Effie Darlene Barba

The very question that Jesus proposed to his apostles in Matthew 16.  He began by asking who others thought Him to be.  They responded that some thought Him to be a prophet or John the Baptist.  Then, He asked them whom they believed Him to be.  Peter responded, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16).  To which Jesus responded, “Blessed art thou Simon Barjona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father in heaven” (Matthew 16:17).  Even then, Peter failed to see all the truth.  Yet, it was the first part necessary to salvation.  The rest would soon be revealed. Although Jesus tried to reveal to Him the truth of the cross, his heart was not yet ready.   But it would be soon. Still, the greatest question for you remains, “Who do you say Jesus is?”

Many of those following Christ only wanted a healer and a provider of their physical needs.  Some wanted to be freed from the Roman suppression and bondage.  They were willing to believe in Him, as long as they believed He could change their circumstances.  Yet, they were not really interested in His changing their hearts.  Eager to go on about their merry ways, untransformed—they only wanted what He could give them to make life easier; but they really did not want an intimate spiritual relationship with Him.  So, they could say Jesus is a healer, a prophet, or even the King of the Jews if it got them what they wanted.  But if He didn’t change their earthly circumstance here and now, well, they wanted no part of Him. Much like many who fill our pulpits and church pews today!

 

Jesus Is the Son of God

Peter had no problem believing that Jesus is the only begotten son of God.  He had seen enough of His miracles to fully believe this truth.  Furthermore, this was clearly affirmed again to Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration.  However, he did not see yet his desperate need of a Savior, nor accept that Jesus Christ would be the final Sacrificial lamb.  Regardless of the many times Jesus told Peter that He would be handed over to die on a cross and be resurrected, Peter would not accept that as truth.

Neither did Peter fully recognize the necessity of Christ’s crucifixion. Nor did Peter understand the Old Testament Scripture foretelling this fact.  The Scribes and Pharisees certainly ignored the truth of prophecy as well.  But for Peter, this had to become very personal.  He would have to first realize his own desperate need of a Savior to pay for and cover all his sinful heart.

Of all things, Peter prided himself on his loyalty and love for Jesus.  He believed heavily in his own will power to do what was right, follow Jesus and even sacrifice his own life to protect his friend.  After all he left everything to follow Jesus.  Now he relied on his strength to remain close to Jesus and to be the best follower ever.  He failed to see  the shadows of darkness lurking within his own heart, his own sin.  Perhaps it is for that reason he could fully believe that Jesus is the Son of God, in all majesty and power; but a sacrificial lamb who would die baring the load of his own sin upon His shoulders?  He did not even realize the necessity for this, until that moment the cock crew thrice and he had denied his Lord and Master.

 

Jesus is the only way

Perhaps Peter had recognized that he was a sinner before his denial of Christ.  However, he did not see the depths of darkness that lay in his own heart, until then.  He always held firm that he could take control of his own will and follow Jesus in his own strength.  Much like many Christians or some want to be followers of Christ. Some say they believe, but never surrendered their full heart and soul to Him.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).  We cannot reach God by good works.  There are not many paths that lead to God, there is only one.

To be saved, one must first believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, a part of the triune God and as such-Sovereign God Incarnate (God in Human Flesh).  One must then recognize that they are a sinner, eternally separated from God because of their sin.  The chasm that lies between us and God is too great for us to cross on our own.  I cannot in my own strength ever become perfect righteousness, no matter how much I want to be or how much I love God.

Therefore, Christ willingly came and paid the penalty for my sin once and for all.  He died and rose again on the third day victorious over sin and death.  The truth of the gospel message is this, “by faith I am saved by grace and not of works.”

 

Concluding thoughts:

Up to now in this series, we have looked at the fulfillment of old testament scripture in Christ’s birth, life and his entry into Jerusalem . We will further note how His death and resurrection were perfectly foretold in detail throughout the Old Testament.  No other faith or religion can stand with such proof provided over the entire lifespan of the Universe, through many writers; yet, all be fulfilled.

This is only possible because God is Sovereign, and Jesus is who He claimed to be: the only begotten son of God who came to be the final unblemished Sacrificial lamb.  He is the Savior, the Messiah, the great high priest and the risen King who sits at the right hand of God daily making intercession for all who believe in Him.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link.  There is nothing more important than this; because,  He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to tell me your story or thoughts  comment here

Books Available

If you want to know more about books I have written. Then, please click on this link to discover a world of Book Resources.

Or you can find all my books on Amazon.com, search just by searching Effie Darlene Barba.  Or click this link to be taken there

Furthermore,  for inspirational photos or home decor click here.

Series:  Finding Faith on the Road to Emmaus

Why is it Important that Jesus be a Priestly King?

Why Did They Reject Jesus as King?

Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem. Why Really?

Did Jesus Come to Offer Salvation to All?

How to Certainly Know Jesus As the Lion of Judah

 God Works All Things According to His Will

How Can I Be Certain Jesus is the Christ?

Was Jesus the Savior they Waited For?

How was Christ’s Suffering a Part of His Glory?

Why is it so Important to Know All the Truth?

How Faith is Found on the Road to Emmaus

Poetry:

Whatever the Cost

Trust in You

Thy Greatest Glory Be Thy Love Poured Out On Calvary

Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

CREDITS

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Long before the Levitical system was laid out, God had chosen a priestly king to be a part of the story.  Melchisedek was a portrait in sense of Jesus Christ.  King of Salem, Melchisedek was “the priest of the most High God (Genesis 14:18).”  If we thought God’s calling forth of Abraham meant full exclusivity, we would be wrong.  There were others who followed God’s command even during that time separate from Abraham and his descendants. We know this also from reading the book of Job.  One such follower of God was Melchisedek, King of Salem.  Not only was Melchisedek King of Salem, it is designated that he was chosen by God to be a priest.  His very name means king of righteousness.  Thus, He was a King and a Priest. The lineage for Kings among the Jewish nation was King David. Priests were to be Levites.

