Why do we have thorns?

Genesis 3:¹⁷ And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

¹⁸Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

¹⁹In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

God cursed the ground because of man’s rebellion. The Bible does not say thorns were created as part of the curse. Remember the original creation was all pronounced ‘good’ by God. But in some way thorns as they were originally created were changed with this curse.

Did man wear a crown in the original creation?

Psalm 8:³ When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

⁴What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

⁵For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Paul clarifies that we do not yet see man’s glory and honor

Hebrews 2: ⁶But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

⁷Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

⁸Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

Jesus was crowned with glory and honor by the Father

⁹But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

¹⁰For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

¹¹For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

¹²Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

¹³And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

¹⁴Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

¹⁵And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

¹⁶For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

¹⁷Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

¹⁸For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Jesus was crowned with thorns

Matthew 27:²⁷ Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

²⁸And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

²⁹And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

³⁰And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

³¹And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

 

Mark 15:¹⁶ And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.

¹⁷And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

¹⁸And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

¹⁹And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

²⁰And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

John 19:¹ Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

²And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

³And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

⁴Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

⁵Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

Jesus will restore man’s crown of glory

Revelation 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

So what do you see significant in the crown of thorns?

Do you see Jesus’ love for you?

Do you see the Father’s plan for all mankind?

Do you know this song?

The Day He Wore My Crown

The city was Jerusalem, The time was long ago
The people called him Jesus, The crime was the love He showed
And I’m the one to blame I caused all the pain
He gave Himself, the day He wore my crown

He brought me love that only He could give, I brought Him cause to cry
And though He taught me how to live, I taught Him how to die
And I’m the one to blame I caused all the pain
He gave Himself, the day He wore my crown

He could have called His holy Father, and said, “Take me away, please, take me away.”
He could have said, “I’m not guilty. And I’m not going to stay. I’m not going to pay. ”
But He walked right through the gate And then on up the hill

And as He fell beneath the weight
He cried, “Father, not My will.”
And I’m the one to blame. I caused all His pain
He gave Himself, the day He wore my crown.

And I’m the one to blame I caused all His pain
He gave Himself, the day He wore my crown.

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will         accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

In this series we examine the emotions Jesus Christ felt when He was on earth, limited to a time in history, a geographical place, and a human body that needed water, food and sleep. We will examine how He managed His emotions; and why His emotional experiences enable Him to understand everything you and I feel. He is our help in time of trouble.

Remember:

Your emotions are God-given, you are entitled to them.

Your emotions are personal. No one can tell you how you should feel.

Your emotions must be managed or they will control you.

You are not responsible for someone else’s emotions.

Definition

Agony =extreme and generally prolonged pain; intense physical or mental suffering.

Although all four gospel writers record the events in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper, only Luke – the doctor – documents the agony Jesus experienced.

Why do you think that is?

Situation

Luke 22:⁴¹ And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

⁴²Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

⁴³And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

⁴⁴And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

The clinical term for bloody sweat is “hematohidrosis.” Multiple blood vessels surround the sweat glands in a net-like form. Great stress can cause the vessels to constrict. Then as the anxiety passes the blood vessels dilate to the point of rupture, causing the blood to go into the sweat glands. As the sweat glands are producing a lot of sweat, the blood is pushed to the surface – coming out as droplets of blood mixed with sweat.

How much stress do you think Jesus felt?

Do you think there would be physical pain from ruptured blood vessels?

Questions for Reflection

Why do you think Jesus withdrew from the others to pray?

Sometimes is it easier to tell God alone what is on your heart?

Do you think mental agony hurts more or less than physical pain?

What is your experience with agony?

Have you talked with Jesus about your agony?

Notice the Lord’s words – if Thou be willing. What does that mean to you?

What was the cup?

Notice the Lord’s words – nevertheless, not My will but Thine

What did He do about the agony?

What does Jesus experiencing agony mean for you in your circumstances?

