Chapter 8 – Jesus
Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus being chapter eight just sort of happened. But it is a divine number, as that is the number for Jesus. Adam, who was at the top of Jesus’ lineage on earth, was created on the eighth day.
Most people think the bible states that Adam and Eve created everyone, but that is not what it says. Everybody (all the gentiles and nations) was created on the sixth day. God rested on the seventh. (Each day is a thousand years don’t forget according to Peter).
I’m guessing the kids were probably up to no good while God was resting. It doesn’t really say that, but it makes sense. Because he comes back on the eighth day and realizes that we will need a Savior. So, He put a new plan in action and created Adam and Eve on the eighth day. Jesus our Savior would come through that bloodline.
They call this the Key of David because He was in that bloodline too. I’m not going to put all of that genealogy in here, but you can read it all the way from Adam to Jesus in Luke 3. And guess who the 8th person in that lineage was. Our righteous friend who built the ark, Noah.
Peter 2: 4-5 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Pretty much the whole bible is about Jesus. It provides us information about His family history, the prophecy of His coming, His teaching while with us and His return.
Even the story of the Exodus from Egypt is about Jesus. When God warned them through Moses that He would take their first born of everything including their children, the Israelites were instructed to kill a lamb and put the blood around the door. In this manner, the death angel knew to pass over. This is the story that the Jews celebrate on Passover.
Ultimately it became Christ’s blood that covers us. He was the Passover lamb for one and all times that causes the death angel to pass over us. The Lamb of God.
I did not realize until I went there that the Passover lambs used in Jerusalem were raised in Bethlehem. Of course, that had to be where He was born. The crucifixion itself took place at 3pm, which was the normal time for the afternoon sacrifice at the temple. There are so many details and beautiful things that He weaves together.
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I had been following the 700 club for a while and was a contributor. One day, I received an email from them stating that they were going to be doing a tour of Israel for the 75th anniversary of Israel becoming a state. I immediately felt a burning in my chest and the Holy Spirit.
He communicates to all of us differently… I remember feeling sad in church sometimes because He had never “talked” to me. The only thing that was ever verbal (as we know it) to me was that night in bed when He said to read about me and you won’t be afraid. The rest has been literally thoughts while praying that He puts in my mind and that burning in my chest, spirit. That’s when I know… I explain that because I’ve had friends say longingly that they have never felt that. But I put to you, if you ask Him to show you, in your naked soul self, earnestly wanting to know Him. He will show Himself to you… I promise because He promised!
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Back to our story… I knew that I had to go on that trip. I still didn’t sign up immediately though because I am stubborn.
Ezekiel 2:4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted.
The next day… a friend of mine from high school reached out to me from Jordan. I had not heard from him in thirty years, so this was definitely a sign. There was multiple more in the coming days but needless to say, I finally booked the trip.
God had been preparing me in ways that I didn’t even realize. He works that way… My church was starting a fast and I decided to do it with them. I’m not sure if I had ever fasted completely before, but I did this time. The day before I started that fast by the way was when I saw the evil one in what was my church at the time. That is covered more in Chapter 14 – The Church.
I started fasting the next day and met one of my friends from Tres Dias for coffee (just black in case you were wondering because of the fast). Tres Dias is an incredible organization that runs a Christian camp. It is a beautiful place for sanctification at all levels. I work at the camps a few times a year and I always meet Him there in wonderful ways.
Anyway, God had put in my heart recently that I had never confessed my sins to anyone else besides Him. I had repented to Him but not given breath to it. We are instructed to do so…
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
So, I told her all of the worst things that I had ever done. God really gave me a soul sister in this friend. She calls me her garden friend. As in when Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane before He was taken. Precious. She is so full of mercy and love. I know Christ put her in my life for such a time as this. She said the Lord had told her to say Aaron’s blessing over me.
Numbers 6:24-27 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.
Within that blessing you have the full Godhead. The Father bless you, Jesus shine His face upon you and the Holy Spirit give you peace. The Hebrew letter Yod is the beginning of each of those blessings and also is the first letter of the Divine Name of our Father YHVH and Yeshuah. Even the “Y” itself is the three in one. How precious all the meticulous details.
