Two Different Actions - Study 6/18/13
Two Different Actions
How is it possible that two people watching and observing the same event, movie or action would have two different reactions and interpretation? Imagine yourself at a funeral. The burial and interment has taken place and you were just hanging around to comfort the bereaved family. Now walks in Jesus and He goes to the grave, tells people to remove the grave stone or whatever is covering the grave (sand or gravel). Then Jesus proceeds to call forth the dead person to come out alive and he did. I don’t know about you but my first instinct is to take to my heels and run. I will probably calm down later and come back to observe from a closer distance.
What would you have done if you were there when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead? Many were present and Apostle John records two notable reactions and results by the people gathered. “45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did” John 11:45-46. One group believed in Jesus for eternal life but the other believed Jesus for evil.
The same thing is happening today. Many in the world will believe in Jesus for eternal life. However, some will acknowledge what Jesus can and will do but use it against Jesus and His Church. In which camp are you? If you want political favors and to be right with the “ruling class” and those who want to preserve their sinful habits then Jesus becomes a tool to justify your means. Listen to the Pharisees, “For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation”. The people then wanted to appease the political of the day - the Romans. Does it surprise you that the Bible and Jesus is used these days to justify the homosexual sinful lifestyle? Of course it is not the only sin but just one example in our day of a politically correct sin. After all no one is pushing for legalizing adultery, another sinful lifestyle.
Allow me to clarify myself before my words are twisted. Homosexuals are no less of people than the adulterer or any other sinner and any less of a person than any Christian. All have sinned and cannot please God. Only Jesus the Son pleases the Father God and he has died for us all. He loves all sinners and we must love and respect all sinners because we before faith in Christ were just one of them. Jesus loves us too much that He does not allow us to remain in our sinful lifestyles. Faith in Jesus means that Jesus now lives a righteous life in me. Let’s allow Him to live His live in us and not our “chosen sinful worldly lifestyles”.
Those who chose to run to the Pharisees to tell on Jesus had one intent; destroy and give more ammunition to Jesus’ enemies who had been looking for one fault to kill him. Of course they thought they could kill Jesus on their own strength as if Jesus was helpless. The Church of Jesus today does not answer to the government or politicians and should never feel like the Church will of a sudden cease and Jesus wiped out because of congressional actions or even decisions of the US Supreme Court. Jesus was not helpless and neither His Church today. Jesus gave Himself willingly to the Cross for us.
What will you do with Jesus? Believe in Him for salvation from sin and death? Or run to the enemy’s camp to betray Jesus? Don’t kid yourself that you believe in Jesus if all you do is make your belief convenient for political correctness. You are no believer in Christ (as Lord and Savior) if you practice (as lifestyle), celebrate, condone and encourage the very sins which caused Jesus to die on the Cross. You are either for or against Jesus. You may think you believe but you really don’t know who Jesus is. “Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.” (Luke 13:25-27).
As harsh as the above words sound, those are the words of Jesus. The good news is that it is not too late for any of us to believe right now but tomorrow may be too late. God’s grace is sufficient to cleanse us from all sins right now. “9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). Will you?
John 11: 45-57
45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”
49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us[e] that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.
55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?” 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.
Note that God uses even His enemies to accomplish his mission and purposes. “Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us[e] that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” In his own words and prophecy, Caiaphas confirms God’s word about the death of Christ. Apostle John explains it. “51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad”. Our God is good and great. Nothing can threaten His Kingdom and Sovereignty. So “chillax”. The plot against Christ and the injustice done to Him became our greatest blessing.
Why should you and I fear? There is nothing to fear but to fear (revere) our God. He is due our worship and greater is He who is in us than he that is in the world. The Church of Jesus Christ must march on with the Gospel (the good news) to everyone even the worst of sinners (if there is any such for all have sinned). Let’s keep praying for the salvation of every person God has put in our path.
Jesus is still calling the dead to come forth from the grave. First, let’s acknowledge our deadness (in sin) and let Jesus give us new life of righteousness in Him. Thank you Jesus for dying, rising from the dead and taking away all my sins forever. Amen.
How is it possible that two people watching and observing the same event, movie or action would have two different reactions and interpretation? Imagine yourself at a funeral. The burial and interment has taken place and you were just hanging around to comfort the bereaved family. Now walks in Jesus and He goes to the grave, tells people to remove the grave stone or whatever is covering the grave (sand or gravel). Then Jesus proceeds to call forth the dead person to come out alive and he did. I don’t know about you but my first instinct is to take to my heels and run. I will probably calm down later and come back to observe from a closer distance.
What would you have done if you were there when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead? Many were present and Apostle John records two notable reactions and results by the people gathered. “45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did” John 11:45-46. One group believed in Jesus for eternal life but the other believed Jesus for evil.
The same thing is happening today. Many in the world will believe in Jesus for eternal life. However, some will acknowledge what Jesus can and will do but use it against Jesus and His Church. In which camp are you? If you want political favors and to be right with the “ruling class” and those who want to preserve their sinful habits then Jesus becomes a tool to justify your means. Listen to the Pharisees, “For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation”. The people then wanted to appease the political of the day - the Romans. Does it surprise you that the Bible and Jesus is used these days to justify the homosexual sinful lifestyle? Of course it is not the only sin but just one example in our day of a politically correct sin. After all no one is pushing for legalizing adultery, another sinful lifestyle.
Allow me to clarify myself before my words are twisted. Homosexuals are no less of people than the adulterer or any other sinner and any less of a person than any Christian. All have sinned and cannot please God. Only Jesus the Son pleases the Father God and he has died for us all. He loves all sinners and we must love and respect all sinners because we before faith in Christ were just one of them. Jesus loves us too much that He does not allow us to remain in our sinful lifestyles. Faith in Jesus means that Jesus now lives a righteous life in me. Let’s allow Him to live His live in us and not our “chosen sinful worldly lifestyles”.
Those who chose to run to the Pharisees to tell on Jesus had one intent; destroy and give more ammunition to Jesus’ enemies who had been looking for one fault to kill him. Of course they thought they could kill Jesus on their own strength as if Jesus was helpless. The Church of Jesus today does not answer to the government or politicians and should never feel like the Church will of a sudden cease and Jesus wiped out because of congressional actions or even decisions of the US Supreme Court. Jesus was not helpless and neither His Church today. Jesus gave Himself willingly to the Cross for us.
What will you do with Jesus? Believe in Him for salvation from sin and death? Or run to the enemy’s camp to betray Jesus? Don’t kid yourself that you believe in Jesus if all you do is make your belief convenient for political correctness. You are no believer in Christ (as Lord and Savior) if you practice (as lifestyle), celebrate, condone and encourage the very sins which caused Jesus to die on the Cross. You are either for or against Jesus. You may think you believe but you really don’t know who Jesus is. “Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.” (Luke 13:25-27).
As harsh as the above words sound, those are the words of Jesus. The good news is that it is not too late for any of us to believe right now but tomorrow may be too late. God’s grace is sufficient to cleanse us from all sins right now. “9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). Will you?
John 11: 45-57
45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”
49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us[e] that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.
55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?” 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.
Note that God uses even His enemies to accomplish his mission and purposes. “Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us[e] that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” In his own words and prophecy, Caiaphas confirms God’s word about the death of Christ. Apostle John explains it. “51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad”. Our God is good and great. Nothing can threaten His Kingdom and Sovereignty. So “chillax”. The plot against Christ and the injustice done to Him became our greatest blessing.
Why should you and I fear? There is nothing to fear but to fear (revere) our God. He is due our worship and greater is He who is in us than he that is in the world. The Church of Jesus Christ must march on with the Gospel (the good news) to everyone even the worst of sinners (if there is any such for all have sinned). Let’s keep praying for the salvation of every person God has put in our path.
Jesus is still calling the dead to come forth from the grave. First, let’s acknowledge our deadness (in sin) and let Jesus give us new life of righteousness in Him. Thank you Jesus for dying, rising from the dead and taking away all my sins forever. Amen.
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