Partakers Christian Podcasts

Jesus - A Glimpse Of God Part 20

Teaching the disciples 2

 

Welcome back to our series, AGOG - A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 20 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Today we look briefly again at Jesus teaching his disciples!

Matthew 16:13-20

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will have been and will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been and will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Here we have a climax of the Gospels! Jesus has asked his disciples who they think he is. The disciples start out by saying who others thought he was. John the Baptist some say, yet others say Elijah or one of the prophets.  In Matthew's account of this conversation, they also say Jesus was Jeremiah! So let us have a look at a couple of those.

Firstly, John the Baptist! Some people were saying that Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead.  Or perhaps he is Jeremiah raised from the dead! Of course, there is some similarity between the two men. Jeremiah was the 'weeping prophet', and Jesus was the 'man of sorrows'. Jeremiah called the people to true repentance from the heart, and as we know Jesus did. Both men were misunderstood and rejected by their own people. Both Jeremiah and Jesus condemned the false religious leaders and the hypocritical worship in the temple and were persecuted by those in authority. But that's where the similarity ends! Now we come to a climax of the Gospels.

Confession of who Jesus is

Jesus asks His disciples: "That's who others say that I am. But what about you? You have been with me for a while now, who do you say that I am?"

Peter rushed to answer "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!" Peter is emerging as a spokesperson for the disciples. Finally the eyes of the disciples are beginning to open to who Jesus truly is! Unlike a few days ago while crossing the Sea of Galilee, when they were whinging about a lack of bread while forgetting that Jesus had twice created bread out of nothing!

Jesus then imparts a blessing on Peter! "You are Peter, and I can guarantee that on this rock I will build my church." It was revealed to Peter by God the Father. It is a play on words as the name of Peter means 'rock'! Peter is not the rock on which the church will be built but rather what he confessed when he said Jesus was the Christ Messiah! On this confession by Peter about who Jesus really is, the disciples or apostles would be the foundation of the church! Death or satan would not be able to stop and overcome the Church - the Church would be living and dynamic!

Jesus then goes further and says to all the disciples, not just Peter, that the keys to the kingdom will be given. Here Jesus is giving authority to all the disciples to establish His church and be its leaders!  Jesus who holds the keys of David (Isaiah 22:22 & Revelation 3:7) gives his own key to the disciples. Binding means to legislate and demonstrate. Loosing means to reprimand and excommunicate where necessary.  The disciples have received from Jesus the authority to determine true doctrine, punish false teachers and unrepentant sinners! They were to exercise complete authority in the church. They were also to go about and tell people the good news of Jesus and what that means for people!

Why did Jesus tell the disciples to keep quiet about Him?

Now Jesus warns the disciples to keep quiet about him for now. Why did Jesus do that? There are various reasons. These disciples still had much to learn about him and what it meant to follow him. Additionally, the Jewish people were expecting a victorious Messiah who would free them from their slavery under the Romans (Isaiah 11v1-5). However, they had forgotten that their Messiah must suffer and die (Isaiah 53:1-12; Luke 24:26). The Jewish people also thought that the Messiah would set up an earthly kingdom, but Jesus came to set up an everlasting spiritual kingdom (Isaiah 9:7; Daniel 7:13-14; Luke 1:33; Revelation 11:15). If the disciples had gone from this place immediately proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, people would have tried to force Jesus to be the Messiah they wanted him to be and make him their king. Rather than letting Jesus be the Messiah he was to be, who the Servant would suffer and die. Ergo, it was necessary for the disciples to keep quiet about Jesus for now!

Come back tomorrow for Day 21 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! We shall see together an example of why the disciples weren't quite ready to start fulfilling their mission and tell others about Jesus being the Messiah!

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Jesus - A Glimpse Of God Part 19

Jesus Teaches His Disciples 1

Welcome back to our series, AGOG – A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 19 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Mark 8:13-26 He got into a boat again and crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. The disciples had forgotten to take any bread along and had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus warned them, “Be careful! Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!” They had been discussing with one another that they didn’t have any bread. Jesus knew what they were saying and asked them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you don’t have any bread? Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you catch on? Are your minds closed? Are you blind and deaf? Don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?” They told him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many large baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?” They answered him, “Seven.” He asked them, “Don’t you catch on yet?” As they came to Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus. They begged Jesus to touch him. Jesus took the blind man’s hand and led him out of the village. He spit into the man’s eyes and placed his hands on him. Jesus asked him, “Can you see anything?” The man looked up and said, “I see people. They look like trees walking around.” Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes a second time, and the man saw clearly. His sight was normal again. He could see everything clearly even at a distance.  Jesus told him when he sent him home, “Don’t go into the village.”

