KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Chapters: Luke 23-24
Message: Having Faith In The Scriptures
Hello My Friend,
I have a confession to make, for years I have had this anger toward a person and even though I said I forgave them God knew otherwise, and so did I. That anger hardened my heart toward seeing some amazing things happen in my life, things that were so obvious. Well, all of that changed over the weekend when under an extremely odd situation, I finally confronted the person, I am no longer angry and best of all, I saw that was Jesus in the midst of all this. You see, whether it is anger, pride, lust, sorrow, or some other emotion that we cannot let go of, we can develop a hardened heart to seeing Jesus if we do not address these issues. Believe it or not, the best and most effective way to address these issues is by getting in the Bible and learning what God says about them. Once we understand God’s view, we can learn how to address the issue and become free from the bondage of it, and that is when Jesus will reveal Himself to us. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” – Galatians 5:1.
It is funny how we all have such strong faith in Jesus saving us, but when it comes to addressing the issues that brought us to sin in the first place we think He cannot do anything for us. Once we get saved we are children of God, He is our Father and teaches us through His Word how to grow up as His child. If we believe what the Scriptures say about Christ saving us, than we must believe what they say about everything else. The reason God has us read the same stories in several books is not that He has nothing else to say, it is so we can see that there were several witnesses that these things did take place and are on point. We have four men who walked with Jesus and told their story about the events that took place during His ministry, each one telling what they witnessed during the time Jesus was judged and ordered to be crucified. Luke goes into a little more detail into the conversations between the Jews, Pilate, and even Herod. Pilate not wanting anything to do with Jesus being convicted to die, tried to stop the crucifixion, but reluctantly gives into the pressure and hands Him over.
“Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will. And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.” – Luke 23:20-27.
“but he delivered Jesus to their will.” Pilate never read the Scriptures, he never knew what they said about Jesus, but all he had to do was speak to Him and he knew that what they were saying about Him was not true. However, because he feared the crowd he gave into their demands, we do not have to know the Scriptures to know that everything about Jesus is true, and that He surely is the Son of God, but like the Scriptures of old told from start that Jesus would die it was all coming to pass. Again, we learn of their leading Jesus up to Calvary where they crucified Him, I love how Luke adds in a little more to give us assurance that all we need is to believe in everything Jesus stood for, and accept Him as our Saviour to be saved.
“And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And 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. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:32-35,39-43.
“Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” This man did not need the know the Scriptures he already knew Jesus to be true, and that He would save him on that cross as long as he believed. There is nothing that we need to do, except receive Christ, to be saved as He did what He came here to do, and that was die on Calvary. Once saved, we are forgiven of all our sin, and they are also forgotten by God Himself because He no longer looks to us for our righteousness, He looks to His Son in us, at least where our soul is concerned. Our flesh on the other hand is a different story, it has a hard time of letting go of some things, and that is what keeps us in bondage when we should be free. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:31-32.
It is the emotions that accompany the circumstances we face that harden our heart, and we can forget what God has said to us. It often takes something that brings sorrow for us to be reminded that Jesus is right in front of us. Now, three days had gone by since Jesus died, while the ladies went to the tomb to embalm His body, the rest of His believers mourned, they just swore that He was here to save them, but now He is dead, their Saviour was gone. Of course, once the ladies discovered that the tomb was empty they went running into town, telling the disciples, and they too were dumbfounded, forgetting all the things Jesus has been saying to them. Two of His disciples are walking about talking about the situation and wondering what to make of all this.
“And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.” – Luke 24:13-20,25-26,30-31.
“But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.” Holden; Shut. Jesus closed their eyes to seeing who He really was. Why? Unbelief. How slow is our heart that we to forget the promises of God? How slow is our heart to let go of guilt or shame because of something we did in the past? How slow is our heart that give up on God when things look hopeless? How slow is our hear that we to resort to the things of the world when something happens that goes against our expectations? Until we hear what God says to us through His Word we are not going to see Jesus, even though He may be right in front of our face. Jesus went through the Scriptures, showing them every passage that spoke about His virgin birth, death, burial, and resurrection, and that was when He revealed who He was. He did this a second time, revealing Himself to all the disciples.
“And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” – Luke 24:36,41-49.
“These are the words which I spake unto you,” The problem happens that when our heart is hurting it tends to harden to the point that we forget Jesus is right there with us. He gives us all kinds of signs, but because we are hurting, we do not realize He is right in front of us. This is when something happens to get our attention, something simple and not even through affliction. Then He is gonna fuss at us for our slowness of heart, and that is when we need to focus on what our lives are really about, living by faith in every Word He speaks to us. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,” – Luke 24:5-6.
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, You faced Your biggest challenge when You took the beating, the mocking, and the pain to die on the cross for my sins. I cannot thank You enough for the great sacrifice You made for me, I know You finished the work for me and that my faith in You alone is the only thing that saved me, but I want to do more than just be saved, I want to live a victorious life with You while I am still here. I has been a challenge at times to walk by faith, but I know with every challenge I face You never fail to show up. Lord, keep me faithful and looking to You no matter what challenges I face as I challenge myself to be more like You. Lead me and guide me, give me Your power, wisdom, mercy, and grace to step up to the challenge. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://readytofollow.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2017 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.