Enlightened by Jesus

Mat 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom…


Jesus taught in their SYNAGOGUES. This is important to note. Jesus wasn't just wandering about sitting on hillsides and near lakes spreading His message. Jesus went into the synagogues to teach and preach. The people needing to hear this message first were in the synagogues. Let's take a look at what a synagogue is--


syn·a·gog (sin'?-gog', -gôg')
n.
1.A building or place of meeting for worship and religious instruction in the Jewish faith.
2.A congregation of Jews for the purpose of worship or religious study.
3.The Jewish religion as organized or typified in local congregations.


A synagogue, also spelled synagog (from Greek: συναγωγή transliterated synagogē,
meaning "assembly"


When broken down, the word could also mean "learning together" (from the Greek συν syn, together, and αγωγή agogé, learning or training).

Synagogues have a large hall for prayer (the main sanctuary), and can also have smaller rooms for study and sometimes a social hall and offices. Some have a separate room for Torah study, called the beth midrash—בית מדרש ("House of Study").

Synagogues are consecrated spaces that can be used only for the purpose of prayer, however a synagogue is not necessary for worship.

Communal Jewish worship can be carried out wherever ten Jews (a minyan) assemble.

Worship can also be carried out alone or with fewer than ten people assembled together.

However there are certain prayers that are communal prayers and therefore can be recited only by a minyan.

The synagogue does not replace the long-since destroyed Temple in Jerusalem.

Pasted from

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There were hundreds of synagogues in the area Jesus was traveling. Wherever 10 or more Jewish men lived they could form a synagogue. A synagogue was a place of teaching and of worship. No feasts or sacrifices were made in synagogues, those were strictly reserved for the temple. Every synagogue was situated so that when the preacher stood up to preach He faced the direction of the temple in Jerusalem. The focal point was towards the temple, these buildings were not miniature temples in any way. Every synagogue had a ruler-

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Archisunagogos

ar-khee-soon-ag'-o-gos   

 Definition
1. ruler of the synagogue. It was his duty to select the readers or teachers in the synagogue, to examine the discourses of the public speakers, and to see that all things were done with decency and in accordance with ancestral usage.

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Now that we've got the picture of a synagogue in our minds we can imagine Jesus entereing one. He would go into a synagogue and observe the service in place, taking part in it as was expected and then he would be chosen to speak, or asked to speak. When He spoke Jesus' words were those of enlightenment. He didn't bring in a new *book*, He didn't bring in some distorted Torah. Jesus would read from the centuries old, well established scrolls and from there He would open up the understanding of the people there listening to Him.


Just imagine it for a moment (Yes, I like to use my imagination a lot :) ). There you are year after year attending synagogue services listening to the preacher as they taught from the Scriptures and you believe you are learning, you have gained knowledge but no true understanding and you're not even aware that your understanding is stunted. Then in walks Jesus and He is called on to preach and suddenly your understanding of words you'd heard many times before now come to life and take on real meaning for you. Just think about that experience. Jesus wasn't preaching crazy ideas or He'd quickly have been put out of the synagogue and word of His craziness would have spread wide and far. Jesus brought LIGHT, true light, true understanding. People sat in darkness, remember? People were near spiritual death and Jesus brought them light and life. The words He spoke were truth and He was able to miraculously push aside the curtain of darkness that the devil had placed over everyone's understanding. Seriously, in the presence of Jesus the heart that wasn't hardened was softened to accept all that He was saying. The truths that were spoken over and over that had seemed to be mere words were now filled with meaning. Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever reread something and saw it in a whole new light? I don't imagine it would be truly comparable to the enlightenment Jesus brought to people by far but we can really can imagine how amazing it had to be.


From darkness to light.
From blindness to sight.
From death to life.


This isn't trivial by any means, this is so important for us to comprehend. Why? Because we are living in very, very dark times. We are living in the days of slumber and in slumber you are completely covered in darkness.


1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.


Please Lord help us today to be blessed with the Holy Spirit who will enlighten our understanding as Jesus enlightened the understanding of those whose hearts were truly open to His message in the days He preached upon earth. Please Lord bless us because without the Holy Spirit we live in darkness. Without enlightenment our sight is dim. Help us Lord, please!


Amen.

From darkness to light

Mat 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up


Sitting in darkness. Imagine it, yes, really imagine it, it shouldn't be too hard to do. We're in darkness a lot aren't we? We turn off our lights at night and darkness surrounds us. We close our eyes and find darkness. As a rule we don't mind the darkness when we're going to sleep- purposely turning lights off so it helps us get to sleep- the closing of our eyes bringing darkness without any possibility of opening our eyes to find light glaring at us. Darkness isn't so bad when you want to sleep, when you want to go down into the nothingness of sleep. Darkness is really bad when you want desperately to see your surroundings. Who really enjoys remaining in darkness when they're awake? It's not common, it's not the rule of thumb to seek darkness over light when you're actively awake and wanting to go about your day. We have lights all around us trying to dispel unwanted darkness. Before electricity we had gas lights, we had candlelight, we had light from fireplaces all to dispel some of the darkness. When we go about at nighttime it's usually with a light of some kind. If we can't turn on a light we use a flashlight, if we go out in our cars we make sure our headlights are on. Light dispelling darkness is very, very common so common we rarely think about it too much unless we do lose our electrical power- then we're busy trying to find that flashlight or candles to burn.


This verse above states- the people which sat in darkness- it is obviously speaking of spiritual darkness. People do not generally sit about in darkness, sitting denotes being awake not laying down to sleep. These people who were awake yet living in darkness were going to see a great light and that light was that of the gospel Jesus was giving to people. Jesus began to light up those sitting in spiritual darkness and when He gave this light to them it wasn't a dim light but rather a GREAT light. The people saw a GREAT light. Living in darkness they are now able to see.


The verse doesn't stop there it goes on to say… 'and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up'


Sitting in the region and shadow of death. Death is a form of sleeping, those who sat in darkness were awake and in the dark. Those people were closer to spiritual awakening by just sitting in the dark and not sleeping. Those who were in that region and shadow of death were very close to entering a state that would make it harder to wake and even those who were near to spiritual death- unable to be enlightened a light sprung up! This is so amazing, it truly is.


Jesus was bringing enlightenment to a people blind and dying a spiritual death and these were God's chosen people who had God's Holy Temple to claim as their place of worship, the center of their beliefs. These were a unique people who had for hundreds and hundreds, even thousands of years been on this path. Time and again God's people chose to disobey God rather than follow His ways, and time and again they'd been reprimanded. With a history steeped deeply in this process of believing and falling away, believing and falling away they had to realize they needed to desperately keep their hearts right before God. But what exactly does that mean? Could ordinary people hold fast even while the leaders failed to do so? We know this is what God accepts-

Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

So you could surrounded by those corrupted and if your heart and spirit are right before God you wouldn't be caught up in their backsliding. We know for a fact that there were at least a few people enlightened and not sitting in darkness or near the shadow of death.

Luk 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
Luk 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
Luk 2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
Luk 2:28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Luk 2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
Luk 2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Luk 2:31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
Luk 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.


Luk 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
Luk 2:37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
Luk 2:38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.


There is the account of two people alive at the time of Jesus' birth who were steadfast in the Lord, not backsliding.


More were enveloped in spiritual darkness than they were in light and Jesus' ministry was as a great light turned on dispelling the spiritual darkness covering the masses.


Today we can compare on a MUCH smaller level what was happening. Every once in a while a seemingly great politician will come along and they're like a breath of fresh air in a political system that seems completely corrupt and hopeless. People will begin to follow this politician, they'll go to all their rallies and support that person in every way they can because that politician is bringing to them enlightened ideas feeding them hope for the future.