Jesus and His disciples have now crossed the Sea of Galilee. Jesus on the journey across the sea had warned them about the yeast of the Pharisees, Sadducees and King Herod. Why does Jesus include King Herod? Jesus mentioned King Herod because he was a fickle ruler who was mean and treacherous. Herod would do everything to compromise with others for his own benefit alone. Both groups had wanted further signs from Jesus! The Pharisees and Sadducees as we saw yesterday! Herod we discover later from Luke 23, had longed for Jesus to give him a further sign!

The yeast talked about by Jesus was their hypocrisy and evil. This was seen in evidence in our last study where they asked Jesus for a sign. Yeast in the New Testament is often used to illustrate evil. A little evil can spread a long way, much like yeast can in bread. Just as false teaching can decimate a church. Jesus was also warning his disciples to be convinced of the signs they had already seen, without coveting yet more signs!

The disciples however, were discussing between themselves the problem of not having enough food. They were thinking that the yeast Jesus was talking about was yeast which went into bread. Jesus knew what they were talking about. They had obviously forgotten that they had witnessed the great feeding of the masses, and that Jesus had the power to feed them. No wonder Jesus seems exasperated with them and rebukes them! It is as if he is saying to them “Look,guys! Don’t you realise who I am yet? Even though we have been together for a while now! Two times you have been with me and collected the leftovers after we fed the crowds together!”

Oh the disciples had seen and heard but they still were lacking spiritual discernment and were spiritually blind and deaf. Their hearts were still hardened towards him in that aspect for now. It was also an act of ingratitude towards Jesus, that having twice seen bread created from nothing, they were now showing anxiety about not having enough bread.

Then as if to exacerbate the point, Mark puts here a little story that isn’t in the other gospels. When they get to Bethsaida, a blind man is bought to Jesus. First Jesus heals his eyes in part. The man looks and sees people walking as if they were trees, so there is no clarity yet with his vision – but at least he can see in part! Then a second time, Jesus heals the man’s eyes fully and his sight is restored. Jesus didn’t want to be seen as only a healer and miracle worker, so he tells the man not to say anything.

Mark is making the point that the disciples at this time were like that blind man. They were like the man at the first stage of his healing. They couldn’t see the spiritual truths and lacked understanding. To the disciples at this time, Jesus was still only a miracle worker, wise man, prophet and healer. It would not be until later that they would fully see!

What about you? Again, I ask, who do you say Jesus is? What are you waiting for? Jesus is offering you free eternal salvation, by grace alone through faith alone! The choice is yours! Jesus loves you and because He loves you, He will not force you to love Him in return! But His love is compelling and He is calling you to come and take up His free offer of eternal life! It is not too late! Today can be the day of your salvation and new life! Are you going to acknowledge Him as your saviour or are you going to merely put him aside as a miracle worker or man of wisdom?

Come back tomorrow for Day 20 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! We will see together, another example of Jesus teaching his disciples... See you soon!

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Jesus - A Glimpse Of God Part 18

18.  Jesus Teaches Religious Leaders 2

 

Welcome back to our series, AGOG – A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 18 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Mark 8:11-21 The Pharisees went to Jesus and began to argue with him. They tested him by demanding that he perform a miraculous sign from heaven. With a deep sigh he asked, "Why do these people demand a sign? I can guarantee this truth: If these people are given a sign, it will be far different than what they want!" Then he left them there.

Jesus faced constant opposition from the religious leaders. Normally there wasn't much love lost between Pharisees and Sadducees! They had mutual contempt and hatred for each other. But because both groups felt threatened by Jesus, they engaged in acts of unity against Jesus.

These religious leaders came to Jesus spoiling for an argument. They were unable to object any longer against the faultless teaching of Jesus, so they changed tactics. They came with a cunning scheme to test and tempt Jesus which was to ask for him to give and provide them with a miraculous sign from Heaven. However, they asked for a sign not because they wanted to see if Jesus was the Messiah. They had already decided that he wasn't. Their request was insincere, as they were actually wanting evidence that Jesus was not the Messiah.

Oh they had heard about and seen Jesus performing miracles. Things such as: feeding the multitudes, healing people and raising Lazarus from the dead. But these miracles to their minds was insufficient evidence that Jesus was God's Son - the anointed Messiah.  We know from other parts of the Gospel, they thought Jesus did those things by the power of satan. These leaders wanted special proof that Jesus was who He claimed to be, that He was indeed the anointed one sent from God and not sent by satan.

Jesus groans deeply when faced with these ungrateful religious leaders. These men were not seeking to glorify God but to glorify themselves and fill their own vanity. This caused Jesus' great vexation, frustration and grief. Jesus was guided by the Holy Spirit and had great zeal to do the work His Father had sent Him to do.  Jesus' frustration was because of the stubborn obstinacy of those who were the religious leaders to believe He was sent from God as the Messiah.

Also Jesus didn't want to give complete evidence that He was the Son of God the Messiah. Here Jesus does however reinforce his faith in His Father to bring him back from the dead. In Matthew's account of this incident, Jesus recalls Jonah, saying that just as Jonah was in the great fish for 3 days, so would the Christ be killed and be in the grave for 3 days and then rise again by the power of God. If Jesus had given complete evidence, then there would be no room for faith. Faith only exists where the object of faith is beyond the finite knowledge of humanity. Jesus wanted to find out who had faith and who did not.

In both the accounts by Matthew and Luke, Jesus reminded these religious leaders, that they could tell what the weather was going to be like, by looking at the sky and the direction of the wind. In other words, they had already had all the signs and miracles, but they refused to believe them! They were unable to see the forest for the trees! Their hearts were closed to the anointed Christ hence why in Luke's account of this event, Jesus calls the religious leaders hypocrites! They were hypocrites, because even if Jesus did give them a miraculous sign, they still would not believe that Jesus was sent from God as the anointed Messiah. No matter what signs Jesus gave, the religious leadership would never believe Jesus as their Christ.

What about you? Again, I ask, who do you say Jesus is? What are you waiting for? Are you like the Pharisees and Sadducees demanding a sign or are you prepared to take by faith, what Jesus Christ offers you! He is offering you free eternal salvation, by grace alone through faith alone! The choice is yours! Jesus loves you and because He loves you, He will not force you to love Him in return! But His love is compelling and He is calling you to come and take up His free offer of eternal life! It is not too late! Today can be the day of your salvation and new life! Are you going to acknowledge Him as your saviour or are you going to merely put him aside as a miracle worker or man of wisdom?

Come back tomorrow for Day 19 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! See you soon!

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Jesus - A Glimpse Of God Part 17

17. Teaching the religious leaders 1

 

Welcome back to our series, AGOG - A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 17 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Today we look briefly at Jesus teaching the religious leaders!

Cleansing the temple

(John 2:13-25) The Jewish Passover was near, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. He found those who were selling cattle, sheep, and pigeons in the temple courtyard. He also found moneychangers sitting there. He made a whip from small ropes and threw everyone with their sheep and cattle out of the temple courtyard. He dumped the moneychangers' coins and knocked over their tables. He told those who sold pigeons, "Pick up this stuff, and get it out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!"

His disciples remembered that Scripture said, "Devotion for your house will consume me." The Jews reacted by asking Jesus, "What miracle can you show us to justify what you're doing?" Jesus replied, "Tear down this temple, and I'll rebuild it in three days." The Jews said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple. Do you really think you're going to rebuild it in three days?" But the temple Jesus spoke about was his own body. After he came back to life, his disciples remembered that he had said this. So they believed the Scripture and this statement that Jesus had made.

While Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover festival, many people believed in him because they saw the miracles that he performed. Jesus, however, was wary of these believers. He understood people and didn't need anyone to tell him about human nature. He knew what people were really like.

Jesus cleansed the temple twice! Our example here occurred about a year after His baptism and the second cleansing, occurred two years later. In the cleansing of the Temple, we see Jesus' indignation rise. The Temple was central to Jewish worship. This is not Jesus, meek and mild! This is Jesus the indignant and upset! Jesus is in Jerusalem with His disciples to celebrate the festival of Passover. When he arrived at the Temple, Jesus saw in the courtyard, traders selling sacrificial animals. He also saw money changers who were there exchanging normal money for the special currency used to pay the Temple tax. 

So Jesus with righteous anger and indignation drove them out with a whip and upturning the tables. He was indignant that they were doing business and profiteering in the courtyard of His Father's house, the Temple. By cleansing the temple of such business, Jesus was making claim to being the Messiah, long foretold in the Old Testament.  His disciples knew this to be a sign of Jesus being that Saviour Messiah figure. Psalm 69:9 predicted a zeal to protect the honour of God's Temple. 

By behaving like this, Jesus was concerned for God's honour alone, for the Temple was for prayer and worship - not for the trading of merchandise, profiteering and banking. The religious leaders also knew it as a sign, hence they asked for a sign and a miracle to prove that Jesus did indeed have the authority to justify his actions. If Jesus did not give them a sign, He would merely be a lawbreaker, troublemaker and rabble-rouser. So Jesus offers them a sign "tear down this temple, and I'll rebuild it in three days."

Of course the religious leaders misunderstood Jesus' meaning.  The temple was still not complete, so how could he tear it down? What Jesus actually meant is revealed by John, after the event! The temple Jesus was talking about was his own body.  Throughout his public ministry, Jesus always had his crucifixion and his resurrection as his goal!

The sign Jesus would give to the religious authorities was his own resurrection, 3 days after his death! The resurrection which would be the final proof of Jesus being the Messiah they were waiting for! However, his own disciples were confused at this point and it was only after his resurrection that they would understand fully. It was then that they truly believe that Jesus was who He had always said He was. That Jesus was indeed the Son of God come to rescue the world from sin, death and decay.

