Matthew 13:31,32
Jesus put before them another parable:
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree,
so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
Mark 1
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”
[4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” ]
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.”
Immediately, we are to see the difference between Jesus fulfilling God's Messiah Promises to you and me. John isn't Jesus. John was preparing the way, people cleansed to have open hearts to hear the full message of Jesus. God is God. And the people went into the wilderness to be nourished in the Holy Spirit. Something new.
John the Baptist didn't explain much. He offered cleansing. You'd think this would be counterproductive to repentance? ! Steps to being healed are recognized in human psychology. The first is responsibility: We must recognize we have done wrong. The second is regret: We must have true remorse for doing wrong, for the pain and problems we've caused. The third is resolve: We must be committed never to repeat the act, regardless of the temptations or situation.
John the Baptist is credited to being a wild man compared to the rituals, the art, the history, the beauty of the Psalms and Songs. The Choirs. The Singing of Ascent. Repentance. All fo the Temple had been dedicated and designed by the influence of Abba, the Father Who Runs to the Prodigal Son. And gives His Jesus for our Sins. So, we might be tempted to say John the Baptist's Ministry was just from the hip and, rather, illiterate. Yeah, not exactly. Just as Paul was educated at the feet of Gamaliel, John the Baptist was a Levite and miraculous son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, known to have unique favor with the Lord.
John the Baptist anticipated the Children of Israel knew about wrong. Knew from Synagogue and Temple. Learning from the Scribes, practices in every way of life to soak in God's instructions. John knew this Right Well. John knew the regrets of the Jews couldn't feel very healing when blood-letting of lambs and pigeons wasn't going to make someone feel clean, just aware of the problem. The Jews had specific instructions on the handling of farm animals deaths and of young animals and preparations to kill and cook, giving vast instruction on what is acceptable so hunters and ranchers didn't become bloodthirsty killers. John the Baptist knew this and he knew the Children of Israel knew Kosher.
The portion of Resolve was another topic of concern. How could we stay within perfection? Combined with the days of atonement, that didn't feel exactly atoning.
John the Baptist had a brief, short message. Repent and be Cleansed. No Gospel reports that Elijah coming again went on and on, even if he did fatally manage to offend Herod. The reports of John the Baptist point to something plain, simple, direct, powerful and cleansing. People formed Large Crowds and went back Cleansed.
The Scriptures have lived in all generations. To be studied and held in great honor to explain life, the Father Creator of All, and in this understanding to have meaningful Life.
Salt Papyrus 124
Obscure Pharaoh Seti II of the 19th Dynasty, had an ongoing complaint with his half-brother. Called Amennakht - this led to a famous document called "A Tale of Two Brothers." (Which is Entirely a Different Document than Salt Papyrus 124.) This Papyrus is showing this conflict was so severe, interrupted the reign of Seti II. Seti II died after 6 years of his reign, suddenly. He had children, yet no mention is made of his children. His spouse is set up as the new Pharaoh upon his untimely death. Amennakht is also referred to as "MSY" and Mose. The charges are extremely broad, from ordering his men to do work for his personal benefit to murder.
Carved cuneiform has been found recently where the Children of Exodus lived during the 40 years of Exodus. Moses as a Prince of Egypt in Salt Papyrus 124 in the British Museum tells us about the Two Brothers known in Egyptian History of Pharaoh Seti II. The complaint the Pharaoh has is against 'Mose'.
Egyptian Topographical Lists of Cities and Records
Names | Tuthmosis III (1481 BC) | Amenhotep II (1440) | Amenhotep III (1386) | Seti I (1291) | Ramses II (1275) |
Jacob-El | yes | yes | |||
Joseph-El | yes | yes | |||
Asher | yes | yes | yes | ||
Yahweh | yes | yes | |||
Shasu | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
Hapiru | yes | yes |
See ANET, 242-3.
- In Ramses II's topographical list (ca.1275 BC) the place-name "Jacob-El" (#9) appears again (ANET 1969, 242; Simons 1937). The first appearance was in Thutmose III's list. This means that this city of Jacob has been around for two hundred years. Another interesting name that was found is yhw which is "Yahweh" in Hebrew (Horn 1953, 201; Giveon 1964, 244).
- It seems abundantly clear from all these topographical lists concerning Canaan that the Hebrews were in Canaan at this time, but they did not use the name "Israel" until there league of tribes was well formed by the time of Merneptah.
- On a statue-base of Amenhotep III at Kom el Hetan which is the funerary temple of Amenhotep III there is a topographical list with the place-name Yspir (Series a:1; Kitchen 1965, 2). This is the same name translated "Joseph-El" in Thutmose III's Topographical list (ANET 1969, 242). After Yspir in both lists the place-name Rkd appears (Series a:2 in Amenhotep III's list, and #79 in Thutmose III's list; Simons 1937, 112). Rkd is the same place-name as Ruhizzi in the El Amarna letters (EA 53:36, 56; EA 5426; EA 56:26; EA 191:2; Rainey 1982, 354). The ruler of Ruhizzi is Arsawuya who seems to be located in northern Palestine or southern Syria (EA 53:36, 56; Moran, 125
Daniel. Ezekiel. Jeremiah all True. 2nd Exodus is called Babylonian Captivity of Judah. 597 BC
Mamertine Prison Records have 15,000 pages on the painter Caravaggio. Housing and execution of Peter and Paul and the records of the placement of Peter's tomb.
