the king came by

8/9/2019 THE KING CAME BY

1/24

THE KING CAME BY

By Irene McGough

Copyright 2010 Irene McGough Disciples of Jesus Ministry

www.discipleofjesussite.com
http://www.discipleofjesussite.com/http://www.discipleofjesussite.com/


2/24

BOOK ONE


3/24

CHAPTER 1

Firstly I must introduce myself, my name is Miriam and I have a story to

tell you, such an amazing story, but I digress, who I am, is not as important as

telling you my story of the events that happened a few years ago and how theychanged my life. It was the beginning of the week of the Passover Feast when I

gazed upon the man who would change my life forever. There was such

excitement in the air some people had said a new King was coming into

Jerusalem and he would come riding in on the back of a donkey, so we gathered

in the streets on either side waving palm branches in our hands waving

excitedly as this man, the new King came riding into town. Children were

jumping up and down with excitement, this was an important moment because

it had been heard that this King was going to deliver the Jews from the

oppression of the Romans, so the crowds all left their places of work and cameout in the streets to greet with excitement their new King and Deliverer.

"Hosanna!" They shouted in unison, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of

the Lord!" I heard them cry then they shouted and I joined in "Blessed is the

King of Israel!" It was at that moment when I gazed into his eyes as he was

passing and he gave me this huge smile such a beautiful smile, and his eyes

there was something about them, his eyes were so tender, so loving, so piercing,

in that moment I felt he could see right into the depths of my soul and all that I

had ever done. I had never ever seen a man quite like this man, and it was not

because the people around me were heralding him in as their King.

Somewhere deep within me I knew my life had been changed

forever; our spiritual leaders in the Temple did not carry a presence like this

man, what was that fragrance that I smelt from him? It was beautiful, a sweet

fragrant essence and I felt my legs go heavy, I was transfixed to the spot, and it

was in fact difficult for me to keep standing. I knew then that this was indeed

the Messiah, the one we the Jewish people had been waiting for. Although the

crowds gathered only a few really sought to follow him, but I followed on with

the band of followers for I had to know more.

They told me tales of the deaf and blind being healed, the lame

walking, and even the dead being raised. I had never heard stories like this

before, a moment of doubt flooded into my mind Surely they are only making

those stories up, but even as that thought came into my head something

touched deep within my spirit and I knew that what they were telling me must

indeed be truth.

They went on to tell me how the disciples had told them about a wedding in

Cana


4/24

of Galilee where their Lord and Master had changed the water into wine,

and how he had fed more than five thousand people from five loaves and two

little fishes, such amazing stories.

I felt a hunger deep within me to get really close to the King to theone they called Jesus of Nazareth. There was something so significant about His

countenance, something that really drew me to Him.

When I met with Jesus I was thirty-nine years old and recently

widowed, and I was still hurting from the grief of bereavement, yet when I saw

Jesus so much of the pain I had felt within me was lifted off. He saw me and he

saw my hurts and at one glance he gave me a peace which I had never known

before, I had never met a man like this man and I just had to be part of his band

of followers, I saw miracles and I heard Jesus speak and many bear witness tothings that had happened like Jesus walking on water and one of the disciples

Peter stepped out the boat in faith and started to walk towards him, but he let

fear get a grip of him though and started to sink and He cried out to Jesus for

help and Jesus caught him just in the nick of time and he saved him. Im not

sure I could have done what Peter done though, he stepped out in faith believing

that he could walk on water because the one he saw walking on water towards

them was none other than the Son of God and he would help and enable him to

walk on water and he did exactly that, thats the kind of faith I desire to have

always, and to keep on walking on water without faltering.

Some Greeks who also came to worship at the Passover Feast were

seeking out Jesus because they had heard report of some of his miracles. They

approached Philip, from Bethsaida in Galilee, with this request. "Sir," they said,

"we would like to see Jesus." So Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip

in turn told Jesus. Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their midst, yet

so many would not believe in him, they went their own way, others particularly

those amongst Jewish Leadership were afraid to publicly let it be known that

they had believed his words, because of repercussions. That was sad to witness

but I knew with a surety I had heard the voice of God and that of the Messiah Ihad heard my mother speak about when I was a child sitting on her lap. How

she loved to talk to me about her love for God and that she believed the

Messiah, the Saviour was coming. My mother had passed on some six years

past, she was a lovely lady whom I dearly loved and respected, I learned so

much from her.

Jesus shortly after arriving in Jerusalem went into the temple and seeing

what was going on there was far from pleased and he drove out all who bought

and sold in the sacred place, and He turned over the

four-footed tables of themoney changers and the chairs of those who sold doves. He said to them, The


5/24

Scripture says, My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you have made

it a den of robbers.

People who were blind and the lame came to Him in the porches and courts

of the temple, and He healed them all. The chief priests and the scribes thougheven witnessed those wonderful things Jesus did and the young people cried out

excitedly with hope and anticipation in the porches and courts of the temple,

Hosanna to you the Son of David! And the Pharisees and scribes were angry

and indignant and it was after that occasion I am sure that they started to collude

and plot against the Lord.

