I didnt get all of it but yes the cross is important because Jesus gave his life for us. He wasnt just a good man that everyone ought to follow, his death on the cross and blood paid for our sins. Jesus says to is take up our cross and follow Him. Its not always going to be easy and we will suffer, but thats how we produce the fruit of long-suffering. The cross is where Jesus showdown with satan was completed, satan tried to kill him in the most horrible way imaginable but death is not the end.
As for Jacob being heel catcher, am reminded of Genesis 3:15
God named the second born of twins Jacob for a specific reason, in order to represent the second Adam, Jesus. he performed that with Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. Showing the second birth is the blessing.
Jacob a word that means heel catcher or deceiver as one of twins. .Jacob who bought the first born birth rite of the
flesh of Esau. Esua as one who had no desire to worship God not seen, seeing no value in spiritual matters.
God then comes as a theophany wrestles with Jacob as when men of flesh and blood wrestle. I would think as a way of identifying his blessings. He named his bride Israel and later in Acts Christian a word that means residents of the city of Christ. The city prepared as His eternal bride. (Revelation21)
Genesis 32:27-29 King James Version (KJV)And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called
no more Jacob, but
Israel: for as a prince
hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
In regard to …."Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?" Emanuel blessed him there to show if we do hear Him we have been blessed. .Bruised the heel by the lie of the evil one the eternal one crushed his head.
In that way I would offer all Christians as a kingdom of priest holding out the gospel of peace the body that makes op the bride of Christ. They have the power
with God and
with men, in these earthen bodies of death but the power is not of us.
2 Corinthians 4:7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Adding to that. But Him who works in us to both will and do the good pleasure of His will. And have prevailed because Christ finished all the works required to appease the waiting father. Giving meaning to the name change as a living hope looking ahead to the glorious day..
Beautiful parable that reveals the gospel found in Genesis 3.
Genesis 3:14-16And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because
thou hast done this,
thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:And
I will put enmity between
thee and the
woman, and between
thy seed and her
seed;
it shall bruise thy
head, and
thou shalt bruise
his heel.Unto the woman
he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception;
in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and
thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Christians...for as a prince hast thou power
with God and
with men, and hast prevailed.