St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 9a; Deliver you to Tribulation.

Our paragraph topic is:  (He tells them of trials and hard times to come) Part 1.  

Christ has shattered the dreams of his disciples concerning their precious Jerusalem.  He has given them a vision of the destruction that will take place with all the beauty and wonder that has taken years to build.  They wanted him to see what they saw in the beauty and majesty of Jerusalem through their eyes but all he saw was death and destruction.  So he had to open the eyes of his disciples so that they would be able to understand what was taking place and what would happen in the end of days.

But before the end would come they, the disciples, needed to know the part they would play in all of this.  He opened their eyes and told them what would happen so that they would not be led astray by all the fear that would flood the land.  He wanted them to stand fast during the storm that would come.  But more than that he had to let them know what would happen to them.  Christ told his disciples:  "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation."

You see, they did not know.  They did not understand.  Christ had not been sacrificed yet.  He had not suffered yet.  He had not risen yet or been glorified.  He had not ascended into heaven to his father yet and they had not received the Holy Spirit.  So the idea that they would be delivered up to tribulation was new and shocking to them.  They knew that they were with him and he would protect and provide for them as he had always.  They knew that he had the power to do so because they were witnesses to the many miracles he performed.  So their minds were at ease when he told them so.  Yet this was something new to them that they would suffer hurt and pain, sorrows and oppression being delivered up to the powers that be.

Is this the fate that we follow if we become disciples of Christ?  Will we be delivered up to tribulation?  Will we suffer for being his followers?  What price will we pay just to be a follower?  What does it mean to be a follower of Christ?  What does it mean to be a Christian?  We go to church on a regular basis, we practice Christian principles, we pray, we read the Bible, we give tithes and alms, we help our brothers and strangers in need.  We try to follow all that Christ has given us through the church that he left here on earth.  

We believe that he is the son of the living God and that he will return one day to reign over all the earth.  We believe that there is life after death and that there is a heaven and a hell.  Our hope and faith is that we will attain heaven when our time ends here on earth.  God is merciful and we pray that he will hear our prayer and grant us eternal life with Christ Jesus. Amen.  

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.

St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 5b; Lead many astray.

Our paragraph topic is: (Christ warns them not to be led astray) Part 3.  

They were proud but now they are saddened by the news that Christ is telling them.  The disciples don't know what to think about what they were hearing.  They listened intently and take every word in as though their lives depended upon what they were hearing.  Do not be led astray, Christ tells them, for many will come and say that they are the Christ after I leave, but this will be a warning sign that it is not I.

They listen and believe all that he says.  He is the Christ.  He has spoken the truth many times before.  He has performed many miracles, raised the dead, healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, cured the lame and performed many miracles that no other prophet has done before.  He is the Messiah.  They listen intently as he tells them: "And they will lead many astray."

He wanted his disciples to know.  He needed them to hear the prophesy of the future so that they will not be deceived and misled like so many others.  They might try to tell others.  They might try to show others the truth but persuade as they might, others will be led astray.  But because Christ has foretold it to them they now know the future and what will happen.  They now know what to look for, what to see, what will happen when it comes and how to deal with the truth of what will happen.

That is something that we must ask ourselves today.  Will we be ready when it comes?  Will we be led astray or will we know the truth of what is happening before our eyes.  How will we feel?  How will we respond?  What will we say or do when we see these things happening?  Will we be afraid or will we know that we have knowledge of it foretold to us and do not have to be
fearful.  

No one wants to feel pain or to suffer.  We all want to live long lives, be happy, free, joyous, and live in peace.  We have our dreams and desires of what life should be for us, for our children, our families, our communities.  Yet life has its ups and downs and we know not when the lows are coming in advance.  Otherwise we would make every effort to prepare for them as best as we can.  But we have a heavenly father who protects and provides for us, who watches over us and loves us.  If we believe in him and acknowledge his love for us he will take care of us.  We are his children and he is our father, our creator and we have nothing to fear.

Christ Jesus came down from heaven to redeem us from the grasp of death.  We were in prison.  Locked up for eternity until he came to pay the jailor for our release.  The price was his life.  The cost was death on the cross.  The pain and suffering was nails in his hands and feet, the suffering of innocence for a charge he did not commit.  Yet he willingly gave himself up that we might have freedom, that we might not suffer for eternity, that we might know joy, and happiness, and peace.  He is our Savior.  He is our Hero.  He is our Lord.  For his passion was so great that he gave of his life that we might have life eternal. 

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.

St Matthew, Chapter 19, verse: 15, Christ touching the little ones.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus blesses the children) Part 5.

Christ instructed his disciples not to hinder the little ones from coming to him, for he wanted to touch them.  He wanted to be with them, to see them, to feel their presences up close.  They were the newly born, the new life, the light of life fresh from the tree of life.  Christ knew them before they were born into the physical world.  He knew them from the tree of life as he knows all.  He knew them in heaven as they were still on the tree of life.

So he instructed his disciples to let them be.  He told them to come close.  He told them to come see him that they may see with their eyes the savior of the world.  Though they were still just children, they would remember the day that they met the Savior.  They would remember the day they saw him, the time that they felt him, the time that they were near to him in the flesh.  For his time was short.  His mission was almost complete, his journey coming to an end.  And when he had laid his hands on them, he departed that place.

The little ones come into this world without any knowledge or understanding.  They depend upon those that came before for wisdom and truth.  They take what is given to them and incorporate into themselves the knowledge of those around them.  And when the time comes, they may question the validity of what has been given to them.  Or they may accept what the world has offered them and seek to conform to the norms of the day.  But they came unblemished into the world.  They came without malice.  They came clean, new, fresh from the tree of life.

And then we laid hands on them.  And then we loved them.  We gave them the best of what we had.  We influenced them and turned them out into the world.  And the world took hold of them and molded them into the people that they became.  Yet deep within them there was still life.  Deep within there was still the light of Christ.  Deep within was the spark that came from God our Father who loves them, calling them from the world that they may know the truth of who they are.  Did they hear?  Did they see?  Did they understand what they felt was a deep need that could not be filled from the world? 

Christ came to give his life for the children, that they might have new life.  He came that all would have the opportunity to know that they are spiritual and not physical beings.  He came that we would all have new life in him.  But it is up to us to know it.  It is up to us to see it.  It is up to us to grasp the true meaning of our spiritual being.  For our life is in him and not in the world.  Our hope is through him and not in the sky.  Our dreams are fulfilled from him and not in the dreams of death in the world.  He laid hands on the little ones just as he lays his hands on each and everyone of us.  Reach out and take his hand.  Reach out and hold it.  Reach out and feel him.  And then, you will know the joy of your Father who loves you.  You will know the peace of your Lord who believes in you.  You will know the excitement of the Holy Spirit who will live with you until you make the transition into the kingdom of heaven.

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.

St Matthew, Chapter 17, verses: 3, The Son of God: The Leaders of the Past appear before Him.

Our paragraph topic is: (Jesus transfigured) Part 2.  

And Jesus went up a high mountain and he took with him Peter, James, and John.  These were the chosen ones who would lead the church in the future.  These were the chosen ones who would have the opportunity to see the Son of God in his true nature.  These were the chosen ones who would have the unique experience of seeing the transformation of Christ.  For they would remember the experience through their entire lives.  They would treasure the experience in their hearts.  They would know for certain that they had seen the true Christ in his full glory.  And they would rejoice in that experience for the rest of their lives.

But then something else happened while they were with Christ.  Something else that they had not seen before happened before their very eyes that would further astound and surprise them, Moses and Elias appeared before Christ and he spoke to them as though he was speaking to the disciples himself.  The great leaders of the past came before Christ.  Moses, the leader who led the Israelites from the captivity of Egypt, appeared before Christ.  And Elias the great prophet appeared also.   And behold, there appears to them Moses and Elias talking together with him. 

They saw their great leaders appearing before Christ and talking with him.  Who will you see?  Who will appear with Christ when you see him?  Will you see your mother?  Will you see your father?  Will you see your grandmother, your grandfather, your sisters or brothers?  Will you see the loved ones from the past that you only know from pictures and stories told to you by your parents?  Will you see the ones who made history that you read about in your history books, John the Baptist, Moses, David, Abe Lincoln, or many others that your heart would leap for joy just to see and know.

Imagine having the time to sit with these loved ones.  Imagine having the time to talk with them, to ask them questions, to know the truth of who they are and how you came to be.  And imagine leaving all this behind that you would not have to worry about what to eat, where you would sleep, what you would wear, how you would look, what money you would have, or how you would survive.  All these things would be in the past and you would not think about the cares and worries of this physical realm.

Imagine a place without day or night.  Imagine a place where there is no need for sleep, a place where there is no worry, no hunger, no anger, no fighting, a place where your dreams and desires are all fulfilled.  For in the presence of God all things are.  And then there is Christ Jesus, our savior and our redeemer.  Just to be with him I would give anything.  For he is all my needs and all my desires.  He is the fulfillment of my heart, of my peace, of my love.  For with him I am complete.  And through Him I am satisfied.  And that is my treasure here on earth, the knowledge that in Him all my desires are met and I am complete. 

No longer do I need the things that this world has to offer.  No longer do I desire the earthly pleasures and comforts of this world.  I know that through and Him and in Him I am complete.  This I have been given and this I know.  So my life here on earth is devoted to the task I have been given, to write the truth of the knowledge that has been given to me that others may know of his love and of his goodness, of his forgiveness and of his patience that everyone who desires to know the truth may have a path to seek him.  Come!  Follow the path before you and seek the truth of who you are in Christ.  Your life will change.  Your love will change.  You will become a new person in Him.   

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!