The Greatest Commandment

Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28- 34, I John 4:7-, 12, John 3:16, John 15: 9-14

In this post continuing the 40 days that Christ appeared to His disciples, we will look once again at His Great Commission, specifically on this verse:

"Teach these new disciples to obey all the commandments I have given you."

 Matthew 28: 20 NLT

What was the most important thing that Jesus wanted His disciples to obey and teach others to obey?

On one occasion when the Jewish leaders were trying to figure out a way to trap Jesus by asking Him questions. A Pharisee asked Him this question:

"Teacher, which is the most important commandment 
in the law of Moses?" 

Matthew 22:36 NLT

As you look through the books of the law of Moses, (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), you realize that there were a lot of commandments they had to obey. So much to think about and do. Is there a simpler way? Jesus gets right to the heart of the issue:

"You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, 

all your soul, and all your mind. 

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

A second is equally important:  

'Love your neighbor as yourself. 

The entire law and all the demands of the prophets 

are based on these two commandments." 

Matthew 22:37-40 NLT

Think of that! All of the hundreds of laws and commandments could be summed up with just two. How much more simple! And wouldn't the world be such a better place if people did just those two things. The teacher who asked Jesus the question made a thoughtful reply that is found in the book of Mark:

"Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth 
by saying that there is only one God and no other. 

And I know it is important to love Him with all my heart and all my understanding 

and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. 

This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law."

"Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, 

'you are not far from the Kingdom of God." 

Mark 12:28- 34 NLT

Our church uses a simple statement to describe our mission:

"Love God and Love people."

That sums up what Jesus said and makes it easy to remember. While it is simple, it isn't always easy. How do we love like this? Where does this love come from? The apostle John says this in an epistle.

"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love- not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us so much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us and His love is brought to full expression in us." I John 4:7-12 NLT

This love comes from Him, God Himself. It is His own nature living in His true children and expressing His own love to others. When He lives deep within our being, then His nature and His love finds expression through us as we love one another. Here are a couple more quotes about love from Jesus:

"For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, 

so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." 

John 3:16

"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in His love... This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command."John 15: 9-14 NLT

Read each of His thoughts slowly and let them sink in... We are loved... just as the Father loved Jesus! What could be more important for us than to obey what He commands.

Obey the Commandments

Matt. 28, Matt. 5 through 7, Hebrews 10

After Jesus rose from the dead and He had met with His eleven disciples, He told them to go to Galilee and to meet Him on a certain mountain. When they got there and saw Him, they worshiped Him. Then He spoke to them and gave this message that we call the Great Commission. (The first part of the verses below were covered a post called His Great Commission):

"I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commandments I have given you. 

And be sure of this; I am with you always, even to the end of the age." 

Matthew 28: 18-20 NLT

One of the things in this post that you don't hear about very often is:

"Teach these new disciples to obey all the commandments I have given you."

Have you ever wondered what commandments He wants us to obey? How did Jesus feel about the law and all the commandments that the Jewish people were required to obey? Did He bring us a new perspective on the laws?

In His Sermon on the Mount, He said:

Sermon on the Mount - Carl Bloch

"Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God's law will disappear until it's purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven."

But I warn you - unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the Pharisee's, 

you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven".  

Matthew 5:17-20 NLT

Very strong words Jesus gives us!!! We should take them seriously. Have you read the Torah, the five books of the law written by Moses? It is in the beginning of the Bible. I finished listening to them a while back as part of a daily walk through the Bible's chronological reading plan. Wow! Most of the law is really important for society and in fact much of laws for the US government were originally written from the law of Moses; as it builds a civil society when people respect one another's rights. There are many parts to the law of Moses especially the sacrificing of animals to show sorrow for their sin. That was a very burdensome system to pay for their own sins. And I feel sad for the animals. But I find it interesting that Jesus said in the verses quoted above that:

"Don't misunderstand why I have come. 

I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. 

No, I came to accomplish their purpose..."

So during the time Jesus was alive on earth; there was a sacrificial system of sacrificing an animal to pay for their sins. It had to be perfect, without any blemish on it. It was killed on an altar much like what Abraham did in Genesis 22. This is when the sacrificial offering began. "...God tested Abraham, and said to him '"Abraham!", And he said, "Here I am." Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer Him there as a burnt offering." Abraham set up to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac... And Abraham took his knife to slay his only son. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am".  And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from Me." clips from Genesis 22:1-19... It is worth reading it all.

When the ANGEL of the LORD stopped Abraham, he saw a ram caught in a thicket. Then Abraham sacrificed the ram in place of Isaac. This was the beginning of animal sacrifice that was practiced for over a thousand years.  These animal sacrifices eventually were of no value. Why? Because Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice to save all of humanity who believed in Him. He achieved the law's purpose of sacrifice through His own sacrificial death. No longer do human beings need to sacrifice animals to deal with their sins. Thank You LORD. Jesus Christ, once and for all accomplished this for us. His sacrifice should move us to the depth of our hearts. Check out what it says in Hebrews about this

"The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come... The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing... But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins...

