Sun, Oct 26th - 3:59PM

DINNER WITH JESUS CHRIST

Brothers and sisters, let us priests under the High Priesthood of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, God the Son of God, Head of the church, give Him continually our love, thanks, and praise offerings even as we do our great God and Father, who is well pleased to have it so.

Much love blessings and peace, to you holy brethren, I thank our God who graciously hears our mutual prayers for one another received in His very presence in heaven, knowing and assured that He is well pleased to answer them according to His sovereign will.

We rest with grateful hearts knowing that without Jesus we can do nothing. We know that Jesus is the vine we His followers are the branches.

Jhn 15:5

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

God our Father commands that only His spiritual food is to be fed to the church in the person of Jesus Christ to grow and sustain it. Jesus Christ is the eternally appointed food and nourisher/sustainer of the church of God. He is the life and sole supply of the spiritual food for the spiritual people of God: Jhn 6:53

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.

Any food given to the church outside of Christ is spiritual slops, and poisonous to the well- being of God’s people.

We note in Mark that the name of Judas in and of itself is not a pejorative as more than one person in scripture is named Judas, including the half sib of Lord Jesus: Mat 13:55

Mar 14:7

For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will 

ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

The spiritual world had come to earth in the person of Jesus Christ the Son of God, and He had to admonish His neglectful disciples of the necessity of making the most of His remaining physical time with them before His coming death.

Even today, God wants His people to care for and about the poor. Nevertheless, none of our good works should cause us to neglect sharing the gospel message with all that we can, regardless of economic, race, ethnic, or national status. God has no secret saints, or undercover brothers and sisters.

Mar 14:8

She hath done what she could: she is come

aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

The woman wasn’t one of the twelve, but she clearly understood His message, His mission,

and the meaning of His coming death, which His

spiritually blind disciples hadn’t yet grasped nor understood:

Mar 9:31-32.

Mar 14:9

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached

throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done 

shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

(Mat 26:14–16; Luk 22:3–6 )

Mark doesn’t address here how this woman came to know the gospel so well. But her bold, fervent, public show of gratitude in lavish devotion and passionate worship for her Lords coming world changing sacrifice of Himself is worthy of being kept in memory and shared as an example of the purist true worship whenever the gospel is preached.

Sadly, we find some amongst us who have failed to understand the meaning of Christ’s death and only see the woman’s lavish gift without understanding that to her and a multitude of others Christ was and is both the supreme gift and greatest treasure in the universe. In comparison to Christ and His atoning work all the treasures of the universe are but useless trinkets.

 Mar 14:10

And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, 

went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

Judas saw Christ as just a good man, and easy meal ticket. The death of Christ meant the loss of his meal ticket and the end of his hopes of attaining a well-paid office under Christ’s leadership.

Therefore, Judas went out to make the last money he could get through Christ by selling Him out to those who desired to kill Him and destroy His ministry. Evil often looks so ordinary. Jesus knew what Judas was, but the disciples would not know until the very end. Why did Jesus choose Judas? Why did Jesus allow Judas to stay, to preach the gospel, and washed his feet along with the other disciples?

Love and truth forever, serola

Fri, Oct 17th - 8:59PM

Thu, Oct 16th - 11:44AM

Thu, Oct 9th - 3:05AM

DINNER WITH JESUS CHRIST

DINNER WITH JESUS CHRIST

Brothers and sisters, we know that this present evil world which was created out of the spiritual world and work of Christ is only temporary and will be destroyed by God at the appointed time known only to Him. Although God will show signs of its coming end, again, nobody, but God knows the actual day or time when Christ will return:  Mat 24:36

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Unfortunately, some who are spiritually blind (truth- blind) have in the past and even now claim in error to know the day when Christ will return, and all of these predictions have been entirely wrong and will continue to be so. God teaches us that rather than worry about when He will come, we should instead pay attention, stay sober, get ready, stay ready, watch, work, and pray in the full assurance of faith without doubt or wavering, full of hope, without fear, knowing Jesus will keep us until the end for He is always and forever faithful:  Mar 13:33; Mat 24:42-44.

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. Praise Jesus, we have nothing to fear, holy brethren, let us continue to share the gospel message in the world, and encourage, edify and build up one another in the word, patiently working until the coming of our great God.

