King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Friday, November 01, 2024
Chapters: Luke Chapter 19
Message: An Abundant Life
Hello My Friend,
I do not know about you, but the older I get the more I want to make each day count for something other than to get my work done and feed my flesh. Nevertheless, there does come a point in everyone’s life when they wonder if there is something more to life. That is usually when many get crazy thoughts in their heads about things like jumping out of airplanes and quitting their jobs to pursue some fast money making scheme. There is a Bible passage that comes mind as I am typing this, [John 10:9-10 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The 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.]
[Abundant; full; plentiful; sufficient; ample.] Looking up the meaning of that word saddens me because while I am saved I have not been living an abundant life through Christ for quite some time. Living an abundant life through Christ is much more than getting our dream job, home, or every other earthly thing we desire, it is about making an impact in the lives of other people, in particular, reaching lost souls with the Gospel of Christ, [1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.]
Sometimes it can feel like we are lost because we have not been living an abundant life, as we tend to unintentionally distance ourselves from Christ when life takes a turn and we try to deal with it on our own. Now, if we as saved, born again Christians sometimes feel lost, just imagine how those who are truly lost are feeling? As we continue in the reading of the Gospels, we are learning of the events that took place that lead up to Christ’s crucifixion. As Jesus was headed toward Jerusalem He passes through Jericho where a man named Zacchaeus lived.
[Luke 19:1-5 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.]
[he sought to see Jesus who he was;] Now, Zacchaeus was a tax collector, and regardless of whether or not he was honest, he still had that tag on him as being dishonest because he was not only a rich tax collector, he was the head of all the tax collectors. Zacchaeus, had everything that money could buy, but he was not living an abundant life and knew something was missing. So, when he heard that Jesus was passing through, he did everything he could to get a glimpse of Him. The most amazing thing is that the second we go looking for Jesus that is when He finds us, [Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.]
Zacchaeus, did not hesitate, he climbed down that tree as fast as he could, but it did not take long before the crowd started complaining that he was taking Jesus to his house.
[Luke 19:6-10 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.]
[Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor;] You see, Zacchaeus did not care about how much money he had, he knew right then and there that living an abundant life had nothing to do with wealth, [Matthew 6:25,32-33 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.]
[forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.] Why did Jesus feel the need to tell the people that Zacchaeus was also a son of Abraham? He was trying to show the people that even though he was a sinner just like the rest of them, he was still one of them and had the same opportunity to be saved from his sin as they did. It does not matter what earthly family we descended from or how little or much we have sinned, we all have the same opportunity, [Romans 10:12-13 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.]
Some of the disciples convinced themselves that Jesus was going to establish His kingdom once He arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus, wanted to make it clear to them that that was not happening and He was going away for while. He explained this through a parable.
[Luke 19:11-14 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.]
[We will not have this man to reign over us.] In other words, the nobleman is Jesus and He is about to ascend back to heaven where He is going to prepare a place for His saints. In the meantime, He was leaving His ministry in the hands of His disciples, who are to continue in the work which He had begun, in the building up of the Church by the preaching of the Gospel. And while many will be preached the Gospel, most will reject it and therefore, learn the hard way what happens when He returns. As Jesus, continues the parable He first tells of what will happen to those whom have accepted Him.
[Luke 19:15-19 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.]
[that when he was returned, having received the kingdom,] In other words, when Jesus returns for His people they are going to receive gifts according to their works and this is where life gets more abundant. Now, we cannot control whether or not one accepts Christ, but we are still commanded to preach the Gospel to all the Holy Spirit presses us on us, [Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.]
Baptized, meaning those who receive Christ as their Saviour have the Holy Spirit poured upon their soul. On the other hand, those who reject Him well, their fate is no better than the reprobates, we learn of this as Jesus finishes the parable with the one man who did nothing with the money given to him.
[Luke 19:20-23 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?]
[at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?] In other words, when Jesus turns for His people those who are given the Gospel and do not accept the gift of eternal life are going to face eternal damnation. Oh, but there is more, they will lose that opportunity forever and any earthly gifts given to them will be taken away and given to His faithful.
[Luke 19:24-27 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.]
[they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.] The very first thing the unfaithful ask when the faithful seem to be getting more is why they are getting more. This is nothing, but envy on their part, but Jesus reminds them that as long as they are faithful there is no need to be envious, they too will receive more for their faithfulness, but even if they did not, the important thing is that they accepted the gift in the first place, [1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.]
Now, after all that Jesus, was about to head into Jerusalem, but stops at Mount Olives, to prepare for what is about to take place, as the prophecies concerning His death, burial, and resurrection where about to unfold. He instructs two of the disciples to bring Him a donkey that was in a specific place.
[Luke 19:29-31,35-36 And 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, 30 Saying, 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. 31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. 35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.]
[they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.]
This prophecy was actually written in, Zechariah, [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.] And this explains why many of the disciples thought that this would be the time when Jesus would establish His Kingdom. As Jesus continued on His way toward Jerusalem, the disciples took their upper garments, and their festival clothes, and spread them out on the road, as for the reception of a mighty King and it was a great reception indeed.
[Luke 19:37-40 And 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. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.]
[the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God] These were the multitudes who had been following Him as well as those in Jerusalem waiting for His arrival. As soon as He arrived, He overlooks the city and became quite sad,
[Luke 19:41-44 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.]
[because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.] I suppose Jesus had a mountain of mixed emotions as He would not only be shedding His own blood, but the blood of other saints as well as the ones responsible for having Him crucified. While we may never fully understand what Christ has done for us, the one thing we can understand is that He loved all and gave His life for all, but He will not force Himself upon anyone, if they reject Him it is all on them. I will say this, even if life here is not always abundant, we do have eternal life to look forward to and if that is the only thing we will receive then it is better than an eternity in hell.
[2 Timothy 2:10-13 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.]
Today’s Prayer: God, You have sent the greatest gift that cannot be bought or sold, and that is You Son Jesus Christ. Those who accept Him receive eternal life with You, and the only way that we can obtain that is by believing in the Gospel and receiving Him as our Saviour. You promise an abundant life to all who accept Your Son, but that is also on the condition that we continue in the work that Jesus left for us to do. Lord, Lead and guide me, and give me Your mercy, grace, and Holy Spirit power to follow in the example that Your Son laid out for us so that I truly am living the rest of my days abundantly. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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