Matthew 18:1-14 KJV
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish

I got carried away in my thoughts the other day thinking how much God the Father loved his Son, He left Jesus in the grave roughly 48 hours though it be on the third day he arose. It like taking three days to die but only 48 hours process. Yet God did not leave his Son in the grave. Did not suffer him to be in torment of hell but for that long, why because of his love for man and his love for his Son. His Son first and then us. It like the infliction of punishment of teacher, principal on a child, does not supercede his/her parents limitation on such a punishment given. No parent would allow a child to suffer for any length of time without just cause. Well Jesus did not kill, he healed, he raised the dead and then he turned over the money tables but he cause no death that day, yet he paid for it, in obedience to his Father in heaven. it was not time for the wrath of God to fall on the children of disobedience, instead he desire to what forgive them, not allow them to face his retailation in return. Why so much thought into a punishment by man, because God only allows his children so much suffering. Even Job suffered many days, but in that time frame there was discourse of words, and final Job defends God and God defends himself of who he is, more magnified then even what Job understood. Then he restore Job. It is the same with the children of God, he not punishing you himself, he allowing the enemy to show you the mistake in their view, but it is not so.

What do I mean do we make our little ones suffer by what we think is wrong or do we protect them from the hell of the enemy. Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven disciples asked? Jesus said it in comparison of who is not great in the kingdom of heaven? Who is not equal in heaven in the since of humanity. Often man acts like the devil suffering anyone from receiving Christ. Man's actions, words and deeds often stop others from following Christ. Why is this important knowledge, we are to guard ourselves in the way we live to help the children find faith in God the Father. Why would we want anyone to face the wrath of God, why would we want anyone to endure suffering. That why we walk in as much humanly possible perfection as we can, but do we fail? Oh yes we do. That were God's grace and Spirit intercede on our behalf.

No one knows if it was the money changers that stirred up the Roman law but we know there had to been some pressure on Priesthood, to deliver Barabbas up and then to get revenge they sought Jesus to be crucified. The eye for eye and tooth for a tooth, but the legal law in reality could not justify it so they washed their hands of it and obeyed the mob. The Roman Government obeyed the kangeroo court in crucifying Jesus. It would be like lynching someone based on hate, anger and not rules of law. Lynching is not longer legal in the United States signed by our President Joe Biden the other day.

Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, the one that went to his cross, despite his innocents, and suffered for the mankind. Who is greatest in the kingdom as far as the disciples. The ones that admit fault, that omit sin, that become like that little child and comes humbly to the throne of God. The same way all must to get saved, recognize God's authority in our life, as well has the authority of his will in our life. The importance of the work of Christ in our life, who demonstrated God is not going to allow his children to suffer.

Just like the sheep missing from the fold he coming after that sheep, who is missing the one in the grave? Jesus did spend time in the grave, but once free, he ascended to his Father, right after Mary seen him in the garden. Remember the words in John 21, where he tells Mary not to touch him for he had not ascended to the Father. Yet he returns and teaches for 40 days on earth. Acts 2 declares this message in Peter first sermon recorded in scripture after Christ ascension. That is recorded in the continual scripture study.

This message is one to think on for a little why, God did not leave his only begotten Son in the grave, and he will not leave us in the grave either. Yet we must be like that child and repent, and work hard to help others to enter those pearly gate of heaven. Not by killing but by loving them as Christ loved us. Yes there time we like to revenge, someone, sometimes certain things in society have to be corrected by the law. One things that is never corrected is God's love for mankind and his desire to see all come to repentance and be saved.

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for your love, help us not to be stumbling to anyone that wants to be saved by your grace, but help us to be a demonstration of your grace. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: John 20:17 KJV
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Job 21:22-34 KJV
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?

Acts 2:20-36 KJV
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.