Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the NET, netbible.org, all rights reserved)

But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who needed healing.
Luke 9:11 (emphasis added)

Jesus had his own things to do. He had an agenda with His disciples. In the verse before today’s verse it says that the disciples were reporting in from their preaching tour and Jesus took them PRIVATELY to Bethsaida. He wanted alone time with them. To hear all that they had to say and answer all their questions and to praise the Father for what had happened. But the crowds followed. They interrupted the board meeting. They demanded attention. They demanded time. They ruined rest time. In response, Jesus loved on them. Jesus modelled for us how we should be.

Children are naturally self-serving. They haven’t quite grasped that there are other people in the world whose desires and wants are just as important as the child’s own. That is something they grow into. Selfish people are the ones who either don’t learn that lesson or choose to ignore it. But children do their own thing. If they want something, they come and ask you for it. Whether you are cooking, showering, sleeping, talking on the phone, visiting with someone, praying, or anything. They walk up to you (or run) and start talking and demanding. Right in your face. Getting between you and whatever it is you’re doing. And they stay there until they get a response. I picture these crowds like that. Walking in on Jesus. Standing between Him and John. Him and Peter. Shoving Judas aside. Stepping on Thomas’ toes. And demanding attention from Jesus. He didn’t respond the way I often respond.

Jesus showed KINDNESS. Jesus was GENTLE. I don’t always achieve that. I don’t necessarily turn the kids down, but I am not always gentle. Give me a minute. I’m talking. Don’t interrupt. I’m busy. Come back. Our guest was talking. Not bad statements, but not always delivered with gentleness. Or kindness. My STUFF so important in my eyes, I am not seeing my CHILD. I am only seeing an interruption. A blip I don’t want. A derailment of my thoughts, my activity, or my conversation. Jesus’ meeting got derailed. Broken up. His manner didn’t change. His smile didn’t fade. He looked right at them, each and every one of those crowds. And He smiled wider. He LISTENED. He RESPONDED. And then He followed the pattern of His life.

Jesus WELCOMED them. He greeted them in a glad and polite way. He was glad to interact with them. The Greek word déxomai means ‘to receive heartily, welcome’. When they were interrupting Jesus, He received them HEARTILY. They had no idea-and maybe never did-that they were disturbing Him. NOTHING about Him was negative. As believers, we can do the same thing today. We can both receive those who come to us with their needs heartily and be received by our Father through Jesus. “Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help” (Hebrews 4:16). There is nothing going on that is ‘so important’ that the Father won’t stop and listen to us. That is MIRACULOUS and definitely GOOD NEWS. We should ALL feel the privilege we have IN JESUS to get to the Throne ANYTIME we want. We should also model that for the world and the Body of Christ. That isn’t to say we don’t get to have private time or privacy. But we need to WELCOME those who come to us. With KINDNESS and GENTLENESS. Every time.

Next, out came the Word. Jesus TAUGHT them. He told them about the Kingdom of God. It was why He came. Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). He came to demonstrate righteousness (Romans 3:25-26). Jesus came to fulfil the Law (Matthew 5:17). Jesus came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). Jesus came to glorify the Father (John 12:27; 17:4). Jesus came to testify to the truth (John 18:37). Jesus came to preach to everyone He could (Mark 1:38). All of that is part of the Kingdom. Freedom. He came to preach the FREEDOM that comes from restored relationship with the Father in Heaven. Yahweh is RIGHTEOUS and it is only through what JESUS did that we can go clothed in Jesus’ righteousness and approach the Father. The Good News of the Kingdom is that there no more enmity between Elohim and humanity because SIN has been paid for. ““Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!”” (Luke 2:14). Jesus ALWAYS wanted the people to see the Father (John 14:8-18).

Following the Word, which they needed to TRUST sight unseen, Jesus showed them the TRUTH of His Father by showing them the Father’s will for them. He healed them. He didn’t just do this because they were sick and diseased. He cured them because they NEEDED healing. The Father’s JOY is to meet our NEEDS. “For the Lord God is our sovereign protector. The Lord bestows favor and honor; he withholds no good thing from those who have integrity” (Psalm 84:11). The Father knows what you want BEFORE you do and doesn’t want you running around like the world does desperate to try and survive (Matthew 6:8). The Father wants you to seek righteousness so that He can give to you all you desire – because you will desire the things of HIS heart in YOURS (Matthew 6:33; Psalm 37:4). When the Father is our guide we NEVER lack or want (Psalm 23:1). But that is the kind of thing we need to TRUST Him for (1 Peter 5:7).

