Firstly, I would like to apologize to my dear readers. My website went down about 2 weeks ago, but we’re back up and ready to go!
In case you missed the last post because of the website dysfunction (see Christ Prevails as the Center of Everything Good), it is up now. In it, we saw Jesus reveal His imminent death and resurrection to the apostles, the cost of following the Gospel after He ascends into heaven, and how Christ allowed three of His disciples to witness the miracle of His transfiguration.
Jesus finished by helping the apostles see that love, forgiveness and humility were pillars that removed any personal roadblocks to their efficacy at achieving the ‘Great Commission’s command to evangelize.
Now, we find Him on the same wavelength, adding the need for compassionate, non-judgmental mercy as well:
“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.” Mt. 18:15 – 17. NLT
This is the godly way of handling offences, knowing that because of human nature, offences will be committed many times by many people.
Next, Jesus rephrases what He had revealed to the apostle Peter, when He told him that He was going to build His church upon Peter’s faith,[1] to now include the rest of the apostles (except Judas Iscariot) as being founders of the church as well:
“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth shall have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth shall have [already] been loosed in heaven.
“Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them.” Mt. 18:18 – 20. AMP
There is a powerful synergy created in heaven in response to corporate prayer, along with the fact that Jesus inserts Himself into that synergism. to bring the prayers to realization.
However, it seems that Peter’s human side did not absorb all of Christ’s teachings because instead of the humility, love and forgiveness He instructed them to have for sinners, Peter starts whining about having to put up with them:
Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?” Mt. 18:21 CSB
“I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.” Mt. 18:22 CSB
Jesus is speaking in a hyperbole, suggesting that one must forgive 490 times. He is really saying that we must forgive as many times as we can when dealing with a repentant person.
After Jesus ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit would also allude to the same divine instructions to the apostle Paul:
(Bless those who persecute you [who cause you harm or hardship]; bless and do not curse [them]. Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief]. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a realistic self-view]. Do not overestimate yourself. Never repay anyone evil for evil. Take thought for what is right and gracious and proper in the sight of everyone. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Rm. 12:14 – 18. AMP)
Christ and His apostles stayed in the region of Galilee instead of journeying to Judea. Jesus could omnisciently foresee that the Jewish officials were waiting there to kill Him.
Jesus wasn’t afraid. He had to adhere to His Father’s Divine schedule.
It is the end of September 29 A.D., closing in on the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths). Jesus’ half-brothers (born to the virgin Mary and Joseph after Jesus’ incarnation), did not believe their brother was the Messiah at this time. They ask Jesus to go to the festival and work miracles to prove Himself. He dismisses them:
So Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come; but any time is right for you. The world cannot hate you [since you are part of it], but it does hate Me because I denounce it and testify that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves. I am not going up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” Jn. 7:6 – 8. AMP
Again, sticking to His Father’s timetable for the proper time to give up His life. However, not long after His brothers left for the festival, His clock starts ticking…
Now when the time was approaching for Him to be taken up [to heaven], He was determined to go to Jerusalem [to fulfill His purpose]. Lk. 9:51 AMP
On the road along the way, three people approached Jesus and asked if they could follow Him. The first one said:
“I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” Lk. 9:57, 58. NLT
Jesus was informing him the road was not an easy one.
He told the second one to follow Him immediately. The man replied:
“Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” Lk. 9;59, 60. NLT
The third man replied to Jesus’ invitation as well:
“I will follow You, Lord [as Your disciple]; but first let me say goodbye to those at my home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things left behind] is fit for the kingdom of God.” Lk. 9:61, 62. AMP
One’s commitment to Christ must be 100%, placing that quest above all else:
The man was not saying that his father was dead, but that he wanted to wait until he died to be able to acquire anything his father might leave him.
Ultimately, the is what Jesus requires of His followers:
…be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer. 2 Tm. 2:1 – 4. CSB
The Commanding Officer is Christ.
When Jesus and the apostles arrive in Jerusalem, He keeps a low profile. The religious authorities are looking for Him, and the crowds are talking about Him.
Midway through the festival, Christ enters the Temple and begins to lay down the law, the Word of God, astounding the people with His comprehension and mastery of the Scriptures as He speaks:
Jesus answered them by saying, “My teaching is not My own, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is of God or whether I speak on My own accord and by My own authority.” Jn. 7:16,17. AMP
The Jews had claimed that Christ was speaking His own teaching, but Jesus is saying that their faith would reveal the words were His Father’s.
“He who speaks on his own accord seeks glory and honor for himself. But He who seeks the glory and the honor of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness or deception in Him.
“Did not Moses give you the Law? And yet not one of you keeps the Law. Why do you want to kill Me [for not keeping it]?” Jn. 7:18, 19. AMP
Jesus was speaking to glorify God, not Himself. Plus, He was pointing out that He was ‘sinless’ – far removed from the spiritual sickness expressed by the Jews. Also, Christ was asking the crowd to delineate what kind of crime it was He committed that deserved death.
Some believed Jesus, others didn’t. Some wanted Him arrested or killed. Knowing this, He speaks to the crowd’s unbelief and anxiety:
“You know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come on my own initiative [as self-appointed], but He who sent Me is true, and Him you do not know. I know Him Myself because I am from Him [I came from His very presence] and it was He [personally] who sent Me.” Jn. 7:28, 29. AMP
Jesus is telling them that they might recognize His physical form, but have no clue of His Divine nature, that was sent by God, whom He accuses the people of not knowing.
At that point, the crowd and religious leaders want Him arrested, but He supernaturally escaped. To be continued… Goodnight and God bless
[1] Mt. 16:17 – 19.
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