“Very Truly I tell you”...Points to the Deity of Jesus...and the Reality of HEAVEN!

DAY 7: Please Read:

BEFORE HIS DEATH:

John 16:7  Jesus says to His disciples …“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

Matthew 26:32  Jesus says to His disciples….”But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Also to note: There are 21 recorded occasions in the Bible where Jesus predicted His death. Ten of those occasions He ALSO predicted His resurrection from the dead:

Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22; Matthew 17:9; Matthew 17:23;  Matthew 20:19; Matthew 26:32; Mark 9:9; Mark 9:31; John 2:18-22

Old Testament Prophesy: Predicted the resurrection of Jesus in David's God-inspired statement:  Psalm 16:10:  Because you will not leave me in the place of death.  You will not let your faithful one rot in the grave.

After Jesus is Crucified and Dies on the Cross: Mark 16:5-7  The women walked into the tomb and saw a young man there wearing a white robe. He was sitting on the right side of the tomb. The women were afraid.  6 But the man said, “Don’t be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, the one who was killed on a cross. He has risen from death! He is not here. Look, here is the place they put him when he was dead. 7 Now go and tell his followers. And be sure to tell Peter…Tell them, ‘Jesus is going into Galilee and will be there before you come. You will see him there, as HE TOLD you before.’”

IN conclusion…“Very Truly I tell you”...clearly Points to the Deity of Jesus...THE SON of GOD…and the Reality of HEAVEN!  Jesus ALWAYS fulfilled His own predictions about His days on earth and a future IN Heaven….Bringing FINAL Reconciliation for mankind…Delivering HIS Church to its FINAL home IN Heaven!  AMEN!

For Discussion:  The words of the angel to these women contain the answer to all the skepticism of over twenty centuries. For the angel said some things to them that answer most of the claims that have ever been raised in questioning the actuality of the resurrection. The first thing the angel said was, This Jesus of Nazareth, this One who was crucified, this same One whom you seek, has indeed risen from the dead.

Then he said to them, He is not here. That is, He is not only risen; He is not here. And in those words he makes clear that, though Jesus is risen, there is nevertheless a real tie with our humanity. He is not just a spirit. This is not a spiritual resurrection but a bodily resurrection. It was the body of Jesus that rose from the dead. 

The Bible consistently defends the proposition that it was the dead body that was put into the grave, which also rose from the dead. He is not here. He is a person yet, a human person with a human body—changed, yes—but still human. And in that human body He rose from the dead.

Commentary by Ray Stedman.org Authentic Christianity

PRAYER: "Lord Jesus, Thank You that You ARE, indeed, what you promised to be—a LIVING Lord—and that You can enter my life and begin to bring me OUT of despair…into HOPE…OUT of death and INTO resurrection!"  Amen!

Very Truly I Tell You...

“Very Truly I tell you”...Points to the Deity of Jesus...and the Reality of HEAVEN

 

IN HIS LIFE:

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you…

 

DAY 6

 

Luke 23:42-43 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you…today you will be with me in paradise.”

 

Confirms the deity of Christ…Jesus IS from GOD…and HE WILL be the one who redeems his church!

 

 

For Discussion: 

Notice the specific wording of the man's request: "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). Notice that the thief expressed no expectation of immediately going to heaven with Jesus at the moment they died.

Notice also Jesus' response to the man, telling him "you will be with Me in Paradise.” Understanding the nature of the biblical use of the term paradise is crucial to grasping the meaning of this passage.  The word translated "paradise" is used only two other times in the New Testament. In both cases it refers to the place of God's presence.  In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4  Paul describes a vision in which he "was caught up into Paradise." Paul says this paradise was in "the third heaven"—the dwelling place of God. 

Christ was encouraging him by solemnly assuring him that a time would come, in God's future Kingdom on earth, when the man would be resurrected and would see Jesus again. 

Even though Jesus the king was being killed he understood that Jesus kingdom was not “of this world” (John 18:36) and that after Jesus’ death Jesus would enter

his kingdom as king. The miracle of such a belief can only make us reflect in awe and wonder at so gracious a God. His request “Jesus, remember me” is a statement of faith in response to understanding he was given.

The compassion, love and mercy that Jesus shows this criminal is no less

overwhelming. With absolute certainly he tells him that together they will be in

Christ’s kingdom. Although Jesus did not “save” himself, at the moment of death he

did “save” another.

From Jesus’ emphatic statement in this verse we can be confident that those who die in Christ are immediately with Christ in Paradise.

Reference commentary from the “The Good News”  a Magazine of Understanding 2012

Very Truly I Tell You...

“Very Truly I tell you”...Points to the Deity of Jesus...and the Reality of HEAVEN

 

IN HIS LIFE:

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you…

 

DAY 5

Read:

Luke 22:34 & Matthew 26:34

John 13:36-38, 14:1-4

 

John 13:36-38   Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”  Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”  ³⁷ Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now?  I will lay down my life for you.”  ³⁸ Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me?  Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

Reference: Jesus response/act and Prediction come TRUE…right BEFORE we have access to Heaven…and Redemption with GOD

For Discussion: Following the arrest of Jesus, Peter denied knowing Him three times, but after the third denial, he heard the rooster crow and recalled the prediction, as Jesus turned to look at him. Peter then began to cry bitterly. This final incident is known as the “Repentance of Peter.”

