Galatians 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Renewing the theme of Christ's knowledge of upcoming death on the cross; it is hard not to sympathize with the disciples who were "exceedingly sorry" ( Matt. 17:23) or something to that affect. For Christ to be able to even concentrate on anything else is remarkable at least looking at my own pitiful faith and willingness to die for Christ. This may be the best kept secret in the Gospels; we see it later on ( Galatians 2:20); but Christ was in some sense dying to self even though He had no sin; His life demonstrated total dependence on the Spirit. Doing this explains what only saying what the Father tells Him to say ( John 12:49) demonstrates. Jesus wasn't going to operate in His own strength; even though He was sinless it would involve deviating from His call and mission which would have been wrong. These actions would cause Him to be promoted in some ways as a man as the Father gave Him "all authority in heaven and earth" ( Matt. 28:18); along with other promises for His upcoming Millennial reign. As the Creator surely He had all authority in one sense; but in God's Divine plan He would have to come first as the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 before coming back in vengeance and flaming fire ( 2 Thessalonians 1:8). This illustrates how He as the first of the firstfruits came before the rest of the N.T. saints and how we; in turn can gain rewards through obedience; including martyrdom with specific crowns for this and other works of the Spirit in a believer's life and faith walk.
As a general statement we can also say that Christ was never half hearted about anything. Whether it was care for His mother during His crucifixion delegated to John; telling all the woman at the well had done; rebuking the religious establishment for hypocricy; overturning the moneychangers we see righteous love and indignation.
Galatians 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Renewing the theme of Christ's knowledge of upcoming death on the cross; it is hard not to sympathize with the disciples who were "exceedingly sorry" ( Matt. 17:23) or something to that affect. For Christ to be able to even concentrate on anything else is remarkable at least looking at my own pitiful faith and willingness to die for Christ. This may be the best kept secret in the Gospels; we see it later on ( Galatians 2:20); but Christ was in some sense dying to self even though He had no sin; His life demonstrated total dependence on the Spirit. Doing this explains what only saying what the Father tells Him to say ( John 12:49) demonstrates. Jesus wasn't going to operate in His own strength; even though He was sinless it would involve deviating from His call and mission which would have been wrong. These actions would cause Him to be promoted in some ways as a man as the Father gave Him "all authority in heaven and earth" ( Matt. 28:18); along with other promises for His upcoming Millennial reign. As the Creator surely He had all authority in one sense; but in God's Divine plan He would have to come first as the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 before coming back in vengeance and flaming fire ( 2 Thessalonians 1:8). This illustrates how He as the first of the firstfruits came before the rest of the N.T. saints and how we; in turn can gain rewards through obedience; including martyrdom with specific crowns for this and other works of the Spirit in a believer's life and faith walk.
As a general statement we can also say that Christ was never half hearted about anything. Whether it was care for His mother during His crucifixion delegated to John; telling all the woman at the well had done; rebuking the religious establishment for hypocricy; overturning the moneychangers we see righteous love and indignation.
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