The Death of Jesus: A Public Issue?

The Good News (Gospel) According to Matthew
Today’s Focus: The Death of Jesus: A Public Issue?
Scripture: Matthew 20:17-19

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
Now I know you are wondering, what’s up with the title? Well this is another subject that the church has totally misused and misunderstood for the past 1800 years. Ok, let’s look at the scriptures. Look at verse 17 because here is the key! Jesus took the twelve disciples apart (aside). So, what Jesus was about to say was not for the multitude to hear. Now look what he told them in verse 18 and 19. He described for them what was going to happen to him. His betrayal, death and resurrection. Now the next statement I am going to make, may shock you but you have to read it for yourself to understand:

Jesus did not tell the multitudes about His death, burial and resurrection!

He hinted to it in a small parable where he said “He will destroy this temple and raise it in three days”. So the next question is, What are we evangelizing and telling the multitudes? Is the death, burial and resurrection important? Yes, but have you noticed it really is not winning people to Christ by leaps and bounds. The reality is people really do not want Jesus and they do not want to hear about death, the cross, blood and resurrection. They want to know how to control their lives now! Funny, isn’t that exactly what Jesus showed us how to do with the Holy Spirit? He taught you how to live in the Kingdom and function on Earth with it and how to overcome and take control of your circumstances and not vice versa. The Kingdom gives you power, Religion takes it away. Now once they look at your life and ask how to I enter into the Kingdom of God, then you bring them to the door of the Kingdom, King Jesus. Now, you can introduce them to how he is the King and how He died on the cross to wash you clean and give you the Holy Spirit and everlasting life. See, Jesus had it right, we have utterly reversed what Jesus did. So in other words, Calvary is a private issue and not a public issue. Mel Gibson and the Passion of the Christ movie made it all wrong. They say and religion says, Jesus dying on the cross was his passion. No, No, No,! Read Matthew 3:11 and the words of John to see what the Passion of Christ is. Yes! Baptize you with the Holy Ghost! So the Passion of the Christ is to get the Holy Ghost back in you. There is a time and a place to talk about his death, burial and resurrection but according to Jesus, when we are dealing with the lost, show them how to live the Kingdom life, then introduce them to King Jesus. So, Jesus is clear that there are public issues and these are the Kingdom Parables and showing the lost Kingdom Culture and Living and there are Private “Family” Issues such as His death at Calvary, His burial and His Resurrection. Let me leave you with a thought about witnessing:

Jesus did not preach Himself to the multitudes!

So if Jesus did not preach Himself to the multitudes, then what are we supposed to be telling the lost? Matthew 10:7; Luke 4:43; Now if you took the time to read those scriptures then you will know what we should be preaching and declaring.

Abba’s Ambassador, Min. Calvin Calhoun, Jr.