Peter's inability to follow Him is due in part to Peter's own unreadiness, as his coming denial exhibits. But Peter is also UNABLE because the way has NOT yet been opened through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus encourages Peter by saying that this inability is temporary and that he will follow later. This promise will be fulfilled after Peter's death, but it will also be fulfilled after the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

Peter claims he would lay down his life for Jesus (v. 37). But he does not know his own heart, for Jesus says, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times! (v. 38).  If Peter were to lay down his life for Jesus that night, it would be his own selfish act of martyrdom rather than an act of obedience to the Father.  But in fact he is not really able to lay down his life for Jesus at this point. Despite his own estimate of his devotion, his love is still too selfish and he does not YET have the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT. The Lord will bring him to a NEW stage of maturation AFTER the resurrection.

From: John 13 - IVP New Testament Commentaries, Bible Gateway

Very Truly I tell you...

“Very Truly I tell you”...Points to the Deity of Jesus...and the Reality of HEAVEN

 

IN HIS LIFE:

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you…

 

DAY 4

Matthew 18:18-20

¹⁸ “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.

¹⁹ “Again, Truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Reference:  Jesus speaks on THE Authority of GOD IN HEAVEN…Seeking the Guidance of GOD…THE Counselor…will make an impact NOW and IN Eternity…HEAVEN… 

  

Jesus foretells of the POWER…the COMING of HIS Holy Spirit…IN the Body of HIS Believers…the Church…As we Pray…filled with the Holy Spirit, according to GODS Will…NOT our own…our Requests WILL be granted From Heaven!…IN Jesus NAME!... Amen!

Thoughts to Ponder:  Matthew 18:20  Jesus said..."For where two or three gather IN my name, there am I with them.”  

Was Jesus Revealed  In Daniel 3…About 500 years before HE was Born?  Daniel 3: ¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  

 

²⁵ He said (Nebuchadnezzar), “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

HE Speaks...Very Truly I Tell You

A Bible Study:  “Very Truly I tell you”...Points to the Deity of Jesus...and the Reality of HEAVEN

 

IN HIS LIFE:

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you…

 

DAY 3

Mark 14:18-21,62  ¹⁸ While they were reclining at the table eating…HE said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”  ²⁰ “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. ²¹ The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him.”

Foreshadowing: THE ACT to come that WILL bring Redemption for mankind…confirming the early written scripture…IS GOD breathed…and that HE WAS…IS…And IS to COME!

After HE was betrayed and arrested:  Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”  ⁶² “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Reference: Confirms the deity of Christ…He IS from God…and HE WILL be THE One who redeems his church…preparing THE to get to Heaven!

Prophesies Revealed: 

Psalm 41:9: Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

Zechariah 11:12-13:  I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. 

In Psalm 41:9, King David wrote a prayer asking for mercy in his last days. In this prayer, which Christians acknowledge as being inspired by God, David wrote about a betrayal at the hand of a close friend with whom he had shared bread. This foreshadowed something that happened years later with Jesus.

In Zechariah 11:4-17, the prophet speaks of a payment involving 30 pieces of silver and of a good shepherd whose service is brought to an end. This foreshadows an event that happened to Jesus about 500 years later. 

 

HE Speaks...Very Truly I Tell You

A Bible Study:  “Very Truly I tell you”...Points to the Deity of Jesus...and the Reality of HEAVEN

 

IN HIS LIFE:

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you…

 

DAY 2

Please READ:
John 6:53-58: 53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have NO life in you... 

Jesus offered himself as spiritual “bread” from Heaven that satisfies completely, and leads to eternal life IN Him.

Reference: Redemption with GOD…A LIVING Father…Receiving of the Holy Spirit because of JESUS sacrifice…The SON of GOD…and the LIFE everlasting IN Heaven…Eternity

HE Speaks "Very Truly I Tell You"

A Bible Study:  “Very Truly I tell you”...Points to the Deity of Jesus...and the Reality of HEAVEN

IN HIS LIFE:

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you… 

 

DAY 1

Matthew 19:28  Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, YOU who have followed me WILL also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Reference: Redemption…Heaven…Righteousness IN CHRIST

HE Speaks “Very Truly I Tell You.”

Hello friends!

This next week you will be receiving a consistent devotional message.   As I spent some time in the word this morning…I was inspired to write a small bible study called… “Very Truly I tell you.”  It is about 8 days of devotions with a connected theme.  Perfect timing as Easter is just around the corner.  Let the message SINK deep into your spirit and be encouraged…IN Christ…we HAVE victory!  Amen.

HE Speaks…Going to War…

When the heat is ON…Do not be afraid because YOUR Lord God…who PROMISES to save you…HE WILL be WITH you….When we choose to blindly Trust IN Him…and walk forward into the unknown…the HIGH PRIEST…Jesus Christ…will come forward and address HIS army to protect you…DO NOT panic…For it is the LORD GOD who goes ahead with you, to FIGHT for you…and GIVES you Victory!!!  Amen…

Deuteronomy 20:1-4  When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. ² When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. ³ He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. ⁴ For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”