Teacher

TEACHER

Second part of nine in Who is Jesus? Advent series

John 3:2:  “He [a Pharisee named Nicodemus] came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God.  For no one could perform the miraculous signs You are doing if God were not with Him.’”

 

            Jesus loved Nicodemus just like He also loves you and me (like a big Brother).  He tells Nicodemus a confusing truth.

            What great teachers—like Jesus—care most about is students’ growth.  They challenge students to learn truths for victory in life.   

            “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless his is born again.” Jesus declared in John 3:3. 

            Nicodemus was stunned. 

            Jesus explained in John 3:5, “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” 

            Nicodemus exclaimed, “How can this be?” 

            Jesus cut Nicodemus to his very core in John 3:10 and 12.  “You are Israel’s teacher, and you do not understand these things? … I have spoken to you about earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?  No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.” 

            Jesus then taught the heart of His message, in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 

            The Pentecostal church preached this same message in the 1960s.  “Are you born again?” became a question their members asked people on the street.  Wise Believers know that God’s Spirit enters a person’s heart when confessing belief in Jesus as Savior.  We would smile and say, “Definitely!”  Meeting a fellow child of God on the street can be fun!  When God’s Spirit comes inside, Believers become new creations, or “born again!”  

            See the lesson liked below.

Take Home Nugget

            Many Believers forget that Jesus is also the son of David.  Matthew 1:1 begins, “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham,…” 

            There are fourteen generations from Abraham to King David, fourteen generations from David to Israel’s exile to Babylon, and fourteen generations from the exile to the birth of Jesus.  (Matthew 1:17). 

            Psalm 132:11-12 says, “The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath that He will not revoke:  One of your own descendants I will place on your throne—if your sons keep My covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their son will sit on your throne for ever and ever.” 

Jesus is next to sit on David’s throne at his millennia reign!

                                                                                                                                                           

             Adapted from “There’s a Title for That” by John UpChurch.  Crosswalk.com Contributor.  November 4, 2016,

J.D. Griffith

 

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Teacher

 

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

 

                   Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com  

 

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Laminin

LAMININ

First part of nine in Who is Jesus? Advent series

Colossians 1:15-18:  “¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  ¹⁶For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: all things were created by Him and for Him.  ¹⁷He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. ¹⁸And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have supremacy.”

 

            Wherever science and God’s creation find total agreement with each other, we ought to take notice.  Laminin is such a word. 

            Medical Definition of laminin:  a glycoprotein that is a component of connective tissue basement membrane and that promotes cell adhesion

 

            Laminin holds all parts of the body together…just like Jesus holds everything in the universe together!  Colossians 1:17 describes laminin!          

“Laminin….it is an amazing molecule. The following is the definition of Laminin, as found on wikipedia:

“Laminin is a protein found in the extracellular matrix, the sheets of protein that form the substrate of all internal organs also called the basement membrane. It is the major non-collagenous component of the basal lamina, such as those on which cells of an epithelium sit. It has four arms that can bind to four other molecules. The three shorter arms are particularly good at binding to other laminin molecules, which is what makes it so great at forming sheets. The long arm is capable of binding to cells, which helps anchor the actual organs to the membrane.

“Structurally, the laminin protein is made up of three polypeptide chains – α, β and γ, giving it a total of six “ends”, accounting for a lot of its flexibility in connecting various molecules.

 

 “They are a family of glycoproteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding in almost every animal tissue. Laminins are secreted and incorporated into cell-associated extracellular matrices.

 

            “Now it is amazing what the function of this little molecule is…laminin is responsible for holding all of our body structures together…basically, it is the rebar of our body.

“But what is most amazing is actually what laminin looks like, or the sight of it. Laminin is actually in the shape of a cross.  Laminin, the very thing that holds our bodies together, is in the shape of a cross.”  Colton Jansen

 

This is not a “Christian” portrayal of laminin:

 

 

Isn’t our God the COOLEST?

 

 

            There are more descriptions of Jesus that you didn’t know before now.  This Advent series is created so that by Christmas time, you’ll have a wonderful portrait of the Christ child—that doesn’t look anything like a baby. 

            Mommies and daddies imagine great things for their tiny babies.  Mary and Joseph were no exception.  Although they believed the angel’s naming Jesus and that He would save people from their sins, Immanuel is a name that’s overwhelming.  (Matthew 1:20-21). 

            God with us?  Are you kidding me?  How would Mary and Joseph raise a baby God?  Good thing that Jesus came as a baby, because He had to learn everything about being human (just as we do)!

            Mary and Joseph didn’t know that Jesus is the Word.  John 1:1 would have really freaked them out!  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” 

            “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:3 reminds us of…oh right…”For by Him all things were created” from Colossians 1:16.           

Take Home Nugget

            At least both parents could understand that Jesus is both the Son of God and Son of Man.  Apostle Peter confirms in Mathew 16:16, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” 

            Jesus said of Himself in Matthew 17:11-12: “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.  But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished.  In the same way the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.”

Help me, Lord, to really know You!

