BLESSING GOD!!! AMEN!!! (the last 3 words of Luke)
Today’s Reading: Luke 24
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
This is the exterior of Saint Lazarus Church built just 50 metres from where Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus. Special thanks to Reynold Mainse for two years of photographs. He spent over three months in the lands of the Bible just to bless us with his profession. He is also an ordained minister of Jesus Christ. The cost of his travels were covered apart from any offerings sent to the Crossroads charity. These photographs are a gift of love to Jesus and to us. “Thank you, David Reynold!”
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Luke 24:47
… and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
What was Luke’s reason for writing his Gospel? Here it is! “That you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed!” (Luke 1:4). Amen!!! Luke had two whole years to travel in the footsteps of Jesus. He was an assistant to the Apostle Paul, and Paul spent two years as a prisoner in Caesarea under the authority of two Roman Governors, Felix and Festus, as well as under King Agrippa (Luke was also writing a major portion of the book of Acts during those years…read Acts 23:23 to Acts 26:32). Luke’s writing style in his Gospel is obviously the result of personal interviews with people such as Mary, family members of the Bethlehem shepherds, several of the Apostles, perhaps Zacchaeus, people who participated in the celebration on Palm Sunday, Jewish religious leaders who later came to faith in Jesus as their Messiah (Acts 6:7), and the women who first visited Jesus’ empty tomb. Just imagine Luke trying to write down the stories of many of the approximately 500 people who saw the risen Jesus!!! (1 Corinthians 15:1-6).
Now, here comes the orders to all of us from Almighty God, the risen Christ! Preach (this includes one-to-one personal witness…probably the most effective way of preaching) “TO ALL NATIONS, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM!!!” True Christians have no alternative but to proclaim to one and all by direct witness, by public preaching, and by sacrificial giving so others can share the Gospel in person or by the media (TV, radio, print, the world wide web, billboards, etc. etc.). Let’s do it together!!! Ready! Set! Go!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I join the prophet Isaiah who wrote so very much about a person who could be no one other than Jesus of Nazareth (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, chapter 53), and I say to You in answer to Your question recorded in Isaiah 6:8, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? …’HERE AM I, SEND ME!!!'” I’m available now, today, and every day until I die or until You return in glory and the work is done! I pray for the grace of total obedience to Your will for my life. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I know, first hand, the interview style of writing. It has been my privilege, since 1962, to interview approximately 15,000 people. This is why I can assert with certainty that Luke interviewed the people who told him the facts of the life of Jesus! I have 100% confidence in these many eyewitness accounts. Of course there will always be slight variations in the way witnesses see an event. Take a court of law for example. People look at things from different angles and choose to emphasize certain elements over others. If their testimonies were identical, it would prove collusion and would destroy the credibility of the witnesses. This explains why the four Evangelists sometimes recorded different views and memories of the same events…yet there are no contradictions. Put all the testimonies of the Gospels together and we have the fullest possible description of what really happened!
Yours for never, never, never keeping the Good News of Jesus to ourselves!
David
Inside the Saint Lazarus Church is a beautiful mosaic of Lazarus coming forth from his tomb. I’ve spent time in that tomb. “LAZARE VENI FORAS” is Latin for “Lazarus come forth!” This event is recorded in John 11:44-45, “And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Loose him and let him go.’ Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary (sister of Lazarus), and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.” The “Mishna” (minutes of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Jewish leaders) records the arrest notice of Jesus of Nazareth, but nowhere in the official records of religious or secular governing powers are there any denials of the mighty acts of Jesus. Jesus is the most thoroughly documented figure in all of ancient history!!!
Just beside Saint Lazarus Church is an ancient building with a very large wine and olive press. It’s interesting how this wine press is in the shape of a cross. As the operator would press down, the olive wood screw would turn.
Thanks so much for continuing this blog, Mainse family and Crossroads. I’ve been through it from near the beginning and I don’t tire of it. I keep learning new things and it gives me the structure to keep reading consistently through all parts of the Bible. The photos are great and add so much interest. Also the links tocarious interviews are helpful.Thank you!
Amen
Happy June, fellow saints in the Lord
Open My Eyes That I May See
Clara H. Fiske Scott (1895)
Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth you have for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unlock and set me free.
Silently now, on bended knee,
ready I wait your will to see;
open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Open my ears, that I may hear
voices of truth you send so clear;
and while the message sounds in my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Silently now, on bended knee,
ready I wait your will to see;
open my ears, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Open my mouth, and let me bear
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart, and let me prepare
love with your children thus to share.
Silently now, on bended knee,
ready I wait your will to see;
open my heart, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Open my eyes – Fountainview Academy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XSN7aVTAFU
I, really love and thoroughly enjoy this hymn.
thanks Beverlee, always enjoy singing this song
https://my.hymnary.org/song/dynamic/266/open-my-eyes-that-i-may-see?toolkit=veroviostatic&width=1600
click on the right arrow key and the piano only version showing the notes, plays
Thank you Beverlee. I have’t heard thiis beautiful piece for a long time. Bless you for always encouraging us by what you post.
Blessings to all Eleanor M.
I look forward to the blog everyday and like Eleanor, I find new things each time. Very thankful for the music input also and for the poetry! Have a great day all.
Thank You, Father, for this new day You made. Please give us the grace to live it well, as Your children. Guide us in what we do and say; that You will be glorified. As You, dear Jesus, said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me.” Be lifted up through our prayers, praise, and the things we do and say, we ask in Jesus’s name, amen
Amen,Rob.Thank you for your sincerity.God bless
Amen
Thank you for all the posts. The words of that song are so meaningful and appropriate for this time Beverlee. Praying the same thing this morning Rob. Thank you. The Lord bless all.
Good morning folks.
As a young Christian I remember singing “Open My Eyes” as a soloist in my church. The words are much more meaningful to me today as a mature Christian.
I thank you Beverley for all the music you share. I often send them unto some of my friends so they too can enjoy them.
I would love to hear your voice singing this song, Karen. There is nothing more precioius than a child of God singing His praises. Amen.
Blessings to everyone; got computer fixed; please pray for a BIG BIG BIG financial windfall for me; need to clear debts; help family of 6; help others in my town; help missions; invest the rest;
pray for the Holy Spirit to enter the hearts of the people who need to judge others; Lord please stop this NOW!
Lord bring peace to our country; Lord we know that You hear, see and know all what is happening in the world; YOU HAVE THE WHOLE WORLD IN YOUR HANDS, THANK YOU LORD IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY AMEN AMEN AMEN
Thank you Ron, Ann and Reynold for this new beginning of a two year study in God’s Word; truly appreciated.
Thanks for the photos, great photo of the cross wine and olive press;
thank you saints of God for your posts