Celebration of the Father

“Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem. They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened. While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near, and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?” One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things which have happened there in these days?” He said to them, “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?” Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. They said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?” They rose up that very hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”” (Luke‬ ‭24:13-18, 25-27, 32-34‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

Did you ever wonder why out of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, only one of them was named while the other remained anonymous?

Therefore, I believe that the name “Cleopas” is crucial to understanding the significance of this passage.

Cleopas is an abbreviated form of the name Cleopatros, made of the two Greek words “kleos” (to celebrate) and pater (father). Cleopas means “celebration of the father”.

Let us see what Jesus did in the passage. He told the two discouraged disciples all about the things concerning Himself in the Old Testament Scriptures, and how He fulfilled them all at the cross.

It was a celebration of the Father, praising Him for His glorious plan of salvation that was once hidden and is now revealed through the prophets, apostles, and the other writers of the Scriptures.

When Jesus celebrated the Father with the two disciples, their hearts “burned”, likely with faith, hope, and love in response to the love and grace of God. They experienced an “Emmaus” (meaning: hot springs) in their hearts, washing away the unbelief and refreshing their spirits.

They were no longer depressed and despondent. Instead, they were filled with hope, and energized in their bodies and souls. Having just walked a long way from Jerusalem to Emmaus, they immediately set off on a journey back to announce the good news they had seen and heard.

This world needs “Cleopas”—a celebration of the Father. They need to hear about a Father God who is gracious and full of love, who freely offers salvation through Jesus Christ His Son. They need to hear that He wants to be a Father near to them and not a Judge far off; that He is reconciling the world to Himself through Jesus, welcoming them home.

“But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation. We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:18-21‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

Anytime you are feeling down, you can initiate a celebration of the Father. It will cleanse you from unbelief, refresh your spirit, fill your heart with hope, and energize your body and soul!

If you are new to reading the four gospels for yourself, or you have some questions about difficult passages in there, I would like to recommend you read my four-ebook bundle called “Understand the Four Gospels Through the Lens of Grace”.

As you read it, many confusing pieces of Scripture will be unlocked to you, and things that used to scare you will be read in the right light. Order the bundle and you can download and read it right away:
https://bit.ly/understandeveryparable

☀️🪁😊
自信的小太陽
記得回來

「For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.」（John‬ ‭5:4‬）

「因為凡從　神生的就勝過世界；使我們勝過世界的就是我們的信心。」（約翰一書‬ ‭5:4‬）

#faith

The Impossible Exam

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans‬ ‭8:1-4‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

There was once a teacher who punished his badly-behaved class of students by giving them an examination full of the world’s hardest questions spanning across all subjects and disciplines.

“Class, if any of you want to be dismissed from class, you must get full marks in this exam. If not, you will have to stay back for detention every day. To give you all an advantage, you may discuss the questions with your fellow classmates.”

Everyone in the class attempted the exam, but even the smartest students had many mistakes. It seemed impossible.

The classmates were all frantically flipping through all the textbooks in the classroom, but it was no use. The questions were just way out of their level.

Just when it seemed that all hope was lost, the teacher said, “Class, I see that you are all trying your very best to work together to do well on the exam. Tell you what—I cannot cancel the exam, but I will join your class as a student and attempt the exam with you. There is no rule against me joining as a student in your class.”

Since the teacher had set the exam based on the knowledge he had, he easily answered all the questions correctly. To whoever wanted to refer to his answers, the teacher allowed them to see and write the same answers.

The students were all overjoyed. One by one, they copied the answers, and handed in their exam papers, scoring full marks. They were finally able to go home. They had learnt their lesson, and decided to be more studious in the future.

——

God gave the children of Israel the Ten Commandments—an impossible exam for mankind. The Law is perfect, holy, and good, but it was weak through man’s sinful flesh.

Whoever wants to be justified through the Law must keep the Ten Commandments perfectly in both word and deed. Anything short of perfection is considered unrighteous. Everyone fails this exam.

Then, God revealed His master plan: Yahweh the Son became a man to take the impossible exam on our behalf.

He lived a sinless life for thirty-three and a half years, and offered up Himself as our atoning sacrifice for sins. The blood He shed at the cross and His death perfectly fulfilled the Law for everyone.

Whoever wants to refer to His answers can just take His answers as their own and get full marks on their exam. When we place our faith in Jesus as Lord, we share in Jesus’ death, resurrection, and become a new creation in Christ. We are finally eligible to go home to our Abba God in Heaven!

It takes humility for a person to admit that he is a sinner that has no hope of deserving salvation by his own works. God is so holy that even one sinful thought can make you unrighteous. Perfection is needed. The way to be saved is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord!

If you are blessed by the daily teachings/devotionals I share freely on this page, you can become a “God Every Morning” tier or above patron on Patreon if you want to receive an additional daily Bible Study teaching, as well as all my eBooks! Your patronage supports this ministry and enables us to “reach more and teach more” in the body of Christ: http://Patreon.com/miltongohblog

☯ 東方風神錄～ Mountain of Faith. - 妖怪の山　～ Mysterious Mountain

#歡迎追蹤並且分享我們的音樂 #約書亞樂團 #讓聖靈工作

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讓聖靈工作 / Let Your Spirit Move
詞曲 Lyricist & Composer：曹之懿 Isabelle Tsao、趙治德 Samuel Chao、金品齊 Pinky Chin、洪以琳 Elim Hung
英譯詞 Translator：宋怡萌 Joy Sung
主領 Worship Leader：曹之懿 Isabelle Tsao

[Verse 1]
祢按手在我心上 祝福我
Place Your hand upon my heart, blessing me
祢要我發出預言
You call me to prophesy
骸骨要復活
Dry bones come alive

[Verse 2]
我帶著信心宣告 祢話語
With faith I am declaring Your word
祢向我發出邀請 見證祢運行
You are inviting me to witness Your great works

[Pre-Chorus]
Your Spirit moves around ‘round ‘round
Your glory goes around ‘round ‘round
Your river flows around ‘round ‘round
Your holiness is pouring down

[Chorus]
讓氣息流動
Breath of life, blow forth
讓聖靈工作
Let Your Spirit move
骨與骨聯絡 因祢的手
Joint by joint connect, by Your strong hand
讓氣息流動
Breath of life, blow forth
讓聖靈工作
Let Your Spirit move
骸骨正復活 為祢行走
Dry bones now revive, rise up for You

[Bridges]
因祢氣息 枯骨甦醒
Where Your breath goes dry bones waken
來讚美 讚美祢
To praise You, they praise You
踐踏死亡 復活生命
Resurrection life tramples death
走進祢心意
Walk into Your will

因祢大能 我們聚集
By Your great might we gather here
來敬拜 敬拜祢
To worship, worship You
榮耀軍隊 正在興起
Glorious army now arising
渴慕祢聖靈
Long for Your Spirit

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Twelve years ago, a massive Galactic War swept across the cosmos. Star-Lord, seeing opportunity for adventure and profit in a universe that's finally moving on, recently formed the Guardians of the Galaxy to sell their services as heroes-for-hire. But now, a grand organization known as the Universal Church of Truth promises to bring back everything that was lost in the Galactic War. Powered by their faith, they're spreading their beliefs to more and more worlds. It'll soon be up to the Guardians to save the galaxy. No guts, no glory.

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