Matthew 4:14-25 ~ the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great Light

Matthew 4:14-25

So that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,  Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 

24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 

25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.



Luke 24
Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 And he said to them, “What things?”

And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people"


Josephus estimated the population at 1,100,000. With Jews from around the Mediterranean bringing the population up to 2 million during High Holy Days. That would make the feeding of the thousands - easy. For God.

What did Jesus see when He fed 5,000 people; what does that size crowd look like - something we can use to call this to mind:

What did the people see?

Jesus healed all. The Scriptures repeat the incredible healing Jesus does. Today too. We tend to see it like this:

Now the view explaining why the Roman Emperors feared Jesus for 360 years... is more like this:

 

Jesus on the ship speaking to the crowds that threatened to crush Him, until He sat on the boat.

Now, what did Jesus see when He healed and had compassion on the people - seeing as Jesus could see - their faith:

Ezekiel 12:23
Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.' Say to them, 'The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled.'

Habakkuk 1:5
Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days-- You would not believe if you were told.

Jesus the Christ, the only Son of God, our Messiah, our Lord God, our Righteousness, our Savior -

~ they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.

Jesus could see. Clearly see. Jesus saw a world being saved because of what Jesus, our righteous Redeemer, did and His desire for the earth He called Good so many times.

Revelations 21

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.




Our Abba,

The Holiness of God is seen in Jesus.

Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
Romans 3:21

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
1 John 2:1

Father, what the eyes of Your Son Jesus beheld. And Jesus said even more blessed are we the generation that did not see, and yet believe. We are blessed to read Your Word every day. The Bible in our hand came with enormous costs. Thank You for the Way, the Truth and the Life in Jesus Christ God.

What Jesus has given us. as God made Manifest as Grace upon Grace. From His fullness we have all received.

9 “ No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians 2

We thank Jesus for faith we want His help to walk in. God You Yourself have said faith is unseen. And faith is the work You give to us. Thank You, Abba, Jesus and Holy Spirit so many historical documents, papyrus and archaeology show us You are the Living God.

We place our cares with You, Father God. We place our loved ones with You. Help us to Live Your Plan of Goodness, Hope and Future in You We Thank You. Amen always in Jesus.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Amos 9:5-15 ~ Who builds his upper chambers in the heavens and founds his vault upon the earth

Amos 9:5-15

The Lord God of hosts,
he who touches the earth and it melts,
and all who dwell in it mourn,
and all of it rises like the Nile,
and sinks again, like the Nile of Egypt


6 Who builds his upper chambers in the heavens
and founds his vault upon the earth;

who calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out upon the surface of the earth—
the Lord is his name!

7 “Are you not like the Cushites to me,
O people of Israel?” declares the Lord.
“Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt,
and the Philistines from Caphtor
 and the Syrians from Kir?

8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom,
and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground,
except 
that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,”
declares the Lord.

9 “For behold, I will command,
and shake the house of Israel among all the nations
as one shakes with a sieve,
but no pebble shall fall to the earth.
10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword,
who say, ‘Disaster shall not overtake or meet us.’

11 “In that day I will raise up
the booth of David that is fallen
and repair its breaches,
and raise up its ruins
and rebuild it as in the days of old,
12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations who are called by my name,”
declares the Lord who does this.

13 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when the plowman shall overtake the reaper
and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed;
the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
and all the hills shall flow with it.

14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel,
and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine,
and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.

15 I will plant them on their land,
and they shall never again be uprooted
out of the land that I have given them,”
says the Lord your God.

God does this! HE is a giver, a bringer, a maker of blessings! Who can do it! The Great I Am has determined to do it! God's Power of Whose Grace is engaged for doing this mighty work! Verses 13 to 15- when are these days? - In the awakening of the Holy Spirit within us - And - Possible in each day.

Interesting - we ask how is it fair we have the land of America. We ask how is it fair for the Palestinians to be oppressed in Dubai and other places - what do they have. And God says in verse 7 we all spring from different places.

People say they want blessings - and we are made to adapt. 

We can adjust to lack of blessings and find joy - however - we work the other way too. 
We adapt to being blessed and become fussy blessing reivers. 

Abraham was a fussy blessing receiver. 
David did far better being a dodge-Israel mercenary-for-hire, than a king in a palace.

We can see ourselves as unblessed for a season, but even in unblessing God will find a way. God will find a way. God will find a way.  Think with Him.

So in seasons of downturn, "We git what we git, don't throw a fit." Seek the Lord.

This is a Very Large Topic  reacting to God's blessings. A God sized topic.

Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph bears a grudge?"


ACTS OF GOD

A. This gives there - is - a reason to fear.
B. This gives them acknowledgment they are in the power of Joseph. Stuck.
C. They are as paralyzed as the man in front of Jesus in Mark 2. Stuck.

D. This group of people has been known to have - Envy. This will effectively end the joy of forgiveness. A joy to envy. End Joy.

E. This helps them to deal with their guilt over Joseph. Why would he even want to be near them?

F. They might try to make this push this around their way. (Like saying why does Joseph get to do this and why does Egypt have grain to feed them. Instead of dealing with what is. If you have no solution - whine in a new direction to distract.)

In Mark 2, this is the Pharisees judging Jesus' followers.

F. This could be a group panic. And calls for the group to be polite and wait and see. This is called the Fruit of the Holy Spirit - Forbearance.  A mark of maturity.





Aren't the Good Works of God to provide Joy?

Jacob had been hugely blessed of God by all his workings, yet Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed Esau came to meet him with 400 men; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; for he said, "If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape."


Wisdom. God is asking us to use our thoughts to learn what is likely. And to realize so much of life is beyond what we do and is handed to us. If we should deal with things as they are and not be in a fog or merry making. Or dour.  Balancing ourselves to surf and plan.

Israel in the Exodus - Deuteronomy 1:32-33
"But for all this, you did not trust the LORD your God, who goes before you on your way, to seek out a place for you to encamp, in fire by night and cloud by day, to show you the way in which you should go"

The Children of Israel worried.

2 Kings 17:14-15
However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God. They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers and His warnings with which He warned them And they followed vanity and became vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which the LORD had commanded them not to do like them

Matthew 19:22
But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

John 2:24
But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men

God tells us where all good things come from:

Psalm 44
O God, we have heard with our ears,
our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations,
but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
but them you set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land,
nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
and the light of your face,
for you delighted in them.

4 You are my King, O God;
ordain salvation for Jacob!

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

For all the millenniums the refrain has been - do we trust God's Word to believe upon His Word?

Do we want to be guided by young ideas in our own head? No one is Ancient of Days, but Almighty God.

And who has dealt with millenniums of people trying to grasp their mortality, their worries, their desire to help loved ones.

God has dealt with human nature since Genesis.

The basis of all worry around leaning upon God... is God still working?

Will He care what happens to me or is significant terribly to my life now?

Will God change His mind?


Jesus looked at all He knew of the human race and He decided He would Save us. A point to ponder on days of rough wind, ocean and sky. How is this the wind and ocean obey?

We need to ride our storms as God would have us do. The indwelling of God within us. Following the ways of Jesus.

Taking what we want and asking God - how is this pleasing to You?

Hebrews 11:6
Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him, must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.


God will take what is unclear and when we hold up the Righteousness of God - all begins to flow to Truth. And when we get to Truth, we reach the Straight Path. And in this core sincerity - we being to uncover what John Learned.  God Is Love.   When we reach Abba is Love, we begin to trust God and we are able to Let God do His Work. His Will. And we find His Will is Good for us and others. The upbuilding of the Body of Christ.


Abba, 

We ask Jesus to be with us and in us in Your Holy Spirit dwelling within us.

We ask in Jesus for wisdom. We will rest our cares upon You We will believe You. And we will find the blessings of each day and find our gratitude.

Help us do Your Path in manner pleasing to You, Abba. Pleasing to Your Spirit. Pleasing to Jesus and we will please You   with trying.

Thank You Father God for blessings.  We ask in Jesus, who gives us Grace. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Psalm 92 ~ For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.

Psalm 92

A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath.

1 It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High,
2 proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,
3 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.

4 For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.

5 How great are your works, LORD, how profound your thoughts!

6 Senseless people do not know, fools do not understand, 7 that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.8 But you, LORD, are forever exalted. 9 For surely your enemies, LORD, surely your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.

10 You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured on me.

11 My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes

12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13 planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 

14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”





The peace passing all understanding. Is the truth. And yet, Father God does not intend for us to stay in peace. How can we say this. Because this life has a purpose - to be presented with emotions, hardships, good times, joy, tears, fears and pressure. To do what He wills with this life - to grow up.

Did Mary rejoice in Father God. She did. And she left home for months.

Did Gideon? He was in complete fear and demanded more signs.

Did Zechariah rejoice in the plans of God? Zechariah - a priest standing with Archangel Gabriel displaying attitude for,  probably, the hardship of being childless. Feeling as if he had an injustice put upon a godly man.

The man at the Pool of Bethsaida had been there 38 years and he tattled on Jesus to the authorities. Jesus diligently kept doing what God wanted Him to do and we see Jesus moved on to the town of Bethsaida to heal again.

Leaning into the acts of God.  Believing God draws all things to Him in His timing.

These are not the unknowing of God. These are the people of God encountering God and being forgetful, as I have done, of trusting God and pleasing God. We all have done this and need to put more into looking to God and His goodness.




The point of life is to make a path with God, who knows our flaws and weaknesses, still there. God says we are sinners. We work with mercy, expecting mercy, giving mercy - working on staying on the Path of His Plan. If we stay in bitterness or upset, we fall to bitterness and end up being the people we would really dislike being - the nine healed lepers who had no gratitude for God. The man who was healed after 38 years without awe and reverence.

Wouldn't we all want to be the woman  healed from 12 years of suffering, the woman who had the initiative to hold on to Jesus.

As always, the idea is to be centered on Jesus. Bridges are important and built on the expectation of mercy. Blessed are the merciful, they shall receive mercy. Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan to exist under God's Banner. The Banner over us says, "God's Love." God wants us to be fruitful - stewing over injustice isn't fruitful. We positiion ourselves to have Joy.

In studies of happiness, we speak with God with sincerity. And let Him have our hurts. He would even place them in His Hand and knowing they are well cared for. His storehouse has more joys - all His Promises. And we bounce with life, letting God's Will be the motivator, inspiration and joy. Forgiveness is part of believing God. Trusting God. God is in charge.




Our focus -

~ Singing to find joy

~ Finding His mercies renew. Waking up in the morning looking for His Mercies.

~ Sleep.

Proverbs 3:24
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.


Works of God have this

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

The Exodus was a work of God. Life is a work of God's.

Believing His Thoughts are higher than we see.

John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.



When we believe God, we have comfort.

John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

John 16:13
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 14:16
I will give you another Helper, to be with you forever



Abba, Abba, Abba,

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

We lean upon You with Confidence in Jesus. Asking You to hold our cares. Provide good fruit in life and we grow there and produce Spiritual maturity. Pleasing to You and Your Plans.

Bless those we Love. Surround them with Your Love and Help. Thank You Father for Your many, many good gifts and the Love You give. In Jesus, Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Mark 16:1-8 ~ they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away

Mark 16:1-8

¹ When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. ² Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³ and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

⁴ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 

⁶ “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” 

⁸ Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

 
Jesus had gone on.  The Good News would go forth.

By the Will of God.

For 4 centuries, the fragile papyrus of Scripture would be destroyed. Today, we can go to the store and just purchase a Bible - something many people have died to bring us.

Lives were allowed to be sacrificed,  for many more to hear the saving hope in Jesus' Love.

Because Jesus died for us. And our faith in Him, is so important. We have this list.

 The Roman Colosseum was build by the gold from the destruction of Jerusalem and The Temple of God in 81 A. D.

When Jesus died, Claudius was Emperor of Rome. It was Claudius who imprisoned Paul, the first time. In the remote, far away country of Judea, the name of Jesus Christ and His promises and His Word, created unease for Claudius. Imagine this could occur in the time there were no mass methods of communication. It is historical fact. 16 years after the death of Jesus. Claudius has gone from prominence to being an enigma in history.

Jesus Christ has gone forth.

Claudius – Imprisoned Christians. Reigned 25 -54 AD. Emperor during the death and resurrection of Jesus. Imprisoned Paul, for his first imprisonment, house arrest.

Nero – Tortured, burned and vilified Christians. Blamed them for burning Rome . 54- 68 AD

Galba – Put St. Paul and others to death. 69 AD

Otho & Vittelius– only 4 months as Emperor

Vespasian – Sent Titus to destroy Jerusalem in 70 AD, it was the natural end time of Jesus’ life. It is said it is the prophecies Jesus spoke of, His forgiveness was given to the people of His generation. In that destruction, the Temple of the Jews has not been built in 2,000 years. (In 300 A.D, a third temple had the materials gathered, but earthquake, war and fire put an end to that.) Jewish Sacrifice has not been practiced for 2,000 years, it is forsaken. The Jews don’t even know why. God said Jesus was the sacrifice for you.

Titus – See Arch of Titus, still standing, in Rome today. The Temple Tools minus the Ark of the Covenant, is carved in the marble. The profit from the sack of Jerusalem is used for the Coliseum. The Coliseum was used to burn Christians until Constantine naively adopted Christianity thinking Christians would be model citizens. Still a triumph for the 1,100 Bishops, Priests, Christians proclaiming Jesus Christ for 300 years even if they would be burned alive for it.

Domitian – Hauled St. John from Ephesus and exiled him to Patmos. Continued to be fearful of Christians. Conducted one of the fiercest battles against Christians. Under Domitan, the Church split in half. Domitan Heresy - the Church is only for saints. Domitan tortured until Christians surrendered every fragment of the Gospels and New Testament he could find. 81-96. Because of Domitan – we have the word traitor . Part of the Church wanted to forever exile anyone who lied to get out of torture or gave up Scripture. Forgiveness is the business of the Church and Jesus Christ.

Because of Domitan, we only have 15 fragments of the Gospel before 96 AD. But these portions exist and date to 30 AD. Hebrews 9 tells us when Paul wrote Hebrews, the Second Temple is in operation.

+

The Love of Jesus Christ opening His arms to slaves, lepers, women, the poor, the wife of the steward of Herod’s household, Nicodemus of the Sanhedrin Council and Josephus. Ian Wilson records a letter from a Jewish rabbi, of Lyracanthra, saying it would be the end of Judaism because of the incredible miracles of healing, restoration, life transformation and complete hope. These are letters confirming the Gospels show the Rabbi to be extremely unhappy. Josephus, the Israeli General turned traitor, turned Historian says Jesus was the Christ and his brother James formed the later Christian Church until martyred in 62 AD.

Trajan (c. 53 - 117) Philosopher Pliny the Younger's letter to Trajan on the subject of the Christians and the response of Trajan to Pliny the Younger. On Early Christian Writings. How to torture Christians to discredit the claims of Jesus Christ.

Hadrian (c. 76 - 138) Foxe's Book of Martyrs -- Persecution Under Trajen...... The forenamed authors, Antoninus and Equilius

