There is neither Jew nor Greek, male or female, slave nor free in believers. Jesus lifted all those barriers where He tore the veil that separated mankind from Himself.
Luke 24:11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.
Mark 15:40 40 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Sadly, times have not changed. God came to the world through the seed of a woman and the power of Holy Spirit. Throughout Jesus’s interactions with the marginalized of his religion and the society that He came into he showed nothing but respect. It is disheartening that those lessons not learned tend to repeat themselves.
Wide is the way to unbelief. Narrow is the way to believing God’s word. The simplicity of the Gospel of Grace seems foolishness to so many. Grace must be joined with faith. For when we believe we are offered rest in His goodness and mercy.
God never gives up on His creation. He wants everyone to be with Him for eternity. He never forces His love on any person. In His love for the world He has given mankind free will. He wants us to choose a loving relationship with Him based on love and not on fear.
The Gospel is Good News. It was first presented in Genesis right after the fall. the Good News was that God was going to defeat Satan in Jesus and through the seed of woman. The Good News was given to Abraham that in him would come the Messiah and in Him all nations would be blessed. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. In our human flesh we will never be able to earn God’s grace it is only through belief. Faith alone pleases God.
The Gospel of Grace, is hard to understand and must be viewed in God’s agape love. Unmerited and undeserved salvation is about our believing and taking God at His Word. He provided the way in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He overcame the sins of the world…
Unbelief is abject rejection of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who gave up His life that through Him we could be saved.
James 2:1 (ESV) "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory." James warned against showing favoritism based on social status.
Whether our partiality shows itself in our actions or stays in our thoughts, we reveal ourselves to be "judges with evil thoughts" (James 2:4).
But if we've been saved by faith in "our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory" (James 2:1), we don't need to try to earn the favor of influential people. The Lord of glory has called us His own, and now we enjoy a status beyond anything this world offers. We are beloved children of God (1 John 3:1). We can put off the ways of the world and the sin of partiality by the power of His Spirit. Then we can live out our faith in Christ by welcoming all without distinction. First5
“Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay” (1 Peter 4:9 NLT).
The Greek word for hospitality compounds two terms: love and stranger. The word literally means to love a stranger. All of us can welcome a guest we know and love, but can we welcome a stranger. Max Lucado
Sabbath Moment this week is dedicated to the wonder of the child within us (a capacity which stays with us forever, regardless of our age). And I hope that we do, at times, continue to behave childlike. (Jesus seemed to think it was a good thing--something about entering the Kingdom of Heaven and all that.) Childlike behavior may even help one stay pure at heart, and to live life simply. And simplicity is always a wonderful thing. It just may be that we're not childlike enough. Whatever name you use, it refers to that part of each of us which is ultimately alive. It is where our feelings come to life. When we experience wonder, and joy, sadness, anger, fear, or affection, that child within us is coming to life. Not in order to be measured or to impress, but to embrace and to be embraced. Sabbath Moments
Luke 24:1-11
24 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” 8 And they remembered His words. 9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. The New King James Version
In the Graeco-Roman world of the first century, the testimony of women was considered unreliable and could not be used to settle legal disputes. For this reason, the mention of women being the first eyewitnesses of the empty tomb suggests that Luke is faithfully reporting the early church’s recollection of this event. It also shows the vital role of women in Jesus’ ministry. Faithlife Study Bible
The women were reminded that Jesus had predicted His resurrection as far back as Galilee.
Three women are named: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. Other women also joined in the report of Jesus’ resurrection. Mary, the last one at the Cross and the first one at the tomb, was given the privilege of relaying the first resurrection message.
Skepticism reigned among the disciples. It is clear that they did not expect a resurrection. The disciples thought the women’s story was nonsense. The NKJV Study Bible
Matthew 17:22–23 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.
Luke 9:22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
Mark 9:30–31 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.”
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