When Jesus began his ministry after his baptism, he made sure to tell his disciples that he was going to suffer many things and that he would be killed and raised to life on the third day.  On three different occasions, Jesus told his disciples what was going to happen to him. However, just like us at times, they were not paying attention to what he said to them. 

Matthew 16:21-23 says, "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priest and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.  Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.  "Never, Lord!" he said.  "This shall never happen to you!"  Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."

Jesus rebuked Peter, because the devil was using him to discourage Jesus from fulfilling God's will.  The enemy will use anyone, sometimes the people we are closest to, to try and hinder us from fulfilling God's will for our lives.  In 2019, there was a pastor's conference in Estonia, Eastern Europe.  The pastors were praying for God to bring revival to Europe.  A man of God was invited and when it was his time to speak, he told the pastors what God had given him.  God wanted to bring revival to Europe.  This is what they had to do.  The body of Christ in Europe was to help the Jews return to Israel.  God has an appointment with His people in Israel.  Every church was to set up a fund and help the Jewish people return to Israel.  If the church disobeyed God's commands, there would be war in the region.  The pastors refused to believe the man of God and three years later, just as he had prophesied, there was war in the region.  

There is a large Messianic Jewish congregation in Kyiv, Ukraine where the women and their children are ready to return to Israel.  However, they need financial help.  If you are willing to help, you can contact me at support@wearscriptures.com and I will give you more information.  God promises to bless those who bless His chosen people.

After Jesus' resurrection, the angel said to Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome, in Matthew 28:6 "...He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." The angel was referring to Jesus.  God had raised Jesus from the grave.  Jesus proved to his disciples that he was indeed the Messiah and God the Son when he rose from the dead.  Numbers 23:19-20 says, "God is not a human, that he should lie; not a human being that he should change his mind.  Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"

John 1:1-2 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning."  Jesus is the manifested Word of God and God's Word is the truth.  Proverbs 30:5-6 says, "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.  Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."  Psalm 119:89 says, "Your word, LORD is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens."   Psalm 119:60 says, "All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal."  Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father, except through me."

We who have been born of the Holy Spirit, know that Jesus' words are true.  When we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit came into our hearts and confirmed to us that Jesus is alive, that Jesus has indeed been raised from the dead and is alive forevermore.  We know that because Jesus lives, we live also.  John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."  He is not here: he has risen, just as he said.