Easter 2, Jesus Knew in Advance, He would Suffer.

I don't Know why I'm up at this Hour.  I just don't feel all that Tired somehow.  The Blogs have all been Pretty Quiet, including this one.  Do you know that out of the 20 Blogs that I used to Follow, just before I stopped Blogging for awhile between March 5 of last Year and February 18 of this one, there are Only 7 of the 20 that are Still Active.

I was Reluctant at First to Venture Out much in Commenting on the Blogs because I've found some of the Arguing that Takes Place on the Blogs to be quite Tiring.  Even on my Own Blog, it can be Tiring being continuously Challenged to Defend every singly thing that I say.  I Lament about it, yet you know what?  Feeling a little Tired at times is nothing compared to what Christ Suffered.

I'm still thinking about Easter, since that is what my Last Post was about and somehow Easter is still on my Mind.  Christ Suffered quite a lot for our sakes and I really wonder at times how People can miss realizing that.  As I am now Thinking about the Gospels and what can be said from Jesus' own Words that Explains what He did, Right now the Scriptures that come to Mind are...

"19)  Jesus answered and said unto them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.'  20) Then said the Jews, 'Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?'  21) But He spake of the temple of His body.  22) When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said."  (John 2:19-22, KJV)

"39) But He answered and said unto them, 'An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.  40) For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.'"  (Matthew 12:39-40, KJV) 

"Little children, yet a little while I am with you.  Ye' shall seek Me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come."  (John 13:33, KJV)

And...

"Simon Peter said unto Him, 'Lord, whither goest thou?'  Jesus answered him, 'Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.'"  (John 13:36, KJV)

In all of these Verses, Christ is Talking about His Death and Resurrection.  He Knew what was going to happen before it actually took Place.  He even knew how Peter was going to Respond. 

"Jesus answered him, 'Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake?  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 'The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.'"  (John 13:38, KJV)

And here is Evidence that He did it Willingly.

"Saying, 'Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done.'"  (Luke 42:22, KJV)

And you know what?  This is another Evidence of His Suffering that is not Mentioned quite as Often as the Crucifixion on the Cross...

"43  And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening 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.  45) And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping."  (Luke 22:43-45, KJV)

Wow!!  I don't Know why this Message came to me after Easter, but here it is.

Easter Post - O Jerusalem, Jerusalem

Is there any way for me to Make my Blog more Peaceful.  I don't feel like Debating right now.  It's Easter.  Christ Loves you and has Died for your Sins.  That's What Christians Teach.  It is a Very Special and Meaningful Message that can Change the Lives of those who Believe it.  Perhaps I will one day be willing to Debate with the Non-Believers who wish to Discredit this message, but that is not the Reason for this Post.  It's Easter.  It's a Holiday.  It's Time for a Truce.

Here is a Passage about Christ's Love that is a Little Different than just the General Easter Message that He died for you...

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"  (Matthew 23:37, KJV)

Or do you Prefer it in the NIV?

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."  (Matthew 23:37, NIV)

I'm even going to allow you to Read the Entire Chapter if you Like and in Three different Translations, so Take your Pick which of the three you wish to read.  Matthew 23 NASB, NIV, KJV.

Interestingly, the First Part of this Chapter is about Religious Hypocrisy.  It's not Actually just about those who do not Believe, but also about those who are already Religious, but do not really Know God.  These are Like Wolves in Sheep's Clothing.  They are Religious, but not really Followers of God.  This Same Phenomena Exists in the Current Christian Churches and Unfortunately, is the Reason Why some of you Have Chosen not to believe in Christ.

Huh.  I was just reading this Passage just now and Thinking about how it is Perfect for at least one of the Things that I have been Wanting to say to those who Follow my Blog.  No Wonder God Brought it to my Mind.

You see there are Eight Woes, in which Jesus is coming down very Hard on the Religious Leaders of His Day.  One of my Favorite of the Verses is...

"You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!"  (Matthew 23:24, NASB)

And there also is a Warning...

 "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how ^[y]will you escape the ^[z]sentence of ^[aa]hell?"  (Matthew 23:33, NASB)

All This Strong Language spoken to the Religious Leaders of the Day.  No Not to the Basic Every Day Sinner, but to the Religious Leaders, yet after this comes the Lament... 

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!  How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling."  (Matthew 23:37, NASB)

Don't you see?  Jesus Loves all People and wants to save all People, including the Hypocrites that have Hurt some of you and He also Loves You.  Please Remember, though, you have not been Hurt by Jesus, but by Hypocrites, much like those that Jesus is Speaking out against in this Passage.