Near the end of His earthly life, when the leaders of Israel were determined to put Jesus to death, He spoke these words. Because of the impossibility, they are words that no mere human can utter.

Considering Who Jesus was, He had great power to do miracles. He commanded the wind and the waves and even death was no match for Him. Earlier, the Bible tells us that the Son of God was the One Who created all things, as seen in John 1:3: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” It is also seen in Colossians 1:16: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.”

Without a doubt, there was no force on earth – or outside of it, that could overpower the Creator. The only way Jesus could ever die was for Him to permit it to happen. Even if He did not do it, He still had power over the angels, and they could have prevented it – if He wanted them to.

In John 10:15, Jesus prophesied that He would die for His sheep (disciples). He said: “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” In this same verse, He also prophesied that He would come back to life – by His power.

Jesus soon coming crucifixion, burial, and resurrection were all planned before the earth was created. God would show His love for the world through what Jesus would do for us on the Cross and coming back to life – with a new and immortal Body.

You only have one chance to get God’s forgiveness. If you miss it and die without getting saved, there is no second chance. Trust God’s willingness to forgive and love for you and make Him your Savior today.

As we approach Easter, it must be remembered that Christ’s crucifixion was not an accident, nor was it an unexpected event in His life. Instead, it was the very reason He came to earth.

Jesus’ death on the Cross was predicted hundreds of years before He ever came. Isaiah 53 was written 700 years before Christ’s birth. David wrote Psalm 22 about 1,000 years before Jesus was born.

John the Baptist, in the text verse above, spoke these words at the very commencement of Christ’s ministry. He knew that Jesus came to be God’s special Lamb to die in our place. No other person could die for the sins of another and have their blood cover their sins in the eyes of God. The Bible declares, in Ezekiel 18:4, and again in verse 20 of the same chapter: “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

If we, as sinners, were to go free from the punishment of our sin, God would have to do it. Thank God, it is what He did through Christ’s crucifixion. He paid our full debt. And because He paid our full debt – there is nothing left for us to pay! It is why salvation is free to anyone. We can go free because of Jesus’ death and resurrection!

All that anyone needs to do to be saved from Hell is to turn from sin in your heart and believe on Christ’s payment for you. Although salvation is by faith, if you were serious about getting forgiven for your sin and disobedience to God, it is time to start living for Him and obeying the Bible.

People are often tempted to think that God works and acts the way we do – but He does not. He is not human – in the sense of having a changing and fallible nature such as we have. Although He came in the flesh, He was and still is 100% God.

It is for this reason that He never has a need to repent, which means to change His mind. He knows all things from the beginning of time to the end of it. The Bible tells us that “his word is settled in Heaven” (Ps. 119:89), therefore it never needs updating.

The only time that it might be said that God will repent in the Bible, is when man turns from their sinful ways. While in their sin – God promises to judge the sinner and send them to Hell when they die – if they do not repent and turn from their wicked ways.

In Jeremiah 18, there are two verses that make this plain. Verse 8 says: “If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.” The opposite is also true, as can be seen in verse 10: “If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.”

God’s judgment against sin is sure – whether it be against an individual or a nation. It may not come immediately – but it will come if there is no repentance.

The same is true in salvation. If a sinner does not turn away from sin in their heart – there is no salvation. Christ died to pay for the sin of every human, but if they choose not to repent and trust in Christ as their only Savior, their damnation is sure.

This is why the Bible says: “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Cor. 6:2). Turn from sin and come to Christ today while there is time.

Before uttering these words, Jesus had once again told His disciples that He would first suffer and then be leaving them soon. Although they were saddened by the news, they did not understand it.

In the same way, we also are sometimes saddened by news and events that occur in our lives. It could be the death of a loved one, news of cancer or some other disease, world news, etc., but the truth is that Jesus’ reply to their sadness still can help today.

He told them the things in this verse so that even when they do face tribulation or persecution, or possibly even death, that they can still have inner peace in the face of it. Even more than that, He told them that it is possible you could also “be of good cheer” in those times.

In other words, you do not need to be defeated by events or circumstances, even though there may be anguish and pain involved. God wants His born-again children to be overcomers, and He gives them the grace and power to do so. Faith in His promises enables victory.

Are you utilizing His grace and power now so that – at the end of the day – you are an overcomer? If you need to, why not admit your weakness and ask Him for help right now?

From cover to cover, the Bible teaches that all people are sinners (Romans 3:10). As such, they cannot please God enough to merit salvation – no matter what they do.

Romans 8:7,8 makes this truth abundantly clear: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Since all the sinner does is displeasing to God, there must be a turnaround place at some point. Sin brings damnation – even just one (Romans 6:23). When the sinner realizes that all he does is condemning him, he wants to discover what does please God. Naturally, when people realize this, they usually start trying to live a better life and keep the Ten Commandments.

The change of mind is a form of repentance. But this kind is not the kind that saves. They must also repent of trying to save themselves by establishing their own goodness (righteousness).

Yes, Biblical repentance first involves a change of mind toward sin. But it does not end there. Being saved also means you stop trying to save yourself and put your faith in Christ alone to save you. He is the Gift of God for our salvation. He paid the debt we all owe because of our sin. Don’t reject God’s free Gift.

Once you trust Christ to save you, He changes the life and enables you to live for Him. No other religion can do this. It is because of Christ’s death and resurrection power to forgive and save that He commanded the disciples, in Luke 24:47: “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

Have you repented and trusted Christ to save you?

Once again, in this chapter it is evident that David loved the Lord. He did not only give praise to God on Sunday, but he was determined to praise Him “continually.”

He was glad to brag on what the Lord had done for him. He called it boasting in the Lord and what the Lord did for him. He recognized that God gave him many blessings – even in his frequent trials.

This king noticed that others that loved God – he calls them “the humble” in these verses – are made glad when they hear someone praise God. He did not just think about himself when he worshipped God, he wanted to be a blessing to others – which led him to understand the need of going to the assembling of the saints (church).

Those who “worship God on the lake” or in the woods never see this blessing. It is one reason why God made the local church. The church is compared to being a Body where there are no extra parts. Each part is intended to help the body to function as it should. When parts are missing or not functioning properly, there is some degree of health lacking.

Certainly, every believer in Christ has much to be thankful for. First, there is salvation. Secondly, there is His Holy Spirit which God has put in us to guide, teach, and empower us to do His will. Then there is His daily provision – and so much more.

Are you helping the Body to be encouraged in the Lord by attending your church regularly?

The leaders of Jesus’ day knew that He had not been given Scripture training in one of the formal schools. They were surprised that He could even read the Scriptures, which is evident in the previous verse.

Many people make a similar mistake today – they think that Jesus was just another Teacher or a good man. What needs to be realized is where Jesus learned what He openly taught. He did not invent it, nor did He hear it from some other teacher of the day. No, He was taught it from His Father – Who is God in Heaven.

The fact that God told Him what to say means that His message carries a much heavier weight to those who hear it. The Bible is God’s words, and you can be sure that God does not speak in vain – He expects obedience to His words.

Jesus also gave those who heard Him at that time a way to test His words. He said that if you will do what He said, you can be sure that His words are the truth from God. The proof of their Source is that His words will be confirmed as the truth in your heart as you obey them in faith.

Obedience is also necessary to understand the Bible correctly. The Holy Spirit reveals truth (illuminates) in the Bible as we obey Him. There are many blessings in the Word of God not received by those who only half-heartedly follow the Lord.

King Jehoshaphat could have lived any way he wanted and done whatever he wanted. Instead, he chose to follow the Lord. The result was that the Lord “was with” him and blessed him.

These words do not mean that God was present – as He is present everywhere. It means that it was evident that God was doing things in his life and works. It was not mere “luck,” but it could only be explained by saying that “God was with him.”

The presence of God – because He is pleased with that person – is evident to others. Unfortunately, there are many professing believers who do not have such blessing in their lives – and no one thinks of God when they are around. The phrase “the Lord was with” a certain person is used 18 times in the Bible – and it always meant a noticeable difference.

One place where it is especially noticeable is in Acts 11:21, where the Bible says: “And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” This phrase is only used two times in the New Testament; the other place is speaking of Christ, in Luke 1:66.

Two conditions are given in the text verses above, which speaks of Jehoshaphat. First, he walked like David – a man in love with God and His Word. Second, he did what God wanted him to do – “walked in his commandments” – he obeyed the Word.

If you want the blessing of having God with you so that God uses you in His service, obey the Word as completely as possible. Remember that God promises: “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8).

Here are some more lessons from the Potter’s House.

1. The Potter Does Not Throw the Clay Away – The verse clearly shows that the potter Jeremiah saw was to teach an example of how the Lord works. The potter took the marred clay and kept on working with it. Sometimes, people can damage their own usefulness to God’s intentions for them through sin. God will keep on working with that person for a long time because He is patient. But if the clay becomes too hard, He will cast it away from usefulness and possibly take that one home to Heaven.

2. The Heavenly Potter Makes Vessels for His Glory – Although an earthly potter may not be seeking to put his autograph on his pottery work – God certainly is looking for vessels that will glorify Him.

We are partly responsible to help clean up our own lives with His help so that we can be used to fulfill His purpose for our lives. II Timothy 2:21 says: “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

When Jeremiah went to the potter’s house, he saw that God has the right to do with His “clay” (Israel) what He wanted. Unfortunately, Israel had become too sinful to be useful to God and could not show the world how God blesses a nation that serves Him.

May God help each of us to maintain a testimony worthy of His honor!

Here are some more things seen in this passage about the clay and the potter.

1. The Vessels Are Made from the Same Clay – The Potter starts out with the same basic material each time. It has very little worth in its raw form. This speaks of each believer – we are nothing and can do nothing apart from Him. He alone gives us value and it is best seen when we let Him do His work in us.

2. The Vessels Must Be Made to Yield to His Hands – Sometimes, the clay may resist the potter’s intentions. It may be a little hard and dry. When this is the case, He must mar it first – break the spirit until it yields. Spiritually, it will hurt (possibly physically, too – if there is continual resistance to His work in your life) but He always works with great love and has our ultimate good in mind. It is our job to let Him have His way with us – because it is “good, acceptable, and perfect.”

3. The Vessels Stay on the Wheel as Long as the Potter Wants – He is not in a hurry. Our God will take the necessary time to finish His product to conform us to be like Christ. The more His will is resisted, the longer it will spend on the wheel and the more pressure the Potter must use.

Are you on the Potter’s wheel now? The more you trust and yield to His desires, the less pressure He must use. Ask Him for grace, thank Him for His work on you, and let Him have His way with you.

Lesson’s from the Potter’s House (Pt. 1)