John 1 : 35 - 42
Again the next day John was standing there with two of his disciples. Gazing at Jesus as he walked by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" When John's two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Jesus turned around and saw them following and said to them, "What do you want?" So they said to him , "Rabbi" (which is translated Teacher), where are you staying?" Jesus answered, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about four o'clock in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus.
We in the west look at the first thing the two disciples said to Jesus, and think that is an odd question. In the Middle East, asking where you are staying, is a very natural question. In the East, who your father and mother are, and from what country you come from is very important. Often, more important than what your beliefs are. Knowing this, makes the Scripture reading easier to understand. Andrew and John, were disciples of John the Baptist, and chose to follow Jesus, after the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said "Look the Lamb of God". John and Andrew, came to John the Baptist, looking for "truth". Those who truly seek God and His Truth, will find it. You don't have to be in the Middle East, or in Church, to find God and His Truth. This is exactly how people are still finding God and His Truth today. After meeting God and His Truth, the Holy Spirit may urge you to start attending a God-fearing, Bible based Church, that will help you learn more about God, and associate with other believers. A Church will help keep you accountable. These are the very first disciples of Christ, they were sent by John the Baptist, to follow Jesus. It is important for us to look for the Truth, and when we find it, not to depart from it. We will see from the examples of Andrew and John, how a believer is to learn and act.
Monday, November 13, 2017
Sunday, November 5, 2017
Post 19 - Study of all 4 Gospels at the Same Time - Temptations in the Wilderness - Matthew 4: 1 - 11; Mark 1: 12 - 13; Luke 4: 1 - 13
After Jesus was baptized the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness (desert); Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights; and was extremely hungry. It was when Jesus was in this weakened condition, the tempter came to Him. "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread." But he answered, "It is written, 'Man does not live by bread alone, but every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Deuteronomy 8: 3) Then the devil (tempter) took him to the holy city (Jerusalem), had him stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you' and with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Once again it is written: 'You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.'" (Deuteronomy 6: 16). Again the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdom of the world and their grandeur. And he (devil) said to him (Jesus), "I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Go away, Satan! For it is written: 'You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'" (Deuteronomy 6: 13). Then the devil left him, and the angels came and began ministering to his needs. Matthew 4: 1 - 11.
Mark 1: 12 & 13. The Spirit immediately drove him into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness 40 days, enduring temptations from Satan. He was with wild animals, and angels were ministering to his needs.
You see a big difference between the Matthew and Mark accounts. Matthew wrote Jesus was tempted after 40 days in the wilderness. Mark writes Jesus was tempted during the 40 days, making it sound like Satan tempted him throughout the 40 days, instead of after the 40 days. Mark also mentions Jesus being with wild animals. Jesus would have had to deal with the animals he encountered in the wilderness; Jesus having created the animals would have a different relationship with them than just a regular man.
The Luke 4: 1 - 13, is very similar to the Matthew account I won't write it here, I gave you the Scripture Address,
It was necessary for Jesus to be tempted by Satan; Jesus had to withstand these temptations, he had to beat the devil to be worthy to become our "Perfect Sacrifice", our unblemished Lamb.
All of things Satan tempted Jesus with, would be things Jesus would take back by dying on the cross. If Satan succeeded in getting Jesus to worship him, the devil would have gotten God to do something ungodly. This would have made Satan God, and not God. This is very important to understand why Jesus had to be strong here; if He failed, we would be lost forever.
Mark 1: 12 & 13. The Spirit immediately drove him into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness 40 days, enduring temptations from Satan. He was with wild animals, and angels were ministering to his needs.
You see a big difference between the Matthew and Mark accounts. Matthew wrote Jesus was tempted after 40 days in the wilderness. Mark writes Jesus was tempted during the 40 days, making it sound like Satan tempted him throughout the 40 days, instead of after the 40 days. Mark also mentions Jesus being with wild animals. Jesus would have had to deal with the animals he encountered in the wilderness; Jesus having created the animals would have a different relationship with them than just a regular man.
The Luke 4: 1 - 13, is very similar to the Matthew account I won't write it here, I gave you the Scripture Address,
It was necessary for Jesus to be tempted by Satan; Jesus had to withstand these temptations, he had to beat the devil to be worthy to become our "Perfect Sacrifice", our unblemished Lamb.
All of things Satan tempted Jesus with, would be things Jesus would take back by dying on the cross. If Satan succeeded in getting Jesus to worship him, the devil would have gotten God to do something ungodly. This would have made Satan God, and not God. This is very important to understand why Jesus had to be strong here; if He failed, we would be lost forever.
Friday, November 3, 2017
Study of all 4 Gospels at the Same Time - John the Baptist Declares Jesus to be Messiah - John 1: 29 - 34 - Post 18
On the next day after Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one about whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.' I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel." Then John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining - this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God." (John 1: 29 - 34)
John the Baptist's choice of words echo back to Genesis 22: 8, "God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son," Abraham replied, The two of them continued on together. As God provided a lamb for Abraham and Isaac, God will also provide a lamb for the perfect sacrifice needed to save us from our sins. That Lamb is Jesus Christ.
The Baptist' message was for individuals to repent and come back to God. The one coming after him was bringing the message to a much larger audience, Jesus was to bring the message of repentance to the whole Nation of Israel, and the whole world! Since God created the world and gave us "free choice", we as humans have always sought after the devil and the world; rather than the things of God. This is why the study of God, is so hard. Left to ourselves we will pursue the darkness, instead of the Light. The Baptist could be talking to us today. We would rather do what we want, and say, I will do what God wants right before I die. This is dangerous, because none of us knows when death will come to us; when it comes, will we be smart enough to ask God to help us find His Ways? Or will we die, without making the change.
When the Baptist used the words the Spirit remained on him. John the Apostle uses the Greek word meno, it means permanency, The Apostle uses it to describe the relationship between God the Father and the Son; and the relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Permanence, is a good way to describe God and His Words. They will never go away, they will never fade. This study is provided with the hopes of making your belief in God stronger, or providing you with information to help you make the decision to follow Christ. After the commitment is made you can no longer live as you did before the commitment was made. Praise God!!!
John the Baptist's choice of words echo back to Genesis 22: 8, "God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son," Abraham replied, The two of them continued on together. As God provided a lamb for Abraham and Isaac, God will also provide a lamb for the perfect sacrifice needed to save us from our sins. That Lamb is Jesus Christ.
The Baptist' message was for individuals to repent and come back to God. The one coming after him was bringing the message to a much larger audience, Jesus was to bring the message of repentance to the whole Nation of Israel, and the whole world! Since God created the world and gave us "free choice", we as humans have always sought after the devil and the world; rather than the things of God. This is why the study of God, is so hard. Left to ourselves we will pursue the darkness, instead of the Light. The Baptist could be talking to us today. We would rather do what we want, and say, I will do what God wants right before I die. This is dangerous, because none of us knows when death will come to us; when it comes, will we be smart enough to ask God to help us find His Ways? Or will we die, without making the change.
When the Baptist used the words the Spirit remained on him. John the Apostle uses the Greek word meno, it means permanency, The Apostle uses it to describe the relationship between God the Father and the Son; and the relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Permanence, is a good way to describe God and His Words. They will never go away, they will never fade. This study is provided with the hopes of making your belief in God stronger, or providing you with information to help you make the decision to follow Christ. After the commitment is made you can no longer live as you did before the commitment was made. Praise God!!!
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