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Author Archives: Unashamed of Jesus
John 12- Hardened Hearts
But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. John 12:37-41
Why do people reject God? Why do people reject Jesus as the Christ? Well Jesus reveals its not because of a lack of evidence. People reject Jesus because of the hardness of their hearts and their spiritual blindness. People don’t reject God because of evidential reasons, as Jesus performed many miracles yet many people still rejected him
The prophet Isaiah foretold about this, the interesting thing is Jesus said Isaiah actually saw Jesus and was speaking of him when he foretold about these prophecies over 700 years before Christ came to Earth. Jesus was here from the beginning, the Alpha and Omega, all the prophets of the Old Testament are speaking about Jesus
Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:42-43
Many of the religious leaders believed in Jesus, many believed He is the Messiah, but yet they openly rejected him in public, why? Because they cared more about the approval of others than they cared about God and truth.
We think about Nicodemus from Chapter 3, did he publicly confess Jesus as the Son of God? Some would argue that point, however there wasn’t much evidence for it. Even though Jesus clearly revealed everything to him. The religious leaders knew the Messianic prophecies in scripture, many of them had to reject Christ with full knowledge of God
Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. John 12:44-46
Anyone who rejects Jesus rejects God. The religious leaders who believe they are righteous are actually condemned. Where did they go wrong? How could people who dedicated their lives to study scripture be so wrong? Because their hearts are hard and they care more about the approval of people than the approval of God
Anyone who rejects Christ is without excuse (Romans 1) God has supplied mountains of evidence for his existence , don’t harden your heart, allow your eyes and ears to be spiritually opened to receive Jesus , Amen!
The Will Of God
John 12- The King Is Coming
On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. John 12:12-13
This event that we are looking at today , is commonly known as “Palm Sunday” as tradition in the Church. This is the day when Jesus will fulfill prophecy and declare that He is the King of Kings, that He is the Messiah.
This obviously came at a very pivotal time in Israels history, as they were under persecution from the Roman Empire. Many Jews had hopes that Jesus was a great military leader that would wipe out the Romans and restore the nation of Israel. However they didn’t understand the Messiah, and they didn’t understand that Jesus was bringing a New Covenant, to allow Jews and Gentiles into Gods Kingdom as His Children, even Romans
And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt. These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. John 12:14-16
Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah, as the Messiah would come to Jerusalem riding on a donkey, but why a donkey? If Jesus was King, wouldn’t He be riding on a big white horse? Jesus came as the Lamb, to save the world from its sin. The donkey is symbolic of peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) Jesus didn’t come at this time to judge the world, but to save it!
The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him. John 12:17-19
People remembered the miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Remember Jesus said He allowed Lazarus to die to bring Glory to God. What was first seen as a tragedy, was now used for Gods Glory to affirm who Jesus is, The King and Messiah!
Palm Sunday also gives us a glimpse of the future, as one day Jesus will return again, but this time not as the Lamb but as the Lion! Are you ready?
The King is Coming again, everyone repent and be prepared , keep your lamps lits for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords , Amen!
God Hates The Wicked
John 12- The Anointing
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. John 12:1-3
Jesus came back to the town of Bethany , the same place where He raised Lazarus from the dead. Martha and Mary decided to throw a feast for Jesus, obviously in honor of who He is and what He did for their family.
What happened next, was actually prophetic and Mary probably didn’t even realize it. Mary took a pound of ointment (perfume) and used it to wash Jesus’ feet. Not only did she wash his feet, but she used her own hair to clean them. The love and sacrifice she demonstrated to Jesus , was pure genuine faith
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. John 12:4-6
Now to ruin this beautiful moment was Judas Iscariot, as we know he is the one who sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Jesus has called Judas “The Son of Perdition” (John 17:12) and it was better he was never born (Matthew 26:24)
Judas made it seem he cared about providing money to the poor, when He was stealing all the disciples money for the treasury. This demonstrated the true heart of Judas, He was a fraud, pretending to be a disciple. We see this alot today in modern day Christianity, alot of wolves in sheeps clothing
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. John 12:7-8
Jesus rebuked Judas in front of everyone, this must have been a real embarrassment for Judas. During this time period and culture, women were looked down upon compared to men. So for Jesus to stick up for Mary over Judas was probably a shot to Judas ego
Secondly Jesus reveals a prophecy, that Mary was anointing him for his death. I think it’s very fitting this happened right before Passover, as Jesus is our Passover Lamb. This moment revealed multiple things and was remembered forever as Jesus said it would be
We need to examine ourselves and make sure we are not becoming a Judas, don’t be a fake disciple of Christ, all our deeds are filthy rags compared to Christ, remain humble in Jesus name Amen!
How Should Christians Respond to Whitehouse Events
Nothing Can Separate Us
John 11- Raising Lazarus Part 3
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! John 11:33:-36
Here we see one of the most powerful moments of Jesus ministry, as Mary wept for her brother Lazarus, so did Jesus. This demonstrates the human side of Jesus, he was fully God and fully Man. He felt the same emotions that we feel, he experienced the same agony as us, actually Jesus would experience more pain, emotionally and physically, than any other human in history
It’s clear Jesus loved Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, as well as Jesus loves us! Even though we were still sinners, Christ died for us and demonstrated his love for us on the cross (Romans 5:8)
And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. John 11:37-39
Some started to challenge Jesus deity, “If this guy is the Christ, why didn’t heal Lazarus”? The ignorance of these people didn’t realize, God had something bigger in store. God was going to use the Resurrection of Lazarus” as a platform to Glorify Jesus and verify to the world who He truly is!
Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. John 11:40-43
Jesus said “If you believe You will see the Glory of God”! As Jesus asked the question previously, “Do you believe”? Jesus said a prayer to the Father and shouted “Lazarus come forth”!
Whenever I think of that moment, I think of the moment Jesus called us by name and brought us back to life. The moment we came to Christ and became Born Again. Even though this event was physical, I think there is a spiritual demonstration here for us
And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. John 11:44-45
The voice of Christ raised Lazarus from the dead. Notice it was nothing Lazarus did on his own behalf, Jesus called him by name and made him reborn! Many believed after witnessing this event
If you are Born Again, many will believe by your testimony also! Tell everyone what Jesus did for you, Amen!
Repent and Believe