Antoninus Pius (c. 86 - 161) Instead of stirring up persecution against the Christians, he extended to them the strong hand of his protection throughout the empire. Rather than give occasion to that oppression which he regarded as inseparable from an emperor's progress through his dominions, he was content to spend all the years of his reign in Rome, or its neighborhood. Under his patronage the science of jurisprudence was cultivated by men of high ability, and a number of humane and equitable enactments were passed in his name. 161 – 180 166 Christian persecution returned - The period was one of ever-increasing calamities. The earthquakes which had alarmed Asia under Antoninus were but the prelude to more serious convulsions. The Tiber rose to an unprecedented height and swept away the public granaries. This was followed by a famine, and that by a pestilence, which spread from Egypt and Ethiopia westward. Everywhere on the frontiers there were murmurs of insurrection or invasion. The year 166 was long known as the "annus calamitosus," and it was in that year that the persecution broke out and that Justin suffered. These calamities roused the superstition of the great mass of the people, and a wild fanaticism succeeded to an epicurean atheism. The gods were wrath, and what had roused their anger but the presence of those who denied them?

Marcus Aurelius (c. 121 - 180) The Thundering Legion incident (174)

During the war with the Quadi in 174 there took place the famous incident of the Thundering Legion (Legio Fulminatrix, Fulminea, Fulminata) which has been a cause of frequent controversy between Christian and non-Christian writers. The Roman army was surrounded by enemies with no chance of escape, when a storm burst. The rain poured down in refreshing showers on the Romans, while the enemy were scattered with lightning and hail. The parched and famishing Romans received the saving drops first on their faces and parched throats, and afterwards in their helmets and shields, to refresh their horses. Marcus obtained a glorious victory as a result of this extraordinary event, and his enemies were hopelessly overthrown.

That such an event did really happen is attested both by pagan and Christian writers. The former attribute the occurrence either to magic (Dion Cassius, LXXI, 8-10) or to the prayers of the emperor (Capitolinus, "Vita Marci", XXIV; Themistius, "Orat. XV ad Theod"; Claudian, "De Sext. Cons. Hon.", V, 340 sqq.; "Sibyl. Orac.", ed. Alezandre, XII, 196 sqq. Cf. Bellori, "La Colonne Antonine", and Eckhel, "Doctrina Nummorum", III, 64). The Christian writers attributed the fact to the prayers of the Christians who were in the army (Claudius Apollinaris in Eusebius, Church History V.5; Tertullian, "Apol.", v; ad Seap. c. iv), and soon there grew up a legend to the effect that in consequence of this miracle the emperor put a stop to the persecution of the Christians (cf. Euseb. and Tert. opp cit.).

It must be conceded that the testimony of Claudius is the most valuable of all that we possess, as he wrote within a few years of the event, and that all credit must be given to the prayers of the Christians given to Tertullian

Lucius Verus (co-emperor) (c. 130 - 169) with Marcus Aurelius
180 - 192

Commodus (c. 161 - 192) All these who failed to follow the decree were brought to the Senate and were tried. This decree was a forceful attempt to put down Christians completely. But the followers who believed in Jesus Christ refused to accept this and many were ready to face the trial. "The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs" written.

Persecution slows down -

Pertinax (193)

Didius Julianus (193) .

Septimius Severus (193-211) Edict makes it illegal to convert to Christianity; persecution especially in North Africa, ca. 203: Perpetua & Felicity martyred in Carthage (North Africa)

Caracalla (211-217)

Macrinus (217-218)

Elagabalus (218-222)

Severus Alexander (222-235)

Maximinus (235-238)

Gordian I and II (238)

Balbinus (238)

Pupienus (238)

Gordian III (238-244)

Philip the Arab (244-249) .

Trajanus Decius (249-251) 250: Major Empire-Wide Persecution; Christians required to participate in Emperor Worship. Bishop Fabian of Rome martyred; Bishop Cyprian of Carthage exiled; Origen of Alexandria tortured to death.

Trebonianus Gallus (251-253)

Aemilian (253) .
Valerian (253-260) ca. 258: Bishop Cyprian of Carthage martyred
Gallienus (253-268)
Claudius Gothicus (268-270) .
Aurelian (270-275) some persecutions
Tacitus (275-276)
Probus (276-282)
Carus (282-283)
Carinus (283-284)
Numerian (283-284) .

Diocletian (284-305) Major Empire-Wide Persecution begins ca. 303; confiscation of Christian churches and books; arrest, torture, and execution of many Christian leaders. Personally sends troops to Nazareth, the Bishop of Caesarea Eusibius records Diocletian offering clemency to the nephews carefully recording their ancestry to Jesus Christ. All refuse and are tortured and put to death. Diocletian sends troops to Turkey to place the Bishop Nicholas (also known as St. Nicholas or, in German, Santa Claus, in prison.

& Maximian (286-305) Major Empire-Wide Persecution begins ca. 303; confiscation of Christian Churches and books; arrest, torture, and execution of many Christian leaders

Constantius Chlorus (305-306)
Maxentius (306-312) .
Galerius (305-311)
Licinius (311-323) 311: Edict of Galerius: toleration for Christians, allowing them to worship openly

Constantine was forced as a nephew to the Emperor to go to Nazareth and torture and kill the descendents of the Brothers of Jesus. All refused to decant Jesus. All perished. A week Constantine would have to change his life. Bishop Eusebius is eyewitness to Constantines arrival and departure for this purpose.

Constantine (307-337) 313: Edict of Constantine (Edict of Milan): toleration for all religions, including Christianity; ends persecutions

Constantine's position on the religions traditionally practiced in Rome evolved during his reign. At first he prohibited the construction of new temples and tolerated traditional sacrifices; by the end of his reign, he had begun to order the pillaging and tearing down of Roman temples. The day Christianity officially arrived in the Roman Empire was in 325 A.D. The First Council of Nicaea is regarded as the first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church. Invited by Emperor Constantine, about 318 world-wide Bishops (including St. Nicholas), who had risked their lives and were condemned for serving Jesus, traveled across continents and oceans, continued to risk their lives in dangerous travel, to express the basis of the Church today and choose the Books of the Bible.

(* The above information was gathered from several sources and paraphrased.)

The triumph of Christianity is actually a very remarkable historical phenomenon. ...

We begin with a small group from the backwaters of the Roman Empire. Judea wasn't even a province to send someone important to govern. Syria was the overlord for tiny Judea. 16 years go by and Claudius is very worried. After two, three centuries go by, lo and behold that same group and its descendants have somehow taken over the Roman Empire and have become the official religion. Believing in Jesus Christ and having life transformations. The life and death of Jesus Christ and the promises He brought. John 1:35-42 ~ He said to them, “Come and you will see.”

Father God, let us always remember to be grateful to the people who have protected Your Word and who proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen.


The Lord. Jesus Christ. Son of God. Knows your name. Today.

Father God,
You know the desires of our heart. Your will be done, Your will is for Goodness and Love.

Bless us with peace for giving our cares to You.Bless our Loved ones in Your care. And the prayers of the faithful in conversation with You, circle the earth. The goodness of the earth and it's fullness are Your's. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Amen in Jesus.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Genesis 18:1 ~ And the Lord appeared to him

Genesis 18:1

1 And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.

2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.

4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.”

So they said, “Do as you have said.”




Abraham has traveled from all he knew to go where God wanted him to be. And had found shelter in the nation to be his.

Imagine seeing what Abraham saw that day. Abraham had a gift for seeing the unseen.

Mary - what a sight she was seeing.

46 And Mary said,

Luke 1
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name."


Jesus knew where to look.

Luke 9:16
And taking the five loaves and the two fish,
he looked up to heaven
 and said a blessing over them.
Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.


And in looking - Jesus could see hearts.

Luke 19:5
And when Jesus came to the place,
he looked up
 and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”


Jesus always sees within us.

Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

John 1:42
He brought him to Jesus. 
Jesus looked at him 
and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter, rock).





Christians have times in life when Jesus is going to reach out and grab their soul - Light floods us in the direction we would go - pleasing Jesus.

It's up to us and our prayer life to hold on to the convictions Jesus has given us. To Believe God and stay there in faith.

Abba,
Help us to stay with You in Faith.

Giving our hearts to You, to tend to us and the ones we love. We rest our cares with You.

In Jesus our Alleluia will be found. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †