The New Birth (Part 1) - The Death and Resurrection of Jesus | Ep. 147

Walk with us as we traverse the most pivotal moment in history where courage, prophecy, and divine purpose converge. We follow Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and witness his unwavering obedience to God's will, paving the way for ancient prophecies to be fulfilled. In this profound exploration, we dissect the layers of scripture and history, revealing the depth and significance of the events leading to Jesus' crucifixion. From the impactful symbolism of his entry into Jerusalem to his lament over the city, this journey will enrich your understanding of divine promises.

The intense trial before Pilate and the harrowing crucifixion of Jesus Christ form the heart of our discussion. We unpack the layers of betrayal, injustice, and fulfillment of prophecy that defined this crucial period. Discover the profound implications of Jesus addressing God as "Abba" and how this intimate term underscores the personal nature of faith. As we examine the brutal ordeal that Jesus endured, we'll illuminate how his silence and meekness became a testament to prophecy, offering profound lessons on faith and obedience.

In our final segment, we don't just talk about resurrection; we explore its eternal impact. We will begin to peruse what it means to be "born again". From the Great Commission to the universal message of forgiveness and spiritual rebirth, we tread the path of discipleship and the power of action in faith. Engage with us as we reflect on Jesus' teachings and their transformative power, emphasizing the universal call to share this message of hope and forgiveness.

Chapters

• 0:36 The New Birth
• 15:49 The Trial of Jesus Before Pilate
• 24:32 The Crucifixion of Jesus
• 34:57 Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection Impact
• 42:23 The Importance of Obedience in Discipleship
• 57:09 The Gospel Message of Forgiveness
• 1:08:23 The Concept of Being Born Again

Transcript

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 0:03

The vision received was that of blood cells traveling throughout the body, supplying the much needed oxygen and other nutrients to the differing members of the body to fulfill their purpose. Once the blood cells are spent, they must return back to the heart to be refilled before being sent out again and fulfill their purpose Amen. Good evening everyone. It's good to see you again. It's good to see your faces.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 0:32

This week's lesson is Lesson 9. If you're titling your notes, it is the new birth we're focusing on, and in the last lesson we looked at the teachings, we looked at the parables, we looked at the miracles of Jesus Christ and we looked at who parables. We looked at the miracles of Jesus Christ and we looked at who his identity really is and we looked at it as it was recorded in the book of Matthew. We focused a lot on Matthew, but in this lesson we are first going to look at the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ described in the book of Luke. Now, all of this has been repeated several times in four Gospels, but last week I focused on Matthew. This week I'm focusing on Luke, so there will be a lot of reading. So be prepared to read through the scriptures that we have in Luke. And we will start in Luke, chapter 9, verse 51. And we'll start with Sister Patricia to my left and keep going around that way.

Patricia Ruiz: 1:56

And it came to pass. When the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 2:04

And this one verse is basically describing that. At this point in time, Jesus has made up his mind and he was going to the Jerusalem even though he knew that the only thing that awaited him there was his imminent death, his cruel crucifixion and everything that came with it. But he set his face as a flint and he proceeded in that direction, for that was the will of God for his life. He understood it, he received it and he began to walk it out. When we go to Luke, chapter 19, we'll read two verses each and we'll start in verse 37. Luke, chapter 19,. Starting in verse 37. Two verses each. This is about a week before his eventual crucifixion.

John H. S. Leyva: 3:12

And when he was come nigh even now, as the descent of the mount of olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

Willda Leyva: 3:31

And some of the Pharisees among the multitude said unto him Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Monica Acosta: 3:48

And when he was come near, he beheld the city and wept over it, saying If thou hadst known, even though at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace, but now they are hid from thy eyes.

Melissa Gonzalez: 4:10

For peace will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you, enclose you on every side and level you and your children within you to the ground, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 4:30

If you know anything about his last week on earth. He entered into the Jerusalem sitting on a colt and the people in the city began to sing Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, waving palm branches. We sing the song in our fellowship. And he said if they should keep quiet, even immediately the rocks would cry out. But he said something very interesting. Amid the joyful praises of his followers, he suddenly stopped and he made a prophetic declaration over the city, because he knew that the majority of the people there would not accept him and it would lead to his crucifixion.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 5:22

And right there he says in verse 34, days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you, close you in on every side and they'll level you and all your children with you, and they will not leave one stone upon another. Because you did not know the time of your visitation, you did not know when the Messiah was going to come into your presence, and because you have rejected the promised one, I now declare before you by prophecy that your city will be leveled to the ground, and this happened historically. That's why we teach in our fellowship. It's very good for you to understand some history along with what you read in the Bible, because this was specifically fulfilled by the Romans. They surrounded the city for three and a half years, from 67 AD to 70 AD. They ransacked Jerusalem and they tore the temple and ripped it up and everything inside. That's exactly what happened within 40 years of him speaking this prophetic declaration.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 6:37

So I just want to give you that tidbit, because there are even prophecies that were not just prophecies of future, of things that are in the end times and the things that we still expect, but there were also prophecies that were spoken, that were fulfilled already. They're already fulfilled in the past. So let's go to Luke 22 and we're going to read verses 14 through 22. Verses 14 through 22. Luke 22, verse 14 through 22. Two verses each, and I guess I'll start it here. When the hour had come, he sat down and the 12 apostles with him. Then he said to them With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with him. Then he said to them With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

Patricia Ruiz: 7:37

I'm sorry 16, 17. For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup and gave thanks and said Take this and divide it among yourselves.

