God loves and adores his children.
The magnificence of the Lord our God’s kindness to those who believe in his name.
His ways are meticulous and everlasting.
God’s love and mercies endure for ever; he never tires of caring for us.
God our Father is hurt when we do not go to him in prayer with our needs.
He is in the heights and the depths of humanity.
He rejoices over the good and strengthens the feeble.
Jesus is truthful and compassionate in all his ways.
The Lord never grows weak or loses patience; he gives grace to the humble.
Always ready to serve the needs of others especially the poor and downtrodden.
He comforts the lowly, a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief.
He made an offering of himself to save us.
Giver of eternal life.
“For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden me.” John 12: 49
Jesus taught and put it into practice what he heard from God his Father.
Jesus was facing up to the fact that he was going to be killed, and in the foreknowledge of God he knew that he was to be raised from the dead. When Peter heard Jesus say this, it did not meet with his understanding of Hebrew scriptures. They were taught from the law that when the Messiah comes he would remain forever. Mark 8: 31-38. John 12: 34.
Jesus taught us that in dying to self, it is the means by which we live for God.
In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus was greatly distressed and troubled, his soul was sorrowful unto death and he asked his Father if the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt.” Mark 14: 32-42. Jesus wrestled with the pressure of the fallen world of self preservation, he surrendered his own will to do his Father’s will and go the cross.
We can only please the Lord our God by acknowledging his sovereignty over us and in that he has our wellbeing foremost in his heart as we listen and assert ourselves to do the Lord’s will. ‘I will to do the will of God and not of myself or satan.’
Taking up the cross by dying to self.
Lent is a time when we discipline ourselves acknowledging what is worldly in our life like: comfort eating because of personal problems or even boredom, becoming addicted to watching more TV or socially participating in what conflicts with our beliefs and the word of God. It also prepares us for our meeting with Jesus that could take place at any time. This spiritual health check ensures that we will not be ashamed of how much stubble will be burnt when we come before the judgement seat of Christ for rewards. We are rewarded for what we do for Jesus in our witness and service in making Christ known. 1 Corinthians 3: 13-15
In verse 38 Jesus was looking forward beyond his resurrection when he spoke of his return with the angels. There are two events concerning Jesus’ second coming: firstly Christians are looking forward to his coming when he calls out his church from the earth, this meeting in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-18.
The second is were Jesus comes to the earth, his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives and the church shall come with him. Acts 1: 10, 11. Zechariah 12: 10
These expectations were taught by Jesus.
Jesus having this expectation in himself of his coming, this expectation is in us, because Christ is in us.
This hope of Jesus’ coming is born in us through Jesus’ own desire to come from heaven and call out his church.
This is illustrated in the resurrection of Lazarus.
Mary, Martha and Lazarus. (Signs of the Times by M. R DeHaan)
Mary and Martha had sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was very poorly, but Jesus did not respond immediately, he stayed a little while longer for two days in the place where he was.
Martha was told that Jesus was on the road approaching Bethany so she went out to meet Jesus and in her distress she cried out, “Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died.” Jesus re-assured her that there will be a resurrection,”Your brother will live again.” Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection at the last day.”
Martha in her response to these words was looking to the resurrection at the end of the world. How many people today believe like Martha that the dead will rise together in a general resurrection at the last day?
Jesus told Martha about the resurrection of believers in him. “I am the resurrection and the life: he who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 11: 25, 26.
When Jesus arrived at Bethany Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days, after that length of time it was medically impossible for anyone to be resuscitated. Mary, Martha and Jesus went to the tomb, Jesus asked for the stone covering the entrance to be moved. Jesus prayed and then he called out, “Lazarus, come out” and to everyone’s amazement he did, he was resurrected from the dead.
We look again at Jesus’ words to Martha from the point of view of Jesus calling out his church from the earth,
“Though he was dead, yet shall he live?” Lazarus died in faith and Jesus called him out and raised him up from the grave. This illustrates that when the dead in Christ hear the call of Jesus, they will be resurrected to meet Jesus in the air.
“And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” Martha and Mary also heard Jesus’ call. Illustrating those who are alive will meet Jesus in the air when he calls out his church.
St. Paul wrote that we come together simultaneously to meet the Lord in the air and we shall be forever with the Lord Jesus. This true account taking place at the tomb is the picture of what takes place when Jesus calls out his church.
This word is a love letter from the bridegroom Jesus to his bride, the church. Jesus giving us assurance that we shall meet him one day soon face to face. This is something really wonderful to look forward to, the most special event in the whole of our lives and it’s a shared event with our fellow believers in Christ.
After the church meets the Lord we celebrate the marriage of the lamb to his bride the church. This is followed by the marriage supper. Revelation 19: 7
Luke records Jesus telling his disciples that many will come and sit at table with Jacob and the patriarchs and there Jesus will help serve the meal. The humility of our Lord God he waits on all believers at the table in his kingdom. Luke 12: 37. Matthew 8: 11.
The marriage supper takes place before Jesus comes and stands on the Mount of Olives. Scripture states that we come with him and also accompanied by all the armies of heaven. Revelation 19: 14
Jesus’ coming to the earth
No sooner had Jesus ascended into heaven when he sent a message via the two angels that were standing with the disciples on the Mount of Olives. “And while they were gazing into heaven as Jesus went, behold two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Acts 1: 10, 11.
Jesus was looking forward to his return, he will come his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives and Zechariah’s prophecy will be fulfilled, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a first-born.” Zechariah 12: 10.
Jesus having this expectation in himself of his coming, this expectation is in us, because Christ is in us.
