The Way, The Truth, and The Life

I enjoy listening to and reading Matthew, Mark, Luke and John's accounts of Jesus' life.  Jesus is the way the truth and the life and we all must come to the Father through Him. I have the King James version of the bible on CD, narrated by Alexander Scourby, and sometimes I find when I listen to the scriptures being read, I get a visual account of events.

I have been listening to these four gospels as of late, and I have heard things in the scriptures that I had not grasped in the past when I read the same chapters and verses.

Things like when Jesus healed the lame or blind on the Sabbath.  Instead of the critics praising God for the miracles and taking into consideration that the people were made whole by the power of God (who incidentally instituted the Sabbath), they chose rather to get infuriated and angry that Jesus healed on the Sabbath.  They considered healing someone as work, and of course in their religious minds God would not want anyone healed on the Sabbath day for they said, "there are six days in which you can heal."  How crazy is that?   They could not accept that Jesus was the the way God chose for salvation, and they missed out on many, many blessings God had for them.

As many times as I read this or listen to this, it still amazes me that not one time did any of them take a step back to see why they were so angry, or to even evaluate what was happening, or to call a prayer meeting to seek God about what was going on.  Not one time did any of the religious leaders question their beliefs and if they were according to God's Wisdom and not man's wisdom.

So, I got the thinking about myself and whether or not I had that "Pharisee spirit" operating in my life.  Sometimes when you have been saved for a long time and have gotten into religious habits, I could see in those gospels that you can truly miss what God is doing in the earth if you are not willing to take another look.

Not all change is from God, nor is all change good; but at least inquire of the Father if this is His will or not.  No one holds the sum knowledge of God, so let's not deceive ourselves into thinking that when we see or hear a "new thing" in the Body of Christ that it is not of God.

I relate it to computers.  I got so use to the operating system before XP, that I had no desire to accept XP.  As computer operating systems advancement came, I told myself that I was just fine; not even considering that there might be something in XP that I could benefit from in that new version.

Well, I loved XP!  That's why I take thought to all areas of my life to determine if I am applying the pharisee way to things.

As you take into account your life in Christ Jesus, be sure that you use this as a measuring stick.  Am I missing God because of what and how I believe it should be, or how I was taught, or what I think.

To be a follower of Christ we need to crucify the "I" factor in our beliefs and deny ourselves as Jesus said, take up our cross and follow him.  That means following Him in the direction that He is going!


For we are Ambassadors of Christ  -   2 Corinthians 5:20

Jesus Loves Me This I Know

As a child attending Sunday School, this song was one I learned and one that has stuck with me unto this day!

The words are:

JESUS LOVES ME

THIS I KNOW

FOR THE BIBLE

TELLS ME SO

LITTLE ONES TO HIM BELONG

THEY ARE WEAK BUT HE IS STRONG

YES, JESUS LOVES ME

YES, JESUS LOVES ME

YES, JESUS LOVES ME

FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO!

When did the Church of God, the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ stop believing God's Word, the bible? 

THE TRUTH WILL NEVER BE QUIET, THE TRUTH WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN,

 AND THE TRUTH WILL NEVER END!

As we embark upon Resurrection Sunday to celebrate what God did through Jesus Christ our Lord, let's remember that everything that he did was done for us was because of the LOVE of God and our Lord Jesus.

No matter how old we get, we will always be God's "Little One's" if you have received Jesus as Lord of your life.  So remember that song and sing it often to yourself.

Come to Him.  Return to Him.  Stay with Him! 

1 Corinthians 1:18 - Jesus Christ and Him Crucified
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;

but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

For we are Ambassadors for Christ  2 Corinthians 5:20





The Shed Blood of Jesus

Have you found any discrepancies in what you have "heard" or been "taught" about Jesus Christ and his Crucifixion?

Hopefully you have been studying the scriptures and reading them in a different light since you have been reading my blog posts.

Are you ready for the next topic in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified?  Today we will discuss Jesus' Blood and its' Power.

I have traveled to Israel and once you have traveled where Jesus walked, the scriptures open up in ways you cannot explain.  You really begin to imagine yourself being there as you remember the various scripture references to Israel when you are standing there.  I saw the garden (Gethsemene) where Jesus prayed.  I walked the path where he rode into Jerusalem and the people cried out "Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!"  I walked the path that led to the hill where Jesus was crucified after he was beaten.  I saw the tomb where he was laid. 

Of course as a tourist, it is hard to get the tour guides to all agree where the exact spots are of all of these facts.  But what I know is that Jesus experienced everything the scriptures say he did.  I believe!  Does it matter if "people" agree on the exact spot it all happened?  No!  What matters is that our faith in Jesus, where he lived, and what he did for us not waver.  Jesus Christ and Him Crucified is the power of God!

Besides, we do not have to travel to Israel to get that experience.  All we need do is to travel by God's Spirit.  So let's take a trip back to the night before and the day of Jesus' assignment being fulfilled.

Today's Scripture Reference Chapters:

St. Matthew 26 & 27

St. Mark 14 & 15

St. Luke 22 & 23

St. John 18 & 19

They (the religious leaders who denied who Jesus was) came to arrest Jesus at night, Luke 22:53.(please refer to the above references.)  That's how Satan operates in people's lives, in darkness.  Whether it be the dark of night or the darkness of one's heart and mind!

SWEAT DROPS

The first Blood reference appears as Jesus prayed to the Father in the garden, his place of solitude.  Sweat which appeared as drops of blood, Luke 22:44.  I have never prayed to that extent, but Jesus still knows our heart as we are seeking God's perfect will, just as he wanted to be sure this was what Father God had for him.  Let us say as Jesus said, "Not my will but "Your" will be done." 

WHIPPED

So now we see Jesus' Blood shed is when he received the scourging (whipping/lashing/flogging typically used by the Romans before crucifixion to torture). Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1  In reading accounts of how the Romans whipped people, it is simply unimaginable what Jesus went through and the massive amount of blood that was shed as he was beat.

CROWN OF THORNS

Yes, there was more of Jesus' Blood shed.   From his head as they plaited a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and mocked him. Matthew 27:29, John 19:2, Mark 15:17  I have been pricked by a thorn and it really hurts.  Now imagine a crown of thorns being pushed down on your head and blood streaming down your face and head.

CRUCIFIED

Jesus' Blood being shed for us when he was nailed to the cross.  Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:33, & John 19:18  The scriptures do not explain the process of how Jesus was crucified, but there are many articles you can research on Roman Crucifixions and I have included a link below.   Once you truly understand that it was more than being nailed to wood, you have to appreciate Jesus precious blood, shed for you and I.  Why would he submit himself to this is the BLOOD wasn't important?  And to know that He did it for everyone not matter who you are, the Blood cleansing is available today!
http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-life/roman-crucifixion.htm

PIERCED

Lastly, we see Jesus' Blood shed from his side, when he was pierced as recorded in John 19:24.  But not only  blood this time, it was blood and water.  Why water?  It was more than just the body releasing fluids.  Let's look past our knowledge of the body and let's look at the meaning of each element that flowed from his body.

Jesus said, that no one takes his life, but that he laid down his life.  His purpose was to give LIFE back to mankind which is what his shed Blood represents.  Genesis 4:10 and Deuteronomy 12:23

Then the Water represents the CLEANSING of the world stained by sin. Ephesians 5:26

The Conclusion of the Matter

Why is there all these references to Jesus' Blood in scripture?  I never thought about it before, but as I have been studying Jesus Christ and Him Crucified, it has to mean something important, or the scriptures could have simply said Jesus died, was buried, was resurrected on the third day and ascending on high to the Father.  But we read the details of Jesus' last night and his last day on earth as a man and what he endured for us.

Let's visit other scriptures to get some answers as to why so many references was made to Jesus' Blood being shed.   Jesus himself makes His Blood the focus of "The Last Supper" topic with the bread and wine.

Jesus said in Luke 22:19-20: And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

His body and his blood was an important element in our eternity and in our life here before death.  God didn't just send Jesus into the world to die.  God's plan was far reading than death.

God had to redeem us once and for all, so that his creation of mankind could get back into fellowship with him, and that takes a blood sacrifice. (read the old testament blood sacrifices).

Once and for all, God needed a sacrifice that would take care of mankind's redemption without having to be repeated.  The answer, JESUS!  He came not born of sin, but born in a body.  No animal can represent mankind, so God gave us his precious gift of Jesus. John 3:16

What did we receive from Jesus as the Lamb of God?

• Eternal & Daily Salvation with God - John 3:16
• Abundant Life - John 10:10
• Health and Healing - Matthew 8:17
• Prosperity - 3 John 2
• Redemption from the curse of sin - 1 Peter 1: 18-21
• Dominion, Victory & Authority - 1 John 5:4

This is in no way everything that Jesus' death, burial and resurrection obtained for us.  I encourage us all to search the scriptures and take hold of what Jesus provided.  Did he die in vain for you?

For we are Ambassadors for Christ - 2 Corinthian 5:20