So theysaid to Him, Can you hear what they are saying? Jesus replied

Yes, I have heard them, have you never read that, out of the mouths of babes

and infants you find perfect praise?

He left the city and went out to the town of Bethany a mile and a half

east of Jerusalem and lodged there overnight.

CHAPTER 2

The following morning Jesus came back into Jerusalem what adelight it was to see him, and when he was approaching Jerusalem hesaw a fig tree and was hopeful of finding figs to eat for breakfast but thistree had no figs growing on it, only leaves were growing on this tree andhe ordered the tree to shrivel up and die. My new friends and I had justcaught up with Jesus and the disciples when this happened. It wasamazing to see this fig tree just shrivel up and die before our very eyes,

but then this was the kind of authority with which Jesus spoke Even hisclosest disciples when saw it had shrivelled up and die rubbed their eyes,saying, "Did we really see this, a leafy tree one minute, a dry stick thenext, wow!?"

But Jesus treated it like an every day occurrence; after all I now

understand that He along with the Father and the Spirit as God created the

heavens and the earth. And Jesus said, "If you embrace this kingdom life and

don't doubt God, you'll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree, but also

triumph over huge obstacles. This mountain, for instance, you'll be able to tell itto jump into the lake, and it will jump. Absolutely everything, small things to


6/24

large things, as long as you make it a part of your believing prayer, your faith

will get answered as you seek to do what God would have you do."

Then Jesus returned to the temple once again, the chief priests and the

elders of the people came up to him asking what it was that he was teaching andthey asked him "Show us your credentials, which authorized you to teach here?"

Jesus answered, "Can I ask you a question first. You can answer my question

and I'll answer yours. Regarding the baptism of John can you tell me who

authorized it was it heaven or humans?" They felt awkward and were so

obviously placed on the spot and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and

whispered, "If we say 'heaven,' he'll ask us why we didn't believe him; Even if

we say 'humans,' we're up against it with the people because they all hold John

up as a prophet."

They decided to reply that they were unsure. "We don't know," they replied.Jesus said, "Then neither will I answer your question.

"Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons and he went to

the first asking, Son, I want you to go out for the day and work in the vineyard.'

"The son answered, 'I don't want to.' Later on he thought better of it and went.

"The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, 'Sure,

glad to.' But he never went. "Which of the two sons did what the father asked?"

They said, "The first." Jesus said, "Yes, and I tell you that thieves and the

prostitutes are going to see God's kingdom before you.

John the Baptist came to you telling you how to go on the right road. You

turned up your noses at him, but the crooks and whores believed him. Even

when you saw their changed lives, you didn't care enough to change and believe

him.

"Here's another story and I want you all to listen carefully. Its about a man,

a wealthy farmer, who planted a vineyard. He fenced the vineyard and dug a

winepress then he put up a watchtower, and turned it over to the farmhands and

went off on a trip. When it was time to harvest the grapes, he sent his servants

back to collect his profits. "The farmhands grabbed the first servant and beat

him up. The next one they murdered. They threw stones at the third but he

got away. The owner tried again, sending more servants. They got the samekind of treatment. The owner didnt know what to do next. So he decided to

send his son. 'Surely,' he thought, 'they will respect my son.' "But when the

farmhands saw the son arrive, they rubbed their hands in greed.this is his son

and heir! Let's just kill him and have it all for ourselves.' So they grabbed the

son, threw him out, and killed him.

What then do you think will bethe owner of the vineyards reaction when

he arrives home from his trip, what do imagine he will do to the farmhands?"

They answered "He'll kill them for all they are a rotten bunch sogood riddance to them, then he'll assign the vineyard to farmhands who


7/24

will hand over the profits when it's time." Jesus looked at them, studyingtheir faces and said, "Thats correct and you can read it for yourselves inGods Word, the stone the masons threw out is now the cornerstone.This is God's work and it seems so marvellous to the eyes of men, it can

hardly be believed! "You know God's kingdom will be taken back fromyou and handed over to a people who will really live out a kingdom life.Whoever stumbles on this Stone gets shattered; whoever the Stone fallson gets smashed."

When the Scribes and the Pharisees listened to this story, they knewit was aimed at them and hey wanted to arrest Jesus and put him in jail,

but because the people would be outraged at that point in time they heldback, because the people believed Jesus to be a prophet sent from God.