Healing, then, is a VISIBLE symbol of the INVISIBLE rewards of the Father. Adonai doesn’t want us blind. He wants us to SEE, but to see with HIS eyes. With our SPIRITUAL eyes. To see the unseen as clearly as we see the seen (2 Corinthians 4:18). That is hard and it is the purest kind of trust. “Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). We as believers have it easy. We KNOW Adonai. We have RELATIONSHIP with Him. What are the unbelievers to do? How can THEY trust in a Father they don’t know and have never seen? Healing. We preach the love of the Father for them. We preach the wonders of the Kingdom. We preach them of the goodness that Elohim has stored up for them (Philippians 4:19). Then the Father works through us by His Holy Spirit to heal them and show them PHYSICALLY what He wants to do SPIRITUALLY.

Healing is a sign that points to the Words you have been hearing which point to the love of the Father which teaches us that we have a truly AMAZING God. It is all about trust and transformation. We trust in Him and submit to the process of transformation which turns us day by day from all of us to all of Him. It’s a lifelong journey. It won’t be complete here in this body. It won’t be complete until we are standing before Him in all HIS glory manifested through US after we are in our final form. The 100% sanctified form. The one that is physical and spiritual combined. In the glorified body that is waiting for us once we’re done with the dirt sack. We can believe it because He can be trusted. He can be trusted because His Word is true. We can show unbelievers the truth of that Word by letting the Father do what He wants, which is to see people set free.

Free from spiritual bondage. Free from death. Free from religion. Free from pride. Free from shame. Free from toil (not work). Free from hate. Free from anxiety. Free from depression. Free from sickness. Free from disease. Free from needing to cope. Free from needing to ‘live with it’. Free from mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual handicaps. Free from ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that isn’t Adonai’s TOTAL and COMPLETE BEST. Adonai is about LIFE and ABUNDANCE and COMPLETENESS IN JESUS. Abundance without Jesus is an anchor of stuff dragging you down. Life without Jesus is toil and struggle and a series of defeats because of the entropic effect of a fallen creation. Completeness without Jesus is a pale shadow of human accomplishment which is only accomplishment in comparison with other humans. Adonai doesn’t want us stuck in those patterns. Adonai wants us to FLY. “But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired” (Isaiah 40:31).

Whenever we have the opportunity. Whenever there are those who are coming up to us with a need. WE need to show kindness. WE need to be gentle. WE need to receive them heartily and with JOY (from and in Adonai). We need to speak the Word to them. To see their needs, ask Holy Spirit how He wants us to help, and then minister it to them. And then we need to demonstrate His love. With healing, with a blessing, with a prayer, with a hug, with whatever the Spirit shows you in that moment is needed for the person who is there for help (Luke 12:11-12). We need to demonstrate to them the model that Jesus gave us to follow. Whatever they need cured, He can cure. We get to help. It’s all possible because of LOVE.

Speak the Word. Minister His love. Heal the sick. It is our privilege. Our mission. And our JOY. Amen.

Daily Affirmation Jesus IS Messiah: Psalm 55:15

“May death destroy them. May they go down alive into Sheol. For evil is in their dwelling place and in their midst.” Messiah was betrayed by a friend and denied by a friend. The difference between the two is that the betrayer NEVER repented. He showed remorse. He tried to give back the blood money. He despaired. But he did not repent. He did not come for forgiveness. “Now when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus had been condemned, he regretted what he had done and returned the 30 silver coins to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!” But they said, “What is that to us? You take care of it yourself!” So Judas threw the silver coins into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:3-5). ““Brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through David concerning Judas—who became the guide for those who arrested Jesus—for he was counted as one of us and received a share in this ministry.” (Now this man Judas acquired a field with the reward of his unjust deed, and falling headfirst he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out” (Acts 1:16-19). The unrepentant death of Jesus’ betrayer broke Jesus’ heart. He knew how bad it was going to be and He prayed that it wouldn’t happen. That ANYONE but His friend would do it. But the prophesy was fulfilled. The betrayer of Jesus died an unrepentant death. Jesus IS the Messiah!

Your Daily Confession of Jesus/Yeshua’s Identity:

Yeshua is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:16b