This week, I want to recommend a book that I am reading again. The name of the book is "Travels With Macy" written by Bruce Fogel. This book recounts the author's trip around America with his dog Macy. Dr. Fogel decides to come to America from England to retrace the route that John Steinbeck took when he traveled around American with his dog Charlie.
"Travels With Macy" is a well-written book that provides a lot of interesting information about many parts of the United States. I love this book because this is something that I always wanted to do when my friend Toby was alive. We never got the chance to take our big road trip, but I'm happy that Bruce and Macy got to have such a good time. It's really fun reading about their adventure.
This past week, I finished a 13-part DVD series called, "Rome: The Rise and Fall of An Empire". This series was very well done. There were historical re-enactments that made history really come alive. The professors who were on the DVDs as experts were knowledgeable and excited about the subject. I would definitely recommend this DVD set.
Finally, I would like to recommend a DVD of one of my favorite movies. "The Bear" is a about a large grizzly bear who takes in an orphan cub. The pair are trying to get away from hunters who are on their trail. This is a beautifully filmed movie that I've watched again and again.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Monday, June 11, 2018
Verses For the Week
Before I post the verses, I just want to ask for everyone's prayers. The National Weather Service is calling for some very bad storms to be in my area tonight. Please pray that these storms will not cause any damage or any flooding. Thank you.
Psalm 11:4 -- "The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord's throne is in Heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men."
Psalm 103:19 -- "The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all."
Psalm 11:4 -- "The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord's throne is in Heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men."
Psalm 103:19 -- "The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all."
Friday, June 8, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Jesus is Our High Priest
Welcome to this week's edition the Weekend Sermon. I just want to say that I am thankful to all of you who read the blog each week. Since I posted the series of the book of Malachi, the number of people viewing the blog and reading the sermons each week has dropped considerably. I'm not entirely sure why that is. There are still several of you who do read the sermons, and I am glad for that. I hope that everyone is having a very good week.
Writing has been good this week. Thanks be to God. I do have something that I would like you to pray about. I am having some very bad trouble with a skin ailment. Please pray that this will be healed. Thank you. It has been a hard week in many ways.
Please continue to pray for those in Puerto Rico who are recovering as a result of the hurricane. Also, please pray for those who were affected by the flooding in Oklahoma yesterday.
Let us pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray that peace talks between the US and North Korea are successful. Pray for peace in Syria, Yemen, South Sudan and Libya.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for those in the nations of Indonesia and Azerbaijan. Pray that people in these nations will hear the message of the love of Jesus.
For the past couple of weeks, we have been in a series of messages called "Who is Jesus?" We've studied the fact that Jesus is both God and man. We have also studied that Jesus had a prophetic ministry while He was here on earth.
Today, we will look into the fact that Jesus is our great High Priest. We will see why this is and what this means for us.
First of all, let us examine what a priest does. In the Old Testament, the priests were the one's who carried out the ministry in the Temple. The priests were the ones who were supposed to take the sacrifices from the people and offer them to God in the acceptable form, They interceded to God on behalf of the people.
In the Old Testament, a man had to be a member of the tribe of Levi in order to be a priest. The High Priest was the one who entered the Holy of Holies each year on the Day of Atonement. He provided the sacrifice so that the people's sins could be forgiven for that year.
The Bible says that Jesus is the Great High Priest. Hebrews 4:14 states, "Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to the faith that we profess. Ours is not a high priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in every way as we are, only without sinning."
The priests in the Temple had to be Levites. Jesus was a member of the tribe of Judah. However, the Bible states that Jesus was a priest in the order of Melchizidek. This man was a priest who met Abraham. Abraham gave him a tithe. Melchizidek was a priest before the Levitical priesthood was established, and so is Jesus Christ.
The priests in the Old Testament offered the blood from animal sacrifices on a continuing basis for the forgiveness of the people's sins. Jesus made a much different sacrifice. Jesus offered His own blood for the forgiveness of the sins of the world. The Bible says it this way in Hebrews 8:11-13. "But now Christ has come, as the high priest of all the blessings which were to come. He has passed through the greater, the more perfect tent, not made by human hands, that is, not of the created order, and he has entered the sanctuary once for all, taking not with him the blood of goats and bull calves, but his own blood, having won an eternal redemption."