Jesus was an amazing story teller, He had so many stories to telland he made those stories come alive, so many would gather and listento him with tentative ears. He said"God's kingdom is like a king whothrew a wedding banquet for his son. Then he sent out servants to call inall the invited guests. And they wouldn't come! "So, he sent out more ofhis servants, instructing them to tell the guests, 'Look, everything is onthe table, the prime rib is ready for carving you must come to the feast!'"They only shrugged their shoulders and went off, one to weed hisgarden, another to work in his business. The rest, with nothing better to

do, beat up the messengers and then they killed them. The king wasfurious and sent his soldiers to destroy those thugs and level their city."Then he told his remaining servants, We have a wedding banquet allprepared but no guests. The ones I invited turned down their invitations.Go out into the busiest intersections in town and invite anyone you findto the banquet. The servants went out on the streets and rounded upeveryone they could find, good and bad, regardless. And so the banquethall was full with every place filled. When the king entered and lookedover the scene, he spotted a man who wasn't properly dressed. He said to

him, Why have you come in here looking like that? The man didntknow how to answer. Then the king told his servants to get him out ofhere fast and just tie him up and ship him off to hell, making sure hecouldnt get back in. Jesus concluded this story by saying This is what Imean when I say that many get invited but only a few make it.

At the time I understood only a little of the significance of whatJesus was saying. But now I know that he was telling us all butparticularly here this story was directed at the Jewish leaders that theylike the rest of us as Jews have always had a special place in Gods heart

but although they were rejecting the invitation Jesus was extending to


8/24

his own wedding feast in heaven, he was going to invite others who willsay yes to His invitation to come along, inviting people of every tribe andnation of the world to come along as well as all of the Jewish nation who

will respond to his invitation to come to this wonderful wedding of Jesus

the King of Kings..

INVITATION TO A WEDDING (the Wedding Feast of the Lamb)

My dear friend

Hello there, I want to extend an invitation personally to you,I am so excited and looking forward to my Wedding Day,That day is coming soon and I would love for you to be there too,Come and follow me and throughout eternity with me you will stay.

For I am so longing for you to come running into my arms,My arms are opened wide and I am calling out your name,Come to me I want you to be part of the true church, my bride,

Dear one, this world has no answers, come and in me abide.

I loved you so much that I came and died on the cross for you,And now Im longing for the day you will say I love you too,

This wedding feast will be like no party you have ever seen,Come to me and you will be happier than you have ever been.

Dear friend I am looking forward with anticipation for your reply,

Repent of your sins and I will remember them no more,And all heaven will be rejoicing as I will be throwing a party.I will prepare a mansion just for you as part of the bride I adore.

People from every tribe and nation have answered my call,They have said yes to me and they have surrendered their all,

I want to pour my love upon you and give you real peace,This love I have for you my friend will never ever cease.

The Groom JESUS CHRIST


9/24

RSVP

CHAPTER 3

The Pharisees thought they would lay a trap for Jesus, they sent some of

their own disciples to ask him questions. They said Teacher we know you are a

good man, a man of integrity you teach Gods ways accurately, and you areindifferent to popular opinion, and don't pander to your students. So tellus honestly: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

Jesus saw though that this was a trap they were trying to ensnare him with

and you should have seen the expressions on their faces when he answered

them. "You crowd of hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Bring me

a coin. They handed him a denarius. He held it up and showed themCaesars portrait and inscription Who do you see here? Render toCaesar that which is Caesars. They went away astonished at his wordsand they could not reply after that, they speechlessly hurried on their

way.

Later that day the Sadducees decided to come and quiz Jesusthemselves on the resurrection of the dead which they did not believe in."Teacher," they said, "Moses said that if a man who has no children dies,

his brother must marry the widow so that they can have children whowill be considered the dead man's children. Here's an illustration wherethere were seven brothers. The first brother married and died, leaving nochild, and his wife passed to his brother. The second brother also left herchildless, then the third--and on and on, all seven. Then the wife died. Atthe resurrection, whose wife would she be?She was a wife to each ofthem.

Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know theScriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will not marrynor will they be given in marriage; they will be like the angels inheaven .But about the resurrection of the dead, havent you read whatGod said to you, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and theGod of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

Many were gathered there listening to this, and we were astonishedat his teaching, nobody else taught quite like Jesus. The Sadducees weresilenced at this point and slipped away.

Not to be outdone the Pharisees hearing about how Jesus hadoutdone their disciples and then the Sadducees decided to come against


10/24

Jesus with an onslaught. One of them asked "Teacher, whichcommandment in God's Law is the most important?" Jesus answeredLove the Lord your God with your whole heart and soul and with your whole

mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is just like it

you must love your neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hangon these two commandments."

Before the Pharisees had the chance to ask anything else, wile they were

still trying to conjure stuff up in their minds Jesus threw a question into the mix.

He asked them "What do you think about the Christ?Whose son is he?"

They answered "David's son."

Jesus replied, "Well, if this is so and Christ is David's son, how can you

explain that David, under inspiration, named Christ his 'Lord? The scripture

says the Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies

under your feet."

They stood perplexed, not knowing how to answer. Jesus had the upper

hand and he asked them If David calls him 'Lord, how the Christ can be his

son?"

The Pharisees were literalists and were stuck for an answer. They turnedaway for they could see that Jesus had the upper hand and they did not know

how to confound this man.

I was glad to see them go, they may have been our religious leaders but

something troubled me about them. Jesus was about to clarify some of that to

me and the others who sat at his feet.

