Who is Jesus? Chapter 39 Jesus speaks about two weddings

         
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Who is Jesus?  Chapter 39  Jesus speaks about two weddings

Matthew 22 and also in chapter 25; Jesus told  two parables about a wedding.  His stories always had a deeper meaning.  See if you can understand and realize the answer to the question even before the question is asked.

Crowds gathered to hear Jesus, and as always there were the chief priests and scribes who listened with anger because they knew he was referring to them in many of his parables,  And although they were wanting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because the people counted Jesus to be a prophet.

The first story Jesus told was "The Parable of the Wedding Feast."   There was much interest about the kingdom of heaven so Jesus was again speaking to the people in parables, saying,  “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to remind those who were invited to the wedding feast, that today is the time to come, but they paid no attention.

Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they were too busy to heed the Kings invitation and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 

This exceedingly angered the king, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 

Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.  Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’  So the servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests, each dressed in the wonderful wedding clothes the king had so freely provided.  

 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.  And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’

And the man was without excuse but he refused to answer the king because he was proud and stubborn wanting to do his own thing.  

Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and toss him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’  For many are called, but few are chosen.”    

In this story, the fact is we all have been invited, but we have a choice to decide to receive Jesus and to be present in that great celebration in heaven. 

It is a wise person who knows better than to turn down the heavenly invitation.  Our own goodness is as filthy rags in God's sight.  We cannot come to God any other way but the way He has lined out for us to follow.  We must be willing to lay aside our own will and to accept the garment of salvation and be clothed in the Righteousness of Christ.

* * * *

Jesus told another parable about a wedding and the Ten Virgins who were invited. 

He began by saying;  “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no extra oil with them, but the wise took additional flasks of oil with their lamps. 

Because the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and decided to take a nap.  But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’  

Then all those virgins quickly rose up and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 

But the wise answered, saying, ‘We cannot do that because there will not be enough for us and for you, go find the sellers of oil and buy for yourselves.’ 

And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.  

Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’  But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’   Watch therefore, for you don't know the day or the hour when the bridegroom will come.

In this story, the fact is even those who are willing to come to the celebration, must keep the fresh oil of the holy Spirit burning in their spirit.  

Ephesians 5:18  Be ever filled with the Holy Spirit.

Who is Jesus? Chapter 38 Speak your faith and change your Mind

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Now when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on the young colt, the whole city was stirred up, saying, "Who is this?"   And the crowds declared, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee."

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant, and they said to Jesus, "Do you hear what these children are saying?" And Jesus replied, "Yes; have you never read, "'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?" 

Soon afterwards, Jesus and his disciples left the temple, going to the city of Bethany to spend the night there.  Early the next morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry.  And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found on it nothing but leaves. And he said to the tree, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree immediately began to wither. 

When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree shrivel so quickly?" 

And Jesus answered them, "Of a truth, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only be able to do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen. 

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."

And when Jesus arrived at the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and chided him saying, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" 

Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things.  The baptism of John, from where did it come? Was it from heaven or from man?" 

And they discussed it among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'  But if we say, 'From man,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all consider that John was a prophet." 

 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Then Jesus began to tell a story:   "What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, Please go and work in the vineyard today.'   Being very busy with other things, the son answered, 'I can't today,' but afterward he changed his mind and went.   So the man went to the other son and asked him to go work in the vineyard. And this son answered, 'Absolutely, I will go,'  But he did not go.  Which of the two son's did the will of his father?" 

The Priests and the elders said, "It was the first son who changed his mind and went." 

Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.  For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

Today we all have our opinions, and many of us have some sort of religious training, but consider to re-think your options, and realize that Jesus is the Son of God, the Only way to heaven. 

It is time to put aside all traditions and understand the religion is a form, but serving Jesus is a Reality.  Jesus desires to have a personal relationship with you that will continue through out eternity.

Who is Jesus? Chapter 37 - Wee Little Zacchaeus and Jesus' Triumphal Entry

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Come Down for I am desiring to Fellowship With You

Who is Jesus? Chapter 37  -  Wee Little Zacchaeus and Jesus' Triumphal Entry

Today's happening of the Triumphal Entry is shared in all four of the Gospels.    Jesus was on a mission to arrive in Jerusalem, but as he was passing through the city of Jericho there was a small man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, and he was very rich.   The man was trying to see Jesus, but on account of the crowd and him being so short, he could not see Jesus.  So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see him, because Jesus was about to pass that way.

