We are slowly coming to the close of Jesus' earthly ministry. He has been going all over Israel trying to show His people that He is their promised Messiah.
He had many different disciples, but only 12 that He personally chose out. And, He was trying to get these men to understand that when He was gone they would need to carry on the ministry. But, they were having trouble learning, too.
Mark 9:33-34- And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
The disciples were arguing about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. But, when Jesus asked them about their argument, they were ashamed and wouldn't answer Him.
Luke 9:47-48- And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
Matthew 18:3-5- And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
The disciples were worried about being the greatest, but Jesus knew that they needed to worry more about being humble. They needed to become to like children who believed what they were told.
Luke 10:1-3- After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
Jesus sent out other men, besides the 12 that He had chosen. These men were sent out in pairs and they were suppose to preach to all the places around Israel. They were going to go to people who didn't want to listen, and wouldn't be nice. But, there were some that were praying for the truth!
Luke 10:17-20- And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
When the men returned to Jesus, they were so happy to give a report of all that had happened. They were able to do miracles like Jesus had. They were even able to tell devils to leave people alone, and the devils listened!
Jesus warned them not to be excited because of all the things that they were able to do, but to be excited that their names were written down in heaven.
Luke 10:21, 23-24- In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Jesus rejoiced that only the humble could understand the mysteries of God. He told His disciples that there were many wise and noble people who would never get to see or hear the things that they were blessed with viewing and listening to.
Matthew 11:27-30- All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
The things that Jesus said to His disciples were very wonderful! But, there were things that only those disciples would be able to do. Jesus didn't give everyone the ability to perform miracles, but He did give everyone the ministry of telling others about Him. And, He promised that He would accept anyone who would come to Him!
The miracles that the disciples could do would certainly make them proud. They had to remember that God uses the humble!
Matthew 18:10-14- Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Jesus said that the disciples shouldn't d ignore the children, because children have a special place with God. He listens to children's prayers very closely!
Jesus wanted them to understand that God wanted ALL people to be saved, especially innocent children. He warned the disciples not to preach only to the grown ups.
Mark 8:27-30- And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
Jesus asked the disciples who people said that He was. He already knew, but He wanted the disciples to understand that THEY knew who He was. When Peter answered Him that He knew He was the Christ, the promised Messiah, Jesus told them not to tell anyone yet.
Then He tried to tell them what was about to happen.
Mark 8:31- And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
The disciples didn't like hearing that He would be killed!
Mark 8:32-33- And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
When Peter said that shouldn't happen, Jesus called him Satan!
Jesus knew that the devil didn't want Him to obey God. The devil was trying very hard to get Jesus to sin. He was trying very hard to get Jesus killed.
Jesus needed His disciples to know that the only way for Him to be the promised Messiah was for Him to die.
Mark 8:34-37- And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Luke 9:25-27- For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
Jesus told His disciples that they would have to be willing to give up some things in this world to get the gospel to the lost. And, if they were willing there would be a great reward in heaven!
But, if they decided to hold onto the things of the world, then they would get no rewards in heaven.
And, if a lost person decided they would rather have treasures in this world than ask Jesus to save them that they would lose more than just riches, they would lose their soul in hell.
Then, He told them that some of them wouldn't die until they saw the kingdom of God. That didn't mean that they would live forever, it just meant that He was going to do something spectacular for someone one day!
Matthew 17:1-3- And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
The Bible has something very special about it. The words that it uses have secrets behind them. Jesus took some of his disciples to a high mountain after six days.
Psalm 90:4- For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
II Peter 3:8- But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The six days are like six thousand years. Jesus was letting His disciples know that something would be different in the world six thousand years after Creation.
The disciples were Peter, James, and John, and they saw something amazing! They saw Jesus in His glorified body- the holy body that He had in heaven.
And, they saw Moses and Elijah talking with Him. We don't know what they were talking about, but it is important because this is another secret.
Revelation 11:3- And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Moses and Elijah are going to come back to the earth. They will have mortal bodies, but will be able to work miracles like Jesus sent those disciples out to work. This would all happen some time in the future.
Mark 9:5-6- And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
Peter and the other two disciples were afraid. They went up onto a mountain and all of a sudden, Jesus was glowing brightly and talking with two other men who had appeared out of nowhere!
Peter said that they should make tabernacles for these men and Jesus. He may have said this because it was close to the Feast of Tabernacles.
Matthew 17:5-6- 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. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
While Peter was talking a voice came from the cloud. They couldn't see anyone talking, but they could hear it. It scared them so badly that they fell down on the ground with their faces hidden.
Matthew 17:7-9- And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
When Jesus roused them, they looked around and saw that the splendid sight was gone. Jesus was back to the way they were use to seeing Him. He told them not to tell anyone else what they had seen until He was risen from the dead.
Mark 9:10-13- And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
The disciples still didn't understand that Jesus was going to be killed and that He would be dead for three days and then He would live again. So, they didn't know what that meant.
But, they were curious about something else, too. There was a Scripture in the Old Testament that said that Elijah would show up before the Messiah came.
Malachi 4:4-5- Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Jesus told His disciples that Elijah would come before the Messiah appeared. He would come back six thousand years after Creation before Jesus showed up to destroy the enemies of Israel and He would set up His throne on the earth and rule as King!
But, Elijah would come back in spirit before the Messiah would show up the first time, too. Jesus told His disciples that Elijah had already shown up, just not the way everyone expected.
Matthew 17:12-13- But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
John the Baptist came with the same spirit and power that Elijah had lived, and so John was considered to have fulfilled that role.
LUke 9:43-44- And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
Jesus was trying His hardest to prepare them for what was about to happen, but they just didn't understand.
Matthew 17:22-23- And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
Jesus told them again and again, but they couldn't get it. They were sorry, perhaps because He kept saying that He would die, or maybe because they weren't able to comprehend. But, they would soon find out what He meant.
