Good Friday is a day when Christians around the world remember the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
The suffering and death He willingly took on so that our sins could be washed away.
The suffering and death that tore the temple veil in two and opened the way for humanity to have intimate entrance into the very presence of the creator of the universe.
The suffering and death, which from the standpoint of human relationships was started quite politely, as Jesus was betrayed with a kiss.
Mt 26: 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.
The suffering and death, which from a human perspective, could have been easily avoided if Jesus had simply submitted or even given” lip service” to the ecclesiastical and civic authorities of the times instead of clinging rigidly to the idea that there is a higher authoritywho demands and deserves His allegiance and obedience.
According to the accounts in the Gospels, the Temple Guards, guided by Jesus’ disciple Judas Iscariot, arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas received money (30 pieces of silver) (Matthew 26:14-16) for betraying Jesus and told the guards that whomever he kisses is the one they are to arrest. Following his arrest, Jesus was brought to the house of Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest, Caiaphas. There he was interrogated with little result and sent bound to Caiaphas the high priest where the Sanhedrin had assembled (John 18:1-24).
Matthew 26: 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” (Matthew 26:63-66, ESV)
Before the Priest, Jesus refused to deny that God was his Father. He refused to deny his duty and destiny to rule with power higher than any Earthly authority.
John 19: 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”
Before Pilate, He refused to give silent consent to Pilate’s outrageous claim that his power over Christ was absolute or authoritative. He in effect said, ‘I answer to a higher authority, take it up with Him.’
It would be quite wrong then for us to celebrate Good Friday without pausing to evaluate which authority we are ultimately submitted to.
Choosing between opposing instructions when Kingdoms are in conflict: that is the ultimate question of loyalty. It is then we find out who was following along for bread and fish, to carry the purse, or to gain social standing.
When the requirements of the authorities conflict with God’s instructions, to whom do we submit?
Acts 5: 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!
It is important to recognize that oftentimes, even when choosing to submit to the wrong authority, people will seek a way to save face like when Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss. It turns out betrayal often comes with a kiss. The outward display of affection provides a useful misdirect to mask one’s true agenda.
History abounds with examples of betrayals concealed by visual misdirects or by trusted “friends”.
Julius Ceasar – Et tu Brute
The Trojan Horse
Hitler launching his gun confiscation at a press event surrounded by smiling children
Obama is now working on the same agenda and he is getting help from some prominent church leaders in the US.
And lest we forget, it was only last year that the Vatican issued a statement that gave the UN an indulgence to allow them to do the dirty work required to undermine national sovereignty and to establish a powerful one world government, a New World Order.
The world’s largest maker of genetically modified seeds is now above the law in the United States. Unanticipated consequences from their products? No problem, for them.
Georgia Guidestones – demonstrating their confidence and our indifference, their plans are a matter of public record.
We must become wise enough to recognize when we are being betrayed by kisses.
In “The First Global Revolution,” published by The Council of the Club of Rome, an international elitist organization, the authors note that: “In searching for a new enemy to unite us, we came up with the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming, water shortages, famine, and the like would fit the bill. All these dangers are caused by human intervention …The real enemy, then, is humanity itself.”
The money printing is not to kickstart the economy, it is to transfer wealth and power completely to the Elites. The bank bailouts are not to save the global banking system, they are creating a supra-national interdependence which will require global governance to manage. The Gun Control efforts are not for the kids, Gun Control is to disarm the people so that the New World Order can rule with an iron fist over the people of the earth without encountering pesky resistance. Genetically Modified Foods are not to provide higher yeilds. GMO’s ruin our health and cause infertility. Obamacare is not to provide universal health care, it is to install a faucet that the government controls. They will choose who gets healthcare. Oppose their agenda? No healthcare for you. The United Nations and Agenda 21 are not intended to save the planet and usher in an era of prosperity and happiness for all people. It is global communism which will forge a one world religious ideology so that noone can claim any loyalty to anyone other than their earthly rulers and the earth itself.
All of Humanity, but particularly the body of Christ, is indeed being betrayed by a kiss again.
Rev 13: 1And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.
Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.2And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.3I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;4they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?”5There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.6And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
7It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.8All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.9If anyone has an ear, let him hear.10If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.
What is our part in this quickly unfolding drama if not to follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior whose determined resistance to ungodly authority caused the sacrifice we celebrate this Good Friday?
Rev 14: 13And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”
Will we be like Judas and politely cover our cowardice and disloyalty with hollow gestures? Or will we be like Jesus and refuse to elevate any human authority above God, who is the source of all legitimate authority.
Do not follow the leader who leads against God’s revealed will. That is not godly submission to authority.
Do not bow the knee to a man made new world order which opposes the very nature of God’s creation. That is not loving your neighbor as yourself.
Do not even give lip service to human authorities who raise their fist against the Most High. Stand courageously like Jesus did and follow in his footsteps regardless of the consequences.
Rev 12: 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Happy Good Friday to you all.
Do your part to wake others!
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