When Jesus died on the cross, He was the sacrifice for the sins of the world. He bore our sins on the cross that our sins might be forgiven and that we might have redemption. He was the once for all final sacrifice for sins.
We know that Jesus' sacrifice for our sins was acceptable to the Father. We know this, because God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus has been exalted as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In the book of Revelation, all the hosts of Heaven cry out, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain."
There doesn't have to be any more sacrifice for sins. Jesus paid it all. He has completed the work, and He is seated at the right hand of God the Father. There, He makes intercession for us as our advocate with the Father.
Jesus instituted a new covenant. He spoke about this on the night when He established the sacrament of Holy Communion. Jesus said that this was the new covenant in His blood. We are to remember His death through the elements of the bread and the cup. This is to remind us that Jesus is the one who is the mediator of a new and living covenant between God and man that is sealed by Jesus' redeeming blood.
That covenant is that whosoever will believe in Jesus will be saved. Whoever puts there faith and trust in Jesus and what He did on the cross will be redeemed.
Now that we are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we can go to Him and ask Him to forgive our sins. The Bible says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus knows what it is like to live on this earth. He has felt the feelings of our infirmities. He is willing to forgive us, and restore us to fellowship with Him when we go astray. When we truly confess and repent of our sins, we can have full assurance that Jesus hears us and He forgives us.
Jesus role as priest lets us rest in the assurance that He has provided all that is necessary for our redemption. He has completed the work. He has instituted the new covenant between God and man. May Jesus Christ be praised.
Next week, we will examine how Jesus is king. I hope to post the verses on Monday and have a review on Wednesday. I will have to see how I am feeling as the week goes on. May God bless you all. Amen.
Writing has been good this week. Thanks be to God. I do have something that I would like you to pray about. I am having some very bad trouble with a skin ailment. Please pray that this will be healed. Thank you. It has been a hard week in many ways.
Please continue to pray for those in Puerto Rico who are recovering as a result of the hurricane. Also, please pray for those who were affected by the flooding in Oklahoma yesterday.
Let us pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray that peace talks between the US and North Korea are successful. Pray for peace in Syria, Yemen, South Sudan and Libya.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for those in the nations of Indonesia and Azerbaijan. Pray that people in these nations will hear the message of the love of Jesus.
For the past couple of weeks, we have been in a series of messages called "Who is Jesus?" We've studied the fact that Jesus is both God and man. We have also studied that Jesus had a prophetic ministry while He was here on earth.
Today, we will look into the fact that Jesus is our great High Priest. We will see why this is and what this means for us.
First of all, let us examine what a priest does. In the Old Testament, the priests were the one's who carried out the ministry in the Temple. The priests were the ones who were supposed to take the sacrifices from the people and offer them to God in the acceptable form, They interceded to God on behalf of the people.
In the Old Testament, a man had to be a member of the tribe of Levi in order to be a priest. The High Priest was the one who entered the Holy of Holies each year on the Day of Atonement. He provided the sacrifice so that the people's sins could be forgiven for that year.
The Bible says that Jesus is the Great High Priest. Hebrews 4:14 states, "Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to the faith that we profess. Ours is not a high priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in every way as we are, only without sinning."
The priests in the Temple had to be Levites. Jesus was a member of the tribe of Judah. However, the Bible states that Jesus was a priest in the order of Melchizidek. This man was a priest who met Abraham. Abraham gave him a tithe. Melchizidek was a priest before the Levitical priesthood was established, and so is Jesus Christ.
The priests in the Old Testament offered the blood from animal sacrifices on a continuing basis for the forgiveness of the people's sins. Jesus made a much different sacrifice. Jesus offered His own blood for the forgiveness of the sins of the world. The Bible says it this way in Hebrews 8:11-13. "But now Christ has come, as the high priest of all the blessings which were to come. He has passed through the greater, the more perfect tent, not made by human hands, that is, not of the created order, and he has entered the sanctuary once for all, taking not with him the blood of goats and bull calves, but his own blood, having won an eternal redemption."
When Jesus died on the cross, He was the sacrifice for the sins of the world. He bore our sins on the cross that our sins might be forgiven and that we might have redemption. He was the once for all final sacrifice for sins.
We know that Jesus' sacrifice for our sins was acceptable to the Father. We know this, because God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus has been exalted as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In the book of Revelation, all the hosts of Heaven cry out, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain."
