Above All

By THE SPIRIT it is written in Hebrews chapter 13:

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

If there is any verse we must keep at the forefront this is the verse.  Jesus is the manifested Word and Divine Intent of FATHER and we must compare any position, argument, or reasoning against the Standard of Jesus Christ’s spoken Words.  Jesus did not promote the excessive commentary of His Words found in the New Testament.  Further, He did not promote complexity by establishing more commandments and statutes for people to live by.  In fact, He reduced the need to memorize 613 commandments and statutes by clearing stating the Divine Intent of the Law in Matthew chapter 22:

34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Which would you rather do- memorize six hundred thirteen commandments and statutes or know and understand two?  Jesus promoted simplicity so that no one would be left behind due to their intellect.  The experts in the law approached Jesus and He corrected them.  Saul (who was Paul) had advanced training and knowledge of the Law yet he persecuted believers because of their faith in Jesus Christ.  Saul’s understanding was “darkened” and he did not realize it until his corrective interview with Jesus found in Acts chapter 9:

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.

4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Jesus appeared to Saul as a bright light and Saul fell to the ground.  Saul’s understanding would no longer be “darkened” because the light had arrived and consumed the darkness.  Further, Saul could not see for three days and Saul fasted during the time of blindness.  To confirm His Word, Jesus sent Ananias to miraculously open Saul’s eyes as a confirmation that Jesus’ Words were True:

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

Saul had spent his entire life training and studying to become an expert yet in three days all of his assumptions were toppled.  Jesus did not preach some lengthy message but simply dealt with Saul in a direct and decisive manner.  How simple!  Has Jesus changed from this simplicity?  No, for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

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