Blood Sacrifice and the News of the Day…
As I reread these words in my Bible today, I had several thoughts occur to me:
Luke 13:1 ¶ There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Notice here, that Jesus used current events, things that would be newsworthy in the day He walked the earth, as examples of eternal life, and eternal death.
He always turned people towards the kingdom of God, because He knew that only in the presence of His kingdom, would people see forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and life and life more abundantly here in the earth. The kingdom of God is the supreme rule and reign of God, being manifest here in the earth, as it always is in heaven. The cross of Jesus, will provide forgiveness for our sins, if we embrace it.
We are called to be citizens of heaven, to live as children of the most High God. Repentance is the ticket that brings us into our inheritance. REPENT!
I see people messing around in sexual relationships outside of marriage, sucking up alcohol and smoking drugs trying to find joy, to alleviate, medicate the deeper needs in their souls, that only God in His love and mercy can meet.
In an elite condominium, generally the suite on top, that is the most lavish and best is called the penthouse suite. It is the highest place in the building. Re: means to return to, Pent actually means five, but for the sake of my illustration, picture a penthouse, a place of privilege, luxury, and privilege. REPENT: Come back to your high place in Him, where you are made to sit in heavenly places with Jesus, ruling and reigning in life by His Word and His Spirit.
For those of us who know Jesus, this is our position before His throne:
This week we saw the terrorist attacks in Israel: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.627084.
Jihadist’s globally perform atrocities in their hell spawned agenda of radical Islam, yet in the days Jesus walked the earth Herod was worse. He was performing human sacrifice, and had just sacrificed several people from Galilee, in one of his demonic rituals. Eighteen people had just been killed in a horrible tragedy, when a tower in Siloam fell.
Jesus did not deviate from His mission, no matter what was happening in the news of the day, nor should we. Pray for those affected by tragedy, and help wherever possible, then preach the kingdom of God, the answer to every problem humanity has gotten ourselves into.
Jesus is King of Heaven and Earth, and anywhere that His kingdom is implemented, there will be true freedom, liberty and justice for all. His kingdom is love, and He is only good.
If you are one who has heard of Jesus, but do not daily serve Him, here again, is the gospel: God came to earth, the baby we celebrate this Christmas is no mere mortal, He is God Emmanual, God Himself came to earth, through the womb of a virgin woman. He came!
He lived a perfect life, teaching, demonstrating His great love through wonderful miracles, loving. Forgiving, and healing all who would receive Him. He lived!
He had a mission. That one perfect man would die to pay the price for all men. He died upon a cross, and proclaimed the words, that still echo throughout eternity: It is Finished! The price for your sin and mine has been paid! God Almighty has received the shed blood of Jesus, as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity: He Died!
During the three days and nights that Jesus body lay in the tomb, His spirit went two places: to hell, to take back from satan the keys to hell and death, and to the paradise called Abraham’s bosum, to preach to the saints of old that He had come, and that prophecy was fulfilled: Death could not hold Him, the grave was not to be His resting place, on the third day He Rose from the dead! He Lives!
Yet, the story did not end there, He spent the next fifty days returning to the earth, giving His disciples final instructions on what He wanted done in His church, preparing the way for another to enter the earth in power, mighty Holy Spirit! He is still here doing signs, wonders, and miracles, in this and every generation. He ascended bodily into heaven, where He sits at the right hand of our Father, as King and Lord of Heaven and earth: He Reigns!
He Came, He Lived, He Died, He Rose, and He Reigns!
The question is always: Will you have this man as your King? Will you serve Him, not merely in a moment of emotional ecstacy, but daily as your Lord and Shepherd through all of your life?
So many accept God on their terms, but never make the critical decision of life, to bow their knee to His Lordship, and place Him in charge of everything, and then actually follow through on this decision, daily, seeking Him each day.
Let’s Pray:
‘Father, I come to you again, recognizing my need of you. Jesus, I receive you, as my Lord, and Shepherd of my life. Order my steps, rearrange my days, my career, and teach me, day by day, your love and your ways. I want to serve you, all the rest of my life, Amen’