“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

In prayer this morning the question came to me, “Why did Jesus cry out?”

We all remember the famous words of Jesus in Mark 15:34 KJV, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

We have heard, “Oh God can’t look upon sin!” which is not in the scriptures. It is true that God can and does at times hide His face from us, which is different.

Recently in a Passover Shabbat study I attend, Psalms 22 came to my attention. It is one of many Old Testament verses quoted by Jesus during His life.

Psalm 22:1 (NASB) “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.”

It seemed to me that Jesus had something else in mind when He cried out, quoting this verse.

John 8:28 (NASB) “So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.”

Jesus goes on to say in (John 8:29 (NASB) “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”

Now maybe you can see what I am seeing. Jesus just spoke of being crucified and then about NOT being left alone, or forsaken.

Can we allow our mind to venture out a little? Jesus was also called the Son of David. See Matthew 9:27, 12:23, 15:22, 20:30, 21:9, and Luke 1:32 where the prophesy of the Messiah is spoken.

Why would it be so far fetched that Jesus would cry out His (other) Fathers words as spoken in Psalms 22? They were inspired also yes? What would He mean by doing so? Might He be pointing to something other than what we have thought for so long?

Jesus knew this song of David. David was a man after God’s own heart. Wasn’t Jesus also? When David wrote this Psalm he was in distress. The Psalm was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born.

We can accept the idea that as the Son of God and the Son of Man, Jesus has two fathers he can follow even as we often follow the honorable aspects (and dishonorable aspects because we judged) of our earthly fathers while our heavenly Father is attempting to bless the good we have learned as He tries to get us to renounce the bad, and does this all at the same time!

David cries out in apparent desertion in PS 22:1-2 and yet in the next verse, ”But thou art holy, O thou that inhabits the praises of Israel.”  Yes David, God is sovereign in the universe no matter what we are experiencing. Now God, as the Son of God is experiencing distress as David did.

Is Jesus quoting Psalm 22, reminding those nearby of the prophesy, knowing they have memorized it also, and sung it themselves? Maybe over the next three days they will ask their Rabbi to read it to them?

Hanging there, is Jesus saying to them as they watch and to us, “I know what this looks like but God is Holy! I am not forsaken any more than David was! I trust the Almighty Father!” In light of Psalm 22 and the hind sight of the resurrection, this is huge! It was His intention, I believe, to clarify the event as divine!

And then we might not wonder any longer what Jesus thought. He knew the Word, “…be Thou not far off…” in Psalm 22:19. How can we think Jesus was actually forsaken or if He even thought He was?

And again in Psalm 22:24 (KJV) “For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, He heard.” Surely here of all places, Jesus is afflicted. Then God did not hide His face from Jesus! Let us put to death the idea that God was not looking or does not look upon sin. It is an affront to His Holy Omniscience and love for us.

On the contrary whatever Jesus is experiencing, feeling, thinking, HE KNOWS, and we should know, “…neither hath He hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, He heard.”

Why did Jesus cry out? Not because He was forsaken but to claim He was NOT forsaken!

Jesus was not forsaken and we are not either! You may have already felt that but now you know better for sure.

We are not alone when we cry out to God, Jesus within cries out with us.”

If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

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“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

Revelation 22 and just before tell of a time when it appears no man will change except in one direction, and this will be just before the Lord returns.

Just a little nugget before we go on. Years ago the Lord revealed something to me in my study time, after a question came to me. (Rabbis teach by asking questions.) Look at the verse first.

Revelation 21:17 (NASB) “And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.”

It is a description of the wall of the New Jerusalem. “Angelic measurements which are also human measurements?”

Here it is. The wall is 72 yards high, = 216 feet. 216 = 6 x 6 x 6.  Walls keep out; in this case, the former Arc Angel Lucifer (now Satan) and those who fail to separate themselves from him by obedience to Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Father God. (See Rev 13:18 “and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six.” and 15:2 “and them that come off victorious from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name…”

This revealing of 6x6x6 was early in my walk. It was an appetizer for future unveiled understanding.

Back to Revelation 22:10-11 (NASB) “And He *said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”

This is a warning and a sign loved ones. It is not to be sealed, or hidden away. Just before Jesus returns the one who does wrong, will still do wrong, the one who is filthy, will still be filthy, and also, let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy. There is no mention of “becoming” righteous or holy. We will stay as we are or get worse.