Jesus wasn't running for any office and He wasn't seeking anyone's vote, He wasn't stumping for popularity- Jesus was bringing the light of truth to God's people. Jesus was bringing hope to the people. Jesus was bringing the dying to life. Preaching the gospel, preaching repentance and acknowledgement that the kingdom of God longed for had at long last arrived, Jesus began to awaken the spiritual life in people all around Him. They heard them and as one lost in darkness suddenly finding themselves in the light they were amazed and grateful, willing and wanting to learn more and more from the light bearer.


We've had a couple thousand years to reclaim spiritual darkness but just as in all ages God keeps spiritual enlightenment alive in the few, the contrite, the broken.


This spiritual revival Jesus brought with Him as He began His ministry was the truth being allowed to be heard without any restraint. The truth was in Jesus' message and grateful for the awakening people listened and wanted to hear more. The message would be heard!


May we all seek spiritual enlightenment. We are promised the Holy Spirit-


Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you


We will be taught by the Holy Spirit by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior!


Amen!

12 Students

As Jesus began to preach and teach He gathered to Himself His apostles- those who would follow Him forever as well as the one among them that would end up betraying Him. What's the difference between those called disciples and those called apostles? What made the apostles special?


They were called to follow Jesus personally. They were called to preach that taught to them by the Messiah.


We know that Jacob had twelve sons.
We know that the number twelve is important - there were established twelve tribes of Israel out of Jacob's sons.
Twelve stones signifying the twelve tribes, placed in the ephod.
Exo 39:14 And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.
Twelve oxen.
2Ch 4:14 He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases;
2Ch 4:15 One sea, and twelve oxen under it
Twelve lions.
2Ch 9:19 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.
Twelve gates, twelve angels.
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel
Twelve foundations.
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Twelve thousands furlongs.
Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Twelve gates, Twelve pearls.
Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Twelve manner of fruit.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.


Twelve apostles- chosen by Jesus, called by Jesus to a special purpose.


Could Jesus have gone about His ministry without apostles? Yes. He could have, but His plan was for His new covenant message to continue long after He would be called to His death and for that to happen He needed to train up teachers that would carry on His message bring the gospel, the good news, to all. Just as the twelve sons of Jacob became the twelve tribes- Jesus' twelve apostles would go on to multiple converts to Jesus. There was to be a continuation that would expand and keep expanding until Jesus' return. While many have gone to great lengths to destroy Christianity and God's seed, God's hope, God's people and still TODAY continue to wish for its extinction it has never been allowed to perish. With the good news of salvation needing to go to all Jesus needed men to learn from Him directly, to learn from Him intensely, to learn from Him by close association. Did Jesus *school* the Apostles as we imagine schooling? No. But every day they spent with Him He was teaching them and they were learning. Jesus wasn't seeking a multitude of followers to herald His rule, Jesus was seeking the pure in heart to learn of love from Him and carry on that message of love not of secular power.


After His baptism, after His trial of temptation in the wilderness against the devil, Jesus began to preach and very early on in the very beginning of His ministry He began to call His chosen students. Read the following verses...


Mat 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mat 4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
Mat 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
Mat 4:22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.


Mar 1:16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Mar 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
Mar 1:18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
Mar 1:19 And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
Mar 1:20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.


Joh 1:37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
Joh 1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
Joh 1:39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
Joh 1:40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
Joh 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
Joh 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
Joh 1:43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
Joh 1:44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Joh 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Joh 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
Joh 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
Joh 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
Joh 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Joh 1:50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
Joh 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.


Called. Chosen.

Mat 10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Mat 10:3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
Mat 10:4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.


Mar 3:16 And Simon he surnamed Peter;
Mar 3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
Mar 3:18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
Mar 3:19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.


Luk 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
Luk 6:14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
Luk 6:15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
Luk 6:16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.


Twelve were chosen as students of Christ who would then in turn become teachers of the message Jesus longed for all to have, the message of Salvation found in Him.


Do you suppose the willingness with which they left all to follow Jesus was because the Holy Spirit was influencing them- opening their eyes to see that Jesus was the promised Messiah? Just imagine it for a moment-- being called to follow Jesus and accepting that call readily willing to forsake everything to do so. Amazing, simply amazing. They has so much to learn and in a way-- unlearn. They, like Jesus, had all been raised under the old covenant way of life. As future Bible studies will show throughout their lives they were being enlightened by the Holy Spirit as to the new covenant ways. This change from old to new was not instantaneous, as I've mentioned before and will more than likely mention again and again. Jesus' ministry lasted 3 years and He initiated the change from one to another and He did so with a very intense ministry leaving room for NO DOUBT that the old covenant was no longer in effect upon His death and resurrection- the veil was torn never to be erected again, the way into the Most Holy Place was made through the sacrifice of our Savior.


As you can tell if you've read several of my recent studies I'm very interested in this link between the old and new covenant and it is something I'm going to be studying for a bit I imagine. There's a certain fascination for me in understanding more fully the change our Savior's birth, life, and death meant for those living in that time and for all ever after then. May God guide my studying, opening my heart to His truths and ONLY His truths, all through the Holy Spirit promised to us who believe and long to live in Him now and forever.


By His grace, in His most amazing love.


Amen.

Kingdom of Heaven

Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.


Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.


Luk 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
Luk 4:15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.


Jesus preached first and foremost- REPENT.


The first sermon (if you will) that Jesus gave was on repenting.
Here we have God's people steeped deep in ceremonial traditions - those God given and those God given but warped by man's traditions and interpretations. They were following the commands of their God as they'd been taught. The sacrifices were being made as expected. The feasts were being kept as ordered. Their lives were rich with their religion. Oppressed by Roman rulership, they were still free to worship and did worship in a temple built for that express purpose. Worship in every sacrifice, worship in every sermon, worship in all that they did- or rather it was supposed to be that way. The Jewish way of life was dominated by their religion- in fact it was supposed to be the focal point of their lives- God first. As time passed -to many- the Jewish way of life had its *holidays- holy days*, it's weekly Sabbath, and they became the focal point and outside of them life went on without much thought of God. This way of life was like most religions today- worship on Sunday (Sabbath 7th day) and holidays. Most thought was NOT on God but on self.


With their way of life set in a pattern, God's chosen people hoped for a FANTASY messiah to free them from Roman rule and give them a life of nothing but happiness. They WANTED a messiah and they knew that the coming of a messiah would mean an altering of their entire way of life, but they didn't want a personal messiah, they wanted one for their religion as a whole. To have some common man, a carpenter's son no less, telling them to repent was ridiculous- especially to those in leadership roles- the priesthood. Repenting meant admitting to some wrong and genuinely being wrong for that wrong not wanting to commit that wrong again. Repenting meant admitting to being an UNFORGIVEN sinner. Repenting meant understanding that the ceremonial system wasn't sufficient in and of itself. How easy would it have been to hear Jesus call for repentance and dismiss it with the belief that you had no need to repent- it wasn't the day of Atonement, it wasn't time to bring an sacrificial offering, you were cleansed as you were every year on the day of Atonement and the priests saw to it that the proper sacrifices were being made so you were forgiven already- see - no need for repentance you had things in hand the way they'd been given to you for many generations. You had all the repentance you needed and some crackpot wasn't going to tell you that it wasn't enough.


It wasn't like that for every one of the chosen people. When John the Baptist preached many were baptized- they had this hope in them that their envisioned messiah was soon to come and here was this strange man heralding that event. However even when John the Baptist preached many were NOT baptized as well. They were caught between the desire for the messiah and the desire not to be deceived - and forsaking their way of life.


