Words of truth…

I wish my traveler from last week could have read the book of John,but alas, it was probably written many years after Jesus death and resurrection…aren’t we blessed to have the written Word now…but, we don’t get the feel of the real culture and happenings of that time…we can read about them, but that is not quite the same thing…but we have a look into people lives with the writings….

 It is said that the deity of Christ is found  in every  chapter of the book of John…by what Jesus calls himself and John giving a personal account of his friendship and life of following Jesus during this time with Him…what a gift…

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

(Rev.19: 3 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 

John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

1 John 1: 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 

Philippians 2: 6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;)

2 He was with God in the beginning. 

(Genesis 1: 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.)

3 Through him all things were :made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 

(1 Cor 8: , 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 

(John 5: 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. )

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

(John 3:21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.)

Thank YOU…

The Word…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MllmJ1FcbSs&list=RDMllmJ1FcbSs&start_radio=1&pp=ygUNdGhlIHdvcmQgc29uZ6AHAQ%3D%3D

It is not over…

 It is not over….

I looked out my window early this morning to see some women hurrying past carrying cloths, plus another package of something fragrant…these were the same women who were at the crucifixion near Jesus….I wondered if they were going to finish preparing Jesus for burial…I don’t think that got done the other night…I am packing to get in the road soon…after a good day of rest….it is time to come home…

Another earthquake woke me up earlier…this town and its earthquakes, that’s two in past few days…I wonder if it is always this shaky…

I went out to find some food for my travels as the shops along the way were opening with their fresh goods to sell…there still seemed to be a lot of talk of the crucifixions the other day…I was my hoping not to hear about those gruesome deaths, it turned my stomach at the cruelty….

All of the sudden those women came running back, excited…looking for Jesus’ disciples….then some Roman guards ran by as well…I wonder what had happened…

 I found out later that the guards went to tell the chief priests that Jesus was not in the tomb, the stone had rolled away, an Angel had told the women that Jesus was alive, raised from the dead…the angel told to women to tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee…

The chief priests sure didn’t like that and plotted to tell lies about his disappearance….

 “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

My heart which had been troubled, felt such joy over this news…

Before I left for home, I asked around to find out some of the words that Jesus hand told those in the area…

The following are a few…he taught so much…for three years..

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt.11:29-30

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”John 8:12

Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”John 8:58

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John10:9,14

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe  this? John 11:25-26

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.John 14:11

On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:20-21

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.John 15:1

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

I decided after hearing all these sayings, plus so many more…I wanted that eternal life that this man, Jesus offered…especially knowing that he raised from the grave…he appeared to so many just as if he wasn’t on the cross the other day…bloodied and torn…I want what he has to offer…I want my heart clean and my life changed…

Another thought, maybe instead of the idols we have been making, we could carve crosses…maybe, they would sell….

See you soon and then we can talk more about this journey…

 Ah, a day of rest….

I was ready for some rest and contemplation time…

After a week of bargaining and bartering, plus the drama of events surrounding his man, Jesus, I needed some rest…

Jerusalem almost closes down on the Jewish Sabbath…I finally went for a walk, finding some groups of people here and there…many discussing the events of the last two days…who was to this man? The earthquake…the darkness…the cruelty of the Romans…

I returned to my room, ready to pack and ready for my return trip . I bought a few things to sell with our wares…still feel a need not to sell our carved idols…there has to be something more meaningful…

I will make this short and prepare for the night…

Rest well my friend….

 Good evening…. 

Today has been the most unforgettable day…I finished with our final sales and am questioning our wares. Many of these people talk of only one God not a plethora of gods like we carve for many people…they talk of their laws, one of which is about being one God and not worshipping anyone else but Him…this Jesus claims to be their God’s son and that he was  sent from him to bring people to Him…

I have asked so many questions, I am sure they are tired of them…but it is so important to know the truth before I leave here… but, be thinking of another way or something other we can carve to bring in funds for a living… I can’t do the idols anymore…gods made by human hands just don’t make sense anymore..

The men who took Jesus away last night stayed up until they got their way, which was killing  Jesus on trumped up charges…they beat him until he was unrecognizable…using thorns,whips, humiliation…he was awful to look upon as I stood beside the trail watching him struggle up the hill to the place chosen for crucifixions…many of the city were standing  with me, some spitting on him as he trudged forward carrying the heavy wooden cross…others weeping at the sight of their teacher and friend…finally the Romans forced a man from the crowd to help  him carry the cross…Jesus looked near exhaustion and ready to collapse…there were two others who were going to be crucified as well..

The soldiers, the and the prisoners finally reached the spot, the top of a hill named Golgotha, the place of the Skull…

There the soldiers laid down the cross and nailed each man’s hands and feet to the cross, picked up the cross and plunked it into the prepared hole…

There they would die a cruel death, exposed to all, unable to breathe sufficiently, loss of blood, unfed…the Romans soldiers are cruel men.

One of the other prisoners talked to Jesus and Jesus told him because of his belief, he would see him in paradise…what a hope to look forward to..

Some of Jesus disciples were there…as well as his suffering mother…he told one of the disciples to care for her…

Others in the crowd mocked,insulted, scoffed at him, generally made fun of him..and Jesus’ response was, “ Father forgive them, for they do know what they are doing.”

I wonder how many of these same people were on the road at the beginning of the week, singing, “Hosanna”. What a switch in people’s demeanor.

So there was hate on one side with hurt and sadness on the other…

One of the rulers had put a sign on Jesus’ cross, “ the King of the Jews”, what an interesting sign, as he was being crucified for that charge..

The soldiers sat around the base of the crosses, gambling for Jesus’ clothing…apparently his clothing had no seams, so it may have been valuable…

Then the oddest thing happed at noon, darkness came over the whole land for three hours. The temple priests said the curtain was torn from top to bottom, the earth shook, rocks split in two, tombs opened and people came out.

Jesus gave up his last breath…

One of the centurions stated as all this was happening, “ surely he was the  son of God”…..

Now the crowd dispersed and went their way as it was a holiday from night fall on…

One of the last people around was a man came and asked for Jesus’ body to carry it to an empty tomb…where a guard was posted…in case of robbery….

All in all, it was an exciting and horrible day. One, I personally don’t  want to repeat….this man, Jesus was dead…

I will close for now. Tomorrow is a day of rest and I mean to make good use of that…this week has been so up and down. I will start on my journey home, disheartened, the first of the week. 

Your friend…

 Arrest…

Another day….

I arrived in the city on the week of the Jewish Passover. I asked around about what this meant…they are celebrating the release from the Egyptian slavery hundreds of years ago…the “Passover” was the angel of death who  passed over those who had their doorposts painted with a pure lamb’s blood…otherwise the first born of the other homes died that night…

I guess the Egyptians practically begged the Israelites to leave their country, giving them their wealth as they journeyed out of Egypt…

The Jews have a dinner celebrating the Passover on this day of the week…I was told that Jesus took his disciples into a house which had an upper room for their celebration…apparently he told them of his coming crucifixion, taught them how to celebrate the future without him with a cup of wine and a loaf of bread to remember him by…

He knew that one of his disciples had betrayed him to the religious leaders who  were still looking for a way to get rid of him as they feared he would take away their power…( how would you like to have a church leader who has that kind of hatred in their heart?)

The betrayer was Judas who took care of the money for the group..

Another thing that happened in the room was the leader, Jesus washed his disciple’s feet of all things..can you imagine? Washing feet is a servant’s job, even in our culture, not a leader’s…I guess he was showing them servanthood, humility and serving with love…he was not what these people expected of him, a king riding on a kingly horse to conquer the Romans…

All the disciples pledged to follow this Jesus no matter what…

After the dinner, all the men except Judas went to a place called Gethsemane…where they prayed…he told them.”My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, pray with me”…and asking God who he claimed as his father to please save him from what was coming…, but his disciples kept falling asleep.

Then he called them to rise and meet the betrayer …who came with a large armed crowd. Judas kissed Jesus upon meeting him, a sign he had arranged with the chief priests and elders before hand to show who was Jesus…(they should have known, as they saw him frequently)…

They seized Jesus and arrested him, took him to the high priest, where the teachers and elders had assembled. Only Peter of all the disciples followed, the others fled.

Thera priest were looking for any false evidence to put Jesus to death, but they couldn’t find any… Jesus was silent throughout all of this dialogue…

Finally, the high priest said to Jesus, ““I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 

“What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,” they answered.

Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

Peter, who had followed denied Jesus three times and afterwards felt great sadness for turning his back on his friend…

You know, dear friend , I have not told you everything that has happened…so much more , I will wait to see you face to face to tell you all…but, I do know this, from coming into this city, on this particular week, I feel was no accident…I feel I am meant to be here right now…there is something about this man, which draws me…I don’t understand why or how, but it is there wooing me to take what he has said or others have said about him and to believe far beyond just knowing, but a heart and soul belief…something I have never experienced before…

Thank you for listening…I am tired for now …it has been a very long and tumultuous day.. I have never seen such hatred and such love…

 Dear friend,I fear this letter is getting long…but there is so much to observe and tell…and I am not getting but a piece of the telling of this great city or of this man, Jesus…there are so many people! But our goods are selling well.this city will be a good one to return with more goods at a later date, I hope to be sold out by the time I leave…

The people…there are many people here, rich or poor, various cultures, government, or religious…

On the top, it seems to be Roman soldiers and rulers…they rule over this region now…the soldiers are brutish men who push their way through the throngs of people along the narrow streets…although I did meet one who had the air of authority, but seemed to treat others with respect…he came from Capernaum, he said…there he had met with Jesus asking him if he would heal his servant who was ill…….Jesus didn’t even go to centurion’s home, but said it would be done and the servant was healed…

the Roman rulers seem interested only in padding their pockets with bribes for this and that…

The religious leaders of these Jews seem more interested in proudly walking around the streets trying to impress others with their robes, knowledge of the law and looking for ways to judge others…they are opposed to this man, Jesus, because he has become so popular and treats others as a shepherd , teaching the love of one another rather that man’s traditions and laws, plus he stands up to their  proudness…and he calls himself the Son of God…apparently that didn’t go over too well with the religious leaders…it is said that these leaders are looking for a way to end Jesus’ popularity and do away with him…so far they haven’t been successful…

Then there is just the common people, the shop keepers, the fisherman-smelling like fish, the travelers like me, the children running along the pathways, the residents of the city…these are the ones who are the backbone of the area…but, they are hungry for a promised Messiah who was promised by their prophets of old…they want self rule without the Romans, they want a Jewish ruler…to make everything “right”…they keep looking toward this Jesus as this new Ruler, but he has not shown that inclination as he has wondered the area…he insists on teaching about servanthood, love, forgiveness , the future times, parables about so much, the kingdom of God and so on…plus all the healing he has done…from blind men to his friend, a lame man to a woman who touched his garment, many, many, many more…

Jesus is always surrounded by people, but 12 men seem to be the core group. His disciples, they are called…he is intent on teaching them all the time as if time is short…these men come from  a variety of backgrounds, none highly educated, fishermen, a tax collector ..and Jesus himself was trained in carpentry, but he speaks as though he was educated in the best schools of the time…

Well, I must close again…time to rest for the next adventures tomorrow….

 Okay, I have a quite of bits of my business concluded…now I can write of this weeks events with this man, Jesus…

As I mentioned before, he came right into town on a donkey(I still can’t get over that, the children, the adults praising him). 

From that procession, he went to the temple…

This gets interesting…he entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and. selling there…the merchants had set up their booths inside and were selling animals that others were using for sacrifices, there were money changers as well exchanging currencies for people who were not local…apparently these people were overcharging and deceptively using this opportunity to gain wealth from the foreigners…( it seems that there is that problem here just like in our country, people taking advantage of others, I guess wrong does exist everywhere)…

He even said,  “ my house will be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.”

After all the merchants left, Jesus proceeded to heal the blind and the lame….can you imagine, right there he healed them and they walked away  new people, healed …I have never seen anything like it…and, of all things the leaders instead of rejoicing over the healing, they were indignant….I wish I could have had our dear sister here . What a wonderful thing to see her healed by this man…maybe I could bring her back here someday…

Following that, he left, some said he went to the city of Bethany , not too far away…I retired to my lodgings as well…

The following day, he came back and taught in the temple…he taught about things I have ever heard, he taught with authority…all kinds of people were there listening intently, as did I…

The leaders challenged him again and he stood up to them…

He taught in stories, parables…talked about the kingdom of God…things like I have never heard, my heart was so overwhelmed by him, his demeanor, his words…

I didn’t know it then but the leaders were trying to find ways to trap him and arrest him….

One of the things he said, “But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.”

Then he addressed them with “woe to you several times”…it is a wonder the leaders could stand before his wrath…

From there he walked with his friends to the place they call the Mount of Olives. Where he proceeded to tell them about the “end times”…I didn’t even know there was going to be end times…doesn’t the world just keep on going forever…not from what he said…it didn’t sound pleasant I can tell you…and then his “return”…hummmm…he called himself the Christ, the Son of Man…talking about “Salvation , the gospel…

These things  are words I have never heard before…I need to investigate….

Closing for now….