As we today observe the once unthinkable behavior of some let us understand that, just as we will, they are sealing their fate when at this certain point and are unchangeable, that is just before Christ returns. Jesus says in the next verse, Revelation 22:12 (NASB) “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”

At His appearance there is no chance for repentance! Only in one case, apparently, can a person change the outcome and that is not good.

“Let the one..” In other words, “So if he wills,…so if we “still practice righteousness” or “still keep himself holy,” we too will remain the same at His coming. This is critical.

If because of the lawlessness or persecution we may see (Matthew 24: 4-14) we cease to endure, maintaining the righteousness He gave us to begin with, if the holiness we have walked in via that righteousness is forfeited as we surrender to the onslaught of attacks even those perpetrated on the television via the news, by mounting our own attack in our hearts, cursing others in our hearts, then we curse ourselves by failing to practice righteousness, failing to keep ourselves holy. Jesus cast no railing accusations from the cross.

In the movie Raiders of the Lost Arc, at the climactic end of the film, Indiana Jones and the heroin of the movie are tied to posts as the bad guys open the treasured Arc of the Covenant. Bad things start to happen. Swirling spiritual beings, (angels) start to attack the Nazis soldiers, power comes out like lightening and fire killing and consuming the enemies of God’s people. In the whirlwind, Indiana Jones cries out to his girlfriend, “Miriam, don’t look, close your eyes and do not look!” After catastrophic disaster for God’s enemies,  the stormy event ends with a sudden peace. All the bad guys are gone and the Arc closed again. “Indy and Miriam (means obstinacy and rebellion, take no offense beloved reader) are standing there unbound and unharmed. She of course is now Indy’s gal. Do we see Jesus and us?

This is us loved ones. Jesus is trying to protect us!  “Don’t look, close your eyes and just don’t look.” Protect yourself! Don’t judge, don’t curse. Do not be happy as we observe their utter destruction. Do not rejoice if we win a particular vote in Congress. We are to see the dividing, the sorting, and the sifting. The more unbelievable their behavior is, the more sure the signs of Jesus returning soon. You must “practice righteousness” and you must  keep yourself holy. Jesus has shown us how.

Remember, intercede for those lost around the world and maybe mercy will come to them before it is too late; at the same time by your intercession mercy and grace will continue to flow to you.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

Michael

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    Exit Strategy

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“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

I would suggest a back channel discussion as Christians, between President Trump, VP MP and Mr. Putin. Get some things established and then the discussion of other things might go easier.

Mr. Putin’s candid sharing of family history at Christmas in my post “Putin a Christian?” presents a very different image. The majority of Christians in this country would appreciate it very much. I have shared these vids on my blog, Exitstrategydaniel12.com. I address some politics, mostly prophetic aspects of the scriptures, end times preparation and insight that I receive in prayer.

Why would I receive “special” insight from scripture? God had plans for me. 36 years ago I saw a pillar of fire. It only lasted a second or so. I did not even know what it was biblically. I was ignorant of bible knowledge at that time. A few days earlier I, “by accident,” had over heard two conversations, by individuals whom I was “working” with, about my being assassinated.

How I escaped was miraculous. Not only did I escape, I met the girl of my dreams, a Christian woman. Over years, we grew in our knowledge of scripture did marriage seminars, and we were invited four different times to Russia, to Pskov, to teach young graduating pastors marriage counseling techniques at a bible college. It is all in my book, “Exit Strategy, we initiate the return of Christ.” it is an e-book, sold everywhere.

The upheaval in congress, especially today, may have a hidden agenda as Rush Limbaugh has alluded to. If the vote had passed in current form, Mr. Trump may have found himself taking the blame later. The “swamp people” are not to be trusted too far. I hope President Trump and Mr. Putin are aware of Psalm 62:4 (NASB) “They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; they delight in falsehood; they bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Selah (which means ‘think about it’.)

God knows and is watching out for the President because He put him there. You also are in a place of great power Mr. Putin. Respectfully God put you there. How you lead and your motives are most known by God and judged by Him alone. Frankly as an American I am very encouraged by your faith especially by the extent which it can reign in your life as it is supposed to in all of us who follow. (Romans 5:21 NASB) “…that grace might reign through righteousness, to eternal life, through Christ Jesus.”

The times my wife and I spent in Russia were a supreme highlight as a married couple of 34 years and as Christians. The Russian people are wonderful. We loved our time there. My sweetheart Janis has gone ahead of me to glory two and a half years ago now.

To my most wonderful friends in Russia, pass this along to Mr. Putin.

(Please forgive my phonetic spelling.) Bog blago slavi Vas, Mr Putin, and God bless you personally also President Trump!

Michael

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $6.99

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

In my Morning Prayer time the question came to me so I asked the Lord, “Will our words be powerful in eternity?”

I wonder if we sometimes lose sight of this life preparing us for the next.

I continued, “Lord our words have power here, according to Your Word.” (Proverbs 18:21) Will our words be powerful in heaven, in eternity? Isn’t this why we must learn to control our tongues here? Does a lack of control keep us out of heaven, out of eternity, eternal life? Can we sin with our mouth to eternal destruction?

Job 31:30 (NASB) “No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life in a curse.”

Psalm 59:12-13 (NASB)
”On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be caught in their pride, And on account of curses and lies which they utter.” “Destroy them in wrath; destroy them that they may be no more; that men may know that God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah.”

Psalm 62:4 (NASB) “They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; they delight in falsehood; they bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Selah.”

Yes, inwardly,…”out of our heart our mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34)

Matthew 15:18 (NASB) “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.”

Matthew 12:36-37 (NASB) Jesus speaking, “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the Day of Judgment.” “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

By my words? BY MY WORDS?  “Jesus, I thought I was saved no matter what! Oh Lord have mercy!” He is having mercy by teaching us now.

Loved ones, the condition of our heart determines what we speak. Life and death is in the power of the tongue therefore life and death is in the power of our heart.

So…what is in our heart? What will we allow into our heart tomorrow? What might we believe about others that might not be true at all? What have they believed about us that is not true at all? What… is in our hearts? What is coming out of our mouth?

What can be in our heart, in our soul, and we still be able to enter eternity?

Shall a rebellious lot inhabit heaven? May it never be! God forbid it! And He will. He will not populate His Son’s kingdom with rebellious types. There will never be another rebellion in heaven.

There are many ways to rebel but one way that harms others as well as us. Shall a rebellious mouth be silenced in heaven where joy is unspeakable and full of glory? There will be no rebellious mouth in heaven. A humble mouth might reverently choose silence but the Lord will not allow that for long. His joy shall be our joy.

Are we mute in eternity? Where shall praise come from, how shall we then exalt His name forever?

Yes our words will have power in eternity. However, our words, our hearts, will restrict us from or admit us to the kingdom of God. “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

We have such an opportunity that purges us and purifies us as we bridle our tongues to intercede instead of describing (prophesying) the offender’s ill-doings. It is a judging process we must renounce with fervor as well as with fear (reverence) toward God.

Especially in these times and today with increasing measure when there is much we can object to, recognizing it as true, we must bridle our mouth. We must give our distress to God via intercession for the distressing.

Daniel 12:9-10 (NASB)
”He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.”

Yes, in obedience we shall purify and purge our hearts in preparation and by doing so glorify God who gave us the opportunity to think as He would think, speak as He would speak, and respond as He would respond.

How shall we rule and reign with Him if our tongue is unbridled? And where else must this be proved to Him but here and now?

Let us rejoice in our opportunity. He has made our success possible. We will see the benefit of this discipline here; now, simply another assurance that eternity is real and waiting for us to rule and reign with Him, the Prince of Peace. Our words, from our highly disciplined heart, will have great power in eternity.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

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“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

“Then,” is my responsibility.

On Monday, March 13, during prayer time, I opened randomly to Psalms 50 and 51. Psalms 50 context is a warning. Psalms 51 context is the expression of a contrite heart. You might want to open to them.

As I read each chapter, I always watch for something to jump out. Like you, I am generally aware of these verses and so I am believing the Holy Spirit will point to something within them. Yes a morsel of “all truth” that requires a guide, as Jesus spoke of.

