The Adventures on the Road to the Celestial City (4)

 Loved one in Christ Jesus, I believe you are growing in the strength of the Lord. This is lesson four on my teachings, the adventures on the road to God’s kingdom. In the previous lessons, I dissected the sufferings of the early apostles and how the church suffered under religious unbelievers and gentiles.

In this article, I will explain to you the oppositions Jesus Christ went through when He walked on earth as a man. Jesus faced a lot of persecution from the religious people of his time. He went through sorrows, pains, and disappointment because of His mission.

Jesus Christ showed us the way, and He is our ultimate role model. Outside Jesus Christ is destruction. We follow people who follow Jesus Christ (See 1 Corinthians 11:1). Jesus Christ is our source of light. Outside Him is darkness (sorrow, corruption, wickedness, oppression, and evil). Meditate on these scriptures for a more profound revelation.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:1-5 KJV

Following the personality of Jesus Christ and rejecting His teachings is destruction. Jesus Christ is our Master. In Jesus, we have our life. Jesus Christ is the source of our strength. We live and have our being in the power of Jesus Christ.

In the gospel of John, the Jews pronounced a destructive word on our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let's read.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

John 8:51-52 KJV

The Jews (descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob later changed to Israel) opposed the teachings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ because it was mysterious to them. The Jews called Jesus Christ a devil because His doctrine was authoritative and strange to the Jews.

If the Jews called Jesus Christ a devil, then we must be ready to receive the same treatment. Some religious people and unbelievers will call us devils because they called our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ a devil.

The religious people tagged our Messiah (Christ Jesus) as a demonic entity teaching false doctrines. The Jews rumoured in the community that Jesus Christ carried evil spirits. The Jews condemned the teachings of Jesus Christ and encouraged others to reject Jesus and His teachings.

Child of God, never be discouraged when some religious people call you a devil, or they accuse you as being demon-possessed because they called Jesus Christ a devil.

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

Matthew 12:22-24 KJV

The Pharisees (a sect of Jews that strictly valued the laws of Moses) said within themselves that Jesus Christ possessed the Beelzebub (the prince of all devils). If the religious unbelievers accused Jesus Christ as a devourer (devil), then the unbelievers and some religious people will call us Beelzebub.

The Pharisees, scribes, Sanhedrin’s, priests, and some unbelievers monitored Jesus Christ to see if they can accuse him of sin, but they found none.

The unbelievers will monitor us to accuse us because they did to Jesus Christ. The unbelievers and some religious groups will falsely accuse us because they did it to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

Matthew 27:19-25 KJV

The wife of Pilate saw Jesus Christ as a righteous man. She tried to convince his husband to release Jesus Christ, but the religious people persuaded the unbelievers to force Pilate to crucify Jesus Christ. The people rejected our Saviour and accepted a murderer (Barabbas).

Child of God, a time will come when the people you trusted will reject you and desire your death. Your loved ones will desire your premature death because strange forces and ungodly voices speak to them.  Pilate wanted justice, so he told the people what evil has Jesus Christ done, but the people continued to cry out crucify Him. 

None of the people defended Jesus Christ because the spirit of the anti-Christ controlled their minds. All the people shouted crucify Him! (Jesus Christ). There will come a time all your loved ones will sing about your destruction. 

Most of your loved ones will submit to the voice of your enemies and reject you. It is a season we must endure because we have greater rewards no man can destroy (Meditate on 5:11-12).

The people forgot the good works (miracles, teachings, and labour of love) of Jesus Christ. Don’t be surprised when people forget your good works. It is a season we must endure. It is a season we must stand strong in the faith.

The people hated Jesus Christ to the extent of cursing themselves. Maybe we should read the words of the people, “Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.”

All the people cursed their children. They are times people will use all their powers to destroy us because they did the same thing to Jesus Christ. We must be ready for accusation, hatred, rejection, and slander because Jesus Christ went through all these pains. Prophet Isaiah prophesied about the suffering of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep, before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Isaiah 53:1-9 KJV

One of the closest disciples of Jesus Christ rejected Jesus with all his heart. I think we should read the account.

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Matthew 26:69-75 KJV

Apostle Peter promised Jesus Christ, he would never depart from Him. From the gospel of Matthew, he records that Peter fulfilled the prophecy of Jesus Christ when the cock crowed. Peter denied Jesus Christ three times, cursed and swore he had never met Jesus in his lifetime.

Child of God, a time will come when your closed ones and the ones who promised to take care of you all the days of their life will deny your identification. Some people will swear they have never met you before. Don’t be disappointed when your loved ones reject you in the hard times. It is a season we must endure. The Psalmist writes,

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Psalm 27:10 KJV

• When your parents and relatives reject you, embrace Jesus Christ because He will never forsake you.
• Jesus Christ will forever be by your side when the world rejects you.
• Jesus Christ will hold your hands when your loved ones betray you.
• Jesus Christ will walk with you when nobody desires to walk with you.
• Jesus Christ will show you mercy when no one shows you mercy.
• Jesus Christ will open doors for you when everyone closes the door.
• Jesus Christ will encourage you when everyone discourages you.
• Jesus Christ will save you when all hope is lost.
• Jesus Christ will give you life when people desire your death.
• Jesus Christ will fight for you when your enemies come against you.
• Jesus Christ will oppose your enemies when your strength cannot match their power.
• Jesus Christ will carry you home when no one willing to direct you home.
• Jesus Christ will give you eternal life when you believe Him with all your heart.

Glory to God!

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