HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE KING
I have so THOROUGHLY ENJOYED reading the book of Luke and giving the life of Jesus…finishing up the day before we celebrate His blessed birthday!!
Today… I can’t hold back the tears!
Our Savior was betrayed by people He knew and loved.
Before our Savior was crucified He was praying to His Father in our behalf.
He prayed so fervently that His sweat poured out like drops of blood.
Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (KJV)
(I pray fervently for my family daily…multiple times a day and yet my sweat has never turned to blood)
Before they hung Him on the cross He wanted to be sure this was His Fathers plan… He did not want to take a step or make one move outside the fathers will.
Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. (KJV)
Our Savior hung on the cross and gave His life freely for our sins!!!
Yet while our Savior was dying on the cross and in more agony than our human minds can EVER imagine and He still was communicating through prayer to His Father…. praying in OUR behalf!!!
Praying for each person that was crucifying Him on that old rugged cross to be forgiven…
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (KJV)
He completed His Fathers plan and managed to get enough air in His lungs to cry out with a loud voice to His Father one more time….
Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (KJV)
Three days later they went and found an empty tomb. The two Marys, Joanna and other women couldn’t believe the tomb was empty. Peter had to go see Himself and found Jesus linen just laying there… and left wondering what had happened….. even though Jesus had already told of what was to take place…. including His glorious resurrection!!!!
Isn’t it just like satan to cloud the minds of people to make them doubt their own thoughts and what Jesus had already revealed?!
Jesus found them walking on the road and He joined them…. but they were so caught up in their own sorrows and self pity that they didn’t even recognize who Christ was. They felt something….but didn’t recognize the gift.
Jesus asked why they were so down in the dumps and their reply was pretty much “where have you been…. have you been living under a rock? Jesus the one that was to redeem Israel is now dead” (That was totally paraphrased)
Jesus could’ve easily replied with…. “I DONT LIVE UNDER A ROCK… BROTHER/SISTER….I AM….THE ROCK!!!!!”
But he let them keep talking and Jesus continued being patient with them.
They invited Him to eat with them and it was during “the breaking of the bread” that they recognized who Christ Jesus was….and their eyes were opened. There was something so special about the particular way Jesus broke bread and blessed it that they knew who He was at that moment.
Luke 24:35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. (KJV)
They even said “did not our hearts burn within us”
Luke 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (KJV)
Then Jesus patiently reminded them again of who He was and of His plan.
So here’s what got me the most this morning while reading…
During His ascension back to heaven He asked blessings on us. Earnestly and sincerely with His hands raised….He prayed and asked blessings on us.
Through every single thing that Jesus went through He did them with a willing heart and never with regret… even though it seemed all were against Him. He prayed for you… He prayed for me and for all BEFORE the cross…. ON the cross…. and DURING His ascension into heaven where He sits at The Father’s right hand and is STILL interceding in prayer for you and me.
Luke 24:50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
Luke 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. (KJV)
Thank you Jesus for coming as the perfect sacrifice and giving your life for mine.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Thank you that your birth brought You to man….thank You that your death was not in vain but that Your death brought man to God.
My hands are lifted high in praise and my heart is full. CHRIST in CHRISTmas is the reason we celebrate!!!!!
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