Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Jesus First



When we go to our weekly Nursing Home service we ask one of the ladies in the Home to sing for us Christian songs from her childhood. One of her songs is to the music of Jingle Bells. It is called J O Y; Jesus first, Yourself last, and Others in between. How often we put ourselves before Jesus and others. Jesus shared something very painful; his coming death and resurrection, but two of his disciples walk in seeking their personal glory, seeming to ignore his message as if it were not spoken.

Mar 10:33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
Mar 10:34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
Mar 10:35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
Mar 10:36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
Mar 10:37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
Mar 10:38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
Mar 10:39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
Mar 10:40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
Mar 10:41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

One great thing about Jesus Christ is that he was available for others who came to him. His needs were ignored by his friends and yet he always cared for others. He was ignored and would be mocked, beaten, tortured and killed. His cup was full. Would you like to share in his sufferings? We may have to, but we prefer to be in his blessings. Remember the simple song to put things in order as a disciple of Jesus. Jesus first, yourself last and others in between. May your Joy be complete; put Jesus first.

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