Jesus said, if you would believe you would see the glory of God

Beloved, when the mighty Lord dwells with us, He will save us and will rejoice over us with gladness (Zephaniah 3:17). Whatever may be our troubles and problems, the mighty power of God can change them.

Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha died and was buried. When Jesus asked where his body was, Martha without any faith said that it was four days since he was buried and it would smell if his grave was opened. But, Jesus looked at her and said, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40). He raised Lazarus from death and made Martha see His mighty powers with her own eyes. Today, God is mighty enough to abide in you and reveal His mighty power in your personal life as well as in your family life. Is there anything impossible for Him to do? (Psalm 33:9)

A mother gave birth to a son but she was terribly disappointed to see him born with an infirmity. Both his legs were twisted and looked abnormal. She feared that with his twisted legs her child would not be able to walk like other normal children. But she had faith in the Lord that He would definitely heal him. So, everyday she would put him on her lap and rub the prayer oil on his legs and pray in faith for a miracle. The Lord honoured her faith and did a miracle. She saw some changes in his legs! The twisted legs started becoming normal. As the years rolled by, this child grew into a young man filled with the Holy Spirit and is serving the Lord mightily.

Beloved, the mother in the above incident looked upto the Lord in faith and He did not allow her to languish in her distress. He honoured her faith and did a miracle for her son. The Lord will never put to shame those who look upto Him. He is able to change your situation whatever it maybe. The Bible says, “Surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18). Look up to the Lord in faith in your distress and He will deliver you and rejoice over you. The Lord will surely keep you in perfect peace and bless you abundantly (Isaiah 26:3).

Prayer:

Loving Lord Jesus,

I ask You to dwell with me. You answer the cries of those who call to You in their distress and deliver them. My burdens and problems are nothing before Your power and as nothing is impossible with You Lord, solve all my problems by Your power. Fill my life with Your blessings and lead me by Your grace. I give You all glory, honour and praise.

Amen.

In Jesus name I pray

Beloved, when we ask anything according to His will, the Lord hears us. Today the Lord will give us the grace to ask according to His will and we shall receive the blessings. There are times when we are unable to make right decisions and wonder what to do during such times. The Bible says, “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17). The Lord shall fill you with His Spirit and make you one with Him. He will give you the grace to know the will of God in your life and enable you to pray accordingly and be blessed.

Then you will receive answers for all your prayers. All you have to do is to humble yourself before the Lord and pray saying, “Lord, I’m a sinner. Have mercy on me and help me not to sin against you.” The Lord will show mercy to you and reveal His will to you.

In the Bible we see that King David enthroned Solomon as king over Israel. The new king looked up to the Lord saying, “Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” The Lord was exceedingly pleased with the prayer of Solomon and said, "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you” (1 Kings 3:6-12).

Beloved, the Lord desires to elevate you in life and bless you. Ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit Who will reveal the will of God to you. Humble yourself before Him and pray saying, “Lord, forgive my shortcomings. Help me to forsake my sins. Shower your grace upon me and bless me. I commit myself for Your will to be fulfilled in my life.” The King of Kings will answer your prayers and exalt you as prince and princess in life. No weapon of the enemy shall prosper against you and all blessings shall abound in your life.

Prayer:

Loving Heavenly Father,

I humble myself before You. Forgive my sins and shortcomings; cleanse me and make me holy. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and make me one with You. Father, I praise You for Your Word as how to ask according to Your will and receive answers for all my prayers. Father, teach me Your ways and help me to follow them. Bless me and exalt me in life. In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen.

Jesus is our king

You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins. If you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.
John 8:23-24

When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. John 8:28

If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:31-32

I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. John 8:51

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. John 9:5

I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. John 10:9

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father. John 10:17-18

My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish. No one can snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28

I and the Father are one. John 10:30

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12:24

Now is the time for judgment on this world. Now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. John 12:31-32

I have come into the world as a light so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words. That very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. John 12:46-48

I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:1-2

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. John 17:24

My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. My kingdom is from another place. John 18:36

You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. John 18:37

Jesus is the bread of life

I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe. How then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. John 3:12-15

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:16-18

Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:13-14

You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 5:39-40

Do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give you. On him, God the Father has placed his seal of approval. John 6:27

I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. John 6:32-33

I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. John 6:38-40

Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins

(Jesus the Messiah) wept Luke 19:37-44 over Jerusalem. His chosen people will soon 'look upon Him who they pierced'. Zechariah 12:10 He will come as King Psalm 2 and redeem this evil world where sin abounds. Look upon your Redeemer Job 19:23-26, our Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:10-12. Just as the bronze snake in the desert portrayed Numbers 21:7-9, He hung on a pole, taking the punishment we deserve for our sin upon Himself as Isaiah foretold Isaiah 53:5. Look in faith to the Angel of the Lord and LIVE!

