Mark 8:27-33 ~ The concerns of God!

Caesarea Philippi the city built by Herod to brown nose his employers and to make a home away from home for Romans. The most worldly part of Judea.

Mark 8:27-33

27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Scala Sancta photo. Was taken from the easily found ruins of the Praetorium of Pontius Pilate. The 28 steps which Jesus Christ stepped upon His way to trial. Caesarea became the civilian and military capital of the Judaean Province - the official residence of the Roman procurators and governors, Pontius Pilate, praefectus and Antonius Felix. Josephus describes the harbor as being as large as the one at Piraeus, the major harbor of Athens. Remains of the principal buildings erected by Herod and the medieval town are still visible today.

In 1961 the archaeological world was taken back to the first century Roman province of Judea. A group of archaeologists, led by Dr. Antonio Frova were excavating an ancient Roman theater near Caesarea.

Pontius Pilate, with all the Power given by the Empire of Rome - knew of Kings. And his wife told Pilate not to have anything to do with, "That good man. I have dreamed of Him." Pilate knew to honor his wife. Pilate did not prevail - God's plans did.

The Lord God Almighty is King of Kings.
His Ways are not our ways.

Jesus speaking of His life in Capernaum -  surrounded with men with jobs, homes, wives and families. Jesus said He had no where to put His head. Jesus knew what it was to be homeless. And without adequate means of support.

Think about what God did for His Son to come to this World.

Jesus was born. In a family not celebrating a marriage. His Mother was thought to be loose. And the Scriptures do not ever record the mother of Mary. After this Mary fled her hometown for three months, and was comforted by a cousin who really understood. Mary was placed, heavily pregnant, to travel 80 miles of that hard surface - to be taken to Bethlehem - where both families were from. Mary's family - according to Historical Sanhedrin Council documents is the ancestry in The Gospel of Luke - was Hometown - Bethlehem.

And they were given - the barn.
Later, the magi arrive and the male children of Bethlehem are killed. Evidently, they stayed for some time living where the barn was their option. As they leave, or after, male babies are killed by Herod.

There are so many stories of Jesus - the world would not contain them. John writes.

The next time someone tells you, "This is not the way God operates today." Tell them. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

God does all things - all things are possible with God. 

He establishes life. Hezekiah found the Assyrian Empire wanted to work with him. Because the plans of God are very elaborate. God was establishing a way with the Assyrians. Jonah, by the call of God, went to Nineveh and the huge and vast city - Believed God. God was working His plan well before the birth of Hezekiah.

Isaiah reported Jesus as Messiah 700 years before Jesus arrived in Bethlehem. Isaiah was first to call Father God a Redeemer of Israel. Savior.  Isaiah reported a Covenant to the People of God.

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.

Why would God ever allow suffering? Like His Son. Himself. God knows about difficult.

2 Timothy 4:5
But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

2 Corinthians 4:17
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison

God does things His own way.

That is the Way, the Truth and the Life.


Father God,
Help us to know in our daily lives and for those we love - to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. Forgive me my sins. I need You Lord Jesus Christ.

Help us to be filled up to all the fullness of You, Father God. Your attributes are vast beyond compare. Let us remember what draws us to You in Joy! God You are Living Water - going far beyond what we expect in all aspects of water. Fill us with You, Jesus.

Thank You Jesus Christ our Savior, able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think. What a God of expectation, Father God - You are goodness!

Because God in His Great Love and Mercy dwells within those believing Him this is true according to the power that works within us.

To our Father Lord God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Luke 6:46-49 ~ As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like

Luke 6:46-49

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 

47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 

49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

The Disciples - after their three year ministry with Jesus - had seen this Ministry house collapse. And they sat huddled. Beaten with knowledge - mostly they had run away from Jesus.

The women were left to care for the Body of Jesus.

This was finished.

And small stirrings of hope began. 
Surely this was not true. 
Jesus had left signs. The widow had received her only son back - alive in front of large crowds. Lazarus was alive. People were saying, the humbled and crushed disciples, were saying Jesus Was ALIVE!

Their opponents were the Temple and the officials. These people who did not even care to see a risen Jesus were to leave at the natural life span of Jesus. 70 A.D. And Josephus the General of Judea was taken to Rome to become a historian. Josephus was someone who had seen the Truth.

Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Modern scholarship largely acknowledges the authenticity of Josephus' Book 20, Chapter 9, 1 of the Antiquities -  "The brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James" - considers this is the highest level of authenticity among the references of Josephus to Christianity.

In the 3rd century, Origen of Alexandria was the first ancient writer to have a comprehensive reference to Josephus. And Origen refers to Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews by name, saying Josephus had stated  the death of Jesus' brother James had brought a wrath upon those who had killed him.

James D. Tabor is Professor of Christian Origins and Ancient Judaism in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where he has taught since 1989. Recounts this passage is correct from Josephus.

Antiquities 18: Chapter 3
And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.


When you read the gruesome atrocities of that day and why Pilate was recalled directly by the Roman Emperor in 36 A.D. for his overwhelming and repeat acts of violence. The numbers of men crucified and gutted in front, deliberately, of their loved ones. The violence and gore was extreme.  You realized the depths of the extreme violence of this world. This following Jesus was frightening. And placed people in harm' s way. This was something only Love and the Truth would cause people to leave their comfort field.

It seemed very unlikely that the ministry of Jesus would continue.

God saw events differently as Jesus spoke of His 2 millenniums Church with His Disciples.

God sees further.

This IS the GOOD NEWS.
God sees us completely and transparently.
The Lord God Almighty sees us - as we really are.

And our Father God - wants to use His Reaction of Love - to save us and bring us into His Kingdom.

God is here
               and Jesus in His Great Love - He Dwells with us!

Because of Jesus and His Love. God will dwell within us when we ask Jesus to Live in us:

Ephesians 1:4
Even as He chose us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and blameless before him.
In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of his will,
to the praise of His glorious grace!

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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2 Chronicles 30 ~ May the Lord, Who is good, pardon everyone who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God

on the fourteenth day of the second month

2 Chronicles 30

Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel.

 2 The king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month. 3 They had not been able to celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem. 4 The plan seemed right both to the king and to the whole assembly. 5 They decided to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. It had not been celebrated in large numbers according to what was written.

6 At the king’s command, couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and from his officials, which read:

“People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your parents and your fellow Israelites, who were unfaithful to the Lord, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see. 8 Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. 9 If you return to the Lord, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will return to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”

10 The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed them. 11 Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem. 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord.

13 A very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month. 14 They removed the altars in Jerusalem and cleared away the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.

 
They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the temple of the Lord. 16 Then they took up their regular positions as prescribed in the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests splashed against the altar the blood handed to them by the Levites. 17 Since many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean and could not consecrate their lambs to the Lord. 18 Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written.

But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone 19 who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” 20 And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

21 The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great rejoicing, while the Levites and priests praised the Lord every day with resounding instruments dedicated to the Lord.

22 Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites, who showed good understanding of the service of the Lord. For the seven days they ate their assigned portion and offered fellowship offerings and praised the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

23 The whole assembly then agreed to celebrate the festival seven more days; so for another seven days they celebrated joyfully.

 24 Hezekiah king of Judah provided a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep and goats for the assembly, and the officials provided them with a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep and goats. A great number of priests consecrated themselves. 

25 The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, along with the priests and Levites and all who had assembled from Israel, including the foreigners who had come from Israel and also those who resided in Judah.

26 There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.


A celebration -

Stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.


Hezekiah had something. The man had been raised by a father king who had prepared him to strip the gold from the Temple to be a puppet king for the Assyrian Empire. Hezekiah had almost done this and had started to do this - when he turned to God with Isaiah's help and trusted in the Lord.

Hezekiah had something else, people who trust in the Lord will have come-backs. Bounce. People who believe God has a path for them - will keep on trusting and believing and hoping. Hezekiah did this even when he was facing death - he called for the Lord to bless him.

Hezekiah didn't just have a come-back, he was like David. He with the generosity of the Lord believed Good News. Hezekiah believed God sees all of us. Every transparent bit and God's Response? To Love.

With Trust in God, we have His Strength. We believe in the Goodness of God. We forgive and have new paths open to us.

Hezekiah did trade with Egypt - not usually a big fan of Judea. Hezekiah was well treated by the Assyrians. God had made paths for this small country. Forgiveness and Trust in God led to this celebration.

God adores hearing He is expected to show His Goodness. We all want to be affirmed. God has made us in His likeness.


