John 12:12-18 ~ to meet Him

The first tomb of Lazarus, in Bethany, is a place of pilgrimage to this day. The tomb, as it was described in 1896, was entered down a flight of twenty-four rock-cut steps from the then-modern level, to a square chamber serving as a place of prayer, leading by more steps to a lower chamber that was reverenced by Muslim and Christians as the tomb of Lazarus. This is where Lazarus rose from death.

The second tomb of Lazarus, history, traces from France. 

The pilgrims and the Crusade, carried Lazarus relics from Church to Church. An ancient altar in one of the Spanish Cathedrals was opened, inside, beside a relic, was a piece of paper saying, 

"Lazarus is a friend to Jesus, Always."

John 12:12-18

12 The next day (the day was a close to the Resurrection of Lazarus from odorous to Life, and was the Passover in Jerusalem.)

the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

behold, your king is coming,

    sitting on a donkey's colt!”

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.

John 21 24 

This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, 

and who has written these things, 

and we know that his testimony is true.

Jesus had so many options in life. We see popular ideas: Jesus understood His brain better than others. We've seen popular thought say Jesus was an alien, like the type who built the Pyramid. Jesus lived His Life for truth. He would have said. Instead, Jesus said He is the Messiah, God's Plan of Salvation.

One popular idea, the sadness of Jesus to do God's Will. This isn't Biblical, Jesus is found as a Child, staying to be with His Father in the Temple. Teaching about His Father. Jesus said so many times, "I am." Jesus embraced being holy and human.

 John 7:35 

The Jews said to one another, 

“Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? 

Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 

 John 12 20 

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 

23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. 

John 21

 25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. 

Were every one of them to be written, 

I suppose that the world itself could not 

contain the books that would be written.

In Holy Week, consider what Jesus had seen as

Messiah. Not just human, but Holy and Divine.

Revelation 4

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in Heaven.

And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 

And think of Palm Sunday

The view from the Ascension, wouldn't surprise Jesus. He had seen Adam and Eve in the Cool of the Evening meet His Father in Eden.

   

Proverb 8 Creation

I was rejoicing in His whole world,

 delighting together in the sons of men. 

32 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, 

for blessed are those who keep my ways.

Jesus could have thought of so many places and events in History. Lent records Jesus was thinking of His Father, the Disciples and their understanding. Comfort, Help, Helper.

1 Peter 2:25 

 For you were straying like sheep, 

but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jesus was thinking of the salvation He was giving His Children. He was thinking of us. He was bringing us to the Gate. To Living Water.

John 10:9 

I am the door. 

If anyone enters by me, 

he will be saved 

and 

will go in and out and find pasture.

Holy Week, is when we show up for Jesus.  We are not hired, as Job's life did, to be paid to sit Shiva. We are there to say we think of Jesus. We would be there on Good Friday.  We would want Him to have our comfort for all the times Jesus gave us Comfort.

Matthew 27

55 There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and 

the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

John 19:39-40 

 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.

We attend Holy Week to be the balm of Gilead. 

This is a historical time of unease, all plagues and pandemic recovery has uncertainty and vile violence. We go to say we would Comfort Jesus in the middle of these days.

Jeremiah 8:22, 

“Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? 

Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?

Let us Bless the Lord

Thank You, Father

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thanks be unto the Lord

Matthew 21:12-17 ~ Prepared

 

Why a donkey and a colt?

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and The Life.

The Holy Spirit is Comfort.

Matthew 21:12-17

†

12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 

13 He said to them,

 “It is written, 

‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 

15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, 16 and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” 

And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read,

“‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies

    You have prepared praise’?”

17 And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.

 Christ Pantocrator, 6th century

The Greek word Pantocrator is “he who has authority over everything.” Two Hebrew expressions in the Old Testament describe God, the “God of Hosts” (Sabaot) and “Almighty” (El Shaddai).

Perhaps the different eyes of Jesus represent the Divine and Jesus the man.

God is God.  Our God, The Almighty, is fully the architect of His Living Word, and teaches us to know images of Jesus as a living man walking and healing us all, being Grace upon Grace.  David was ruddy. And handsome and very young. Solomon was clothed beautifully.  Saul was extremely tall. 

 A man of Sorrows, Isaiah 53:3 describing Jesus of Good Friday. Jesus describes Himself in John 14, 15, 16 and 17 as a man who has lived a Joyful Life. 

We do not know if Jesus was Ruddy, tall, short, blonde, light or dark eyes. 

God wants us to recognize: Our Heavenly Father, the Exact Nature of Jesus. 

Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done on earth as in Heaven. Give us this day. Our Daily Bread. Forgive us our Trespasses.  Lead us not into Temptation. Deliver us from evil. For His is The Kingdom, The Power and The Glory.

We recognize Father God in these Verses 

Being Glorified on earth, as people are not. Julius Caesar didn't have impromptu be our king parades. Complete with blankets and coats lost to the crowd for Jesus to walk upon. The fringe of the Robe of Jesus was known to heal. Acts 5 tells us the family and friends of the ill and dying were placed in the shadow of the Disciples of Jesus to heal.    

God addresses injustice forthrightly. Without fear of mankind. Jesus is in the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, so rarely opened.

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world

Jesus Christ is the Light of mankind

Light has no borders or boundaries. 

† One of the most important images Jesus  is giving us.  

