Good Friday

Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe.

They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.

Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”

So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.
Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”

When the chief priests and the officers saw Him, the world, you and I cried, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

Jesus Christ came to save sinners. The sinners cried for His death.

The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Matthew 27:12
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.

Mark 14:61
But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"

Mark 15:5
But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

Luke 23:9
He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.


Isaiah 53

6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. 

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. 

8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?

These are the Holy Words of God. The Sadducean Council records record Jesus, those who held His trial at night away from the people, in secrecy. The census of Augustus is found. The Historians of 4 Roman Emperors record Jesus and his brother James and the Christian followers who refuse to leave Jesus - risen. Twice the Roman Historian, taken from Judea, after the 70 A.D. Josephus records Jesus as Christ. Only one of the records is debated. We are comforted by the words of men. God is more Honest. Josephus is the first to call the followers Christians. Several historians who followed Jesus are found in the next century and held in honor.


Jesus spoke 7 times as He died in innocence to ask His Father for His Kingdom to allow pardon for sin. Sheol would no longer contain those Judged correctly by God to be wicked.


Luke 23:34:
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.


Luke 23:43:
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.


John 19:26–27:
Woman, behold your son. Son Behold your mother.


Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34
My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?


John 19:28:
I thirst.


John 19:29-30:
It is finished.


Luke 23:46:
Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.





Forgiveness - God knows I need this.

Salvation - is God's Purpose.

Relationship - God Loves me.

Abandonment - God has lived and understands my fears

Distress - God understands the depth of my immediate needs and concerns.

Triumph - All of the Bible points to Jesus for this day.

Reunion - God runs to His Son. In Jesus Christ I am a Child of God.



How is this night unlike all others?

Acts 8:33
In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.

We are the Family of Jesus Christ. We will speak of Him. His Life was taken from this earth. We will Live for Him.


Father God,
You are Beautiful in what You did on the Cross to save me. When I stand before You, I want to say, "Jesus Christ saved me. Again, and again and again. I did valiantly for You and yet, I required Your Righteousness. Thank You for Your profound Love."

Dwell in my heart more through faith; root me in You, let me be grounded in Your Love, Help me to be able to comprehend with all the saints of earth and Heaven, the breadth and length and height and depth, to Know the Love of Christ! Surpassing knowledge! Please God, fill me up with all the fullness of Your Love.

Help me to stay on Your Path - Your Good Will for a Hope and a Future for me and the people I Love. For those You have given me in my Life. For You to forgive us. Guide us. Lead us. Give us Wisdom from You. Protect and Encourage us, please Father. We pray covered in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves ♰

Matthew 27:54
When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!"

<><

1 Peter 1 ~ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

1 Peter 1

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you!


3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves
but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, 
things into which angels long to look.

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, 
set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 
who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead 
and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love,
 love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 
 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you!

When you talk to the millennial generation, they say - "Hey, that's great Jesus died for me and wants to save the world. And so we remember Easter with bunnies and easter eggs and, hopefully, Church and good lunch. But isn't it kind of sad that Jesus died and the world sorta goes on and all those old guys in robes died pretty young? I mean, it's all good sure, but they all died - that's well, um, not to be rude, but it's sort of bad marketing. Isn't it?"

Honest conversation is a good thing. You learn what gate is closed and what to say.

The Book of Revelation tells us Heaven is 12 Open Gates.

God has an open door policy. Prayer is something God values. 
Everyone should feel comfortable with asking God.
That's one of the reasons there is a class called the "Alpha Course" - ask all the questions you ever wanted.

Look at this passage - this is Peter. The man buried by Emperor Constantine 80 feet under the Vatican alter. The Catholic Church worked for 60 years using architects and biblical scholars to decide the bones of the 62 year old Hebrew were indeed those of Peter. The Church did not want to make a mistake in this announcement.

Peter was a favorite of God's. Peter made a lot of mistakes. Tried to walk on water and fell in. Then denied Jesus and didn't try to walk upon his own righteousness - swimming to meet the Victorious and Living Jesus and have breakfast - where Peter - having obtained Forgiveness from GOD Himself - promptly starts fussing.

Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

I'm sure Peter has more authority in Heaven than the keys to 12 open gates - but with "real" Peter - Jesus might have smiled!

Peter does indeed have a rock to stand upon:

Matthew 16:18 ~ Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church.(Scripture for Today talked about this in greater detail, with more pictures in an earlier post.)

This rock was placed above Peter in the cemetery. The bones around Peter, those other bones are still somewhat preserved, however do not compare to the remains of Peter. The Vatican alter is 80 feet above Peter's tomb that Emperor Constantine surrounded the grave with a pink marble relatively intact from 370 A.D. 

The graffiti commenting on Peter as a servant of God, matches the plaster in Peter's home in Capernaum. Peter's house became a house Church in continual usage.

Jesus was being figuratively true in telling his disciples about Peter being a rock Jesus would build an unborn Church upon. And Jesus was being literally true. Jesus being God, sees very far in the events of the world and our human hearts.



So, they all overcame fear and died young for Jesus.

Well, not exactly. Peter died at age 62. In 62 A.D., this isn't really, really young. Yes, some of the disciples died young. And some died telling of the angels and of Heaven opening to them. They were far more impressed with where they were going - into God's Heavenly Kingdom - and not regular ol' life. What the Disciples record seeing - as Heaven opens - is recorded today when people return from near death experiences. Many people back from these Heavenly experiences are vastly joyful - not for survival - but the incredible joy they have found in discovering God is True. For Real. All those promises - Matter. And are far beyond what we can even - imagine.

So who actually is this letter above addressing?

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.


These are the apostles, of course. The brothers of Jesus are recorded going forth with their wives (yep the old guys with robes where young and married!) The Dispersion is not just Jews who have left Israel - these are the "multitudes" who saw with their own eyes that Jesus raised the young man on the way to be buried in Nain, Judea and saw him alive and well. Not just Lazarus. They knew because they had seen the dead live - that Really and Truly - Jesus Is Alive.

"Multitudes" filled the 36 Acres of the Temple. It's fact based up on historical documents that Passover in the Temple in Jerusalem drew about 2 million people. The records of Temple Purchases are still available. So Multitudes could have very well meant 2 million people - just like the Times Square photo of 2 million people turning out to see the end of World War II.

A letter, perhaps 16 years after the death of Jesus - would have a hard time traveling by boat to reach a few apostles.
16 years is the length of time that the Emperors took - before the Name of Jesus as God - began to bother them with the miracles the size of The Acts of the Apostles. The Emperors began putting to death people and Scripture. For a few years? No, almost 400 years.

Making Papyrus 46
an amazing and perfectly reserved set of 300 chapters of the Scriptures from the time of Disciple John ( -who lived to be verbally fighting lack of faith and making new disciples in the 2nd Century A.D. Really old!) .

Now, John, when you read his Books of the Bible - you cannot help but melt. This is the man who never deserted Jesus except for that itsy - bitsy time he sort of asked to be really important in Heaven and get a good reward.  John walked with awe with Jesus and found God to be... Love! John writes a vast amount of Love and pride in the people he has encountered who walk and serve God.

Peter - when Peter writes of Jesus - you see how much Peter wants to help Jesus. Because with Jesus are the "Words of Life."

So who lived to be old - old? The people who stayed with the ones serving Jesus. John lived to be so old you see why we see 14 generations every 500 years. Forget only the good die young!  Luke stayed to the end with Peter. Mark stayed with Peter. Mark stayed with Timothy with Paul. These men - live to be Really Old. Titus lived to be very old and was very favored as being a loving, loving Christian. Titus was one of the 70 first disciples discussed in the New Testament.

You see - the Christians did not get cut a break for getting Constantine to become Christian and make Christianity "the good deal."  Christians went for loving people to understand God loves them. And this love changed the world.

We don't stand upon our own goodness.

The Disciples were afraid and sinful. When they discovered that "Heaven is For Real" - they found a huge pearl of amazing value - and they began to sell all they could to obtain that Field.

They wanted Jesus to know - that He died and they could receive forgiveness.   And in gratitude and In Love - they want others to know that Jesus Is The Real God.

Father God, God of Love, Live in my heart. I want the adventure of seeing You more and more. Your path for me is a plan of a Hope and a Future. 

Keep me on Your path and help me to discover the unique person You have created in Your Love. Bless me with Your Blessings. Protect me. Help me to be wise. Forgive me. Know all of my variations and shades and sins.

 Because You are about these things You value most in us - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. We love what You love to bring forth. Dwell in me Lord Jesus again. 

Thank You Father God for the movie "Do You Believe?" It's wonderfully, wonderfully done and expresses Your Love so well. In Jesus we always are able to give You one thing You did not give us first - Gratitude. Thank You Father God. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves ♰

1 Timothy 1:15

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners

Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost

Titus 3

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

<><

Jesus ~ our Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous

1 Timothy 2

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all

After Jesus died, The First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. argued how divine was Jesus. Saying Jesus was not divine. This is, of course, reprehensible. Jesus is perfectly described in the Bible and we understand how Jesus was before Abraham. Jesus records He was there and laughed at the joy of creation in Proverbs.

Father God, ours through the free gift of Jesus, for those who believe in in Jesus as the Son of God, know God wanted something from choosing to walk among us as Life, Light, Grace, He created all things.

God wanted to know what we feel like as we journey through life. Jesus cried out from the Cross, not to be forsaken. Jesus was dying, according to doctors of the profound shock at abandonment of His brothers, His disciples, and His favor. Jesus came to Save Mankind. And as mercy goes He did not suffocate on the Cross but died of a broken heart - much faster than the usual suffocation of crucifixion.

Jesus knew there were times when God's Spirit was with Him and in that power - He amazingly "healed them all."

With the certainty of knowing He could call down Angel's Holy Armies to Save Him - Jesus willingly opened his arms on the Cross to save us. This is divine faith. Jesus us showed us with complete certainty He is a man and God of emotion and moods that tell us of His personality.


John 15:9-11
Jesus said, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

Matthew 14:14
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Matthew 11:28
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Mark 10:21
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Jesus didn't try to be less than human
by shielding Himself from grief and pain. He allowed Himself to suffer these normal human emotions.

With this human life of joy, love, praise, healing, compassion ~
Jesus felt pain, sorrow, suffering, fear, doubt and died by being literally broken hearted; Mayo clinic doctors put up a website analyzing all of Jesus physical manifestations of His Sacrifice.
Jesus knew what it was to doubt His Sacrifice and be apart from His Father. Jesus knew about our doubts - He lived and died them in bravery.

Jesus knows Life and Our Lives.

John tells us when Jesus saw Mary weeping over Lazarus' death, "He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled." As Mary and Martha were taking Jesus to the body of Lazarus, "Jesus wept." He didn't try, as we all do in times of sorrow, to be outwardly "strong" and hide or deny His feelings. His strength showed through His tears. He had the strength to care enough to weep.

Jesus also wept over Jerusalem as He longed to gather us as chicks under His wings and set things right.

Jesus lived the Scripture words -  "Be Angry" and, being God, He did not sin.

John 2:15-16
"So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves He said, 'Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" 



Jesus even comforted the Disciples regarding His death - knowing - they would desert Him.

John 16:32-33
As Jesus prepared to leave His disciples in death He told them, "But a time is coming and has come, when you will be scattered, each to His own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus had emotions in healing. A drive to heal.




Jesus is filled with love and compassion  for those who earnestly seek Him.

Mark 7 
Immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

Zacchaeus climbed the sycamore tree and certainly knew when you earnestly seek Jesus - you have found His Love and Salvation.

 


Jesus has the Power of God.

Luke 6
19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

Luke 5
17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

Jesus had grave worries in the Garden of Gethsemane. He asked for comfort of companionship and was failed then as well. Jesus knew loneliness.