"He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 

For God's will was for us to be made holy 

by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time." 

Hebrews 10: 1-10 NLT

Amazing what God has provided for us through Christ! We should never tire of being in awe of Him and what He has done for us. It is His love that compels us to no longer live for ourselves, but to live for Him who died and was raised for us. And this actually means that we who belong to Him are actually new creations, like new Adam and Eve's. In Him we can live a whole new life beyond the power of sin. (see 2 Corinthians 5:14-17)

So, back to our original text; how else did He come to fulfill the purpose of the law? 

As Jesus continues in the Sermon on the Mount, He gives them a higher calling of the Ten Commandments. He makes the point that murder begins in the heart, with anger and broken relationships. Adultery also begins in the heart with lust. (See Matt. 5: 21-32, 15:19) He teaches us to rise above vengeance and retaliation and to respond with love. Then He teaches how to be honest before God, not as hypocrites, seeking admiration from people. Our prayers and acts of righteousness should be to please God alone. Rather than stand on street corners, go into a secret place to approach God in private and in that place pray before God alone. He teaches us to be loyal to God, not divided in pursuing wealth. Rather we should pursue Him, to trust Him in everything. (Matt. 6:19-34) He teaches us to not be critical of others, but to be honest and deal with our own faults. This is all about our hearts. Then He makes obeying the law very simple, by giving us The Golden Rule:

"Do to others as you would like them to do to you. 

This is the essence of all that is in the law and the prophets." 

Matt. 7:12 NLT

What did the disciples think, when Jesus said:

"But I warn you - unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the Pharisee's, 

you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven".  

Matthew 5:17-20 NLT

How could their righteousness ever exceed that of the "holy" Pharisee's, their "spiritual" leaders? He begins to teach them how to recognize a true follower of God by giving an illustration of recognizing the type of a tree by the fruit it produces. (Matt. 7:15-20) The book of Matthew continues with helping His disciples "see" the difference between true discipleship and hypocrisy, by using the Pharisees as an example NOT to follow. Some of His strongest words are against the Pharisees are in Matthew 23. It is all about the heart.

So in summery, what commandments should we obey and teach others to obey? How do I apply this today? Remember this is all about your heart, and mind. Have I fully given my heart to Him, so that He can change it? No one can just obey all the commandments in their human ability. It takes a changed heart that is given to us through God's own heart. What does the heart of Christ look like in our life? We will look at this more in the next post. For now, be honest in your relationship before God, not a hypocrite... seek Him alone and not the praise of others. And then to treat other people like you want them to treat you. The next post will be:

The Greatest Commandment.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all you soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

Matthew 22:37-40

His Great Commission

Matthew 28

What DID Jesus do after the resurrection? The story does not end here. And yet most of us, move on after Easter. Did you know that Jesus spent 40 Days with His disciples AFTER He resurrected? How much even more were His last words to His Apostles? Yet I have heard very little about what happened during these 40 Days taught from the pulpit. What did He do? Christ to His disciples?  

 

What were His Final words as the Resurrected Christ to His disciples? What was He doing to prepare them for what was to come? We are looking at each of the four gospels and the book of Acts.

Today we start with the gospel of Matthew in chapter 28. In the first part of the chapter, the women  go to the tomb and they experienced... an earthquake, an angel came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it! His face shone like lightening. The guards shook with fear and fell into a dead faint. The angel spoke to the women and told them not to be afraid.  "Jesus has risen from the dead... go and tell His disciples that He has risen... and is going ahead to Galilee." So the women ran quickly from the tomb... frightened, yet filled with great joy... Then they met Jesus and He said "Don't be afraid! Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there."

His eleven disciples met Him at the mountain. When they saw Him they worshiped Him... and then this is what He said,

"I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commandments I have given you. 

And be sure of this; I am with you always, even to the end of the age." 

Matthew 28: 18-20 NLT 

What Jesus said and did with His disciples in His last days before He was crucified was of great importance. Now how much more significant are His final words as the Risen Lord!

Now, Jesus has been given ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH! Wow! Just let that soak in. Not a little, not some, but ALL AUTHORITY in both the heavenly realm and here on earth.  What did that mean for His disciples then? What about for you and I today? I believe that He wants us to know that we can trust Him no matter what happens in our life on this earth. But a question I ask is; what needs to happen within the church today that we would move in greater authority of Christ, as His disciples did after Pentecost? See Words from A Friend

And next He says "therefore". When ever there is a "therefore; we can ask"; "what is it there for? Why did He tell His disciples that He has been given ALL AUTHORITY? Because He wanted them and wants us today to have faith to go and make disciples of all nations, to baptize them... and teach them to obey all the commandments that He gave while He was on this earth. This is to be our mission; to make disciples, not just tell people about Christ, but follow through and mentor people. His commandments were meant to bring a whole new change into this world through His disciples obeying them. All of His commandments stem from one word, LOVE. When He walked among His disciples as a human being, a Pharisee lawyer ”asked Him a question, testing Him and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to Him,

“You shall love the LORD your God 

with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. 

This is the first and great commandment. 

And the second is like it: 

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” 

Matthew 22:35- 40 NKJ

When you look at each of His commandments they all stem from love, loving God with your whole heart and loving people. Very simple, yet impossible in our own human nature without His Spirit dwelling within. His words are just as powerful and important today, 2,000 years later as they were for His disciples then. Stay tuned and we shall continue to seek Him to see what He had in store for His disciples then and for us today. I love how He ends His Great Commission with a Promise... He will never leave us:

"... and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." 

Matthew 28: 20b NKJ

I wonder how often His disciples then remembered Him saying this when they were in difficult circumstances... when they were being tortured and/or martyred? What a comfort to them! This promise is not only for His disciples then; but for us now as well. He is with us modern day followers always, not sometimes, but always, even to the end of the age!!! Hallelujah! Remember this when You need Him most.

The story and quotes above were summarized and quoted from the New Living Translation, except where otherwise specified.

Breakfast By the Sea

After the resurrection, the disciples went to Galilee, as Jesus had instructed them. Several of the disciples were there and Peter said, "I'm going fishing." They went with him. All night they fished and caught nothing. As the sun was coming up, a man on the shore called out "Throw out your net on the right side of the boat and you'll get some!" So they did, and the net was so full of fish they couldn't haul it in. Then they realized it was the Lord... He was cooking breakfast for them on the shore, fish and bread.

After breakfast Jesus asked Peter, "'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?', 'Yes, Lord,' Peter replied, 'you know that I love you.' ' Then feed my lambs, Jesus told him". But then Jesus repeated the question two more times... "do you love me?" Peter was hurt the third time and said "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you." Then Jesus told him to feed his sheep. John 21
It was important that the Lord bring reconciliation with Peter, to let him know that he was still to lead the church. So, He gave him the authority to shepherd the people that God would bring into the church. His strength to do this would spring out of his love for Christ and the promise that would soon follow. (Stay tuned for the Promise, as it is part of this series)

But Jesus' question to Peter... "'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?', could be asked of each of us as well and is probably the most important question we could ask ourselves.

Do I love the Lord Jesus? Do I love God? I mean, really love God? How much?
This is the purpose to life... LOVE... to love God and to love people. Where does this love come from? How do I know if I have it?

"Dear friends, lets continue to love one another,  for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love - not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God has loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other, since God lives IN us, and his love is brought to full expression IN us."  First John 4:7-12 NLT

The final question is where does this love lead? After Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep He hinted to what kind of death Peter would glorify God. It would be crucifixion, according to church history. (See Foxxes book of Martyrs). Then Jesus told him, "Follow Me." It is as if He was saying, follow Me in life and follow Me in death. He asks for us to deny our self interest in life, to die to self and follow Him where ever He leads us. Here in His own words as recorded by Mark:

"If anyone who desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Mark 8:34

Do You Love Me?

Reading: Mark 14:27-31, Luke 22: 31-34, 52-62, John 21, I john 4:7-12

Have you ever let someone down to the point of great sorrow? Have you ever been in need of reconciliation in a relationship? Have you ever let the Lord down? Are you in need of reconciliation? The apostle Peter did let the Lord down in a way he never thought could ever happen. And it left him in deep anguish and sorrow. Jesus knew that Peter needed to be reconciled to Him and their relationship restored. This story actually begins before Jesus was taken away by the soldiers at Gethsemane. Then we will see what He did after He was risen from the dead. In His final hours of life as a natural human being, like us all, He told His disciples:

"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: " 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times."But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same.  Mark 14:27-31 NLT

In Luke, Jesus is recorded as saying:

"' Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.'" Luke 22:31, 32 NKJ

Peter denies Jesus by Carl Bloch

  Peter said he would die for Jesus. He believed that within  his strength, his determination, his love for Jesus that he would never fall away. But, in that terrible night, all the disciples ran away for fear of being beaten and killed. Peter at least followed along at a distance.Yet, when surrounded by soldiers and those who did not like Jesus, He denied Him three times. On the third denial, a rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, 'Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know Me.' And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly." Luke 22: 52- 62 NLT

Oh, the anguish Peter must have felt for not standing up for the Lord in that moment. In all the human strength and determination that Peter had, it all evaporated and he let Jesus down and denied that he even knew Him. Jesus knew ahead of time that this would be a great moment of testing for Peter. Satan must have known something of Peter's potential and determined to attack him. But Jesus knew this and prayed for him ahead of time, that his faith would not fail. That brings us to another visit with the Risen Christ. I call it "Breakfast By the Sea"

My Lord and My God

John 20:24-29

Have you ever been in such a time of anguish or grief that the truth of the gospel was more than you could believe at the moment? Maybe you lost someone you dearly loved? If so, perhaps you can relate to Thomas. He lost Jesus. When Jesus died, all the wonderful things he said and did seemed meaningless now that Jesus was dead. Perhaps Thomas thought he would restore His Kingdom and rescue them from the occupation of Rome... that Jesus would rule with fairness and justice. But now that he is dead, all hope is lost. What about his teachings and his promises? Where is God when I need him the most?

Yet strange things were happening. It is described in John's gospel, beginning in chapter 20, verse one. On Sunday morning, the first day of the week some of the women said they went to His tomb and His body was gone. Peter and John ran to the tomb and went in. There was nothing there but the grave wrappings.

The Lord Worked Through Them

Mark 16

This post is continuing a series of asking the question "What did Jesus do on earth for the forty days that He was still here after He resurrected? So I am looking at each of the four gospels and Acts. In the gospel of Mark beginning in chapter 16 verse 9 that early Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene saw Him and afterward He appeared to two of His other followers as they were walking and later He appeared to the eleven disciples. As each gospel is written by different witnesses, each one remembered what was impressed in their minds and hearts. Here is the version of the Great Commission in Mark:

"Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These Miraculous signs will accompany those who believe. They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drank anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.

And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs." Mark 16: 15-20 NLT
 

The apostle Paul got bit by a poisonous snake when he was on the island of Malta, after being shipwrecked. When he did not swell up or suddenly drop dead, the people of the island thought he was a God. While he was there, he healed many people. All through out the book of Acts, people were healed and miracles took place. This gave the gospel message the authority of being from God. People were in awe and listened to the message.

As believers today, we hear of some miraculous signs in our time, yet this is not common place in our churches today. Why is this not happening today as it did then? If miraculous signs were accompanying the preaching of the gospel today, as it did then; I believe the message would be better received here in our country. What is missing? Does God have gifts for us to accompany His gospel that we are missing? How should we pray?

I asked all these questions to a dear friend and have included her thoughtful response below this post. I pray you will be inspired as I was.

Words from a Friend

After posting The Lord Worked Through Them I sent an email to a friend asking her to read the above post.
Here is her sensitive reply:

"As I have sought the Lord, I have seen this time we are in as one of purging and testing, a time of reckoning. He is drawing those that will to Himself in a way that will bring sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. A time that will bring understanding of His Word and the ability to KNOW God.  This awakening, if you will, is a work of His Spirit in the willing heart, a quiet work between God and His Beloved... the passionate, persistent, pursuer of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior by His Holy Spirit which brings His transformation in the inner man.

Do you see the church, His Body, transformed like Peter was?  He has called us to new birth in Him.   Jesus Christ is the author of a faith which purifies and gives victory over sin.

His timing is perfect. Who can hold the Glory of the Lord that brings forth the anointing which will bring His signs and wonders that will follow His Word of truth? We see in Acts, they all waited in one accorded. In seeking the Lord, they relinquished all to Him. The Lord brought the baptism of fire that brought forth the power of God through them.

With all my heart, I believe that we shall see the powerful, anointed move of God through His Body, His Church, the question is to all of us is... what or who has your heart?"

40 Days Jesus Appeared

Did you know that for 40 Days Jesus Christ appeared at various times to His disciples AFTER He was crucified and rose from the dead?!! Let's journey with Him through the eye witness accounts found in the gospels of the New Testament. Imagine you are actually there seeing the events unfold. What did the disciples experience that changed their lives forever? How can that change your life today and forever?

You will find the eyewitness accounts beginning with the Resurrection and continuing to the Ascension recorded in:

Matthew 28:1- 20
Mark 16:1- 20
Luke 24: 1- 53
John 20: 1- 25
Acts 1:1- 11

However before we open these amazing texts, let's ponder these two questions:

 

Why is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ important to all people? What is so significant about the forty days He appeared to His disciples and many more people?

As human beings most of us have a sense of value of our own individual life and the thought of death is unthinkable... we simply don't like to think about it. We find death to be an uncomfortable, troubling reality. When a loved one dies, we are shaken to the core. Our hearts are broken, knowing that we will never see or talk to our loved one again in this life. Furthermore, it is a reminder that our death will come someday as well. This fact of life has impacted people for thousands of years. Is there a religion or philosophy that could answer that troublesome question of  "What happens to me when I die?"

More Prophecies Foretelling of His Suffering

Sunday

Later after Jesus was resurrected and walked with the disciples in Emmaus. They offered Him to Abide with them as it was toward evening. And He went to stay with them. When they recognized them Him, He vanished from their sight.  Later He met with His disciples Sunday evening. He said to them: 

"When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the Prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.   

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures...

And He said, 'Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die 

and rise from the dead on the third day..." Luke 24:44-48 NLT

Have you ever wondered what scriptures Jesus told His disciples as they walked along to Emmaus and later to His Apostles in the evening? The Law of Moses, the Psalms and the Prophets who were foretelling His life, His suffering, death and resurrection? I have wondered and offer what I could find. They are so poignant.  I am in awe as I type them and pray these verses will bless you, as you realize the truth of God's Word from beginning to end. In the previous blog, you'll find the stories of Adam and Eve, as well as Abraham.

In summary here; In the beginning Adam and Eves sinned, and the sacrifice for forgiveness is found in the previous post. It starts with scriptures foretelling right from the beginning that Adam and Eve sinned and that an animal had to be sacrificed and die. God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. A  fig leaf was not enough to cover their sin and nakedness. From that point on all humanity needed a sacrifice to cover for their sins.

Continuing in summary to Abraham and the sacrifice of his son. He was willing to do whatever God asked him to do. When they came to the place which God had told him, he built an altar... Then the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham! Here I am."... God provided the sacrifice of a ram, so Isaac was saved. Genesis 22:1-19

"And then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures".   Lord I pray that You will open our minds, me and this dear reader, to understand the scriptures, the Old Testament verses that foretell of Your suffering, death and resurrection. Help us to see You Lord in all of our reading of Your Word. 

Continuing from the previous post, here are more verses prophesying about the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah.

He Opened their Minds to Understand the Scriptures

Our Launching Verse: Luke 24:44-48

In a previous post, Our Hearts Burned Within Us, Jesus walked along the road with two disciples on their way to Emmaus. Not knowing who He was, they sadly told Him what had recently happened to Jesus in Jerusalem. They were confused when He died; because they thought the Messiah was going to rescue them as a people. He said, "'Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering His glory?'" Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from each of the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke 24: 26, 27 NLT Later, when they recognized them, he vanished. They said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while... He opened the Scriptures to us?" Luke 24: 32 NKJ

These two men got up immediately and went to Jerusalem to find the 11 apostles and others who gathered with them. They were marveling that Jesus really has risen from the dead. Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus appeared to them along the road. Just as they were telling the story, Jesus was suddenly standing there with them. "Peace be with you." He said. After reassuring them that He was not a ghost, allowing them to touch Him, and even eating some broiled fish; then He said, "When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And He said, 'Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day..." Luke 24:44-48 NLT

Have you ever wondered what these scriptures were that Jesus told His disciples foretelling His suffering, death and resurrection? I have wondered that. Here are a few that may have been some that He told them.

Our Hearts Burned Within Us

Sunday 

Luke 24: 13-32

After Jesus was crucified, the disciples were confused and deeply in grief; even though Jesus told them this would happen, they still were not prepared. So on Sunday morning when the women came and told them that Jesus had raised from the dead it seemed like idle tales, some kind of nonsense to them. "However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again wondering what had happened."  Luke 24: 12 NLT

Later that same day two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus. It was about 7 miles outside of Jerusalem. As they continued along the road, they were in an intense discussion about what had just happened. Then Jesus Himself came along side of them; though God kept them from recognizing who He was. "He asked them, 'What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?' They stopped short, sadness written across their faces." Luke 24: 17 NLT "You must be the only person who does not know all the things that has happened in Jerusalem in the last few days." 'What things?' Jesus asked." Luke 24: 19 NLT

 
They proceeded to tell Him about Jesus of Nazareth, who "was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and He was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests... handed Him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified Him. We had hoped He was the messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago." Luke 24: 20, 21 NLT Then they told Him about what the women said that morning and some of the men went to the tomb to see and the body was in fact gone.

Jesus Christ is Risen

Sunday

 

The Tomb is Empty!  

Christ Jesus is Alive!!! 

Reading John 20: 1-18

Very early in the morning, while still dark on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. When she arrived she saw that the stone covering the entrance had been taken away. She ran to Peter and John and said to them "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and I don't know where they laid Him." Peter and John ran to the tomb. John arrived first, stooping down he looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there. Peter came behind him and entered the tomb. John followed him in and he believed. Then they went away again to their own homes.

But Mary lingered, totally distraught over the death of her Lord and now His body is gone. Standing outside of the tomb weeping, she stooped down and looked in to see two angels in white sitting where the Lord had laid. They said to her "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

After she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Him. He said to her, “Why are you weeping? Who are you seeking?” She, thought He was the gardener and said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, "Teacher". Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her." John 20:11-18 NKJ

"...these things are written that you may believe 

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, 

and that by believing you may have life in His name." 

John 20:31 NKJ

The tomb is empty! Christ Jesus is Alive! 

What does this mean to you, to me?

We are free and forgiven, heavens gates are open wide!

Enter in to the empty tomb and believe.

You will have life in His name.

More Eye Witness Accounts to come

What Does Christ's Death Mean to You and I?

Saturday

"Then Jesus shouted out again, 'It is finished!' and He released His Spirit. 

At that moment the curtain in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom." 

Matthew 27:50, 50 and John 19:30 NLT

Lord, Jesus You finished what You came to do. You "poured out Your soul unto death and bore our sins. Isa. 53:12 NLT You Lord, nearly 2000 years ago bore my sin, and now through faith in Your finished work, I am free and forgiven... reconciled to God. The veil that separated me from You is now torn in two, opening access into the very presence of God. Thank You Father, for You have..

Silent Sabbath

Saturday 

Reading: Genesis 1:26, 2:1-3, 7, John 1:1-14, 19:28-30,

On the sixth day of creation God said;

"Let Us make man in Our image, according to our likeness... So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26,27

On that day God formed the man Adam, the first human being, from the dust of the ground.  Then He breathed the breath of life into him and Adam became a living soul. Genesis 2:7 On the sixth day God finished His marvelous work of creation. Then on the seventh day He rested from all of His work. We are told in the gospel of John that God created everything through the Word, who is Jesus Christ.  

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.""And the Word became flesh and the dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-5, 14) 

Now consider the death of Christ and Him lying dead in a tomb. How could that be? The Creator of Life laying dead in a tomb?

On the sixth day of Passover week, Jesus Christ, the Son of God was crucified.  His arms were stretched out across a wooden beam and His beautiful hands that touched and healed people were now nailed to the cross, His feet that walked all over the Holy Land bringing His love to all people were now nailed to the cross... securing His death.  As He hung there, a breath away from death, He said:  "'It is Finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His Spirit."John 19:30 NKJ  He breathed His last breathe on this earth as a human on the sixth day of Passover Week. He was taken down in the evening and laid in a tomb for preparation day for Sabbath. His body needed to be put away.

On this sixth day of His Passion, He finished His work. He died in our place to reconcile us with God; and then on the seventh day He rested in the tomb. On that holy Sabbath day the author of life laid lifeless. He rested from all His work. The Creator who spoke Creation into existence lay silent... in a cold dark tomb. What was this Work that Christ accomplished? And why was it necessary? 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. On the first day, He created light. The second day He created the sky... the third day, the land, the sea and plant life... the four day, the sun, the moon and the stars... the fifth day, sea creatures and birds... then on the sixth day, after creating animals God created something completely unique and different.

On the sixth day of creation "God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.'" Genesis 1:26, 27 Amazing! The God who created this incredible, intricate universe created a creature to be like Him, us, human beings, created in the image of God!. There is something sacred about us, different than any other creature. God made us in His own image, His own likeness to be like Him! He didn't just make us and leave us on our own either. He made us to be companions; so He could walk with us in the garden and talk with us.

How did He make us? ".. the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.' Genesis 2:7 NKJ  After speaking the rest of creation into existence, God formed the man from the dust of the earth. He breathed with His own breath into the nostrils of this lifeless man; and brought him to life! Then God planted a garden and He put the man in it. It had beautiful trees that grew fruit for the man to eat. They could eat the fruit from any of those trees, except for the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

At the end of the sixth day, the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God rested.  He blessed the seventh day and declared it to be holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. Genesis 2:1-3

Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, walked with God and talked with Him in the garden. But they did not obey Him, and ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were banished from the garden, God could no longer be in the presence of sinful man, and they were now subject to eventual death. From that time on prophecies emerged of a Chosen One to come who would reconcile people with their Creator. Someone perfect had to die in their place. With an inheritance of sin, there would be not one person, no not one that could be saved by their own merit. The scripture also speaks of the beginning of creation in the book of John.

"In the beginning the Word already existed.
      The Word was with God,
      and the Word was God.
 He existed in the beginning with God.
 God created everything through him,
      and nothing was created except through him.
 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
      and his life brought light to everyone.
 The light shines in the darkness,
      and the darkness can never extinguish it."

John 1: 1-5 NLT

Who was the Word? Lets look further for more clues:

"He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son." John 1: 10-14 NLT

The verses above describe Jesus Christ.  He is the Eternal Word, who spoke creation into existence, the One and Only Son of God Almighty! He came into the world, the very world He created, only to be unrecognized and rejected by His own people. However when we believe in Him (completely rely, trust and cling to Him) we have the right to become children of God, once again... cleansed of the sin that separated us, that we may once again walk with Him and talk with Him in our minds and hearts. Yes, Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word, the one who made us to be like Him... chose to set aside His divinity, to become a human. He was born as a helpless baby and subjected Himself to human parents... human rulers. All these people descended from Adam and had an inheritance of sin. However God still had a plan for reconciliation. His unfailing love and faithfulness are greater than our sin!

He became like us in every way and lived the full human experience in a sinful world; yet He was without sin. He experienced temptation, pain, hunger, betrayal, grief when a loved one dies, and even a brutal death. He was betrayed and denied by His friends. The most religious, who were waiting for Messiah, pressured the Roman governor to put Him to death. Messiah came, stood before them and they didn't recognize Him, they completely missed their visitation from God, though He walked among them. (Luke 19:42-44). All these things were occurring during the week of our Lords Passion. Below is the beginning of this post. I use it once again to thread the whole story together. The last passage is powerful in light of Christs death.

On the sixth day of creation God formed the man Adam, the first human being, from the dust of the ground. Then He breathed the breath of life into him and man became a living soul. We are told in many instances in the Bible that God created everything through Jesus Christ.  Now we see Christ dead in a tomb.

 On the sixth day of Passover week, Jesus Christ, the Son of God was crucified.  His arms were stretched out across a wooden beam and His beautiful hands that touched and healed people were now nailed to the cross, securing His death.  As He hung there, a breath away from death, He said:  "'It is Finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His Spirit."John 19:30 NKJ  He breathed His last breathe on this earth, as a human on the sixth day of Passover Week. He was taken down in the evening and laid in a tomb. It was preparation day for Sabbath and His body needed to be put away.

On this sixth day of His Passion, He finished His work. He died in our place to reconcile us with God; and on the seventh day He rested. On that blessed and holy Sabbath day the author of life laid lifeless. He rested from all His work. The Creator who spoke Creation into existence lay silent... in a cold dark tomb. He who raised Lazarus from the dead was laying dead in a tomb. However, as we know, He will not stay there. Come back tomorrow for the rest of the story.

Here is a final passage:

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. 

He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 

for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. 

He made the things we can see 

and the things we can't see 

such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. 

Everything was created through him and for him. 

He existed before anything else, and holds all creation together.... 

He is the beginning and supreme over all who rise from the dead. 

So he is first in everything. 

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 

and through him God reconciled everything to himself. 

He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross. 

This includes you who were once far away from God. 

You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.  

Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. 

As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, 

and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." 

Colossians 1:15-22 NLT

The King on the Cross

Friday

Reading: Matthew 27:26- 61

Pilate gave his soldiers the order to flog Jesus with a whip with metal tips on it. (The whip had nine "tails" each with sharp metal tied to them.) Then he turned Him over to be crucified. The soldiers took Jesus into their head quarters and gathered more soldiers around. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, so fitting considering the blood now running down His body. They wove thorny branches together to form a crown and pressed it on His head, causing blood to run down on His face. They placed a stick in His right hand to be a scepter and knelt before Him... mocking Him... taunting Him, saying 'Hail the King of the Jews!' They spit on Him and hit Him on the head with the "scepter". When they tired of this cruel game, they stripped Him of the robe and put on His own clothes and led Him away to be crucified. Along the way, Jesus became weak and had difficulty carrying the cross; so they found a man named Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross for Him. They went out to Golgotha, the place of the skull, where they nailed Him to a cross and divided His clothes, casting lots, that the scripture of David was fulfilled. 

"They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." Psalm 22:1

In Pilate's Court

Friday

Readings: John 18: 28-40, 19:1- 16, Matthew 27: 24, 25 NLT, Luke 19:41-44 NKJ, Matthew 23:37-39 NKJ

Dear Reader, This is a very powerful, painful and passionate time in Jesus' life.  God bless you as you see His heart and partake of His pain on this Good Friday.

"Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover. So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?” “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted. “Then take him away and judge him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied.

Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him. Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. 

Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?” But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)

Christ is Mocked by Carl Bloch

Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face. Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.” Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man! ”When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” “Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”
When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. (His wife sent him this message:'Leave this innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about Him last night.' Matthew 27:19) He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

Betrayal, The Kiss of a Friend and a Rooster Crows

Thursday 

Mark 14:27-31, Mark 14: 35,36, Luke 22: 48

"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: " 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times."But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same.  Mark 14:27-31

After the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples went to a grove, among the olive trees called the Garden of Gethsemane. He told them that His soul was crushed with grief. "He went along a little further and fell to the ground. He prayed to the Father, that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass Him by. ' Abba Father,... everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.'... 

Judas Betrays with a Kiss Thomas Coutere

Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived (with group of people armed with) swords and clubs... The traitor, Judas had given them a prearranged signal: 'You will know which one to arrest when I greet Him with a kiss'... As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. 'Rabbi he exclaimed, and gave Him the kiss." Mark 14: 35,36 NLT

"... Jesus said, 'Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?' Luke 22: 48 NLT

After a scuffle, Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the temple guard: "'Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn't you arrest Me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.' So they arrested Him and led Him to the high priests home. 

Peter denies Jesus by Carl Bloch

  Peter followed at a distance" and joined the guards around a campfire in the courtyard. A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and said, "'This man was one of Jesus' followers!'" Later someone else looked at Him and said "'You must be one of them!' 'No, man, I am not! Peter retorted. About an hour later someone else insisted, 'This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.' But Peter said, 'Man, I don't know what you are talking about.' And immediately, while he was still speaking the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, 'Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know Me.' And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly."

"Then the guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating Him. They blindfolded Him and said, 'Prophesy to us! Who hit you that time?' And they hurled all sorts of terrible insults at Him." Luke 22: 52- 64 NLT 

The pain Jesus felt was not just the beating and mocking but the betrayal and denial of His friends. Judas, actually was paid to bring the soldiers to Jesus in the dark of night. Judas betrayed Jesus to His death. He was never reinstated as an apostle. Satan entered into him and he committed suicide. However Peter, who, while among friends, said He would die for Jesus. In that terrible night, all the disciples ran away for fear of being beaten and killed. Peter at least followed along at a distance.Yet, when surrounded by soldiers and those who did not like Jesus, He denied Him three times, then the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. He remembered what the Lord said, and left the courtyard weeping bitterly." Oh, the anguish Peter must have felt for not standing up for the Lord in that moment.

Today, we live in a time where there are many enemies of Jesus. When in a crowd, what will we say? Will we admit to being a follower of Jesus? Admit to being a Christian? Speak Truth?

Though Judas was not reinstated; Peter was forgiven and fully restored after Jesus died and was resurrected. Our God is a God of second chances. You will find that story in John 21 and in future posts.

What did Jesus do for us and His disciples that awful night and following day? How did He show us His love?

"Greater love has no one than this, 
than to lay down one's life for his friends." 

John 15:13 NKJ

Jesus laid down His life knowing that His friends would deny and betray Him.

Gethsemane, the Garden of Tears

Thursday

Matthew 26:38- 39 NLT,  Luke 22:42-45 NLT

Gethsemane by Carl Bloch

After His last supper with His disciples, Jesus went with them to an olive grove called the Garden of Gethsemane. He told His disciples  

"'My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.' He went on a little farther and bowed with His face to the ground, praying, 'My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me.'" 

Matthew 26:38- 39 NLT  

"'Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.'" Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Him. He prayed more fervently, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. At last He stood up and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief." 

Luke 22:42-45 NLT
 

What began in a garden must be restored in a garden. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the fruit that brought evil into this world. Human beings were made to live forever with God. Deep inside we sense this and long for it. However, when sin and evil came into this world; for humanity to continue to live forever would bring an increase of evil that would be unbearable. Just look at how much evil has been in the world since; even with a limited life span. So, in grief Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden and separated from the God who walked with them in the cool of the day and loved them deeply.

It was in the Garden of Gethsemane, that Jesus in great sorrow had to make a choice. Would He allow the full force of evil to be thrust upon Him? Would He be a ransom for all people? Would He through sacrifice and suffering, pay for the sin of every human being since Adam and Eve ever to live? Only as a sinless human could He be the perfect sacrificial lamb that would once and for all, pay for all sin. Only then could people be reconciled to their Creator once again. Would He leave the disciples He loved? Would He suffer as a human, the incredible pain of the beatings and then the excruciating pain on the  cross? Would He bear all the evil every committed and be so vile at that moment that His own Father turned away? Could He bear separation from the Father?

It was in this garden His choice was made. And His body would soon be in a garden tomb. It was there that His body would lay still and lifeless.

"My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, Your will be done." 

Matthew 26: 42 NLT

He chose us! He chose us to be reconciled to God once again!

 

"..He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him." Ephesians 1:4 ESV

"For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." Colossians 1:19-22 NLT

"Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends.

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you." 

John 15:13

 

* I have seen this painting above in a museum in real life. It is very large, life size. So poignant. 

 

There were chairs in front of the painting for people to sit quietly and consider His sorrow that night, knowing that He would leave His disciples and that He would soon suffer horrible cruelty and severe pain. 

He endured this for us. For you, for me.

 I sat there in awe and gratitude.

 

 

This is likely Carl Bloch's initial sketch to lay out his composition.

The Promise to Come

 John 13-16, Luke 24:49

What is the Promise that would come? The night before Jesus was crucified He shared His Last Supper with His disciples. Knowing that this was his last time with them before He was crucified; He told them what was to soon happen and of the promise to come. Everything he said and did was what was most important for them to understand before He was taken away and killed. The verse below shows his heart, his motivation for everything He said and did this final night.

"Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. 

Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love." 

John 13:1 NIV

He washed their feet to show them an example of how He wanted them to love and serve one another. Interestingly, He washed Judas' feet as well. Right after that He revealed Judas as His betrayer and Judas left to betray him. Then he told them:

"My children, I will be with you only a little longer.

"A new commandment I give to you: 

Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 

By this all men will know that you  are my disciples, if you love one another." 

vs John 13:33, 34 NIV

The disciples were wondering where He was going so He told them:   

"Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in Me. 

In my Father's house are many rooms;.. I am going there  to prepare a place for you... 

I will come back and take you to be with me... You know the way to the place I am going... 

I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." 

John 14:1-6 NIV

Now we come to the promise: