The Cathedral of Basil the BlessedMatthew 12
35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet.”’
37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
The large crowd listened to him with delight.
Luke 2:52
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
The real Jesus has personality, Joy in Healing and delights in His People. Jesus shows us His Nature.
This is why Large Crowds saw Jesus raise the son of the Widow of Nain - her despair and need were the basis of the Multitudes of Believers storming into the Temple when Jesus was found to be Alive. Their Witness. The need only for Joy - when Jesus raised a leader of the Synagogue's daughter - privately. Jesus didn't need the political pull - this was for this man's pain and his request to Jesus.
Not all the hearers of Jesus delighted in him. Jesus was known to see right into a Person and be able to tell us exactly what was what. Jesus is the Light of the World. And He is Truth with Grace upon Grace!
Here is an evangelical challenge -What if you had to preach to Ivan the Terrible?
A Very Important and Striking aspect of Evangelism is this
- What about God do we Love?
This is Exactly how we convey Jesus the Lord to the ones we Love. The Gospel is received with Love in our Souls.
An aspect of God appealing to Ivan was Truth and was a Love for the People. Ivan wanted people not to be afraid of him. Basil was honest - Loving - bold.
Known as the Cathedral of Basil the Blessed, a Russian Orthodox Cathedral, it is the geometric center of Moscow since the 14th century. Built by Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible), it contains eight side churches arranged around the ninth, the tenth church was erected in 1588 over the grave of venerated Basil - Fool for Christ. Basil lived:
Proverbs 16:7
When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
Basil was an apprentice shoemaker in Moscow, but became a shoplifter. He gave to the poor to shame the miserly and help those in need. He rebuked Ivan the Terrible for not paying attention in church, and for his violent behavior towards the innocent.
Most of the time, admonishing anyone with name "the Terrible" wasn’t such a good idea, but apparently Ivan had a soft spot for the holy fool (as Basil was also known) and ordered a Church to be built in his name after Basil died. When Basil died on August 2, 1557,
Ivan the Terrible himself acted as pallbearer and carried his coffin to the cemetery.
Ivan appreciated being boldly told to be merciful and be a servant of Christ Jesus. Ivan appreciated Basil for living Basil's mercy, admonition and Love.
Basil - MUST have met with timing only sent by the Lord Father God Almighty, because the rest of Ivan the Terrible's reign was marked by a violent spiral downward. Basil's life was remembered as a servant of Jesus Christ and inspired many, including Ivan the Terrible's son.
What would have inspired a man to take on Ivan the Terrible?
Ivan had a Terrible Childhood. To read the summaries of Ivan's life is to disregard the full instruction of a man struggling to do the right thing in the 15th century. The rules were different. Ivan actually had a first wife the summaries disregard. Ivan judged her to be insane and weirdly judgmental - instead of killing her or putting her in a terrible mental institution - he had her put in a nunnery where he figured she had a chance.
Ivan traveled to France after one of the wars ended and he met young Charles IX of France. He saw how suppressed Charles IX was by his mother as regent. He lifted the young king in his arms and strolled out of the Court to explain to Charles, like Russia, France must offer hope and jobs and a way just for the people of the land. He was quite kind to the king and felt real empathy for him. Catherine the Great modeled some of her governmental ideas of trying to bring prosperity to the people based upon this man.
Basil did not just renounce Ivan as a Person.
Basil saw the chance of goodness in Ivan.
Basil, because of his Love, felt like there was a chance to reach Ivan.
Basil was seeing the good in Ivan. With Love.
Basil's life, giving to the poor, may have inspired the legends of Robin Hood 100 to 200 years later. Ivan the Terrible's son, Feodor commissioned more towers to be built, 30 years later, around Basil's grave and the Cathedral that became known as Basil's Cathedral.
Father God, teach us daily to speak the aspects of God into the hearts of the ones we Love.
Help us to remember all the time -Jesus is God's Living Word. Today, Jesus our God is Living and active bringing wonders to us. I had a bad dream and the phone made a sweet noise and I realized my dream was silly. Thank You for Your mercy God. Jesus brings us life and light.
Father God talkers of God just talk. When we show, today, exactly like the Early Church - the salvation of God is truly Love we have aspects to reveal in our actions. You have said "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 7:21
"An expert in the law stood up to test Him, saying, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?""What is written in the law?" He asked him. "How do you read it?"He answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."You've answered correctly," He told him. "Do this and you will live."- Luke 10: 25-28
Jesus tells us loving kindness reveals Salvation.
"I have not come to condemn the world, but to save it." John 3:17 Jesus has Bold Words.
"Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more."- John 8:11 Jesus conveys Himself as God.
Father God, We are supposed to sacrifice ourselves like Queen Victoria picked up her finger bowl and drank as her guest did. God says He honors mercy over religious sacrifice. We speak words of blessings for those You disagree with the most.
Ephesians 3:12 Jesus, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. Jesus LIVES!
2 Corinthians 3:12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold
Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness
Abba,We will Gather, Father
We will be filled with the Holy Spirit and pray for appropriate boldness of the Early Church's Love.
We ask Your Blessing for Our Freedom of Speech and we ask for Jesus to Live Giving Truth and Grace upon Grace. Lord Please Bless Our Nation.
We pray that All Churches open the doors every single day to open in Worship and Food and Fellowship as the Book of Acts suggests. When Jesus blesses fish and bread because He does - if we open the Doors of the Church every single day expecting God - He Will Be There.
We pray the opportunity to bring one Person to Church this year
and that they meet the Living God for the first time.
We have no verse we can point to telling us to Judge someone for God. Father God grow the hearts of those we Love to say: Lord God, You Love Me. Thank You. In Jesus, we Rejoice.
The Nation who relies upon God - will not be disappointed.
Jesus Saves. Amen.
Jesus the God of ALL.
Jesus, we pray Life and healing
Joy and Love in Harby and their children.
Jesus, God of Encouragement.
Jesus, Hope and Future.
Jesus the Lord
saves the world
Amen.
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