People touched by Jesus while He was in agony - 27th day in the lent

1. The man touched by Jesus at the garden - Malchus
       'Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”  ' John 18:10
    ' And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.' Luke 22:50,51

• Since Malchus was the servant of the high priest, He might have heard only the blames on Jesus through the high priest.
• Even if he had chance to know about Jesus' miracles, he might not come near Jesus due to the fear of his master.
• Malchus might come now along with the crowd to the garden for the sake of Priest's command.
• When Peter cut off Malchus' ear, Jesus asked Peter not to do that any more. Then He touched his ear and healed him.
• This was the last miracle happened before His crucifixion.
• As Malchus felt the compassion touch of Jesus, he might have understood Jesus' love and His deeds on the earth.Surely his life also would been touched by this incident.
• 'You did not choose me, but I chose you..' John 15:16

 2. The man released from condemnation - Barabbas
     'Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked.  And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas.' Mark 15:6,7
     'And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them.  And he              answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ... But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead...So Pilate,wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.'     

• 'when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands,...but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.' Heb 9:11,12
• 'He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.' 1 John 2:2
• Barabbas had freed from the condemnation that time.Thus Barabbas got a chance to live a repented life. His soul might have crushed at the moment of crucifixion of Jesus thinking that innocent blood had shed on behalf of him.
• Any unforgiven sins of a person has  been forgiven, when he comes near the cross, the grace will be given.

  3.The man carried cross with Jesus- Simon
     'And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.' Mark 15:21

• Simon might have heard the news about the crucifixion of Jesus when he came along that way.
• He might have seen the crowd  crying for Him. He might have known the good deeds of Jesus through the people.
• He might not be expected to carry His cross.
• 'Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd.' Acts 19:33  'Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. ' Romans 16:13
• These verses are showing us that Simon and the whole family had lived for the Lord.
• Let our family also testify our Lord through our words and deeds.
• '..But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.' Jos 24:15

 4.The man changed at the cross- the Centurion
      'When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the                   earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of  God!” Matt 27:54

• 'Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man   was innocent!”' Luke 23:47
• Centurion had watched Jesus' sufferings and His words from the mouth on the cross.
• Thus the centurion testified about Jesus. He was not afraid of the authorities.
• Let us share the gospel of Jesus boldly.
• Let us carry His love to others, who has not tasted His love.

Memory verse
2 corinthians 5:17
'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.'

Shared by Sis. Inbam Sivakumar

3-20-2015