Our paragraph topic is:
(The third prediction of the passion) Part 4.
The journey to Jerusalem was taking place as Christ led his disciples to his end. He told them what was to happen. He warned them that he would be handed over to the Gentiles and that he would face death. The horror of what he was about to do was unimaginable. The dishonor of what he surrendered himself to was unbelievable. The mockery and pain that he would suffer was beyond the comprehension of those who followed him.
They knew who he was. They believed in him. They loved him. They saw with their own eyes, heard with their own ears, and felt with their deepest emotions the love that he had for them and the love that they felt for him. But to have him intentionally give himself up to death was beyond their understanding. Yet beyond all that he would face, all that he would experience, all that he knew about what was to happen, he trusted in his Father and the knowledge that he would triumph over death. So he told them: "And on the third day he will rise again."
This is the Christ that lived some two thousand years ago. This is the Christ that came down from heaven to walk among us. This is the Christ who taught us of love, and peace, and mercy, and forgiveness. He was here. He was present. He was and is with us. He gave us the example. He left us his words. He showed us what we should do. And most of all he redeemed us from eternal damnation.
Do we follow? Do we believe? Do we know that we are saved? Many will fear. Many will not believe. Many will be lost to what is believed to be unknown. Yet nothing is unknown if we believe. Nothing is unknown if we seek to know. Nothing is fearful if we trust in what has been given us by our Redeemer. He loved us. He died for us. He gave up his heavenly crown to come and be with us. And now he waits for us to come home to him that we may know how much he loves us.
We know the world. We can see what is here. We can test, and experiment, and extrapolate the truth of the physical. We know not the spiritual. We cannot test, or experiment or know what lies beyond the door of death. Yet Christ has given us an example to follow. He has shown us the way. He has left us his words. He has given us a path to follow. He has brought forth the truth that we may know with certainty who we are in him. The flesh profits nothing. It is the spirit that gives life.
We are spiritual beings in a physical body living in a physical world. Our time here is limited. Our physical life is limited. But our spiritual life is eternal. Look beyond the physical! Look beyond that which is before you. See the life that is within you and you will know the truth of who you are. We are eternal being living in a physical world. Celebrate the life that is within. For death is but a transition into that which you will become. And you will know the truth of who you are in Christ. Of his free will, God gave us life eternal. Seek that which is spiritual and you will know the truth of where you belong.
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.
The journey to Jerusalem was taking place as Christ led his disciples to his end. He told them what was to happen. He warned them that he would be handed over to the Gentiles and that he would face death. The horror of what he was about to do was unimaginable. The dishonor of what he surrendered himself to was unbelievable. The mockery and pain that he would suffer was beyond the comprehension of those who followed him.
They knew who he was. They believed in him. They loved him. They saw with their own eyes, heard with their own ears, and felt with their deepest emotions the love that he had for them and the love that they felt for him. But to have him intentionally give himself up to death was beyond their understanding. Yet beyond all that he would face, all that he would experience, all that he knew about what was to happen, he trusted in his Father and the knowledge that he would triumph over death. So he told them: "And on the third day he will rise again."
This is the Christ that lived some two thousand years ago. This is the Christ that came down from heaven to walk among us. This is the Christ who taught us of love, and peace, and mercy, and forgiveness. He was here. He was present. He was and is with us. He gave us the example. He left us his words. He showed us what we should do. And most of all he redeemed us from eternal damnation.
Do we follow? Do we believe? Do we know that we are saved? Many will fear. Many will not believe. Many will be lost to what is believed to be unknown. Yet nothing is unknown if we believe. Nothing is unknown if we seek to know. Nothing is fearful if we trust in what has been given us by our Redeemer. He loved us. He died for us. He gave up his heavenly crown to come and be with us. And now he waits for us to come home to him that we may know how much he loves us.
We know the world. We can see what is here. We can test, and experiment, and extrapolate the truth of the physical. We know not the spiritual. We cannot test, or experiment or know what lies beyond the door of death. Yet Christ has given us an example to follow. He has shown us the way. He has left us his words. He has given us a path to follow. He has brought forth the truth that we may know with certainty who we are in him. The flesh profits nothing. It is the spirit that gives life.
We are spiritual beings in a physical body living in a physical world. Our time here is limited. Our physical life is limited. But our spiritual life is eternal. Look beyond the physical! Look beyond that which is before you. See the life that is within you and you will know the truth of who you are. We are eternal being living in a physical world. Celebrate the life that is within. For death is but a transition into that which you will become. And you will know the truth of who you are in Christ. Of his free will, God gave us life eternal. Seek that which is spiritual and you will know the truth of where you belong.
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.
