DAILY TEXT, Today Tuesday March 14, Do not say: We preach Christ executed on the tree, something that for the Jews is an obstacle (1 Cor. 1:23).

DAILY TEXT, From Tuesday March 14,  Do not say: We preach Christ executed on the tree, something that for the Jews is an obstacle (1 Cor. 1:23).

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Tuesday March 14

We preach Christ executed on the tree, something that for the Jews is an obstacle (1 Cor. 1:23).

Why did the way Jesus died cause many Jews to stumble? Because they thought that the fact that Jesus died on a tree was more like a criminal and a sinner than the Messiah (Deut. 21:22, 23). The Jews who rejected Jesus did not want to acknowledge that he was innocent, that he was the victim of false accusations and that he was treated unfairly. The trial of Jesus was a farce. The Jewish supreme court was hastily assembled and disregarded legal procedures (Luke 22:54; John 18:24). Rather than impartially hearing the charges and evidence, the judges themselves sought “some false witness against Jesus so that they might put him to death” (Matt. 26:59; Mark 14:55-64). And, after Jesus rose again, these corrupt judges paid “a good amount of silver coins” to the Roman soldiers guarding his tomb to tell a lie to justify why it was empty (Matt. 28:11-15). w21.05 11 pars. 12, 13.

What was prophesied regarding the death of the Messiah?

What does the Bible say? Although many Jews of Jesus' day did not expect the Messiah to die, let's see what was already prophesied: “he poured out his life unto death and was numbered among sinners; he bore the sins of many people, and for sinners he interceded ”(Is. 53:12). So the execution of Jesus as a sinner gave the Jews no reason to stumble.

What accusations made against Jehovah's Witnesses have caused some to stumble?

Does the same happen today? Definitely. Like Jesus, Jehovah's Witnesses have been wrongfully accused and convicted. Let's see some examples. In America, during the 1930s and 1940s, we had to go to court over and over again to defend our right to worship God in freedom. Some judges openly demonstrated that they were biased against us. In Quebec, Canada, Church and State joined forces to oppose our work. Many publishers were imprisoned just for telling others about the Kingdom of God. In Germany, many young faithful were killed by the Nazi regime. And, in recent years, many brothers in Russia have been convicted and imprisoned for speaking about the Bible, something the authorities consider to be extremist activity.

As 1 John 4:1 shows, why should we not be fooled by the lies told about Jehovah's servants?

What will help you not to stumble? Research the facts. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned that some people would lie and say “all kinds of bad things” about his disciples (Matt. 5:11). All those lies come from Satan. He sees to it that our enemies spread slander over those of us who love the truth (Rev. 12:9, 10). He rejects those lies and never allows them to frighten him or weaken his faith (read 1 John 4:1).

What effect might the things that happened just before Jesus died have had on some?

The night before he died, Jesus was betrayed by one of his 12 apostles. Another denied him three times, and they all abandoned him (Matt. 26:14-16, 47, 56, 75). But this did not surprise him, since he had already said that this would happen (John 6:64; 13:21, 26, 38; 16:32). Seeing this, some may stumble and think, "If that's what Jesus' apostles do, I don't want to be one of them."

 What prophecies were fulfilled just before Jesus' death?

What does the Bible say? Centuries before Jesus came to earth, Jehovah had already said in his Word that the Messiah would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zech. 11:12, 13). The traitor would be one of his friends (Ps. 41: 9). Zechariah also wrote: “Smite the shepherd, and let the flock be scattered” (Zech. 13:7). Sincere people would not reject Jesus for all these things. On the contrary, his faith would be strengthened by seeing that the prophecies had been fulfilled in him.

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