour redressed this by His sinless life being sacrificed. If He had done one thing wrong we'd have been done for, if He'd have not given His life we'd have been done for. He has done something for us we can never repay (there will now be those who will live forever, but we can never repay this huge gift, we should humbly and gratefully accept this gift too like a child does), but we should give Him and our loving God our love, thanks and respect eternally. |