Our paragraph topic is:
(The second prediction of the passion) Part 2.
They were on their way to Jerusalem with the Lord. Many had assumed that he would be the ruler. Many thought that he was going to take over the leadership of the High Priest. Many were happy because they saw a change coming. And many were joyous because they believed that it was time for a change. Christ knew otherwise. He knew that it was time for a change and that change was a sacrifice, the sacrifice to justify mankind with God.
He told them on several occasions of the Passion. He warned them of what was about to take place. He told them that he would suffer and that he would face death. But they only thought about the change coming. They only thought about the joy that would come when the old rulers were removed and new ones came to be. They did not think about the struggle. They did not think about the sacrifice that would come. They did not think about the suffering. They only thought about what they wanted to hear, what they believed would happen, what they wanted to think.
Evil was afoot and plans were being made to destroy Christ. Evil was in the house and evil was in the minds and evil was in the mouths and on the lips of those in power. For they spoke of ways to destroy him. They wanted to stop him. They wanted him hanged for the embarrassment that he had caused them. They wanted to control him and could not. For each time they attempted to control him they failed. Each time they sought to win, they did not. Each time they came with a trick, they could not trick him. For Christ knew them. He knew who they worshipped. He who they were. For they were children of evil. They were the sons of evil and their father was the father of all lies.
Christ came to bring about change. He came with the sword to separate the wolves from the lambs. He came to stop the lies, to stop the deceit, to stop the death of the innocent. He came to bring life. But evil did not want the people to have life. Evil did not want the people to know the truth. Evil did not want the people to know who they are and who they belonged to. Evil wanted the people for itself. Evil wanted the people to do evil and to destroy Christ because evil could not change him, could not turn him, could not seduce him, could not control him. So evil had to destroy him.
Christ had to tell his disciples that they would know. He had to speak the truth that they would believe after the truth had taken place. And they were sad to hear this. For he said: "And they will kill him; and, on the third day he will rise again." And they were exceedingly sorry.
How do we feel today that Christ died? How do we feel today that he suffered such pain and agony? How do we feel today that he had to be the sacrifice for our sins and not us? We live in a world that only rarely shows us the pain that he endured. We live in a world that deceives us into believing that we are alright and life must go on. We live in a world that does not want us to know who we are in Christ. For the world wants to deceive us. The world wants to hide us from the truth. The world wants to keep us in the dark and away from the light that awaits us in Christ.
Come! Follow the path before you. Read the truth of who you are in Him who gave you life. Know the truth of your true life and not the artificial life of the physical. For you are like angels, created in the image and likeness of God. You are sons and daughters of the one true God, the living God. If you seek to know, if you seek to find, if you seek to see that which is within you, come read that which is given to you as manna from heaven. It has been given to me and I now pass it on to you. I am a witness, a voice crying in the wilderness, testifying that he has come to me and will come to you also if you seek him. He awaits your call. He listens for your voice. He anticipates your needs and will provide for your wants. Christ loves you, the Holy Spirit greets you and so do I.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
They were on their way to Jerusalem with the Lord. Many had assumed that he would be the ruler. Many thought that he was going to take over the leadership of the High Priest. Many were happy because they saw a change coming. And many were joyous because they believed that it was time for a change. Christ knew otherwise. He knew that it was time for a change and that change was a sacrifice, the sacrifice to justify mankind with God.
He told them on several occasions of the Passion. He warned them of what was about to take place. He told them that he would suffer and that he would face death. But they only thought about the change coming. They only thought about the joy that would come when the old rulers were removed and new ones came to be. They did not think about the struggle. They did not think about the sacrifice that would come. They did not think about the suffering. They only thought about what they wanted to hear, what they believed would happen, what they wanted to think.
Evil was afoot and plans were being made to destroy Christ. Evil was in the house and evil was in the minds and evil was in the mouths and on the lips of those in power. For they spoke of ways to destroy him. They wanted to stop him. They wanted him hanged for the embarrassment that he had caused them. They wanted to control him and could not. For each time they attempted to control him they failed. Each time they sought to win, they did not. Each time they came with a trick, they could not trick him. For Christ knew them. He knew who they worshipped. He who they were. For they were children of evil. They were the sons of evil and their father was the father of all lies.
Christ came to bring about change. He came with the sword to separate the wolves from the lambs. He came to stop the lies, to stop the deceit, to stop the death of the innocent. He came to bring life. But evil did not want the people to have life. Evil did not want the people to know the truth. Evil did not want the people to know who they are and who they belonged to. Evil wanted the people for itself. Evil wanted the people to do evil and to destroy Christ because evil could not change him, could not turn him, could not seduce him, could not control him. So evil had to destroy him.
Christ had to tell his disciples that they would know. He had to speak the truth that they would believe after the truth had taken place. And they were sad to hear this. For he said: "And they will kill him; and, on the third day he will rise again." And they were exceedingly sorry.
How do we feel today that Christ died? How do we feel today that he suffered such pain and agony? How do we feel today that he had to be the sacrifice for our sins and not us? We live in a world that only rarely shows us the pain that he endured. We live in a world that deceives us into believing that we are alright and life must go on. We live in a world that does not want us to know who we are in Christ. For the world wants to deceive us. The world wants to hide us from the truth. The world wants to keep us in the dark and away from the light that awaits us in Christ.
Come! Follow the path before you. Read the truth of who you are in Him who gave you life. Know the truth of your true life and not the artificial life of the physical. For you are like angels, created in the image and likeness of God. You are sons and daughters of the one true God, the living God. If you seek to know, if you seek to find, if you seek to see that which is within you, come read that which is given to you as manna from heaven. It has been given to me and I now pass it on to you. I am a witness, a voice crying in the wilderness, testifying that he has come to me and will come to you also if you seek him. He awaits your call. He listens for your voice. He anticipates your needs and will provide for your wants. Christ loves you, the Holy Spirit greets you and so do I.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
