Those who were first invited to attend the very special occasion, have rejected it and had so many reasons to disregard this opportunity. Not only they disregarded the invitation, they killed even the servant whom the king was sent to inform them of that great invitation or opportunity.
This parable talks about the rejection of the Jewish people, the chosen nation of God to accept Jesus as the gift of God to save them from the power and punishment of sin (Matthew 1:21). He came here on earth for his own people but his own didn't receive him (John 1:11). Because of the Jewish people's hardheadedness, salvation was offered to the Gentiles like us (Romans 1:16; 9:1-3).
Because of the Jewish unbelief, they chose to obey the teaching and tradition of man and allowed their minds to be blinded by Satan (Acts 5:29; II Corinthians 4:4). They intentionally rejected their Messiah, their only Savior spiritually and not as what they perceived the action should be done by their expected Messiah as the one who will liberate them from the hands of the cruel system of the Roman Empire that caused their economic lives so difficult (Matthew 21:1-11). The people who shouted "Hosanna, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" were also the people who shouted, release Barabbas and crucify Jesus, as the pretender Messiah!
Because of Israel's unbelief and hardheadedness, salvation was offered to us Gentiles. The chosen nation's wickedness has opened the door of salvation to us (Romans 11:25). This should not lead us to become proud but to be thankful for the grace that is shared for all people in the world to receive this salvation that was rejected by the Jewish people and until such time that the good news will be preached to all the nations.
Gentiles - fellow Filipinos, Americans and all the people around the world, let us be thankful for the wonderful privilege to be a recipient of the precious free gift of salvation that was offered first to the Jewish people but because of their unbelief, they rejected and killed instead the best gift of God who is Jesus, the Savior of the world. Since God has opened this precious gift of salvation to us Gentiles, be joyful and thankful and not to be like the Jewish people but if we'll still insist to harden also our hearts and mind, the same fate will come to us. Let us learned from the mistakes that the Jewish people did and let us open our hearts and mind to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
In the book of John 3:16 says very clearly that "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. That whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". God knew that all the human efforts of man to restore again his broken relationship to God was very impossible, "For all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). God himself has initiated to bring this restoration to men or else all men will die spiritually or will suffer the agony and pain of his soul to the eternal separation of men from the presence of God. Hell is the eternal punishment that awaits those who will live in sin and will reject the precious gift of eternal life. "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23).
Man needs to make an intelligent decision to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. The meaning of this statement are the following: First, it means that man needs to accept that he is a sinner and that he is one of the reasons why God has sent Jesus on earth to die on the cross. Second, is to admit that he sinned against God. He violated the holiness of God and he is worthy to die on the cross or to receive the punishment due to every sinner. Third, make a decisive decision to turn away from his sin or sin no more as what Jesus said to Mary Magdalene in John 8:11. Sin is no longer his master cause he was forgiven already. The only logical and acceptable action on the part of a sinner who received forgiveness. And lastly, is to ask God's help to live a new life which is now possible to do because of the presence of the Holy Spirit who will guide a believer in all the truth through his written words in the bible II Corinthians 5:17.
Brothers and sisters, Jesus said in Revelation 3:20, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door. I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" It is your personal decision that matters and will determine your destination in life. You have to make an intelligent decision today. God has promised in John 1:12 that says, "Yet to all who receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave them the right to become children of God".
Your new meaning and purpose in life will start only once you invited him to come into your heart and make Jesus as your Lord and Savior. He will free you from the power and punishment of sin, you will receive eternal life, you can do all things through Christ who will give you strength, you will have the wisdom and strength to overcome worries, fears, negativism in life, you will have joy, peace and hope here on earth and these will be completed when we all come to heaven - a place of complete life, no more tears, pain, sickness and even death.
May the grace and love of our living and holy God be with you always.
For more messages about life, death, freedom from worries, fears, victory over temptation, dating, happy family, healing from sickness and others, visit our website in savelifewithjoy.com and or go to our blogs at hopeandlifeforyou.com and Eugene "EJ" Juarez. And for you suggestions, comments and prayer requests, email us at agn623@gmail.com
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