Biden let TEN MILLION illegal aliens into this country against the law. Nothing to do with being humane. Solely to pack the Democrat voter rolls in an effort to perpetuate an endless one-party socialist rule over the USA.
Messengers on the Golden Path
Last time, we finished the 3-part series of Jesus is Laying Down the Law. (See Part 1; Part 2; & Part 3.)
Next, Jesus moves on to the next phase of His Gospel (the golden path to salvation). efficacy. He did that through multiplying Himself by appointing 72 new disciples as His ‘messengers’.
They were to precede Jesus’ arrival to places where He was going to evangelize His Gospel. Their mission was to prepare the people by alerting them that the ‘Kingdom of God’ was coming to them. He instructs the 72 before their departure:
“The harvest is abundant [for there are many who need to hear the good news about salvation], but the workers [those available to proclaim the message of salvation] are few. Therefore, [prayerfully] ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Lk. 10:2 AMP
“Go your way; listen carefully: I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not carry a money belt, a provision bag, or [extra] sandals; and do not greet anyone along the way [who would delay you]. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace [that is, a blessing of well-being and prosperity, the favor of God] to this house.’ And if anyone of peace is there [someone who is sweet-spirited and hospitable], your [blessing of] peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not move from house to house.” Lk. 10:3-7. AMP
“Whenever you go into a city and they welcome you, eat what is set before you; and heal those in it who are sick [authenticating your message], and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.” Lk. 10:8, 9. AMP
“But whatever city you enter and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say,‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you [breaking all ties]; yet understand this, that the kingdom of God has come near [and you rejected it].’ I tell you, it will be more bearable in that day [of judgment] for Sodom than for that city.” Lk. 10:10 – 12. AMP
What’s Christ doing? He’s empowering the 72 to preach about the Kingdom of God, and to heal the sick to demonstrate the power of it. And finally to impress upon those who would listen, that the only way to salvation was through Jesus Christ. Furthermore, they were to convey the dire gravity awaiting those who reject Him.
Our job, when we present the Gospel, is to humbly invite the hearer without trying to coerce them. What they do with your invitation is between them and God.
There is an urgency that surrounds our duty as followers of Christ to evangelize. It stems from the fact that God has a finite timetable for people to accept Him. Or, for the backsliders to return to Him. Once Jesus returns, those who are rejectors or fence-sitters will be condemned to death.
Jesus ‘seals’ the 72, and sends them off with an admonition:
“The one who listens to you listens to Me; and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and the one who rejects Me rejects Him [My heavenly Father] who sent Me.” Lk. 10:16 AMP
When the 72 return from their tasks, they are elated for having seen the power of Christ work through them. And they exclaim:
“Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Lk. 10:17 CSB
Jesus responds:
“Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning!” Lk. 10:18 NLT
He is speaking metaphorically, describing how Satan lost that battle with the 72.
Afterwards, Jesus tells them (and us) that He will continue to empower His disciples:
Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you. Nevertheless do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.” Lk. 10:19, 20. AMP
Empowered and having their (our) salvation assured out or their / our obedience.
(The ‘scorpions and snakes’ are not literal! It is symbolism for victory over demonic opposition. Also, note that Jesus is telling them not to fall into the sin of pride because He empowers us. Instead, we need to remain humble and give all the glory to God.)
The apostle Paul would later put giving all the glory to God this way – using evangelism as the example:
( I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 1 Co. 3:6 NLT)
Then, Jesus allowed Himself a little personal celebration. He rejoiced in the fullness of the Holy Spirt over the results of the ministerial success of the 72. Simultaneously thanking His Father as He celebrated:
“I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things [relating to salvation] from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants [the childlike and untaught]. Yes, Father, for this way was [Your gracious will and choice, and was] well-pleasing in Your sight.” Lk. 10:21 AMP
Christ is rejoicing over the grace of God – choosing to reveal the Good News to those with childlike faith. Salvation was lost to those who feel so wise in their own eyes, whilst ‘rationally’ rejecting His Son. It’s all about the faith.
The Holy Spirit expresses this faith eloquently through the apostle Peter:
(You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.
They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.) 1 Pt. 1:8 – 12. NLT
All followers of Christ have received the Great Commission to multiply our Savior by expanding the Kingdom of God through our sharing of the Good News…
Goodnight and God bless.
Building Better Americans 187
Public Schools are an embarrassment – teaching kids to hate America, that it is racist, denies biological science regarding gender, and creates a victim mentality.
Jesus is Laying Down the Law 3
Part 2 of this 3-part series left us with Jesus preaching His salvation message to a resistant Jewish crowd – who declared that they didn’t need saving from Him, because they were ‘saved by default’ by being Abraham’s descendants.
Christ steps up to the plate to rebuke them for their ignorance and pride:
I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you plan to kill Me, because My word has no place [to grow] in you [and it makes no change in your heart]. I tell the things that I have seen at My Father’s side [in His very presence]; so you also do the things that you heard from your father.” Jn. 8:37, 38. AMP
“No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.” Jn. 8;39, 40. NLT
The crowd tries to defend themselves by saying that their ultimate Father is God. Jesus isn’t putting up with their lies, which begs the question: just who is their father?
