The Gospels tell us that Jesus told His disciples ahead of time, what was going to happen to Him. Matthew 16:21 “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Matthew 17:22 “When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.” Matthew 20:17 “Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, 18 “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” While eating together Matthew 26:23 “Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” John 14:28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” Jesus told us the kingdom of God already came. Luke 11:20 “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” and Jesus did eat and drink after He rose from the dead. Peter said, Acts 10:39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.” After Jesus rose from the dead, he said, Luke 24:42 “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

    The life and death of Jesus was prophesied in the Old Testament as Jesus just said above. Obviously, they did not have the New Testament then, so everything Jesus talked about was coming from the Old Testament. There are many verses but here are a few. Zechariah 13:7 “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.” Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” Isaiah 52:3 “See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. 14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness.” (mocked and flogged and crucified) Psalm 22:1 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 16 Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. 17 All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”

    Today our focus is just on the disciples and their unbelief. They knew that the Messiah was coming. John 1:35 “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).” They followed Jesus and saw signs and wonders, miracles, healing and demons cast out. They even saw the results of the power and authority God gave them. Mark 6:12 “They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” Luke 10:17 “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” We the church have no excuses for not believing as we have all of this in our hands. Even though their time with Jesus and the Old Testament prepared them for what Jesus would tell them about his death and resurrection, they had a hard time believing. When Jesus told them, Matthew 16:22 “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Just before that Peter had said “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Peter would be completely changed at Pentecost.” Then when it was close to the time Jesus would be arrested, Jesus said Matthew 26:31 “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.” Then they went to the garden to pray but they could not stay awake. Jesus said Matthew 26:40 “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” They came and arrested Jesus, 55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.” Peter stayed behind to see what would happen and was accused of being with Jesus. Matthew 26:74 “Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

    So all the disciples abandoned Jesus. Jesus was then crucified and Jesus rose from the dead, then everything was fulfilled. Paul said 1 Corinthians 15:3 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” When Jesus died on the cross, Matthew 27:50 “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” That would have been amazing not only for those who had risen but for those who received them back. Jesus had told John’s disciples, Matthew 11:5 “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” This is what the church was to continue doing. Most people in the church do not believe that God has the power to raise the dead which is odd because Jesus being raised from the dead is the foundation of the church. If they do believe God could raise the dead, they don’t believe God would do it today. Not only did you have those people who were raised from the dead witnessing the power of God, you had the women who went to the tomb. Matthew 27:60 “He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.” So these women knew where the tomb was and saw the huge stone in front of the entrance. Matthew 28:1 “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. (Jesus told the disciples that already) There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

    It is awesome how women became the first witnesses of the resurrection. It is sad how the disciples did not believe them, much the way the church has also belittled women. 2 Peter 3:16 “He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” Just saying! The women saw the tomb that Jesus was buried in, which was now empty and not just that it was empty, Jesus appeared to them, (Revelation 1:18 “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”) and they were given the task to go tell the disciples that Jesus was not in the tomb but had risen from the dead. Luke tells us the women went and told the disciples but the disciples did not believe them. Luke 24:9 “When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.” Jesus had told Peter, Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” That would come at Pentecost. John tells us that Jesus appeared to the disciples three times and on the third time they were fishing. It is here where Jesus said to Peter to follow Him and feed His sheep. At Pentecost, Peter would become a fearless and powerful man of God. Acts 5:15 “As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. One time when Jesus appeared, Thomas was not there. John 20:25 “the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” We have to believe the word of God and not doubt.

    The account that really sums up the disciple’s unbelief are the two who walked away. Remember they had the Old Testament, they saw signs and wonders, Jesus himself told them what would happen, when it did happen, their companions and the women told them the tomb was empty and that the women saw Jesus, yet they still walked away in unbelief. Luke 24:13 “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” They told Jesus himself exactly what He had told them already and basically admitted that they flat-out ignored everything and walked away. It really is hard to comprehend how they could say we hoped He was the one, knowing the tomb was empty and after the women’s testimony of seeing Jesus. The church needs to repent because the church has also ignored the words of Jesus. Hebrews 2:1 “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” 

