Luke 5:27-32 ~ Follow Jesus

The overseer of taxes - would be Pontius Pilate. It would fall to Pontius Pilate, if the taxes fell short. One of the pieces of Pilate Archaeology: "At Caesarea, an inscription mentioning Pilate’s name was discovered. A free translation is as follows: “The Tiberieum [a temple dedicated to the worship of Tiberius] of the Caesareans Pontius Pilate Praefect of Judea has given.” The inscription illustrates how the Judean governor bowed and scraped before Caesar.

Levi being a Jew has made a decision where his paycheck would be drawn.

Luke 5:27-32

27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. 

And he said to him, “Follow me.” 

28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 

31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

The Romans made smooth roads. The Romans caused money and water to flow. And caused all manner of upsets. What apparently was stable - became given to God. Good News!!!




What did Monday morning at the office of Levi look like?

Levi was - free. And planning a party. Not very typical when you are a thug working for thugs.

A Bible story we know.

With themes we have seen Jesus live.

What would be said to Levi about leaving tax collecting at tax booth season? Nothing terribly encouraging. Maybe,  a threat about shortfalls in the totals. Levi was comfortable enough believing in Jesus - this did not make the Gospels. And Levy made Jesus a party with his fellow paycheck collectors. Just the people to elevate Jesus the Christ of God. Exactly the recognition Jesus needed... not exactly.

Jesus did what Levi/Matthew is doing.

Jesus Christ asleep in his boat, painted by Jules Joseph Meynier

Levy has created difficulty in his life to have two unusual career moves. Both Jesus and Matthew believe God will create a Way.

What might have Jesus possibly said after the party of Levi and the condemnation heaped upon Jesus for sinners, as well?

John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

How can we take this out of context? The Bible explains God Himself. And would hope to explain St. Matthew.



Jesus spoke with women. Samaritans. Tax Collectors. Jairus. Pharisees. Synagogue Rulers. Lepers. Rich young men. Herod's Stewart's wife. The blind. Pilate. Lame. Herod. Deaf. Caiaphas. The poor. Foreigners. Roman Centurions. Levi had done this. In a different capacity! And yet, Paul would find good use of his experiences to travel all over the Mediterranean using his education and background, his status as a Roman Citizen - to allow God's Love to Flow. And what would astonish Josephus - God's Love would go far further than the Roman Empire.

Finding our Blessings!

Abba, Father God,

Jesus has made loaves to feed His Beloved from Your Word. Jesus has found a way to make Blessings. Give us more Jesus today.
Give us this Day. Our Daily Living Bread.

Bless us to provide Leven for our Loved Ones. Teach us the tools, we ask. Give us Your Heaven on earth in our soul and heart.

Forgive us our Sins Jesus has said as He Heals. Bless our families, communities all the way forth to Blessing the Nation Trusting in You.

In Jesus Christ, Son of God, Shine Your Love and Light on the Nations looking to You. For the Way, Truth and Life. As the Children of God please You, their Loving Father, asking more of Your Heaven and Your Good Will go forth for all of the Light of Jesus Christ shining in mankind.

Jesus is God. Alleluia. His Exact Nature. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! † 

Isaiah 25:1,6-9 ~ You have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

Isaiah 25:1,6-9

1 O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.





6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

7 And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.

8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.

9 It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." 

Jeremiah 17:15
They keep saying to me, "Where is the word of the LORD? Let it now be fulfilled!"

Psalm 72:11
May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

John 14:13-14
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Matthew 8:11
I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven


John 14:20
In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.


Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.


Matthew 1:23
They shall call his name Immanuel, which means, God with us.

Abba, Father God, 

Let my name be engraved upon Your hand. You are the Rock I stand upon forever. 

For I know that My Redeemer Lives! 

I place my life, my cares, my hope, the ones I Love into Your Hand. 

In Jesus Christ, our Alleluia and Amen.

Thank You, Jesus Christ, Our LORD.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! † 

John 3:1-21, 33-36 ~ Born of the Spirit

Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019 A.D.

Born Again

Jesus spoke many times about His own Death and His Resurrection.  This is the way, truth and Life.

In hindsight, 2,000 years later, we do understand Jesus is the Son of God and fulfills God's Plan. And Jesus spoke so many times to us all about our own lives and decisions knowing Scripture and God's Love and Mercy in our Prayer lives.

If we were to look at our life spans as being in an unusual time, we could come up with some astonishing reasons why this is an extraordinary time of life. Our Great-grandparents would be in utter astonishment to see - - - today. Our parent's life trends aren't necessarily our own.

And in History, we are alive during the Two Millennium absence of the State of Israel.

We live the Born Again time of Israel.

Today being Easter, we have an idea - how much Jesus would do to reach out.

What would Jesus have to say to our time frame in History?

John 3:1-21, 33-36

Now ~
there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.



