Tag: Jesus

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Love III

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails . . .   (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NASB)

First Corinthians 13 is known as “the Love Chapter.”  In Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, he details the attributes of perfect love.  Human beings are not capable of attaining these characteristics, but as followers of Jesus, we’re expected to try.  The only Ones capable of executing these tenets are are the Triune God.  As we humans go through life, we continue to get better, but we’ll not achieve perfection until God calls us home to be with Him.  The attributes of perfect love are consistent with the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). 

I heard someone say (at a Bible study or in a sermon) that we should replace the word “love” with our name to get a good read on where we stand with regard to love.  Mine would be “Wade is patient, Wade is kind,” etc.  If I’m honest with myself, and I’m not patient, for example, then with God’s help, Wade would have some work to do on his patience. 

Last year, an Air Force Academy classmate, Terry Williams, invited me to do an online men’s Bible study.  One of the lessons was on this passage from 1 Corinthians 13.  Referring to the phrase, “does not take into account a wrong suffered,” the author asked:  “Are you unoffendable?”  I had never heard that worded like that, but I knew what it meant, and I knew in an instant that I was guilty.  

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 - Bible Verse about Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 image.  Found at Bible Verse Images, https://www.bibleverseimages.com/love-bible-verse-14.htm

Let me first explain that ALS is a contact sport.  I’m constantly being rolled and lifted and placed in a shower chair, wheelchair, recliner, or back in bed.  In the process, it’s possible for many minor injuries to occur.  I’ve been pinched, slapped, had my fingers and toes jammed, had my head squeezed by the hydraulic lift.  I think the only thing that hasn’t happened is I haven’t been bitten.  But none of this is intentional, the caregivers do their best, it just happens.  Normally when it does, I blow it off, but in reflection, I found the only person I wasn’t quick to forgive was the one that I should. 

The person who I’ve borne grudges against?  The woman with whom God paired me; the woman who is supposed to be my best friend; and my partner in life, my wife Sue.  As I said, when I read that question, I was convicted about my conduct.  With God’s help, I resolved to do better.  God’s not done with me yet.  He’s still working on me until the day He decides to take me home.  As for me, I’m trying not to take things so seriously.  I try to smile at her more, and mouth the words “I love you!” more.  My facial muscles are such that I’m sure my smile isn’t what it used to be, and might be mistaken for something else. And I have to do the “I love you!” more than once before she gets it.  But as I said, I’m a work in progress. 

Paul gives us the attributes of perfect love.  Although it’s impossible for us to attain, it’s important that we try.  Someday those who love Jesus will display these exact tenets.  In heaven, the New Jerusalem, there will be no jealousy, and no envy.  There will only be love as you read above.  I can’t wait!  Are you going to heaven? 

Worship:  “Love,” by Kirk Franklin
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Love II

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”  .  .  . Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’ . . . “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God . . . “  (John 3:3, 5-7, 16-18, NASB)

The Apostle John records the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, in which Jesus states what would become the most famous verse in the Christian Bible.  John tells us Nicodemus is a Pharisee, “a ruler of the Jews.”  (John 3:1)  Nothing more is mentioned of him until he assisted Joseph of Arimathea to lay Jesus in the tomb.  Nicodemus brought “a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight.”  (John 19:39)

John tells us that Nicodemus came to Jesus by stealth, “at night.”  He doesn’t want his colleagues to know.  Nicodemus acknowledges that Jesus is from God, that “no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”  (John 3:2)  Jesus answers him in the text above, that “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Nicodemus is naturally puzzled.  “How can a man be born when he is old?  He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”  (John 3:4)  Jesus replies (again in the text) that it’s not a fleshly birth He’s talking about, but a spiritual birth. 

After some back-and-forth conversation, Jesus tells Nicodemus how to achieve a spiritual birth in that famous verse:  “For God SO LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him SHALL NOT PERISH, but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16, emphasis mine)  God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us to take our place, and take the punishment we deserve for our sins.  How do we achieve that spiritual rebirth?  By believing in Jesus!  In so doing, we achieve everlasting life, and in Jesus’ words, we “shall not perish.”  At Christmas we celebrate the gift of Jesus Christ that God gave us because He loves us so much.  We just celebrated Resurrection Sunday, in which Jesus fulfilled the life everlasting (He was raised from the dead), which He told Nicodemus he would have if he were to be born again. 

“Christus und Nikodemus,” by Fritz von Uhde, 1908. Found at Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicodemus#/media/File:Fritz_von_Uhde_-_Christus_und_Nikodemus_(ca.1886).jpg

Jesus concludes His discussion with the Pharisee by telling him His mission on earth is not to judge, but to save the world; that if we believe in Jesus, we’ll not be judged.  His final warning to Nicodemus is that anyone who does not believe in Jesus has already been judged, “because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

We’re not told of Nicodemus’ reaction to his conversation with Jesus.  In “The Chosen,” Season 1, they do a splendid job of portraying the conflict that must have gone through his mind.  In the film, after their encounter, Jesus invites the Pharisee to go on a journey with Him and His disciples.  As they leave on their trip, Nicodemus is seen hiding behind a corner, sobbing.  The Pharisee had grown comfortable in his lifestyle.  He was conflicted about leaving all that behind to follow Jesus.  But he must have eventually made the choice to be born again–he helped Joseph to bury the body of the Son of God. 

Using Jesus’ own words, the choice is simple: Without Jesus:  Face God’s judgment and perish. With Jesus:  Be saved and have eternal life. 

Worship: “God So Loved,” by Jaci Velasquez
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Risen

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen.”  (Luke 24:1-6, NASB)

In the narrative above from Luke the beloved physician, it’s now Sunday morning, the day after the Sabbath.  The disciples are still in shock after witnessing their Teacher brutally tortured and executed.  They’re behind locked doors for fear of the Temple leadership coming after them next.  The two Marys (Jesus’ mother, and Mary Magdalene) have prepared spices for a proper burial, and now that the Sabbath is past, are going to the cave where Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had put Jesus’ body late Friday afternoon. 

According to Luke, they find the stone rolled away from the tomb’s opening, and Jesus’ body is not there!  Two angels appear, and they utter a statement that is arguably the most important of all Christendom:  “He is not here, but He has risen.”  

The fact of the resurrection is crucial to our faith.  Jesus said He would be crucified, and the third day would rise again.  The disciples and the two Marys watched Him die and didn’t remember what He told them.  After all, they weren’t used to seeing people come back from the dead, even though just weeks before they had seen Jesus call Lazarus from out of his tomb.  If Jesus was Who He claimed to be (God), then if He had not come back from the dead our faith would be useless.  There would be no hope of everlasting life.  No hope. 

He Is not Here! He Has Risen!
He is not Here!  He has Risen!  Found at Good Salt, https://www.goodsalt.com/details/lfwas1654.html

The angels also ask the question:  “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?”  They wanted to emphasize that not only had Jesus been risen, but He was alive.  There was hope in their question and statement.  Jesus would seem to emphasize His being alive when He appeared to the disciples several times before His ascension.  What’s important is that to followers of Jesus, Christ’s death and resurrection means that sin and death are defeated.  Because He’s alive, we can also have life everlasting. 

We have seen despair and hopelessness on Friday turn to joy and hope on Sunday morning.  It took awhile for reality to catch up to some of the disciples (Thomas the Doubter, for one), but over time they understood Who Jesus really is, and His words of salvation.  Jesus told His disciples what would take place, and it did.  He came to earth to die as a substitute to take the punishment we all deserve as sinners.  God’s most precious gift that we celebrate at Christmas fulfilled His mission on Good Friday.  He completed the promise of eternal life on Resurrection Sunday.  Because He lives, we have hope for eternal life.  Do you believe in Him?
When Christianity was in its infancy, in the middle east and southern Europe, it was dangerous to be a follower of Jesus.  The Christians used a greeting that only they were familiar with, used to find out if a stranger was a brother or sister in Christ.  The first person would use the greeting, “He is risen!”  The second would reply, “He is risen indeed!”  He is risen! 

