Fiul meu, a trecut mult, mult timp
de cand ne-am vazut ochii unul celuilalt, si inima
Eu stiu ca ai incercat asa de multe lucruri
ca sa-ti umpli golul inimii tale, fiul meu
si N-am sa uit promisiunile care ti le-am facut
cand erai numai un copilas
ca Eu sunt Tatal tau si ca tu totdeauna vei fi al Meu
si Ma vei gasi atunci cand Ma vei cauta, astaptandu-te pe tine
Sunt Tatal tau
Fiica mea, iti vad durerea din ochii tai
dorind sa fi iubita, dorind sa fi eliberata
Stiu ca inima ti-a fost inselata si puritatea ti-e pierduta
Fiica mea
Singura in odaia ta, Iti vad lacrimile curgand din nou,
Lasa-Ma deci sa te strang
in bratele Mele unde tu iti vei gasi un adapost
ca Eu sunt Tatal tau si ca tu totdeauna vei fi a Mea
si Ma vei gasi atunci cand Ma vei cauta, asteptandu-te pe tine
Sunt Tatal tau
by Brian Doerksen (traducere)
My son, it’s been a Iong, long time
since we’ve been eye to eye, heart to heart
I know you’ve tried so many things
to fill the void in you, my son
and I will not forget the promises I made
when you were just a baby
I am your Father and you will always be My very own
and here you will find Me, waiting for you
I am your Father
My daughter, I see the pain in your eyes
Longing to be loved, longing to be free
I know your heart has been betrayed, innocence lost
My daughter
Alone in your room, I see your tears falling again
So let Me hold you close,
here in My arms you will find rest
I am your Father and you will always be My very own
and here you will find Me, waiting for you
I am your Father
„See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him” (1 John 3:1). This passage begins with the command: „See.” John wants us to observe the manifestations of the Father’s love. He has introduced the subject of God’s love in the preceding chapter (1 John 2:5, 15) briefly discusses it here, and fully explains it in the fourth chapter. John’s purpose is to describe the kind of love the Father gives His children, „what great love.” The Greek word translated „what great” is found only 6 times in the NT and always implies astonishment and admiration.
Interesting to note is that John does not say, „The Father loves us. Instead, he tells us that the Father has „lavished” His love on us, and this portrays an action and the extent of God’s love. John has chosen the word „Father” purposely. That word implies the father-child relationship. However, God did not become Father when He adopted us as children. God’s fatherhood is eternal. He is eternally the Father of Jesus Christ, and through Jesus He is our Father. Through Jesus we receive the Father’s love and are called „children of God.”
What an honor it is that God calls us His children and gives us the assurance that as His children we are heirs and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). In his Gospel, John also tells us that God gives the right to become children of God to all who in faith have received Christ as Lord and Savior (John 1:12). God extends His love to His Son Jesus Christ and, through Him, to all His adopted children.
When John then tells us „that is what we are!” he declares the reality of our status. Right now, at this very moment, we are His children. In other words, this is not a promise which God will fulfill in the future. No, the truth is we are already God’s children. We enjoy all the rights and privileges our adoption entails, because we have come to know God as our Father. As His children we experience His love. As His children we acknowledge Him as our Father, for we have an experiential knowledge of God. We put our trust and faith in Him who loves us, provides for us, and protects us as our earthly fathers should. Also as earthly fathers should, God disciplines His children when they disobey or ignore His commands. He does this for our benefit, so „that we may share in His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10).
There are many ways the Scriptures describe those who love God and obey Him. We are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17); we are holy priests (1 Peter 2:5); we are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17); and we are partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). But more significant than any title or position is the simple fact that we are God’s children and He is our Heavenly Father.
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
„You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
But he denied it. „I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, „This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, „Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, „I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: „Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
57 Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house the experts in the law and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest’s courtyard. After going in, he sat with the guards to see the outcome. 59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 62 So the high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell 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.” 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now you have heard the blasphemy! 66 What is your verdict?” They answered, “He is guilty and deserves death.” 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy for us, you Christ! Who hit you?” (Matthew 26:57-68)
Two events are being described simultaneously by Matthew in this paragraph and the next, so as to set them in contrast to each other. The first is our Lord’s interrogation by Caiaphas, the high priest, and the Sanhedrin. The second is Peter’s “interrogation” by those around him. At the very moments Peter is denying His Lord, our Lord Jesus is affirming His identity as the Messiah – His “great confession.”
It is the middle of the night, and Jesus has been sent from Annas to stand before Caiaphas. The whole Sanhedrin is present (see also Mark 14:55), including the chief priests, scribes, and elders (Matthew 26:57-59). This is far from a legal gathering. In our terms, Jesus is not getting “due process of the law” here. These “judges” are far from neutral. They seek any testimony that will justify their resolve to kill Jesus (verse 59), but they can’t do it.
These are horrible and shameful moments in Israel’s history, but at times the account comes close to being amusing. Here is this pompous group of Israel’s “cream of the crop.” It is something like the convening of the Supreme Court in our day. These are the top religious and legal experts, and they are determined to execute Jesus. They resolved that they would not arrest or kill Jesus until “after the feast” (Matthew 26:5), but Jesus forced their hand when He informed Judas and the disciples that He would be betrayed by one of them (Matthew 26:21). Jesus even let Judas know that he was the one who would betray Him (Matthew 26:25). Judas no longer had the luxury of time. He had to act now to earn his fee, whether the Jewish leaders liked it or not.
The religious leaders were in a real bind. They seem compelled to include the Romans (Pilate, Herod, and the Roman soldiers). They were forced to crucify Jesus, a very public death. And they must complete this matter before Passover, lest they be defiled, and thus would have been prevented from participating in Passover (seeJohn 18:28; 19:14; Mark 15:42-43). A few hours earlier, it would have appeared that they had almost two weeks to prepare for the execution of Jesus. They have not had any time to acquire and “coach” witnesses, and this was very obvious. Imagine these fellows attempting to give an air of sobriety and propriety, while things are in total chaos. Their witnesses disagree so badly that even with their disposition to accept any charge, it is evident this testimony won’t suffice. A parade of witnesses pass by, and all fail to meet minimum requirements. No two witnesses agree, and when two finally agree, the charges were not viable. It was, at best, a corruption of what Jesus had said (“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” – John 2:19). Even if their words were true, it isn’t a crime to say that you are able to do such a thing; it would be a crime if you attempted it. This case would have been thrown out of any court in our land.
You can imagine how frustrated these fellows must have been. Their case was stalling, and there seemed to be nothing they could do about it. The high priest sought to induce Jesus to violate His Fifth Amendment rights (in today’s terms) by giving testimony against Himself. “What did Jesus have to say to this charge?” Jesus had nothing to say. He need not have spoken. The charges were not worthy of comment or of defense. It was not His duty to provide them with evidence; it was their duty to produce evidence of a crime.
