Spirit Food - March 2018

Once you are presented with what the Word of God has to say about an issue, you are responsible for receiving His love, grace, & favor; and the gift of His righteousness. Remember, you are greatly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved by your Heavenly Father.

This month let’s focus on the Four Gospels in the New Testament.

They are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as synoptic gospels. Synoptic means ~ sin optic ~ to see together - to view together. They talk about the story of one man (Jesus), from different perspectives. Matthew – Reflects Jesus as the King of the Jews – it documents Jesus’ royal lineage of Jesus from King David; from both Joseph and Mary ... showing there is actually a double claim to the throne. Symbolized by a Lion – Matthew was a tax collector. Mark – Portrays Jesus as a servant – always working, always serving, that's why there's no genealogy of Jesus ... as no one cares about the genealogy of a servant. You don't ask a servant for His pedigree. Symbolized by an Ox – Mark was an interpreter for Paul. Luke – “Talks about the glory of Jesus Christ. Reflects Jesus’ genealogy starting with Adam. Symbolized by a Man – Luke was a physician. John – Shows Jesus as the Son of God - no genealogy because He is deity. John is in a class of its own. The gospel of John is written to create faith in you. Symbolized by an Eagle – John was a fisherman.

Matthew 10:18 - Christ died on the cross for our sin. He is the sin offering for all of mankind's sin, past, present and future. All the blood of bulls and goats only covered sin (Leviticus 17:11 and Hebrews 10:4); Jesus’ blood took away all sin (Hebrews 9:22 and 1 John 1:7)). Hebrews 10:19-20 – “Therefore, my brothers, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh),” The veil within the tabernacle in the Old Testament which separated the Holy place from the Holy of Holies, represented His flesh. That veil stands on the four pillars – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Because the four gospels talk about Jesus’ life in the flesh. At the cross, the veil was torn, meaning His flesh was torn. Prior to the veil being torn, His flesh was the only thing that separated a Holy God from a sinful man. Once Jesus paid the price for mankind's sin, and the veil was torn, mankind has direct access to God. John's account of the ministry of Jesus consists of two parts. The first twelve chapters describe Jesus' public ministry, beginning with his meeting John the Baptist and closing with the visit of the Greeks who came to worship at the Feast of Passover. The remaining chapters deal with the closing days of Jesus' earthly ministry, when he gave instruction to his disciples and explained the meaning of his life and approaching death in a number of lengthy discourses.

This division of the gospel into two parts follows the pattern used by the Synoptic Gospels' writers, but the contents of the two sections differ widely from the earlier accounts. According to John, Jesus' public ministry can be summarized in connection with a number of miracles that John reports and then follows with interpretations that point to their spiritual significance.

John records only seven miracles, considerably less than the number reported in the Synoptic Gospels. However, John's use of the miracle stories is different from that of his predecessors. John does not regard the stories' miraculous elements themselves as having great significance but rather the spiritual meanings that he finds implicit in them. The miracles as presented by John are not signs of the imminence of the coming of God's kingdom as in the Synoptic Gospels; but of the presence of the Logos (Word of God), or the power of God, which brings about a transformation in people's lives. Our Heavenly Father desires heart transformation, not just behavior modification.

The seven miracle stories recorded in John are, first, the turning of water into wine at a marriage feast in Cana; second, the healing of a nobleman's son who was at the point of death; third, the healing of a man at the sheep-gate pool; fourth, the walking on water; fifth, the feeding of five thousand; sixth, the healing of the man born blind; and seventh, the raising of Lazarus. Each of these stories is used as an introduction to a discourse concerning the significance of Jesus and his message in relation to the quality of a person's life. This use of the miracle stories for the purpose of teaching spiritual lessons is made possible by analogies and, in many instances, by symbolically representing the materials found in the stories.

For example: The story of Jesus' turning water into wine, it symbolizes He is not restricted by time, as He created time and can increase the results of time if He desires. He came to give life! In this incident it added life to the wedding party! In the New Testament water signifies His Word and spiritual things of faith. Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.”(John 4:13-14). In the Old Testament (Exodus chapter 7:14-11:10) God directed to have 10 plagues be brought up the Egyptians in an attempt to get the Pharaoh to listen and obey Moses to “let my people go”. Aaron used his staff to turn the Nile River into blood so the Egyptians couldn’t drink it.

The gospel of John is the only one written that tells us that Jesus was bound when they arrested Him (John 18:12). Perhaps up to 1000 soldiers fell when He said I Am. The Bible doesn’t give a specific number. The gospel of John has milk for young Christians and meat for the more spiritually advanced. John 20:30-31 – “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe[a] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name”. Both Matthew and John speak of Jesus’ exaltation ... where Mark and Luke speak of Jesus’ humility. John 19:30 - Jesus declared "It is finished", and bowing His head, He gave up His Spirit.

Bowing His head was a form of worship (Genesis 24:26) Bowing His head implies three things – worship, submission to the Father, and rest.

Gave up (above in John 19:30) means: to turn into the trust of another. Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head. The Greek word "clea-no" is used for the word rest. Jesus finally found His rest in loving you and in loving me.

If you’re reading this, but you have not made Jesus the Lord of your life, and would like to, pray this prayer out loud in an audible voice:

Heavenly Father, your Word says in Romans 10:9-10- “that if I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead, that I would be saved. For with the heart one believes unto salvation.” I believe your Word, Heavenly Father, and confess Jesus Christ (the anointed one and His anointing) as Lord of my life now. I believe that You raised Him from the dead. I confess that I was a sinner, but now I’ve been saved by Your grace, and in Your thoughts, I am now in right standing with You. I denounce Satan and all he stands for. Write my name in the Lamb’s book of Life. In Jesus Name. Amen (so be it).

Congratulations! If this is your first time praying this prayer, please write and let us know!

Should you decide to give and financially support this ministry with gifts given in faith, I join my faith with yours to see the devourer rebuked (Malachi 3:11) and for you to receive a harvest; pressed down, shaken together and running over (Luke 6:38). Please remember to name your seed!

Dr. Mark Krom, Ph.D., D.Psy

Mark Krom Ministries

drmkrom@gmail.com