June 16, 2026

“Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” mat 16:16 nkjv   Shortly after this, Jesus [Yeshua] said to these same disciples:

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” mat 16:24-27 nkjv

How do you think people today actually see Yeshua/Jesus? Do they “see” Him with their physical eyes, I think not; Yet they really can “see” Him for WHO He is, and they can believe in their hearts that He is the “Son of the living God.” Significantly, if you study Yahweh’s Word and have prayerful fellowship with Him you can see Yeshua in many places and examples in the Scriptures. The recorded Scriptural life of Yeshua is a beautiful teaching of who He is. What if people see Him as such, yet do not regard Him as God… or consider it their necessity to “follow Him?” Taken at its full meaning and the implications of losing one’s life to save it, I think, is more of a challenge than most people can embrace. Only the empowerment of the Holy Spirit can cause people to live a consecrated relationship to Christ. His comment on gaining the whole world, yet losing one’s own soul, I think, is a profound thought. Yet many choose to walk in that life.

Let’s turn the clock of time back to the experience the Children of Israel had with the Exodus experience… actually, I have studied the Exodus teaching in great detail for decades. In the end, I simply accept its overwhelming claims by faith, as my natural thinking and understanding can’t imagine so many of its extraordinary examples being possible… Now think of how those on the Exodus journey saw and experienced the amazing works of God… and yet, the writer of Hebrews said they failed to enter the Promised land for unbelief [no faith], as even they had the same gospel preached to them:

“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them [Children of Israel on Exodus journey]; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” heb 4:1-3 nkjv

In Exodus chapter 32,  concerning the idolatry of the Children of Israel, related to the golden calf they crafted, and attributed to being the god that brought them up out of Egypt… we see Yahweh telling Moses that his [Moses] people have corrupted themselves… shortly, in response, Moses says, “why does your wrath burn hot against Your [Yahweh’s] people… it seems neither Yahweh or Moses wanted to take ownership for this bunch of misfits… I suggest it is much the same today. Most likely, in a similar vein, I think many weary and hard laboring people in the ministry would likely view their problems with their unruly sheep much in the same manner… It is fortunate that Yahweh sent Yeshua to intercede for us, otherwise we would self-destruct as did the Exodus misfits, with all but two over the age of 20, not allowed to crossover into the Promised Land. Yahweh can be quite serious concerning His expectations of “His people.” Later in the Prophet Hosea’s book, we read where Yahweh divorces the Norther Kingdom [Israel], and explains the narrative… yet later, He recovers them in His love and redemption.

So, Who do you say that Yeshua is? If you claim Him to be the Son of the Living God, and your Savior, then you have a real bridge to cross… otherwise, just going on in your own ways, your hearing of the gospel is not “mixed with faith.”

If you study the great characters of the Bible, namely, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, King David; and the Prophets, Samuel,Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Hosea, to name a few… then continue on into the New Covenant main players, Jesus, the Disciples, Apostles, etc… you will find one thing in common, without exception, they all had a rough time of working through their challenges… I tell you this to help you appreciate the reality of living a set apart life as a believer. There will always be challenges and difficulties… until Yeshua returns. But take heart in the promises ahead of you:

“However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” 1 Cor 2:6-10 nkjv

Let us condense the whole thing, about life as a believer, keep it simple. Learn and live the 10 Commandments; the first five as our proper relationship with Yahweh, and the last five as our proper relationship with our fellow man. And lets us hear Yeshua's Words, especially these:

“Jesus said to him [a temple lawyer], “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

In the end, it is not complicated, it is about what [Who] you decide to follow; the world and its temporary indulgences… or the eternal God who has provided the Holy Spirit to enlighten your eyes to see beyond the censorship of the flesh that wants to separate you from life everlasting… that, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

In the end, too many simply do not want Yahweh interfering in their plans… don’t join them.

Shalom, John