And when Jesus came to the place, he stopped and looked up in the tree and called his name; “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”  So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 
And when the crowd saw it, they all grumbled, “He should not do this; doesn't Jesus know he is going to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”  And Zacchaeus stood in front of Jesus and spoke; “I repent of my sins, and Lord, half of my goods I will give to the poor.  And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will restore it four times.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Each of us must understand that Jesus knows OUR name and regardless of our past, he is calling you to open the door of your heart so he and you may enjoy fellowship.
A while later Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.  When he drew near to Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, where you will find a young colt tied, one which has not yet been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’”  

 Blessed is King Jesus

So they went and found it just as Jesus had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.  And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road and some threw down palm branches with children dancing and rejoicing.  

As he was drawing near to Jerusalem the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen,  saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”  He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”


This same crowd who that day shouted Blessed is the King, would in a few days change their words to be "We have no king but Caesar - - so crucify this man Jesus."


Today is a good day to make your declaration.  Jesus is MY King and I will praise Him and will serve Him all the days of my life.  Know that Jesus is calling your name and He desires to be your King.

Who is Jesus? Chapter 36; Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

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Who is Jesus? Chapter 36; Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

Early in the ministry of Jesus, certain Greeks desired Philip to bring them to see Jesus.  Before them all Jesus began to pray:  My soul is troubled; Father, save me from this hour: but for this reason I came and am facing this hour.  Father, glorify thy name. Then there came a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.  The people that stood by heard the voice but said it must be thunder.  Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sake. 
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.  This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Jesus tried to prepare his disciples about his death; that He must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

But the disciples refused to listen because they did not like this kind of message.  Peter openly rebuked Jesus saying "Not so Lord, please do not talk this way, because you are scaring us."

Jesus told Peter that he was listening to the wrong voice and it was time for them all to begin to understand the Big picture of God's eternal plan of salvation. 

Jesus even mentioned the cross as he shared: from Marks's Gospel chapter 8; Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

A few days later as they passed through Galilee; Jesus the second time, again taught his disciples about his death, and said to them, The Son of man is soon to be delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.  But they did not understand his saying, and were afraid to ask him.

You would think the followers of Jesus might get a clue after being told twice that he was about to be betrayed, killed and rise again, but no they were dense and a third time Jesus attempted to help them to understand as they went up to Jerusalem. 

Matthew's gospel chapter 20 says it this way: And Jesus took the twelve disciples aside, and said unto them,  Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. 

Another time Jesus again tried to prepare his disciples that he was going to leave them.  Johns Gospel chapter 14 Jesus shared:  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.   And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.   Again, they did not understand that Jesus was saying He was the way to heaven if they would believe in him.

Jesus continued saying; These things have I spoken unto you, while I am still here with you.  But I will not leaved you comfortless,  For the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, what ever I have said unto you.   

It is good for us all to think on these things.  It is good to rejoice that the story has a happy ending, but not a final conclusion.

Who is Jesus? Chapter 35 Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead

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The message for today is from John's gospel chapter 11.  

Often when Jesus came through the town of Bethany, he would stop over at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, to rest and have a meal.  They became good friends. but one day while Jesus was in another city, he received a message from Lazarus's sisters Martha and Mary which said, “Lord, your friend whom you love is ill.”   

But when Jesus heard it he said to his disciples, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

Now Jesus cared about Martha, Mary and Lazarus.  But even hearing that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.  Then he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”  The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews in Judea are desiring to stone you, and are you sure you want to return there again?”

 

Jesus said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I must go to awaken him.”  The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, perhaps we should let him rest.”  Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.  Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died."

Now when Jesus arrived just outside the village of Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.  Now many of the Jews had come from Jerusalem to comfort Martha and Mary concerning their brother's death.  So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, but Mary stayed with the others. 

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”  Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet he shall live,  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

When she had said this, she hurried back to speak with her sister Mary, saying, “The Master is here and is calling for you.” And Mary immediately got up and went to him.  When the Jews who were with her in the house, saw Mary get up so quickly, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the grave to weep.  When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 

And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”  Then Jesus began to weep.  So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 

Some have wondered why Jesus was weeping ? ? The crowd thought he was weeping because Lazarus was dead; but wait - - there was another reason Jesus was so moved. 

Both Martha and Mary had just blamed Jesus for their brother's death saying if you had come sooner when we first sent you the message, our brother would still be alive - so there.  In their sorrow, these harsh words were like a slap in the face to Jesus.  

Tenderly Jesus told them he was going to rise Lazarus from the dead, but both women were so deeply involved in grief, and entrenched in Unbelief, they could not accept what Jesus was telling them about the present day.  Instead they could only refer his words to an event in the far away future.  Even the crowd was against him, saying all kinds of negative remarks about Jesus.  He marveled at all their unbelief.

Some of the mourners were critical saying, “If he could open the eyes of the blind man why didn't he keep this man from dying?”

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb which was a cave, with a stone door.  Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be a terrible smell, for he has been dead four days.”

Jesus said to her, “Didn't I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

 

With hesitation they obeyed and removed the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  I knew that you always hear me. I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 

When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” Lazarus, who had died came hobbling out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth.  Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him,  but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what was done.   So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What shall we do? For this man Jesus performs many signs and wonders.  If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away our positions and our place.” 

But one of them, Caiaphas; who was high priest that year, said to them, “Don't you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”  Being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,  and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one family the children of God who are scattered abroad.  So from that day on the religious council made plans to put Jesus to death.

I am reminded in Hebrews 13:8 that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, yet we too are guilty at times of relegating our miracle to the future instead of realizing that God desires for us to enjoy health, provision, protection now, today.  As Jesus told Mary and Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life, and those who believe in me shall never die."  Wait a minute, don't we all expect to die someday?  Yes, but what was Jesus really saying.  Eternal Life is ours when we receive Jesus, so when a believer "dies" physically on this earth, their Spirit does not die, but is merely continuing on in a different form of life everlasting with Jesus in heaven.  

If you have not already do so - - Receive Jesus now - and receive His eternal Life in your spirit.

Who is Jesus chapter 34b Jesus spits - - this time on a Blind man.

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I See people like trees walking - - touch me again, Jesus

Who is Jesus chapter 34b  Jesus spits - - this time on a Blind man.

During the ministry of Jesus, he healed all kinds of diseases, including deafness and blindness.  We remember the happening of the man born blind, who was healed on the Sabbath day.  On that day, Jesus spit and made mud rubbing it on his eyes.  I wonder if he was simply creating new eye balls and putting them into the man's eyes.  Anyway, religious leaders after questioning the now healed man, cast him out of the synagogue for believing on Jesus.  His parents were afraid they too might be cast out, but they did admit to the leaders that this was their son who was born blind and now he can see.

Mark's gospel, chapter 8 tells the story of another blind man healed by Jesus.  At Bethsaida some people brought to Jesus a blind man and begged him to touch him.  For some reason, Jesus wanted privacy, so he took this blind man by the hand and led him out of the village away from the crowd.   

And when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”  The man looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.”    Then Jesus  laid his hands on his eyes again; and when he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.   And Jesus sent him to his home, saying, “Go straight home, and do not even enter the village.”

Mark's gospel, chapter 10 tells of a blind beggar that Jesus healed:

A few days later, As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd was following them, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside.  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and yell loudly, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  

Now those standing near the blind beggar scolded him, telling him to be quiet.  But he paid no attention to them and cried out all the more, and this time even louder - - “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”    Jesus heard him and stopped in his tracks and said, “Call him to come to me.” 

And so they called the blind man, saying to him, “This is your lucky day.  Get up; because Jesus is calling you.”   And throwing off his blanket, he jumped up and came to Jesus.  

And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Jesus knew what he wanted, but it was important for the man to tell Jesus what it was he needed.)   

The blind man said to him, “Rabbi, that I might recover my sight.”  And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately his sight returned to him and he followed Jesus.

Today my friend, Jesus is calling you; Jesus is saying, "Come to me, what is it you want me to do for you?"  Although I don't believe in lucky days, but I do believe in Blessed days, and today can be your day of blessing when you come to Jesus and lay out your life before Him. Just tell Him like it is.  

Often we are blinded to the truth and all it takes is for God's light to shine in our hearts and reveal to us the reality of Jesus being the one who can bring you into the family of God and cause you to become his child.  By His Holy Spirit, he sets up His kingdom in the hearts of believers.  

Do you believe Jesus is the Messiah?  You can ask him to open your eyes to see all that He desires you to be.  It is as simple as saying;  "Here I am Lord Jesus, I come to you now, open my eyes so that I may see all you have for me."

Who is Jesus? Chapter 34 Jesus delivers a woman's daughter and spits on a deaf man

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Who is Jesus?  Chapter 34  Jesus delivers a woman's daughter and spits on a deaf man

The happenings in today's message are from Mark's gospel chapter 7

The Jewish religious leaders were always disapproving of Jesus and condemning him, especially because Jesus healed people on the Sabbath day.  Also from what he was teaching; Jesus was putting himself equal with His father God and they were furious.  So one day they criticized the disciples eating bread without going through the traditional way to wash your hands.  Jesus rebuked them by saying: "Isaiah did prophesy well about you hypocrites, as it is written;  'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'  "You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men."

Jesus said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!  God's word says to honor your father and your mother, but you use the money that should go for your parents support, for other things and say it is for God's work.  Jesus went on to speak of defilement as to what is in your heart; "What comes out of a person's heart is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."  Jesus turned his back and moved on . . .

And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know where he was, never the less, he could not be hidden as word spread.  But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet.  Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by her nation; And she begged Jesus to cast the demon out of her daughter. The disciples asked Jesus to send her away because she is bothering us and besides, she is a Gentile, she is not worthy of help.   

But Jesus answered and said to her, "I am sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  Then she came and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, help me."  Jesus continued saying: "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." And he said to her, "For this wise statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter." And she went home and found her daughter calmly resting in bed and the demon was gone.

Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.  And they brought to Jesus a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and his friends begged Jesus to lay his hands on him. 

And Jesus took the man aside away from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched the man's tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more earnestly they proclaimed his fame. And the people were astonished beyond measure, saying, "Jesus has done all things well.  He even makes the deaf to be able to hear and the mute to speak."

Today we see that God desires our heart to be changed if we are harboring sin or ill will towards others.  We also viewed that Jesus had mercy on a Gentile woman who was not a Jew and delivered her oppressed daughter.  Amazing enough was the fact that blindness, deafness and not being able to speak was viewed as a curse and it was a custom for people to spit on them in disgust.  Jesus used his spit to bless the man by touching his tongue and healing his speech and also cured his deafness. 

Wow; Jesus is the Awesome teacher, mighty deliverer, and healer of spirit, soul and body. 

Who is Jesus? Chapter 33 Who is my Neighbor?

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Who is Jesus? Chapter 33  Who is my Neighbor?

The happenings in today's message are taken from the Gospel of Luke chapter 10.

Jesus had appointed 72 of His followers to go two by two and preach about him being the Messiah, to heal the sick and cast out demons.  The 72 returned rejoicing saying; “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”  And Jesus said to them, “Yes, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.  However, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

As Jesus continued to teach and minister, a young lawyer stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you understand it?”  And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  And Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

But the lawyer, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “Tell me, who is my neighbor?” 

Jesus replied with a story as he often did to explain; “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and some robbers surrounded him, stripped off his clothes, beat him and left him half dead lying in the road.  Now as it so happened a priest was going down that road, and when he saw the injured man he gingerly pulled up his robe so as to not soil it, and crossed to the other side of the road.  Soon a Levite approached but when he saw the wounded man, he also passed by on the other side. 

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where the man was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.  He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he carefully placed him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.  And the next day he took out money which was about two days wages and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and if you spend more, I will repay you when I come back.’

Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 

He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Now as Jesus continued on his journey teaching and ministering, he entered the village of Bethany.  And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.  But Martha was distracted with much serving her guests. And she went up to Jesus and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Please tell her  to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

So in today's broadcast we have considered that as believers we can go forward in Jesus name and especially rejoice that our names are written in heaven.  We must also consider that our neighbor is the person who needs our help.   And may we always be reminded that no matter how busy we are doing those things that seem important to us, we must also take time to sit at Jesus feet and learn more about Him and all He desires for us to do for Him.

Who is Jesus? Chapter 32 A Woman Anoints the Feet of Jesus

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Who is Jesus? Chapter 32  A Woman Anoints the Feet of Jesus   (from Luke 7)

Jesus had been traveling and teaching for many hours and the day was nearing evening.  One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to come to his home and eat with him, and so he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at a table. 

And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that Jesus was having a meal in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of sweet smelling ointment,  and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet, anointing them with the ointment. 

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known what sort of woman this is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 

And Jesus knowing The Pharisee's thoughts said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Go ahead and say it, Teacher.”  

You will remember that Jesus often told stories and there was a reason behind all this.  He wanted to make a point to illustrate a bigger picture to all who were in the house so He began by saying;

 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed several thousand dollars, and the other one a few hundred dollars. When they could not pay, he cancelled both their debts. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 

Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 

You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.

  

You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.  Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 

And he said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”  Then those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”

And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

The woman; a sinner had some to worship Jesus and show her love for him, and he repaid her by forgiving her sins, and telling her to go in peace.  Jesus knew she was a sinner, because Jesus knows all about each and every one of us.  He understands we are frail, but He wants to make us strong.  He is ready to forgive the sins of the worse sinner and also the sins of those who think they are good enough already and don't need to be forgiven.

The woman did not care what others thought about her, she came to Jesus and received forgiveness and she left a righteous person.  

Jesus is reaching out today to forgive your sins, large or small, regardless - - Jesus loves and cares for you and will always be with you no matter what.  Kneel at his feet and he will accept you into His kingdom.