Three Years

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Matthew 4:23-24     Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.  News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.

Matthew 8:11     I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 24:14     And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 28:19     Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16:15     He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Luke 9:60     Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

John 3:17     For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Acts 26:17-18     I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles.  I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

 

Have you ever wondered what you could do–accomplish, finish successfully–in three years’ time?  Do you remember what you did accomplish, or perhaps fought your way through, over a three-year period?  I have a couple of three-year periods which were difficult; but I have a lot more years that were relatively stress free, happy, comfortable, and with a direction that seemed positive.  My self-esteem was professionally in a good place, my marriage was good for the most part, and my children were grown, successful in their careers and with wonderful and supportive mates.  During those times of stress, by the time they were about to end, (even though I was not aware that the end was close), I was tired and not willing to brag about believing in a positive outcome.  I was able to brag afterwards, but not while still dealing with the complications.  But He did bring me through to a positive outcome.

How about you?  Remember any rough patches wondering when they were going to end and how they would turn out?   Troubling times seem to drag by and feel longer because you are burdened, more stressed, and often times not able to see a positive outcome.  Stress is weight, and we all know carrying excess weight—whether it be groceries, luggage, tools or whatever, it increases the physical strain and you feel that extra.  It is the same with emotional weight—heavy and burdensome.

What would you do if you knew you only had three years?  The knowledge of what Jesus accomplished in that time is amazing.  Yes, of course, this was all the will of God, and God the Son accomplished it all for our freedom, for our release from bondage.  And when He returned to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit—accessible to all of us if we believe. 

Jesus had about 28 years of being an older brother, the eldest son.  When it was time for His ministry to begin, His siblings should have had a good idea of the person and man he was.  Yet, they doubted and scorned Him.  Yet, Jesus knew He had only about three years to do all His Father’s will—to teach, to heal, to pray, to seek followers, to perform miracles, to encourage men and women to follow this new way that would lead them to God and away from the old rules and current admonishments.  His job was to offer the people freedom from the tyranny set out by their own religious leaders.  He could predict the demise of the Roman Empire, but as He was a peaceful and loving leader, not a military leader, His ways were different than what many of the Jews expected.  God’s way was so different yet would lead them to true and everlasting freedom.   But under the circumstances they were living with, many were depressed, despondent and without hope.

Jesus offered hope, He offered miracles, healing, peace and love, kindness, and gentleness.  His teaching, not always understood, but still drew people in.  They wanted to hear and try to understand more of what He said.  Even without fully understanding, they felt hope and love.  Yes, many of His miracles involved providing food the many.  Food is always a draw.  But they yearned for more when He taught.  He touched hearts, which is all God wanted when He walked in the Garden with the original humans—a loving, heartfelt relationship.

During the centuries from Moses getting the Laws directly from God, several religious leaders had decided to multiply the burdens, and the riches that God had ordained for the priests and Levites.  Their conceit and self-righteousness and sense of entitlement grew and were hurting the people. 

Jesus had a new, an easier yoke to carry; He had a new covenant to offer—one of love, peace, not hurting your neighbor, sharing burdens, sharing and giving to others if they were lacking.  He offered grace and freedom of sins if only they would love, ask forgiveness of sins, show kindness and seek Him in all their ways. 

His message was clear: love others, be kind, honest, and give to those who are in need, watch your thoughts and stop judging and speaking ill of others.  Love, that is the most important aspect of Jesus’ s message.  He came to earth to show all men how to love and serve others, to show all how to live with a heart for God, and to show that many of the Hebrew laws mandated by men, not God, were ridiculous, and showed that even those who demanded the laws be followed (the Pharisees and other high religious Hebrew leaders) were not really God- fearing men.

He rose from death, was seen by a multitude of people, and several of His followers watched Him ascend to heaven in a cloud.  He was returning to His Father and going to prepare a place for any who repented of sins and believed in Him.  He was offering eternal life; your body would pass and return to dust, but your soul would live forever with God in heaven.  Your relationship would be eternal with God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

Wow!  What an amazing and miraculously successful three years Jesus had!  I am so glad I have You to walk my life journey with.  I don’t believe I could do it without You.  Thank You for all You have done for me and ‘mybellaviews.’