Finish My Course

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King James Bible Study[Mark 8:34  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.]

Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Chapters: John 19-21
Message: Finish My Course

Hello My Friend,

As I was reading the chapters for today, I was thinking of this passage, [2 Timothy 4:7-8  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.] I have some time before I finish my course, well, at least, I still have today, and if you are reading this, then so do you. I really do not know when Jesus will say, “[Matthew 25:23b Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.]. But I do know that I have kept my faith, and there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which my Lord, Jesus Christ, will give me when I see Him face to face. Amen! And there is something else I know, I do not want to live the rest of my course on endless races that have no promise, [Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,]

Each and every one of us has a course that we are to finish, we may be blessed to live a hundred years, some are only blessed to live a few years, and even less are blessed to live even a year to finish their course. We are all appointed with death, that is something that we will never avoid, unless Jesus returns in our lifetime. And if you think that a little baby born or even one that never got the opportunity to live outside of the womb did not serve a purpose, think again, there is a reason for everything and everyone, even if we only had a short time with them. Now, as we complete our reading of the Gospels, John also gives an account to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, beginning with His judgment before Pilate. Again, we learn of Pilate trying to persuade the Jews to let Jesus go, but John records how Pilate actually asked Jesus another question besides asking Him if He was the king of the Jews?

[John 19:4-11  Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.  5  Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!  6  When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.  7  The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.  8  When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;  9  And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.  10  Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?  11  Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.]

[because he made himself the Son of God.] They accuse Him of making Himself the Son of God, they were full of so much hate that they refused to admit that He is the Son of God! That actually made Pilate even more afraid to sentence Jesus to death, but it did not matter what Pilate said, they were determined to have Him killed, even though none of them were man enough to do it themselves. Pilate tried to convince himself that he had the power to save Jesus from death, but Jesus knew that the only power that could save Him would have come directly from God. When you stop to think about it, God could have sent fire down from heaven and killed everyone of those fools chanting, “Crucify Him!”, that instant, and while Jesus did not prove Pilate to be innocent, He did tell him that their sin would be greater than his. All sin renders the same punishment, and that is death and hell, but there are some that are a flat out abomination to God, and they will be judged for them well before their death, [Proverbs 6:16-19  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,  19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.]

Those seven things that are an abomination to God, each and every one of those fools chanting, “Crucify Him!” were committing, but not everyone in the crowd was chanting them. Among them were quite a few believers, including Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ mother, and John himself. As Jesus was hanging on the cross, and through an incredible miracle, Jesus locked eyes on His mother as well as John, [John 19:25-30  Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.  26  When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!  27  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.  28  After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.  29  Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.  30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.]

[It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.] You know, Jesus did not have to die at that time, in fact, the other two men were still alive before He gave up the ghost, but right then and there, He told Himself as well as the entire existence of man, “It is finished:” He has run His race, He has finished His course. Now, as the Sabbath drew near and the other two men were still alive, in order to speed up the process so they would not be hanging there come sunset, they decided to break their legs, when they came to Jesus and noticed that He had died, one of the soldiers pierced His side with his spear.

[John 19:34-40  But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.  35  And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.  36  For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.  37  And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.  38  And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.  39  And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.  40  Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.]

[And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true:] It takes a true believer to account that Jesus is true, and it also takes a true believer to believe that His death alone is the only thing necessary to be saved from death and hell, [1 John 5:6-9,11  This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.  7  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  8  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.  9  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 11  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.]

Yes, Jesus’ death was enough to break that curse of death passed down to man due to sin, but Jesus took it well beyond that. He not only broke that curse, He gave each and every believer eternal life with Him, not just in heaven, but for eternity in the new earth that He is preparing for us. Now, how did Jesus do that? When He arose from that tomb three days later. John also tells of Mary Magdalene and the other women coming to the tomb on the first day of the week, but he also tells of both him and Peter running to the tomb after they heard that Jesus was not there.

[John 20:1-9  The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.  2  Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.  3  Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.  4  So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.  5  And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.  6  Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,  7  And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.  8  Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.  9  For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.]