Then the high priest had an inspiration. He would charge Jesus under oath to answer this question: “Are you the Christ, the Son of God?” (Matthew 26:63). This was a question Jesus was not legally obliged to answer. And yet Jesus chose to answer. I used to think that this was because the high priest put Him under oath. I now look at it differently. This was a question Jesus must answer. To refuse to answer would imply that He was not the Messiah, the Son of God. If He were the Messiah, the Son of God, then why would He not answer to this effect? This was the crux of the coming of our Lord – to reveal Himself as the Messiah, and as the Son of God.
Our Lord’s answer was far from tentative. Not only did He identify Himself as the Messiah, the Son of God, He also referred to Himself as the Son of Man:
Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell 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 26:67).
This is an incredibly powerful statement. Jesus affirms His identity. He is the Messiah. He is the Son of God. He is also the Son of Man, which means that He will return to the earth in power, to deal with His enemies and to establish justice.
These words, if believed, should have struck terror into the hearts of the Jewish religious leaders. Instead, they were taken as blasphemy, a capital offense by Jewish law (see Leviticus 24:10-16; Numbers 15:30). No one in that group paused to reflect on the implications of Jesus’ claim. No one gave serious thought as to whether this claim might be true. In their minds, this was all they needed to condemn Jesus to death. And so the high priest musters all the righteous indignation he can produce, and calls for the death of Jesus:
Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now you have heard the blasphemy!” (Matthew 26:65)
His colleagues heartily agreed, and they pronounced sentence on our Lord.
What follows is particularly significant. Once the guilty verdict is pronounced, there is a disproportionate outpouring of wrath and contempt on our Lord. They spit in His face – they spit in God’s face! They strike Him with their fists, pouring out their wrath on God incarnate. They slap Him, and challenge Him to prophesy who hit Him (26:67-68). Here is the highest court in the land, and look at its conduct. Here is God, in the hands of angry sinners.
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A slave girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it in front of them all: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” 71 When he went out to the gateway, another slave girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” 72 He denied it again with an oath, “I do not know the man!” 73 After a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, “You really are one of them too—even your accent gives you away!” 74 At that he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:69-75).
Meanwhile, Peter is sitting in the courtyard of the high priest’s house, warming himself by the fire. A mere slave girl314 identifies him as one of Jesus’ disciples. Peter denies it. Initially, Peter does not pointedly deny knowing Jesus; he simply responds that he doesn’t know what she is talking about. Apparently this is sufficient to silence this first slave girl. But then another slave girl confronts Peter. She does not just question Peter; she speaks to those standing around: “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene” (Matthew 26:71). From Peter’s point of view, this is much more threatening. He denies his association with Jesus, underscoring his denial with an oath. Finally, a third person – one standing nearby – came up to Peter, and this time with an even more persuasive accusation: “You really are one of them too—even your accent gives you away!” (verse 73). Peter more pointedly denied even knowing Jesus, let alone associating with Him. This time he felt it necessary to punctuate his denial with cursing.
At that moment, a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered Jesus’ words indicating that he would deny Him. Peter went outside and wept bitterly. Strangely, this is the last time Matthew refers to Peter by name in this Gospel. While Matthew does provide an account of the final outcome for Judas (Matthew 27:3-10), he does not do so for Peter. Is this because he knows that such an account will take a great deal more time and information? Is this because he knows that a subsequent history of the church (including Peter) will be written? For whatever reason, Matthew does not feel compelled to give us the “rest of the story” regarding Peter.
Conclusion
If our text demonstrates anything, it is that all mankind, without exception, is desperately sinful and, apart from the grace of God in Christ Jesus, hopelessly lost:
Whether at his finest, or at his worst, every human being is a sinner, desperately wicked in heart and often in deed. There is no way that we can ever earn our own righteousness, that we can attain God’s favor by our efforts. We need salvation from some source outside of ourselves. We need Jesus, for He alone can save.
Our text dramatically demonstrates the sinfulness of man and the perfection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In our text, no one comes out looking good, no one except Jesus, that is. Everything Jesus predicted happened just as He said it would. Under more stress and pressure than we will ever know, Jesus never failed. His words and His deeds are amazing to us. Though men (like Peter, or Judas, or the religious leaders) failed, Jesus did not. Though His closest friends forsook Him, He will not forsake His own – those who have trusted in Him for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. Jesus Never Fails; He is always faithful, even when we fail:
Just before the Passover feast, Jesus knew that his time had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end (John 13:1).
If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13).
Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5).
In mankind’s darkest hour, the perfections of our Lord shine ever so bright. He alone is worthy of our trust, and of our worship, obedience, and service. Do not let the horrors of these events in our Lord’s last hours distract your attention from Jesus. He deserves center stage. His perfections deserve our praise.
We should probably say a word about Peter’s denials. Let us not fail to read this text, describing Peter’s worst moments, without bearing in mind “the rest of the story.” We may have seen the last of Peter (by name) in Matthew, but we find a very different Peter in the Book of Acts. With the resurrection and ascension of our Lord, and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we find a transformed Peter. We find a man who now boldly proclaims the gospel, in spite of the opposition and the risks:
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man—by what means this man was healed— 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.” 13 When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. 14 And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this (Acts 4:8-14).
As a result of the work of Jesus Christ at Calvary, and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, Peter not only boldly identifies with His Lord, He instructs us to do so as well:
13 For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken. 15 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. 16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil (1 Peter 3:13-17).
The events of our text underscore for us the trustworthiness and authority of the Scriptures. Just as at the birth of our Lord, so also here we find that Matthew repeatedly points out to us that the Scriptures are being fulfilled at every point of this procession to the cross. God’s Word is true. It never fails. Even when men try their hardest to resist God and to rebel against His purposes, they end up unwittingly fulfilling His purposes and promises. We can trust His Word.
Let me end with one more observation and application. Our text describes the darkest hour in all of human history, and yet we gather every Sunday to remember the death of Jesus. More than that, we come every Sunday to celebrate His death. This is due to the fact that His suffering and His death is the only means by which sinful men may be saved, and have eternal life. It is also due to the fact that the resurrection of Jesus enables us to view these events in a whole new way. At the cross, Jesus took the curse (death) and made it the cure (His atoning work on our behalf). God used the most cruel and wicked actions of men to accomplish His eternal plan of salvation.
Surely this is an example of the truth that is proclaimed in Romans 8:
28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, 29 because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified (Romans 8:28-30).
God was able to make the horrid events of our Lord’s rejection and crucifixion into a salvation so blessed that it will take all eternity to fathom it. If our Lord can transform this kind of apparent tragedy into a triumphant work of redemption, then is it not reasonable for us to believe that God will cause every event in our lives to work out for His glory, and for our good?
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
„You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
But he denied it. „I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, „This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, „Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, „I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: „Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
57 Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house the experts in the law and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest’s courtyard. After going in, he sat with the guards to see the outcome. 59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 62 So the high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell 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.” 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now you have heard the blasphemy! 66 What is your verdict?” They answered, “He is guilty and deserves death.” 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy for us, you Christ! Who hit you?” (Matthew 26:57-68)
Two events are being described simultaneously by Matthew in this paragraph and the next, so as to set them in contrast to each other. The first is our Lord’s interrogation by Caiaphas, the high priest, and the Sanhedrin. The second is Peter’s “interrogation” by those around him. At the very moments Peter is denying His Lord, our Lord Jesus is affirming His identity as the Messiah – His “great confession.”
It is the middle of the night, and Jesus has been sent from Annas to stand before Caiaphas. The whole Sanhedrin is present (see also Mark 14:55), including the chief priests, scribes, and elders (Matthew 26:57-59). This is far from a legal gathering. In our terms, Jesus is not getting “due process of the law” here. These “judges” are far from neutral. They seek any testimony that will justify their resolve to kill Jesus (verse 59), but they can’t do it.
These are horrible and shameful moments in Israel’s history, but at times the account comes close to being amusing. Here is this pompous group of Israel’s “cream of the crop.” It is something like the convening of the Supreme Court in our day. These are the top religious and legal experts, and they are determined to execute Jesus. They resolved that they would not arrest or kill Jesus until “after the feast” (Matthew 26:5), but Jesus forced their hand when He informed Judas and the disciples that He would be betrayed by one of them (Matthew 26:21). Jesus even let Judas know that he was the one who would betray Him (Matthew 26:25). Judas no longer had the luxury of time. He had to act now to earn his fee, whether the Jewish leaders liked it or not.
The religious leaders were in a real bind. They seem compelled to include the Romans (Pilate, Herod, and the Roman soldiers). They were forced to crucify Jesus, a very public death. And they must complete this matter before Passover, lest they be defiled, and thus would have been prevented from participating in Passover (seeJohn 18:28; 19:14; Mark 15:42-43). A few hours earlier, it would have appeared that they had almost two weeks to prepare for the execution of Jesus. They have not had any time to acquire and “coach” witnesses, and this was very obvious. Imagine these fellows attempting to give an air of sobriety and propriety, while things are in total chaos. Their witnesses disagree so badly that even with their disposition to accept any charge, it is evident this testimony won’t suffice. A parade of witnesses pass by, and all fail to meet minimum requirements. No two witnesses agree, and when two finally agree, the charges were not viable. It was, at best, a corruption of what Jesus had said (“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” – John 2:19). Even if their words were true, it isn’t a crime to say that you are able to do such a thing; it would be a crime if you attempted it. This case would have been thrown out of any court in our land.
You can imagine how frustrated these fellows must have been. Their case was stalling, and there seemed to be nothing they could do about it. The high priest sought to induce Jesus to violate His Fifth Amendment rights (in today’s terms) by giving testimony against Himself. “What did Jesus have to say to this charge?” Jesus had nothing to say. He need not have spoken. The charges were not worthy of comment or of defense. It was not His duty to provide them with evidence; it was their duty to produce evidence of a crime.
Then the high priest had an inspiration. He would charge Jesus under oath to answer this question: “Are you the Christ, the Son of God?” (Matthew 26:63). This was a question Jesus was not legally obliged to answer. And yet Jesus chose to answer. I used to think that this was because the high priest put Him under oath. I now look at it differently. This was a question Jesus must answer. To refuse to answer would imply that He was not the Messiah, the Son of God. If He were the Messiah, the Son of God, then why would He not answer to this effect? This was the crux of the coming of our Lord – to reveal Himself as the Messiah, and as the Son of God.
Our Lord’s answer was far from tentative. Not only did He identify Himself as the Messiah, the Son of God, He also referred to Himself as the Son of Man:
Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell 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 26:67).
This is an incredibly powerful statement. Jesus affirms His identity. He is the Messiah. He is the Son of God. He is also the Son of Man, which means that He will return to the earth in power, to deal with His enemies and to establish justice.
These words, if believed, should have struck terror into the hearts of the Jewish religious leaders. Instead, they were taken as blasphemy, a capital offense by Jewish law (see Leviticus 24:10-16; Numbers 15:30). No one in that group paused to reflect on the implications of Jesus’ claim. No one gave serious thought as to whether this claim might be true. In their minds, this was all they needed to condemn Jesus to death. And so the high priest musters all the righteous indignation he can produce, and calls for the death of Jesus:
Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now you have heard the blasphemy!” (Matthew 26:65)
His colleagues heartily agreed, and they pronounced sentence on our Lord.
What follows is particularly significant. Once the guilty verdict is pronounced, there is a disproportionate outpouring of wrath and contempt on our Lord. They spit in His face – they spit in God’s face! They strike Him with their fists, pouring out their wrath on God incarnate. They slap Him, and challenge Him to prophesy who hit Him (26:67-68). Here is the highest court in the land, and look at its conduct. Here is God, in the hands of angry sinners.
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A slave girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it in front of them all: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” 71 When he went out to the gateway, another slave girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” 72 He denied it again with an oath, “I do not know the man!” 73 After a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, “You really are one of them too—even your accent gives you away!” 74 At that he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:69-75).
Meanwhile, Peter is sitting in the courtyard of the high priest’s house, warming himself by the fire. A mere slave girl314 identifies him as one of Jesus’ disciples. Peter denies it. Initially, Peter does not pointedly deny knowing Jesus; he simply responds that he doesn’t know what she is talking about. Apparently this is sufficient to silence this first slave girl. But then another slave girl confronts Peter. She does not just question Peter; she speaks to those standing around: “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene” (Matthew 26:71). From Peter’s point of view, this is much more threatening. He denies his association with Jesus, underscoring his denial with an oath. Finally, a third person – one standing nearby – came up to Peter, and this time with an even more persuasive accusation: “You really are one of them too—even your accent gives you away!” (verse 73). Peter more pointedly denied even knowing Jesus, let alone associating with Him. This time he felt it necessary to punctuate his denial with cursing.
At that moment, a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered Jesus’ words indicating that he would deny Him. Peter went outside and wept bitterly. Strangely, this is the last time Matthew refers to Peter by name in this Gospel. While Matthew does provide an account of the final outcome for Judas (Matthew 27:3-10), he does not do so for Peter. Is this because he knows that such an account will take a great deal more time and information? Is this because he knows that a subsequent history of the church (including Peter) will be written? For whatever reason, Matthew does not feel compelled to give us the “rest of the story” regarding Peter.
Conclusion
If our text demonstrates anything, it is that all mankind, without exception, is desperately sinful and, apart from the grace of God in Christ Jesus, hopelessly lost:
Whether at his finest, or at his worst, every human being is a sinner, desperately wicked in heart and often in deed. There is no way that we can ever earn our own righteousness, that we can attain God’s favor by our efforts. We need salvation from some source outside of ourselves. We need Jesus, for He alone can save.
Our text dramatically demonstrates the sinfulness of man and the perfection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In our text, no one comes out looking good, no one except Jesus, that is. Everything Jesus predicted happened just as He said it would. Under more stress and pressure than we will ever know, Jesus never failed. His words and His deeds are amazing to us. Though men (like Peter, or Judas, or the religious leaders) failed, Jesus did not. Though His closest friends forsook Him, He will not forsake His own – those who have trusted in Him for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. Jesus Never Fails; He is always faithful, even when we fail:
Just before the Passover feast, Jesus knew that his time had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end (John 13:1).
If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13).
Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5).
In mankind’s darkest hour, the perfections of our Lord shine ever so bright. He alone is worthy of our trust, and of our worship, obedience, and service. Do not let the horrors of these events in our Lord’s last hours distract your attention from Jesus. He deserves center stage. His perfections deserve our praise.
We should probably say a word about Peter’s denials. Let us not fail to read this text, describing Peter’s worst moments, without bearing in mind “the rest of the story.” We may have seen the last of Peter (by name) in Matthew, but we find a very different Peter in the Book of Acts. With the resurrection and ascension of our Lord, and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we find a transformed Peter. We find a man who now boldly proclaims the gospel, in spite of the opposition and the risks:
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man—by what means this man was healed— 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.” 13 When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. 14 And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this (Acts 4:8-14).
As a result of the work of Jesus Christ at Calvary, and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, Peter not only boldly identifies with His Lord, He instructs us to do so as well:
13 For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken. 15 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. 16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil (1 Peter 3:13-17).
The events of our text underscore for us the trustworthiness and authority of the Scriptures. Just as at the birth of our Lord, so also here we find that Matthew repeatedly points out to us that the Scriptures are being fulfilled at every point of this procession to the cross. God’s Word is true. It never fails. Even when men try their hardest to resist God and to rebel against His purposes, they end up unwittingly fulfilling His purposes and promises. We can trust His Word.
Let me end with one more observation and application. Our text describes the darkest hour in all of human history, and yet we gather every Sunday to remember the death of Jesus. More than that, we come every Sunday to celebrate His death. This is due to the fact that His suffering and His death is the only means by which sinful men may be saved, and have eternal life. It is also due to the fact that the resurrection of Jesus enables us to view these events in a whole new way. At the cross, Jesus took the curse (death) and made it the cure (His atoning work on our behalf). God used the most cruel and wicked actions of men to accomplish His eternal plan of salvation.
Surely this is an example of the truth that is proclaimed in Romans 8:
28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, 29 because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified (Romans 8:28-30).
God was able to make the horrid events of our Lord’s rejection and crucifixion into a salvation so blessed that it will take all eternity to fathom it. If our Lord can transform this kind of apparent tragedy into a triumphant work of redemption, then is it not reasonable for us to believe that God will cause every event in our lives to work out for His glory, and for our good?
„See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him” (1 John 3:1). This passage begins with the command: „See.” John wants us to observe the manifestations of the Father’s love. He has introduced the subject of God’s love in the preceding chapter (1 John 2:5, 15) briefly discusses it here, and fully explains it in the fourth chapter. John’s purpose is to describe the kind of love the Father gives His children, „what great love.” The Greek word translated „what great” is found only 6 times in the NT and always implies astonishment and admiration.
Interesting to note is that John does not say, „The Father loves us. Instead, he tells us that the Father has „lavished” His love on us, and this portrays an action and the extent of God’s love. John has chosen the word „Father” purposely. That word implies the father-child relationship. However, God did not become Father when He adopted us as children. God’s fatherhood is eternal. He is eternally the Father of Jesus Christ, and through Jesus He is our Father. Through Jesus we receive the Father’s love and are called „children of God.”
What an honor it is that God calls us His children and gives us the assurance that as His children we are heirs and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). In his Gospel, John also tells us that God gives the right to become children of God to all who in faith have received Christ as Lord and Savior (John 1:12). God extends His love to His Son Jesus Christ and, through Him, to all His adopted children.
When John then tells us „that is what we are!” he declares the reality of our status. Right now, at this very moment, we are His children. In other words, this is not a promise which God will fulfill in the future. No, the truth is we are already God’s children. We enjoy all the rights and privileges our adoption entails, because we have come to know God as our Father. As His children we experience His love. As His children we acknowledge Him as our Father, for we have an experiential knowledge of God. We put our trust and faith in Him who loves us, provides for us, and protects us as our earthly fathers should. Also as earthly fathers should, God disciplines His children when they disobey or ignore His commands. He does this for our benefit, so „that we may share in His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10).
There are many ways the Scriptures describe those who love God and obey Him. We are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17); we are holy priests (1 Peter 2:5); we are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17); and we are partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). But more significant than any title or position is the simple fact that we are God’s children and He is our Heavenly Father.
Creation Calls – Brian Doerkson (One of my favorite all time songs)
Creation Calls by Brian Doerksen
I have felt the wind blow,
Whispering your name
I have seen your tears fall,
When I watch the rain.
(Refrain)
How could I say there is no God?
When all around creation calls!!
A singing bird, a mighty tree,
The vast expanse of open sea
(Musical interlude)
Gazing at a bird in flight,
Soaring through the air.
Lying down beneath the stars,
I feel your presence there.
I love to stand at ocean shore
And feel the thundering breakers roar,
To walk through golden fields of grain
With endless bloom horizons fray.
Listening to a river run,
Watering the Earth.
Fragrance of a rose in bloom,
A newborns cry at birth.
(Refrain)
I love to stand at ocean shore
And feel the thundering breakers roar,
To walk through golden fields of grain
With endless bloom horizons fray
I believe
I believe
I believe
(Interlude)
I believe
I believe
I believe just like a child
(Choir I believe..)
I believe
Recalling the famous Apollo-era pictures of Earth taken by lunar astronauts, this digital image is a spectacular portrait of the Western Hemisphere at the time of one of the strongest hurricanes ever observed in the Eastern Pacific.
This combination of science, engineering and artistry was generated by researchers in the Laboratory for Atmospheres at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, using data from three different Earth-observing satellite instruments.
Earth at night / Continentele (sursa pozei suprapusa prin computer de NASA). Explanation: This is what the Earth looks like at night. The image below is actually a composite of hundreds of pictures made by the orbiting DMSP satellites.
