The Prince Of Peace With A Sword - [Matthew 10:34-39]

Why Jesus Came Into the World

About a month ago, I was at my job minding my own business, doing my work as a faithful worker at my business. A customer walks in and engages my co-worker, and I begin to overhear the conversation. And after he had made his purchase, he engaged my co-worker.

He was what I guess you would call evangelizing. And I thought, where is this one coming from? He asked my co-worker if after we were closed, if he had some time to go visit his church. And he made the statement that Jesus came into the world something along the lines of to give purpose to your life.

Hmm, I thought. I was minding my own business just doing my work, but I thought, I can't mind my own business anymore. So I turned around and engaged the young man in as friendly of a fashion as I knew how.

And I said to him, you know, the Bible gives us many reasons why Jesus has come to this world and left heaven to come to earth. But above all of them, the primary reason he has come is to do the will of God the Father.

That is why I said to him in Isaiah chapter 53, Isaiah the prophet in the Old Testament said in that classic passage of the suffering servant, verse 10, it was the will of the Lord to crush him. It was the will of God the Father to crush God the Son.

And I said, if you just do a brief reading even of the gospel of John, you will see that over and over and over again, Jesus said, I did not come to do my own will, but I came to do the will of him who sent me.

I said, the gospel that you're proposing to my coworker is a man centered, self centered gospel. It is not the God centered gospel of the Bible. This is why Jesus came. I wonder if we were to ask and did a survey, not only people in churches today, but people on the street.

But it'd be interesting, even people in Protestant evangelical churches, the kind of answers we would get. Why did Jesus come into the world? Well, if you do a brief study of the gospel writings, of course, the epistles have a lot to say about why Jesus came into the world.

Of course, Paul was very clear in first Timothy chapter one, verse 15. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the foremost. But if we simply just study the gospel writings, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and look at the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And just do a brief study of where Jesus said, this is why I came into the world. We will find some interesting reasons based upon the words of our Lord. For example, in John six, the bread of life discourse, Jesus said this, for I have come down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

And this is the will of him who sent me that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my father, that everyone who looks on the son and believes in him should have eternal life.

And I will raise him up on the last day. One reason, according to the Lord Jesus, why he came, as I mentioned to this young man, was to do the will of the father. It was a will of a father from eternity past to send his son for those whom he had chosen, who would ultimately look to the son and believe in him.

A second reason, according to Jesus himself, why he came. Mark chapter 10, verse 45, Jesus himself says, for even the son of man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

A third reason why Jesus came, recorded by Dr. Luke in the encounter that Jesus had with Zacchaeus in Luke chapter 19. Verse 10, Jesus said very clearly, as we heard this morning, who is the one doing the seeking?

For the son of man came, why? To seek and to save the lost. He came to seek the lost who do not in and of themselves seek him. A fourth reason, based upon the words of Christ, why he came, found in John chapter 10, that great passage on the good shepherd.

Jesus said in verse 10 of that chapter, the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came, why? That they, the sheep, may have life and have it abundantly. If that wasn't enough, in his encounter with Pilate before the cross, Jesus tells Pilate, my kingdom is not of this world.

In response, Pilate says in John 18, verse 37, then Pilate said to him, oh, so you are a king. Jesus answered, you say that I am a king for this purpose. I was born and for this purpose, I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth.

Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. Clear statements from Jesus Christ himself, why he said he came into the world. But that's not all of them. The one I want us to look at briefly tonight is in Matthew chapter 10 in verse 34.

Jesus said, do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. Yes, Christ came to do the will of the father. From eternity past. Yes, Christ came to give his life as a ransom for many.

Yes, Jesus Christ came to seek and to save the lost. Those who could not seek him in and of themselves. Yes, Christ came to give his sheep abundant life. And yes, Christ came to bear witness to the truth.

But also he came not to bring peace. But a sword. Turn with me, if you will, to the first gospel, the gospel of Matthew chapter 10. As we look at this portion of scripture tonight. Matthew chapter 10 beginning actually in verse 32 down through verse 39.

If we only see Jesus as coming into the world for those five statements and not for the one that we are going to see here tonight. We would not have understood the full or purpose for his coming to earth.

