Women Honored Forever In Heaven

      Let's learn about some faithful blessed women in the bible that are honored forever in heaven. Pictured above notice Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and other women having the privilege of being remembered for blessing the Lord Jesus with substance, wealth, and goods. What an honor to have provided money, food, and clothing personally to the Lord Jesus. Luke 8:2 says And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto Him of their substance (wealth and goods).

      We can learn a lesson from Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna about the importance of blessing people around us in need. Hebrews 13:2 says Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. When Jesus tells you to bless a stranger with food, clothing, and money, remember you could be blessing an angel. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna were blessing the Lord Jesus who is God and greater than an angel. 

     For all women reading this bible study, please meditate on 1 Timothy 2:9 that gives directions on how women should live holy lives for Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:9 says In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. Let's study the Greek definitions for the words modest, shamefacedness, and sobriety to learn how women should behave while they live holy for Jesus. Women should dress modestly or decently with good behavior. Women should display shamefacedness and consider the poor widows and orphans. Women should display sobriety or self control with soberness and soundness of mind. 

     For my next picture of a blessed woman that that is honored forever in heaven notice Mary Magdalene blessing the Lord Jesus with spikenard to preserve Jesus' body for burial. Mark 14:3 speaks about Mary Magdalene anointing Jesus with spikenard at Simon's house and says And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on His head. Jesus said at Mark 14:8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she has done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. 

     Jesus also said at Matthew 26:12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. At the cross of Calvary, the sweet smelling spikenard's odour remained and was greater than the foul odour of vinegar mingled with the poisonous gall (hemlock plant) drink that Jesus tasted but did not drink, preserving Jesus' body from decay for burial and is a witness about Jesus' resurrection from the dead with eternal life.     

     Spikenard was used to anoint the body of the deceased to delay decomposition and mask the odour of decay during the period between death and burial. The spikenard was a witness that Jesus' body would not decay. Instead Jesus' body would become glorified, resurrected, and be preserved forever with eternal life. Like Jesus, saved saints bodies won't ever decay, will become glorified, and will be preserved with eternal life. Romans 8:11 says But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. 2 Corinthians 4:14 says Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. Jesus said at John 6:40 And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

     As a side note, it's remarkable that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 69:21 that says They gave me also gall (a poisonous hemlock plant) for my meat; and in my thirst they gave vinegar to drink. Matthew 27:34 says They gave Him (Jesus) vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, He would not drink. In other words no man could kill Jesus. Jesus said at John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

     People have said Brother Bob how do you know that the unnamed woman at Simon's house that anointed Jesus with spikenard was Mary Magdalene? In response I tell people to read Luke's account of this story at Luke 7:36 to the end of the chapter. Then notice at Luke 8:2 we see that after Mary Magdalene anointed Jesus with spikenard at Simon's house, Mary Magdalene was healed of evil spirits and infirmities and followed Jesus. Luke 8:1 says And it came to pass afterward, that He (Jesus) went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him. And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils (the bible tells us that Mary Magdalene was the woman healed at Simon's house that followed Jesus). And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto Him of their substance.

     The next blessed woman honored forever in heaven pictured above is the little maid that took time to care for Naaman, telling Naaman's wife to have Naaman go to Elisha the prophet to be healed of leprosy. 2 Kings 5:2 says And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel, a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife. And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria. for he would recover him of his leprosy. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is in the land of Israel. And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

     We can learn a lesson from the little maid pictured above. The little maid did what is stated at 1 Timothy 2:1 that says I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour. The little maid's kindness to Naaman allowed Naaman to take the advice of the prophet Elisha and dip seven times in the Jordan river to heal and remove his leprosy.

     If you feel insignificant like the little maid, be encouraged and let your light shine for Jesus. You might be the only hope on this earth for someone to get saved with the Lord Jesus. 2 Corinthians 3:2 says Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men. Jude 22 says And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Witness Jesus everywhere and tell people to get saved. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again.

     Let's all be wise like the little maid, showing kindness to everyone around us in the world, thereby winning souls to Jesus. Colossians 4:5 says Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Proverbs 11:30 says The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

      The next blessed woman honored forever in heaven is the widow of Zarephath pictured above. This widow of Zarephath blessed the prophet Elijah and gave Elijah her last piece of bread and last cup of water. We should be like this widow woman and bless the poor around us with food and money. Matthew 10:42 says And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. Because the widow of Zarephath blessed Elijah, she was rewarded where her barrel of meal wasted not and her cruse of oil failed not during a famine.

