The Bible says that Satan "entered into Judas" (Iscariot), one of the 12 apostles (Luke 22:3). We all have had bad and sinful thoughts at times. We can push them out of our minds before they produce sin. Judas was the treasurer for the apostles and the thought of more money may have tempted him. Whatever the case, Judas was the betraying apostle (Luke 22:47-48).

It was the time of the Passover feast and the apostles gathered in a large upper room with Jesus to eat this meal. The Passover was a Jewish feast, eaten in memory of the time that God passed over Israel with the Angel of Death when God killed the firstborn in the land of Egypt. It was during this meal that Jesus began the Lord's Supper (I Corinthians 11:20-29) which "Christians" would keep to remember Christ's death on the cross. Jesus is our Passover as Christians and "is sacrificed for us" (I Corinthians 5:7).

"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, this is my body which is given for yow this do in remembrance of me. "

"Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you (Luke 22:19-20).

 

Jesus knew who would betray him for he said, "Behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table" (Luke22:21). He also knew that Peter would deny him three times before the cock would crow that day (Luke 22:34) even though Peter exclaimed:

"Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death" (Luke 22:33).

 

Jesus can help us because he already knows our limitations. He also knows Satan's plans, for he said, "Simon, Simon (Peter) Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:31-32). Later, we will see a different Peter, with boldness preaching the first gospel sermon.

Even though Jesus was God's son, he prayed often and at this difficult time in his life he withdrew from his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane to pray saying, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup (meaning what he was to endure on the cross) from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." "There appeared an angel unto him from heaven, to strengthen him" (Luke 22:42-43).

"And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood failing down to the ground "

"And when he arose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow " (Luke 22:44-45).

When Jesus most needed their support they fell asleep. While Jesus spoke a multitude came for him. Judas went before them to betray Jesus by identifying him with a kiss (Matthew 26:15). Judas betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver (Luke 22:47-48). When the soldiers came to take Jesus, impulsive Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest's servant but Jesus restored it (Luke 22:50-51).

Shortly thereafter a young maid saw Peter and identified Peter as being with Jesus, although Peter denied it saying, "Woman, I know him not" (Luke 22:57). We are so like Peter at times; our courage fails us when we most want to do good. After a while another man saw him and pointed Peter out in the crowd as having known Jesus, but Peter denied the second time saying, "Man I am not" (Luke 22:58). Only an hour later Peter's third denial came and immediately, while Peter spake, the cock crew" (Luke 22:60). Peter remembered the words of the Lord when he said Peter would deny him, and Peter "wept bitterly" (Luke 22:62).

"The men that held Jesus mocked him and smote him, and when they had blindfolded him, struck him on the face . . . " (Luke 22:63-64). The multitude took Jesus to Pilate who could find no fault in Jesus. Pilate, learning Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, sent him to Herod. Herod's men mocked Jesus and placed a "robe upon him and returned him to Pilate. (Luke 23:7-11). Pilate was willing to release Jesus but the crowd cried out, "Crucify him, Crucify him." Pilate gave sentence and a man named Simon, a Cyrenian, bore the cross when Jesus could no longer carry it. A great crowd of people followed Jesus to Calvary and the women wept (Luke 23:20-27).

How many times do we j-o-i-n in with the crowd who is making fun of someone or gossiping and h-e-l-p them "crucify" that person's character adding our 0-w-n blows causing them sorrow and sometimes irreparable damage. Perhaps we are more like Simon and help bear the cross of those who are being "jeered at" by the crowd because they stood up for what was right and spoke out against wrong. Maybe we are like the women who wept at the cross of Jesus and weep or encourage those who suffer for doing right.

They crucified Jesus between two thieves (Matthew 27:44), and parted his raiment casting lots for his clothes (Luke 23:33-34). The dying words of Jesus were:

"Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

One of the thieves crucified with Jesus said to Jesus, "Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." Jesus replied, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:42-43). Crying with a loud voice, Jesus said ...

"Father, into thy hand, I commend my spirit " (Luke 23:46) and he died

Because of Jesus, if we are a faithful child of God, our case has been dismissed; the debt is paid-in-full (I Corinthians 4:2). His accusers had "stripped him" of his clothes, and put a "scarlet robe" upon him and placed a "crown of thorns" on his head. They "spit" on him, and "smote" Jesus on the head, mocking him as they took him to be crucified (Matthew 27:28-31), yet he was able to forgive them asking God to forgive them too.

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

A man named Joseph of Arimathea came and begged the body of Jesus, took it down and wrapped it in linen and laid it in a new sepulchre that was hewn in stone. On the first day of the week the women came with the spices very early only to find the stone rolled away. They entered and did not find the body of Jesus (Luke 24:1-3). Two men in shining garments, stood by the women saying, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen:" The men reminded the women that Jesus had said he would be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and raised the third day again (Luke 24:4-7). The women ran and told the eleven apostles and the rest. Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James were the women who told them (Luke 24:8-10). The apostles thought they had told "idle tales," and Peter arose and ran to the tomb and found it empty (Luke 24:11-12). Jesus appeared to his apostles, giving them instructions to go to Jerusalem and wait for the power of the Holy Ghost (Luke 24:49) to proclaim the gospel (good news) of his resurrection and the plan for saving man.

The "Wondrous Work" of the redemption of mankind was "God in the flesh" paying the price for the sins of mankind through Jesus his son at the cross. God counts all those who come to him cleansed. Read the "Great Commission" - (Matthew 16:18-19) and 28:17-20), (Mark 16:15-16), (Luke 24:47-49) - Notice our story continues in Acts, chapter two, with the apostles waiting in Jerusalem for God's "Power from on high" (Luke 24:49).

A little boy was once asked what he most admired about Jesus and he replied, "They hung him on a cross, and he took it." Jesus Christ was truly a champion and if we follow his footsteps we can be a champion too.

1. Run around with champions - Have Christian friends, people who want to go to heaven too. If you lay down with dogs you get up with fleas. "Evil companions corrupt good morals" (I Corinthians 15:33). Sure you want to take them to heaven but be sure they don't take you to h-e-l-l. You set the standards of friendship.

2. Train to be a champion - Righteousness is not produced on a diet of "garbage" so avoid the "junk food" of bad movies, filthy books, or pictures and dirty jokes. Train everyday; "exercise thyself rather unto Godliness. Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come" (I Timothy 4:7-8). For as a person "thinketh is his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). We become like our thoughts.

3. P-1-a-n to win - Read the last book of the Bible and you can see that "we won", "we won." You're not loosing if you're a Christian. You're taking the high ground and it's hard sometimes - anything worthwhile in life is h-a-r-d. Surround yourself with "champions." A w-i-n-n-i-n-g spirit can be catching, play by the rules (know God's book). Bring others into God's family, it makes a bigger team and if you get knocked down, "Get back up." Follow where God leads you "thy word is a lamp unto my path" (Psalms 119:105).

1. The Bible says that "________________ entered into Judas" (Iscariot) the apostle who betrayed Jesus (Luke 22:3).

2. It was during the "Passover" feast that Jesus began the ____________ _____________ that Christians keep in memory of Christ's death (Luke 22:15-20).

3. Which apostle denied 3 times that he did not know Jesus? __________________ (Luke 22:57-62).

4. When the men came to take Jesus to be crucified they "______________ him" and "____________ him" and struck him on the face (Luke 22:63-64).

5. The ruler Pilate was willing to release Jesus but the crowd cried out "______________ him, "_____________ him" and Pilate gave sentence (Luke 23:20-27).

6. Jesus is our example of love, when he said of those who hurt him, "Father ____________ ___________ for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

7. Name the man who carried the cross of Jesus to Calvary's mountain. _________________ the Cyrenian (Luke 23:26-27).

8. Jesus died between 2 ___________________ on the cross (Matthew 27:44).

9. _________________ of Arimathea came and begged the body of Jesus, took it down and wrapped it in linen and laid it in a sepulchre (Luke 23:50-53).

10. Name the women who ran and told the 11 apostles that Jesus had risen from the grave. _______________ ______________ and Mary (Luke 24:8-10).

NAME__________________________ LESSON RECEIVED____________________

ADDRESS_______________________ LESSON RETURNED____________________

________________________________ GRADED BY____________ GRADE________

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I will promptly grade them and mail you the other lessons.

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