    Jesus said that the abomination that causes desolation would have completely destroyed the church if God was not merciful and not only is God merciful, He promised David there would always be a remnant. Matthew 26:22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” The only way we can get through this severe famine is to plead with God to open our eyes and ears so that we can see and hear once again. God will save His people once again. Isaiah 35:4 “Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.” God’s plan has always been to save His people since Adam and Eve rejected His word and believed satan instead. We have to understand that as we see in the book of Job, satan was there in the first two chapters, but he was still there even though he was not talked about. We see satan in Genesis and the damage he caused but satan is not specially mentioned by name very often but is still present wreaking havoc and turning people away from God. Though satan from the beginning has tried to derail God’s plans by getting God’s people to turn against him, in the end he will not prevail especially when God’s people obey His words. Revelation 12:11 “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Instead of listening to God, Adam and Eve listened to satan and sin and death entered the world, and they were removed from the garden and they would no longer live forever. In the Garden they had access to the tree of life but now they did not. As we see in scripture the length of life has dwindled to what it is today. One site said the average length of life globally is around 73 years. 

    Despite satan’s best efforts, he will not win this war even though there has been exponential damage to the church. Speaking of the deceived church. If you want to see what the spirit of antichrist looks like, look no further than Donald Trump selling bibles at Easter and pretending he is a disciple of Christ. He might even think he is the Christ. His followers seem to think so. Trump reposted what a follower said. One writer shared this in an article. A follower posted, “It’s ironic that Christ walked through His greatest persecution the very week they are trying to steal your property from you,” the message reads, suggesting that Trump’s $468 million fine for decades of financial fraud is on par with the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.” The fact that there are any Christians supporting this man is beyond belief but shows just how far off many who call themselves Christians are. The Christianity and the faux submission to God that you hear so often in the news, especially in the United States is not true Christianity. The United States and Canada have never been a Christian nation, religious yes. They would have said Christianity not religion in the Constitution and Canadian Charter of Rights. 1 John 2:18 “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.” Even though God has allowed satan to decimate the church, there will always be a remnant, as God will save His people. 

    God made a covenant with Abraham and promised David there would always be a remnant. It appeared that satan was victorious when Jesus died, and many turned away and did not believe. The Jews to this day do not believe Jesus is their Messiah. But just as Jesus said, on the third day He rose from the dead. Then he appeared to His disciples and sent them out into the world with the same power and authority He had. God had a plan for the whole world and the church would carry out that plan in power and continue to destroy the work of the devil as Jesus did. As Paul was told Acts 26:17 “I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” After Pentecost, the Spirit of God would dwell in those who would believe. They would then go out in power to preach the good news, heal the sick and cast out demons. But as satan has always done, he deceived the church because the church rebelled and refused to believe God at His word. The church then began to focus on the power of man and rejected the power of God. The church was deceived into following other gospels, even though Jesus warned us do not be deceived. The church did not listen and now sits desolate because of savage wolves in sheep’s clothing. satan is powerful and if God had not stepped in, we would all be dead and never see eternal life, but we have hope that this abomination will come to an end and the church will rise up and Matthew 24:13 “the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

    If you are waiting on God to fulfil His promise, don’t walk away like the two disciples, walk in the light. Psalm 119:38 “Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.” Luke 1:45 “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Romans 4:20 “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” When God says He will or I tell you the truth, He means it. What the true prophets prophesied took place and what Jesus told his disciples would happen, happened, so choose to believe His word because, Psalm 119:89 “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. 90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. 91 Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98 Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. 106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. 107 I have suffered much; preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.” In order to see, you have to walk where the light is, which means you are following God’s plan for your life. We were told Isaiah 9:2 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” We are also told John 3:19 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” Isaiah 2:5 “Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” So, walk in the light not the dark. John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” When we walk according to His light, we walk in straight paths. Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. Psalm 56:12 “I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you. 13 For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” Psalm 89:15 “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.” 

    If God has given you a promise and your journey is difficult, don’t give up, keep your eyes focused on God’s word and don’t be moved. Hebrews 12:1 “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Micah 7:7 “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. 8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. 9 Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord’s wrath, until he pleads my case and upholds my cause. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness. 10 Then my enemy will see it and will be covered with shame, she who said to me, “Where is the Lord your God?” My eyes will see her downfall.” Psalm 30:4 “Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Lamentations 2:22 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. 31 For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. 32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. 58 You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life. 59 Lord, you have seen the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause!” Proverbs 20:22 “Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge / save you / deliver you.” Psalm 62:1 “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. 2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Jonah 2:9 “‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’” 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” 2 Chronicles 15:7 “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” Jeremiah 17:5 “This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. 7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Hebrews 10:32 “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” 38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back. 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.” Psalm 89:1 “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. 2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. 3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, 4 ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’ 15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. 16 They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness. 17 For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. 18 Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.”