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.