I'm Following Jesus – Page 1266 – 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.

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: Thursday, November 12, 2020
Chapters: John 18-19
Message: The Spirit, Water, and Blood

Hello My Friend,

As I was reading the chapters for today, this passage came to mind, [I John 5:6,8,11 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. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.]

[the Spirit, and the water, and the blood:] Did you know that without either of these three things we would be dead? The Spirit is of course God, the water, is both physical water since the body is made up of eighty-five percent water, and spiritual, and the blood, well, that is how we know we are alive. It does not matter what the world, or even fellow Christians believe us to be, our greatest witness is Jesus Christ, He is the one, that through our faith in Him, gives us His Spirit, His Water, and His blood, also known as eternal life, [Revelation 21:6-7 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.]

John wrote several books of the Bible, he was actually the only Apostle to die of natural causes as the rest were martyred for preaching the Gospel. John picks up after Jesus speaks to the disciples about what was to come in the next few days, when Judas Iscariot brought a group of men to capture Jesus, right where He was praying.

[John 18:2-9 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. 3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.]

[Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.] This is in reference to what Jesus said as He was praying to the Father prior to His being captured, [John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.] Every single thing, from Christ’s virgin birth to His crucifixion was written in the prophecies and has come to pass exactly as it was written. Those who are not lost are the ones that heard about Jesus and accepted that He in fact did all this to save them from death and hell, [Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.]

When Jesus was captured, Peter followed Him for a little bit to see what they were going to do to Him, but got scared and denied that he knew Jesus. Someone else followed Him from His being captured through His crucifixion, and that was John, known here as the other disciple.

[John 18:12-15,19-21 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, 13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. 14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. 15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. 19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. 21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.]

[they know what I said.] Oh yes, they knew exactly what Jesus taught the entire time, and every bit of it was written in the Scriptures, which is why they tried to kill Jesus from the start. Did you ever notice that the most evil people get others to do their dirty work for them? That is exactly what Satan does, he uses the lost both in an attempt to overthrow God, and keep them away from Christ. Well, this man who called himself the high priest was supposed to be representing God, the intercessor between God and the Jews, and yet he was the leader of the pack that led to their crucifying Jesus. However, they were too spineless to do it themselves, they sent Jesus to the governor, Pilate, stating that they could not do it themselves because it was still Passover.

[John 18:28-31 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. 29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. 31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:]

[lest they should be defiled;] Now they want to follow the Law of God! Notice that they said to judge Jesus according to the law of the land. Wicked evil has no boundaries, Satan will resort to anything necessary in an attempt to keep the Scriptures from being fulfilled as well as souls saved. Nevertheless, he will never prevail, and while unfortunately many will go the way of Satan, a few will find Jesus. Pilate confronts Jesus, he may not have known who Jesus was, but he did know one thing, Jesus did not deserve to die.

[John 18:33-38 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.]

[Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.] Do you know how many people talk about Jesus, but have no idea who He is? That number is astounding. This is why religion will send you straight to hell, and it takes faith in the Scriptures to hear the truth, [Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.]

Again, Pilate had no idea who Jesus was, I imagine it was only what heard from rumors. So, when he attempted again to get the Jews to let Jesus go free, he actually freaked out when they told him who Jesus is. [John 19:7-12 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. 12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.]

[because he made himself the Son of God.] Well, Pilate knew right then and there that he wanted nothing to do with this and tried everything to set Him free. [Thou couldest have no power at all against me,] You see, Pilate as well as those fools who kept screaming crucify Him, had no power over Jesus, even though all them thought they did. Again, all this was of Satan, and his attempt to overthrow the Scriptures. Whether we care to admit it or not, everything is under the power of God, and no one can go against what is predestined. No, God does not create wicked evil, only Satan does that, but there are some things that we cannot avoid, and must come to pass as they are written for even us. However, we who live by faith in what Christ has done for us, will live to tell about it, [Romans 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.]

Now, I was about to end things here, but God reminded me of why I started the study with the Scripture I did. The Jews could not wait to get those bodies off the cross before the Sabbath began, so, in an attempt to rush things they broke the legs of the other two men next to Jesus. When they came to Jesus they discovered He already died, instead of breaking His legs, a soldier pierced His side. [John 19:34-37 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.]

[And he that saw it bare record,] This again, is John, he was the only disciple to witness Jesus dying on the cross. [A bone of him shall not be broken.] This is in reference to, [Psalms 22:16-18 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.] Notice that His crucifixion is written here as well as what was written about the soldiers gambling for His robe.

[They shall look on him whom they pierced.] And this is in reference to, [Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.]

[and forthwith came there out blood and water.] Anyone who has a heart will read these Scriptures and feel sorrow over what they did to Jesus. Every time I read them I am saddened by them, but I also am reminded that Jesus did this for me, and it was not over, He will rise and so will I because of my faith in Him. Let me tell you, as Christians, we waste too much time on the would have’s, could have’s, and should have’s, instead of focusing on the fact that we who are saved are made alive by the Spirit, the Water, and the Blood of Jesus Christ, and nothing will ever take that away. Amen! [I John 5:12-13 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 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.]

Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for the great sacrifice You made to save my soul from death and hell. You loved me so much that You willingly suffered the most excruciating pain and humiliation so that I do not have to. There is only one thing that I am able to do in order to be made alive of the Spirit, the Water, and the Blood, and that is by believing in what You did for me, and accepting that You alone are the only one necessary to give me eternal life. Today, the only thing I am asking You for is that You let me be a witness of what You have done to give them eternal life too. I ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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