Many people believed in Jesus because of his miracles but their faith was shallow. The remembered him as a great miracle worker, a leader and king - but certainly not their saviour and Messiah. Jesus didn't lean on them for support because He knew how fickle they could be.  Jesus put his full trust on God the Father for support, because He knew how reliable and trustworthy He was!

Who do you say Jesus is? What are you waiting for? But further, what are you going to do with this Jesus? Are you going to acknowledge Him as your saviour or are you going to merely put him aside as a miracle worker or man of wisdom?  It is not too late! Today can be the day of your salvation and new life!

Come back tomorrow for Day 18 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! See you soon at Partakers!

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Jesus - A Glimpse Of God Part 16

16. Teaching the living!

Welcome back to our series, AGOG – A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 16 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

John 11:30-46 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

Resurrection and the Life - Jesus’ friend Lazarus was sick. His sisters, Mary and Martha, sent word to Jesus about this, hoping that Jesus would come and heal him. Jesus replies to this family he loves, that he wouldn’t come just yet and that the illness would not result in death! How could he be so sure, particularly from a distance? Though Jesus knew that Lazarus was dead, he still waited a further days before going there. He knew it didn't matter whether Lazarus was dead 2 days or 4 days - dead is dead!

Such was the eagerness of Martha to see Jesus when he eventually arrived she left the house of mourners and expressed some faith that God would hear Jesus' prayers. She uttered that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, the Saviour Messiah spoken about in the Old Testament.

Jesus' humanity - The emotions of Jesus, love, feelings, weeping, sorrow and anger are revealed. They reflect his true humanity and his heart of compassion for people. Did you note that Jesus grew angry? Most people are surprised that Jesus gets angry and some people even deny it! As Jesus is the life, Jesus is angry with death and decay, as they are the end result of sin. Jesus is angry because death hurts people, even people close to him. This stirs Jesus deeply. Jesus is full of compassion, pity, sympathy, grief and care for this family. He shares their pain and shows it in his tears. He loves them and is determined to show this love in practise. He weeps.

Jesus' Divinity - Then the moment of truth arrives! Will Jesus be true to his word and raise Lazarus back to life again? Some doubted but Jesus knew that God would answer his prayers. First he thanks God that for hearing him and then issues the command for Lazarus to come out! Is this not one of the great moments of the Gospels? Jesus was true to his word! God heard his prayers and Lazarus was raised from the dead! He was dead but now back to physical life! One day Lazarus would die physically again but for now he had new life! This Jesus even had authority over death and life! Amazing! Yet, just after this event, the Jewish authorities, who were watching carefully, came up with a plot to kill Jesus.

This story is also true in a spiritual sense. When you allow Jesus to be your saviour and rely on him for your salvation, you become spiritually alive! Until then, you are spiritually dead. What are you waiting for? Again, I ask, who do you say Jesus is? But further, what are you going to do with this Jesus and let Him bring you to life spiritually? It is not too late! Today can be the day of your salvation and new life!

Come back tomorrow for Day 17 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! We will see together, somebody rejecting Jesus because the price of following Him was too high a price to pay! See you soon at Partakers!

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Jesus - A Glimpse Of God Part 15

15. Teaching the powerful!

 

Welcome back to our series, AGOG – A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 15 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

(Mark 10:17-22) As Jesus started on his way; a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honour your father and mother.'" "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."

Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

This story is in the three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. Luke describes him as a wealthy ruler (Luke 18:18-27). Matthew describes him as a young man (Matthew 19:16-26). In Mark’s account, he is simply a man (Mark 10:17-22). Put altogether that makes him a rich young ruler. He runs up to Jesus and falls on his knees before him. He wants eternal life, wants it now! When he calls Jesus a good teacher, Jesus responds “No one is good—except God alone.” This young man was also thinking that he was good, and that to have eternal life, he had to continue to be good. Hence his question, he wanted to make sure of it! Now Jesus could have been correcting the young man, but more likely Jesus was asking: “Do you know what you are saying and how close to the truth about me you are?”

Jesus goes on to list some of the 10 commandments. The young man assured Jesus that he had kept each of them faithfully in his pursuit of eternal life, yet was lacking that he was assured of eternal life. But a problem was that the law had to be kept perfectly and he had not! He had not fulfilled the first commandment: “You shall have no other gods but me!” He had also broken the greatest commandment “Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Jesus looked on this man with love and said to him, that in order to follow Him, that this young man lacked one thing. He would have to give up everything in order to follow Jesus.

That was a step too far, as he wanted his riches and eternal life but Jesus said he couldn’t have both. The rich young ruler left disconsolate. He remains the only man who left Jesus’ presence sorrowful, and that due to putting his trust in his riches and wealth alone. Now riches are not necessarily wrong but they do make trusting fully in God very difficult (Mark 10:23). The rich young ruler had hoped to have his riches as well as eternal life – but the price to have that eternal life, was too much for him to pay.

