Mark 3: 33 - 35; Matthew 12: 48 - 50; Luke 8: 21 Jesus earthly family visits Him.
Who is My mother, or My brothers? Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.
This was spoken by Jesus about 1.1/2 to two years into His earthly Ministry. Jesus is teaching in a room and He is told His mother, brothers and sisters are outside, wanting to talk to Him. Jesus then speaks the passage written above. At first glance, this looks and sounds like Jesus is not interested in them. Jesus tells the people in the room that they are His family. Jesus says that because they are learning how to be doer's of the Word. At this time Jesus' natural family did not believe He was Who He said He was. Mary, His Mother, believed because of all that had happened to her since the Angel Gabriel came to her, announcing Jesus' Birth. Some Christians believe that Jesus had no natural family other than Mary and Joseph, his earthly parents. This passage proves this not to be the case, along with the Epistles of James and Jude, that were written by Jesus' step brothers later and are part of our Bible. To be a member of the Kingdom of God, does not depend on what earthly family you have, this differs from what the Jews believed at this time and may still believe. You have no control over which family God chose for you. We all have to come to Jesus on our own. Coming from a believing family can make this path easier, or harder, depending on how you perceived God under the family's teaching. We all have to come to Jesus on our own, no one can come for us. Have you come yet??
Monday, April 11, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
279th Post Jesus Said on the Kingdom of God Con't - Matthew 20: 25 - 28
Matthew 20: 25 - 28; Mark 10: 42 - 45; Luke 22: 25 - 27.
You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
This was spoken by Jesus toward end of His earthly ministry. Jesus is reminding his followers that they are living during the time of the Gentiles. The time of the Gentiles started with Nebuchadnezzar's destroying Solomon's Temple and taking what was left of Israel to Babylon as slaves. The time of the Gentiles will end with the anti-christ declaring he is god, and all must bow down before him! If you look at the history of this time from the 680's B.C. until the time of Jesus, the Gentiles have been in charge of Israel; the Gentiles have never let the Jews forget who was in power and control. Jesus was making the point that the Gentiles are the way of the world. Jesus has been trying to teach His follower's, there is a different road to walk and different standards required to walk on this road. If you are to walk in the way of God, you must serve, not be served. This is totally different from what the world teaches. This value has no value in the world.
You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
This was spoken by Jesus toward end of His earthly ministry. Jesus is reminding his followers that they are living during the time of the Gentiles. The time of the Gentiles started with Nebuchadnezzar's destroying Solomon's Temple and taking what was left of Israel to Babylon as slaves. The time of the Gentiles will end with the anti-christ declaring he is god, and all must bow down before him! If you look at the history of this time from the 680's B.C. until the time of Jesus, the Gentiles have been in charge of Israel; the Gentiles have never let the Jews forget who was in power and control. Jesus was making the point that the Gentiles are the way of the world. Jesus has been trying to teach His follower's, there is a different road to walk and different standards required to walk on this road. If you are to walk in the way of God, you must serve, not be served. This is totally different from what the world teaches. This value has no value in the world.
278th Post Jesus Said on the Kingdom of God Con't. - Matthew 20: 23
Matthew 20:23; Mark 10: 39 - 40; Luke 12: 50.
You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with; but to sit on My right and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.
This was spoken by Jesus late in His earthly ministry, Jesus was asked by James and John's mother to allow James and John to sit on the right and left hand of Jesus at the feast in Heaven. The mother asked for this because she was looking out for the welfare of her children. Mother's still look out for their children today. Clearly they were not ready for Jesus' answer. He tells them they will indeed drink My cup. This means they will be persecuted for their faith in Jesus, and one will even have to pay with his life. Now why did Jesus say the request to sit on the right and left was not His to give. Jesus being God should be able to grant this request. Those of you that were lucky enough to grow up in a strong family atmosphere, know that being part of a family, means being part of a hierarchy. This means that when you are in your parent's house, you must abide by their rules. Jesus clearly is saying that Heaven is His Father's House and He is in charge. This is another proof that the Trinity exists, you see two parts here. They clearly are one but have separate duties.
You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with; but to sit on My right and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.
This was spoken by Jesus late in His earthly ministry, Jesus was asked by James and John's mother to allow James and John to sit on the right and left hand of Jesus at the feast in Heaven. The mother asked for this because she was looking out for the welfare of her children. Mother's still look out for their children today. Clearly they were not ready for Jesus' answer. He tells them they will indeed drink My cup. This means they will be persecuted for their faith in Jesus, and one will even have to pay with his life. Now why did Jesus say the request to sit on the right and left was not His to give. Jesus being God should be able to grant this request. Those of you that were lucky enough to grow up in a strong family atmosphere, know that being part of a family, means being part of a hierarchy. This means that when you are in your parent's house, you must abide by their rules. Jesus clearly is saying that Heaven is His Father's House and He is in charge. This is another proof that the Trinity exists, you see two parts here. They clearly are one but have separate duties.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
277th Post Jesus Said on the Kingdom of God Con't. - Matthew 19: 28 - 30 Con't.
Last post I was stating that their are many facsimile Christians, these are the ones for what ever reason, don't believe one or more of the truth's laid out by Jesus. They look like Christians in every other way though. These are the most dangerous, because they lead innocent people away from God. God says "He will judge them, and He will!" Don't take anything I write here as Gospel, check it with the Word of God. Make sure I am speaking correctly. Be a Berean (Acts 17:11), and check my words against the Bible. The God I try to talk about is the one of the Old and New Testaments, Alpha and Omega, and is spoken of throughout the whole Bible, not just the New Testament! The next part of this passage seems to be talking about missionaries. The Bible warns us about false teachers and false doctrines that will come in the last days. Jesus Himself was living in the "Last Days", that is why the early Christians were looking for Christ to return soon. They totally missed what He said about watching the signs. If Christians are watching for the signs, like they are supposed to, they would not be listening to all the hype about the upcoming end of the world. When those dates come and go, this blog will still be here. I can say this with confidence because I believe Jesus when He said "I did not come to do away with the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill, every yot and tittle will be fulfilled before the end."
I Believe Christ, Do You??? To be a missionary like Jesus mentions, you must be bring all the same Gospel, not some form or most of it. One God! One Word! One Truth!!!
I Believe Christ, Do You??? To be a missionary like Jesus mentions, you must be bring all the same Gospel, not some form or most of it. One God! One Word! One Truth!!!
276th Post Jesus Said on the Kingdom of God Con't. - Matthew 19: 28 -30.
Matthew 19: 28 - 30; Mark 10: 29 - 31; Luke 18: 29 - 30, 22: 30.
Assuredly I say unto you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
This was spoken by Jesus toward the end of His earthly Ministry. Many promises were made here, and many of the promises have been claimed by others, who Jesus was Not Talking To!! Lets look at this passage and see what it says. When Jesus says you who followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus is talking to the disciples only. Many Gentiles think they are going to be sitting in these thrones. How can a Gentile, who is not familiar with Jewish Law expect to judge Israel? There is only One Faith, One God, and One Jesus! There are many facsimile Christian religions out there, that are trying to pass themselves off as the true thing. A facsimile is not an original, and will never be. This is a bad place to leave off but I have run out of room. Will continue next post.
Assuredly I say unto you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
This was spoken by Jesus toward the end of His earthly Ministry. Many promises were made here, and many of the promises have been claimed by others, who Jesus was Not Talking To!! Lets look at this passage and see what it says. When Jesus says you who followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus is talking to the disciples only. Many Gentiles think they are going to be sitting in these thrones. How can a Gentile, who is not familiar with Jewish Law expect to judge Israel? There is only One Faith, One God, and One Jesus! There are many facsimile Christian religions out there, that are trying to pass themselves off as the true thing. A facsimile is not an original, and will never be. This is a bad place to leave off but I have run out of room. Will continue next post.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
275th Post Jesus Said on the Kingdom of God Con't. - Matthew 18: 3-4
Matthew 18: 3 - 4; Mark 10: 15; Luke 18: 17
Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
This was spoken by Jesus toward the end of His earthly ministry. Part of unlocking this passage is to look at the beginning of Matthew chapter 18. The disciples just came up to Jesus to settle their argument concerning which of them is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. I would think that this hurt Jesus very much. They had been living with Him and listening to His teaching and witnessed all of His miracles, now they come up and ask which of us is the most important. Jesus grabs a little child puts him in the center of the disciples and then tells them, they need to become like this little child in order to become great in heaven. This means we are to have a child like faith. Children believe their elders without question. This is why causing one of these little ones to go astray carries such a large penalty. When we are in the world, we are to become as puffed up as possible. The Kingdom of Heaven rewards those who humble themselves the most. Humility does not mean weak, it means having complete control over yourself, that you seldom lose control of yourself. Jesus is your model and He is a tough act to follow. Jesus being God, could have vaporized anyone at anytime, but He chose not use His awesome power. That is incredible. Are you child like??
Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
This was spoken by Jesus toward the end of His earthly ministry. Part of unlocking this passage is to look at the beginning of Matthew chapter 18. The disciples just came up to Jesus to settle their argument concerning which of them is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. I would think that this hurt Jesus very much. They had been living with Him and listening to His teaching and witnessed all of His miracles, now they come up and ask which of us is the most important. Jesus grabs a little child puts him in the center of the disciples and then tells them, they need to become like this little child in order to become great in heaven. This means we are to have a child like faith. Children believe their elders without question. This is why causing one of these little ones to go astray carries such a large penalty. When we are in the world, we are to become as puffed up as possible. The Kingdom of Heaven rewards those who humble themselves the most. Humility does not mean weak, it means having complete control over yourself, that you seldom lose control of yourself. Jesus is your model and He is a tough act to follow. Jesus being God, could have vaporized anyone at anytime, but He chose not use His awesome power. That is incredible. Are you child like??
274th Post Jesus Said on the Kingdom of God Con't. - Matthew 11: 11 Con't.
John the Baptist's disciples were probably a little confused and surprised at Jesus' answer. Maybe you are also. The strong language John the Baptist used to describe the coming Messiah was taken from the Old Testament prophets. Jesus' answer to John's disciples was also taken from the prophets. There was a group of people called the Zealots, that were fighting Rome looking for this militaristic Messiah to come and help them. These people are still around in Israel today, but they are using the term "Zionist" to describe themselves today. Now go back and look at the passage chosen for today Matthew 11:11. Jesus raises John the Baptist to the highest level a man can have. Of all men, John the Baptist is the greatest! Jesus was not including Himself in that Statement. We know that, because Jesus said that he who is lowest in the kingdom of heaven is greater. Jesus was talking about angels and heavenly hosts, here. Jesus' position in heaven is described in Hebrews Chapter 1 & 2 where the author describes Jesus as being superior to the angels and heavenly hosts. By telling John's disciples other prophetic accounts of the Messiah, Jesus was assuring him, that He (Jesus) is the Messiah. Jesus knew John would understand His statements because of who John the Baptist's father was. Zechariah was of the line of Aaron and was a high priest, he would know all of the Old Testament Scriptures and he taught them to his son John. I hope this has cleared up any questions you might have had concerning this text.
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