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.  (1 Peter 2:21-24, NASB)

Worship:  “Evidence,” by Josh Baldwin 

On Good Friday night, Sue and I watched Mel Gibson’s 2004 movie “The Passion of the Christ.”  We saw it in the movie theater when it first came out.  Powerful.  Gibson captured the last 18 hours or so of Jesus’ life as authentically and true to the Bible as possible.  What also struck me was how quiet it was afterward.  I don’t think anyone said a word filing out of the theater.  I remember a column written by Charles Colson at the time.  He said that Mel Gibson had a cameo appearance of sorts in the movie.  During the film when Jesus is being nailed to the cross, Gibson’s hand is wielding one of the mallets.  We’re quick to judge the people who had a part in Jesus’ crucifixion.  Truth be told, if any of us had been there, we would have done the same.  This was Gibson’s way of acknowledging his guilt and his sins.  Colson explained that years ago one of the masters (I think it was van Gogh) painted himself into the crucifixion as a Roman soldier and an active participant.  Interesting! 

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Crucified

One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”  (Luke 23:39-43, NASB)

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.  (Matthew 27:50-51,  NASB)

As Thursday night turned into Friday, Jesus found Himself bound and beaten by the officers of the temple.  He would be taken to be interrogated by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, then to Herod (who had jurisdiction over Galilee, where Jesus resided), then back to Pilate.  All the while, He was beaten and mocked by the Roman soldiers.  They placed a crown of thorns on His head.  These thorns were middle eastern thorns, long and sharp.  They didn’t just “place” it on His head, they jammed it down, so the blood ran down His face.  Jesus endured all this willingly, and He did so for you and for me.

Then they scourged Jesus.  The whips they used had jagged pieces of metal embedded in the cords.  When the whip made contact, the metal would tear into the flesh, often exposing the internal organs (” . . . and by His stripes we are healed.”).  Often the criminal going through this torture would die from the organ exposure.  Jesus endured all this willingly, and He did so for you and for me. 

Next, Jesus was forced to lug the cross to the place of His execution.  When they arrived at Golgotha, He was nailed to the cross.  He endured more mocking and scorn from the chief priests and passersby.  And the two thieves on either side of Him, also being crucified, joined in.  Jesus endured all this willingly, and He did so for you and for me. 

In Dr. Luke’s account above, one of the thieves had a change of heart.  I think this was the first-ever recorded “death bed conversion.”  The thief scolded his counterpart, and acknowledged Jesus is God.  Then he asked Jesus to “remember me when You come in Your kingdom.”  Jesus replied that they would be together that day “in Paradise.”

Jesus was crucified at about 9 o’clock in the morning.  At around noon, the sky became as dark as night (God was not pleased at what was going on).  At about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, per Matthew’s account above, “Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.”  At the same time, an earthquake occurred (God continued to show His displeasure), so powerful it split the rocks.  Also, Matthew reported, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. – Matthew 27:51.  Found at Calvary Chapel Placerville, https://calvarychapelplacerville.com/2020/03/torn-from-top-to-bottom/

The tearing of the veil is significant on two points:  First, Matthew emphasizes that the tear was from top to bottom.  It was impossible for men to do this.  God had to have done this, and He did it using the earthquake.  Second, the veil separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the inner sanctuary.  Only the High Priest was allowed access, once a year, bringing blood from a sacrificed animal to atone for the sins of himself and the people.  God tore the veil to say that Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for repentance of sins and there was no longer need to separate God from man.  As the author of Hebrews said, “we [now] have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh.”  (Hebrews 10:19-20)

