T.J.I.F.A.
Thank Jesus It's Friday...Again!

Pass It On
March 2 2 ,  2002
Subject: The Garden

The Garden has a great deal of significance in the Word of God We will explore some of the important similarities between the two most important Gardens in History.
1. The Garden of Eden - Where it all started.
2. The Garden of Gethsemene - where it both ended and started a new.
 Noteworthy This week asks some pertinent questions regarding the Subject .
In The Mirror: Takes a look at what you are getting as a result of what you put out.

Happy Palm Sunday!
See ya at the Cross next time.
Looking Forward
TER  
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THE  GARDEN
THE  GARDEN

Genesis 3 The Fall of Man"  In the Garden.
uke 2: Redemption In the Garden.   



It started  in the garden and it ended in the garden.    Satan stole the allegiance due God from man by deception in the Garden of Eden.  ‘He never would have guessed that in the Garden of Gethsemene  that everything that was  stolen   would be    Taken back by God , because of His love for His creation.   Adam demonstrated "Not Thy will but mine" in the Garden of Eden, after the beguilement of Eve by  Satan.  But redemption of man was vicariously snatched through Agape love  n the Garden of Gethsemene  Jesus Christ gave up His will for the will of the
Father. Saying "Never the less not mine but Thine."  Now with our own free will we can be reunited to God through belief in the Son of God - Jesus Christ.

If Satan had understood the plan of Salvation and Redemption, he would have tried harder to stop its course.  BUT GOD! ... had it all worked out from the beginning.   

The Disciples and Jesus had come from the Last Supper in the Upper Room to the Garden of Gethsemene .  In the Upper Room Jesus prepared the hearts of His disciples.  In the book of John  the Upper Room Experience also includes the washing of all of the disciples feet, including Judas.   He raised up from dinner, wrapped a towel around his waist and began one by one washing His disciples feet.   When it was Peter's turn , Peter declined, however, Jesus told them that f he didn't wash their feet they would have no part in His Kingdom.  He continued to prepare His disciples to have the right attitude in the work that they would find themselves ...The Work of the Kingdom of God.  

Jesus told them that the sheep would be scattered after the Shepherd was taken.  Peter, once again proclaimed his loyalty by stating that he would never deny Jesus.  Jesus, however, told him that he would deny him three times before the crock  crew.  (And it came to pass just as He said.)  

Jesus excused Judas from the dinner (maybe He felt his anxiety to complete the task of betrayal.) He was still teaching His disciples.  When this whole affair was over they could look back and know that Jesus could have at anytime changed His course.  But He didn't! He headed straight to the Cross., by way of "The Garden."  

He took eleven disciples with Him to the Garden of Gethsemene .  Judas was not with Him anymore he was against Him.   It is interesting to me that when the soldiers established that it was Jesus they wanted, the ten were scattered and only Jesus, Peter and Judas remained in the Garden to complete this portion of  a continuing event.
Peter, with his sword. Judas, with his bag of silver. Jesus with His Word.  Judas, with his love for money. Peter, with his love for Jesus.  Jesus with His love for mankind.  Judas stood with the Soldiers .  Peter stood with Jesus.  Jesus stood alone. (But not really.  He could have called Angels to His rescue, But, He pressed  on course to the Cross.)
Just a thought:
Judas attended all of the meetings and he knew that Jesus had said that he would be killed by the Chief Priests and makers of the law.  Do you suppose that Judas decided to do what he did so that he would get the glory?  That would be quite an attraction .  Remember that Jesus told His disciples not  to tell anyone that he was going to be killed but would come back on the third day.   Maybe Judas decided to make a little money on the side for this spectacular event. Not understanding any of the Spiritual ramifications involved, and not really caring.  After all Jesus would pull a rabbit out of the hat if his plan didn't work, he always did...He fed five thousand; He walked on water; He cast out demons; so, He could do this also.  

There's a danger in having contempt for the things of God.  Learn from Judas and his mistakes.  
In the Garden of Eden there was betrayal.
In the Garden of Gethsemene there was betrayal.
In the Garden of Eden there was transference of Lordship.
In the Garden of Gethsemene there was regaining of Lordship, through obedience.
In the Garden of Eden there was God's love for His creation.
In the Garden of Gethsemene Jesus showed that same love for His creation.
In the Garden of Eden, God prophesied ‘The End.'
In the Garden of Gethsemene Jesus fulfilled the prophesy.

We have much to think about a we enter another Resurrection Season.  Who are you in the Garden?
See a next week at the Cross!
Looking Forward
TER   








NOTEWORTHY:
• Jesus Christ washed the feet of Judas Iscariot and He dried them with the towel around his waist.

• Jesus Christ ate with Judas Iscariot ; and He even dipped His sop in the same bowl with him.
• Love your enemies!

• Would you have washed Judas' feet or eaten out of the same bowl if you knew what Jesus knew about him?    I don't think so!

• Referring to Billy Graham:  It was said on WAFS 920  March 20,2002 that when a man gets his finances straight with God, he can handle almost anything.  The reason for this statement is according to Billy Graham and the Word of God - You cannot serve God and mammon, so when you get your priority right everything else falls into place.

• Judas was a man who didn't have His finances toward God straight.  He thought he could sell "The Son of God for   thirty pieces of silver.   He realized too late that his plan was no good.


In The Mirror:
The game of life is the game of boomerangs.  Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later, with astounding accuracy.
The Pendulum of Life
At any moment, all that we claim as our own might be instantly swept away.  But perhaps its this precarious balance that drives us to value  what we have, to cling to the world as we do.  And isn't it all we do not know that constitutes possibility?  
Submitted by SLC from "Bits & Pieces"