John H. S. Leyva: 7:55

For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took the bread and gave thanks and and break it and gave unto them, saying this is my body which is given for you. This do in remembrance of me.

Willda Leyva: 8:12

Likewise also the cup after supper saying this cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you. But behold the hand of him that betrays me is with me on the table.

Monica Acosta: 8:29

And truly the son of man goeth, as it was determined, but will unto that man by whom he is betrayed.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 8:39

So Jesus basically eats his final supper of his life and he's been desiring this. He wanted to sit down, he wanted to sit with his disciples, but even in the midst of that, even desiring to have his last supper with his disciples, he knew, in the midst of these very disciples whom he desired to be with on this occasion, he knew one was there sitting at at the table, ready to betray him, and he reveals it. Let's go to verse 39 through 48. Read two each Same chapter.

Melissa Gonzalez: 9:26

Coming out. He went to the Mount of Olives and he was accused, and his disciples also followed him. When he came to the place, he said to them Pray that you may not enter into temptation.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 9:38

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and he knelt down and prayed, saying Father, if it is your will, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. Then an angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him.

Patricia Ruiz: 10:01

And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow.

John H. S. Leyva: 10:19

Why sleep? Ye Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 10:40

But Jesus said unto him Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss. After this Last Supper, after this occasion where he broke bread, he blessed it. He took the bread, if you remember. He broke it, He blessed it, He gave it. You know we've talked about that kind of pattern that we saw in the scriptures. Then He took the wine, or actually, before he took the wine, he blessed it.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 11:01

They all went to the Garden of Gethsemane, but before that, satan entered into Judas and he sent him away go do what you're going to do. And the 11, with Jesus, went to the Garden of Gethsemane. He wanted them to pray. They could not. It was too late for them, their carnality was overpowering them. They went to sleep, but he, knowing what was going to happen, knowing what was to come, and as a man, he was in agony. It's not like any of us would ever wish to die, but he knew and he said not my will but yours be done, because his purpose as the son of God, as the son of man, was solely to fulfill God's will. And if that meant his death, he was ready to do it, even though he may have been in agony through it.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 11:56

Now you may not know this, but when they went to the Mount of Olives it's also called Gethsemane and the word Gethsemane means oil press. It was here that he was pressed and an oil was coming out and as he prayed, the pressure of this expected outcome was weighing heavily on him, pressing into him. He understood the impending sufferings. He had been telling the disciples it is need that I go and suffer and die and be raised again three days later, as the scriptures had said. It had been told to the disciples repeatedly. They didn't understand it, they didn't get it, but He fully understood at that moment exactly what was going to happen. He had been trying to tell the disciples, he'd been trying to get them to get ready, get prepared, pray, pray with me, but they could not. They did not understand and the sufferings caused him to begin to sweat great drops of sweat, as if because it says like blood was just plopping down and splattering all over the ground. He was in immense sweating. It didn't say it was a hot day of 115 degrees.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 13:18

This was at night, right around Passover, which means right around near October, end of September, early October, not Passover, which means right around near October, end of September, early October, not Passover. I'm sorry, that would have been April, that would have been March or April. Okay, in the middle of the night it's not like the sun was baking him, he was sweating because he was under intense pressure, intense agony on the Garden of Gethsemane, and that's why it's important to know Gethsemane means like an oil press and it was being pressed and things were coming out and an angel came to strengthen him just so that he could finish this, just so that he can finish this. Now there's a medical condition which Elder John may be able to confirm for me or not. It's called hematidrosis and it only occurs when a person is under the most severe stress and it results in tender skin, in chills and a condition similar to shock. Can you confirm that or not? Never heard of such a thing.

John H. S. Leyva: 14:26

I haven't heard of a case, but it sounds appropriate.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 14:31

Okay, so hematidrosis or hematidrosis.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 14:42

It's hema, yeah, hematidrosis. So, in spite of the great stress that Jesus was under intense agony, he purposely confessed, declared not my will, but yours be done. And we learn from this account that Jesus was not. It's not like he was like, yay, let's go get crucified. That wasn't his idea. I mean, any man is not interested in dying, but under the most extreme circumstances, for the most important thing, he might do that. And he was willing to set his life aside because he wanted to bring many sons into glory. The word of God says he wanted to bring many sons into glory. Nevertheless, not really wanting to be crucified, he committed himself to the will of God. Not really wanting to be crucified, he committed himself to the will of God.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 15:49

Jesus was arrested at Gethsemane. He was betrayed by his quote unquote friend Judas, who even kissed him like hey, dear friend. He says, friend Judas, do you betray me? With a kiss. And from that point all of the disciples scattered, all of them ran away and he was taken into custody and brought into the high priest's residence on the Temple Mount. Let's go to now verse 63., 63. And we'll read two verses each up until 71.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 16:36

63 to 71. Not sure.

Monica Acosta: 16:41

Yours and the men that held Jesus mocked Him and smote Him, and when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and acted saying Prophesy. Who is it that smote me?

Melissa Gonzalez: 16:56

Many other things. They blasphemously spoke against him. As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led him into their council saying If you are the Christ, tell us.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 17:13

But he said to them If I tell you, you will by no means believe, and if I also ask you will by no means answer me or let me go.

Patricia Ruiz: 17:28

Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them Ye, say that I am.

John H. S. Leyva: 17:38

And they said what need we any further witness, for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth. And a whole multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 17:51

Now this happened at the high priest's house, and this is when the suffering started to come, or at least the physical sufferings. He was mocked verbally, he was beaten and he was made to stand trial. But Jesus knew this would happen. It says in Psalms 35, 11 and 12, fierce witnesses rise up, they ask me things that I do not know. They reward me evil for good, to the sorrow of my soul. And upon being convicted of claiming to be the Messiah, he was then taken to the Roman governor, pontius Pilate, and at this point it was early in the morning. Jesus had been up all night. They didn't let him sleep, they beat him, they mocked him. He had sweated what looked or what seemed like blood. He had been beaten in the face. He had walked nearly two miles, because they measured the distances from the high priest's house, from Garden of Gethsemane, to the high priest's house and then to Pontius Pilate. Then he had to walk another half mile. So now he's nearly walked three miles altogether. In this route he's had a long night, long hours, enduring a lot of verbal abuse, physical abuse. And we see he's not fighting back, he's not trying to beat them with his fist, he's not trying to react to them verbally. He's answering mildly, but he knew that all this was going to happen. He knew that these were the sufferings that he was going to have to bear for the sake of the sins of all the world.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 19:40

It says in Isaiah 53, 7, he was oppressed and he was afflicted, and yet he opened not his mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before its shearers is silent. So he opened, not his mouth. So he opened not his mouth. This is basically describing that he did not go there railing in defense of himself. He was meek, he was mild. As a lamb goes to be sheared by the slaughter, a lamb doesn't say anything, he just goes. He silently goes and he's taken. Let's go to chapter 23. Let's look at verses 13 through 25. Luke 23, 13 through 25.

Melissa Gonzalez: 20:40

What was?

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 20:43

the psalm that I had read from was Psalm 35, 11, and 12.

Willda Leyva: 20:59

23, verse 13. Yes, two of each. And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people. Yes, two of each. No, nor yet here. No fault in this man touching those things whereof you accuse him.

Monica Acosta: 21:16

No, nor yet Herod for I sent you to him and know nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 21:41

And just so we understand what's going on Pilate is not a Jew and he's taken Jesus. He's questioned him, he's done stuff to him and he says listen, he hasn't done anything to deserve death. What's the matter with you guys? You know, I sent Him to Herod and he felt the same way. What is it that you? I'm gonna beat him, I'm gonna chastise him and you know what? I'm going to release him and let him go. But this is ridiculous. Why did you bring this guy before me? So even men that were not Jews declared his innocence. Okay, you can continue.

Melissa Gonzalez: 22:22

For it was necessary for him to release one of them at the feast, and they all cried out at once saying away with this man and release to us the righteous who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city and for murder.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 22:39

Pilate, therefore wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them but they cried, saying crucify him, crucify him.

Patricia Ruiz: 22:49

therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them, but they cried, saying Crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time why? What evil have he done? I have found no cause of death in him.

John H. S. Leyva: 22:59

I will therefore chastise him and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices requiring that he might be crucified, and the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

Willda Leyva: 23:13

And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required, and he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison whom they had desired. But he delivered Jesus to their will. And as they led him away they laid hold upon one Simeon, a Cyrenian coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 23:37

Okay.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 23:42

Anybody know what Abba means, father Daddy, anybody know what?

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 23:45

Abba means Father, daddy. Anybody know what Bar means? Bar, son of. In the Hebrew they say like Ishmael ben Judah, that means Ishmael, son of Judah. Or they say Judah Bar Simeon, that means Judah, son of Simeon. Ben and Bar are the words used for son of.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 24:16

Isn't it interesting that the son of God was replaced by a man that was called the son of the father? Barabbas is the son of father, or son of the father. Abbas, abba, Pilate examines him again, and Pilate wants to release him, but the people, the Pharisees, are in the midst of the crowd, shouting no, no, crucify him, no. And so he yields to the demands of the people and he turns him over to them to be beaten and crucified, to be replaced. Freedom is replaced by a man who stirred up rebellion and was basically convicted of murder. Well, we're all guilty, and that's exactly what the Son of God gave us freedom. He took upon himself our sins. We were guilty of rebellion, we were guilty of murder, we were guilty of every kind of sin, and so we have been released and he has been placed upon us, or he has been placed with the sins that we committed, so that we could go free. Now, the Romans. If you didn't know. I'm just going over this. You may not. Some of you may or may not know this.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 25:47

The Romans used an instrument called the flagellum to beat their prisoners. It was made of leather thongs like leather straps, and at the end of these leather straps they would put bits of iron balls of iron, if you will and they wrapped it up in this leather strap. They would put sheep bone on the end of it and the prisoner was stripped completely naked. This is what the Romans do. This is actual historical evidence. This is what they did to those that were convicted and were sentenced to crucifixion. He was completely naked, his hands were tied over his head to the whipping post and they began to lash at him with this flagella having bits of bone and iron the iron what was the iron for? To bruise his flesh. What was the sharp bones for? Because when it raked into his flesh they would rip it off and they would rip off the flesh with it. He was open in more ways than one, shredded and leaving the prisoner's arms, legs, face, torso and mass. Just imagine it's just ribbons of flesh all over, broken and battered and bruised and just literally ripped up.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 27:18

But Jesus knew this was going to happen to him. He had delved into the scriptures, his father had taught him these things, for it says in Isaiah 50, verse 6, I gave my back to those who struck me. I willingly gave up my body, my life, to those who would whip me and strike me, and my cheeks to those who plucked out the beard to those who plucked out the beard. I did not hide my face from shame and spitting. I voluntarily and willingly did that. Like I said, like a lamb goes to the slaughters, silent, not fighting, not trying to escape, but just willingly going where he was led. And after the Roman soldiers had beaten him and they beat him, like we say today, within an inch of his life they beat him. They then put a crown of thorns on his head and struck him in the head with a rod and they begin to mock him some more. And Jesus knew all of this would happen. It says in Micah 5.1, they will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 28:47

I keep giving you these Old Testament prophecies because they're so pinpoint, accurate to what he went through. You would be absolutely obstinate and stubborn to just say, oh, that's just by chance. No, no, how could a man prophesy how he was going to die so accurately hundreds and thousands of years before it ever happened? That's not possible. Jesus was then taken for his final walk to a place that we call Calvary, Golgotha in Matthew, and Golgotha is translated the place of the skull. We believe this to be probably on the top of the Mount of Olives, about two-thirds of a mile from the city. If Jesus had been taken to a hospital emergency room at this point, I think it's safe to say he would have been in critical condition. Let's read Luke 23, verse 32 through 34. Is it my turn?

John H. S. Leyva: 30:08

I don't remember.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 30:15

Good, someone else can read 32 through 34. 32.

Patricia Ruiz: 30:19

23?

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 30:26

32 through 34.

Monica Acosta: 30:27

No, I mean chapter 23?

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 30:29

Yeah, just go ahead, yeah 23.

Monica Acosta: 30:33

And there were also two other male factors that lived with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him.

Melissa Gonzalez: 30:48

And the male factors, one on the right hand and the other on the left, jesus said, father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do, and they divided his garments in half slots.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 31:06

Little history. Crucifixion was invented by the Persians and they wanted to be the cruelest and most humiliating way to execute their enemy or their prisoners. The Romans only used crucifixion for the most vile of criminals. The post was usually set into the ground. The prisoner carried the crossbar, which weighed probably around 100 pounds. So imagine his body is already bruised, already battered, already ripped to shreds, all over his back and probably his arms, probably his legs, probably his buttocks, maybe his chest, and now he's got to carry, in his open wound, a hundred pound piece of wood. When they reach the site of the execution, it's usually the busiest road of the city. The prisoner was stripped naked, thrown to the ground and seven inch nails were driven through his wrist and these nails struck the median nerve in the wrist and they sent jolts of pain up through the arms into the entire body. This is all medical, and the crossbar was then hoisted into position and the feet were nailed to the post with these seven inch nails and it was in this position that Jesus hung on the cross from nine o'clock in the morning till three o'clock in the afternoon For six hours. He hung there right before everyone Naked is the day he was born. I know they don't show that in the pictures. They always show him wrapped with some sort of loincloth, but the Romans crucified people naked. They wanted to set an example, make an example of this person, to shame and put him down to such a way. They mocked him while he was up there, they cursed at him. They would spit on the people as they came walking by, and these were the very same people that he had come to save, the very same people that seven days previous were singing Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. And now many of these same people. Oh, it's just another man. Let's see another crucifixion.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 33:59

Finally, a terrible, crushing pain began deep within his chest as the pericardium, a sack that surrounds the heart, beginning to slowly fill with serum that surrounds the heart beginning to slowly fill with serum, and it compressed upon his heart, causing it to pound and to work even harder because of all this pressure surrounding it, torturing his lungs, causing him to gasp now for air, to cough, cough, cough and struggle to breathe, and the chill of death began to creep all over his body. And, hanging there in agony, he said on the cross, he who was the living water. Do you know what he said? Two words, I thirst, I thirst. Two words, I thirst.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 34:57

Now, Jesus knew he would suffer on the cross. He knew of Psalm 22, verse 14 through 17. It says I am poured out like water and all of my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a pot's herd and my tongue clings to my jaws. You, meaning God, have brought me to the dust of death, for dogs have surrounded me. The congregation of the wicked has enclosed me. They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look and stare at me and finally, three hours later, Jesus dies.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 36:03

Now it says that there were two other criminals there. He died before them. He was beaten so much worse than they were, because, in order for them to die, do you know what they had to do? What they had to break their legs. See, what happens is, if your feet are tied, kind of like this, and they're against it, you would push up to breathe, but they break your legs so that you can't and that forces you to just die. Of that description I told you before. Well, Jesus, he died even before them. They didn't have to break his legs. His body was removed from the cross. It was buried in a newly carved tomb for a man named. Anybody know?

John H. S. Leyva: 36:53

Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph of Arimathea.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 36:55

Joseph of Arimathea, and there the body of Jesus Christ was laid for three days and three nights. Let's read Luke, chapter 24, verse one through eight. I'll start because I'm not sure where we're at Now. In the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared, but they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Patricia Ruiz: 37:42

And they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass. As they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments 24, verse 5.

John H. S. Leyva: 38:08

And as they were afraid and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but he is risen. Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee.

Willda Leyva: 38:20

Saying the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified. And the third day rise again and they remember his words.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 38:32

Even the angels had to remind the disciples. Jesus told you about this. He had to go through this, guys. He had to be crucified, but he'd be rising up on the third day, don't you remember? And then they remembered.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 38:51

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was a very significant event, but its significance is established because He resurrected from the dead. If Jesus had not risen, there would be no salvation for any of us. He would be just another man who lived a very interesting, unique life. But he's in a tomb. He's under the earth like everyone else that died. That was a great man of the earth. It was His resurrection that demonstrated His power over death and hell. It is His resurrection that causes us to have hope that we too will one day be raised to everlasting life. This is the hope that we have that, because he was raised from the dead, the promise is that you will also be raised from the dead by the very same Spirit that raised him from the dead.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 39:59

Now, after Jesus' resurrection, he spent 40 more days with the remaining apostles, of which there were 11. And he was seeing other disciples as well, because he went down Emmaus road and saw other disciples and he continued to teach them of the kingdom of God. Everything Jesus said while on earth was very important, but the things he said after his resurrection, prior to his ascending into heaven, would seem to have very particular importance. So let's look at what he said. Now we're going to go back to Matthew, chapter 28, verse 16 and 20. Matthew 28, 16 through 20. Two each.

Monica Acosta: 41:17

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them, and when they saw him they worshipped him, but some doubted.

Melissa Gonzalez: 41:29

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 41:43

Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, amen. Jesus told the eleven disciples what their mission was: Go make disciples, go multiply, go make more disciples. I have made you disciples. Now I send you forth. Go make disciples. He didn't just say of the Jews, though. It was now open. They didn't realize it at first, they didn't even walk in it at first. But as we get into this you'll see it was made open to all people.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 42:23

The disciple-making process was, to begin with, water baptism. After the people were baptized, the apostles were to teach them to observe, to do all the teachings of Christ. And there's some that still say today I just want to be a Christian, I really don't want to be a disciple. Or they may say I don't really think I need to get baptized. But Jesus really doesn't give us an alternative. He doesn't give this person one way to go and then this person another way go t hat's entirely different and contradictory. He requires the same thing of all who decide to be disciples. Those who want to be disciples are those who want to commit themselves completely over to the Lord. Let's look at what it says in Mark, chapter 16, verses 14 through 20.

John H. S. Leyva: 43:42

Is it my turn, mm-hmm.

