Matthew 3:17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Well Friends, it’s another day in the life. Most of us have awakened to greet it, but some have not. And they might even be the lucky ones, having escaped the agonizing bondage, the blood, sweat, tears and pain that come with this earthly life. Now for those of you who don’t know, or don’t remember, today is Remembrance Day in Canada and the British Commonwealth, and Veterans Day in the U.S, where we celebrate the lives and achievements of those who fought and died in the great wars that our countries have been involved in over the years. And it should be a great day of recognition, but sadly all the pomp and splendour belies the disgusting manner in which the families of the dead veterans and those still alive today are treated in North America. They receive miserly pensions, poor health care, lack of jobs and no real respect. The Federal Government in Canada is even trying to claw back money from those veterans who manage to make a few pennies on the side to augment the li’l pittance the unfeeling, hypocritical gov’t gives them. But every Remembrance and Veterans Day we chug out the hyperbole and hypocrisy about those who fought to protect our freedom and way of life. The reality of the situation though is an entirely different thing, with so many vets and families suffering from all sorts of physical, emotional and mental illness. The gov’ts, like many Christians, talk a fine talk, but sadly lack true action. It’s a crying shame Friends, the way we treat those who put their lives on the line so that we can live the evil, greedy, ungodly lifestyle we’re so bent on living in these confused and troubled times. And since the elimination of the draft, it’s been mainly the children of the lower classes who’ve enlisted to fight our battles. The children of the rich and powerful are actively protected from that. No wonder it’s the lower classes that suffer the buffeting and fall out from wars. Anyway, that’s my two cents worth on the facade of respectability we try to put on to the world for our fallen and battered heroes. Let’s hope the gov’ts soon wake up to the reality of the dreadful situations most veterans and their families are mired in, and greatly improve the overall situation with more action and less talk. That finally brings us to our Bit: ‘And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ Now Friends, that’s the perfect situation of matching talk to action and vice versa! Our heavenly Father desired to save us from the hellfire and damnation of purgatory, but instead of just wishing and hoping, He sacrificed His sinless Son to give us victory over the grave and death. What an awesome and most magnificent Deity we serve and worship my brethren! Please don’t ever forget it, as no greater sacrifice has ever been, or will ever be made throughout all the ages of the universe. And today I just want to share some scripture where the Father did indeed let us earthlings know how proud He was of Jesus. We obviously have that occasion in our Bit when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, as we discussed yesterday. Then there’s the time when accompanied by Peter, James and John, the inner circle of the disciples, Jesus went up into the mountains: ‘And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment (clothes) was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses, and Elijah talking with Him.’ (Matt.17:2-3) Now according to the scholars; ‘The verb (Gr. metamorphoo) indicates a transformation of essential form, proceeding from within. See Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18, where it is used of the spiritual transformation of the believer’s new nature. The witness of Peter in 2 Peter 1:17-18 verifies the testimony that this was a real experience, not a vision.’ And as usual, Peter, always bold and provocative, tells Jesus: ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he yet spake, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.’ (Matt.17:4-5) Oh Friends, can you imagine the disciples’ reaction! The Good Book describes it thus: ‘And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore (greatly) afraid. (Matt.17:6) Even in these modern times with all the technological innovations, we would have been scared to death too my people. Jesus had to come and touch them and say; ‘Arise, and be not afraid.’ (Matt.17:7) And to make matters worse, when they got up, they saw nobody but Jesus there with them. (Matt.17:8) Who says our God doesn’t move in mysterious and often scary ways eh? Now the next time the Father spoke up for Jesus was around the feast of the Passover in Jerusalem, when some Greek Jews attending the feast, decided that they wanted to meet Jesus, and so communicated to his disciples. Then Jesus began telling them that His time was near, and about dying to self and following Him. (John 12:20-26) Then He announced: ‘Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause (purpose) came I unto this hour. Father glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.’ (John 12:27-28) Yes Friends, the Father again declared His support for the Son. And blind and deaf as we are to many spiritual things, some of the listeners said it thundered, while others claimed an angel spoke to Him. But Jesus told them: ‘This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes, Now is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince (ruler) of this world (Satan) be cast out.’ (John 12: 30-31) The scholars explain. ‘Now means at the Crucifixion, not when he (Satan) is bound before the Millennium, or when he is cast into the lake of fire. Shall…be: because the Cross was still a future event.’ Then Jesus continued: ‘And I, if I be lifted up (crucified) from the earth, will draw all men unto me.’ (John 12:32) Oh my people, Jesus was lifted up, but the pertinent question now is will we be amongst those whom He draws unto Him? I certainly hope so. Please, let’s ponder that today, and make sure the answer is an emphatic ‘YES!’ for it’s the best option available to mankind. Much LOVE!…can Jesus look down on you…and say that He’s well pleased…that should be every believer’s goal…
SCRIP-BITS 