* SIGN OF THE TIMES: THE EXTRAORDINARY ACT

 

From the time that Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, humankind was separated from God.  For thousands of years.  From time to time God spoke into the world through some very special people called prophets, like Elijah and Elisha, but people were still separated from God.  They did not have a good future. 

All this changed when about two thousand years ago (actually sometime around 4 BC or a little before) the son of God came into the world in the form of a person called Jesus.  God was his father, and a human woman, Mary, was his mother.  He lived here about thirty three years, the last three of which he went about preaching, teaching, and healing.  And then at the end of that time he went to the cross to be crucified.

The religious leaders of his day in Jerusalem just could not abide what he was doing.  So they pressured the Roman government to crucify him, and in the end that is what happened.  Pilate, the Roman governor in charge, actually said he found no reason to crucify Jesus.  Pilate’s wife told him to have nothing to do with Jesus because she had suffered greatly because of Jesus in a dream.  Pilate and Jesus even had some meaningful conversation during which Jesus does affirm he is King of the Jews and that Pilate would have no power over him if it were not given to him from above.

But politics finally wins out – the local religious leaders pressured Pilate, even threatened him with how the emperor Ceasar might react. And Jesus is sent to the cross.  Even on the cross Pilate had a sign put above Jesus’ head that said the king of the Jews.

You know the rest of the event.  In not a very long time, Jesus died on the cross, was buried by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, and on the third day he rose from the dead.  He came back to life not just as a spirit but as a living, breathing body.  And over the course of several weeks he met with his disciples and appeared to others.  Then eventually as described in the first chapter of Acts he ascended to Heaven and left his believers here to spread the truth of the gospel.

What is the most important truth of that?  Jesus, the son of God, the son of man, took upon himself all our sins and served as the perfect sacrifice for humanity on that cross.  Nothing else could have done that.  His death there and his resurrection restored the way for people to God.  Anyone who realizes truly what Jesus did and asks for  and accepts his forgiveness and him as Lord of their life will be with him in Heaven and in the Kingdom of God.  In his own words, Jesus said he is the way, the truth, and the life.  He is.  He still is.

Currently Jesus sits at the right hand of God.  Soon, very very soon, he will be returning to collect his believers and the final seven year Tribulation will be underway.  At the end of that Jesus returns with his holy ones, wins the battle at Armageddon, and establishes his government in Jerusalem.  The physical Kingdom of God will be on earth and we believers will participate in that.

One of our short videos being watched around the word currently deals specifically with who Jesus is.  On X (Twitter) more than half a million have been to this specific post.  It is also on YOUTUBE.  To watch just click here for a direct connection to this JESUS video on our YOUTUBE site:

Episode 8 - JUST WHO IS THIS JESUS WHO IS COMING SO SOON? (youtube.com)

 

The only reason we have hope for the future is Jesus.

The only reason we have real joy is Jesus.

The only reason we have a good future is Jesus.

 

Always remember, the only thing that really matters is Jesus and your relationship with him.

 

March 2024

 

Copyright © 2024 by John Newlin

 

 

 

Please forward copies of this to whomever you would.

 

  

 

 

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS!

JOHN NEWLIN MINISTRIES
P O BOX 1038
CARY, NC 27518
https://johnnewlinministries.org
email: john@johnnewlinministries.org
Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin
Blog: johnnewlin.blogspot.com
tel 910 395 1465

* TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY - Rembrandt's RAISING OF THE CROSS

 

This is one of the great paintings from the Reformation.  Notice Christ on the cross being lifted up and put in place.  Notice the man at the foot of the cross wearing the beret.  That is Rembrandt.  He is putting Christ up on the cross.  He is putting it in place.

What is Rembrandt saying in this painting?  What is his message?  He is saying I put Christ on that cross.  My sins put him up there.  Rembrandt has recognized and painted the essential truth.  It is and was our sins that put Christ on the cross.  He went there to die for us, for you and me, to cover our sins. 

Because he lives – because he died the way he did and then rose from the dead - Jesus has earned for each true believer in him eternal life with him and his father.  He has earned forgiveness for each of us.  He overcame the world, and in him we do too.  Jesus did so many things I have written about before, but this is the key one – he reconciled human beings to God.  He took our sins upon himself and removed that unsolvable burden.  He gave us our lives again.

                                                                                                                                                                

 

                                                                                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2021 by John Newlin

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS!

P O Box 1038, Cary, NC 27512        910 395 1465      https://johnnewlinministries.org

           Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org       Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin     

                                        Blog:  johnnewlin.blogspot.com

 

 

* THE GREATEST MOMENT IN HUMAN HISTORY

 

We are at the time of the year when Christians boldly celebrate the single greatest moment in human history - the redemption of humanity, the reestablishment of a relationship between people and God for all those who want that relationship.