Jesus is our great High Priest

Hebrews 4:¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Where is our great High Priest?  in Heaven, He passed to there

Who is our great High Priest? Jesus, the Son of God

What is special about our great High Priest?

He can be moved with the feeling of our infirmities

He was tempted like we are but did not sin!

Our High Priest sits on a throne of grace not judgement!

Our High Priest invites us to come boldly for grace and mercy

Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve

Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve

Isn’t Jesus a great High Priest?

When you consider the emotion of Jesus, can you relate how He must have felt to what you feel in your situation?  Can you see how this experience of Jesus enables Him to fully understand how you feel?

Focus

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Encouragement

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will        accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

The prophecy was given sometime between 520 and 518 BC and recorded in Zechariah 9:⁹ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Then after centuries of silence, God sent His King recorded in Matthew 21: ¹And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

²Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

³And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

⁴All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

⁵Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

⁶And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

⁷And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

⁸And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

⁹And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Why wasn’t the King riding a horse in majesty?

Why wasn’t the King robed in royalty?

Why was there no army with swords but only regular folks with palm branches?

Why did no trumpets sound to announce His coming?

Jesus Christ came lowly in appearance, without His royal robes and majesty. Jesus Christ came  with salvation not judgment. He is just. He came to provide the solution to man’s sin problem for all who will receive Him. Jesus Christ came to offer peace not war. Jesus Christ came to offer reconciliation with God not to conquer rebellious sinners.

John 3:¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

What does this first coming of the Messiah mean to you?

Have you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

Have you received His salvation?

Are there times when your Savior enters your circumstances in unexpected ways?

But there is coming a day when Jesus will enter Jerusalem to conquer the rebellious sinners, destroy all enemies even death and reign in victory!

Revelation 19:¹¹ And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

¹²His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

¹³And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

¹⁴And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

¹⁵And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

¹⁶And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Do you know this song?The King is Coming-Ray Boltz

The Market place is empty-No more traffic in the streets
All the builders tools are silent-No more time to harvest wheat
Busy housewives cease their labors-in the courtroom no debate
Work on earth has been suspended As the King comes thro’ the gate

The King is coming-The King is coming
i just heard the trumpet sounding And now His face i see
The King is coming-The King is coming
Praise God He’s coming for me
Happy faces line the hallway-Those whose lives have been redeemed
Broken homes that He has mended -Those from prison He’s set free
Little children and the aged Hand in hand stand all aglow
who were crippled broken ruined-Clad in garments white as snow
I can hear the chariots rumble-I can see the marching throng
And the flurry of God’s trumpets spell the end of sin and wrong
Regal robes are now unfolding -Heaven’s grandstands all in place
Heaven’s choir is now assembled Start to sing Amazing Grace
The King is coming, the King is coming, Praise God He’s coming for me.

Focus-Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Challenge

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will        accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

The prophecy was given sometime between 520 and 58 BC and recorded in Zechariah 9:⁹ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Then after centuries of silence, God sent His Messiah, recorded in Matthew 21: ¹And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

²Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

³And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

⁴All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

⁵Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

⁶And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

⁷And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

⁸And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

⁹And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

¹⁰And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

¹¹And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

The multitude saw Him as only a prophet

According to the accounts in Mark and Luke, the multitude saw Him as one who would set up David’s kingdom – freedom from the Romans.

Mark 11:¹ And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

²And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.

³And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

⁴And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

⁵And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?

⁶And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

⁷And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.

⁸And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.

⁹And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:

¹⁰Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

¹¹And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

Luke 19:²⁸ And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

²⁹And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

³⁰Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

³¹And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

³²And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.

³³And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

³⁴And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

³⁵And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

³⁶And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.

³⁷And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

³⁸Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

³⁹And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

⁴⁰And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

John’s account adds that they wanted to see more miracles and raising of the dead.

John 12:¹² On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

¹³Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

¹⁴And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

¹⁵Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

¹⁶These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

¹⁷The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

¹⁸For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

What about you?

