I am going to share two very important Truths from today's Bible Reading Plan. In Luke 9, Jesus told His disciples very clearly what about to happen to Him. Look at verses 22 and 44:
22 Saying, The Son of Man must suffer many things and be [deliberately] disapproved and repudiated and rejected on the part of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be put to death and on the third day be raised [again].
44 Let these words sink into your ears: the Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men [whose conduct is opposed to God].
Why were they so surprised when Jesus was actually taken and beaten and crucified? Look at verse 45:
45 However, they did not comprehend this saying; and it was kept hidden from them, so that they should not grasp it and understand, and they were afraid to ask Him about the statement.
Why was this "kept hidden" from them? They were NOT in a spiritual condition to be able to comprehend! Look at 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 from both the KJV and the Amplified Bibles:
14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. KJV
14 But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. 15 But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him]. 16 For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. AMP
They were NOT yet born again! This included Jesus' mother and brothers and sisters! That's why they tried to stop Him! They did NOT understand! They still possessed the sin nature, as well as the nature of the flesh that we all have to deal with. Jesus had not yet been resurrected from the dead, giving US the WAY to the Father! Once we received Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, we also received the Spirit of God Who recreated our dead spirit into one in the image of God! NOW we have the Spirit of God to teach us the Word of God and WE can understand these precious TRUTHS! It takes diligence and attention, but that choice is ours! AMEN! The next Truth is found in Luke 9:52-56:
52 And He sent messengers before Him; and they reached and entered a Samaritan village to make [things] ready for Him; 53 But [the people] would not welcome or receive or accept Him, because His face was [set as if He was] going to Jerusalem. 54 And when His disciples James and John observed this, they said, Lord, do You wish us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, even as Elijah did ? [II Kings 1:9-16.] 55 But He turned and rebuked and severely censured them. He said, You do not know of what sort of spirit you are, 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them [from the penalty of eternal death]. And they journeyed on to another village.
Jesus did NOT come in to the world to judge and condemn the word! THAT sentence of judgment was already in place! Jesus CAME "to seek and to save that which is lost" (Luke 19:10). Remember,Jesus said THIS in John 3:16-17:
16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. AMP
Jesus did NOT come to judge and condemn, and neither should we! We are to be about our Father's business! Jesus said He only said and did what He received from the Father! So, by this we know that the Father's business is "to seek and to save that which is lost"! AMEN! Not let's GO DO IT! Here is Hillsong United with "GO":
Shalom in Him!