Beginning in verse 32. So everyone who acknowledges me before men. I will also acknowledge before my father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men. I also will deny before my father who is in heaven.

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace. But a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father. And a daughter against her mother. And a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me. Is not worthy of me. And whoever loves son or daughter more than me. Is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross.

And follow me. Is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life. Will lose it. And whoever loses his life. For my sake. Will find it. Now let's recall as again we were. Greatly reminded this morning that. Each gospel writer writes about the Lord Jesus Christ obviously.

But with a different emphasis. Mark of course focuses on the ministry. Of Jesus Christ. Luke focuses on the humanity of Christ. John focuses on the deity of Christ. But our gospel writer tonight Matthew.

His focus is on the royalty of Christ. Jesus Christ as king. And this is very very important for us to keep in mind as we walk. Through this portion of scripture because. These verses are pretty hard sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And we have to remember they are not coming. From the little baby Jesus born. In a manger. They are coming from the king of kings. And the Lord of Lords. The one who has ultimate authority as he said at the very end of this gospel.

All authority Matthew 28 has been given to me in heaven. And on earth. He is the Lord. He is a sovereign king. He is a despot. And we have to keep that in mind. Who is saying these words. As we examine them together.

To understand these words of Jesus we have to understand of course. The context. Jesus here is not giving us for example. A second work. Of grace. He is not talking about. A post conversion deeper commitment and dedication to.

Discipleship. He is not talking about a higher blessing the higher life for some reason. I remember growing up in the environment that I grew up in church. We would go to retreats and conferences year after year after year.

And at those retreats and conferences year after year after year. I myself with all my buddies would rededicate our lives year after year after year. It's been said by many that these verses are not to be addressed.

To unbelievers. But they are to be addressed to those who are genuine believers for a post conversion. Dedication and discipleship. But as we will see from the context. That is not what Jesus is doing here.

I remember when my wife and I were first coming to Bethlehem Bible Church what a joy it was for us. Until I remember the first time when we were. At a communion service. And I heard Pastor Mike say something of the term rededication.

And as I told him recently on No Compromise Radio. I said the rededication hairs on my head just popped open. I turned to my wife at that moment I said. I like this church I actually love this church.

But did I hear correctly did he say rededication. But of course I know what Pastor Mike means by that. This is not a second post conversion deal. After conversion. After salvation. After all if it were we would basically be saying look.

God's work of salvation is incomplete. We can't say Philippians 1 6. We cannot say like Paul. He who began a good work will bring it to completion. Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1 verse 3. That God has granted to us everything.

All things pertaining to what? To life and godliness. So if Christ is not talking about a post salvific experience. What is he talking about if that's what we thought he would be. We'd be guilty of experiencing something like the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

And speaking in tongues. To understand what he is referring to look at the terminology he uses. First of all in verse 32. He says everyone who acknowledged me before men. I'll also acknowledge before my father.

Whoever denies me before men. I will also deny before my father. Who is in heaven. Those are salvific. Terms. He continues later on as I had read. In verse. 37. And 38. Whoever loves. Father or mother more than me is not what.

Worthy of me. Whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not. Worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not. Worthy of me. No less than three times. Our Lord Jesus Christ mentioned the term.

This person or these people. Are not worthy of me. They are not saved they are not genuinely. Converted. And it's not just the terminology but it's how he finishes. This section of scripture with this.

Paradoxical statement. In verse 39. Whoever finds his life will what. Will lose it. And whoever loses his life for my sake. Will found it. He is talking about. Salvation. To Christ there are only two groups of people.

Those who find their life will ultimately lose it. And those who lose his life. Lose their life for his sake. Will ultimately find it. This is consistent with the other writers of. The gospels. John for example said in John 12.

Verse 25. Recording the words of our Lord. Whoever loves his life. Loses it. And whoever hates. His life. In this world will keep it for what. For eternal. Life. The gospel writer mark. In recording the words of Christ says this in Mark 8.

Verses 34 to 36. And calling the crowd to him. With his disciples. He said to them. If anyone would come after me. Let him deny himself. And take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it.

