There is no greater news than knowing that God, the Creator of the universe, wants to be our friend and guide us through life. This allows us to love Him and relate to others in the best possible way.
The origin of God’s friendship with humans began when He chose to be friends with Abraham, the patriarch of Israel. However, His plan was always to include all of humanity.
God’s promise to Abraham was: “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12.3).
Five hundred years before Jesus’s time on Earth, Zechariah conveyed God’s promise of friendship, which was not limited to Israel but extended to all of humanity.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, the inhabitants of many cities; the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying,
‘Come, let us go to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.’
“Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from nations of every language shall take hold of a Jew, grasping his garment and saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you’” (Zechariah 8.20-23).
Rudy Ross and I produce daily videos on Bible topics that I cover in my blog. Rudy is Jewish and I’m a Gentile. Rudy and I have talked about anti-Semitism, and he believes that the intense negativity towards Jewish people originates from the evil one. I agree with him.
The evil one knows that God has chosen the Jewish people to be the blessing that God will give to the rest of the world. Thus, he opposes them because of his intense hatred of God.
There will come a time when God will change the hearts of people. They will look to what God has done through the Jewish people and their Messiah, Jesus Christ, and say, “How can I have the blessing of God that was promised to Abraham?”
In the meantime, all of us, both Jewish and Gentile believers, have this mandate from our Lord and Savior.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
“And teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28.18-20).
Both religious leaders and governmental authorities challenged Jesus’s authority. The issue of authority answers the question: who is in control here?
After the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus was able to say, “All authority is mine. I am in control.”
How does Jesus use His authority?
He tells people who recognize his authority that our job is to help others experience the blessing given to Abraham and Zechariah, which is available to us through the crucifixion, resurrection, and gift of the Holy Spirit.
The blessings associated with baptism and teaching comprise two key elements. The first involves being baptized, or deeply immersed, in the life of the Trinity.
This experience transcends mere physical immersion in water, offering a profound opportunity to live in close relationship with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in a tangible and meaningful way.
The second element centers on the opportunity to teach others the lessons Jesus imparted to us. While starting points might include the Sermon on the Mount, it’s equally important to consider Jesus’s life—his actions and teachings—as a model.
Engaging with these teachings offers us the chance to lead the most fulfilled and blessed lives possible.
Many of my blog readers might not witness the time when God moves the hearts of countless individuals to approach the Jewish community, asking, “How can I receive the blessing that God has bestowed upon you?”
Yet, each of us has the potential to impact one or two acquaintances by leading them to the Lord through our actions and personal testimonies.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It can be found on the Bob Spradling channel.
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