The word compassion means to suffer with! Do you see the word passion in compassion? The first use of the word compassion used in our Bible is in Exodus 2:6. Pharaoh’s daughter saw the baby Moses drifting down the river in a basket! She had compassion on the baby and rescued him! The word used here means to have pity and spare! However there is another Hebrew root word used for compassion that really got my attention! This word is used in 1 Kings 8:50 and 2 Chronicles 30:9. The word means the tender mercies of the womb! Moses was a deliverer of his people and the fruit of the womb! Compassion was born! Just as Jesus death was an act of compassion so was His birth! You cannot separate Christmas and Easter! We were not born to die but Jesus was! We die because of sin but Christ is sinless! So Jesus suffered for us and with us at birth and at death! He took our death upon Himself so that we could live! His resurrection nullified our death! Satan threw the yellow flag with the penalty of death for our sin but Jesus protested the penalty and threw the red flag reversing the decision! The penalty on the field of life is reversed! Our new resurrected life is a 1st and 10! A fresh start! Born again! A second chance at life! His blood defeated death and has won the day and life for us! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Tag: resurrection
Anticipation or Apprehension?
Which is it? “Let us consider this settled, that no one has made progress in the school of Christ who does not joyfully await the day of death and final resurrection!” John Calvin
Is Jesus Just a Gardener to You? John 20:15
Just as with Mary at one time in my life Jesus was just a gardener to me! As long as you do not look for Jesus you will never see Him! Mary Magdalene was the first disciple to recognize Jesus after His resurrection from the dead! Death seems to close the door on our personalities but really it does not! Remember the rich man and Lazarus? One life carried on in Heaven and the other life in Hell. Jesus carried on after his death the same way He was before death! Jesus disciples wrote Jesus off after the Crucifixion! Peter and John had preconceived idea’s about Jesus before they entered the tomb! They looked around the empty tomb and saw the grave clothes then fled and went into hiding from the Romans and the Jews! What they saw confirmed what they believed! This whole thing is a hoax! Mary hung around the tomb weeping because there was no body there to anoint for burying? Mary had experienced Jesus power for He cast 7 demons out of her! Yet she let death close the door on her faith and thought the man speaking to her in the tomb was a gardener! Then the voice and light of Jesus opened her eyes! Rabboni! Rabbi! Master! Jesus is always present even if you do not see Him! Just as a blind man can feel the rays of the sun so you can feel Jesus love! The stars shine brightest in the darkness of the night! After Jesus delivered me from death I could only see Him and experience His love! My allegiance and devotion turned to Him! Rabbi! Master! Power over death! Jesus was no longer a gardener to me! The Resurrection took on a whole new meaning! It was no longer just a religious story I heard once a year at church! Do you want the reality of Jesus or just a once a year story? You do not want to wake up on the wrong side of death as the rich man did! Either a Heaven or a Hell? The reality of Christ will one day come to all the living and the dead! Just so it is not too late for you! Chance and choice only come once to every individual. Wise men and women still seek Him! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Sharing Your Faith in Military!
As a young man I found this a very challenging endeavor! For conformity sake the military has a method of challenging anyone who stands out different from the group! This is taught from basic training on throughout your career! Anyone who does not socially conform is singled out and made an example! The purpose is to bring uniformity in a combat unit! So if you are the only guy carrying a Bible around in your hand you could be a target! So your faith is tested by the group! I always tried to do my job well not to disgrace my Lord! There are also rewards for staying true to your faith! Forty years later many have come and gone, retired or died but I still have my faith in Christ! I want to prepare you for the words coming here for they do not use King James English in the military! In fact you will learn some new words in the military! Your vocabulary will grow but not in a nice way! Harold was your typical G.I. who was rough in character and got into a few fights down at the base club! A heavy drinker he used some words that were unkind! So the military unit sent Harold on me as their attack dog! Harold said, “Sasse I don’t believe that virgin birth crap in your Bible! Why would God pull down his pants and rape Mary so he could have a son named Jesus? I would never serve a God who sexually molested women!” Harold you were born not because God had sex with your mother but because your father or another man had sex with your mother! Whoever had sex with your mother I wish they would have not done so! Harold which came first the chicken or the egg? Who gives a F——-! Harold as hard as it is to believe God created you! God created everyone! Our first parents Adam and Eve were created beings! That is God was the first cause for everything we see here on earth! Harold I hear you use Jesus name a lot around here! Jesus Christ was not a created being! He pre-existed creation! Jesus has always and forever will exist! Jesus is part of the Trinity! The Holy Spirit is a person of the Trinity and is the active agent on the earth until Jesus returns to earth at His second coming to earth! In order for God to redeem His children from sin His Son had to be incarnated into human flesh in the earth! The Holy Spirit conceived Jesus who already existed in Heaven into Mary to give us the Savior on earth! God had to become flesh! God did not have physical sex with Mary! That is a myth Harold! Jesus birth was as miraculous as His resurrection from the dead! God will never violate our will! Mary invited God to perform this miracle! Jesus will only come to those who invite Him into their lives! He will never force Himself on anyone! Does that make sense to you Harold? Maybe? Harold you and I are both sinners and need a Savior! Harold would you like to make Jesus your Savior? What you have been taught about God is a lie! Read your Bible if you want to know the truth about God! He loves you Harold and proved it on the Cross! He died for your sin! He arose from the dead to give you a new life! Born again! If you accept Him He will change your life today and forever! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Cutting a Covenant! Isaiah 49:16
“Behold, I have cut, prescribed and decreed a permanent law giver and ruler upon the palms of your hands, thy walls are a perpetually an offering before me.” Comment: The Hebrew word for palms is the eleventh character of the Hebrew alphabet. The shape of the letter is as the form of open hands as expressed in prayer and praise as opposed to a clenched fist! The word also means a permanent binding! Remember what Jesus disciple Thomas said in John 20:25? “Except I see in his hands the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side I will not believe.” Thomas was telling the other disciples that this would be the only way he would believe Jesus rose from the dead! The word “nails”, used in Greek has an interesting meaning! It actually means the outward manifestation of something much greater than the outward marks! So who was Isaiah talking about a permanent law giver, ruler who’s sign was cut or engraved into his hands? When Jesus returns for His Church what is one of the ways you could identify Jesus? The permanent engraving in his hands and side! Maybe like Thomas you would ask him to show you his hands and side? Did Thomas believe? Thomas went to India where he was martyred with a spear! Thomas also has a mark in his side! Thomas began a Christian community there which is thriving there today! What did Isaiah mean by thy walls are a perpetual offering before me? The walls of the Temple and the Church! Worship! The walls of the tomb! Sacrifice! Sacrifice and worship are eternally linked together! You cannot have one without the other! Keep that in mind on your journey to Heaven! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Christmas for Dummies! Luke 2:11
The shepherds got the hell scared out of them when the angel appeared to them in the middle of the night on a lonely hillside while tending their sheep! When the Holy smoke cleared out of their campsite from the lightening bolts they bowed their faces to the ground expecting to be incinerated! The sheep headed for the hills. The laser light show was on full display! All bowel constipation disorders were miraculously healed! The angel told them to chill out! You cool cats need to cool down! Relax! Good news guys! This is not the end of the world! Their hopes were somewhat dashed! I want you guys to hit the trail back to Bethlehem! There is a new guy just born in Bethlehem! His first name is Jesus and his last name is Christ! I have heard you use his name sometimes when you talk to your sheep! This is the real deal dudes! You sheep dogs are highly favored this night! None of the smart people in your neighborhood know about this! He is born to you this night as your SAVIOR! He will save you from yourselves! He is your SAVIOR at his birth, at the Cross, at the resurrection, at his ascension and when he comes back to earth the second time! He will be your SAVIOR forever! He will send you the Holy Ghost! You boys look puzzled? You got too many wooly balls in your heads! Now get packing for Bethlehem and see your new born King! Hey guys! Merry Christmas!
Burned at the Stake! 1415 A.D. Hebrews 11:35
Hebrews 11:35 (Greek Translation) “Women received their dead standing on their feet again and others were tortured not receiving kindness with joy and redemption from sinners that they might obtain a stronger more powerful resurrection.” Comment: Could an early resurrection from martyrdom be stronger than a later one from natural death? Absolutely! Why? Jesus resurrection was the most powerful one because it required the most forgiveness! All the inhabitants of earth from Adam and Eve until now and for all that will ever be born were forgiven by God for their sin! We all put Jesus on the Cross! The greater the resurrection the greater the forgiveness required! Here is a quote from John Hus the Czech Reformer who was burned at the stake in 1415. “O’ Lord Jesus Christ, into thy hands I deliver my soul, which thou has redeemed with thy blood. Father in Heaven, do not hold against them the sin which thy enemies commit against me, and let my eyes see them blissfully with thee, when their souls fly to thy throne after an easy death. Holy Spirit, enlighten their deceived hearts, so that the truth of the Holy Gospel may open their eyes and it’s praise be spread everywhere, forever and ever! Amen.
Resurrection! Matthew 27:52-53
The word resurrection literally means to quit one’s previous position and to rise up! We need a spiritual resurrection and a physical resurrection! Jesus said we must be born again! We had no control over our physical birth and no control over our physical death unless we chose suicide! Without Christ we wake up everyday in our previous position of sin! Nothing seems to change except things get worse! Through Christ we quit this position and move into righteousness! That is we are made right with God! We wake up with a spiritually resurrected body and the promise of a physically resurrected body! It is interesting that when Jesus died on the Cross the graves were opened up by an earthquake and many of the saints arose! Notice in verse 53, they came out of the graves after the resurrection! When sin has been paid for people get free! I spent a few years in India and learned some of the aspects of the Hindu religion! The Hindus suffer from many bondages and superstitions based upon their Theology of God! One particular destructive belief about God is the Doctrine of reincarnation! Not the incarnation but reincarnation! They believe if you sin or are a bad person in your next life you could be a bug, rat or a snake or something awful. There is no remedy and you are locked into this condition due to your sin! They have respect for bugs and rats because they could have been a former family member! If fact in the Hindu Temples they feed rats and snakes milk and give them respect! Lucky critters! So they believe their sin is punished forever into the next generations whom could be a bug, snake, cow or a human never to come up in life! They make no effort to improve their life because their lot is permanent! It was very hard to improve their life under these beliefs! The incarnation is very different from the reincarnation! God taking on our sin who was without sin to deliver us from evil. God becomes man to take the very sin that separates us from God! If reincarnation were true and Jesus was just another human and took on the sin of the whole world he would have been resurrected as Satan! But Jesus was God and only that sacrifice would have been acceptable to God the Father! His son was the key to redemption! When Jesus was raised from the dead the saints were raised with Him! The resurrection is probably the most important aspect of our Faith! It is also based on historical facts! The next time you see a bug crawling across your floor you have my permission to step on it! What we believe about God determines our outlook and attitude about life here on earth and after! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Made Whole! Luke 8:48-50
Jairus the Temple ruler had one daughter 12 years old who was very sick! Jairus had sent for Jesus but He got delayed when a crowd of sick people thronged Him! A woman in the crowd touched the hem of His garment and got healed! Jesus commended her for her faith! Jairus sent another message to Jesus telling Him not to come for his daughter is dead! You might call this a cold case! Jesus presented two conditions for restoration! Fear not and believe and you will be made whole! So what does the words made whole mean? Elementary Watson! The Greek root word used here is “Sozo.” It is the same word used for our English word “Salvation.” This word means a spiritual and eternal rescue granted immediately by God for those who believe in Christ! It is the current experience of God’s power to those who believe in Christ! It is God’s power to deliver us from sin and death! What death are we talking about here? It is the second death or eternal judgment made by Christ Himself! Remember Jairus daughter and Lazarus were raised from the dead but they died a physical death again! Lightening can strike twice! I was delivered from my death bed in 1973 and have served Christ for the past 44 years but I will experience another physical death! Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5:5? Remember the congregation member living with his father’s wife? Verse 5: “To deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Remember Physical death is Satan’s work not God’s work! Death is the result of sin! If Salvation was a rescue of our physical bodies here on earth then we would never die again while here on earth! At the resurrection we will receive glorified bodies that will never get sick or die! Remember at the Judgment seat of Christ some Christians will lose their rewards but not their Salvation! When some Christians get to Heaven will they be on probation? Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us! Jesus went back to Heaven to pray for us, send the Holy Spirit and prepare a place for us! He will come again! You cannot go there unless you have Salvation with a new body and a redeemed soul! He can provide that to you because of Calvary! The Easter message is about this hope we have in Him and His promises to those who accept Him as Savior! Our hope is in Him! Our past is in Him! Our present is in Him! Our future is in Him! He is the same yesterday, today and forever! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
17th Century Wisdom!
People should always have something which they prefer to life! Johann Seume (1763-1810) Comment: What was this 17th Century Theologian trying to tell us? We try to hang on to life even though it is slipping away! I was young and now I am old! Some of my friends went to the Vietnam War and at the age of 18 never came back? Our health declines and we are dying everyday! Your physical body will exodus out of you one day! No one escapes! No mortal can restore your sin infested soul or raise from the dead except Jesus Christ! So He must be more important than your life! Jesus disciples were sawed in two, hung on Crosses upside down, fed to lions and other forms of torture! John was boiled in oil yet survived and was exiled to an island where he wrote the Book of Revelation! Your life will fail you but His life will raise you from the dead! Remember Jesus will raise everyone from the dead some to everlasting life and some to judgment! Who else can you trust? Will you trust mortal man? I would rather trust the immortal Christ maker of Heaven and earth than one of His created mortals! Jesus will one day create a New Heaven and a New earth! Would you like to be part of that? Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you and it is not too late to trust Him now! Get on your knees right now and confess your sin to Him and receive His forgiveness! I can promise you that you will not die alone and He will be with you for all of eternity! Happy Easter! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com