Are there times or circumstances that cause you to see Jesus differently than Who He is?

Do you sometimes want Him to offer a different problem solution than the one He gives?

Are you focused on things above or things of the earth?

Do you see Jesus actively involved in your life?

Do you expectations make Jesus seem far away?

Open our eyes Lord –

Open our eyes, Lord, We want to see Jesus
To reach out and touch Him And say that we love Him
Open our ears, Lord And help us to listen
Open our eyes, Lord We want to see Jesus

He paid a debt He did not owe-I owed a debt I could not pay
I needed someone to wash my sins away And now I sing a brand new song:
“Amazing grace” (amazing grace) Christ Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay

Open my eyes, Lord I want to see Jesus
To reach out and touch Him And say that I love Him
Open my ears, Lord And help me to listen
Open our eyes, Lord We want to see Jesus

Hebrews 12:

¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will         accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

Why did Jesus Instruct the Daughters of Jerusalem to Weep and Lament Over Jerusalem?

You remember the story that Palm Sunday when Jesus rode on the donkey into Jerusalem exactly as the prophet Zechariah had predicted in Chapter 9:⁹ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

It should have been a great day but Jesus wept. Why?

Because of what they had done to the prophets He sent them

Because they would not allow Him to gather them to His protection

Because they would not receive Him as the Messiah He is rather than the Messiah they wanted

Because they did not recognize God in the flesh

Because the Pharisees (the religious elite) wanted the throng silenced

Because they did not know what belongs to their peace

Later on the way to Calvary, after being condemned to death, whipped, beaten on the head, mocked, spit upon and now struggling on the road to Calvary, Jesus encounters the residents of Jerusalem.

Luke’s record in chapter 23:²⁷ And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

²⁸ But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

²⁹ For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

³⁰ Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

³¹ For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

Note: ‘daughters’ is a collective term for residents of a city.

The prophecies and the history.

You remember King Solomon’s son split the kingdom into Judah (2 tribes) and Israel (10 tribes). Israel went into captivity to Assyria in the 8^th century B.C, but this prophecy was given to Zedekiah, King of Judah (2 tribes) 697-586 B.C.

Jeremiah 22:¹ Thus saith the LORD; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,

² And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates:

³ Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.

⁴ For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people.

⁵ But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

⁶ For thus saith the LORD unto the king’s house of Judah; Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon: yet surely I will make thee a wilderness, and cities which are not inhabited.

⁷ And I will prepare destroyers against thee, everyone with his weapons: and they shall cut down thy choice cedars, and cast them into the fire.

⁸ And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbor, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this great city?

⁹ Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.

King Zedekiah did not heed the warning. The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, took King Zedekiah captive to Babylon.

Jeremiah 52:¹ Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

² And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

³ For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

⁴ And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.

⁵ So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.

⁶ And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

⁷ Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden; (now the Chaldeans were by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain.

⁸ But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.

⁹ Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; where he gave judgment upon him.

¹⁰ And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he slew also all the princes of Judah in Riblah.

¹¹ Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.

¹² Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, which served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem,

¹³ And burned the house of the LORD, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire:

¹⁴ And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerusalem round about.

¹⁵ Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and the residue of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude.

While the Jewish people were captives in Babylon, God gave prophecies of hope. Ezekiel was a priest living with the captives in Babylon when he records this prophecy in chapter 43:¹ Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:

² And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.

³ And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.

⁴ And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.

Notice the route Jesus took to enter Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was from the Mt. of Olives which would have led directly to the eastern gate

Luke 19:³⁷And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

³⁸ Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

And Ezekiel records this prophecy in chapter 44:¹Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.

² Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.

³ It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.

⁴ Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD: and I fell upon my face.

