Regardless of the consequences, regardless of the threats being breathed out from the Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests, Lawyers, Scribes, Synagogue Leaders, Employers, tradesmen, land owners, and political cronies of the Anti-Christ Religious Leadership, and everyone who would twist God’s Words and God’s Character to try and create wedge between God and his Children, despite all that, and the threat of death, stoning, and imprisonment, the small band of faithful followers abiding in the Blood Covenant of God did extraordinary miracles, signs, wonders, and healings, everywhere they went, further disturbing and condemning the religious people, and exposing their false beliefs and false faith, and the fact that they had crucified their Messiah, the One God had sent to save them. What a mess! But these false faith figures, clung to the blind greed for money and power, and continued to be jealous for what they didn’t have, and continued to seek to harm the chosen children of God, as like always, and to even kill those who would not stop Preaching His Name, and His Gospel. (His Name is Powerful–See the Name of God series when you have a minute.)
Make a note: these two men were not a part of the 12 apostles, but many more men and women were followers of Jesus from the very beginning that were not part of the original 12. It is possible and likely that these men could have been a part of the 70 Jesus sent out after Jesus sent out the 12 (but that is just conjecture). They were likely a part of the 120 that were praying in the Temple on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit Fell upon them, and when the appearance of Tongues, as Flames of Fire, fell on the righteous men and women, who would become His Witnesses. And they would have spoke in the tongues of Men and Angels.
Here is where our story begins:
Mark 16:12-13 (KJV) 12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them [to Cleopas and his buddy], as they walked, and went into the country [on the road to Emmaus]. 13 [Then after, their amazing encounter] they went and told it unto the residue [the rest of the apostles and believers gathered in hiding, fearful for their own lives]: neither believed they them [neither did “they,” (an undisclosed number of disciples) believe their testimony].
Have you ever imagined what Jesus said to Cleopas (and the other man) as they walked along the 7 mile journey to the town of Emmaus, the day that Jesus rose from the dead? (See the whole story, in the shaded box below, presented by the gospel writer, Luke.)
Wonderful Walking with Jesus
Our journey with Him makes us fun of wonder: “Did not our heart burn within as …” was their testimony. The should also be our testimony when we come to the Word of God, preserved by the very covenant of God.
Would it not have been wonderful to walk beside Jesus, in his resurrected body, and be taught by him personally, while he is detailing the old testament prophetic pictures that proclaim him as the suffering Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world? The Word of God is full of His story–The Blood Covenant of God.
Well, I think it would. And guess what, we can repeat the gesture, and the experience to a certain degree. We have the same Word of God Jesus taught from, and we have the Same Holy Spirit to help guide us in our understanding. So why shouldn’t we walk with him, and talk with him about the Road to Emmaus?
That theme is interwoven like a golden thread throughout the scriptures. Even when the obvious subject is not immediately about him, his story is still marching forward, even in the background, in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, the Prophets, the Psalms, Proverbs, the History Books, they all tell his Blood Covenant Story.
What do you see in the Blood Covenant Scriptures? (The whole Old & New Covenant was based on the Blood Covenant.)
- Whenever you see disobedience, brace yourself, because judgment is coming.
- Whenever you see obedience, prepare yourself, because blessings are coming.
Whenever you see spiritual attacks, and spiritual challenges, then you will see one of three responses:
- Those who turn towards God, in humility, and brokenness, and contriteness, and a heart of faith, receive his favor, acceptance, and help.
- Those who turn away from God, in the spirit of pride, privilege, self righteousness, will be rejected and judged, and will cut themselves off from His Help.
- Those who pretend to turn to God, but they do so in word only, not in faith and deeds, sadly, they are deceived and their rewards will be the same as those who turn away from God.
Have you had experience with Spiritual Attacks?
Have you been tempted to throw away your spiritual birthright, like Esau did for a bowl of red beans? (Genesis 25:32), or physically harm your brother like Cain did to Abel? (Genesis 4:1), or have an adulteress affair like King David? (2 Samuel 11:1) or sleep with a prostitute like Samson? (Judges 16:13) or live for a whole season of your life, for a good time of wild partying, like the Prodigal Son? (Luke 15:11), or for political correctness, and political connections, like Judas Iscariot? (Matthew 26:15, Zechariah 11:12, 13) Ever been tempted to get drunk like Noah, or party like Belshazzar (remember the Handwriting on the Wall, Daniel 5:1)? or have a one night fling, like the woman caught in adultery, when men stood ready to stone her (John 8:1)? Ever been attacked in your mind, will, or emotions? Ever become a prisoner to your addictions and sins: Like the Gadarene demoniac? (Matthew 8:28; Luke 8:28; Mark 5:1) Ever do anything against your conscience? Ever blaspheme God’s Holy Name? Then you know you have given in to enemy attacks.
That includes the temptation to lie, steal, cheat, and the temptation to commit sexual immorality (King David, to be jealous, or even the temptation to murder an innocent person (King David, Queen Jezebel, Cain and Abel, Lamech who killed a young man), or even hated a brother in your heart, or look lustfully upon another human being.
Throughout the whole Testimony of God you will see people, softening their hearts, and humbling their lives (like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, and more) in order to enter into the Blood Covenant of God. They knew they needed to repent of their sins. Cease to do wrong. Learn to do what is right and pleasing to the God of Heaven. And by no means learn from or follow the idolatrous practices of the people who worship idols. He knew they would need to stay in a prayerful place, seeking to obey God, and offering a blood sacrifice to God for the forgiveness of their sins, wrongs, trespasses, and iniquities.
You will also see men hardening their hearts: like Cain the brother of Abel, Pharaoh King of Egypt, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, King Saul, and plenty more. There is a continual parade of people defying God and breaking God’s Commands, and then later paying the price for it. This all reflects the absence of the Blood Covenant of God (the Gentiles) or the rebellion to the Blood Covenant of God (The Jews or Israelites).
You will see so many people turning away from God. Sadly, many more people turn away from God, than turn towards God, due to the sin nature that lives inside of them. And they pay the price of it: Like Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. (See Numbers 16:1-50) In there case, the ground opened up and swallowed them, their tents and their families and all their possessions, and the fell directly into hell, which is a fascinating and terrifying testimony that happened during the time of rebellion of the Israelite people whom God delivered from slavery in Egypt.
Because of this falling away from God, many people become trapped in their sins, trapped in their guilt, trapped in their selfishness, trapped in their own disobedience to God. Trapped in their habits, addictions, bondages, and many tremendous strongholds of the enemy can be built up into their own hearts and lives. (See the Story of Mannesseh, 2 Chronicles 33:1-20) As a result, they are faced with one of two choices, to turn their backs to God, or to turn their faces to God and come to him through the Blood Covenant of God, and seek God’s Forgiveness and Restoration of Fellowship, and return to become obedient Children of God, instead of wicked servants of Evil.
Because of the Blood Covenant, the Lord sends punishments (his curses) upon the people, because when the break or disobey the requirements of the Covenant, they will receive the curses and punishments of the covenant, as presented in the Covenant contract.
But when they repent of their rebellion, sin, disobedience, lies, etc. They can be forgiven, and can be restored into fellowship with God through the Blood Covenant of God. Then God can again send the blessings of the Covenant to His People.
The covenant is simple to understand
- Blessings for obedience
- Curses for disobedience
After we have sinned, and we know we have done wrong, there is a path back to our salvation. And that path is covered in blood. The blood of the lamb. He is the sacrifice for the propitiation of the sin of the sinner. Apparently, Cleopas and his buddy did not understand this and needed to …
Once you begin to honestly understand this covenant, your gratitude will grow and grow and grow. The height and the depth of this covenant is beyond human comprehension.
This is why the blood covenant God is so important. Without it we would be doomed to stay trapped in our sins, bondages, guilt, and our spiritual state of death for eternity. There would be no grace, no mercy, no forgiveness. Without the blood covenant there would be no chance for redemption. No chance for salvation. No hope for the future.
The Old Testament Saints were saved by the Blood Covenant of God looking forward to the Coming of the Messiah to fulfill the Promises of God. The New Testament Saints are saved by the very same Blood Covenant of God, but they are looking backward to what the Messiah did for them on the Cross, to fulfill the Promises of God. The New Testament Saints have his one huge advantage, that they can be baptized in the Holy Spirit, after repenting of their sins, and the Holy Spirit can come and live inside the Temple of God, and be joined with the human spirit, and become one with God in heart, mind, soul, and spirit. This provision was not accessible in the Old Covenant.
Through the Blood Covenant of God every believer can and will be made acceptable, once again due to the blood of the covenant. There is no other way. There is no other power. There is no other authority that can save us from our sins, only through the blood covenant can we become acceptable to God and forgiven for our sins and enter into his presence forever. Because only one sinless man was born into this world. And only one sinless man has chosen to pay the penalty of death, that is upon the entire human race for their sinful nature. Only the Pure, Spotless, Blameless, Lamb of the Living God, was able and was willing to take your sins upon his back, and carry them to the Cross of Calvary. No one else was willing. No one else was able. Only he could. Only he did fulfill the terms of the Blood Covenant with His own Blood.
The only other option is to reject his Blood Covenant and go your own way, which is the same way the devil and his angels and demons have chosen to go. Their final destination is to be eternally separated from the presence of God.
Only Two Eternal Places One can Go
- The place with God.
- Or the place without God.
The place of separation from God is a place without life, without love, without peace, without mercy, without forgiveness, without healing, without kindness, without hope, without joy, or gladness, or compassion, or goodness. These are all the qualities that emanate from the throne of God, from the presence of God.
When we reject God and His Righteousness, we also reject God and his Goodness.
As a result we are sent to the place where God’s Goodness and God’s presence is permanently removed. That place is Hell, and the Lake of Fire is the permanent home of every single person who rejects the Blood Covenant of God to remove the sin nature from them. They could have made their sins made white as snow, and entered into God’s Presence for Eternity, but they rejected God’s Word, God’s Call, God’s invitation, and finally they completely rejected God’s Presence. Of course, they were lied to, deceived, perverted and damned by their own rebellion to the King of Heaven. They believed their buddies who said they wanted to party hardy in Hell where all their friends would (that is only half true). They believed a half truth, aka a lie. Same as the ones who were deceived and blew themselves up along with other infidels in order to received 70 virgins in paradise. However Satan can get you to join his team he will. No lie is beyond his reach. Only the truth, is out of his purview.
The Truth be told, God’s Presence and Sin cannot mix, they cannot be in the presence of one another. God’s Holiness is not something that we can comprehend with our natural minds. It is something that we much understand by faith and by grace. If we want to see God, in Spirit and in Truth, we will want His Holiness. For without Holiness, no man shall see the LORD.
Follow peace with all men, and holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord:
Hebrews 12:14 (KJV)
To keep reading click link for Chapter One.