Walking Through The New Testament

Jesus is coming…

John 12:12-19 (NIV)
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna![d]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[e]
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
    see, your king is coming,
    seated on a donkey’s colt.”[f]
16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

News of His miracles spread fast. As Jesus continues to fill prophecy after prophecy, the Pharisees are unhappy and concerned. It is obvious that not all were prepared to be freed. Many lived in bondage, as many do today.

Many Christians around the world have chosen to believe. Some are being killed for their faith in the Living God. Thousands are celebrating in caves and in dark places so that they cannot be seen by those that would kill them. The beautiful miracle is the answer to this question. “If they are in darkened caves and away from prying eyes, then how do we know of them?” It is because their light shines bright and cuts through the darkness. It is the Light of God that has made its way through them and into our lives. That is beautiful.

Now. Here it is. The challenge for all of us. The challenge…to be a light for even one person. To be His Light in a dark world for them. Find someone. You may even know them. It’s time to shine Believer. Do it today! #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

Your blessing is multiplied through Him…

John 12:1-11 (NIV)
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”

9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

As we have read before, Jesus knew what was coming. He knew the hearts of all people He came into contact with. He could see who they were. He even knew of Judas and what we to come, yet E loved him anyway and let him stay.

The use of this expensive and fragrant perfume on the feet of Jesus, coupled with the use of her hair tells you that all prophecy would be fulfilled on the days leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. The washing if the feet was a part of the burial process, and to do this in front of all who had come to see Jesus was part of the witnessing of the miracle that would occur. The salvation of all who believe.

Jesus makes it a point to let us know that riches used to glorify Him is correct. Yes, there are poor that could use the money, but you must celebrate the Father with gifts of value. Those things which we see as possible waste, if given to God, will be multiplied to once again be used to bless the poor and lowly in society. It is our job to give to the Father. We are to celebrate and glorify Him with the gifts that He has blessed us with. There will always be the poor and downcast. The time will come again to bless them.

That time for you may be now. It may be time for you to bless the church or a group that gives to the poor. But, you must give to Him who made us and saved us first. The first fruits are His. When given to Him first, your gifts are multiplied. The thief will see it as waste. The selfish will long for that gift which belongs to the Father. Give anyway. Even when it makes no sense to your eyes, give. He will multiply your gift and it will bless more than you will ever know. He does not want your money. He wants your heart. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

The fear of losing earthly things can inhibit faith…

John 11:45-57
45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

The fear is obvious. The Jewish officials are scared that the Romans would take away what they had. That all of the earthly wealth that they were given by Rome would be taken from them. They held onto the seen and had trouble believing that Jesus would bring them everything not of this world. He was here to bring them eternal gifts.

I can only imagine how many on this earth have wealth, whether it be in the form of actual cash or in land or investments that have struggled with belief. I can only imagine how many times they sat at the precipice of a monumental decision that only became difficult because they might lose earthly wealth. How many times a decision was made not because it was the right thing to do, but only because it was the easy thing to do. I am sure those instances are as numerous as the stars in the sky. Our flesh can inhibit so much.

The thought comes to mind that the reason Jesus left to the countryside was to ease some of the pain for those that believed but we’re too afraid to let go if this world’s wealth. He must’ve sensed the agony in them. He must of sensed man’s inability to let go of this earthly wealth and trust Him. He left so that we could seek Him, and when we do, we find Him waiting for us. No matter what we did, said, or will do or say, He waits. Many sought Him then. Many seek Him now.

As your relationship grows with the Holy Spirit, He begins to stretch your faith and grow you. You are placed in positions that require faith, and in places where that faith can be shown publicly to glorify Him. The opportunities are endless and will forever come to you, onlyvif you continue to seek Him. Seek, and you shall find. Ask, and you shall receive.

Tonight I seek His face. I look for in every part of my life. I see His hands shaping me and molding me, and I see His work being the most obvious the further He stretches my faith. I am left only to rely on Him. Without Him, I am nothing. #JesusSaves

Amen.
DK

He was raised from the dead so that we all would believe…

John 11:38-44
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Jesus was once again deeply moved. He loved Lazarus, and He wanted Lazarus to live, but not for His own needs. Jesus wanted Lazarus to live so that we would believe and have the faith to trust in Jesus. He talked to the Father on our behalf.

As our Savior, Jesus took care of all the millions of requirements that are necessary to follow the Law of Moses. The idea that we could somehow qualify ourselves has been disproven time and time again throughout the annals of history. We are sinners, and as sucj, need to be saved. We were. We were brought back from death, just as Lazarus was, only our death will come later, and our eternal life spent with Him.

Lazarus being brought back to life is only temporary. He would eventually die again, this time for good. The bringing of him back to life would last but a short time compared to the grand scheme of things. The impact if the work Jesus did olin this temporary life was always meant to allow faith to grow in you, in me, in all of us. Believe. #JesusSave

Amen
DK

John 11:17-37
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus wept. I don’t pretend to know why. He was flesh and bone, perhaps He felt the weight of death for the first time. Even though He had healed the blind, the sick, and the lame, this was different. This was death, and death stings all who come close to it. Jesus loved Lazarus. That was His friend.

As Jesus was getting closer to Lazarus and his sisters, the realization of the women that Lazarus may have been saved must’ve been a very painful one. Yet they were so sweet even then. Their faith still so strong and evident ,even in this dreadfully painful hour. Jesus saw this, and loved them deeply. This show of humanity as Jesus cried is beautiful.

I have heard time and time again how much Jesus loves me. I know He does, but it’s this verse that really shows just how He loves me. When I sin, He cries for me. When I am in pain, there He stands, right next to me in support and love. His love never fails and it never gives up on me. The best is yet to come. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK