The one from the east whom victory meets at every step is
king Cyrus from Persia. This is the same
Cyrus whom the Lord will use to restore Jerusalem. He will give an edict that allows for the
rebuilding of the city by the exiles he allows to return. The nations fear him, his conquests were
swift and far reaching, establishing a new order in the middle East in his
reign. While the nations should fear
him, the Lord tells His own not to fear, that He is all they need and He can be
trusted with their protection. As in the
days of Joshua, they are admonished to be strong and not fear. This nation, which at the moment, is not a
nation but only a people in exile, can be in peace while the world around them
is afraid because their God is protecting them and providing for them, even in
this place and time when it seems they are nothing at all.
Can you imagine the scene at the home of Peter’s
mother-in-law? She is healed on the
Sabbath and begins to serve them, in contradiction to the laws of Sabbath. As soon as the Sabbath ends, about dusk,
people begin streaming to the house with their sick and others who have demonic
possession, bringing them to Jesus, and they return healed, whole and
well. Mark tells us the whole city was
gathered at the door. After this, Jesus
rose before dawn and went to pray. He
couldn’t have had more than a few hours rest and yet it was important after
such a time of ministry to go away and be alone with the Father. All are looking for Him but He says they must
move on and so they do. My favorite
healing of Jesus’ is this one with the leper.
The man had to warn all and sundry to keep away for he was unclean and
yet Jesus, in healing him, reaches out His hand and touches him. He didn’t have to but He did and can you
imagine what it was to be touched by Him?
The man won’t obey the command not to tell, how could he, he just was
healed of leprosy!
Did you grasp those first four words, “And you were
dead…” You weren’t drowning, you had
drowned. There was no life in you at
all. You weren’t resuscitated, you were
raised with Christ from the dead. Your
life is completely in His hands. When we
are in sin we are dead to true life, the life of the Spirit. Our consciences aren’t the same as the Holy
Spirit given to us in Christ. A
conscience is common to all humanity and without the Holy Spirit you are not a
child of God, you were a child of wrath.
The mercy of God in Christ Jesus is the only reason you have life
today. Because of love, mercy, grace and
kindness you have been saved through faith and even that was and is a
gift. Now, in Jesus, we are a new
creation, prepared for good works. Our
works are “good” only as they spring from faith and glorify Him and without
them there is no real evidence of His life within us.
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