Matthew 16:18 ~ Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church

Matthew 16:18 

And I tell you that you are Peter, 
and on this rock 
I will build my church, 
and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Jesus just did NOT kid around with prophetic Word.  

 Jesus took His Disciples to the city, the Herod brown nose built city of Caesarea for this day of Peter being named a rock.

  Jesus and His Disciples, James Tissot

Recently, it was pointed out to me that the word for rock here is the aramaic for pebble. That's right. God using what is weak and fallible to become strong for 2 millenniums. And 80 feet below the altar was an amazing find.


Imagine:

Indiana Jones style. A Pope dies. Long live the new Pope. He begins to realize that we need a new place to bury the Popes in a row, like display. Perfect place... under the Vatican. And voila the city of Rome appears during Emperor Constantine. Even the wooden doors appear.

In 1939, Pius XII began an underground excavation to organize the space into a proper underground chapel for the bones of the popes. By 1941, it had become clear that a major area of archaeological importance had been discovered. A whole street of tombs came to light, some 300 feet long, with tombs on both sides.

After more that 25 years of research, Paul VI shared his knowledge and his joy with the world on 26th June 1968: the bones of St. Peter, the rock, had been found. On the evening of the 27th, at a ceremony before the aedicula attended by the Pope, Professors Guarducci and Correnti, the bones were restored to the loculus in the Graffiti Wall. A short prayer was said and the shrine to Peter was closed off from the street of tombs by a heavy wrought iron gate.

The Graffiti Wall was very similar to the wall found in Peter's house in Capernaum ~ it declared: "Petr[os] en[i]", "Peter is here within". Alpha and omega combinations were present, as references to Christ, but they were also found in reverse order, signifying Christ's role as the gateway to eternal life. Alpha and omega might also be separated from each other and connected by a thin line. Other letters signified other mysteries: tau indicated the cross, epsilon stood for Eden and nu for "nika", victory. But most important of all, curious combinations of rho and pi were references to the apostle Peter. Not only did Guarducci uncover the spiritual richness and hunger of those who visited the Graffiti Wall, she revealed that there were no fewer than twenty references to Peter on it.

Most important of all, the remains of an elderly man, aged between 60 and 70 of robust stature with the feet missing. Peter was crucified upside down and removed from the cross without his feet. The bones also had traces of earth clinging to them, showing that they had once been interred in the ground. When Correnti carried out tests on the soil beneath the aedicula it provided a perfect match. And finally, mingling with the bones from the loculus were the slightest traces of a distinctive garment: purple in colour and containing fine strands of gold thread. Under Constantine, early in the fourth century, the bones were taken out, wrapped in an expensive purple and gold cloth as a sign of their revered status.

Sceptics do not agree that these are the bones of Peter, but faith is of substance unseen.

Basilica of Saint Peter today.

Altar of the Vatican, where Peter's bones are 80" underneath, The Vatican was built upon Peter's grave.

What does a relatively large house in ancient Capernaum have in common with the Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano? They are both the homes of Peter, who loved and followed Jesus Christ. Both the house in Capernaum and the 2nd century grave site have the same graffiti proclaiming this is Peter, follower of Jesus. Where is the 2nd century grave located?

Important Dirt analysis agree and decades of archaeological studies and historical documents of Emperor Constantine - this is Peter's remains 80 feet below the altar.


Basilica of St. Peter from 331 until 17th century A.D. It was destroyed by a fire.

G is the representation of the foundation of the 4th century Church, the rest is beneath the foundation - as it would have appeared in the 4th century.

Overview of Peter's area. The undisturbed 4th century shrine for Paul's remains, built by Constantine.

Several excavated streets under the Vatican. Surrounded by tombs of the 2nd and 3rd century.

Peter's grave is 80 feet down, it took 10 years of amazing discoveries before they reached the Peter's area; most bodies clearly identified by name, art, poetry, mosaics, statuary. Pius knew they had rediscovered Peter's bones in the 2nd century grave, surrounded by the 4th century shrine built by Constantine.
Peter's bones were kept in a box. His bones were different than the others because they contained one man, wrapped in remains of purple cloth with gold thread, a tile saying "Peter is here" in Greek, was found in the box.

How the 4th century shrine appeared in 1949.

