JESUS
Jesus has always been, is now, and is returning to earth:
Jesus has always been.
John 1:1-3 in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. (the Word is Jesus) The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (Rev. 19:13) John 17:5 and now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
John 17:11 and now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
18 as thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
20 neither pray I for these alone (the apostles), but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. (all of us who believe)
26 and I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. (Jesus is still here working through us)
Acts 1:10-11 and while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
God sent Jesus into the world, and Jesus sent the disciples to tell of him, because of them we know of Jesus. Jesus sent the Holy Ghost to be with us. (Acts 1:5,8) (Acts chapter 2) the Holy Ghost is also one with God and Jesus and makes intercession for us, and abides in us (John 14:23).
To better understand the love that Jesus has for us I find great inspiration in the chapter of John 17.
When one understands the love of Jesus and how much God loves us (John 3:16) and what Jesus did for us at Calvary Matthew 27:50, one is overwhelmed. For many years I have read and have even seen movies and feel the suffering that Jesus' physical body must have gone through so that I could someday be with him in heaven. But I wonder how many realize the mental anguish he suffered as he prayed in the garden. Described in Luke 22:43 and there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strenthening him. 44 and being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Unlike us Jesus knew exactly when and how he was going to die. Unlike us Jesus had never done anything wrong. Jesus died for one reason and one reason only so that we could all be in heaven together. When Jesus died he dismissed his spirit. He did not die from what they had done to him. He chose to die for us.
After Jesus died the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. (no more sacrifice) Matthew 27:51
Remember the rich man and Lazarus? Luke 16:19-31 vs.23 and in hell he (the rich man) lift up his eyes being in torments and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The rich man called to Abraham and asked Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in the water and cool his tongue. But there was a big gulf that separated the righteous from the unrighteous. Before Jesus died and rose from the dead when people died they went to a place called paradise. When Jesus speaks of this we see that they were not in Hades, but that Lazarus was comforted and cared for.
The 16th psalm is a prediction of the resurrection of Jesus made by David. For David does not sit at the right hand of God, Jesus does.
Psalms 16:10 for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption. 11 thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Acts 2:27 because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption. 31 he (David) seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
This is a prediction from David that he understood that Jesus would not leave him down in this paradise but that when Jesus died, he would bring him up with him to heaven.
Neither David nor Jesus saw corruption, when Jesus died he went down to collect all of the righteous, from the side of paradise that separated them from the unrighteous by a deep fixed gulf. That no one could pass over. Our Jesus is a conqueror.
Ephesians 4:8-10 ...when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
When Jesus died he went down to get all of the righteous and bring them up with him!!! Jesus conquered hell. When Jesus died there was a big quake and rocks rent (or broke in pieces) and the graves were opened and the bodies of saints which slept arose, and they went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. What a great day!!! (Matthew 27:51,51)
And now with victory over death and hell Jesus came back to the earth (Matt 28:9, mark 16:14, Luke 24:39) and then returned to heaven (Luke 24:51) then the saints went on to the upper heavens with Jesus and were given gifts (rewards for what they had done when they lived on the earth)
Matthew 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, (the high priest) thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Jesus also predicts his return, and in psalms 16 David also understands that Jesus will assume the Davidic throne when he does. Luke 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
In Luke 16 the rich man asks that Lazarus to go to his fathers house and tell his five brothers what had happened to him so that they would not have to go to that place of torment. But Abraham said "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
John 21:17 he (Jesus) saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, "Feed my sheep."
For now we are Peter and there are many of Gods sheep gone astray, there are many of Gods sheep who are neither hot nor cold, there are many who may be lost in torment forever and ever if we do not grasp their hearts and hands and lift them up with us. How can we not tell them if our hearts are truly moved with the love that Jesus spoke of for us in John chapter 17.
John 20:31 but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.(If you feel so inclined, please pass this on.)
