The main purpose of this parable is to show that there would be a long period when Jesus would go away before returning to fulfill the prophecy about a physical kingdom on earth.
The nobleman's servants were called to give an account for what they had done with their lord's money that was delivered unto them. The servants were commanded to "occupy till I come." These servants represent the followers of Jesus. However, being a follower of Jesus is more than simply not rejecting Him. It is an active commitment to serve Him. One of the ten servants had served himself and not His master. He did nothing with what his lord had given him. This...
WHEN THE PHARISEES HEARD ABOUT THIS, THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THE MAN HAD BEEN BORN BLIND SO THEY CALLED HIS PARENTS AND ASK THEM. THEY TOLD THEM THAT HE WAS THEIR SON AND WAS BORN BLIND BUT DID NOT KNOW HOW HE RECEIVED HIS SIGHT AND SAID HE WAS OF AGE, ASK HIM. THEY SAID THIS BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID OF THE JEWS BECAUSE THE JEWS HAD ALREADY AGREED THAT IF ANYONE CONFESSED THAT JESUS WAS CHRIST HE SHOULD BE PUT OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE. THESE MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE THE JEWS THAT...
Zacchaeus was rich but Jesus made no demands for him to give away all his goods to the poor as He did with the rich young ruler. Zacchaeus had already repented and money was no longer his god, as was revealed by his actions. It seems that Zacchaeus was going above and beyond the requirement of restitution as stated in Mosaic law by offering to give half of his goods to the poor and to repay fourfold for his theft.
Publicans were hated by their fellow Jews. They were especially despised by the religious Jews as the epitome of sinners and Jewish religious laws prevented devout Jews from keeping company with any publican. To eat with a publican was unthinkable as the Jews...
The devil will always have someone available to tell us why we shouldn't expect to get results when petitioning God. Most people would rather stay with the crowd and not do anything to draw attention to themselves even if that means not getting their needs met. They will try to make you conform as well. If this man would have listened to the crowd, he would not have received his healing. "Ye have not, because ye ask not" (Jas. 4:2).
This blind man is a good example of an active kind of faith. He was not passive in his approach toward healing. He boldly cried out to Jesus for mercy. When the crowd ridiculed him and told him to be quiet, he cried out even louder for mercy.
Many people believe that God can perform the miracle...
If any of you have some new songs that you want me to check out in regards to the Top 20 let me know if its loaded up and ready to go... I wil drop by and give a listen.... cant believe Sept's chart will be on next week, I pray all of you have a wonderful week in the Lord. In Him JB
Jesus told His disciples many times of His death but this is the first time He indicated the reason for His death. Now it is clear that His death would be a "ransom", defined in the Greek as a means of loosing by paying a price.
The words "ransom" and "redeem" were used interchangeably in scripture.
Not only would Jesus pay the price for sin but also His death would be substitutionary. In 1 Timothy 2:6, the word "ransom" is taken from the Greek word "antilutron" which means "a redemption-price." The Greek word "anti" means "in place of." In other words, the ransom avails for all who will accept it (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 10:13).
The price paid for our redemption is the life of Jesus, that is, Jesus' blood (Col. 1:14). This redemption, according to...
NOW, ALTHOUGH WE ARE NEW CREATURES IN OUR SPIRITS, OUR OLD CARNAL MINDS HAVE NOT BEEN RENEWED AND IT IS UP TO US TO RENEW THEM. PAUL TELLS US IN...
The Greek word for baptize is "baptizo." This word was used by Plato (fourth century B.C.) to describe a man being "overwhelmed" by philosophical arguments; or it means sponges being "dipped" in fluid; and by Strabo (first century B.C.) to describe people who could not swim as being "submerged" under water. Josephus in the first century A.D. used the word to describe the city of Jerusalem as being "overwhelmed" or "plunged" into destruction by the Romans; and Plutarch (also first century A.D.) used this word to refer to a person being "immersed" in the sea. In the Septuagint (the Greek version of the O.T.), "baptizo" is used to describe Naaman dipping...