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.” in John 16:13 (KJV)

As I noted  in Psalm 50:5-6 (NASB) “Gather My godly ones to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. And the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is judge. Selah.”

A covenant “by sacrifice?” Of course this is long before Jesus lived. “Those” is plural. It seems likely that godly ones are the ones who made (animal) sacrifices for the benefit of the covenant relationship. That has surely changed, or has it?

Today, are we any less responsible to make sacrifices for the sake of our covenant relationship with God? If this willingness to sacrifice is or is not already in our relationship with God, is the Holy Spirit pointing to “things to come?” (John 16:13 above) Is this God in Ps 50:5-6 commanding the host of heaven to gather His godly ones, (Christ-like ones) “Followers” to Himself in those days to come? Is heaven declaring God’s righteousness not only because He is but because they DO NOT have to judge? “My godly ones” have already been judged because of their sacrifice! Remember this for later.

Since God is the Judge, Psalms 19;9 (KJV) says, “… the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.  I recommend reading PS 9-14.

Psalm 19:11 (KJV) says, “Moreover by them (the judgments of God) is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” (added for clarity)

Psalm 50:23 (NASB) says, “… And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.”

We must choose to obey and order our way aright. Could this be the sacrifice “Followers” make?

Psalm 51:1 (NASB) then says, “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

Verse 2, I abbreviate, “Wash me thoroughly …cleanse me from my sin.”

Verse 3, (I do not lie to myself) “I know my transgressions.”

Verse 4 Against Thee only have I sinned…” Can any of us say that? What about others we have sinned against? Have we thrown ourselves at their feet, so to speak? Does God consider those sins less important? “You are justified Lord.” (By Your judgments your servant is warned. In keeping them there is great reward.) Is this the sacrifice being spoken of, the obedience of a humble ear, a contrite heart?

Verse 6 Although (we are) born in sin, You still desire truth in my inner self and You will make me know wisdom! Amazing!

Are we conscious of and confident in the deposits of truth and wisdom He wants us to have, those “light bulb” experiences?

Verse 8 (Please) “Make me to hear joy and gladness, don’t look upon my sins.

Verse 10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.“

Verse 11 (Please) Do not depart or remove Thy Holy Spirit from me.”

Verse 12 “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.”

Verse 13 “THEN” and now we get down to it.

“Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.”

In the end times, Daniel 12:3 (NASB) says, …”Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

Back to Psalms verse 51:17  “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”

A broken and a contrite heart, these are true sacrificial gifts to God. Sacrifices we make, not Jesus. He has done His work. Yes we make them by the “truth” the Holy Spirit brings, (John 16:13) and by the whispered judgments of our Heavenly Father. (Psalms 19:9-14)

Lord in these days You have allowed me to ask Jesus into my heart. You have also shown me the way to Your heart O Lord. Both Christ and this understanding are to my benefit for You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. What You favored then You favor now.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight O Lord my rock and my Redeemer.”  (Ps 19:14)

Lord may I find completeness as You visit my brokenness even as a good physician visits His patient faithfully. For You are my heavenly Father, the glory and the lifter of my head. May I glorify You this day, by Your Spirit Lord, by Your Spirit.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $6.99

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

As you may know I lost my beloved wife Janis two years ago last December 12. Last Thursday night I had a dream.

In the dream I somehow got separated from Janis and I could not find her. My cell phone was not working right. I could not remember her number. I could not find her. Then I saw an advertisement about her having a business and I am thinking “without me?” All this made me think she had left me as in divorced or something. “Janis left me?” “Divorced me?” “I must get in touch with her but I can’t!” It was simply very scary.

I awoke and in seconds remembered she had died and that she loved me to her very last breath as I did her. Still I could not shake the rejection and hurt such a scenario in the dream had produced. Frankly I was an emotional mess. God knows.

“OK,” the Spirit said. “Come meet with Me.” Yes Lord.

I have prayer and meeting time with the Lord every morning for the most part. I really needed it this (Friday) morning. I put on my Tallit prayer shawl as usual and entered into thanks giving and praise first. Then I asked the Lord if He wanted me to read somewhere specifically in the Word. He said, “Leviticus 7 8.” I was not sure 7:8 or chapters 7 and 8. I read all of it.

