For a few years prior to my surgery in 2020, I was finding myself getting depressed. I was feeling tired and couldn’t understand why I was winding down in my abilities. After surgery it became obvious that the bacteria had been slowly strangling the life out of me. I just thought it was old age. But the bacteria were slowly growing and squeezing my spinal cord into deterioration. Now I have great energy, I’m just missing a body that can use it.
We can all find difficulties in our lives. Understanding why can be a real challenge. That is why it is very important that we don’t judge other people and their conditions. We never know what is going on in their lives. I sure had no idea what was going on in my own life and body. Only the power of God was able to save me and take me from being a paralyzed man to one who can walk and work. Sometimes it felt like I was buried under a ton of weight. But now, I have the energy and am working at restoring my body to match the energy.
We must roll away the barriers, even if they are made of stone, that keep the Lord entombed away from us. We must let the Lord of Life rise up in our lives and fill us with His light. We must put forth the effort to pray for His joy, happiness and peace. He will give it when we accept it. Instead of looking around at all the difficulties and problems in the ministry and in my life, I must look around at all the blessings the Lord has given me. It isn’t easy looking past the problems, but it can be done. With the power of God in our lives we can look up into the sky, instead of down at the earth. God is waiting for us to see the good, pleasant, beautiful and holy in and around our lives.
Luke 24:1 to Luke 24:53
But at early dawn on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.
Many of us go to our churches, church meetings and church gatherings as if we were going to a funeral. We take what we have prepared, but forget what God has prepared for us. We are looking down, not up.
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus.
Most go to church, church meetings and church gatherings expecting to find Jesus. Probably He isn’t there. Jesus wants to meet us in our hearts. He wants to meet us individually where He can address our personal needs without a crowd to get in the way.
While they were puzzling over this, two men in dazzling robes suddenly stood beside them.
Many are standing by puzzled and in confusion since they go to church, meetings and groups to find Jesus, but don’t. Yet, if they would look away they would find the angels of God waiting to talk to them.
While the women remained terrified, bowing their faces to the ground, the men asked them, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is living?
When we bow before the truth, with our faces to the ground, we will hear the truth. Why are we trying to find a living Jesus among churches and meetings and groups who are dead in their sins and know not the power of Jesus? Bad company corrupts good character, said Paul. Just because they may be in church doesn’t mean they aren’t “bad company”. After all, that is where the bad company was who yelled out to crucify Jesus. They were all good church members.
He is not here, but has been raised. Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee:
Get away! Go to Jesus. He has told us to meet with Him in the fields, the lakes, the forests and any place where it is quiet. Never has He told us to meet Him in church.
‘The Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day.’ ”
How did He know He would rise on the third day? He read His Old Testament! For years I was troubled by that. He kept referring back to the Old Testament with regards to His resurrection on the third day. But I couldn’t find it. After reading the Bible cover to cover over 150 times I was unable to see it. One day I asked the Spirit to guide me and show me. He did.
“ For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, you will not allow your holy one to experience corruption.” Psalm 16:10. There it was all along. After doing a Google search and learning that “corruption” of the body begins about 36 hours after death, the math is simple, Jesus died at 3 pm on Friday and 36 hours later, 3 am on Sunday morning “while it was still dark”, Jesus rose from the tomb. That puts an end to all discussion as to when Jesus died or rose from the tomb. Dying on Wednesday or rising on Monday would make a liar out of the Old Testament.
This verse was used by the apostles in their defense of the resurrection of Jesus. On the day of Pentecost Peter used this verse twice to convince the Jews that the prophecy had been fulfilled in Jesus. (Acts 2:27, 31). Paul used this text in Antioch to defend the resurrection of Jesus to the Jews. (Acts 13:35, 37).
This had nothing to do with just a “resurrection”. Moses was resurrected from the grave. Lazarus was resurrected from the grave. At the resurrection of Jesus, a multitude of people had been resurrected from the grave. No, it had to do with the fact that Jesus is the only person, in recorded history, to have ever been raised from the grave without experiencing corruption. That is significant!
Then the women remembered Jesus’ words.
It is easy to be distracted from the words of Jesus. That is why I am constantly reading the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy over and over and over again. Each time I find new things, but also, I refresh the old. We must never forget the words of Jesus. We must never mix them with human wisdom. Remember Jesus’ Words!
They returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven disciples and all the others.
We have a responsibility to report “all these things” to those around us. Never let the hope and joy of eternal life be dimmed by earthly things. Go from your dead churches and share the good news to all around you.
The women who told the apostles about it were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some others.
There are times when a message may come to you by a most unlikely source. Don’t dismiss it just because the messenger is a woman, a child, a homeless person, an inmate or a person of another religion or race. Listen! Research, not from your church, pastor or denomination’s perspective, but by the Bible.
But what they said seemed nonsense to them, so they did not believe them.
Typical behavior of church people. I get it all the time. Since what this ministry teaches doesn’t align with what the churches, denominations and pastors teach or believe, it seems like “nonsense” to church people.
Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. He stooped down and saw only the linen cloths. Then he went home, wondering about what had happened.
It is a good thing Peter was impulsive and an individual renegade. He was a person who liked to think for himself. Yes, it may have at times gotten him into trouble, but God likes us to be a bit crazy. Noah was crazy. He built a boat in a forest. Abraham was nuts for picking up and leaving his relatives to follow a “voice” in his head to a strange land. Moses was seeing things. David was in La La land making music on his harp and throwing stones at giants. Elijah was walking around in a camel’s suit pointing fingers and making crazy predictions. Get the point? God needs people willing to be “crazy” and listening to Him. The world is “normal” and doesn’t want to listen to Jesus. Go to the crazies.
On the same day, two of Jesus’ followers were walking to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about all these things that had taken place.
I am sure they were not the only ones talking about “these things”. All Jerusalem was. The priests, Pharisees, teachers of the law and even the beggars were talking about all these things. What made these two different was the fact that they were not making fun of these things, or being cynical, or putting everything into a church paradigm, no they were searching their minds and pulling out Scripture and trying to understand with a heart of faith, love and truth.
While they were discussing and analyzing what had happened, Jesus himself approached and began to walk with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
Often the Lord will be right beside us, but He doesn’t want us to know Him just yet. We must first learn to listen to Him. We must understand His words before we can appreciate Him. Too many churches are simply speaking His name and entertaining with feelings and objects of “worship”, but few are listening to His words.
He asked them, “What are you discussing with each other as you’re walking along?” They stood still and looked gloomy.
Many times we forget to see the human side of Jesus. Quietly, respectfully and with true interest, He asked them what they were talking about. He could have just blurted out, “I’m Jesus”! But that would not have solved the problem. What was the problem? They knew Jesus, they had been walking with Him for about three years, but they didn’t know Jesus from prophecy. Sometimes we can get too close to something and not see it, or understand it completely. Sometimes you have to back up and see the whole picture. Jesus was backing them up and taking them back into Old Testament history to see the prophecies that pointed to Christ. That would allow them to place their faith, not just in the person of Christ, but in the prophecies that pointed to Him. They needed to have their faith in the Old Testament strengthened. We don’t do enough of that today. The devil is working very hard to take our faith away from the Old Testament. Paul worked very hard to bring the people back to the Old Testament Scriptures. “From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to give you the wisdom you need for salvation through faith in the Messiah Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good action. 2 Timothy 3:15-17. Notice, he didn’t tell Timothy to go to church to learn, he told him to go to Scripture, Old Testament to Paul.
The one whose name was Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know what happened there in the past few days?” He asked them, “What things?” They answered him, “The events involving Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, mighty in what he said and did before God and all the people, and how our high priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and had him crucified.
Did you hear that? They had been looking at Jesus from His present situation: a prophet, mighty in works and words. But they didn’t know Jesus from Scripture, the Messiah. It is prophecy that builds our faith. God has always given prophecy in order to help us have faith in Him as the only One who knows what the future holds. We need that kind of faith in our lives today. Trust in God by living in obedience to His Word and believe the prophecies!
Also, as stated many times, it was the church that handed Jesus over to be crucified. Stay away from churches.
But we kept hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel. What is more, this is now the third day since these things occurred.
They were looking to the future in selfishness. They should have been looking back in faith. If they had put Scripture to Jesus they would have found a beautiful fit. But they were more involved with the future of Israel, and themselves, than in the prophetic understanding of Jesus and His work. They wanted a Messiah who would conquer their enemies and make Israel great.
Even some of our women have startled us by what they told us. They were at the tomb early this morning and didn’t find his body there, so they came back and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who were saying that he was alive.
Do you see? It is so easy to let our church and selfish desires cloud our perceptions. Many are doing the same today with the “coming of Jesus”. They have allowed their selfish desires cloud their perceptions and the truth about the “coming of Jesus”. He isn’t coming as they have been told. They are just expecting Him to “pop” out of the sky. Won’t happen that way. Just as there were prophetic events that pointed to Jesus at His first coming, so there are prophetic events pointing to Jesus and His second coming. But today people are still looking for Jesus to “pop” out of the sky as the church was looking for Jesus to just “pop” out of nowhere. But he “grew up” among them. That was too slow for the church. Many prophecies still need to be fulfilled. But most are not understanding or looking for them. Running around looking for Jesus to “pop” out of the sky is done with pride and selfishness thinking they will be picked up and all the rest destroyed. How prideful!
Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. However, they didn’t see him.”
There are events that will happen, but people don’t want to hear of them because it means they will not see Him come as they want Him to come. Selfishness. Pride. Ego. How foolish we are.
Then Jesus told them, “O, how foolish you are! How slow you are to believe everything the prophets said! The Messiah had to suffer these things and then enter his glory, didn’t he?”
You see, it was hard for them to believe if it entailed suffering and rejection by the church. The same today. We want the show. We want the praise. We want the honor. There is a lot of suffering yet to come if you want to get to Heaven.
Then, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them all the passages of Scripture about himself.
We need to go back to Scripture and start listening to them explain what is coming. Our website and the book, “Change Your Life Biblically” explains some major events that still have to take place. As the Lord continues to reveal to me, I update the book and the website.
As they came near the village where the two men were headed, Jesus acted as though he were going farther.
Don’t let this opportunity go by!
But they strongly urged him, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the daylight is nearly gone.” So he went in to stay with them.
Go to our website and learn! (www.jcpm.com)
While he was at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it in pieces, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they knew who he was. And he vanished from them.
Jesus wants to sit with us in our everyday lives. He wants to bless our meals, our work, our everyday activities. We need to open our eyes to see all the blessings He has, is and wanting to give us. I try to look around every day and thank God for everything He has and is doing for this ministry.
Then they asked each other, “Our hearts kept burning within us as he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us, didn’t they?”
I have discovered the same burning in my heart when the Spirit of God opens Scriptures to me. It is hard to explain. Since the work I do involves lots of time on the internet, it drains my soul. Then, when I return to the Scriptures my soul is refreshed. There is something about us humans that need to be in the presence of God to rebuild and rejuvenate us. The creative power of God is in His Word! That is the only explanation for my not being paralyzed today.
They got up right away, went back to Jerusalem, and found the eleven disciples and their companions all together. They kept saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two men began to tell what had happened on the road and how they had recognized him when he broke the bread in pieces.
That is the true church. There was no one person telling others how to think, what to do or preaching at them. They were all animated with the Spirit of God and shared that animation with each other. Our churches need to take out the pews and put in tables from which we can share with each other our walk and talk with Jesus. Our churches today have lost the Spirit of God and have become like Jews and Catholic in their formal rites, rituals and traditions. There no longer is personal interaction with Jesus. It is all about church, our pastors and leaders. We need to go and find Jesus.
While they were all talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and told them, “Peace be with you.”
People go to church thinking they will find Jesus and His peace. You can’t. Jesus isn’t there. He would be if the churches would let Jesus stand among them. But they don’t want Jesus. Anything that would distract from their authority, control and praise of men, they don’t want.
They were startled and terrified, thinking they were seeing a ghost.
If Jesus were to stand in our churches, they would be “startled and terrified”. Why? Most think Jesus is still dead and buried. They really don’t believe He is alive. It is all about church, but no personal relationship with Jesus.
But Jesus told them, “What’s frightening you? And why are you doubting?
In actuality, we go to church because we doubt. Jesus wants to come to us and remove all doubt. Instead of going to church, stay home, or go to God’s church: His nature. Spend time alone with Him, listening to Him and talking with Him. If you do you will find your fright and doubt disappear.
Look at my hands and my feet, because it’s really me. Touch me and look at me, because a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
Have you touched Jesus? Have you looked into the nail-scarred hands and feet of Jesus? Do you recognize that Jesus is truly “flesh and bones” and is ready to become your personal Friend? Have you really contemplated the pain and suffering Jesus went through for you?
After he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
Jesus is ready to reveal Himself to you. You can have a personal relationship with Jesus. He wants to walk and talk with you. But you have to believe that He is real and not just a talking point in church.
Even though they were still skeptical due to their joy and astonishment, Jesus asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
Too often we get involved in theological discussions trying to show how intelligent we are; trying to show off. Jesus didn’t try to show off. There was no “Wow, that was incredible. You should have seen Me rise and light up!” No, “Do you have anything here to eat?” How humble. He identified with them as one of them, hungry and needing something to eat. Do we show off? I know I have. It is so easy. And, unfortunately, it is done without even knowing it. It comes so naturally with us humans. I am trying very hard to identify and recognize my foolish behavior before I “show off”. I am so sorry if my behavior has hurt anyone reading this. Please forgive me. I keep asking Jesus, how did you put out information without getting a “high-head”?
They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.
Instead of showing off, He sat among them and eat with them. How touching. What a Friend. He still wants to sit and eat with us. He wants to walk with us. He wants to listen to us. He wants to be our best Friend. I try to take Him everywhere I go. I want to spend time with Him. Thanks to my health condition, I am finding time with Him in the pool and while on the exercise equipment.
Then he told them, “These are the words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds so that they might understand the Scriptures.
The people I come across online, along with their statements that are put up, show that most Christians just don’t get it. Like the Jews of Christ’s day they want to prove Jesus by His miracles and great works. But that was not the intent of those miracles and works. The Law of Moses proved Jesus. How? Jesus lived the Ten Commandments perfectly. The Prophets and the Psalms that related to living the perfect, sinless and Commandment keeping life, He lived! The prophecies pointing to His experiences as a man, He fulfilled. All they had to do was go to the prophecies and compare them with His life. But instead, they were looking for the show, miracles, entertainment and the glory the Messiah was to bring to their nation and church. Same expectations today.
He told them, “This is how it is written: the Messiah was to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and then repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Instead of glory, the prophecies and the sacrifices pointed to a Messiah who “was to suffer”. The Jews, as Christians today, don’t want anything to do with “suffer”. And there it is again, “it is written: the Messiah was to . . . Rise from the dead on the third day.” 36 hours after His death at 3 pm on Friday, Jesus would rise the third day at 3 am on Sunday morning. They would have known that if they paid attention. And why was the suffering important? To bring repentance and forgiveness of sins to the world. It had nothing to do with the resurrection. Even if Jesus had never risen from the grave, we would have had repentance and forgiveness of sins. In the temple services, the lamb was slain, it didn’t rise. It was the dying for our sins that gave us eternal life. However, I am very thankful that the prophecy told of the resurrection of Jesus. Praise God.
You are witnesses of these things.
Have you been a good witness?
I am sending to you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
God is a God of order. Here at the ministry I work very hard to keep order, routine and cleanliness. Today, in early May, 2022 (yes, I have to start newsletters early.) I was finally able to clean up the last of the construction mess. The property now looks clean and neat.
I truly believe that the Spirit of God will come where His presence is desired by our clean, neat and orderly lives.
The disciples had to do the same. They had sins in their lives that needed to be removed. Over the next 30 days they were to help each other and encourage each other to remove all sins from their lives. As they did, they came into oneness with God and that brings oneness with each other. There can be no dissention where we are one with God. God cannot be in dissention with Himself. As the Spirit of God was working on their hearts, they were preparing themselves for the physical outpouring of the Spirit in a special manifestation. Not that it was the first time the Spirit was given to the world, but it was a special manifestation of the Spirit. The Spirit of God has always been working since the creation of the world. Only through the Spirit are we able to recognize our sins. “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God! Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground!” Psalm 143:10.
Later, he led them out as far as Bethany, lifted up his hands, and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven.
I am guilty of not doing enough of that. Of what? Blessing those I leave behind when I leave. We need to lift hands up more often, not in show but in blessing those we love. How different our relationships would be with each other if we blessed each other in our hearts. I try to do that many times a day for each one who is involved in this ministry.
They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. They were continually in the Temple, blessing God.
We don’t have to be in a church or temple to be continually blessing God. In our homes, at work, at play, with our children, shopping and in every place we are, let us be filled with great joy and blessing God for the many blessings He has given us..