[For as yet they knew not the scripture,] While the disciples really did not understand the Scriptures, John did not need them, he believed that Jesus had risen as soon as he walked in the tomb. We certainly do not need the Scriptures for us to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who died a sinless death on the cross to save us from hell, was buried in a tomb, and arose three days later but they do help us understand it a little bit better. We who live by faith, do not need every word, we just need to believe in the promised, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, even John the Baptist, all died having had faith that Jesus would come to save them one day. And that is exactly why they are in heaven as well, [Hebrews 11:20-23,39-40  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.  21  By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.  22  By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.  23  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.]

That was actually not the case for Thomas, he refused to believe that Jesus had arose until he not only saw the nail prints in His hands, but put his finger through them. Yes, later that day, the disciples got together and hid themselves for fear of the Jews as lies had gotten out that the body of Jesus was taken by the disciples. And who should appear in the room, but Jesus Himself, but Thomas was not there with them.

[John 20:19-25  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.  21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.  22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:  23  Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.  24  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.  25  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.]

[and thrust my hand into his side,] I imagine the disciples were quite upset that Thomas did not believe them, but Jesus did not appear to them until eight days later, but when he did, they saw a sight that they had never seen before, [John 20:26-29  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.  27  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.  28  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.  29  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.]

[and be not faithless, but believing.] Do you know how many people see something miraculous right before their eyes and still do not believe in the power of God? Jesus wanted Thomas to understand that seeing Him was not believing in Him, but He must have faith to believe in what he was seeing. You know, we can see some amazing things with our eyes, imagine what we can really see by opening them to Jesus? Blessed are those who have faith and believe without seeing, for they will truly see the power of God working in their lives, [1 John 5:13-15  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.]

Peter and John spent three and a half years ministering to Jesus, now, that He was gone the only thing they thought to do was go back to the life they lived before Christ. They discovered, just like the rest of us, that once you receive Christ you cannot go back to the live you lived before receiving Him. They went fishing with some of the other disciples, but could not catch any fish, until Jesus showed up on the shore and told them where to cast the net. At first, no one knew that it was Jesus, but as soon as John saw the fish, he knew right away that it was Jesus. As they returned back to shore with the fish they already find Jesus there with a fire and fish.

[John 21:3-7,9-10  Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.  4  But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.  5  Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.  6  And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.  7  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 9  As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.  10  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.]

[they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.] So, why did Jesus tell them to cast their nets and bring in more fish when He had food waiting for them? Jesus is always going to take care of us, He just wants us to make an effort to do what He calls us to do. By the way, He did not tell them to go back to their old life, they had come to far to go back to their lives as mere fishermen. Remember, Jesus made them to become fishers of men, as He does all of His disciples. Now, I always reference Peter’s conversation with Jesus as He tells Peter to feed His lambs, but Peter said something to Jesus after that caught my attention. Peter watched as John followed Jesus, and questioned what job did He have for him.

[John 21:20-25  Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?  21  Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?  22  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.  23  Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?  24  This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.  25  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.]

[that that disciple should not die:] John was the only disciple to die of natural causes, while he did face some persecution for his faith in Jesus, he would go on to write several books in the Bible, including Revelation. Jesus was telling Peter that He has a specific path for him and a specific one for John as well, so do not worry about what he is doing, just follow Him. This is what Jesus is telling us also, God’s will for my life is not the same as His will for your life, every one of us has our own course to run in which He gives us. We are finish our course by aiming to please God, and no one else, never looking back, and always pressing toward the prize once we finish our course, [Philippians 3:13-15  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.]

Let Us Pray: Jesus, Thank You, again for taking my place on the cross, for dying to save my soul from death and hell though my faith alone in You. While I do not need to do anything to keep my salvation for it is now eternal, I do want to live the rest of my time here by patiently running the course that You have laid out for me. Through the sorrow, through the pain, through the suffering, keep my eyes, ears, mind, and heart on the truth that I have finished my course and will receive my crown of righteousness. While I am here, everything I need will be given by You though my faith, and as long as I ask for them, I know You will provide. LORD, lead me and guide me, keep my heart tender, my faith strong, and my mind in Your mercy and grace, give me Your power to walk by faith and not by sight, and give me Your strength to continue my course patiently until it is done. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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