Following Jesus Regardless of the Cost

John 12:12-13, 19 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.  19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

The passage above is part of the history of Palm Sunday.  It marked Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem a week prior to His resurrection.  As verses 12 and 13 show, Jesus had many followers at this time.  The overwhelming throng of people caused the Pharisees to remark that the world had gone after Him (vs. 19).  The rest of history shows that this was the calm before the storm. Continue reading

Your Spiritual Condition Is More Important Than Your Physical Condition

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?  He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?  And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.  (John 9:35-38)

In John 9, Jesus heals a man who had been blind from birth (John 9:1).  He fixes his physical condition of blindness and that was a definite reason for rejoicing!  However, that wasn’t the man’s biggest problem.  Continue reading

The God Option

And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.  (Exodus 14:10-12)

The Israelites had been in bondage to the Egyptians for some 400 years.  They had just left after God miraculous deliverance of them through ten plagues.  They are free.

One would think that their faith in God would be at an all-time high.  However, this was not the case.  Continue reading

Our Great High Priest

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus Christ is the High Priest of every believer.  He left His throne in Heaven to come to this Earth to pay the price for our sin.  He is the One Who entered into the Holy of Holies with His own blood to propitiate the wrath of God.

Like the high priests of ancient Israel, Jesus Christ was among mankind when He ministered.  He felt pain, hunger, thirst.  He knew temptation, even by Satan himself!  Yet, He lived a perfect life without sin.  That is what made Him the perfect, spotless Lamb of God, Who could take away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

What Needy People Need

Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Jesus Christ completes every believer.  The Greek word translated “complete” means to be completely full, crammed, or fully satisfied.  In His grace, God gives us the Gift that keeps on giving.  No matter how “needy” we become, Jesus is all we need.