Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

The man Jesus of Nazareth lived in what we call the first century A.D. If you do not believe this, research the writings from that time. More references to him exist than for other historical figures. If He never existed, why was the calendar changed?

Most of the Jews did not believe that He was the Christ. That was part of the plan. He had to be rejected and executed on a cross. Many of the predictions that he fulfilled were not even recognized as messianic prophecies until they happened to this poor carpenter. One was His death.

If you have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, you are one of those that He died for. The first was a man named Bar-Abbas. You may have read his name as Barabbas. Most do not know that he was an insurrectionist that was scheduled to be crucified with two of his followers.

They are referred to as thieves. The Romans did not execute robbers by this method. Crucifixion was designed for those who tried to thwart the will of the Roman Emperor. Bar- Abbas was an insurrectionist. The two men that died with Jesus were probably the only two of his men who were not killed or did not escape.

This period is immediately following what is known as the Maccabean era in Jewish history. The Maccabees were a family that ruled Judea shortly before the Romans invaded and began to control most of the known world. Prophets had predicted this Messiah for centuries.

Scriptures tell us that the Messiah would come to set the Jews free. What happened was that He came to die for the sins of the entire world. Jehovah knew what we needed, not what one country wanted. Forgiveness for all humanity trumps temporary freedom for a nation that thought they were better than everyone else.

Christ is not His last name. It is the Greek translation for Messiah. The Christ was sent from God to complete what had been started by Moses. The law could not save us. Someone had to die for us and return from the dead. That is why He came.

We could never please the Father by ourselves. We have all sinned and fallen short. None of us is righteous. Not even one. You will be given the grace of God, if you accept the gift that He came to give all of us. He took my place and yours. Have you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior?

©Copyright 2024 by Charles Kensinger