Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 7:18-35is about "Jesus and John the Baptist".
Water baptism is separation between old life and new one.
Old lifeis signified by the heart that tends to do evil continually and be disobedient. It results in the deed that makes the heart of God grieved, namely sinful deeds up to the peak of sin.
Consequently, human is punished by God and perishes.
Genesis 6:5-6
6:5. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6:6. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
New lifeis signified by the good conscience, namely believing and obeying God. It results in deeds of truth and we experience the power of salvation from God.
1 Peter 3:20-21
3:20. who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
3:21. There is also an antitype which now saves us––baptism(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good consciencetoward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Luke 7:18-23
7:18. Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.
7:19. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"
7:20. When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’"
7:21. And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.
7:22. Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
7:23. "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
Matthew 11:2
11:2. And when John had heard in prisonabout the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
At that moment, John the Baptist was in prison because he rebuked Herod who had taken Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.
The ministry in the preaching of the teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword is heavy ministry because we encounter Herod and blocking force as follows:
1 Timothy 4:1-2
4:1. Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
4:2. speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
Lots of people cannot endure the flesh suffering, so they heed false teaching and their hearts are stamped by antichrist.
Consequently, it is difficult for them to return to the true teaching, even they become the same as Satan that will perish forever.
John 1:29, 36
1:29. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
1:36. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!
Luke 7:18-19
7:18. Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.
7:19. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"
John the Baptist knows Jesus as the Son of God, the Savior and the Bridegroom of Heaven. But, in the prison when facing temptation, he doubts Jesus.
Luke 7:21-23
7:21. And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.
7:22. Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
7:23. "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
In the doubt for temptation, John sends his disciples for asking Jesus, not others.
If we ask others, it means that our life is without head and direction.
Jesus answers by showing His activity and power to heal the sick and raise the dead man.
Isaiah 35:3-6
35:3. Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees.
35:4. Say to those who are fearful–hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you."
35:5. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
35:6. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.
The answer of Jesus reminds John the Baptist about the prophecy of Isaiah the prophet that has been fulfilled in Jesus in His own activity and power.
John believes in Jesus and is willing to be beheaded. But, he receives new life, namely life that is saved by God. When Jesus comes a second time, he will be raised in the salvation.
On the contrary, if we are disappointed and leave Jesus and our ministry, we will not be happy.
It means that we suffer in weeping and gnashing of teeth. We suffer in the world until perish forever.
Luke 7:23
7:23. "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
That is why, in temptation, we have to hear the true teaching Word a lot especially in true fellowship, so we keep believing and obeying God.
The result is we experience God's activity and power.
Why does God allow us to experience the test?
God blesses us.
Luke 7:18-35is about "Jesus and John the Baptist".
Water baptism is separation between old life and new one.
Old lifeis signified by the heart that tends to do evil continually and be disobedient. It results in the deed that makes the heart of God grieved, namely sinful deeds up to the peak of sin.
Consequently, human is punished by God and perishes.
Genesis 6:5-6
6:5. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6:6. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
New lifeis signified by the good conscience, namely believing and obeying God. It results in deeds of truth and we experience the power of salvation from God.
1 Peter 3:20-21
3:20. who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
3:21. There is also an antitype which now saves us––baptism(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good consciencetoward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Luke 7:18-23
7:18. Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.
7:19. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"
7:20. When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’"
7:21. And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.
7:22. Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
7:23. "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
Matthew 11:2
11:2. And when John had heard in prisonabout the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
At that moment, John the Baptist was in prison because he rebuked Herod who had taken Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.
The ministry in the preaching of the teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword is heavy ministry because we encounter Herod and blocking force as follows:
- Sins up to the peak of sin that hits our life.
- Temptations in all things.
The temptation happens through problems or flesh suffering. It is like John who is in the prison.
1 Timothy 4:1-2
4:1. Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
4:2. speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
Lots of people cannot endure the flesh suffering, so they heed false teaching and their hearts are stamped by antichrist.
Consequently, it is difficult for them to return to the true teaching, even they become the same as Satan that will perish forever.
John 1:29, 36
1:29. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
1:36. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!
Luke 7:18-19
7:18. Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.
7:19. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"
John the Baptist knows Jesus as the Son of God, the Savior and the Bridegroom of Heaven. But, in the prison when facing temptation, he doubts Jesus.
Luke 7:21-23
7:21. And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.
7:22. Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
7:23. "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
In the doubt for temptation, John sends his disciples for asking Jesus, not others.
If we ask others, it means that our life is without head and direction.
Jesus answers by showing His activity and power to heal the sick and raise the dead man.
Isaiah 35:3-6
35:3. Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees.
35:4. Say to those who are fearful–hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you."
35:5. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
35:6. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.
The answer of Jesus reminds John the Baptist about the prophecy of Isaiah the prophet that has been fulfilled in Jesus in His own activity and power.
John believes in Jesus and is willing to be beheaded. But, he receives new life, namely life that is saved by God. When Jesus comes a second time, he will be raised in the salvation.
On the contrary, if we are disappointed and leave Jesus and our ministry, we will not be happy.
It means that we suffer in weeping and gnashing of teeth. We suffer in the world until perish forever.
Luke 7:23
7:23. "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
That is why, in temptation, we have to hear the true teaching Word a lot especially in true fellowship, so we keep believing and obeying God.
The result is we experience God's activity and power.
Why does God allow us to experience the test?
- To make us come forth as gold.
Job 23:10-12
23:10. But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
23:11. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.
23:12. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.
It means that we keep believing and obeying Jesus or true teaching Word and live in righteousness whatever risk may come.
It means that we know Jesus earnestly. - To make us know and experience Jesus' activity and poweras follows:
- The power of healing. It is the same as the power to finish all problems until the impossible ones.
Physical miracle happens. - The power of restoration.
The destroyed thing becomes good, failure becomes success and beauty in His time. - The power to purify and change us little by little until we are spotless and perfect like Jesus.
Spiritual miracle happens.
Until the last miracle, we are lifted up to the glorious clouds when Jesus comes a second time.
- The power of healing. It is the same as the power to finish all problems until the impossible ones.
God blesses us.