     The story about the above picture is at 1 Kings 17:9 that says Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 

     And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

     We can all learn a lesson from the widow of Zarephath. Jesus told us all to not be like the heathen and worry about our daily needs of food, shelter, and clothing. Like the widow of Zarephath, let's all keep blessing the poor around us and Jesus will always create food and our needs out of nowhere and keep us alive in peace on this earth. Remember the Lord Jesus created manna out of nowhere and fed the children of Israel in the wilderness. After the widow obeyed Elisha's instructions, the Lord Jesus created oil out of nowhere to help the widow pay her creditors and save her sons. The Lord Jesus placed money in a fish's mouth to pay taxes for Peter and Jesus. The Lord Jesus took two fishes and five loaves of bread and fed five thousand.

     Matthew 6:31 says Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be addded unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

     Wasn't it a blessing that Elijah trusted the instruction of the Lord Jesus and believed that an old widow woman at Zarephath could keep him alive. It does not make any sense to our natural minds that a little old lady could keep us alive. Jesus honored Elijah's faith when Elijah believed that a little old lady could keep him alive and miraculously make food appear out of nowhere. 

     Like Elijah, take God at his Word and obey the instructions of the Word of God, and I promise you that Jesus will sustain, bless, and eternally preserve you with peace in this troubled world. Psalm 55:22 says Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

     The next blessed woman honored forever in heaven pictured above is a poor widow who threw only two mites into the treasury. This widow woman was willing to give everything she had to bless Jesus. Jesus let the rich people know that this widow woman gave much more than all the offerings given by the rich people. 

     Mark 12:41 says And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing (only 3/8 of a cent). And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

     Like this poor widow woman, go the extra mile to bless the Lord Jesus and poor widows and needy orphans in this world. This poor widow woman truly fulfilled Matthew 16:24 that says Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul.

     Brother Bob like the widow woman pictured above decided to follow Jesus and bless the poor. Brother Bob left his Jewish family and millions of dollars to serve the Lord Jesus and write preachbrotherbob blog. And praise you Lord Jesus that these writings for Jesus on a little computer in a one bedroom apartment in poor Reynoldsburg, Ohio are blessing half a million people all over this earth and souls are being saved and will live forevermore in peace in the kingdom of God.

     The next woman honored forever in heaven is Pilate's wife who feared the Lord Jesus but unfortunately her husband Pilate ignored her advice to have nothing to do with Jesus. Matthew 27:19 says When he (Pontius Pilate) was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him. Unfortunately, Pilate refused his wife's request and sentenced Jesus to be crucified.

A True Story About Mount Pilatus

Where Pontius Pilate Was Buried

     Did you know that a mountain in Switzerland is named after Pontius Pilate? Pontius Pilate was a Roman governor or prefect (a regional governor for Rome) of Judaea from AD 26-36. He washed his hands when sentencing Jesus Christ to be crucified. He also set the rebel leader Barabbas free. 

     Centuries later, christianized Rome said that it was unacceptable to have Pilate's dead body buried in the same city as the Apostle Peter. So the christians in Rome took Pilates' dead body and threw it into the Tiber river in Rome. Pilate's dead body caused the waters of the Tiber river to become so troubled that the christians moved Pilate's dead body to the Rhone river which also became troubled.

     Because the Tiber and Rhone rivers were so troubled by Pilate's body, the christians decided to take Pilate's dead body and bury it on the top of a high mountain in Switzerland named after him called Mount Pilatus. The local people that live in villages around Mount Pilatus blame a tiny lake surrounding Mount Pilatus for the terrible storms in the area. Devastating thunderstorms occur as soon as ripples appear in this tiny lake around Mount Pilatus. 

     People say that the restless ghost of Pontius Pilate creates the ripples in this tiny lake around Mount Pilatus that causes terrible storms. People around Mount Pilatus say that every Good Friday the ghost of Pontius Pilate rises to wash the blood of Jesus from his hands in this tiny lake around Mount Pilatus. Another legend says that Mount Pilatus looks like the belly of a large man (Pilate) lying on his back. Look closely at the above picture to see the large belly of a man (Pilate) lying on his back with his arms folded by his head. Therefore this mountain is named after Pontius Pilate.

     Also of note, Mount Pilatus is a large massif (defined as a compact group of mountains separate from other mountains) in central Switzerland. It overlooks the city of Lucerne and offers an excellent view of Lake Lucerne. The mountain is pocketed with many natural and man made caves. It is a fortress with many hidden gun emplacements and fortified weather stations all of which are still in service.  

     I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 746-7071. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.