Now Jesus begins His ministry and He too is calling for repentance. He wants people to realize their sinful state, their need of a Savior. They'd already been taught the need for a sacrifice to obtain forgiveness, now they needed to understand that the sacrifice pointed to a PERSONAL Savior. It had ALWAYS pointed to a Savior.


Jesus said this--

'Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'


The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Did they understand what that meant? They did.

Act 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
Act 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Act 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Act 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Act 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Act 2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.


2Sa 7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
2Sa 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
2Sa 7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
2Sa 7:15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
2Sa 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
2Sa 7:17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.


An oath was sworn- the throne of His KINGDOM would be forever. They knew about the kingdom. David would NOT ascend to heaven, David would sleep with the fathers, another would not sleep with the fathers but His kingdom would be established for ever- His throne would be forever.


They knew about the kingdom BUT so many of them believed the kingdom would be established on earth, the kingdom of heaven would come down and remain rather than the kingdom of heaven being the Messiah ascending to Heaven and there being an advocate for His people.


Jesus came and preached firstly repentance because the kingdom of heaven was at hand. Repent- understand your need for forgiveness, your need for a Savior, a Savior that would be the key to the kingdom of heaven.


Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.


The kingdom of God is at hand- see NOT just the kingdom of heaven but the kingdom of God- heaven is the kingdom of God and Jesus is the way. That the kingdom was at hand revealed that the way to life eternal was at hand. People had to repent and they had to believe the word being spoken unto them.


Luk 4:15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.


He taught-- He was a teacher-- He was there to teach and He was understood to be One who spoke with authority and that authority had Him glorified of all. Even being rejected eventually didn't stop Him from being embraced at the beginning. How many followed and listened eagerly only to turn away? At one point 5000 people who were fed fish and bread by a miracle turned away from Christ the next day. It seems unbelievable but it's true. Glorified of all, this isn't a lie, it's the truth for the time.


Our Savior began His ministry and He gave the call and His ministry was strong, His message came in the fullness of time, a message that WE today must heed.


We must repent, we must understand the kingdom of God is at hand for us all. We live not under the old covenant but the new, we live under the Messiah's arrival, the Messiah's death, the Messiah's resurrection, the Messiah risen.


By His grace we shall live in Him now and always!


Amen.

Jesus began to preach

Mat 4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
Mat 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
Mat 4:14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Mat 4:15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
Mat 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.


Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.


Luk 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
Luk 4:15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.


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We don't know how much time passed after Jesus' temptation and when He began His ministry. The varying accounts tell us various things. What is true is that He began to preach.


'The people which sat in darkness-- saw a great light.'
'And to them which sat in the region and shadow of death-- light is sprung up.'


There they were, God's people living under the old covenant and they'd become so oppressed by the distortion of God's will for His people. Yes, the ceremonial laws were exacting, very exacting. Yes, the rituals required of God's people pointing towards the coming Messiah were exacting. There is no doubt whatsoever that God's teaching His people of His love wasn't easy and it wasn't easy because sin had such a hold on people. For 400 years God's people drifted from God's leading. They lived keeping many of the Hebrew ways handed down from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph but they also integrated many of the Egyptian ways into their lives. These oppressed people didn't KNOW God's leading as intimately as the patriarchs- they were to be afflicted for 400 years. Abraham knew this --


Gen 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years


God forewarned Abraham and it came to pass. The oppression, the affliction was real for several generations and that time mingled God's ways with Egyptian ways- not in ALL things by any means but in enough ways that the children of God had learned all about worshipping idols, they'd learned that even in their affliction they were fed and didn't suffer hunger- their base needs were met and became more important to them than worshipping God. They learned SELFISHNESS. God took them out of the oppression. God released them from bondage. They were now free to worship Him in all ways and promised a land that would be theirs and not another's they were to be God's.


For many, many years God's people were to unlearn their corrupt ways. They were given many instructions. They were taught that God, their Creator, their Redeemer loved them and out of that love He wanted them to love. Truly the TEN COMMANDMENTS are commandments of love- love of God and love of our fellow man. When that is TRULY understood then they are not burdensome in any way! To be taught this wasn't easy when selfishness ruled and continued to rule. For all that God's people were given all the means, all the instruction, all the love they needed to live in God's way in hope of the coming Messiah they twisted things up and the love that was to be found was lost in ceremony, lost in laws, lost in pride, lost in selfishness, lost in so many ways. The Savior's arrival, the Savior's beginning of His ministry was to break from the ceremony that over the many, many years herald His coming. The ceremony that pointed to His life, His death, and His life again would be done away with. He would come and fulfill all the prophecy, all the many, many things that were meant to be fulfilled and in being fulfilled not to be continued. How could prophetic ceremonies pointing to His sacrificed be continued after He was sacrificed? They couldn't, a NEW COVENANT was to be made, the covenant that would take the vail away.


2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

Jesus' Humanity

Luk 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.


Mar 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.


Mat 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.


*******

Angels came and ministered unto Jesus.
The test was over, the temptation ordeal endured and Jesus prevailed over it all.


Do you imagine the angels brought food and drink to our Savior? That they tended to Him in all ways ministering unto him? He had to be exhausted. Yes, exhausted. We don't like to picture our Savior that way, we just don't. I've said it before and I'll say it again and again. Jesus was HUMAN. Jesus felt the same way we feel. When we feel hungry and someone else says they're hungry we KNOW how they're feeling because we feel that same thing. We share so much as humans- we can feel compassion for one another because we share so much. We cannot take the humanity out of our Savior to do so is to demean Him, as strange as that will sound to some people. Too many believe extolling Jesus' humanity demeans His divinity as if the human part of Him takes away from His divine part, makes Him less divine. Jesus was NEVER less divine but always part of the divine, and always part human. Before the incarnation Jesus was not human there is NO getting around that fact whatsoever. The SPIRIT overshadowed Mary's womb and the substance of the SPIRIT joined with the human substance of Mary in creating Jesus- God's Son. A UNIQUE being was formed- Immanuel- God with us. This uniqueness took the humanity of mankind and incased the Spirit form of our Savior. The humanity came with ALL that makes us human leaving NOTHING out. Our Savior was a man. This is way so many who knew Him as He grew from boyhood to manhood could not accept Him as their Savior, to them He was just a man giving no indication of ever being anything else. He dressed, ate, slept, had hygiene to be concerned about, personal habits, he was a man. He laughed, He cried, He talked, He was HUMAN. He was so incredibly human that He didn't stand out in any way as being overtly special except for one time that we are told.


Remember this…


Luk 2:42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
Luk 2:43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
Luk 2:44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
Luk 2:45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
Luk 2:46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
Luk 2:47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
Luk 2:48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
Luk 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
Luk 2:50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
Luk 2:51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
Luk 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.


Jesus knew who His Father was. Young Jewish men became of age at 13- Jesus was 12 when He revealed that He was growing into the full knowledge of His purpose, even if His parents weren't sure what it all meant. So even though He was growing in the full knowledge of what His purpose was it still wasn't time to fully embrace that knowledge and He subjected Himself to His parents and the upbringing He needed. Jesus grew- increasing in wisdom. You want to imagine He had ALL wisdom, but if you have ALL of something you surely don't need to grow any more in that area. Jesus needed to grow in wisdom and stature. Jesus needed to experience the humanity of growing from childhood to being of age and then growing into the full maturity of a man before He was ready to undertake His purpose- His Father's business. The humanity Jesus possess did not grow any faster than a normal human. Having to grow in wisdom yet, Jesus needed to experience so much more of life. Yes, He was God as well as human and yet He did NOT appear as a child God, He did NOT appear as God at all- worthy of worship. NO ONE worshipped Him not for 30 years!


After 30 years He was called to begin His Father's work- to begin it- and still He wasn't to fully reveal His purpose right off, remember this--


Joh 2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
Joh 2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
Joh 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.


Mine hour is not yet come. Jesus understood that He had a timeline to follow, that there was a time for everything and He knew that God the Father would reveal to Him all that He needed to know to follow His plan. Jesus also knew when things were not according to plan- Mine hour is not yet come - He said, His words!


Jesus' time had come when He left His entire life behind and went to meet John to be baptized. From there He was taken straight into a testing time, a proving time and then He moved into a healing time, a time of being ministered to while the devil was no longer allowed to tempt Him- gone for a season- the devil could not impede the Savior's mission, Jesus had proven first off that the devil could not tempt Him to fall. With the proving time over Jesus continued onwards slowly, surely ushering in the new covenant, ushering in the gradual change. For three years Jesus brought the new covenant it wasn't an instantaneous change over upon His baptism and it wasn't completed until He ascended into heaven that last time to sit at the right hand of the Father.


By His grace may we continue to learn more and more of this change from the old to the new in which we were born. We can't dismiss the old, it is from the old the new came into being.


In His love!


Amen

Remember to PRAY

Luk 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.


Mar 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.


Mat 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

*******

Forty days and forty nights. There is a significance to forty days and nights that we don't really understand, at least I don't.


Forty days was a period of time allotted for some amazing things. Forty days and nights of rain for the flood. Forty days and nights searching the land. Forty days and nights in the mount, twice. Forty days to repent. Forty days journeying. Then we have the forty years- each day for a year. Forty years wandering. Forty years reigning. Forty days seen before ascending.


Forty days some have determined mean trails, testing.


It seems to be true to some extent, but I suppose it will be one of those mysteries. It's enough to know that this *special* time period was a time used throughout history and it was the same amount of time given to our Savior to begin and complete a SIGNIFICANT testing/tempting period. There was NO way the devil would be allowed to turn around and say that Jesus was NEVER tempted enough, that he hadn't been allowed to tempt Jesus properly. We live our entire lives off and on being tempted- some times more than others and we can probably recall some of the worst tempting occurrences in our lives (that's not to say there aren't many more to come.) The devil wants us, the devil will tempt us until he can tempt no more.


Temptation.


Jesus said--
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.


WATCH and PRAY that ye enter NOT into temptation. WATCH and PRAY. Jesus understood us- that while our spirit is willing NOT to enter into temptation- our flesh nature is very weak. Watching and praying that we don't even ENTER into temptation- let alone giving in to the temptation is a must. We must pray NOT to even be tempted. Jesus faced being tempted, Jesus KNOWS the power of being tempted so it's no wonder that we are to PRAY not to even have to face temptation. Though the devil will do all he can to draw us into temptation, God does have a hand in things. We are protected just as Jesus was protected. However, that protection is lifted for various reasons but that NEVER means God tempts us, never! We still have the ability to PRAY and WATCH when that protection is lifted. Think of the story of Job- the devil was trying to tempt Job to blaspheme God. Job NEVER gave into that temptation. Job lamented being in the situation he was in, but he didn't BLAME God. Think of Jesus, He was led to temptation's door so to speak and was to be immersed in temptation for 40 days and night, and HE did not SIN! Allowed to face temptation, but never left without HOPE, never! Holding onto that hope, holding onto that faith, believing in God, believing in our Savior this is something we always have and is never taken from us, never. When we are facing our worst temptations hope is never taken from us, it is that hope we have to hold onto. The hope that we are redeemed, the hope that we are alive and will always live in our Savior. When we face our worst temptations and even before we are facing them we need to….


...remember… to PRAY.


'Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. '


Jesus told us to pray that way. Pray to not have to face temptation. Pray to be delivered from evil when we are faced with temptation. Pray, pray, pray! If we don't pray to not be lead into temptation we are missing out on something so vitally important it can't even be put into words.


Jesus facing temptation in the wilderness for 40 days and nights was His test, His trial, and the devil had to leave Him after the temptation was over- but only for a season. Jesus was truly tempted in all points just as we are, but we are each tempted in different points - not all. To think we'd ever be able to endure the sort of temptation that Jesus had to endure is foolishness. The devil gave every bit of temptation to Jesus that He was allowed and that was so much more than we as individuals face. When people think that Jesus didn't suffer, that He didn't endure the desire to stop resisting and give in they're wrong. Yes, Jesus was and in and has always been perfect never giving into temptation, never letting lust rule Him, never sinning - this is undeniable. But JESUS our Savior, our Redeemer, our Heavenly Brother, our Mediator, our Advocate walked the walk we walk and felt the things we feel, He became US, He became HUMAN so He could save us- living without sin perfectly relying upon our Heavenly Father. Through His worthiness alone we live, we have hope.


By His Grace may we be kept in Him, and kept from temptation now and always!


In His love!


Amen.

Get thee behind me... It is written!

Mat 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.


Luk 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Luk 4:6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
Luk 4:7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.


*******

A third great temptation- and I say great temptation because while WE might not personally find these particular temptations enticing, these temptations WERE extremely enticing to our Savior. To think that they weren't enticing at all and merely nuisances that Jesus could wave off without a second glance is to discredit the humanity that Jesus shares with us. We have to look at these revealed temptations from the point of view of ONE truly tempted. REAL temptations.


The devil once again transports Jesus supernaturally taking Him to a VERY high mountain. Once on top of that VERY high mountain the devil shows Jesus ALL the kingdoms of the world. Think about this for a moment. If we went up to the highest mountain on earth would we be able to see ALL the kingdoms of the world? Absolutely NOT. Again, the devil is using supernatural means to tempt Jesus. People don't believe the devil has supernatural power but he does and he's not afraid to use it whenever he can, whenever he's allowed. Using that supernatural power the devil flashed before Jesus' eyes in a moment of time ALL the kingdoms of the world…the entire WORLD.

Now imagine for a moment that's you again, you're on that mountain and the devil shows you all the kingdom's of the world- all the rulers, all the land that is being ruled throughout the world, the tremendous power involved in ruling all the land, all the people, all this is revealed to you and then you are told YOU can have it all. Now you know YOU do not possess the power, the rulership, the kingdoms they belong to another.


The devil OWNS them. That's right. The rulership of this world belongs to the devil. Shocked? Jesus wasn't shocked. The devil told Jesus that he would give Him ALL the power, all the glory of all the kingdoms of the world- that it was delivered to him and he could give it to whoever he wanted to give it to. This wasn't a lie, even from the father of lies, it was the truth. When Adam and Eve sinned they gave up the right to the world God created for them to rule, for them to have dominion over. The devil took over the dominion of the world and until our Savior returns and until the earth is made new it remains the devil's.


The devil told Jesus the world and all its power would be His if only Jesus acknowledged that the devil was worthy of being worshipped, worthy of being given the honor due to God. There was NO way Jesus was going to do that, no way. Jesus would suffer living in the world corrupted by sin, he'd lived in it since His birth and He would continue to do so rather than take a SHORT CUT, rather than take the path that would mean NO suffering. Jesus felt pain, intense pain. To think that Jesus didn't or couldn't suffer is foolish. The pain in store for Jesus was akin to the worst pain we can ever imagine, even more so.


This temptation that the devil offered to Jesus was a REAL temptation that Jesus resisted, that He endured. He replied to the offered temptation with this--


Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.


Luk 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.


Jesus said- GET THEE BEHIND ME… Jesus was putting the devil where he belonged… BEHIND HIM. Jesus was telling the devil that not only would He not worship Him or bow before Him but the devil's place was BEHIND HIM, he wasn't even worthy of being in front of Him let alone being worshipped. Here the devil was tempting Jesus offering Him all the power of the world- here the devil was believing Himself to be important, powerful, godlike and Jesus put Him in His place with those words.


Just imagine a millionaire coming to you and offering you all their millions and you telling them no, that their offer wasn't worth a thing to you, that they were beneath you. This is just a tiny imaginary scenario here - Jesus faced the REAL thing, Jesus was offered a way out of all suffering and He refused. Jesus put the devil in his place- behind Him - completely unworthy of being in front of Him or beside Him.


And once more Jesus used these words - FOR IT IS WRITTEN. We cannot forget these words!!! We have to USE these words. FOR IT IS WRITTEN.


Jesus told the devil- For it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve


Psa 96:9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Deu 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.


Worship the LORD!
SERVE the Lord they God!
NO OTHER GODS BEFORE GOD!


Jesus God the Father first always!


No other would get His worship, no other!


Putting the devil in His place, Jesus resisted the temptations, Jesus endured the temptations. Victorious over the temptations enough was enough and the devil was no longer allowed to tempt Jesus- at least for a season.


More on this tomorrow by the grace of our Lord and Savior.


Amen.

Tempting God- Lack of Faith

Forty days Moses spent in the mount, after forty days he found the children of Israel had broken the new covenant they'd just formed with God.
Back to the mount, Moses spent another forty days there and this time when he returned he found the children of Israel contrite, still holding to the renewed covenant, unlike the first time.

However things didn't go as hoped, did they? God was WILLING to bring His children to the land promised to them many years ago. God WANTED to bring His children to the land promised to them. But after 400 years of captivity the PURE desire to be God's children and follow the ways of God, to honor God, to love God, to worship God- had been corrupted. The adult generation brought out from Egypt were stained with sin and filled with doubt, filled with defiance. God worked MIRACLES to free them from slavery- every single adult witnessed firsthand the miracles. Time and again the Egyptians were plagued while the children of Israel went untouched! Some like to logic away the miracles of God by believing each plague had its root in mundane fact. Some will even say the plagues attacked the Egyptians but not the children of Israel because they lived in a different section of Egypt. How does that explain the Hebrews living as slaves among those living in close proximity to the main city not being affected? It doesn't! How does it explain some of the animals being affected and others not? God smote the Egyptians quite pointedly and not just with one plague but several. Pharaoh could no longer take it because HE KNEW that God was attacking him and his people and not attacking the children of Israel. With such stark differences between those plagued and those not, Pharaoh could not deny the hand of God at work and so he let all his Hebrew slaves go… hundreds of thousands of them! If there were a logical explanation, Pharaoh would have seen it and never let all those slaves go! Never! Miracles beyond any question, beyond any doubt and yet the children of Israel were QUICK to forget the hand of God at work in their behalf. So caught up in their selfishness, so hardened to God's love they felt it was better to be enslaved than to suffer for freedom to worship God. They were an EVIL generation. They were corrupted and hope only remained in their children being brought up under the newly established covenant with God.


Now suppose they HADN'T been an evil generation… would they have gone to the promised land a lot sooner than 40 years later? Without a doubt.


After that first 40 days and 40 nights in the mount, Moses would have given to them the tables of stone with the commandments, as well as the instructions for the sanctuary and the people would have gone on to build the sanctuary and journey to the promised land.


It was only because of their evil ways that they had to wander for 40 years. They were blessed though, that they weren't completely wiped out that they were given a chance to be redeemed as a people.


Read these verses about the evil generation of Israel wandering for 40 years--


Deu 1:35 Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers


Num 14:30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
Num 14:31 But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.
Num 14:32 But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.
Num 14:33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.
Num 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
Num 14:35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.


Deu 2:7 For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing


Deu 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
Deu 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Deu 8:4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
Deu 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
Deu 8:6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.


Deu 29:2 And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land;
Deu 29:3 The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles:
Deu 29:4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
Deu 29:5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.
Deu 29:6 Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the LORD your God.


Jos 5:6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.


Neh 9:20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.
Neh 9:21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.


Psa 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psa 95:2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
Psa 95:3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
Psa 95:4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
Psa 95:5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
Psa 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
Psa 95:7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
Psa 95:8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Psa 95:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
Psa 95:10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
Psa 95:11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.


Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Heb 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Heb 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Heb 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)


Heb 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Heb 3:16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
Heb 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
Heb 3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
Heb 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.



When Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days and nights to be tempted- it was a trying time like we can't fully comprehend. It was there that Jesus' loyalty to God was to be tested. There would have been NO redemption for the children of God had Jesus failed the testing. There would have been NO wandering for 40 years weeding out the evil because it wasn't a people being tested, but the Savior Himself. Jesus relying solely upon God for absolutely EVERYTHING, Jesus believing, Jesus having faith.


Also, Jesus wasn't coming out of 400 years of bondage. Jesus was coming out of people steeped in the old covenant ways, over a 1000 years obeying the old covenant ways, a lot longer if you take it all the way back to the beginning of sin's entrance into the world when Eve sinned. Animal sacrifice as an example of the ultimate sacrifice needed to wipe out sins dates back to Adam and Eve, back to Cain and Abel. Jesus was the central figure in the turning point from a covenant that pointed to a Savior - towards a covenant existing after the Savior's arrival. The turning point was going to be fought tooth and nail (so to speak) by Satan. He'd existed for thousands of years trying to prevent the Savior from coming into existence - thousands of years! Now here He was, the Savior born and grown, ready to usher in the new covenant way and Satan wanted Him destroyed.


The first temptation written about was Satan wanting Jesus to change a stone into bread so Jesus would eat it and no longer suffer being hungry. Jesus told Satan that it was written that it was better to obey God than to eat.


Another temptation…


Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.


Luk 4:9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
Luk 4:10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
Luk 4:11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.


The devil was allowed to TAKE Jesus, to BRING Jesus to a pinnacle on the temple in Jerusalem.


Imagine it for a moment. Supernatural power being exert by Satan to transport Jesus from the wilderness to the holy city, and not just to the holy city but to a PINNACLE on the temple! We really can imagine it can't we? We can because we've seen enough movies on television that use special effects to do all sorts of fictional supernatural occurrences. The movie Superman from way back has Him flying about taking people here and there with him. Many other shows and movies use the same special effects to get the one watching to understand there is something spectacular taking place, something out of the ordinary. So yes, we CAN imagine it happening only with Jesus there was no special effects, no blue screen, no film manipulation, no special props it was the REAL deal. Satan took Jesus bodily from the wilderness and placed Him on a temple turret, a high place upon the temple. And once there Satan USED the written word of God to entice Jesus to sin. Did you catch that point… Satan USED THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD! People like to imagine that Satan recoils at the mere thought of God but it's not true, Satan uses God's words- manipulating them as He did right from the beginning with Eve. Did the words Satan recite ring true? Yes, they were true!


Psa 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Psa 91:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.


Luk 4:9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
Luk 4:10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
Luk 4:11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.


For it is WRITTEN- Satan used God's own words to tempt Jesus. Surely if God had said this it had to be true so Satan wanted Jesus to PROVE that what God said was true. You can just imagine Satan feeling superior and cunning ready to trip Jesus up with his wily ways. But it wasn't to be, Jesus knew God's word from the beginning to the end, every sentence written in what we call the Old Testament, Jesus knew.


Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Luk 4:12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.


Deu 6:16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

Exo 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?


