John 12:1-8 "About Jesus And Mary Magdalene"

John 12:1-8

1So six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, the one having died, whom He raised from dead. 2So they made Him dinner there, and Martha was serving. But Lazarus was one of the ones reclining to eat with Him.

3Then Mary, having taken a litra (about 12 ounces/340 grams) of very valuable, pure spikenard ointment, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled from the fragrance of the ointment. 4Therefore one of His disciples (Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, the one about to betray Him) says, 5“Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred denarii (300 days’ wages) and given to poor?” 6Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief and holding the money bag and was stealing that being put in. 7Then Jesus said, “Allow her; she has kept it for the day of My burial preparation. 8For the poor always have with yourselves, but Me do not always have.”

Good Day Child of God! "Father? Please teach us as we open our hearts and minds to your leading. Thank you. Amen." If ever there were a group of verses that were used more than any other for sermons that concerned money, these must be in that group.

Almost as though it was a second thought, Lazarus being raised from the dead is mentioned above. Truthfully, the reason for the whole celebration has to do with that Miracle! The thing is, when we hear messages concerning these verses they usually have to do with the money, and what it represents. 

Today's easy lesson: There have been discussions taken from the verses above that allude to a lover's relationship between Mary and Jesus. More so, when the need for money is the primary focus of the pastor and his church, the idea of sacrificial giving shows up. It appears that is what Mary is doing above, and similarly what is needed from the congregation. 

Let's ask a question. What was Mary before she met Jesus, that is, what job did she have. It had to be something with good wages to make enough money to buy, using nearly a years worth of wages, less than a pint of perfume to wash the feet of Jesus. It was commonly taught until just recently that Mary was a prostitute. Then not too long ago, that she was simply a repentant woman who followed Jesus and Trusted in Him. Mary's sister Martha and brother Lazarus, who's home this celebration was taking place Trusted Jesus as well. Mary Magdalene, her full name, has no historical record to come to any conclusion except that of a Trusting follower of Jesus. No doubt closer to Him than most, as the whole family treated Jesus as though He were their own blood. In fact, Mary is brought up twice in Scripture. Once in our verses above, and once at the time of Jesus' Crucifixion, where she is found offering comfort to Jesus on His way to the Cross.

How does this help you in your daily walk with the Father? Some people do notice the one thing Mary is doing without thinking about the money. That is, Mary is so thankful to Jesus for bringing her brother Lazarus back to Life, and honoring Lazarus as they are about to eat together, she does the one thing she can do. She gives Jesus not her body, nor Judas her perfume, but she takes her prized possession and uses it for the most common activity, washing one's feet before coming together for a meal. She asks for nothing more from Jesus, in Him she has found everything, so she does the only thing she can. She says "Thank You" in a way that allows everyone to notice that Jesus is there. The house is filled with the perfume of thanks. Without regard to herself she wipes His feet with her hair, then disappears from the scene so Jesus alone will be spoken of, rather than focusing on what she had done.

Jesus said that when you give, give so that your left hand doesn't know what your right hand has done. It is called being humble, and when the Father leads you to do a good deed, He isn't asking you to tell the world of the good thing you have done. After all God lead you to that needy person or situation, and if you are keeping count, that is wrong. Keep it to yourself, allow your Father to be satisfied with your good works. Build on your relationship by allowing Him the Glory. This is one way that you will find true joy in your Life. Have a Grace Day!

Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/

John 11:53-57 "Be careful What And Who You Believe In"

John 11:53-57

53So from that day they plotted among themselves so that they should kill Him. 54Therefore, Jesus was no more freely walking about among the Jews, but He went away from there to the countryside near the wilderness, to a city being called Ephraim. And there He stayed with His disciples.


55But the Passover of the Jews was near. And many went up to Jerusalem out of the countryside before the Passover so that they should purify themselves. 56So they were seeking Jesus and were speaking one with another, having stood in the Temple, “What do you think, that He shall not at all come to the feast?” 57Now both the Chief Priests and the Pharisees had given a command that if anyone knew where He is, they should report it, in order that they should seize Him.

Good Day Child of God! "Father? Thank You that we can come to You and ask that You teach us, lead us, and burn Your Wisdom on our hearts, which You will do as we allow it. Amen"

How many times have we spoken about taking small bites of Scripture at a time and Studying it so as to not over do our ability to understand? To many to count it seems. The thing is, as simple as the verses are above, just the opposite of those from the previous two Studies, each and every group has lessons and meaning for our Life. 

To me hearing the same teaching in different verses and Books of the Bible not only bring us to the point of learning, then remembering, and ultimately Living the lessons.

Today's easy lesson: A quick reminder of the gist of the last Study: Lazarus is called back to Life, he is standing in the tomb entrance looking more or less like a Mummy, and most that witness this miracle now Trust Jesus. Yet there are those that ran off immediately to tell the High Priest, along with the ruling body called the Sanhedrin, and to what end? To ensure that those in control of the Religious Jews would have reason to put together a plan to put Jesus to death. Nothing should stop them now. They do not want to lose power over this One's ability to do things they cannot. Obviously they believe Jesus is a subversive with magical powers, not God's Son, and certainly not Israel's Savior.

How does this help you in your daily walk as a Christian? In the 1960's a rush to freedom from tradition became popular to the degree of looking just as Jesus did to the Jewish Leadership, some kind of subversion. Rock and Roll and many movements began, all of which had at their heart to bring about several things, from the freedom from prejudice, freedom from war, and even from traditional church teaching. If you could go back to that time you would hear that a whole generation of young people from their teens were gathering and crying out against the way things were in our country for decades. The idea that one person was not as good as another was found to be something that should no longer be tolerated. The idea that war was a necessity but instead befriending and loving one another was a better way, made its way through the music, the theater, the books, and the movies of the time. The older folks that had to suffer in so many ways, enduring losses of family members from a lack of good work conditions to being used as nothing more than what seemed like a shooting gallery in wars, thought all of which was necessary to keep America a wonderful place to live for everyone, mostly those that were trying to change things. Yet the younger just weren't seeing things the way they thought America could be. A hard line was drawn in the sand if you will, "Love America or Leave It." Yet the love of America was the reason both did what they did. Those contentious days of the sixties are what brought us to where America is today. The question is did we take the right path? In Truth, God sees to that in the case of His Son, or in the case of this nation, He will see to it that this nation be needed to favor His People, Israel, in the decades to come.

