Thursday 26 June 2014

Fighting God

Fighting God

“Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him.  
They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.  
They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.  
After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.” 
Matthew 27:17-31.
The Roman soldiers were the best in the world at the time in dishing out punishment. They were ruthless.
Here they are mocking Jesus inflicting pain on him. They did not believe who he was. As far as they were concerned once Jesus was put to death that was the end of the story. They were wrong.
The words of Pharisee named Gamaliel, at the trial of Peter and another apostle I think sums the situation up here at the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Luke records in the book of Acts,
“But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.  
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 
His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.” 
Acts 5:34-40.
Those Roman soldiers didn’t know what they were up against. This movement started by Jesus was of God. The proof as they say is in the pudding. The story of Salvation through Faith in Jesus Christ has reach every nation in the world despite being the most persecuted faith in the world.
I like what Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France said of Jesus. He said,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.  Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Even as you read this there are many groups doing what ever they can to silence the gospel of Jesus Christ. But they will not for I am certain they are fighting God.
Think about it.

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