10/11/11

Jesus walking into the wilderness

Luke 24:29 - But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

After breaking the curse of Hell for all mankind who believe in Him, Jesus appeared on the third day and did something odd. He firstly did not let Mary of Magdalene touch Him then suddenly He goes for a stroll into the wilderness. The Angel that appeared to the women tells them to go to a place and they would meet Him. Where was Jesus going and why?

When we read the scripture just before the scripture for the day, we read Jesus appeared to be going somewhere further but when they requested Him, He abided with them. Jesus did not have an appointment nor did He need to walk that distance to go where He was going. In His resurrected body He would appear where He wanted in an instant yet we see He was walking.

Whatever Jesus did had reason and purpose and we see before Jesus agreed to abide with them and all that distance He walked with them He was explaining to them about Him in the scriptures and how all scriptures were about Him starting with Moses.

What hit me as a big surprise was even after appearing from Hell Jesus was still performing sacrifices as recording in Moses. This stroll into the wilderness as the last sacrifice Jesus fulfilled before He offered His blood on to the mercy Throne and completing all the sacrifices need for the salvation of man.

Even though Jesus appeared from Hell Jesus had not completed all His sacrifices and therefore did not allow Mary of Magdalene to touch Him, but after He ascended to Heaven and sprinkled His blood on to the Mercy Throne in Heaven He had completed his work and thus afterwards in the evening when He appeared to His disciples who had gathered in a locked room He allowed them to touch Him.

When I ask any Christian the reason why Jesus died? The answer I get 'for our sins', and this saddens me that they really do not know why Jesus died.

Christians are not Christians because they do not know why Jesus sacrificed Himself. No doubt Jesus sacrificed Himself to get us forgiveness for our sins and curses broken but that is only part of His purpose, and they lose the main purpose.

The main purpose Jesus sacrificed Himself for us is so that we receive the Holy Spirit. If we do not get this into our head we lose big time and will not receive the reward of Jesus' sacrifice. A vessel is cleaned with the purpose that something good can be served in it. The leather bottle was renewed so that new wine (juice) would be poured in it. Without the Holy Spirit we will never know Jesus nor have new wine in us. The Apostles who lived with Him did not until they received the Holy Spirit then what changes do we stand?

Jesus is an example and a way for us but the One who leads us alone the way and makes us into that example Jesus is the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not tarry long so that the Holy Spirit could come and start His work in us. It is the Holy Spirit Who is the main Characters along with the Word of God in the story of our salvation. Unless we do not realize this we will not succeed. The Holy Spirit is the potter Who moulds us into that perfect example Jesus, so that we become sons of God.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, in your Word You said not by your power but by your Spirit. It is your Word and Lord, You prepared us by the sacrifice of your beloved Son so that we could receive your Holy Spirit. It is by your Spirit that we can reach our destination like it was the pillar of cloud that led the Israelites in the wilderness. Lord, help us surrender to your Spirit. Holy Spirit work in your children and mature us into sons...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Luke 24:25-31
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Matthew 28:1-10
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

John 20:15-17,19-20
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

Leviticus 16:21-22
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)