Humility and Love– 3-13-23

“So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.” John 13:31-32NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

Do you already have a relationship with a powerful God who cares about your every need because He loves you? Did you know my God can communicate with you and protect you – He has a plan for you to prosper if you just submit to His will and let His plan play out in your life!!! God wants a relationship with you and has already made a plan for your life. He loves you so much He sent His son to this world, to die as a sacrifice for your sins and rise from death with victory over sin and the ability to have a personal relationship with you.

Do you want to know truth? Be able to discern lies? Know how to figure it all out in these confusing times and have peace? The Bible says Jesus is the truth. I have experienced it and it has changed my life. I was once a hot mess of sin, promiscuity, drug and alcohol use and so much more. But I was lost and when I could not find my way, or find a truth, I numbed it with bad choses. When I found Jesus, and truth – I found peace and deliverance from those things.

If you want a relationship with God without truth you will get the counterfeit, hypocritical Christianity that has kept some of you away for too long. You need truth and relationship. You need to be honest with yourself and God (including honest repentance) and God will reveal truth to you. It becomes the two way, interaction that your relationship with God is built on. This is why Jesus is called the truth, because he is our only way to the Father.

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 NIV
Here is a prayer for you to pray:
Jesus, I believe you are the way, the truth, the life, and the only way to the Father. I believe you are the son of God, you came to Earth and lived. That you died on the cross as a sacrifice for my sins, and rose again so that I may be saved from my sins and be able to get to know you. I declare: Jesus, you are Lord!
Therefore, I confess that I am a sinner and I ask that you forgive me of my sins and come into my life. Help me to turn away from my sins and transform me into what you have lovingly created me to be. Help me through a real personal relationship grow and accept your will for my life – that I may live in your blessings. Please walk with me, and talk with me – I accept a relationship with you and with our Father God, through you. In the name of Jesus I pray ~ Amen

BIBLE READING:

Dear Heavenly Father – Please give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of who you are, who Jesus is, and who the Holy Spirit is. Open the eyes of our understanding, please, so we may know the hope of our calling and the vast sovereignty and power of the grace of the cross. Please do not let us miss out on what you want and need from us today. Lord, I pray that your word prepares us and not scares us! We forbid the works and influences of fear over your word and our sound mind. And please keep us and bless us and shine your face upon us and pour out grace over us and give us peace! And we pray for the peace of Jerusalem! Thank you! – In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Today’s reading we will re-read the same passage in the Gospel of John, chapter 13 at verse 31 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

The New Commandment

³¹So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. ³²If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. ³³Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. ³⁴A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

³⁶Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”
Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”
³⁷Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”
³⁸Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

John 13:31-38 NKJV

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Luke 4:8 KJV

BIBLE DISCUSSION:

Our reading has taken a turn for the more serious. The short teachings and every word Jesus says from this point on are the most precious words as He give the most important final commands to us. Our reading begins at the end of the Last Supper.

Now, you and I know that in three days from this reading Jesus comes back and says: BUT WAIT, there’s more!
Meanwhile, these are the things that will be processed in the disciples mind along with His death. These are the things that assure the foundations Jesus was building on which He built His church. For these men, they did not know Jesus was returning. However, John was writing to an audience that all knew of Jesus’s resurrection from the dead, like you and me.

Now humans are very limited. When people try to think of something profound for their last words, when dying people wax philosophical, it is not out of last minute searching for the answer as much as leaving a last minute legacy. We should live our lives in such a way, that it leaves a legacy. But those last words will be process through our emotions that we must also process upon someone’s death.
So if you live your life angry and resentful and on your death bed declare that life was about love and mercy. Instead of being viewed as insightful and correcting the legacy of hate – people will resent you for knowing it and not acting on it and showing them love and mercy.
You see we are so limited we do not think about how our words are processed.

Jesus did! He not only thought about the others, he specifically left a few very important ideas for this moment so when they are processed with the emotions and rapid speed of the traumas of this night they are entering – these points would resonate, comfort, and hold them together until He returned to love on them more. Our words as well as the timing, matter.

Jesus did not preach on our words as much as the disciples, and when Jesus preached it, it was referencing the old scriptures. The disciples and Paul wrote about controlling the mouth and words because they learned it first hand – from situations like this, and following Christ’s example, as well as from their own mistakes.

So what is the message that is so important that Jesus waited until now so it will have the greatest impact: humility and love!

“³¹So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. ³²If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.”

Man’s understanding of Glory is not at all what God sees as glory. Fame and fortune are usually man’s idea – how did man’s idea become so corrupted? Back in the garden when satan tempted man, he said you will become like God, and instead man became like satan – giving into pride filled us with pride. Glory equals humility.

“³³Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.”

This is where Jesus just flat out says the reason he is sharing this command is because He is leaving.
Where is he going? Well, first He is going someplace none of us can go – to defeat sin and death. The reason we cannot go there and do it is because He has already done it. It is finished.
After that, he stops by earth again on His way up to heaven – heaven being the place we can follow Him to.

“³⁴A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

It is not really a new commandment. The law was designed to teach us how to use love, instead we used it to put ourselves in bondage and be punitive instead of loving. God is love and want us to be love – and we keep buying into the corruption of this earth. So this time Jesus says – I am going to make this very clear and do it at a point when you will listen: LOVE.
Love is the fulfillment of the law – because if you love you have obeyed everything. Love is how we are Christ-Like.
Lord Jesus, help us love like you love! –amen

“³⁶Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”

Peter seems to miss the part about Love. Instead of asking himself if he is capable of loving even unto the death – He instead asks where is Jesus going.

“Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”

Meaning eventually Peter will learn to love unto death.

“³⁷Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”
³⁸Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.”

Oof! That is a hard revelation. Peter was speaking from pride and Jesus humbled him. And when Peter heard the crow in the morning, Peter was even more humbled! God will not let us walk around with pride.
Jesus did not say, well, Peter is about to go into a really hard period of time, so I’ll let it slide. Nope. He took care of the Pride issue right then and there – which probably made it easier for Peter to get through the really difficult challenges ahead.

Please join us tomorrow as we continue to discuss the Book of John.

***

I also wanted to remind and inform all of you, that instead of writing a book on fasting (since it is the topic I get asked the most about) I have created a Facebook group that is designed to be interactive and give you all the Bible verses on fasting, all the types of fast, and how to fast. In the group are specialist to help us along the way, like the creator of The Fasting Protocol (fasting for health and weight loss; which is part of fasting and important to know about – He can also speak to fasting in a healthy manner). The group is new and other experts are invited, I am hopeful they will join. So let’s join the group and see what we will learn about prayer and fasting. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/509149707741862

Thank you for reading in 2023 – a Year of Grace and Provision
May the God of peace keep you and bless you. May you stay focused on Christ and covered in grace. Walk in wisdom.
Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!

12 Mar 202311 Mar 2023

WEEKEND READING – 3-12-23

“Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out.” Proverbs 20:5 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of Proverbs chapter 20 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

Wine Is a Mocker

20 Wine is a mocker,
Strong drink is a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

²The ^[a]wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

³It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.

⁴The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

⁵Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.

⁶Most men will proclaim each his own ^[b]goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?

⁷The righteous man walks in his integrity;
His children are blessed after him.

⁸A king who sits on the throne of judgment
Scatters all evil with his eyes.

⁹Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?

¹⁰Diverse weights and diverse measures,
They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.

¹¹Even a child is known by his deeds,
Whether what he does is pure and right.

¹²The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made them both.

¹³Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

¹⁴“It is ^[c]good for nothing,” cries the buyer;
But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.

¹⁵There is gold and a multitude of rubies,
But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

¹⁶Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.

¹⁷Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

¹⁸Plans are established by counsel;
By wise counsel wage war.

¹⁹He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.

²⁰Whoever curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

²¹An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning
Will not be blessed at the end.

²²Do not say, “I will ^[d]recompense evil”;
Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.

²³Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And dishonest scales are not good.

²⁴A man’s steps are of the Lord;
How then can a man understand his own way?

²⁵It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,
And afterward to reconsider his vows.

²⁶A wise king sifts out the wicked,
And brings the threshing wheel over them.

²⁷The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the ^[e]inner depths of his heart.

²⁸Mercy and truth preserve the king,
And by ^[f]lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

²⁹The glory of young men is their strength,
And the splendor of old men is their gray head.

³⁰Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,
As do stripes the ^[g]inner depths of the heart.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Luke 4:8 KJV

***

11 Mar 202311 Mar 2023

WEEKEND READING – 3-11-23

“The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.” Proverbs 19:23 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of Proverbs chapter 19 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

The Fear of the Lord Leads to Life

19 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

²Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet.

³The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the Lord.

⁴Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.

⁵A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.

⁶Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.
⁷All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they ^[a]abandon him.

⁸He who gets ^[b]wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.

⁹A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies shall perish.

¹⁰Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
Much less for a servant to rule over princes.

¹¹The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

¹²The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.

¹³A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a continual ^[c]dripping.

¹⁴Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

¹⁵Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger.

¹⁶He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who ^[d]is careless of his ways will die.

¹⁷He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,
And He will pay back what he has given.

¹⁸Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart ^[e]on his destruction.

¹⁹A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

²⁰Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise in your latter days.

²¹There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.

²²What is desired in a man is ^[f]kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.

²³The fear of the Lord leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.

²⁴A lazy man buries his hand in the ^[g]bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

²⁵Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

²⁶He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

²⁷Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸A ^[h]disreputable witness scorns justice,
And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

²⁹Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And beatings for the backs of fools.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Luke 4:8 KJV

***

10 Mar 20239 Mar 2023

A Traitor Exposed– 3-10-23

“Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.” John 13:26 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading we will re-read the same passage in the Gospel of John, chapter 13 at verse 18 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

Jesus Identifies His Betrayer

¹⁸“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats ^[c]bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ ¹⁹Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. ²⁰Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

²¹When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” ²²Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.

²³Now there was ^[d]leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. ²⁴Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.

²⁵Then, leaning ^[e]back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”

²⁶Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. ²⁷Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” ²⁸But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. ²⁹For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

³⁰Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.

John 13:18-30 NKJV

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Luke 4:8 KJV

BIBLE DISCUSSION:

Revelation, exposing of the evil plots, and calling out the people under the influence of the devil and bring them to repentance, are prayers we are all praying in our modern world. We would love the evil plots be corrupt politicians to be reveals. We would love the Epstein list to be exposed. We all love a strong conversion story – once deceived and doing the devil bidding turned preacher like Paul on the road to Damascus!
We do not like having to live with the betrayer.
Sadly we must endure, everyone will not be saved and our betrayers are the ones governing us and in positions of authority over us. But we can pray and intercede. And we can even sit at a feast and celebrate with them.
Let’s look at how Jesus handled it.

“¹⁸“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’”

Let us recall some of the lessons we have learned from symbols. Because in Hebrew culture symbols are very important and they would not have missed the symbols in this story adding to the context.
They are at a table, the place of communion, provision and abundance. Bread is the symbol of provisions, body and flesh; wine is the symbol of abundance, life and blood; and oil is the symbol of the Holy Spirit, anointing, and God’s mark.

Jesus is quoting a Psalm:
“Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.” Psalm 41:9 NKJV

‘Who ate my bread’ – partook in the provisions and blessing, saw the miracles, was part of the circle of friends. Part of me wonders if Jesus knew all along about Judas, or if God did not even tell Jesus until Passion Week. Regardless of when Jesus knew – He did know well ahead of everyone else and He still washed His feet, communed and provided for Judas.

“¹⁹Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. ²⁰Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

Jesus is only telling the disciples so they see that prophecy was fulfilled, proving moreover that Jesus is the messiah. I am sure that could have been a huge question when Jesus did not have his angels rescue him. They must have wondered since God cannot die, how can His Son?! I am getting ahead of myself. The point is, they could think back and see this was foretold as far back as in the Psalms.

“²¹When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” ²²Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.

With all of that, they still did not get the point of what Jesus was saying, so Jesus declares there is a traitor among them! And John says the reaction was shock and perplexity. Other accounts say the disciples asked if it was them, which shows us a teachable heart. Many probably declared “Not Me!”

Leave it to Peter and John to just ask.

“²³Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.”

‘One whom Jesus loved’ was John, the author of this book. The other disciples call him that. As we discussed many times before John understood love, Jesus and the Father in ways others did not – and to get that wisdom, we are focusing on the books of John this year. He was Jesus’s favorite – if ever Jesus could have a favorite.
Here they are laying around eating and lounging and having a fantastic time and John is literally leaning on Jesus’s chest. Not Peter, not Matthew, and not Thaddeus. Can you imagine being that close to Him in person?!
So Peter gets John’s attention and told him to ask Jesus who it was.

“²⁴Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.
²⁵Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
²⁶Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.”

Bread – the symbol of provisions and the body, dipped in oil which represents the Holy Spirit – this is meaningful. Judas’s motives are often thought to be greed and Jesus, the provider was handing him his provisions, he had no want or need. Jesus handed His body dipped in the Holy Spirit to Judas – and Judas was about to be possessed by satan. When we get under heavy spiritual warfare, at least we aren’t being attacked by satan himself! And for those who feel bad for Judas, we see Jesus handed Him everything physically, symbolically and spiritually that he needed to make the right choice. Jesus handed it all to him!

With John leaning on Jesus, Judas was close enough to just hand a piece of bread! Yet far enough away for him to not have heard the whisperings. Jesus doesn’t make it clear to Judas that He knows until:

“²⁷Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” ²⁸But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. ²⁹For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.”

The point of no return for Judas. And on the heels of Jesus saying one of them will betray Him, they all still gave Judas the benefit of the doubt and thought he was running an errand for Jesus. None of them apparently suspected Judas.

“³⁰Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.”

May God reveal the evil plots against your life and may you have eye to see and ears to hear. Jesus exposed Judas and almost everyone missed it! May God exposed those with evil intentions, and may we not miss the bread being passed. May that one be convicted unto righteousness and converted to Christ! We pray in the name of Jesus – AMEN

Please join us tomorrow as we continue to discuss the Book of John.

***

9 Mar 20239 Mar 2023

Spa Day! Pedicures for Everyone– 3-9-23

“After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” John 13:5 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading we will re-read the same passage in the Gospel of John, chapter 13 at verse 1 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

13 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

²And ^[a]supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, ³Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, ⁴rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. ⁵After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. ⁶Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”

⁷Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
⁸Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
⁹Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
¹⁰Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” ¹¹For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

¹²So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you ^[b]know what I have done to you? ¹³You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. ¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. ¹⁷If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

John 13:1-17 NKJV

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Luke 4:8 KJV

BIBLE DISCUSSION:

Today’s reading is the very famous story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Jesus shows the ultimate act of humility and compassion. For thousands of years people have attended foot washing services, married couples have washed each other’s feet, and church leaders have washed their congregants’ feet in an attempt to show humility and give an object lesson. Obviously, I cannot wash your feet. And I do not think there is much else I can add to, explain, or bring out in this story that is new or different. Which is actually great.
I know I often read the Bible and find new cool things in it, that despite studying it daily, I never knew were there. But today seems like one of those good solid passages that is never changing.

And it is a fun reminder to the ladies that Jesus does love a good spa day with pedicures for everyone!!

Let’s dig in:

“¹ Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”

One of the reasons this passage is so solid and good is because God’s love for us is so solid and good. And Jesus loved his disciples with that same godly solid good love that bathes feet spiritually throughout the generations.

“²And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, ³Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, ⁴rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. ⁵After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”

Jesus knew Judas would betray Him and Jesus still washed his feet. It was not because Jesus condoned Judas’ choices and it did not mean Judas would be redeemed afterwards. Jesus loves ALL of humanity and Jesus loves the godly and all the sinners who are heading towards hell. Hell is not meant for people; it is the punishment for the fallen angels. Mankind is meant for communion with God.

One of the things that is interesting to me is the fact that it was AFTER dinner. Since so many wore sandals, often you washed your feet on the way into someone’s house. Since people laid on the floor and on pillows around a table, all these dirty feet must have been exposed. It makes me wonder if someone’s feet smelled so bad, Jesus thought to himself – I must do something about this! The story adds no insight to the untimeliness of this action – but historically speaking it is interesting. Being that the action did not happen with any cleanliness ritual or tradition, like upon entering a home, maybe it all the more forces us to connect it to His death, to humility, and to the foundations of Christian leadership.

“⁶Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
⁷Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
⁸Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
⁹Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

Peter always ran foolhardy into the muck! But he is also a good example of how humans define righteousness and doing well. Peter that it was not good for Jesus to wash feet – and when Jesus said it was – Peter thought then offering more of himself to be cleaned was smart to do! If we do not know the lesson’s Jesus is walking us through, slow down and let Jesus explain it. Sometimes we forget He is in us and therefore walking through it with us.

“¹⁰Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” ¹¹For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

The reference is to being clean, but then your feet get dirty and so that is why you wash your feet coming into the house. But as we discussed, they were already in the house.
I have heard people speculate that they did not wash their feet to eat, and needed to wash their feet to move to a sitting room after the meal. This idea has many problems including the fact that the meal room was the sitting room and the gathering room. Of that time.

It keeps leading back to Jesus doing it solely as an object lesson and not really to clean them. Jesus did not want the actual dirt to get in the way of the lesson.

But then again, Peter had some dirt on the inside that would cause him to betray Christ. Do I have any dirt on the inside? That is always the question we should ask ourselves.

“¹²So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. ¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”

For years I wondered if there was any further depth to this – but no. Jesus serves us and we should serve each other. Jesus serves us right into His death and we should serve each other right into our death. We focus on serving God and waiting for God to tell us to bless someone and who… stop it – just bless everyone. We serve Him by serving each other! Do not worry if it is the right person for some life changing wow moment. I was changed – completely made new and transformed by someone sharing their pastor’s message on Facebook, so it showed up in my feed. She never thought about it and she was not trying to target anyone specifically. She was just serving everyone a good message and it changed me forever!
Sometimes we will serve the traitor, the Judas. So what? Serve people regardless of if they are worthy.

“¹⁶Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. ¹⁷If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

Blessed are you if you do them. You want to break through the principalities and release your blessings? Serve people.

Please join us tomorrow as we continue to discuss the Book of John.

***

8 Mar 20237 Mar 2023

Hindering Beliefs in Our Way – 3-8-23

“And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.” John 12:47 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading we will re-read the same passage in the Gospel of John, chapter 12 at verse 37 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

Who Has Believed Our Report?

³⁷But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, ³⁸that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:
“Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

³⁹Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
⁴⁰“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.”

⁴¹These things Isaiah said ^[f]when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

Walk in the Light

⁴²Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

⁴⁴Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. ⁴⁵And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. ⁴⁶I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. ⁴⁷And if anyone hears My words and does not ^[g]believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. ⁴⁸He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. ⁴⁹For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. ⁵⁰And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

John 12:37-50 NKJV

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Luke 4:8 KJV

BIBLE DISCUSSION:

“³⁷But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, ³⁸that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

I recall as a child wondering how people could stand in front of Jesus and hear Him and see Him and still not believe. They would teach me passages like this and I would think – they all saw or new of someone who was touched by a miracle through Jesus, how could they deny it? I still find it hard be believe that it was plausible that people missed it. I think they must have refused to believe – and yes, in many cases we see the Pharisees reasoning it away and refusing what they see. But some literally couldn’t believe because their eyes were blind and hearts were hard.

“³⁹Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: ⁴⁰“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”
⁴¹These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.”

Now, why would God Himself blind them and harden their hearts, if it is God who wishes to save and heal them? This passage is a difficult one, for sure. It always seemed that any explanation I received on this passage had too many holes in it to hold water. So now that I am an adult and have learned how to study the word of God I understand a bit better.
I was once told that young Christians still have scales on their eyes and we will understand when God removed our own scales. While I do believe many still have scales on their eyes in the church, I was not happy with that answer – too many examples of instant seeing and hearing and being healed. So why some and not others.

In 2020 when an international pandemic ushered in fear and darkness – I quickly learned. I stood in the same spot as millions of people and heard the same “news”. Let’s narrow the pot, I stood with many Christians and heard the same Christian sources. Yet I zigged while most zagged. And this is not to condemn anyone – but for us all to learn from this so when it happens again, we can all go the right way together.

You see, we all had the choice of filtering the modern politics, healthcare crisis and our modern life through the Bible. And it is through that LIGHT that we can see into the darkness.

The other day I was trying to explain this and I said I had my guard up and they said to me I should not have had to feel guarded and I should have had peace. But to me I have always looked at it like my Bible was my guard and to get to me, you must go through it! BUT now I have a better metaphor I was wearing my Bible Glasses. I cannot see unless it is filtered through the Light – my Son Glasses so to speak.

You see there is a reason John speaks of Isaiah’s prophecy and immediately follows it with a few verses about walking in the Light.

“⁴²Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

It is the hindering beliefs that are bigger than God. Here John starts of describing a hindering belief – the praise of man. For example in our modern world, how many wore masks because of “what will people say? What will people think of me?” I myself said and did wear a mask into and out of church, while my pastor’s motives for following mandates are not my responsibility – what was my responsibility was to love those lost in the darkness and not offend them. I was also sensitive to the spirit of rebellion that could easily entangle those who stood in the light. Now that the CDC says masks did not work and the whole thing was to control the masses, I think we can all agree that we can ALL do better next time. Yet, I live in New York state and people here still believe in the masks and the pandemic is over, yet they can still be seen driving in their cars alone with a mask on, or shopping with a mask on. The reason they hold on in a liberal area is virtue signaling – they care about what other’s think.
The truth is that others criticize and revile you regardless of what you do or if you are a good follower of culture or if you are a good follower of Christ. So be authentic to God. He is the only one looking at you though the glasses of the Blood of the Lamb. Everyone else, even me, have glasses that have been broken and we see through our experiences and brokenness. Some also then filter through the light – the word of God, but no one sees you like God sees you. He is the only one that matters.

“⁴⁴Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. ⁴⁵And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.”

99% of the time, in this blog, when I say God – I mean God the Father, Son AND Holy Spirit! Unless I am specifically discussing each of their functions and character traits. In the verse we just read Jesus is not just over simplifying this concept – He is showing us another hindering belief. The Pharisees said they believed in God the Father – but they did not believe in Jesus. Some of the people in those masses that saw Jesus began to believe in Jesus and thought He replaced the God they previously had.

In our modern world everyone is ok with the love, hippy Jesus – but not this Jesus who is this connected to the Holy God who can send fire from heaven and open the earth to swallow people.
It seems so apropos that the man who plays Jesus in The Chosen, also plays a hippy in the new movie Jesus Revolution. But not to go down that rabbit hole – let us make sure our belief is in the Biblical Jesus who is the image of His Father.

“⁴⁶I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”

The next hindering belief discussed here is darkness. Evil, lies, corrupted truths and other confusions are good descriptors of darkness. We live in dark times. Not because the sun is not as bright (although that is true). So when we are told He is the Light and Truth and we are to live in the LIGHT – it is to stand against the lies. Sometimes we stand so much against the lies we lose sight of Jesus as we focus on fighting the lies.

“⁴⁷And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.”

The next hindering belief is thinking Jesus came to judge now – but now is grace and later is judgement.
There is so much around the word Judge. In this case, in the Greek, Jesus is using the work judge in the legal sense. In our limited English language we often confuse it with discerning. When you see that a sister or brother in the Lord is wayward – you are not judging them in the sense of “thou shall not judge” or in the sense that Jesus is using the term here. We need to correct, reprove and restore like Paul says to. Jesus came to Earth in the first century to save, to fulfill the law, and to fulfill the first half of the prophecies. The second half is when he comes in judgement.

“⁴⁸He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”

And even then, when He comes for that Day of Judgment. It is the word that was already written that will judge. Yes, Jesus is the word. But it is our own actions, thoughts and heart that could keep us from being filtered through that word on that day. If we filter ourselves through the word daily, by the time we get to judgement day we will be able to walk through the world easily and the Word will say I know you, we have spent lots of time together.

“⁴⁹For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. ⁵⁰And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

The last hindering belief is literally not believing in the authority of Christ. In James chapter 2, it says even the demons believe and tremble at the authority of Christ. It is in the authority of Christ that death and sin were conquered and by which we are saved, forgiven, washed, and empowered to fulfill His calling on our lives.

If only we could all be so disciplined. I want to speak only what the Lord has me to speak. Some people trigger me into explaining things I should not feel obligated to explain and turned around and lost focus. I have noticed more and more of these people in my life. God is helping me learn to shut my mouth. (As one of my spiritual mommies always say: Sister, shut up. I am learning!) I think shutting up is the first step to dealing with them, the second will be learning what to say. We are all learning and growing!

Please join us tomorrow as we continue to discuss the Book of John.

***

7 Mar 20237 Mar 2023

Jesus Spoils the End of The Story of That Week! – 3-7-23

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” John 12:27-28 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading we will re-read the same passage in the Gospel of John, chapter 12 at verse 20 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

The Fruitful Grain of Wheat

²⁰Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. ²¹Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

²²Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

²³But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. ²⁴Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much ^[^d^]grain. ²⁵He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Jesus Predicts His Death on the Cross

²⁷“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. ²⁸Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

²⁹Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”

³⁰Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. ³¹Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. ³²And I, if I am ^[^e^]lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” ³³This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

³⁴The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

³⁵Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. ³⁶While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

John 12:20-36 NKJV

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Luke 4:8 KJV

BIBLE DISCUSSION:

Happy Purim and remember the Lord is moving behind the scenes. The Lord is turning what was meant for evil into good. And as we keep in my God delivered the Jews through Esther, let us realize we too were called for such a time as tis and God is working it out.

Let us jump into our study of John today. It is a very special day for the disciples, they begin to see that Jesus is for the Greeks (aka gentiles) as well – although they will not realize it until much later (in the book of Acts).

“²⁰Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. ²¹Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
²²Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.”

Now these Greeks were not pagan gentiles, they had come to worship – they were proselytes. (Or they were in the process of converting.) Judaism is a nation, a religion and a biological people. Jesus had gentiles who became proselytes in his family tree – so it was not unheard of to try to become Jewish. But you can never truly become Jewish, because there is a biological component.
However, we now, through Jesus can become children of God through the spirit of adoption – it is like Judaism without as many rules. And I feel Jesus’s answer to Andrew and Philip, regarding these men, shows us the inclusivity for Jesus! But first Jesus give us some good thoughts to think on!

“²³But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. ²⁴Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”

We must always be dying to ourselves and getting out of God’s way, it is how God uses us and multiplies us. Just stay focused on what you are supposed to do.
But of course Jesus said this because within a week of saying this He was going to die for the sins of the World.

“²⁵He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

And Jesus is asking us to lay down our lives figuratively and take up His work. Not my will but your will!

“²⁶If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”

AND here is that all-inclusive statement – if anyone, including those Greeks who came to Andrew and Philip, serve me, then let them. ANYONE who serves Jesus, God will honor!

I never realized that Jesus was literally quoting Mordecai’s sentiments in Esther 4. Today being Purim, made me think of it. Purim always happens just before Passover, so Jesus would have just celebrated Purim and this phrase would have been heard a lot recently for all the disciples. ‘Maybe you have come for such a time as this’ or as Jesus says it: “for this purpose I came to this hour”.
The parallels – Esther brought deliverance, Jesus brings deliverance – are really uncanny. Praise the Lord! I might have never noticed, If God did not have us read this on Purim (well, I am reading and typing the day before Purim).

“²⁷“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. ²⁸Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
²⁹Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
³⁰Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.”

Well there is a lot in that section, but I did not want to break it up.
When was the last time you prayed: “Father, glorify Your name”?
AND when was the last time you heard a voice from Heaven?! The last time we read about his voice it was echoing down from the sky with dove when Jesus was baptized.

Jesus continues:

“³¹Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”

The judgment is sin and death and the position of ruler of this world we surrendered to satan. Jesus is trying to explain that He will die in order to flip the script!

“³²And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” ³³This He said, signifying by what death He would die.”

Besides describing His death, He I teaching us that all we need to do it point to the cross and Jesus will draw them. If we are rejected, it is not us, but Christ. We just need to lift him up.

“³⁴The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

This is a great question – it shows they believed Jesus was The Christ and The Son of Man. but they now understood that Jesus will die and how can that be? It is impossible to kill God. God cannot die. The Christ is the Son of God and therefore also cannot die. It is all very good reasoning! I would like to think that I would think like that if I was alive during the 1^st century!

But Jesus cannot spoil the surprise about the third day resurrection! So Jesus just keeps on explaining without answering them!

“³⁵Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. ³⁶While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.”

I love how Jesus seemingly disappears. That is great! He leaves them and us with a lot to think about. He actually revealed it all – ‘spoiler alert! This is how this week will end!’ But they did not understand that and were left thinking.
Especially us. As the hours draw later, the end is approaching, and it is getting dark – this walk in the light is profound.