Jesus told us to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.

God was living our life and He learned of bleak in, "There was no room for them in the Inn."
How God must have hurt to see as His Child would be born in a barn.


We do not live with peace all the time on this earth. When we have that - that is a gift. When we can obtain not to worry - that is a treasured Gift.

Elijah despaired life seemed bleak - God did not go huffy about that.
Moses turned God down. 
Peter could not walk on water in front of Victorious Jesus. Stunning.

God says if you can obtain the lack of worry, this is as excellent as Jesus in the boat. And He honors that with this calm being a fruit of the Spirit.

How is super calm going to weep with those who weep and rejoice with rejoicers?

Jesus wept
Jesus worried on the cross as He died of heart failure.  Jesus wanted to know our lives fully.

God hid Himself some from Jesus. Jesus' words tell us this. Jesus told God this is being mortal. He walked our shoes.
God Loves us.

JESUS is Indeed OUR MEDIATOR. Jesus volunteered and walked this life - fully.

This is the JOY.
God does not sit and scold many times in the Bible but He spoke honestly. Who groveled before God? Hannah and she was thought  to be drunk.

Thank You Father God, for Your tremendous sacrifice in Jesus. You have written Your Word that we see Jesus as fully like us - human. Until Jesus suddenly displays Himself to Be Your Son throughout the Bible. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves ♰

Jeremiah 33:8

I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.

1 John 2:1

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

1 Timothy 2

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all

<><

Jeremiah 15:10-21 ~ Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land!

Jeremiah 15:10-21

10 Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me. 11 The Lord said, “Have I not set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you before the enemy in the time of trouble and in the time of distress? 12 Can one break iron, iron from the north, and bronze?

13 “Your wealth and your treasures I will give as spoil, without price, for all your sins, throughout all your territory. 14 I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.”

15 O Lord, you know;
remember me and visit me,
and take vengeance for me on my persecutors.
In your forbearance take me not away;
know that for your sake I bear reproach.

16 Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name,
O Lord, God of hosts.

17 I did not sit in the company of revelers,
nor did I rejoice;
I sat alone, because your hand was upon me,
for you had filled me with indignation.
18 Why is my pain unceasing,
my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?
Will you be to me like a deceitful brook,
like waters that fail?

19 Therefore thus says the Lord:
“If you return, I will restore you,
and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall be as my mouth.
They shall turn to you,
but you shall not turn to them.

20 And I will make you to this people
a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
to save you and deliver you,
declares the Lord.

21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.

J

Jeremiah had some very difficult times. Some of this Scripture passage reminds us of Jesus. A prophet is a man of God, however this prophet never takes the place of Jesus. Never does any prophet do what Jesus Christ the Lord has done.

Like Peter, Jeremiah decided in the first chapter he would skip the Lord's employment.

Jesus is the Son - The Son of God - Jesus is willing.
Jeremiah and Moses and Peter were told from time to time that they missed the mark for Holiness.

Jesus alone is Good.

Look how many times Jeremiah is told he is going to be saved.


Jeremiah 1
18 And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.

Jeremiah 30
10'Fear not, O Jacob My servant,' declares the LORD, 'And do not be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar And your offspring from the land of their captivity. And Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease, And no one will make him afraid. 11'For I am with you,' declares the LORD, 'to save you; For I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, Only I will not destroy you completely. But I will chasten you justly And will by no means leave you unpunished.'

Jeremiah believed and acted upon what Father God was telling him - from prison.

Jeremiah 33
33 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard: 2 “Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: 3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Jeremiah 39
17But I will deliver you on that day, declares the Lord, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.’”

Jeremiah 46
27 “But fear not, O Jacob my servant,
nor be dismayed, O Israel;
for lo, I will save you from afar,
and your offspring from the land of their captivity.
Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease,
and none shall make him afraid.

Luke 23:34

Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus believed and acted upon what God told Him. As a Son - He allowed Judas to be chosen. As a Son - He was born in manger. As a Son - He was scolded for being in God's Temple - built for Jesus. As a Son - He chose Capernaum and did not have a house for Himself.