16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”





33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

One of the surprising things in Israel, when the Bible says something to the effect an altar was built or a landmark was created for something like which tribe inherited the land - usually, the landmark is found. If you're skeptical these stones are the exact same, why? The stones are put there from what the people could find at the time. Rocks nearby... "What God has put nearby." Landmarks are made from what God has put in our hand and in our lives to dwell in life. The question answers itself - is it the same landmark - yes.


John 3 is our landmark for our times. Nicodemus could answer some of our 'today' questions. Revelation says as the world grows old - knowledge will vastly increase. Nicodemus is not the sign for end of days, this isn't what we are looking at. Nicodemus is a Landmark. A touchstone. A great place to make a permanent memory.

Let's give us a stone marker to start this landmark.

The Great Sanhedrin Counsel met in the Temple, Chamber of Hewn Stone.


Sanhedrin - various political, religious, and judicial functions have been attributed. The Great Sanhedrin, or simply the Sanhedrin, in Jerusalem. There were also local or provincial sanhedrins of lesser jurisdiction and authority.

A council of elders, or senate.

Although eminent sources—the Hellenistic-Jewish historian Josephus, the New Testament, and the Talmud—have mentioned the Sanhedrin. In the writings of Josephus and the Gospels, for example, the Sanhedrin is presented as a political and judicial council headed by the high priest (in his role as civil ruler.)

The Talmud it is described as primarily a religious legislative body headed by sages, though with certain political and judicial functions. Combining political, religious, and judicial functions in a community where these aspects were inseparable. Until the Roman Empire and Herod.

According to the Talmudic sources, including the tractate Sanhedrin, the Great Sanhedrin was a court of 71 sages that met on fixed occasions in the Lishkat La-Gazit (“Chamber of the Hewn Stones”) in the Jerusalem Temple and that was presided over by two officials (zugot, or “pair”), the nasi and the av bet din. It was a religious legislative body “whence the law [Halakha] goes out to all Israel.”

Before the Roman rule, it could appoint the king and the high priest, declare war, and expand the territory of Jerusalem and the Temple. Judicially, it could try a high priest, a false prophet, a rebellious elder, or an errant tribe. Religiously, it supervised certain rituals.

Nicodemus. He is placed as a man who has been chosen for wisdom to be part of the Jewish rulers. He is a man determined to seek understanding, God and wisdom.

 Nicodemus would certainly appeal to us because he seeks wisdom - we have at our fingertips.

We can surmise Nicodemus is not new to his own thoughts on God. Nicodemus makes none of the mistakes being puffed up by his own importance. Nor does he follow the crowd to become evil. Clearly, Nicodemus is not a new convert.

1 Timothy 3:6
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.

Nicodemus is certainly not going to appear to Jesus as sitting with Jesus. Jesus has been known to be part of sinners. And wisely, Nicodemus goes with questions. In Privacy.

Jesus speaks with Nicodemus forthrightly. Jesus is God. Nicodemus has perceived Jesus is not using the opportunity to elevate Himself. This is an interesting conversation. This is a blend of worldly places. We certainly live in a material world. We would have to meet Jesus as we are - because Jesus sees us.

Here we have Messiah and a Jewish ruler. And the Jewish ruler makes no pretense to be other than himself and not a typical "suit' or robe of nothing but a well-read, bent on the "everyone opinion" pop-culture knowledge of really it's all about Herod, Rome career and money, money. Nicodemus is there for his own soul and the soul of Israel - God's People. Nicodemus is not faking his own depth of soul and shallow soul. He has sought Jesus for reasons we would - Nicodemus wants to complete his life having spent his efforts, his heart pleasing to God.

Jesus knows something of people seeking the way, truth and Life.

If we put this very simply - real Nicodemus - real Jesus, really a soul.


Jesus explains in a world suddenly nothing like David's mercenary history of Israel - there are still landmarks. Nicodemus lived in a time so much Roman power and trade had created the mega-rich. The upper class Judea was now middle or struggling to make Roman taxes - when never asked if they wanted Caesar. Isaiah 7 indicates all the usual ways of commerce are done in - harmed or replaced. Capernaum, adult hometown of Jesus - is brand new to create fish for the Roman increasing population in Jerusalem. So much Roman money. And Money is being made in Capernaum. Jesus is living in what we might call a nice suburb. (And going forth to be God meeting all the people, all the time in poverty and even Herod's Stewart's wife - the Bible is the BLEND of ALL the People.)

The wealth and the new had swept in and overcome little Israel now Judea, a suburb of Syria. This was a time where all the classes and rules had changed. A time where the King of Israel stamped his non-Davidic image on a coin - to smile and be seen. And the king was not only living with his brother's wife - he was sending his own kids to be educated in Rome. Or kill them off.

Jesus arrived - when the People of God were earnestly needing Jesus.

The Sanhedrin had been a Council everyone in the nice "1950's" could really enjoy doing what was expected. Now Herod picked with an eye to making fussy, rural people happy, too. But really, mostly, to please the Governor and Caesar.

This was run for your dear life if the Sanhedrin made Herod unhappy.

Nicodemus is truly in a time all the landmarks are changing.


1. God is Spirit. He is here not to condemn us - but help us find Life.

2. Born of water and Spirit. Reality and Heaven. The needs of today, the flesh, cannot ever crowd out the Spirit. The reality of seeing life with eyes of faith - like a child.  This is Good News. Hope for this very day and every day.

3. The beliefs we held for ourselves, about our life, as children as having a necessary Life, do not end. Like Nicodemus, we are unsung. Nicodemus is not held forth in the Talmud as being the Mr. Important who Tried horrible Jesus and got Him down. Nicodemus is going to make a choice. Nicodemus is going to be the people of God who speak with Jesus in the eternal being - soul.

4. Nicodemus is not going to move the freight train. The Roman Empire is bigger than Nicodemus. What Nicodemus is going to do is use the way, truth and Life to make these inspiring little changes. No one is going to notice. After all, Nicodemus is not Pilate, Herod, Rabbi. And yet. Really. The inspiring little things God put in the hand and opportunity of Nicodemus - make eternal differences. We have found Nicodemus is Jimmy Stewart and "It's a Wonderful Life."

5. Nicodemus speaks up (during another, earlier end-that-Jesus- say the Sanhedrin Council. Because Nicodemus spoke up - Jesus has more time for Ministry. Given what Jesus does every day that is probably 25,000 or more people healed. Jesus healed them all on several occasions.

6. Good Friday and Holy Saturday - Jesus is seen by the Sanhedrin Counsel as deceased. Not just the Romans. We find Nicodemus' bravery cancels the spin, spin, spin over Jesus reviving from being beaten beyond recognition and dragging a huge cross to Crucifixion.

7. Nicodemus teaches us small amounts of bravery and wisdom lead to greater paths of a fulfilling life. We have an example of Nicodemus as a landmark. We can do a 'little of this' and "a little of that."

8. Reassuring us God will make a path for His Goodness in our efforts, lives and prayers. He is a Good Father making Life.

And the best point for last, Jesus spoke forthrightly to Nicodemus and never did Nicodemus feel Jesus had condemned him as inadequate. God has given Nicodemus so many years ago and us - tools to live the way, truth and Life.

Making the Point. God is Alive, Working and Father of Living Jesus Christ. Still for us. Still our Father. Still our Savior. Still our Father God of Love and Encouragement. Taking us out of darkness to become people who have seen a Very Great Light of the World, Jesus Christ.



Abba,

We Thank You for Your Blessing of Jesus. Today. In the Nature of Jesus, we are given Your Exact Nature.

Finding You Alive and Loving. Discovering again how 'for' us You are. God of Love.


Bless us to see You more clearly. Love You more dearly.
Bless our family. Bless our Loved Ones.

Let Your Glory sweep our Nation Trusting in You.

Let Your Majesty put all of Creation bringing more Heaven on earth. Bless the nations living in Your Brightness. Uphold, Bless, Keep Safe, Strengthen Encourage and Build up the Kingdom of Heaven in Your Beloved children all over Your Good Creation. More Jesus.

Let the Light of Your Love far outshine the darkness, to see the Victory of Your Son Today.

In Jesus, the Lord, God's Only Son, Alive, Working, Loving, Guiding us to Live.

Jesus God, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! † 

Luke 24:17-21 ~ What are you discussing together

Matthew 27: 62-66

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."

65 "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Holy Saturday, the day the Soldiers were sent to guard the Tomb of the Son of God.

Don't you wonder? 
What it was the day like to stand next to the grave of the man all of Israel knew healed them all?

Matthew 14:14

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

Matthew 19:2

And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.

Luke 24:17-21

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 

18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, 

“Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. 

“He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel."

Isaiah 49:6

He says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Acts 13:47

For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"

Acts 26:23

The Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles."

Isaiah 42:6

"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 45:22

Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

Isaiah 51:4

Pay attention to Me, My people, and listen to Me, My nation; for a law will go out from Me, and My justice will become a light to the nations; I will bring it about quickly.

How impossibly possible our Father God, God of Love, would call the soldiers following orders to murder His Son would have His Church bloom His Love and His Hope and His Faith and His Encouragement.

The Word of God is Victorious. We can see His Words and Deeds and Victory in our world today. The Word of God is Active and Living. Knowing the Scriptures and the Power of God Himself. The Zacchaeus Word of God was active on Holy Saturday as the Church Jesus spoke of in Caesarea would move forth and begin in the home city of the Soldiers. The Word of God is Alive and Living Today.

Luke 19:5-10

When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 

6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 

7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 

8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Royal Stoaa and the First Vatican before the fire in 1400 A.D.

Abba, You are our Beloved Father, Giving us Jesus,

Because of the tender mercy
of our God,
the 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.

Jesus Christ, live in us every day in Your Willing Blessings.
We thank You for Your Graciousness Shining upon us.

Lift Your Face to Shine upon us and our family.
Bless us with Your own Peace.

Cover us for Eternity in the Name of Jesus Christ, God's Only Son.
And Your Blessings will endure forever. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †