Isaiah 11-13; Psalm 118; Matthew 27
Isaiah 11-13
Isaiah 11 vividly describes the Messianic kingdom that the Messiah will establish. This is a kingdom of justice and peace: "He will judge the poor with righteousness, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked" (Isaiah 11:4). In this kingdom, the effects of the fall will be eased, as nature is transformed into one of harmony: "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them" (Isaiah 11:6).
Chapter 12 continues with a song of triumph over salvation brought by the Messiah: "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation" (Isaiah 12:2).
Psalm 118
This psalm emphasizes the importance of trusting the Lord during times of difficulty: "Out of my distress I called to the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place" (Psalm 118:5). It reflects a strong declaration of the Lord as the source of strength and salvation: "The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation" (Psalm 118:14).
Matthew 27
Judas's betrayal escalates to its tragic conclusion. After realizing the severity of his actions, Judas appears to have expected that Jesus would somehow avoid arrest, perhaps assuming that He would protect Himself. Once Judas saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with regret, but instead of true repentance, he succumbed to despair and ended his life by suicide.
Pilate, the seemingly all-powerful Roman governor, knew that the Jewish leaders were driven by envy and wanted to release Jesus. Yet, despite his authority, he was unable to free Him because he became a captive of his political position, afraid of the repercussions from the Jewish leaders and the crowd.
Jesus was crucified as the "King of the Jews," fulfilling the prophecies spoken about Him. Though He came to fulfill God's promise of sending a King to Israel, the people rejected Him. His crucifixion and death were not only a rejection of their true King but the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.
The temple veil tearing at the moment of Christ's death symbolized the end of the old covenant. Through Jesus, access to the Holy of Holies—the very presence of God—was now available to all believers. This marked the beginning of the new covenant, where all could come directly to God through Christ.
Isaiah 11 vividly describes the Messianic kingdom that the Messiah will establish. This is a kingdom of justice and peace: "He will judge the poor with righteousness, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked" (Isaiah 11:4). In this kingdom, the effects of the fall will be eased, as nature is transformed into one of harmony: "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them" (Isaiah 11:6).
Chapter 12 continues with a song of triumph over salvation brought by the Messiah: "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation" (Isaiah 12:2).
Psalm 118
This psalm emphasizes the importance of trusting the Lord during times of difficulty: "Out of my distress I called to the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place" (Psalm 118:5). It reflects a strong declaration of the Lord as the source of strength and salvation: "The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation" (Psalm 118:14).
Matthew 27
Judas's betrayal escalates to its tragic conclusion. After realizing the severity of his actions, Judas appears to have expected that Jesus would somehow avoid arrest, perhaps assuming that He would protect Himself. Once Judas saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with regret, but instead of true repentance, he succumbed to despair and ended his life by suicide.
Pilate, the seemingly all-powerful Roman governor, knew that the Jewish leaders were driven by envy and wanted to release Jesus. Yet, despite his authority, he was unable to free Him because he became a captive of his political position, afraid of the repercussions from the Jewish leaders and the crowd.
Jesus was crucified as the "King of the Jews," fulfilling the prophecies spoken about Him. Though He came to fulfill God's promise of sending a King to Israel, the people rejected Him. His crucifixion and death were not only a rejection of their true King but the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.
The temple veil tearing at the moment of Christ's death symbolized the end of the old covenant. Through Jesus, access to the Holy of Holies—the very presence of God—was now available to all believers. This marked the beginning of the new covenant, where all could come directly to God through Christ.
Posted in Reading Bible Together