Good Friday was a momentous day.  Our Lord, the Messiah, was brutally tortured and executed by the authorities, who as Jesus said in an act of forgiveness, didn’t know what they were doing.  We see the death bed conversion of a thief who acknowledged Jesus as God, and asked His forgiveness.  We also see an act of God, the tearing of the veil, that told the world that the way to salvation and forgiveness of sins is through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus’ mission coming to earth was to die as an acceptable sacrifice to the Father God.  As we used to say in the Air Force, “mission complete!”  Jesus made the sacrifice, it’s up to us to acknowledge it, confess our sins, and ask Jesus to be the Lord of our life.  Jesus Christ did His part (He endured all this willingly, and He did so for you and for me).  Have you done yours? 

As Friday wound down, as sunset approached and the Sabbath with it, Jesus was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb.  His disciples were distraught, and went home defeated.  Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus, also eye witnesses to the whole spectacle, noted where Jesus was lain, went home to mix spices to prepare the body for a proper burial, then observed the Sabbath.  Jesus was dead.  All seemed hopeless.  But then there was Sunday . . . 

Worship:  “Above All,” by Michael W. Smith 
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Betrayed

Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.  (Matthew 26:14-16, NASB)

Tomorrow is Spy Wednesday.  It’s one of the days of Holy Week.  I had never heard of it until a Bible study several years ago.  Spy Wednesday is the day that Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, met with the chief priests, and conspired to betray Jesus Christ to them.  The price they were willing to pay Judas?  Thirty pieces of silver.  The same valuation assigned for slaves in the book of Exodus.  The text says that “from then on [Judas] began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.”

He found that opportunity the next (Thursday) night.  After Jesus celebrated the Passover Seder meal (the Last Supper, in which He also instituted the Lord’s Supper) with His disciples, He led them out of Jerusalem to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, as was His custom in the evening, to pray.  Judas, aware of his Master’s habits, led a mob from the chief priests to the Garden, where Jesus was arrested.  Judas told the crowd to arrest the Man that he kissed.  So Jesus was betrayed with a kiss. 

Imagine how Jesus was crushed.  He was fully God, and knew He would be betrayed.  He also knew who the perpetrator would be.  But Jesus was also fully human, with emotions like yours and mine.  He had to have been grief-stricken to have been betrayed by a friend.  But the betrayal by Judas was only one of His trials that night. 

52677.jpg
The arrest of Jesus.  Found at https://www.ldsliving.com/the-surprising-meaning-of-30-pieces-of-silver-in-the-bible/s/90995 

Jesus knew what agony lay ahead of Him.  Before He was betrayed that night, Jesus asked His disciples to stand watch in the Garden while He prayed.  His men fell asleep while He prayed–not once, but three times.  While Jesus prayed, His anxiety over what was going to happen to Him was so great, He sweated drops of blood.  As the mob descended on Him with their swords and clubs, and Judas kissed Him, the other eleven disciples fled, abandoning Jesus to His fate (He told them they would do that, and they all pledged they would die with Him).  But if Thursday night was bad, it was nothing compared with what awaited Jesus on Friday. 

Jesus knew what would happen to Him over the course of these few days.  He told the disciples the exact events that would occur.  But they didn’t understand.  Simon Peter even did his best to hinder Jesus from going to the cross.  But this was all part of God’s plan of redemption to bring us back into fellowship with God.  When Adam & Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, it ruined the harmony man enjoyed with God.  God made a plan then to make things right, which culminated with sending His Son to earth to die as a sacrifice.  By identifying ourselves with Jesus’ sacrifice, we make ourselves whole again with God.  When we die, we’ll enjoy fellowship for eternity with Him.  Have you placed your hope and trust in Jesus? 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  (John 3:16)

Worship:  “Why?” by Michael Card 
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Prophecy XV

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  (Zechariah 9:9, NASB)

When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 

“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, Gentle, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”

The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!”

When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”  (Matthew 21:1-11, NASB)

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday.  People in churches across the earth will gather to commemorate Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  This also marks the beginning of Holy Week, during which Jesus was betrayed, arrested, tried, beaten, tortured, crucified, died, laid out in the tomb, and finally raised to new life.  Jesus endured all the humiliation and horrific pain and suffering willingly, and He did so for you and for me, all so we could have freedom over sin and death and spend eternity in fellowship with God the Father. 

Prophet Zechariah predicted a king coming to his people triumphantly and mounted on a donkey.  Our King fulfilled that promise on Palm Sunday in Jerusalem.  Jesus was either mounted on a donkey or a colt.  His instructions to the disciples whom He sent to fetch the animals were to bring back both the donkey and the colt.  Zechariah’s prophecies describing Messiah were accurate as well:  “He is just and endowed with salvation, [and] humble . . . “

“Hosanna! Blessed is He Who Comes in the name of the Lord!”  Found at St. Joseph Church, Rockdale, IL.   https://fsspjoliet.wordpress.com/2020/04/05/hosanna-blessed-is-he-who-comes-in-the-name-of-the-lord-palm-sunday/

In ancient times, there were two reasons kings would ride a donkey into a city.  One is to let the citizens know that his army had just conquered them.  The donkey was a symbol meaning that city was no longer a threat to him.  The second instance a king would ride a donkey into a city was as a gesture of peace.  As a non-threat (as opposed to a horse, a weapon of war), the people would see that this king meant no harm.  In Jesus’ case, I like to think His entry into Jerusalem embodied a little of both cases.  The conquering King whose weapons were peace and love.  And He came in peace.  Jesus conquered Jerusalem that Palm Sunday, only to give up control to become a sacrifice so we could live free from sin. 

Apostle Matthew’s account of the triumphal entry foreshadows another prophecy yet to take place.  During Holy Week, Jesus said that people would not see Him again until they say “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.”  The crowds proclaimed this during His triumphal entry.  Could there be a second triumphal entry in the future when Jesus comes back for His people? 

Worship:  “In the Name of the Lord,” by Sandi Patty
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Love

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (John 13:34-35, NASB)

This is another excerpt from the Apostle John’s report on the dissertations of Jesus Christ during the Passover Seder/Last Supper.  “The Apostle who Jesus loved” was an eye witness to the whole event, and was likely aided by the Holy Spirit (the Helper) at some later time in documenting this event and John’s entire Gospel. 

Earlier in Chapter 13, John tells the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.  It’s a lesson in humility and service to one another.  Imagine a god stooping down to wash his subjects’ feet.  But that’s exactly what happened:  God in the flesh, by Whom and for Whom the universe was created, was performing this act as an example to His disciples.  Jesus told them that in the future, they should wash each other’s feet as an act of service and humility.
Now in the text above, Jesus continues this theme by giving the disciples a new commandment, “that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”  Why?  Jesus says, “By this all men will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”   

new-commandJohn 13:34 image.  Found at https://sermonquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/new-command.png

Jesus is all about love.  He had previously told people that the Greatest Commandment is to love God with all one’s being; and second, to love one’s neighbor as himself/herself.  He wants His disciples (including us!) to reflect that love.  Jesus’ disciples were soon going to go out in the world to spread the Gospel.  It wouldn’t do to have them bickering and fighting.  Nobody is attracted to that.  It’s the same with our churches today.  People will leave the instant they see conflict. 

Jesus thought this theme so important, He repeated the message later that evening:  “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friend.”  And later, “This I command you, that you love one another.”  (John 15:12-13, 17)

Disciples of Jesus are commanded to love God and love other people.  Jesus especially commands His people to love each other.  “By this all men will know that you are My disciples.”  Even with ALS, I can still love God and love other people.  People come to me in my bedroom, and I go to doctor’s appointments.  I contact people via email or text messaging.  I still have the opportunity to spread the love and hope of Jesus Christ!

Worship:  “Love One Another,” by Newsboys 


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Helper

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you . . . But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”  (John 14:16-17, 26, NASB)

The Apostle John continues recounting Jesus’ discourse to the disciples at the Passover Seder also known as the Last Supper.  The topic is the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus says that after He has been arrested, condemned, tortured, crucified, died, laid in the tomb, arisen from the dead, and ascended into heaven, that He would ask the Father to send His Holy Spirit to them.  Jesus calls Him “another Helper,” and promises that He “may be with you forever.”

Further, Jesus calls Him “the Spirit of truth.”  He says “the world cannot receive” the Spirit “because it does not see Him or know Him.”  When Jesus speaks of “the world,” He’s talking about unbelievers.  But, He tells the disciples, “you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”  The presence of the Helper is conditional:  The world (those who don’t know Jesus) cannot know Him, while He dwells within those who know Christ. 

John 14:16 image.  Found at https://hive.blog/hive-108514/@evegrace/holy-spirit-our-comforter

Jesus goes on to explain the duties of the Spirit:  “He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”  So the Holy Spirit is a Teacher as well as a Helper.  And He will help the apostles to remember all that Jesus said.  This was important because as a result, we have the Gospels that record the life and teachings of Jesus Christ! 

Yesterday morning I received the daily devotion from Ann Graham Lotz talking about the Holy Spirit: 

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13, NKJV

“I was once sitting in an audience when the speaker asked, ‘What do you think God expects of you?’ I mentally ticked off a list of things I thought God expected of me: obedience, faithfulness, holiness, love, service. To my astonishment, the speaker went on to say, ‘All God ever expects of you is failure!’ I wanted to raise my hand and say, ‘I can do that! I can live up to the expectations of God! I know I can fail!’ But then the speaker added, ‘However, He has given you the Holy Spirit so that you need never fail.’ Right! Without Christ I can do nothing, but in Him I can do all things!

“The difference between strength and weakness, righteousness and wickedness, success and failure, is Jesus – the Holy Spirit – in me.”  (Lotz, Anne Graham.  “Joy of My Heart” Daily Devotion, via email from AnGeL Ministries, 2 April 2022.)

I often forget the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit, Christ in me.  When I remember, He reminds me that I’m a work in progress, that God’s not done with me yet.  I try to incorporate the Helper throughout my day:  In my prayers, in my Bible study, and in writing this piece.  He is my Helper and my Teacher.  My part is to make sure I don’t get in His way.  The Bible says my body is a Tabernacle, and He is enthroned within.  I have to ensure He is comfortable there, that I don’t defile my Temple. 

Do you have the Helper in you?  If you’re a follower of Jesus, Christ indwells you.  Won’t you invite Jesus to be the King of your heart?  Then you’ll have the Holy Spirit, the Helper, in you.  Don’t leave home without Him! 

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.  (Galatians 2:20)

Worship:  “Holy Spirit,” by Jesus Culture ft. Kim Walker-Smith

Well, Mustache March is over.  Here’s my input: 

I’m reminded that Mustache March comes but once each year, and it’s usually around this time.  I hardly feel like I put much effort into it, so God willing, if I’m here next year, I’ll try again.  Oh, and I AM smiling! 

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Prophecy XIV

“. . . Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”  (Luke 13:33-35, NASB)

Dr. Luke writes here of Jesus’ lament over the city of Jerusalem.  Some Pharisees had warned Jesus that Herod the king wanted to kill Him.  Jesus replied that they should tell Herod, “Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.”  (Luke 13:32)  That’s where we pick up the text above.  Jesus makes three interesting prophecies in this passage. 

Jesus’ first prediction is the place He is to die, Jerusalem.  He is on His way there to fulfill His mission, to present Himself as the perfect sacrifice, the only acceptable sacrifice to God, to atone for the sins of the world.  Why Jerusalem?  Jesus says, “It cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.”  Jerusalem is where the chief priests were, and He has been warning the disciples for some time that He would go there, be arrested, then killed, and on the third day be raised again. 

The next section of the text is Jesus’ lamentation over the city.  He says it’s “the city that kills the prophets.”  Jerusalem had a history of doing just that.  During the era of the kings, the prophets told the people if they didn’t repent, the kingdoms of Israel and Judah would be taken away and its people sent into exile.  Nobody wanted to hear that, especially the kings.  So many of the prophets were executed.  Jesus further laments that He “wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!”   He was rejected and despised. 

As a consequence of the city’s rejection of Jesus, He makes the second prediction:  “Behold, your house is left to you desolate.”  Jesus is predicting Jerusalem’s destruction, which took place in 70 AD.  The reason?  The rejection of the Messiah, God’s own Son.  The Temple was completely destroyed, as Jesus says in other places, “not one stone left upon another.”

Luke 13:35 poster.  Found at Bible Hub, https://biblepic.com/45/luke_13-35.htm

The third instance of Jesus’ prophecy will happen sometime in the future from now:  “You will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”  At some point in the future, Jesus will return.  He will come back for His elect.  And people will say “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Jewish tradition says that when Messiah comes, He will enter Jerusalem through the East Gate, opposite the Mount of Olives.  In medieval times, the ruling Muslims, knowing this, sealed the gate.  Just to make sure the Jewish Messiah wouldn’t come through that way, they established a Muslim cemetery right outside the gate.  They understood that a Jewish Rabbi would never defile Himself by passing through a cemetery.  I don’t know how Jesus plans to return with respect to Jerusalem.  But I do know that if He wishes to go through the East Gate, He won’t allow a cemetery or some bricks deter Him! 
Eastern Gate and Cemetery in Israel Jerusalem, Israel - October 25, 2013: The Eastern or Golden Gate and cemetery as seen from the Mount of Olives in Israel. Also known as the Gate of Mercy and Shushan gate. Ancient Stock PhotoJerusalem East Gate and cemetery.  Found at iStock,  https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/eastern-gate-and-cemetery-in-israel-gm683468586-126964459

Jesus offers prophecy in Luke’s narrative.  He is on His way to Jerusalem, and He says He’s going to die there.  He also predicts the destruction of the city, including the Temple, which occurred in 70 AD.  And yet to come, His return to His earth.  Jesus was determined to get to Jerusalem to fulfill His purpose on earth.  He died as a sacrifice so we could be freed from sin and death.  He is coming back again to unite His followers with His Father.  Jerusalem paid the penalty for rejecting Him.  My prayer is that you accept Him as your Savior. 

Worship:  “Baruch Haba B’shem Adonai (Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord),” by Paul Wilbur 

Here’s a Mustache March update on the 27th day: 

Joe Namath.  Found at https://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2007/05/30/mustache-wednesday-joe-namath-extravaganza

Just kidding.  That’s Joe Namath, Pro Football Hall of Famer, and MVP of Super Bowl III, when he grew a Fu Manchu mustache.  Namath was signed by the New York Jets for an astounding (at the time) sum of $400,000.  That, and the fact that he was a swinging bachelor earned him the nickname “Broadway Joe.”  Coming from the University of Alabama, he was called “Joe Willie.”  Joe was always pushing the boundaries of acceptability.  He was the first big-name player to wear white football cleats (“Joe Willie White Shoes.”  The guy had a lot of nicknames.).  Within a few years, almost everyone was.  He grew the mustache at a time when facial hair was frowned upon in pro football.  When Namath was threatened with a fine unless he shaved, a razor company helped by paying him to shave on a commercial.  

https://youtube.com/watch?v=WM57okPKXJg
“Joe Namath Shaves Off His Fu Manchu Mustache in Schick Electric Razor Commercial.”

Growing up on Long Island, I was a big Jets fan.  When I was old enough, my Dad took me to a couple of Jets games at Shea Stadium (“The Big Shea,” as Merle Harmon, the radio voice of the Jets used to call it.) before we moved away.  At one of those games I got to witness what my Dad called “The greatest play I ever saw.”  Namath was instrumental in that play.  The Jets were tied with the Houston Oilers, 28-28.  This was before overtime in regular season games, so ties in games were not unusual.  The Jets had the ball deep in their own end, with time for one more play.  Namath dropped back to try a Hail Mary pass to win the game.  The pass went down field, and . . . was intercepted.  The Oiler who intercepted the pass ran a few yards, was about to get tackled, then lateraled the ball to a teammate.  This happened about three or four times.  Finally an Oiler player had the ball in the clear, and the only Jet player to stop him was Broadway Joe Willie White Shoes Namath (See what I did there?).  Oh, and the Oiler player had a blocker in front of him.  Namath was known to have really bad knees, so his chances of making a game-saving tackle were slim.  But Broadway Joe fought off the blocker and made the tackle, preserving the tie.  I agree with my Dad, best play I’ve ever seen! 

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Prophecy XIII

From that time Jesus began to show 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 up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”  (Matthew 16:21-23, NASB)

This account is from Apostle Matthew.  He was an eye witness as Jesus began to prepare the disciples for what was about to take place, His arrest, torture, crucifixion, and resurrection.  Other Gospel accounts speak of the apostles’ grief, or their failure to understand.  But Matthew’s story tells of Simon Peter’s “rebuke,” and Jesus’ declaration that Peter was a “stumbling block.”

Jesus’ prophecy of His own coming demise must have been hard to understand.  He had been telling the disciples that He was the Son of God.  He had performed miracles and healed the sick and the crippled.  How could the authorities arrest this Man and put Him to death?  And what was this about being “raised up on the third day”?  

Peter to the rescue!  He wouldn’t let the prediction of Jesus’ demise come true.  He, along with the Zebedee brothers, was part of Jesus’ inner circle.  He would be Jesus’ bodyguard.  Jesus would have nothing to worry about.  He would talk some sense into Jesus, straighten Him out.  What could go wrong?  Wait, what? 

“Get Behind Me Satan.”  Found at Catholic for Life, https://www.catholicforlife.com/tag/get-behind-me-satan/

Satan?  Jesus rebuked Peter’s rebuke by calling him “Satan.”  “A stumbling block.”  That he was “not setting [his] mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”  Many of Israel’s people were looking for a political Messiah Who would expel the Roman occupiers and rule Israel with justice.  The disciples, despite all the time they spent with Jesus, didn’t comprehend what this was all about.  Jesus didn’t come to the earth He created to free them from Rome, He came to free them from their sins.  To do that, He had to go to Jerusalem, and present Himself as the Lamb of God, a sacrifice acceptable to God the Father. 

Imagine how Peter felt at Jesus’ rebuke.  Not long before this, during a discussion about Who Jesus is, he had confessed that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  (Matthew 16:16)  Jesus praised him, and was ready to hand him the keys to the kingdom of heaven.  Now the Christ was calling him “Satan”!  Did Peter have a demon?  I don’t know.  Perhaps Jesus was giving him a wake-up call.  After all, He had The Plan, The Big Picture, and He wanted Peter on board. 

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God had a plan of redemption to bring men and women back to peace with Him.  He would eventually send His Son to earth, and He would act as a sacrifice.  He would take the punishment we deserve as a substitute for our salvation.  We deserve to die for our sins.  Jesus paid the price for us.  Our part is to accept His sacrifice, and ask Jesus into our hearts. 

Worship:  “Victor’s Crown,” by Darlene Zschech and Kari Jobe