Imagine the first week after the first Easter, where the Parables of Jesus were explained as His Glory is Revealed. Death cannot hold Jesus the Lord.
Luke 10:21-24
21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
Remember with me, Jesus did not explain the parables to the crowd. Jesus explained His Parables to His Disciples. Multitudes and multitudes came to the Temple - Josephus said this would be 1.2 million people based upon the average Holy Day Attendance in the Temple in Jerusalem.
Imagine, after the Easter of Jesus' Triumph - the crowds learning there was far more to Jesus than free bread and fish.
Isaiah 30:18
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
The multitudes were learning this as the Generation of Jesus.
Isaiah 65:23
They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them.
Matthew 16:16,17
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven."
Christianity isn't a religion; it is a relationship. Christianity is not a philosophy; its approach to life is concrete. When Jesus was born the angels didn't send out a Coca-Cola commercial guaranteed to make us feel good. It wasn't like a Christmas card saying, " Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men."
No, what the angels said, as messengers of God Almighty, was:
Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom He is well pleased.
How did Abraham please God?
Romans 4:2-4 (New American Standard Bible)
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Faith made Abraham the pick of God. Belief. Abraham got on his feet and he went. He expected God to be good and he argued with God for other people to be allowed to live. He argued with God to bless his illegitimate son. Abraham was one who believed God was so large He could bless everyone - rather like Jacob having to take his blessing and then return the blessing to all his sons and a few of his grandsons.
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
Consider the shepherds,
called forth by God, they heard the message and what did they do? Why are these characters in the field chosen?
Luke 2
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child."
We who grew up with the Bible knew of God's abundant love for a shepherd boy overlooked by his own father. A boy who defended sheep. And thought so much of an anointing of God that a child stepped up to kill a warrior giant. Who fled a jealous king to become a mercenary. Still trying to find the Holy path as he lived in a ditch.
Why did God bless and choose His Only Son to be this oddly lived life in remembrance?
Acts 13:22
And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'
Father God, Thank You for Your Steadfast Love. Bless the People who Love.
In Jesus. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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