Luke 23:1-12 ~ King of the Jews

Constantine commissioned his 80-year-old mother, Helena, to bring back archaeology of Jesus Christ.

These stairs really are from the huge Governor's Palace.  These stairs would have seen Jesus climb the marble portion of the stairs. In Rome, today, these are called Scala Sancta.

Luke 23:1-12

23 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”

3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

And he answered him, “You have said so.”

4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.”

5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”


6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

Constantine I's tomb was used for his mother Helena. She is not disputed to have existed. And she is recorded by Eusebius of Caesarea as being 80 years old as she looked at all types of archeological sites in Jerusalem. Eusebius actually met both Constantine and his mother.



Do you remember the reaction of Herod hearing Judea had a prophet of old? He wanted to see a Jesus sign. Herod had a natural curiosity to meet Jesus. Not unusual, Herod was picking out the priest who could speak in the Temple. Surely Herod did not want the Temple rocking the Roman Gravy Train. And remember Herod was sent out of his dad's paranoid frenzy to be educated in Rome. Herod thought more like a Roman than a Jew, remembering, prophets tend to get personal. Jesus did not honor Herod. Herod, when you look through the Gospels feared Jesus and only wanted, in curiosity, to see a sign. Herod was going to remove John and honor him in the prison, but push to shove - shove behead.

Herod ended up not doing so well from his brother's wife's (his own 2nd wife) family - exiled.

And remember with me Pontius Pilate's wife begged him not to have anything to do with the harm of Jesus. She had a dream about Jesus saying HE is a good man. Jesus even forgave Pilate standing in front of Pilate.

Zechariah 13:6
but he will say, 'I am not a prophet; I am a tiller of the ground, for a man sold me as a slave in my youth.' 6" And one will say to him, 'What are these wounds between your arms?' Then he will say, 'Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.'

If it sounds off to you, it was what Pilate hoped to hear - Jesus to disavow - to allow Jesus freedom. This passage IS well recognized as a prophecy of Pilate to Jesus. Jesus called upon to forgive in the midst of torture. More than just upon the Cross dying.




This is an amazing story - one we become so familiar with. We have to look at other details to see - how incredible - and true - this History is.

The death of Jesus was not a joy to Pilate. And not to Herod.

And then the Temple itself - all 36 acres housed grieving believers to the horror of the Temple government. The multitudes of believers began to grow and grow to the consternation of Rome 16 years later. Letters of Rabbis from the time believed this was the end of Judaism. Rabbis prayed God would stop the miracles in the name of Jesus. See Ian Wilson's books with these letters.

The Book of Acts has the Apostles leave the Temple because the Temple was small itself.

The Apostles start meeting outside by the healing pools, were larger crowds could gather.

And not have to be so Jewish in their speech. Roman citizens were present. Officials within Herod's palace. Multitudes. The dead were seen as risen. Jesus taught His disciples and appeared to 500.

This was so large, no one could get Christianity to stop. Josephus, the Judean General turned Roman Historian, was moved that this would not end. Calling the believers "Christians." Recognizing in at least one place in Josephus' History that Jesus was called Messiah. And only one of these mentions is debated.

This history is So Large, if you look at a panorama of the Temple Mount - where Abraham was trusting God with Isaac - you see living stones referring to what Jesus told us in The Word of God.

Today the stones ringing the Temple Mount have a quote on them "They will not leave one stone on another because you did not recognize the time of God."







So how is it that Jesus gives us Christianity today, millenniums later?

Constantine

 

Matthew 19:24
"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

Constantine. You hear the same pop culture inform you of Constantine’s jaded use of Christianity.

Today we are going to follow this Incredible Change of the Roman Empire with some pop culture.

We aren't salmon, we are meant to be unique, using our gifts and talents to have unique opinions of history. There is more to Constantine than "Constantine used Christianity to promote his promotion to Emperor."

There is some truth to that 50 years ago – the History of our United States Congress was being used as a Christian Church on Sunday for most of its years. When we discuss Constantine today - we adopt today's opinions. Our children won't. Personally, I hope our children's children look more favorably at souls and less jaded.

