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What Happened on the Road to Damascus?

         Previously, we witnessed the disciple Stephen give up his life for the Gospel (see The First Martyr for Christ).

            Let’s return briefly to the day of Stephen’s death.

            At that time, a certain ‘Saul of Tarsus,’ was present at the event. He was leading a campaign of persecution against the church of Christ:

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. Acts 8:1 NLT

Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there.

He wanted to bring them – both men and women – back to Jerusalem in chains. Acts 9:1, 2. NLT 

            So, just who is this Saul, and why did he have such a hateful attitude towards the followers of Christ?

            Well, it just so happens that Saul tells us himself – in later scriptures that the Holy Spirit revealed to him:

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did…” Acts 22:3 NLT

I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin – a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.

I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. Phil. 3:5, 6. NLT

            Thus, Saul was born of Jewish parents in the capital city of Tarsus, in the region of Cilicia (modern-day Turkey), raised in Jerusalem and educated as a Pharisee.

            Remembering how hostile that they were to Jesus, Saul too must have hated Him, along with His followers. He felt He / they conflicted with the Pharisaic orthodoxy.  Saul felt that it was his righteous duty to persecute the church of Christ:

…I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. Gal. 1:13 NLT

Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities. Acts 26:10, 11. NLT

            Yet, Saul was totally ignorant of the Gospel:

For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it… Gal. 1:12 CSB

            Let’s return to Saul’s campaign against the church. He and his entourage were on the road to Damascus to hunt more of Jesus’ followers, when suddenly a light from heaven shines all around him and he falls to the ground.

            [When Saul would retell this event later, he said the light was brighter than the sun, and his entourage fell as well (Acts 26:13, 14):

He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

“Who are you lord?” Saul asked.

And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!” Acts 9:4, 5. NLT

            Saul knew that he was in the presence of the power of God, but unsure of its exact nature. I’ll bet when Jesus identified Himself, his knees started knocking. (When Saul would later recount this event, he said that his entourage only saw light, and they heard a voice, but it was unintelligible).

            Jesus adds:

 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:6 NLT

            Again, when Saul would later recall this event, he would provide greater detail about what Christ said:

“Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell the people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future.

And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.” Acts 26:16 – 18. NLT

            What a turnaround of events! I’m sure at that time, that Saul had been a most ‘reluctant apostle’.

            The light from heaven rendered him blind, so he had to be led by the hand to Damascus.

            He remained blind for 3 days, and he fasted during that period as well.

            Simultaneously, Christ appears to one of His disciples in Damascus by the name of Ananias. Jesus told him to go to a street called ‘Straight,’ (which still exists today). There, He said Ananias would find a certain house where Saul was praying in. Jesus added that He gave Saul a vision regarding his coming.

            Ananias protested, because he had heard of the evil things that Saul was doing to his brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus sets him straight:

“Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.” Acts 9:15 NLT

            Only Jesus would transform His greatest enemy into His mightiest champion.

            Ananias did as he was told and laid hands on Saul, whereupon he immediately regained his sight. The disciple baptized Saul, who was subsequently filled with the Holy Spirit.

            Saul immediately went out to preach to the synagogues in Damascus, that Christ was the Son of God – to the amazement of those who knew his past.

            This new apostle traveled to Arabia, where it is thought by some biblical scholars, the place where God gave him the deep revelations of the Gospel that he would later come to preach.

            Indeed, when Saul returned to Damascus 3 years later, he was filled with irrefutable, Holy Spirit-inspired preaching – witnessing to all, that Jesus is the Messiah.

            The non-converted Jews wanted to kill Saul. However, other disciples in Damascus lowered him over the city wall and he escaped.

            Saul journeyed to Jerusalem but was initially ostracized because of his history of persecution of the church. However, the disciple Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles and told them about his conversion. (Saul would add additional detail when he later reiterated it – saying that he only met with 2 of the apostles: Cephus (Peter), and James the brother of Jesus, who was now an apostle as well.)

            Saul preached while he was in Jerusalem, but the Jewish non-converts wanted to kill him as well. So, the apostles sent Saul off to Tarsus, where he would minister in Cilicia and Syria. Fourteen years would pass since Saul’s conversion…

            (I have spent all this time talking about Saul, who would become the apostle ‘Paul,’ who happens to write most of the New Testament. So, I’m thinking he’s important.)

