Covenant Relationship #6
Jesus was born of a virgin. He was without sin. He came to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sin. Not to just roll our sins forward but to literally cover them with His blood, never to be remembered again!
He came with a plan. The religion of that day was the Sadducees and Pharisees. They studied the law of Moses and knew it backwards and forwards. But they had no love in their heart. In Matthew 23 Jesus said they looked Holy on the outside but inside they were full of dead man’s bones. They became lawyers instead of pastors. They were more concerned with money than the needs of the people. That’s why they were looking for the Messiah to be a King. They thought he would rule from a throne high above the people. The fact that Jesus wasn’t like them made them mad! How could a common man lead a people! How could a King walk the streets with the lowly people! They didn’t believe he was the Messiah, even to this day!
The Israelite (Jewish) people were and are the people chosen by God. How can such a tiny country have such influence over the entire world. Simple! Because they are a people chosen by God.
But Jesus came to bridge the gap between the Jews and the Gentiles. Luke 4:18 He said: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
These words from Jesus sent the “spiritual” “Leadership” of that day into a rage! In their world; The poor couldn’t go to church! The brokenhearted couldn’t talk about it! The priests of that day were “above” the common people! Those that were captive (demon possessed) were outcasts. They literally chained them up and put them out of the cities in caves. Matthew 8:28-34. Blind people couldn’t go to church! Bruised people that were handicapped couldn’t go to church! Anyone that was without “defect” (for lack of a better word) could go up to the temple but all others literally weren’t allowed in. So when Jesus socialized with the common people it turned their world upside down or we would say right side up! It was beyond their comprehension.
Jesus came for anyone that would believe! As a matter of fact, not all the rulers of that day were bad men. In John 3 a man named Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. He was a synagogue ruler (priest). He had some questions! He said Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher from God for no man can do these miracles except God be with him. Instead of Jesus confirming who he was he just said “Verily, Verily (which is to say truly, truly) I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus was confused! How can a man be born again when he is old?! Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?!
Jesus replied: “Verily, Verily I say unto you, except a man is born of water (baptism) and of the Spirit (Holy Ghost) he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God! Jesus went on to say: “That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not (don’t be surprised) that I said unto you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it listeth (has a mind to) and you hear the sound of it,but can’t tell where it comes from or where it’s going; so is everyone that is born of the Spirit”
Nicodemus asked How can these things be?
Jesus in essence (go read it) came as a mandate from heaven to be lifted up just like Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21) even so must the Son of man (Jesus) be lifted up. So that whosoever believes in Him should not perish (go to hell) but have eternal life (live forever). For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world thru Him (Jesus) might be saved. He that believes is not condemned but he that believes not is already condemned because he has not believed in the name (Jesus) of the only begotten Son of God.” Read John 3
Jesus is showing us what we have to do to be a part of His kingdom and live with Him for eternity. The steps to salvation isn’t accidental but on purpose. Jesus wants everyone, no matter who you are, no matter your status in life, to be saved!
Our prayer today: Lord, help me to know Your word. Teach me Your way that I might have eternal life. Help me to love your word with my whole heart and give me courage to be obedient. Open my understanding that I see Your truth, In Jesus Name!
