"BEHOLD HOW HE LOVED HIM!"

   One of the most loving stories told in the Bible is the story of the love Jesus had for three people---for a man named Lazarus, and for his two sisters, Martha and Mary---and of the love they had for him.   
   This story begins in the Gospel of John the Apostle, in chapter 11.

   NOW a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.  (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)  Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick.
   When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
   Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.  When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.  Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again.
   His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
   Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day?  If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of the world.  But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
   Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him:  but Mary sat still in the house. 
   Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.  But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
   Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
   Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection of the last day.
   Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:  he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live again.  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.  Believest thou this? 
   She saith unto him, Yea, Lord:  I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. 
   And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.  As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
   Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 
   When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, and said, Where have ye laid him?
   They say unto him, Lord, come and see.
   Jesus wept.
   Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
   Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.  And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.  And I knew that thou hearest me always:  but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 
   And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.  And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin, Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
   THEN Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.  There they made him a supper; and Martha served:  but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
   Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair:  and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
   Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there; and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.  But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
   Then two days before the Passover, Jesus was invited to another supper in his honor:
   Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. 
   The anointing of the feet of Jesus was for his death, and the anointing of his head was for his seat of authority:  Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel.  (2 Kings 9: 3)
   Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!  And from that hour that disciple took her into his own home.
   THE first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher.  Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him.
   Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher.  So they ran both together:  and the other disciple did out-run Peter, and came first to the sepulcher.  And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went not in.  Then cometh Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the other clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.  Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and believed.  Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
   But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping:  and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.  And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?  She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.  And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 
   And Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?  whom seekest thou?  She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
   Jesus said unto her, Mary.  She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 
   Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am no ascended to my Father:  but go to my brethren and said unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
   Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
  
   Lazarus, Martha, and Mary Magdalene---a special family in the life of Jesus.  They were disciples of the Lord.  When Jesus was anointed two times, they were there, and Lazarus was also present at the Last Supper.  They were at the cross of Jesus when the Lord was crucified, and they were witnesses of the Lord's resurrection.
   Lazarus was that disciple whom Jesus loved.   Having been resurrected from death by Jesus, he had insights about Jesus that the other disciples did not have.  For this reason, there are Bible scholars who believe that Lazarus was the writer of the Gospel of John as well as the writer of the last book of the Bible, The Revelation of Jesus Christ. 
   As it is written at the conclusion of the Gospel of John: 
   This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.  Amen.
  
  
  
  
   
  

A WALL OF SHAME

   The world is falling and is quickly becoming a world of spiritual darkness all across the face of the earth!
   Crimes against humanity are increasing daily, and all of the police departments in the world cannot stop, nor contain, the tidal wave of evil that is sweeping across every nation upon the earth!
   Nations that once stood for God do not stand for God anymore!
   Nations that once stood for Christ have turned their faces against Christ!
   Nations are against nations, kingdoms are against kingdoms, and people are against people!
   The whole world is becoming a place that is unsafe to raise children!
   The trafficking of women and girls for prostitution and pornography is increasing!
   The trafficking of children for pornography and pedophilia is increasing!
   The trafficking of drugs for drug addictions is increasing!
   According to the Global Slavery Index, dated October 17, 2013, there are an estimated 30 million enslaved people in 162 countries worldwide! 
   On the Index's "List of Shame" are the nations of China, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Russia, Thailand, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.  In Mauritania in West Africa, 4% of the nation's population are slaves.  And even in the United States, there are approximately 60,000 enslaved people.  Most of these slaves are women, teenage girls, and young boys, and they are sold and traded for physical labor as well as for sex.  Many of these people are also used as human sacrifices in Satanic religious rituals worldwide.
   As we watch the most powerful men in the world dance and prance across political stages and religious platforms, what do they say about the slavery of humans worldwide?
   Nothing!
   What do they say about the illegal prostitution of women, girls, and boys worldwide?
   Nothing!
   What do they say about pedophilia worldwide?
   Nothing!
   What do they say about the illegal trafficking of drugs worldwide?
   Nothing!
   Instead, they want us to believe that human government is good for us!
   Instead, they want us to believe that human religion is good for us!
   The killing of Jesus was a performance of the most powerful men in the world, the men of religion and politics, and they wanted the killing of Jesus to be believed as something that was good for people!
   As it is written in the Word of the Lord,
      Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said,
      What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.  If we let him alone, all men will believe on him; and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and our nation.
      And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them,
      Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
      And this spake he not of himself:  but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
      Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.  (John 11: 47-53)
   But with God we have a better way than the ways of men.  For with God we have hope and the assurance of a better tomorrow:
      If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  (2 Chronicles 7: 14)
  
  
  

BRETHREN OF DARKNESS: PART TWO

   The most powerful men in the world are the most evil men upon the face of the earth. 
   These are the men who hide their evil behind the shroud of politics and religion as they hide their true characters behind the mask of smiling and serious faces, and by adorning their bodies in fancy suits and priestly garments.
   For thousands of years, such men have controlled and dominated the behavior of people, across nations and continents, by controlling and dominating the minds of people.
   And so it is today.  These men control the money of the whole world.  They control education, entertainment, publishing companies, television, radio, professional sports, music, and news organizations.  They control the politics of all nations, and they also control the religions of the world. 
   Across time, these men have infiltrated Christian churches with false disciples, false apostles, false ministers, pastors, and preachers, and they also established New Age churches.
   These men also control occultism, including the Church of Satan, Church of Witchcraft, Church of Pagans, Church of Paganism, Church of Wicca, and the Church of Atheism.
   As these men control the behavior of people through politics, they also control the behavior of people through religions, false churches, and the occult. 
   To control the world, there is no manner of evil that they will not do.  Not only have they embraced evil, but they abide in evil---while appearing to be honest faces in governments and trustworthy ministers and priests in religions and false churches.
   As a result of these most powerful men in the world, the whole world is living under a cloud of spiritual darkness---and the darkness is getting darker. 
   For even in Western Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States memberships in occult churches and atheist churches are growing in record numbers:  which means that while the knowledge of Satan is increasing, the knowledge of Christ is decreasing.  Before much longer in time, these nations will look like other nations all over the world as cities all over the world will look like the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
   For young people, the occult is an attractive world:  they can do whatever they desire to do with no limitations, no boundaries, and no restrictions from people in politics, nor from people in "normal" religions.  Not only have they embraced evil, but they abide in evil.  They adorn their bodies with garments that reflect their spiritual conversion:  dark clothing.  They congregate with people in dark places, away from the light, for now they are children of darkness:  children of the devil---and there is no evil that they will not pursue; for the greater the evil, the greater the thrill.
   Please remember:  the men who killed Jesus had the same minds as the minds of the most powerful men in the world today; for today's worldly leaders are brothers of the same brotherhood of darkness, and their duty is to keep the knowledge of Christ hidden from people all over the world, for this is their secret agenda, their secret war.
      Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armor God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  (Ephesians 6: 11-13)

BRETHREN OF DARKNESS: PART ONE

   Men of secret societies, men of politics, and men of religion do not want women meddling in their secret enterprises of drugs, pornography, prostitution, pedophilia, sexism, and racism.
   Such men view women as no more that objects for sex, or to give birth to babies---but no more.
   Such men expect women to treat their husbands as godfathers. To them, she is forbidden to enter secret societies, politics, or religion. Instead, she is expected to be seen clinging to her husband's arm, but to remain silent, to nod when he speaks, then to quietly disappear when the men gather in the cigar room to smoke, sip brandy, and discuss matters of utmost secrecy behind closed doors.  Neither is she supposed to know all that her husband does in his secret world.
   The most powerful men in the world are members of secret societies, politics, and religion. 
   Such men also prefer sex with prostitutes and sex with children than sex with their wives, which has been the behavior of the most powerful men in the world throughout human history, in both political empires and religious empires.  That behavior has never changed.
   Ever wonder why drugs, pornography, prostitution, pedophilia, sexism, and racism are always the hottest arenas that are never abolished? 
   It is because the most lucrative arenas of crime are controlled by the most powerful men in the world.
   Such men are masters of hypocrisy as well as masters of deception.  Adorning themselves in expensive suits and priestly garments, they also control the world's legal systems and law enforcement agencies.
   With such power over people, who would dare accuse a king of consorting with prostitutes?
   Who would dare accuse a president of snorting cocaine?
   Or who would dare accuse a high priest of religion with having sex with little boys?
   Such men prefer to meet in their secret chambers in places of darkness because darkness is their natural habitat.  It is there where they keep their secrets hidden under the cover of darkness.  It is there where they map their secret plans, their secret war against Christ.  And it is there where they count the money that they have extorted from people through their power to control financial institutions and religion. 
   For out in the light, they deceive people to believe that they are honest men and that their deeds are honorable, for even their religious brethren of darkness are able to convince people that they are gods, capable of forgiving sins!
   If you will recall, it was men of darkness who killed Jesus.  They hated Jesus then, and they hate Jesus today.  And their secret world today is all about their secret war against Christ:  to abolish the knowledge of Christ, to abolish the knowledge of God, and to abolish the knowledge of the Holy Bible---while deceiving people to believe that they will usher in a New World Order, a new age for mankind, a world of peace and prosperity for all.  In truth, however their New World Order is a global trap of people to produce a global empire of slavery.
   And now you know why religions all over the world are in favor of the New World Order:  their partners in politics are their spiritual brothers.  Such men have the mind of a serpent because their minds are consumed with the evil knowledge of Satan.
   Jesus never came to earth to launch a new religion, nor to promote secret societies of men.  Neither did the Lord trample women and children beneath his feet.
      For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, that his deeds should be reproved.  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be manifest, that they are wrought in God.  (John 3: 16, 17, 20, 21)

A RABBI'S ROBE

   Jesus was a preacher from Galilee, a simple man with a simple message, and all of his sermons were new, fresh, unscripted, and a delight to the ears of people. 
   He didn't hang out with the religious crowd, and his best friends caught fish for a living!
   People called him Rabbi even though he never wore a Rabbi's robe.
   He went to the people instead of waiting for people to come to him.
   He never commanded nor demanded people to bow at his feet, nor to kiss his ring.
   Jesus was different.  He was not a friend of the priestly class, and neither was he a friend of Rome.    
   He demonstrated his concern and love for people, he never asked them for their money, and by his example of kindness, the people loved him---while the religious crowd in Jerusalem wanted him dead.
   Dead? 
   Even Pontius Pilate rejected to the idea of killing Jesus when he said,
      Why, what evil hath he done?
   But kill him they did---not because he had done anything wrong, but for who he is. 
   For two thousand years, the story of Jesus has never changed, and people all over the world have come to love him by coming to know him---a simple man with a simple message. 
   And all of his sermons are still new, still fresh, still unscripted and still a delight to our ears, as if we are hearing him preach for the first time:  from a man who never wore a Rabbi's robe.

   Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and for ever.  (Hebrews 13: 8)

MORE THAN A DREAM

   Throughout my lifetime, I have always wanted to be a writer, and, from time to time, I wrote short stories, poetry, and even made attempts to write a novel:  always hoping to create a wonderful story, have a book published in hardback, which would reach the New York Times bestseller list, after which I would become famous as well as become filthy rich.  No longer do I dream such a selfish dream.
   Two years ago, I made a promise to a person that I would write something about God.  Just the very thought of writing about God is an awesome thought, for what could I possibly say about God that has not been said?  Or what could I write about Him that has not been written? 
   Nevertheless, I made the promise, with the stipulation that I did not know how to write about Him, I did not know what I would write about Him, and neither did I know when I would begin such an undertaking.  Neither did I know who would read my writing about God.
   Knowing this, I began to pray to God about this how, what, when, and also the who---as I continued to live my life, doing all the things that I normally do, day by day. 
   Days of praying became weeks, weeks became months, and finally, in November, 2011, the Lord began to answer my prayer as He revealed to me that I could write a blog, which would enable people from anywhere in the world to read my story about Him.  He also gave me the title for my blog, the 7th Highway.
   After this, my praying did not end.  For now I needed God for the stories as I totally trusted in Him, by faith, to do that which I am incapable of doing by myself:  because I wanted these stories to be all about Him, and not about me, and no one knows more about God than God. 
   Thus, day by day, and story after story, I have totally trusted God for the stories that I written over the past two years.  For even this blog today, MORE THAN A DREAM, the Lord wanted me to write as a testimony of my faith in Him, and of what God can accomplish, through people, if they will trust in Him.
   Two years ago, I never dreamed that the 7th Highway would be viewed 15,000 times by people in the United States as well as by people in 86 nations and on 6 continents!  The Lord has also given me 600 stories to tell about things past, things present, and also things future, and each story has been a story of truth.
    Two years ago, I never dreamed that the 7th Highway would be read by people in the world's most populated nations, by people in the world's richest nations, but also by people in the world's poorest nations.
   Over these two years, my hope and prayer has always been that all of these stories will help people to know more about God, about Christ, and about the Holy Bible.  My hope and prayer has also been that these stories could be a vehicle that could help others to know Christ for the first time.
   Beyond this, the stories I have written have been good for me, and I have learned more from the Lord in these two years than I could have ever dreamed.  For without Him, I would not know all that I now know, just from writing these stories.
   If a friend should ask you to do a certain project for the Lord, please consider it carefully:  for it could be the Lord speaking to you through a friend.
   Let me leave you now with one of my favorite scriptures from the Bible:
      For I know that my redeemer liveth,
         and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
      And though after my skin worms destroy this body,
         yet in my flesh shall I see God:
      Whom I shall see for myself,
         and mine eyes shall behold,
         and not another;
         though my reins be consumed within me.  (Job 19: 25-27)
        

A FEARFUL THING

   What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?
              ---Pontius Pilate, 2000 years ago

   For what shall it profit a man. if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
              ---Jesus of Nazareth, 2000 years ago

   There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
   And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at the gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table:  moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
   And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom:  the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
   But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed:  so that they which pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
   Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou shouldst send him to my father's house:  for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
   Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
   And he said, Nay, father Abraham:  but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
   And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. 
          ---Gospel of Luke, chapter 16: 19-31

   Consider the rich man and all that he had, yet he made no plans or preparations for his life beyond the grave.  He ignored God, ...and in hell he lifted up his eyes....  Would you agree that he exchanged his own soul for all that he had accumulated in his life?
   In your own words, what will you do then with Jesus which is called Christ?  Or what will you profit if you should gain the whole world and lose your own soul?
   Before the door of death closes behind you, please consider the Word of the Lord:
      It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  (Hebrews 10: 31)