Scripture warns us against man-pleasing – Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man brings a snare but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.” And yet the Scripture also teaches that we are to submit to human-authority as unto God Himself. Thus, understanding the two (warning & teaching) with proper balance between the two is importance:
1.1 No Fear of Man/Woman
Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man brings a snare but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.” There are many injunctions from God’s Word that advise and warn us against, the fear of man, in general (Proverbs 29:25):
Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man brings a snare but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.”
Isaiah 2:22 “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted for?”
Jeremiah 17:5 “Cursed be the man (person) who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm.”
Psalm 118:6, 8, 9 “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in Princes.”
Job 32:21-22 “Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my Maker would soon take me away.”
Job 21:4 “As for me, in my complaint to man?”
Galatians 1:10 “Do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the Servant of Christ.”
1Corinthians 4:3 “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgement.”
Ephesians 6:6 “Not with eye-service, as men pleasers.”
1Thessalonians 2:4 “So we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which tries our hearts.”
Although we should show due respect/honour man/woman in authority, the above Scriptures express explicitly that we should not indulge in inordinate desire to please, exalting the Individual more than he/she deserves
1.2 Honour Man/Woman in Authority
God’s Word teaches how we may/must please Persons with authority as unto God Himself. We must honour, obey, and please our Parents, Rulers, and Superiors in all things {except when it comes into conflict with God’s Word – Acts 4:18-20), that the Persons required us to do, in the Lord Jesus:
Exodus 20:12 “Honour thy father and mother.”
Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your Parents in the Lord: for this is right.”
Ephesians 6:1 “Children obey your Parents in the Lord: for this is right.”
Romans 13:1-2 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers…..Whoever therefore resists the power, resisted the ordinance of God.”
Matthew 22:21 “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”
Titus 3:1 “Put them in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers, to obey Magistrates.”
1Peter 2:13 “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the King, as Supreme.”
Colossians 3:22 “Servants, obey in all things your Masters according to the flesh.”
Hebrews 13:7 “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the Word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.”
Hebrews 13:17 “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
Hebrews 13:24 “Greet all those who rule over you,…..”
God has given certain men/women authority over us, and we are obligated to render the respect due to them. We must understand that these men/women whom God Almighty has placed in the several Places of Authority. The Power/Authority given to them over us are from God, and not against God. They are to be honoured, obeyed, and pleased not in opposition to the Higher Authority of God, but as unto God Himself. There are therefore limits/ways as to how far we are to give our due respect to men/women in authority.
However, if we obey men/women more than God, and in doing so, we go against God; if we value the favour and approval of men/women in authority more than God’s or go against God’s approval in order to gain men/women in authority, favour; and if we fear men/women in authority, censure/displeasure more than God’s, we are putting men/women in authority up on a higher pedestal, in the place of God, idolising them, then, we need to reevaluate (Acts 4:18-20).
As this is a violation against God’s Commandment to worship Him {God} and Him {God} only – Exodus 34:14 “Thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose Name is Jealous is a Jealous God.” As the Scripture forbids that man be thought above that which is written – 1Corinthians 4:6 “Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.”
2.0 Balance
Thus, there is a need for balance between submission to man/woman under God’s ordained authority; against the general submission to man/woman out of inordinate fear of man/woman which could be a snare – Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man brings a snare but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.” Let us be ever watchful that we do not fall into the snare of pleasing man/woman, not taking God into account and therefore makes it our business to satisfy man/woman, out of fear; our fear should be the Reverential Fear of God. – Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Fear God and keep His Commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Jesus Seventh Statement from the Cross reveals to us about Death and how Jesus died – Luke 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.”Five Characteristics of Christ’s Death encouraged us of our Salvation in our Lord Jesus:
1.1 Christ’s Death was Determined
The Death of Jesus Christ was determined for Him beforehand – Acts 2:23 “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by wicked hands, have crucified and put to death.” (Acts 4:28). Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36) was slain from the Foundation of the World – Revelation 13:8b “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Thus, before Adam was created – the Fall of Adam was anticipated. Before Sin entered the world, Salvation from it had been planned by God (Acts 2:23).