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father [but He is not], you would love and recognize Me, for I came from God [out of His very presence] and have arrived here. For I have not even come on My own initiative [as self-appointed], but He [is the One who] sent Me. Why do you misunderstand what I am saying? It is because [your spiritual ears are deaf and] you are unable to hear [the truth of] My word. Jn. 8:42, 43. AMP
“For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! Jn. 8:44, 45. NLT
The crowd retorts by calling Him an enemy of Israel and its Temple. They also accuse Him of being possessed by a demon. Jesus doesn’t let up, yet He still offers His salvation:
Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon. On the contrary, I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. However, I am not seeking glory for Myself. There is One who seeks [glory for Me] and judges [those who dishonor Me]. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if anyone keeps My word [by living in accordance with My message] he will indeed never, ever see and experience death.” Jn. 8:49 – 51. AMP
The crux of the salvation promise: Walk with Jesus, live an eternal heavenly life.
Still, the crowd rejects Him. They refute His claim of eternal life, saying that the greatest men that ever lived were Abraham and the Prophets, and they all died. Then, they ask Him if He thought that He was better than Abraham. Christ responds:
“If I glorify Myself, My glory is [worth] nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ Yet you do not know Him, but I know Him fully. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham [greatly] rejoiced to see My day (My incarnation). He saw it and was delighted.” Jn. 8:54 – 56. AMP
What Jesus is saying is that the coming of the living Christ / Messiah was Divinely revealed to Abraham. The crowd balks, saying that was impossible because Abraham died 1800 years ago. He answers them with a HUGE truth:
“I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am!” Jn. 8:58 NLT
Jesus is telling the crowd that He, like His Father, is eternal in nature! That sent them over the edge, and they tried to stone Him to death. However, He supernaturally disappears from the Temple…
Later, Christ gathers the apostles to leave Jerusalem. Along their journey, they come upon a man who was blind from birth. The apostles ask Jesus whose sin caused that blindness, the blind man’s or his parent’s.
(Note that many Jews believed that all suffering was due to sin – not true. Also, because the apostles questioned whether the blind man himself may have been at cause, suggests that he sinned before he was born. No scriptural basis for that!)
The Son of God enlightens them:
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” Jn. 9:3 – 5. NLT
Jesus means that the blind man was divinely appointed to appear before Him at this moment, to glorify God through His Son’s miraculous healing, that would be recorded in the annals of history for all time. He was also alluding to the urgency with which He and His apostles must complete the tasks that God set before them within His short 3-year earthly ministry.
Christ then spat upon the dirt where He stood, making mud, which He applied to the blind man’s eyes. He then directed him to the pool if Siloam to wash his eyes. When he did so, he received his sight!
However, Jesus did this on the day of the Sabbath. In response, the Pharisees called Him a sinner. Moreover, they later excommunicated the man with his new vision, from the Temple.
When Jesus got wind of this, He found the man and asked:
“Do you believe in the Son of God?” Jn. 9:35 NKJV
The man answered in the affirmative and (immediately began to worship Him. A crowd (including the Pharisees) gathered around. Jesus turns to address them all:
Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment [to separate those who believe in Me from those who reject Me—to declare judgment on those who choose to be separated from God], so that the sightless would see, and those who see would become blind.” Jn. 9:39 AMP
Trying to draw Jesus out, the Pharisees asked Him if He thought them to be blind. He answers:
“If you were blind [to spiritual things], you would have no sin [and would not be blamed for your unbelief]; but since you claim to have [spiritual] sight, [you have no excuse so] your sin and guilt remain.” Jn. 9:41 AMP
Jesus is admonishing them for their claiming that they know the Scriptures, including the Messianic prophecies; yet they cannot perceive the truth about Who is standing right in front of them. They have no excuse for their sin…
Christ would later bump heads with the Pharisees at the Feast of the Dedication, where He addresses them with a parable:
“…he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up from some other place [on the stone wall], that one is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep [the protector and provider]. The doorkeeper opens [the gate] for this man, and the sheep hear his voice and pay attention to it. And [knowing that they listen] he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out [to pasture]. When he has brought all his own sheep outside, he walks on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice and recognize his call.” Jn. 10:1 – 4. AMP
The real ‘sheepherder’ enters by the ‘door’ to gather his sheep for grazing. (Our Savior, who is spiritually feeding them.) A ‘thief’ enters stealthily via an illegitimate path. The ‘doorkeeper’ would be God Himself. God’s children (Israel at this point), will be in an intimate one-on-one relationship with Christ, following Him because they have faith in His heavenly call.
The meaning of Jesus’ parable sails right over the ‘learned’ heads of the Pharisees. So, He delivers it direct and simple:
“…I am the Door for the sheep [leading to life]. All who came before Me [as false messiahs and self-appointed leaders] are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not hear them. I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security). The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd [lays down His [own] life for the sheep.” Jn. 10:7 – 11. AMP
The ‘thief’ refers to all the false teachers and messengers prior to Jesus (except for the ‘prophets’ of old). True believers saw through the lies and grasped onto the Gospel for eternal salvation. Christ facilitates that by giving up His own life.
Jesus continues:
“I am the Good Shepherd, and I know [without any doubt those who are] My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me]— even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My [very own] life [sacrificing it] for the benefit of the sheep.I have other sheep [beside these] that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they will listen to My voice and pay attention to My call, and they will become one flock with one Shepherd.” Jn. 10:14 – 16. AMP
The ‘sheep…not of this fold’, are the future Gentiles of the world that will also be a part of Christ’s heavenly kingdom. Finally, Jesus wraps up this discourse:
For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My [own] life so that I may take it back. No one takes it away from Me, but I lay it down voluntarily. I am authorized and have power to lay it down and to give it up, and I am authorized and have power to take it back. This command I have received from My Father.” Jn. 10:17, 18. AMP
It is both the Father and the Son who facilitate Christ’ death and resurrection.
Stay tuned!
Goodnight and God bless.