Philippians 2:6-11

Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God.

He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.

And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross.

Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name,

so that at the Name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


Jesus took our sins and bore our illnesses. Our sins that separated us from God. As a Gift.

What God has done for His beloved Children is far more than He has asked of us.

Galatians 4
6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

John 19:26
When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" 27Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour the disciple took her into his own household."

John 20:17
Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

♔ Lord Jesus Saves ♰

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Romans 10:4

Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes

<><

Ecclesiastes 11 ~ The grace of God

Ecclesiastes 11

Cast your bread upon the waters,
for you will find it after many days.

2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight,
for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
3 If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.

6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Other interpretations say "Ship your grain across the sea;
after many days you may receive a return."

Cast your bread upon the waters is more of what Elisha did to see if he had obtained Elijah's Blessing from God. We put our hand to our job - our task - and grow more self controlled. More mature, More steady. Older. 

A gamble to place your trust other than in Jesus. God providing a path for us every day. Letting God sustain us. Jesus calms the wind and the waves. Jesus is God.  Jesus, we pray every day, to direct our lives in His Will.

This involves how we will treat one another.

This Scripture Passage is excellent to explain the Vast Encompassing of the Holy Spirit sent to dwell inside of those who believe Jesus is Lord. Solomon is considered to be the Wisest of all Kings. And he explains the lack of hope in Sheol. A place of the dead.

Life is vanity without the hope Jesus gives us. This passage clearly shows in King Solomon the difference of the old Sheol. The people fighting like the Pharisees and Sadducees over a hope and a future.  The meaningless of life. In Jesus, we are the Easter People. The Beloved of God who believe Jesus has come and has set us Free in Him.

Holy Week. Jesus is our Victory over Death and Sin - Jesus changed the World.

1 Corinthians 15

The grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, 
that God may be all in all.

Jesus the Lord, our Victory.

Jeremiah 12
15 And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them, and I will bring them again each to his heritage and each to his land. 16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves ♰

Colossians 1:27
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.





<><

Matthew 6:9-13 ~ Our Father

Matthew 6:9-13

.

9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.

10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day
 our daily bread,

12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil

For thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. Forever and ever. Amen. In Jesus Christ the Lord.


Today is the one Day Jesus was treated as God's Son on earth. And I missed Church because Edward asked me time and again to go with him to the Texas State's Championship and we went to see Edward play in that. DG is a good time to pray and think about lessons and thoughts Jesus gives. It doesn't take the place of Church and I will be listening to our Church Sermon on line later today.

When I pray, I always start out with the Lord's Prayer. Today I was struck with the idea that the Lord's Prayer is a conversation Jesus is having as He tells the Disciples about prayer. Remember with me Jesus said He was not, on earth, informed of all of God's plans for the earth. And yesterday I read Jesus knew He was filled with the Father's Spirit and Jesus healed them all. Jesus did this massive healing several times, but not all the Chapters record this abundance of healing.

Is it possible, wonder with me - Jesus said I see a new Heaven, where Satan is falls out like lightning. Is this New Prayer reminding His Father - like a proud Son - of God's Will Accomplished. Jesus reminds Abba that Jesus is providing the Sacrifice to make His Father's Kingdom in Justice and Mercy able to distinguish between being the Place of the dead - Sheol. And the Home of God's Grace and Mercy in Forgiveness - Holy.

Jesus told us how much He walked our lives on earth - as He willingly opened His arms on the cross for me. And for you. He asked His Father why He was forsaken.Then calling forth His Power to dismiss His Spirit to God.

Jesus is re inviting God to have His Will continued on earth. He understands what we, just people, feel about our importance and the need for our Father God.  A good thing Jesus reminds us about our need and His compassion for all of us, I'd say. 

Reminding us God's mercies renew daily - this is a New Day for the Bread of Life. What an aroma the bread sacrifice made in the Temple. Jesus says He is our Bread of Life.  Our sins are covered by the Sacrifice of God's Holy Son - Innocent and Blameless. Jesus prays for us in John 17

Jesus is praying for us. The Lord's Prayer is NOT a little prayer - nice enough. This is The Word Of God Almighty In His Son Jesus Christ the Lord. A Powerful Prayer. God's Word.

Clearly, this prayer when recognized for this being like Jesus - the Word of God - we have prayed for some of the most important matters for our lives in eternity. 

God is recognized as Holy Father - Authority - we recognize like Jeremiah - His Will for us is good. We find reasons to find blessings in this very day and in sufficiency and in God being our Bread of Life. Forgiveness of our sins as God's gift. Reminding us forgiveness is the path forward.  Jesus prays for temptation to be out of our path. Jesus prays for us to be delivered from evil. This covers tremendous and far reaching ground. We are covered in the Lord's Prayer  - God's Word. Covered in the name of Jesus.

It has the Sacrifice unearned for us. Our Eternal Life. A Gift from our Father.

John 17
13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.


Notice this ties to John 17. Jesus knows about temptation. He has experienced the most powerful temptation in the Universe. Jesus is saying in John 17 and the Lord's Prayer that He has asked God to cover us as Jesus returns to Heaven. We are kept in God's Word. His Will. This is major league important in the earnestness of the Actions of Jesus.

Jesus is making sure we are not deserted. In His name we are kept eternally in God. Thank God. Thank You Jesus Christ.

Ray Stedman says this more eloquently that I:

Christ is the ground of your righteous standing before God, your acceptance before Him. If you are wearing that "breastplate," you can rest secure that your heart, your emotions, are securely guarded and adequately protected against attack. This is perhaps the most frequent ground of attack against Christian faith. Christians often feel they lack assurance. They feel unworthy of God. They feel they are a failure in the Christian life and that God is certain to reject them, that He is no longer interested in them. They are so aware of their failures and shortcomings. Growth has been so slow. The first joy of faith has faded, and they feel God is angry with them or that He is far off somewhere. There is a constant sense of guilt. Their conscience is always stabbing them, making them unhappy. They feel God blames them. This is simply a satanic attack.

How do you answer an attack like this? You are to remember that you have put on the breastplate of righteousness. In other words, you do not stand on your own merits. You never did. You never had anything worthwhile in yourself to offer to God. You gave all that up when you came to Christ. You quit trying to be good enough to please God. You came on His merits. You came on the ground of His imputed righteousness—that which He gives to you. You began your Christian life like that, and there is no change now. You are still standing before God on that basis.

Paul himself used this breastplate of righteousness when he was under pressure to be discouraged and defeated. Here was a man who was small of stature and unimpressive in his personal appearance. His background was anti-Christian, and Paul could never get away from that completely. Paul had been the most hostile, brutal persecutor of the church that it had known. Paul must constantly have run across families with loved ones whom he had put to death. Paul was often reminded by many people that he was not one of the original twelve apostles, that his calling was suspect, that perhaps he really was not an apostle at all.

What a ground for discouragement! How easy it would have been for Paul to say to himself, "What's the use? Here I am working my fingers to the bone, making tents and trying to preach the gospel to these people, and look at the blessing God has brought them, but they don't care. They hurl recriminations back into my face. Why try anymore?" But that is not what Paul does. Instead, Paul says, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not without effect" (1 Corinthians 15: l0a). There Paul is using the breastplate of righteousness. "I don't care," Paul says, "what I have been; I am forgiven. I don't defend what I am. I simply say to you, by the grace of God, I am what I am. What I am is what Christ has made me. I'm not standing on my righteousness; I'm standing on His. I am accepted by grace, and my personal situation does not make any difference at all." So Paul's heart was kept from discouragement.


Father may these words meet me right where I am and help me right in the conflict in which I am engaged. Lift up my heart by the consciousness that Christ is my righteousness. This Holy Week, now and always. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves ♰
 

Matthew 28:20

Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

 <><