Compared to the descriptions of Constantine in  the 300s A.D.

c. 1966 the remains of Peter's house in Capernaum, Israel. Similar graffiti as Paul's tomb.




This Is the Rock that kept Peter's Bones Intact and are what the Altar is Built on Top of:

The actual  'rock' slab ceiling that kept these particular bones - intact.

The slab 'rock' that kept out moisture, thieves. Slab (a rock) helping to preserve Peter's body when the others around him were already dust.

The red wall with graffiti saying this is Peter, follower of Jesus Christ. Identical art found to Peter's home in Capernaum.

Original 2nd century tomb the 4th century tomb surrounded.

The discovered bones were found in the repository wall and later returned.

Caravaggio, Peter on the cross

1 Peter 3:14-16a
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience

Darker bones are the remaining bones of Peter.
Photos of Peter's bones.


Peter's tomb today, located under the altar in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Italy.

Glory to God the Father for times we need more assurances. Glory to Jesus, the friend, the Savior of Peter and the world. Glory to the Holy Spirit, helping Peter to follow God's plan.

We begin our story with Jesus

Matthew 4:19
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

We still agree in the end of the Gospels and this post - this is still about Jesus.

John 21:19
19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus knew where Peter would be buried, He knew where His Church would grow therefore He took Peter to Caesarea to give him the prophesy:

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.



Peter's final resting place was rediscovered in the 1939 dig; began when Pope Pius XI died and there wasn't a good place to bury him. The workmen of Pope Pius XII discovered it wasn't going to just be pagan people underneath the floors of the Basilica. After 10 years of amazing discoveries, most bodies clearly identified by name, art, poetry, mosaics, statuary, Pius knew they had probably rediscover Peter's bones in the 2nd century grave surrounded by the 4th century shrine built by Constantine. Pius decided they would wait until the evidence looked completely irrefutable, they waited until December 23, 1950, when Pius told the world.

From 1939 to 1964, conclusions the scientists decided were:

- An"elderly man" between sixty and seventy years, about five feet seven inches tall, of heavy build, a man of robust constitution. Missing the feet bones. The bones had lain - and for a considerable period of time - in a bare earth grave. (Peter had been martyred, buried as a criminal). All these bones, it appeared, at some time after dissolution of the flesh, had been taken from the earth and wrapped in a purplish, gold-threaded cloth. Enclosed was a plaque /tile with two Greek words "Petros Eni." Peter is here.

- Many, many of the tombs had bodies that had already turned to dust, the bones of Peter were amazing in their completion. There was even water in the area, which had been a problem to the Basilica for centuries. A single, huge outcropping of rock had preserved the carefully cared for remains.

- Sumptuous marble housing erected by Constantine, in the 4th century, over the 2nd century tomb, was intended to preserve forever both the true original grave of Peter's remains. It has never been tampered or violated.

- Soil adhering to the bones in the repository proved they had originally been interred in the earth. Chemical analysis proved that this soil exactly matched the soil in the original grave under the monument.

- The bones, where as others in the vicinity contained a lot of different types of bones thrown together, these were the carefully preserved bones of one man, missing the feet. In the repository, they had been wrapped in cloth of royal purple, an indication of the unusually high dignity accorded. Threads of gold in the cloth reinforced this impression, since the combination of purple and gold was a fact well attested from antiquity as indicating imperial honors. The robe was older than 4th century.

- An inscription within the repository, in Greek, declared "Peter is buried in here." Other inscriptions on the outside the repository, in Latin invoked his name in prayer.

- 2nd century Graffiti on the tomb's red wall was very similar to the graffiti in Peter's Capernaum house.

- Pope Damasus, in the fourth century, seriously encountered the problem of cemetery vandalism growing out of religious bigotry, it was a violent age. The repository in the sturdy little wall guarded against intrusions by permanently enclosing the precious remains on all sides.





One of the main scientists working on the archaeological dig:
http://saintpetersbasilica.org/Necropolis/MG/TheTombofStPeter-1.htm
THE TOMB OF ST. PETER
by Margherita Guarducci
© 1960, Hawthorn Books


The Bones of St. Peter. The First Full Account of the Search for the Apostle's Body by John Evangelist Walsh. © 1982. http://saintpetersbasilica.org/Necropolis/JW/TheBonesofStPeter-1.htm

It's interesting to see Peter's house (photograph above) is just the remains of a house. The Church - the Bride of Jesus Christ has amazing depth and splendor.

1 Peter 5 

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive!

10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.


12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

So many amazing archaeological discoveries in the last 100 years. To name just a few: Dead Sea Scrolls, Lazarus' tomb in Spain, the entire Hittite Nation, the cities of Nineveh, Ur, Sodom and Gomorrah. Tile piece in Goliath's hometown with his name and David's name. The walls of Jericho. The walls of Babylon. The Capernaum Synagogue with Zebedee's name (father of disciples James and John) on a pillar. Written record of King David. King David's Palace found by description in the Bible for location. Many steeles ( antiquity plaques) found to confirm biblical fact written by other nations. Many, many artifacts in the Museum of Israel.

†

Bishop Papias of Hierapolis, said Mark scribed Peter’s teachings. The Gospel of Mark were Peter's memories.

This is the way to locate the Bishop Papias' quotes: Ecclesiastical History Book 2 Chapter 15, Book 3 Chapter 30 and Book 6 Chapter 14). Papias wrote a five volume work entitled, “Interpretation of the Oracles of the Lord”. In this treatise (which no longer exists), he quoted John the elder Disciple:

“And the elder used to say this, Mark became Peter’s interpreter and wrote accurately all that he remembered, not, indeed, in order, of the things said and done by the Lord. For he had not heard the Lord, nor had followed him, but later on, followed Peter, who used to give teaching as necessity demanded but not making, as it were, an arrangement of the Lord’s oracles, so that Mark did nothing wrong in thus writing down single points as he remembered them. For to one thing he gave attention, to leave out nothing of what he had heard and to make no false statements in them.”

Irenaeus said Mark wrote his Gospel from Peter’s teaching In his book, “Against Heresies” (Book 3 Chapter 1), Irenaeus (130-200AD) also reported Mark penned his Gospel as a scribe for Peter, adding the following detail:

“Matthew composed His Gospel among the Hebrews in their own language, while Peter and Paul proclaimed the Gospel in Rome and founded the community. After their departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, handed on his preaching to us in written form”

Justin identified Mark’s Gospel with Peter Early Christian apologist, Justin Martyr, wrote “Dialogue with Trypho” (approximately 150AD) and included this interesting passage:
“It is said that He [Jesus] changed the name of one of the apostles to Peter; and it is written in his memoirs that He changed the names of others, two brothers, the sons of Zebedee, to Boanerges, which means ‘sons of thunder’….”

Justin, therefore, identified a particular Gospel as the ‘memoir’ of Peter and said this memoir described the sons of Zebedee as the ‘sons of thunder’. Only Mark’s Gospel describes John and James in this way, so it is reasonable to assume that the Gospel of Mark is the memoir of Peter.
Clement said Mark recorded Peter’s Roman preaching Clement of Alexandria (150-215AD) wrote a book entitled “Hypotyposeis” (Ecclesiastical History Book 2 Chapter 15). In this ancient book, Clement refers to a tradition handed down from the “elders from the beginning”:

“And so great a joy of light shone upon the minds of the hearers of Peter that they were not satisfied with merely a single hearing or with the unwritten teaching of the divine gospel, but with all sorts of entreaties they besought Mark, who was a follower of Peter and whose gospel is extant, to leave behind with them in writing a record of the teaching passed on to them orally; and they did not cease until they had prevailed upon the man and so became responsible for the Scripture for reading in the churches.”

Eusebius also wrote an additional detail (Ecclesiastical History Book 6 Chapter 14) related to Mark’s work with Peter:

“The Gospel according to Mark had this occasion. As Peter had preached the Word publicly at Rome, and declared the Gospel by the Spirit, many who were present requested that Mark, who had followed him for a long time and remembered his sayings, should write them out. And having composed the Gospel he gave it to those who had requested it. When Peter learned of this, he neither directly forbade nor encouraged it.”

This additional piece of information related to Peter’s reaction to Mark’s work is important, because it demonstrates that Clement is not simply repeating the information first established by Papias, but seems to have an additional source that provided him with something more, and something slightly different than Papias.