Jesus knew better than to do ANYTHING other than what His Father wanted Him to do. When Satan told Him to cast Himself down because God said He'd bear Him up with angels, how easy it would have been for Jesus to do just that- just as easy as it would have been for Him to change a stone into bread- very, very easy. But doing ANYTHING at all to try God is asking for trouble. It's not because it can't be done, it's because there has to be BELIEF without seeing, a belief without a proving. The importance of faith goes way beyond what the devil would have us understand. Jesus already believed, Jesus had the faith already and didn't need God to prove a single thing. Jesus believed wholeheartedly. We need to have this kind of faith when we are tempted, a faith that realizes that God is allowing all that happens to us for a reason and we don't have to know why, just know that God IS, and God's will must be done and we are not to tempt God- because our tempting of God reveals our lack of faith in Him.


By the grace of our Lord, our Savior may we come to full knowledge of His will in all things. May we understand the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness as He would have us understand. Help us Lord to learn of this amazing transitioning period in time- the ending of one way of life and the beginning of the new way of life that would exist until everlasting life becomes the next transition of us, Your people.


By Your will, by Your grace!


Amen.

This is temptation- the choice offered

Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.


Jesus suffered.
He didn't only suffer pain from being physically abused, Jesus suffered being tempted.
Suffered.
What does the word suffer mean to you? Have you suffered being tempted? In today's world we are forever invoking the right to pursue happiness equating that with the right to NOT suffer, but rather indulge in our temptations because those temptations once realized bring us pleasure, they bring us the happiness we believe we have a right to possess. We do not like to suffer in any way, shape, or form, it's abhorrent to us. Alleviating our suffering of whatever sort is one of our main goals in life. Being told to suffer temptation- to ENDURE temptation isn't something we want to hear.


Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.


Jesus suffered being tempted in ALL points. There is NO temptation Jesus doesn't understand, not a single one. You say impossible, Jesus didn't live with the temptation of internet depravity, Jesus didn't live with the temptation of designer drugs, Jesus didn't live with the temptation of our modern existence so there is NO way Jesus suffered being tempted like we are today.


What we need to understand is the nature of temptation, not the nitpicking of every sin in the world. The nature of temptation is being given a choice to sin or not sin.


Read that again…
The nature of temptation is having the choice to sin or not to sin.


The nature of the sin isn't important- all sin warrants death- the greatest sin and the least sin.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death...

It doesn't say for the wages of the horrible sins is death.


Sin or not to sin - this is temptation - the choice offered.


The choice.


We are daily faced with choices between doing good and bad, and sometimes all day long, other days not so much but the choices we make every day to sin or not sin - make up the sum of our lives.


Being tempted is how Eve sinned from the beginning. The choice Eve made to sin is repeated by us all the time. The Devil tempts and will not stop tempting us, if we live to 100 he'll keep on tempting us. It doesn't matter if the temptation to sin is in getting drunk on wine back in Jesus' day, or the temptation indulge in narcotics today - it is still the offering of sin and a choice to either indulge or resist, endure. There are many forms of sinning, many, but in the end sin is sin and it's a disobeying of God's laws- we are to have NO other God before God; the god of alcohol, the god of drugs, cannot be our gods- they cannot be worshipped above God. We cannot be our own gods and yet many, very many are worshipping themselves.


Temptation- the opportunity to sin.


Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.


Every man is tempted.

Every man is drawn away of his own lust.

Every man is enticed.


Jesus was tempted.

Jesus was drawn away of his own lust.

Jesus was enticed.


The LUST in our Savior was NEVER conceived! Therein lies His perfection!


We are tempted when we are presented with something we lust for- something we desire. Not giving in to that lust, not letting that lust bear fruit keeps us from sinning.


Jesus was tempted by Satan to sin, tempted one on one, tempted face to face. The powerful, supernatural fallen angel who had succeeded in tempting Eve into sin had to try all he could to tempt God's HUMAN Son into sinning. His tempting worked with Eve and subsequently all of mankind. Surely the Spirit who became Jesus, God's Son, who took on that WEAKENED flesh nature with it's full propensity towards sinning would mean an easy victory for the Evil One. None could resist Satan, none, all humans had succumbed to temptation, Jesus would be the same- and yet He wasn't! Jesus SUFFERED, Jesus understood the LUST pull to sin, Jesus felt the enticement to sin yet He NEVER for a single moment separated Himself from the love of God the Father. NO conceived lust could ever replace the love of His Father and He knew this. God the Father was EVERYTHING to Jesus, everything and He would never risk separation, never! Life without God the Father leading Him would be nothing- it would be living death.


JESUS SUFFERED TEMPTATION!


Do not believe for one moment He did not suffer. The victory of our Savior is all but beyond our comprehension.


The very real Satan, the very real hatred, the very real evil force wanted to destroy Jesus and unable to prevent His birth, His childhood, His early adulthood- Satan was now allowed to confront Jesus with the severest of temptations possible just as Jesus was at His most vulnerable.


Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Luk 4:3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.


Remember temptation is being enticed, it's being drawn away by something we desired. Sustained for 40 days and 40 nights, enduring endless tempting from Satan, FINALLY the evil one sensed what He perceived to be a weakness in our Savior. Jesus suffering hunger, noticeably suffering. Jesus desired to eat. Now there's nothing wrong with eating when we are hungry, right? Being hungry isn't a sin, it isn't a lust as we like to think of lusts. Why would it be wrong for Jesus to eat? It wouldn't be wrong right? If ever anyone had a right to eat it would be someone who hasn't eaten for 40 days and nights. Eating wouldn't be wrong at all, eating wouldn't be a sin in any way- it was the fact that there was NOTHING available to eat, nothing. Satan didn't tempt Jesus with food- he tempted Him with stones- he tempted him to use His POWER to change those stones- he tempted Him to use SUPERNATURAL power- he tempted Jesus to forsake His humanity- he tempted Jesus to DISOBEY God the Father! It was God the Father's will that Jesus NEVER use His supernatural powers for any SELFISH act. The pain of hunger was real to Jesus, the desire to eat- to satisfy that hunger was real- yet Jesus knew that it was more important to follow the will of His Father than to eat.


Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Luk 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God


When Satan tempted Jesus to change stones into bread he did so by saying this first- IF THOU BE THE SON OF GOD.


Jesus knew who He was, He knew He was God's Son, He had nothing to prove to Satan. That Satan was there tempting Him was proof enough.


Satan was using Jesus' hunger but he didn't do so by holding up a loaf of bread in front of Jesus. No, Satan was trying to use Jesus' desire to eat to get Him to throw off His humanity. If Jesus used His supernatural power selfishly, if Jesus used His supernatural power at a time not directed to do so by God the Father- it would be sin.


Jesus answered Satan by quoting from the book of Deuteronomy-


Deu 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.


God provided MANNA- food from heaven. God would give Jesus manna as well if He wanted Him to eat. God knew Jesus was hungry, just as God knew His people journeying to the promised land were hungry and needed food. Would His people trust Him? Did His people believe that He held their lives in His hands? God humbled His people. God allowed His people to hunger so they would realize God would provide for them. If they had all the food they wanted but lacked God they would die eternal death. They had food in Egypt but they were in bondage. They'd been freed to worship God and the God who freed them would also provide for them. It would be better to die from hunger than to disobey God. Obeying God is life.


Jesus obeyed God the Father. Jesus chose to endure temptation.


Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.


Jesus received the crown of life- God the Father raised Him from death to life everlasting. All praise, all glory, all honor to our King! By His love!


Amen

Jesus Assaulted

Satan knew Jesus was vulnerable to temptation- or else he never would have tried tempting Him.
We don't like to imagine this at all. Instead we have this image of Jesus as a religious super man- able to defeat temptation automatically without batting an eye. Jesus UNDERSTOOD our suffering of being tempted. After Jesus fasted 40 days and nights, being tempted of Satan in so many ways, we read this…


Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.


He was hungry!


So here we have it, the fasting wasn't so supernaturally controlled that Jesus wasn't allowed to feel the pains of hunger. Jesus was kept from dying- as was Moses as they endured their 40 days and nights of fasting without water or food. These basics of human necessity were denied them and they were completely cleansed of all inward sustenance relying completely on God the Father to supply them their needs. The Holy Spirit ministered to them through angels.


Mar 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.


How exactly did the angels minister to our Savior we don't know, but we do know He was kept alive without suffering dehydration and starvation. Did He hunger? YES. And I imagine He was thirsty as well. Our Savior went through this trial for a reason- it was a purifying time, it was a testing time, it was the beginning of a new covenant between God and man. As Moses was up in the mount communing with God, receiving the law- Jesus was in the wilderness facing the breaker of the law.


Some say Jesus was only tempted AFTER the 40 days and nights were up, others say He was tempted throughout the entire 40 days and nights and then after as well. Personally I believe He was tempted from the get go all through the 40 days and nights and afterwards as well. I believe that Moses was with God the entire 40 days and nights in the mountain and I believe Jesus had to face the temptations of Satan for the entire time as well. We KNOW that we are only told some of ALL the things that took place during our Savior's ministry here on earth. I believe the 3 temptations we are told about are significant ones, but not the ONLY ones. Jesus was tempted in ALL points. To begin this life changing new covenant way Jesus came face to face with Satan and Satan tried EVERYTHING absolutely EVERYTHING within His power to TEMPT Jesus to sin. Jesus prevailed over every single temptation refusing each and every temptation. You want to believe it was EASY for Him, but it wasn't, it truly wasn't.


Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.


Luk 4:2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.


When Jesus had suffered 40 days and night He was finishing up His time of fasting- just as Moses began His descent from the mountain after his 40 days and nights. Moses returned not to people obedient to God, but to the horrific knowledge that the people God had just freed from bondage were already sinning against Him, already breaking the covenant, already defying God. Jesus finished His time of fasting and did not enter immediately into a life surrounded by support of disciples and loved ones. As the time ended Satan wasn't through and with Jesus feeling the pain of the hunger he assaulted Him once again. Yes, assaulted Him. Just as we are ASSAULTED by Satan. It's REAL, Satanic assaults happen all the time and not the horror movie, supernatural thriller assaults that we've been trained to associate with exorcism and the like. Because we are bombarded with the sensationalized Satan we tend to minimize the EVERY DAY Satan in our lives. We tend to believe that He doesn't even exist around us. He's not AFTER us, he's just after… well … other people, bad people, right? Or special people, that's it, Satan is after special people He wouldn't waste his time on every day average people. What a lie! What a deception and we fall for it hook, line, and sinker.


Jesus was assaulted by Satan with such an intensity we can't begin to imagine it really. Yes, we are assaulted as well, but Satan wanted to kill the promised Seed that would destroy Him. If He couldn't kill the promised Seed then he would tempt the promised Seed into sinning and there by destroy any hope for anyone ever being forgiven of sin. He had to corrupt the Seed in any way he possibly could. This time- this 40 days and night, and directly after as Jesus was put through the torture of temptation- was Satan's initial grand assault and he was allowed to come out with both barrels blazing. Afterwards… Jesus was given a respite. He'd endured and passed through the front lines and came through unscathed, unblemished, unmarked by Satan.


Did Satan keep tempting our Savior even after the initial assault? Yes, but not in the same manner. Our Savior prevailed and the new covenant He was ushering in by His successful endurance of temptation had begun.


By His amazing grace! By His amazing love and mercy! May we continue to study and understand the miracle of salvation in our Savior, our God.


Amen.

Spiritual Journeys Physical Beings

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.


Jesus was anointed to His new life upon baptism and after God accepted His Son as One worthy to begin to minister His new covenant, Jesus was immediately led by God the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. Jesus was taken away from people, Jesus was taken away from any ready comforts of every day life. If you were led into the wilderness without any preparation you wouldn't be bringing any comforts would you? You wouldn't even be bringing what we call necessities. You'd be stranded and the chances of your survival would depend upon your knowledge of living off the land and even then it would depend upon the sort of wilderness you were led to. Just catch the picture of this in your mind- the reality of being led into the wilderness. Jesus wasn't encased in some special, invisible pod and protected from all the elements, He wasn't whisked away to a five star resort and pampered. Jesus was led to the wilderness and over the course of 40 days and 40 night- he fasted.


Now, I'm not going to detail the facts we've all heard about a person only surviving 5-10 days without food and 3 days without water. There are exceptions to every rule on this. Hearing tales of buried earthquake survivors living up to 2 weeks under the rubble, hearing all sorts of exceptions just goes to prove that it is possible to defy the norm.


We don't know the details of Jesus' time in the wilderness those 40 days and night.


We know this…


Mar 1:12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.
Mar 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.


And this…


Luk 4:2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.


Forty days tempted of the devil.
Forty days fasting.
Forty days.


There is a significance in this forty days- drawing our minds back to Moses.



Exo 34:27 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.
Exo 34:28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.


Moses when receiving the law was there with the Lord forty days and nights- FASTING.


Deu 9:9 When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:
Deu 9:10 And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.
Deu 9:11 And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant.


Forty days and forty nights- fasting.


Moses wasn't sent up into the mount to be tempted- but to receive the law.
Jesus wasn't sent into the wilderness to receive the law- but to be tempted.


We KNOW the law reveals sin. Without the law there is NO sin. Before the law was carved in stone it existed. The law of God existed from the beginning. When Satan tempted man to fall, man fell because they broke the law of God- they disobeyed God. Since that fall they continued to break God's law. God took great steps to keep mankind alive- to keep sin from corrupting every single person. Those who did sin could find forgiveness in God if they sought it with a contrite and sincere heart. Those who found forgiveness remained God's people. After their 400 year captivity in Egypt God took this great number of people and decided that a formal ceremonial system was needed for people to follow. The laws that always existed unwritten but known -were written down and a system for cleansing from the breaking of this law was created- a system that pointed to the ULTIMATE sacrifice- a sacrifice that Abraham in type had been called to make, and whose faith spared him. Every sin will be accounted for. Every instance of disobedience to God and the laws He created will be accounted for. With this ceremonial system in place God's people were to live under this covenant until the Messiah would fulfill the sacrificial role enacted under the old covenant ceremonial system, and before that it was enacted even by Cain and Abel and all the patriarchs, prophets, and kings.


Jesus lived under the same system until He was called to begin the new system.


Moses was sent to the mount to receive the law.
Jesus was sent to the wilderness to be tempted to break that same law.


IF that law was to be done away with, Jesus would have been breaking nothing, without the law there is NO sin. But that law WASN'T to be done away with. That law was to be REAFFIRMED by Jesus right there, the FIRST thing after He was confirmed by the Father as being His Son, a Son that was accepted, pleasing. Reaffirmed the law was firmly in place at the very start of our Savior's work ushering in the new covenant.


Jesus was tempted to sin, to break the law, a law that Satan KNEW would forever and always be in place. The law was reestablished as being at the heart of the new covenant- we cannot dismiss this fact very important fact!


To be tempted to sin, you have to be tempted to break God's law.


1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.


~


Forty days, forty nights, fasting.


Forty days and nights sustained solely by obedience to God the Father.