Jesus wants us to see in His Message Eternally is His Nature.  Jesus doesn't just ride on a donkey like David did.  David explained himself by riding his donkey to his coronation, David knew he was a man of the people. David fully explains his roots.

Jesus is Teaching as He rides in on a Donkey and brings a colt. 

Horses sent a rare message. In the Roman Empire, few men can be Tribunes. Senatorial Rank in the equestrian portion of the army. Horses were very elite. To be equestrian rank, the man brings his own horse.

Jesus is Light of mankind. Jesus is not poverty creeping into a criminal death. Jesus is a Carpenter's Son. Jesus is the Son of the Most High God.  Jesus is the Messiah of God. Both God and man.

Jesus is Light of the world

Palm Sunday is Jesus enters through the Beautiful Gate

Amos 5: 14-24

Seek good, and not evil,

    that you may live;

and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,

    as you have said.

15 Hate evil, and love good,

    and establish justice in the gate

It may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,

    will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

16 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord:

“In all the squares there shall be wailing,

    and in all the streets they shall say, ‘Alas! Alas!’

They shall call the farmers to mourning

    and to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation,

17 and in all vineyards there shall be wailing,

    for I will pass through your midst,”

says the Lord.

18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!

    Why would you have the day of the Lord?

It is darkness, and not light,

as if a man fled from a lion,

    and a bear met him,

or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall,

    and a serpent bit him.

20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,

    and gloom with no brightness in it?

21 “I hate, I despise your feasts,

    and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

    I will not accept them;

and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,

    I will not look upon them.

23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;

    to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

24 But let justice roll down like waters,

    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Holy Week and Easter 

Uniquely tell us of God's Plans

and 

The Joy of God is our Strength.

When we say

Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life

we recognize

The Holy Spirit is Comfort.

God intends us to Love Jesus and find Him our Comfort.

We sometimes wonder in the news and the daily disaster report, if Jesus has fallen asleep in the boat. Maybe, we should wake Him. 

The Way, The Truth, The Life. Jesus Christ.

When we see Jesus healed them 'all', we find some are indignant. 

The Sacrifice, then the Comfortless. Jesus discourages the Money Machine. Jesus isn't about the bank Herod adored for Rome, Jesus is for the joy of His Righteousness and His Boldness in His Righteousness.

Today's Verse says: Even God's Praises were being discouraged.

When Jesus heals the deaf man so beautifully and carefully, Jesus is with a deaf man.

When Jesus heals the ten lepers, Jesus acknowledges life has lepers. 

Verse 17, Jesus takes refuge in Bethany. Zechariah said around its northern side,  would be the road to Bethany and the Jordan

Zechariah 14:4

On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.

Jesus Christ.

The Time of His Sacrifice He is not discussing the end of the world. Not talking about the unrepentant cities. Jesus acknowledges in all His Way, His Truth and His Life, life is not Heaven. Jesus is taking refuge in the city He calls unrepentant.

Jesus knew the hassles and frustrations of Life. He found Joy because of His Faith in God's Plan. His Joy in seeing the Centurion's Faith in the Word Spoken by God's Son. 

Jesus the clear vision of God's Plan sees The Way of Life, The Truth of Life, and finds Life Joy. Finding the Holy Spirit is Comfort.

It's so difficult to see Jesus

killed, when He Healed them ALL.

So very difficult.

God's Mercies Renew.

As Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are here,

we realize we are not dust in Jesus Christ.

We Begin Again as His Mercies Renew.

Psalm 24

A Psalm of David

The earth is the Lord's 
and 
the fullness thereof
the world 
and those
 who dwell therein

He has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

And who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.

5 He will receive blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. 
Selah!

 Lift up your heads, O gates!

And be lifted up, O ancient doors!

The King of glory may come in.

8 Who is this King of glory?

The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!

9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.

10 Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory! 
Selah!

Abba, Father,

Help us to go before the Lord to prepare His ways

To give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins

Because of the tender mercy of our God

 His sunrise shall visit us from on high 

Giving light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death

Guiding our feet into the way of peace.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms

By grace you have been saved through faith

 and that not of yourselves

 The gift of God

not as a result of works, so that no one may boast

Faith is a gift of God

by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ

May grace and peace be multiplied to you

 in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord

We pray for all facing injustice

and those who face the injustice

in a system called Justice.

We pray this Land

is Home of the Free

the Brave

and 

the Honest.

FREEDOM!

1 John 3:1

See what kind of love the Father has given to us,

 that we should be called children of God

Dwell in us, Father

Dwell in those we Love

Help us to seek You first

and in Jesus Christ,

we will finish well.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord

Jesus Christ, Savior of God.

Blessed are the Churches with 

Shepherds

FEEDING

their Flock!!! Blessings Blessings

Blessings Blessings

All the Generations of Heaven. 

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 

the Children of God.

Amen in Jesus Christ 

The Holy Spirit

Comfort

Help

Helper

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Luke 11 ~ The Lord's Prayer

 

The Post disappeared for Saturday after an hour and a half. It was about Jesus and His Great Love
for us.

And we know His Great Love.

Abba, Father

May the work of our hands

be prospered by You.

May the words of our mouth,

and the thoughts of our heart,

be pleasing to You,

Our Rock and Redeemer.

Edward and I have had gastric upset,

we've heard is in the area,

for a couple of days we've been so tired.

We ask for Your Blessing of health, Father.

Thank You for Jesus.

His Love, Mercy, Sacrifice and Care.

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

† †