Tertullian affirmed Peter’s influence on the Gospel of Mark Early Christian theologian and apologist, Tertullian (160-225AD), wrote a book that refuted the theology and authority of Marcion. The book was appropriately called, “Against Marcion” (Marcion was a Jew-hater, who rejected the Old Testament, and any bits of the New Testament, books or passages, which disagreed with him.) and in Book 4 Chapter 5, he described the Gospel of Mark:

“While that [gospel] which Mark published may be affirmed to be Peter’s whose interpreter Mark was.”

 



The Muratorian Fragment confirmed Mark’s relationship to Peter. Commonly dated to approximately 170AD, the first line reads:
“But he was present among them, and so he put [the facts down in his Gospel]”

This appears to be a reference to Mark’s presence at Peter’s talks and sermons in Rome, and the fact that he then recorded these messages then became the Gospel of Mark.


Origen attributed Mark’s Gospel to Peter Eusebius (Ecclesiastical History Book 6 Chapter 25) quoted a Gospel Commentary written by Origen (an early church father and theologian who lived 185-254AD) that explains the origin of the Gospels. This commentary also attributes the Gospel of Mark to Peter:

“In his first book on Matthew’s Gospel, maintaining the Canon of the Church, he testifies that he knows only four Gospels, writing as follows: Among the four Gospels, which are the only indisputable ones in the Church of God under heaven, I have learned by tradition that the first was written by Matthew, who was once a publican, but afterwards an apostle of Jesus Christ, and it was prepared for the converts from Judaism, and published in the Hebrew language. The second is by Mark, who composed it according to the instructions of Peter, who in his Catholic epistle acknowledges him as a son, saying, ‘The church that is at Babylon elected together with you, salutes you, and so does Marcus, my son.’ 1 Peter 5:13 And the third by Luke, the Gospel commended by Paul, and composed for Gentile converts. Last of all that by John.”

An Anti-Marcionite Prologue affirmed Peter’s connection to Mark There are three Gospel ‘prologues’ that appear in many Latin Bibles from antiquity. Known as the “Anti-Marcionite Prologues”, they date to the 4th century or earlier. The prologue for the Gospel of Mark is particularly interesting:

“Mark declared, who is called ‘stump-fingered,’ because he had rather small fingers in comparison with the stature of the rest of his body. He was the interpreter of Peter. After the death of Peter himself he wrote down this same gospel in the regions of Italy.”

Now, it can be argued that Papias’ description of Mark’s collaboration with Peter in Rome is the earliest description available to us. In fact, skeptics have tried to argue that later Church sources are simply parroting Papias when they connect Mark to Peter. But there is no evidence to suggest that Papias is the sole source of information related to Peter and Mark, particularly when considering the slight variations in the subsequent attributions (such as Clement’s version).

 The subtle differences suggest that the claims came from different original sources. In addition, Justin Martyr’s tangential reference to the ‘sons of thunder’ strengthens the support for Peter’s involvement coming from a source other than Papias (who never makes this connection). In essence, a claim of dependency on Papias lacks specific evidence, and even if this were the case, there is no reason to doubt the accuracy of Papias’ original claim in the first place. The consistent record of history identifies Mark’s Gospel as a memoir of Peter’s life with Jesus.

J. Warner Wallace is a Cold-Case Detective, a Christian Case Maker, and the author of Cold-Case Christianity - See more at: http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/is-marks-gospel-an-early-memoir-of-the-apostle-peter/#sthash.NgyiQIOC.dpuf






Father God, amazing discoveries of this generation. Continue to spread Your Holy Spirit to this Generation and the next that Your Love might be fully known to the ones we Love and the circle continues to grow. In Jesus we pray, Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD! 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Luke 6:17-26 ~ when everyone speaks well of you

Luke 6:17-26

He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.

Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

24“But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.

25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.

Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.



Take the culmination of our life
To God.
Then take your - self.
What you like that makes you.
What could make you more of that Person to Him.
What YOU LOVE.
What you really are forgiven for.
What makes you worry and fret.
What you can do for those YOU LOVE.
What makes them more of what You Love about them.
And makes something you say as you go to Jesus - I did this.

What is your best and real self
What is your HA THAT"S ME SELF that's good.
WHY WE NEED TO BE FORGIVEN and say gasp THANKS.

