READ: 1
CORINTHIAN 15:1-10
In the
Christian race, you are the one to determine your placement with the Master.
There is room for people to move closer to God. Take advantage of this and move
up. When Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to five hundred disciples. Out
of this of the Lord, was a group of seventy which He had sent out in twos to
preach the gospel (Luke 10:1, 17). Out of these, He had another army of twelve
which followed Him every where He went. Yet within this group was another army
of three which He took to very important locations, to which the general twelve
were not allowed.
I used to wonder why this trio was specially chosen. He showed them His power, glory and even His weakness. At the Mount of Transfiguration they were there (Matthew 17:1-2). In Jairus’ house where He raised the dead, He put everybody out first, including other members of the twelve, but specially called the three to witness the miracle (Mark 5:37-42). These were the ones who saw Him in agony and were invited to help intercede at the Garden of Gethsemane where He prayed to a point of sweating blood (Mark 14:32-34). Within this group, He further had an army of one- John the beloved. In John 13:21-26, the night before He died, He informed the twelve that one of them would betray Him. As close as Peter was to Christ, being a member of the army of three, he did not know. He asked John who was closest to find out from the Lord. Jesus conveyed the reply to John through sign language.
From scripture, I found out that there would always exist an army within an army. There would always be groups of threes, like Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego (Daniel 3), as well as Peter, James and John. Also there would always be a special group of one: one Abraham, one Daniel, one Moses, one Enoch, one John the beloved. The extent to which you will know God, the level of secrets that will be made available to you and your attitude with the Lord, will be dependent on the kind of relationship you have with Jesus; how much you love, obey, serve and follow Him. You do not have to remain in the general army. That is meant for everyone. You can become a part of the special group. You too can be another John the beloved. It is your decision. Make your choice today.
I used to wonder why this trio was specially chosen. He showed them His power, glory and even His weakness. At the Mount of Transfiguration they were there (Matthew 17:1-2). In Jairus’ house where He raised the dead, He put everybody out first, including other members of the twelve, but specially called the three to witness the miracle (Mark 5:37-42). These were the ones who saw Him in agony and were invited to help intercede at the Garden of Gethsemane where He prayed to a point of sweating blood (Mark 14:32-34). Within this group, He further had an army of one- John the beloved. In John 13:21-26, the night before He died, He informed the twelve that one of them would betray Him. As close as Peter was to Christ, being a member of the army of three, he did not know. He asked John who was closest to find out from the Lord. Jesus conveyed the reply to John through sign language.
From scripture, I found out that there would always exist an army within an army. There would always be groups of threes, like Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego (Daniel 3), as well as Peter, James and John. Also there would always be a special group of one: one Abraham, one Daniel, one Moses, one Enoch, one John the beloved. The extent to which you will know God, the level of secrets that will be made available to you and your attitude with the Lord, will be dependent on the kind of relationship you have with Jesus; how much you love, obey, serve and follow Him. You do not have to remain in the general army. That is meant for everyone. You can become a part of the special group. You too can be another John the beloved. It is your decision. Make your choice today.
MEMORIZE:
MATTHEW 17:1 –And after six days Jesus takes Peter, James and John his brother,
and brings them up into a high mountain apart.