Jesus healed many diseases of the people. The lepers, who were outcasts in Israel ran desperately/urgently to Jesus’ begging to be healed, and Jesus healed them.  However, we find Simon the leper not coming publicly to Jesus to be healed, but instead inviting Him to supper. Under the Law lepers were outcasts, whom God commanded under the Law to be separated from the people and live apart from them:  Lev 13:45

And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

 Lev 13:46

ALL the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.

Unlike the other lepers, Simon had a relatively normal life living amongst the people. In later books, the scriptures will give us an understanding of his privilege above the other lepers. Jesus makes no issue of Simon being a leper, but meets him at the place he needed to be reached. We find no scripture telling us if Simon ever asked Jesus directly for healing nor of Jesus asking Simon directly if he wanted to be healed. The eternal truth is that God can meet people anywhere to bring the gospel that all who believe will be saved. Philip brought salvation to a eunuch in a desert, the resurrected Jesus to Saul on the road to Damacus, Jesus in His earthly ministry to Simon the leper in his own house. God is not choosy as to where people can hear the gospel and be saved for this reason Jesus commands that it be preached and lived by His people everywhere in the world.

In this rendering as in all of scripture, dearly beloveds, God reveals the good, the bad and the ugly. The disciples had seen Jesus raise the dead, feed thousands, and heal multitudes, even casting out devils from many by His power. Peter even knew Jesus was the Messiah the Son of God, but later was rebuked by Jesus for desiring the power and riches of this temporal present evil world rather than that of the eternal kingdom of God to come: Mat 16:23. After the disciples saw all of Christ’s miraculous works, heard the gospel preached, they come to Him asking Him who is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven-duh!.  Initially at the beginning it is pretty evident that the disciples were worldly and did not fully understand the mission of Christ nor the spiritual nature of His kingdom.

Brothers and sisters, in truth, more than a few of us looking back can admit that we didn’t look so saved when we first believed in Christ. There might be some amongst us who have been saved a long time, and we still aren’t sure if they are really saved. After the disciples basically insulted Lord Jesus by calling it a waste that all the ointment was put on Him, some might have encouraged Lord Jesus to get rid of these ungrateful disciples and go on searching for more suitable ones. However, Jesus does not give up on them, but keeps patiently teaching/disciplining and admonishing them, until later on they, with one exception, would bear His image and the fruit of righteousness. In like manner, let us give our Lord the praise and thanks for the multitude of guarding/guiding servant officers of the church who labor faithfully/patiently knowing that only in the nourishment of the whole gospel can they fully equip and build up the body of Christ and bring it to maturity for the service and glory of God: 1Th 5:12-13.

Jesus declares passionately the meaning of the woman’s act:

Mat 26:12

For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

We know from scripture that on more than one occasion Jesus had told His disciples that He would wrongly be put to death by wicked men to pay for the sins of the world and rise to life the third day, but we never find they did anything special for Him as a whole to honor Him at those times. In fact, at this time, they were hard of heart and didn’t believe in Him for a time even after He rose from the dead.  However, this anonymous woman had the spiritual sight and faith to know exactly who Jesus is, and that the terrible death He would suffer would open the door of salvation whereby all who believed would receive forgiveness and reconciliation with God. She didn’t care who saw her, or where Jesus was, her heart was so filled with gratitude and love that she was moved to worship Jesus with the best that she had to offer from the depths of her heart, reflected in her act of love and lavish worship. She understood that all the treasures of this world were worthless trinkets in comparison to her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the greatest treasure of heaven and earth.

Mat 26:13

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Jesus was deeply moved by her show of love and lavish worship of Him, so much so He commanded that her act of worship should be told whenever the gospel is preached. Some focus on the fact that she gave a very expensive ointment in worship, and encourage believers that they should give a lot of money etc. to the church as a sign of true worship, which totally misses the point of the woman’s act- those who truly love Jesus and understand the nature of His sinless sacrifice will out of love for what He has done will give Him lavish worship out of love and gratitude, as well as support the work of ministry to the best of their ability by choice, not by force.

Judas's Bargain

(Mar 14:10, 11; Luk 22:3–6 )

 Mat 26:14

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

 Mat 26:15

And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

Mat 26:16

And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Twelve disciples-they all complained about the woman, but only one betrayed Jesus, selling Him out for gain. 

Judas saw Jesus as just a meal ticket. Although the 11 other disciples didn't betray Jesus, they only saw Him as someone who would restore the nation of Israel, where they would gain wealth and power under His rule, although He told them neither He nor His kingdom were of this temporal world.

The anonymous woman is the highlight of this story, but the picture of the disciples at this point is deeply disturbing and messy especially Judas. However, Jesus can deal very well with messes. Many of us looking back, can attest that Jesus cleaned up our messes very well and used us to aid others in cleaning up their messes to the glory and honor of the Father. God commands that every believer be taught the scriptures in order for them to learn, apply and grow over time to maturity. 

Amongst the multitudes of true believers, unfortunately, there will be some like Judas, imposters, who see the gospel only as a source of income, or advantage, who will die unrepentant and receive the reward of the wicked, although it is God’s will that none should perish, He will not excuse the wicked. The truth is that there is an irreversible price to pay for those who reject Christ which is eternal damnation and punishment in the lake of unquenchable fire in the judgement. But for those who believe in Jesus, they all shall have irreversible eternal life and everlasting joy in the eternal Kingdom of God forever.

love and truth forever, serola

Thu, Oct 2nd - 9:03AM

DINNER WITH JESUS CHRIST

I thank my God and yours, brothers and sisters, for the multitude of faithful guiding/guarding servant officers ordained in the local churches with the approval of the congregation for their faithfulness in the care, protection, and teaching of the word of God to the flock of God that they should stand firmly in the love and truth of Jesus Christ, God the Son of God with all power and authority to the glory of God the Father.

Whereby, I amongst a multitude of others have been caused to boldly stand unwaveringly in the love and truth of Christ, that we should love Him even as the Father loves Him and as He loves the Father, and love one another as God commands: Luk 10:27

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

Jesus frankly teaches us that this is how He loves His Father with all-everything that He has and is out of love, for He is worthy and absolutely will not receive anything less:

Jhn 14:21

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

 Jhn 14:24

He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

 1Jo 2:4

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

We know, saints (G40 hagios), that obeying the Commandments of God under the New Testament of Jesus Christ are not polite suggestions, optional, or comes with alternatives/comprises. Nor are any of God’s commandments difficult to obey:  Mat 11:30

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 1Jo 5:3

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Not grievous: not heavy in weight, burdensome, violent, cruel, or unsparing.

Jas 3:17

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Easy to be entreated: to comply with, obey), easily obeying, compliant.

We don’t see God as a big meanie not wanting us to enjoy life, but in truth, trust, and love, knowing that He only has our best interests at heart that will always be for our Good and His glory.

Feel free to study further on your own, dearly beloveds, that in every aspect of the Christian life, God has left nothing to chance, for He is forever with us and in us to lovingly help us work out His will, by His unlimited power.

Phl 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Mat 26:10

When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

Trouble: A beating; to cause one trouble or difficulty.

We note that Jesus never questions the woman’s motives, but that of her complainants. Jesus frankly redresses His disciples and clearly shows His approval of the woman’s act of devotion and worship. She came into the leper’s house after they were all seated and is unlikely to have been invited. Her focus was on none but Jesus. However, He sensed that their disapproval of her act, disturbed her and caused her to possibly question whether she had acted appropriately.

Why trouble ye the woman? The disciples either were put to silence, or possibly their reply was not recorded, or seen as not relevant in this instance.

Mat 26:11

For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

Jesus assures His disciples that they will never fix or end poverty on this present evil earth but always should and will have the opportunity to help them, among other good works.

The same is true today, of course we should help the poor but not as some do think that they can end poverty, crime, wars, etc. and that becomes their focus- which has no possibility of ever happening. Those who do this have lost sight of the big picture. The greatest problem of Mankind is so much bigger and horrific than poverty.  Instead it is the problem of sin and the need for salvation and escaping the wrath of God before time runs out. These disciples did not understand that Mary was focused on Jesus, the Redeemer, who would die as the only answer/solution to everything-salvation, escaping the wrath of God and everything gone wrong on this present evil earth.

Holy people, we will continue with this story that unfolds layer by layer in all four books of the gospel. I pray God will minister to our learning, comfort, and encouragement and we lay hold upon the Word and live it daily out of love and trust in our great Shepherd of the flock, Jesus Christ who has made us His family, and given us our work as His ordained priests under His High Priesthood, to share the gospel while the door is still open, and to love one another that the world may know we are in Him and of Him.