The Gate of Mercy in the eastern Temple-Mount wall is also called the Golden Gate or the Eastern Gate. This gate was sealed by the Muslims in the 700s A.D. to keep out the Messiah with a cemetery placed in front of it expecting a holy man would not defile himself to walk through a cemetery. After an ancient gate below this gate was discovered in 1969 due to heavy rain, the Muslims enclosed this area with an iron fence.

The residents of Jerusalem surely knew both the prophecies and the history. They knew the reason for the fall of Jerusalem- they forsook the covenant of the LORD, worshipped other gods and served them. They also knew how the King would come to them.

About 70 AD the Romans ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple by fire. Again, the prophecy was clear but the people did not heed it.

But Jesus wept and warned as Luke recorded in chapter 19:⁴¹ And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

⁴² Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

⁴³ For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

⁴⁴ And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

The Holy City (Jerusalem)-Lyrics by Frederick Weatherly; Music by Stephen Adams

Last night I lay a-sleeping There came a dream so fair,
I stood in old Jerusalem Beside the temple there.
I heard the children singing, And ever as they sang,
Me thought the voice of angels From heaven in answer rang
Me thought the voice of angels From heaven in answer rang.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Lift up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to your King!

And then me thought my dream was changed, The streets no longer rang,
Hushed were the glad Hosannas The little children sang.
The sun grew dark with mystery, The morn was cold and chill,
As the shadow of a cross arose Upon a lonely hill.As the shadow of a cross arose Upon a lonely hill.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Hark! How the angels sing,
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to your King!

And once again the scene was changed; New earth there seemed to be;
I saw the Holy City Beside the tideless sea.
The light of God was on its streets, The gates were open wide,
And all who would might enter, And no one was denied.
No need of moon or stars by night, Or sun to shine by day;
It was the new Jerusalem That would not pass away.
It was the new Jerusalem That would not pass away.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Sing for the night is o’er!
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna for evermore!

Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna for evermore!

Questions for Reflection

1) When Jesus told them repeatedly that He is God, why did they refuse to acknowledge Him?

2) Is there an area in your life where you refuse to acknowledge His Lordship?

3) How do you acknowledge Jesus as God in your daily life?

Hebrews 12:¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

In this series we examine the emotions Jesus Christ felt when He was on earth, limited to a time in history, a geographical place, and a human body that needed water, food and sleep. We will examine how He managed His emotions; and why His emotional experiences enable Him to understand everything you and I feel. He is our help in time of trouble.

Remember:

Your emotions are God-given, you are entitled to them.

Your emotions are personal. No one can tell you how you should feel.

Your emotions must be managed or they will control you.

You are not responsible for someone else’s emotions.

In this session we examine Jesus feeling the emotion of loving someone who wants Him to do differently than what He does. Sometimes in life you and I have situations where someone we love wants us to do differently; maybe work a different schedule; maybe choose a different career; maybe marry someone or do not marry; maybe react differently than we do. Jesus knows what that type of situation feels like. He understands you and me, loves us and wants to help us in those situations.

Definition

Love = a profoundly tender affection for another person; a feeling of warm personal attachment

Loving someone who wants Him to do differently than what He does

John 13:¹ Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

In the first twelve chapters of the book of John, we have seen the disciples in a variety of situations. Please note I am only highlighting when John specifically mentions the disciples.

Chapter 1- the disciples are called and Simon is renamed Peter

Chapter 2- the disciples went to the wedding at Cana and witnessed the miracle

Chapter 3 – the disciples travelled with Him to Judea

Chapter 4 – the disciples travelled with Him to Galilee and marveled that He talked with a

Samaritan

Chapter 5 – the disciples travelled with Him to Jerusalem

Chapter 6 – the disciples witnessed Him feed 5,000 men and walk on the water; the                    disciples wondered at His hard sayings; Peter confessed Jesus to be the Christ the                  Son of the living God

Chapter 9 –the disciples asked Him who sinned whether the blind man or his parents

Chapter 11-the disciples choose to go to Judea with Him even though the Jews sought to kill  Him

Chapter 12 – the disciples witnessed Him ride into Jerusalem on a donkey but did not understand

These twelve chapters highlight some amount of time Jesus and the disciples spent together through varying situations and circumstances.

