And Ye Shall Be Hated Of All Nations For My Name’s Sake - Part 1500

These things understood not His disciples at the first, but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of Him and that they had done these things unto Him." (John 12:16)

At that time the people had come to meet Jesus (when they heard He was coming to Jerusalem), taking branches of palm trees, crying, "Hosanna; Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the Name of the Lord." And Jesus, when He had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Sion, behold, thy King cometh sitting on an ass's colt." (John 12:12-15; Matthew 21:4-9; Psalm 118:25-26; Isaiah 40:9; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:7)

Who is it that came in the Name of the Lord? The Name whereby we must be saved in this current dispensation of grace?

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His Name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us!" (Matthew 1:21-23)

Yes, He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:10-11)

But the mystery that Jesus was not just any king (or one of many earthly kings) did not sink in until Jesus was glorified. Then did the apostles understand (like Thomas) that Jesus was both Lord and Christ. Thomas, upon thrusting his hand in Jesus' side acknowledged that this same Jesus whom was crucified was indeed his "Lord and my God." (John 20:28)

Jesus being the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8, 11)

Not another, as far too many churches teach, but the One and the Same God who created us in the beginning becoming our Saviour. This is why John the baptist said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." (Matthew 3:1-17) Because John being full of the Holy Ghost from birth knew that Jesus was the prophesied Christ, the promise that would save the world from their sin. And in so doing, He gave us His Name.

"For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left His house ..." (Mark13:34)

Mary acknowledged the same when she proclaimed, "... my soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His Name. And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with His arm ..." (Luke 1:41-55)

However, it is important to note that there will be persecution and trials because we have taken on the Name of Jesus in repentance and water baptism, and received His gift of the Holy Ghost -- the Christ dwelling within. (Acts 2:36-38) And, as a consequence, the spirit of this world will come against us. Similarly, as it was when Jesus walked the earth and the scribes and the Pharisees wanted Jesus dead, these will kick us out of the temple, because these do not desire Jesus as their Lord and King.

We see the totality of this understanding when Jesus spoke privately with His disciples. Jesus said, “But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye, for it is not ye that speak but the Holy Ghost … and ye shall be hated for My Name’s sake but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Mark 12:9-13)

At this point, Jesus had just left the temple. His teaching refers to the coming last days, and what we as believers in Jesus Christ by faith should expect from the world before Jesus returns. Inserted in brackets in the passage from Mark are the words – “let him that readeth understand.” (Mark 12:14)

But in order to understand, we need to know what the Word of the Lord is saying to us each and every day. "Give us this day our daily bread!" Not once a week but every day. And, as a consequence, we need to hide His Word in our hearts.

This may explain why each and every believer in Jesus Christ by faith (and taken on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ through water baptism) is encouraged to study the scriptures as a workman does unto the Lord – so that we are not led astray into error by those who do not understand the intricate nature of the body ministry, which is in Christ. (I Timothy 2:15)

“Trust ye not in a friend. Put ye not confidence in a guide. Keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lies in thy bosom,” states the Word of the Lord to Micah the Morasthite, “Therefore, I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.” (Micah 7:5-7)

So, from whence came our salvation? After His kindness and love, God Himself became our Lord and Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7) The Lord coming forth as a mighty man (Isaiah 42:13) The everlasting Father. (Isaiah 9:6) He who knew no sin became the perfect sacrifice on the cross so that you and I might become everything that we were intended to be, when the Lord placed His purpose in our hearts while we were still in our mother's womb.

His desire is that we understand the greatest love story ever told. That we understand the cost associated with the Lord of glory travelling to that far away land to pay for our sin with His precious blood on that cross.

Yes, He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:10-11)

God manifest in the flesh (I Timothy 2:16) This is why Jesus said, “I and My Father are one.”  

His Name is Jesus, for He alone can save you from your sins. Stand on His truth this day. Don’t be confused or influenced by your church peers in a modern day religious culture that denies His Name.  

Stand in the offering plate.