There doesn't have to be any more sacrifice for sins. Jesus paid it all. He has completed the work, and He is seated at the right hand of God the Father. There, He makes intercession for us as our advocate with the Father.
Jesus instituted a new covenant. He spoke about this on the night when He established the sacrament of Holy Communion. Jesus said that this was the new covenant in His blood. We are to remember His death through the elements of the bread and the cup. This is to remind us that Jesus is the one who is the mediator of a new and living covenant between God and man that is sealed by Jesus' redeeming blood.
That covenant is that whosoever will believe in Jesus will be saved. Whoever puts there faith and trust in Jesus and what He did on the cross will be redeemed.
Now that we are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we can go to Him and ask Him to forgive our sins. The Bible says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus knows what it is like to live on this earth. He has felt the feelings of our infirmities. He is willing to forgive us, and restore us to fellowship with Him when we go astray. When we truly confess and repent of our sins, we can have full assurance that Jesus hears us and He forgives us.
Jesus role as priest lets us rest in the assurance that He has provided all that is necessary for our redemption. He has completed the work. He has instituted the new covenant between God and man. May Jesus Christ be praised.
Next week, we will examine how Jesus is king. I hope to post the verses on Monday and have a review on Wednesday. I will have to see how I am feeling as the week goes on. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Book Review Update
I have not been feeling well today. I will not be posting the book review this week. I still hope to post the sermon this week. Thank you.
Monday, June 4, 2018
Summertime Memories of My Friend Toby
At the start of the last two seasons, I've shared with you some of my memories of my friend Toby. With summer approaching, I thought I share some additional memories with my friend. I am missing my friend more and more each day,
In the summer, we always went on a trip somewhere. On Toby's birthday, I told you about three of the trips that we took together. I'll tell you about three more.
One year, we decided to go down to the Ozarks and look around. We found a wonderful hotel to stay at. There was even a golf course. It was free to play for guests. I was even allowed to take Toby down there as long as he didn't get on the greens. All of the holes were par three.
I have to admit that I like golf, but I've never been much of a golfer. I don't know how many holes I ended up playing, but I only hit the green on the first stroke once. That was a cause for celebration. On most of the holes, Toby looked like he couldn't believe that I was so bad at this game. After one errant swing I took, I swear that he put his head down facing the ground so that he didn't have to watch such a pitiful spectacle.
He never caused any problems. We had a lot of fun on that little golf course that weekend. No one else was playing, so we just had a great time.
We drove all around the Ozarks and looked at many interesting sites. We went down there again in the fall one year. The trees are really beautiful in that part of the country when the leaves start to change color.
Another year, we went to Omaha. My Mom and I went to the zoo and had a great time looking at the white tigers, the gorillas and sun bears. My Dad and I went to the horse races.
One afternoon, I took Toby and Mom and we went to visit a beautiful garden that was open to the public. There were so many gorgeous flowers.
The last trip that I took with Toby, the family decided to go to Saint Louis and look around. We got into Saint Louis, but Toby acted strange in the hotel. He kept smelling around the bed and make strange noises. I told the folks that if Toby thought that something was strange, I was out of there.
We left there and went to a motel outside of town. It was a great find, because just down the road my folks found a great Italian restaurant. I always stayed with Toby when the folks went to eat. They brought me back the best fettuccine Alfredo I've ever had. Toby liked it too.
The next day, we came across just by chance a museum in Fulton, Missouri dedicated to Winston Churchill. This is a fantastic little museum. The college where the museum is located is where Churchill gave his famous "Iron Curtain" speech.
Toby couldn't go in the museum, so Mom watched him while I went in. She wasn't a history buff, so she didn't mind. When I came out, Toby went with me to look at the sections of the old Berlin Wall that were on display. I thought about what we would have done if we would have lived in East Berlin. After we looked at the old wall, we went to look at a old church above the Winston Churchill museum. It was a very interesting trip getting to see this museum and church. I loved it.
After this trip, Toby wasn't in good enough health to go on trips anymore. If Toby couldn't go, I didn't want to go either. There was no way I would leave him at a boarding place.
These are just simple trips, but they meant a lot to me. I miss these times each summer.
Most of the summer, the two of us tried to stay as cool as possible. We both hated the heat. Toby would only go for the briefest outings when it was really warm.
