How Close Are We? (Part 7)

Friday, March 22, 2013

Paul Schneider

Dear Friend,

INTRO

Easter season brings great joy to the hearts of true Christians. An old hymn comes to mind..."HE LIVES" I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today, I know that He is living, whatever men may say, I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him, He's always near. He lives, he lives Christ Jesus lives today, He walks with me and talks with me long lifes narrow way, He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart."

PETER'S FAILURE, CHRIST'S DEITY

A sham trial before the Sanhedrin (Israel's Supreme Court), with hastily called witnesses, was convened sometime after midnight. Peter, who had timidly followed into the palace at a distance, saw and heard it all with stunned disbeief. It was just before the time of cock crowing that infamous Thursday morning, Nisan 14, and by the Julian calendar, Apri 10, A.D. 32. Some of the servants insisted that Peter, because his Galiean accent, must be a disciple of Christ, and he twice denied that accusation. A relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off claimed to have seen the bumbling swordsman in the garden with Jesus. Fearing for his own life, Peter, who had boasted that he would die rather than deny his Lord, 'began to curse and t swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crowed." (Mt. 26:69-74)--exactly as Jesus said it would happen.

CHRIST'S REVELATION

Christ's revelation that He would be betrayed by Judas and His warning to Peter that he would betray Him three times before the crowing of the roosters had been intended as a final revelation to His disciples of His deity. At the last supper, when Jesus had made these declarations, He had added this significant statement: "Now I tell you (this) before it come (to pass), that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he"

(John 13:19). Jesus was declaring once again to His disciples that He was Yahweh, the I AM of Israel--and the way He did so is most interesting. We have noted earlier that Yahweh, the I AM, identifies Himself as the God of prophecy, the One who tells what is going to happen beforehand and watches over history to make certain that it comes to pass (Isaiah 46:9,10). In those last initimate moments with His own before His death, Christ identified Himself in the same way, attesting that He foretold the future for the same reason: "that ye may believe that I AM."

EVIDENCE

Here was final evidence to support their faith in Him in spite of His crucifixion. Unfortunately, the disciples did not comprehend until later, when He appeared to them after His resurrection and "opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures" (Luke 24:45). Seeing Christ led away, bound and apparently helpless, had shattered their faith in Him because they did not know what the prophets had declared concerning the Messiah. How equally important it is for us today to know what the prophets have said concerning His return!" Are you waiting for His return? In order for you to be ready, pray, "Lord Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and I receive You now as my Saviour!"

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