Light exposes dark pans as well – such a Purim thought to expose Haman’s plan and to expose the wicked plans.

My son, praying that he is a prodigal who will soon come home, called me and as we spoke I realized he and I live in very different worlds. He is in a very dark world and is in fear of war and inflation. I live in light and know of the rumors of war and the economy of God. I feel so bad for my son out there in the darkness and struggling without the light and hope you and I struggle in. See we all struggle, the difference is you and I know where our help comes from and they have no hope.
Walk in the light, recognize the light, and be in the light. Take some time today to mediate on that light!

Please join us tomorrow as we continue to discuss the Book of John.

***

6 Mar 20234 Mar 2023

Donkeys and Palm Branches– 3-6-23

“Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:“Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” John 12:14-15 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading we will re-read the same passage in the Gospel of John, chapter 12 at verse 9 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

The Plot to Kill Lazarus

⁹Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. ¹⁰But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, ¹¹because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

The Triumphal Entry

¹²The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The King of Israel!”

¹⁴Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
¹⁵“Fear not, daughter of Zion;
Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

¹⁶His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

¹⁷Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. ¹⁸For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. ¹⁹The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

John 12:9-19 NKJV

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Luke 4:8 KJV

BIBLE DISCUSSION:

Last week we read about Jesus’s anointing. And from here on out in this book the smell of spikenard oil was upon Jesus. That oil does not just wash off. There was no dawn dish soap to cut the oil. No we will not read it again – but we must keep it in mind as everyone near him could small this anointing.
Daniel Chapter 9 speaks of the messiah being anointed and coming into Jerusalem with the 70 week math formula. To save time, I will not explain the formula but when solved lands on the day Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. Although in Daniel 9:26 speaks of Jesus being cut off, which of course happened at the end of passion week, it would seem the prophesy includes the events of the whole week.
Today we read about the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, which many in the modern church call Palm Sunday. The week between Psalm Sunday and the Resurrection is called Passion Week. So in the Book of John, the last 9 (or 10 depending on who you speak to) chapters are devoted to the Passion Week. With only 21 chapters, it would seem almost half the book is devoted to this time period. So let us read on with the reverence it is due.
Today is Purim, the first of the spring holidays. Resurrection Sunday is celebrated on April 9^th this year, right in the middle of Passover (April 5^th through April 13^th). It is God’s timing and perfect plan that has us studying Passion Week in this time, starting with the first spring holiday. (Side note – read the Book of Esther for Purim.)

So let us dig in.

“⁹Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. ¹⁰But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, ¹¹because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.” John 12:9-11

Jesus came and fulfilled Isaiah 61:1 and many turned to Him and believed! Praise the Lord! We must recall that one of the symbols of oil is the Holy Spirit, aka the Spirit of the Lord. And the Spirit of the Lord landed upon Him when He was Baptized, as a dove. With this verse it came full circle and shows the completion of Isaiah’s prophesy.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;” Isaiah 61:1

This is literally a shift in the move of God.
Lately many of us have been feeling shifts and changes. Turning points where there is no going back. The Lord is good. And here is Jesus and the disciples experiencing one of those shifts. From here out it will be about teaching the disciples the last of their lessons and preparing for the work of the cross and resurrection!

“¹²The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” John 12:12-13

Have you ever noticed that important verses and passages have easy to remember references? Like this one starts with 12:12! Like the 12 disciples and 12 tribes. Anyway, this group of people believed Jesus was the messiah and they knew that when the messiah came (according to a multitude of passages including Daniel, Psalms, and Leviticus) they were to sing Hosanna! And create a carpet of Psalm branches for him to parade on! This act and recognition from the masses could only be brought about by the Spirit of the Lord!
Let’s look at some of those Old Testament Prophecies:

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.” Psalm 118:26

“And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.” Leviticus 23:40.
Interestingly enough this law is prophecy! Because after this Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, it is seven day until the resurrection! Although the disciples mourned and feared – you and I can spend the seven days celebrating with the palms and singing Hosanna!

Hosanna literally means blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord – it is a worship of the Messiah’s name which has power and majesty and ALL Dominion and Authority!

“His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed. Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things!” Psalm 72:17-19

And with all thing prophetic it is outside of time and circles the beginning and the end of what we understand as time – it points back to the beginning in the Garden of Eden with the symbols of the palms. It also points forward into the future:
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,” Revelation 7:9
with all the controversy surrounding the modern prophetic movement – test all prophecies by the WORD of the Lord and the Bible. The Bible shows ALL prophecy is outside of time, even the ones for s specific moment in our time, touch the beginning and the end. If it doesn’t it is just tinkling of cymbals!

“¹⁴Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: ¹⁵“Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” John 12:14-15

So where was this written?

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9

Such good stuff! God is good! Behold our good God, manifested in His Son!

“O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Isaiah 40:9 NKJV

But, why a donkey and not a horse? Why not up higher and on a war horse? Why not in a limo instead of a rusted old compact car that poor high school kids can afford? My first car was stuck in the mud in a famer’s field. We pulled it out and for $100 I could keep it. A few hundred more in repairs over time and it was running perfectly! As perfect as perfect can be anyway. But this is Jesus we are speaking of – The Messiah! He made money appear in the mouths of fish! He most certainly could have rode in on something better than a baby donkey!
Most people will respond saying that if he rode something else he would not fulfill scriptures. BUT we are speaking of GOD! He could have prophesied an elephant!
There must be something about the symbol of a donkey. God is always adding extra layers to the conversation in symbols and so when we look at the symbol of a donkey we see that it is the symbol of a judge! Just look at…

Judges 5:10: “Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.”
Judges 12:14: “And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.”

Being judged and being a judge – Jesus is therefore the symbol (and embodiment) of the just judge. The judge who was judged and found righteous.

“¹⁶His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.” John 12:16

I can’t even imagine – living with Jesus and then after thinking back about the time He did something and an Old Testament passage comes to mind and you look it up and BOOM! There is another thing and another thing and another thing He fulfilled! It is fun for me to pull these things back to the old scriptures and symbols – it but have been so much more fun for them!

“¹⁷Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness.” John 12:17

The best part of this was that even though through the raising of Lazarus many believed in Jesus, Jesus also made many of the heart hardened Pharisees accomplices by raising the dead in front of them! They had no choice but to bear witness of Jesus – even though they were refusing to believe He is the Messiah. And even when they tried to besr witness against Him – they witnessed what they witnessed!

“Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness.” Psalm 145:6-7

In excitement many believed and rushed to Jesus and in frustration the Pharisees only added to it when they tried to speak against it:

“¹⁸For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. ¹⁹The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!” John 12:18-19

Nothing can stop the Lord!

“All the ends of the world Shall remember and turn to the LORD, And all the families of the nations Shall worship before You.” Psalm 22:27

Please join us tomorrow as we continue to discuss the Book of John.

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5 Mar 20234 Mar 2023

WEEKEND READING – 3-5-23

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of Proverbs chapter 18 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

The Name of the Lord Is a Strong Tower

18 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all ^[a]wise judgment.

²A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his own heart.

³When the wicked comes, contempt comes also;
And with dishonor comes reproach.

⁴The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

⁵It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,
Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

⁶A fool’s lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calls for blows.
⁷A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
⁸The words of a ^[b]talebearer are like ^[c]tasty trifles,
And they go down into the ^[d]inmost body.

⁹He who is slothful in his work
Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.

¹⁰The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are ^[e]safe.
¹¹The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem.

¹²Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,
And before honor is humility.

¹³He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him.

¹⁴The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness,
But who can bear a broken spirit?

¹⁵The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

¹⁶A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men.

¹⁷The first one to plead his cause seems right,
Until his neighbor comes and examines him.

¹⁸Casting lots causes contentions to cease,
And keeps the mighty apart.

¹⁹A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a castle.

²⁰A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

²²He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the Lord.

²³The poor man uses entreaties,
But the rich answers roughly.

²⁴A man who has friends ^[f]must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Luke 4:8 KJV

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4 Mar 20234 Mar 2023

WEEKEND READING – 3-4-23

“A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 NKJV

RELATIONSHIP:

BIBLE READING:

Today’s reading is the Book of Proverbs chapter 17 (embedded below for your convenience in the NKJV).

The Lord Tests Hearts

17 Better is a dry morsel with quietness,
Than a house full of ^[a]feasting with strife.

²A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame,
And will share an inheritance among the brothers.

³The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the Lord tests the hearts.

⁴An evildoer gives heed to false lips;
A liar listens eagerly to a ^[b]spiteful tongue.

⁵He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;
He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

⁶Children’s children are the crown of old men,
And the glory of children is their father.

⁷Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,
Much less lying lips to a prince.

⁸A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.

⁹He who covers a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

¹⁰Rebuke is more effective for a wise man
Than a hundred blows on a fool.

¹¹An evil man seeks only rebellion;
Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

¹²Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³Whoever rewards evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.

¹⁴The beginning of strife is like releasing water;
Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.

¹⁵He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

¹⁶Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom,
Since he has no heart for it?

¹⁷A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸A man devoid of ^[c]understanding ^[d]shakes hands in a pledge,
And becomes ^[e]surety for his friend.

¹⁹He who loves transgression loves strife,
And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.

²⁰He who has a ^[f]deceitful heart finds no good,
And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

²¹He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.

²²A merry heart ^[g]does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.

²³A wicked man accepts a bribe ^[h]behind the back
To pervert the ways of justice.

²⁴Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,
But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

²⁵A foolish son is a grief to his father,
And bitterness to her who bore him.

²⁶Also, to punish the righteous is not good,
Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.

²⁷He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
²⁸Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE:

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Luke 4:8 KJV