There is another memory I would like to share. It doesn't have anything to do with summer, it's just something I was thinking about while I was writing this post.
One year, we had a terrible ice storm. Out in the country were we lived, the power lines were down, and the roads were in horrific shape. We had to move into an apartment in town for about four weeks while the power was restored. Mom wanted to stay up there until the weather cleared up as well as she wanted to make sure that she could get to work. She was the one who made enough so that we could live, so she needed to keep her good job.
The time in the apartment would have been terrible as far as I was concerned if Toby hadn't have been there. When it wasn't too cold, we would go and get an ice cream down the street at the Baskin-Robbins. I can vividly remember all the walks we took around town that winter at the apartment. I used to talk to him and tell him about all my dreams for the future. They included him of course.
Tuesday is the anniversary of the day my friend passed away. I wish that we could be together again. Life hasn't been much fun since he's been gone. One thing that I am so happy about is that he lived long enough to get to know that I had a poem published in a literary journal. Poetry is the most important part of writing to me.
Toby always was right by my side when I was working at my writing desk. As long as he could be where I was, he was happy.
Toby is with my Mom and Dad now in Heaven. I believe that we will be together again one day. I am always thankful to Jesus for bringing us together all those years ago.
In the summer, we always went on a trip somewhere. On Toby's birthday, I told you about three of the trips that we took together. I'll tell you about three more.
One year, we decided to go down to the Ozarks and look around. We found a wonderful hotel to stay at. There was even a golf course. It was free to play for guests. I was even allowed to take Toby down there as long as he didn't get on the greens. All of the holes were par three.
I have to admit that I like golf, but I've never been much of a golfer. I don't know how many holes I ended up playing, but I only hit the green on the first stroke once. That was a cause for celebration. On most of the holes, Toby looked like he couldn't believe that I was so bad at this game. After one errant swing I took, I swear that he put his head down facing the ground so that he didn't have to watch such a pitiful spectacle.
He never caused any problems. We had a lot of fun on that little golf course that weekend. No one else was playing, so we just had a great time.
We drove all around the Ozarks and looked at many interesting sites. We went down there again in the fall one year. The trees are really beautiful in that part of the country when the leaves start to change color.
Another year, we went to Omaha. My Mom and I went to the zoo and had a great time looking at the white tigers, the gorillas and sun bears. My Dad and I went to the horse races.
One afternoon, I took Toby and Mom and we went to visit a beautiful garden that was open to the public. There were so many gorgeous flowers.
The last trip that I took with Toby, the family decided to go to Saint Louis and look around. We got into Saint Louis, but Toby acted strange in the hotel. He kept smelling around the bed and make strange noises. I told the folks that if Toby thought that something was strange, I was out of there.
We left there and went to a motel outside of town. It was a great find, because just down the road my folks found a great Italian restaurant. I always stayed with Toby when the folks went to eat. They brought me back the best fettuccine Alfredo I've ever had. Toby liked it too.
The next day, we came across just by chance a museum in Fulton, Missouri dedicated to Winston Churchill. This is a fantastic little museum. The college where the museum is located is where Churchill gave his famous "Iron Curtain" speech.
Toby couldn't go in the museum, so Mom watched him while I went in. She wasn't a history buff, so she didn't mind. When I came out, Toby went with me to look at the sections of the old Berlin Wall that were on display. I thought about what we would have done if we would have lived in East Berlin. After we looked at the old wall, we went to look at a old church above the Winston Churchill museum. It was a very interesting trip getting to see this museum and church. I loved it.
After this trip, Toby wasn't in good enough health to go on trips anymore. If Toby couldn't go, I didn't want to go either. There was no way I would leave him at a boarding place.
These are just simple trips, but they meant a lot to me. I miss these times each summer.
Most of the summer, the two of us tried to stay as cool as possible. We both hated the heat. Toby would only go for the briefest outings when it was really warm.
There is another memory I would like to share. It doesn't have anything to do with summer, it's just something I was thinking about while I was writing this post.
One year, we had a terrible ice storm. Out in the country were we lived, the power lines were down, and the roads were in horrific shape. We had to move into an apartment in town for about four weeks while the power was restored. Mom wanted to stay up there until the weather cleared up as well as she wanted to make sure that she could get to work. She was the one who made enough so that we could live, so she needed to keep her good job.
The time in the apartment would have been terrible as far as I was concerned if Toby hadn't have been there. When it wasn't too cold, we would go and get an ice cream down the street at the Baskin-Robbins. I can vividly remember all the walks we took around town that winter at the apartment. I used to talk to him and tell him about all my dreams for the future. They included him of course.
Tuesday is the anniversary of the day my friend passed away. I wish that we could be together again. Life hasn't been much fun since he's been gone. One thing that I am so happy about is that he lived long enough to get to know that I had a poem published in a literary journal. Poetry is the most important part of writing to me.
Toby always was right by my side when I was working at my writing desk. As long as he could be where I was, he was happy.
Toby is with my Mom and Dad now in Heaven. I believe that we will be together again one day. I am always thankful to Jesus for bringing us together all those years ago.
Verses For the Week
Galatians 6:9 -- "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
John 13:35 -- "By this will all people know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another."
John 13:35 -- "By this will all people know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another."
Friday, June 1, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- The Prophetic Ministry of Jesus
Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon. I am glad that you are here to read this week's sermon. I hope that you all are doing great.
I've been having a really good week in writing, and I am thankful to the Lord for the work that He has allowed to come my way. I may not have to get a part-time job if writing keeps on so well. Please pray for the Lord's will to be done in this area of my life.
Tonight, they are calling for severe storms in my part of the world. Please pray that the storms are not bad. Thank you for your prayers.
In other matters, let us continue to be in prayer for those in the Congo. There has been an ebola virus outbreak there. Please pray that the virus does not spread and that those who are sick will recover.
Continue to pray for those in Puerto Rico who need help. Even after so many months, there is still a great deal of need. Pray for those in Hawaii and Papua New Guinea who are recovering from natural disasters.
Please pray for peace in this troubled world. Yemen, Syria and South Sudan especially need our prayers for peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, please pray for those in Pakistan and Sudan. Pray that many will hear the message of the love of Jesus.
Last week, I posted a message about the humanity of Jesus. There are a couple of other points that I want to make on that before we move on today's message where we look at the prophetic ministry of Jesus.
Last week, we looked at some reasons why it was necessary that Jesus came in the flesh. One thing that I forgot to mention last week is the fact that Jesus needed to come in the flesh because He had to fulfill two covenants that God had made. Those covenants had to be fulfilled by a human being.
God made a covenant with Abraham that through his physical seed, all the nations of the world would be blessed. Jesus as the physical descendant of Abraham has brought blessings to the world by expanding God's offer of salvation to everyone on planet earth.
God also made a covenant with David. God told David that one of his descendants would rule on the throne in Jerusalem forever. Jesus is a descendant of David. When Jesus returns in power and great glory, He will rule and reign in righteousness from David''s throne in the city of Jerusalem.
Now. as part of our "Who is Jesus" series, I want us over the next three weeks to look into the roles that Jesus had. Jesus was prophet, priest and king. Today, we will look at Jesus' prophetic role.
In the Old Testament, the prophets had three roles. First of all, a prophet was the spokesperson for God. They brought a message to the people that God told them to bring. The prophet also called the people to turn away from their sins and to turn back to God. Finally, the prophet told the people what would happen in the future.
Jesus fulfilled the first of the prophet's roles. He was the Word of God who was made flesh. All that Jesus did, and all that Jesus taught were God's word to us. Jesus is God's ultimate expression of love and righteousness. Jesus' life speaks to us so that we know how to live in the midst of this world.
Hebrews 1:1-2 tell us that Jesus is God's ultimate and final word. These verses state, "In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at various times and in many ways, but in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed as heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe."
Jesus also fulfilled the second mission of a prophet. Mark 1:15 tells us that Jesus went out preaching the word of God. Jesus called on people to repent of their sins and to believe the gospel. Jesus was always preaching and calling people to believe in Him. He made His love available to all. Whoever believed in Jesus' words, Jesus accepted them and forgave them of their sins.
Finally, we see that Jesus fulfilled the role of a prophet by predicting something in the future that came true. In Matthew 24, Jesus made a great prophecy. Jesus predicted that the city of Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed. Jesus said that not one stone would be left upon another.
This prophecy is often overlooked as an example that proves that Jesus was who He said that He was. Jesus clearly predicted the events that occurred in Jerusalem in 70 AD. In that year, the Romans came into Jerusalem and destroyed the city. The Temple was destroyed, and it has not operated since that time. This all happened just as Jesus said.
Jesus made this prediction so that His disciples could point to this fulfillment as a means of showing people that Jesus was who He said that He was. The fulfillment of Jesus' prediction adds credibility to His claims to be the Messiah who was sent by God.
Next week, Lord willing, we will examine the priestly role of Jesus. On Monday, I will post the verses, and on Wednesday, I will have a dog book review. May God bless you all. Amen.
I've been having a really good week in writing, and I am thankful to the Lord for the work that He has allowed to come my way. I may not have to get a part-time job if writing keeps on so well. Please pray for the Lord's will to be done in this area of my life.
Tonight, they are calling for severe storms in my part of the world. Please pray that the storms are not bad. Thank you for your prayers.
In other matters, let us continue to be in prayer for those in the Congo. There has been an ebola virus outbreak there. Please pray that the virus does not spread and that those who are sick will recover.
Continue to pray for those in Puerto Rico who need help. Even after so many months, there is still a great deal of need. Pray for those in Hawaii and Papua New Guinea who are recovering from natural disasters.
Please pray for peace in this troubled world. Yemen, Syria and South Sudan especially need our prayers for peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, please pray for those in Pakistan and Sudan. Pray that many will hear the message of the love of Jesus.
Last week, I posted a message about the humanity of Jesus. There are a couple of other points that I want to make on that before we move on today's message where we look at the prophetic ministry of Jesus.
Last week, we looked at some reasons why it was necessary that Jesus came in the flesh. One thing that I forgot to mention last week is the fact that Jesus needed to come in the flesh because He had to fulfill two covenants that God had made. Those covenants had to be fulfilled by a human being.
God made a covenant with Abraham that through his physical seed, all the nations of the world would be blessed. Jesus as the physical descendant of Abraham has brought blessings to the world by expanding God's offer of salvation to everyone on planet earth.
God also made a covenant with David. God told David that one of his descendants would rule on the throne in Jerusalem forever. Jesus is a descendant of David. When Jesus returns in power and great glory, He will rule and reign in righteousness from David''s throne in the city of Jerusalem.
Now. as part of our "Who is Jesus" series, I want us over the next three weeks to look into the roles that Jesus had. Jesus was prophet, priest and king. Today, we will look at Jesus' prophetic role.
In the Old Testament, the prophets had three roles. First of all, a prophet was the spokesperson for God. They brought a message to the people that God told them to bring. The prophet also called the people to turn away from their sins and to turn back to God. Finally, the prophet told the people what would happen in the future.
Jesus fulfilled the first of the prophet's roles. He was the Word of God who was made flesh. All that Jesus did, and all that Jesus taught were God's word to us. Jesus is God's ultimate expression of love and righteousness. Jesus' life speaks to us so that we know how to live in the midst of this world.
Hebrews 1:1-2 tell us that Jesus is God's ultimate and final word. These verses state, "In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at various times and in many ways, but in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed as heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe."
Jesus also fulfilled the second mission of a prophet. Mark 1:15 tells us that Jesus went out preaching the word of God. Jesus called on people to repent of their sins and to believe the gospel. Jesus was always preaching and calling people to believe in Him. He made His love available to all. Whoever believed in Jesus' words, Jesus accepted them and forgave them of their sins.
Finally, we see that Jesus fulfilled the role of a prophet by predicting something in the future that came true. In Matthew 24, Jesus made a great prophecy. Jesus predicted that the city of Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed. Jesus said that not one stone would be left upon another.
This prophecy is often overlooked as an example that proves that Jesus was who He said that He was. Jesus clearly predicted the events that occurred in Jerusalem in 70 AD. In that year, the Romans came into Jerusalem and destroyed the city. The Temple was destroyed, and it has not operated since that time. This all happened just as Jesus said.
Jesus made this prediction so that His disciples could point to this fulfillment as a means of showing people that Jesus was who He said that He was. The fulfillment of Jesus' prediction adds credibility to His claims to be the Messiah who was sent by God.
Next week, Lord willing, we will examine the priestly role of Jesus. On Monday, I will post the verses, and on Wednesday, I will have a dog book review. May God bless you all. Amen.
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