The fact is, that both groups in the Scripture above have God in mind, but only one group was taking the better path. God had to allow the inevitable crushing beating of His only begotten Son to come to fruition, even help it come along. Then watch Him die on a Cross not even looking like a human being, Jesus was beaten so badly. Why would our Father, Jesus' Father allow that? It was the only way to make peace between He and His Creation since we would not listen to the way of Love. Self centered thinking which creates things like hatred, war, abortion, personal gain and more are not the ways to our Father's Heart. How did He put it? Oh yes, "Allow me to be the judge," as the Lord says "Vengeance is mine." In other words you keep following the God of Love, (Agape' Love: Absolute Commitment Under All Circumstances) and allow Him His rightful place in Wisdom and Grace. We are to Live and Love in Peace.


Remember this; We only use the things of this world a short time, then it is someone else's until the next one gets it, and so on. All we can leave here on earth and bring to heaven when we go is the legacy of Agape' Love. Have a Grace Day!

Brother Glenn

Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/

John 11:45-52 "Do You Trust Jesus Out Of Admiration Or Out Of Fear?"

John 11:45-52

45Therefore, many of the Jews, the ones having come to Mary and having seen what Jesus did, believed [or, trusted] in Him. 46But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus did. 47Therefore, the Chief Priests and the Pharisees gathered together a High Council (Sanhedrin) and said, “What are we doing? For this Person is performing many signs! 48If we leave Him in this way, all will Trust in Him, and the Romans will come and will take away both our place and nation.” 

49But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being High Priest of that year, said to them, “Do not know anything, 50nor do take into account that it is advantageous for us that one person should die on behalf of the people, and the whole nation shall not perish.” 51But this he said not from himself, but being High Priest of that year, that one prophesied that Jesus was about to be dying on behalf of the nation. 52And not on behalf of that nation only, but so that He shall also gather together into one the children of God, the ones having been scattered abroad. (John 10:16; 12:32)

Good Day Child of God! "Father? Thank You for teaching, guiding and directing us this day. Take charge now and write your Wisdom on our hearts. Amen"

The thing that sounds a loud, deep symbol in our verses above is that Jesus just brought a man back from the dead, everyone seemed to believe it, but some to Trust and Admiration, yet some to Trust and Fear.

This type of reaction is common to mankind, is it not? We are not people of a singular thought. We, as a whole were not knowingly destined to the opportunity of becoming Children of God. Really. Let's look into it.

Today's easy lesson: Do you know the meaning of John 10:16, 12:32? In case you don't it is a reference that the Bible Transcriber is using to support the last sentence above. It is left in place because they support that all of mankind fits into God's Plan. As in the Trust in Jesus toward Admiration, and the Trust in Jesus to Fear, this fits in nicely.

The reason this can be said is as a Gentile, we have not been spoken of by the Father through Jesus in any detail, that is in acceptance as His Children then, nor in foretelling God's Plan. Only Israelites and Jews have been the focus. Even the High Priest did not know he was involved in Prophecy at the time he uttered the words of Jesus dying on the Cross for His People. We as Gentiles find ourselves included with this Prophecy, and it is a great and wonderful thing!

How does this help you in your daily walk with the Father? If it hasn't hit you yet, we are studying verses that are written from Israelites and Jews to Israelites and Jews. All of a sudden God is revealing that Gentiles are included in His Plan of Grace, and the reason it doesn't make a large impact on us, is that we forget that we are not God's Chosen. In His Plan B however, to bring sensible thinking back to the Israelites and Jews, He is going to turn the Promise and the Grace Gospel over to the Gentiles. We will grasp it, grab it, and in time the Chosen become jealous over being placed second. Keep in mind that Judaism seems to have creeped in and is just another impediment to keeping God in the Hearts of His Chosen as first and foremost. It is the same with the Gentiles in too many cases, and in the end religion does not promote a relationship to the Father, it holds people at arms length from Him, making behavior the link between a loving, personal relationship and worshiping the Father in Spirit and Truth. 

As Gentiles we are so privileged in our place in God's Heart, yet we don't take it seriously enough to look into it, to take time to foster that relationship, and find where the most joy in our lives can come from. Choices, Trust to Admiration, Trust to Fear. Which are you? I know this to be Truth; God your Father Loves you like no other is able too. Take time with Him today, for your own good. Have a Grace Day!
 

Brother Glenn

Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
This blog link: http://askgodsword.blogspot.com/

John 11:38-44 "The Lazarus Example~Life Put Into The Dead"

John 11:38-44

38So Jesus, again being deeply moved in Himself, comes to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39Jesus says, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the one having died, says to Him, “Lord, already he stinks, for it is the fourth day.” 40Jesus says to her, “I said to you that if you believe you will see the 
Glory of God, did I not?” 41Then they took away the stone from where the one having died was lying. And Jesus lifted His eyes upwards and said, “Father, I give thanks to You because You heard Me. 42Now, I knew that You always hear Me, but because of the crowd, the ones having stood around, I said, so that they shall be convinced that You sent Me.”             


43And having said these things, with a loud voice He cried out, “Lazarus...come out!” 44And the one having died came out, feet and hands having been bound with grave-clothes, and his face had been wrapped around with a facecloth. Jesus says to them, “Loose him, and allow to be going.”


Good Day Child Of God! "Father? Hear our prayer so that you teach and mold us into Children that would have you say, 'Well done good and faithful servant'"


The last two Studies could be made into a nice comedy skit if the subject weren't so serious. Maybe in Heaven when the Father has everyone recalling their lives He will bring up how some of the mourners may have been doing their best acting job possible, really never believing Jesus could do a thing to help Lazarus. And Lazarus! Standing at the cave entrance hardly able to walk with all the grave bandages on, and for all the world looking like the first mummy.


A smile aside, this is really a serious moment, second only to the time leading up to the death, burial and Resurrection of Jesus. How can this be? Let's see what the Holy Spirit has in mind for us in this lesson.


Today's easy lesson:  What do we have here in comparing the Gospel that Jesus is spreading, the Gospel that the eventual Apostle to the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul, will teach, compared to what was being taught by the Jews then, and the traditional Christian Churches now. Christian Independents or Protestants and those of the Roman Catholic Church and similar persuasions?


Let's take a quick, short list of the differences in the two Gospels. One, the One Jesus intended to be the Good News-the Gospel of Grace, and the other we will call simply Religious. For one thing, the Good News-Grace does not claim a Gospel of works by mankind to please God enough to earn a place by His side. The Religious most certainly includes works by mankind to get to Heaven. In the Good News, Jesus did not take away worship, days of Spiritual Holidays and Remembrances, nor the time for the good of mankind to rest and to build on that important relationship with the Father. In a similar way, the Religious also takes note of the importance of tradition, rest, worship and so on, but not in a personal relationship, but in the way of obedience. 