Constantine has something Pop Culture wisdom – SEVERELY OVERLOOKS.

Constantine, Alexander the Great and Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian Empire had something in common. When the events surround a man are beyond his imagination, he looks to see what force is behind him greater than himself.

This is called “WISDOM.”

Constantine was a prisoner of Diocletian to prevent political uprising,  Nonetheless, Constantine was a prominent member of the court: he fought for Diocletian in front of Bishop Eusebius as Constantine witnessed the torture of Jesus Christ’s nephew descendents to repent of Jesus. They all refused and upon torture and promises, died for Him. Constantine was a tolerant and politically skilled man who had mixed with pagans and Christians in the reign prior to Diocletian. Events there changed him.

Constant power struggles suppressed Constantine from coming into his position as his father's son. Constantine began to look to soothsayers recommendations, for favorable omens. Constantine, was with a spirit that left a deep impression on his followers, inspiring some to believe that he had some form of supernatural guidance. Constantine's army arrived at the battle the seers of Rome declared to be a final battle. His soldier's shields were bearing unfamiliar symbols.  According to Lactantius, Constantine was visited by a dream the night before the battle, wherein he was advised, "Mark the heavenly sign of God on the shields of his soldiers ... by means of a slanted letter X with the top of its head bent round, he marked Christ on their shields." 

Eusebius describes another version, where, while marching at midday, "he saw with his own eyes in the heavens a trophy of the cross arising from the light of the sun, carrying the message, In Hoc Signo Vinces or "with this sign, you will conquer", Constantine had a dream the following night, in which Christ appeared with the same heavenly sign, and told him to make a standard, the labarum, for his army in that form.

Constantine was to look to another Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia to be his baptizer as he was about to die. He had hoped to be baptized in the River Jordan. This was not to be. But Constantine had changed the Empire and called the Council of Nicaea - to resolve with the Bishops, who would dare to travel, what the Holy Spirit would call as His Word.

The work of Salvation is God's. When mankind become entangled with God, they begin to look to Him.

The choices of men. It's always our choice how we want our stories to continue with Him. Jesus forgave Pilate. Pilate, according to known history, chose a more desperate path, as did Herod, in the convenience of life. Constantine chose to embrace the Lord. Good Choice.




Abba,

We ask Your Blessing.

Prayer is wonderful a time to consider all we Love and care for, considering our needs and asking Your Blessing, Wisdom, Mercy and favor.

And as we spend time coming up with prayer lists - we reach our soul - our inner core. And as we get there with You, we have discovered a journey of emotion - leaving us with Love. And in this Love we have Peace and Joy. This Love You place in us is Renewal.

This gives us the adventure, in the morning, to find Your Mercies Renew.

Remembering it is not our prayers drawing out the Gracious Will of our Good Father, what we find is Your Loving Heart graciously providing us. Salvation is a work of the Spirit, not flesh. Prayers are the Action of Your Holy Spirit. Interceding, mediating - telling us - You are God of Love.

God of Encouragement. God of His Word.

We lift up our cares to Your Heart and Hands. We lift high the ones we Love to You. You Cover, Cover, Cover them in Jesus Christ.  We will rest in Your Good Will. Rejoicing that all of Life is really in Your hands. You have all the world in Your Hands. Your Plan to Save the world in Jesus Christ.

Thank You, Abba, Father. Our God. We want more of Your Holy Spirit to fire us along Your Path.

Thank You for Your Plan and Your Holy Spirit dwell in us

Jesus Christ, God's Son, Our Savior. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Judges 13 ~ angel of the Lord +

Judges 13

1 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.

2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. 3 And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, 5 for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” 6 Then the woman came and told her husband, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name, 7 but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”

8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.” 9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, “Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.” 11 And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to this woman?” And he said, “I am.” 12 And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?” 13 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. 14 She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing. All that I commanded her let her observe.”

15 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you.” 16 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord.” (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord.) 17 And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?” 18 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful * ?” 19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the Lord, to the one who works [works of the Lord] wonders, and Manoah and his wife were watching. 20 And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord went up in the flame of the altar. Now Manoah and his wife were watching, and they fell on their faces to the ground.

21 The angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. 22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.” 23 But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.” 24 And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him. 25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol [ = tribe of Judah, villages and western foothills].

* Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.


The Scriptures repeat. Repeat and repeat so we learn seeing situations from different views. We see the ascension. A sacrifice becomes Wonderful. Our atonement. The confusion of man (the disciples) trying to grasp the grace and truth of God. We see the fire of the Holy Spirit Jesus gave us. We see the blessing God sees in a child. Many times in the Scriptures we are told it is a messenger, an angel, then the fortunate individual seeing the angel declares they have seen the LORD. Is the angel actually the Son of God? We will have to ask on that glorious day.

1 Corinthians 15:51
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

The compassion of the Almighty for Manoah and his wife. Love as high as the heavens. We can all take comfort. The loving care to come and repeat the message, then, and only then - leaving in the blaze of His Glory.

1 Chronicles 16:31
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”

Luke 1:13-15
But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.

Luke 2:
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”


Acts 12:7
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.




Abba, bless us with Your favor.
And help us to be one of the people to bring Heaven to earth in ways pleasing to You.

Thank You for the Valentine Church Luncheon - marvelous. We had a guest and then 2 separate house guests. The blessing of friends, warm-filled home and breakfast. Jesus is so Good.

Bless those we love and this Nation. Bless all around the world trusting You, to increase Your Holy Spirit. God of Love.

We exist with Your favor. 

In the name of Jesus. Amen.  

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

2 Samuel 7:18-29 ~ with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever +

And so we continue to "The Second Exodus." Yes, the Babylonian Chronicles. So intricate the - names of Nebuchadnezzar II's Captains in the Book of Jeremiah are found in the Babylonian Chronicles.

The Prison records the Judean King and sons - diet. The date of the last of the Three Roundups of Judean Nobles.

And then, like the first Exodus, the slaves felt comfortable in slavery and wanted slavery. So, as the slaves herded 70 years prior to Babylon, began to be given freedom, with the amazing Temple Tools of Moses and Solomon. The numbers of return slaves volunteering to go were not the 600,000 Children of Israel of the Exodus, but in the 40,000 willing to return Babylonian Judah slaves.

Ezra and Nehemiah -
Were not in the very first wave of slaves, called "exiles" in Babylon, round up to return. In fact, they were already into the second king releasing the slaves. Ezra did not return with compassion for the existing High Priest. He returned as High Priest when the other one had passed on. Nehemiah had a very select job and was trusted by the king.

This is more than likely King Artaxerxes and the man behind the king - is the taster. King Artaxerxes's trusted taster is Nehemiah. Very Possible Relief of Nehemiah.

David's wall - Jerusalem had an extrapolated population from David's census of 5 million in Israel. Nehemiah's wall is small. The population had to deal with stones that were blackened, in places, from the sacking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II.


Like Moses, they felt daunted. And afraid. And upset.

Haggai 1
Ezra 10

And Then - There is David.

So Obedient  - Joyful

- God wanted His Son to be David's Son.

David had lived in a Ditch as the anointed of God. And as King, had many plans in progress for the Treasury of Israel. David know something about first fruits from the heart.

2 Samuel 7:18-29

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God.

You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God!

20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God!

21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.

22 Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

23 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods?

24 And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. 25 And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken.

26 And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you.

27 For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.

28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 Now, therefore, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

Hebrews 3:15 15
As it is said,

“Today,
if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”


David Began. David Rejoiced to be Called of God Himself.

David began that day.



The Bible tells us to Rejoice in sufferings. I'm pretty sure The Lord meant us to focus on past sufferings overcome. David had overcome and in the new challenges ahead of him, he felt sure of God's Help. David was so good at taking tools to make something better, the opportunity to take a Blessing of God and make something phenomenal - was precious to David.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave a quote about difficulty and overcoming:

Gandhi did also agree with the need for Challenges.

Daily. Paul understood - daily we need Jesus.

A peace I sometimes call the "nicey" peace is not lasting. A hard earned peace - discussed - put in place - is lasting with God' help.

Daily - we rise up again in Prayer.

David knew Gratitude - is the Overcoming - To be glad about what God had given you. Christmas today - being glad you have family nearby. Being glad you are in your home. Being glad to sit down to food ably fixed with healthy hands. To have care given daily. Gratitude.

To have prayer and compassion for others. The ill. The elderly. Those in crisis.

I have seen so many women left with an unplanned pregnancy. And they find the strength to believe - this is their family. Their child. The life - given of God. And they are not just blessed - these mothers are abandoned by the men - but they are Triumphant to have done the Call of God.

We have God-given Strength to do our God-given Lives. Our God Opportunity - We need to nourish and nurture the essential part of us - and it is not our mind, nor our body. We nourish our Soul. In prayer. In God's Word. In Compassion. When we Love - we are filled.


Haggai found something very important at the end of his First Chapter. The Lord stirred the people to do the Will of God. The Spirit gives Life. God gives Life. We do not exhort people and then they listen. The heart of God speaks and dwells in His people. We simply remind and nourish each other and God is the Glory.

ABBA!


Jeremiah 31:25
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.


Psalm 23:1-3
A psalm of David.
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake.


Thirst for God, Himself.

John 4:14
Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.

Lent Arrives. Jesus has always said repent and have Love. Have the Joy of the Lord.
Very fitting for Valentine's Day to be the beginning of Lent.

Acts 3:19-21
Repent, therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,
that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.


The Joy of the Lord is my Strength.
Father, with the Help of Jesus, this is true.

Please make this true for those I love.
Please be the Joy of the people You have given me.

Expect the Goodness of our Father in all aspects of our Prayers. His Continual Love Flows.

Rejoice in the Prayers, Faith, Hope and Love, for our Father encircling His Creation daily.

We lift up all cares to the Willing Hands of Our Father. Amen in the Goodness Jesus did, is and will provide.

Amen in Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Psalm 91 ~ He will deliver us

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place-- the Most High, who is my refuge--
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14 "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."




I had a fortunate childhood. I had overcome some adversity. And had family in many different types of situations in life. A wide variety of experiences and people to learn from.

One of the strongest people was my grandmother who taught so many Bible Studies. When Grandmother Anita needed a word for frustration and anger, it was a word she did not inflict on people. "Oppression." Or "Damnation." Damn nation puzzled me, Grandmother was loyal to the United States.

Some days, being in financial need, she would say, "Lord, I feel so oppressed." "Lord, I need to rise up." And if the feeling persisted she would say loudly, "Damnation."

I will admit it, I knew Grandmother was fine. And when she would say this, not knowing I could hear, I might smile. Grandmother overcame all her life. I had a dream of her in the last five years and she repeated advice I came to realize was the advice of St. Augustine as well. Take each day, the small choices, make choices pleasing to God. At the end of the day, we have pleased our Father, God of All, Almighty God. Creator of the Universe. Love the people God has given you to love - invested in your daily life in Good works, deeds and fruits of God.





Romans 5:3-5
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.


1 Peter 4:12
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.


It's not the enjoyment of trouble and worry - instead we rejoice in God as our strength. To have come through Life doing our best. Saying looking back, we did all we could and like who we are. Feeling God could Love us.

Saying tears of real problems are ok. Sincere Prayer is a must. The Lord's Prayer will strengthen us. And if not - we will go down the path God has for us.

Surrounding ourselves with faithful people.

Disregarding what is not important. Refusing to take on burdens easily allowing us to put down burdens.

Living a life we decide is a life of Hope and Joy and Love.

Putting aside what is not helpful. Praying for God's Protection and Encouragement.

Rejoicing in all the prayers we have had answered. Rejoicing in prayers God has answered for others.


Father God,

We ask for Your Blessing. Seeing the Blessings of the Blessed.

Accepting what is challenging. Asking Sincerely for Your Help.

Believing You are a Good Father.

Rejoicing in the Willingness You display.

Asking for Your Wisdom.

Tenderly placing our Loved Ones in Your Loving Hands.

Placing ourselves there.

Image seeking Your Vast and Continued Love pouring incredibly past our abilities even in this prayer.

Knowing You are God. And Rejoicing.

Father, holding up the problems others have asked prayers for with Your Living Word we read and plant as Living in our soul, mind and body.

Rejoicing in the Power of our Loving Father and Your Living Word. Believing Your Plan is Good.

God Bless us healing and end of aches and flu. For ears and sinus. Comfort during this winter weather. For those in need of God's Healing.

Lifting up the needs we have, the needs of others, the needs of the Church, to the Nation, surrounding the Planet - With Jesus.

Thank You God. Your Love and Care.

Amen with the Strength of God's Son, Jesus. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

Matthew 17:17-27 ~ Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself

Matthew 17:17-27 

17 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”

8 And when they lifted up their eyes,
they saw no one but
Jesus only.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon
14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection
22 As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.

The Temple Tax
24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

We will all decide what we will do with Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus created a Multitude looking for the Risen Jesus and this has - never - stopped since
the Victory of Jesus.

Jesus did something no one would pick to do.

He blended and blended and blended.

He blended a Holy Virgin of God, as an unmarried mother. Accompanied out of town, and in child birth, with a fiancé. He blended a child who learned to speak in Egypt with the blood lineage of Israel's Judea. Jesus blended the Tribe of Judah lineage Ministry without Levite Tribe lineage. Jesus blended a trade of carpentry against teaching in the Temple. Jesus blended and drew people into the wilderness instead of Jerusalem. Jesus blended away from His Family, chose His Capernaum and dwelled there. Not remaining in His Family Nazareth home. Jesus blended races (Simon of Cyrene) and Jesus blended beyond the norms, and spoke to women with equality. Jesus blended His travel daily, travelled by foot at a time of great wealth in the world. Jesus blended away from our idea of prospects, Herod called to meet Jesus and He did not go. Jesus blended the classes, He healed the high and the low and did not distinguish. Jesus blended away from seeking opportunity, He did not display the Works of God as tools. Jesus blended His dinner companions, He did go to eat with sinners and Pharisees and treated them as their hearts knew themselves to be. Jesus blended the people who would overtly and covertly employed by Rome. Matthew throws Jesus a Party with the do-what's-necessary-to-get-rich crowd.


Most of Israel was called by lineage: James bar Joseph, Jude bar Joseph, Joses bar Joseph. Jesus was twice Gospel-said to have blended seamlessly in His family as a Chiton, a seamless robe.

Jesus blended: Jesus is known as Jesus of Nazareth. Or bar Joseph. Jesus took bold truth and blended beyond comfort: Jesus of Nazareth: a name the Pharisees used to denounce Him as Prophetic. If Jesus has been Jesus of Bethlehem - this would have been more difficult to denounce Him Biblically.

John 1:45
"We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph"

By calling Him Jesus of Nazareth, Phillip might have been making a statement about the lowliness of His birth.

There was a group of people who were astonished by Jesus.

Very much wanting Jesus to fill their lives.

A young woman records herself as poor, single and not in a particularly convenient place for Jesus. And accepts Him.

A priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, thought this was an improbability. His wife thought differently quickly.

A man who could afford to travel and considered living in the City of Jerusalem, wanted to politely decline Jesus. To be merciful and move away. He dreamed of an Angel of the Lord and his life changed. He named all of his sons with the letter "J". James, Joses, Jude. And Joseph brought Jesus into his business and taught him all he knew of life.

Shepherds witnessed the Heavenly Host and quickly, with more than two by two - went to see Jesus and had an idea to explain to Jesus' parents what was Astonishing. Shepherds - by nature - care givers. The first to know - not of a prophetic announcement - to be given The First Good News. Touched to proclaim as the first Ministers of Jesus Christ.

The Town of Nazareth accepts the boy Jesus and sees Him to be filled with wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

The Town of Capernaum comes to Jesus' First Sermon. Jesus has done Messiah healing. The Disciples of Jesus do not want to miss seeing a day of the life of Jesus Christ and go with Him.

Jesus crowd numbers from 12 to 72 to 2-3 thousand, to 5 thousand. Looking for Him at the Festival - 2 million. These people want Jesus. And Luke 23: 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.

