What a great way to describe a person and a honour. Let’s examine a few things about whom the Lord loved.
This was the disciple that was lying on Jesus bosom at the last supper.
John 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Bosom signifies ‘the front of the body between the arms’ (vines expository dictionary of old and new testament words) or a person’s breast or chest (oxford dictionary)
For you to lay on a persons breast you must be close to them and very likely there will be a mutual likeness or love between you.
He was the only disciple that could ask Jesus the question that others wished to ask.
John 13: 21 – 26 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
Remember when you were young and wanted biscuits from mummy. What did you do? You sent the one closest to her to ask.
He stood by the cross when Jesus was being crucified and Jesus handed over His mother to him.
John 19: 25 – 27 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Jesus handed his mother to the disciple he loved. Who would you hand your mother over too anyone or someone very close to you?
He outran Peter when he heard that the body of Jesus had been taken away.
John 20: 2 – 4 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
He recognized Jesus first when the other disciples did not.
John 21: 4 – 7 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
Looking at the above it is evident that this disciple was very close to the Lord. He leaned on Jesus breast, asked Jesus a question when the others could not, He was at the cross when Jesus was being crucified, He took Mary, Jesus mother into his own home, he recongised Jesus first when the other disciples did not. He was the only disciple described as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’.
The Lord loves us all, however the truth of the matter is that some Christians have a closer walk with the Lord than others. Have you ever heard someone talk about the Lord and you said to yourself ‘ l wish to know the Lord like that’.
The Lord is no respecter of persons, if we pay the price, obey Him, Love the Lord, thirst after Him, we will have a closer walk with Him.
Do you desire to know the Lord better? Ask him to help you, and as long as you are prepared to pay the price, you will experience a deeper walk with Him. Just as John did and was described as ‘ the disciple whom Jesus loved’.
Remember the Lord loves us all, but there is more room to get to know Him better.
Bisi Oladipupo
Monday, 17 January 2011
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
The Hundredfold return – Is the place of sacrifice
Have you ever heard ‘ give and you will get a hundredfold return?
Well if you study scripture very carefully, this is not what the bible is saying about the hundredfold return.
So what does scripture say?
Mark 10: 17 – 30
17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
30But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Here is the evidence of the hundredfold return. The young man in verse 17 was invited to be a partaker of great treasure by leaving all.
Peter responded in verse 28 by saying: ‘ we have left all and have followed you’.
Jesus then responded directly to Peters comment ‘ in verse 28 which is the condition of the hundredfold return.
Cleary stated:
Leaving houses, or brethren, or sister, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for HIS SAKE AND THE GOSPELS.
In summary it is the place of sacrifice for the Lord and for the sake of the gospel i.e laying it all down to follow and serve Him.
But l heard someone quote Genesis 26: 12 – 23
12Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
13And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
This scripture is not a promise. It is just stating how the Lord blessed Isaac when he sowed in the land. It’s the book of Mark that is a promise to ‘any man’ that meets the condition.
Apart from this, we do not know what Isaac sowed in the land, as the bible has not stated it.
Yes when we give, the Lord does bless us and gives to us. The measure we get back is not specified , but obviously it is a good meausre, pressed down and shaked together according to scripture:
Luke 6: 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
The hundredfold return is the place of sacrifice where we leave all ,take up our cross for His sake and for the gospels sake.
If we want to experience the Lords abundance we must make His priorities ours and follow Him with all our heart.
Bisi Oladipupo
Well if you study scripture very carefully, this is not what the bible is saying about the hundredfold return.
So what does scripture say?
Mark 10: 17 – 30
17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
30But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Here is the evidence of the hundredfold return. The young man in verse 17 was invited to be a partaker of great treasure by leaving all.
Peter responded in verse 28 by saying: ‘ we have left all and have followed you’.
Jesus then responded directly to Peters comment ‘ in verse 28 which is the condition of the hundredfold return.
Cleary stated:
Leaving houses, or brethren, or sister, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for HIS SAKE AND THE GOSPELS.
In summary it is the place of sacrifice for the Lord and for the sake of the gospel i.e laying it all down to follow and serve Him.
But l heard someone quote Genesis 26: 12 – 23
12Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
13And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
This scripture is not a promise. It is just stating how the Lord blessed Isaac when he sowed in the land. It’s the book of Mark that is a promise to ‘any man’ that meets the condition.
Apart from this, we do not know what Isaac sowed in the land, as the bible has not stated it.
Yes when we give, the Lord does bless us and gives to us. The measure we get back is not specified , but obviously it is a good meausre, pressed down and shaked together according to scripture:
Luke 6: 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
The hundredfold return is the place of sacrifice where we leave all ,take up our cross for His sake and for the gospels sake.
If we want to experience the Lords abundance we must make His priorities ours and follow Him with all our heart.
Bisi Oladipupo
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