And do that with the discipline you have.

This passage hits me hard.

Father God,
We can look and find passages where Jeremiah complained. Paul died. And David was very sad. We can see Rehoboam mess up Heaven and bring life.

Noah got drunk. People get mad. They don't care what your life is - they want this to be tidy and without feelings of discomfort, jealousy. They want God to act as if God was running for President.

Not creating His Son in scandal and being born in a barn from a town were family dwelled. Not seeing brothers rarely got a long in the Bible.

Joel Olsteen recently said a lot of life feels like life passed you over. And these are the moments that we can actively seek to do pull ourselves up only in belief God is for us. Clark said pull up our boot straps to love. Won't work. Only God creates in us the goodness to Love and Go Forth in hard circumstance.

The message of the Bible is to do our best. To not base self worth on the opinions of others who do not know our circumstances. That God covers offenses not with cheap and easy grace but with Sheer Love and Compassion when we pour our our earnestness to Him.

In faith, when we have given this our all and sit like Psalm 131, Jesus would say as He cradles us - there is no condemnation in Jesus Christ. Because God covers us with HiS Righteousness.

Father God, I know what I want for myself. What can I do for You today? Help me to get there with Your Help. In Jesus - who is Good. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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John 9:1-23 ~ That the works of God might be displayed

 

John 9:1-23

9 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

Jesus is God. Jesus has the right to create harmony.
Jesus had the right to Judge.

Jesus absolutely -
Jesus loves you. Me too.
Jesus created Salvation and wants Christians to be in peace. The growth of new Fruit of the Spirit.
Jesus wants us to Grow in Him daily.


Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.

Jesus is dealing with a major fear mankind has preventing growing closer to God.
We are afraid to tear down walls.

Soul to soul intimacy. Guts out and the fear of being rejected.

Philippians 3

1. Selfishness creates disharmony

James 4
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.


2. We are better at building something new and not maintaining. Weariness in doing good.
Today's John Chapter 9 passage has major fear of something new. Not a rejoicing at Good.

3. God is the only explanation for good.

4. Our culture tells us to improve ourselves, have more, sparkle better. Live for yourself. Ego - Edge God Out.

5. No team is created. We all need to nurture the people God brings us.

6. Selfless. We think of others, listening to what is said. Not just our own interests.
Creates something new.
Rising above behavior with kindness - creates a new harmony.
Jesus listened to the man needing healing. His background was carefully considered in the healing.

Showing up creates a new path.
Attention, listening, is giving of treasure. Listening is giving life.
Hospitality is a path. Even offering small things.

GALATIANS 6

Sowing and Reaping in God's Strength.

What does God want to Reap? God as Father tells us - ?
The story of the Prodigal Son - who do we admire in - the Jesus told us - this?
God admires - The Father. The Father is creating a team, enfolding souls, Upwards building. Doing the Work of - God.
Because ... very important... Love.


God wants us go plant, affirm, give Words of God. God's vision goes so far - He sees solutions, possibilities, forgiveness leading to new paths.
Respond to God - not what other's want you to do.

Galatians 6 Creates Growth

Not returning evil but rising up in God's strength.
Fruit of God is Galatians 5
Galatians 6 tells us how to Sow for God.

1. Respond to people gently.
God is going to give us the strength. We think of ourselves first. God is going to help us to overcome our natural inclination of self.

2. Do Good.
God and Peter - Jesus immediately reached down for Peter...
Jesus reached for the man who had been blind from birth - knowing there was a cost.
Pride leads to arguments. Criticism. Looking down at people. Competitiveness. Comparisons are not allowing us to being the unique people God has created us to be. Harmony in the Body of Christ.

3. Test our own work. Face the ouch. Bear our own personal responsibility.

Examine spaces...
A proud attitude. Topping the last story. Not admitting problems. Using humor as a weapon to create space.

Insecurity
The fear and disabilities of public opinion

Acquire the attitudes of God.
Courage to build love. Like Jesus making breakfast on the beach.
with all humility
and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another in love, (well put - patience!)
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace!


This passage of John 9 boldly tells us there is one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”

In God We Trust.