Many saints around the globe are rejecting tempoary comfort offered by evil authorities requiring them to deny their faith in the one true God, Jesus Christ, and His Word directly to us, the Bible. Continue to stand firm. If you love God you can find comfort in His Word Mat. 4:4 and the hope within us whom He has chosen. Rom. 12:12

Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, is worthy to receive glory and honor, for He created all things, and by His will they are sustained.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life". John 3:16

Jesus Christ said: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7,8

Most think heaven awaits them. The One who rose from the grave after 3 days said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6 God the Son came as a sinless man. Philipians 2:5-8 He gave up His human life to save ours. He said that His death was the only acceptable payment for sin. He is our ONLY way to God. He died to give our spirit eternal life. Without Him, we are spiritually dead. Ephesians 2:1-2

Most think heaven awaits them. The One who rose from the grave after 3 days said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6 God the Son came as a sinless man. Philipians 2:5-8 He gave up His human life to save ours. He said that His death was the only acceptable payment for sin. He is our ONLY way to God. He died to give our spirit eternal life. Without Him, we are spiritually dead. Ephesians 2:1-2

He declared: "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:3 Are you truly "born again"? John 3:3 Does the Spirit of Christ now dwell within you? John 14:20 & Romans 8:9 Have you been adopted into God's family forever through faith in our Redeemer and Lord, Jesus Christ? Galatians 4:5 It is critical you make certain! Earnestly ask God to change your hard heart.

asked Jesus into your life by prayer

Prayer is talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. The following is a suggested prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."

If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, then you can pray this prayer right now and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.

Jesus said feed my lambs,take care of my sheep, feed my sheep.

1 Later Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee.* This is how it happened.1

2 Several of the disciples were there--Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin*), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.2

3 Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing." "We'll come, too," they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

4 At dawn the disciples saw Jesus standing on the beach, but they couldn't see who he was.

5 He called out, "Friends, have you caught any fish?" "No," they replied.

6 Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get plenty of fish!" So they did, and they couldn't draw in the net because there were so many fish in it.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and swam ashore.

8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only out about three hundred feet.*3

9 When they got there, they saw that a charcoal fire was burning and fish were frying over it, and there was bread.

10 "Bring some of the fish you've just caught," Jesus said.

11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn't torn.

12 "Now come and have some breakfast!" Jesus said. And no one dared ask him if he really was the Lord because they were sure of it.

13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish.

14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.

15 After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.

16 Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you." "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said.

17 Once more he asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep.

18 The truth is, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will direct you and take you where you don't want to go."

19 Jesus said this to let him know what kind of death he would die to glorify God. Then Jesus told him, "Follow me."

20 Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them--the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, "Lord, who among us will betray you?"

21 Peter asked Jesus, "What about him, Lord?"

22 Jesus replied, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You follow me."

23 So the rumor spread among the community of believers* that that disciple wouldn't die. But that isn't what Jesus said at all. He only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"4

24 This is that disciple who saw these events and recorded them here. And we all know that his account of these things is accurate.

25 And I suppose that if all the other things Jesus did were written down, the whole world could not contain the books.

Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway.

19 That evening, on the first day of the week, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! "Peace be with you," he said.

20 As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his side. They were filled with joy when they saw their Lord!

21 He spoke to them again and said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

22 Then he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

23 If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive them, they are unforgiven."

24 One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin*), was not with the others when Jesus came.3

25 They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side."

26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. He said, "Peace be with you."

27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!"

28 "My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed.

29 Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway."

30 Jesus' disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book.

31 But these are written so that you may believe* that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life.4

Jesus said,I am ascending to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.

1 Early Sunday morning,* while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.1

2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!"

3 Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see.

4 The other disciple outran Peter and got there first.

5 He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.

6 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there,

7 while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.

8 Then the other disciple also went in, and he saw and believed--

9 for until then they hadn't realized that the Scriptures said he would rise from the dead.

10 Then they went home.

11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in.

12 She saw two white-robed angels sitting at the head and foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying.

13 "Why are you crying?" the angels asked her. "Because they have taken away my Lord," she replied, "and I don't know where they have put him."

14 She glanced over her shoulder and saw someone standing behind her. It was Jesus, but she didn't recognize him.

15 "Why are you crying?" Jesus asked her. "Who are you looking for?" She thought he was the gardener. "Sir," she said, "if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him."

16 "Mary!" Jesus said. She turned toward him and exclaimed, "Teacher!"*2

17 "Don't cling to me," Jesus said, "for I haven't yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, my God and your God."

18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, "I have seen the Lord!" Then she gave them his message.

the crowd shouted louder and louder for Jesus' death, and their voices prevailed.

18 Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, "Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!"

19 (Barabbas was in prison for murder and for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government.)

20 Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus.

21 But they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

22 For the third time he demanded, "Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. I will therefore flog him and let him go."

23 But the crowd shouted louder and louder for Jesus' death, and their voices prevailed.

24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded.

25 As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he delivered Jesus over to them to do as they wished.

26 As they led Jesus away, Simon of Cyrene,* who was coming in from the country just then, was forced to follow Jesus and carry his cross.2

27 Great crowds trailed along behind, including many grief-stricken women.

28 But Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

29 For the days are coming when they will say, `Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.'

30 People will beg the mountains to fall on them and the hills to bury them.

31 For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?*"3

32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him.

33 Finally, they came to a place called The Skull.* All three were crucified there--Jesus on the center cross, and the two criminals on either side.4

34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive these people, because they don't know what they are doing."* And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.*5

35 The crowd watched, and the leaders laughed and scoffed. "He saved others," they said, "let him save himself if he is really God's Chosen One, the Messiah."

36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine.

37 They called out to him, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"

38 A signboard was nailed to the cross above him with these words: "This is the King of the Jews."

Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate.

8 Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle.

9 He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer.

10 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations.

11 Now Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Then they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.

12 Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.

13 Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people,

14 and he announced his verdict. "You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent.

15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty.

16 So I will have him flogged, but then I will release him.

Pilate sent Jesus to Herod Antipas

1 Then the entire council took Jesus over to Pilate, the Roman governor.

2 They began at once to state their case: "This man has been leading our people to ruin by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is the Messiah, a king."

3 So Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say."

4 Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, "I find nothing wrong with this man!"

5 Then they became desperate. "But he is causing riots everywhere he goes, all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem!"

6 "Oh, is he a Galilean?" Pilate asked.

7 When they answered that he was, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod's jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.

guards mocking and beating jesus because Messiah

63 Now the guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him.

64 They blindfolded him; then they hit him and asked, "Who hit you that time, you prophet?"

65 And they threw all sorts of terrible insults at him.

66 At daybreak all the leaders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. Jesus was led before this high council,*1

67 and they said, "Tell us if you are the Messiah." But he replied, "If I tell you, you won't believe me.

68 And if I ask you a question, you won't answer.

69 But the time is soon coming when I, the Son of Man, will be sitting at God's right hand in the place of power."*2

70 They all shouted, "Then you claim you are the Son of God?" And he replied, "You are right in saying that I am."

71 "What need do we have for other witnesses?" they shouted. "We ourselves heard him say it."

come armed with swords and clubs to arrest Jesus

50 And one of them slashed at the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear.

51 But Jesus said, "Don't resist anymore." And he touched the place where the man's ear had been and healed him.

52 Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard and the other leaders who headed the mob. "Am I some dangerous criminal," he asked, "that you have come armed with swords and clubs to arrest me?

53 Why didn't you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns."

54 So they arrested him and led him to the high priest's residence, and Peter was following far behind.

55 The guards lit a fire in the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there.

56 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, "This man was one of Jesus' followers!"

57 Peter denied it. "Woman," he said, "I don't even know the man!"

58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, "You must be one of them!" "No, man, I'm not!" Peter replied.

59 About an hour later someone else insisted, "This must be one of Jesus' disciples because he is a Galilean, too."

60 But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about." And as soon as he said these words, the rooster crowed.

61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, "Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny me three times."

62 And Peter left the courtyard, crying bitterly.

Judas, betray Jesus, the Son of Man, with a kiss

33 Peter said, "Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you."

34 But Jesus said, "Peter, let me tell you something. The rooster will not crow tomorrow morning until you have denied three times that you even know me."

35 Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler's bag, or extra clothing, did you lack anything?" "No," they replied.

36 "But now," he said, "take your money and a traveler's bag. And if you don't have a sword, sell your clothes and buy one!

37 For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: `He was counted among those who were rebels.'* Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true."3

38 "Lord," they replied, "we have two swords among us." "That's enough," he said.

39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives.

40 There he told them, "Pray that you will not be overcome by temptation."

41 He walked away, about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,

42 "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine."

43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.4

44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.*5

45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief.

46 "Why are you sleeping?" he asked. "Get up and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you."

47 But even as he said this, a mob approached, led by Judas, one of his twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus and greeted him with a kiss.

48 But Jesus said, "Judas, how can you betray me, the Son of Man, with a kiss?"

49 When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, "Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!"

Jesus told them, who would be the greatest in the coming Kingdom.

23 Then the disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.

24 And they began to argue among themselves as to who would be the greatest in the coming Kingdom.

25 Jesus told them, "In this world the kings and great men order their people around, and yet they are called `friends of the people.'

26 But among you, those who are the greatest should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.

27 Normally the master sits at the table and is served by his servants. But not here! For I am your servant.

28 You have remained true to me in my time of trial.

29 And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right

30 to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat.

32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers."

Jesus must die since it is part of God's plan.

16 For I tell you now that I won't eat it again until it comes to fulfillment in the Kingdom of God."

17 Then he took a cup of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, "Take this and share it among yourselves.

18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come."

19 Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."1

20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you--an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.*2

21 "But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me.

22 For I, the Son of Man, must die since it is part of God's plan. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer!"

Jesus must die since it is part of God's plan.

16 For I tell you now that I won't eat it again until it comes to fulfillment in the Kingdom of God."

17 Then he took a cup of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, "Take this and share it among yourselves.

18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come."

19 Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."1

20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you--an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.*2

21 "But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me.

22 For I, the Son of Man, must die since it is part of God's plan. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer!"

Jesus said to them, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

1 Early on Sunday morning,* as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to see the tomb.1

2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, because an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it.

3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.

4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

5 Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

6 He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples he has been raised from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember, I have told you."

8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to find the disciples to give them the angel's message.

9 And as they went, Jesus met them. "Greetings!" he said. And they ran to him, held his feet, and worshiped him.

10 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there."

11 As the women were on their way into the city, some of the men who had been guarding the tomb went to the leading priests and told them what had happened.

12 A meeting of all the religious leaders was called, and they decided to bribe the soldiers.

13 They told the soldiers, "You must say, `Jesus' disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.'

14 If the governor hears about it, we'll stand up for you and everything will be all right."

15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.

17 When they saw him, they worshiped him--but some of them still doubted!

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth.

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Miracles of Jesus

If we look at just the first miracle of Jesus, recorded in John 2:1-11, we learn a lot about this singular Man. First, even though He was God and "on mission," He took time to go to a wedding. Jesus loved people; He came to be with and save people. Do you value your relationships and look for ways to bless others when you are with them?

Second, Jesus turned water into wine at His mother's request. Did Mary expect Him to do a miracle? We don't know that, but we can see from the verses that Mary clearly relied on and had faith in her Son to be able to fix a bad situation. Who do you turn to in times of trouble? Are you relying on someone you can trust to do the right thing?

Third, when Jesus performed this miracle, He was demonstrating His power over nature. When His disciples saw this, John tells us, they believed. Also, Jesus didn't settle for just ordinary wine, but turned the water into the finest of wines, showing Himself to be a Man full of the joy of life. Have you been searching everywhere for truth, but putting off Christ for last? Why wait? Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God? Have you thought that being a Christian is to live a dull, boring life? Jesus wants you to believe as His disciples did, and the experience promises to be dynamic, exciting and life-changing.

Does Jesus still perform miracles today? After all, we don't see Him physically walking in our midst - or do we? Do you know someone who has been healed or whose life has been transformed by a relationship with Christ? Then you have seen a modern-day miracle of Jesus. You, too, can be an eyewitness to a miracle of Christ. Like Mary, you can ask Him, believing He will do what is best for you. Let a miracle of Jesus begin in your heart right now.

Jesus Praying – Where did He pray?

One of the most mysterious and intriguing aspects of Jesus is the way He prayed. We only have snippets of His prayers written in the gospels.

It’s noted that He sometimes prayed all night long. In the garden of Gethsemane, the Bible states that He sweated blood, so great was His conversation with His Father.

His last authored prayer is the infamous ‘Not my will, but Yours’ be done.” These words of total submission to what abuse lay ahead are in sharp contrast to our human tendencies to avoid confrontation and death.

It’s not recorded that Jesus ever prayed in public. He taught His followers not to use their spirituality to call attention to themselves as the priests of that time were known to do.

He prayed in private. He specifically withdrew to a solitary place to avoid being distracted by others. We can follow His example by designating a quiet space for ourselves and schedule it at a time that we are less apt to be bothered by family, friends, and other distractions. Maintaining a focus on God is the main idea, so that we can hear Him speak to us in return.

The Bible teaches us that we should be in an ‘attitude’ of prayer at all times. One of the coolest things about prayer is that we can pray while we are at work, in the home, or at our jobs. We can even pray while we are driving down the road. An attitude of prayer means that we are very much aware of the presence of God and that He is always listening.

“A fervent effective prayer avails much” (James 5:16) means that the most urgent smallest sentences are received with the same power as a prayer that is lengthy. “I believe” has the power to change your life.

Blood of Jesus - How is this possible?

It is possible for everyone to have the protection and forgiveness that the blood of Jesus provides. Regardless of what sins and offenses we have committed against God, He offers this gift to each of us. John 3:17 tells us that Jesus didn’t come to condemn us but to save us.

It is not enough to say we believe in God or know about Him. We must want know Him personally and accept the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, to receive it. The Bible, God’s Holy Word, says that no one can enter heaven or get to the Father except through the Son (John 14:6) And in John 6:40, Jesus says that all who believe in Him will receive everlasting life -- with Him! We are only asked to believe (have faith), repent (turn from sin), receive (salvation through Jesus), confess Him, and transfer ownership of our lives to Him. If you have never asked Jesus into your life, won’t you ask Him now?

Blood of Jesus - Why is this required?

In the Old Testament (after Adam’s original sin), God accepted the death of an animal as a substitute for the sinner. The animal’s shed blood was proof that that one life had to be given for another. Life is precious and God places great value on each one of His created beings. This agreement demonstrated that, while blood symbolized death, it also showed that a life was spared. However, this was a temporary covenant. This blood needed to be repeated daily and yearly.

God would later send His only Son providing a new covenant, or New Testament through Jesus Christ. Jesus would die in the place of all sinners. His sacrifice fulfilled completely what the Old Testament covenant meant to. His blood would remove the sins of the world for all who put their faith in Him. This sacrifice would never have to be repeated; it is an eternal covenant.

John the Baptist called Jesus the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29) The Lamb of course, referenced the unblemished animal sacrifice of old. There are many references to sacrificial offerings in the Old Testament. One that may be most familiar is the sprinkling of blood on the Hebrew doorposts when they were held in bondage by the Pharaoh of Egypt. This act provided God’s protection as His curse of the death angel passed through the streets. This curse was just one that God sent down on Pharaoh, moving him to release these Hebrew slaves.

The event was then commemorated in the Hebrew Feast of Passover. It is now recognized as a “type” or foreshadowing of the blood of Jesus. The blood is a powerful, freeing, and protecting provision from God. As one Christian hymn says, “There is power, power, wonder-working power in the precious blood of the Lamb.” If you have asked Jesus to be Lord of your life, then you too have applied the blood of the Lamb on the doorposts of your heart. He is covering your heart, and your life with his protection and ever-lasting forgiveness of sin.

Blood of Jesus - What does it mean?

The blood of Jesus is the foundation of redemption. Jesus Christ died on the cross, shedding His blood, (and was then resurrected) as the only acceptable payment for our sins. The disciple Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:18-19, “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” The Blood of Jesus Christ is absolutely the most precious thing God has offered us.

Every human born has sinned against God and fallen short of His standard (Romans 3:23). We do not and cannot earn salvation by keeping the Old Testament Law or by simply being a good person. We will fail every time; it is in our nature to sin. It is only through God sacrificing His Son Jesus in our place, that we can acquire complete forgiveness. We can all attain this by accepting Jesus as our Savior, and accepting that He shed His blood to atone for the sins of all who repent. The act of communion does not save us, but we honor this wonderful gift from God with communion as a way to remember His sacrifice.

One month in the Jesus Holy Land

One month in the Christian Holy Land is an article with ideas on how to spend a month of pilgrimage in the Holy Land, with particular emphasis on places significant to the earthly life of Jesus, whom Christians worship as the Messiah. This includes much of Israel, Jordan, parts of Palestine, and Egypt. One month in the Jewish Holy Land explores sites meaningful to Judaism, the faith upon which Christianity is built, which will likely also be of interest to Christian pilgrims. Understand: The Holy Land is an interesting region where politics, religion, and history are intertwined. It was here where prophets such as Elijah, Ezekiel, and Moses lived. Here also history of Roman domination over Judea two millenia ago, the Crusades, and more recently the creation of Israel in 1948, the Six Day War, and the Yom Kippur War have all changed the political and historical landscape.

For many, a journey to the Holy Land is a chance to pay tribute to their God and to understand themselves through pilgrimage. The Holy Land draws them to such landmarks as the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was arrested by the Romans; and Golgotha, where Jesus is believed to have been crucified to redeem the souls of all humanity. Prepare: The narratives of the four Gospels are of course the primary sources about the life of Jesus, and are complete with references to the territory and specific locales visited by "the Son of Man." A careful re-reading will help you decide which places you wish to visit yourself, and to more fully appreciate them with the stories fresh in your mind. Get in: Probably the most sensible route into the Holy Land is to fly in to Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv. This will put you closest to Galilee and other sites in Israel that are of interest to Christians. Alternatively, if you want to attempt to follow Moses' footsteps and visit Mount Sinai, flying into Cairo would be an option too. Entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem * Bethlehem is the town where Jesus was born, the City of David, who was the great King of Israel.

* Nazareth is the town widely believed to be where Jesus spent his childhood and early adult life.

* Sea of Galilee is the area in which Jesus did much of his ministry.

* Jerusalem is the historical capital of Israel, and also the place where Jesus spent the week leading up to his crucifixion, which took place just outside the city.

* Mount Sinai is located in the Sinai desert of Egypt, home to the longest running Christian monastery, the Monastery of St. Catherine, and believed to be the Mount Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments.

* Tiberias is located on the Sea of Galilee and is a good starting point for a bike ride around the sea or a trip to the Golan Heights.

Jesus pictures part 4

In 525 AD, the holy Shroud was discovered hidden above a gate in Edessa's city walls. Six years later, an icon (a religious work of art / painting) was produced at St. Catherine's Monastery in the Sinai. This icon, the Sinai Christ Pantocrator Icon, is defiantly based on the image on the Shroud as can be seen in the following photographs

from: http://www.shroudofturin4journalists.com/pantocrator.htm Similar matching overlay of the Shroud image on Leonardo Da Vinci paintings was the basis of the claim that Da Vinci made the Shroud. The Christ Pantocrator icon, painted in the year 550, also has perfect overlay as shown above. So the argument about the Da Vinci Shroud is not correct. Leonardo Da Vinci must have seen and used the Shroud image as his model.

Jesus pictures part 3

A few years after the invention of photography, the first revelation of the miraculous photographic quality of the Holy Shroud occurred in 1898 when Mr. Secondo Pia took the first photograph of the Holy Shroud. With the advent of the Digital Age, the second revelation of the miraculous digital qualities of the Holy Shroud occurred in 1976, when American Physicist John Jackson and colleague Bill Mottern scanned a Shroud photograph on a VP-8 digital image analyser. The VP-8 image analyser is an instrument used by NASA (the American Government space agency which sends rockets into space and made men walk on the moon) to convert photos of the surfaces of Planets like the Moon and Mars into topographical maps – that is to make three dimensional - 3D maps showing mountains and valleys. The VP-8 image analyzer produced a perfect 3D image of the shroud photo. These scientists had tried many other photos, before and after, on the VP-8 to get a 3D result, but they never got a 3D result with any photo except from the Holy Shroud Jesus photo. The results on the Shroud were so spectacular, that these hard core scientists are convinced that it is a miraculous image of Jesus Christ. Seen below is the 3D image created on the VP-8 image analyser. The 3D VP-8 image Sudarium of Oviedo : In the bible mention is made of another cloth used in the burial of Jesus

"Simon Peter, following him, also came up, went into the tomb, saw the linen cloth lying on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloth but rolled up in a place by itself." (John 20:6-7).

Shroud believers hold that the linen cloth refers to the Shroud of Turin, while the other cloth refers to the Sudarium of Oviedo.

The Sudarium of Oviedo has resided in the Cathedral of Oviedo in Spain since the 8th century. This small 83x53 centimeters (2.75x1.75 feet approx.), bloodstained piece of linen cloth, is revered as one of the burial cloths mentioned in the Gospel of St. John. The Sudarium of Oviedo is traditionally held to be the cloth that covered the head of Jesus.