Matthew 26:57-68is about WITNESS and TESTIMONY.
There are two kinds of witness and testimony as follows.
Matthew 26:63-66
26:63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!"
26:64 Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."
26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!
26:66 "What do you think?" They answered and said, "He is deserving of death."
Jesus is the example of true witness, although He must face persecution and death.
Jesus bore witness that He is Heavenly Bridegroom who will come a second time, although He had to face persecution and death.
We must also become the true witness, meaning we have to bear witness that Jesus is Heavenly Bridegroom, whatever risk we have to face.
Its practice is we become Heavenly Bride.
The process of being Heavenly Bride is as follows.
There are two kinds of witness and testimony as follows.
- False witness or lying witness, in verse 59-63a.
- True witness, in verse 63b-66.
Matthew 26:63-66
26:63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!"
26:64 Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."
26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!
26:66 "What do you think?" They answered and said, "He is deserving of death."
Jesus is the example of true witness, although He must face persecution and death.
- Jesus bore witness that He was Christ, the Son of Living God. It means He bore witness about the cross.
- Jesus bore witness that He was High Priest sitting on the right hand of Father God.
- Jesus bore witness that He was King of all kings and Heavenly Bridegroom who will come a second time in glory.
Jesus bore witness that He is Heavenly Bridegroom who will come a second time, although He had to face persecution and death.
We must also become the true witness, meaning we have to bear witness that Jesus is Heavenly Bridegroom, whatever risk we have to face.
Its practice is we become Heavenly Bride.
The process of being Heavenly Bride is as follows.
- We have to be redeemed by Jesus’ blood or the blood of the Lamb of God.
Revelation 21:9
21:9. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife."
Heavenly Bride is the Lamb’s wife because of being redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God.
Revelation 14:1-5
14:1. Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty–four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.
14:3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty–four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
14:4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
14:5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without faultbefore the throne of God.
The name of God is written on their foreheads, meaning being the bride of God.
Heavenly Bride is ones who have been redeemed by Jesus’ blood until being without fault, there is no sin anymore.
She is redeemed by Jesus’ blood to be delivered from these three things.- The earth.
Meaning being redeemed from the influence of the world.
James 4:4
4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
The influence of the world such as its activities, amenities, sorrows, difficulties, and friendship makes one unfaithful in doing service and ministry to God.
Consequently, he becomes the enemy of God and goes to Babylon.
The proof of being redeemed from the earth is our FAITHFULNESSin doing service and ministry to God up to the end line, namely we die or Jesus comes a second time. - Among men.
Meaning we are redeemed from the influence of the flesh.
Romans 8:6-7
8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
The influence of flesh with its emotion, lusts, will, fear, shame, et cetera makes one disobedient to the commandments of God.
The proof of being redeemed from the flesh is our OBEDIENCE to God until the flesh does not sound anymore. - From sin.
Revelation 14:5
14:5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
The proof of being redeemed from sin is our HONESTY or NOT LYING and RIGHTEOUS LIFE.
Tongue is the rudder of our life. Not lying, our whole life must be righteous and holy until someday we are without fault as Jesus is.
Psalm 5:12
5:12 For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.
As a result,the righteous is surrounded as with a shield of God’s blessings and grace while the world is in curse. - The earth.
- We have to be shepherded.
The term 'the Lamb' shows a close relationship with shepherding.
Revelation 12:1
12:1. Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
Heavenly Bridegroom has the light of the sun, moon, and stars. She is the light of the world as Jesus is.
Those who bear witness will be the light of the world also.
There is light of testimony from the top of head to the foot, there is no darkness or stumbling-block.
How can we appear as the light of the world?
Romans 13:12-14
13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13:13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
We have to put on the Lord Jesus Christ as the armor of light to face the darkness of sin up to the peak at the last days as follows.- Sins concerning eating-drinking such as smoking, gambling, being drunk, and drugs abuse
- Sins of marrying-being given in marriage or sexuality sins with all its varieties, sexuality sins to oneself, and false marriage.
- Envy or jealousy and dispute both in marriage and in ministry in the vineyard of God.
Envy can happen because of blessings or God’s employment to other people.
It will cause the destruction of the body of Christ.
Therefore, finish all disputes through making peace! We return to one right core according to the Bible.
- Walking with the Lord/Father God through Golden Altar of Incense or perseverance in doing Prayer Service.
We have the work of the light of God’s love which is as a sun shining us, so we can love God more than anything and we can love other people as we love ourselves. We have the perfect love as the light of the sun. - Walking with Jesus/ the Son of God through the Table of Showbread or perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion.
We have the redemption and sanctification done by the true teaching Word and Holy Communion, so we can live in holiness even become perfectto have the light of red moon. - Walking with Christ/ Holy Spirit God through Golden Candlestick or perseverance in doing General Service.
We have the work of Holy Spirit, so we can be faithful and fervent in Spirit ministering God with the gifts of Holy Spirituntil we are perfect to have the light of the garland of twelve stars.
Ministering with keeping the flesh seems to increase at the first but it decreases at last with many reasons. On the contrary, ministering with the gifts of Holy Spirit will increase for sure.
Not persevering, the light will never reach perfection. On the contrary, we will get the light until we are perfect if we persevere.
Revelation 12:13-14
12:13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.
12:14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
As a result, we have the two wings of a great eagle or great gainmore than all riches, diploma, et cetera, especially to flee us when antichrist reigns over the world for three years and half.
The shepherding system never gives us any disadvantage but great gain.
Do not be troubled with any other things! The important thing is being shepherded well until we get the great gain or the two wings of a great eagle.
The two wings of a great eagle will flee us to the wilderness for three years and half, so we are delivered from antichrist. He cannot touch us even he cannot see us.
We are indeed older in the shepherding but our life becomes easier and lighter because the two wings of a great eagle become greater.
If our life gets heavier, let us now check whether our wings become smaller or even droop. Let us ask new strength through Holy Communion! - Sins concerning eating-drinking such as smoking, gambling, being drunk, and drugs abuse
- We have to be renewed from carnal men to spiritual ones or from mortar pot to golden pot that had manna.
Matthew 24:30-31
24:30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
24:31 "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Jesus, Heavenly Bridegroom, is a human in flesh and blood experiencing death and resurrection, so He has the body of glory or spiritual body and He can ascend to heaven. In addition, He will come a second time on glorious clouds.
Heavenly Bride is also human in flesh and blood receiving the great sound of the trumpet of an angel, referring to righteous, hard, and sharp Shepherding Word which sanctifies us from sin (we have death experience) and renews us (we have resurrection experience) until we are perfect and as glorious as Jesus is.
Thus, we have to OBEY the Shepherding Wordwhich is righteous, hard, and sharper than any two-edged sword!
What must be renewed?
Colossians 3:5-9
3:5. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: (1) fornication,(2) uncleanness, (3) passion, (4) evil desire, and (5) covetousness, which is (6) idolatry.
3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
3:7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: (1) anger, (2) wrath, (3) malice, (4) blasphemy, (5) filthy language out of your mouth.
3:9 (6) Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
We will experience these things through the work of Shepherding:- sanctification to our inner and outer life from six inner sins and six outer sins (the experience of death);
- life renewal, that we receive seven characteristics of new man (the experience of resurrection).
3:10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
3:11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on (1) tender mercies, (2) kindness,(3) humility, (4) meekness,(5) longsuffering;
3:13 bearing with one another, and (6) forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
3:14 But above all these things (7)put on love, which is the bond of perfection.- Tender mercies= not judging sinful people as well as not agreeing them.
The right attitude is bringing them to Jesus that they can be helped and saved. - Kindness.
- Humility= ability to confess and leave the sin.
- Meekness, beginning from meekness to receive God’s Word.
- Longsuffering= patience to wait for the time of God, to surrender to Him much more. Do not hunt like Esau has done!
- Forgiving one another. Do not keep any revenge!
- Perfect love= loving other people as we love ourselves; we can love and pray for the one who is hostile to us; we can love God more than anything (we can be obedient until the flesh does not sound anymore).
John 13:23
13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Leaning on Jesus or Heavenly Bridegroom, we believe and entrust ourselves fully to Him; we only cry to Him.
We only hear His heart beat which never changes; we feel His grace which never changes.
Faith together with God’s grace will result in miracle.
John 21:20-22
21:20. Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"
21:21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"
21:22 Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."
As a result, our life and death are in the hand of Godas follows.- He is able to preserve and protect us.
- He is able to solve all our problems, even the impossible one.
- He provides us beautiful future life.
- He sanctifies and renews us until we are perfect and as glorious as He is. The proof is real when we do not stumble in word.
3:2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
Having many mistakes in our saying, we get much more tears in our life.
Let us now alert of every word of our mouth!
If we want to be sanctified and renewed continually, someday our mouth will only worship God saying ‘ALLELUIA’ to welcome Jesus’ second coming on glorious clouds. - sanctification to our inner and outer life from six inner sins and six outer sins (the experience of death);