To all those who have accepted the challenge to walk together in the God Called Passion of Heritage Fellowship,
Recently, I did a study on the synoptic gospels to find what stories in the life of Jesus appeared in all four of the gospels. This is a study you can easily find in many resources, but it is extremely important. God desires that we become people of The Book. Heaven and earth shall pass away but My Word, says the Lord, will not pass away.
- Matthew presents Jesus as the King and Messiah and focuses on what Jesus said.
- Mark directs our attention to Jesus as the Servant of God and speaks of what Jesus did.
- Luke Pictures Jesus as the Son of Man and therefore opens the window for us to see what Jesus felt.
- John Portrays Jesus as the Son of God emphasizing who Jesus was.
When you look into the scripture like this you can find a wealth of insight into what the Holy Spirit impressed the writers to record as they were moved to write the Holy Script.
There were only ten themes that you find recurring in all four gospels. These verses being important enough for the Holy Spirit to place emphasis on should be important to us as well. They are as follows:
The beginning of the ministry of Jesus. Matthew 4:12
The miraculous feeding of the five thousand. Luke 9:14-16
The Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem on a young colt. Mark
The foretelling of Jesus' betrayer in their midst. John 13:21
The denial of Jesus by Peter foretold. Matthew 26: 69-74
Pilates Sentence of Jesus. Mark 11:8-11.
The Crucifixion of Jesus.
The Death of Jesus.
The Burial of Jesus in a borrowed Tomb.
The Disciples went to the Tomb, to the empty Tomb, because death could not hold Him. The grave did not have the final word, BUT THE WORD (JESUS) DID.
Simply stated, this is the Gospel Message in divine order and sequence. I live and die by this message and cling to the truth because my life depends on it. This is our anchor, our eternal hope, our substance of things hoped for. This is what the disciples were willing to die for. This is what I hold on to, with Blessed Hope and anticipation of what He has gone to prepare for us. Why? Because He lives, we shall live also. It was in His death He saved me. New life He gave us; and in so, doing He delivered us from sin and shame.
Some will know this old hymn of the church, the younger ones may not, but it's message is as fresh today and the day it was written and first sung around the world:
I'M PRESSING ON THE UPWARD WAY
1
I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith on Canaan's tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
2
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
3
I want to live above the world,
Though Satan's darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
4
I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I'll pray till rest I've found,
"Lord, lead me on to higher ground."
May God richly bless you today and remember: 10 For God, the Faithful One is not unfair. How can he forget the beautiful work you have done for him? He remembers the love you demonstrate as you continually serve his beloved ones for the glory of his name. (Hebrews 6:10 The Passion Translation)
In His Grip your loving pastors,