CHAPTER 4

Now I for one expected to hear Jesus completely condemn thePharisees but he turned to address the crowds who had now gathered inlarge numbers and he stated that the Pharisees had sat at Moses feet,they were Moses representatives in the synagogue. He did not challengetheir position as those who were learned in the law. Jesus did criticize

the Pharisees though for being hypocritical and not practicing what theypreached. I found it hard enough to try to obey the law, but the


11/24

Pharisees had added so many traditions, that it all seemed cumbersome.When Jesus spoke though although he had harsh things to say, he spokewith an authority and I just knew his words were truth, I found myselfhanging on every word he said.

Jesus went on though Look at the Pharisees everything they do isfor men to see, they love the place of honour at banquets and the mostimportant seats in the synagogues and to be referred to by important titles such

as Rabbi or Father, they want men to exalt them.

Don't elevate people, giving men and women a place that is not rightfully

theirs, giving them control over your life, allowing them tell you what to do.

That kind of authority belongs to God alone; so dont let men boss you around

with man made laws telling you what to do. No one else should carry the title of

'Father'; you have only one Father, and he's in heaven. So don't let peoplemanoeuvre you into taking charge of them. There is only one person whocan direct your paths through life for you and them and that is throughme. Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant.If you getpuffed up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content tosimply be yourself, you will have a fruitful life and be exalted. Those whotry to exalt themselves will be humbled while those with a humble andcontrite spirit will be exalted

Then Jesus looked towards the Pharisees and pronounced a series ofwoes. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You arehypocrites! You travel everywhere to win one person to your faith. Then

you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. How terrible foryou, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone takes an oath in the name of thetemple, it means nothing. But anyone who takes an oath in the name ofthe gold of the temple must keep the oath.' You are blind and foolish!

Which is more important? Is it the gold? Or is it the temple that makesthe gold holy? "You also say, 'If anyone takes an oath in the name of the

altar, it means nothing. But anyone who takes an oath in the name of thegift on it must keep the oath.' You foolish blind men! Cant you see

which is more important? Is it the gift? Or is it the altar that makes thegift holy?

Jesus paused for a moment then continued, "So anyone who takes anoath in the name of the altar takes an oath in its name and everything onitand if anybody takes an oath in the name of the temple they are taking an oathin the its name and of the One who lives in it . And if you take an oath in the

name of heaven you are taking an oath in the name of God's throne and of theOne who sits on it.


12/24

You know you Pharisees and teachers are nothing but show-offs, and

you're in for trouble! You give God a tenth of the spices from your garden, such

as mint, dill, and cumin. Yet you neglect the more important matters of the Law,

such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the important things youshould be doing, though you should not have left the others undone either. You

are blind and lead people astray! You will strain a fly out of your drink, but

swallow a camel!

I saw some Pharisees huddled in a corner their faces furious, but they

could not say anything in case they incited a riot. So Jesus continued to address

them Cleaning the outside of a cup and leaving the inside filthy is absolutely

no use, yet here you are like white washed tombs, beautifully clean on the

outside with bones and filth on the inside, you look good on the outside butinside you your hearts are rotten to the core, you are evil and are only

pretending to be good. Woe to you Pharisees, you are hypocrites! You build

tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. When you say,

'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we wouldn't have done what they

did. We wouldn't have helped to kill the prophets you are admitting you are the

children of those who murdered the prophets. You nest of poisonous snakes!

How will you escape from being sentenced to hell? I am sending you more

prophets, wise men, and teachers. You will kill some of them and some you will

nail to a cross. Others you will whip in your synagogues. You will chase them

from town to town and you will pay for all the godly people's blood spilled on

earth.

Then Jesus spoke words that were really a lament to all the Jewish

leaders and their followers and there were tears in His eyes as he spoke,

"Jerusalem! Jerusalem! You murder my prophets! You kill those who have

brought to you God's news! How often I've ached and longed to embrace your

children, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you wouldn't let

me. Now, your house is forsaken and desolate, abandoned and left destitute

without God's help because of the path you have taken. For I am declaring toyou now, that you will not see me again until you say, blessed magnified in

worship, adored, and exalted is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

With these words Jesus departed from the temple. I heard some time

later that one of his closest disciples had inquired of him as to the future of the

temple and Jesus had said that there will not be left one stone on top of another

that the temple will come down.


13/24

CHAPTER 5

Jesus started to walk away from the temple and he told us that there was a

day coming soon when the temple would be destroyed, not one stone would be

left on top of another.

Later as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples asked him

privately Tell us when will these things happen and what will happen to show

that it is the time for your coming and the end of the age?

It was only later that the rest of us heard from His close inner circle of

disciples about the conversation that had passed between them and the Lord

Jesus. He predicted that many would arise claiming to be the Messiah, false

prophets would come but to steer clear of all of them for they will not point theway to Him, so we need to be watchful that we are not misled , we are to

persevere for the faith to the end.. He also said that there would be wars and

riots in and around Jerusalem and in other places throughout the world and he

warned that believers may face persecution and even death for their faith. Some

will be fooled by those false Messiahs and their love will grow cold.

I know I dont want to be like that, now that I have found Jesus I never want

to be apart from him. Yet at the time all this was happening I had no real

understanding of what was about to happen during the next few weeks. I

thought at that time that the Lord Jesus in physical form would be with us for

the rest of my days.

Jesus said to them that day but he also said to all of us as His followers

that the Good News of the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole

world as a witness to every tribe and every nation, and after that the end will

come.

Then Jesus told a large group of us a story about ten virgins who were

preparing to meet a bridegroom, but only five out of ten of the virgins cameprepared with extra oil for their lamps to keep them burning throughout the

night watch as they awaited the coming of the bridegroom. The bridegroom did

not come until after midnight and the bridesmaids had fallen off to sleep and

they awakened with the knowledge that he was soon to arrive. The girls who

had prepared with extra oil for their lamps replenished their lamps and the

others who found their lamps had gone out pled with them to share the oil but

they had to point out to them that if they did they would all run out and advised

them to go to the store and by more oil, so the five foolish bridesmaids made

their way to the store but when they came back they found that the bridegroomhad already been and gone taking the other girls with him and they were


14/24

unfortunately too late. They proceeded to go to the wedding feast thinking the

groom would surely let them in but he told them to go away for he did not know

them.

This story has stayed in my mind so much since that day I know I wantto be ready for the day that Jesus returns. Jesus taught us so much about being

faithful servants, about giving to others, about showing love to others and caring

for the poor.

He was such a fine example to us of how we should live, the stories

that he told us, many of them only became clear to me at a later date as to the

real meaning behind them, but they were so valuable in teaching us and

preparing us for the days ahead.

Two nights before the Passover feast Jesus was staying at Simonshouse in Bethany and a lady called Mary came and poured the most precious

expensive perfume over the head of Jesus and some of the disciples around the

table turned to scold her for doing something which to them seemed a waste of

money, but Jesus scolded them and asked why they thought it was wasted. They

replied It could have been sold for a tidy sum of money and given to the poor.

But Jesus replied that they would always have the poor with them, and

he would not be with them much longer and what this woman done for him

would be talked about by believers throughout the ages.

I wish I had, had expensive perfume like this lady had to pour upon

the Lord for He was surely worthy of the very best that we had, all I had to offer

him was my heart, but by the way he had smiled at me on a number of

occasions I am sure that was enough for him.

CHAPTER 6

It was the night before the Passover feast and Jesus and the twelve

disciples had gone off to celebrate, with their Passover meal then I head a

rumour from one of the other believers, Oh surely this couldnt be true. We

were just finishing our meals when one of our friends came running in, an

alarmed look upon His face. We urged him to sit down and take a breath,

because he had difficulty even talking at first, in fact he seemed so near to tears.

We gave Joseph a glass of wine then he shared what he had overheard how one

of the Pharisees was talking to a friend about how Judas one of the twelve, hadbetrayed our Lord and Master for thirty pieces of silver.


15/24

I felt my heart was ready to be torn in half, I had only just found Him

a few days ago and now I was dreading what could be in front of Him. Oh my

Lord, you cannot be gone from me, I have only just found you. I started to sob

inconsolably, this was so unbelievable. I had just found the love of my life theone who I had waited a lifetime for, not that I felt a romantic attachment for

him, no for I had surely found the Messiah, the Son of God.

Then we heard reports of how Jesus had been arrested in the garden of

Gethsemane and his disciples told us afterwards that he had seemed to know so

much of what was to come for he had sweat drops of blood from his head while

praying there in that garden. The disciples told us that Jesus had prayed, "MyFather! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.

Yet I want your will, not mine." At all times Jesus was obedient to his Father.

CHAPTER 7

I heard that Jesus had been taken before Pilate the Roman Governor, who

stated that he could find nothing wrong with this man Jesus. The only thing that

Jesus gave an answer to was when he was accused of claiming to be the King of

the Jews, and Jesus had replied that it was as Pilate had said. The priests wereinsistent and kept throwing accusations and he learned that Jesus was from

Galilee, so he sent Jesus over to Herod who presided over the Galilean area for

Herod was in Jerusalem at that time and Herod had looked forward to seeing

Jesus and see him perform miracles. He asked him many questions which Jesus

because his time had come would not give answers to, and the chief priests and

scribes through all kinds of accusations at him and he did not retort, so Herod

and his soldiers mocked and derided him too, then sent him back to Pilate. Then

the soldiers scourged him until there was barely any flesh left on his body and

then they placed a purple robe and a crown of thorns on him and brought himbefore Pilate. The soldiers who had mocked and derided Jesus stripped him of

the purple robe, to expose his skin for the scourging and they twisted the crown

of thorns upon his head to cause more pain and more bleeding and if that wasnt

enough they pulled his beard out in chunks.

Pilate gave the people of Jerusalem a choice as to who they wanted released

would it be a thief and a murderer called Barabbas or would it be Jesus the King

of the Jews? I felt so sick and so afraid, I felt at that moment as though I was

dying on the inside, but I had to hang around to hear the answer, then came themoment I was dreading. For many of the people who had welcomed Jesus into


16/24

Jerusalem only a few days previous to this were shouting Crucify Him, Crucify

Him!

So Pilate released that horrible man, that murderer and my Lord and

Master who was by this time barely recognizable, blood streamed down fromhis face, those thorns were digging into his skull was being sentenced to death

by crucifixion, for what, he had done no wrong? And tears flooded down my

eyes and that of my companions and I looked over and saw Mary the mother of

Jesus, she was with the other Mary and I saw anguish that they were feeling,

and my heart broke for His mother at this moment.

Some of my new friends had told me about the supernatural nature of

Jesus birth, and how Mary had been a virgin so highly favoured of God to be

chosen to give birth to my Lord, for God himself was the Father of the LordJesus, an angel had visited her and told he she would give birth to a son and he

would be called Immanuel which means God with us.

What a moment that must have been for Mary as a young girl to be told

she, an ordinary young girl was about to give birth to the Christ child, the

promised Messiah, and she although she was engaged to Joseph had never yet

slept with a man. She knew from the beginning that her son was like no other

mothers son, and he was indeed different from the brothers he grew up with

and he told her that he was to be a sacrificial offering for mankind and he would

fulfil that which the prophet Isaiah had prophesied He will go as a lamb to the

slaughter. Here she was witnessing this, what a moment this must have been

for her, I felt the pain, I felt as though I was torn in half but what must she have

felt?

Pilate hesitated and kept challenging the crowd as to what evil Jesus had

done, but it was just like mob rule they kept repeating Crucify Him and he

finally gave way to the mob rule although I could see he wanted to be able to set

Jesus free, but as I now understand Pilate could not have overruled this moment

in time for God himself had planned it from the beginning of time, and Jesushimself was indeed the God man, the one who had never said a wrong word,

never lied, never done any wrong, he had to be sinless to die for our sins, to take

our place.

CHAPTER 8

Now it was the worst of times my Lord was given his cross to carry up tothe place of crucifixion which was known as Golgotha, the place of the skull,


17/24

but he could not manage all the way himself so Simon the Cyrene who was

passing by was asked to help Jesus carry the cross the rest of the way. Part of

me wanted to run away, many of his disciples were in hiding or keeping their

distance because of fear but something inside compelled me, I had to be there

until he breathed his last, so I went up the hill with my new friend Judith whowas feeling much the same I am sure, but we could not even speak, this was an

agonising time.

Finally after what seemed like an age we arrived at Golgotha and they

placed my Jesus on the cross, suspended with huge nails through his hands just

between his wrists and his hands and the same nails through his feet. Pilate

placed a notice on his cross that read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."

The chief priests were angry about this and said Change it to say He says He is

the King of the Jews. Pilate stood his ground and said What I have written, Ihave written.

As Jesus hung there he looked with compassion upon those who had

placed him there and said Father forgive them for they know not what they

do.

Two criminals were crucified there, one at either side of Jesus, my Lord

and Master, the one I know with a surety as my Saviour was placed among

those common thieves and yet here was Jesus dying there and the love he had

for all mankind could be so plainly seen in the words he expressed upon that

cross. One of the criminals hanging beside Jesus laughed, "So if you're the

Messiah, you can prove it by saving yourself and us, as well, while you're at it!"

The other one though asked him Dont you fear God when you are

dying? Then he looked towards Jesus saying We deserve to die, but you dont

remember Lord when you come into your Kingdom. Jesus looked at this man

with such love and compassion in his own moment of extreme, excruciating

pain and said to the man You are forgiven, today my friend you will be with

me in paradise.

He looked at his mother and saw John standing there he said and said

Mother here is your son and looking towards John he said Son this is your

mother.

A darkness then came upon the land, a strange darkness, for it was

night fall and it lasted for some three hours until the ninth hour.

At this point the Lord Jesus said My God, My God, why have youforsaken me because he felt as though he was going to be so distanced from


18/24

His Father as he proceeded to take the sins of all people everywhere upon

himself. Then he said I am thirsty and one of the soldiers brought a sponge

soaked in vinegar, placed it in hyssop then put it in Jesus mouth and when he

had received it, he uttered his final words It is finished, I give my spirit up into

you hands Father. and he hung his head and died.

Since the Sabbath day was approaching the soldiers broke the bones of

those being crucified, so that they could get them down from the cross before

the Sabbath, and they came to Jesus and discovered that he was already dead

and I learned later that I now know David and others had prophesied all those

years ago that none of the Messiahs bones would be broken.

On of the soldiers though pierced the side of Jesus and blood and water

gushed forth. This too had been foretold by the prophet Zechariah.

A man called Joseph from Armithea, a believer, decided to ask for the

body of Jesus that he might bury Jesus in a tomb in the nearby garden and

Joseph and Nicodemus who had first came to Jesus at night some time before,

now in full daylight wrapped the body of Jesus in linen and spices and lovingly

placed him in the tomb, then the heavy stone was placed at the front of the

tomb, and soldiers placed to guard it because the officialdom had heard that his

disciples talked about he would arise again on the Third day.

The earth quaked and the temple veil was torn in half, and the most

astounding thing of all was all around there were graves opened of Godly

people, they were starting to walk the streets and miraculously appear before

people, the dead were walking, what a miracle this was!

CHAPTER 9

There was a lot of sadness and despair among many of the disciples andfriends of Jesus during the next couple of days, there was also some fear that

they might suffer a similar fate because they were his followers, I heard how

just before the crucifixion Peter who so dearly loved Jesus had denied his

Lord three times, and now he could barely live with himself he was so upset.

He loved Jesus so much and now Jesus was dead, how he hoped he could see

Jesus again, how he desired to confess and ask him for forgiveness directly

and admit how wrong he had been. They did not understand at that time that

the scriptures of old had taught us that Jesus would rise again.


19/24

We also heard how Judas had hung himself from a tree in a field which he

had purchased with his thirty pieces of silver which he had gained for

betraying the Lord Jesus, he had tried to give the money back for even

before the crucifixion he was remorseful and this took place before Jesus

himself breathed his final breath. Poor Judas, but how could he do such athing? I am not so sure Judas ever realized even in part just who Jesus was,

or maybe it came to him at that moment after betrayal?

On the third day the two Marys, Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany

went to visit the garden tomb just as the before dawn and they were

astonished to find out that an earth quake had taken place once again and an

angel in glowing white had appeared at the tomb and the guards had fallen as

though dead and they did not know what had happened , except to assume

that the body of Jesus must have been stolen away by the disciples.

Mary Magdalene started weeping, thinking What could have happened

to her Lords body?

Mary ran and told Peter and he went to look at the grave as well and

sure enough there was no body lying in that tomb.

Mary returned to the tomb just as the day was dawning and two angels

were sitting at the place where the body of Jesus had been laid.

Mary Magdalene turned and saw a man who she on first glance thought

to be a gardener and he said to her Woman why are you crying?

She answered Sir have you moved the body of my Lord or do you know

where they have laid him?

He gently answered Mary

She knew then who he was and she said Rabboni which is Hebrewfor teacher. Jesus urged her not to cling to him for he had not yet ascended to

his Father. Go and tell my brothers that I am ascending to my Father and

your Father, my God and your God.'"

And then the women went running to tell his closest disciples and the rest

of us about Jesus having risen. .Oh my, what a moment that was to know that

my Jesus, my Lord is risen again, what joy flooded into my soul, how my

heart was aching to see him again.


20/24

I heard that a meeting of all the religious leaders was called, and they

decided to bribe the soldiers. They told the soldiers, "You must say, the

disciples of Jesus came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole

his body. So if the governor hears about it, we'll stand up for you and everything

will be all right, but if you dont you know that you are toast."So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say.

Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell this story today.

CHAPTER 10

The disciples were meeting in a house behind locked doors for they werestill very afraid of the Jewish leaders. And that same evening, on the first day of

the week my friend Judith and I along with a number of other ladies including

the Marys were there too preparing meals and Jesus appeared in the middle of

the room. The doors were locked, no-one could get in, so it must have been

totally supernatural and yet here was our Lord in the midst of us. Wow oh wow,

what a moment, I cannot even begin to explain the wow factor of seeing my

risen Lord, this was Jesus, the one who had died the most horrific death just

three short days ago and here he was and the love I had inside of me for this my

Lord and my God surged up on the inside of me, tears of real joy came to my

eyes. He showed us the healed wounds on his hands and his side and then Jesus

spoke to us and said "Peace to all of you. Just as the Father has sent me, I am

sending you."

Then he breathed on us Receive the Holy Spirit. And he spoke to us

about in his name proclaiming forgiveness of sins to those who repent. Its not

that we as believers could forgive sins, but we because he was giving us the

Holy Spirit to reside within us were given authority in his name to speak words

of life, of forgiveness, that our Lord whom we were representing was forgiving

their sins.

There was such joy and celebration in that moment of time in that room,

and yet there were still the doubters like Thomas, he found it so hard to believe,

for he was not amongst us on this occasion and he thought we were all spinning

a tale. Thomas said he could only believe if he saw in the Lords hands the

marks made by the nails and put his finger into the nail prints, and put his hand

into his side, otherwise he could never believe.


21/24

The disciples also taught us later that we are not to harbour

unforgiveness in our hearts, that Jesus had taught that we are to forgive others

as we would have them forgive us. He had taught us to love one another too.

Eight days later Jesus appeared once again, I was not present with thedisciples on this occasion but I heard how this time Thomas was there and when

Jesus appeared and once again greeted them saying Peace to you.

Then he turned to Thomas and he said Reach out your finger here, and

see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side. Do not be so

lacking in faith, it is time for you to leave behind your unbelief and believe.

Others reported that Thomas answered him, full of emotion and remorse

now, My Lord and My God. Then he fell to his knees.

Jesus then said to Thomas, Because you have seen me, Thomas, do you

now have faith? But let me tell you all something blessed and happy and

fortunate are those who have never seen me and yet have believed and had faith

in me.

Jesus appeared before some of the disciples on other occasions during the

next few weeks. One day some of the disciples were fishing on the Sea of

Tiberias and they had been out all night and caught nothing and then Jesus

appeared on the beach and they did know it was him when he shouted to them

Cast your nets out to the right hand side of the boat and you will find fish.

When they did this they had the most enormous catch, and they had such an

enormous catch that they could not even haul it in properly, so other disciples

came along side in another boat to help with the catch and they headed towards

the shore where Jesus had a fire of hot coals burning and he already ha fish and

bread cooking, but he asked them to bring more fish from their catch that they

might cook them.Peter went aboard and hauled the net to land, full of large fish,

153 of them; and although there were so many of them, the net was not torn.

After breakfast Jesus questioned Peter who had denied him three times,

by asking him three times if he loved him and when Peter affirmed each time he

told him to feed his lambs and his sheep and to care for his sheep. And then he

addressed all of them saying Follow me.

And Jesus led the eleven disciples and the rest of us out towards the

Mount of Olives and after arriving there he gave us a commission for all of his

followers, for those of our day and age and for generations to come. He said

"You are to go into all the world, to all nations, every tribe and every nation,taking the good news of the Kingdom and the message of salvation to all men,


22/24

women and children everywhere, baptizing those who believe. Thos who

believe will be saved, but those who reject me will be condemned. These signs

will accompany those who believe, they will cast out demons in my name, and

they will speak new languages and they will even be able to take poisonous

snakes in their hands, they will drink poison and not be hurt, they will lay handson the sick and see them healed."

And Jesus also said "In the scriptures it is written, that it was necessary for

me to suffer and to risefrom the dead the third day, so that repentance and

remission of sins could come to mankind and the Gospel Message could go

forth in my name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are

witnesses of these things. Now I am sending the Promise of My Father, the

promised Holy Spirit upon you; but I want you all to wait in the city of

Jerusalem

until you are endued with that power from on high.You will bebaptized in the Holy Spirit soon."

After he had spoken those words he ascended up into heaven, right away up

into the clouds and beyond, and he was out of sight. Then we turned and saw

that two men dressed totally in white were standing there, I couldnt here

properly what those men were saying because I was too far away but I heard

afterwards that they had said "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking

up into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven,

will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Jesus had gone from my sight again but I knew he was alive and the disciples

told us that he had told them before the crucifixion that Jesus would be sitting at

the Fathers right hand, he had gone to prepare our heavenly homes, mansions

no less, and some day we would see him again, but he was not going to leave us

as orphans for he was sending the Comforter, the Holy Spirit who would live in

us and Jesus had said he would empower us to do even greater things than he

had done because we believed and all that we would do would be in the

authority that he himself was giving us as believers. Then Jesus prayed for us

and for believers that would come after us. I am sharing what I have gatheredfrom this marvellous prayer below.

Father,

I will soon be returning to you. My prayer is that my people can experience

my joy completed in them. I gave them your Word; The godless of this world

have hated them because of it, because they didn't join in with worldly ways,

just as I didn't join the world's ways. I'm not asking that you take them out of

the world but I am asking you to guard them from the Evil One. They are not tobe defined by the world, for they are no more of the world than I am defined by


23/24

the world. Make them pure and holy, sanctify them with the truth for your Word

is consecrating truth.

In the same way that you gave me a mission in this world, I am now giving

them a mission in the world. I'm consecrating myself for their sakes and so

they'll know the truth in their mission. I'm praying not only for them but also forthose who will believe in me in days to come, because of them and others and

their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become of one heart and

mind just as you Father, are in me and I in you, my prayer is that they might be

one heart and mind, with each other and with us. Then the world might believe

that you, my dear Father have in fact, sent me, the same glory you gave me, I

gave them, so they'll walk in unity and love, becoming like us, I in them and

you in me. Then they'll be mature in their unity of mind and spirit and give the

godless world evidence that you have indeed sent me and loved them in the

same way you've loved me.Father, I want those you gave me to be with me where I am, so they can

see my glory, the splendour you gave me, having loved me long before there

ever was a world. The world has never known you, but I have known you, and

these disciples know that you sent me on this mission. I have made your very

being known to them, who you are and what you do and I will continue to make

it known, that they might know you as Father. so that your love for me might be

in them, just as I am in them.


24/24

Copyright 2010Irene McGough Disciples of Jesus Ministry

www.discipleofjesussite.com
http://www.discipleofjesussite.com/http://www.discipleofjesussite.com/

the king came by

Documents