Jesus' Gift To You

By Mary Vee
Mark 8, Matthew 16, Luke 9

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee - Israel

I am a disciple of Jesus.

I wrote last time about a huge lesson Jesus taught me. He had told me what would happen in the days ahead. I--I didn't want Him to suffer as He said he would. Without thinking, I said I wouldn't let it happen. Jesus reminded me I don't have control over such things. I also learned His suffering would result in the best gift for all mankind.

After our conversation, Jesus called the crowd standing not far away to come to Him. He said to all of us, "If anyone would follow me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

What this meant was anyone who wanted to follow Jesus had to give up what they wanted for their life and live solely as His follower.

Jesus went on to say, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."

That may have sounded complicated. But Jesus explained the meaning to us. If I had a fishing business and my goal was to become wealthy and buy everything only I wanted then I would not be a follower of Jesus. If Jesus wanted me to be a fisherman and I had a business where I followed His teachings, told others about Jesus, gave to the poor, was a good husband, and followed the other teachings of Jesus, then I would be a follower of Jesus. In both cases I would have a fishing business. One I would be a follower of Jesus. The other I wouldn't. Understand?

Jesus then said, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet lose his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this sinful generation that worships other gods and not Me, the Son of Man will be ashamed of the same man when he comes in the Father's glory with the holy angels.

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not die before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

It was some time later that I understood what Jesus meant by those words. The meaning was, some of us would be alive when Jesus took the punishment for our sins. He would die on the cross then rise again victorious just as Isaiah the prophet said.

Jesus spoke about the greatest gift to all mankind. Eternal life. Days ago Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son to take the punishment for our sins and whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life." 

That gift is for you.

 Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.