I didn’t put all of this together at the time how this was preparing me for this journey. The devil sighting, the prayer and fasting, the confession and the blessing over me. He has you right where He wants you whether you know it or not.
A couple of days later, she sent me a scripture about being refined into gold. A metaphor of the sin or dross being burned off of us. What she didn’t know, was that I had seen myself in her eyes with fire around me. It freaked me out and I didn’t know quite how to verbalize that one. But after she sent me that scripture, I told her and that I thought it was the Holy Spirit in her cleansing me. She even had a gold countenance about her face. How beautiful it all is.
Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.
I also believe this was the Holy Spirit baptizing me with fire as I had brought up earlier.
After all of that preparation, unbeknownst to me, I headed off on the trip!
One of the first places we visited was Nazareth, where Jesus grew up. We were on the street, and I noticed a man looking at me. He began to say a few words over me and then made a cross symbol in the air and then kissed the air. He then walked over to us and commented on what a beautiful bible I had in my hands. Which wasn’t a bible at all but my journal.
He asked us what we were, to which we replied Christian. He said that was good and he was also, and that we needed to pray for the Christians in Nazareth. He said there weren’t many, and they needed our prayers for them.
I don’t pretend to understand what that was, but I know all of this was preparation for my baptism in the Jordan and ultimately the experience up on the temple mount and the Mount of Olives.
I was baptized when I was younger. But as a fifty+ adult to rededicate yourself, after all of the filthiness of living and to be washed clean again, was beauty. There were about twelve of us and those will forever be very special brothers and sisters to me. (You know who you are, and I love you!)
The baptism was important also because I believe it was another step in my cleansing to be in His presence. My garden friend, who I mentioned earlier, even set her alarm and got up to pray for me the whole time while I was being baptized. Now that’s a friend.
After the baptism, we went up to Almagor which literally means “without fear”. It overlooks the sea of Galilee and is a very special place. You can literally see where much of Jesus ministry had been accomplished. You could actually feel the peace in the air.
On the way up there, we saw these fields of yellow that were amazing! As far as the eye could see… We asked what they were and just guess. Mustard.
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
After the tour (which was amazing!), I remained in Jerusalem for a week by myself. I kept trying to go to the temple mount, but it was always closed. This is Solomon’s temple. It is also the same place where God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son and ultimately substituted a ram. (but didn’t withhold his own Son from sacrificing)
It is now called the dome of the rock and is muslim. Because of their prayer calls throughout the day, it is often closed. And sometimes they just don’t reopen it. Prayer by someone who is not muslim is forbidden.
On my third attempt, I was finally able to get up there. It was beautiful. You can see all of old and new Jerusalem to the west and the Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives to the east.
As I was going through security, they took my journal with a cross on it thinking that it was a bible. They allowed it after I showed them that it was just my handwritten notes. I think they know exactly how powerful Christian’s prayers are at that place.
Once up there, there was a beautiful cloud over the mosque. It was strange because it was low and the only cloud in the sky.
I walked over to the edge of the side opposite the Mount of Olives and began to pray… they were NOT going to stop me from praying. I felt the Spirit encouraging me to say the Lord’s Prayer. So, I did. Out loud. I even filmed myself doing it and describing as in the scripture where His feet will hit the Mount of Olives and split it wide open.
Zechariah 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley;
I later thought, I was pretty crazy to do that… Being in a foreign country by myself and all. But when he puts on your heart to do something, you have to do it. Even if you don’t understand why you are doing it. (Which is usually the case…)
After that, I went through the east gate (Damascus gate) to where the best guess of where Christ’s tomb was. I really had no feeling of His presence there and as a matter of fact, a strong message in my soul of… I haven’t been here since I arose. So I left…
I had been to the Mount of Olives on our tour, but the church up there had been closed for services when we were there. I was drawn to that place right then and wanted to see the inside of it. The church is called Dominus Flavit and it is shaped like a tear drop. It represents Jesus weeping over Jerusalem and praying for His people.