Patricia Ruiz: 43:44

I'm sorry. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart because they believed, not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them Go ye into the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 44:03

And I say again, this was a Jewish phenomenon, this was a Jewish religion. This had been passed down through the Jews and then before them they were called the Hebrews. These were the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They were conditioned to believe that their God only gave them the salvation. But Jesus is saying go into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature, not just the Jews, and you'll see when they get into Acts they continue just only preaching to the Jews until Peter finally got it. But this gospel is for everyone. What Jesus did was not for the Jews only, it was for all the world. Behold, John the Baptist said the Lamb of God slain for the Jews, no, the Lamb of God slain for the sins of all the world. Go ahead, two more.

John H. S. Leyva: 45:10

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them. That believe In my name shall they cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues.

Willda Leyva: 45:25

They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, they shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. They shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God One more Twenty.

Monica Acosta: 45:50

And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word that signs follow Amen.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 45:59

So the apostles were to preach the gospel to every creature. It says in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verses 1 through 4, that the gospel is the message that Jesus died for our sins, that he was buried and he rose again. If we read 2 Thessalonians 2.14, it says that God calls us to himself through the preaching of this gospel. I just said in 1 Corinthians 15, verses one through four, that the gospel message is that Jesus Christ died and was buried and rose again. Through this message, God is calling forth people to himself. And according to Acts or, excuse me, according to Romans 10: 16, you can write these down 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and 1 Peter 4:17.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 47:00

The gospel is not only, it is not merely to be believed. It is to be obeyed. I gave you the scriptures, but I want to read them because they're important. So, sister Wilda, if you will read Rom ans 10: 16. Monica, you read 2 Thessalonians 1: 8. And Melissa read 1 Peter 4: 17. And read it in that order and see how this gospel message must be responded. It is not only, it is not merely to be believed. Yes, 1, 8. But we'll start with Sister Will, down in Romans 10, 16.

Willda Leyva: 47:52

But they have not all obeyed the gospel, for Isaiah said Lord, who has believed our report?

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 48:02

You see, Isaiah talked about who has believed our report. And yet in Romans, 10: 16, they haven't all believed what believe, excuse me, they haven't all obeyed. Obeyed what? The gospel. And then he, and then he uses Isaiah that talked about believing our report, believing our message, believing our gospel. It's interpreted through the eyes of Paul, who wrote Romans, that the gospel needed to be obeyed. And he uses the Old Testament scripture who has believed our

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 48:32

report to connect the idea that believing and obeying are synonymous in the eyes of the kingdom of God. Faith is not merely hearing and saying, oh yeah, I agree with that, I believe that. No, it's hearing and obeying. It's what we've been seeing all throughout the scriptures, all of these patterns Adam, Abraham, Noah I'm going out of order David they all had to hear the Lord and do something. It's not just saying, okay, Lord, there's going to be a flood, thanks. No, he had to obey, he had to prepare, he had to build an ark. Abraham had to sacrifice his son Isaac. Hearing and obeying is required and is still required in the new covenant, 2 Thessalonians 1.8. What is this about? The gospel?

Monica Acosta: 49:26

In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them. You're good.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 49:34

You're good. You're good, just finish it off.

Monica Acosta: 49:36

That know not God and that obey not the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 49:42

Do me a favor. Read verse 7, because it just said in flaming fire taking vengeance. Well, who, who's coming in flaming fire?

Monica Acosta: 49:49

Go and to you who are troubled, rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels inflaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 50:07

Christ. So Paul is writing to the church. Remember, Thessalonians is an epistle, it is a letter written to the church. He says hey, remember, the Lord Jesus is coming back. And he's coming back and flaming fire. He's going to have fire in his eyes, he's going to have taking vengeance on them that know not God and that do not obey the gospel. It's very specific, it's very clear. You cannot not obey the gospel because he's coming back for that very reason, because there's some people that are going to hear my gospel and they ain't going to listen, they ain't going to obey, and He's coming in flaming fire to take vengeance upon them and also those that don't know God. And the last one 1 Peter 4, 17.

Melissa Gonzalez: 50:53

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God. And if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 51:01

See that Peter. I got Paul writing Romans, Paul writing Thessalonians, and I got another apostle, Peter, writing about there's a judgment coming, and hey, He's gonna start with the house of God. But you know what, if He's going to start with the house of God, what chance do they have that don't obey the gospel? Because we obeyed the gospel, we're the house of God and judgment is coming to us. Well, if it's coming to us, it's also. I can't even imagine what it's going to be like for those that don't obey the gospel. There's a man who is God that is coming back in fiery vengeance, taking vengeance on them that know not God. Now, the gospel message is the message that makes the discipleship process known to people. It is about Jesus dying for your sins, being buried and raising again. But through these three scriptures we just went over, there has to be an obedience to the gospel. That is part of the discipleship process that he sent the disciples out, who became apostles throughout the world to preach this gospel.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 52:21

Jesus said that those who believe the gospel which we now know is intimately correlated with obeying the gospel are to be baptized. And if they are baptized, it says, they shall be saved to be baptized. And if they are baptized, it says they shall be saved. Being baptized in water isn't that obeying the gospel? It's just not my bright idea. It's not like I heard the gospel. Oh, Jesus died, he was buried and he rose again on the third day. Well, let me go get in some water. It's not my idea. It's a response to a commandment that God has given. So therefore it becomes obedience to the word of God.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 53:00

Baptism is obedience to the word of God. That is how you start obeying the gospel. Jesus also mentioned that those who believe would speak with new tongues. He said that before he ascended, and we're going to study this later, but I'm just laying that foundation. It is obedience to the gospel that causes us to become disciples and is continual obedience of the gospel. That continues us being disciples. It maintains our discipleship in him. And some say still, water baptism is not necessary. Right, but certainly Jesus had said what he means. He said it right there. It's in those red letters and they respect those red letters.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 53:44

He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. Why? Because he didn't get baptized. Because he connected believing and being baptized together. It was a natural result of believing You're going to get baptized. That's going to cause you to get saved.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 54:04

So we take steps of faith, like our forefathers did. We hear what the word of God says and we go and obey it, we go and respond to it, we go and do it, we believe and get baptized and we come out of the water as a saved man, as a saved woman. This is part of the biblical salvation. We must never regard baptism as just well, it's not really a big deal. Never. Tremendous things hang upon the fact whether you go get baptized or not. It is no less a matter than two violently opposing worlds and of our translation from one end to the other. It must be done. Let's finish this with Luke 24, 44 through 53. Then He said to them these are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms concerning me, and he opened their understanding that they might comprehend the scriptures. Continue to verse 53.

Patricia Ruiz: 55:45

And said unto them Thus it is written and thus it is behold, christ is suffered and to rise from the dead. The third day and the repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

John H. S. Leyva: 56:02

And you are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you that tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high.

Willda Leyva: 56:15

And he led them out as far as to Bethany and he lifted up his hands and blessed them and it came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into heaven.

Monica Acosta: 56:31

And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God in them, and we're continually in the temple, praising you, blessing you, god, amen.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 56:45

Let's dissect this a little bit. I went through Matthew what Jesus said to the disciples during the 40 days for a reason. I went through Mark to see what Jesus said to the disciples before he ascended. And now we're going through Luke to see exactly what Jesus said to his disciples before he ascended. And now we're going through Luke to see exactly what Jesus said to his disciples before he ascended. What was it that the apostles were to preach?

Patricia Ruiz: 57:09

Repentance and remission of sins.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 57:11

Repentance and remission of sins. In whose name? His name, very specific. What's his name? Jesus. In the name of Jesus, repentance and the remission of sins needs to be preached. The word remission also means forgiveness and it's translated in the same way in many places in the New Testament. To repent we already know, we've been through this study. It means to turn away. To turn away from sin, to receive forgiveness of sins is the heart of the gospel message. It happens through repentance. The apostles were told to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with power on high. This passage doesn't mention water baptism, but the passages in Matthew and Mark did. Matthew and Mark didn't mention repentance or forgiveness of sins.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 58:03

I read these three gospels so that you would put them together. They're talking about what did Jesus teach the disciples after he was resurrected, before he ascended? Put the messages together to get the whole message Matthew, mark and Luke. We must be careful that we don't establish a teaching based upon what was not there. Let's base our teaching on what was there, what was explicitly said, not try to carry on a tradition of some organization or some religious institution and what they said. Let's just go by what the scriptures have said and let's put it together. Let's put the story together so we get the good overall whole picture of what happened, what took place, what was said, what was instructed, what was expected. So let's review. In Matthew, he told his apostles make disciples of all nations. In Matthew he told his apostles make disciples of all nations. By what? What two things Make disciples of all nations? By what two things?

John H. S. Leyva: 59:07

Teaching them Repentance.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 59:09

Baptizing and teaching. Baptizing and teaching. That was Matthew's account In Mark. He told them to preach the gospel to every creature. Sounds like all nations right, baptizing those who believe.

Patricia Ruiz: 59:35

And now in Luke, he has told them to preach what and what Repentance and remission, repentance and remission in Jesus, in his name.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 59:39

His name. You put that together, you've got the gospel message Making disciples, baptizing, teaching, baptizing those who leave repentance, remissions of sin. A little later we're going to see if the apostles did what they were instructed to do after Jesus ascended, because that's an important point. Jesus could have said everything that they needed to do. Well, let's find out if the apostles did it. Did they do what he said? How did they do it? Why did Jesus Christ have to suffer and die? What did he accomplish through his death, burial and resurrection? That's the last question I want to address. Why did he have to suffer and die? What was accomplished through the DBR the death, burial and resurrection?

Patricia Ruiz: 1:00:26

Righteousness was imputed to us. He made us free from sin and able to walk in righteousness.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 1:00:32

Okay, we find the description of his death and his resurrection in the Gospels, but in order to understand what was the significance of his death and resurrection, we must look at which part of the new covenant Remember, we divided it into four parts Gospels what was it?

Monica Acosta: 1:00:52

History Next one.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 1:00:54

And next one when do you think we have to look to gain an understanding of why Jesus had to suffer and die? Where do you think we have to look to gain an understanding of why Jesus had to suffer and die? Where do you think we have to look there? The epistles. The epistles give explanations, give understandings to the saints of God. They're letters written to the church on instructions for daily living. But they also explain what. They don't explain what happened. They explain why it happened. We already know the what happened Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. They tell us what happened. Acts tells us how it was carried out. But the epistles give explanations, they give us understandings. So let's turn to one of those epistles.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 1:01:39

Let's turn to Romans 3.23. Romans was written by the apostle Paul and he says in Romans 3.23, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. God established a goal, whether you know this or not, for every human being, and that we love Him with all of our heart, with all of our soul, with all of our strength, and that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. He said that was the greatest commandment and the next was just like it. In this way we glorify God. So we can call this goal the glory of God. This is the glory of God, why Jesus Christ is the only man that ever fulfilled that perfectly, loving him with all his heart, soul, mind and strength, doing exactly what he said at every single moment, every single time, and he loved his neighbor just as he would have loved himself. He even gave his life for his friend. The rest of us have sinned. The rest of us has fallen short of the glory of God. And we can have other references. I'll give these to you, but we won't read them. Jeremiah 17, verse 9. We could have gone back a few verses and read Romans 3, verses 10 through 20. And read Romans 3, verses 10 through 20. And we can also look at another epistle Galatians 3, 22. But right now, as we try to answer this question, let's go to Romans, chapter 6, verse 23. And it declares God's goal for us Not only natural death at the end of this life, but an eternal death in the next. The Bible calls this the second death, everlasting destruction. This death is never ending. It is a conscious existence in a place that is called the lake of fire. You want reference for that? That's Revelation, chapter 20, verses 11 through 15. It is also spoken of in second Thessalonians, chapter one, seven through 10. And last, let's look at Romans 5, 6 through 9.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 1:04:52

Paul said, when we were still without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly, for scarcely for a righteous man will one die. I mean, it's hard to find a man that will give up his life for another man who's already a good guy, who treats people kindly, who helps people kindly, who helps people out. It'd be hard to find a man that will die for a righteous person or a person who does righteousness and got a good reputation. But this man died for the ungodly. He died for people that were clearly unrighteous, clearly wicked, clearly insane in the brain, had no care for God at all, and yet he died for them. God demonstrates his love toward us who were ungodly, and those that are still ungodly, in that while we were sinners, he didn't wait for us to be perfect. While we were sinners, he died for us Much more than having now been justified by his blood, just as if I'd never sinned, by his shed blood, we shall be saved from the wrath through him. This is why Jesus had to do what he did as a man. In spite of our failures. The good news is God loved us and provided that way of salvation. The only man who lived perfectly in accord with God's will, never committing a single sin, died for us while we were in a state of decadence and sin. And now we, any person, can find justification through his blood, but only through his blood, and we can be saved from the penalty of sin, which is death. We can be saved Not only our eternal life, death that's the second death but in this natural life we can be raised from the dead again. The word justified means to be declared. You're innocent. You are innocent. It means to be given a second chance.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 1:07:29

We've talked about this before, especially in our fellowships. Once we have sinned, we cannot be restored to innocence by doing good works. It doesn't scrub us from the stain of sin, no amount of good works. We can do one million good works, and if we made a mistake or did something bad before, then, that doesn't absolve what we did before. It had to be taken away. It had to be absolved from us. Our record had to be cleared, not just expunged. It had to be as if we had never sinned before. And that's what Jesus has done. We can only be restored to innocence by being forgiven, and the fact that Jesus Christ died for our sins demonstrates that he is definitely willing to forgive us of our sins and to give us a second chance.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 1:08:23

Jesus called this second chance Anybody know Two words Nope, born again. That's what his term for a second chance is to be born again. So, in summary, Jesus died because of our sins, not his own. He is the lone righteous one who has suffered for all the ungodly, for all the unrighteous, for all the wicked that have ever existed, from the day Adam was created to the present day. Today, and when we obey the gospel, God forgives our sins and saves us on the basis that Jesus has already experienced death. For us, as the resurrected one, we have a savior who can relate, because he was a man that experienced the sorrows of this life, the sufferings of this life, the struggles, the trials, the testings of this life. He has experienced them. So, as our high priest, we have someone that can understand what we go through in every respect. We have a high priest that understands the struggle and gives us the ability to overcome, because he overcame. And that'll be the first part of the end of this teaching, of the end of this teaching. We will go into this born again idea that Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about Amen, Amen.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 1:10:12

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