John 1 ~ Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 

16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 

30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 

41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

Before Abraham Jesus Is

Grace upon Grace. Yesterday, after living in Dallas for 38 years, we visited Dallas for family visits and did something we have Nevah done in all these years after January 6th, Epiphany - we went for a long drive to see Christmas lights. Plentiful Christmas lights. On a Friday.

And I thought about all the people I've read about in Social Media, saying they didn't have the heart to decorate for Christmas, because of loss due to Covid. And ask the Season of Love and Christmas kept going, they wanted to Celebrate Christmas with Joy of Memories and Abiding and Forever Love.

And in this past time of the 12 Days of Christmas, I thought of John 1. 

Imagine. Then See. Place yourselves in the warmth of sitting beside Andrew to watch Jesus. Place yourself in Nathanael's arrival in your Prayer Life.

Jesus is Alive! You are Seeing His Life. Today He is Working. You are seeing Him accomplish all His Love. He is the LAMB of GOD.

Abba, Father,

We pray this:

His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

Revelation 1:9-16 ~ His Face was like the sun shining in full strength

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. 

We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Out of His fullness we have 

all received

 grace in place of grace already given. 

For the law was given through Moses; 

grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

 The People Jesus Loves. All People.

Luke 1

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel

For He has visited us 

and accomplished redemption 

for His people

And has raised up a horn of salvation for us

In the house of David His servant—

As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—

Salvation from our enemies,

And from the hand of all who hate us

To show mercy toward our fathers,

And to remember His holy covenant,

The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,

To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,

Might serve Him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;

To give to His people the knowledge of salvation

By the forgiveness of their sins

Because of the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us

To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death

To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Amen for us All in Jesus Christ.

Alleluia

 

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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Isaiah 60:3 ~ And Nations shall come to Your Light and kings to the Brightness of Your Rising

Any day is a good Day to look to the Love and Warmth of Matthew Henry.

Who and what these wise men were; they are here called Magoi—Magicians. Some that it in a good sense; the Magi among the Persians were their philosophers and their priests; nor would they admit any one for their king who had not first been enrolled among the Magi; others think they dealt in unlawful arts; the word is used of Simon, the sorcerer (Acts 8:9, 11), and of Elymas, the sorcerer (Acts 13:6), nor does the scripture use it in any other sense; and then it was an early instance and presage of Christ's victory over the devil, when those who had been so much his devotees became the early adorers even of the infant Jesus; so soon were trophies of his victory over the powers of darkness erected. Well, whatever sort of wise men they were before, now they began to be wise men indeed when they set themselves to inquire after Christ.

This we are sure of, 1. That they were Gentiles, and not belonging to the commonwealth of Israel. 

The Jews regarded not Christ, but these Gentiles enquired him out. Note, Many times those who are nearest to the means, are furthest from the end. See ch. 8:11, 12. The respect paid to Christ by these Gentiles was a happy presage and specimen of what would follow when those who were afar off should be made nigh by Christ. 2. That they were scholars. They dealt in arts, curious arts; good scholars should be good Christians, and then they complete their learning when they learn Christ. 3. That they were men of the east, who were noted for their soothsaying, Isa. 2:6. Arabia is called the land of the east (Gen. 25:6), and the Arabians are called men of the east, Jdg. 6:3. The presents they brought were the products of that country; the Arabians had done homage to David and Solomon as types of Christ. Jethro and Job were of that country. More than this we have not to say of them. 

III. What induced them to make this inquiry. They, in their country, which was in the east, had seen an extraordinary star, such as they had not seen before; which they took to be an indication of an extraordinary person born in the land of Judea, over which land this star was seen to hover, in the nature of a comet, or a meteor rather, in the lowers regions of the air; this differed so much from anything that was common that they concluded it to signify something uncommon. Note, Extraordinary appearances of God in the creatures should put us upon enquiring after his mind and will therein; Christ foretold signs in the heavens. The birth of Christ was notified to the Jewish shepherds by an angel, to the Gentile philosophers by a star: to both God spoke in their own language, and in the way they were best acquainted with. Some think that the light which the shepherds saw shining round about them, the night after Christ was born, was the very same which to the wise men, who lived at such a distance, appeared as a star; but this we cannot easily admit, because the same star which they had seen in the east they saw a great while after, leading them to the house where Christ lay; it was a candle set up on purpose to guide them to Christ. The idolaters worshipped the stars as the host of heaven, especially the eastern nations, whence the planets have the names of their idol-gods; we read of a particular star they had in veneration, Amos 5:26. 

Thus the stars that had been misused came to be put to the right use, to lead men to Christ; the gods of the heathen became his servants. Some think this star put them in mind of Balaam's prophecy, that a star should come out of Jacob, pointing at a sceptre, that shall rise out of Israel; see Num. 24:17. 

Takes notice of it; Pluribus persuasio inerat, antiquis sacerdotum literis contineri, eo ipso tempore fore, ut valesceret oriens, profectique Judaea rerum potirentur—A persuasion existed in the minds of many that some ancient writings of the priests contained a prediction that about that time an eastern power would prevail, and that persons proceeding from Judea would obtain dominion. Suetonius also, in the life of Vespasian, speaks of it; so that this extraordinary phenomenon was construed as pointing to that king; and we may suppose a divine impression made upon their minds, enabling them to interpret this star as a signal given by Heaven of the birth of Christ.

IV. How they prosecuted this enquiry. They came from the east to Jerusalem, in further quest of this prince. Wither shall they come to enquire for the king of the Jews, but to Jerusalem, the mother-city, whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord? They might have said, "If such a prince be born, we shall hear of him shortly in our own country, and it will be time enough then to pay our homage to him." But so impatient were they to be better acquainted with him, that they took a long journey on purpose to enquire after him. Note, Those who truly desire to know Christ, and find him, will not regard pains or perils in seeking after him. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord.

Their question is, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? They do not ask, whether there were such a one born? (they are sure of that, and speak of it with assurance, so strongly was it set home upon their hearts); but, Where is he born? Note, Those who know something of Christ cannot but covet to know more of him. They call Christ the King of the Jews, for so the Messiah was expected to be: and he is Protector and Ruler of all the spiritual Israel, he is born a King. 

Simply put, what we find together in Matthew 2 in this Post: 

The Magi had enough of a presence to be allowed in to see King Herod. Something about them allowed them to merely knock on the King's door, be allowed in the King's Gate and be listened to with extreme respect and caution.

The Magi had enough wisdom to follow a great star they acknowledged and studied. The Magi possessed inner fortitude to travel to follow the light of the Great Star. Or Comet.

The Magi possessed gifts of wisdom, Spiritual insight. And the Magi had the oratory to explain their inspiration. Presence to allow doors to open.

The Magi had enough simple faith to leave King Herod and complete their self-assigned pilgrimage. Faith was within their determination and their daily plans.

The Magi were close enough to the Lord to be blessed with wisdom from a dream given by God. And in this direction, again understood, following the Lord and His message.

The below Comet was so large

it was at first thought to be a dwarf planet

The Magi were chosen by God. Understanding, God upholds the Universe by the Power of His Word. Light of Heaven. Light of the world. Light of mankind.  The Journey of the Magi explains all the aspects of God, the Father, given to Jesus Christ, His Son.

The Shepherds were shown God's Love seeing the Heavenly Host. The Shepherds answered His Call.

The Magi had Jesus Christ reveal Himself to them with Light.  The Magi also answered His Call.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

  

And the Gentiles shall walk. He confirms what we have already said, that there is no other light of men but when the Lord shines on them by his word. All indeed acknowledge this; but they do not set so high a value as they ought on this benefit, and imagine it to be something of an ordinary kind, which naturally belongs to all men. But he shows that this grace is supernatural, and therefore it ought to be distinguished from nature; which is clearly shown by the repetition of the words upon thee, in the preceding verse.

First, then, we ought to believe that this benefit comes from God alone; and secondly, that all are not indiscriminately partakers of it, but only the elect, on whom the Lord shines by undeserved favor, so as to take them out of the ordinary rank of men. This is done by Christ, who is called “the Sun of Righteousness,” because we are enlightened as if by his rays. (Malachi 4:2) Besides, the Prophet declares that this favor shall be spread far and wide by the Jews; which is also intimated by the words of the covenant,

In thy seed shall all nations be blessed.” (Genesis 22:18)

To thy brightness. If one nation only had enjoyed the light, it would have been of no advantage to the rest; but, so far as the doctrine of the Gospel has been spread throughout the whole world, Judea has held out the light to the Gentiles formerly blinded, in order to point out the way. By making the brightness peculiar to a single nation, he shows that in no other way could the world be enlightened, or come to share in this benefit, than by seeking light from that word which proceeded from the Jews, and was heard at Jerusalem, where the lamp of the Lord was kindled, and where the Sun of Righteousness arose, that from it he might diffuse his light to all the ends of the earth, as we have formerly seen, “Out of Zion shall go forth the Law.” (Isaiah 2:3) There is, therefore, no light but from the doctrine of the prophets; so that they who withdraw from it falsely boast of walking in the light.

And kings to the brightness of thy rising. He alludes to the dawn; for, as the morning­star begins the day in one quarter only of heaven, and immediately the sun enlightens the whole world, so the daybreak was first in Judea, from which the light arose and was afterwards diffused throughout the whole world; for there is no corner of the earth which the Lord has not enlightened by this light. He mentions “kings,” that they might not imagine that none but the common people would come to this light, but princes and nobles, who in other respects are greatly delighted with their high rank. But now he confers on the Church the very highest honor, that she shines with such brightness as to attract to herself nations and princes. He calls it “the light” of the Church; not that she has any light from herself, but borrows it from Christ, as the moon borrows from the sun.  

Let There Be Light  

  

Isaiah 60:3

And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 

  

Isaiah 60:16 

You shall suck the milk of nations; you shall nurse at the breast of kings; and you shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, 

the Mighty One of Jacob.  

  

Isaiah 60:10-11

Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor I have had mercy on you. Your gates shall be open continually; day and night they shall not be shut, that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led in procession. 

  

Isaiah 45:14

Thus says the Lord: “The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours; they shall follow you; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you. They will plead with you, saying: ‘Surely God is in you, and there is no other, no god besides him.’”  

  

Psalm 34:22

The Lord redeems the life of his servants; 

none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned  

  

Revelation 3:9

Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie

—Behold, 

I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that I have loved you.

  

  Isaiah 42:8

I, The Lord, have called You for a righteous purpose,

and I will take hold of your hand.

I will keep you 

and appoint You to be a covenant for the people

and a Light to the Nations. 

Isaiah 64:4

From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.  

  

Revelation 21:24-26

By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 

  

Joel 2:27

You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. 

And my people shall never again be put to shame.

Isaiah 60:3

And Nations shall come to Your Light

and kings to the

Brightness of Your Rising

Isaiah 52:15

So shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.

  

  Psalm 138:4

All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the Words of Your mouth

  

  Psalm 69:6

  Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, 

O God of Israel.

  

  Genesis 43:26

When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground.

  

  Psalm 102:22

when peoples and kingdoms assemble to serve the LORD.

Isaiah 2:3

And many peoples will come and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion, 

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 11:10

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse,

which shall stand for an ensign of the people

to it shall the Gentiles seek

And

His Rest shall be Glorious.

The Roads of Heaven

Abba, Father God,

You speak into our Hearts and Mind. 

To open the Scriptures is to find, the Word of God is alive.

Father God, Life forever more.

You give rest. Restoration and renewal.

We ask Your Willing blessings upon us,

May our Lord Father God bless us and keep us.

May our Lord Father God, make Your Face to shine upon us.

And be gracious to us.

Father God please lift Your countenance upon us, smile and give us Your peace.

We ask you to put the Name of Jesus Christ upon us, and we are Blessed of God.

Jesus Christ, pray for us, Speak Your Word, bring more Heaven to earth.

We ask Your Abundant and Flowing Blessings upon us. Keep us safe from disasters, quieten storms and keep the Oceans safe.

Help us to seek You first and Your Kingdom.

To Live Love, Joy and Peace. Uphold those we Love. We Trust You.

We ask for the virus to end and Joy in Recovery.

We pray for Your Word to be Spoken. Your help.

God Himself Bless, Sustain, Comfort, Guide

Jesus Christ Live in us.

Help us to seek You first.

Amen!

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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Psalms 103:21 ~ Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will.

 

The Heavenly Host

Psalms 103:21

Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will.

Nehemiah 9:6

"You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You."

1 Kings 22:19-22

Micaiah said, "Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him 

on His right and on His left."

"and on earth Peace among those with whom He is pleased!”

If we had stood outside the night Jesus Christ was born, Christmas, in Bethlehem. And we had seen Heaven open and glimpsed all Hosts and Angels of God's Kingdom. If we had walked with the Shepherds to find Jesus.

We would have to look to God and see again, 

John 6:29

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him 

whom He has sent.”

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 look at Faith, looking at God's Word, we are shown doubt as New Testaments the Begins. Joseph doubted Mary. Mary is unmarried as Jesus is born.  Zechariah doubted. John the Baptist looks at the faithful coming to hear him in the wilderness and starts telling them they have to make new paths. Make straight paths. Repent.  Mary is overwhelmed and ponders all of this in her heart. Joseph and Mary have confusion as parents of young Jesus Christ.

When we look at the Start of the New Testament, we find faith. The first announcement of Jesus as Messiah isn't Peter. John 2. John the Baptist Proclaims Jesus. Andrew believes this and tells Peter. John's First Gospel Chapter.  Nathaniel immediately recognizes Jesus is the Christ. 

Faithful: Simeon. Anna. Gabriel. Mary mostly. Joseph mostly. Shepherds. 

John 6:29

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him 

whom He has sent.”

Think about how connected and known the Children of Israel were to one another. Where you lived, was your tribe. If you went before the Sanhedrin, you were first explained by bar, who was your father. 

When the Shepherds went to see the Messiah, in Bethlehem, Mary was listed in Luke 3 as the House of David. A different son of David from Joseph. Mary is a Bethlehem David tribe daughter. The Talmud records from the time identify her as such. 

When Simeon recognized Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Zechariah had told the Temple he'd seen an Angel during his Priestly Service. The Temple knew Archangels had been seen.

When Jesus began His Ministry in Capernaum, you could walk to Nazareth. They knew about John the Baptist and Mary's Son. 

The work of faith. Nazareth saw Jesus as the Son of Joseph.  Mary wanted Jesus to stop doing His Ministry and come home. His Brothers taunted Him about this Elite Job. 

I prayed during our recent freeze to have more time. And our tree has green leaves, our Potato Vine is un-touched where it was uncovered.  Not nine hours of freezing. My prayer was answered. And I was grateful. Then today we were driving into our neighborhood and all the Elephant Ears at the Subdivision Sign were keeled over from the freeze. I had to be reminded of what I knew Monday morning.

I've prayed and had reassurances, only to wonder if I had the reassurance.

The work of mankind, God gives us, is work for faith.

My mother was healed of a huge Adam's Apple of a Thyroid Tumor. At a Wednesday Church of the Resurrection Church in Garland.  When I was in High School. She kept her Driver License photo for decades and as her health had total decline, I knew she was concerned she hadn't understood in her Dementia in old age.

The work of mankind, God gives us, is work for faith.

John the Baptist, Andrew and Nathaniel tell us immediately Jesus is the Messiah. We only remember Peter proclaiming this. Not the Samaritan Woman being actually told in John 4.

The work of mankind, God gives us, is work for faith.

In all the back and forth of confidence, faith and doubt, we find Jesus:

John 1 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 

In all the back and forth of confidence, and faith

we are given and receive daily

grace and grace and upon grace 

we are given Grace

Abba,Father,

You alone are the LORD. 

You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host,

 the earth and all that is on it,

 the seas and all that is in them. 

You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

You are God of all grace, calling us to Your glory in Christ eternal,
with only small suffering,
You will, Yourself, restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, You are for us. 

Cover us, the ones we Love and You Love with the Strong Name of Jesus.

 Covering all of us, the world You will save in Jesus Christ. 

Thank You, Father,

You have given us Jesus Christ

and 

we know Your Love, Salvation, Promises

and Blessings. 

Thank You.

Knowing we are very Blessed in Jesus. Amen.

Thank You, Abba.

Thank You, Jesus Christ.

Alleluia 

Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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