However, the Good News-Grace does put aside sin, the Ten Commandments, which are for the good of mankind, not a test to see if you are measuring up to the Father's Standards, and other minor Laws within the larger Law. Yet the Religious did no such thing, as it sees as part and parcel for our good in God's eyes to be obedient, serious, and when they see that someone is not doing as they might consider an action or inaction, incorrectly they take their understanding and start a similar but new style of Christianity. All that did was create tens of thousands of Christian Churches, so called. Who is right by God's Standard?


This will help you in understanding your Father. God wants to lead us. Not just now, since Adam and Eve. He didn't tell them what they had to do, He warned them and in that way, they with their Free Will as we have today could follow Him or not. They decided not. They wanted to become like God and lead. So it is with how we think today. We want something, anything from a larger sanctuary to a new pair of shoes, we go and get it started before having the money or a plan to be sure everything is just right, and then ask our Father to Bless our great plan. Something often goes wrong in life, or so it seems, and our leadership doesn't seem to be getting that Blessing from God we expected. I know why! God just says no to prayer sometimes. Or, maybe He says yes all the time, but we are outrunning His ideas where something better that He had in mind but was never given to Him to do. Jesus never once took the lead. He only said what he heard the Father say, and did what the Father told Him to do. Are you and I better, smarter, or closer to the Father than Jesus? No, we in fact are Children from God, born of Adam and Eve, who died when they took a bite of the fruit, deciding they could do as good as God. What did God say to them if they would not follow but lead? "You will surely die," and they did, Spiritually. Right there and then. They were allot like God at first, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, able to walk and talk with the Father, but upon their decision to go it their way, the Holy Spirit was taken from them and they died Spiritually. Yes they lived a physical, earthly life, but no Spirit. Eventually dying physically, all along Hidden from seeing God, and there mistake caused all mankind to become children of Adam and Eve. That is why Jesus is called the Second Adam. Adam had the Holy Spirit just as Jesus did, and thankfully, Jesus did not quit on us so we could acquire the Holy Spirit too. Only this time by Faith, Trust, not works-that was Jesus' Job. 


Jesus came, took our sin that separated us from God, took the punishment for it, He defeated death by coming back to Life, tearing the Curtain in half top to bottom in the Temple allowing mankind to once again the opportunity to walk and talk and be with their Father without an intermediator. Not only after physical death on earth, but Living now as the Holy Spirit indwells you the moment you accept Jesus' works on your behalf, and Trust Him which is greater than just understanding the reason. Trust meaning putting Him first, and you following His lead. 


Lazarus is an exact example of what the Father wanted Jesus to accomplish. Once you were dead, the walking dead, but now you Live if you Trust in Jesus' Works. You Follow your Leader, you never Lead the God of God's, the God of Love, He Who Does for You, and You Benefit from His Agape' Love as it was always intended to be. Your will is rightly given to the One Who is so superior to us in every way, that it would be silly not to allow Him to Bless His Children. "Thank you Father for Lazarus' example, and thank You for being the ever loving leader we need in our Life at every moment." Have a Grace Day!

Brother Glenn 
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/

This blog link: http://askgodsword.blogspot.com/

John 11:28-37 "Jesus Is Moved, By Sincere Love"

John 11:28-37

28And having said these things, she went away and called Mary her sister privately, saying, “The Teacher is present and is calling you.” 29Then that one, when she heard, rises up quickly and comes to Him. 30Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but He was in the place where Martha met Him. 31Therefore, the Jews, the ones being with her in the house and comforting her, having seen Mary that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going off to the tomb so that she should weep there.”  

32So Mary, when she came where Jesus was, having seen Him, fell to His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You were here my brother would not died.” 33Then Jesus, when He saw her weeping, and the Jews having come with her weeping, was deeply moved in His spirit and was disturbed. 34And He said, “Where have laid him?” They say to Him, “Lord, be coming and see.” 35Jesus wept. 36So the Jews said, “Look how He was affectionately loving him!” 37But some of them said, “This One, the One having opened the eyes of the blind man, He was able to do so that also this one would not have died, was He not?”

Good Day Child of God! "Father? For words so simple to read, these are quite the opposite to understand. Teach, lead, and stamp upon our open hearts your Wisdom that we may follow you and glorify you in doing so."

The story of Mary and Martha above is easy enough to follow, but that last verse, verse 37. It changes what was simple to very difficult when we transfer the way the language of Jesus' time was understood, to the way we speak today. Another good reason to keep things in context.

Today's easy lesson: In our verses in the prior Study and above, Martha is outside waiting on Jesus, and when she speaks to Him, she runs to the house and to find Mary because Jesus wants to speak with her. Martha is usually the one working hard and Mary just hanging out waiting for something to happen, but Martha was not happy that Lazarus has passed away, so she, as the more responsible one, wanted to tell Jesus something He should have known; "If you were here, Lazarus wouldn't have died." Of course Mary repeated that statement, and then there are the verse 37 group, who in short are saying "Oh, He stayed back, curing sight is one thing, but raising the dead? This He cannot do, can He?"

Everyone that was in the house crying and making a big fuss over Lazarus dying, when they saw Jesus as they followed Mary, must have been so sincere in their mourning, that Jesus was moved by their tears. It shows the Father and the Son's Priority that Jesus is so moved by Love, the outpouring of kindness and caring, in this case for Martha, Mary, and Lazarus and those of their family. Jesus pushes forward in what seems to be a rush to have Lazarus' tomb opened. Some are surprised by Jesus in His asking to move the stone, but they'll understand soon enough because their sadness soon turn to great joy. We can anticipate why, but more, there is a lesson that opens our eyes wide so that understanding our Father's Will brings us closer to Him, His ways, and His Loving actions.

How does this help our daily walk with the Father? 
It is no easy task to read and understand the words of the Bible. Impossible without the Father leading to come up with the real meaning and lesson. Some will tell you if you cannot understand what a verse says to skip by it, mark it, and come back to it later to see if you have gained insight. Truly you will get more from your Bible if you first give your study to the Father, and stay with each section until you understand it, even if you have to research other scholars ideas of what is being said. However, be careful that what ever others may think, that it fits exactly into the rest of the lessons you have read. There are no exceptions, there is no taking portions of Scripture out of context, and certainly there in only one Gospel, One God, and One Savior. Regardless of what Bible type you read, or who has translated it. Their is only One Gospel. Period. Often the words of the Bible that follow the verse you don't understand will answer your question. Either way, small bites at a time is key to understanding the lesson the Father has to help open your mind. Each time making you more excited to go on studying. In doing so, the Father's ways become more of your ways. The more victories you have in understanding the Bible, the more you will want to continue reading. The more you read, the more you understand, but it is not a race, it is a journey. In the same way the more you sit and talk to the Father, the more confidence you will have in what value your life has, and the assurances there are in God's Promises, especially concerning Eternal Life! Remember everything we read is about our Father doing things for us, in Love, to help us gain Spiritual Confidence, not a new worldly object. Live and Love fellow Students, and in that way we honor the Father. Isn't that what Jesus does every chance He gets? Have a Grace Day!

Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/

John 11:17-27 "ONE LESSON, ONE MESSAGE, ONE GOSPEL!"

John 11:17-27

17So having come, Jesus found him four days already having been in the tomb. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away (1.7 miles, 2.75 kilometers). 19And many of the Jews had come around Martha and Mary, so that they should comfort them concerning their brother.             

20Then Martha, when she heard that Jesus is coming, met Him. But Mary was sitting in the house. 21So Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You were here my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give to You.” 23Jesus says to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha says to Him, “I know that he will rise again, in the Resurrection on the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE! THE ONE BELIEVING IN ME, EVEN IF HE DIES, HE WILL LIVE! 26AND ALL LIVING AND BELIEVING, (TRUSTING) IN ME SHALL BY NO MEANS DIE INTO THE AGE! (fig.,SHALL NEVER DIE!) "Are you convinced of this?” 27She says to Him, “Yes, Lord, I am convinced that YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, THE ONE COMING INTO THE WORLD.”

Good Day Child of God! "Father? Please lead and teach us this day. This lesson, this message, your Words are too important to not have you press them on willing hearts. Amen."

We've only just begun, and the lesson and message cannot be more easily stated than it is. What would convince anyone to take these simple words stated above and change them into some complicated religion of various required activities when Jesus Himself is speaking Truth in Love and in Spirit?

Today's easy lesson: It  seems to me that there could be little left to say after what has been said already. However, there is something that happens between the verses above and other supporting verses in the Bible that proclaim the same things that people find a way to twist them around. All they accomplish in the end is confusion and misdirection, except that the Bible and the basic Gospel are carried forward. In the end, those from the lowest to the highest ranks of Christianity pass away, whether they have gained Life or not is something you and I do not know, only the Father knows. Yet His Words, as Jesus proclaimed, will never die. That leaves those with a mind of seriousness of an interest in God, His Love, His Will, and His Ways, will find the Truth, and that Truth will set them free.

How does this help you in your daily walk with the Father? What we seem to miss is so easy, maybe it is too easy. If we give our will to the Father, ask Him to Live and Love through us every moment of every day, leading us, not we deciding and asking for His Blessing, is this; The Father will know of your needs, your wants, and your expectations, but more, He knows you inside and out. How? Simply by the facts that the Holy Spirit indwells you, and that you have given Him information through your conversations with Him as you would your best friend on earth. Then He knows what to do, when your prayer would be best to come to fruition, and whatever your prayer, the answer the Father comes up with is the best answer. You can find joy if your get your expectation, and you can feel joy if something different that would be a better result considering all the things you don't know that are going on around you or in your future.

We are all so busy, just taking time to say a simple "Thanks for lunch Father" is difficult, never mind getting into conversations about your secret life. Remember, the Father wants you to be close to Him, so He can show you He Loves you, He understands you, and in the end, where fear can grip you most, fear is no where to be found, because you know the Truth is you are not going to die, just change your old worldly clothes, this frail human body, for a new body, a new life, even a new name. The excitement of being in a new world where goodness and your fondest wishes are the norm, is more than just a hope then, it is a reality. 

What about fear here on a daily basis? "Is this or that going to happen, what should I do, or not do?" Give it to your Father and follow Him, and the fear will subside with experience, because He is Faithful to you, not so much the other way around. Have a Grace Day!

Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/

John 11:11-16 "The Example Of Raising Lazarus From The Dead"

John 11:11-16

11These words He said, and after this He says to them, “Lazarus our friend has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I shall wake him up.” 12Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be cured.” 13But Jesus had spoken concerning his death, but those ones thought that He is speaking concerning the resting of sleep. 14So then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus has died. 15And I rejoice for your sake that I was not there, so that you shall believe. But we shall be going to him.” 16Therefore Thomas, the one being called Didymus [“Twin”], said to his fellow-disciples, “Let us also go so that we shall die with Him." 

Good Day Child of God! "Father? Please teach me and help me to remember Your Wisdom." 

Just in case you don't remember what came before this paragraph, the Disciples questioned Jesus about the wisdom of going to see Martha, Mary, and Lazarus when the Jews were seeking to find Jesus and stone Him to death. Jesus told them there is only so much time to get His work accomplished, even while He took His time to start the journey to Lazarus, days in fact, He intended to show the Apostles that the Power of God could bring the dead back to Life.

There is a small problem in this story. It is spread out among many more verses, too many in fact to make the reading and teaching of them all at once. The lesson is not difficult if you think as God and Jesus do, in Spirit, not flesh. Let's take a quick look what that means and how it affects your prayers.

Today's easy lesson:  Many of are taught the Bible from the earthly perspective. Never mind that, as well, we are taught it out of context, which makes it even more difficult to understand. If you look at the situation above, you will find that someone has to be praying that Jesus would get there and heal Lazarus so that he wouldn't die. Jesus could easily have done that. Jesus in fact tarried two days before leaving to deal with this situation. My question would be, as I would think many have thought, "Why wait, you could save many broken hearts by healing Lazarus sooner rather than coming later as you are doing?" This is simple. The Father wants Jesus to prove that He, and by He, Jesus is included, can turn death into Life. If you are looking for a quick, easy solution, something that helps your needs alone, your prayer would be self centered and in your thinking unanswered in this case. However, standing outside looking in, you can see that Jesus heal Lazarus, just a bit more dramatically. Again as a younger Christian I often wondered why the big spectacle of raising Lazarus from the dead. I realize there is more to it now, but most Christians don't get it. 

How does this help you in your daily walk with God? The Bible states that we don't know how to pray, but the Spirit interprets for us. It also says that time for God is different than it is for people. Lastly, as a Christian, we tend to go to God with a laundry list of needs, sometimes hoping the entire list is answered immediately, not one at a time. Here is the problem. God fits many situations together like a picture puzzle giving help in different ways to different people all at the same time, and/or He knows of something that you don't that has to occur, and you must wait. We don't like to wait, our humanity is weak, but the Father answers in Spirit. He, once again, knows things you do not, and in order to enjoy your requests to be answered as you would want them to be, you must follow the Father, not lead Him. You cannot tell Him what to do, even as our "twin" brother above was ready to go and die with Jesus at what he thought was going to be a fight to the death, not the dead brought back to Life. 