            Finally, let’s shift to a short stretch of the apostle Peter’s path, to keep us in chronological harmony.  

            He begins to preach outside of Jerusalem, along the coast of Judea. Peter came upon a paralyzed man named Aeneas and spoke to him:

“Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly. Acts 9:34 NLT

            All the people in that community became converts. Peter travels to another town in the same region, where he was urged to come to the bedside of a woman named Tabitha, who had just died. He told everyone to leave the room and knelt and prayed over her, declaring:

“Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! Acts 9:40 NLT

            More converts.

            Peter journeyed 30 miles north to the city of Caesarea, the center of the Roman civil government in Judea. It is there that we get to meet a Roman Centurion called Cornelius: 

He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. Acts 10:2 NLT

            Cornelius, obviously a Gentile, followed the Old Testament teachings, but was not a convert to Judaism. One afternoon, an angel presents itself to him in a vision, telling him that God has heard his prayers.

            The angel gives Cornelius directions to where the apostle Peter is staying and tells him to send men to fetch Peter to him.

            As the men were approaching the town where Peter is, we find the apostle on the rooftop praying, where he too receives a vision from God. In it, there is a large sheet descending from heaven, filled with all kinds of animals – both clean and unclean, as dictated by Mosaic Law. He hears the voice of Jesus saying:

“Rise, Peter, kill and eat.” Acts 10:13 NKJV

            Peter balks by saying that he had never eaten anything unclean. Jesus counters:

“What God has cleansed and pronounce clean, no longer consider common (unholy).” Acts 10:15 AMP

            Peter was trying to make sense of his vision, when the Holy Spirit told him that there were 3 men outside, looking for him, and that he was to accompany them, because they had been driven to find him by the Holy Spirit.

            The apostle took some Jewish disciples with him and began the journey to Cornelius, who, filled his house with family and friends in high anticipation of Peter’s arrival.

            When Peter arrived, Cornelius fell at the apostle’s feet and began to worship him. Peter immediately forbade him to do so, telling him that he, Peter, was just a man like him.

            Instantly, Peter realized the meaning of his vision and revealed it to the household – saying that the Gentiles were considered to be ‘unclean’ to the Jews, but now God has made that prohibition (including against foodstuffs, or anything else that would get in the way of advancing the Gospel) null and void!

            Peter elaborates:

“Most certainly I understand now that God is not one to show partiality [to people as though Gentiles were excluded from God’s blessing], but in every nation the person who fears God and does what is right [by seeking Him] is acceptable and welcomed by Him. Acts 10:34, 35. AMP

            While Peter is still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those present in Cornelius’ house, and all the Jewish disciples that accompanied Peter were astounded to see Gentiles empowered by the Spirit. Peter responds to them:

“Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 10:47, 48. NLT

            There can be no doubt now. The call of Christ is a world-wide summons…

            Goodnight and God bless.

The Final Week of the Incarnated Christ 7

Last week, we followed Jesus’ arrest, the apostles’ desertion, Christ’s abuse at the hands of the Sanhedrin and from Pontius Pilate (see part 6).

Friday (cont.)

         When Pilate refused to continue to be a part of Jesus’ death sentence, the Roman soldiers took Him back into Pilate’s residence. There, they clothed Him in a scarlet robe, put a reed in His right hand and kept the crown of thorns on His head.

            Then, they ridiculed Jesus – bowing before Him and saying:

“Hail, King of the Jews!” Mt. 27:29 NKJV

            They spat upon Him and beat His head with the reed. Next, they made Jesus carry His own cross towards a place called ‘Golgotha,’ (meaning ‘place of a skull;’ also called ‘Calvary’).

            Along the way, Christ became too weary to bear the cross, so the soldiers forced a man named ‘Simon,’ to carry it for Him. A large crowd followed the procession, among them women who were crying over His plight. Jesus turned to them and said:

“Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’

People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?’ Lk. 23:28 – 31. NLT

            [The Jews had an expression that compared a good man to a green tree, and a bad one to a dry tree. Jesus is using it to get them to see that if God allows His sinless Son’s crucifixion, what kind of wrath will He send to this sin-ridden nation,) which did take place when the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D)].

