God said, “us”. Why did He say, “us”, if He is God?
Well, that’s because God is like a band; the ultimate rock band. The Father is the lead singer, and probably the lead guitarist because He is so awesome. Then, there is the Holy Spirit, who does the keyboard and backup vocals. Jesus is the drummer, and He is really talented with those wooden drumsticks.
This ultimate rock band, called “God”, plays all over the world and they are constantly on tour. They visit all of their fans and they even visit those who don’t prefer their music. They enjoy their work and their travel. They are the longest lasting, and most well-known band in the history of the Earth. They have been around for thousands of years.
They have never broken up, and will never break up. Jesus did do a little side gig, at the Father’s request, to try and reach those who might really appreciate the rhythm of the band. The Father knew that not everyone would like Jesus’s solo tour, but He knew that Jesus would ultimately be successful in His endeavor.
So, a little over two thousand years ago, Jesus began His solo drum tour, and working a side job as a carpenter. The Father and the Holy Spirit attended gigs periodically, as needed. Jesus became friends with a lot of his fans. He even gained 12 of His very own roadies. They went with Him everywhere and helped Him set up each gig. They even stayed with him outside of work to accompany Him in His parent mission; to save the people.
Jesus gained a huge following, but He also gained some critics. These critics began to despise God’s incredible drummer, and eventually formed a mob against Him. Judas, one of the 12 roadies, went to where Jesus was chillin' with the rest of the roadies, but brought with him some really angry dudes. So, they came to arrest Jesus and carry Him off to His eventual death.
The Father knew all of this would happen, and send Jesus anyway. He sent Him to reach people and teach people and heal people, all through playing for the crowds while on His solo tour.
You see, old school (Old Testament) ways required a sacrifice be made in order to receive forgiveness from the Father for the sins of people. Jesus was tortured and murdered and hung on a wooden cross; the cross that He was made to carry all the way to the very site where He was publicly mocked and poked and lashed and beaten and hung to die… all so we don’t have to.
Well, Jesus died there and then the people buried Him. The Father woke Jesus from his tomb and brought Him back to His home in Heaven. Jesus rejoined touring with God, and they are still on tour today. They travel to all people and reach out to play to those who are hurting and in need. They play awesome music and bring joy to their fans. They crush their evil haters with their pure awesomeness.
Now, the people, the fans, can be saved by the blood that Jesus spilled for us that day, and we can be roadies and chill with God in the biggest, most awesome mansion ever made in the history of the universe.
Matthew, Chapter 26
Jesus' Betrayal and Arrest
47)While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48)Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him." 49)Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. 50)And Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.
51)And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52)Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. 53)"Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54)"How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?"
55)At that time Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. 56)"But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets." Then all the disciples left Him and fled.
Jesus before Caiaphas
57)Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58)But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.
59)Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. 60)They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, 61)and said, "This man stated, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.'" 62)The high priest stood up and said to Him, "Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?"
63)But Jesus kept silent and the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God." 64)Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING 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 blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; 66)what do you think?" They answered, "He deserves death!" 67)Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, 68)and said, "Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?"
Peter's Denials
69)Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean." 70)But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about."
71)When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." 72)And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man."
73)A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away." 74)Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed. 75)And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
Matthew, Chapter 27
Judas's Remorse
1)Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; 2)and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.
3)Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4)saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to that yourself!" 5)And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.
6)The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood." 7)And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter's Field as a burial place for strangers. 8)For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
9)Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel; 10)AND THEY GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER'S FIELD, AS THE LORD DIRECTED ME."
Jesus before Pilate
11)Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And Jesus said to him, "It is as you say." 12)And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer.
13)Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" 14)And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed. 15)Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted.
16)At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17)So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18)For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.
19)While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, "Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him." 20)But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.
21)But the governor said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." 22)Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Crucify Him!" 23)And he said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they kept shouting all the more, saying, "Crucify Him!" 24)When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this Man's blood; see to that yourselves."
25)And all the people said, "His blood shall be on us and on our children!" 26)Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
Jesus Is Mocked
27)Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. 28)They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29)And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
30)They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. 31)After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. 32)As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.
The Crucifixion
33)And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 34)they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink. 35)And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. 36)And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. 37)And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
38)At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. 39)And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads 40and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
41)In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42)"He saved others; He cannot save Himself He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43)"HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'"
44)The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words. 45)Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46)About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
47)And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, "This man is calling for Elijah." 48)Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink.
49)But the rest of them said, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him." 50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.
52)The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53)and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54)Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
55)Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him. 56Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
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