 

It is good to focus on a specific time every year to remember with special concentration and praise and gratitude this greatest gift imaginable.  For all who know Jesus as their Lord, it is the gift of hope and of a wonderful future.  It is the gift of expectation of a life with Jesus and the Father.  It is the gift of waiting for the blessed arrival of the Lord to collect his believers.

 

In chapter 10 of our book WAKE UP AMERICA! I wrote of many amazing things Jesus did, most of which were done by his going to and through the cross. Our CDs with the title WHAT DID JESUS DO? and our television programs by the title WHAT DID JESUS ACCOMPLISH? on both YOUTUBE and our website cover those amazing things. Past newsletters of December 2017, March 2014, and March 2008 cover this and can be found in the newsletter archives on the website.  I recommend your going to one of these sources to focus on all this again this Easter season. 

 

Several years ago I wrote an article which I have modified slightly below, and I think we need to read it now.  It deals specifically with some of the actual events of the crucifixion that not everyone knows.  I include it here for you as we again approach Easter.  It is really beyond imagination and human comprehension what Jesus did.  Only a perfect being could have served as a perfect sacrifice for a perfect God, and Jesus filled the role.  Only he could have done it, and he did.

 

 

JESUS, THE CROSS, and RESURRECTION

 

It was at this very time almost 2000 years ago that Jesus took upon himself all our sins – all our iniquities – as well as all our sicknesses and diseases and pain and overcame it all.  Imagine the burden he bore.  He overcame death.  He overcame the world.  Yes, he was the son of God and indeed that is why his death on the cross, his sacrifice, could accomplish what it did.  He was the only sinless person ever to live.  He alone could atone for the sins and corruption of humanity.

 

Most of us know some of the general account of Jesus and the cross.  But I thought perhaps for a moment it might be interesting and worthwhile to note a few less quoted aspects of the account.  All are from the Bible but most are generally overlooked or not reported accurately.  Consider:

 

(1)  It is horrible to contemplate, but in going to and through the cross Jesus’ appearance eventually became disfigured beyond recognition as a human being, as a man. Are you aware of that? So the movie a few years ago called THE PASSION did not begin to show how horribly he was beaten.  Part of the disfiguring no doubt also had to do with the incredible burden of corrupt humanity that he was bearing, the sins and sicknesses of all people forever.

 

Just as there were many who were appalled at him.  His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness (Isaiah 52:14)

 

 

 

(2)  Jesus died at three in the afternoon. When that happened, tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.   After Jesus’ resurrection they came out of the tombs and went into Jerusalem and appeared to many people.  Note that these were not just any dead people – no, holy people!  Imagine what that might have been like!  The dead rising and walking about the city.

 

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.  They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.(Matthew 27:51-53)

 

This curtain that was torn in two is said to have been four inches thick and sixty feet high. Tearing it in two was far beyond the abilities of any human being.

 

 

 

(3)  The centurion and those guarding Jesus at the cross exclaimed at seeing all that happened after his death that surely he was the Son of God.

 

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God! (Matthew 27:54)

 

 

 

(4)  When Jesus was arrested in the garden, the soldiers and officials who came for him said they were looking for “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus responded “I am he” and the power of that response and his presence knocked them to the ground! They all knew they were dealing with something and someone beyond anything they had ever known.  Obviously, Jesus could only be arrested by his allowing it to happen. (In the original Greek of the New Testament, what Jesus actually said was “ego eimi,” or “I am,” the same words identifying himself that God said to Moses in identifying himself.)

 

When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (John 18:6)

 

 

 

(5)  Pilate’s wife warned him to have nothing to do with the innocent Jesus:

 

While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” (Matthew 27:19)

 

 

 

(6)  After his arrest, Jesus responded to the high priest’s questioning him by affirming that indeed he was the Christ, the Son of God.

 

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

 

“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven. (Matthew 26:63-64)

 

Jesus is quoted on the same moment in Mark 14: 61-62 this way:

 

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

 

“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

 

Jesus did not hide who he was and was specific in dealing with these blind religious leaders.

 

 

 

(7)  In Mark, Matthew, and Luke Pilate asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews, and Jesus is quoted in each book as answering: “Yes, it is as you say.”

 

In John, Jesus was more specific –

 

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

 

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

 

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:36-37)

 

 

 

May God bless each of you as you again celebrate the monumental accomplishment of the Son of God and the Son of Man.  And may you have an ever greater revelation of who he was and is and who you are in him. 

 

                                                                               

 

                                                                    April 2022

                                  

                                                                    Copyright © 2022 by John Newlin

 

 

  

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS!

JOHN NEWLIN MINISTRIES
P O BOX 1038
CARY, NC 27518
https://johnnewlinministries.org
email: john@johnnewlinministries.org
Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin
Blog: johnnewlin.blogspot.com
tel 910 395 1465

 

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY - THE RAISING OF THE CROSS

 

This is one of the great paintings from the Reformation.  Notice Christ on the cross being lifted up and put in place.  Notice the man at the foot of the cross wearing the beret.  That is Rembrandt.  He is putting Christ up on the cross.  He is putting it in place.

What is Rembrandt saying in this painting?  What is his message?  He is saying I put Christ on that cross.  My sins put him up there.  Rembrandt has recognized and painted the essential truth.  It is and was our sins that put Christ on the cross.  He went there to die for us, for you and me, to cover our sins. 

Because he lives – because he died the way he did and then rose from the dead - Jesus has earned for each true believer in him eternal life with him and his father.  He has earned forgiveness for each of us.  He overcame the world, and in him we do too.  Jesus did so many things I have written about before, but this is the key one – he reconciled human beings to God.  He took our sins upon himself and removed that unsolvable burden.  He gave us our lives again.

                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                Copyright © 2021 by John Newlin

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS!

P O Box 1038, Cary, NC 27512        910 395 1465      https://johnnewlinministries.org

           Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org       Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin     

                                               Blog:  johnnewlin.blogspot.com

* JESUS, THE CROSS, and RESURRECTION

We are at the time of the year when Christians boldly celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is the single greatest moment in human history, the redemption of humanity, the reestablishment of a relationship between people and God – for all those who want that relationship. 

It is at this very time almost 2000 years ago that Jesus took upon himself all our sins – all our iniquities – as well as all our sicknesses and diseases and pain and overcame it all.  Imagine the burden he bore.  He overcame death.  He overcame the world.  Yes, he was the son of God and indeed that is why his death on the cross, his sacrifice, could accomplish what it did.  He was the only sinless person ever to live.  He alone could atone for the sins and corruption of humanity.

Most of us know the general account of Jesus and the cross.  But I thought perhaps for a moment it might be interesting and worthwhile to note a few less quoted aspects of the account.  All are from the Bible but most are generally overlooked or not reported accurately.  Consider:

(1)   It is horrible to contemplate, but in going to and through the cross Jesus’ appearance eventually became disfigured beyond recognition as a human being, as a man. Are you aware of that?  So the movie a few years ago called THE PASSION did not begin to show how horribly he was beaten.  Part of the disfiguring no doubt also had to do with the incredible burden of corrupt humanity that he was bearing, the sins and sicknesses of all people forever.

Just as there were many who were appalled at him.  His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness (Isaiah 52:14)

(2)    Jesus died at three in the afternoon.  When that happened tombs broke open and people who had died in the past rose from the dead and walked about encountering people in Jerusalem.  And not just any dead people – no, holy people!  Imagine what that might have been like!  The dead rising and walking about.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.  They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.  (Matthew 27:51-53)

(3)    The centurion and those guarding Jesus at the cross exclaimed at seeing all that happened after his death that surely he was the Son of God.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God! (Matthew 27:54)

(4)   When Jesus was arrested in the garden, the soldiers and officials who came for him said they were looking for “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus responded “I am he” and the power of that response and his presence knocked them to the ground!  They all knew they were dealing with something and someone beyond anything they had ever known.  Obviously, Jesus could only be arrested by his allowing it to happen. (In the original Greek of the New Testament, what Jesus actually said was “ego eimi,” or “I am,” the same words identifying himself that God said to Moses in identifying himself.)

When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (John 18:6)

(5)    Pilate’s wife warned him to have nothing to do with the innocent Jesus:

While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” (Matthew 27:19)

(6)    After his arrest, Jesus responded to the high priest’s questioning him by affirming that indeed he was the Christ, the Son of God.

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven. (Matthew 26:63-64)

Jesus is quoted on the same moment in Mark 14: 61-62 this way:

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

                “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 

Jesus did not hide who he was, and was specific in dealing with these blind religious leaders.

(7)   In Mark, Matthew, and Luke Pilate asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews, and Jesus is quoted in each book as answering: “Yes, it is as you say.”

In John, Jesus was more specific –

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:36-37)

May God bless each of you as you again celebrate the monumental accomplishment of the Son of God and the Son of Man.  And may you have an ever greater revelation of who he was and is and who you are in him. 

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                    (MARCH 2018)

                                                                                                Copyright © 2018 by John Newlin

                                                                                                                                        

(All scriptures are from the NIV.)

P O Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408       910 395 1465      www.johnnewlinministries.org

           Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org       Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin     
                                             Blog:  johnnewlinblogspot.com