The disciples then asked the obvious question “If not this man, then who can be saved?” Jesus replied that it was impossible for any person to gain eternal life in their own power! But with God, it is possible, because this eternal life is a gift offered not a gift earned! As my followers, you will gain eternal life and you will become members of a new family! Persecutions will come, if you follow me, says Jesus – but it will all be worth it! I promise! If you want to be great in my kingdom, seek only me as your Saviour – put me first over all! All too much for that rich young ruler! Is it too much for you in the 21st century?

Again, I ask, who do you say Jesus is? But further, what are you going to do with this Jesus and let Him do to you? Are you trying to gain salvation through your good and charitable acts, rather than depending fully on Jesus Christ? It is not too late! Today can be the day of your salvation!

Come back tomorrow for Day 16 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! We will see together, somebody rejecting Jesus because the price of following Him was too high a price to pay! See you soon at Partakers!

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Jesus - A Glimpse Of God Part 14

14. Teaching the Penitent!

 

Welcome back to AGOG – A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 14 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

John 8:1–11 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Jesus, as all Rabbis and teachers did, was at the temple teaching and talking with people. It was also part of the role of the rabbi/teachers to ascertain what to do in certain difficult moral and legal situations. As part of this role, the Pharisees dragged in an unknown woman charged with adultery. The Pharisees, the Jewish religious teachers and elite have been watching Jesus. They had heard what he was doing, and knew that he was increasing in popularity and gaining more and more followers. The Pharisees here are plotting to lay a trap for Jesus. If Jesus said to stone the woman, then the Romans could arrest Jesus, for it was Roman law that any death must be conducted by them and not by others. If Jesus says to release the woman, then the Pharisees would say that Jesus is contravening Scripture and the Law of Moses. So what does Jesus do? He writes in the dirt (John 8:6).

We don’t know what He wrote, but from the Greek word for 'write', we understand that He was seemingly writing a report and that when in he says in John 8:7 “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”, He is in fact saying “If any one of you is without this sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Jesus was testing the motives of the Pharisees to see if their attitudes and purpose were pure and upright, in bringing this woman before him. Jesus also turned the trap upon them. If any of the Pharisees had not committed adultery, whether in the mind or the actual physical act, then they could have stoned her. As it was, they left one by one, the oldest first (John 8:9). He must have also been indignant at the way the Pharisees who were hypocrites were quick to condemn others, so maybe Jesus was reminding them of Jeremiah 17:13: “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water.”

So instead of passing judgement on the woman and also by eluding the trap of the Pharisees, Jesus passed judgement on the judges. Jesus having forgiven the woman of her sin, then charges her to leave her life of sin (John 8:11). Jesus condemned the sin, but forgave the woman.This reminds us that with the forgiveness of sin, comes a responsibility to live a life worthy of Jesus and to pursue righteousness. It is easily forgotten part of repentance. Jesus showed His compassion and forgiveness on the outcasts of their society. Jesus showed mercy and forgiveness and loved them.

There is no room in Christianity for actions and attitudes that defy Jesus’ ever-reaching and all-encompassing forgiveness and love. His Gospel, as he always shows, is for all people everywhere, regardless of gender, race, age, culture or social status. I ask, who do you say Jesus is? But further, what are you going to do with this Jesus and let Him do to you? Have you acknowledged your sin before him and trusting in Jesus for your salvation? It is not too late! Today can be the day of your salvation!

Come back tomorrow for Day 15 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! We will see together, somebody rejecting Jesus because the price of following Him was too high a price to pay! See you soon at Partakers!

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Jesus - A Glimpse Of God Part 13

13. Jesus Teaching the Needy!

 

We are on Day 13 of our adventure through the Gospels, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

John 4:1-26 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

Jesus was travelling via Samaria as it was the shortest route back to Galilee. It was hot. Jesus was thirsty and wanted a drink. His disciples had gone into town to get food. So he asks a Samaritan woman to fetch him some water from the well. That he asked a Samaritan would have been bad enough, but to also talk to a woman!

The woman: We don’t know the name of this woman. But by looking at this conversation between Jesus and her, we discover several things about her. That she was a Samaritan. There was equal animosity between Jews and Samaritans. The Samaritans were a mixed race people of both Jewish and Assyrian descent from the time of the division of Israel into two parts and the annexation of the Northern kingdom by Assyria. As she was fetching water at the hottest part of the day, she was probably an outcast! This was probably due to her sexual immorality having had 5 husbands and currently in a 6th relationship.

Jesus: Jesus here reveals his genuine humanity. He was tired, drained, hot, thirsty and hungry – normal human feelings and reactions. It also shows that Jesus contravened tradition in that he spoke to a woman who was a Samaritan and a sinner. By asking for a drink of water; he was putting himself in this woman’s debt and showing his humility. It also reveals his divine nature! He knew the woman’s life of sinfulness (John 4:17) and again, when he offered her the water of eternal life (John 4:14) and he was able to spiritually satisfy her (John 4:14)! Jesus, loved the woman, an outcast from her community, and gave her the most revealing and explicit statement we have in the Gospels as to who He really was (John 4:26).

In showing love for the woman, he transcended cultural barriers. Ordinary Jewish men would never ask a woman for a drink, let alone a Samaritan woman! But Jesus is no ordinary man. The Gospel accounts show Jesus’ love is for all people: rich, poor, learned, unlearned, male, female, wanted and unwanted! This encounter between Jesus and the woman shows us that Jesus’ offer of salvation is for all people, and not just the Jews. The woman, did however, misunderstand one thing - the living water Jesus offered as she probably thought he meant running water or water from a river! But the living water Jesus offered was spiritual water to cleanse her from sin and give eternal life. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, God is described as “a fountain of living water” (Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 17:13).

When the disciples returned, the woman left her water jar and went back to the town to tell other people about Jesus (John 4:29-30). We read of the many people coming to faith because of the Samaritan woman’s story (John 4:39-42) knowing Jesus as the saviour of the world (John 4:42). Again, I ask, who do you say this Jesus is? But further, what are you going to do with this Jesus and let Him do to you?

Come back tomorrow for Day 14, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! We will see together, Jesus rescuing and teaching somebody who is contrite of heart - unlike her accusers! See you soon!

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Jesus - A Glimpse Of God Part 12

Jesus Teaches the teacher!

 

Welcome back to our series, AGOG – A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 12 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

John 3:1-15 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

News about Jesus and the work he is doing is spreading quickly. One night, Nicodemus approaches Jesus to talk to him. He has heard about the miracles Jesus has been doing. Nicodemus is a leading teacher scholar from the Jewish ruling council. He wants to know more about Jesus and investigate him personally.

Like many people, Nicodemus was looking for the kingdom of God based around a political Messiah; hence admitting that due to his miraculous signs, Jesus must have been from God. However, Jesus corrects Nicodemus and says that it will not be through a political kingdom that God’s kingdom will be seen. Entrance to the Kingdom of God will not be through a person’s efforts but by being “born again”.

Jesus goes on to say that being “born again” is the new covenantIt is being born with water and spirit – cleansed of sin and indwelt with the Holy Spirit! It is being born from above, which is looking to the one who has come down from heaven. That’s Jesus! For the phrase “born again” can also be translated “born from above”. The ancient Israelites were once saved by looking at a bronze snake lifted up (Numbers 21v8)! Jesus goes on to say, that people will be saved by putting their salvation trust in the Son of Man (himself) when he is lifted up! Salvation will be personal under the New Covenant and not corporate as it was under the Old Covenant!

Even though at the start of his earthly ministry, Jesus is focussed on that time when he will die. Jesus goes on. God loves the world. God will save the world through the gift of His Son. I am that son, says Jesus! I am the light of the world come to shine light into the dark places. The world is in darkness due to sin and evil, and the Son of Man has come to take away that darkness. Those accepting of me are in the Kingdom and will not be condemned. Those who reject me will be condemned by God! Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped! He sure did seem astonished that Nicodemus didn’t already know that, seeing as he was one of the leading teachers at the time!

Again, I ask, who do you say Jesus is? But further, what are you going to do with this Jesus and let Him do to you? Are you born again, that is, trusting in Jesus for your salvation? It is not too late! Today can be the day of your salvation!

Come back tomorrow for Day 13 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! We will see together, Jesus teaching somebody who is in great need – much to the initial dismay of his disciples! See you soon!

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Partakers Bible Thought - Jesus WOW Matthew 16

Jesus! WOW Factor Matthew 16:24-26

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Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26)

The Jesus I hear about today from some people outside the church, as well as inside the Church, bears no resemblance to the Jesus who said those words.  They are comfortable with a Jesus who is at their mercy and who doesn't ask too much of them!  They like putting Jesus in a box and only opening the box to let Him out when required!  That Jesus is an insipid, nodding head, Jesus - worthy only of being on the back shelf of a car and that's about all.

But that is exactly the opposite of the Jesus who said those words from Matthew - the Jesus who commands obedience and sacrifice!  As I look through the Old Testament, I read about how the world fell out of a living, dynamic relationship with God! But I also read how a Messiah, a saviour or rescuer if you like, was to be sent by God, in order to restore the world back into an intimate, living relationship with God Himself!

I read the Gospels in the New Testament and I see this Messiah as the God-man, Jesus Christ. As I read the rest of the Bible's New Testament and the history of the followers of Jesus Christ and the spread of his followers, the church, through its birth and early life, I get a WOW factor about Him.  But for a lot of people today, including those who would call themselves a Christian, their view or vision of Jesus is still too small. So I wonder as I begin, is your Jesus too small?

1. Who is my Jesus?

As I regularly read the Bible, I see at least a six-sided portrait of Him!  There are many more, but we don't have time for that today, you might be thankful to hear!

a. Unique The first word I would use for Jesus is Jesus is unique - totally unique! Never before and never to be repeated ever - Jesus Christ is the standout person from all of history! Indeed, history is divided into BC and AD - ‘Before Christ' and ‘After Christ'.  In all of history, Jesus Christ is incomparable and totally unique! Yet in human form, we read that during his earthly ministry he had no physical beauty that would draw people to him. We read that Jesus' body on the cross was disfigured and tortured beyond that of human likeness.  His perfect life, His salvation work on the cross and His subsequent rising from the dead, is what makes Jesus Christ unique - a once and for all lifetime Messiah or Saviour for the entire world! WOW!!

b. Majestic Then the Jesus I see is full of majesty and awe! He is not simply a king with a crown on his head.  He is the King of all Kings!   This Jesus Christ did not decay in the grave - He overcame death in the grave and was raised again majestically!  Paul writes in Colossians 2v3, that in Jesus Christ, all the majestic treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.  Jesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who with unparalleled majesty is the head of the church.

c. Tender Next I go to look into his eyes - his tender eyes!  Jesus looks upon people with love, adoration, justice, tenderness and compassion.  Eyes filled with the tears of mercy, grace, love and compassion.  Eyes that are also filled with rage at injustices! His penetrating eyes that can separate flesh and spirit!! This Jesus is kind and sympathetic - his look of love on a world that is separated from God, and a world He is calling back into an active relationship with God.  The love Jesus had when he wept in the garden as he sweated drops of blood, before he was betrayed and crucified.

d. Wise Then there is Jesus the wise man! When Jesus spoke words, people were amazed!  They were astounded that He spoke with elegance and yet with authority. They had never heard anyone speak like He did - with both grace and authority.  The same is true today, if we are listening. That is why we read the Bible to find out what He would say to us.  That is why we seek to hear Him speak to us and why we speak to Him. That is why preaching is to be seen as an act of worship - by both the preacher and the listener!

e. Strong Strong! Jesus is strong enough and capable enough, to carry any burden that we can lay upon Him.  Jesus Christ gives a solid and sure foundation for all aspects of life.  If something has a solid foundation, it will not fall and cannot be destroyed.  Indeed Jesus Christ will never fall or decay such is His imperishability as the everlasting God.  He is solid, dependable and strong; nobody and nothing can stand against Him.  If we are truly His, then we ought not to fear or worry about anything, for we will be under his protection,.

f. Lovely Finally, my Jesus oozes loveliness! He gives out a sense of exaltation and joy.  Joy is not always externalized loudly as some people think but also internalized quietly!  So if somebody is filled with joy, don't always expect it be seen! Jesus is altogether lovely and lovely altogether!  Jesus is beyond compare for the things He has done and the things He will do.  He is altogether lovely in regard to his person, humanity, birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, exultation, glorification, grace, protection, tenderness, power, wisdom, vengeance, judgment, majesty, redemption and pardon.  I could go on and on! That is my Jesus -unique, majestic, tender, wise, strong and lovely. Is this your Jesus?

2. Jesus - So what?

That is my Jesus, whom I seek to serve and obey every second of every day.  This Jesus I seek to obey in every facet of life. And it is this Jesus whom I depend upon and personally know to be totally reliable in every way.  But so what, you may say - those outside the church certainly ask it!   All through this trip of the US, He has been dependable, going ahead of me! Amazing! 

This is the Jesus who commands self-sacrifice and obedience. This Jesus who commands His followers to rely solely on His sacrifice and have dependence on Him for all things.  Jesus Christ who commands all His followers to a life of total obedience to Him and Him alone.  This Jesus who died on a Roman cross two thousand years ago was the same Jesus who was raised from the dead, without decay, into newness of life and ascended to the right hand of the Father.

There is only one Saviour for the world and there will never be another.  Despite the bleating of other religions and faiths! Jesus never said, "I am a true vine; a way, a truth and a life". Just as He did not say "I am a shepherd, a door, a light or a bread of life. No - Jesus is the only way, the only truth and the only life. Jesus is the only great shepherd and the only door to life with God. Jesus is the only light of the world and the only bread of life. Jesus calls everyone to partake of the nourishment and shelter only He can provide.  Sadly only a few respond: "Yes!" Are you one of those?

3. Jesus! WOW!

Jesus WOW!  What does WOW stand for, I hear you asking yourself?  It means "Worthy Of Worship!" Jesus Christ most certainly is that!   The Jesus WOW factor involves Jesus being radical and relevant! Even a brief look of the Gospels will reveal that about Jesus!  Some people even back then didn't get Jesus, and people still don't get Him two thousand years later!  And whose fault is that? Its not Jesus' fault that people today still don't respond to Him!  It's a result of the church and christians down through the ages, including today, not following Jesus and obeying His commands as closely as they could or should!

People out there are looking at the Church and Christians - looking at how we behave, how we speak, how we drive our cars and looking to see if we are any different to them and looking to see what difference Jesus Christ has made in our lives! That's why my parents thought churches were dangerous places and Christians brainwashed and deluded people.  They did not hesitate to tell me that that is what they thought about Christianity!  But I responded to the call of Jesus, rebelled against my parents and became a follower of him 30 years ago next year.  You could say I am the white sheep of my family - so far anyway!

4. We are to be little Jesus'

The word Christian, means little Jesus.  When living in London, after church each Sunday, we would go to this one particular Chinese restaurant for lunch each time. Often as a group of us entered and walked up the stairs to take our seats, they would say: "There go the little Jesuses!"  They would mean it mockingly but we took it as a compliment! That's what being a Christian is to be - a little Jesus!

In our local community, wherever we happen to live, work or be!  We are to live lives worthy of Jesus Christ, being transformed by the Holy Spirit who lives inside each one of us if we are His, and being totally and willingly obedient to Him!  Loving God and loving others - by, showing compassion, helping others and being the voice of Jesus Christ to a community out there, which is rapidly decaying. The world out there and this community will know you and I are Jesus' followers, if we are obedient to Him, practically showing love to all! Oh that we as the church would love each other instead of fighting with each other! Imagine this community transformed for Jesus Christ, having got the WOW factor!  Imagine this community filled with people seeking to know about our Jesus, because the Christians were sacrificing their time and possessions, wanting in every aspect of life to give Jesus the glory and honour that is worthy of His name alone - just as they did in Acts 2! Loving God and loving each other as He commanded would spread the WOW factor through our local communities, both large and small!  Transformed communities of people devoted to Jesus and experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit in bringing people back to God the Father! 

The WOW factor is not always an exuberant experience but also covers the silent, contemplative and gob-smacking experiences! Jesus Christ doesn't just live in the loud, as some would proclaim, but also in the quiet where the small, still voice of God is whispered. Don't be like the only man who left Jesus' presence in sorrow.

Let me read about him to you. Matthew 19v16-30 from The Message "Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" Jesus said, "Why do you question me about what's good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you." The man asked, "What in particular?" Jesus said, "Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself." The young man said, "I've done all that. What's left?" "If you want to give it all you've got," Jesus replied, "go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me." That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crest-fallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn't bear to let go. As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God's kingdom? Let me tell you, it's easier to gallop a camel through a needle's eye than for the rich to enter God's kingdom." The disciples were staggered. "Then who has any chance at all?" Jesus looked hard at them and said, "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it." Then Peter chimed in, "We left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?" Jesus replied, "Yes, you have followed me. In the re-creation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting with the twelve tribes of Israel. And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields-whatever-because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life. This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first." "

Now riches aren't necessarily a problem but they were for that man because nothing could take precedence over them - they were his ‘god' as it were, and he was placing all his trust in them, even if he didn't realise it at the time!  What are you placing your trust in, over and above, Jesus Christ?

Conclusion!

If you are already in a relationship with Him, He wants to give you freedom, true independence on this Independence Day, to live a life worthy of Him.  Is Jesus your whole life and your whole life Jesus?  That means does He have total authority over every aspect of your life.  All aspects of life such as relationships, family, work, bank accounts, possessions, worries and troubles? 

By authority, I mean power! Following Him and carrying your own cross means that - a life sacrificed for Him and obedience to Him alone! Jesus wants to influence every area of your life - not just certain parts you are willing to give up but all aspects of life!  Jesus came to earth to give comfort to the uncomfortable and we are to do the same - give comfort to those in need.

Maybe you are feeling the desolation and loneliness because of decisions made in the past.  Give it up willingly to Jesus and don't keep trying to take it back like a security blanket!  If you have something even partially blocking your relationship with Jesus, get rid of it - ask Him to take it away!

Finally, you may not yet be a follower of Jesus Christ.  I don't know. If that is you, then accept His call upon you.  For He is calling you, urging you to return to a relationship with God through Him and Him alone.  You may not get another chance.  Usually, with a small still beckoning voice, Jesus whispers: "Come! Come and follow me alone!"  

This Jesus wants to connect with you in an intimate, dynamic, active and spiritual relationship - remember His eyes wander the earth looking for those wanting to submit themselves willingly to Him.  If that is you, then please do speak to somebody today about finding out how you can start this relationship with the Living God, Jesus Christ. He calls you by name. Jesus says to all here "Come!  Let me get in the driving seat and you hold on to Me! Follow me and follow me wholeheartedly and with all aspects of your life, obey Me alone!  I will take all your burdens, give you true freedom and independence and help you in all aspects of life! Come! Follow me!"

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