On Monday, a day after Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple. According to Luke 20: 1-8, the chief priests and scribes with the elders came up to Him and said to Him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” The religious leaders discussed it and it was decided that if they said from heaven, then why didn’t they believe John? If they said from man, all the people would stone us to death because they thought John was a prophet. So the religious leaders took the easy way out and said that they did not know. Then Jesus replied to them and said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Jesus continued to do His ministry freely, but the religious leaders were plotting against Him until they could have him arrested and put to death. Jesus came into this world to be the Savior of the world, and not to condemn it. He chose to help the lowly, those who were wrapped in sin, poor people, prostitutes, tax collectors, and those who were not worthy according to the religious leaders to enter the Temple. These people were wrapped in a sinful nature and yet Jesus was sent by our Heavenly Father to take the wrath of the many years of rebellious sin upon His back, to redeem God’s chosen people for thousands of years of sin and rebellion.
Although Jesus was God’s one and only Son, he was also part man. He felt pain and could become weary in His life because of adversity and strain. This coming week, He would surely experience the weight of the world and God’s wrath upon His shoulders. He knew what was coming up later in the week, and yet He continued to teach and try to convert the people to believe and to turn from their wicked sins, and go and sin no more.
Jesus went on during that week to teach the people about how to live a godly life. All the while He was trying to change lives and win people back to God. The scribes, chief priests, sought to lay hands on Him. They challenged Him every step of the way and yet could not catch Him in error.
Isn’t that they way it is today, where the unsaved and the wicked tries to find fault with Christianity as well as Followers of Christ. They look for anything and everything that a Believer may do that would be construed as a mistake or error. Then they throw fault at that person.
Here is the thing. We all sin and we all fall very short of God’s glory. But I am telling you, there is hope in Jesus Christ and His Ways. His plan of salvation will never fail you. I pray this week will be the week that you will truly make a decision to follow Jesus. The plan is simple. The transformation is eternal.
The Bible says in Romans 3:23, that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
In Romans 6:23, it reads, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Look in John 3:3, “Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Why did Jesus come to die?
In John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” One cannot get to Heaven unless they know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Look at Romans 10:9-11, “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
In 2 Corinthians 5:15, “and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
The final verse is from Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Jesus stands at your heart’s door and knocks. He wants a relationship with you. Once you accept Him as your personal Savior, He will minister to you through His Holy Spirit.
Don’t put this off any further. Please pray this prayer.
Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. I believe that you are the Son of God and that you came into the world to save it. I believe you died on the cross to save me of my sins. I believe that you rose from the grave on the third day. I ask you to come into my heart and forgive me from all the sins and trespasses I have ever committed. Thank you, Jesus, for saving my soul. I pray this in Jesus Name! Amen!
Photo Credit: The Passion of the Christ Film
Copyright March 29, 2021. Marketplace Evangelism Ministries Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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