Peace and blessings, and welcome to day 75 of the journey, our journey in the word of God. We are just 15 days away from completing a mission some people, even people who have been in church all their lives have not done.
And based on all the words we've read from the prophets, how some may seem unbelieveable, we've probably had some understanding we've never see before in our lives. So continue reading and getting more understanding in these final days!
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Luke 21
This chapter begins with Jesus speaking on how the rich put in loads of money to show they are giving to God; but a poor woman put in her last two pennies. God said that her gifts were more than the thousands of dollars that the rich people were putting in and her pennies meant more.
Luke's Version of Jesus End Time Speech (v5-19)
He speaks the same as He does in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, however in verse twenty Jesus takes a mighty curve ball here according to Luke. This curve ball shows He is not speaking of the end yet, He is speaking of the end of Jerusalem as city inhabited by the men of Judah and Israel. He is speaking about the Roman siege of the city in 70 AD; a prophecy for the people of His time to adhere to.
20And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Wait a second, flee! This sounds like the fleeing from the Abomination that causes desolations. Sounds like but it is not. This is the fulfilling of Deuteronomy chapter 28 to "this people." This people is referring solely to the Jews.
24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Then verse 24 confirms it by saying the Jews will be killed and lead away as slaves into all nations, and Jerusalem will be taken over by the Gentiles until the Gentiles time is over. According to Daniel, the Gentiles time is over when the Lord returns.
25And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
These verses (25-27) takes us clean into the return of the Lord; prophecy right on cue, the Son of man coming in the clouds with power and great glory. We are certainly talking about the end times and the return of the Lord. Luke just took a different route in it or perhaps he took the conversation a different way but the end result is the same.
28And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
In verse 28 the Lord is speaking the the Jews, then to all His spiritual children out of other nations. After the sun goes through it's changes and you see the Son of man in the clouds, then look up and you see your redemption is near. The redemption is not when this happens, it only near for the Jews. So for the Jewish people who formed a state in 1948, there are only two ways to go for them: they returned early and are waiting for the Lord premature, or they are simply not Jews from the seed of Jacob! You can take your pick, you can reach your own conclusion; our goal here is to read the entire bible with understanding. I'm sure we all understand that those are our two options for the Jewish people in the land currently.
34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
These verses are found in each gospel; and I am finally starting to take heed. Jesus tells us not to be overcharged with the cares of this life insomuch as we become unaware of all these signs. We trying to get rich and spiritually die trying, doing this will become a snare to all who live on the earth if they live that way. Enjoy life but not at your eternal expense, continue in prayer and keep watch so that you are accounted worthy to escape the great tribulation and stand boldly before your God.
1Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
2And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
We are speaking of the passover still, they call it the unleavened bread because the bread taken with the wine is suppose to be unleavened. They are plotting on how to kill Jesus as we read in other gospels.
7Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
8And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.
11And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
13And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 15And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
I just wanted to note how many times the word passover is used in this chapter. Here it is used in each verse from seven to fifteen. Jesus was a Jew; His teachings were Godly, not Jewish or Christian; but the ways of God. He was a Jew who kept the customs of the Jews who received it from Moses, who received it from God. Jesus was also the Messiah or Christ, so the term Christian came along, which means Christ-like. To be Christ-like is to be Holy, Spiritual, Godly. So when you are trying to be a Christian, you should be trying to be like God, Godly, Holy, Spiritual. That takes keeping the commandments as Jesus Christ did.
He kept the passover customarily once a year on the 14th day of the month Abib. Jesus knew He would suffer after this passover because He is the passover lamb, whose blood was slain to cover our sins, as the lamb's blood covered the children of Israel before they left Egypt.
18For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
19And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
Jesus will not take the passover until the Father's kingdom; but if we look at the ceremony He does in verse 19 we see this done on the first Sunday or 4th, and we know this to be the communion or last supper, but this is simply the passover. We can call it all the names we want; but at the end of the day, it is the Lord's passover. And if you go and read it's original ordinance, you'd see this is suppose to be a once a year taking. In this dinner, this passover dinner, Jesus is establishing the New Testament or Covenant He foretold that He would establish with the house of Israel and the house of Judah because they broke the old covenant.
The Lord reminds us that to be a great man you should be one who likes to serve others. Jesus was the chief at the table; yet He served all of them. And when you continue in Jesus Christ, through the thick and thin, He will appoint us a kingdom, just as the Father gave Him a kingdom (v27-30).
41And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Jesus went out and knelled down to pray and asked if there was a way for Him not to die or not to die brutally. The whole process of knowing you're going to die is very taxing and stressing to the mind. He began to sweat like it was blood dropping from His head, and the Father sent an angel from heaven to strengthen Him (v41-44). He came back to find His disciples sleeping. Imagine being scared to death and your guys are sleeping. I can see Jesus asking them, "why is everyone so cool; I'm about to be killed here?"
61And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. When death is upon you for something you did; it is easier to take than for something someone else did. Peter knew the tone of the Pharisees; that they were going to rough Jesus up; and he denied knowing Jesus probably to see what would happen, but I cannot imagine how he felt when the Lord turned and looked at him. Disappointment. Sometimes you do not have to lash out at people; just give them the look of disappointment, it is like twenty strokes from the whip across the back.
Peter did this all out of fear. We are all scared to die until we truly understand what happens after we die. Then it is a big easier to go; but still no one wants to die.
1And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
2And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
They mocked Jesus and now they led Him to Pilate falsely accusing Him of perverting the nation, not paying taxes, and saying He is the Messiah, the king. Pilate found out that Jesus was from Galilee and sent Him to Herod to decide because that was Herod's jurisdiction. Herod had been looking for Jesus because he wanted to see some of His miracles.
Jesus did not utter a word to Him and they sent Him back to Pilate. The mocked Him a bit; and from that Pilate and Herod became friends. Pilate found no fault in Jesus, worthy of death and set to let Him go. However, the Jews rallied for Jesus to be killed and for a murder to walk free among them.
Do Not Cry for Jesus
27And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
28But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
29For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
30Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
31For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
Jesus tells us and the people who were following and crying not to weep for Him; but for themselves and their children. Then He quoted a scripture from Hosea, which referred to the fact that if they will do this to Him, the green tree, we cannot imagine what will be done the followers, in the dry?
38And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
42And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
There were two thieves on the cross with Jesus; and one of them asked the Lord to forgive him and remember him when Jesus goes into His kingdom. This is where people tend to think that when you die you go to heaven right away because Jesus replied verily I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise. With understanding all we have to do is look at what the question was and analyze the response.
The thief asked to be remembered when Jesus went into His kingdom. Has Jesus gone into His kingdom yet? No. Also Jesus replied, I say to you today, you will be in paradise with me. He told the man that on that day, when they were both on a cross, that the man will be in His kingdom on the first resurrection. So is the man in heaven now? With understanding we can comfortably keep him in the ground like all the dead.
54And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
This was not a normal weekly Sabbath. In Leviticus 23, it outlines an additional 7 annual Sabbaths called high Sabbaths that can fall on any day of the week. It was the 15th day of the month Abib and the Sabbath was the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which comes immediately after the passover.
1Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Luke has the same story that on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came; but the stone had been rolled away and the entire body of Jesus was gone. Had this been a funeral, they could not have said, "here lies Jesus" because He was gone. They could say of Him that He made His homecoming because Jesus did not come from the dirt, He came from Heaven.
14And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
Now Peter and a companion are walking and talking about all the events that just took place in Jerusalem trying to figure out what happened and what it means and while they were speaking Jesus drew near; but made Himself not known to them. And He asked them what was going on in Jerusalem.
Cleopas began to explain to Jesus all that was going on, how the Jew's chief priest and rulers condemned Jesus to death and killed Him; but all the people thought and trusted that Jesus was the Messiah to redeem Israel. Outside of all of this, this is the third day since this has happened and He still hasn't been found (v21-22).
25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Jesus called them fools for not knowing and believing in all the things the Messiah should suffer before He goes into His glory. Jesus told them through scriptures beginning at Moses and all the prophets of things concerning Himself.
Then Jesus made it seem like He had to go; but continued with them into their home, He must have been really showing them scriptures that made them keep listening and listening.
30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
When He did the bread breaking, they looked at Him and knew it was Him and just that quick He vanished from their sight. Before He died; He never disappeared like a ghost. They knew something was going on when the Lord kept breaking the scriptures to them. They returned and spread the news some doubted; then the Lord popped up in the room with locked doors scaring everyone. He showed them His pierced hands and feed and side to prove it was Him.
Opening Up Understanding
41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43And he took it, and did eat before them.
44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
The Lord even sat and ate with them again. So the passover 3 days and 3 nights ago was not the last supper; it was just a passover. Then the Lord reiterated that they have to read, know and believe all that is written by Moses, the prophets, and the psalms concerning Him. This is when He opened up their understanding to the scriptures. I hope yours is opening up as well.
47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
This is a famous chapter that is still over looked and brought to confusion in the Christian world. These verses alone should be clear that in the beginning was the Word (spokesman), the Word was with God, and the Word also was God. Thus far, it implies that there are two beings here, both are God, but one is known as the Word.
All things were made by the Word! We'll read down and get some clarification on who this Word is. 10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
The Word or the Light was in the world, the world that He made but non one knew Him. Also He came to His own people, and they did not receive Him. The Jews did not receive Jesus; and for those who did, He gave them the power to live forever.
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Word was made flesh like a man and dwelt with man full of grace and truth. The Word then is Jesus Christ.
17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
The laws were given by Moses, and grace and truth by Jesus Christ. Jesus said to keep all the was that Moses taught, with the exception of the marriage break up, that was part of His truth.
Verse 18 says no man has seen the God, speaking of the Father, at any time. Only Jesus has, and it is Jesus that is declaring the Father to us.
After John makes it clear that he is not the Messiah or Elijah, nor that prophet he met Jesus: 29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
The Lamb in Egypt covered the children of Israel's sins, and Jesus blood will cover our sins as well. 34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
John declared that Jesus was the Son of God; and many began following Jesus.
41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
It shows that many were looking for the Messiah and were happy to find Jesus because they believed He would restore Israel at that time.
Philip followed Jesus and went and told Nathanael and told him they found the Messiah in Nazareth. Nazareth must have been a very bad neighborhood or town because Nathanael did not believe you can find anything good to come out of Nazareth.
Jesus called Nathanael before he was introduced and quite naturally this surprises you, especially if someone tells you what you were doing earlier that day.
49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Nathanael know one thing for sure, that Jesus was the Son of God, and the scripture says the Son of God will be king over Israel.
1And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
This tells me that when there is a wedding, Jesus condones the ceremony because He showed up and was in support of the event. At this event, Jesus turn water into great tasting wine. If drinking is a sin as mentioned in some churches, Jesus is assisting in a murder here. However, the scriptures never mentioned drinking as a sin; too much drinking can lead to you sinning; but mere drinking of wine or alcoholic beverage is no sin.
11This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
It started with the wine; and went as far as raising people from the dead. John's book skips a lot of events, in this chapter we are in the last passover He attended before being killed when He came into the temple the money changers were there doing all evil in the house of God. His disciples slowly were remembering scriptures that the Lord spoke of such as:
17And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee with bit more sense, he did not have the anger edge or the fear of being caught lying. The truth of the matter is that the Pharisees knew the scripture, all of them may not have been doing them whole heartedly, but they knew the scripture. They believe and waited on the Christ to appear; however, they did not believe that Jesus was the Christ. Nicodemus knew Jesus had to be a teacher from God because of the fact He performed so many great miracles.
Jesus told Nicodemus that no man can get into the Father's kingdom unless he is born again. Nicodemus, not understanding how this could be asked how is a man born again; by going in the womb of his mother a second time?
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
If you are not born of the water and the spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. The water is His word. Flesh is flesh, and spirit is spirit. As Jesus told us in the last book of Luke that Spirits do not have flesh and bones; so this is talking also about a physical rebirth.
8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Jesus says when the wind blows you can hear it; but you cannot see where it comes from nor where it is going. The same thing with those who are born of the Spirit. And Jesus was not bashful in how He spoke to Pharisees. "Are you a master in Israel and you don't know these simple thing?"
14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus compared Himself to the Moses story of the fiery serpents that were sent in to bit the children of Israel in the wilderness. They had to look up on the serpent on the stick, so with this generation where we have to look up Jesus Christ and believe in Him to have eternal life.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
The underlying message is that if you believe in Jesus you will be saved. You know you have a man who says he kills anyone who doesn't say good morning to him when they come into the building; but spares all who just say good morning. If you believe him, when you walk into the building you will say good morning. So in essence you will do what he says to show you believe him. Same principle and philosophy applies to Jesus, if you believe Him, you will do what He commands and attain eternal life.
John chapter 4
Jesus now was taking over from John, baptizing more and the Pharisees saw this and took note. Jesus was on a journey was was tired and thirsty, and saw a woman of Samaria and asked her to get Him some water to drink. The woman was perplexed because she was not really a Jew; but a Samaritan who the Assyrians placed in the land once the ten tribes were taken out.
Jesus tells her if you know the gift of God and who it is that is talking to you, you'd get me something to drink immediately and stop all this talking. Then in turn the Lord would have given her living water, which is His word. She suppose Jesus was speaking of literal water.
She asks Jesus if He were greater than Jacob; Jesus ignored her question because obviously she didn't know what she was talking about; but Jesus said whoever drinks of His water will never thirst again. Quite naturally she asked for a sip of this water.
16Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
Jesus was setting her up; but also, men should copy this when they are spreading the word to women. Ask if they are married and have them go get their husband as well. If you're selling something to someone, you may as well sell it to the unit and not just one half of them.
17The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
18For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
19The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
She told Jesus that she has no husband; and Jesus acknowledged her true saying; but went on to tell her that she has had five husbands and the man she is sleeping with now is not even her husband. The woman saw that Jesus was some kind of a prophet to know all this. Jesus did this to get her attention. I bet she is listening now.
24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
25The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
26Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
This is one of the only times that Jesus took full credit that He is the Messiah. Usually Jesus would respond by saying you have said it, or tell Peter that the Father has reveal that to you. Here he clearly declares and emancipates it. I am the Messiah that is speaking with you. The woman told the men of her town to come listen to Jesus, He is the Messiah.
1After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
There was a feast that Jesus went to attend in Jerusalem and if you watch the history channel at all you'll see a show where they talk about the sheep market pool, where a good number of impotent people waited for the water to move so that they could be healed.
4For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
The water moves because an angel went down at a certain season and troubled the water and the first people to get in the water after it was trouble would be healed of their disease. I certainly know we wish there were such a water today. Knowing the world we live in, the governments would charge high price for it.
At any rate there was a man who had an ailment that he tried to get into the water for 38 years and was unable due to the fact that as he would attempt, someone else would jump in before him. Jesus saw this and made him whole; telling him to take up his bed; and the man was made whole. Jesus did this on the Sabbath day; and some Jews jumped the man who was made whole by Jesus that he shouldn't carry his bed on the Sabbath day. I'm pretty sure that man did not care because he has just been heal by a man of God.
They asked the man who made him whole; but he did not get Jesus name so he did not know. But Jesus saw him again in the temple and gave him a warning.
14Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Do not sin anymore unless a worser ailment comes on you. Disease, ailments, and dysfunctions are all caused by sin, originally. Even if it is genetically passed down as all sin was through Adam and Eve, the only way to rid it is through God's grace He heals you, or He relieves you of your duty in peace (through death). This is how death can be a blessing if you die in Christ.
17But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
The Jews finding out Jesus healed the man sought to kill Him and Jesus told them He works and so does the Father. If both the Father and Jesus are working, then the Sabbath Day, the day of rest spoken of in Genesis chapter 2 is still to come and has not happened yet! If they are working, then we need to stay working too.
Jesus continues to speak and teach the Jews:
24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
The dead cannot hear because they are dead; but Jesus is speaking of the spiritually dead. They will soon hear the voice of Jesus through a minister, through a TV program, Internet, or even in this book; they may hear the voice and it will allow them to live.
28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
We should not be amazed that a terrible low life who did nothing but run the streets, sleep with and dog women, steal and embezzle money, lie and cheat, can all of the sudden have Exodus 20 read to him and he changes his behavior and stops all of the evil he was doing and follow the way of Jesus. He was spiritually made alive.
Jesus says not to be amazed at that; but the bigger amazement is when all that are in the graves will hear the voice of God at the resurrection and all who are dead will come forward. Some to life everlasting, some to damnation in the lake of fire. This is what we can marvel at.
We Have Never Seen the Father
37And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
Who did the 74 elders of Israel see and eat dinner with if they have never seen Father? Who showed His back parts to Moses if no man has ever seen the Father at any time nor heard His voice? Isaiah wrote for the same God who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt that there is no other God besides Him. Do we have a contradiction? We also should keep in mind that Isaiah also wrote that the God in the Old Testament was sent. A powerful God sent; by whom? Another powerful God. God is a pluralize word indicating more than one. Just like man; I am a man among other men. As a species we collectively are man. The plural is men; the plural for God is Gods.
As God says, there is no God besides me; it is as me saying there is no man besides me. There are plenty of men, but a dog cannot get up and say, "I am man;" just like a man cannot get up and say "I am God" nor create a "wooden" object and say "it is God."
43I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
Jesus did not come wearing His own name; He came in His Father's name. So now we know the Father's name. It is Jesus! People who bypass Jesus the Christ to speak directly to the Father and speak against the name of Jesus; they are speaking against the Father's name! A man coming in His Father's name is what we call in our culture a "junior."
We are going to end today's reading and this chapter with a crushing blow to people who despise the Old Testament and who do not want to deal with the writings Moses gave.
45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
Jesus will not make any accusations against anyone to the Father, the only one who will accuse you is Moses (who many of the Jews, and today's Jewish people trust). Jesus says if they had truly believed in Moses, they would easily believe in Him because Moses wrote about Jesus. And He further says, if anyone does not believe in the writings of Moses, it is pretty much impossible to believe any of Jesus words.
I told this to a man very close to me, I showed it to him and read it to him, and he originally did not like Moses for particular reasons. However, after reading this he went and reread all of Moses books and came and told me that Moses, after Jesus was his favorite in the bible. Listen to Jesus, and He says listen to Moses!
We are finished for the day, we will resume tomorrow.--
Peace & Grace22For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Wait a second, flee! This sounds like the fleeing from the Abomination that causes desolations. Sounds like but it is not. This is the fulfilling of Deuteronomy chapter 28 to "this people." This people is referring solely to the Jews.
24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Then verse 24 confirms it by saying the Jews will be killed and lead away as slaves into all nations, and Jerusalem will be taken over by the Gentiles until the Gentiles time is over. According to Daniel, the Gentiles time is over when the Lord returns.
25And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
These verses (25-27) takes us clean into the return of the Lord; prophecy right on cue, the Son of man coming in the clouds with power and great glory. We are certainly talking about the end times and the return of the Lord. Luke just took a different route in it or perhaps he took the conversation a different way but the end result is the same.
28And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
In verse 28 the Lord is speaking the the Jews, then to all His spiritual children out of other nations. After the sun goes through it's changes and you see the Son of man in the clouds, then look up and you see your redemption is near. The redemption is not when this happens, it only near for the Jews. So for the Jewish people who formed a state in 1948, there are only two ways to go for them: they returned early and are waiting for the Lord premature, or they are simply not Jews from the seed of Jacob! You can take your pick, you can reach your own conclusion; our goal here is to read the entire bible with understanding. I'm sure we all understand that those are our two options for the Jewish people in the land currently.
34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
These verses are found in each gospel; and I am finally starting to take heed. Jesus tells us not to be overcharged with the cares of this life insomuch as we become unaware of all these signs. We trying to get rich and spiritually die trying, doing this will become a snare to all who live on the earth if they live that way. Enjoy life but not at your eternal expense, continue in prayer and keep watch so that you are accounted worthy to escape the great tribulation and stand boldly before your God.
Luke 22
2And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
We are speaking of the passover still, they call it the unleavened bread because the bread taken with the wine is suppose to be unleavened. They are plotting on how to kill Jesus as we read in other gospels.
7Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
8And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.
11And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
13And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 15And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
I just wanted to note how many times the word passover is used in this chapter. Here it is used in each verse from seven to fifteen. Jesus was a Jew; His teachings were Godly, not Jewish or Christian; but the ways of God. He was a Jew who kept the customs of the Jews who received it from Moses, who received it from God. Jesus was also the Messiah or Christ, so the term Christian came along, which means Christ-like. To be Christ-like is to be Holy, Spiritual, Godly. So when you are trying to be a Christian, you should be trying to be like God, Godly, Holy, Spiritual. That takes keeping the commandments as Jesus Christ did.
He kept the passover customarily once a year on the 14th day of the month Abib. Jesus knew He would suffer after this passover because He is the passover lamb, whose blood was slain to cover our sins, as the lamb's blood covered the children of Israel before they left Egypt.
18For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
19And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
Jesus will not take the passover until the Father's kingdom; but if we look at the ceremony He does in verse 19 we see this done on the first Sunday or 4th, and we know this to be the communion or last supper, but this is simply the passover. We can call it all the names we want; but at the end of the day, it is the Lord's passover. And if you go and read it's original ordinance, you'd see this is suppose to be a once a year taking. In this dinner, this passover dinner, Jesus is establishing the New Testament or Covenant He foretold that He would establish with the house of Israel and the house of Judah because they broke the old covenant.
The Lord reminds us that to be a great man you should be one who likes to serve others. Jesus was the chief at the table; yet He served all of them. And when you continue in Jesus Christ, through the thick and thin, He will appoint us a kingdom, just as the Father gave Him a kingdom (v27-30).
41And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Jesus went out and knelled down to pray and asked if there was a way for Him not to die or not to die brutally. The whole process of knowing you're going to die is very taxing and stressing to the mind. He began to sweat like it was blood dropping from His head, and the Father sent an angel from heaven to strengthen Him (v41-44). He came back to find His disciples sleeping. Imagine being scared to death and your guys are sleeping. I can see Jesus asking them, "why is everyone so cool; I'm about to be killed here?"
61And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. When death is upon you for something you did; it is easier to take than for something someone else did. Peter knew the tone of the Pharisees; that they were going to rough Jesus up; and he denied knowing Jesus probably to see what would happen, but I cannot imagine how he felt when the Lord turned and looked at him. Disappointment. Sometimes you do not have to lash out at people; just give them the look of disappointment, it is like twenty strokes from the whip across the back.
Peter did this all out of fear. We are all scared to die until we truly understand what happens after we die. Then it is a big easier to go; but still no one wants to die.
Luke 23
2And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
They mocked Jesus and now they led Him to Pilate falsely accusing Him of perverting the nation, not paying taxes, and saying He is the Messiah, the king. Pilate found out that Jesus was from Galilee and sent Him to Herod to decide because that was Herod's jurisdiction. Herod had been looking for Jesus because he wanted to see some of His miracles.
Jesus did not utter a word to Him and they sent Him back to Pilate. The mocked Him a bit; and from that Pilate and Herod became friends. Pilate found no fault in Jesus, worthy of death and set to let Him go. However, the Jews rallied for Jesus to be killed and for a murder to walk free among them.
Do Not Cry for Jesus
27And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
28But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
29For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
30Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
31For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
Jesus tells us and the people who were following and crying not to weep for Him; but for themselves and their children. Then He quoted a scripture from Hosea, which referred to the fact that if they will do this to Him, the green tree, we cannot imagine what will be done the followers, in the dry?
38And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
42And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
There were two thieves on the cross with Jesus; and one of them asked the Lord to forgive him and remember him when Jesus goes into His kingdom. This is where people tend to think that when you die you go to heaven right away because Jesus replied verily I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise. With understanding all we have to do is look at what the question was and analyze the response.
The thief asked to be remembered when Jesus went into His kingdom. Has Jesus gone into His kingdom yet? No. Also Jesus replied, I say to you today, you will be in paradise with me. He told the man that on that day, when they were both on a cross, that the man will be in His kingdom on the first resurrection. So is the man in heaven now? With understanding we can comfortably keep him in the ground like all the dead.
54And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
This was not a normal weekly Sabbath. In Leviticus 23, it outlines an additional 7 annual Sabbaths called high Sabbaths that can fall on any day of the week. It was the 15th day of the month Abib and the Sabbath was the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which comes immediately after the passover.
Luke 24
2And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Luke has the same story that on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came; but the stone had been rolled away and the entire body of Jesus was gone. Had this been a funeral, they could not have said, "here lies Jesus" because He was gone. They could say of Him that He made His homecoming because Jesus did not come from the dirt, He came from Heaven.
14And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
Now Peter and a companion are walking and talking about all the events that just took place in Jerusalem trying to figure out what happened and what it means and while they were speaking Jesus drew near; but made Himself not known to them. And He asked them what was going on in Jerusalem.
Cleopas began to explain to Jesus all that was going on, how the Jew's chief priest and rulers condemned Jesus to death and killed Him; but all the people thought and trusted that Jesus was the Messiah to redeem Israel. Outside of all of this, this is the third day since this has happened and He still hasn't been found (v21-22).
25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Jesus called them fools for not knowing and believing in all the things the Messiah should suffer before He goes into His glory. Jesus told them through scriptures beginning at Moses and all the prophets of things concerning Himself.
Then Jesus made it seem like He had to go; but continued with them into their home, He must have been really showing them scriptures that made them keep listening and listening.
30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
When He did the bread breaking, they looked at Him and knew it was Him and just that quick He vanished from their sight. Before He died; He never disappeared like a ghost. They knew something was going on when the Lord kept breaking the scriptures to them. They returned and spread the news some doubted; then the Lord popped up in the room with locked doors scaring everyone. He showed them His pierced hands and feed and side to prove it was Him.
Opening Up Understanding
41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43And he took it, and did eat before them.
44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
The Lord even sat and ate with them again. So the passover 3 days and 3 nights ago was not the last supper; it was just a passover. Then the Lord reiterated that they have to read, know and believe all that is written by Moses, the prophets, and the psalms concerning Him. This is when He opened up their understanding to the scriptures. I hope yours is opening up as well.
47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
John Chapter 1
2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
This is a famous chapter that is still over looked and brought to confusion in the Christian world. These verses alone should be clear that in the beginning was the Word (spokesman), the Word was with God, and the Word also was God. Thus far, it implies that there are two beings here, both are God, but one is known as the Word.
All things were made by the Word! We'll read down and get some clarification on who this Word is. 10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
The Word or the Light was in the world, the world that He made but non one knew Him. Also He came to His own people, and they did not receive Him. The Jews did not receive Jesus; and for those who did, He gave them the power to live forever.
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Word was made flesh like a man and dwelt with man full of grace and truth. The Word then is Jesus Christ.
17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
The laws were given by Moses, and grace and truth by Jesus Christ. Jesus said to keep all the was that Moses taught, with the exception of the marriage break up, that was part of His truth.
Verse 18 says no man has seen the God, speaking of the Father, at any time. Only Jesus has, and it is Jesus that is declaring the Father to us.
After John makes it clear that he is not the Messiah or Elijah, nor that prophet he met Jesus: 29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
The Lamb in Egypt covered the children of Israel's sins, and Jesus blood will cover our sins as well. 34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
John declared that Jesus was the Son of God; and many began following Jesus.
41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
It shows that many were looking for the Messiah and were happy to find Jesus because they believed He would restore Israel at that time.
Philip followed Jesus and went and told Nathanael and told him they found the Messiah in Nazareth. Nazareth must have been a very bad neighborhood or town because Nathanael did not believe you can find anything good to come out of Nazareth.
Jesus called Nathanael before he was introduced and quite naturally this surprises you, especially if someone tells you what you were doing earlier that day.
49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Nathanael know one thing for sure, that Jesus was the Son of God, and the scripture says the Son of God will be king over Israel.
John 2
This tells me that when there is a wedding, Jesus condones the ceremony because He showed up and was in support of the event. At this event, Jesus turn water into great tasting wine. If drinking is a sin as mentioned in some churches, Jesus is assisting in a murder here. However, the scriptures never mentioned drinking as a sin; too much drinking can lead to you sinning; but mere drinking of wine or alcoholic beverage is no sin.
11This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
It started with the wine; and went as far as raising people from the dead. John's book skips a lot of events, in this chapter we are in the last passover He attended before being killed when He came into the temple the money changers were there doing all evil in the house of God. His disciples slowly were remembering scriptures that the Lord spoke of such as:
17And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
John 3
Born Again
1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee with bit more sense, he did not have the anger edge or the fear of being caught lying. The truth of the matter is that the Pharisees knew the scripture, all of them may not have been doing them whole heartedly, but they knew the scripture. They believe and waited on the Christ to appear; however, they did not believe that Jesus was the Christ. Nicodemus knew Jesus had to be a teacher from God because of the fact He performed so many great miracles.
Jesus told Nicodemus that no man can get into the Father's kingdom unless he is born again. Nicodemus, not understanding how this could be asked how is a man born again; by going in the womb of his mother a second time?
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
If you are not born of the water and the spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. The water is His word. Flesh is flesh, and spirit is spirit. As Jesus told us in the last book of Luke that Spirits do not have flesh and bones; so this is talking also about a physical rebirth.
8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Jesus says when the wind blows you can hear it; but you cannot see where it comes from nor where it is going. The same thing with those who are born of the Spirit. And Jesus was not bashful in how He spoke to Pharisees. "Are you a master in Israel and you don't know these simple thing?"
14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus compared Himself to the Moses story of the fiery serpents that were sent in to bit the children of Israel in the wilderness. They had to look up on the serpent on the stick, so with this generation where we have to look up Jesus Christ and believe in Him to have eternal life.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
The underlying message is that if you believe in Jesus you will be saved. You know you have a man who says he kills anyone who doesn't say good morning to him when they come into the building; but spares all who just say good morning. If you believe him, when you walk into the building you will say good morning. So in essence you will do what he says to show you believe him. Same principle and philosophy applies to Jesus, if you believe Him, you will do what He commands and attain eternal life.
John chapter 4
Jesus now was taking over from John, baptizing more and the Pharisees saw this and took note. Jesus was on a journey was was tired and thirsty, and saw a woman of Samaria and asked her to get Him some water to drink. The woman was perplexed because she was not really a Jew; but a Samaritan who the Assyrians placed in the land once the ten tribes were taken out.
Jesus tells her if you know the gift of God and who it is that is talking to you, you'd get me something to drink immediately and stop all this talking. Then in turn the Lord would have given her living water, which is His word. She suppose Jesus was speaking of literal water.
She asks Jesus if He were greater than Jacob; Jesus ignored her question because obviously she didn't know what she was talking about; but Jesus said whoever drinks of His water will never thirst again. Quite naturally she asked for a sip of this water.
16Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
Jesus was setting her up; but also, men should copy this when they are spreading the word to women. Ask if they are married and have them go get their husband as well. If you're selling something to someone, you may as well sell it to the unit and not just one half of them.
17The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
18For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
19The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
She told Jesus that she has no husband; and Jesus acknowledged her true saying; but went on to tell her that she has had five husbands and the man she is sleeping with now is not even her husband. The woman saw that Jesus was some kind of a prophet to know all this. Jesus did this to get her attention. I bet she is listening now.
24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
25The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
26Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
This is one of the only times that Jesus took full credit that He is the Messiah. Usually Jesus would respond by saying you have said it, or tell Peter that the Father has reveal that to you. Here he clearly declares and emancipates it. I am the Messiah that is speaking with you. The woman told the men of her town to come listen to Jesus, He is the Messiah.
John 5
2Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
There was a feast that Jesus went to attend in Jerusalem and if you watch the history channel at all you'll see a show where they talk about the sheep market pool, where a good number of impotent people waited for the water to move so that they could be healed.
4For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
The water moves because an angel went down at a certain season and troubled the water and the first people to get in the water after it was trouble would be healed of their disease. I certainly know we wish there were such a water today. Knowing the world we live in, the governments would charge high price for it.
At any rate there was a man who had an ailment that he tried to get into the water for 38 years and was unable due to the fact that as he would attempt, someone else would jump in before him. Jesus saw this and made him whole; telling him to take up his bed; and the man was made whole. Jesus did this on the Sabbath day; and some Jews jumped the man who was made whole by Jesus that he shouldn't carry his bed on the Sabbath day. I'm pretty sure that man did not care because he has just been heal by a man of God.
They asked the man who made him whole; but he did not get Jesus name so he did not know. But Jesus saw him again in the temple and gave him a warning.
14Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Do not sin anymore unless a worser ailment comes on you. Disease, ailments, and dysfunctions are all caused by sin, originally. Even if it is genetically passed down as all sin was through Adam and Eve, the only way to rid it is through God's grace He heals you, or He relieves you of your duty in peace (through death). This is how death can be a blessing if you die in Christ.
17But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
The Jews finding out Jesus healed the man sought to kill Him and Jesus told them He works and so does the Father. If both the Father and Jesus are working, then the Sabbath Day, the day of rest spoken of in Genesis chapter 2 is still to come and has not happened yet! If they are working, then we need to stay working too.
Jesus continues to speak and teach the Jews:
24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
The dead cannot hear because they are dead; but Jesus is speaking of the spiritually dead. They will soon hear the voice of Jesus through a minister, through a TV program, Internet, or even in this book; they may hear the voice and it will allow them to live.
28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
We should not be amazed that a terrible low life who did nothing but run the streets, sleep with and dog women, steal and embezzle money, lie and cheat, can all of the sudden have Exodus 20 read to him and he changes his behavior and stops all of the evil he was doing and follow the way of Jesus. He was spiritually made alive.
Jesus says not to be amazed at that; but the bigger amazement is when all that are in the graves will hear the voice of God at the resurrection and all who are dead will come forward. Some to life everlasting, some to damnation in the lake of fire. This is what we can marvel at.
We Have Never Seen the Father
37And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
Who did the 74 elders of Israel see and eat dinner with if they have never seen Father? Who showed His back parts to Moses if no man has ever seen the Father at any time nor heard His voice? Isaiah wrote for the same God who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt that there is no other God besides Him. Do we have a contradiction? We also should keep in mind that Isaiah also wrote that the God in the Old Testament was sent. A powerful God sent; by whom? Another powerful God. God is a pluralize word indicating more than one. Just like man; I am a man among other men. As a species we collectively are man. The plural is men; the plural for God is Gods.
As God says, there is no God besides me; it is as me saying there is no man besides me. There are plenty of men, but a dog cannot get up and say, "I am man;" just like a man cannot get up and say "I am God" nor create a "wooden" object and say "it is God."
43I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
Jesus did not come wearing His own name; He came in His Father's name. So now we know the Father's name. It is Jesus! People who bypass Jesus the Christ to speak directly to the Father and speak against the name of Jesus; they are speaking against the Father's name! A man coming in His Father's name is what we call in our culture a "junior."
We are going to end today's reading and this chapter with a crushing blow to people who despise the Old Testament and who do not want to deal with the writings Moses gave.
45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
Jesus will not make any accusations against anyone to the Father, the only one who will accuse you is Moses (who many of the Jews, and today's Jewish people trust). Jesus says if they had truly believed in Moses, they would easily believe in Him because Moses wrote about Jesus. And He further says, if anyone does not believe in the writings of Moses, it is pretty much impossible to believe any of Jesus words.
I told this to a man very close to me, I showed it to him and read it to him, and he originally did not like Moses for particular reasons. However, after reading this he went and reread all of Moses books and came and told me that Moses, after Jesus was his favorite in the bible. Listen to Jesus, and He says listen to Moses!
We are finished for the day, we will resume tomorrow.--
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