Our paragraph topic is: (Their persecution of religion) Part 4.
It must have been a great honor and privilege to live in the time of Christ. Though I must admit that compared to today there were many hardships. Many of the conveniences that we have today they did not have. Running water, and toilets, and refrigerators, stoves, and TV's, music, radios, all the modern things we take for granted they did not have. But then they had the greatest gift of all, Christ.
He came to be amongst the people, to walk with them and talk with them, to hear their laughter, their cries, their sighs, their tears, moans and groans. And he gave relief to many. Yet he saw the cause of much of the sorrow and pain of the people, the evil and the fear that came from the misdirection of the religious leadership of the people. For years the religious leadership had persecuted the people. The Scribes and the Pharisees ruled over the people as though they were slaves and not the people of God whom they were to love. They killed the prophets and the messengers sent by God because they wanted to maintain their positions of power. Christ told them: "Thus you are witnesses against yourselves."
The Bible tells us that our words will be our witness against us on the day of judgment. Every word we speak will be written in the book of judgment and on that day will be used to judge who we are. Speak good or speak evil, it will all come out on that day. The truth will be known as to who we are. Are we a tree that bears good fruit or one that brings forth bad fruit? The mask will be taken off and the truth will be known.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Jesus sends two disciples into Jerusalem) Part 3.
Jesus had sent his two disciples into Jerusalem with his instructions. They listened to his words and followed them. They knew not the purpose. They knew not the why and the wherefore of his actions. They only knew that they should follow his instructions.
So they proceeded into Jerusalem in search of the ass and the colt that he instructed they would find. And just as he had instructed they found them tied to a post. So they untied them and proceeded to return with them. As fate would have it someone may see them and question the why and wherefore of their actions. So he instructed them such: "And if anyone say anything to you, you shall say that the Lord has need of them, and immediately he will send them."
Those were the instructions that Christ gave to his disciples going into Jerusalem. He wanted them to be prepared that they would know what to say and what to do. He knew that they would encounter anyone. He knew that they would be watched, that their actions would be questioned. So he gave his disciples specific instructions as to what to say and what to do. He did not tell them to run. He did not tell them to steal. He did not tell them to be ashamed of what they were doing. They were doing his will and his bidding. So they followed his instructions as they were given.
The disciples were blessed to be able to walk and talk with Christ in his time. They were special, chosen by him to do his bidding after he was glorified and returned to his Father in heaven. Today it must be a very special thing to be chosen, to be recognized by Christ in heaven, by one so great. It must be special to be given instructions of some task that he wants accomplished here on earth. It must be a grace given to those who can hear his voice, a grace to those who have understanding, a grace to those whose hearts are open to his calling. They are the ones able to know and be touched by his love. Not knowing the why or the wherefore, but following the instructions that are given, must be a special privilege bestowed upon those that are called to do his bidding.
He holds our hands even as we walk through the darkness not knowing where we are going. He turns us away from the cliff that we are about to jump from in our moments of despair. He loves us even though we do not know how to love him. He forgives us even when we do wrong and go against his will. We are his children and many do not know the truth of his love for us. Many do not understand who we are and why we are here. Many do not understand the truth of who they are. We are lost children seeking to find our way home being led astray by those who would deceive us, those who would destroy us, and those who would see us loose that which was given us by the sacrifice of Christ Jesus.
God calls all his children. Christ said that his sheep know his voice. No one can come to the Father except through Christ Jesus. Our path is set. Our instructions are clear. All we need do is follow them and we will know the truth of his love for us.
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Humility according to Christ's example) Part 5.
When we look back upon the teachings of Christ to his disciples, one must wonder how they felt, how they thought, how they understood his teachings. They followed Christ because they knew, within themselves, that he was the Messiah. His miracles proved that. He did things that no other prophet or other great leader could do. They were amazed at what they saw, what they heard him say, and what they believed that he would do. Their hearts and minds were opened to his teachings, his love, his passion, and his will.
They all wanted what they saw. They wanted to be powerful. They wanted his fearlessness. They wanted to be like him because they thought that this would give them leverage over the leaders of their day. They thought that being like him would make them famous with the people. They thought that imitating him would give them prestige and privilege like other leaders of the day. Little did they know or think that what they thought they wanted was completely different from what would be offered. Christ told them: "On the contrary, whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant."
How was that to be? How were they who sought to be great to become a servant? A servant was a position that they sought to turn away from. A servant was a person that they saw with disdain. A servant in their day and time was a nobody. Yet here was Christ, their leader, their teacher, their Messiah, telling them that they must become servants. Certainly this did not go over well with them. Certainly this did not sound good to them. Certainly this saying was not immediately understood.
He had just spoken with them about the honor of sitting at his right hand and at his left in the kingdom of heaven, a position that they all sought. He had questioned them about the price that they will pay to be his followers. He had just placed the doubt in their minds and their hearts as to the courage of their convictions being his followers when the time of tribulation came. Were they ready? Were they prepared? Were they strong enough to face that which was in their future? And now he tells them that they must become servants if they want to become great.
Christ had a way of teaching that cut to the quick, got to the heart of the matter. He taught in ways that required insight and thought, ways that revealed meaning and understanding with deeper thought. In our day and time we can look back. We can read about what happened. We can study the text and meaning in many different ways and from many different authors. But beyond all of the literature lies the inner meaning that comes to each of us individually guided by the Holy Spirit.
In our society today, we strive to be top dog, the lady that stands out in a crowd, the one that gets noticed. We do not seek to be servants. We do not seek to be the lowly. This is contrary to what we are given from birth in our society. Yet here is the greatest teacher that walked the earth giving us an example of how to be great, how to serve and not how to be served. He is giving us the example of how to give of oneself and not to take, the example to humble oneself and not to be proud. This is the example that he brought to us, the example that he gives to us, the example that he left for us to follow. For he, the king of the universe, humbled himself and came to save us. Can we not seek to follow his example?
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.
Our paragraph topic is: (Humility according to Christ's example) Part 4.
Christ told them: "Not so is it among you. " He wanted them to understand that they were different than the rulers and lords of the day. The rulers of the day exercised control over the Gentiles. They set themselves above the local people and exercised privilege over the people. They were special. They were not of the ordinary. They were the rulers and their great men demonstrated their power over the people.
Christ did not want his disciples to think of themselves as such, but the disciples wanted to have power and prestige. They thought of themselves as though they were to be the new rulers and the new lords according to the authority of Christ. But Christ had to show them that they were different. He had to close the door to enmity, and hatred, and anger, and jealousy, and all the emotions that were a part of the rulers of the day. For his disciples must take their example from him. They must follow his guidance, his path, his sacrifice.
So he gave them the understanding that they were different than the everyday ruler of the time. They were his followers. They were his witnesses that carried his message. They were his teachers and his preachers and his examples of the love that comes from the Father. They were not to become rulers and lords of the day. Not so, is it among you that you lord your authority over the Gentiles.
They were meek and mild. They were loving and forgiving. They were understanding and helpful to all the people because they saw something in the people. Christ showed them the love that he had for the lowly. He demonstrated the forgiveness that he possessed for the sinner. He opened his heart to those who were suffering, the lame, the blind, the sick, the deaf, the widowed. For he saw that which was in them that was in him. He saw the beauty of the life that was given to mankind that was created by God our Father. And he knew that the love that the Father had for him was the same love that he had for all men.
So he came to serve not to become a king. He came to give and not to take. He came to light the path and not to leave us in darkness. He came to pay the price for disobedience and not to trespass against the Father. He came that what was lost could now be found if we only search for it. The choice to find it is ours to make. The choice to believe in it is ours if we want. The choice to know is ours if we seek to know. The choice to see the truth is ours if we are not blinded. What, do you choose?
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.
