III John

"Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.  Anyone who does what is good is from GOd.  Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God."  (III John 1:11)  The book of III John has no "3:16"

This third letter of John was written to Johns' friend Galus to thank Galus for the hospitality he had shown to missionaries.  Galus had welcomed these missionaries into his home, even though they were complete strangers.

John then writes about what is and is not appropriate behavior towards missionaries.  He writes about three men and each of their behaviors towards Christ's teachers.  Two of the men were generous, kind truth-seekers.  But, the third man was selfish, controlling, and full of pride. He misused his position in the church; this was not of God. This third man ,Diotrephes,  was named in this short letter from John to Galus;  imagine having your name forever written in God's Word - and, your name synonymous with how NOT to act!  The message of this letter was  to NOT behave the way this man did!

There is always pain and brokenness behind evil. Jesus can heal that brokenness if you invite Him to do so. Only He can understand our hurts and our suffering.  He died for our sins.  He also died for our shame, our addictions, our deepest hurts.  On the cross, He experienced betrayal, the deepest rejection, abuse.  People spat in His face, shouted racial slurs at Him, stripped Him of His clothes... He felt so abandoned... so alone... There were a few people at the foot of the cross who loved Him.  I'm sure they tried to comfort Him.  Did He hear them?  I hope so...

If you have any negative experience which is keeping you from doing good, give it to Him. "...We implore you on Christ's behalf:  Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."  (II Corinthians 5: 20,21)

I TIMOTHY 3:16 Part Two

"Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen of angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory." (NIV)

What are the odds?

Continuing with the  evidence of Jesus Christ's life on earth, and how His fulfillment of so many prophecies could not possibly be "coincidental":


#10: Old Testament prediction: He would be silent before His accusers. (Isaiah 53:7)  New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:12-14.  Probability:  1 chance in 100.

The odds against these ten prophecies being fulfilled by one Person = 1 chance in 24,000 Trillion.

#11: Old Testament prophecy: He would be crucified with thieves. (Isaiah 53:1)  New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:38  Probability: one chance in 100.

#12:  Old Testament prediction: People would gamble for His garments. (Psalm 22:18)  New Testament fulfillment: John 19:23-24.  Probability: one chance in 100.

#13: Old Testament prediction: His side would be pierced. (Zechariah 12:10).  New Testament fulfillment:
John 19:34.  Probability: 1 chance in 100.

#14: Old Testament prediction: None of His bones would be broken. (Psalm 34:20)   New Testament fulfillment: John 19:33.   Probability: 1 chance in 20.

#15: Old Testament prophecy:  His body would not decay. (Psalm 16:10)  New Testament fulfillment:
Acts 2:31. Probability: 1 chance in 10,000.

#16: Old Testament prophecy:  He would be buried in a rich man's tomb. (Isaiah 53:9)  New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:57-60.  Probability: 1 chance in 100.

# 17: Old Testament prediction: Darkness would cover the earth. (Amos 8:9).  New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:45.  Probability: 1 chance in 1,000.



The question we need to consider is this:  What are the chances that all seventeen of these predictions occurred BY CHANCE in the life of one individual - rather than by Divine plan?  The combined probability of these seventeen prophecies occurring is:
                                                  1 chance in 480 Billion x 1 Billion x 1 Trillion
or, another way of looking at it:   1 chance in 480,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000!

Thus, we are confronted with a combined probability absolutely staggering in its magnitude. If, somehow, this fails to make an impression on you, consider the fact that we have only examined 17 of the 48 major predictions given in the Old Testament concerning the promised Messiah.

Certain skeptics might say that Jesus arranged to have these events occur in His life so as to fulfill prophecy.
Okay... How does an infant arrange to be born in a certain town? How would you arrange for the price of your betrayal to be thirty pieces of silver? How would you arrange to be crucified with thieves? And, how would  a crucified man arrange to have his enemies gamble for His garments?  No, Jesus of Nazareth lived and died as foreseen in the Old Testament prophecies, all of which were written by the invisible hand of God

(The primary resource for this study on probability is "Jesus, The Great Debate", by Grant Jeffrey. Please take the time to buy Mr Jeffrey's books and read them;  this two-day blog is just the tip of the iceberg of Grant Jeffrey's extensive knowledge of Jesus Christ the Messiah.)



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