Daily Bread 7-27-17
Matthew 17:22,23
22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. and they were exceeding sorry.
ref. - Matt 16:21 - From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Mk 8:31- And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Mk 9:30,31 - And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.
Lk 9:22 - Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
What a display of faith! what an example of believing that had been put before them! The disciples had just been rebuked for their lack of faith and told that if they had faith as a grain of mustard seed that they could move mountains, but they were still unable to perform the things that he told them they could perform. They had to see it for themselves. Christ was their living example. He took the one thing that not one man could defeat, and not only told them that it was going to happen but told them how it was going to happen. And it did. The greatest example of faith in the history of mankind was displayed when he allowed himself to be mistreated, which he did not deserve, punished and tortured, which he did not have coming, and crucified. He trusted in God enough to allow his earthly flesh to be destroyed and believed his way back in three days. All this so he could show his disciples, and all of us forever after, that just a spoken word of faith can allow us to do things that the world sees as impossible. We can look into our lives and see that there is no mountain too high or wide that we cannot speak out in faith and believe, and it will be moved. God's work is still being done but it will take us to step up and step out in faith in order to take part and get it done. We must believe enough to step off the edge of worldly understanding and begin to trust in Spiritual enlightenment. We must be transformed. He was rejected of the very people that he called family. He was rejected even of the chief priests and educated elders. We may not have to face this harsh of an opposition in our lives but it is sure good to know that we can, and will, still march on into eternity without the non-believers. If you will notice, the non-believers dwelt in the Church as well as in the streets. He gave us this example to show us that no matter how tough it gets or how high the mountain is, if we believe in God and trust in Jesus Christ, we will overcome. So, Brothers and Sisters, be encouraged today that while there is still one breath of air in you, it is not too late to conquer the things that are in your way. Faith in God's word and the Holy Spirit, as well as faith in Jesus Christ, will carry you through any trial that you are facing. Just pray to God with faith, believing, and become right with him in salvation through Jesus Christ. Then when he can hear your voice let him know that you trust in him and believe that he will carry you through. Then speak out in faith and conquer what needs conquering, overcome whatever battle you face, and be one day risen again to be with the one who showed you the way!!! Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life. Have a great day!!!