It was a lot easier getting up there by bus! I don’t know how long it took me to climb up, but it was a while, and it was hot and uphill. When I got to the top, I entered the garden and there was a man there that appeared behind me and asked if I was ok. I said yes and then he jokingly asked if I wanted some coffee? No, I think I’m good, I said laughing! I told him that I had been there the other day and wanted to go into the church. He said there were services going on, but they were about done and I could wait. So, I went over to admire the view and pray.
I don’t remember what I prayed about, but I do remember feeling peaceful and thankful for everything that I had experienced. The church let out and I went in and there was my friend again. Cleaning up after the service. He was moving chairs and I was just taking everything in. The view of Jerusalem was incredible behind the altar. The altar itself had a picture of a hen with all of her little chicks around her.
Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
He asked if I wanted my picture taken, and I said sure. We then just started talking about where I was from and what I was doing there. We walked outside and he picked out a postcard and gave it to me to remember. This was the scripture inside…
Luke 19:41-44 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
We continued walking outside and the first tree we came to was a Spina Christi. He explained that most people thin5k of the thorns in Jesus’ crown as being from a rose. But it was actually from this tree. They were about 2-3 inches long and like a nail, they were so hard. It made me want to cry to even think about it. Here is the actual tree…
I spent about thirty minutes with him just talking about that place and learning. Afterwards, He took my arm in his and walked me out. His name was David.
As I was leaving the garden around the church, I looked up in the sky and it seemed crazy looking to me, for lack of a better term. It was dark but then bright around the sun. I just started taking pictures as I do…
It wasn’t until I got home that I saw the image in those pictures as I was going through them about two months later. At first, it looked to me like someone sitting on top of the sun. I have an online ministry on Facebook called Prayforme so I posted it there. I thought that picture in itself was cool and might inspire someone’s faith.
Then, someone told me to turn it upside down in one of the comments. That is the image that you see on the cover of this book. That is the face of Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, our Lord and Savior, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.
Revelation 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
I have no idea why He allowed me to take that picture. But I think it has to do with my being obedient to the Spirit in saying the Lord’s prayer on the temple mount. And, that is probably why they were so worried about anyone praying up there.
Here is the Lord’s prayer in case you don’t know it or even if you do. Read these words expectantly with God in the clouds above you. Because He is.
Matthew 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
I prayed it with faith and belief that it will happen and look at what happened. I know it sounds crazy, but He is coming in the clouds, and He is coming soon.
Even crazier, way back in Isaiah he talked about things being upside down.
Isaiah 29:13-16 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
I was supposed to be born a boy or a girl. God made a mistake. I don’t think so dear ones… The clay doesn’t talk back and question the potter that made it.
I had another experience a little over a year later. I was in Athens and had just wandered out to do some shopping before dinner with the group that I was with. There was a cart selling something right at the entrance to the shopping street. Sitting behind it was a homeless man wearing a white long gown type of thing. Upon reflection it was sort of shimmering… He was sort of shimmering. But your eyes can’t process or believe things sometimes when you see them.
Luke 24:15-16 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
He had his arms crossed over his legs with his head on top of them. He was shivering and with a shaky voice he said, “help me, help me, living on the street is killing me”. I silently started praying for this man for God to heal him and help him. I almost started to walk away and then something pulled me back.
The voice sounded familiar and almost like someone was faking it or throwing their voice. I decided to give him a couple of euros and a little Jesus figurine that I had been handing out to people. (Look them up they are a wonderful, simple way to spread the love of God)
As I approached him, he was picking at the sores on his arm that actually went all the way through. I could see bone and the pavement through the center of his arms. I extended my hand with the euros and the little Jesus and said “Sir”. With that he started to look up with a big smile and I simply said, “He loves you” and handed him those two things and walked away abruptly.
Later, upon reflection, I realized who it was. Because that big smile was one of pride in me. His daughter. You really do never know when you extend a kindness, that you may be actually doing it to Jesus.
Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
We have the same choice that there was in the beginning. The choice of Life or death. The Tree of Life or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Olive Tree or the fig tree. Jesus or satan.
Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.