this week, as Easter approaches, i've been attending a Bible study every evening called "blood week" - walking with Jesus and His days leading up to His death and resurrection.
there is SO much to learn from our Savior during this time, as He tells of many major things God says and desires of us (His chosen people).
it is said that the last words of a dying person are their most important words. those words will stick with you for the rest of your life.
for me, this is true. my twin sis will testify, my mother's last words were "we will always have each other". and it's true, we will. maybe not here on earth, but we will always have each other - in our heavenly Father's kingdom!
anyways, the book of John counts down the hours until Christ's death on the cross. and though all of what Jesus says in the Bible should be valued and read through carefully, these chapters in John are extremely important. they are the "last words" of Christ before His death and resurrection into heaven.
i'm no pastor and not very good at organizing sermons - so instead of typing out all of what i've heard, i will make a list (now making a list, that i can do!) of key points this study has gone over.
Jesus has been warmly welcomed into Jerusalem by the people - the same people who later turn their backs on him and shout "crucify Him!".
during Jesus's time on earth, He has shown authority over
-sickness
-nature
-the devil
-demons
-even death itself
He has turned the culture upside down - showing His followers glimpses of how His kingdom works.
He has challenged His followers and given them the new commandment.
He has said He is God.
He has broken the disciples' view and idea of Himself.
Jesus doesn't want to be a means to the way - He is the Way.
Jesus doesn't want to be a means to the truth - He is Truth.
Jesus doesn't want to be a means to the life - He is Life.
He is not simply a way to get to the Father - Jesus is the Father.
the book of John is meant to reveal God as Father. our Father. Jesus reconnected us with our heavenly Father through His sacrifice.
our Father's love language is obedience. He desires our obedience. He doesn't want our devotion and our praises if we have not obeyed Him. He wants us to keep His commandments. even Christ Himself obeyed His Father until the point of death.
Jesus has sent us a Helper, an Advocate, an Intercessor, a Healer and a Leader to all Truth. our Savior said "it is to your advantage that I go away" so He could send His Spirit to manifest itself in us.
and because of this, God's power is now complete - through Jesus Christ, within us.
the Holy Spirit is a Helper - which leads us to each step to live Godly lives.
we must be in constant prayer that we learn to let the Holy Spirit guide us each day, every step of the way of this race God has set before us.
God has given us the Holy Spirit as a "living Christ" within us. even though Christ is not on earth, He is in us - through the work of the Cross.
He has given us the same authority and power as Christ had on earth. because we have Christ dwelling within us, we have that power and authority. we have authority over all the earth and we have access to the Kingdom.
not only do we have access to the Kingdom of heaven - but we also have the access to the Kingdom on earth.
we have the power to speak life, healing, and peace in Jesus's Name.
the Cross is a symbol of all of mankind's sins.
Jesus carrying the cross on His back is a symbol of Him carrying all our burdens upon His shoulders.
Jesus's physical state on the cross is an example of the nature of sin - ugly and bruised and despised.
"it is finished" is Jesus referring to His work done on the Cross - all our sins and sufferings and burdens are finished, done away with, gone for good...
hallelujah!
it is said that the last words of a dying person are their most important words. those words will stick with you for the rest of your life.
for me, this is true. my twin sis will testify, my mother's last words were "we will always have each other". and it's true, we will. maybe not here on earth, but we will always have each other - in our heavenly Father's kingdom!
anyways, the book of John counts down the hours until Christ's death on the cross. and though all of what Jesus says in the Bible should be valued and read through carefully, these chapters in John are extremely important. they are the "last words" of Christ before His death and resurrection into heaven.
i'm no pastor and not very good at organizing sermons - so instead of typing out all of what i've heard, i will make a list (now making a list, that i can do!) of key points this study has gone over.
Jesus has been warmly welcomed into Jerusalem by the people - the same people who later turn their backs on him and shout "crucify Him!".
during Jesus's time on earth, He has shown authority over
-sickness
-nature
-the devil
-demons
-even death itself
He has turned the culture upside down - showing His followers glimpses of how His kingdom works.
He has challenged His followers and given them the new commandment.
He has said He is God.
He has broken the disciples' view and idea of Himself.
Jesus doesn't want to be a means to the way - He is the Way.
Jesus doesn't want to be a means to the truth - He is Truth.
Jesus doesn't want to be a means to the life - He is Life.
He is not simply a way to get to the Father - Jesus is the Father.
the book of John is meant to reveal God as Father. our Father. Jesus reconnected us with our heavenly Father through His sacrifice.
our Father's love language is obedience. He desires our obedience. He doesn't want our devotion and our praises if we have not obeyed Him. He wants us to keep His commandments. even Christ Himself obeyed His Father until the point of death.
Jesus has sent us a Helper, an Advocate, an Intercessor, a Healer and a Leader to all Truth. our Savior said "it is to your advantage that I go away" so He could send His Spirit to manifest itself in us.
and because of this, God's power is now complete - through Jesus Christ, within us.
the Holy Spirit is a Helper - which leads us to each step to live Godly lives.
we must be in constant prayer that we learn to let the Holy Spirit guide us each day, every step of the way of this race God has set before us.
God has given us the Holy Spirit as a "living Christ" within us. even though Christ is not on earth, He is in us - through the work of the Cross.
He has given us the same authority and power as Christ had on earth. because we have Christ dwelling within us, we have that power and authority. we have authority over all the earth and we have access to the Kingdom.
not only do we have access to the Kingdom of heaven - but we also have the access to the Kingdom on earth.
we have the power to speak life, healing, and peace in Jesus's Name.
the Cross is a symbol of all of mankind's sins.
Jesus carrying the cross on His back is a symbol of Him carrying all our burdens upon His shoulders.
Jesus's physical state on the cross is an example of the nature of sin - ugly and bruised and despised.
"it is finished" is Jesus referring to His work done on the Cross - all our sins and sufferings and burdens are finished, done away with, gone for good...
hallelujah!
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