Satan, the disciples & Judas Iscariot

Oh that evil serpent, the devil, always trying to test us.  Hoping God's children will turn away from Him.  Thank God for His love and for giving us strength to endure.

Just look how he tested the disciples.  It says in the Bible he asked (so he has to ask permission!) to sift Simon as wheat.  We all know the outcome of that, Simon betrayed Jesus three times, said he didn't know Him.  The thing is, he never lost faith in Jesus! 

He was just scared.  Jesus knew that, that's why He said that he prayed for Simon that he might not lose faith.  Jesus knew he would return to Him (his faith), so he told him that when he does, he must strengthen his brethren.  :)

Luke 22:31-32
31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

After Simon betrayed Jesus, he realized what he had done, what Jesus said he would do.  He cried bitterly.  That really touched my heart.  I put myself in that position and think what if that was me, would I have been scared like Simon and done the same?  So let's not judge other people, put yourself in their position, walk a mile in another man's shoe.

Luke 22:61:62
61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Jesus knew Judas Iscariot would betray Him.  Satan was involved in that too, he possessed Judas!

John 13:21,26,27
21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me."
26 Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly."

Jesus said all these things had to happen, just as it was written in the scriptures, so that it could be fulfilled.  All for us!!  For our sins!  Thank you Jesus for what you did for us to get us back in the right relation with the Father, our Creator.  I will love you all my days.

Thanks for reading, may the Lord bless you! :)

What she did is a memorial to her

It was two days before Passover and before Jesus was to be crucified.  He was in Bethany at the house of Simon.  A woman came to Him with fragrant oil in an alabaster flask and she anointed Him by pouring the oil out over Him.
The disciples weren't happy about that, they said she could have sold it (it was expensive fragrant oil) and given the money to the poor, but Jesus told them that she is doing something good and that she is preparing His body for His burial.
He also said that wherever the Gospel is preached to the world, this woman will be remembered for what she did.

Matthew 26:7-13 
..a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.
But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?
For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor."
But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.
For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.
For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.
Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."

As I read what she did and what Jesus said about her, it made me smile.  Jesus never lies!  His Words are true, just look at us, here at this time, still reading about the beautiful thing she did for Jesus. :D  Truly a blessed woman, what a privilege to have been the one to anoint Jesus.
Jesus never lies!

Thanks for reading! :)  God bless you in abundance in Jesus' Holy name.