The Whole Story

There are so many things around us that are beautiful. Give God thanks for what He has given to us. 

Micah chapter 6 verse 8.

He has told you what He wants, and this is all it is: To be fair and just and merciful, and to walk humbly with your God.

Is Good Friday a day of sadness for Jesus and the suffering He went through? Or is it a day of realizing what God gave for us so that we could have life with Him?

   Yes, if you watch movies or read books that were created expressing the details of what happened on that Friday then you would be moved by the suffering and pain Jesus went through. But that is not the whole story. 

   Those who were there that day must have been astonished by the events that happened. They had to deal with the terrible horror that was unfolding before their eyes. Bloodied and weak, Jesus was forced to drag His cross thought the streets, while being ridiculed and humiliated before those who did not understand His claims as the Messiah. 

   In John chapter 10, Jesus asks the question, "Do you call it blasphemy when the one sanctified and sent into the world by the Father says, 'I am the Son of God'? Do not believe Me unless I do miracles of God. But if I do, believe them even if you do not believe Me. Then you will become convinced that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father."

   In 1 Peter chapter 3 we are asked to work hard at maintaining our faith. It says, "If you want a happy, good life, keep control of your tongue, and guard your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Try to live in peace even if you must run after it to catch and hold it! For the Lord is watching His children, listening to their prayers; but the Lord's face is hard against those who do evil. Usually no one will hurt you for wanting to do good. But even if they should, you are to be envied, for God will reward you for it. Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way."

   1 Peter chapter 3 verse 18 says, " Christ also suffered. He died once for the sins of all us guilty sinners, although He Himself was innocent of any sin at any time, that He might bring us safely home to God." 

   John chapter 13 says, "Jesus knew that the Father had given Him everything and that He had come from God and would return to God."

   That is the bottom line right there! 

   We are to know our place with God and through us others will come to know God also. Our sins are many and they will continue to haunt and taunt us through out our entire time here, but by knowing our place with God we can stand up against such thoughts and live a righteous life in peace. 

   Isaiah chapter 53 was written by the Prophet Isaiah who spoke about his visions some 700 years before Jesus was around. In this chapter we read about God's plan. It says to whom will God reveal His saving power? In God's eyes He was like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. But in our eyes there was no attractiveness at all, nothing to make us want Him. We despised Him and rejected Him---a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way when He went by. He was despised and we did not care. 

   Many people do not put much thought into who Jesus is or even think about talking to God. They are too wrapped up in the moment. Living in the here and now trying desperately to figure out the next step, trying hard to stay in front of problems and grabbing on to every moment of enjoyment they can get. That is a tough way to live, but most people live like that and it is only when they come to their wits end that they may think of God. 

   The story of Jesus is not much different than our own. He lived, ate and drank just as we do. He dealt with attitudes and as a carpenter, I'm sure He knew the joy of achievement. He experienced sadness and sickness all around Him. Just think how people reacted to His statements of being God's Son. We know the miracles of healing and His power over death. 

   John chapter 12 talks about Jesus entering Jerusalem. Verses 14 to 18 say, "Jesus rode along on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy that said, 'Do not be afraid of your King, people of Israel, for He will come to you meekly, sitting on a donkey's colt!' His disciples did not realize at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy; but after Jesus returned to His glory in heaven, then they noticed how many prophecies of Scripture had come true before their eyes. And those in the crowd who had seen Jesus call Lazarus back to life were telling all about it. That was the main reason why so many went out to meet Him---because they had heard about this mighty miracle." 

   You have come to Him, because of His mighty miracles. You have been changed by His miracles and are so thankful to Him. Today we can know the whole story. And even if we do not know the story of Jesus, we will know it when we take the steps to seek His help.

   You will still face the world but you will face it as His child, knowing the love and protection of God. Isaiah chapter 53 verse 11 says, "And when He sees all that is accomplished by the anguish of His soul, He shall be satisfied; and because of what He has experienced, My righteous Servant shall make many to be counted righteous before God, for He shall bear all their sins."

   Stand silent before those who ridicule you, and chastise you. Those who wound you and lash out at you---you have been healed by Him. The story of Jesus, is our reflection of what He has done for us. He has made it possible for us to have a life of peace, in a world where it is hard to find everlasting joy.

   Thank you Father for Jesus. Thank You that we can know where to turn, without any doubt, our joy is from You. 😊          

Matthew chapter 22 verses 18-21.

Jesus said to them, "Who are you trying to fool with your trick questions? Here, show Me a coin." And they handed Him a penny. "Whose picture is stamped on it?" He asked them. "And whose name is this beneath the picture?" "Caesar's," they replied. "Well, then," He said, "give it to Caesar if it is his, and give God everything that belongs to God."  

Mark chapter 9 verses 21-24.

"How long has he been this way?" Jesus asked the father. And he replied, "Since he was very small, and the demon often makes him fall into the fire or into the water to kill him. Oh, have mercy on us and do something if You can." "If I can?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if you have faith." The father instantly replied, "I do have faith; oh, help me to have more!"

John chapter 11 verses 41 and 42.

So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank You for hearing Me. (You always hear Me, of course, but I said it because of all these people standing here, so that they will believe You sent Me.)"