Christian History from Church Historians

 Chooses Jesus even when Death was Possible

Why is this important? In Two Thousand Years, we do not see how well the Historical Truth supports even the simple things. For example, Caesar Augustus called a Tax, a Census. This was Augustus' Sole Mission as Caesar and why a sickly, asthmatic in very rare, men's high heels was ever considered.

There is Awe and Support and Understanding of the Magnificence of the Son of God and the intricacy of His Plan. Historical detail - is not necessary for belief!!! Yet when we read Jesus went to Bethsaida, the hometown of Peter, Andrew and Philip - we have learned about Jesus. We have learned it was important to include little discussed Philip. Love is inclusive. We have learned Jesus is Interested in our Lives as God tells you - He Is.

1,000 Ribbons for her hair. Jesus would listen to us tell Him every ribbon of our lives. Why wouldn't we seek to see ribbons around our Jesus?

When we Love someone - We Learn of Their Life. Jesus is even interested in Philip's Hometown. This is why we find out about the Bible and the History. We see more of the Life of Jesus, Only Son of God. More of Jesus, Messiah. More of Jesus, my Savior. More of Jesus, Son of Mary. More of Jesus, Son of Joseph. More of Jesus, friend of sinners. More Jesus!!! More of the awe of God. His Story.

Like the Exodus - we find God is interested in Justice for His people and their lives. In the Gospel - we find Jesus is interested in paying what is due to Caesar and He helps Peter too.


God is Interested in Our Details - We can be interested in His and those around Jesus.

Mary, Mother of God, Wife of Joseph is listed as poor. Her family is not listed.

And Yet.

Yet in her darkest hour, Mary had, probably, a sister in law,  - Mary, wife of Clopas (probably Joseph bar Jacob (Jacob being the father of Joseph), Clopas bar Jacob.) This is important. Pilate killed many men, merely for coming to Jerusalem to Celebrate a Religious Festival. Simon of Cyrene is told, get in there and carry this beaten to death man's cross. He did not for a second dare to tell the Roman Battalion - no.

How would we ignore a woman who would stand at the foot of the Cross of Jesus? A woman brave. Loyal. Risking death. In the middle of Crucifixion - if the Battalion felt - for example - the spear wasn't sharp enough. It might have gone through one of the Jewish bystanders.

If we pick through History, we find a smidgen about Mary, wife of Clopas. Hegesippus, born 110 A.D., thought Clopas was the brother of Saint Joseph.



Credible.

Hegesippus wrote: "and remained with the Corinthians many days, in which we were refreshed with the true word."

In centuries later, the Church Historian who had witnessed some of what he wrote, Eusebius quotes from Hegesippus fifth and last book. A long account of the death of James the Just, "the brother of the Lord." Hegesippus the story of the election of his successor Simeon, and the summoning of the descendants of St. Jude to Rome by Emperor Domitian. The Historian Zahn has shown that the work of Hegesippus may still have been extant in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in three Eastern libraries, saying: "We must lament the loss of other portions of the Memoirs which were known to exist in the seventeenth century." Works such as these - are important.


Jerome b 347 A.D is the Saint of Extreme Importance.

Like St. Augustine, Jerome thought very carefully before believing in Jesus. He took time to think about Jesus.

Jerome was hired by the Catholic Church to make sure the Bible was being copied correctly. He and the Catholic Church parted ways on morality. Jerome saw Catholic priests as morally lax (Jerome was a little Martin Luther ish) and they favored Jerome with the same opinion. Jerome started in Latin, went to the Hebrew Bible from the original Hebrew, having previously translated portions from the Septuagint, realized the Rabbinical Judaism had rejected the Septuagint as invalid.

And because of Jerome's Work -
our Scripture is parallel to the Dead Sea Scrolls.

And, of course, the academics still fuss.

Jerome said, reading the Hebrew work of Hegesippus:

"Hegesippus wrote a history of all ecclesiastical events from the passion of our Lord down to his own period... in five volumes, which has established the Hypomnemata as a Church history."

St. Hegesippus appealed principally to tradition as embodied in the teaching which had been handed down through the succession of bishops, thus providing for Eusebius information about the earliest bishops that otherwise would have been lost. As historians search Eusebius, his fragments also tell of Hegesippus. One story tells the other.

Some will not accept Jesus.

Wheat and Weeds.

Mary's Family.

Heli is recorded with not one word to let us know a thing about Heli. The Word of God is silent on this man, other than the Talmud, The Sadducean Council, records recording Heli's daughter as Mary. The records are in Scotland today. We will go to town - connecting Scripture to Scripture.

Luke 1
In those days
Mary arose and went with haste
into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.


This was not the decision a father would chose for a daughter about to marry into Joseph's Davidic lineage from the Kings of Israel and Judah. Mary's mother doesn't get a Scriptural nod. We could say Heli is interested in personal placement and prestige. Remember Joseph moves to Egypt fairly easily and considers Jerusalem upon the return from Egypt. Isaiah 7 does not discuss down and out finances of the Christ Child era - saying a cow, a donkey, land, so much milk the household must discuss how to effectively use the milk. When we discuss a land of briars - probably - God is telling us a land of barbs. Mary tells us of pride and verbal barbs.

The Temple is a tool of Herod - placement of the Priests is Herod's - printing coins for the first time, a non-Davidic king printing an image of himself. Educating his children in Rome. Naming cities after Caesar. The Temple increasingly becomes a cold place of education - going to Damascus to kill miracle workers for placement. Ruled by the strength of Herod and public opinion when the mob gathers.

The man at the Pool of Bethsaida. Healed after 38 years - chooses placement and prestige over Jesus.

9 of 10 Lepers did not return to give thanks to Jesus.

Judas - wanted to work for a King.

Caiaphas who killed Jesus, his home is found with mosaic images all over the floors. Only his sarcophagus (death) and his home with a prison in it are found.

Governor Felix finds Paul makes insane demands of faith. Felix had married into the Herodians, but she died in Pompeii with their child and Felix is removed from power and drifts quickly into obscurity.

Acts 25 - Bernice. the eldest daughter of Agrippa I, the Herod Agrippa of Acts 12:20. Bernice is born to Herod Agrippa and Cypros, as granddaughter to Aristobulus IV and great-granddaughter to Herod the Great. Her elder brother was Agrippa II (b. 27) and Acts 25 King Agrippa II - find Paul is only going to Rome because he has appealed to the Emperor. Berenice faded into oblivion, her fate is not known. King Agrippa II could have used his power to harm Paul. After Judea fell, he is named Praetor of Rome - treated well. Great friends with the Historian Josephus - who declared at least once Jesus as Messiah - and all lived to be very old.

Israel in Spring. Land of Milk and Honey. Tabor and Jordan River.

The trait the people who have welcomed Jesus with - is a mind, heart, soul, body willing to Love. Jesus is invited to flood lives like the Living Water flowing from the Temple. Where Jesus does more in us than we can ever imagine.

Mary was willing to move her life for Jesus. Joseph discovered he was too. Elizabeth knew her life had enriched. Zechariah had been - probably burned out. John the Baptist in the wilderness was seeking a wilderness tamed. Straight paths to the honest and loving heart of Father God.

The Disciples wanted Jesus to fill their lives. Zacchaeus in the tree, so wanted Jesus to love him. Jesus did and called out He knew Zacchaeus was forever moved with Love. Jesus spoke frankly of His Two by Two Minister, John the Baptist. Jesus fed the multitudes when John the Baptist died. We would all want that fish and bread sandwich, seeing Jesus' Blessing.

We would all want to walk up the mountain at the Sea of Galilee to pray and speak with His Father.



We would want to see Jesus, looking from the mountain over the Sea of Galilee to see God's Willingness. His Peace in His Father.

See Jesus' Hands as He reaches immediately to lift up Peter. John the Baptist has passed on, but Peter is being enabled to walk with Jesus.




Some day we will see the young woman, Mary, Mother of God present Jesus. And how awe-filled she must have felt that day. We will see Joseph and his face. See Jesus as God born to Love and Save His Creation. We will surely hear God say, "He is Good."

Abba,

Let us have the Blessing of Love one another.

Help us to have the Warmth of the Road to Emmaus and Jesus.

Fill us all, Jesus.

And we know You will. Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †