Opportunity

On June 24 I made this statement “seeing is believing.” If you Remember the two disciples ran to the tomb where Jesus had been buried. Mary had told them it was empty and they went to see for themselves. Well here’s Thomas in the same chapter and this is what he says. John 20:25 (KJV) The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he (Thomas) said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Well Thomas got the opportunity to see 

John 20:26 (KJV) And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the 

, and said, Peace be unto you.

John 20:27 (KJV) Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

John 20:28 (KJV)  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

John 20:29 (KJV)   Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

So my question is, is seeing believing?

Don’t Leave Early

Have you ever left thinking that that was all there was to see? Or have you not gone to an event because you were tired or for whatever reason and missed out? Many go to see their favorite team play and it appears there’s no way they could win. Then leave to go home. Beat the traffic, the rush leaving the stadium only to find out later that their team did win. They were there, they were watching but they left and missed out on one of the greatest wins in history. These 12 men that the Bible records as being disciples, learners did that. Judas threw in the towel and decided a little bit of cash was better than nothing. Peter,  after all he had seen and witnessed, decides to check out and leads others with him. 

On the greatest morning of history Peter and the other disciple which I believe was John heard these words. Mary Magdalene had gone to the tomb of Jesus. She saw that the stone at the mouth of where Jesus had been placed just hours before was rolled away. She then runs away to Simmon Peter and the other disciple. Mary says to them “they have taken away the Lord and we don’t know what they have done with Him.” As soon as these two men heard what she had said they both took off running to the tomb. Didn’t Mary just tell them the body of Jesus wasn’t there? These disciples go in the tomb and yes Mary was right His body isn’t there. The Bible says “they saw and believed.” Seeing is believing? what did Peter see? 

John 20:6  Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,  the Bible says that after seeing for themselves they go home. Do what? Go home. Are you kidding me? But Mary didn’t go home; she didn’t leave because it looked like her team was losing and because she didn’t leave she goes down in history as being the first to see our raised Lord. But she also gets to see something those two disciples missed.  John 20:11  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, Didn’t Peter go inside the sepulcher? Sure he did! But he didn’t see what Mary saw.

John 20:12  And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. What was Mary’s statement to those two disciples “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” Mary was about to find out while the two disciples were back in the comfort of their homes. I see something that Mary had that those two disciples didn’t have. Mary had a Compassionate heart John 20:11  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping:  Mary also had a Curiosity about her  John 20:11 and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, Mary stood while Peter ran in and looked around. What satisfied Peter didn’t satisfy Mary.  The two disciples could easily say later “yes I was one of the first at the tomb, but I left after I saw that Jesus wasn’t there. But Mary’s story is much different and because she stayed her story is far more reaching than the two other disciples. Same is happening today with many. There are those who read their Bible but rarely see Jesus, maybe because they are in a rush to get somewhere else just as these disciples were. But then there are those like Mary who come to read their Bible and stay and keep looking until the Lord shows up and speaks to them personally. Don’t leave early for you may miss out. Mary did two things we all should learn to do. Mary came early. Mary realized what was important. Mary stayed while others came and left. Because she did, she got more, she saw more, she had more to tell.  

NO SMOKING

 

John 19:7 (KJV) The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

We have a law! Most people didn’t know if there was a law. Therefore they couldn’t have known if those that are supposed to know the law were telling the truth. A few days ago I got on an elevator and saw this in big letters

NO SMOKING

UNDER PENALTY OF LAW

 Now to be honest with you I didn't know there was such a law nor did I know what the penalty was for breaking that law. I don’t smoke so I knew I didn’t have to worry about the law nor the penalty of breaking such a law. But what if all of a sudden I decided to start smoking and lit one up on my elevator ride. Do you know what would be the penalty for breaking that law? Probably not! But because the sign said if you smoke on this elevator the law says there will be consequences. I could have asked any employee there what were the consequences of breaking that law and probably no one would know. So when these officials said “we have a law and by our law he (Jesus) ought to die.” By whose law? “Our law!” So now I wonder who made that law that I can’t smoke on my elevator ride?  

”The Jews said “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Jesus didn’t make himself the Son of God. No, He was the Son Of God!  Need to know the truth or in this case the law and its penalties. Did you know that if you smoke in the elevator there is a penalty for doing so? Do you know what that penalty is? Oh you don’t! 

Follow the Crowd

Here in John Chapter 19  we read of Pilate just going along with the crowd. It’s easy to go along with the crowd. Pilate allowed Jesus to get whipped. John 19:1 (KJV) Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

After that these soldiers platted a crown of thorns upon the head of Jesus and put on a robe of purple.  John 19:2 (KJV) And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

Then these soldiers began to make fun of Jesus and started hitting Him with their hands.

John 19:3 (KJV) And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Pilate, who could have stopped all this, just sat by. He said 3 times that he didn’t find any fault in Jesus. Many people just sit by, they say nothing or maybe do like Pilate did. This isn’t right, we shouldn't be doing this. But I can’t count the times I did what I knew wasn’t right just because those I was hanging around with did it. Yes I kept my mouth shut. I may not have been able to stop what I knew was wrong like Pilate could have. But you know what? I could have left and not have been a part of it. Pilate watched all that was going on then he finally said  

John 19:6 (KJV) When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. Pilate said, do what you will but I want no part of it. Nice try Pilate but you were a part of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This should be a lesson to all. If we follow the path of least resistance we will end up in a place we don’t like. Wonder whatever happened to Pilate?  I don’t know. Then I read this that someone wrote. “If Jesus really had been the Son of God, why didn’t God punish Pontius Pilate for crucifying him?” Here’s the answer to that  

Luke 23:34 (KJV) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Another great example of Forgiveness. When you forgive you don’t punish later. Jesus came into this world to save everyone not to judge and punish.

Luke 19:10 (KJV) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Had Pilate repented of his sin he would have been saved and in heaven today. The same is for Judas but they decided to follow the crowd. 

Truth or Treatment

John 18:37 (KJV) Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Jesus said something here we need to stop and pay attention too. Jesus said “Every one” = every person. If we backup to John 14 we will find where TRUTH is identified.

John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

So when we read in John 18 “Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” Then as we read further in chapter 18 we read Pilate asking 

John 18:38 (KJV) Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

Does Pilate know TRUTH? Well Pilate, TRUTH is looking at you face to face and you don’t know TRUTH because you can’t hear TRUTH. Now let me break it down some more. Jesus said He was the TRUTH so TRUTH = JESUS. So every person who knows Jesus can hear the voice of Jesus. When Pilate said “What is truth?” Was he saying who is Jesus? Pilate said are you a King? Pilate never saw nor did he understand who Jesus was because he didn’t know Jesus the TRUTH. We can tell by his talk. Pilate saw Jesus as a King, a good man but never as The Savior. So do many today therefore they are deaf to the TRUTH! Have you ever came face to face to the truth and like Pilate never see it. What about that small tract you never read? That man or woman that spoke to you about Jesus you brushed off? That Church service You sat in and thought about other things? That funeral service where you heard about Jesus and a place called heaven? Now you hear the awful words I’m sorry to inform you but you have cancer! Aren’t you glad you know the TRUTH! Or all you hear is Treatment. 

I Have

    In John 17 Jesus is praying to His Father and He lets us the reader sit in on His prayer. The first words He speaks are. John 17:1 (KJV) These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: Here’s what caught my attention, seven times in His pray He uses this phrase “I have.” 

First John 17:4 (KJV) I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. Jesus tells His Father in Heaven that He had glorified Him on earth.  I should pray and do the same thing. Lord I Have, then say what it is. We may not pray like that in a public prayer but in a private prayer, yes. I think it will remind me what I have done for the Lord.

Second  John 17:6 (KJV) I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. In my prayer can I say “I have made Your Name  known.

Third John 17:8 (KJV) For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. Praying this says Lord I have told others about Your Word. Another great reminder that I as God's child should be sharing what I know about God’s Word.

Fourth  John 17:12 (KJV) While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. Here I’m reminded that it’s not my performance that’s keeping me, it’s the Lord.

Fifth John 17:14 (KJV) I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

It’s the Lord who gives His Word and this world  hates it. But to the child of God it is help and encouragement for the homeland. 

Sixth John 17:25 (KJV) O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

When I pray do I say Lord I know thee? That's how Jesus prayed,  He told His Father that He knew Him. I think that would be a great way to praise our Lord.

Seventh John 17:26 (KJV) And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. Maybe I’m not making a big enough notice of The Name of Jesus. The world that hates the name of God and Jesus. They use His name wrongly a bunch during the day. The name of God is spoken by many in a profane way. Shouldn’t I the Child of God use it right with thanksgiving and praise?