24 But, in order that you may know that the Son of Man (the Messiah) has authority and power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralyzed man, “I say to you, get up, pick up your stretcher and go home.” source
Two words. See them? On Earth. So important!
The Scribes and Pharisees were indignant – I mean red-faced, nostrils flaringly offended! Allow me to offer two words as a clue. On Earth. Perhaps they did not want GOD on earth. Perhaps they wanted Him in Heaven at a safe distance; a distance far enough away to mess not in their lives or their plans.
Let us not follow suit.
Let us instead rejoice that GOD came down to Tabernacle with humans; for if we do not we shall never live in His Heaven.
21 He began speaking to them: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing and in your presence.”source
You know this should have been the BEST NEWS to them since birth! The foretelling of their long-awaited Messiah was fulfilled in their hearing and before their eyes! Prior to GOD’s announcement on Bethlehem’s hills and John’s preaching on the shores of the Jordan . . . GOD had not spoken a Word to them in 400 years! And now He was standing in their midst, reading and pronouncing His very Word to them.
Oh, they were in awe and they were wondering but something stopped them short of believing and here’s what they did.
28 As they heard these things [about God’s grace to these two Gentiles], the people in the synagogue were filled with a great rage; 29 and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the crest of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to hurl Him down the cliff. 30 But passing [miraculously] through the crowd, He went on His way.source
He felt the murder in their hearts and He went on His way.
I wonder if any of them ever in their lives changed their minds and called out to Him in faith to come back. He would have you know.
Is going to church important?
Do you go to church often?
Is gathering with people of like faith important to you?
May I share with you why it must be?
16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. source
As was His custom. GOD in human flesh made it His custom to go to the synagogue.
GOD in human flesh made it His custom to read the Holy Scriptures.
The same Holy Scriptures He gave to men to be penned, He read with human eyes.
It’s imperative that we recognize JESUS as GOD if we are to be saved, and it is vital that we embrace His Humanity if we desire to succeed as humans.
3 And he went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin; source
Baptism. It denotes immersion. Repentance. It denotes changing your mind; agreeing with GOD. For forgiveness of sin. What we all need!
So was John preaching that until we are immersed, head to toe in changing our mind about our sins and agreeing with GOD that we will not receive forgiveness; in a nutshell, we will not experience His Salvation without this kind of baptism?
Yep. That’s what I think. And you know what, this Baptism is open to anyone and everyone who will receive it! Isn’t that the BEST NEWS?!
I think so too!
How about some Christmas music? I chose this one because today this one messed up my makeup and invited me to raise my hands and clap in worship!
We are glad you are here; stay a while, look around, and be encouraged. We estimate there to be over 3,000 posts here at The White Stone Blog. Please know my hope is ALWAYS to help and NEVER harm. I have voiced many opinions and thoughts here since 2007 and by now I MAY NOT EVEN AGREE with all of them and some of my grammar and punctuation likely needs editing. But this is changeless: JESUS is our ONLY Savior and Hope. Do you KNOW Him?