But whoever loses his life for my sake. And the gospels. Will save it. For what does it profit a man. To gain the whole world. And forfeit what. His soul. I remember growing up. I used to hear testimonies of people.

Who had come to Christ. Who God had generally converted. And they would quote that verse. For what does it profit a man. To gain the whole world. And forfeit his soul. And then I would hear testimonies of people.

Who had said they were converted. But 15. 20 years down the line. They realized they needed to really commit themselves. To discipleship. And they would quote the verse. Two verses before that. Where it would say.

If anyone would come after me. Let him deny himself. And take up his cross. And follow me. As if Jesus was addressing. Believers who were already converted. And they needed to make a second. Effort. A second commitment to him.

But the key in that passage. Mark tells us. Where Jesus says. For. It's a connective. Whoever would save his life. Will lose it. Same idea as here. In Matthew 10 verse 39. Whoever loses his life. For my sake.

And whose sake. For the gospels sake. Will save it. The terminology. Here is clearly. Salvific. Jesus. Here is talking about. Salvation. He is not laying out. What a person must do. In response to the gospel.

He is not. Explaining the gospel itself. Per se. The death. Burial and resurrection. Of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. He is not saying this is the gospel. This is how you must respond. What Jesus is doing here.

He is setting forth. Marks. Of a true disciple. Marks of a genuine convert. Marks of a. Child. Of the living God. And there are three that I want to highlight for you here. Number one. I call it unbridled.

Confession. Unbridled confession. Question. Do you acknowledge Christ. Before others. Even. If you're ridiculed. Do you deny Christ. Before others for fear of ridicule. Are you ashamed. Of the gospel.

Do you just keep silent. And not say anything. Look at the beginning in verse 32. So everyone who acknowledges me before. Men. I also would acknowledge before my father. Who is. In heaven. But whoever denies me before men.

I also will deny before my father. Who is in heaven. The book of Matthew is really if you look at it as an overview. It really highlights five. Discourses that our Lord Jesus Christ makes the most. Well known ones are for example the Sermon on the Mount right.

Matthew chapter five through seven. Another familiar one is the all of it discourse. Matthew 24 to 25. Well this is another one of those five discourses. It actually begins in. Chapter 10 verse 1 and goes to chapter 11.

Verse 1. Let me. Show you this so we understand the backdrop of what Jesus is saying here. To his disciples. Chapter 10. Verse 1. And he called to him is 12. Disciples. Gave them authority over unclean spirits.

To cast them out. To heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the 12 apostles are these. First Simon who was called Peter. And so on and so forth. And Matthew listen there through verse 4.

Then in verse 5 he continues. These 12. Jesus sent out. Instructing them. And the rest is a basically through the rest of the chapter. Instructions that our Lord gives to the 12. As he commissions and that's why in.

Chapter 11 there if you would look verse 1. When Jesus had finished. Instructing. His 12 disciples. So he's about to send them out and he gives them these basic. Instructions and he wants him to know as they go out in his name.

How to know the marks of a true disciple. In here we see the unbridled confession. It's happening as we see in verse 32 twice Jesus mentions. Acknowledgement and denial before whom before men. It's before other people.

This is consistent with the context. Notice with me in the same chapter. Verses 16 through 18. Behold. I am sending you out as sheep. Remember this is his commissioning of the 12. In the midst of wolves.

So be wise as serpents and. Innocent as doves. Beware of men. For they will deliver you over to courts. And flog you in their synagogues. And you will be dragged before governors. And kings for my sake.

To bear witness before them. And the Gentiles. It's your unbridled confession. Before men. Continuing in verse 22. And you will be hated by all. For my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end.

Will be saved. When they persecute you in one town. Flee. To the next. It's difficult sometimes. Here in the states to understand some of what. Christ was talking about in some of what. The apostles themselves.

Experienced as we look at. The book of Acts. Couple of chapters earlier in the sermon on the mount. If you turn to Matthew chapter 5. Jesus prepares him for this. Instruction that he gives him in chapter 10.

And this first mark of a true disciple being. An unbridled confession of Christ. A confession of Christ that's not restrained. There are no inhibitions whatsoever. And he says in chapter 5 verse 11. Blessed are you.

When others revile you. And persecute you. And out of all kinds of evil against you falsely. On my. Account. He's talking about persecution. We might. Not be in the in crowd if we confess Christ. Others might look upon us.

Awkwardly. And eventually maybe here in the states. Other things will be done politically and legally. By the government. To keep our mouths closed from confessing Christ. And preaching the gospel. In the upper room discourse.

Jesus made the same point. In John chapter 15 verse 20. If they persecuted me. They will not may. They will also. Persecute you. And what kind of persecution did Jesus receive. I love John 10. The classic passage of.

I am the great shepherd as I mentioned earlier. It says there in verse 20. Many of them said about Christ. He has a demon. And is insane. Why listen to him. This is what the people thought of Jesus. And he warned the disciples.

If they did this to me. In this kind of fashion they will do this to you. A true disciple will. Confess. Christ before men. This is not how one is saved. This is not the means of salvation. Jesus again is not talking about a self righteous.

Works based salvation. But what are the marks of a true follower. Of Jesus Christ. Who has lost his life. To save it for him. And the gospel. The apostles knew exactly. What Jesus was talking about. I'm sure when.

The church began to grow in acts. As it spread from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria. And persecution came. The disciples were remembering these words of Jesus. Whoever acknowledges me. Before men. I will also acknowledge.

In Acts 5 Luke records. The high priest questioned them saying. We strictly charge you not to teach in this name. Yet here you have filled Jerusalem. With your teaching. And you intend to bring this man's blood.

Upon us. But Peter and the apostles answered. We must. Obey God. Rather than men. I'm sure. They were thinking of the words of Christ. As he instructed him here. And then later on Luke records in that same chapter.

When they had called in the apostles. They beat them. And charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus. And they let them go. Then they left the presence of the council. Rejoicing. That they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor.

For the name. We here in America. Do not face the kind of persecution. Christ or even the early apostles faced. And Christ makes. An unadulterated statement here. That the first true sign. Of a disciple.

A genuine follower of Jesus. Is an unbridled confession. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. And yes. The gospel is offensive. The cross is an offense. In Galatians 5 .11. Paul talks about the offense of the cross.

Peter even in 1st Peter 2 .8. Says. That Christ's name is a rock of offense. Paul did he not say. In 1st Corinthians 1. The cross is what. Foolishness. Moronic. To those who are perishing. Yet a true disciple.

Will confess. Christ before men. Now wait a second. He denied him three times. There's proof. Did not Peter say to our Lord. The others might. But I never will. I'll go with you to death. Luke 22. And yet he denied him three times.

Peter went bitterly. Christ is not saying here that. Those who have been generally. Regenerated by the spirit of God. A mark of a true disciple. Is that they'll never have times of failure. When they said nothing.

Or said more they didn't. But he's saying as a characteristic. As the nature of their. New life in Christ. This is what a genuine true disciple does. When push comes to shove. They will acknowledge me before men.

Unrivaled Commitment to Christ Over Family

Number two. What's the second mark of a true disciple. I call it unrivaled commitment. And unrivaled. Commitment. Question. Do you love Jesus. Do you love your family. Are you willing to forsake your family.

For him. It's like the marriage vows. Forsaking. All others. Notice in verse 34. Jesus begins by saying. In the second. Characteristic of a true disciple. Do not think. Again we get back to why Jesus.

Has come to earth. Do not think that I. Have come to bring peace to the earth. But he repeats himself a second time. I have not come. As if to emphasize. To bring peace. But rather what have I come to bring.

A sword. Division. Conflict. But how is that consistent with the rest of scripture. Turn with me if you will to the next chapter. In Matthew chapter 11. Where Jesus makes this salvific. Invitation. Here Jesus is inviting people to respond to him.

Whereas in Matthew 10. Marks the characteristic. Marks of a true disciple. In Matthew 11 verses 28 and 29. Jesus says clearly. Come to me. All who are labor. Who labor and are heavy laden. And I will what.

Give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. And learn from me. For I am gentle. And lowly in heart. And you will find. Rest for what. He's addressing those religious people. And Pharisees. Who were working out.

By their own self-righteousness. That they can find peace and rest for their souls. When they come to him. But yet here in Matthew 10. He says I have not come to bring peace. But a sword. We know a Christmas time.

We love to read it. From Isaiah the prophet chapter 9. For to us the child is born right. To us a son is given. The government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called what. Wonderful counselor.

Mighty God. Everlasting father and. Prince of peace. Even at his birth. In Luke chapter 2. It says and suddenly there was with the angel. A multitude of the heavenly host. Praising God and saying. Glory to God in the highest.

And on earth. Peace among those whom with whom. He is pleased. Well in what sense with Jesus the prince of peace. If here. He is clearly saying I did not come to bring. Peace. Why did the multitude of heavenly host announced.

Peace. At his incarnation. When here he says I came to bring a sword. Let me answer that with you. For you from the Bible. In John 14. The upper room discourse. Jesus talking to the 12 said. Peace I leave with you.

My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives. Do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled. Neither let them. Be afraid. That chapter in John 14. He began with the same expression. Let not your hearts be troubled.

For I go to prepare. A place for you. That's the kind of peace that the prince of peace brings. He also brings peace. With God. That is why he's the prince of peace. That is why they announced that isn't.

It is incarnation. Peace. Peace with God reconciliation. We go from enmity with God. To peace with God. Romans 5. One Paul makes that very clear. Therefore since we have been justified by faith. We have peace with God through.

Our Lord. Jesus Christ. For if while we were enemies. We were reconciled to God. By the death. Of his son. The prince of peace. Is the one. Who can justify and reconcile. To God. Not only does he bring us peace with God.

But he gives us the peace. Of God. Philippians 4 right. Do not be anxious. But by prayer and petition with supplication. Present your request to God. And the peace of God which transcends. All understanding.

Which surpasses all comprehension. Will guard your hearts and your minds. In Christ Jesus. That is the prince of peace. That is the one who came at his incarnation. Peace was announced. Because he is the only one who can give.

Peace in troubled times. He's the only one who can give peace. With God reconciliation with God. And he's the only one who can give. The peace of God. So then what was Jesus meaning. When he himself said in verse 34.

If that's the truth biblically. That he did not come to bring peace. Well he explains it in verse 35. The term for is a connective. And he expounds what he had just said in verse 34. He says in verse 35.

For I have come to set a man against his father. And a daughter against her mother. And a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. That term to set against. This is the only time it's used in scripture.

In the New Testament. It's a strong Greek word. Which literally means to cut in two halves. To sever. Christ is not mentioning words here. He's saying this is why I've come. This is what I mean when I say.

I did not come to bring peace but a sword. That's what a sword does. It cuts in two. It sets a man against his father. A daughter against her mother. And he continues in verse 36. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.

I recall a friend of mine in seminary. Who came from a Jewish background. And the Lord opened his eyes to believe. And turned to Jesus Christ as the Messiah. And he was telling me his testimony our first year.

And he told me that his family. Who was staunchly Jewish. Not just cultural Jews but religious Jews. Held an actual funeral for him. That now he was dead from the family. Jesus said in verse 37. Whoever loves father or mother more than me.

Is not worthy of me. And whoever loves son or daughter more than me. Is not worthy of me. Christ is getting to the heart of those people. Who are closest to us. Our family. Our parents. Our in-laws. Our children.

Whoever loves them more than me. Is not worthy of me. This was consistent with our Lord. Throughout his ministry. In Luke chapter 9. To another he said. Follow me. But he said Lord. Let me first go and bury my father.

Family. And Jesus said to him. Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you. Go and proclaim the kingdom of God. Yet another said. I will follow you Lord but. Let me first say farewell to those.

At my home. Family. Jesus said to him. No one who puts his hand to the plow. And looks back. Is fit for the kingdom. Of God. A second mark of a true disciple. Is unrivaled commitment. Jesus Christ wants no rivals.

In your devotion and love to him. Not even your own family. Does the Bible not clearly tell husbands. To love Christ. To love their wives as Christ loved the church. In Ephesians 5. Of course it does.

But I've always said. When Jesus is your supreme love. You will then be able to fulfill ultimately. That imperative. What is the reward for those. Who have this unrivaled commitment. To Jesus over even family.

Turn a few chapters with me if you will. To chapter 19. We're not going to look at the whole passage. But just to highlight. How this relates to our commitment. To the Lord. As a mark of a true disciple.

With no rivals even from our own family. You're familiar with this passage of scripture. The rich young ruler who comes to Christ. What must I do to inherit eternal life. And he leaves sorrowful because he was.

Full of great possessions. Jesus says in verse 23. I'll pick there. Pick up there. Jesus said to his disciples. Truly I say to you only with difficulty. Will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.

Again I tell you it is easier for a camel. To go through the eye of a needle. Than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. And I love this. Verse 25. When the disciples heard this. They were greatly astonished.

Saying who then can be saved. This guy came to the one who is life. Jesus Christ himself. Asked the ideal question. And actually the text says. In the other portions of the gospels in Luke. That he came running to Jesus.

Fell at his knees. Asked him what must I do to eternal life. And Jesus lost the fish. And the disciples are like. Well who can be saved then. Ah the sovereignty of God. But Jesus. Looked at them and said.

With man. This is impossible. But with God. All things are possible. And notice Peter's reply. Peter had heard. The instructions that Jesus gave him. And the rest of the apostles. In Matthew 10. About having no rivalry with family.

So this is why he says in verse 27. Peter said in reply. See we have left everything. And followed you. What then will we have. Jesus said to them. Verse 28. Truly I say to you in the new world. When the son of man.

Will sit on his glorious throne. You who have followed me. Will also sit on twelve thrones. Judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left. Watch this. Houses or brothers. Or sisters. Or father or mother.

Or children. Or lands. Will receive a hundredfold. And what. Will inherit. Eternal life. There it is. He's using clear plain. Terms of salvation. That is the reward. Of one who has. Loving Jesus supremely.

There is no rivalry. In our commitment to him. The second mark of a true disciple. And last but not least. The third mark of a true. Disciple of Jesus Christ. I call it unceasing cross. And unceasing cross.

The question begs itself. Are you willing to die for him. Of course as I said earlier. We don't face the same kind of persecution. That the early apostles fell. Faced in the early church or that some.

Christians face around the world today. But are you willing to follow him unto death. Do you love him more than your own. Life. Are you following him no matter what the cost. Are you surrendered. To the lordship of Jesus Christ.

You say well you know I came this evening. I wanted to enjoy some singing. Some sweet fellowship. I don't want to hear talk about death. This is the king speaking. About the marks of those who follow him.

The context grammatically is consistent. In verse 28 of this chapter. Jesus said. And do not fear. Those who kill what. The body. But cannot kill. The soul. Rather fear him who can destroy. Both soul and body.

In hell. Of course we've. Seen this verse over and over again. Verse 39. Whoever does not take his cross. And follow me is not worthy of me. It's probably one of the most. Misinterpreted verses today.

The cross is not your. Nagging in law. Or a brother assistant Christ at church. That you. May not have a liking to or it's not. Your difficult position at work. When the original audience. The disciples remember he's instructing.

As he sends them out on a commission here. When they heard the word cross. What were they thinking about. What's the historical context. We know he's talking to the disciples. As I highlighted earlier.

All the disciples except for. Judas were from where. Galilee. But there was another one. Another person named Judas. Not one of the 12 who was also from Galilee. Galilee. And at one point he had led an insurrection against.

The Roman Empire. And the general at the time. Roman general virus. He crushed this insurrection. Led by this other Judas of Galilee. And to demonstrate his power. What he did. He had more than 2000 Jews.

This Roman general virus. He had these Jews carry their own crosses. And he would lay out the crucifixes along the road. So as people travel by Galilee. They would see them. As a visible reminder. When the disciples heard cross.

And ultimately as they heard Jesus talk about. The cross that he would be crucified on. One thing came to mind. Death. This is what Jesus was talking about. But we can be encouraged. Hebrews 2. The writer of Hebrew says.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood. He himself. Likewise partook of the same things. That through death. He might destroy the one. Who has the power of death. That is the devil. And deliver all those.