Why do you think John began chapter 13 this way?

What do those words about the love of Jesus mean to you?

Here is the situation:

²And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;

³Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

⁴He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

⁵After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

⁶Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

⁷Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

What did Jesus do?

Notice how Peter reacts. Why do you think he reacted that way?

Notice how Jesus reacts.

⁸Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

⁹Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Notice the harshness of Peter? Can you relate that to your situation?

What about Jesus in this situation equips Him to understand and to be your great High Priest?

Jesus is our great High Priest

Hebrews 4:¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Where is our great High Priest?  in Heaven, He passed to there

Who is our great High Priest? Jesus, the Son of God

What is special about our great High Priest?

He can be moved with the feeling of our infirmities

He was tempted like we are but did not sin!

Our High Priest sits on a throne of grace not judgement!

Our High Priest invites us to come boldly for grace and mercy

Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve

Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve

Isn’t Jesus a great High Priest?

When you consider the action of Jesus rejected by Peter, can you relate how He must have felt to how you feel in your situation?  Can you see how this experience of Jesus enables Him to fully understand how you feel?

Hebrews 12:

¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will         accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

In this series we examine the emotions Jesus Christ felt when He was on earth, limited to a time in history, a geographical place, and a human body that needed water, food and sleep. We will examine how He managed His emotions; and why His emotional experiences enable Him to understand everything you and I feel. He is our help in time of trouble.

Remember:

Your emotions are God-given, you are entitled to them.

Your emotions are personal. No one can tell you how you should feel.

Your emotions must be managed or they will control you.

You are not responsible for someone else’s emotions.

In this session we examine Jesus feeling the emotion of loving someone who wants Him to be different than Who He is

Definition

Love = a profoundly tender affection for another person; a feeling of warm personal attachment

Loving someone who wants Him to be different than Who He is

Mark 10:¹⁷ And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

¹⁸And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Notice the he came running. Was he in a hurry for an answer?

Notice he kneeled down to ask the question. What does that indicate to you?

Notice he called Jesus ‘Master’ but not God or Savior.

Look at his lack of response to Jesus declaring no one is good but God. Why did the requestor not acknowledge Jesus as God?

Notice his question on how to inherit by doing. Does he seek to earn eternal life or to inherit (not earn but from a relationship) eternal life. From whom does he think to inherit eternal life? What does his question indicate to you?

¹⁹Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

²⁰And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Notice he dropped the ‘Good’ from his salutation. What does that mean?

His answer indicates these commandments are not new to him.

Do you believe he did not break one of these commandments?

How many people do you know that have kept all of these commandments?

Notice there is no acknowledgement from him of sin or of a need for a Savior, Who Jesus is.

²¹Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

²²And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Notice the emotion Jesus felt when beholding him. What does that mean to you?

Jesus already knew he had great possessions and trusted in those possessions.

Sometimes in life you may love someone who wants you to be other than who you are. Maybe they want you to be more talkative or more quiet. Maybe they want you to enjoy an activity they enjoy but you do not. Maybe they want you to be more submissive or more assertive. Maybe they want you to be an early-riser or a night owl but you are not. We are human beings. As you encounter this type of situation Jesus Christ stands as your great High Priest, ready to help you.

Jesus is our great High Priest

Hebrews 4:¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Where is our great High Priest?  in Heaven, He passed to there

Who is our great High Priest? Jesus, the Son of God

What is special about our great High Priest?

He can be moved with the feeling of our infirmities

He was tempted like we are but did not sin!

Our High Priest sits on a throne of grace not judgement!

Our High Priest invites us to come boldly for grace and mercy

Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve

Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve

Isn’t Jesus a great High Priest?

