Do you want to be like Jesus? Ever thought about what it would be like to walk in His shoes about 2,000 years ago? Nice hot days and walking around performing miracles such as healing, feeding masses, raising the dead and walking on water.
Let's take 1 day in Jesus' life and understand what it would have been like to be Him on this particular day...
Scripture: Matthew 27:26
Imagine it is 2,000 years ago.. You have been arrested for some reason which has been made up... it is a very hot day and standing there infront of a King who questions you to get answers and then does not want to make the decision, cause he knows something, on what to do with you but who then asks the crowd of people what he should do with you.
The king asks you""Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," "Matthew 27:11 Can't get any more truthful than than statement..
The crowd are shouting for you to be killed. I am not talking 10-20 people but a hundred atleast, all shouting GUILTY, KILL HIM!!! Do you want to stand up and speak for yourself? Jesus did not! So you can't! Scripture Matthew 27:14 " But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. "
You are found GUILTY.... surprised?
So there you are and they decide to whip you. Imagine this whip has a handle about a foot and a half long. At the end of the handle, it had four leather thongs with heavy, jagged bones or balls of lead with jagged edges, wound into the end of the straps. Some historians who studied the "law of those days"... say Jesus was whipped more than 41 times. Think you can handle it?
The soliders then take you into the middle of a hall filled with alot more soliders and they strip you to humlitate you! Then they put a robe on you.. not to make you look good but to humilate you even more.. then they put a crown on him. This is a crown with a difference! FULL of thorns. Oh and its not just placed on your head.. it's RAMMED on digging into your head! Blood must havebeen pour down your face as well...Sore yet? They give you a rod to hold like the Kings in those days held. Still taking the mickey out of you by falsely worshipping you until they get bored. Little did they realise that one day they will see what they actually did on this day.. They remove the rod from your hand and hit you with it on the head and then they all spit on you. Would you have lost your temper yet? Give up yet?
By this time they have the cross ready for you... It's not a case of you walk there and they hang you up..
No! You are forced to carry the cross (it is about 12 ft long and has to be very thick, its going to hold you up later!!) and your carrying it through the streets. So imagine people in your home town are, who hate you, laughing, spitting and shouting abuse at you. This was not for a few streets but a good few miles. Oh I forgot to mention... it's not 15-20C it is 35-40C.. no water. No chance to stop and take a breather! Do you think they can they hurt you even more??? How about punishing someone else as a substitute maybe?
Before you get carry your own cross some bloke then was picked from the crowd as he passed and was forced to carry your cross because you can't. Scripture says "A man named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross". So now you have someone else being beaten and carrying your cross because of you!
Pilate places a sign above your head : THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Pilate is questioned on this and he insists it is left there.. He knows the Truth!! Is this his way of seeking the grace of Jesus?
Now finally you get to the hill. Well you are not even into your punishment yet.. Remember you are sentenced to crucifixion! Now they offer you a drink.. but this drink is spiked and you know it! So you decide not to drink
Now they take these nails. Look at the length of your hand for me.. thats roughly how long they are....and about 1 inch thich...Now look at your wrist! They hammer this nail into your wrist.. and then the other! No pain killers to help. No antibacterial to stop infection.
Now they decide to hammer a huge nail into your ankles so you can't hold yourself up!
Ok there you are hanging... 35c heat.. no water... no pain relief.. mocked and spat at and all because you are innocent! Fair? Now you've been there for a while!
Then some soldier decides to slice open your side just to see if your dead yet. Oh and if your not they will break your legs so you die quicker... simply cause in these days they did not allow anyone to still be on the cross alive during Passover! This is why Jesus gave his last breathe.. once again to forfil scripture... Scripture Pslam 34:20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
Just before Jesus died he said " Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 15:34
Now Jesus knew that Gods plan was for him to do this.. His own Father allowed this.. FOR US!
Would you do go through all this without putting up a fight?
Would you do this for your best mate or family?
Would you do this for me?
Would you do this for people you do not even know who are alive now?
Would you do this for billions of people yet to be born?
If someone said "Do this and I will give you whatever amount of money you want. Would you?
So you have just proven your life is so priceless and yet Jesus gave His for YOU!
Jesus took all of this like none of us would. He did not kick up a fuss. He did not seek revenge. He did not try and talk His way out of it all. No running to escape it, infact he WALKED into it all because He knew it was going to happen!
Fact! Jesus did.. Alot of Christians read about the crucifixion of Jesus and are upset by it all and really do understand the meaning of why it happened.. but how many actually walk it in their minds? It's a chilling walk of that day.. do you agree?
This would never happen to a guilty man today.. let alone an innocent one!
Oh yeah.. and God allowed this to happen to his ONLY begotten son to forfil Prophesy!! FOR YOU and ME!
Imagine the pain God went through as well.. Why? He loves us!
In Matthew 16:24:25 Jesus said this to his disciples.... If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
Jesus gave his life for us so we can have a life.... As Christians we give our life to Jesus in love and respect.
This is all Scruptual truth.. It's hard to swallow and Jesus did this so we could have a path back to God and have the chance of everlasing life! Scripture John 10:9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved
Every Christian should have this in their heart every day and we need to grab hold of this when we are being tested by others in the world. If Jesus did not give in to this or evil should we?
I can't and will never force you to be a Christian.. it is a step YOU must decide to make. We are here to answer your questions and help.
A few questions for you to think about....
Do you think Jesus did this for you?
Do you think you can give your life to Jesus?
Are you willing to take that "Step of Faith"?
The choice is yours... God knows what is in your heart and has a plan for you.. it is up to you to open up and accept it.
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