CCF Sunday Messages

As we finish up our study in the gospel of Matthew: The Biography of the King as we have called it, we watch Joseph of Arimathea take a risk to ask Pilate for the body of Jesus. He and Nicodemus take the body and give Jesus a proper burial, giving up Joseph's new tomb for the purpose. Starting in the final chapter of Matthew, the finality of death turns to amazement that Jesus is no longer dead, but has risen, just as He said he would, declares the angel!

As we continue our study of the "Biography of the King" through the gospel of Matthew, we come to the death of Jesus on the cross in Matthew 27. This is the culmination of Jesus's obedience to the Father, and in the end, He commits His spirit into the hands of the Father, and God reveals His power through an earthquake, the veil being torn, and the graves opening up. The centurions in that moment understand that what they have witnessed is no ordinary crucifixion--this truly was (and *is*) the Son of God!

As we continue our study of the "Biography of the King" through the gospel of Matthew, we come to the death of Jesus on the cross in Matthew 27. This is the culmination of Jesus's obedience to the Father, and in the end, He commits His spirit into the hands of the Father, and God reveals His power through an earthquake, the veil being torn, and the graves opening up. The centurions in that moment understand that what they have witnessed is no ordinary crucifixion--this truly was (and *is*) the Son of God!

Jesus continues to be mocked, spat on, and led away to the cross, where again he is mocked by those passing by, by the religious leaders, and even the criminals hanging next to Him. But He did all this "for the joy that was set before Him", despising the cross and its shame, in full and complete obedience to the Father, taking all our sin upon Himself!

Jesus continues to be mocked, spat on, and led away to the cross, where again he is mocked by those passing by, by the religious leaders, and even the criminals hanging next to Him. But He did all this "for the joy that was set before Him", despising the cross and its shame, in full and complete obedience to the Father, taking all our sin upon Himself!

As the day dawns on the day of Jesus's crucifixion, the religious leaders of Israel want the Roman government to "approve" their plan to crucify Jesus. We continue to walk through the final day of the cross in Matthew 27 this week, focusing on the interaction with Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.

As the day dawns on the day of Jesus's crucifixion, the religious leaders of Israel want the Roman government to "approve" their plan to crucify Jesus. We continue to walk through the final day of the cross in Matthew 27 this week, focusing on the interaction with Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.

As we enter chapter 27 in our study through the gospel of Matthew, the scene turns to Judas and his remorse over his betrayal of Jesus. As morning dawns, however, the chief priests and leaders are uninterested in his guilty feelings, and in total despair Judas throws the money back in the temple and goes out and hangs himself. Pastor Steve reminds us that Jesus himself would have openly forgiven Judas if only he had gone to the Forgiver himself! Everyone needs to know that there is no true hopelessness while we still have the choice to give our lives to Jesus and accept His forgiveness!

As we enter chapter 27 in our study through the gospel of Matthew, the scene turns to Judas and his remorse over his betrayal of Jesus. As morning dawns, however, the chief priests and leaders are uninterested in his guilty feelings, and in total despair Judas throws the money back in the temple and goes out and hangs himself. Pastor Steve reminds us that Jesus himself would have openly forgiven Judas if only he had gone to the Forgiver himself! Everyone needs to know that there is no true hopelessness while we still have the choice to give our lives to Jesus and accept His forgiveness!

This week, Pastor Steve finished chapter 26, concluding with the mockery of justice in the middle of the night--Jesus's trial before the high priest--where false witnesses couldn't get their stories to even line up. With no qualms, however, the religious leaders find fault with Jesus and beat and mock Him, as Peter ends up denying the Lord three times, just as Jesus told him.