Pam Padgett ... teacher
As they went to Jerusalem, Jesus told His disciples of the suffering and
death He would suffer in Jerusalem. Although Jesus was facing terrible
things, He also knew that afterwards, He would rise from the dead ...
Matthew 20:17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve
disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, 18 Behold, we go up to
Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests
and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall
deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify
him:and the third day he shall rise again.
Jesus knew that the suffering and death He faced was only for a time,
and then He would be raised from the dead and sit at the right hand of
God. We are told that for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the
cross and despised the shame he suffered ...
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed
about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience
the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and
finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the
throne of God.
We are exhorted to look to Jesus and this example as we live on this earth. As
Jesus looked to those things which were to come, we have also been told
some of what awaits those who are in Christ, helping us endure the
tribulations we face as we look to those things we lie ahead.
One of the things we know lies ahead is that Jesus will return and all who belong to Him will be with Him forever ...
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant,
brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as
others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,
that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God:and the dead in Christ shall rise first:17 Then we which
are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:and so shall we ever be with the
Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
And we know that this world will be destroyed, but there will be new heavens and a new earth where righteousness will dwell ...
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;
in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that
are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things
shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy
conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming
of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we,
according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness.
These are just two of the promises we've been given of what is to come.
Knowing these things will happen reminds us that tribulations we face
now are temporary and helps us look to what lies ahead.