Walk With Me #Deararn.

The Old Rugged Cross

Alan Jackson

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross

The emblem of suffering and shame

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross (rugged cross)

Till my trophies at last I lay down

I will cling to the old rugged cross

And exchange it some day for a crown

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true

It's shame and reproach gladly bear

Then he'll call me some day to my home far away

Where his glory forever I'll share

And I'll cherish the old rugged cross (rugged cross)

Till my trophies at last I lay down

And I will cling to the old rugged cross

And exchange it some day for a crown

I will cling to the old rugged cross

And exchange it some day for a crown

Jesus before the Council

They took Jesus to the high priest’s home where the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law had gathered. Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and went right into the high priest’s courtyard. There he sat with the guards, warming himself by the fire.

Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find evidence against Jesus, so they could put him to death. But they couldn’t find any. Many false witnesses spoke against him, but they contradicted each other. Finally, some men stood up and gave this false testimony: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this Temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another, made without human hands.’” But even then they didn’t get their stories straight!

Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

Jesus said, “I AM. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?”

“Guilty!” they all cried. “He deserves to die!”

Then some of them began to spit at him, and they blindfolded him and beat him with their fists. “Prophesy to us,” they jeered. And the guards slapped him as they took him away. Mark 14:53-65

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“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. John 17:9-11

Why does the last words of a dying man command our attention? Is it that we are aware of their transition and their connection with the hereafter, or the fact that death calls for sobriety and stocktaking? Whatever the reason, we know that the last words/wishes of a man on earth is respected.

Jesus, just before He left the earth prayed, that we, his children may be protected, be united, work together, just as He and the Father. It is for this reason that we, His disciples must fight anything that divides us. Any voice that seeks to sow discord should be regarded as an enemy of the will of Christ.

My dear friend look out for that voice/ vessel of dissension and point them back to the prayer and will of Jesus.

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Jesus before the Council

Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered. Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.

Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came forward who declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?”

“Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!”

Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?” Mathew 26:57-68

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Which one is it, John or Judas

There were the seventy, then twelve and three and one. How close would you come? Jesus had them at different levels. When he needed the crowd effect, then the seventy came in handy. There was the everyday mission, and the twelve was just enough. When the need for heart matters arose, He had His three buddies. With them, He was comfortable with vulnerability. He could bare all His heart. It was them that He begged to pray for Him. It was them that saw a glimpse of His glory. It was them with He went into the garden.

John was beloved, child enough to put his head on Jesus' chest and brave enough to be given the responsibility of caring for Jesus mother. It didn't mean that the others were bad or not good enough; it just meant that there are levels in relationships. How close you are willing to go will determine what secrets you are kept in charge of.

It was John that went with him to the cross. It was John who stayed close through thick and thin.
What value you place on your relationships will determine what depths you reach in same.



If you were to be cast in the roleplay, Jesus and His Disciples, which would you be, the nameless one, the fiery one or the fair-weather friend or the loyal one. When the roll call is made, would you even have a number or would they describe you as part of the multitude?

Before you start to think it is a man's world, Jesus had women in His crew too. Some were nameless, and Mary Magdalene featured in every story that called for loyalty and heart.
The others had their place, but the real close ones saw the essential details. I mean, it was them that stayed loyal even to His dead body. No wonder when it came back alive, they heard the news first.

For you, my friend, really how close do you want to come and why are you even in the entourage. Hopefully not like Judas who was in it for gain.

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HEART MATTERS, LIFE MATTERS

He was on His way to the grand finale. This was the mother of all assignments. Jesus was making His way to Jerusalem. He had already spoken about His death and all that would lead to it. But now he needed some vessels. He is always in the know; He knew where the vessels for the very next assignment were located. He was specific. You would find them by the way he said.

In waiting to hear how the Lord would have us ride today, it was very evident judging by the pictures He painted on my mind. The asses/colts were ready. They must have been specially taken care of by their owners. How else would they have qualified to carry the Master Himself? Jesus intimated the special duties officers of the state in which the vehicles would be – they would be tied. They were brand new, never ridden by anyone. They would also have people overseeing them, and these people would undoubtedly query them.

The answer they were to give was simple: the Master needed them. The owners could not argue. The one who dwelt in them recognised the Masters’ authority and let them go. The disciples returned to Jesus with the vehicles, and Jesus was able to enter Jerusalem in pomp and pageantry.

My friend, please indulge me for a moment and let us transpose. Can we bring ourselves to believe that the last ninety-six days, or for some, the last couple of years had been spent preparing us for this triumphant ride? Can we imagine that we have been put on the waiting list or better still made to sit on the bench because we are on special duty? You see, some colts were used for less honourable assignments.

Is it a possibility that all that has been happening to you is to make you ready for when the Master wants to arrive in style? What would have been going through the asses’ mind all the time they were tied, and they would watch others go by them? Has life tied you down? Is anyone laying claim on you now? When were the disciples told to untie the colts, what do you think they were thinking?

At the point that they were untying the asses and their owners were querying, what would you think the disciples were doing? Did they even doubt their assignment at any time? What makes the ass owners yield so easily? I dare to answer this one, timing. The time was ripe! The answer I find very instructive. The Master was in need.

Is there a possibility that you are that colt? Know this, my beloved, you may have been wondering when the Lord will send for you. I think the time is now. Maybe your question is, for how long would I remain tied? The answer is until now! Who owned you until now? Would they ever find you useful? You bet! When will you be decorated? Now Jesus did arrive in style riding on the never before ridden colts.

May I offer a prayer for you: the Master will find you useful for His special assignment. May this be truly the time of your showing forth! May men sing your Masters’ praise when they see Him riding you.

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:1-9)

“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find...

THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”

This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,

“Tell the people of Jerusalem,

‘Look, your King is coming to you.

He is humble, riding on a donkey—

riding on a donkey’s colt.’”

The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.

Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

“Praise God for the Son of David!

Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!

Praise God in highest heaven!”

The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.

And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” MATHEW 21:1-12

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The Look

Have you ever gotten the look, from a parent, an authority figure and they did not have to add words?

Peter did...

So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!”

But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”

After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!”

“No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted.

About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.”

But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. Luke 22:54-62

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Is it I?

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

The Last Supper

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”

“As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there.

When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the Twelve. While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?”

He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”

Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?”

And Jesus told him, “You have said it.”

In what ways have you been betraying Jesus?

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WHEN YOUR SUPPORT NEEDS HELP

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!” Mathew 26: 36-46.

They were His close buddies, to them he bared his heart. They were the ones he chose to be real vulnerable with. He already made them realize he was heading to the cross to die for mankind. They did not understand it but chose to go along for whatever it was worth.

They got to the garden and the master asked for help, himself being overwhelmed. They were willing but too weak. They’d been walking for hours and maybe, their hearts were heavy too.

He left them, asked them to pray and proceeded to go further. The matter at hand needed some father son alone time. They tell us there, Jesus sweated drops of blood. He returned to find his buddies asleep.

Three times, same prayer point and three times denied. Son, it is for this purpose that you came to the world, that you may destroy the works of the Devil. Drink the cup of sorrows you must.

Dear friend, walking in the footsteps of Jesus demands a gethsemane experience. Relax, Jesus made it through and so will you.

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YOU WILL MARRY WELL

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WALK WITH ME IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY

HEART MATTERS, LIFE MATTERS

The ultimate price for sin was paid on the cross of Calvary.