Monday, July 04, 2011 -
Jerusalem visitors had a rare opportunity to visit the Kishle prison inside Jerusalem’s Old City. King Herod’s palace fortress was used for a police station; constructed on the site and guarded by three towers. After the Romans destroyed the palace, the Tenth Roman Legion encamped on the site. In the 1800s, the Ottoman rulers constructed the present prison and the British continued its use, also the Jordanians, and the Israelis have as well. According to the AP article, the jail has never been open to visitors.
Luke 3:15-22
As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
"His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Why in the world didn't Father God rescue John the Baptist. John asked Jesus again, from prison, if Jesus was the Messiah after bravely giving his testimony. We all can be afraid in dire circumstances. Peter was rescued. Paul was rescued from a snake bite and a shipwreck. Why did the Children of Israel languish 500 years in Egypt. Three different Emperors of the 2nd Exile in Babylon promised freedom. Joseph had a similar problem with suffering.
Lawrence Alma-Tadema, a Dutch born, British painter.
Isaiah 53:5
Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
Genesis 41:9-14
Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, "I remember a promise I failed to keep. 10 Some time ago when Pharaoh was angry with his servants, he confined me and the chief baker to the captain of the guard's prison. 11 We both had dreams the same night. Each dream had its own meaning. 12 A young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guard, was with us. We told him our dreams, and he told each of us what they meant. 13 What he told us happened: Pharaoh restored me to my position, but he hung the baker on a pole."
14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and immediately he was brought from the prison. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came in front of Pharaoh.
We learn the answer in Galatians, Paul is the author with the Holy Spirit. An answer to the difficulty of suffering.
Galatians 4:4
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
We also learned of the Law giving Mary a bumpy time. Jesus was to fulfill the law. And spoke of the fulfilling.
John 4:21-26
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
Isaiah 49:8
This is what the LORD says: "In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances,to say to the captives, 'Come out,' and to those in darkness, 'Be free!' "They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill."
Each year, since 2011, The Woodland, Texas has gathered 30 Christ Believing, Bible Believing Churches to act as the united Body of Christ. We have days of prayer with fasting until the last Sunday in January.
We expected between 40 and 200 people, many more attended. We planned 2 hours and ran over by at least an hour. Our county experienced a tri-county fire that year, we experienced the remarkable mercy of flames scorching homes and amazing photos of the homes being saved. This is the ecumenical Body of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Father God, the prayer that moves all of us is the Father running to the Prodigal Son. When Jesus died, You ran to Him. In this eagerness, we put out our hands, ask for forgiveness in our lack of holiness and look to You eagerly for Your mercy and steadfast Love. Answer our prayers making this life more like the Heaven we look forward towards and help us in each situation to let Your wisdom, mercy and love reign in our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
Psalm 102
13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her;
the appointed time has come.
14 For her stones are dear to your servants;
her very dust moves them to pity.
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Perhaps with prayer and fasting, your prayer requests should come out of the dust bin. For two thousand years, the Church of Jesus Christ has overcome. In Faith, Hope and Love. Let's go forth this year in these same wonderful qualities.
John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
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