Melchisedek was a priestly King during this time.  There occurred a battle amongst several kings including the King of Sodom, the King of Elam, and the King of Gomorrah. During the battle, the lands and possession of Lot were taken as were those of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Abraham went out and rescued his nephew Lot, along with his possessions.  In doing so Abraham also regained the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah.  On his return, he was met by Melchisedek, King of Salem who was never mentioned as part of the battle.  Abraham was also met by the King of Sodom.

 

A Priestly King Arrives

Continue reading “Why is it Important that Jesus be a Priestly King?”

Although thousands had gathered around Him joyously celebrating His entry into Jerusalem.  The crowds were overwhelming as they threw their coats along the path, symbolic of surrender to His rule as King.  At that moment they were certain, He was the Messiah who would free them from the Roman tyranny.  Certainly, He would set up His Kingdom.  However, it would be this same crowd that would reject Him and cry out for His crucifixion only a few short days later.  Why did they so quickly reject Jesus as King?

Shortly after His triumphal entry, Jesus goes to the temple where He drove out the merchants and money changers.  “⁷ And he taught, saying unto them, ‘Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Mark 11).  In this He quoted, Isaiah 56:7 and the fulfillment of Jeremiah 7:11. “¹¹ Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.”

They Reject Jesus as King of Righteousness

Continue reading “Why Did They Reject Jesus as King?”

Jesus is riding the colt.  The crowds crying forth “Save Us” are surrounding Him-it would appear that the multitudes believed in Him as the long-awaited Messiah He was. Yet, as the city comes into view, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem.

⁴¹ Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, ⁴² saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, ⁴⁴ and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation” (Luke 19 NKJV).

Did He weep knowing it would this same crowd who cried out for His crucifixion in only a few days?  For they did not want salvation from their own sin.  Instead they wanted only to be saved from the Roman oppression. They wanted health, wealth and prosperity.  Not to bow down to worship God.  No, not really to make Him Lord of their life.  Rather than to love the giver of the gifts, their eyes were on the gifts only.

Furthermore, He saw the great devastation that lay ahead of them.  There would be the decimation of the temple in 70 AD by the Roman emperors trying to squelch a Jewish revolt.  Some estimate that more than a million Jews died during that time period.  Additionally, they essentially lost all hold of their land from 120 AD until 1948.

Jesus Weeps

Scripture presents an earlier scene where Jesus weeps.  As He approached the crowd gathered and weeping at the tomb of Lazarus, we are told “Jesus wept”.  So, often people present this as an exemple of Jesus compassionate empathy for those weeping.  Yet, as He approached Bethany that day, He knew He came with the greatest gift of all.  He knew that He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, so He did not weep for the death of Lazarus.  Instead, He wept because the crowd and His dear friends did not really understand fully His deity.  If they had, they would not have been mourning.  They did not understand He held the keys to the Kingdom of God and the power over death.  Theirs had been a mournful cry.  Now this cried who joyfully cried out “Hosanna, Lord, Son of David” did not really know who He is either.

Now once more Jesus came with the greatest gift of all-life.  He came to bring spiritual life, but the crowd did not understand.  Much as was foretold by Jeremiah.

¹Oh, that my head were waters,
And my eyes a fountain of tears,
That I might weep day and night
For the slain of the daughter of my people!
² Oh, that I had in the wilderness
A lodging place for travelers;
That I might leave my people,
And go from them!
For they are all adulterers,
An assembly of treacherous men.

³ “And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies.
They are not valiant for the truth on the earth.
For they proceed from evil to evil,
And they do not know Me,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 9)

Still, Jesus Weeps Today

I am certain that Jesus weeps today as He looks down upon our nation and the world.  He came that He might bring life.  Dying on the cross, He paid the penalty of our sin.  Then, He arose from the grave and sits upon His throne in heaven.  One day, He will return to gather His church—all who have accepted Him as Savior and Lord to be with Him in heaven.  He will return to establish His Kingdom on earth during His millennial reign.  Then, He will bring final judgement upon all sin.  Satan will be cast into hell for eternity along with all who refused to accept the gift that Jesus freely offers. I am certain Jesus weeps, as He watches our nation foolishly chases after false ideologies of Him and do not really know Him.  So many proclaim the name of Christ; yet, do not know Him.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Do you know Him as Savior and Lord of your life?

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link.  There is nothing more important than this; because,  He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to tell me your story or thoughts  comment here

Books Available

If you want to know more about books I have written. Then, please click on this link to discover a world of Book Resources.

Or you can find all my books on Amazon.com, search just by searching Effie Darlene Barba.  Or click this link to be taken there

Furthermore,  for inspirational photos or home decor click here.

Series:  Finding Faith on the Road to Emmaus

Did Jesus Come to Offer Salvation to All?

How to Certainly Know Jesus As the Lion of Judah

 God Works All Things According to His Will

How Can I Be Certain Jesus is the Christ?

Was Jesus the Savior they Waited For?

How was Christ’s Suffering a Part of His Glory?

Why is it so Important to Know All the Truth?

How Faith is Found on the Road to Emmaus

Poetry:

Trust in You

Thy Greatest Glory Be Thy Love Poured Out On Calvary

Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.