Save Yourself, And Come Down From The Cross!

"With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'And He was numbered with the transgressors'. And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, 'Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!'  Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, 'He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.' " (Mark 15:27-32)  Of course, their assessment was premature.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but 

Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave His life for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed (made manifest, evident by Paul's faith in Christ (Gal. 2:20) among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain - if indeed it was in vain?" (Galatians 2:20-3:4)

"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6,7)

"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds."(2 John v.10)

I rejoice, that in these verses of Scripture we may see and understand the fellowship of the mystery Paul discusses with the Ephesian church 
(Ephesians 3:8-11).

"What Do You Want Me To Do For You?

"Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, 'Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.' And He said to them, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' They said to Him, 'Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.' But Jesus said to them, 'You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?' They said to him, 'We are able.' So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism that I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.' " (Mark 10:35-40)

"Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!' Then many warned him to be quiet (just a blind beggar, they thought); but he cried out all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!' So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, 'Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.' And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' The blind man said to Him, 'Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Go your way; your faith has made you well.' And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.'' (Mark 10:46-52)

Obviously, a request for a glorified position, without the benefit of learning how to serve, was rebuked. Their request was outside even His position of authority. Yet Bartimaeus' request to receive sight so he may follow Jesus on the road was provided. What do you want Him to do for you? Do you want to see clearly so that you may follow Him?

Pray That Your Flight Might Not Be In Winter!

Mark 13:14-23

"So when you see the 'abomination of desolation', spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! AND PRAY THAT YOUR FLIGHT MAY NOT BE IN WINTER. For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days. Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it. For false Christ and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand."

Those who have experienced Winter know it is the coldest time of the year; the sun is at a farther distance relative to Summer, Spring and Autumn. The time of the 'abomination of desolation' in Israel will be the coldest of times, spiritually. Jesus was teaching Israel, even at that time, to begin to pray then, now and continually so that their flight may not be in this coldest of spiritual times. It will be a more, even very difficult time to receive,  as Satan's manifestation on earth during the times of greater tribulation will be increased. The timing of YOUR FLIGHT should be when He comes to receive the precious fruit of the earth: those who have become fellow servants and are among the brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Pray so that your flight is when the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2) is at full strength!

Questioning What Rising From The Dead Means?

"And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, 'Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.' " (Mark 8:31-33)

"When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, 'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.' " (Mark 8:34-38)

“And He said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power." (Mark 9:1)

"Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen (v.2-8) till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant."(Mark 9:9,10)

Peter would learn in his spirit, soul AND body what Jesus means by 'whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it". As Jesus had been crucified AND resurrected by His Father, so would Peter and all the disciples. Peter's approach to Jesus Christ had to be brought low, tasting the humiliation of his denial, so the kingdom of God could preside with power upon him!