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Today is Monday November 08, 2010 and we are continuing our reading through the Bible. Today's message comes from the Book of John, chapters 19-21. In these chapters we will read about, Jesus being crucified, His death, burial, and resurrection three days later, Jesus showing Himself to Mary Magdalene and the disciples, Jesus eating fish with His disciples, and Jesus telling Peter to feed His sheep, all Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-8

Today's Message: By Word of Mouth
If you stop and think about the time that Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection occurred in 2033-2034 it will be two thousand years since He defeated Satan's attempt to put an end to God by resurrecting out of the tomb. So, if it has been almost two thousand years since Jesus ascended up to heaven how is it that we know the Gospel as if it just happened yesterday? First, we have the Bible, God used certain men to record what He wanted us to know, they were kind of like a transcriber in a court room. Perhaps the most effective method used to keep the Gospel alive is by word of mouth. “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,” - Ephesians 6:19. Just as word of mouth can make or break a business or reputation, it is by boldly making known the Gospel that we know it today.

The time had come for the Scriptures to be fulfilled, Jesus was about to endure everything that was prophesied concerning His crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection. When the chief priests went before Pilate and urged him to give the order of crucifixion, Pilate did not want to go through with it. “The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar....Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.” - John 19:7-12,16.

From that moment Pilate knew that Jesus was the Son of God and the true King, he even went as far as saying, “Don't you know that I have the power to release you?” But Jesus said, “Unless God has given you the power to release me, you have no power at all.” Jesus knew that Pilate did not want to deliver Him into their hands, so, He assured him that those that delivered Him were the ones that would suffer. God knows our hearts, He knows that sometimes it is beyond our power to keep something from happening. He assures us that it's all in His hands and while we may suffer a little, it does not compare to the suffering that the one who caused us to sin will face. “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” - I Peter 4:14-17.

As Jesus was hanging there on a cross at Calvary, He saw His mother and the disciple that wrote this Gospel, John in the crowd. “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” - John 19:25-30.

The word behold means to look at me, you can only imagine what Jesus was thinking as He saw His family and disciples (beyond the twelve) watching Him as He was dying on the cross. A little humble, but glad that it was almost over, His most concern was that someone take care of His mother, so, John willingly took her in. I know that if I were being tortured and put to death I would not want my family around to watch me die, but regardless of what He felt He was at peace because He knew that everything would come to pass and that the Scriptures would be fulfilled as promised and He would prevail and be saving all those believers looking up at Him weeping and grieving the loss of their beloved king. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” - Romans 5:8-10.

The first day of the week dawned peacefully on Joseph of Arimathea's new garden tomb. The Savior arose and with His Resurrection dawned a new and victorious day for the human race. Can you imagine the look on Mary Magdalene's face when she looked up and noticed that Jesus was standing there alive? “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.” - John 20:15-18. When we are grieving or feeling overwhelmed with life it can be easy to forget that Jesus is standing right there with us, in fact, He is not standing there, He is carrying us. Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:328-30.

Jesus had one request for Peter, “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” - John 21:15-18.

Jesus said, “Since I am not going to be here much longer I am entrusting you to teach others what I have taught you and what you have seen. I need you to teach them because you are not going to be here forever either and everyone needs to know how they can be saved and what I have done to save them.” Peter was the one to pass on the good news and here we are today with the great knowledge of the Gospel, all by word of mouth.

Be blessed and enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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