Matthew 26:69-75is aboutPeter denied Jesus.
Peter denied Jesus three times as follows:
Matthew 26:71-72
26:71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girlsaw him and said to those who werethere, “This fellowalso was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
26:72 But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”
Luke 1:26-27,31
1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
1:27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name wasMary.
1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.
Nazareth is the place where Jesus began to become flesh in the womb of Mary.
Luke 2:51-52
2:51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Nazareth is the place where Jesus grew physically.
In shorts, Nazareth is the place where Jesus began to become flesh up to the maturity.
John 1:1,14
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is Logos, that is the teaching Word.
Thus, Nazareth means the teaching Word that becomes flesh up to the full maturity or perfection.
Peter denied Jesus of Nazareth means denying the true teaching Word.
There are two types of preaching of the Word as follows:
5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
5:25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
The word of Jesus equals to the voice of the Son of God, that is the Word whose secret is revealed, one verse is explained by another verse in the Holy Bible. This is called as the true teaching Word.
The true teaching Word contains resurrection power to beat the death.
Denying or rejecting the true teaching Word equals to rejecting the resurrection power. This kind of life will be controlled by death and will be perished forever.
Revelation power or Easter power is inside the true teaching Word.
Celebrating Easter must manifest the true teaching Word.
Easter = release = resurrection.
Easter = release.
In the Old Testament, Easter is the release of Israelites from the slavery of Egypt to go to Canaan. In the New Testament, Easter is the release of the church of God from the slavery of sins, slavery of the world, until we become blameless and perfect as God’s bride who is ready to welcome Jesus on the glorious clouds, and enter the marriage supper of the Lamb of God, the perfect marriage [Revelation 19]. Afterwards, we will enter the Paradise [Revelation 20], and then the New Jerusalem [Revelation 21,22].
Easter = resurrection.
Jesus rose up to help and prepare the church of God to become perfect, to become the bride who is ready to welcome Jesus’ second coming.
Celebrating Easter this morning, hopefully we experience the resurrection power of God to prepare each one of us to become perfect and worthy to welcome Jesus’ second coming.
In Luke 24, there are three times of Jesus’ appearance with the resurrection power to help and prepare the church of God to become perfect and worthy to welcome Jesus’ second coming.
Peter denied Jesus three times as follows:
- Verse 69-70: Peter denied Jesus of Galilee.
- Verse 71-72: Peter denied Jesus of Nazareth.
- Verse 73-75: Peter denied Jesus even cursed and swore.
Matthew 26:71-72
26:71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girlsaw him and said to those who werethere, “This fellowalso was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
26:72 But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”
Luke 1:26-27,31
1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
1:27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name wasMary.
1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.
Nazareth is the place where Jesus began to become flesh in the womb of Mary.
Luke 2:51-52
2:51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Nazareth is the place where Jesus grew physically.
In shorts, Nazareth is the place where Jesus began to become flesh up to the maturity.
John 1:1,14
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is Logos, that is the teaching Word.
Thus, Nazareth means the teaching Word that becomes flesh up to the full maturity or perfection.
Peter denied Jesus of Nazareth means denying the true teaching Word.
There are two types of preaching of the Word as follows:
- Gospel Word/ gospel of salvation/ milk, which preaches Jesus’ first coming until He died on the cross to save sinful men. If we only drink milk, our growth will not be normal.
- Teaching Word/ solid food, which preaches Jesus’ second coming as Heavenly bridegroom, to purify and perfect our life.
5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
5:25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
The word of Jesus equals to the voice of the Son of God, that is the Word whose secret is revealed, one verse is explained by another verse in the Holy Bible. This is called as the true teaching Word.
The true teaching Word contains resurrection power to beat the death.
Denying or rejecting the true teaching Word equals to rejecting the resurrection power. This kind of life will be controlled by death and will be perished forever.
Revelation power or Easter power is inside the true teaching Word.
Celebrating Easter must manifest the true teaching Word.
Easter = release = resurrection.
Easter = release.
In the Old Testament, Easter is the release of Israelites from the slavery of Egypt to go to Canaan. In the New Testament, Easter is the release of the church of God from the slavery of sins, slavery of the world, until we become blameless and perfect as God’s bride who is ready to welcome Jesus on the glorious clouds, and enter the marriage supper of the Lamb of God, the perfect marriage [Revelation 19]. Afterwards, we will enter the Paradise [Revelation 20], and then the New Jerusalem [Revelation 21,22].
Easter = resurrection.
Jesus rose up to help and prepare the church of God to become perfect, to become the bride who is ready to welcome Jesus’ second coming.
Celebrating Easter this morning, hopefully we experience the resurrection power of God to prepare each one of us to become perfect and worthy to welcome Jesus’ second coming.
In Luke 24, there are three times of Jesus’ appearance with the resurrection power to help and prepare the church of God to become perfect and worthy to welcome Jesus’ second coming.
- [Luke 24:1-12] God appeared to the women.
Luke 24:1-3,10
24:1 Now on the first dayof the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other womenwith them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
24:2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
24:3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the motherof James, and the other womenwith them, who told these things to the apostles.
John 20:11
20:11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and lookedinto the tomb.
The weakness of women is weeping a lot. This denotes the church of God which has many troubles and tears.
Luke 8:2-3
8:2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons,
8:3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.
The women who wept are rich women. It means that richness, position, smartness, diploma, etc. cannot erase the tears.
Luke 24:4-8
24:4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.
24:5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed theirfaces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?
24:6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,
24:7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”
24:8 And they remembered His words.
The thing we need is Jesus with the resurrection power through the shepherding Word(angel denotes the shepherd).
The shepherding Word is the true teaching Word, which is trusted by God to a pastor, to be preached to the congregation faithfully, continually, and repetitively, to become spiritual food for the congregation.
Philippians 3:1b
3:1b For me to write the same things to you isnot tedious, but for you it issafe.
The shepherding Word must be repeated to give faith sureness to us, such that we always remember the shepherding Word. Do not hear the strange voice! Do not reject the shepherding Word!
These women brought spices to the tomb of Jesus. They forgot the shepherding Word and they found empty tomb.
If we forget shepherding Word, the consequence is the ministry fails, the worship fails, the whole life fails and is marked with tears. If it is not stopped, the tears will be continued to the place where there are only sorrow and tears in the hell.
Shepherding Word decides whether our life is joyful forever or full of tears forever.
If we remember and obey the shepherding Word, we will be inside the hands of Great Shepherd.
Revelation 7:17
7:17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
The hands of Great Shepherd are able to wipe away every tear from our eyes, able to help and recover us from failures, and lead us to beautiful and joyful future, until the last shepherding place in New Jerusalem. - [Luke 24:36-49] Jesus appeared to the church of God who was doubtful when facing temptations.
Luke 24:36-39
24:36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”
24:37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
24:38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?
24:39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
When facing temptations, we frequently doubt God and put hope on the other things which are false. Frequently we look for way out outside the Word, which is actually a deadlock and perdition.
James 1:6-8
1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
1:7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
1:8 he isa double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
The consequence of life who doubts is being unstable in all his ways, being within fear and worry. This kind of life will not receive anything, will dry spiritually, and will easily be deceived (ghost is said as God, God is said as ghost). If Christian life is deceived by false teaching, he will become the same as ghost, the same as Satan the trinity in evil and uncleanness, until be perished forever.
Jesus appeared with resurrection power through showing His hands and feet, to show that He has bones and flesh. Ghost only has spirit, but does not have flesh and bones.
Genesis 2:23
2:23 And Adam said: “This isnow bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh;She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”
Bones and flesh denote God’s bride.
Thus, God appeared with resurrection power through Bride Tidings. Jesus appeared as Heavenly bridegroom to purify and wash our life, until we become blameless and perfect as God, to be able to welcome His second coming.
Ephesians 5:25-27
5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
5:27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. - [Luke 24:16-35] Jesus appeared to the church of God whose countenance fell.
Luke 24:16-21
24:16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
24:17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation isthis that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
24:18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
24:19 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
24:20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
24:21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.
Jesus appeared on the top of the mountain with His shiny face. We must also become like that if we want to meet Jesus in His second coming.
Genesis 4:5-6
4:5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
4:6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
Cain and Abel ministered God together, but only one who was respected by God.
In ministry, there are many fallen countenances because of getting angry, that is envy, hatred, up to hatred without any reasons.
Hannah also had fallen countenance since there were Peninnah.
Within marriage, there are many fallen countenances because of bitterness or depression.
Those two people who walked to Emmaus had fallen countenance since they were desperate, disappointed, and having no future.
Luke 24:30-32
24:30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it,and gave it to them.
24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
24:32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
To face the fallen countenance, Jesus appeared with the true teaching Word and Holy Communion. Holy Communion without the true teaching Word is just a habit even an accident.
But in Holy Communion with the true teaching Word, Jesus vanished. It means that Jesus enters our life, unites with us. The proof is we are in peace; we are in silence and calmness.
- God’s resurrection power makes everything become easy and light.
Matthew 11:28-30
11:28 Come to Me, all youwho labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
11:30 For My yoke iseasy and My burden is light.” - God’s resurrection power is able to calm wind and waves.
Mark 4:39
4:39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
God’s resurrection power is able to give beautiful and joyful future. - God’s resurrection power is able to purify and renew us, until our countenance is like the sun shining in its strength, to be able to welcome Jesus’ second coming.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This morning, starting from shining face from inside the heart. Face contains five senses. Starting from lip must not talk the others’ fault, must not lie. Lip must be renewed to be able to say truth, to testify and worship God. If lip is right, our face will shine.