Fasting was used for spiritual-physical cleansing. Fasting was purposeful, not senseless or random. Both Moses and Jesus lived many years prior to their call to begin their respective ministries. Both Moses and Jesus were purposefully called into a forty day and night fast at a CRUICIAL memorable time in their lives, in their ministries.


We can't ignore this, we shouldn't ignore this connection.


Receiving the law.
Tempted to break the law.


God's law is at the heart of both these very spiritual journeys of physical beings.


More tomorrow by the grace of our Lord and Savior.


Amen.

Jesus was led

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.


Jesus began His ministry of truth after being baptized- signifying this momentous change from the typical Jewish life towards a new covenant life. The transition from one to another wasn't instantaneous. They existed together- Jesus' Jewish heritage which was a heritage given by birth and His new covenant heritage which was given to Him by His Father, through the Spirit. This blending wasn't obvious for 30 years, but called to reveal the TRUTH Jesus began the unveiling, Jesus began the revelation of the evolution that was taking place. For hundreds and hundreds of years the prophecies of the One who would bring this change, this new covenant, was known. For hundreds of years the Jewish people lived with the history of their patriarchs, their prophets, and their kings. For hundreds of years the Jewish people built a legacy of Godly men leading them through a multitude of God wrought miracles. Before Moses came as deliverer to free God's people from Egyptian bondage the people held an 'idea' of what their deliverer would be like. The idea did not meet with their expectations- they were ready to abandon Moses at the first sign of opposition, as if they expected their deliverer to swoop in and instantly free them from bondage and all hardship.


Exo 5:20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:
Exo 5:21 And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.


This is NOT a ready embrace of God's deliverer. The people accused Moses of causing the Egyptians such upset they were now in a worse situation than ever before. Moses spoke with God and relayed this to God's people and this was their reaction--


Exo 6:9 And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.


Those to be delivered HEARKENED NOT to their deliverer.


Why the idea that the coming Messiah would be instantly accepted existed and still exists by the Jewish people, is a complete mystery given history's lessons.


Not only was Moses NOT readily accepted, even after He brought them out of Egypt and began to lead them to freedom they did NOT believe He was God sent, but rather sent to lead them to their slow, lingering deaths. So horrific was their attitude towards this man sent by God, their deliverer, that God did not bring them readily into their promised land and life, but rather punished them for their disbelief for 40 years! This is the Jewish legacy! This is truth! In the days of Jesus, Moses was revered but during the early days of Moses as deliverer he was rejected, he was disbelieved, he was scoffed at, scorned at, he wasn't held in high esteem at all! Years later Moses was herald as a great leader of God's people but during His lifetime He faced much opposition. Yet these same people who KNOW their ancestors suffered for the disbelief of their earthly deliverer couldn't fathom they'd ever reject their heavenly deliverer. They imagined Him as coming in such a way His heralding the NEW covenant would be completely acceptable to them, after all He was to be their MESSIAH, God sent, God's Son!


Truly they did not understand that CHANGES were to be made when the Messiah arrived, changes from old to new, changes from bondage to freedom, changes from death to life. Jesus grew up following the old covenant ways and in the fulfillment of time He began to introduce the new covenant ways and it wasn't a - wake up one morning and everything is changed- Jesus began a 3 YEAR ministry revealing the new covenant. 3 YEARS of instruction, 3 YEARS of revelation.


After His baptism- signifying the OLD LIFE being buried and a RISING to NEW LIFE- Jesus' ministry was begun. No longer would Jesus be a typical Jewish 30 year old male.


Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.


After accepting the revelation of the Holy Spirit and His Father's words of acknowledgment - Jesus was LED UP of the Spirit into the wilderness.


Jesus was not baptized and then left to return to His old way of life before baptism. Jesus was set on a course different than any other. Up until His baptism Jesus lived immersed in the protection of His Heavenly Father. Upon baptism the acceptance of ministry was embraced and the VERY first encounter after His baptism was to be with the Devil. He was accepted of God, embraced as God's Son- pleasing to God and then led to face His greatest adversary- one on one.


Was it POSSIBLE for Jesus to sin?


Yes.


The possibility existed. This temptation Jesus would face head on with an adversary we only know as an invisible evil spirit force, was a REAL temptation and we cannot for ONE second believe otherwise.


Led of the Holy Spirit. Jesus did ALL things through His Father's will and it was His Father's will that He be tested. The Holy Spirit did not imbue Jesus with a special protection, with a special power. The Holy Spirit LED Jesus to face the Devil's tempting. Jesus' humanity, Jesus' flesh, Jesus had the power of choice just as YOU and I possess. Jesus was tempted in ALL ways, just as we are. Jesus used His power of choice to defeat the temptations- He chose to follow God the Father, He chose to OBEY God the Father in all things. The humanity He possessed fought the temptation and won over the temptation by choosing to OBEY God. If Jesus didn't possess the ability to give in to temptation then His being tempted was in vain, meaningless.


More on this tomorrow… by the grace of our Lord and Savior.


Amen

Fulfill all righteousness

Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.


Was it NORMAL for people- for thirty year old Jewish men to be baptized?

No.

What John the Baptist was doing wasn't something typical to the Jewish man's way of life. Jesus had lived the typical Jewish life. He was circumcised as a baby. He was taught the customs- going to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the passover. He lived the typical Jewish man's life up until He was 30 years old. At that time there was John the Baptist- preaching and baptizing- John was preaching a call to repentance.


Being called to repentance wasn't something completely new to the Jewish people. The history of God's people showed numerous calls to repentance by God's holy prophets. John taking up that call as a prophet and preaching repentance was yet another instance- some would perceive him to be from God and WERE baptized by Him and others mocked him, as they did all prophets.


Luk 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
Luk 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.


Luk 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;


He was PREACHING the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Repent and be baptized.
This wasn't all he was doing.


Luk 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Luk 3:5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
Luk 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.


Luk 3:7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?


Luk 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.


Luk 3:9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.


Luk 3:10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?


Luk 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.


He preached LOVE for our fellow man!


Luk 3:12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?


Luk 3:13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.


He preached fairness- love to all!


Luk 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.


Preaching love- because isn't treating each other as he tells those newly baptized Jews- publicans, soldiers and the like- love? It is. And obviously these people were living in a world full of corrupt Jews, a corrupt way of life had become acceptable to the masses and God was not with them. John was a prophet calling out to God's people- exposing their sins- offering a chance for them to have a new life- a righteous life not called to selfishness and evil but to selfLESSness and love.


Luk 3:15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
Luk 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
Luk 3:17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Luk 3:18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.


John preached the coming of the MESSIAH.


The preaching of the coming of the Messiah- ONE who would save God's people from their sins was preached for hundreds and hundreds of years.


Read this passage -

Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.


The Jews were LOOKING for the coming of their predicted Messiah. Many were ready for the prophecy to be fulfilled, but more weren't. Their expectation of the Messiah wasn't grounded- they looked for an earthly king to rule, to lead, to guide them and to destroy their enemies. They were not looking for someone to come preach - love your enemies.


Jesus lived knowing who He was, at 12 years old He knew yet it wasn't time for Him to reveal anything at all. Jesus was to live a normal life, as an average Jewish man and then when it was time He began His Father's work.


Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.


John knew who Jesus was, the promised Messiah. Life as they knew it to be as a typical Jewish men would NEVER be the same. The Messiah came and with Him came change, with Him came a fulfillment of righteousness. With the Messiah's arrival a WHOLE new covenant was ushered in, a NEW covenant that we need to know intimately because WE, you and I, live under this new covenant and will continue to live under this new covenant until our Savior, our Messiah returns for us.


By His grace may we come to understand fully His most amazing love as we wait for Him under the new covenant He brought to us all.


In His love.


Amen