At the Last Supper Jesus gave His Last Will and Testament. He offered the Kingdom of Heaven to the apostles and to anyone who will obey His commands - who will give their entire allegiance to Him. But there's one more part. Jesus must die. There is no inheritance unless He dies.92 Hebrews 9:15-17 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. He must go to the Cross.
Now Peter, not understanding these principles wanted to bar his Lord from going to the Cross. "I will not let this be so!" And Jesus rebuked Him93 Matthew 16:21-23 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." saying, "No, this must be. I have to do it. A kernel of wheat must fall to the ground and die and bear much fruit." Jesus was the kernel of wheat. He needed to fall to the ground and die so that He could produce much fruit.94 John 12:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." His Will was made known at the Last Supper. He read it to them. "It is yours." But He must first die.
We've all known that the world never received Christ. They never acknowledged Him. He came for His own and they received Him not.95 John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. They rejected the cornerstone.96 Acts 4:11 "This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'"
Jesus did a very interesting thing that no king has ever done. He went for His coronation, to be crowned King. And who placed the crown upon His head? It wasn't His apostles. It wasn't His friends. It wasn't His mother. It wasn't His nephews and cousins. It was none other than His enemies. The Pharisees, the Scribes and the Romans, both the State and the church, crowned our King, "The King of the Jews." One of His apostles, one called Judas, one of His very own, handed Him over to the enemy.97 Luke 22:47-48 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" He took up no sword and rebuked Peter for taking up the sword of the world.98 John 18:10-11 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 the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" He allowed them to take Him to His coronation, so that we can have the Last Will and Testament.99 John 18:12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.
The apostles were outraged. "What's going on here?" They were scared. Peter wanted to follow, but Jesus said he wouldn't be able to, in fact he would deny Him three times.100 Mark 14:71-72 Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this Man of whom you speak!" A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And when he thought about it, he wept. From the world's perspective they thought, "We've got Him! He's in our hands, let's crucify Him!" But no, Jesus had it planned from the beginning, they were doing His will.101 Matthew 26:55-56 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled. They hated Him so much!102 John 15:24-25 "If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'" And they didn't know they were doing His will. They were going to kill the Son of God and it was the will of God.103 Acts 2:23 "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death." And yet they thought it was of their own doings.104 John 11:49-51 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation. But they took Him.105 Mark 14:46 Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him. They scourged Him.106 John 19:1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. They beat Him.107 Mark 14:65 Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!" And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands. They gave Him stripes.108 Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. They crowned Him!109 John 19:2-3 And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with their hands.
At the Last Supper Jesus made a statement, "I will not taste from the fruit of the vine again until I'm in My Kingdom."110 Luke 22:18 "for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." That's a clue! He is going to bring in His Kingdom, by His death, and not until He drinks from the fruit of the vine will His Kingdom be established. The Enemy, the World, the Pharisees, the Romans, the Centurions took Our Lord, because they hated Him, and set upon Him the highest authority that can ever be offered. They made a crown of thorns for Him. They put Him in a purple Robe.111 Matthew 27:28-29 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They made a sign,
They acknowledged Our King! This is Our King, and they crowned Him. They placed Him up on a flagpole, raised the banner high to where everyone could see Him, and they crucified Him.112 Matthew 27:35-37 Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots." Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. There is Our Lord, hours away from finishing what He started. Near the last moments He cries out, "I thirst!" - And the world, thinking that they were cute and full of trickery and joking and sarcasm and cruelty, dipped into the fruit of the vine. It was sour and they were humored by it - it is also known as vinegar. And so they took a rag and dipped it into the vinegar and put it on the end of a stick and raised it up to Him so that He could drink. And He drank. And He said:
He gave up the ghost. At that very moment, the inheritance became ours.113 John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. He drank of the fruit of the vine and the Kingdom came. He died, and dying, He lives - in three days He was raised up.114 Luke 24:45-46 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day."
The world acknowledged our King. They crowned Him. We do not have to establish the Kingdom ourselves. Jesus Christ established the Kingdom for us. Because they hated Him and did all those awful things to Him, they acknowledged that He is King. They acknowledged the Lord Jesus Christ as the King of the Kingdom of Heaven.
They crowned, and crucified and put to death a King.115 Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." The Son of God. The inheritance of a King is now made available to us. We are His offspring. We are the ones who give one hundred percent of our allegiance and loyalty to the Son of God. By obeying His commands, by giving our allegiance and loyalty to the Son of God, then we inherit the King's inheritance. This inheritance is not like any other inheritance that has ever been given before or ever offered.116 1 Peter 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. We're not talking about an inheritance that Joe Blow down the road has. We're talking about an inheritance of eternal life.117 Psalms 37:18 The LORD knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. We're talking about an inheritance that no one else has ever offered in all of history.118 Colossians 1:12-13 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. This is the ultimate of inheritances. We are His offspring. It is recorded in the New Testament. The next time you're challenged, show them the Last Will and Testament. It's right there recorded in the Bible, preserved so that you do not have to establish the Kingdom yourself. The victory is His, and by being His, the Victory is ours. 119 John 17:10 "And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them." Let no one talk you out of your inheritance. Remain loyal, true and faithful. You are the offspring of a King.120 Luke 22:14-30 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.' But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."