 

             Adapted from “There’s a Title for That” by John UpChurch.  Crosswalk.com Contributor.  November 4, 2016,

J.D. Griffith

 

Clickhere for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Laminin

 

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

 

                   Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com  

 

Here’s an eBook by J.D. Griffith:    

 

  To order “The Thing is…” click here

 

Recent eBook by J.D. Griffith: 

  Click here to purchase a copy of Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion   eBook only $2.99

Persistent Sarah

PERSISTENT SARAH

 

Philippians 3:12-14:  “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing   I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

 

            The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in October, 1621.  But it wasn’t until October, 1777 that all 13 colonies celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time.  Despite George Washington’s having declared a National Day of Thanksgiving, the colonies ended the holiday because they were too busy fighting!

            Sarah Josepha Hale was a magazine editor who wouldn’t stop until Thanksgiving returned as a National holiday.  For forty (yes, 40) years, she wrote letters to governors and presidents.   She wrote editorials in magazines and newspapers.  She wrote books—all promoting the observance of Thanksgiving Day. 

            Finally, in 1863, President Lincoln got word of her campaign.  He reinstated the National Day of Thanksgiving.  Since then, every succeeding president supported celebrating Thanksgiving Day.  The date changed to the last Thursday in November, but it’s been a National holiday ever since.

            Way to go, Sarah!  Impressive persistence! 

            What can we learn from persistent Sarah?  Apostle Paul writes of his life of faith in sports’ terms as a race.  A marathon.  Living the Christian life is not a sprint to the finish line.  But sometimes it feels that we can reach out and touch it.  Newly-saved-for-eternal-life people often are so filled with God’s Spirit that they can’t stop talking about Jesus. 

            Can you remember having that zeal?

            Isn’t fire what God’s indwelling Spirit brings?  Each Believer is charged with the same “Great Commission” that Jesus gave His disciples before He ascended into heaven (Matthew 28:18-20).

            (See the lesson, linked below).

            I know this command isn’t new.  Has your fire cooled to a simmer?  Has your fire been doused with water and is out?  When was the last time you shared your faith with someone who’s hurting?

           

Take Home Nugget

            We can break Jesus’ Great Commission whale of a command into smaller fish to offer people.  Each day offers a fresh beginning to choose between right and wrong.  Each day offers chances to help someone in need.  Each day begins with opportunities to pray and read God’s Word.

            What if Sarah had stopped writing letters about Thanksgiving?  What if Paul had stopped writing letters to the churches he established?  Wasn’t it Paul who first used the word “persevere”? 

Holy Father, help me—in Jesus’ name—to be persistent for Your Kingdom when I want to stop.  Amen.

 

Adapted from “Thanksgiving: A Story of Persistence” by Kelly McFadden

J.D. Griffith

 

Clickhere for Interactive-Online-Lesson for Persistent Sarah

 

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

 

                   Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com  

 

Here’s an eBook by J.D. Griffith:    

 

  To order “The Thing is…” click here

 

Recent eBook by J.D. Griffith: 

  Click here to purchase a copy of Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion   eBook only $2.99

God Sees Blood & Shows Mercy

GOD SEES BLOOD & SHOWS MERCY

Leviticus 16:14:  “He, [Aaron], is to take some of the bull’s blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement [ark of the covenant] cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover.”

            Raiders of the Lost Ark is a movie that shows God’s wrath when the Ark was opened.  People who violate the holy chest God commanded be made to carry precious items of remembrance, violate God!  But the movie is not Biblically accurate.  Demons were never part of God’s plan of remembrance! 

            This ark is shown in 2 Chronicles 35:3: “Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of King David of Israel built”.  This ark displays God’s mercy after people’s rebellion. 

            Hebrews 9:3-4 details the ark’s holiness: “Behind the second curtain [in the temple), was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.  This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.” 

            The gold jar of manna represents human rejection of God’s provision.  Aaron’s staff reminds people that they rejected God’s leadership.  Two stone tablets contain the Ten Commandments, reminding us of God’s holy standard that we cannot keep.  Because God delights in mercy, He stored these items inside a chest with a lid showing two cherubim (angels) on the mercy seat (Hebrews 9:5). 

            Once a year, the high priest would enter the holy of holies in the Tabernacle and sprinkle the blood of the animal sacrifice on the mercy seat seven times.  The cherubim represent God’s eyes that do not see man’s rebellion.  In His mercy, God only sees the blood and accepts the people as His.

            Thousands of years has only changed this holy ceremony in one way: it is Jesus’ blood that God sees covering His people.  The priest’s sprinkling the blood seven times represent perfection.  God accepts Believers-in-Christ as His because we’re covered with Jesus’ blood.  Jesus lived a perfect life and obeyed His Father perfectly.  We, who are covered with Jesus’ blood, are also seen as perfect and righteous by the Father!    See the lesson, linked below. 

Take Home Nugget

             God does not see His kids’ sins.  We are welcome into our heavenly Father’s throne room because He only sees His Son’s blood covering us.

            “Come!” He says.  “Don’t be shy.  Jesus hangs out here telling Me all about you!  What do you want to ask Me?”

Holy Father, I only want to thank You for Your forgiveness and mercy.  Thank You, Jesus for covering me with Your blood of perfection!  Thank You for loving me all the time! Amen.

Adapted from “Jesus’ Blood is on the Mercy Seat” by Joseph Prince.  November 4, 2016.  www.JosephPrince.org   South Carolina.

J.D. Griffith

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for God Sees Blood & Shows Mercy

For FREE Online Bible Study Resources click here.

                   Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com  

Here’s an eBook by J.D. Griffith:   

  To order “The Thing is…” click here

Recent eBook by J.D. Griffith:   

 Click here to purchase a copy of Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion   eBook only $2.99