You will see it is about different sacrifices in 7 and about the process of anointing Aaron and his sons for there priestly duties in 8 ??? Right, I could not see where I was to go with this. I was starting to feel bad again. Usually it is clear what God wants me to see when I read where He tells me to. Again, I was beside myself feeling out of touch with God AND Janis.

Dejected more than frustrated I said, “Lord, I think I have heard wrong?” “Yes, He said, you have heard wrong. Your dream was “wrong hearing!” yet it grieved you.” “It was as useless as the portion of verse I just gave you to read!”

[“Yes Lord, thank you Lord. Thank You! I was free! He really had my attention. I add this here because that is how I felt but I did not right it down in my journal.]

Then immediately He started to speak to me. “The lines are being drawn, the righteous versus the globalists. The push back of the conservatives will be met with increased aggression from the globalists. “They know” what is best but their knowledge is man’s knowledge. They are pawns, “puppets on the strings of prophesy.” (A phrase He gave me before when writing Exit Strategy.)

He went on, “The righteous will respond to the accusations, which are of the Accuser of the Brethren and feel a need to placate them. They should not but they will. The fear of man will prevail instead of being strong and courageous, condemning every word spoken against them.”

Continuing He said, “These globalists are proponents of abortion, the disrespectors of God, the many that will perish in the Lake of Fire, living forever in the torment.”

Pray, they will come to their senses, renounce their error filled thinking, repent of Godless choices, seek mercy in Christ Jesus and be spared, (pray) for My names sake.”

“The times and epochs are in My heart. Are you ready? Get ready! Live day by day in the light of My promises, prophesies, and protections, protection you must wear, implement and choose. You must choose! Do you even know what to choose? I say choose the uncomfortable, the scary, the humbling. Allow yourself to be cast down. I will lift you up just as I lifted your Elder Brother. See the victory in what appears to be defeat.”

“Haven’t you learned by now, when you have done all to stand and see the glory of the Lord, your salvation?”

“I follow the darkness as dawn follows the night.”

Loved ones this has been copied out of my journal word for word as I received it. Let us prepare as we live day by day. May the fear of the Lord be upon us all and empower us because He can trust us as we serve His plan in reverence. May the joy of the Lord be our strength!

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $6.99

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

Jesus said He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. (John 14:6 NASB) Does this not imply a journey, a standard, and a destination for us, all of which occur after we meet Him?

I do not find Jesus ever implying or stating clearly, “Once you know Me and what I did for you, you are good to go.” Why? Because He was not good to go! He had something to do and we do also.

Jesus said, in Mark 8:34 (NASB77)
”…If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

The word “deny” is aparneomai Strongs G533. to deny utterly, disown, abstain: deny.

The cross of Christ was a curse that blessed us as it helped Him depart. Our cross is a blessing that helps us avoid the curse as it helps us depart.

We know Jesus, as the Son of Man, learned obedience by the things He suffered. (Hebrews 5:8)  He also learned how difficult obedience could be as the Son of Man, full of the Spirit of God. The Garden testimony proves this as He sweats as it were great drops of blood in facing His trial. He doesn’t ask to be excused once but several times, of course obediently submitting to the Fathers will and plan. (See Matthew 26: 36 – 44)

Why would we not also expect to have to learn obedience to God through the things we struggle with? Relating to Jesus as the Son of Man is not only critical but very encouraging. It is critical to eternal life and encouraging because He proved a son of man could do it!

God said to Moses in Deuteronomy 5:29 (NASB77)  ^“They have done well in all that they have spoken, Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!”

So what does this have to do with purifying ourselves? Historically we have come to understand that keeping all the various laws would be impossible. This does not apply to our means of escape into eternity. We did not gather the heart of the law. That is, to love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself. Doing that sums up the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:40 NASB)

Pure as He is pure? Is that possible? If we are going to see Him as He is, we must purify ourselves. 1 John 3:2-3 (NASB) “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. ³  And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

How do we do that? The same way He did! Remember He is The Way?

Everything we look forward to, proven after Christ’s resurrection, is the result of what He did before His resurrection!

