Just Jesus

[mnemonik]

In the busy-ness of living, it's easy for me to get all preoccupied with myself. Even in my Christian devotion I tend to think about myself, my growth, my ministry, my dreams. So as a spiritual discipline, I thought I would start a thread that is intended to just be about Jesus--thoughts about him from reading the Bible. Not thinking about him for my sake, but for his.

Feel free to join me in looking at him. I don't know how often I'll post, but we'll see how it goes. I'll put my first contribution as a reply to this.

 

[mnemonik]

A kiss is a strange cue for a pounce.

Luke records, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48). His kiss was ironic, yet it was in part because of this kiss that the Son of God came into the world. The kiss was the signal that the hour had come, that the Son of Man was to be delivered into the hands of sinners.

There are only two people in the Gospels recorded to have kissed the Lord Jesus. One was Judas. The other was a nameless woman who is only described as a "sinner" (Luke 7:37-50) who, despite the contempt of the watching Pharisees, kissed Jesus’ feet and anointed them, washing them with her tears. This sinful woman kissed the feet of Jesus because he had forgiven her.

So Jesus received both the kiss of the sinful but forgiven woman, and the kiss of the betrayer. Psalm 2 says to “kiss the Son” and both of them did. But the Lord Jesus could not have received the kisses of the sinful woman had he not also received the kiss of Judas. He could not receive the kisses of repentance and faith if he had not willingly accepted the kiss of betrayal and death. The latter made possible the former.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

A kiss is a strange cue for a pounce.

Luke records, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48). His kiss was ironic, yet it was in part because of this kiss that the Son of God came into the world. The kiss was the signal that the hour had come, that the Son of Man was to be delivered into the hands of sinners.

There are only two people in the Gospels recorded to have kissed the Lord Jesus. One was Judas. The other was a nameless woman who is only described as a "sinner" (Luke 7:37-50) who, despite the contempt of the watching Pharisees, kissed Jesus’ feet and anointed them, washing them with her tears. This sinful woman kissed the feet of Jesus because he had forgiven her.

So Jesus received both the kiss of the sinful but forgiven woman, and the kiss of the betrayer. Psalm 2 says to “kiss the Son” and both of them did. But the Lord Jesus could not have received the kisses of the sinful woman had he not also received the kiss of Judas. He could not receive the kisses of repentance and faith if he had not willingly accepted the kiss of betrayal and death. The latter made possible the former.

Well said!

 

[wayfaring man]

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. <-----> Hebrews 2:8-18

Jesus was/is the only truly innocent man by which the devil mortally incriminated himself by being a conspirator in His brutal and unjust slaying.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. <-----> Hebrews 4:15

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. <-----> 1st Peter 2:22-24

May The Lord Be Magnified !

wm

 

[Emmy]

Dear mnemonik. In Matthew, Jesus tells us " All the Law and the Prophets hang on: Love God with all thy hearts, with all thy souls, and with all thy minds, and love thy neighbours as thyselves." Straightforward and easy to remember. Jesus also told us: " If you love me you will listen to my words." We also know that God loves us and wants our Love: To treat our neighbour as we would love to be treated ourselves, is to show God our love for God and for our neighbour. St.Paul tells us in 1) Corinthians, chapter 13, verses 4-8, the selfless love which God wants from us. With Jesus by our sides, we will find His Love and His Joy generously given to us, to share with all our neighbours. I say this with love, mnemonik. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[mnemonik]

Thanks for your contributions to this thread, wm and Emmy!

I have another thought to contribute, this one from this morning's sermon at our church, though I think our pastor got it from someone else.

In the post-resurrection story of Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), he talks with the two disciples on the road but they don't recognize him. The get to the village and the disciples invite Jesus to eat with them. He breaks the bread and then they recognize him. He vanishes. Amazing story!

The point is this. The first meal recorded in the Bible is when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:1-7). After they ate, "the eyes of both were opened" and they felt shame. At the first meal recorded after the resurrection, they broke bread with Jesus and "their eyes were opened": they recognized Jesus, whom to know is eternal life.

Glorious contrast!

 

[wayfaring man]

You're Welcome in The Lord !

And though He vanished, He will soon come again in all His Glory !

They said therefore unto him, What sign shows thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what does thou work?
Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and gives life unto the world.
Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst.
But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
And this is the Father's will which has sent me, that of all which he has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he says, I came down from heaven?
Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father, comes unto me.
Not that any man has seen the Father, save he which is of God, he has seen the Father.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me has everlasting life.
I am that bread of life.
Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Whoso eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him.
As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me.
This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live for ever. <-----> Matthew 6:30-58

Eating, ingesting, digesting and communing.

Communion with Christ, in the spirit, is suffering as He suffered, without cursing or reviling.

And communion with Christ, in the spirit, is also forgiving, as He forgave.

This is what eating His body/bread and drinking His blood/wine represents.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. <-----> 1st Peter 4:12+13

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. <-----> Colossians 3:13

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. <-----> Matthew 6:14+15

May The Lord Be Pleased !

wm

 

[GodisLove2]

A kiss is a strange cue for a pounce.

Luke records, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48). His kiss was ironic, yet it was in part because of this kiss that the Son of God came into the world. The kiss was the signal that the hour had come, that the Son of Man was to be delivered into the hands of sinners.

There are only two people in the Gospels recorded to have kissed the Lord Jesus. One was Judas. The other was a nameless woman who is only described as a "sinner" (Luke 7:37-50) who, despite the contempt of the watching Pharisees, kissed Jesus’ feet and anointed them, washing them with her tears. This sinful woman kissed the feet of Jesus because he had forgiven her.

So Jesus received both the kiss of the sinful but forgiven woman, and the kiss of the betrayer. Psalm 2 says to “kiss the Son” and both of them did. But the Lord Jesus could not have received the kisses of the sinful woman had he not also received the kiss of Judas. He could not receive the kisses of repentance and faith if he had not willingly accepted the kiss of betrayal and death. The latter made possible the former.

Praise Jesus, who is the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, counselor, mighty God, prince of peace, everlasting Father, ....Hallelujah!

 

[mnemonik]

About 700 years before the time of Christ, a man named Micah, from the small town of Moresheth, spoke the following words, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
3Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
4And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
5And he shall be their peace.

(Micah 5:2-5a, ESV)
​

Little Bethlehem is given a great promise--the Messiah would be born there. But if a Bethlehemite ever grabbed onto this prophecy and longed for the event, we aren't told about it. In Bethlehem he was indeed born, but he didn't stay there. No one from Bethlehem looked for his birth, or welcomed him like Anna and Simeon did in the temple (except some shepherds who saw a vision of an angelic host).

It is not recorded that Christ ever visited Bethlehem during his ministry, or found faith in the heart of a Bethlehemite. In fact, Bethlehem may have felt little affection for a Messiah whose birth there occasioned the slaughter of the baby boys by Herod, "Rachel weeping for her children," as Jeremiah foresaw.

Yet in this apparently ignorant, unreceptive Bethlehem of Judah Jesus was born 700 years after Micah prophesied. And he has arisen, and he is shepherding his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. He is great, to the ends of the earth, and by his blood, he has become our peace.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Yet from Bethel He ascended and will return the same way that He left. Bethel was the place of angles ascending and descending.

 

[wayfaring man]

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
That was the true Light, which lightens every man that cometh into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. <-----> John 1:1-14

Even if only one human being out of all of humanity receives Christ unto Everlasting Salvation, their one Eternal Life is infinitely greater than the trillions of finite ones.

But God be praised, though there may appear to be very few, The Lord has reserved unto Himself a remnant, perhaps presently known only to Him...yet it's His "knowing" which matters most !

See 1 KINGS CHAPTER 19, especially verse 18.

And consider -

Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies.
And if any man think that he knows any thing, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.
But if any man love God, the same is known of him. <-----> 1st Corinthians 8:1-3

...The foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. <-----> 2nd Timothy 2:19

May The Lord Be Magnified !

wm