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will        accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

In this series we examine the emotions Jesus Christ felt when He was on earth, limited to a time in history, a geographical place, and a human body that needed water, food and sleep. We will examine how He managed His emotions; and why His emotional experiences enable Him to understand everything you and I feel. He is our help in time of trouble.

Remember:

Your emotions are God-given, you are entitled to them.

Your emotions are personal. No one can tell you how you should feel.

Your emotions must be managed or they will control you.

You are not responsible for someone else’s emotions.

In this session we will examine Jesus’ spurned love.

Definitions

Grieved- mentally distressed; often alone; spurned love

Love = a profoundly tender affection for another person; a feeling of warm personal attachment

Spurned = disdainful rejection; contemptuous treatment.

Have you ever loved someone who did not love you in return?

Have you ever loved someone who rejected your love disdainfully and treated you with contempt?

Jesus knows exactly what that feels like! He understands and cares.

Loving someone who spurns His love

Mark 3:¹And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

²And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.

³And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

⁴And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

⁵And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

⁶And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

The situation

It is the Sabbath and Jesus is in the synagogue – appropriate place for Jews to be

There is a man with a withered hand            – evidence of a fallen creation, no longer good

They watched Him to see what He would do    –tradition was more important than compassion

Jesus first looked on each of them with anger

Jesus was grieved for the hardness of their hearts

Jesus healed the man’s withered hand – He continued His mission

The Pharisees took counsel with the Herodians to destroy Jesus

Notice there is also anger here but we will focus on anger in another session. For now let’s consider that emotions are not often standalone but usually mixed with other emotions. Let’s just focus on the spurned love.

First let’s note the word ‘again’. In chapter 2 the Pharisees accused Jesus of allowing His disciples to unlawfully pluck corn from the cornfield on the Sabbath day and Jesus informed the Pharisees ²⁷And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: ²⁸Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

What does ‘Lord of the sabbath’ mean to you?

Why would they not receive His love?

What do His emotions mean to you in your situation?

What do His words mean to you in your situation?

What do His actions mean to you in your situation?

Can you see Jesus as completely understanding how you feel?

Let us not forget how long Jesus loved the Jews.

Written 10 century BC Psalm 95: ⁷ For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today if ye will hear his voice,

⁸Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

⁹When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.

¹⁰Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:

How did Jesus express and show His love?

John 3:¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

¹⁵That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

¹⁸He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Remember this admonishment when you encounter your love to be spurned

Hebrews 3:⁷ Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice,

⁸Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

⁹When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

¹⁰Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

¹¹So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

Jesus is our great High Priest

Hebrews 4:¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Where is our great High Priest?  in Heaven, He passed to there

Who is our great High Priest? Jesus, the Son of God

What is special about our great High Priest?

He can be moved with the feeling of our infirmities

He was tempted like we are but did not sin!

Our High Priest sits on a throne of grace not judgement!

Our High Priest invites us to come boldly for grace and mercy

Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve

Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve

Isn’t Jesus a great High Priest?

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will      accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

Jesus, promised Messiah (Genesis 3:15), born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), Son of God born to a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) was crucified. Crucifixion is torture, a slow and painful death culminating in suffocation.

The 23 chapter of Luke records ten different views of that crucifixion.

View #1-Jesus

³⁴Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

‘said’ is a line verb indicating this action occurred multiple times. Why do you think God had Luke give this view first?

View #2 the people & #3 the rulers

³⁵And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

View #4 the soldiers

³⁶And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

³⁷And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

³⁸And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

View #5 one malefactor

³⁹And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

View #6 the other malefactor

⁴⁰But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

⁴¹And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

⁴²And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

⁴³And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

View #7 the centurion

⁴⁴And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

⁴⁵And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

⁴⁶And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

⁴⁷Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

View #8 the people

⁴⁸ And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

View #9 His acquaintances

⁴⁹And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

View #10 the women

⁴⁹And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

⁵⁵And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

⁵⁶And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

What is your view of the crucifixion of Jesus?