Remember the sins that were upon Jesus, our sins? If all of our sins were laid upon Him as the sacrificial Lamb, how is it that this Lamb survived? Yes I realize He is in His resurrected form now. Still the Son of Man survived this ordeal. He gained the resurrected life we are seeking.

Remember this verse? Philippians 2:5-8 (NASB)

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ⁸  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Note He, “emptied Himself” to come here. I believe it is clear that in order for the Son of Man to accomplish His Father’s goal, to die as our reconciler and return home, to “accomplish His departure in Jerusalem, (Luke 9:31 NASB) Jesus had to escape these earthly bonds. I believe the clear evidence of how He did so is in His specific actions. Jesus had to do the same thing to leave here as He did to get here. He emptied Himself to leave! Make no mistake this is our divine task also.

How did He empty Himself? Was it, “committing suicide by cross?” Of course not! What DID He do on the cross? What did He NOT do? There were no railing accusations, no curses, not even in those last “forsaken hours.”

Jesus accomplished His mission when He forgave us, when He emptied Himself of all earthly baggage, the offenses, the injustice, the stuff like that which is in our souls today; stuff that will never be smuggled into heaven! Never! Only hearts at peace having made peace will enter in.

Romans: 12:18 (NASB77) ^“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

Hebrews 12:14 (NASB77) “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.”

We have a mission also, one we will die for in a divine death if we can grasp the glory in Christ. It is a reconciling rescue mission. Our purity, in the fear of the Lord, will get it done.

His mission was not just to die for us. Teaching us by the power of the Holy Spirit, expressing the Father’s instructions, simplifying the law as a new husband, the former husband dying (figuratively) as Jesus satisfied the Law Himself being the last and perfect sacrifice. (see Romans 7:1-6) Jesus, ordained by His (and our) heavenly Father, pointed to the heart and Spirit of what the law was supposed to accomplish. Jesus as the Son of Man gave us a key of all keys, opening the Way, the path of righteousness, to eternity. (See Romans 5:21) It is the path He took, the key He used, to accomplish His departure! What path? What key?

While bearing the weight of our sins, (not His) He forgave us, no He went further and interceded for us! We beat Him half to death; we rejected Him, He was innocent but many called Him guilty, a fake, a false prophet, a blasphemer. He remained silent until the Word of God came to His lips.

So what did Jesus do? Jesus forgave everything we had done up to that moment. He implemented the Word of God to accomplish His departure.

Matthew 6:14 (NASB77)
 “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

He became sin legally as the silent, the perfect Lamb led to slaughter. As good as dead by crucifixion but not yet dead, He forgives us, interceding and poof…. Like a confetti balloon, all those sins are gone!  He has purified Himself just as we can! Jesus goes and gets the keys to death, hell and the grave not as the biggest sinner (bearing our sins) but as the spotless, pure Lamb, the Son of Man our majestic Savior, the Christ!

It appears Jesus thought that once He forgave us (on the cross) He would depart immediately. Jesus cries out to God, thinking in His heart, “Why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

Do you remember this verse? John 10:17-18 (NASB77)

^” For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. ¹⁸  No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

Not only do we see now how Jesus through grace and intercession purified Himself of our sins, I believe this verse above explains why Jesus remained on the cross for those extra hours.

Even “forsaken” Jesus did not curse us or betray the Father’s plan. As a Spirit filled Son of Man Jesus proved WE could endure as Spirit filled sons of men. At some point in the future we may also wonder, like John the Baptist did when Jesus left him in prison, but God never really forsook Jesus. How do I know? In spite of His physical condition, the Word of God was still hidden in the Lord’s heart. Finally…. I believe the Holy Spirit brought back to Jesus His own words just as He will do for us.

Jesus was not dead yet because He had not laid down His life! Nobody was to take it. He was to lay it down! (John 10:18)

Once He did….

Luke 23:44-46 (NASB77) “And it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, ⁴⁵  the sun being obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶  And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO THY HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.” And having said this, He breathed His last.

Oh loved ones. Let us purify ourselves as He is pure. Let us purge ourselves of all unrighteousness. By God’s grace reigning in our lives, ruling over our conflicts through forgiveness, let us as generously grant grace after having received an abundance ourselves. Yes we must receive grace and now we know why it is far better to give than receive.

Remember Jesus granted grace, and departed successfully.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

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