Hebrew 2:5-8

Dear Holy Spirit, open our minds that we may know Him, our hearts that we may receive Him and our mouth that we may proclaim Him and His salvation to all of mankind!

The world to come is the future rule of the Son and His companions on the earth. God has placed humanity over all created things, which includes the angelic world. The rule of human beings over God’s creation has been delayed because of sin. Humanity’s collusion with Satan has brought all people into collision with God. Not yet indicates that the delay is only temporary.

Hebrew 2:5-85            

For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:

 “What is man that You are mindful of him,

 Or the son of man that You take care of him?

7 You have made him a little lower than the angels;

 You have crowned him with glory and honor,

 And set him over the works of Your hands.

8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

Mark 2:27-28

Have you ever wondered if organized religion does more harm than good? With all of her rules and doctrines does she turn away those whom Jesus came to save? The Book Of Mark is full of these questions, maybe we would do well to reevaluate the churches approach to salvation.

Jesus does not declare directly the innocence of either David or His disciples, but instead reminds His critics of the meaning of the Sabbath for humans and His own Lordship over it.

Mark 2:27-28

27 And He said to them,  “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Daniel 7:-14

Fear not and know that your redemption is near……come Lord Jesus! May Your glory and majesty be seen by all men and all come to the salvation that only You can give.

Son of Man is Semitic for “human being.” Daniel saw One like the “Son of Man,” indicating that He is not a man in the strict sense, but rather the perfect representation of humanity. Jewish and Christian expositors have identified this individual as the Messiah. Jesus Himself used this name to emphasize His humanity as the incarnate Son of God.

Daniel 7:13-14        

13 “I was watching in the night visions,

 And behold, One like the Son of Man,

 Coming with the clouds of heaven!

 He came to the Ancient of Days,

 And they brought Him near before Him.

14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,

 That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.

 His dominion is an everlasting dominion,

 Which shall not pass away,

 And His kingdom the one

 Which shall not be destroyed.

Luke 10:1-2

Each of us who believe in Jesus Christ and His message of salvation are to be laborers in the field of humanity.  We are called to spread the message of God’s love for His creation to all who we come into contact with. We may be the arms and voice that God uses to touch their life.

The account of Jesus calling seventy disciples is unique to the Gospel of Luke. The instructions that Jesus gave to these disciples are similar to the instructions He gave to the Twelve.

The picture of a plentiful harvest suggests that a positive response awaited the laborers, even in the face of much rejection.

Luke 10:1-2

After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Mark 1:40-41

Jesus is always willing to pick us up cleanse us with His precious Blood and heal us mentally, physically and emotionally…..we only have to ask Him and believe in His power to heal us.

Jesus was moved with compassion. He not only healed but touched the leper. How often do we see the need but remain unmoved and uninvolved?

Mark 1:40-41 

40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him,  “I am willing; be cleansed.”

John 1:9-11

Every creation is born through the light of God’s love. Many choose not to embrace that light in the eternal salvation given to them through Jesus Christ.

Jesus became man in order to reveal the truth to all people.  Instead of a welcome mat, Jesus had a door slammed in His face. The themes of rejection and reception introduced in the prologue appear again and again throughout the Gospel of John.

John 1:9-11                                                      

9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Daniel 7:13-14

He’s got the whole world in His hands! He’s got the little bitty babies in His hands, He’s got you and me sister in His hands…He’s got the whole world in His hands! Alleluia, praise and glory to His name!

Him refers to the Son of Man, who will reign over all things as the regent of Almighty God.  In contrast to the vanishing nature of the previous empires, His dominion is … everlasting.

Daniel 7:13-14                                                                                                                                                        

13 “I was watching in the night visions,

 And behold, One like the Son of Man,

 Coming with the clouds of heaven!

 He came to the Ancient of Days,

 And they brought Him near before Him.

14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,

 That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.

 His dominion is an everlasting dominion,

 Which shall not pass away,

 And His kingdom the one

 Which shall not be destroyed.

Mark 3:7-9

Even God needed a place of solace. When life becomes too full, even with good things, we need to take a step back and go to that place that gives us rest.

Because of this plot against His life, Jesus withdrew with the disciples from the area. Still crowds flocked to Him from north (Galilee), south (Judea), and beyond.

Mark 3:7-9                                                                                                   

7 But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him. 9 So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him

Hosea 4:1-3

When we trust in our own worth and accomplishments to save us we are doomed. Our priorities become skewed when we trust in the world and we forget God’s way of accomplishing His works on earth…through the hands of those who profess Him as Father. He is Father to the fatherless and He alone provides salvation and mercy to all who place their trust in Him. He is worthy to be praised!!

The final section of Hosea’s prophecy begins with a call to repentance that includes a model prayer. The people of Israel were to pray for God’s gracious forgiveness and renew their allegiance to Him by renouncing foreign alliances, their own military strength, and artificial gods.

Hosea 4:1-3

O Israel, return to the Lord your God,

 For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;

2 Take words with you,

 And return to the Lord.

 Say to Him,

 “Take away all iniquity;

 Receive us graciously,

 For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.

3 Assyria shall not save us,

 We will not ride on horses,

 Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, ‘You are our gods.’

 For in You the fatherless finds mercy.”

Mark 2:27

Many church leaders and congregations concentrate so much on the doctrines and rules of man that they cannot concentrate on the freedom given in the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ.

Jesus does not declare directly the innocence of either David or His disciples, but instead reminds His critics of the meaning of the Sabbath for humans and His own Lordship over it.

Mark 2:27                            

And He said to them,  “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath

1 Corinthians 2:9

What is the most important lesson to learn here on earth? To love and to be loved is the only lesson that we can carry from this realm into the heavenly……for God so loved us that He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins so that we could love Him.

We could never have discovered the mysteries of God or the benefits of Christ’s death by ourselves. But we can know them by experience because they have been freely given to us by God.

1 Corinthians 2:9

 But as it is written:

 “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

 Nor have entered into the heart of man

 The things which God has prepared for those who love Him

Matthew 19:23-26

We, all of mankind, need to take heed to the warnings that Jesus gave to us while on the earth. Money and its acquisition cannot become the litmus test for success or we cannot walk in the ways that God intended. Only by His grace and mercy can man be saved from himself.

Jesus’ comment about a rich man’s salvation would have been difficult for some Jewish people in this period to accept because they held to a form of “prosperity theology.” If people prospered, it was evidence of God’s blessing on them.                        

Matthew 19:23-26

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Acts 15:36-41

Good Christians can have contentions between them that are serious enough to cause a division in their churches. The outcome of division can be devastating to its members or it can be used to expand the House of God in new and inclusive ways.

There was a heated argument between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark’s usefulness to them. Note that Luke does not assign blame for the disagreement. There are times when Christians will not agree on certain aspects of ministry. Perhaps the best course of action in some of those situations is to work separately. Barnabas left with John Mark, refusing to make the disagreement an issue before the church at Antioch. Barnabas had led the church in its early days. He was the church’s main representative at the Jerusalem council, but he did not use his prominence to seek a reprimand of Paul. Instead he accepted the situation and proceeded to faithfully serve the Lord.

Acts 15:36-41

 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Matthew 1 :1-17

Family is important to God. It was within the context of a family that He brought His only Son into the world. Our beginnings matter, both our physical and our spiritual. We are born into our human family and we are adopted into the family of God.

Succession to a throne is often a time of conflict and uncertainty. David’s son Absalom tried to usurp the throne (2 Sam. 15:1–18:18). Solomon’s choice of successor lost more than half the kingdom to a traitor (1 Kin. 12:20). Menahem assassinated his predecessor in Israel (2 Kin. 15:14). Royalty is a dangerous business.

This is no less true when the heir is the King of kings. If ever there was a high-stakes succession, this was it. A Man claims to be Israel’s own Messiah; of course all Israel sits up and takes notice. Of course He must prove His credentials: Who wants an impostor? The Book of Matthew presents Jesus’ credentials. It presents Jesus as the King, but King of a totally different kingdom—the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 1:1-17

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

2 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4 Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6 and Jesse begot David the king.

David the king begot Solomon by her 2who had been the wife of Uriah. 7 Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot mAbijah, and Abijah begot Asa. 8 Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. 9 Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. 11 Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Jerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. 14 Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. 15 Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. 16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

Proverbs 10:12

When will we learn to show others the love shown to us by God? His love was manifested in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a free gift to man, and is given freely to all people. His love covers a multitude of sin. Can we not do the same?

This verse describes interpersonal relationships, not salvation. When people respond in love to each other, they cover over the sins, or offenses, that would otherwise come between them.

Proverbs 10:12

12 Hatred stirs up strife,

 But love covers all sins.

John 8:9-11

Humans never forget their past or the past of others….God is God and He is longsuffering and forever willing to forgive and forget our sins when we confess them to Him. Thank you Father for changing us precept upon precept into the image of Your Son!

Sin no more implies that Jesus forgave her. He did not condemn her, but neither did He condone her sin.

John 8:9-11

9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her,  “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

11 She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Luke 1:12-13

Nothing is impossible with God……NOTHING! Elizabeth and Zacharias were well beyond their child bearing years but God used their prayer for a child to bring the good news of salvation to the masses and to fulfill Scripture.  God answers prayer and He is always in control!

Luke 1:13-14

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

Jeremiah 5:26-28

God will not tolerate man’s greed and inhumanity forever. He will teach us the results of not caring for those who cannot care for themselves.

Those responsible for the welfare of the whole populace had abused their positions by exploiting the lesser elements of Israelite society. The picture presented is one of birds, or the poor, being ensnared by great men who were building wealth at the expense of orphans and the needy.

Jeremiah 5:26-28

For among My people are found wicked men;

 They lie in wait as one who sets snares;

 They set a trap;

 They catch men.

27 As a cage is full of birds,

 So their houses are full of deceit.

 Therefore they have become great and grown rich.

28 They have grown fat, they are sleek;

 Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked;

 They do not plead the cause,

 The cause of the fatherless;

 Yet they prosper,

 And the right of the needy they do not defend.