Pacific NW—Washington, Vancouver Island
This cloudless view of northwestern Washington and southeastern British Columbia is a study in varied land-use patterns: the forested Olympic Peninsula and Cascade Range contrast with the wheatlands of the drier east side of the mountains. The checkerboard pattern of clearcut forest is accented by snow in the range east of Seattle. Major cities and seaports of the Pacific Northwest—Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver—take advantage of the deep, sheltered channels.
The natural beauty and safe harbors of the region are products of tectonic processes acting on the western margin of North America. Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker are just two in a line of recently active volcanoes extending from the Coast Mountains of British Columbia to Mt. Shasta in northern California. Strong earthquakes are also frequent, as exemplified by the Nisqually quake (magnitude Mw 6.8) of February 28, 2001, which rocked Tacoma, Seattle and the surrounding area.
Astronaut photograph ISS004-E-10921 was taken by the crew of the International Space Station on April 29, 2002.
Western Pacific Coast of the United States and the East Coast
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders…
Four Corners, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah.
The Four Corners is so called because it is the point at which the corners of four states meet neatly at the sames pot. The states are: Utah in the northwest, Colorado in the northeast,New Mexico in the southeast, and Arizona in the southwest.
Also of interest is the Colorado River, which starts in Colorado and flows to the southwest, where it crosses the US border into Mexico to empty into the Gulf of California. While on its course south, the Colorado flows through the Glen Canyon in southern Utah, the Grand Canyon in northeastern Arizona, and Lake Mead on the Nevada-Arizona border. These three features provide some of the most breathtaking natural attractions in the United States.
Cel puţin şapte credincioşi creştini copţi au fost ucişi vineri în Egipt
Interviu cu Andrew Craig Brunson: …mă plimbam prin cameră ore în șir, doar rugându-mă, strigând către Dumnezeu….. La un moment dat, am fost nevoit să nu mă mai concentrez asupra speranței, ci asupra supunerii.
foto captura
După 9 ani de închisoare, creștina Asia Bibi, mamă a cinci copii, condamnată la moarte pentru „blasfemie”, a fost ACHITATĂ și va fi eliberată. Islamiștii radicali sunt pe picior de război.
Brazilia îşi va muta ambasada din Israel de la Tel Aviv, la Ierusalim
Premierul Australiei intenţionează să decidă recunoaşterea oraşului Ierusalim drept capitală a Israelului
VIDEO – Casa Albă: Rugăciunea Pastorului [eliberat] Andrew Brunson pentru Preşedintele Donald Trump
Un tribunal turc a ordonat vineri eliberarea din arest a pastorului american Andrew Brunson
Aurel Gheorghe – Semnele vremurilor – mai 2018, actualizare
Te ține Facebook-ul de la rugăciune? – Ryan Skinner
Foto Funny Jokes & Inspirational Stories
Gabi Izsak – Mesaj de Sărbătoarea înălțării la cer a Domnului Isus!
Aurel Gheorghe – Israel și Biserica la finalul istoriei – p. 1
ISRAEL – Statul evreu la 70 de ani de existenta
Perspectivele apocaliptice ale liderilor iranieni și implicațiile lor pentru lume
Originile problemelor din Orientul Mijlociu
De ce este Ierusalimul capitala indivizibilă a Israelului?
FOTO
„ISRAEL si BISERICA la finalul istoriei actuale” – Aurel Gheorghe la biserica Betania din Targu Mures, 16.05.2018
Aurel Gheorghe – Lupta va continua: nu te opri la jumătatea drumului!
DW – Europa trece prin Ierusalim
13 morţi, 40 de răniţi: Trei biserici creștine, dintre care și o biserică penticostală, au fost atacate în Indonezia de teroriști
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Mihai si Maria vor acasa
Aurel Gheorghe – Semnele vremurilor – ediție specială: ”Israel și finalul istoriei”
CNCD, noul organ de propagandă al ideologiei LGBT în România
Nicolae Geantă – Misionarii sunt Sfinții lampadari ai lui Dumnezeu plecați să lumineze întunericul inimilor
Un Pastor Penticostal Din India A Fost Decapitat
Răspunsuri Pentru Viață – De ce este atât de important Referendumul pentru căsătorie (1)
Florin Ianovici – Mulțumesc lui Dumnezeu pentru onoarea de a-i sluji…
Ce se intampla cand te marturisesti? – Vlad Breana
Viorel Iuga – Cu foarte mult timp în urmă, profetul întreba: „Oare tăcând faceţi voi dreptate?”
foto Agnus Dei
PREȘEDINTELE IOHANNIS, DEZAMĂGIREA EVANGHELICILOR!
Primirea reprezentanților Cultelor Evanghelice din România și a rectorilor Institutelor Teologice Evanghelice
LIGIA CIRSTEAN 1983 – 2018 – VIDEO Memorial/ Funeral – Serviciu de Priveghi si Inmormantare
Motivul pentru care unii ar vrea să treacă prin Necazul Cel Mare
Donald Trump, cu ocazia Zilei Naționale de Rugăciune: „Credința este mai puternică decât guvernul și nimic nu este mai puternic decât Dumnezeu”.
VIDEO Trump: Voi proteja întotdeauna libertatea religioasă. Un nou ordin executiv semnat de președintele Donald Trump, cu ocazia zilei Naționale de rugăciune, reafirmă libertatea religioasă.
Marx și bancnota de zero – de Nicolae.Geantă
Europa, între rațiune și propagandă. Ce s-a spus de fapt la conferința Platformei civice Împreună
A modificat mass-media înțelesul termenului „evanghelic”?
SUA: Statul Iowa interzice avorturile după șase săptămâni de sarcină
Miracolul de pe terenul de baseball – Cum a protejat Dumnezeu zece congresmeni republicani.
Un nou val de antisemitism se ridică în Europa
Tot mai multi evrei din intreaga lume se intorc in Israel. Antisemitismul îi face pe unii evrei din Europa să ia serios în considerare emigrarea în Israel.
Camelia Smicală: „Nu înțeleg de ce autoritățile române nu-și protejează cetățenii”
VIDEO: Pastor Virgil Achihai, președintele Bisericilor Creștine după Evanghelie și secretarul Alianței Evanghelice din România: „Este dreptul meu să solicit ca, printr-un proces democratic, transparent, valorile pe care le împărtășesc să devină literă de lege”
VIDEO. Nelu Ardelean, Secretar General al Uniunii Bisericilor Baptiste: „Statul nu trebuie să se substituie Autorității Supreme, Autorității Divine”
Știrea cea bună – Generația digitală – Nicolae Geantă
Mai 2015. Acesta a fost startul măsurilor de protecție a fraților Maria și Mihai împotriva vieții bune de acasă
ISRAEL Aniversare 70 de ani – Intr-o zi nu va mai fi razboi – Matisyahu – One Day
Se construiește un sediu creștin care va fi situat lângă noua Ambasadă Americană din Ierusalim
Aurel Gheorghe – Luptând fără teamă – Domnul va răspunde prin minuni!
Voia să-și găsească pacea! de Alin Jivan
Statul devine dumnezeu, iar noi devenim robii lui. Alfie Evans, un semnal de alarmă pentru noi!
Breaking News – O familie a învins lupta cu Barnevernet, micuța ARIA e ACASĂ!!! Barnevernet returns baby Aria to her parents!!!
ALIANTA FAMILIILOR DIN ROMANIA – KARL MARX LA 200 DE ANI SI 170 DE ANI DE URA DE CLASA
A plecat la Domnul Ligia Cirstean, a lasat in urma sotul si 7 copilasi
Pavel Rivis Tipei – Testul ca sa vezi daca il cauti pe Dumnezeu cu adevarat
Florin Ianovici – Nu renunța
Aurel Gheorghe – Nu te lăsa înșelat de aparențe!
Sofia Timofte si Prietenii – Cu glasuri de copii (Official Video)
Piedici in calea marturisirii – Când ți-ai mărturisit păcatele ultima oară!
Mohammed bin Salman, prințul moștenitor al Arabiei Saudite: Palestinienii ar trebui să „accepte propunerile lui Trump sau să tacă”
Tânăra DeEbony Groves de 21 de ani, împușcată în restaurantul Waffle House din Tennessee a murit cântând ,,Isus mă iubește”
Statul american Nebraska va elibera certificate de deces pentru copiii pierduți prin avort spontan
Copilul celor mai bătrâni părinţi din Marea Britanie a fost luat de serviciile sociale. „Cuplul e devastat“
Irlanda și dezumanizarea copilului nenăscut
Fotografii care spun povestea a doi copii cândva fericiți: Maria și Mihai.
Ioan Cocîrțeu – PREA MULTE VEȘTI RELE…CUM SĂ REZIST ?
O femeie creștină din Pakistan a murit după ce un musulman i-a dat foc pentru că nu a vrut să se convertească la islam si să se căsătorească cu el
În urmă cu doi ani, Maria și Mihai au fost luați cu forța – pentru a doua oară, și până în ziua de azi ei încă nu știu DE CE…
Marian Vanghelie: Istoria noastra creştină, identitatea noastră spirituală şi naţională provin din istoria Ierusalimului. În Ierusalim, pe marea cruce a suferinţei s-a născut speranţa noastră ca popor european
VIDEO – Statul Israel celebrează 70 de ani de independență. Festivitatea s-a încheiat cu o variantă a cântării „Aleluia”, pentru cele ce au fost și cele ce vor veni.
Gabi Izsak – Trebuie sa fiu in Casa lui Dumnezeu
Viața creștină – Nevoile sexuale și despărțirile îndelungate ale soților
Viața Crestină – Relație toxică în căsătorie
Demografie și democrație: În 12 ani, „Capitala” UE va fi preponderent musulmană
Atac împotriva creștinilor din Pakistan
În urmă cu 70 de ani, o declarație semnată la galeria de artă din Tel Aviv a schimbat lumea pentru totdeauna. În ciuda tuturor împotrivirilor, acest tânăr stat evreiesc nu numai că a supraviețuit, dar a întrecut toate așteptările
Valeriu Ghileţchi – Raportul meu privind cazul familiei Bodnariu a fost adoptat ieri în Comisia de profil
Open Doors – În 2017 au fost omorâți peste 3000 de creștini, iar peste 2000 au fost închiși, în jur de 800 de locașe de cult au fost distruse sau vandalizate
Myanmar – 2.000 de creștini Kachini blocați în junglă
Lupta spirituală a unui musulman înainte de a se converti la creștinism
Celebrarea a 70 de ani de la fondarea Israelului
Un pastor suedez, indemnat sa foloseasca o altă Biblie, respectiv una care să nu dezaprobe homosexualitatea
Cauzele depresiei si ale anxietatii si solutia Lui Dumnezeu
Daniel Cristian Florea – Asociatia Internationala a Preotilor Convertiti sustine proiectul de mutare a ambasadei Romaniei din Israel,de la Tel Aviv la Ierusalim.
ISRAEL 70 – VIDEO – Ceremonia aprinderii făcliilor cu ocazia celebrării Zilei Independenței statului Israel – 70 de ani, a avut loc miercuri seara pe Muntele Herzl din Ierusalim
Aurelian PAVELESCU – Bucurestiul ar putea avea un rol determinant intr-un proces de dimensiuni biblice
Deutsche Welle – Dacă decizia nu e oportună la trei mii de ani de la mutarea capitalei regelui David de la Hebron la Ierusalim, oare când va fi?
Codreanu – de Nicolae.Geantă
George Dume – CURVIA. UN PĂCAT ÎMPOTRIVA TA
Cui ne mărturisim?Vlad Breană
Aurel Gheorghe – Sfințenie în tabără sau înfrângere
Pilotul care a salvat 144 de pasageri aterizând de la 10.000 de metri, după ce un motor al avionului a explodat, este o femeie creștină
Copilasii care mor se duc in rai ? – John Piper răspunde
Diana Pand 1979 – 2018
DIANA PAND – I AM FREE
50 de țări în care este cel mai greu să trăiești ca și creștin
Revista Genesis – Editia 40/2018
A “pune șaua” pe cineva
Paine cu faina de cocos, fara gluten, fara lapte, paleo [Reteta video]
DW – Războiul pentru Ierusalim s-a mutat la București
T. 21 – ”Succesiunea apostolică” – transmiterea harului preoției
Diana Pand a plecat la Domnul
Abigail, numită de doctori “minunea lui Dumnezeu”, este tot mai bine!
StirileKanalD – Va mai amintiti de familia Bodnariu, ai carei copii au fost luati de autoritatile norvegiene? Acum au sase copii si sunt tare fericiti
În plin conflict sirian, musulmanii se convertesc la creștinism. situația lor este foarte dificilă și de aceea au nevoie să fie sprijiniți în rugăciune.
Zeci de mii de cruci doborâte în China
Photo credit
Viața cu gust de supă la plic – Sefora Geantă
Strângerea exilaților- După mii de ani evreii se întorc acasă în țara lor, Israel. Anul trecut, 27.000 de imigranți noi au sosit în Israel.
O organizație creștină israeliană a adus milioane de evrei în Țara Promisă
Marius & Ruth Bodnariu – Ne uităm cu doi ani în urmă și încă suntem uimiți de modul în care Dumnezeu a lucrat pe 16 aprilie 2016!
Pastorul Brunson a depus mărturie luni și a făcut tot ce i-a stat în putință pentru a convinge instanța să-i dea libertatea
Vlad Breana – Ce este mărturisirea păcatelor, cum se face
CIRESARII – Mărturia unui fost musulman, acum frate în Hristos
Un fost musulman a deschis prima biserică creștină care a existat vreodată în Kosovo
Nave de război ale Rusiei se îndreaptă către Siria
Senatorul PSD Titus Corlăţean, fost ministru de Externe, despre atacul occidental din Siria
CHEMARE URGENTĂ LA RUGĂCIUNE – Pastorul american Andrew Brunson va fi luni în fața instanței din Turcia pentru o crimă pe care nu a comis-o
Aurel Gheorghe – Semnele vremurilor – aprilie 2018, actualizare
SA NU UITAM CA SI BISERICILE PRIMESC ORDINE UNEORI – Senator TITUS CORLATEAN – Dezvaluiri [2016]
Photo credit huffingtonpost.ca
Klaus Iohannis, desemnat candidat din partea PNL la alegerile din 2019
Pâinea sănătoasă, gluten free cu semințe – Gem de căpșuni fără zahăr procesat- Rețetă (Recipe) Video (Romanian/English)
15 aprilie – duminica bisericilor din AER. Alianţa Evanghelică din România cheamă toate bisericile evanghelice din ţară la rugăciune şi acţiune.
Pastorul american ținut după gratii de 500 de zile continuă să slujească și în închisoare și vorbește despre credința lui în Isus Hristos
De ce unii îl compară pe Donald Trump cu regele Cir din Biblie
Atac terorist de Paște în Pakistan, o familie creștină a fost ucisă
Egipt – Sângele fiului pe pieptul tatălui
Știri „cerești” – Multitudini de egipteni vin la Hristos după atacurile cu bombe împotriva Bisericilor
Creștinii din Siria cheamă la o zi de post și rugăciune pe 13 aprilie 2018
Copiii Cameliei Smicală arată mai fericiți ca niciodată la a doua reuniune care li se permite în trei: întâi cu mama, apoi cu sora mai mare
Traian Băsescu agită din nou ideea „familiei homosexuale”, deși se declară șeful unui partid creștin.
Photo Nasul TV
George Soros, susținut de Departamentul de Stat al SUA pentru a face reforme în justiție în Albania, România sau Ungaria
Luigi Mitoi – Primirea sau respingerea copiilor
FOTO / VIDEO Slujba de consacrare Biserica Penticostala Filadelfia Nr 3 BISTRITA
Este Dumnezeu nepăsător?! Vlad Breană la RVE Suceava
Aurel Gheorghe – Învierea Domnului – învierea noastră
O femeie creștină răpită de Organizația Musulmană Teroristă, ISIS, a fost reunită cu tatăl ei, după trei ani de zile
Miracol de Paști – Un evreu ortodox visează cu ISUS
Gabi Izsak – Isus trebuia sa invieze
UN AVOCAT SCRIE DESPRE PROCESUL LUI HRISTOS
Aurel Gheorghe – ”O mântuire așa de mare” – Nu sta nepăsător!
Jim Caviezel – Persecuția creștinilor continuă în zilele noastre, exact ca în vremurile în care a trăit apostolul Pavel
Luis Palau update – Rezultatele testelor au uimit doctorii
IISUS din NAZARET
INDIA – O femeie a fost omorâtă pentru că a părăsit hinduismul s-a convertit la creștinism
Aurel Gheorghe – Venirea Împăratului ce va domni curând ~El a venit atunci smerit … și va veni din nou cu slavă !!!
Gabi Izsak – Vremurile sfarsitului – REvenirea Domnului la Ierusalim
Aniversare 127 de ani de la nașterea lui DUMITRU CORNILESCU, TRADUCĂTORUL BIBLIEI, numit UN LUTER al ROMANIEI [DOCUMENTAR, SIMPOZION]
Aurel Gheorghe – Sfințenia nu e opțională
Senatorul Titus Corlățean:Am ajuns ca noi să nu mai avem dreptul să ne exprimăm public și să vorbim de Dumnezeu.
Suedia, țara care lucrează activ la deconstruirea genului: băiețeii, învățați să poarte rochii, fetițele, ajutate să se comporte ca băieții
Senatorul Gabriel Leș, semnatar al Declarației Manifest pentru Familie: Cerem să ni se accepte identitatea, personalitatea și convingerile moral-creștine pe care ni le-am însușit și le transmitem generațiilor viitoare
Știri de Sibiu – Declarație manifest pentru urgentarea referendumului pentru familie ~~Zeci de preoți din Sibiu, lideri ai unor ONG-uri, medici, avocați și oameni politici au semnat…
Este Europa casa noastră? – pastor Virgil Achihai, președintele Bisericilor Creștine după Evanghelie și secretarul Alianței Evanghelice din România – A7TV
Vasile Cînpean: Sunt responsabil înaintea lui Dumnezeu să apăr lucrarea Domnului și biserica
Declaraţie istorică. Fost ministru de externe, Titus Corlăţean: „REFUZ SĂ LEGALIZEZ PĂCATUL ÎN ROMÂNIA!”
Titus Corlățean la adunarea Oastea Domnului Marginea – Din numele Tatălui Domnului nostru Isus Hristos îşi trage numele orice familie
Semnele vremurilor – martie 2018, actualizare
ISRAEL – Actorul american Mario Lopez a fost botezat de 2 pastori români în Rîul Iordan
Mărturie Maria Miron – „O voce din cer mi-a spus: Intră aici, dacă vrei să mă găsești pe Mine!”
= DOMNUL ISUS HRISTOS – Harul sau Legea? = de Ioan Burca
Creștinii din Siria apelează la ajutorul nostru. Mulți dintre ei sunt înconjurați de trupe turcești și grupări militante islamiste care îi amenință cu moartea dacă nu se convertesc la islam
Panică la Hollywood. Sătui de mesajele LGBT, cinefilii americani încep să se orienteze către filmele creștine. Producțiile cu tematică religioasă bat la încasări filmele care elogiază pedofilia și homosexualitatea
Medicii nu mai pot sa facă nimic pentru ea, dar Bella crede în puterea rugăciunii și cere tuturor să se roage pentru un miracol
Jim Caviezel critică natura mentalității de „ego” a Hollywood-ului și, de asemenea, reticența creștinilor de a-și împărtăși credința, avertizând că, fără evanghelizare, biserica devine un „club de elită”.
VIDEO Cum se convertesc românii la Islam într-o moschee din Neamţ
Titus Corlatean – Ce este familia pe care noi vrem sa o protejam prin constitutie? Si eu si alti colegi vom spune acest lucru de la microfonul Parlamentului in saptamanile care urmeaza. [Biserica Baptista Sion din Sibiu]
Titus Corlatean – Ref. la Cazul Bodnariu: Ministrii din guverne importante au pus presiuni. Avem dialog cu oameni cu greutate, ambasadori care spun ca nu este bine ceea ce facem….[Biserica Baptista Betania Sibiu]
Aurel Gheorghe – Credința probată în situații limită
Gabi Izsak – Voia lui Dumnezeu cea bună, plăcută, desăvârșită
Titus Corlatean despre REFERENDUM – Va asigur ca in parlament suntem niste oameni hotarati sa ducem pana la capat aceasta batalie, cu ajutorul lui Dumnezeu
Cum sa iert si sa fiu liber?
Titus Corlățean semnalează o situație gravă la Focşani: Astept foarte clar pozitii, atitudini si masuri pentru ca astfel de lucruri sa nu se mai intample in scolile romanesti.
Cutremurator: VALENTINA EMILIA MILUTINOVICI, sefa la PROTECTIA COPILULUI, vrea ca sistemul nordic sa fie implementat si in Romania.
Aurel Gheorghe – Răspunsuri la întrebări privind răpirea Bisericii
Monstru cu chip de om. Un medic face declarații incredibile: Bebelușii nu țipă când îi avortez pentru că le tai corzile vocale!
La Moartea Tatalui Meu (a tribute to my father) – de Alex Pop
Tot mai aproape de Armaghedon – Viziunea lui Erdogan: Armata islamului să distrugă Israelul
Cine este Gog si Magog? – Cercetatorii Profetiilor Biblice au sustinut pana acum ca este Rusia, dar acest cercetator a descoperit ca este Turcia si evenimentele recente ii dau dreptate tot mai mult
Titus Corlatean – Interpelare adresata Ministrului Educatiei: Preocupari fata de promovarea ideologiei Transgender/LGBT in sistemul educational romanesc
Ben Carson Nu-și Cere Scuze Pentru Credința Lui
Regrete cotidiene – de Sefora Geantă
Jim Caviezel către studenții de la o universitate din Ohio: ,,Fiți sfinți” și ,,nu vă potriviți chipului acestui veac”.
Cursul S.O.S. – Eliberare şi vindecare interioară
Au fost găsiți 40 de creștini martirizați de ISIS, într-o groapă comună din Mosul si alte peste 300 de morminte au fost profanate în Siria
Teo Family – Visul lui Ioanid (Lipeste-mi, Doamne, sufletul de Tine)
VIDEO – Jim Caviezel, actorul care iese din tiparele vedetelor de la Hollywood: Darul meu este dat de Dumnezeu.
Secvente de la Inmormantarea lui Billy Graham + FULL VIDEO 10 ore [Youtube]
Povestea soției lui Billy Graham
Lazăr Gog – Invitație Video la a 50-a Convenție a Bisericilor Penticostale din USA & Canada la PASADENA 2018
Răspunsuri Pentru Viață – In memoriam: Billy Graham (1918-2018) -partea a II-a
Billy Graham at the National Cathedral September 14, 2001 Foto BGEA
Răspunsuri pentru Viață – In memoriam: Billy Graham (1918-2018)– partea I
Deputații din Carolina de Sud au reintrodus un proiect de lege care protejează drepturile profesorilor de a participa la rugăciuni
Pastorul președinților – Billy Graham era cunoscut ca „pastorul președinților”, fiind prieten cu 11 comandanți supremi.
BIRUINȚA ASUPRA PĂCATULUI DIN PERSPECTIVĂ PAULINĂ – de Viorel Udriște
Pastorul Ionel Tutac de la Funeraliile lui Billy Graham [Convorbire telefonica RVE]
Marius Cruceru – CINCI ASPECTE ALE HARULUI Biserica Sion Sibiu
Virgil Achihai – Conferinta Marea Unire – 100 de ani de constiinta nationala si identitate crestina
Aurel Gheorghe – Matei, cap. 24 – A doua venire și răpirea Bisericii
Ce se întâmplă cu noi în primul minut după moarte? Răspunsuri – de Billy Graham
Viorel Udriște – MOARTEA LUI HRISTOS: CA O JERTFĂ DE ÎMPĂCARE
Pavel Riviș Tipei – Experiențe dintr-o viață de slujire!
Aurel Gheorghe – Teza 20 – Efectele botezului cu Duhul Sfânt
Pastorul Americii, Billy Graham, a avut influenţă la Casa Albă în mandatul a 10 preşedinţi americani
Apariție editorială: Nicolae Geantă – Lui Dumnezeu îi place să lipească cioburi
Gabi Izsak – Suveranitatea lui Dumnezeu si liber arbitru
LASAT IN URMA Film (Romana)
CAM AȘA VA FI RĂPIREA
Iacob Berghianu – Babilon și Ierusalim – istoria și destinul profetic a două cetăți rivale 6 – Prostituata și Mireasa, cele două femei din Apocalipsa
Iacob Berghianu – Babilon și Ierusalim – istoria și destinul profetic a două cetăți rivale 5 – Distrugerea Babilonului
Valeriu Ghilețchi, fost Președinte al Federației Baptiste Europene, ales în funcția de președinte al Comisiei Permanente pentru alegerea judecătorilor Curții Europene a Drepturilor Omului
Evanghelistul Luis Palau a fost diagnosticat cu cancer: „Abia aștept să merg în cer”
Senatorul Titus Corlăţean, ales vicepreşedinte al Adunării Parlamentare a Consiliului Europei
Video Grupuri de CRESTINI se SMERESC si se ROAGA fierbinte in PUBLIC, pe genunchi, in VENEZUELA si BOLIVIA
Aurel Gheorghe – Prima parte a Necazului cel mare
Iacob Berghianu – Babilon și Ierusalim- istoria și destinul profetic a două cetăți rivale 4
Iacob Berghianu – Babilon și Ierusalim – istoria și destinul profetic a două cetăți rivale -3 BABILONUL VA FI DISTRUS
Christian movies & Beautiful nature shots – Filme crestine si Filmari din natura pe Youtube Channel
Handel’s Messiah – entire oratorio with complete Bible verse lyrics (in 3 parts)
Rodica Volintiru – Post, Rugaciune, Traire
Rodica Volintiru – Carte: Cunoaşterea frumuseţii lui Dumnezeu – prin post şi rugăciune
Comanda la roda4jesus@yahoo.ca
“Femeia biruitoare prin incercarile vietii” Geta Iliesi – Cum te raportezi la Dumnezeu cand ingaduie sa iti pierzi sotul?
Jesus said, „For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” Matthew 16:26. Isus a zis: „Si ce ar folosi unui om sa cistige toata lumea daca si-ar pierde sufletul?”
martie 2021
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David Wilkerson Predici in Limba Romana si vizita din Timisoara
Trace Jesus’ events during Passion Week via Google Map ~~Isus- Saptamina Patimilor ~~Urmareste pe unde umbla Mantuitorul zilnic cu harta interactiva Google
CITESTE aici CARTEA – Cărămizile Căsniciei
Calatoria Crestinului
Within Sight of the City to Which They Went The Pilgrim’s Progress c1907 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)