God is more interested in His relationship with each of us than He is with some things we find important in our physical life. The only way you get all of your prayers answered that will result in you feeling peace, love, joy, calm, gentleness, kindness, patience, and self-control, is to follow the Father. Don't do and ask for His Blessing. That is backwards. Follow His lead and accept His gift of Life, which is what Jesus is emulating Salvation using Lazarus. You too would laugh at the site of a former dead man walking out of his grave like a mummy and coming into the loving arms of those he cared for so very much. Who won in this situation? The Apostles, the friends, Lazarus? They all did. You see? Follow, don't lead, and your Life will bear fruit, even if at times the fruit is just for you. Have a Grace Day!

Brother Glenn 
Entire New Testament: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/ 
 

STUDENT: Are The Jews Of Today The Same As Those Of Jesus' Time?

Dear Brother Glenn, 

Are the Jews of today that are claiming the Promised Land the same as the Jews of Jesus' time?

Good Day Child Of God! "Father? Teach Us, Please? Amen" The Jews of Palestine of Jesus' time and the Jews as we know them today are by and large legitimate heirs of the land. Certainly some are not, and if you listen closely to the news and others as they speak of the area, it is referred to as Israel, yet the people as Jews. That is simply a mistake in knowledge and interest in Truth. In any case, I believe this is a fulfilling Biblical prophecy and will continue in its program of returning Israelites to the Promised Land each and every day until the last moment of this age.


There are many things that are hard to understand about God in the Bible, many things that don't fit what we try to put together, yet many many preachers, teachers, and so called scholars continue to try to build a story to get us to the point where Jesus returns, or not. I know for certain that I don't know all the things that will happen on the way, either in worldly events nor in ecclesiastical events, but I do know this. Jesus will return, after which I still do not understand what will occur. To say differently is to me to say "I have God's Mind". I do not. Even Jesus did not. He claimed as to the last day, only the Father had that knowledge, as that is the case there, it makes sense that there are many other things we don't have privilege to know as well.


God started our Universe as we call it. It still is building, it is not dormant, it is active, it is in one dimension. Four or five thousand years ago, not even having the wheel yet, how does He explain to anyone what has been done in and for our place and time, or if He has others, except to hint that there are others that He claims to have interest in. Where, who, what, why, when? We don't know, we could not comprehend at that time. Even now we would understand what He may have done, but nothing more. Our problem is we think God is here to serve our biological needs, when in fact the biological is of little interest to our Father, it's very easy for Him to manipulate it, but our Spirit, our Faith, our searching out Him, that is another matter! Mankind spends more time by far searching for every type and kind of "thing" that can bring wealth and power to one or more people than decide to allow God to show them the way to everything in this Creation. We could be far ahead of where we are if we would do just that. All this is said, to point out that the Jews of Jesus' time, Jews He wished to bring a message of "Wrong direction people-no religion", are the same as those of this time, by and large. Of course there is always that one or two sneaky sneaky ones that try to change the equation.

It is good to spend some time with you, and the plan has not changed to continue on in these Studies until the entire New Testament is done. That will come at the end of John's Gospel, where we are right now. During this sabbatical, I have come to learn even more than I expected, and as the Father directs me to restart, we will do that and when finished I believe we will find a new blog with pointed teaching, teaching that will bring you too the place that will not be mistaken as to where we are in these last times, and what and how so many are trying to take your attention off of our Lord Christ Jesus and our Father. Make no mistake, the teaching of today in ALL the churches is being subjugated to bring you down to near useless as Children of God either now or later. I spent some time looking: Children's Church is what I continue to see. Feelings more important than understanding. It will be exciting and it won't be hard to understand. Have a Grace Day!

Brother Glenn

John 11:8-10 "Jesus, Aliens, and Ghosts, Are You Serious?"

John 11:8-10

8The disciples say to Him, “Rabbi, [just] now the Jews were seeking to stone You, and You are going there again?” 9Jesus answered, “Are [there] not twelve hours in the day? If anyone shall be walking about in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10But if anyone shall be walking about in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 

Good Day Child of God! "Father? We are asking you, as we open our hearts and minds, to teach us and show us your ways and your will. Amen" Many things have happened to those that reach to gods and God over the centuries, so many things in fact, that it is almost unbelievable that Jesus is believable as the Messiah. How can I say that as a Christian? I say this not so much for me, but I am included as the Scripture itself has told us that in the end, whatever end we want to attach the word "end" too, our life, or the world's end, because so many people do not fear what they put their faith in, nor do they fear what they do not know.

Sound confusing? It isn't, and here is why. Jesus tells the Apostles, not some guys standing around that just met him a couple of days ago, but the Apostles, that He is going to do something that seems on the outside to be dangerous for all included. They question Him. Have they not just spent so many days and weeks, even months and years, watching Him get Himself into corners where there is no out, yet He walks out? Have they not seen miracles that would make any man believe everything He says, yet they doubt? We all doubt at times if we are truthful. But worse, so many believe in the things that are not Truth, are not shown to us through the Scripture, especially from Jesus and more so from the Apostle Paul, who adds you and I, Gentiles, by invitation or asking, into the Family of God, we all should be confused. Let's see what the Spirit is trying to tell us.

Today's easy lesson:  If you take a quick look into the past, as far of the past as we can get a clear look at, we find mankind worshiping stuff. By stuff, I mean collections of stars, sculptures of many kinds and types, animals, the moon, the sun, even other men and women. There is no Spiritual God in the mix, none. It wasn't until Abraham that the idea of a single God, an only God came to be introduced to what was then modern times. Yes, you can go before the flood and see differently, but you see this is the point. There was a reset with the Flood, a restart, even most hard core scientists will agree with that, but we silly Christians don't think, we do. By we do, I mean we do have some Christians, so called, leaders and pastors, who portend to read the Bible, but they continue to take texts out of place, put them together with other texts taken out of place and tell us this is Truth. And we buy it! That is why there are so many sects in Christianity today. 

Let's for a moment go outside Christianity. Do you have any idea how many people believe we are heading to the end of time here on earth, that the world indeed is ending very soon, but it is not Jesus coming, on the contrary, they will argue, the people He left behind believed He would return during their lifetime, even the Apostle Paul, and so He is not the One He said He was. No, we were planted here by aliens, and in all seriousness they see signs more and more every day that they are watching to save our world from ourselves.

Then there are the groups of people who believe that the ghosts and those types of, well whatever you want to call them, are actually beings watching over us, just like the aliens, and they are watching to stop man from ending the human species, because we are so wonderful.

How in this world can this help you in your daily walk with the Father?  When you read those things above you want to laugh and call them strange people. Yet there are so many of them you would be shocked. They believe Christians have completely missed the point, and why shouldn't they? Can you look at the Christian Religion as the only way to claim the ONLY God as theirs alone and they do this in a way that boggles the mind? Some sing and dance, others cling to rules, regulations and rites as though they were God, others pay homage to leaders that are larger sinners, if that were possible, than the rest of the world, and in the end there is no community. There is no family, there is jealously, anger, greed, stupidity, and excuse to do nearly anything and everything from invading countries to invading babies bodies in the womb because it is the Christian thing to do. In the mean while the world watches as many go about checking off the calendar that they made it church this week, others go and sing and wave their arms and dance and spend a couple of minutes listening to some sermon they don't want to hear and don't remember when they leave. The number of serious Christians can be counted easily, and when you take into consideration that they are the ones finding the narrow gate, we all need to become more serious about what in this world is going on. It doesn't get more serious, it isn't that it is a matter of life and death, oh well, yes it is! Unless perhaps you know something you should have read in the Bible or heard from an honest teacher. One last thing. Notice, Jesus waited, Jesus chose the day and time to go. Jesus did not do this on His own. He followed the Father's lead. He told everyone that, and then along come the Apostles spouting human wisdom on God's watch. We still do that today. If you want to go to Children's Church for your entire life, go ahead, but you have to wonder if our Father will say "Well done good and faithful servant," when you meet Him. And make no mistake, we are all going to meet Him. Do you believe that? No? Have you read Revelations? Is that a misunderstanding of what it says? Stay close to your Father, follow, do not do and ask for Blessings for your work planned or done. You will have peace, love, joy and more if you follow. That is the Father's way to prove and secure your Faith, your Trust, and it is the way the Love your Father has for you plays out. The others? Good luck with that. Have a Grace Day!

Brother Glenn 

Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/

John 11:1-7 "How To Find Good In The Confusion Of Some Scripture"

John 11:1-7 

1Now was a certain being sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2And it was Mary, the one anointing the Lord with ointment and wiping His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was being sick. 3So the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, listen! Whom You affectionately love is sick.”             
4But Jesus having heard, said, “This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God shall be glorified through it!” 5Now Jesus was loving Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6So when He heard that he is sick, then indeed He remained in the place in which He was two days. 7Then after this, He says to the disciples, “We shall be going again to Judea.”

Good Day Child of God! "Father? We open our hearts and minds to your instruction. Please make it plain and teach us. Amen." This is one of the times that when you read the Scripture you are apt not to take it too seriously because it is hard to fully understand what is going on. Generally speaking, Jesus is going to raise Lazarus from the dead, it will be evident very quickly.

On the other hand the story seems to be told backwards, and I am not sure why. For example we learn of Mary and Martha and Lazarus' relationship later on, after the introduction. Thus, only then do you understand why the Apostles questioned Jesus' notion to go back to a place of danger to Himself, well, and for them as well. Let's see what the Father has to say.

Today's easy lesson: At this point, there is not much to know except that if you are new to Christianity, the Bible, and more, studying the Bible alone, not realizing how much there is to this story is all you will get out of it. The reality is that Mary, Martha and Lazarus are old friends of Jesus, even more, close friends, almost family. Yet you would not know that at this point, so why John decided to put this section of his Gospel the way he did is a mystery. It makes me think that either someone tinkered with it, someone else was talking at the same time, or John was dictating and remembered he forgot to put the important fact of Lazarus up front. OR, it doesn't really matter who the man was that Jesus would bring back from his death. I know the thought is there that Jesus says in one place "sick", and in a very short sentence or so later uses the word "dead", and many come to the conclusion, "comatose". Not so. When you look up the words from the original Greek, it could have simply been stated correctly as dead, as I read it, but it wasn't. Keep in mind that at one point Lazarus was sick, he died, the timing is unclear, the relationship between the four of them is left open at this point as well, and all in all this, being a very familiar and necessary part of Jesus' Life, is not clearly stated at the start. It will become clear, in fact the whole Chapter is about this story, but at this time we can only pull one item that is important to know for all Christians.

How does this affect your daily walk with your Father? The Truth is, this is a very confusing read, but Jesus pointed out something very subtly that is True for you and I in our relationship with the Father. Jesus said Lazarus' situation is for a reason. So that the Father could verify the Son, and in turn the Son would verify the Father. Both getting what was needed at this time and in this place. For what reason? So that Jesus could continue to do the work the Father sent Him to do, and to prove that God exists, by the facts, not just by Faith alone. You see, by you allowing the Father to live and love through you, you accomplish things similarly. Every time the Father does something you know He had a hand in, your Faith did not do that, He did that so that your Faith could be factual, not fanciful. This is the reason you should try to stay close to your Father as much as possible, so that when the stuff hits the fan, or something that is needed by you, or someone you know or not, you are sure that your conversations regarding these issues, answered or not, are for the good, and nothing less; Both for you and for the Father. That is the basis of our relationship with God, and why we follow and He leads. Have a Grace Day!

Brother Glenn 

Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/

John 10:40-42 "On Being Worn Down"

John 10:40-42

40And He went away again beyond the Jordan River to the place where John was first baptizing, and He remained there. 41And many came to Him and were saying, “John indeed did no sign. But all, as many as John said concerning this One were true.” 42And many in that place believed in Him.

Good Day Child of God! "Father? Our heart and minds are open right now to your teaching. Please fill them with YOUR wants and desires. Thank You Father. Amen" I wish to start today with something that will help you understand why I wish, if you are a serious Student of God's Word, that you get a Transliteration from the Greek to English New Testament, a Hebrew to English Old Testament, and at least Matthew's Gospel from Hebrew to English. The reason for Matthew's Gospel, is that it was the only Book of the New Testament that comes to mind that was written in Hebrew. If you really want to dig deep, there is a great disagreement among scholars as to whether or not all the original texts, Old and New Testament were written in anything but Hebrew, Aramaic, or a combination of languages. For simplicity, do as I recommended, if you are not planning to make your life's work Biblical Translation.

Our two short verses above are a great example. After Jesus left the Jews at the Temple, He came to, that is He went to, the place John the Baptist was teaching and baptizing. In the last few words, it says, "42And many in that place believed in Him." In our common English we would say, "And many put their trust in Him."  Less words, more to the point, more accurate. They didn't just believe, they trusted. Going back to the size of the lexicon, that is the number of words able to be used to explain, then and now. Makes good sense doesn't it?

Today's easy lesson: Why do you suppose Jesus went to the place He did, John the Baptists home ground, so to speak after He walked away from His contentious Judaism zealots? Jesus and John were cousins, it is speculated that both of them were very close, both interested deeply in the Will of God, and both attended a School, a.k.a. small college, known as the a place of an option to the tradition of Judaism schooling. It was supposed to be a school of more freedom and understanding of God's Word. Whether the later is true or not is conjecture, but one thing is sure. Jesus was tired of fighting. After you spent the lions share of your time arguing with a group of tough minded and solidly religious leaders, wouldn't you want to go to a place where it all began and remember the Truth, where you and your close friend and relative worked together to begin to instruct those that wanted to understand in the righteousness God? Once Jesus got there, He found listeners ready, willing, and wanting to have the Faith the Father was looking for, and I am certain this made Him very relaxed and pleased. He taught, they listened, they became Faithful to Him. A wonderful refueling that arguments take from any human being. He knew His limits and knew what to do to renew. Many call this a retreat, it was not a retreat, it was reconstituting the needed Spiritual Food that keeps feeding the will to continue on. Not unlike eating a good meal after a hard days work.

How does this affect our relationship with our daily walk with the Father? I have noticed that what you and I should do as a loving, encouraging and moment to moment walk with the Father, can become draining when out among those that don't Believe, or that care only about themselves and what they can get out of you. Whether it is your clients, your work, your boss, and oftentimes your church and pastor that wear you down, listening to sermons that are actually wrong in their interpretation, and to that end there is a constant fight to keep close to your Father which is tough at the very least. Yet, when we meet with a group of like Believers, your guard is down, your Life is exposed and happily so, and so you sing praises, eat, drink, Study, and enjoy. At the end, no one wants to leave, it is so wonderful, and once again your cup is filled to the full, even the brim spilling over at times. This gives you confidence and a Spirit of Love to smile and keep on, the reason the Apostle Paul told us not to stop meeting one with another. I know as you all do that even though we don't have to be concerned about sin and rules, rites, and rituals, like attending church every Sunday, it is more difficult to live the Life of Love the Father would like us to live. So, He is there for you too, always, never taking His eyes off of you, never condemning you, concerned for you, laughing with you, and all the time securing you for that time when you sit at His table and drink from the cup of goodness, which is, peace, love, joy, calm, gentleness, kindness, patience and self-control. That is the freedom you will enjoy among so many others when are are face to face with your...Daddy. Have a Grace Day!

Brother Glenn

Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/

John 10:31-39 "The Unfathomable Understanding Of Jesus And God." PART 3 The Reason

 30"I and the Father are one!”

John 10:31-39

31Therefore, the Jews again took up stones so that they should stone Him. 32Jesus answered to them, “Many good works I showed from my Father. On account of which work of them stone Me?” 33The Jews answered Him, saying, “Concerning a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a human being, are making Yourself God.” 

34Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in Law, ‘I said, are gods?’ [Psalm 82:6] 35If He called those ones “gods” to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture is not able to be broken), 36whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, do say, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am God’s Son?’ 37If I am not doing the works of My Father, do not believe Me. 38But if I am doing, even if do not believe Me, be believing the works, so that shall know and believe that the Father in Me, and I in Him.” 39Therefore, they were seeking again to seize Him, and He went out from their hand. 

Good Day Child of God! "Father? As we open our hearts and our minds to hear your lesson today, please teach us fully, truly, and in a way we can keep it in our heart. Amen" It has been awhile since the last lesson and I was concerned about it. Now I see why the delay. I thought this had to do with me and my inability to do a good job, but in fact I now understand that the Father had in mind that I must learn a few more things about Him, the Bible, and what is to come. 

This is not to say I have a new revelation for anyone in this Study, but to tell you that it is time to be as serious as you can be in your relationship with the Father. At least take the time to learn what you can so you won't be as those above in Psalm 82, blindly holding on to the earth as though it is what is important in life.

Today's easy lesson: First we are going to take on the misconception that nearly every Christian has, that the Bible they hold within their fingers are inerrant. Take a look at the underlined Scripture above. If you read it, I can tell you that you cannot reconcile what Jesus is saying against what you understand. Do you really get what He is saying? I doubt it, the translation is wrong. Why? Because the copies from which they were taken were characterized as we are all gods, when in fact in the Hebrew it does not say that. To make it short, what it does say, and Jesus is misusing it to prove a point, to the so called Jewish knowledge base, that we were not meant to be just people, but we are, and in the end, we will all die, which it says in the verse that follows the one above, yet gods do not die. This does two things for Jesus. He misquotes, they don't pick up on it, he mis-uses, prophesying His death, and Resurrection. He indeed in a God. Yet, they still have not picked up on His intention, which is proof they are the blind leading the blind. Read Psalm 82, it is short, and you will see that is what it speaks about, the blind leading the blind, but you will have to look for a Hebrew English Transliteration. They are available and free to boot! Then you will begin to understand what all this has been about, Grace, God's intentions, Truth and so on. You might even find it interesting, if not, at least you will know that the Bible in its original language is inerrant, but not in the mistranslated verses we read today.

How does this help you in your daily walk with the Father? The end is near! The Apostle Paul said that, many more times over the last two thousand years this has been said as well. About two hundred years ago, the Rapture was discovered in Scripture, perhaps better said, someone had decided it was there. In any case many things have to happen before the very end, many of which could have happened already, there is proof of that, in fact, all of them may have happened already, and here we are. Jesus said it will come on us like a "thief in the night", and "if it were possible even the saved would be fooled." End Time teachings are going on right now that so many Christians are spending so much time and money on, and have for at least the last four decades and more! How is that working out so far? Lots of people have been wrong? No, they have all been wrong, my mistake. All of the people have become embarrassed, lots of people have become rich, more have become poor and all together the whole group is more or less useless to the end game, which is to build two things. The size of the Family of God, and the ability of closeness we should have with the God of Gods, the God of Love, the Creator, the Only True God, our Father, our Daddy, our God. The end is nearer than any of us like to think. We have a whisper of time here on earth, and all of a sudden we are no more. I have seen friends pass, people I know and I am only familiar with die as well, and it doesn't seem to make anyone realize it is now time to settle down and recognize Who and what is important in this life, or in your Life. It is knowing your Father, leaning on His leading, and Loving. Loving Him by following not leading Him, and Loving your family, your friends, neighbors, even enemies, so that whatever comes of your life or mine, one thing can be said at your end; That was a Godly person who loved others and cared for them as much as themselves. Isn't that what you want to hear? And when you see the Father and Jesus, don't you want to hear, "Well done good and faithful servant." We all do, we all fail at times, but that doesn't matter when you are a Child of God. Please take this last series lesson seriously. It may be your last chance to do that. None of us really know when, only He knows, and believe it, He cares about you. If nothing else, worry not about your sins, but work more on talking directly to your Father and listening for His plans for you. That is all good, nothing bad at all, for you, and for Him. Now you know the reason Jesus came, not to be lead by people, or by Law or rite, ritual or rule, but by Him alone. Have a Grace Day!

Brother Glenn
http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/


 

John 10:19-30 "The Unfathomable Understanding Of Jesus And God." PART 2 The Man

John 10:19-30

19So again came to be division among the Jews because of these words. 20But many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is raving mad; why do you pay attention to Him?” 21Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of being demon-possessed. A demon is not able to open eyes of blind, is it?” 

22Now the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23And Jesus was walking about in the temple in the Portico of Solomon. 24Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You hold our soul in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 

25Jesus answered them, “I told, and do not believe; the works which I do in the Name of My Father, these testify concerning Me. 26But do not believe, because are not of My sheep, just as I said. 27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28And I give to them eternal life, and they shall by no means perish into the age! (they shall never ever perish!) And no one will pluck them out of My hand. 29My Father who has given to Me is greater than all, and no one is able to be plucking out of the hand of My Father. 30I and the Father are one!”

Good Day Child of God! "Father? I open my heart and my mind that you may teach me for I am willing to hear and believe." It is more than interesting that our Scripture follows our last Study and the challenges of the understanding of why something happened, will outstrip our knowledge that it simply happened. For example, we know Jesus was a man, looked like a man, spoke like a man, walked like a man, had a mom and earthly dad as well. Even took on His earthly father's career of being a carpenter. We also know that nothing much is said of Jesus' earthly father except to point out that he really wasn't Jesus True Father, but more of a foster father instead.

Jesus' mother Mary was His real mother on the human side, implanted with the seed of God by the Holy Spirit, who is God, an extension of God. Jesus then the human is born of water and of Spirit. Interesting, but why this way?

Today's easy lesson: When we start to look at all the things that Jesus taught and the things He did, all of a sudden it starts to fall in place, doesn't it? It is meant too! There is no mistake, no accident, no coincidence, this is all planned out, and it wasn't planned by the human part of Jesus. How can that be said with certainty? Jesus would not have the ability as a human to pick His parents or His time of birth, or where He would be born, just to sight a few examples. The complex prophecy of future events, Judaism's background, the people who cared and those that only cared for themselves, cannot be put together by a child, then young adult. Of course, the teachings planned to be given at certain places and times would be impossible for any human to lay out ahead of time.

In Part 1 of this series, we learned why Jesus had to come when He did. It couldn't have been much later, nor to much sooner, because the world keeps moving forward, things change, rulers change, a simple idea from one person can change the lives of all people on an entire continent, so the timing was critical. Certainly, a human could not do that! Yet we have this Human/God Jesus, and why is it that He came as a man the way He did? The Father could have had Him just appear out of the desert coming from nowhere in particular, but what authority would He have over the Jews, even with knowledge and understanding? How could be prove Himself by Scripture if that were to happen. Besides the fact that the Messiah was to come after Elijah, and the Jews were looking for this man was a certainty. Elijah did come first, but the Jews didn't recognize him, only the Chosen did, and they followed him. His name was John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin. Without John the Baptist's introduction, Jesus would have had a more difficult time making the impact He did in the time needed. Again the question is why a man, why Jesus, why not a prophet, or perhaps a sign, similar to the "writing on the wall"? In order to make an impression on people, you have to be one of them. If God were to come Himself, no one could look at Him, and the overall message would be drowned out by an event only a few could attend. One reason that God only met with Moses alone after the Exodus. Moses represented God, but look at the impression Moses made. Almost nothing. In fact so poorly did he manage the people, he too was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Look at Jesus as opposed to Moses. Jesus could not be backed down, pushed around, even touched without it being planned ahead of time by the Father. The Father along with Jesus made the Messiah more than a man that would challenge religion and it's varied belief systems, and more than a person that would take the punishment for mankind's sins for all, forever, nor the man that would end up dying on a Cross to be Resurrected from the dead to defeat death. He has to be the perfect example of how God would like to be worshiped, followed, and spoken to. We have more than a simple carpenter that is sent to take our sins and end death for God's Chosen, we have a faultless example of what we should do to please God, in our actions, our speech, our treatment of others, and our reverence for our Father. The simplicity of which is to follow the Father, not do and ask His Blessing. Follow, not lead. No works, no penance for sins, no confession, no tithe, nothing with rites or rituals or traditions are for the Father. Those are for you alone. They would be your gift to you to feel better about being a Believer. They have NO effect on God's wishes for you. Jesus did all these things to complete the Law which then would end it. Jesus did all the works, as well, so God's Children, even as adopted, would know how to follow, not lead the Father. When you think about it, it is nearly exactly backwards of what most are taught in traditional church gatherings to this very day.

How does this effect my walk with the Father? To understand that to get together frequently with like minded brothers and sisters to honor and worship in song and thanksgiving is basic to being a Christian. To talk to your Father as though He were your real father here on earth, is one example Jesus gives us, for He didn't go through "Thee and thou" as He spoke to His Father. The Father was filled with Love for His Son, and did not want to be treated as though He is so large He must be approached like an untouchable. Please, Jesus/God/Holy Spirit are your best friends, act and speak like it! We see that Jesus had to become a man because for the long term, for you and I today and those to come, we had people research, like Luke, who wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts, to prove Jesus' lineage back to Adam and Eve. Well in reality it takes both Luke's Gospel and Mathew's Gospel for both Adam and Eve, but that said, we know He is real. He was here, if not, if He didn't do what is written, why tell anyone and risk being brought to your death for doing so? These are the reasons Jesus/God had to come as a man. It was God who started everything, it is God who keeps it going, and it is God who provides, and it is God who will decide when it all ends. You and I are Blessed to be fortunate enough to be able just to have Faith and Believe (Trust) in this, and our bonus for that is never dying. Those that would rather doubt, be the captain of their own ship, well, God will see to them in His own way and will. Jesus' visit was well planned, exacting, and in the end, the idea was to simplify it for the Father's Children. Just simple Faith. Everything else is man trying to get the Father to give more to a people that already have been given everything they need. God is Blessing all of His Children in so many ways. How truly thankful we should be. Yet, many are not, they want more. Jesus settled the sin issue, no sin. He opened the curtain that separated everyday men and women from God to allow for the personal relationship He wants with His Children, and the first gift-gift mind you, is Life and that forever, abundantly. Is there more? Yes, all the attributes of God at our asking; peace, love, joy, calm, gentleness, kindness, patience, faithfulness, and self-control. What do we ask for instead of these things? How about a new home, or car, or whatever else we see as important. Those worldly types of things that may come are not miracles, they are provisions, and our job is to use them properly, which is to honor our Father, and to be ready to do His Will, so the things that really have substance in this world bear something worthwhile for others, and we benefit from them as well. Amen? Have a Grace Day!

Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/