Felix and the others of The Book of Acts are easily recorded in History and in the right location at the right part of History. Josephus records complimentary History and many others.
God apparently has a PLAN!
And the Government in Rome, unknowingly, lined up and became a larger part of History for appearing in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts.
We would never know Felix Governor was pf Acts 24 is Antonius Felix Greek freed slave by Emperor Claudius and held in esteem by Claudius' family. Felix wasn't just a Biblical antidote, The Roman Empire thought him famous and handsome. His wife vacationed in Pompeii and died with their sons. Know through out the Empire, this was a known part of First Century life in the Roman Empire.
Today, Felix is known because of Acts 24 and The Lord. Not Roman fame. God lasts longer than Empires.
Even Paul sometimes explains Roman government. So many intricate steps to have all the prophetic be fulfilled, even by the Roman Emperor. The use of the fledgling Church in the catacombs are the Seeds of the Gospel, Jesus explained. Plan, Purpose, Unbelievable and True.
As Mary gave birth to Jesus, she was only betrothed. And in the Roman Empire, Augustus was legally declaring what marriage laws were for the first time in a 2,000-year Empire ( The Period of Kings (625-510 BC), Republican Rome (510-31 BC), and Imperial Rome 31 BC – AD 476. 395 A.D to 1453 A.D. Byzantine was the conqueror name of this portion of Roman Empire.) Jesus mostly grew up in Nazareth. You bet this declaration and change would have made Mary and Joseph have an easier time in putting down traditional roots.
Enter the Messiah of God, two by two, as Noah. Adam and Eve. Jesus and Elijah John the Baptist. Elijah did so many signs and miracles, God was unavoidably praised. What did John the Baptist do with neanderthal, brief preaching and Baptism. John presented Jesus Christ with a Nation of people cleansed and ready to know Jesus Christ. Even when John doubted and died, not without protests. Which even Paul explained dying complaints. These are human beings, not gods we should bow down to. Preparing us for our own time to come face to face with Jesus of The Book of Revelation.
And our Hero Jesus arrives with a newly Baptized Nation.
This is an important idea about Baptism. We should
all have a Baptism. Jesus Christ has One.
How did Jesus address wrongdoing? He didn't whitewash or concede anything in Scripture. Jesus tells us He came to fulfill every dot and iota we fall short of. And when asked to teach a prayer to hold God's Heart, sin is called trespass. Asking us to be a forgiving sort of people. As we are forgiven.
Critics of the Bible say they love the Gospels and not the New Testament. Jesus would say He is the Living Word of God Manifest. Every dot and iota. And you'd have to wonder if those who say they Love the Gospels have read all Jesus said. Jesus is not meek and mild. Jesus is Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God!
Jesus Healed them ALL. This unbelievable claim, proven by the Bishops and Disciples of John. Bishop traveled to Judea to find presbyters. Those who had lived, seen or had parents Jesus healed and had healed lives. Dorotheus Bishop of Tyre 255–362 A.D. looks at records Bishop Papias of Hierapolis 90 A,D, wrote and interviewed the Disciple John on Patmos as well as every presbyter he could find witnessing Jesus. And AD 110 to 140 - Polycarp, a disciple of the beloved disciple John on Patmos, also leaves Christian community records of conversations. Bishop Dorotheus tells us Philemon was probably one of the 70 Disciples in the Menai records.
Plan, Purpose, Unbelievable and True.
Jesus looks at the sin of the world. The brokenness we see in Samaria. The Temple. Herod. Pontius Pilate. The Disciples. Reactions of Mary and His Brothers and Sisters. His unfair death. And Jesus calls this trespass. The Heart of God is open to us. We just have to believe God is true. His Word does not lie, and we do not claim God to be incorrect.
Matthew 13:31,32
Jesus put before them another parable:
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree,
so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
Give Jesus His Love. Give Justice with Mercy and Walk Humbly with The Lord. The work of mankind is to believe Jesus, the One God has sent. And in God's love, He loves us first, we find we Love God. And look to His Salvation. Gift of Salvation. Jesus Christ.
Abraham's Oaks of Mamre
Abraham was called to defend others.
Abba, Father,
Help us to be a Nation and Nations
Healed by the Light of Jesus Christ.
Forgive us our Trespasses,
Guide us and Lead us.
In the Way of Peace, Joy and Love.
Found by Mercy.
Holding fast to Jesus
and Your Word
in Your Unfailing Love and Promises.
Blessing us,
Your Glory and Love
tell us to pray
for
more of Your Kingdom of Heaven
on earth.
Your Good Will
to be
accomplished and being done.
Help us to seek You first
Dwell in us and those we Love.
And we will finish well in Jesus Christ.
To You, our Father, be the Glory
Our God is an Awesome God! Amen
and Alleluia
in Jesus Christ and His Glory!
And want more of Jesus
and His Love
and our new understanding of His Holiness.
God of Love.
God of Encouragement.
Jesus Christ.