Passion, Jesus is risen and the great commission salvation teaching

 

            This is a teaching and study combining the Passion of Christ, the Jesus is risen part, using Matthew 26 and Mark 15 for the passion and using John chapter 20 and 21 for the Jesus is risen part, with the great commission and even 1 Corinthians 15 along with a salvation teaching, for they all come together. As 1 Corinthians 15 says if Jesus had NOT risen our hope would be in vain but since He has risen we have our hope in Him, even to be raptured at the end of time.

In Matthew 26 the last supper through Jesus’ arrest and the early hearings are described.

(Matthew 26:1)  Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these words, that He said to His disciples,

 

(Matthew 26:2)  You know that after two days the Passover takes place, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

 

(Matthew 26:3)  Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were assembled into the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

 

(Matthew 26:4)  and plotted to take Jesus by guile and kill Him.

 

(Matthew 26:5)  But they said, "Not during the feast, lest a disturbance take place among the people."

 

(Matthew 26:6)  And when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,

 

(Matthew 26:7)  a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very expensive perfume, and she began to pour it on His head as He reclined to eat.

 

(Matthew 26:8)  But when His disciples saw it, they became indignant, saying, "Why this waste?

 

(Matthew 26:9)  For this perfume could have been sold for much, and have been given to the poor."

 

(Matthew 26:10)  But when Jesus became aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful work for Me.

 

(Matthew 26:11)  For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.

 

(Matthew 26:12)  For this woman, having put this perfume on My body, she did it for My burial.

 

(Matthew 26:13)  Assuredly I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman did will be spoken as a memorial to her."

 

(Matthew 26:14)  Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests

 

(Matthew 26:15)  and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they weighed out for him thirty silver coins.

 

(Matthew 26:16)  And from then on he sought an opportunity to betray Him.

 

(Matthew 26:17)  Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You desire that we shall prepare for You to eat the Passover?"

 

(Matthew 26:18)  And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is near; at your house I will keep the Passover with My disciples." ' "

 

(Matthew 26:19)  So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

 

(Matthew 26:20)  And when it was evening, He was reclining to eat with the twelve.

 

(Matthew 26:21)  Now while they were eating, He said, "Assuredly I say to you, that one of you will betray Me."

 

(Matthew 26:22)  And becoming exceedingly sorrowful, each of them began to say to Him, "Surely not I am the one, Lord?"

 

(Matthew 26:23)  He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl will betray Me.

 

(Matthew 26:24)  Indeed, the Son of Man goes just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."

 

(Matthew 26:25)  Then Judas, the one betraying Him, answered and said, "Surely not I am the one, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You have said it."

 

(Matthew 26:26)  And as they were eating, Jesus took the bread, and giving thanks, He broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."

 

(Matthew 26:27)  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you,

 

(Matthew 26:28)  for this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many, for the forgiveness of sins.

 

(Matthew 26:29)  But I say to you, that I will by no means drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

 

(Matthew 26:30)  And having sung hymns, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

 

(Matthew 26:31)  Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me on this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

 

(Matthew 26:32)  "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."

 

(Matthew 26:33)  Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, yet I will never be made to stumble."

 

(Matthew 26:34)  Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I say to you that on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."

 

(Matthew 26:35)  Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, by no means will I deny You!" And likewise said all the disciples.

 

(Matthew 26:36)  Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go off and pray over there."

 

(Matthew 26:37)  And taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

 

(Matthew 26:38)  Then Jesus said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me."

 

(Matthew 26:39)  He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

 

(Matthew 26:40)  Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What? Were you not strong enough to watch with Me one hour?

 

(Matthew 26:41)  Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. Indeed the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

 

(Matthew 26:42)  Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, let Your will be done."

 

(Matthew 26:43)  And He came and found them sleeping again, for their eyes were heavy.

 

(Mat 26:44)  And leaving them, He went away again, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.

 

(Matthew 26:45)  Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Sleep now, and rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

 

(Matthew 26:46)  Rise up, let us be going. See, he who betrays Me is at hand."

 

(Matthew 26:47)  And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve came, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people.

 

(Matthew 26:48)  Now the one betraying Him had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I shall kiss, He is the One; seize Him."

 

(Matthew 26:49)  And immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.

 

(Matthew 26:50)  But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

 

(Matthew 26:51)  And behold, one of those with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and striking the servant of the high priest, he cut off his ear.

 

(Matthew 26:52)  But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword shall perish by the sword.

 

(Matthew 26:53)  Or do you think that I cannot now call upon My Father, and He will furnish Me with more than twelve legions of angels?

 

(Matthew 26:54)  How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?"

 

(Matthew 26:55)  In that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to arrest Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.

 

(Matthew 26:56)  But all this has happened so that the Scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

 

(Matthew 26:57)  And those having seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

 

(Matthew 26:58)  But Peter was following Him from a distance, up to the courtyard of the high priest. And entering inside, he sat down with the attendants to see the end.

 

(Matthew 26:59)  Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the Sanhedrin were seeking false witnesses against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death,

 

(Matthew 26:60)  and they did not find any. And though many false witnesses came forward, they did not find any. But at last two false witnesses came forward

 

(Matthew 26:61)  and said, "This Man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and after three days to rebuild it.' "

 

(Matthew 26:62)  And standing up the high priest said to Him, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men are testifying against You?"

 

(Matthew 26:63)  But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!"

 

(Matthew 26:64)  Jesus said to him, "You said it. Nevertheless, I say to you, from now on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."

 

(Matthew 26:65)  Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!

 

(Matthew 26:66)  What do you think?" They answered and said, "He is deserving of death."

 

(Matthew 26:67)  Then they spat in His face, and beat Him with their fists; and they slapped Him,

 

(Matthew 26:68)  saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is he that struck You?"

 

(Matthew 26:69)  Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee."

 

(Matthew 26:70)  But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying."

 

(Matthew 26:71)  And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to them there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene."

 

(Matthew 26:72)  But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!"

 

(Matthew 26:73)  And after a little while, those standing by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your accent gives you away."

 

(Matthew 26:74)  Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" And immediately a rooster crowed.

 

(Matthew 26:75)  And Peter remembered the word of Jesus which He said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And going out, he wept bitterly.

 

In Mark chapter 15 is described the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, when He dies for mankind, to pay for all of their sins.

(Mark 15:1)  Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation, along with the elders and scribes and the whole Sanhedrin; and having bound Jesus, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.

 

(Mark 15:2)  Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered and said to him, "You are saying what is so."

 

(Mark 15:3)  And the chief priests were accusing Him of many things.

 

(Mark 15:4)  Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!"

 

(Mark 15:5)  But Jesus no longer answered anything, so that Pilate marveled.

 

(Mark 15:6)  Now at the feast he would release one prisoner to them, whomever they would request.

 

(Mark 15:7)  And there was one called Barabbas, having been bound with his fellow rebels, who had committed murder in the rebellion.

 

(Mark 15:8)  Then the crowd cried out and began to request that just as always he would do this for them.

 

(Mark 15:9)  But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you desire that I release to you the King of the Jews?"

 

(Mark 15:10)  For he knew that because of envy the chief priests had delivered Him up.

 

(Mark 15:11)  But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.

 

(Mark 15:12)  But Pilate answered and said to them again, "What then do you desire that I should do with Him whom you call King of the Jews?"

 

(Mark 15:13)  And again they cried, "Crucify Him!"

 

(Mark 15:14)  But Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil did He do?" But they cried out all the more, "Crucify Him!"

 

(Mark 15:15)  So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered up Jesus, after he had Him flogged, so that He might be crucified.

 

(Mark 15:16)  Then the soldiers led Him away into the courtyard, which is the Praetorium, and assembled the whole garrison.

 

(Mark 15:17)  And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, and they put it around His head,

 

(Mark 15:18)  and they began to salute Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

 

(Mark 15:19)  And they were striking His head with a reed and were spitting on Him; and bowing the knee, they mockingly worshipped Him.

 

(Mark 15:20)  And when they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the purple, and dressed Him in His own clothing. And led Him out so that they might crucify Him.

 

(Mark 15:21)  And they pressed into service a certain man that was passing by named Simon, a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming from the country, that he might carry His cross.

 

(Mark 15:22)  And they brought Him to the place called Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.

 

(Mark 15:23)  And they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.

 

(Mark 15:24)  And having crucified Him, they divided His clothes by casting lots over them, to determine who would take what.

 

(Mark 15:25)  Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.

 

(Mark 15:26)  And there was the inscription of His charge having been inscribed: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

 

(Mark 15:27)  And together with Him they crucified two bandits, one on His right side and the one on His left.

 

(Mark 15:28)  So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with the transgressors."

 

(Mark 15:29)  And those passing by were blaspheming Him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,

 

(Mark 15:30)  save Yourself, and come down from the cross!"

 

(Mark 15:31)  Likewise the chief priests also, mocking Him to each other with the scribes said, "He saved others; Himself He is not able to save.

 

(Mark 15:32)  Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe Him." Even those who were crucified with Him were reviling Him.

 

(Mark 15:33)  Now when the sixth hour had come, darkness came upon the whole land until the ninth hour.

 

(Mark 15:34)  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lima sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

 

(Mark 15:35)  Some of those standing by when they heard, said, "Look, He is calling Elijah."

 

(Mark 15:36)  And one, running and having filled a sponge with vinegar, and having put it around a reed, was giving a drink to Him, saying, "Leave Him alone; let us see if Elijah is coming to take Him down."

 

(Mark 15:37)  And Jesus, uttering a loud cry, expired.

 

(Mark 15:38)  Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

 

(Mark 15:39)  Now when the centurion who stood across from Him saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!"

 

(Mark 15:40)  There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were both Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,

 

(Mark 15:41)  who also would follow Him and would minister to Him when He was in Galilee; and many other women who had come up together with Him to Jerusalem.

 

(Mark 15:42)  And now evening having come, since it was Preparation Day, which is the day before the Sabbath,

 

(Mark 15:43)  Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, he went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

 

(Mark 15:44)  And Pilate wondered if He was already dead; and having summoned the centurion, he questioned him if He had been dead long.

 

(Mark 15:45)  And when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.

 

(Mark 15:46)  And having bought linen cloth, and having taken Him down, he wrapped Him in the linen cloth and set Him down in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock, and rolled a stone upon the door of the tomb.

 

(Mark 15:47)  And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were observing where He was placed.

 

Here are John chapters 20 and 21 which show Jesus rising from the cross and various encounters He had, including with Mary, Thomas, a miraculous fish catch and with Peter.

(John 20:1)  On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

 

(John 20:2)  Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."

 

(John 20:3)  Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb.

 

(John 20:4)  And the two together were running, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

 

(John 20:5)  And stooping to look in, he saw the linen strips lying there; however he did not go in.

 

(John 20:6)  Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he saw the linen strips lying there,

 

(John 20:7)  and the facecloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen strips, but apart from them, having been rolled up in one place.

 

(John 20:8)  Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.

 

(John 20:9)  For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

 

(John 20:10)  Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

 

(John 20:11)  But Mary stood outside facing the tomb weeping. Therefore as she was weeping, she stooped down and looked into the tomb.

 

(John 20:12)  And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

 

(John 20:13)  Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they put Him."

 

(John 20:14)  And having said these things, she turned back and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.

 

(John 20:15)  Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You carried Him away, tell me where You put Him, and I will take Him away."

 

(John 20:16)  Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher).

 

(John 20:17)  Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' "

 

(John 20:18)  Mary Magdalene went reporting to the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

 

(John 20:19)  Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace to you."

 

(John 20:20)  And having said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

 

(John 20:21)  Therefore Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! Just as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

 

(John 20:22)  And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

 

(John 20:23)  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."

 

(John 20:24)  But Thomas, one of the twelve, the one called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.

 

(John 20:25)  The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will by no means believe."

 

(John 20:26)  And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been closed, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"

 

(John 20:27)  Then He said to Thomas, "Bring your finger here, and see My hands; and bring your hand here, and put it into My side. Be not unbelieving, but believing."

 

(John 20:28)  And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"

 

(John 20:29)  Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

 

(John 20:30)  And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book;

 

(John 20:31)  but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

 

(John 21:1)  After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this manner He showed Himself:

 

(John 21:2)  Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

 

(John 21:3)  Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are coming with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

 

(John 21:4)  But as daybreak had already come, Jesus stood upon the shore; however the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

 

(John 21:5)  Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No."

 

(John 21:6)  And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." Therefore they cast, and they were not able to haul it in because of the multitude of fish.

 

(John 21:7)  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and he threw himself into the sea.

 

(John 21:8)  But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.

 

(John 21:9)  Then as they got off onto the land, they saw a charcoal fire laid there, and fish placed on it, and bread.

 

(John 21:10)  Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught."

 

(John 21:11)  Simon Peter went up and hauled the net onto the land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

 

(John 21:12)  Jesus said to them, "Come, eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared to question Him, "Who are You?"--knowing that it was the Lord.

 

(John 21:13)  Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

 

(John 21:14)  This was now the third time Jesus was manifested to His disciples, having been raised from the dead.

 

(John 21:15)  So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I care for You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."

 

(John 21:16)  He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I care for You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."

 

(John 21:17)  He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you care for Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you care for Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I care for You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.

 

(John 21:18)  Most assuredly I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and used to walk where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and will carry you where you do not wish."

 

(John 21:19)  But this He said, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."

 

(John 21:20)  Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had reclined on His chest at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"

 

(John 21:21)  Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"

 

(John 21:22)  Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."

 

(John 21:23)  Then this saying went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?"

 

(John 21:24)  This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

 

(John 21:25)  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that not even the world itself would have room for the books which would be written. Amen.

 

Here are the great commission messages from Jesus to the apostles/disciples

Here is the commission as it appears at the end of Matthew chapter 28

(Matthew 28:18)  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

 

(Matthew 28:19)  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

 

(Matthew 28:20)  teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

 

Here is the commission as it appears in the gospel of Mark chapter 16

(Mark 16:15)  And He said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation.

 

(Mark 16:16)  He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that does not believe shall be condemned.

 

(Mark 16:17)  And these signs shall accompany those who have believed: In My name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;

 

(Mark 16:18)  they shall pick up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it shall by no means hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall be well."

 

(Mark 16:19)  So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

 

(Mark 16:20)  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

 

Here is the message at the end of Luke 24, saying all ways necessary for the scripture to be fulfilled, and Jesus was even taken to heaven here

(Luke 24:44)  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 and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

 

(Luke 24:45)  And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

 

(Luke 24:46)  Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

 

(Luke 24:47)  and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

 

(Luke 24:48)  And you are witnesses of these things.

 

(Luke 24:49)  And behold, I am sending the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

 

(Luke 24:50)  And He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them.

 

(Luke 24:51)  And it happened, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

 

(Luke 24:52)  And after they had worshipped Him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

 

(Luke 24:53)  and they were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

 

And here is the beginning of Acts

(Acts 1:1)  The former account I made concerning all things, O Theophilus, which Jesus began both to do and teach,

 

(Acts 1:2)  until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,

 

(Acts 1:3)  to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

 

(Acts 1:4)  And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to withdraw from Jerusalem, but to await for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;

 

(Acts 1:5)  for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

 

(Acts 1:6)  Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

 

(Acts 1:7)  And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has placed in His own authority.

 

(Acts 1:8)  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

 

(Acts 1:9)  Now after He said these things, while they were beholding Him, He was lifted up, and a cloud withdrew Him from their eyes.

 

(Acts 1:10)  And while they looked intently into heaven, while He was going, behold, two men stood along side them in white apparel,

 

(Acts 1:11)  who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him going into heaven."

 

Here is 1 Corinthians chapter 15, which is known as the resurrection chapter because it speaks of the death and resurrection of Jesus, stating that if Jesus had NOT been raised from the dead all of our faith, the Christian faith would be in vain and hopeless and we would have no chance of resurrection, but as He did then that is how we have our hopes of our resurrection, eternal life with Jesus because of Jesus’ raising from the dead, for Jesus defeated death by being raised from the grave.

(1 Corinthians 15:1)  Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,

 

(1 Corinthians 15:2)  and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:3)  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

 

(1 Corinthians 15:4)  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

 

(1 Corinthians 15:5)  and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:6)  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:7)  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:8)  Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:9)  For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:10)  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:11)  Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:12)  Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

 

(1 Corinthians 15:13)  But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:14)  And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:15)  We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:16)  For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:17)  And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:18)  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:19)  If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:20)  But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:21)  For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:22)  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:23)  But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:24)  Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:25)  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:26)  The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:27)  For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:28)  When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:29)  Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?

 

(1 Corinthians 15:30)  Why are we in danger every hour?

 

(1 Corinthians 15:31)  I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day!

 

(1 Corinthians 15:32)  What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

 

(1 Corinthians 15:33)  Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals."

 

(1 Corinthians 15:34)  Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:35)  But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?"

 

(1 Corinthians 15:36)  You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:37)  And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:38)  But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:39)  For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:40)  There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:41)  There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:42)  So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:43)  It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:44)  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:45)  Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:46)  But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:47)  The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:48)  As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:49)  Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:50)  I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:51)  Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

 

(1 Corinthians 15:52)  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:53)  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:54)  When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

 

(1 Corinthians 15:55)  "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

 

(1 Corinthians 15:56)  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:57)  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:58)  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

 

For what purpose was all of this done? The following verses state how mankind is fallen and all do wrong but that is why out of love God sent Jesus into the world

(Romans 3:10)  as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;

 

(Romans 3:11)  no one understands; no one seeks for God.

 

(Romans 3:12)  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one

 

(Romans 3:23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

 

(Romans 3:24)  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

 

(Romans 3:25)  whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

 

(Romans 3:26)  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus

 

The last four verses in Romans 6 further add to the point of our need of a savior to avoid the wages of sin and how Jesus did that for us

(Romans 6:20)  For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

 

(Romans 6:21)  But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

 

(Romans 6:22)  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

 

(Romans 6:23)  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Jesus expresses His purpose of coming to the Earth here in these verses

(John 3:16)  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

 

(John 3:17)  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

 

(John 3:18)  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

 

This message is further confirmed in John 5, two verses speaking of eternal life

(John 5:24)  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

 

(John 5:25)  "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

 

As some of the above verses do remind us, this verse really drives home the point that eternal life from heaven is really a gift from God and cannot be earned in any way by our own works  so God Himself has provided the means to escape hell and to have eternal life with Him.

(Ephesians 2:8)  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

 

(Ephesians 2:9)  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

 

(2 Corinthians 9:15)  Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

 

(1 Timothy 2:1)  First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

 

(1 Timothy 2:2)  for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

 

(1 Timothy 2:3)  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

 

(1 Timothy 2:4)  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

(1 Timothy 2:5)  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

 

(1 Timothy 2:6)  who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

 

These verses in 1 Peter shed more light on this purpose of Jesus

(1 Peter 2:24)  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

 

(1 Peter 2:25)  For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls

 

That message also is here in this 1 Peter 3 verse

(1 Peter 3:18)  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit

 

And so does these two verses in 2 Peter 3 for time is nothing to the Lord and He wants all to come to repentance and is patient

(2 Peter 3:8)  But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

 

(2 Peter 3:9)  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

 

These two verses in 1 John 2 also state how Jesus was the propitiation for our sins and all mankind’s

(1 John 2:1)  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

 

(1 John 2:2)  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

Also a very similar message is given in these two verses in 1 John chapter 4 how God loved us and sent Jesus to be a propitiation for our sins

(1 John 4:9)  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

 

(1 John 4:10)  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

And here is this passage in 1 John 5 which reinforces the 1 Timothy passage well, stating the power of prayer but also the gospel message of how it is necessary to have the Son of God to have eternal life.

(1 John 5:5)  Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

 

(1 John 5:6)  This is he who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

 

(1 John 5:7)  For there are three that testify:

 

(1 John 5:8)  the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

 

(1 John 5:9)  If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.

 

(1 John 5:10)  Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.

 

(1 John 5:11)  And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

 

(1 John 5:12)  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

 

(1 John 5:13)  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

 

(1 John 5:14)  And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

 

(1 John 5:15)  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

Here is a message from Jude to build ourselves in the live of God for the mercy of Jeus leading to eternal life

(Jude 1:20)  But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

 

(Jude 1:21)  keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

 

Here Jesus Himself says that He is the only way to Heaven and the Father and in so doing avoid hell that Jesus Himself spoke of

(John 14:6)  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

But Jesus also makes it clear in Revelation that He indeed is seeking people always

(Revelation 3:20)  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

 

The verses in Romans ten state how we are to be saved, believing the word which is near to us, to hear it then confess Jesus as Lord and believe God has raised Him from the dead- in that is our key to salvation

 (Romans 10:8)  But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);

 

(Romans 10:9)  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

 

(Romans 10:10)  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

 

(Romans 10:11)  For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."

 

(Romans 10:12)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

 

(Romans 10:13)  For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

 

(Romans 10:14)  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

 

(Romans 10:15)  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

 

(Romans 10:16)  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"

 

(Romans 10:17)  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

 

Now those people are now a new creation in Christ

(2 Corinthians 5:17)  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come

 

And also at peace with God being justified by faith

(Romans 5:1)  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

(Romans 5:2)  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

 

These two verses promise no condemnation with those in Jesus

(Romans 8:1)  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

 

(Romans 8:2)  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death

 

Then it also asks if God is for us then who or what can be against us, in these verses towards the end of Romans chapter 8

(Romans 8:31)  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

 

(Romans 8:32)  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

 

(Romans 8:33)  Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

 

(Romans 8:34)  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

 

(Romans 8:35)  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

 

(Romans 8:36)  As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

 

(Romans 8:37)  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

 

And nothing can now separate us from the love of God in Jesus, either

(Romans 8:38)  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

 

(Romans 8:39)  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

I am sure you have now seen enough now to be ready to pray to be saved. I am now including a short prayer that you can say to ensure that you are saved and have eternal life when you die, going to heaven to be with Jesus forever and not end up going to hell.

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

 

God bless you and yours