AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Monday – April 5, 2021, Nisan 23, 5781
EXCEPT I SHALL SEE
Greetings precious children of God and welcome to The Three Minute Word blog. We are a blessed people if we will focus on Him. The Holy Bible is His Policy and Procedure Manuel for now and eternity. He has hidden nothing from us.
Romans 12:2 (KJV)
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The word ‘prove’ in the preceding verse has to do with approving, discerning, examining, and allowing. The ball is entirely in our court, we decide how much to know, and what we will do with what we know. What have you decided, what have I decided? The Word of God is foolishness to the world, unsaved, but is Truth and Light to the saved. Those who are born again (saved) have a quickened spirit man and can hear from God. The Holy Spirit is the Master Teacher, are we taking advantage of that? It is not automatic; we must study the Word of God and spend time with the Lord every day. Spending time with the Lord means that everyday we have a private time (prayer closet) with the Lord. I also highly recommend that we all make a habit of talking with Him throughout the day concerning all of the events of our day. Also, be sure to have a heart and mouth filled with thanksgiving even when you don’t feel like it. Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text and read it aloud, yes, out loud.
John 20:23-26 (KJV)
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Our Savior and theirs is risen from the dead and showing Himself to His disciples. First it was Mary Magdalene, then later the same day (Resurrection Day) some of His disciples in a closed room. The disciples were afraid of the Jews and had locked themselves away. We see the tail-end of that visit in our text above and we discussed this twenty-third verse last week. We, like Jesus in the earth, can forgive any and all sins excepting one, the unpardonable sin of rejecting Jesus as Lord and Savior.
As we go forward into the twenty-fourth verse, we encounter Thomas, called Didymus, and we today commonly refer to as “doubting Thomas”. He was there when Jesus told the others He must die but would rise on the third day. Like the others who did not believe Mary Magdalene, he does not believe the report from his fellow disciples that Christ is risen from the dead. He tells them that he will not believe until he sees Jesus’ hands and puts his finger into the “print of the nails” and he thrusts his hand into His side. I agree that these would be signs of one crucified (the hands) but the cut on His side is unique to Jesus. This man, Thomas, has been with Jesus three years, very up close and personal yet wants additional proof beyond the ways you and I recognize people in our day to day lives.
As we move forward with our text it appears that the disciples are still in hiding. This time Thomas is with them when Jesus makes His appearance. Our text tells us that this is eight days later. Have you ever wondered where Jesus was in the intervening eight days? I do not have an answer from Scripture, the other gospel writers do out address this, but my conjecture (guess) would be that He was with the Father in Heaven. The eighth day gap may be pointing to a new beginning. This was certainly a time of great transition for all of mankind, for the Jews, and the Gentiles. The Church is being born; the words God spoke to Abram are now a reality.
Genesis 12:3 (KJV)
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
In the beginning there was one people in the earth, Adam and Eve (and perhaps others). Then came sin. Those that worshipped God eventually became known as the Jews, called Hebrews. So, when Jesus came into the earth there were two broad people groups in the earth, the Jews (who worshipped the True God), and the gentiles or heathens. With the Resurrection of the Christ three people groups are present in the earth.
1 Corinthians 10:32 (KJV)
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
Just to be clear, both the Jews and Gentiles are lost without Jesus. They are listed separate here for God has a Covenant with the Jews and there will come a repentance and their sin (rejection of the Messiah) will be taken away. There is only one way to the Father and that is by Christ Jesus. Lord willing, I will pick up right here tomorrow.
2 Chronicles 20:20b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as your Bible Teacher and a Prophetic Voice in your life I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus’ name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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