Do you ridicule Him?

Do you mock Him?

Do you rail on Him?

Do you understand your need for a Savior?

Do you glorify God?

Do you look at the scene and go about your business?

Do you stand afar off and just look at the scene?

Do you obey His word and do what needs to be done?

What wondrous love is this- Author Anonymous

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?

2 When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down, sinking down;
when I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.

3 To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb, I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM –
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing; while millions join the theme, I will sing.

4 And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,
and through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, and through eternity I’ll sing on.

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed  and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will      accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

In this series we examine the emotions Jesus Christ felt when He was on earth, limited to a time in history, a geographical place, and a human body that needed water, food and sleep. We will examine how He managed His emotions; and why His emotional experiences enable Him to understand everything you and I feel. He is our help in time of trouble.

Last time we examined His experience with compassion documented in Mark 6:³⁴ And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

In that situation we saw He looked with compassion on the people as sheep without a shepherd and needing a shepherd

What are the benefits of having a shepherd?

Provision – supplying necessities

Psalm 23: ¹ (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Want = to be without or to be deficient

First notice the word ‘my’. There is a relationship between the sheep and the shepherd. The shepherd is not just an unattached caregiver. How much must the shepherd know about each individual sheep? In so many ways we are alike. We each need food, water, rest, air. But in so many ways we are different. Some people need attention while other people shun attention. Some people need to talk it through while other people need to think it through alone.

What does it mean to you that your shepherd provides for you so you will never be without or deficient?

Psalm 23 was written in the 10^th century BC while David was running from his son, Absalom, who wanted to kill him and take the throne.

What does it mean to you that so many centuries ago God already knew you would have personal needs for a shepherd?

Protection –preservation from injury or harm

Proverbs 30:⁵Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Shield = a person or thing that protects

A shield is for protection but is not something to cower behind in fear. A military shield protects as the soldier advances on his mission. God protects you as you advance to be all that He created and intends you to be!

Of themselves sheep have no protection. They have no sharp teeth to bite, no venom, no stingers, no horns, no speed to escape and no wings to fly away

Do you see a requirement for the shepherd’s protection?

Direction –instructions or guidance

Psalm 32:⁸I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Instruct = to furnish with knowledge

Teach =to impart skill; to give instruction

Guide =to assist in obtaining a destination; to accompany and show points of interest and

Significance

Which do you need most right now – instruction, teaching or guidance?

Do you find in noteworthy that the shepherd points out the significance of events along your way?

Correction– something substituted for what is wrong or inaccurate

Hebrews 12:⁵ And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

⁶For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

⁷If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

⁸But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

⁹Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

¹⁰For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

¹¹Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

What does it mean to you to be chastened because you are related to God?

What is the contrast between human fathers and your Heavenly Father?

Do you see a difference between the wisdom and intentions of human fathers and the wisdom and purpose of your Heavenly Father?

What are the benefits of having Jesus Christ as your Shepherd?

Jesus gives salvation and pasture

John 10: ⁷Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

⁸All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

⁹I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

What does that matter to you?

Jesus is the Good Shepherd giving His life for you, caring for you

¹⁰The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

¹²But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

¹³The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

Jesus knows His sheep and the Heavenly Father

¹⁴I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

¹⁵As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

As His sheep you both hear and know His voice

²²And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

²³And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.

²⁴Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

²⁵Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.

²⁶But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

²⁷My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Jesus gives eternal life to the sheep and security

²⁸And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

²⁹My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

³⁰I and my Father are one.

We know that Jesus Christ gives life that is everlasting but in this situation He is talking about the quality of that life as eternal.  What is eternal life?

John 17:³ And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Why does the compassion of Jesus and His desire to be your Shepherd equip Him to be your great High Priest?

Hebrews 4:¹³Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

¹⁴Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Our focus -Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will         accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti