Christians Together Haslingden

 Jesus the strong arm of God  

A  policeman stopped the young speeding motorist. “I’ve been waiting for you coming,” The young motorist said, “Well, I got here as fast  as I could.”                                                

The Policeman  as he gave him a speeding ticket said, “3 of these and you get a bycle.”                                                                                                           

The word the Lord gave me for today  Isaiah 63: 12 “The Lord who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses.” The strong arm of God held the rod in Moses’ hand. 

The rod was made of almond wood, and it was used to demonstrate the power of God in defeating the Egyptian gods and when he lifted up the rod the Dead Sea parted.                                                                                                                                                      

So the strong arm of the Lord is where God takes hold of a situation and uses his almighty power to bring victory.   

’The arm of the Lord,’ is one of a number of titles of the Messiah, “To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed,” Isaiah 53: 1

Jesus is the arm of God. 

He demonstrated his power over the spirit behind the idolatry, in the wilderness he was tempted by the devil to worship him. The devil offered him all the kingdoms of the world if he would fall down and worship him. Jesus responded, “Be gone Satan! “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Matthew 4: 8-10. 

Jesus the arm of God has the power to heal, “And the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and he healed them all." 

The woman with a hemorrhage, it ceased when she touched Jesus’ garments. “And perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments.” Mark 5: 25-34. 

In saying that Jesus was the strong hand of the Lord, Isaiah wrote that the Christ would be gentle and kind. “A bruised reed he wouldn’t break.” In his ministry his power was used to witness that God’s hand was at work, to bear the fruit of love. But the Jews were expecting the Messiah to bring in the ruling rod of iron. 

Psalm 2: 8 “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron." 

Isaiah 11: 4 “He will smite the nations, with the rod of his mouth." 

Psalm 98: 1-9 “His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him." 

Due to this expectation the Jews were dubious about Jesus.”How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ tell us plainly.” John 10: 24. 

John quoted from Isaiah 53: 1 “Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed,” John 12: 38. 

The Messiah’s Secret Revealed. The Jews had not understood what Jesus was about, it was hidden from them. 
Paul wrote in his first  letter to the Corinthians 2: 7,8 “But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification. None of the rulers of this age understood this: for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." 

Jesus is the strong arm of the Lord; He was God’s means of victory over him who held the power over death, the devil. He bore all the sins of the world and was victorious in his death and resurrection.                                                                                                                                                   

The church the body of Christ, Jesus the strong arm of God lifts up the crucified church.  

The wooden cross like the rod of Moses has been used by God to do the most amazing thing that could happen to anyone. Through repentance and faith in Jesus crucified, we receive sins forgiven and the door to eternal life opens. The Holy Spirit is working in the world drawing people to hear the message of the cross.                                                                                                       

Lord, inspire us in ways that will bring people to faith in Jesus, open a window of opportunity to tell of his dying love, his faithfulness, his abundant blessings and our hope in eternal life. In Jesus name. Amen

Messiah’s Secret Revealed Continued 

The strong arm of God was seen in action in the life of the early church.  

On the evening of the day of his resurrection in the upper room Jesus breathed on his disciples the Holy Spirit and he gave them authority to retain or forgive the sins of any. John 20: 23. 

Sins retained was carried out by Peter when Ananias and Sapphira lied over the proceeds of the sale of the land. They had agreed to give the proceeds to the community at Jerusalem. They in turn came before Peter and fell down and died at Peter's feet. (Adam and Eve of the New Testament) Acts 5

Was this the ruling rod of iron? Jesus had left his servants in charge until he returned. Mark 13: 34 

The early church had this expectation that Jesus would return soon after Pentecost bringing in the kingdom of God taking up again with Israel and rule the nations with a rod of iron.  

Jesus had said, that there were some standing here who would see the kingdom come in power. He also said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 9: 1. 13: 32  

His return was dependent on Israel’s leaders accepting him as the Messiah after Pentecost. Peter standing outside the Gate Beautiful with John said to the crowd, that they and their rulers had acted in ignorance when they crucified their Messiah and if they would repent their sins would be blotted out and he would bring in the times of refreshing and the appointed Christ, Jesus. Acts 3: 17-21.                                                                                                                                                                                                   

The times of refreshing the restoration of the throne and kingdom of King David the year of the Jubilee.

The Jews today are in the year of Jubilee and are celebrating Passover this week.

Clearly the early churches expectation did not happen Jesus did not return within the life time of the apostles and the ruling rod of iron is not part of the churches ministry today. 

John in his book Revelation wrote of Jesus’ return accompanied with “The armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on the white horse. From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which he will smite the nations and he will rule them with a rod of iron.” Revelation 19: 14, 15.  This has yet to be fulfilled.

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus at the Centre

On the chocolate box we find descriptions of what each chocolate contains, but first we have to remove the wrapper.

The wrappings we have to remove first: remind us of God’s love, To find God’s  love for ourselves, we have to take a look at Jesus..

The chocolate that surrounds the delicious centre ­– reminds us of the Holy Spirit, he directs us to Jesus and we learn about Jesus  in the Bible.

The centre – Jesus at the centre he is our Saviour and he is the one who saves us by taking our wrongdoings against God upon himself which caused him to die instead of us. 

Through our faith in Jesus we can be made right with God.

Luke 24: 36 – 49. 

The disciples were lost without Jesus, he was the centre of their lives.  

After his death they were fearful and troubled, but when he came and stood in the midst of his disciples in the house Jerusalem their fears melted away.                      

They were were not quite sure whether it was a manifestation of a spirit or really Jesus, he showed them where the nails and the spear had pierced his flesh, Luke records that he said, “Handle me, and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see I have.” There is no mention of blood, his resurrected body had no blood, no blood circulating the oxygen and nutriments to his body, but still he ate grilled fish.

His body wrapped with flesh and bones, the life which supported the body from a different structure of molecules, but at its centre Jesus, the same personality and  characteristics that he had before his death and resurrection. 

The same warm personality reaching out to Mary Magdalene Jesus was the centre of her life too, at the tomb she stood weeping. Jesus said to her, ‘Women why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing she was speaking to the gardener, she said that some one had stolen Jesus’ body. Then she heard the familiar voice of Jesus saying her name, “Mary, Mary” she turned and realised that Jesus was risen, he was alive. 

Mary saw the reality of that hope we have when we die. We therefore have the assurance, as Jesus always spoke the truth, that he has prepared a place in his Father’s house for his family of believers. Where he is, we are also. 

Jesus’ engaging character was experienced by the two men were on the road to Emmaus, perhaps he saw how discouraged they were and came alongside and discussed the scriptures with them. They invited the stranger to stay with them, and as they sat to eat, Jesus revealed himself through the breaking of bread. 

In our reading, in the upper room where all his followers gathered, he opened up the scriptures to them revealing that the Christ had to suffer and be raised from the dead.

The Messiah’s Secret Revealed 
Jesus opened the disciples’ minds to understand the parables, but concerning his death and resurrection they could not grasp what he was saying and after his death we read they did not believe in the resurrection. Matthew 16: 22. Mark 9: 32.John 20: 9.

Jesus in his steadfastness will be coming  along side someone today, opening their eyes of understanding to his presence in the scriptures.  

Madge the eyes of her understanding were opened when at a Bible study she understood in her spirit about the blood of Jesus cleansing her from her sin, sins forgiven through Jesus’ blood being poured out at Calvary for the sins of the whole world. Madge’s head knowledge became heart knowledge. Jesus gave substance and reality to her faith. 

The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus’ strength of character when the disciples saw this figure on shore of the Sea of Tiberias. They heard him shout in a commanding voice. “Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they counted the fish there were 153, the significance of this number, the Hebrew language consists of letters and numbers.  The Hebrew word ‘Beni ha-Elohim adds up to 153 and translated means, ‘Sons of God.’  Jesus wanted to bless them and confirm his word to them, that they would be fishers of men. The sign of the fish became a prominent symbol in the early church. 

Jesus at the centre of his church. Jesus said, that those who believe in Him, he and his Father would come and make their home within that person, Jesus in the midst of a person.

When in faith we ask Jesus into our heart, God’s Spirit transforms our human soul/spirit.  

In the King James version the translator uses the word ‘quickened’ and I relate that to when I was pregnant at round about three months the baby began to move in the womb. The term used was ‘quickening’ and from my experience God quickens our human living soul with his Spirit and it reminded me of the first movement of the baby.  

So that we are now one with God our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.   

Like generations of Christians before us we have been changed like a car that has a new engine, the appearance of the car is the same.

Our appearance is the same, but the old state of mind has gone. 

The law is written in our heart, so we feel how God feels about sin, he loves the sinner but hates the sin.  

Now we find that our own concerns take a back seat and we begin to think and feel about what concerns Jesus. The plight of the poor in our community, the young people under pressure to follow the course of the world. The widening gulf between rich and poor.  

Many people in Rossendale are struggling to cope and need to depend on the Food Bank to tide them over a bad period. At their Annual General Meeting last week, what came across strongly was neighbourly kindness. Even with all the technology, people enjoy and need personal contact.

Jesus’ love continues to impact today’s world. The gospel of good news is transforming lives. 

The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to those who seek him, and the church  continues to see Jesus at its centre.                                                                                                                                                                  

The Messiah’s Secret Revealed - Easter Reflection

I give thanks and praise that the Messiah's Secret Revealed identifies Jesus who he is 'the Christ' and  by accepting him in faith transforms the soul which enables me to follow his teachings empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in grace.                          

On the cross Jesus forgave those who had sinned against him, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”  Luke 23: 34                                                                          

The Messiah's secret -the Jewish people were not aware  that God had planned the Messiah’s death and resurrection. 

The Jews had been taught from the law that when the Christ came he would remain forever; they were not taught that the Christ would come and die. The scriptures concerning his death were hidden by God and were revealed to the disciples on the evening of his resurrection. Luke 24: 44-48.         

“So the crowd answered him, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?"  John 12: 34   

The crowd wondered who this Son of man was that would be lifted up and draw all men to himself.  (Jesus said he would be lifted up to show what death he was to die verse 33).                                                                                                      

God allowed their ignorance and gave Caiaphas a prophecy that would determine that Jesus died at the hands of the Romans.

God had given to Caiaphas who was chief priest, the main man of the Sanhedrin, a prophecy: “That one man should die for the people and that the whole nation should not perish” so when the council gathered to plot against Jesus, Caiaphas told them the prophecy, they believed that Jesus was’ the man’ and that it was God’s will for him to die.  

They had acted in ignorance when they handed Jesus over to be tried for blasphemy before Pilate, “They began to accuse him saying, ”We found this man perverting the nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king.” Pilate said that found no crime in this man, He sent him to Herod, and Herod too found no fault, nothing deserving death.  Luke 23: 2, 7.

Pilate consulted the crowd outside the Praetorium, ”Whom shall I release Barabbas or Jesus?  They shouted for Barabbas to be released from prison and Jesus to be crucified. The Pharisees, scribes and others shouted to him, "He saved others but he cannot save himself, come down from the cross and we will believe in you." Mark 15: 15, 31, 32.
They did not expect the Messiah to come and die.

Jesus was condemned to death by the crowd that was made up of both Jews and Gentiles.

Acts 4: 27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever they hand and thy plan had predestined to take place.”

Caiaphas’ prophecy had a double meaning: “That one man should die for the people and that the whole nation should not perish.” Jesus, died to save not just the Israelites but for the whole of humanity. “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.” John 3: 16.

Shortly after Pentecost Peter and John were going up to the temple to pray. As they came to the ‘Gate Beautiful’ the crowd gathered Peter gave testimony to the resurrection of Jesus and announced that they and their rulers had crucified Jesus in ignorance. If they would repent, the Lord would bring in the times of refreshing and send Jesus the appointed Messiah.  Jesus would have returned and the crowd who heard him say that they would see the Son of man come with the holy angels and the Kingdom of God come in with power would have witnessed it.   Acts 3: 17 – 21. Mark 8: 38. 9: 1.

This was the Messiah’s Secret Revealed that the Messiah, or Greek translation ‘ the Christ ‘ had to die and be resurrected and ascended into heaven before he could be received by the leaders of the whole of Israel as their Messiah, Christ the King. 
Paul wrote, "The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognise Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath." Acts 13: 27 
The Messiah’s call was to the nation and from them they would take the ‘Good news’ to the world. The time for the nation to receive Jesus Christ was at and after Pentecost and not before his death as I was taught. Lord, thank you for forgiving my ignorance.                                                          

Jesus in his humanity, in his dying moments in faith he commended his spirit into his Father’s hands. In obedient faith Jesus handed his whole being into his Father’s hands, making sure that there was no contention over his body like that of Moses. Moses had fallen into sin and therefore did not enter into the Promised Land, but Jesus was free from sin in his obedience in doing the will of his Father, his body was raised  from the dead by God. Jude verse 9.

Jesus died and to make sure so there is no doubt a soldier pierced his heart with his sword.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus went to Pilate and asked if they could take his body down from the cross and place it in a tomb. Pilate gave permission and put a seal on the tomb with soldiers to guard it.

On the third day when the disciples were told by the women at the house that someone had stolen his body they must have been so distraught. John raced to the tomb and Peter followed, John stood back to allow Peter to go in before him. Only the linen strips and the napkin were there.

As that day progressed Jesus appeared to Mary, Peter, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and those gathered in the house. Jesus had been raised up from the dead, raised up by God the Father.

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is the devil.” Hebrews 2: 14.

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2: 9.

Jesus’ victory over the devil was complete, The perishable has been clothed with the imperishable  and the mortal with immortality. “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” Isaiah 25: 8 1 Corinthians 15: 54, 55.

Sadducee Caiaphas and the majority of the Sanhedrin failed to see what God was doing in the involvement of the Gentiles in Jesus’ death through crucifixion, Jesus being the final atonement sacrifice for all sin and its causes and sadly King David’s prophecy of the resurrection of the Messiah failed to register with the Sadducee's who did not believe in the resurrection.

John wrote of what he had observed, He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.”

John's words are true for today to receive Jesus is to have faith in him. The Holy Spirit is given to us to empower our faith and enlightens our understanding of God who is our Father, so therefore, we are Children of God.

To the sceptic history records through the historian Josephus who was not a Christian recorded Jesus’ existence, his ministry and resurrection

Antiquities of the Jews - Book XVIII  First Century Historian Josephus

Chapter 3

3. Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ.

 And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, (9) those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; (10) as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.”

Psalm 24 what a welcome he received in heaven

“Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! 9 Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!” Psalm 24: 7-10

The  Messiah’s Secret Revealed – Jesus at Bethany

(The visual aid I set up on Saturday ready for the Sunday morning service.)

I explained to the congregation - The desert on the right has no water so things don’t grow  on the other side things grow really well because there is plenty of water.  (picture on right showing water rising up)

So how do seeds grow?

3 children held up pictures: sun, soil and water

I’ve put some soil in the cups, ready to sow some seeds.

what do they need now? Sun and water.

I planted seeds in the compost in the cup three weeks ago and they have grown. 

When we hear or read about Jesus, and take the words to heart, they begin to grow within us and we become like Jesus.

                                                                       Prayer Focal Point

In a similar way, words about Jesus are seeds of faith, in every seed is complete, it contains the wholeness of Jesus, especially his love revealed to us in laying down his life for the forgiveness of our sins. When we listen to those words they planted into our heart. The Father's Holy Spirit waters the seed and they begin to grow within us. And we become followers of Jesus.                                       

Isaiah 43: 16-21. John 12: 1-8  
Jesus spent 40 days alone in the wilderness where he was tempted to sin unlike the Israelites in the wilderness who sinned and as a result wandered in the desert, for forty years, but Jesus resisted the devil’s temptations.                                                                                        

During the season of Lent the church encourages us to spend time examining our walk in Christ. For some Christians who maybe who have gone or going through a difficult time they can relate to Mary and Martha they had gone through a wilderness experience when Lazarus was seriously ill and later died. 

They had expected Jesus to turn up straight away after they had sent word to him that Lazarus was seriously ill. But he did not come.                                                  

Last Sunday evening  

Revd Chris Casey spoke about the different reactions between the sisters, When Jesus arrived later, Martha had a calm conversation with Jesus, she believed that he would have healed Lazarus had he come before he died and ‘even now’ she said, God will give you whatever you ask.”                                                                                                                  

Mary was silent, her emotions caused her to go weeping to Jesus”   

Both reactions found fulfilment when Jesus wept with Mary and when Jesus, said to Martha “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” 

God's greater plan for Lazarus
Jesus did not respond straight away to Mary and Martha’s plea because he had a greater plan – Lazarus’ resurrection.  

God’s greater plan for Jesus:  Annie Johnson Flint wrote: “If the Christ who died had stopped at the cross, his work had been incomplete. 
If the Christ who was buried had stayed in the tomb, he had only known defeat. 
But the way of the cross never stops at the cross and the way of the tomb leads on, to victorious grace in the heavenly place where the risen Christ has gone."  

God’s greater plan for us.
So for us, like Mary and Martha  we learn to put our trust in the Lord for he has a plan for us. 

John draws our attention to the fact that the resurrected Lazarus was sat at the table.   
When Lazarus had been 4 days in the tomb his body was like the desert, nothing could bring back life to his body. But Jesus was able to bring new life into his body like the spring its water bringing life to the desert. As we can imagine people were amazed when they heard of this fantastic miracle that Jesus performed. John wrote later they waved the Palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David.!” John 11: 17,18                                  

Mary came and knelt at Jesus’ feet and began to wipe them with her hair, mingled with ointment and her tears of joy, the perfume filled the room.

Mary wanted to show her love, honour and gratitude to Jesus, for what he had done by raising her brother Lazarus from the dead and we notice that she had planned before hand to anoint Jesus regardless of what under Law would not allow a woman to do.                                                                                                              

God in Jesus was doing a new thing, “He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smouldering wick.”  A change to the law, the law penalised a person for breaking the law. Under grace God looks at the motivation coming from the heart.  

Jesus healed on the Sabbath Day which was forbidden. When questioned he said that it was right to do good on the Sabbath Day.

The Messiah's Secret Revealed The Pharisees added extra laws to those given by God to Moses because they earned their righteousness by keeping the rules of the law."                                 .

Judas annoyed by Mary’s liberty tried to quench her spirit by saying the money she had spent could have been given to the poor. Having an appearance of concern for the poor, but John pointed out he was not sincere.  
Jesus upheld, did not quench Mary’s motivation and actions when he said, “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial.” The anointing was in connection with his burial.                                                                                     
Anointing in the Old Testament was to give the gifts of Holy Spirit to the person for a particular service. 

Mary anointed Jesus for his burial, his ministry in death. 
In the Common Prayer Book in the Creed we say ‘He descended into hell.’ Peter in his letter wrote, ”He was put to death in the body, but made alive by the Spirit, through whom he went and preached to the spirits in prison.” during the time he was in the tomb he went and preached to those who had been held there, since before the flood. In God’s justice he gave all those who had lived in unbelief in God the opportunity to accept Jesus as their Saviour. 1 Peter 3: 18-22.                                                                                                              .                                                    

In our reading Jesus said, ‘The poor you will always have with you.” We know therefore, there will always be a ministry to the poor.

Christians Against Poverty 

Christians Against Poverty CAP based at Bradford is where there is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and it is beginning to gain momentum it’s like a spring in the desert, the start of a river flowing turning desert into fertile soil.                                

They are helping people in various practical ways through managing debt, finding a job, release groups and learning life skills and more importantly showing them God’s love. People are becoming Christians and the Lord is turning there lives around.

Jesus in his love is weeping with those who find themselves poor in their circumstances.

We have a CAP Job Club Course that will start at the end of March, please pray that the people who come on the course will ask for a drink the life-giving water and through accepting Jesus into their heart, he will be their rock and hope for now and for eternity.

The  Messiah’s Secret – Jesus  our  Shield and Refuge

Genesis 15:  1-12. 17, 18. Luke 13: 31-35.

Visual Aid

The lollipop lady holding up their badge of authority step out in faith, believing that the drivers will stop their cars in both directions. She stands between the cars and the children, Shielding them from the dangers of crossing the road. 

Jesus is our shield he protects us and makes a way for us to follow. We have his badge of authority, 'his name'. When we pray we ask in the name of Jesus.

In Genesis 15 the word came to Abram from God in a vision. He heard the words, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

God was Abram’s shield when he had risked his life to rescue Lot. In the previous chapter we read when Abram heard that Lot had been taken captive during the regional war that took place near the Dead Sea:

(Araphel, Arioch, Kedorlamer and the king Tidal who had waged war against five kings: Bera king of Sodom, Birsha King of Gomorrah, and kings Shinab Shember, and Zoar king of Bela and defeated them.

The four kings took Lot and his possession as he was living in Sodom. One of Lot’s servants escaped and went and told Abram that Lot had been captured.

Abram out of love for his nephew took a small army and defeated four kings and rescued Lot, his relatives and his possessions.

On his return, Melchizedek high priest of God greeted Abram in the King’s Valley with a peace offering of bread and wine, praising God for shielding him and winning a great victory.

The writer of Hebrew states that Melchizedek was the high priest of God, who had no father or mother, no genealogy without beginning of days or end of life and he resembled the Son of God. Hebrews 7: 1,3.                                                                                                

Jewish tradition suggests that Adam was the first high priest of God, having no father or mother in the flesh, therefore no genealogy, God himself his creator, before he fell into sin. “Hebrew for Christians” John J Parsons

Melchizedek resembled the Son of God in that he offered bread and wine as a peace offering, pointing to the greater peace offering of  Jesus the Son and high priest of God offered the bread and wine, his life, his body and blood for the forgiveness of sin, that we receive through faith, as a peace offering between God and man. At the communion the bread and the wine are tokens of his body and blood we eat and drink in remembrance of Jesus laying down  his life for us.  Hebrews 6: 20. “He has become a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.”  
Jesus the second Adam  Romans 5: 12-21. 1 Corinthians 15: 22, 45-49.                                                                                       

Abram was not afraid of the four kings, just as Jesus was not afraid of Herod, Jesus was not going to take heed of the Pharisees words to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” Jesus was not afraid of Herod.

We read Jesus in his reply likened Herod to a fox, a fox is sly and cunning, he gave them a message for Herod, “Go and tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow and on the third day I will reach my goal.’” The Pharisees and Herodians came to Jesus and asked should they pay their taxes to Caesar or not. Jesus asked to look at the coin and he advised them to pay the taxes to the one whose head was on the coin. Mark 12:13. A cunning strategy they wanted to be able to accuse Jesus of rebellion against the Romans.

Jesus continued to heal people of their mental and physical ailments before he went to Jerusalem.  There he would complete his task, fulfilling his goal which was to rescue the whole of humanity and creation from the power of the devil.

 Hebrews 2: 14. “Jesus too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death that is the devil.”

It is by faith believing in the heart and accepting what Jesus has done for us on the cross that we enter into the family of God.

Through our faith in Jesus, we  are rewarded like Abraham with a covenant an agreement:  Abraham would have an heir and would be a father of a great nation.

Whereas, the new covenant that Jesus established is better, we are joint heirs with Christ, there is no genealogy, no descendants, we are all in Christ. 

Jesus born into humanity his mother Mary giving him his flesh and genealogy through King David, Jacob, Isaac and Abraham. Matthew 1: 1-17 
God was Jesus' Father, Luke 3: 23-38  traced Jesus' genealogy back through adoption by Joseph going back to Adam who had no father or mother. Jesus in his Divinity is part of the Trinity he looked to his heavenly home in his prayer John 17: 14, 16 where he was before the foundation of the world. We are in Christ before the foundation of the earth. Ephesians 1: 4 The Jewish nation are from the foundation of the earth. Hebrews 9: 26.                              

When the lollipop person steps off the pavement into the busy road and holding their badge of authority the cars will stop.  They step out in faith.

Someone locally who recently stepped out in faith Kath she started a group called ‘Embrace’ her story was in the December Crux. She wrote, “For about three years, I had been thinking about setting up some sort of ministry to support people with addiction problems. I approached Revd D Brae and he said, ‘Just go and do it!’ And she says that now ‘Embrace’ is thriving in Bacup.”    

The lollipop person opens up a pathway so that the children and adults pass over the road.  Kath found out God opened up a way when she stepped out in faith. We need not fear, he is our shield and our refuge is in him.  

Kath is sharing the Bible with them to find Jesus. And for those who go to ‘Embrace’, they are coming to know Jesus in a personal way.  

The  lollipop is a badge of authority is like us praying in Jesus’ name, his name is our badge of authority, we are shielded and protected by his name because we are one with him.                                                                                                                                              

We can move mountains of problems through faith in his name and here in Mark’s 11:22-24 he says, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have already received.

Jesus is in the fabric of our being in Spirit and in truth and while we live on earth we are walking in his victory over all principalities and powers and because we are in Christ, we are in a safe place.

Added afterwards:

Paul wrote Ephesians 6: 16 by daily take hold of the shield of faith, we are able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.     

We have an example when Jesus visited his home town, In Nazareth Jesus upset the people in the synagogue by what he said, he pointed to their unbelief, He didn’t do many miracles there because of their unbelief. So in their fiery words they threatened to throw him over the cliff, but he walked straight through the crowd, he was shielded by God he had taken refuge in God. Luke 4: 24-28.

It’s like the astronauts they are totally shielded by the heat shield on their space craft when they re-enter the earth’s atmosphere. So when we find our faith being challenged we have the assurance of the Lord shielding us and our refuge is in Christ.