In the Eternal Counsel of the Godhead, it was fore-ordained that Jesus Christ, will be the God-Man, the Saviour, that will die for Sinners (Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 5:8). Thus, Christ’s Death is the “Undergirding of the Cross.”
1.2 No Bones were Broken
Luke 23:46b “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.” – Some people taught that Jesus’ Death was an illusion, but this was not the case; Jesus died, as John recorded that the Roman Officials checked very carefully to be sure that Jesus had died. When the Soldiers came to look at the bodies on the crosses, they discovered that Jesus was already dead (John 19:330; thus, the Soldiers did not break His legs in fulfilment of the Prophecy:
Psalm 34:20 “He guards all His bones; not one of them is broken.”
John 19:33, 36 “But when they (soldiers) came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs…..For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, ‘Not one of His bones shall be broken.’”
Exodus 12:46 “In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones.”
Numbers 9:12 “They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it.”
Psalm 22:17a “I can count all My bones.”
When Joseph and Nicodemus wanted to get custody of Christ’s Body, to give Christ a decent burial, they must check with Pilate, and Pilate marvelled that Jesus was already dead (Mark 15:44). Thus, the official evidence of the Roman Empire was that Jesus had died. The evidence of the Gospel Writers is that Jesus had died; Jesus tasted death for every Person. Jesus tasted the full experience of death – Jesus confronted the last Enemy – Death – and courageously faced its sorrow, its trial, its pain and its finality – Jesus had victory over Death (2Timothy 1:10; Isaiah 25:8; Hosea 13:14; 1Corinthians 15:24-26; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:14; Revelation 21:4; Luke 20:35-36; 2Corinthians 5:1-2; John 11:43-44; Romans 1:4; Revelation 1:18; John 5:28-29; 1Corinthians 15:25-26; Acts 2:27). Thus, our Eternity in Christ is Secured!
1.3 Christ Died Confidently
a. Jesus died confidently – Luke 23:46b “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.”
Father’s Presence – Jesus died confidently because He had the Father’s Presence – He addressed His Father, three times on the Cross:
Jesus’ First Word from the Cross: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34).
Jesus’ Fourth Word “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1).
Jesus’ Seventh Word: “Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit.” (Luke 23:46). At the beginning, in the middle and at the end of His ordeal, our Lord Jesus addressed to His Father.
Jesus died confidently because He had the Father’s Presence – He addressed His Father, three times on the Cross:
b. Father’s Promise – Jesus had the Father’s Promise, as prophesied in Psalm 31:5 “Into Thine hand I commit My spirit: Thou hast redeemed Me, O Lord God of truth.” Psalm 31:5 is the O.T. Promise, Jesus applied it to Himself; but He (Jesus) changed it, and since He is the Author of the Word, He can do this. He added the address, “Father,” but He omitted the phrase about being redeemed: “Thou hast redeemed Me, O Lord God of truth.” – Jesus did not have to be redeemed because He never sinned, and it was not necessary for Him to be redeemed. When He died, He claimed God’s Word and entrusted Himself to His Father.
c. Father’s Fulfilment – Jesus fulfilled the Scripture – All of Jesus’ three Prayers from the Cross are tied to Prophecy of the Scripture:
When Jesus prayed: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34), was in fulfilment of Isaiah 53:12 “He….made intercession for the transgressors.”
When Jesus cried: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me.” (Matthew 27:46). Jesus was quoting Psalm 22:1.
When Jesus cried out: “Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit.” (Luke 23:46), Jesus was quoting part of Psalm 31:5.
Thus, Our Lord Jesus lived by God’s Word, and died by God’s Word. Jesus’ Assurance was His Father’s Promises in His Word.
d. Father’s Protection – Jesus has the Assurance and Protection of His Father – Luke 23:46b “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.” – For many hours our Lord Jesus had been in the hands of the Roman Soldiers, the Jewish Religious Leaders, and the People, experiencing their mocking (Luke 23:35-39; Matthew 27:49; Psalm 22:7-8). Jesus told His Disciples, “I am going to be delivered into the hands of the Sinners.” (Matthew 16:21; Luke 24:7; Matthew 26:45; Mark 14:41).
The Sinners took hold of Jesus and bound Him (Matthew 26:57; 27:2).
The Sinners stripped Him (Matthew 27:28).
The Sinners put a crown of thorns upon His head (Matthew 27:29).
The Sinners spit on Him and struck Him (Matthew 27:30; Isaiah 50:6).
The Sinners pulled out Jesus’ beard (Isaiah 50:6).
The Sinners nailed Him to the Cross, and crucified Him (Matthew 27:31, 35a).
The Sinners pierced His side (John 19:34).
But when He (Jesus) approached the End of His Ordeal of the Sacrificial Redemptive Work on the Cross, Jesus was no longer in the hands of the Sinner, but in His Father’s Hands – Luke 23:46b “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.” As prophesied in Psalm 31:8 “Thou hast not shut Me up into the hands of the enemy.” And Psalm 31:15 “My times are in Thy hand: deliver Me from the hands of Mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.” Thus, our security is in both, Jesus’ Hands, and the Father’s Hands – the double security – John 10:28-29 “And I give them Eternal Life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatched them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”
1.4 Christ Died Willingly
Christ died Confidently, and Christ died Willingly – In one sense, Jesus was killed – Peter said: “Him…you have taken, by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:23); but in another sense, Christ was not killed, for He died willingly, laid down His Own Life:
Hebrews 5:8 “Though He (Jesus) was the Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”
Philippians 2:6-8 “Who (Jesus), being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of Man. And being found in appearance as a Man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
John 10:17-18 “Therefore does My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to take it again.”
Thus, our Lord Jesus died willingly in obedient to the Father’s Will. This is an amazing event! No O.T. sacrifices ever died willingly. No lamb, goat, or sheep, birds, etc., ever willingly gave its life. But Jesus willing laid down His Life as God’s Lamb (John 1:29, 36). Jesus willingly laid down His Life on our behalf (John 3:16).
1.5 Christ Died Victoriously
Luke 23:46b “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.” Jesus Confidently, Jesus died Willingly, and Jesus died Victoriously, for He cried out: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.” (Luke 23:46b). Our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished the Work that God the Father gave Him to do, and when He gave up His Spirit, several miracles took place:
The Veil of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom – Matthew 27:51a. “Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to bottom.” – Thus, God opened the way for us into His Presence (Hebrews 10:19-20).
Some Graves were opened, and some of the Dead Saints were Resurrected (Matthew 27:52).
Satan and the Satanic Hosts were defeated – Colossians 2:15 “Having disarmed Principalities and Powers, He (Jesus) made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
The Mosaic Ordinances, Statutes, Feasts, Offerings, the Aaronic Priesthood and Sacrifices were abolished – Colossians 2:14 “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He (Jesus) has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the Cross.”
There was even an Earthquake in that Area (Matthew 27:51b) – the Earthquake reminds us of the Earthquake at Mount Sinai when God came down and gave the Law (Ten Commandments – Exodus 19:18). However, this Earthquake, did not announce the terror of the Law; it announced the Fulfilment of the Law by our Lord Jesus Christ – Romans 10:4 “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ’s Sacrificial Redeeming Victorious Death – “It is Finished” (John 19:30) – And Luke 23:46b “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.” – Overcame Satan, Sin, Death, and Hell:
Satan is Defeated – Colossians 2:15 “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He (Jesus) made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
Sin is Defeated – Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is Eternal Life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Death & Hell are Defeated – 1Corinthians 15:54b-55 “Death is swallowed up in victory, O Death, where is your sting? O Hades (Hell), where is your victory?”
Death & Hell will be Removed after the 1,000 Millennial Rule of Christ – Revelation 20:14 “The Death and Hades (Hell) were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the Second Death.”
Our Lord Jesus died for the Sinners: He died Confidently, He died Willingly, and He died Victoriously! – Thus, we, who have received the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Saviour, our Salvation is Secured in Him (Christ) and in God the Father – John 10:28-29 “And I give them Eternal Life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatched them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”
Morning Dew . Life 