The news certainly is telling us the world offers no certainties. We are constantly besieged with what is wrong. The news then circles in the problems. God is always offering us the opportunity for renewal. For encouragement. When we believe God - we are strengthened. The prayers of a righteous man availeth much. How shall we attain this? The one touch of the favor of God? Easily. To pray the Lord's Prayer. We are covered. The Holiness of God. His Hopes and Aspirations for us. His Forgiveness. His protection. His guidance. In this Prayer, God opens His heart to us always.

Our Father,
Who art in Heaven,
Holy is Your Name,
Thy Kingdom Come
Thy Will be done on earth as in Heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread.
Forgive us our Sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
Deliver us from evil.
For Thine is
The Kingdom, The Power and The Glory.
Forever.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Father God, strengthen our hearts to Love as You do.
Today, I open my soul and all of me to You, Lord Jesus.
Encourage us to do good actions.
Give us wisdom to renew our lives.
In Hope we will go far with You, Lord Jesus.
In Faith, we give to You the ones we love and want to bring You forth for eternal Love.
The snare of death is broken,
and we have escaped!
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
In Love, dwell within us to be renewed on the wings of eagles.
Jesus our Living Bread, Our Shepherd, Our Salvation,
we call upon You with earnest hearts. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Luke 1:1-4 ~ The certainty of the things you have been taught

Abiding in Father God

Luke 1:1-4

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

 The Word of God is never limited. Jeremiah, like all the believers of God, reaps the promises of God. 

God has been orderly for centuries. Jeremiah was told from the beginning - he would turn out just fine for doing the Will of Almighty God. God teaches certainty in an uncertain world.

Jeremiah 26

Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord

19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah fear the Lord and seek his favor? And did not the Lord relent, so that he did not bring the disaster he pronounced against them? 

24 Furthermore, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

Jeremiah 1

1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, 3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

11 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.

12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

13 The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?”

“I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.”

14 The Lord said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. 15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord.

“Their kings will come and set up their thrones
in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
and against all the towns of Judah.
16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people
because of their wickedness in forsaking me,
in burning incense to other gods
and in worshiping what their hands have made.

17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. 
Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 
18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 
19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.”


Certainty  - Worry, Circumstance, Endurance and the Nature of God.

So did Jeremiah worry? Jeremiah 4 tells us Jeremiah - worried! Good to know for all of us slugging along. The disciples worried. Jesus made bold statements! He said, "Do not worry little flock. God wants to provide."

What are we to think when Jeremiah is thrown to apparently die in a prison hole in King David's Palace where his servant Barruch went to Jeremiah to buy real estate in a besieged land? We are to remember that prophets and disciples worry. And to call up our gumption and remember Jesus immediately reached to Peter. We are to remember with supreme and overwhelming gratitude that God makes His promises good to all who have fallen short of God's goodness.

God is so Good, that nothing we could suffer would nullify God's willingness to make us righteous for His name's sake.

This is the God who would make breakfast on the beach for the disciples who failed. His forgiveness is so complete - they squabble with God over His Goodness to the loyal and loving disciple John.

When we are going to ask Father God for blessings - the blessing of being loyal as John's love is a good place to start. To be the Grace God bestowed in John's heart. John lived well - staying loyal to God. According to Roman Historians he converted many in the Colosseum by surviving unscathed a boiling vat of oil. John did not have the honor of being a human torch for the Games. Like Jeremiah, John was to encounter kings. John encountered the wrath of Emperor Domitian.

Blessings of Hanging in There When Circumstances are Uncomfortable

By survival with good will, John demonstrates with extreme long life why 14 generations cover 500 years in Scriptures. John demonstrated God's love of loyalty by still being in vigorous communication during the 2nd Century A.D. in the attitudes Christians should aspire towards. Collecting disciples instead of a nursing home. That Cave on Patmos Island? We should all get to live rent free on a mountain looking over the azure Mediterranean Sea - and to the is day the view is about the same. Imagine that. God did not have John imagine - his eyes were blessed to see and live with Jesus - God of Love.

We will end this Post remembering Jesus said: Jesus said to worry less.  Circumstances go up, down and around, teaching us to rely upon God's Promises. Life is building us to be the people God would want us to aspire to be.

May this KING bless us this Day with HIS Presence. Just as believers have for years trusted in God. So shall we trust in Jesus. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Psalm 126 ~ He who goes out weeping, bearing the seeds for sowing

Padre Island - where a Catholic priest brought his siblings' families with him to compete his tasks to God

Psalm 126

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.

4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.


Luke 12

8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

 

\We all are called to different ways to preach. God is vast like Ephesians 4.
What does He requires of us?

This is the beginning of Psalms. A good strategic place for this comprehension of the Power of God and His Scriptures. Jesus frequently astonished, worried and panicked His Disciples.

Today, we are too "with it" to fear God. To truly comprehend God, we must understand His Authority. 

John walked with Jesus, calling Jesus, God is Love. And then we understand, Perfect Love Casts Out Fear. God would never have us walk in fear, for He has given us a Spirit of Power, the Holy Spirit, Jesus gave us by cancelling our sin in His Sacrifice of Atonement. Joshua spoke of this in the balance God told him as he took upon himself the mantle of the failed Exodus. In Joy!

To do this path, we must speak with God and pray knowing He has set us on a course, like the way we want our kids to go to college. God is distant. And completely within us and completely in our thoughts. We are not far from God - ever. Nothing takes God's love from us. 

Be refreshed in the Gospel's comprehension again. Refreshed, encouraged, renewed.  John's first Chapter is glorious - and bland - as John tries to cover up the astounding Transfiguration - his explanations of God's Glory reverberate through the millenniums. No one has the ability to read this Chapter with a God inspired heart and come away the same.


And John takes what he has the talent to describe - covering the disciples fear, awe, questioning, lack of loyalty, loyalty and their sorrow - to the culmination of their approachability to God Himself. The last Chapter of John explains how closely they are attached to Jesus even in the squabbles. The Scriptures are Real. Relationship with the vast Father God of Ephesians 4 and all of the Bible, millenniums and His Good Creation.

God again covers us - He loves us first, And He doesn't leave or forsake us. A God who wants to save His world!

When you read the writing of Peter and Paul - they LOVED. Peter and Paul expected God. They expected that His message of Love would be respected and carried beyond their lives. They held up God and knew that His Work would go forth. They were not desperate. I'm sure they looked worried when towns descended upon their work. Empowered and equipped + to try again tomorrow.

When you really study how Love works - there is awe.

When you look at John ending His Gospel. Probably Mary was sitting with John, the Gospel ends by saying Jesus was so complex and so many things surrounded Jesus that the Gospels can't contain them all.

The fullness of Christ Jesus.

And these personal miracles grew. And more people showed up. People began to see the dead were raised. Jesus was creating an atmosphere of belief. He wasn't requiring them to believe what they couldn't understand. This is why the Mediterranean Ocean from one side to the next was rocked to the core in 16 years.Why a persecuting Empire went another 200 years after almost collapse from 300 years of persecution, to hope. Christianity propped up and propelled the Roman Empire.

Life changes with Jesus.

Luke 18
The tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

That's a great reminders for those bringing the Gospel forth. We need that lesson - like I do - today.

Father God, in all the tasks we would do for You, bless us to persevere,  endure and thrive. We ask Your blessings - In Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Mark 16 ~ Jesus rose

Mark 16

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.

[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]

9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Imagine you were part of the traveling Christian dispersion,  in the early centuries - on the Run because you Know Jesus is Lord. The first, second and third centuries had people doing this. As they fled, they carried the Good News with their travels.


Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.


The reason Mark 16 doesn't have the Resurrection in all manuscripts; If you are afraid of being killed for carrying the New Testament and yet, your heart Cries Out You Must Have Some Written Word of the Gospel...


1 Corinthians 15:12-19

12 If it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

The reason for Mark writing The Gospel of Mark was to put all the passages people in the early centuries spoke more about. These passages were the "hit parade" of the common themes where the heart was opened to the life of Jesus Christ. Mark was with Peter and these were the events most in demand to be retold. John's Gospel boldly states, more could be added to the Gospels.


The completion of Mark 16 ~ is why the Gospel is written. This important page of the Good News - traveled near the heart.

Father God turn the hearts of Fathers to their sons. Complete families with love. Strengthen what You would have strong, Father God. And refresh those who look to You. Thank You Father God for those who have worked for the Holy Spirit and for the families and this Nation. We look to You for these victories. In Jesus. Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Our LORD!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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