Today Our Daily Bread Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & John 12

Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
What does crush mean? break, to break in pieces, shiver, to tread down to put Satan under foot and (as a conqueror) trample on him, to break down, crush, to tear one's body and shatter one's strength. Remember Genesis? The promise to the seed of the woman? And who is that seed? Adam? Jesus? We know it was Jesus, but do we consider ourselves "Christians"? One’s who are like Christ? His Body manifested in the earth? Or have you thought of yourself this way? Guess who’s mission we are on? God’s eternal one, he co-missioned us way back when, when he told Eve, "Your seed will crush this enemy underfoot!" Furthermore, who is the woman? Eve? Mary? The church? If Eve, or Mary, or the church, who is their seed? Think on that one. Jesus came to lead the way to the breaking, treading down, putting underfoot, trampling on, crushing, and shattering the strength of satan, who remember, is God’s enemy! You all in? Then Go all out, with God against His enemy.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
These seemed a bit threatened by the presence of a few men, huh? Why? Because it was a war of worlds, two kingdoms were being divided to make clear what side who was on. It was mixed up enough before to be comfortable, but now distinction was being made, things were clearing up and sin was being uncovered and shown for it’s real deadly plight against men. Men were saying no to satan’s work and a wholehearted Yes to God’s. The religious world was being rocked by truth and things done in secret, hypocritical things were being revealed. That is very, very uncomfortable to one who wills unrighteousness on the inside. It’s like being naked and ashamed. If you were stripped naked and your nakedness was made public, wouldn’t you be a bit stirred? They were stirred spiritually speaking. Their world was about to change. God was intolerant of the darkness in His house. Remember we are His house, if there’s darkness in us there’s death and God is all life. In Him there is no darkness at all. It would be good to bring light and dispel evil works of death inside of us. If we do not personally allow God to do this we will probably die prematurely as a result of a work of darkness. Premature death is dying before God’s purpose is able to be fulfilled through us. Cancer is an example of a work of darkness hidden and in secret.
John 12 :1-50
The Anointing at Bethany
Jesus Rides into Jerusalem
R5 1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, F59 whom He had raised from the dead. 2There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 5"Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii F60 and given to the poor?" 6This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept F61 this for the day of My burial. 8For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."
The Plot to Kill Lazarus
R6 9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
The Triumphal Entry
12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' F62 The King of Israel!" 14Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15"Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt." F63 16His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!"
The Fruitful Grain of Wheat
20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." 22Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. 23But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. Jesus Predicts His Death on the Cross27 "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? "Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." 29Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to Him." 30Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." 33This He said, signifying by what death He would die. 34The people answered Him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, "The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?" 35Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. Who Has Believed Our Report?37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" F64 39Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them." F65 41These things Isaiah said when F66 he saw His glory and spoke of Him.
Walk in the Light
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 44Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, F67 I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.".
Footnotes
F59: 12:1 NU-Text omits who had been dead.
F60: 12:5 About one year's wages for a worker
F61: 12:7 NU-Text reads that she may keep.
F62: 12:13 Psalm 118:26
F63: 12:15 Zechariah 9:9
F64: 12:38 Isaiah 53:1
F65: 12:40 Isaiah 6:10
F66: 12:41 NU-Text reads because.
F67: 12:47 NU-Text reads keep them.
Show cross-references
R5: Matt. 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9
R6: Matt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40
Lena’s Journalin’
Isn’t it so cool, that Mary anointed the Lord? It was not the Lord anointing Mary, it was MARY anointing the Lord! She was a woman of sin, and the anointing oil she used was quite possibly purchased from the deeds of her sins. It may have been all she’d had left of that past life and the "benefits" it gave. This could possibly have been her way of giving , not only all of her $, but giving up all of the rest of who she was over to the Lord. Jesus said she prepares Me for my burial. Where was He going to go before burial? The Cross, where He was taking the sins of the world upon Himself, canceling death’s penalty against us (against Mary too, and crucifying them there! She may have been gaving Him her last evidence of sin to take with Him on that cross. This is an example of seeing further than your eyes can see. Mary saw Jesus that day and responded to what/who she saw.
Is the rescue of your life from the hands of eternal death making enough of a difference, that even the religious can see and believe? Lazarus’ raising from the dead, represented His birth into eternal life, resurrection life. That life spoke to those around him, enough that they too believed and desired that life.
Everyplace Jesus went was symbolic, everything He did, every person He touched can speak to us in our own lives today. Jesus rode on what represents strong stubborn will and rebellion and he tamed it. Oh Lord help me also tame any rebellion or stubbornness that is in me especially where Your word requires change of me, Amen.Help me take that part of my sin nature and crucify it on the corss with all of my sins, not holding back any form of darkness in reserve for me to "enjoy". Sin is pleasurable only for a season, then it brings death. Help me walk in light, recognizing light, recognizing darkness, and choosing righteousness. Let darkness in me die today, while today is still day. I lay it down by an act of my freewill. Today is the day for salvation from all evil and harm set against me by the flesh nature and the ploy of satan to keep me from my faith in God the Father of all. Lead me into light. Let blindness be removed off of my eyes that I may see and walk in truth, in Jesus’ name! I wish (or will) to see Jesus! I must see Jesus, it is a matter of death and life.Jesus said, should I say, "Father save me from this hour, where I will be encountering darkness? No, I came to see and dispel darkness. To bring it out into the light, to expose sin for what it is, a cruel killing murdering force." This is also our same mission to those who have not yet seen Him. We have to be willing to face the darkness of our sins and go through the valley of the shadow of death enough to rescue someone out of that place. Jesus partook of that gross darkness to rescue us out of its grueling grip