When you fix your eyes on Jesus what do you see?
A. The Jews saw these-->
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples:
Who do people say the Son of Man is?
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah,
for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. Matt.16:13-17, (Jn.8:24)
This is the result of that --> As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said,
"If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you
and encircle you and hem you in on every side.
They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls.
They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." Luke 19:41-44B. Jesus wants us to see these! 1. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" Mark 2:3-12
2. I and the Father are one. John 10:30
3. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-- only to take it up again. John 10:174. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:45. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 C. These were what Apostle Paul saw:1. 1Co 15:51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 1 Cor.15:51-542. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Phil.3:8-11D. Conclusion: These were Apostle Paul’s advise:1. Imitate me as I imitate Christ. 1 Cor.11:12. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Cor.15:58May the Lord bless you and keep you always. Preach this April 13, 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJv6EuBqClA