Father God, Thank You for Your Goodness. Troubles? You help me through them. You believe that I will get through them. I have seen sore troubles. And might again. We will go through them Together. And I believe I shall see goodness in the Land of the Living. In You we Trust, for ourselves and the ones we love.

Father we lift up Edward's health to You and especially his ear. For mercies given.

Leaning upon You Father God. Thank You for the forgiveness and trust given to me, I want to pass this along Father God. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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John 6 :1-17 ~ When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum.

Sun setting over Capernaum, the adult Hometown of Jesus. Where the Centurion lived.

John 6:1-17

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum.

Another view of Capernaum at sunset.

Many times, Jesus went to pray or He traveled to Samaria. Jesus was preparing His disciples. 

So we learn in Acts 21 - the ship sailed during the day, and was in the harbor at night.

The Disciples start for home. Even a long way off, they are headed home. Today we would have - like they did - stars. We see, as we read, they fished as they wanted to - like a perpetual joy and job. This night, the storm would keep them on the large ,13 miles, lake. But what was guiding them home? The Disciples wouldn't see lights - a lighthouse is not a novel idea. Even a set of oil lamps, used at the time of Jesus, on a raised platform near the house of Peter.

What did the Disciples do when Jesus had given them the Holy Spirit and was not there to feed them on the beach?

We see glimpses of them. Because they are not the focus, but we want to know the Disciples. These men who knew Jesus so well.

Acts 14
No good deed goes unpunished. The man at Lystra, Greece is healed and the town knows he has been lame from birth. The gentiles decide to sacrifice to Paul as Hermes. Barnabas gets top billing as Zeus. Paul gets them not to sacrifice - barely. And dispersion Jews from Antioch rise up in Lystra and seemingly stone Paul to death. And God allows Paul to just rise up and get to the next town.

Paul and Barnabas flee to... Antioch! 233 miles away.

And we find here - new believers are called brothers and elders.

Acts 14
23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to
Antioch,

where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.

The disciples were meeting. Paul records that Jesus' brothers traveled with their wives.

Why did the disciples meet? They were nourishing each other.

Hebrews 10:25
Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Father God, help this day and the next to be useful to You. In Jesus the Lord we pray, Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Isaiah 25:1-9 ~ LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

Isaiah 25:1-9

1 O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

2 For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the foreigners' palace is a city no more; it will never be rebuilt.

3 Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

4 For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, 5 like heat in a dry place. You subdue the noise of the foreigners; as heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is put down.

6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

7 And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.

8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.

9 It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." 

Jeremiah 17:15
They keep saying to me, "Where is the word of the LORD? Let it now be fulfilled!"

Psalm 72:11
May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

John 14:13-14
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Matthew 8:11
I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven

John 14:20
In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Matthew 1:23
They shall call his name Immanuel, which means, God with us.

Father God, Let my name be engraved upon Your hand. You are the Rock I stand upon forever. For I know that My Redeemer Lives! I place my life, my cares, my hope, the ones I Love into Your Hand. In Jesus. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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2 Samuel 21 ~ And Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giants

2 Samuel 21

Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David sought the face of the Lord. And the Lord said, “There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.” 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the people of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites. Although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had sought to strike them down in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah. 3 And David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And how shall I make atonement, that you may bless the heritage of the Lord?” 4 The Gibeonites said to him, “It is not a matter of silver or gold between us and Saul or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel.” And he said, “What do you say that I shall do for you?” 5 They said to the king, “The man who consumed us and planned to destroy us, so that we should have no place in all the territory of Israel, 6 let seven of his sons be given to us, so that we may hang them before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the Lord.” And the king said, “I will give them.”

7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of the oath of the Lord that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 The king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite; 9 and he gave them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the mountain before the Lord, and the seven of them perished together. They were put to death in the first days of harvest, at the beginning of barley harvest.

10 Then Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until rain fell upon them from the heavens. And she did not allow the birds of the air to come upon them by day, or the beasts of the field by night. 

11 When David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done, 12 David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, on the day the Philistines killed Saul on Gilboa. 13 And he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan; and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged. 14 And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father. And they did all that the king commanded. 
And after that God responded to the plea for the land.


15 There was war again between the Philistines and Israel, and David went down together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines. And David grew weary. 16 And Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was armed with a new sword, thought to kill David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid and attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, “You shall no longer go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.”

18 After this there was again war with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giants. 19 And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.[c] 20 And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended from the giants. 21 And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David's brother, struck him down. 22 These four were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.


Giants and our everyday life.

The giant (right), was apparently unearthed in County Antrim, Ireland, and found to be 12ft 2in high. Its girth of chest was 6ft 6in, and length of arms 4ft 6in. There are six toes on the right foot. This skeleton was on display in exhibitions in Dublin, Liverpool and Manchester.

Giants sound very improbable.

Tennessee River, USA - giant human footprints with 6 toes
Crittendon, Arizona, USA - sarcophagus of a giant who sported 6 toes on each foot
County Antrim, Ireland - fossilised body of a giant with 6 toes on the right foot
Kiribati (Pacific Ocean) - a number of footprints of giant men, most of them with 6 toes on each foot

The United States has a large number of skeletons found over 8 feet, google if you must.

TURKEY: a human finger bone which is twice the length of the average adult bone today.
In the Hittite Museum in Ankara, Turkey; In the late 1950's, during road construction in south-east Turkey (in the Euphrates Valley), many tombs were uncovered, which contained the remains of giant humans. At two sites the leg bones were measured to be about 120 centimeters (47.24 inches).

Joe Taylor, Director of the Mt. Blanco Fossil Museum, in Crosbyton, Texas, was commissioned to sculpt an anatomically correct, and to scale, human femur of one of these ancient men. One part was a human fingerbone which is twice the length of the average adult bone today.

Giants are probable considering all cultures report giants and we see gigantism in genetics.

Giants in faith - David. David had conflicts of life we look at in our daily realities.

And the problems we face. Perhaps we could have scooted through this chapter. So much of David's Biblical History is about war, loss of life and destruction. Here David has a chance to clear his dynasty from Saul's descendants. He takes that opportunity. Because David is man of God, we know he must have felt some dismay in the taking of a king's children and grandchildren.

The huge problem is not recorded until Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had stood watch day and night over the bodies of her sons and grandsons. David then buries Saul and Jonathon.

David was so busy, he is at war again when his weariness of his daily work almost gets him killed. A haunting chapter to be sure, the mother, not wailing at home but living day and night to protect her loved ones' bones. Rather like Aaron being invited into the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle to splash blood all over.



God is blamed, so many times in the Old Testament for how incredibly harsh He is. This passage emphasizes:

John 2:25
He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Isaiah 40:30
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted

2 Samuel 12:13
Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die."

This is what God does with the tugs and pulls of life. 



John called this Jesus, the Son of God he walked with - the God of Love.
God sees the pull and tug of insignificance, of evil meets good and the inconsistencies of mankind. And then we blame Him. In reality, God is Living Water, going where He will. And thank God. He will show up when we seek him.

What would Father God say about the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Mera the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite?

Isaiah did glimpse His glory and said, Isaiah 49:
“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.
16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are continually before me.
17 Your builders make haste;
your destroyers and those who laid you waste go out from you.
18 Lift up your eyes around and see;
they all gather, they come to you.
As I live, declares the Lord,
you shall put them all on as an ornament;
you shall bind them on as a bride does.

19 “Surely your waste and your desolate places
and your devastated land—
surely now you will be too narrow for your inhabitants,
and those who swallowed you up will be far away.
20 The children of your bereavement
will yet say in your ears:
‘The place is too narrow for me;
make room for me to dwell in.’
21 Then you will say in your heart:
‘Who has borne me these?
I was bereaved and barren,
exiled and put away,
but who has brought up these?
Behold, I was left alone;
from where have these come?’”

22 Thus says the Lord God:
“Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations,
and raise my signal to the peoples;
and they shall bring your sons in their arms,
and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.
23 Kings shall be your foster fathers,
and their queens your nursing mothers.
With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you,
and lick the dust of your feet.
Then you will know that I am the Lord;
those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.”

Rizpah would grow old and die. Her children and Rizpah would not be forgotten. God is saying He is in charge of these memories and these people. God is Love. And God would put His hands into the fish to feed the five thousand. God will be in Charge.


In all situations:

Psalm 27:14

Wait for the LORD; 

Be strong, and let your heart take courage; 

Wait for the LORD!

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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John 6 ~ Jesus is the Bread of Life.

Jesus taught part of John's 6th Chapter in the Synagogue in Capernaum. This relief of the Ark of the Covenant is found in Capernaum's White Synagogue.

John 6

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 

5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 

7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 

11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 

26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 

28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 

30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 

32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 

34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 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. 

40 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.”

41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 

43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 

47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 

53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 

59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 

70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.

Manna

Nothing is impossible with God. Nothing.
Jesus is the Bread of Life.
And was manna plentiful? Yes. Manna covered the ground and was easy to be filled.
Like Living Water - soaking, plentiful.

If we were to look for the Manna on this earth - would we find that Manna? Maccabees 6 records the Prophet Jeremiah hid the Ark, with God's help, on Mt. Nebo near where Moses rested forever and watched the Children of Israel march on to the Promised Land. The Ark of the Covenant contains the Branch that Budded and Manna.

Could Jesus arrange archaeology? We see the Scriptures proven daily in this lifetime. More and more shows us God speaks the Truth. Affirming God wants us to do His work and believe. The answer would be: yes, in God.

John 6 is about the Synagogue. And in the White Synagogue with ruins to explore - in Capernaum - this refers to the Bread of Life.

Matthew 11:23
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.


However, the real point is
Jesus.
Jesus is readily available. When we seek Him - we find Jesus.

His Ways are not our ways.
His Righteousness is not debatable.

Only one boy thought to bring food.
5,000 people were not fed. They ate their fill.

The crowd wanted to make Him King - Jesus left.

Jesus walks on water, without Peter. And the boat immediately goes were Jesus wants to go.

Jesus comforts His disciples. The ones granted to Him by the Father. These are the ones doing the work God gives to mankind. To believe.

Father God bless me to do Your Work. And bless those You have given me to do the work You give as well. In Jesus, Amen. 

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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1 Kings 13:1-10 ~ The man of God

1 Kings 13:1-10

And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the Lord to Bethel.

Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings.

2 And the man cried against the altar by the word of the Lord and said, “O altar, altar, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’”

 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign that the Lord has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’”

4 And when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him.” And his hand, which he stretched out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself.

5 The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.

6 And the king said to the man of God, “Entreat now the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.”

And the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king's hand was restored to him and became as it was before.

7 And the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” 8 And the man of God said to the king, “If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place, 9 for so was it commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.’” 10 So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel.

Some Background History: 
While still young, Jeroboam was promoted by Solomon to be chief superintendent of the slaves. Upon hearing the prophet Ahijah (1 Kings 11:29-39), he began to conspire to become king; but was discovered, fled to Egypt, remaining under the protection of Pharaoh Shishak. Upon the death of Solomon, Rehoboam assumed the throne. The 10 northern tribes revolted against Solomon's son and asked Jeroboam to become king. 

Rehoboam's poor conduct helped Jeroboam, and Jeroboam was accordingly proclaimed a new king of Israel . Jeroboam fortified Shechem as the capital of his kingdom. and in Dan and Bethel,built "golden calves," which he set up as symbols of God, pulling worship away from Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, but to bring their offerings to his shrines. He became distinguished as the man "who made Israel to sin." This miracle made no abiding impression on him. He was in constant war with the "House of Judah." 

Translocate - Verb (used with object), trans·lo·cat·ed, trans·lo·cat·ing. To move or transfer from one place to another; cause to change location; displace; dislocate.

Saint Pio (Pius) of Pietrelcina was said to have translocated to be with people in prayer. This information is not readily available in his saint literature. It would be difficult to prove and might cause someone to cry out, "Seize him!" In order to ascertain the situation. This lack of faith didn't work out well for Zechariah in Luke 1 either.

Not your usual reaction in this passage, a unique reaction. Usually people have fear and trembling when dealing with Mighty Acts of God. The Scriptures do not record God trying again with Jeroboam. God must not have cared for the reaction. The Word of God, He sent forth, was fulfilled.


Bethel is never mentioned in the New Testament. Lastly mentioned in Maccabees. After the writings of Eusebius and Jerome, he found no further references to Bethel in the written historical record. There are ruins of a Middle Ages Church between Bethel and the ruins at Beitin.


Amos 5:5
Do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.

Bethel is never mentioned in the New Testament.

Isaiah 55:11
So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.


Father God, You give us each day. Let our reactions, words and ways be pleasing to You. We pray in the Name of Jesus to give You each day and be on Your Path. In Jesus. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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