God Cherishes You Blog

Jesus is Laying Down the Law 2

In Part 1 of this series, we found Jesus advocating for compassion, mercy, and forgiveness – especially for those who sin. He also gave us the method for bringing the sinners back into the fold. In addition, Christ talked about building His church, synergistic prayer, and began the journey with the apostles towards Jerusalem to prepare for Jesus’ ascension to heaven.

They are still at the Festival of the Tabernacles. On the last day of the celebration, a ritual is performed whereby water is ceremonially poured upon a rock in the altar of the Temple. This commemorated when God drew water out of the rock to slake the thirst of the Hebrews, during their exodus from Egypt.

Jesus calls out to the people who are attending this ritual, and provides an analogy that offers His salvation:

^“He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” Jn. 7:38 AMP

Jesus is quoting from the prophet Isaiah, when God offered the Israelites the same promise some 700 years earlier:

“Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy grain and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost [simply accept it as a gift from God].” Is. 55:1 AMP

“Incline your ear [to listen] and come to Me; hear, so that your soul may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies [promised and] shown to David.” Is. 55:3 AMP

God’s promises are propagated in Christ.

Yet this crowd grumbles in derision. Moreover, the Pharisees called those who did believe, ‘illiterates.’

The day after the feast, Jesus returned to the Temple to teach again. As He commenced, a Pharisee brought a woman who was caught committing adultery. He snidely addressed our Lord:

Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women [to death]. So what do You say [to do with her—what is Your sentence]?” Jn. 8:5 AMP

(It’s interesting to note that her male partner was not present, as the penalty for adultery calls for the death of both partners. So, we see that the Pharisees were twisting the outcome.)

Jesus responds:

They said this to test Him, hoping that they would have grounds for accusing Him. * But Jesus stooped down and began writing on the ground with His finger. However, when they persisted in questioning Him, He straightened up and said, “He who is without [any] sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then He stooped down again and started writing on the ground. Jn. 8:6 – 8. AMP

*(The Pharisees were trying to trap Him. If He said, ‘Stone her’, Jesus would have violated Roman law that gave themselves the only authority to try crimes and execute the perpetrator. And, if He let the woman go, He would be disobeying the Mosaic Law.

Congrats to the mercy of our Savior. When He stood up, the Temple was empty except for Him and the woman. So, the Pharisees were outplayed, because to execute anyone (or be convicted of any crime), Mosaic law demanded that there had to be present two or more witnesses of the crime. Now, there were none.

Jesus said to her:

“Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” Jn. 8:10, 11. NLT

Later, Christ returned to teach in the Temple again – this time revealing His true nature once more:

“I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” Jn. 8:12 NLT[1]

Following Jesus is the only way to rise above the world’s darkness. But the Pharisees call Him a liar, saying that He must have one other witness to corroborate His claim to be the Messiah. Jesus counters:

“These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me.” Jn. 8:14 NLT

“You judge according to human standards [just by what you see]. I do not judge anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true and My decision is right; for I am not alone [in making it], but I and the Father who sent Me [make the same judgment].” Jn. 8:15, 16. AMP

Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am the one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.” Jn.8:17, 18. CSB

(Note that Jesus produces His second witness – God Himself. He also said that He does not judge. He is not contradicting Himself. He did not judge during His earthly ministry. When He comes back, well, that’s a different story. Lastly, note how Jesus says, ‘Even in your law’. He is separating Himself from the Mosaic Law, as He is superseding it with His new covenant.)

The Pharisees get themselves all lathered up, and demand that He tell them the whereabouts of His ‘Father’. Christ tosses it back in their faces:

Then the Pharisees said to Him, “Where is this Father of Yours?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” Jn.8:19 AMP

The apostle Paul would back this up through Holy Spirit-inspiration:

(He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation. Col. 1:15 AMP)

Jesus continues getting in the Pharisees faces:

Then He said again to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, and you will die [unforgiven and condemned] in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews were asking [among themselves], “Will He kill Himself? Is that why He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. That is why I told you that you will die [unforgiven and condemned] in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am the One [I claim to be], you will die in your sins.” Jn. 8:21 – 24. AMP

Christ is saying that He is a heavenly being (Messiah, Son of God, ‘I AM’). Moreover, He is telling them that those who will not believe in Him for who He is, and what He has done, will die a permanent death.

(This was also addressed by King Solomon in one of His proverbs when they treated God the same way):

“How long, O naive ones [you who are easily misled], will you love being simple-minded and undiscerning? How long will scoffers [who ridicule and deride] delight in scoffing? How long will fools [who obstinately mock truth] hate knowledge?

“If you will turn and pay attention to my rebuke, Behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

“Because I called and you refused [to answer], I stretched out my hand and no one has paid attention [to my offer]; and you treated all my counsel as nothing and would not accept my reprimand…” Pr. 1:22 – 25. AMP

‘When your dread and panic come like a storm, and your disaster comes like a whirlwind, when anxiety and distress come upon you [as retribution].

“Then they will call upon me (Wisdom), but I will not answer; they will seek me eagerly, but they will not find me, because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord [that is, obeying Him with reverence and awe-filled respect]… Pr. 1:26 – 29. AMP

At this point, the crowd that gathered to watch this exchange, asks Jesus:

So they said to Him, “Who are You [anyway]?” Jesus replied, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning? I have many things to say and judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I say to the world [only] the things that I have heard from Him.” Jn. 8:25, 26. AMP

Jesus was met like a sea of deer peering into headlights. I’m sure He was frustrated, but He stays on message:

So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man [on the cross], you will know then [without any doubt] that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own authority, but I say these things just as My Father taught Me. And He who sent Me is [always] with Me; He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.” Jn. 828, 29. AMP

Christ omnisciently perceives that He has made some converts in the crowd, and He reaches out to them:

So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].” Jn. 8:31, 32. AMP

Those who don’t believe in Him resist His words, and tell Him that they are descendants of Abraham, and have never been slaves. So, they don’t understand what they need to be ‘set free’ from. Ever merciful and patient, Jesus offers them a choice:

“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, everyone who practices sin habitually is a slave of sin. Now the slave does not remain in a household forever; the son [of the master] does remain forever. So, if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free.” Jn. 8:33 – 36. AMP

Jesus is saying that an unrepentant sinner has a finite earthly life; whereas those who walk with Him have eternal surety.

The crowd is just not getting it, and things are beginning to heat up! Be sure to stay tuned to the final part in this 3-part series.

Goodnight and God bless.

[1] Is. 9:2; 1 Jn. 1:7.

Building Better Americans 185

A contract is a document that stipulates a permanent specific outcome. A covenant is all about change, which one enters to grow and become the best version of themselves – leap of faith.

Jesus is Laying Down the Law

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 believersins 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.

Christ Prevails as the Center of Everything Good.

Previously, we watched Jesus dress down several Pharisees for the lies they promoted about God and their claim to represent Him. (See Jesus Extracts the Lies from the Truth). At the same time, we witnessed the apostle Peter rightly identify Jesus as the Messiah.

Next, Jesus reveals the imminent culmination of His earthly mission to the apostles:

From then on Jesusbegan to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. Mt. 16:21 NLT

Christ knew (with prescient ability) what was awaiting Him, and He willingly submitted Himself to it, for you, as was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah 700 years prior:

He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Is. 53:3 NLT

Then, Jesus tells His apostles that following Him will be a costly endeavor:

“If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me”]. Lk. 9:23 AMP

“For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mk. 8:38 AMP

How does this apply to you? Are you placing Christ first in your life? He speaks for Jehovah God. Thus, obeying Jesus, is obeying your Heavenly Father, which should supersede your personal interests and desires.

The God-walk is a road less traveled because the path is difficult, as it is 360 degrees opposite of the ways of the world and the desires of our flesh.

Six days pass after that conversation. Jesus has the apostles Peter, James, and John accompany Him while He goes to pray on a mountain. And then came the miracles…

As He was praying, the appearance of His face became different [actually transformed], and His clothing became white and flashing with the brilliance of lightning. Lk. 9:29 AMP

And His appearance changed dramatically in their presence; and His face shone [with heavenly glory, clear and bright] like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light. Mt. 17:2 AMP

Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus.They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.Lk. 9:30, 31. NLT

The ‘transfiguration’ of Jesus reveals His true appearance in His Spirit form, as He was in the pre-incarnate form in heaven, and how He will appear during His second advent at the end of time.

The significance of Elijah (representing the office of the prophet), and Moses (the office of the Law), is that they were both transferring the legitimacy of their respective offices to Christ.

Peter is so shaken that he begins to babble incoherently. To make matters more challenging, the sky itself explodes with Jehovah’s booming declaration:

…a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased and delighted! Listen to Him!” Mt. 17:5 AMP

When the apostles finally get themselves composed, they find that Moses and Elijah had disappeared. They joined up with Jesus and the other apostles who had been waiting. Some of those apostles were carrying on a heated argument with a few scribes in front of a large crowd.

Before Jesus could get an answer about the nature of the argument, He is approached by a man with a demon-possessed son, who begs Him to cure his son because the apostles could not. He pleads:

“The demon has often thrown him both into fire and into water, intending to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!” Mk. 9:22, 23. AMP

The father responds:

Immediately the father of the boy cried out [with a desperate, piercing cry], saying, “I do believe; help [me overcome] my unbelief.” Mk. 9:24 AMP

The father had faith but admitted that it was weak. Ever-merciful, Jesus exorcises the demon.

Christ and His apostles enter a nearby house, whereby the disciples asked Him why they could not exorcise the demon. Jesus answers:

“Because of your little faith [your lack of trust and confidence in the power of God]; for I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have [living] faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and [if it is God’s will] it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. [But this kind of demon does not go out except by prayer and fasting.]” Mt. 17:20, 21. AMP

So, Jesus is addressing their weak faith, and He is letting us know that some demons (devil’s angels) are more powerful than others, requiring prayer and fasting to fortify the exorcism.

Christ et. al. return to the city of Capernaum. There, a tax collector approached Peter and asked him if Jesus had paid the Temple tax. Peter said ‘yes’. Later, he would speak to Jesus about it. He responded:

“What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly rulers collect duties or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt [from taxation].” Mt. 17:25, 26. AMP

Jesus is telling Peter that the Temple tax is for God. And, that He, being the Son of God was exempt from paying a tax to His Father. Yet, Christ is also a ‘peacemaker’, so He gives Peter further instructions:

“However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.” Mt. 17:27 NLT

Christ never forgets anything. Now, He asks the apostles about what they had been arguing about earlier with the scribes. Here, we get another look at the disciples’ attachment to human nature, because the argument was about who was going to be the greatest in heaven. Jesus offers a multi-faceted explanation:

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all [in importance] and a servant of all.” Mk. 9:35 AMP

Next, Jesus places a child in the center of the apostles, and further delineates His meaning:

“…unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Mt. 18:3, 4. AMP

There is no reason for them to be prideful, even if they are in His inner circle.

And apparently, the apostle John hadn’t got the memo either, as he began to boast to Jesus:

“Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not accompanying us [as Your disciple].” Mk. 9:38 AMP

Sounds like someone trying to form an ‘old boys club’, a church denomination if you will. The apostles were trying to stop a man from doing God’s work because he was not an official ‘apostle.’ Jesus is not going to let that fly:

“Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us. If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.” Mk. 9:39 – 41. NLT

Christ is saying that His ‘church’ consists of all those who follow Him – period.

Jesus returns to the child to complete His teaching:

“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one these who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.” Mt. 18:5 – 7. NLT

Far better to stick by Jesus…