Part 3


Christ Learned Obedience to His Father, Almighty God: [f]

INTRODUCTION:

We all must learn obedience to our heavenly Father, Almighty God, in order to be acceptable to him. Obedience is very important for all including Jesus (Yeshua) Christ.

In fact, the first human pair, Adam and Eve, failed to be obedient to the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Noah, Moses, etc., the creator of all there is, Almighty God, bring ostracism on the entire human race of their descendants through inherited imperfection or sin which means a falling from perfection. Why? Because they chose to listen and take the word of another, Satan the Devil, over the word of their creator, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Issac, Ishmael, Noah, Moses, etc., the creator of all there is. This is recorded at Genesis 2:1-6, "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat: 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat." (American Standard Version; ASV).

JESUS (YESHUA) CENTRAL MISSION IN COMING TO EARTH:

Obedience was the principle mission of Jesus (Yeshua) coming to the earth. Adam, the first human parent, had failed to be obedient to Almighty God (YHWH) so Jesus (Yeshua) was sent to earth to prove a perfect man could be obedient to the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Issac, Ishmael, Noah, Moses, etc., the creator of all there is, and to provide a ransom sacrifice for the perfect human life lost by Adam, a perfect man when created. As 1 Corinthians 15:45 says, "So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit." (ASV). Now Jesus (Yeshua) obedience would be severely tested, but of course, Jesus (Yeshua) loved his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) and for him it was a joy to be doing his Father's will which first and foremost consisted of being obedient. Doing his Father's will was to him even more important than eating per John 4:34, "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work." (ASV).

Jesus's (Yeshua's) obedience was the result of what was in his heart. He was not infected with arrogance and pride and wanted to obey his Father willingly as shown by 1 Peter 5:5-6, "Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;" (ASV). He loved his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), and learned obedience from him per Hebrews 5:7, "Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear, 8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;" (ASV).

JESUS (YESHUA) CHRIST REMAINED SINLESS:

Jesus (Yeshua) was tested early in his ministry by Almighty God's (YHWH's) arch-enemy, Satan the Devil. Let's review the account given at Matthew 4:1-11,

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered.
3 And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.[[Note, he answered Satan with scripture]]
5 Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
6 and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God. [[Note, he answered Satan with scripture]]
8 Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. [[Note, he answered Satan with scripture, and also, he did not challenge the fact that Satan ruled this world and could give its ruler ship to whom he wished.]]
11 Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him. (ASV).

As can be seen Jesus (Yeshua) remained obedient under these three test, but Satan the Devil did not give up. In fact the Luke 4:13 showed, "And when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him for a season." (ASV) that he would try again to tempt Jesus (Yeshua) to be disobedient to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), and Hebrews 4:14-15, "Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (ASV).

Likewise, Satan the Devil tempts the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Issac, Ishmael, Noah, Moses, etc., the creator of all there is, servants today. Unfortunately, our imperfections often make Jesus (Yeshua) true footstep followers today easy targets. Therefore, it is vital that his servants today stop from time to time and do a self-examination my meditating on the words of 1 John 2:15-17, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (ASV).

OBEDIENCE, WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE:

Obedience is not just refraining from committing sin, but involved the carrying out of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Issac, Ishmael, Noah, Moses, etc., the creator of all there is, every command. As Jesus (Yeshua) said at John 8:29, "And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him." (ASV). Being obedient brought great joy to Jesus (Yeshua).

As an example, the Jewish religious system of things, with its temple and its priesthood, had long been approved by Almighty God (YHWH), but this was shortly to change. It was to be replaced with the Christian congregational arrangement per Matthew 23:33-38, "Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape the judgment of hell? 34 Therefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city: 35 that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." (ASV). But until this change took place, Jesus (Yeshua) obediently went to the festivals in the temple and to the synagogue as recorded at Luke 4:16, "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read." (ASV); and John 5:1, "After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." (ASV).

In fact, Jesus (Yeshua) never allowed even well meaning friends to stop him from always obeying his Father, Almighty God (YHWH). Matthew 16:21-23 gives one example of this as follows, "From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. 22 And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men." (ASV). Today, his followers must contend with well meaning friends and relatives, and be careful not to let them become a stumbling-block for them by remembering always Acts 5:29, "But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men." (ASV).

CONCLUSION:

Jesus (Yeshua) had his obedience tested until death, but he remained obedient to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH); he learned obedience in its fullest sense as testified to at Luke 22:42, "saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (ASV). Clearly this shows his obedience in that he wanted his Father's will done rather than his own; thus he, per 1 Timothy 3:16, " And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory." (ASV) was received up in glory.

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Christ, Showed Great Endurance Under Test:   [g]

INTRODUCTION:

First, let's get a dictionary definition of endurance so as to assist understanding:

Endurance
En*dur"ance (?), n. [Cf. OF. endurance. See Endure.]
1. A state or quality of lasting or duration; lastingness; continuance.
Slurring with an evasive answer the question concerning the endurance of his own possession. Sir W. Scott.
2. The act of bearing or suffering; a continuing under pain or distress without resistance, or without being overcome; sufferance; patience.
Their fortitude was most admirable in their patience and endurance of all evils, of pain and of death. Sir W. Temple.
Syn. -- Suffering; patience; fortitude; resignation. [source - Websters Revised Unabridged Dictionary of  1913]

This will help all to understand the endurance Jesus (Yeshua) had to endure all the trials he went through in his short life on earth, and the trials some of his footstep followers are enduring today in various lands.   Matthew wrote at Matthew 5:10-12, "Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  11  Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you." (American Standard Version; ASV).

JESUS (YESHUA) ADMONISHIN TO HIS FOLLOWERS:

Jesus (Yeshua) stressed that a servant is not greater than his master at John 13:16, "Joh 13:16  Verily, verily, I say unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord; neither one that is sent greater than he that sent him." (ASV), clearly showing that his followers would receive persecution for righteousness sake as he had when he was sent out by his Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Issac, Ishmael, Noah, Moses, etc., the creator of all there is, Almighty God (YHWH).   This is stressed by Jesus (Yeshua) at Matthew 10:16-22 as follows, "Matthew 10:16-22, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in theirs synagogues they will scourge you;  18  yea and before governors and kings shall ye be brought for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.  19  But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak.  20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.  21  And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child: and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.  22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.

JESUS (YESHUA) OUR EXAMPLE - IMITATE HIM:

We should closely try and imitate Jesus (Yeshua) our master or as the old Indian proverb says, "You never know what a person is enduring until you walk in his shoes."   This theme is found in Hebrews 12:1-3, "Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  2  looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3  For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls." (ASV).

It clearly shows that we should not grow weary, but press on in the work that Jesus (Yeshua) assigned to his followers; to wit, the finding and feeding of the symbolic sheep, righteously inclined individuals, per John 21:15-17, "So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  16  He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep.  17  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." (ASV).   

Of course, doing this work he assigned to his followers will draw opposition just as it did in his day, but per 1 Peter 1:6-7 we should "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,  7  that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:" (ASV).   Thus endurance in the Biblical meaning involves steadfastness, and keeping the right mental attitude, along with a hopeful outlook in the face of trials in keeping with James 1:2-4, "Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations;  3  Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience.  4  And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing." (ASV).

Endurance is a virtue that we are not born with, but must cultivate per Romans 5:3-5, "And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness;  4  and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope:  5  and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us." (ASV).   To endure, we must depend on the strength the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Issac, Ishmael, Noah, Moses, etc., the creator of all there is, Almighty God (YHWH), supplies per 1 Peter 4:11, "if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (ASV).

JESUS (YESHUA) PROVES HIS ENDURANCE THROUGH FAITHFULNES TO HIM WHOM SENT HIM:

Jesus (Yeshua) proved his endurance by remaining faithful to him whom sent him to earth, his heavenly Father, Almighty God (YHWH).   This was in keeping with the hierarchy shown at 1 Corinthians 11:3, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (ASV).   Also, he dearly loved his Father and wanted to please him in all things after being with him in heaven for untold eons per Proverbs 8:22-31, "Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old.  23  I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was.  24  When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.  25  Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth;  26  While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.  27  When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,  28  When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong,  29  When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth;  30  Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him,  31  Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men." (ASV).

As 1 Peter 2:18-25 says, "Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.  19  For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.  20  For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  21  For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:  22  who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  23  who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:  24  who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.  25  For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (ASV).

Now think of the agony that Jesus (Yeshua) must have suffered when he was nailed to a stake per John 19:1-18, "Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.  2  And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment;  3  and they came unto him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him with their hands.  4  And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him.  5  Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold, the man!  6  When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no crime in him.  7  The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.  8  When Pilate therefore heard this saying, he was the more afraid;  9  and he entered into the Praetorium again, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.  10  Pilate therefore saith unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to release thee, and have power to crucify thee?  11  Jesus answered him, Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin.  12  Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar's friend: every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.  13  When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment-seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.  14  Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold, your King!
15  They therefore cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.  16  Then therefore he delivered him unto them to be crucified.  17  They took Jesus therefore: and he went out, bearing the cross for himself, unto the place called The place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha:  18  where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst." (ASV).

FOLLOWING CHRIST IS NOT AN EASY COURSE:

Following Christ is not an easy course by any means or measure.   Doing so will bring the hatred of this world per John 15:38-21, "If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before it hated you.  19  If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  20  Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.  21  But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me." (ASV); and 1 Peter 4:4, "wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:" (ASV).

This point, that the genuine (true) followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ will suffer persecution and hatred is well made at 1 Peter 4:12-14, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you:  13  but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy.  If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you" (ASV).   Titus 2:14, "who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works." (ASV).   

ALL NEED STRENGTHENING FROM ALMIGHTY GOD:

We can not endure on our own, but like our leader, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, must receive strength from our heavenly Father, Almighty God (YHWH).   As Matthew 7:7-8 says, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  8  for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (ASV).   We do this by earnest prayer and supplications as did the widow per 1 Timothy 5:5, "Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, hath her hope set on God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day." (ASV); and Almighty God (YHWH) will answer our prayers as shown at 2 Corinthians 4:7-11, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;  8 ¶  we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;  9  pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;  10  always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.  11  For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh." (ASV); and James 1:5, "But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (ASV).

So we should follow Christ steps carefully in keeping with 1 Peter 2:21, "For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:" (ASV).   But, if we follow Christ, his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) will reward us per Matthew 24:13, "But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." (ASV).

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Christ - Sent Forth By His Father To Announce His Coming Kingdom: [h]

INTRODUCTION:

Almighty God (YHWH) sent his Son, Jesus (Yeshua), to the earth to announce his coming kingdom which will have his son as ruler for a 1,000 years and then he, Jesus (Yeshua), the Son will turn all over to his Father per 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, "But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep.  21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  22  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  23  But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming.  24  Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power.  25  For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet.  26  The last enemy that shall be abolished is death.  27  For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him.  28  And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all." (American Standard Version; ASV).   In verse 28, it clearly shows that Jesus (Yeshua) will have everything on earth subject to him, and when all is subject to him, he will in turn subject himself to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH).

Many individuals, when they pray the Lords Prayer found in Matthew the 6 th. Chapter overlook exactly what they are asking for at Matthew 6:9-10, "After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth." (ASV), that they are asking for a real government that will govern in righteousness.   It will bring the earth's condition to what it was originally intended by the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, and Jacob, creator of all there is, as stated in Revelation 21:3-4, "And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God:  4  and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away." (ASV).

In other words, He sent his only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua), to earth to make him known and to announce his coming kingdom.

SHOW BY YOUR PRAYERS AND ACTIONS THAT YOU GRASP THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION:

Jesus (Yeshua) well knew the urgency of the situation as shown by his actions recorded at Matthew 9:35-38, "And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness.  36  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd.  37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few.  38  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest." (ASV).   He always took time out of his busy schedule to help all understand as shown by his conversation with a Samaritan women at the well per John 4:5-34,

And he must needs pass through Samaria.
5  So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph:
6  and Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7  There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
8  For his disciples were gone away into the city to buy food.
9  The Samaritan woman therefore saith unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, who am a Samaritan woman? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
11  The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: whence then hast thou that living water?
12  Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his sons, and his cattle?
13  Jesus answered and said unto her, Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14  but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life.
15  The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come all the way hither to draw.
16  Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
17  The woman answered and said unto him, I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her, Thou saidst well, I have no husband:
18  for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: this hast thou said truly.
19  The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20  Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father.
22  Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews.
23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers.
24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
25  The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (he that is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things.
26  Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
27 ¶  And upon this came his disciples; and they marvelled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why speakest thou with her?
28  So the woman left her waterpot, and went away into the city, and saith to the people,
29  Come, see a man, who told me all things that ever I did: can this be the Christ?
30  They went out of the city, and were coming to him.
31  In the mean while the disciples prayed him, saying, Rabbi, eat.
32  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not.
33  The disciples therefore said one to another, Hath any man brought him aught to eat?
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work.(ASV).

CHRIST SENT FORTH TO DECLARE THE KINGDOM OF GOD:

Jesus (Yeshua) main purpose was to declare the coming kingdom of God per Luke 4:42-43, "And when it was day, he came out and went into a desert place: and the multitudes sought after him, and came unto him, and would have stayed him, that he should not go from them.  43  But he said unto them, I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also: for therefore was I sent." (ASV).   Likewise, all his genuine (true) followers must be diligent in the work, also, of making God's kingdom known to all with respect to its being a real government from Almighty God (YHWH) through his Son, Jesus (Yeshua), that he has appointed to rule it on his behalf for a 1,000 years.    As he told his disciples and apostles at John 21:15, "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." (ASV), so too must his genuine (true) followers do likewise.

Genuine (true) followers of Jesus (Yeshua) should keep active and not 'cool' off in this activity per Mark 1:35-38, "And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed.  36  And Simon and they that were with him followed after him;  37  and they found him, and say unto him, All are seeking thee.  38  And he saith unto them, Let us go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth." (ASV).   

WHY DID JESUS (YESHUA) PREACH?

Simple he preached to make his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) known and as previously mentioned to make known the coming kingdom of God.   At John 17:24-26, Jesus (Yeshua) made this known , "Father, I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.  25  O righteous Father, the world knew thee not, but I knew thee; and these knew that thou didst send me;  26  and I made known unto them thy name, and will make it known; that the love wherewith thou lovedst me may be in them, and I in them." (ASV).

He clearly made his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) known to men and he said at John 17:1-5, "These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the son may glorify thee:  2  even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life.  3  And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ.  4  I glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do.  5  And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (ASV).   As Jesus (Yeshua) said to his followers at John 15:9-16, "Even as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you: abide ye in my love.  10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.  11  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.  12  This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.  13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  14  Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you.
15  No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known unto you.  16  Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (ASV).

Also, while is genuine (true) followers make known God's kingdom and Jesus' (Yeshua's) Father, they should do so humbly per Jesus' (Yeshua's) example at Luke 18:35 to 19:10, "And it came to pass, as he drew nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:  36  and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant.  37  And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.  38  And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.  39  And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.  40  And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,  41  What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.  42  And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight; thy faith hath made thee whole.  43  And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.  19:1  And he entered and was passing through Jericho.  2  And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich.  3  And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature.  4  And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.  5  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house.  6  And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.  7  And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, He is gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner.  8  And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold.  9  And Jesus said unto him, To-day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham.  10  For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost." (ASV).

BE HUMBLE NOT HOSTILE TO OPPOSERS:

Also, all the genuine (true) followers should be humble to those hostile to the thrut given in the inspired word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, and Jacob, creator of all there is, the Bible.   Jesus (Yeshua) showed that all genuine (true) followers of his must by humble, but not let anything divert their attention from the message he assigned them per 1 Timothy 4:16, "Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee." (ASV).  As he said at Luke 4:43, "But he said unto them, I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also: for therefore was I sent." (ASV), here referring to being sent by his Father, Almighty God (YHWH).

Genuine (true) followers must never let a mixed or hostile response to the message of the Kingdom deter them any more that their leader Jesus (Yeshua) did per John 7:35-52, "The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him; and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to take him.
33  Jesus therefore said, Yet a little while am I with you, and I go unto him that sent me.  34  Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, ye cannot come.  35  The Jews therefore said among themselves, Whither will this man go that we shall not find him? will he go unto the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?  36  What is this word that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me; and where I am, ye cannot come?  37 ¶  Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.  38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.  39  But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.  40  Some of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, This is of a truth the prophet.  41  Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, What, doth the Christ come out of Galilee?  42  Hath not the scripture said that the Christ cometh of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?  43  So there arose a division in the multitude because of him.  44  And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.  45 ¶  The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why did ye not bring him?  46  The officers answered, Never man so spake.  47  The Pharisees therefore answered them, Are ye also led astray?  48  Hath any of the rulers believed on him, or of the Pharisees?
49  But this multitude that knoweth not the law are accursed.  50  Nicodemus saith unto them (he that came to him before, being one of them),  51  Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth?  52  They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet." (ASV).

Your Friend in Christ iris89
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See Part 4

Part 5


Christ, Spoke Like No Other Man: [k]

INTRODUCTION:

The enemies of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ sought ways to entrap him in speech because they did not like the fact that he was telling people the facts, the truth, per John John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Authorized King James Bible; AV), and exposing them for not being truth tellers.   In the world today, there are many religious leaders that do not tell their flocks the truth any more than the Pharisees and Sadducees of ancient Jerusalem.   Many of the religious leaders of today put forth false god(s) such as Buddha, Chauta, Baal, Baal-Peor, Chemosh, Allah, Dagon, Molech, etc.   They like the Jewish religious leaders of the First Century seek to silence anyone that speaks the truth.

In the day of Jesus (Yeshua), the religious leaders found the truths Jesus (Yeshua) was telling so objectionable that they sent out soldiers to arrest him as recorded at John 7:37-46, "Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.  38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.  39  But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.  40  Some of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, This is of a truth the prophet.  41  Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, What, doth the Christ come out of Galilee?  42  Hath not the scripture said that the Christ cometh of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?  43  So there arose a division in the multitude because of him.  44  And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.  45 ¶  The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why did ye not bring him?  46  The officers answered, Never man so spake." (American Standard Version; ASV).

Jesus (Yeshua) carefully choose his words, and the officers of the temple as shown above at John 7:46 were much impressed, and people assembled in great numbers to hear him teach per Mark 3:7-9, "And Jesus with his disciples withdrew to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and from Judaea,
8  and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and beyond the Jordan, and about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came unto him.  9  And he spake to his disciples, that a little boat should wait on him because of the crowd, lest they should throng him:" (ASV); and Mark 4:1, "And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land." (ASV); and Luke 5:1-3, "Now it came to pass, while the multitude pressed upon him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret;  2  and he saw two boats standing by the lake: but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets.  3  And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes out of the boat." (ASV).

JESUS (YESHUA) KEPT IT SIMPLE:

Jesus (Yeshua) Sermon on the Mount recorded at Matthew 5:3 to 7:27 was an example of a very powerful sermon that did not use complicated ideas or phrases; it was easy for even a young child could grasp, let's look at Matthew 5:1 to 7:27,

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him:
2  and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
3 ¶  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6  Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.
10  Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11  Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.
13 ¶  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.
14  Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.
15  Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house.
16  Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17 ¶  Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.
18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.
19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20  For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21 ¶  Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22  but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.
23  If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee,
24  leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25  Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26  Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing.
27 ¶  Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28  but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29  And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell.
30  And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into hell.
31  It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32  but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.
33 ¶  Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34  but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God;
35  nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36  Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37  But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.
38 ¶  Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39  but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40  And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41  And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.
42  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 ¶  Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:
44  but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;
45  that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.
46  For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?
48  Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
1 ¶  Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
2  When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
3  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4  that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.
5 ¶  And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.
7  And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8  Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 ¶  After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
11  Give us this day our daily bread.
12  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13  And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 ¶  Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
17  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face;
18  that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee.
19 ¶  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal:
20  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21  for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.
22  The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness!
24  No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25 ¶  Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment?
26  Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they?
27  And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?
28  And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29  yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30  But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31  Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32  For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33  But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34  Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
1 ¶  Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you.
3  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye?
5  Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
6  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you.
7 ¶  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8  for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9  Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone;
10  or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent?
11  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
12 ¶  All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets.
13  Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby.
14  For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.
15 ¶  Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
16  By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20  Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 ¶  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?
23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24  Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:
25  and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock.
26  And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand:
27 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof. (ASV).

Powerful, yes, complicated no.   It also shows that his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) reveals his purposes to those who are sincere and have humble hearts through his only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua), at 1 Corinthians 1:26-28, "For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:  27  but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;" (ASV), using his Father's words as revealed at John 12:49-50, "For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.  50  And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak." (ASV); and Revelation 1:1, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John;" (ASV).

JESUS (YESHUA) MADE USE OF QUESTIONS IN HIS PREACHING:

In his preaching, Jesus (Yeshua) made effective use of questions.   Let's look at several outstanding examples of this.

Example 1, At Matthew 21:23-27 he used a penetrating question to expose the motives of his opponents and effectively silenced them, "And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
24  And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.  25  The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him?  26  But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.  27  And they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things." (ASV).

Example 2, At Matthew 22:41-46 where he confounded his opponents, "Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,  42  saying, What think ye of the Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.  43  He saith unto them, How then doth David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying,  44  The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I put thine enemies underneath thy feet?  45  If David then calleth him Lord, how is he his son?  46  And no one was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions." (ASV).

JESUS (YESHUA) EMPLOYED POWERFUL LOGIC IN HIS PREACHING:

Jesus (Yeshua) since he had a perfect mind was a master at reasoning with others, and in many cases he utilized persuasive reasoning to teach valuable lessons to his followers; Let's look at a few examples.

Example 1, He used this powerful logic to counter opposition from the Pharisees who said he was doing it by means of the Devil, but he, by reasoning, showed that they did not know what they were talking about at Matthew 12:22-26, "Then was brought unto him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the dumb man spake and saw.  23  And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Can this be the son of David?  24  But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons.  25  And knowing their thoughts he said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:  26  and if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?" (ASV).   And while they were considering this and his followers were observing, he went on to say at Matthew 12:27-28, "And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.  28  But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you." (ASV) for which they had no answer, he had silenced the Pharisees.

Example 2, When responding to his follower's request to teach them how to pray, he used the willingness of imperfect human parents per Luke 11:1-13, "And it came to pass, as he was praying in a certain place, that when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples.  2  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Father, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.
3  Give us day by day our daily bread.  4  And forgive us our sins; for we ourselves also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And bring us not into temptation.  5  And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves;  6  for a friend of mine is come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him;  7  and he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee?  8  I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needeth.  9  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  10  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  11  And of which of you that is a father shall his son ask a loaf, and he give him a stone? or a fish, and he for a fish give him a serpent?  12  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he give him a scorpion?  13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (ASV).

JESUS (YESHUA) USED HYPERBOLE IN HIS PREACHING:

Jesus (Yeshua) used hyperbole in his preaching as shown at Matthew 7:3 and 19-24, as follows.

Example 1, Matthew 7:3, "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" (ASV).

Example 2, Matthew 7:19-24, "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  20  Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  21 ¶  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.  22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?  23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  24  Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:" (ASV).

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Jesus (Yeshua) Always Taught by Illustrations: [l]

INTRODUCTION:

Jesus (Yeshua) was an effective teacher, and as the Apostle Paul said at Acts 20:35, "In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." (American Standard Version; ASV).   Here the Apostle Paul showed the rewards of being an effective teacher were great and this goes along with what is recorded at Matthew 4:23-25, "And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people.  24  And the report of him went forth into all Syria: and they brought unto him all that were sick, holden with divers diseases and torments, possessed with demons, and epileptic, and palsied; and he healed them.  25  And there followed him great multitudes from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judaea and from beyond the Jordan.: (ASV).

However, Jesus (Yeshua) always taught by use of illustrations, metaphors, and parabales.   In fact, it was foretold in advance in Psalm 78:2 that he would teach in this manner, "I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old," (ASV).   Illustrations are an effective method of teaching since they are not quickly forgotten.  Why is this?   It is because humans can best think in pictures and illustrations, and thus grasp abstract ideas easier when taught in this manner.

And in this method of teaching Jesus (Yeshua) was the most skillful of all teachers.   To this day, many of his illustrations are easily recalled by those who have read the Bible where they are recorded. 

WHY JESUS (YESHUA) TAUGHT WITH ILLUSTRATIONS:

Well the inspired word of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, and Jacob, creator of all there is, Almighty God (YHWH), the Bible, gives two important reasons why Jesus (Yeshua) taught by illustrations.   They are as follows:

First, Prophecy said he would use this method.   And at Matthew 12:34-35, we read, "All these things spake Jesus in parables unto the multitudes; and without a parable spake he nothing unto them:  35  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world." (ASV).

Second, Jesus (Yeshua) explained that he used illustrations to sift out those whose hearts had "grown unreceptive" such as those who worship false god(s), as recorded at Matthew 13:36, "Then he left the multitudes, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field." (ASV).
This parable illustrated an important point with respect how the separating work would proceed at the culmination of the end times as shown at Matthew 13:37-, "And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;  38  and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;  39  and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.  40  As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.  41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity,  42  and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.  43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear." (ASV).   But, he spoke without parables to his apostles per Mark 4:34, "and without a parable spake he not unto them: but privately to his own disciples he expounded all things." (ASV).

JESUS (YESHUA) USED SIMPLE COMPARISONS:

In his teaching, Jesus (Yeshua) often used comparisons that were uncomplicated, and the required just a few words.   At Mark 13:24-32, he compared things well known to the end, "All these things spake Jesus in parables unto the multitudes; and without a parable spake he nothing unto them:  35  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.  36  Then he left the multitudes, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field.  37  And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;  38  and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;  39  and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.  40  As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.  41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity,  42  and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.  43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear." (ASV).   As can be seen, he made the points he was trying to teach easy to remember.

At Matthew 6:26-33, he showed how his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) cared for the needs of all, "Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they?  27  And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?  28  And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  29  yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  30  But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  31  Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  32  For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  33  But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (ASV); and why we need first to seek the kingdom of Almighty God (YHWH).

At Matthew 18:12-14, he likened how his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) wanted all to come to him and was concerned about the ones that did not by using an illustration about sheep to get his point across, "How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray?  13  And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray.  14  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." (ASV).

JESUS (YESHUA) DREW HIS ILLUSTRATIONS FROM EVERYDAY LIFE:

Jesus (Yeshua) was a master of illustrations since he drew his simple illustrations from everyday life such as the one at Luke 11:5-13 and 12:16-21, "And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves;  6  for a friend of mine is come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him;  7  and he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee?  8  I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needeth.  9  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  10  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  11  And of which of you that is a father shall his son ask a loaf, and he give him a stone? or a fish, and he for a fish give him a serpent?  12  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he give him a scorpion?  13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (ASV); and "And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  17  and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits?  18  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods.  19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.  20  But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?  21  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (ASV).   Clearly showing the importance of winning Almighty God's (YHWH's) good favor or laying up treasures with him.

One parable of his dealt with a man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by robbers and was used to show the lack of concern of the religious leaders for the unfortunate.   This is recorded at Luke 10:25-37, "And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?  26  And he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.  28  And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.  29  But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?  30  Jesus made answer and said, A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  31  And by chance a certain priest was going down that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  32  And in like manner a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.  33  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion,  34  and came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on them oil and wine; and he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  35  And on the morrow he took out two shillings, and gave them to the host, and said, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, I, when I come back again, will repay thee.  36  Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers?  37  And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise." (ASV).

This could be likened to the wickedness of religious leaders of today.   One instead of showing compassion to a young 16 year old girl who was a victim of a brutal rape likened her to raw meat that a cat goes after, here is the account, <<<" Imam justifies rape of unveiled women, Australian cleric compares victims to 'uncovered meat' that attracts cats, Imam justifies rape of unveiled women.  October 26, 2006, (c) 2006 WorldNetDaily.com, Australia's top Muslim cleric rationalized a series of gang rapes by Arab men, blaming women who "sway suggestively," wear make-up and don't cover themselves in the tradition of Islam.">>>.

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Jesus (Yeshua) Loves His Father: [m]

INTRODUCTION:

As we all know, The love that Christ has compels us to follow him, a point made at 2 Corinthians 5:14, "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;" (American Standard Version; ASV).   But, he had intense love for his Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, and Jacob, creator of all there is, Almighty God (YHWH).

On the night that Jesus (Yeshua) was going to be put to death, he made it clear in John 14:30-31, "I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me;  31  but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence." (ASV) that he intensely loved his Father, Almighty God (YHWH).    This scripture makes it quite clear that Jesus (Yeshua) really loved his Father.

Now his intense love for his Father and this was often shown by what he said such as at Mark 12:29-31, "Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one:  30  and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.  31  The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (ASV).   And as 1 Corinthians 13:8 emphasis, "Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away." (ASV).

BOND BETWEEN JESUS (YESHUA) AND HIS FATHER WAS THE STRONGEST BOND OF LOVE:

As Revelation 3:14, shows, "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:" (ASV), Jesus (Yeshua) was the first of the creation of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, and Jacob, creator of all there is, Almighty God (YHWH).   From the point of his creation, he and his Father worked together to create all else, and as Proverbs 8:22-31, shows, "Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old.  23  I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was.  24  When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.  25  Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth;  26  While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.  27  When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,  28  When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong,  29  When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth;  30  Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him,  31  Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men." (ASV).   This close association for untold eons forged a very close relationship between Almighty God (YHWH) and his only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua) which became ever stronger with time.   In verse 22, Jesus (Yeshua), then known as Wisdom, states that Almighty God (YHWH) produced me as the beginning of his ways; so we see Jesus (Yeshua) started to exist as the beginning of his Father's creation.   He, Jesus (Yeshua), was created; whereas, his Father, the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, and Jacob, creator of all there is, Almighty God (YHWH) always existed per Psalm 90:2, "Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." (ASV).   But, the Son, Jesus (Yeshua), existed before the creation of the earth as testified to my Jesus (Yeshua) at John 8:58, "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am." (ASV).

Now what did this Son do during the vast expanse of time before coming to earth?  Well, verse 30 of Proverbs the 8 th. chapter shows that he served as his Father,s master worker.   This meant that his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) used him in the creation of all other things as shown by Colossians 1:16, "for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;" (ASV).

No wonder that the Son, due to this close association, grew ever more like His Father, Almighty God (YHWH).   He learned from his Father, and imitated his Father's qualities.   This association can rightly be called the oldest and strongest bond of love in the entire universe, and 1 Corinthians 3:9 says of Jesus (Yeshua) followers, that his Father gave to him, "9  For we are God's fellow-workers: ye are God's husbandry, God's building." (ASV).

JESUS (YESHUA) KEPT HIS LOVE FOR HIS FATHER STRONG:

Keeping love strong requires regularly nourishing and caring for it as one would care and water a houseplant on a regular basis.   As John 11:41-42 shows, "So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me.  42  And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me." (ASV), and Herbrew 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him." (ASV), show, Jesus (Yeshua) regularly nourished his strong love for his Father, Almighty God (YHWH).

Even while on earth as a human at a very early age, as recorded at Luke 2:49, "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father's house?" (ASV), he made a point to be in what then was his heavenly Father's house on earth, the temple in Jerusalem.   And later in life, the Bible reports on Jesus' (Yeshua's)  faithful attendance at the teimple and at the synagogue at Luke 4:16, "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read." (ASV); and at Luke 19:47, "And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him:" (ASV).

Also, to keep his love strong for his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), he continually prayed to him, many times is solitude as he valued his solitude as shown by Luke 5:16, "But he withdrew himself in the deserts, and prayed." (ASV); and Matthew 14:23 similarly states, "And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray: and when even was come, he was there alone." (ASV).   And often when Jesus (Yeshua) would pray to his heavenly Father, he would use the expression "Abba, Father" as shown at Mark 14:36, "And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this cup from me: howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt." (ASV) where he wanted his Father's will done before his own.

JESUS (YESHUA) WORRIED ABOUT HIS FOLLOWERS AND PRAYED FOR THEM:

Jesus (Yeshua) in his prayer at John 17:6-8 prayed not for himself but the well being of his followers per John 17:6-8, "I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word.  7  Now they know that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are from thee:  8  for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me." (ASV).   In his preaching, he likened his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) to a father who was so eager to forgive his wayward son that he awaited the repentant young man's arrival as recorded at Luke 15:20-24, "And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.  21  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son.  22  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  23 and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:  24  for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry." (ASV).   So from this illustration Jesus (Yeshua) used, we can see Jesus' (Yeshua's) portrayal of the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, and Jacob, creator of all there is, love and forgiveness.

NOW WILL YOU IMITATE JESUS' (YESHUA'S) LOVE FOR ALMIGHTY GOD (YHWH)?

Revelation 2:1-5 brings out the need to repent to be acceptable to Almighty God (YHWH), "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:  2  I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false;  3  and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name's sake, and hast not grown weary.  4  But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.  5  Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent." (ASV).   This brings up the fact per Luke 10:27, "And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." (ASV) that we must love the true God (YHWH) of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, and Jacob, creator of all there is, with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.

We must, if we love our Creator, assist him in giving an answer to his arch enemy, Satan the Devil's challenge that we only serve him for selfish motives as Satan challenged at Job 2:4-5, "And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.  5  But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce thee to thy face." (ASV).   Jesus (Yeshua) in order to give the best possible answer to Satan's vicious slander, courageoudly went ahead and showed the world how greatly he loved his Father.   In fact, he obeyed his Father in even giving up his own human life.

We likewise must show the same kind of love for our heavenly Father as did Jesus (Yeshua).   We must not forsake the gathering of ourselves with fellow genuine (true) Christians in keeping with Hebrews 10:24-25, "and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works;  25  not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh." (ASV).

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See Part 6

Part 7

Christ Proved His Great Love For Mankind:  [q]

INTRODUCTION:

In Proverbs 8:30-31 the inspired word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Bible showed Jesus (Yeshua)delighted in mankind, "Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him,  31  Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men." (American Standard Version; ASV).

During his ministry on earth, great crowds followed him around and he did many healings and other miracles including resurrections.   Even in the few days before he was wrongly arrested and executed, when he entered into Jerusalem, he was hailed by the crowds during his triumphal entry into Jerusalem as the divinely appointed king.   The common folk loved him greatly due to compassion, wonderful speech, and his many moracles.

However, most of the religious leaders of the day hated him, and all the more so as they could not deny his miracles.   Their jealousy and hate of him grew very great, and they conspired together to get rid of him.   He was interfering with their personal agendas and showing their doctrines and traditions ran counter to the word of God, the Bible.    In this, they are the same as the religious leaders of our day that give lip service to their respective "holy book," but who teach their own traditions and personal agendas.    Those who think that their religious leaders are teaching them from either the Bible or the Bible knockoff the Qur'an are in error.   No!  The religious leaders be they priest and/or imams or muftis or what ever teach the people only an incorrect, personal agenda,  interpretation of what is written either in the Bible or the bible knockoff the Qur'an that matters and governs actions.   It matters not what the Bible and/or the Bible knockoff really say.   People go by what they are taught by their religious leaders.   Take the genocide committed by the Roman Catholic Church at the direction of their supreme religious leader, the pope, what mattered was not that the Bible clearly said at Exodus 20:13, "Thou shalt not kill." (ASV), but what their religious leaders told them.   Therefore, it is the religion at fault, irregardless of what their particular holy book, be it the Bible or the Bible knockoff the Qur'an may say.   Neither in so called Christianity or in Islam are most individuals actions really governed in any way by what their particular holy book really says, but they are governed by the interpretation of their religious leaders.   Thus, knowing this reality, one would be either just plain stupid and/or dumb to even bother looking at a particular religion's holy book and expect the members would conform to it.   Take the Rig Vede and find me for example a Hindu actually conforming to it instead of the interpretation given to it by his religious leaders, like looking for a needle in the haystack per K.S. Lal, India's greatest historian.

In ancient Jerusalem, the religious leaders wipped the crowds into an angry anti-Jesus (Yeshua) mob and gathered outside the governor's palace at dawn on Passover of 33 CE per John 18:28-19:15, "They lead Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover.  29  Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, What accusation bring ye against this man?  30  They answered and said unto him, If this man were not an evildoer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee.  31  Pilate therefore said unto them, Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law. The Jews said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:  32  that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should die.  33  Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?  34  Jesus answered, Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me?  35  Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?  36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.  37  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.  38  Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no crime in him.  39  But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?  40  They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.)  1 ¶  Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.  2  And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment;  3  and they came unto him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him with their hands.  4  And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him.  5  Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold, the man!  6  When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no crime in him.  7  The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.  8  When Pilate therefore heard this saying, he was the more afraid;  9  and he entered into the Praetorium again, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.  10  Pilate therefore saith unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to release thee, and have power to crucify thee?  11  Jesus answered him, Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin.  12  Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar's friend: every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.  13  When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment-seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.  14  Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold, your King!  15  They therefore cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar." (ASV).

Jesus (Yeshua), however, with dignity and courage endured the humiliation and suffering without complaint showing his willingness to submit to a painful death on a torture stake per John 19:17-18, "They took Jesus therefore: and he went out, bearing the cross for himself, unto the place called The place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha:  18  where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst." (ASV).

WHY WAS IT NECESSARY FOR JESUS (YESHUA) TO SUFFER AND DIE?

First consider what Jesus (Yeshua) said at John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (ASV) showing the ultimate with respect love of neighbor in accordance with Matthew 22:39, "And the second is like it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (ASV).

As the foretold Messiah, Jesus (Yeshua) well knew what was to take place as he was aware of the many prophecies concerning in detail what the Messiah would suffer and of the painful death of the Messiah such as Isaiah 53:3-12, "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (ASV); and Daniel 9:26, "And after the threescore and two weeks shall the anointed one be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and even unto the end shall be war; desolations are determined." (ASV); etc.

In fact, on his way to Jerusalem for his final Passover, he specifically told his apostles at Mark 10:33-34, "saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles:  34  and they shall mock him, and shall spit upon him, and shall scourge him, and shall kill him; and after three days he shall rise again." (ASV).

Now, why was it necessary for Jesus (Yeshua) to suffer and die?   Specifically there are three main reasons as follows:

First - He needed to prove his integrity and uphold Almighty God's (YHWH's) sovereignty to answer the false claim of Satan the Devil made at Job 2:1-5, "Again it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Jehovah.
2  And Jehovah said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.  3  And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil: and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.  4  And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.  5  But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce thee to thy face." (ASV).   In this challenge, Satan was saying that humans serve Almighty God (YHWH) out of selfish interest and Jesus (Yeshua) had to prove him a liar by him, a perfect man, showing that this was not the case.   As shown at Philippians 2:8, Jesus (Yeshua) gave the most conclusive answer to this baseless charge, "and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross." (ASV).

Second, So his death could provide an atonement for the sins of others per Isaiah 53:5, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."; and Isaiah 53:10, "Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand." (ASV); and Daniel 9:24, "Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy." (ASV).   This attoning sacrifice of Jesus (Yeshua) opened up the way for us to have an approved relationship with Almighty God (YHWH) per Matthew 20:28, "even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (ASV).

Third, Also, by enduring all types of sufferings and hardships, Jesus (Yeshua) was thoroughly tested and can sympathize with our weaknesses per Hebrews 2:17-18, "Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted." (ASV); and Hebrews 4:15, "For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (ASV).

UNSELFISH COURSE OF JESUS (YESHUA):

Jesus (Yeshua) outlined his unselfish course at Matthew 16:24-26, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  25  For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.  26  For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?" (ASV).

He lead by example by giving up his life on our behalf and being subject to intense suffering and a painful death per Philippians 2:5-7, "Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  6  who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,  7  but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;" (ASV); clearly showing he emptied himself of his superior position in heaven in the spirit form the same as Almighty God (YHWH) and took the form of a man who would die as a ransom sacrifice for all of us.

He was not concerned about himself but was filled with intense love for his heavenly Father, Almighty God (YHWH) as showed in his Sermon on the Mount at Matthew 6:9, "After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." (ASV); he wanted his Father's name to be sanctified or hallowed - not his own.   He well knew that his integrity would play a major part in the sanctifying of his Father's great name as shown at 1 Chronicles 29:13, "Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name." (ASV).

JESUS (YESHUA) WAS SELF-SACRIFICING:

As followers of Jesus (Yeshua), we must have lave among us per John 13:34-35, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (ASV).   and Jesus (Yeshua) made this ever clearer at John 15:12-13, "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.  13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (ASV).

Now why is self-sacrificing a worthwhile course?  Well, Mark 10:23-30 says, "And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!  24  And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!  25  It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  26  And they were astonished exceedingly, saying unto him, Then who can be saved?  27  Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God.  28  Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.  29  Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the gospel's sake,  30  but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." (ASV).


We should imitate Jesus in showing self-sacrificing love as pointed out at, 1 John 3:17-18, "But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?  18  My Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth." (ASV).   One way of doing this is by not engaging in warfare when the nations go to war and thus bringing injury and death to others per John 17:14-16, "I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one.  16  They are not of the world even as I am not of the world." (ASV); and 1 John 3:10-12, "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.  11 ¶  For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another:  12  not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous." (ASV).

Whereas, the religious leaders of this world teach and inbreed in their followers, not the words of the Father of Jesus (Yeshua) per John 12:49-50, "For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.  50  And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak." (ASV).   Instead of inbreeding love for fellow man, these religious leaders of this world inbreed false doctrines and traditions and their own personal agendas.   Some religious leaders in Islam not only inbreed their personal agendas, but inbreed hate, greed, and a lust for violence.   Almost every day in the world news you hear of an Islamic suicide bomber blowing himself/herself up and trying to take as many with him/her as possible - inbreed extreme lust for violence.   In fact, one well known Sheik, [in Islam, a. A religious official. b. A leader of an Arab family or village. c. Used as a form of address for such an official or leader. Per The American Heritage(r) Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.] said on a video tape played on Al Jazzera TV station that there was no greater honor for Islam than for one to commit suicide and take as many infidels with him/her as possible [Sheik Usama bin Ladin].   This clearly shows the hate, greed, and a lust for violence that many religious leaders are inbreeding in their members and the world news daily confirms this - many however deny reality.

SELF-SACRIFICING LOVE PLEASES ALMIGHTY GOD (YHWH):

Self-sacrificing love pleases Almighty God (YHWH) as shown at 2 Corinthians 12:15, "And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?" (ASV).  In fact unselfish efforts will also be appreciated by like faithful followers of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ as shown by Philippians 2:29, "Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy; and hold such in honor:" (ASV); and Hebrews 6:10, "for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister." (ASV).

Jesus (Yeshua) proved himself a fine shepherd of his followers as shown at John 10:11-15, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.  12  He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them:  13  he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14  I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me,  15  even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep." (ASV).

Your Friend in Christ Iris89

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Continue Following Jesus (Yeshua):  [r]

INTRODUCTION:

Jesus (Yeshua) before his execution prayed to his heavenly Father, Almighty God (YHWH) at John 17:1-5, "These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the son may glorify thee:  2  even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life.  3  And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ.  4  I glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do.  5  And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (American Standard Version; ASV).   

Now after his execution and subsequent resurrection on the third day after his resurrection recorded at Acts 10:38-40, "even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  39  And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree.  40  Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest," (ASV), and now he is about to ascend to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) and his apostles and close friends are with him on the Mount of Olives and he begins to rise from the earth, he gives some kind parting words at Acts 1:6-12, "They therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?  7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority.  8  But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  9  And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  10  And while they were looking stedfastly into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;  11  who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven.  12 ¶  Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey off." (ASV).

Now his followers are reminded by two angels at Acts 1:10-11, "And while they were looking stedfastly into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;  11  who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven." (ASV), that he will return and they have work at hand.

The words that Jesus (Yeshua) spoke to the apostle Peter recorded at John 21:22, "Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me." (ASV), come into play.

JESUS (YESHUA) INDICATED, CONTINUE FOLLOWING ME:

We all need to obey the command that Jesus (Yeshua) gave to the Apostle Peter of continuing to follow him. 

Upon Jesus (Yeshua) return to heaven, he presented to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) the value of his ransom sacrifice per Hebrews 9:11-12 and 24, "But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,  12  nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption." (ASV), and "For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:" (ASV).

Now did his heavenly Father, Almighty God (YHWH) accept it?   This was shortly positively answered by the events that occurred a few days after his ascension.   About 120 Christians were meeting in Jerusalem in an upstairs room when, Acts 2:1-4, "And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place.  2  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  3  And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them.  4  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (ASV).   This event signified the birth of a new nation as shown by 1 Peter 2:9, "But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" (ASV) which was Almighty God's (YHWH's) creation of a new 'chosen race' as a replacement as his chosen people in place of the ancient nation of Israel.

Clearly Almighty God (YHWH) had approved of Jesus (Yeshua) sacrifice as shown by the birth of this new chosen nation; therefore, we should continue to follow Jesus (Yeshua) daily so we can have a bright hope for the future per John 3:16, "And by faith in his name hath his name made this man strong, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is through him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." (ASV).   

Why should we do this?   Clearly Jesus (Yeshua) since his ascension to heaven after his resurrection by his heavenly Father, Almighty God (YHWH), he has been given very great authority per Matthew 28:18, "And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth." (ASV).   How so?   His heavenly Father has appointed him to rule over the genuine (true) Christian congregation per Colossians 1:13, "who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;" (ASV).   To this end, he chose the apostle Paul to be an apostle to the nations charged with spreading the good news far and wide per Romans 11:13, "But I speak to you that are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;" (ASV); and 1 Timothy 2:7, "whereunto I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth, I lie not), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth." (ASV).   Jesus (Yeshua) thus is Head of the Genuine (true) Christian congregation as shown by Ephesians 5:23, "For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body." (ASV); and 1 Corinthians 11:3, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (ASV).

Later, Jesus (Yeshua) was granted even more authority as shown by John 12:31, "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out." (ASV); and Matthew 24:3-7, "And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?  4 ¶  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray.  5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray.  6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet.  7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places." (ASV).

In fact 1 Corinthians 15:22-28 clearly show that Jesus' (Yeshua's)  heavenly Father, Almighty God (YHWH), gave him authority over all except himself for a period of time, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  23  But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming.  24  Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power.  25  For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet.  26  The last enemy that shall be abolished is death.  27  For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him.  28  And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all." (ASV).   Therefore it is vital that we take our stand on the side of Jesus (Yeshua), the Messianic King.

BRING YOURSELF IN HARMONY WITH JESUS (YESHUA):

Now the big question is what will help to bring your thinking into harmony with Christ?   Let's consider, 1 Corinthians 2:13-16, "Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words.  14  Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.  15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man.  16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." (ASV).

And, In what way do you intend to follow Christ more closely?   This should be considered by all, and 1 Peter 2:21, says, "For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:" (ASV).   Remember Jesus (Yeshua) like his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) is by nature happy, he is for sure most unhappy, angry if you will, over all those false religious organizations that falsely claim to represent him.  Jesus (Yeshua) showed this anger once when he was about to heal a man and looked at all the religious leaders around him with indignation due to the insensibility of their hearts as shown at Mark 3:1-5, "And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there who had his hand withered.  2  And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.  3  And he saith unto the man that had his hand withered, Stand forth.  4  And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace.  5  And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored." (ASV).

Without doubt, Jesus (Yeshua), today he is thoroughly grieved by the religious leaders of Christendom who are blindly devoted to their traditions and doctrines which are not in agreement with the scriptures.   In fact, in many parts of the world, the religious leaders, like those of ancient Jerusalem, also, persecute Jesus (Yeshua) followers.   This was foretold at John 16:2-3, "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God.  3  And these things will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor me." (ASV), and this has proved to be the case.

JESUS (YESHUA) IS PLEASED WITH THOSE WHO ENDURE:

The big question is how will you avoid the danger of cooling off in your love for Jesus (Yeshua)?   As Revelation 3:14-18 show we must remain firm and not cool off, "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  16  So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.  17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:  18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see." (ASV).

In order to do so, we must follow Jesus (Yeshua) example and share the good news with all sorts of people in keeping with 1 Timothy 2:4, "who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth."(ASV).   As Matthew 24:13 says, "But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." (ASV).   So be sure to keep in mind Jesus (Yeshua) comment at John 21:19, "Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me." (ASV).

CONCLUSION:

Now the question all should ask themselves is, how can you show that you really want Christ to rule over the earth in the near future?   And as Revelation 22:17 and 20,  say, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely." And "He who testifieth these things saith, Yea: I come quickly. Amen: come, Lord Jesus."

To share in this wonderful blessing we must continue to imitate Jesus (Yeshua) and his Father, Almighty God (YHWH).

Now to know the truth, go to:

1)    http://religioustruths.forumsland.com/

2)    http://www.network54.com/Forum/403209/ 

3)     http://religioustruths.lefora.com/

4)    http://religioustruthsbyiris89.free-forums.org/

Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth."Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell."   Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today!