Our paragraph topic is: (Parable of the two sons) Part 5.
The harlots and the publicans were entering the kingdom of heaven before the chief priest and the elders and the scribes. They were the lowly. They were the forgotten. They were the ones who were the scum of the city that everyone hated. Yet their eyes were being opened. Their hearts were being filled. And they were the ones who came to believe and see the light that had come into the world.
They came to Christ indignant of his teachings and questioned his authority to teach. They were blind and could not see. All the signs were there, but they refused to believe that the Messiah had come without consulting them first. The chief priest and the elders were the rulers of the people. They knew the Law. They read and studied the Torah. They knew from the readings that someday the Messiah would come and walk among the people. They could not believe that he would come in such a lowly fashion. He told them: "For John came to you in the way of justice, and you did not believe him."
John the Baptist was a prophet that all believed. He wore scant clothing, ate locus and honey, and lived in the dessert away from the cities. He was a holy man. His coming was foretold before his arrival. He was the voice of the one crying in the wilderness making the way for the coming of the Messiah. His words traveled far and wide and many came to see him. Even the chief priest and the elders came out to see this man of God.
He was too plain. He was not clothed in fine linen. He did not live in a palace and eat fine foods. He was different. He spoke of repentance and baptized those who believed in his message. But many did not come. Many did not believe. Many did not know even though they heard of him through the voice of the people who saw him and heard him and believed in him.
Here we are today, living in a different time and place, yet still being the same people. We have not escaped to a different reality. We have not transformed into a different people. We are still human flesh and bone and suffer from the same weaknesses. We fear the unknown and what will come tomorrow. We strive to be independent, without the help of anyone. We believe that we are self sufficient and can provide and protect ourselves. Yet the darkness of death looms over our every move, our every thought, our very being. Our life is not of this world.
He offered them the opportunity to believe. He gave them twice the chance to enter into the kingdom of heaven. He is patient and loving and forgiving. Until the completion of time, then will it be too late. Then will time turn. Then will human life end and a new spiritual life begins. John came in the way of justice. Christ came in the way of fulfillment. The door is open. His love awaits his children. Believe and you will see. Knock and the door will be opened. Seek and all will be revealed.
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 nd 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 harlots and the publicans were entering the kingdom of heaven before the chief priest and the elders and the scribes. They were the lowly. They were the forgotten. They were the ones who were the scum of the city that everyone hated. Yet their eyes were being opened. Their hearts were being filled. And they were the ones who came to believe and see the light that had come into the world.
They came to Christ indignant of his teachings and questioned his authority to teach. They were blind and could not see. All the signs were there, but they refused to believe that the Messiah had come without consulting them first. The chief priest and the elders were the rulers of the people. They knew the Law. They read and studied the Torah. They knew from the readings that someday the Messiah would come and walk among the people. They could not believe that he would come in such a lowly fashion. He told them: "For John came to you in the way of justice, and you did not believe him."
John the Baptist was a prophet that all believed. He wore scant clothing, ate locus and honey, and lived in the dessert away from the cities. He was a holy man. His coming was foretold before his arrival. He was the voice of the one crying in the wilderness making the way for the coming of the Messiah. His words traveled far and wide and many came to see him. Even the chief priest and the elders came out to see this man of God.
He was too plain. He was not clothed in fine linen. He did not live in a palace and eat fine foods. He was different. He spoke of repentance and baptized those who believed in his message. But many did not come. Many did not believe. Many did not know even though they heard of him through the voice of the people who saw him and heard him and believed in him.
Here we are today, living in a different time and place, yet still being the same people. We have not escaped to a different reality. We have not transformed into a different people. We are still human flesh and bone and suffer from the same weaknesses. We fear the unknown and what will come tomorrow. We strive to be independent, without the help of anyone. We believe that we are self sufficient and can provide and protect ourselves. Yet the darkness of death looms over our every move, our every thought, our very being. Our life is not of this world.
He offered them the opportunity to believe. He gave them twice the chance to enter into the kingdom of heaven. He is patient and loving and forgiving. Until the completion of time, then will it be too late. Then will time turn. Then will human life end and a new spiritual life begins. John came in the way of justice. Christ came in the way of fulfillment. The door is open. His love awaits his children. Believe and you will see. Knock and the door will be opened. Seek and all will be revealed.
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 nd 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.
