Heading the Snake

Spirit Forgiveness

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

My, it almost reminds me of the text where the had disciples had tried to cast out a demon only to find it wasn’t responsive to whomever was listening. Only for the Lord to say in response to the middle that this kind only came out by prayer and fasting then once again. Surely some have referred to it as afflicting the body though in reality it’s merely just in tempting the soul. The issue when it comes to husband’s and wives fasting as Paul had said once again is when it’s not consenual, at least not really. The problem with that is the temptation which flows around in the middle. All this mess then of fasting and praying for no sort of purpose is really quite possibly engaged in merely just tempting the Lord. If not, it’s still just a test of a sort. The Spirit though was Jesus’ leading and guide, so too being himself and constant companion. Without him, as Jesus so often said we can do nothing indeed. The tempting though was to ensure he remained perfectly visible as leader of men and of angels and also as that of the Lord. Indeed,d It’s a three fold mission and purpose really. See, the salvation of man wasn’t just to him that was bearing the message. Much rather, it went out to the whole world that believed in him again, whether angel, demon, the fallen, or just the whole of all men. Then too, there’s something else to be pointed out in the text in the forty days and forty nights he spent there in it within. It’s a wilderness surely there at the end. Herein the correspondEnce is exact as it seems with that of Moses going up into the mountain to receive ought from the Lord. Indeed, so as with the law was it given and during that time there was nothing eaten or drunk save for only God and his Word. Though in the wilderness there’s not a thing visible, not yet of man or even of angel. Could it be that our God was rewriting the story and taking back what was rightly his as that of the own Creator, Sustainer, and Lord.

Glory Perspective

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

It’s no surprise at this time really that Jesus being fully God and yet man also knew what it was like to be hungry, tired also and weary. It’s at this time that the devil came forth to him now after waiting so long in the desert where the only preparation though spiritual was that of him rather. Well might you wonder that at the same time as the Mosaic law had been given as need be it had also told of the Lord. Though some of us have a hard time seeing him at first so as now and again just like that of the other perspective spoken among men. The devil could only see Jesus wants and his comfort much rather grow weary and estranged in the bargain. So it follows that the temptation was only one of division, a means of distracting the Lord form his purpose and then. It follows that only the Lord would be able to bring out his purpose again. The first of temptations then follows along the same lines as the bread and the stones. With all that has comes and followed again, it’s doubtful he’ll get comfortable ever again. Though at least, that’s what the devil would’ve had you imagine what with all your comfort in mind. The spiritual purpose of the Lord though would not have been deterred by any, the flesh, or even the serpent. As head of creation in general it became him so as to minister. Along with him though came the singular purpose of keeping him also much as one would who was not just for show. So often down here we’ve got preachers and teachers running amok like so many children, ravenous wolves without and within and even still bent on attacking the sheep. The very first thing these have all just stopped to consider is for their comfort much rather without a thought in mind at all about how it’s affecting their mission and purpose in general. In fact, that’s just the whole problem isn’t it, this singular purpose of men. Wasn’t it just for that Eve had fell in the garden and her husband so as also too along with her. In fact, so had all of creation rather as one that now groaned aloud to be released from its bondage again. The Word though wasn’t to be used just for show or for gain as some have had a habit of doing to their eternal hurt much rather. It reasonably follows that godlieness with contentment is great gain as Paul would say that reasonably follows.

Worship of Time in the End

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Far better to submit to the Father of spirits then and live rather than just in place with outrselves at the end. God it seems brooks no argument himself on the matter. His praise exceedeth any in full such that he lives once again being himself the Savior of men. It is to him we run to time and again and not to any other, this our Savior and Friend. Then too you might wonder at the holy cities sudden appearance almost as John saw it there at the end. He sees it all does he not with time in his hands. Even the end from the beginning so it is and ever will be with him the before Abraham was I AM once again. How mucj ratjer should we not be subject to the Father of Sp[irits and live. What a God as this who makes all our days yet to praise. Even now he holds all our hearts and lives in our hands and so is changing our story and setting all things right with his Son. I mean, how can he cast himself down from the temple when above all are we not of his own body and blood. It’s been purchased of old and sealed there in stone no matter where some of us still would have roamed. I mean come on now, how can he throw himself down when he’s the body the head and the whole cornerstone put together now that it seems. So intimately does the Lord care for his people to suffer none to perish but all to come to repentence instead. Even now is the goodness and glory of God leading us very much rather. I mean, the Lord is not in the habit of destroying his people no matter what it looks like there in the midst just in the habit of removing the evil. The angels too have taken him up into their bosom almost as the poor man and Lazarus, and what would his disciples have thought if they’d known it but referred to our Lord. Herein is the singular purpose found, the temptaion for misusing his glory. Though his purpose would stand and he would accomplish all that he wanted time and again, every line every word until all be fulfilled. It seems God and his glory has much better things to report, better still than that of Abel indeed. It seems with such a perspective as this the devil had better just to line up with his Word.

A Takeover Throne

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

My, the temptations are giving way are they not for just what is appearing. You know how that in Scripture it refers that the kindgoms of this world are becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior and we will reign with him forever. Though what good are the promises rather without the Lord in his glory. Seeing him in his rightful place then stops such from occurring. He is high and lifted up is he not above all very much rather, certainly that pertains to just the kingdoms of men. See, Satan might be just as a spirit appearing. Though he is no place for the Lord very much rather. Does not even now the Lord inhabit the praises of his children. It is he then that protects all his children. So too does he call them and keep them of sorts as unto him. The devil might have a place for the time being but it pales in the light of the Lords own glorious appearing here once again. That is to say, there’s no place for outwards appearance when the inwards has already come being made visible time and again. At this point in time, the only thing assured is his victory very much rather that brings the whole world on back to his Son. How much rather is it all just for the praise of his glory. It matters not yet by any then what such would appear with only the cure for this in seeing the Lord in his glory as it was before time began. So then all that remains is just a service perspective. The angelic purpose and mission was to praise him this Savior of men and so also to minister unto where they were sent. Lining up with his Word or healing very much rather cause the whole situation to work out for good and his glory. Though what with no ministers or angels visible, it’s a mystery as to where he’d even gotten them from at all there to be certain. Sure, his ministers are as flames of fire now that it seems for he makes them so in the end and I know some of you are just saying ‘it makes no sense that these just appeared.’ Though when it comes down to it seeking the Lord and his glory is far better still than just a worship of all that’s becoming but as nothing in light of his own glory and grace as one that’s revealed in the morning. Ministry rather requires a much more service focused perspective one that the Lord is his glory has just brought back into being.

Going Beyond

12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

My, it seems Christ has come to the poor, the beggar, them that are without, and even the least of them all in the matter. Jesus indeed is so good that having sent John forth unto men, upon hearing of his captivity, he begins up his ministry again. In fact, he’s able to leave off right where he started in all the wild and desolate places most usually inhabited by reapers, fallen angels, and dead people in general. By no means am I saying that Zebulon is known for dead people in particular or just hauntings in general. Rather, it remains to be seen the goodness of God towards the least of his people. It should be seen then that Caperneam was right in between being of all places a port and a gateway towards the leastest of these. In fact, you needn’t look far but to find it for it looks like Isaiah has already defined it. It seems it’s something God would bring to mind both time and again cause he forgots not his promises made to his people and even so suffers not any to falter nor will any such as a sparrow yet fall from his Word. The land of Zebulon and Naphtalim whether fallen or not or not yet his people it seems was in need of such a Word as this then indeed for behold our God’s in the house and he’s setting all things right with his people there once again. Perhaps it appears that you don’t see it just yet. So too have some not been called into being at the moment you’d trust him for very much rather. Though still, our God is still working as seen in John’s being cast into prison. It so happened that John might’ve glorified the Father again and the people also might trust in him rather. As John would say best, ‘he must increase and I must decrease’ time and again. It seems God and his glory is at stake in the end though for the time being he’s come through it all it would seem. So now are the people not the people becoming, that is to say our God is calling out of nothing some of his most peculiar of children. The message too was something most strange as light would shine from out of darkness both time and again. Then too was Jesus not yet quite done with the mission having resumed just where John had left off of teaching. As such, it’s one of the hallmarks accompanying the Lord that the mission, purpose, and message is all but of him. As the Word said who has come not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance now unto him.

Discipleship Proper

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

So it naturally follows that Jesus the Lord would call forth some representatives out of each of these tribal of leaders. Perhaps they weren’t always the most pretty or even all the way there of a sorts but to any who would listen, their purpose and calling was as but the merest of breaths from the Lord. In fact, as we had discusseed very much earlier, these weren’t even the most idealest of leaders with some of these being but the chiefest of sinners. It follows then that this isn’t quite the full accounting of all his disciples just rather a few with Simon Peter and Andrew his brother and James and John the sons of Zebedee proper. Other accounts are given about how the Lord had twelve in particular. Though here, only four are given with no explanation at all about why the other eight are mysteriously missing. Could it be though that our God was still in the business of calling out his people for all that it mattered. Having made then the fishers of men and the menders much rather it only follows that our Lord now had discipleship proper. The fishers you see would’ve been responsible for calling out the all things of the people much as some would when drawing them in very much rather. Not to say that our Lord had an effective marketing team needed to take the place of a person as some would have done for that way of thinking is just not of the Lord. Rather though, it follows that our Lord has some such that matter. Even so too does he use our natural gifts and our talents for him and his glory. It’s a thing that naturally follows no matter where we might wander. Consider too just how good our God would’ve been to his people. Rather it’s not the gifts and the talents that make these disciples in general but rather their following of whom would’ve been calling. Only he’s got the talent and power very much rather of taking saint out of sinners and from there on home back to glory. The same thing then follows that the menders too have some sort of speaking into the matters of God and the Father and his right relationship back then with his people.

Divers Regions

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

Surely Jesus had no need for either for he in his glory found these all quite naturally contained in his person. As the Gentiles too were so prone to the doing, they would often capitalize on the misfortunes of others to obtain some gifts, position, or teaching. Though when we come to God with our needs very much rather he already knows what we want in the end. It’s a perspective that tells very much really just of Christ and his person. The locking up of John had no effect on this rather except just to prove Jesus Christ’s glory instead to the Gentiles. As the Father in general and also the leader of men, it followed that he would fulfill the requirements of this and even the Savior both time and again. Being the only way, to the Father and as unto him it seems these too just were going. To prove this though, this claim to his Lordship just found in his person, he also had to prove that he was that of the children. Let’s just say though that he was more than these ever had imagined indeed all things considered. Here he is too in his own hometown and his region rather without honor but of course though a prince among men. If you will see now, his teaching and preaching the gospel with all sorts of meaning and healing these of all sickness and disease proved without doubt in the matter that Jesus was in all respects just as had been becoming the Lord. In fact, he was an ideal citizen being Lord and ruler of both particular regions. It follows though that he with his position knew what each needed really and truly and it did very much matter. His healing went out to all men regardless of citizenship, nationality, or what each had to say in the matter. It transcends localities strictly speaking being thus of all that’s becoming the Lord. Having established these facts in general, our Lord was ready to assume his leadership proper much as John had with huge crowds of people. The only differnence between the two is the following of John was restless and unsettled so being pulled from within and much thusly convicted of sin. With Christ though, the Spirit abode as a dove on both his power and his teaching. Not a thing he had done then didn’t result in total body welness and rest to the whole just as it would of one that was becoming the Lord. That is to say, there’s not a thing that was done untowardsly in purpose then much as it would be if it were all just of men. What a comfort as this to know that in all this it’s all just of him.