            All the events that have progressed so far, happened in the early morning. It is now 9:00 a.m., whereupon Christ is crucified, along with two criminals on crosses of their own. Over the head of Jesus’ cross was written: ‘THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS’ (Mt. 27:37). Jesus speaks:

“Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” Lk. 23:34 CSB

            At this point, the Jews and priests are walking past Him, mocking – saying that if He was the Son of God, He should be able to save Himself. Even one of the crucified criminals reiterated that opinion.

            However, the other criminal rebuked him, saying:

“Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Lk. 23:39 – 42. NLT

            Jesus replied:

“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Lk. 23:43 NKJV

            Standing by the cross was Mary, Jesus’ mother, her sister, Mary Magdalene, and the apostle John. Jesus called out to His mother:

“Dear woman, here is your son.” Jn. 19:26 NLT

            Likewise, He cries out to John:

“Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. Jn. 19:27 NLT

            From noon until 3:00 p.m., the sun darkened. Jesus knew His death was imminent. In this moment, He had to bear all the sins of humankind throughout time – taking upon Himself Jehovah’s wrath, that He would have hurled at all the perpetrators.

            He had to taste death and separation from His Father for the first and last time. In that moment, Jesus had to feel, with every ounce of His soul and flesh, what every condemned human being would feel. He cried out (from His flesh):

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Mt. 27:46 NLT

            And then:

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” Jn. 19:28 NLT

(My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead. Ps. 22:15 NLT)

(…they offer me sour wine for my thirst. Ps. 69:21 NLT)

            Indeed, Jesus was offered a wine-soaked sponge to slake His thirst.

            Realizing His work was complete, Christ declared:

 “It is finished!” Jn. 19:30 NLT

            Jesus then uttered His final words as His incarnate self:

“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. Lk. 23:46 NLT

(Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God], and the Ever-living One [living in and beyond all time and space]. I died, but see I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead). Rv. 1:17, 18. AMP)

            Simultaneously, the veil of the Temple in Jerusalem [the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies)], split in two. The veil was approximately 60 feet high, 30 feet wide, and 4 inches thick. Tearing it was beyond all human capability.

            The significance of the veil was that it separated humankind (represented by the high priest), who carried out his duties in the Holy Place) from God, whose Spirit resided in the Most Holy Place – where the priest was only allowed to enter on the annual Day of Atonement.

            Tearing the veil eliminated that barrier, because God and humankind were now directly connected through Jesus Christ.

(So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood – not the blood of goats and calves – he entered the Most Holy Place once and for all time and secured our redemption forever. Heb. 9:11, 12. NLT)

            There was also a great earthquake that unearthed many graves of believers, who were resurrected and went into the city.

            A Roman centurion, watching these events unfold, was filled with fear, as he exclaimed:

“Truly this man was the Son of God!” Mt. 27:54 CSB

            Pilate gave permission to a disciple of Christ, named Joseph, permission to bury Him. He was assisted by Nicodemus, (whom you might recall was the member of the Sanhedrin that came to Jesus, who laid the concept of baptism upon him). Obviously, he had a change of heart.

            Finally, the Roman soldiers sealed the opening of the tomb.

Saturday

         The chief priests and the Pharisees asked the Roman soldiers to guard the tomb’s entrance until the 3 days elapsed that Christ had claimed would culminate in His resurrection. They were afraid that Jesus’ apostles would steal the body and fake His revivification.

Sunday

            Early in the morning, Mary Magdalene, and Mary (the mother of the disciple James, not Jesus’ brother) came to the tomb:

Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.” Mt. 28:2 – 6. NLT

            (Easter Sunday is thought to have been celebrated as far back as the second century A.D. The word ‘Easter’ is said to be derived from Eostre or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. Others claim it was derived from the Babylonian goddess Astarte, Ashtoreth, of Ishtar. Both claims are highly suspect.

            Nevertheless, if you are serious about evangelism, you need to meet your potential converts where they are at. They know Easter. Legalism just puts up barriers.

            Easter is the day of the highest significance for the followers of Jesus – the day that He arose to seal our salvation once and for all, redeeming us to God through forgiveness of our sins by His shed blood. Through this grace, we can take our promised place in eternity.)

            The angel continues:

“And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.” Mt. 28:7 NLT

            Filled with both fear and joy, the women run to tell the apostles, but along the way they run smack dab upon the resurrected Christ Himself, who simply says “Rejoice!” Mt. 28:9 NKJV

            They fall to their ground, clinging to His feet, worshiping Him. Jesus says:

“Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.” Mt. 28:10 NLT

            Jesus’ time on earth is limited – only 40 more days before His ascension. So, He gives the girls a little nudge to get them on their way:

“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Jn. 20:17 NLT

            While the women were making their way to the apostles, the Roman guards at the tomb regained consciousness, and ran to the chief priests to report the empty tomb, who in turn bribed them into telling everyone that the apostles stole Jesus’ body.

            The women told the apostles the good news, but they didn’t believe them. However, Peter and John decided to go check for themselves – only to find the burial clothes. Hope began to take root.

            Sunday afternoon, two of Jesus’ disciples (not the apostles) were traveling to a village near Jerusalem. Along the way, they lamented Christ’s death. Suddenly, Jesus appears to them, but renders Himself unrecognizable. He asks them why they appear so sad.

            They told Him that He must be the only person that hasn’t heard about Jesus’ death. They said that they heard that He was risen, but they doubted it, beginning to think He was not the Messiah.

            Jesus admonished them for their lack of faith in all of what the Prophets wrote about His path that He had to take:

“You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” LK. 24:25, 26. NLT

            Christ then interpreted all the Messianic prophecies and accompanied them to their destination, where He broke bread with them. And at that very moment, He revealed Himself and vanished from their sight.

            That evening, these same 2 disciples went to the apostles, who, (except for Thomas), were gathered behind locked doors (being afraid of persecution by the Jews). Exactly when they received the news of the resurrected Christ, He appears in the room, saying:

“Peace be with you.” Jn. 20:19 NKJV

            The apostles panic, thinking they are seeing a ghost. Jesus allays their fear:

“Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” Lk. 24:38, 39. NLT

            Still not convinced, He shows them His nail holes from the crucifixion, and He eats in front of them. They finally believed and were elated. Jesus commissions His apostles:

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” The he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Jn. 20:21 – 23. NLT

            Jesus is not saying that the apostles or any other clergy can forgive sins. What He is saying is that once you deliver the gospel message, the recipient can choose Him and receive forgiveness or reject Him and have forgiveness withheld.

            Eight days later, all 11 apostles gather, and Jesus appears as well. This time, Thomas is present and after handling His wounds, believes. Christ uses this juncture to give him a lesson on faith:

“You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” Jn. 20:29 NLT

            Christ spent another 40 days on earth before returning to His Father. During that time, there were approximately 500 sightings of our Lord. Within that time, 7 of the apostles were fishing all night with no luck. Debarking, they see Jesus on the shore, but don’t recognize Him.

            He tells them to cast their nets once more and the boat was overflowing with fish. They realize it is Jesus, and He had breakfast with them.

            Afterwards, He asked Peter if He loved Him. Peter affirms that He does. Jesus responds:

“Then feed my lambs.” Jesus repeats His question. Peter answers the same. He says, “Then take care of my sheep.” Jesus repeats Himself a third time. Peter answers the same. Jesus finishes with “Then feed my sheep.” Jn. 21:15-17. NLT

            (Remember that Peter had denied Christ 3 times. Here, Jesus is giving Peter 3 opportunities to recommit himself to His Savior and to spreading the Gospel.)

            Jesus then told the apostles to meet Him on Mount Olivet in Galilee, where He delivers His ‘Great Commission:’

“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Mt. 28:18 NLT

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.” Mk. 16:15, 16. NLT

            Then Jesus opened their minds so that they each had a complete grasp of the Scriptures. And He told them to remain in Jerusalem until they received the ‘Promise of the Father,’ which would be the endowment of the Holy Spirit. He said:

“…in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:5 & 8. NLT

            Immediately after these words, Jesus was drawn up to heaven. While the apostles were watching the ascent, 2 angels appeared and said to them:

“…why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” Acts 1:11 NLT

            Jesus ascended for a temporary leave of absence. As He promised, Christ will return to usher you into eternity. Yet, He is with you even now, through the Spirit, when you invite Him in…

            Praise Jesus!

            Goodnight and God bless.

The Final Week of the Incarnated Christ 5

Last time, (see part 4), we looked at Wednesday of Christ’s Holy week – where Jesus revealed the exact day of His crucifixion, and where Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus to the chief priests and the Temple guards. Then we looked a part of Thursday, seeing the Last Supper, where Judas is exposed in his treachery.

Thursday (cont.):

         Let’s return to the Last Supper, right after Judas flees into the night…

            Jesus immediately says:

“The time has come for the Son of Man to enter his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once.” Jn. 13:31, 32. NLT

            Christ is saying that everything has now been set in motion for His imminent death and resurrection, which glorifies His Father – for Jehovah’s wisdom put forth in His salvation plan for humankind. It also glorifies the Son, for His passion for God’s children, and for His willingness to be our sacrificial substitute, to take our punishment for our sins:

(He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief…it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down…he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed…the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. Is. 53:3 – 6. NLT)

            Jesus continues:

“Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Jn. 13:33 – 35. NLT

            This ‘new commandment,’ evolves the Mosaic Law of ‘loving your neighbor as yourself’ to a higher level. Christ is implying that love must be the primary drive behind all that we think and do, as well as to have an attitude of selflessness and servitude, as we strive to emulate Christ.

            However, Jesus’ love commandment must have gone right over Peter’s head, because he is still stuck on the part where Christ said He was going to leave. Peter tells Him that he would follow Him anywhere, even laying down his life if necessary.

            Jesus shocks Peter with His answer:

“Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter – before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny that you even know me.” Jn. 13:38 NLT

            He then turns to the other ten apostles and declares:

“Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd and the flock will be scattered.’ (Zech. 13:7) But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” Mt. 26:32, 32. NLT

            Next, Christ initiates the celebration of Communion:

And when He had taken bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant [ratified] in My blood.” Lk. 22:19, 20. AMP

And when He had taken a cup and gave thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the [new and better] covenant, which [ratifies the agreement and] is being poured out for many [as a substitutionary atonement] for the forgiveness of sins.” Mt. 26:27, 28. AMP

(…every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread and drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 1 Cor. 11:26 – 29. NLT).

            When we take ‘Communion,’ we are performing a ritual, whereby we take something physical, (often referred to as a ‘sacrament’), to remind us of the offer of Jehovah’s grace through Jesus Christ.

            We visibly utilize the sacrament to act out Christ’s proclamation, (in faith), trusting in the power of the grace of the New Covenant that replaces / transcends / enhances the Mosaic Law.

            We do not put our faith in the physical sacrament itself (that would be trying to earn salvation by works). Rather, it is our faith in Christ’s forgiveness of our sins, that is replayed and renewed in our memories, when we accept the sacrament – knowing there is nothing else upon which we can rely.

            Jesus concludes the Communion, and gives the apostles what would be their last in-depth teaching:

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.” Jn. 14:1 – 3. CSB

[For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 Cor. 5:1 NLT]

            Awesome, yes? Christ then reinforces how there is only one way to get to that heavenly home:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jn. 14:6 NKJV

(“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 NLT)

            Christ is the only door to the Kingdom. He is the living word of God, and the giver of life. There are no gray areas here. It’s matter of life or death. God said, “choose life” (Dt. 30:19), and He is still saying it today.

            Jesus then taught them that because the very essence of God fills Him, and is expressed by Him, they have essentially had God in their midst the entire time that they’ve been together:

“If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” Jn. 14:7 NLT

            Philip pops up and asks to see the Father. Christ gently rebukes him:

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!…The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.” Jn. 14:9 – 11. NLT

            Jesus is empowering His disciples. He foreknew it would be difficult for them when His physical presence was gone. He’s building up their faith:

“…anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.” Jn. 14:12, 13. NLT

            He then shifts gears and tells them how best to express their love for Him and their Father in heaven:

“Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them…and we will come and make our home with each of them.” Jn. 14:21 & 23. NLT

“…if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.” Jn. 15:7- 9. NLT

“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jn. 15:11 NLT

            Jesus then assures them that He is not abandoning them. In fact, He will always be available – through the ‘Holy Spirit:’

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

No, I will not abandon you as orphans – I will come to you.” Jn. 14:15 – 18. NLT

(…let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves…which is the opposite of what the Spirit wants…These two forces are constantly fighting each other… Gal. 5:16, 17. NLT

…the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Gal. 5:22, 23. NLT)

(…God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets…And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 1 Cor. 2:10 & 12. NLT)

            Christ continues:

“I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” Jn. 14:25, 26. NLT

“…I will send you the Advocate – the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.” Jn. 15:26 NLT

“…in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sins, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.

There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.” Jn.16:7 – 9 & 12 – 14. NLT

            In a nutshell, Jesus is saying that because He taught them so much, they would not be able to recall it all. However, the Holy Spirit would bring what they need, to the light of remembrance. Also, because of Christ’s limited 3-year ministry on earth, the Holy Spirit will give ongoing revelations about the full nature of our Savior. 

            Next, Jesus offers us even further comfort:

“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.” Jn. 14:27, 28. NLT

            (When Jesus was tied to the flesh, He was inferior to His Father, His resurrected self is not.)

            Jesus would not leave this earth until He accomplished everything His Father intended Him to do – even to the point of submitting to the violence of Satan; and He did it all for you:

“I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches me. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.” Jn. 14:30, 31. NLT

            Lastly, Jesus draws up an allegory of our intertwined relationship with Him and Jehovah:

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” Jn. 15:1, 2. NLT

            Our Savior is saying that it is not enough to know God. We must live, as He would have us live. And, from time to time, (like any good parent), our Father in heaven will dole out a little divine discipline to nudge us back on track when we stray from His ways.

            Indeed, we need this relationship:

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

Yes, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.” Jn. 15:4 – 6. NLT

(My child, don’t reject the LORD’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. Pr. 3:11, 12. NLT)

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you what you ask for, using my name.” Jn. 15:16 NLT

            You were chosen by Christ Himself for the Kingdom of God, and for advancing it by inviting others to the love of God, through the love of His Son.

            Jesus wraps up the Last Supper with these words:

“…the time is coming – indeed it’s here now – when you will be scattered, each going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Jn. 16:32, 33. NLT

Goodnight and God bless.

Christ Steps Out into the Spotlight

We finished last time with Jesus trying to help His apostles embrace love, forgiveness, and humility – to remove any self-induced roadblocks to their ‘Great Commission’s efficacy (see Are You Putting Christ First in Your Life).

         He continues, this time addressing the importance of compassionate, non-judgmental mercy – especially for the ‘backslider’:

“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

            Thus, Jesus reveals the godly way of handling offenses, which all humans will commit many times in their lifetime.

         Jesus then repeats what He told Peter privately, to the rest of the apostles [see Pharisaical Falsehoods and the Truth (Mt. 16:17 – 19)]:

“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 – 20. AMP

            There is a powerful synergy created in heaven in response to corporate prayer and Jesus inserts His own power into that synergism, to bring prayer requests to fruition.

         Yet Peter, (and you just have to love those apostles when they show their human side; it gives us all hope), seems to be brushing Jesus’ teachings aside, when he whines about having to put up with sinners:

“Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”

“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” Mt. 18:21, 22. NLT

         The Holy Spirit gave the apostle Paul wisdom in this area as well:

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them, pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! …Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Rm. 12:14 – 16 & 18. NLT

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own…Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Eph. 4:30 – 32. NLT

            Going back to what Jesus said, 490 times we must forgive? Yet He wasn’t being literal but speaking a hyperbole. What He means is that we should we exercise forgiveness as many times as we can muster it, if we are dealing with a repentant person.

            Jesus put a period on this matter by relating a parable to them (Mt. 18:23 – 34). In it, He tells a story of a merciful king who forgives one of his slaves’ very large indebtedness owed to him. The same slave turns around and has another slave, who owed him a much smaller debt, thrown in jail.

When the king gets wind of this, he throws the first slave in prison as well.

Jesus then says:

“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” Mt. 18:35 NLT

         Christ and His apostles hung out in the region of Galilee instead of journeying on to Judea, because He could foresee that the Jewish officials were waiting there to kill Him. It wasn’t fear that kept Him from going, but because Jesus had a Divine timetable that He had to adhere to.

            It is now the end of September, 29 A.D. – near the time for the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths). Jesus’ brothers (those born from Mary and Joseph after His virgin birth), did not believe that He was the Messiah at this time. They attempt to get their Brother to go to the festival and work miracles. They want Him to step out into the spotlight – perhaps (my guess) to receive glory by association).

            Again, Christ has His own predetermined schedule. He responds:

“My time has not come; but any time is right for you. The world cannot hate you [since you are a 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 to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” Jn. 7:6 – 8. AMP

            So, Jesus stayed behind. He was telling His brothers that He brings the righteous light of exposure to the sins that people try to hide or legitimize. They hate Him for that, as well as anyone who represents Him.

         Not long after His brothers left for the festival however, the ripening of His mandate manifests:

As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Lk. 9:51 AMP

            Jesus and the apostles took the direct route from Galilee to Jerusalem, which included traveling through Samaria – whereupon the Samaritans refused to grant them lodging. (Some biblical scholars believe that it was because they were going to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship, instead of the one in Samaria that the inhabitants maintained was the only legitimate place of veneration).

            This upset John and James, who asked Jesus if they could call down heavenly fire to destroy them. Christ rebukes them:

“You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” Lk. 9:55, 56. NKJV

            The Son of God is telling them that their intent was in error because the spirit of His followers needs to be one that readily offers peace and love through the free sharing of the Gospel – not the show of anger and retribution for those who refuse to receive it.

         Three would-be followers of Christ approached Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. 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 to even lay his head.” Lk. 9:57, 58. NLT

He said to another person, “Come follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “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

Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say goodbye to my family.” But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Lk. 9:61, 62. NLT

            Jesus is clarifying the parameters for, and the consequences of, making the decision to follow Him: First, it will be challenging because we must give up the (supposed) security of all things worldly, and place our absolute trust in Christ’s ability to provide what we need.

            Secondly, we must make our obedience to Jesus our highest priority, even over our familial obligations, (although we are not to ignore them).

            Lastly, we must face forward, and not look back, to stay on our heavenly course. We cannot keep one leg in the world and try to straddle the other in heaven. Remember Lot’s wife (Lk. 77:32).

            Ultimately, this is what Christ calls us to do:

…be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus…Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. Endure suffering…as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. 2 Tim. 2:1 – 4. NLT

         When Jesus finally arrives 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 – stepping out into the spotlight.

            He astounds the people with His command and understanding of Scripture because they know that He has had no formal training. Jesus knows this and responds:

“My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.” Jn. 7:16, 17. NLT

“Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.” Jn. 7:18, 19. NLT

            Jesus speaks the word of God. In fact, He isthe living word of God – speaking to glorify His Father, not Himself. Christ also declares that He is void of unrighteousness, yet this crowd is steeped in it, as He points out in speaking to their desire to kill Him.

            Then, Jesus challenges the crowd to reveal what kind of crime it is that He has committed.

They begin to grumble about whether He should be arrested or killed. Others wondered if He really was the Messiah, while those who knew Him as a child in Nazareth did not believe. Jesus speaks to their quandary:

“Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.” Jn. 7:28, 29. NLT

            Obviously, these people did not possess a good knowledge of Old Testament Scripture, or they would have started putting the pieces together:

“But as for you Bethlehem…too little to be among the clans of Judah; from you One shall come forth for Me [who is] to be Ruler in Israel, His goings forth (appearances) are from long ago, from ancient days.” Mic. 5:2 AMP

            What Jesus is telling them, is that they might recognize His earthly form but have no grasp of His divine nature nor believe that God had sent Him. Furthermore, He accuses them of not knowing who God is.

            That was crossing a ‘red line’ as far as the crowd was concerned. The chief priests and the scribes tried to have Him arrested, but He was supernaturally delivered from their grasp (Jn. 7:30 – 32). Jesus spoke to the crowd once more:

“For a little while longer I am [still] with you, and then I go to Him who sent Me. You will look for Me, and will not [be able to] find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” Jn. 7:33, 34. AMP

            Jesus is speaking of His resurrection and ascension to heaven. He is also alluding to the sins of these people, which will rob them of a similar experience.

            The crowd stubbornly remains clueless…

            To be continued in Part 2.

            Goodnight and God bless.

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