Question – Jesus, 118

 ~ Regarding Scripture ~

 

Introduction  ~  This series is about questions involving Jesus.  Some were asked by individuals involved with Jesus Christ while He walked on earth.  Others are questions that Jesus Christ asked others.  We will look at questions on over 130 topics (some may split into two or more posts).  Even so, it is far from an exhaustive list. 

 

Scripture  ~  “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower.  And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.  Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.  And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.  Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them.  Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’  But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir.  Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’  So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”  They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”  Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.  This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?’”   

 

“‘Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.  And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.’  Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them.  But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet” (Matthew 21:33-46 – parallel passage Mark 12:1-12).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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God Is My… , 3

~ God Is My Intimate Friend ~

 

Introduction  ~  Previously (July 16, 2017 – January 6, 2019) ALN posted a series of 82 posts of “Jesus is…,” and then we looked exclusively at who “God is…” from the Book of Psalms (February 9, 2020 – December 5, 2021).  We are now considering “God is…” statements from non-Psalms passages. 

 

Passage  ~  “Live in Me.  Make your home in Me just as I do in you.  In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with Me.  I am the Vine, you are the branches.  When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant.  Separated, you can’t produce a thing” (John 15:4-5, msg).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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The REAL “Reason for the Season”

 ~ What If Jesus is NOT the “Reason for the Season”? ~

 

Introduction  ~  It has been common for well-meaning individuals to proudly proclaim that “Jesus is the Reason” for Christmas.

 

Comments  ~  (1) This is a well-meant statement and is often used as part of an effort to bring Christ back into the CHRISTmas season.  (2) Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  (3) Is the Christian view of Christ’s birth mainly about the birth of a baby in Bethlehem over two millennium ago?

 

An Alternative View  ~  Consider the reason Jesus Christ was born on that first Christmas day. 

 

Scripture  ~  Jesus, Himself, said, “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:11).

 

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).   

 

“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). 

 

Conclusions  ~  We are the reason for the birth of Christ and therefore the “reason for the season.”

 

The point of the season is not His birth but that we can have rebirth!

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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