Week 42 Review - Wednesday and Thursday October 17 and 18

     Matthew 15-16

     Mark 7:1-9:1

     Luke 9:18-27

For the last two days, Jesus has focused on legalism and a right heart. Of course we’ve seen healings, too, but it’s now that the Pharisees and Sadducees really begin to campaign against Jesus.

The Pharisees were among the most knowledgeable men of their day. It was a calling: the men had to agree to study and apply all the regulations regarding Jewish worship. These were the men who decided what “work” meant when it applied to the Sabbath. The rules could become very detailed. There was even one rule that gave the maximum weight for a dining implement before it was deemed “work” to pick it up.

These guys knew the Scripture. They lived the regulations, but they didn’t have a heart relationship with God. They considered their extrabiblical laws as higher than (or at least on par with) scripture. So when Jesus’ disciples sat to eat and didn’t do the ritualistic hand-washing, the Pharisees pounced and accused Jesus of being a tradition breaker.

How their words must have torn at His heart! They were dining with the One that the Scriptures had prophesied, yet they were worried about whether or not the water ran from the fingertips to the hand! (Only priests were required to wash ritually before eating, and then only before they ate holy offerings – Leviticus 22:6-7). Jesus was far more harsh with this “inner circle” of rulemakers than He was with others, calling them hypocrites. He reminded them that their “laws” broke God’s commandments of honoring father and mother. Some Pharisees, not caring much for their parents and not wanting to support them as they were required, declared all their possessions “dedicated to God”, which supposedly relieved them of responsibility. Jesus told them that this was exactly what Isaiah had foretold:

So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7  You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8  “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” Matt 15:6-9 (ESV)

How that must have stung! Publicly berated by this young man, their hearts were further hardened and they plotted more and more against our Savior.

The Pharisees and Sadducees, usually at odds with one another, banded together to attack Jesus and demand a sing from heaven. They didn’t want to count Jesus’ miracles as proof of his Messiahship. Jesus wasn’t buying into it. He had “proven” to those who were willing to see, but the rulers didn’t want to see what was right in front of them. The only sign He would give them was the sign of Jonah. Like Jonah, Jesus would be in the ground for three days.

We’ve seen people confess that Jesus is the Messiah, and we’ve seen Jesus tell demons to not confess His lordship. But now we see Jesus with His disciples, asking who the people thought He was. They told Him that some thought He was John the Baptist, or Elijah, or one of the prophets. Jesus asked them directly – who do you think I am? Peter, whose eyes were opened by God, said:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matt 16:16 (ESV)

Jesus was pleased with Peter’s insight and replied:

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt 16:18 (ESV)

Some denominations use this text to say that Peter is the head of the church. Peter himself later defined this moment.

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5  you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and
“A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 1 Peter 2:4-8 (ESV)

Jesus was the living stone rejected by men. We are the stones that build up the church; a holy priesthood. Jesus is the cornerstone of the church. If the church were to be headed by a man (any man), why would Jesus have had to lay down His life?

Jesus told His disciples plainly that He was going to be killed soon. Peter, who had just told Jesus that He was the Christ, the Son of the Living God, didn’t want to hear Jesus would die. “NO!”, Peter said. Jesus knew that Peter was looking at the situation from a human and not a heavenly perspective and said, “Get thee behind me, Satan!” Ouch. That was a very sharp rebuke. We know that Jesus HAD to die as part of God’s sovereign plan.

This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. Acts 2:23 (ESV)

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:10 (ESV)

When Jesus came to earth, He knew that the point was to die as atonement for sin.

Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. John 12:27 (ESV)

Jesus was on a mission. Peter’s statement conflicted with that mission. Anything that conflicts with God’s mission is of Satan.

Although the Disciples knew Who Jesus was, they weren’t supposed to say anything! If they had done so at this point, it would have furthered the thought that Jesus had come to be a political and military deliverer. People already wanted to make Jesus king by force (John 6:15). Jesus didn’t come to be a political ruler, and He needed the disciples to remain quiet for a short time so that God’s plan could be accomplished.

Finally – the story of the Cannanite (Gentile) woman who came to Jesus for healing of her daughter.

Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. Mark 7:26-30 (ESV)

I love this story! The word that Jesus used for “dogs” was the word for family pet. Jesus was saying that His mission was primarily about the children’s bread (God’s blessings to the Jews). She told Him that she was aware of that, but that even the crumbs could feed the dogs (the Gentiles who have a place in God’s house, but not the prominent place). Jesus healed her daughter because she believed that Jesus was on earth not only for the Jews, but for her as well!

Throughout these stories we see a reoccurring theme of faith. The Pharisees had faith in their traditions and manmade laws. Simon Peter had faith that Jesus was the Christ. The people had faith that Jesus had come as a military and political ruler. The Gentile woman had faith that Jesus could remove her daughter’s unclean spirits. Some faith was properly placed; some improperly. Jesus answered them all – at the place of their faith – sometimes with tenderness and compassion and sometimes with harshness.

Jesus came to die first for Israel, God’s chosen race. But Jesus came to die for each of us as well.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 (KJV)

Have you accepted the free gift of salvation? Or, like the Pharisees, are you relying on ritual, manmade laws, and being a “good person” to get into heaven? If you haven’t asked Jesus into your heart, do it today! Assure your place in heaven. Don’t be the chaff that Jesus separates on the day of judgment. Don’t be the one to whom Jesus says, “I never knew you.”

All you need to do to become a Christian is to tell Jesus that you know you’re a sinner; that you make mistakes all the time and go against God’s will. Tell Him you’re sorry, that you want Him to help you be a more godly person, and that you are going to repent (turn away from) your sins. Ask Him to become the Lord of your life and to help you to live like He wants. Thank Him for dying on the cross for your sins.

There’s no magic set of words. A preacher can’t make you “more saved”. This is between you and God. Say it the way you feel it. Jesus will understand and if you are truly repentant, He will forgive you.

If you have asked Jesus into your life, please let me know! I would be thrilled to know that you are part of the family.

See you Saturday with the final installment of this week’s readings. May the Lord bless your efforts to complete the Read Through The Bible Challenge.

Week 42 Review - Tuesday October 16

     Matthew 10 and 14

     Mark 6:7-56

     Luke 9:1-17

     John 6

Yesterday’s readings were about faith. Today, Jesus shows us practical ways to put that faith into action. First, He calls His 12 apostles. Ever thought about why twelve? Why not 25, or 11, or 100? Could it have been that the 12 apostles reflected the 12 tribes of Israel? Did it point to God’s plan of salvation somehow? And later today we find out that Jesus traveled with more than just 12 men, because John 6:66 tells us:

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

Their faith wasn’t enough. The road was too hard. They were in the presence of the One Who they had looked for… but they turned away. That’s a very sad verse!

The inner circle is called and commissioned for a quick trip. They are to take nothing but the clothes on their backs. They are told to go not to Samaria or to the Gentiles. This first trip is for the Jews, and as a lesson to the apostles in trusting God for their support.

We hear so much about how Jesus is a man of peace. Some preachers want you to believe that living the Christian life is easy and/or filled with tangible earthly blessings. Jesus tells us just the opposite. He promises persecution. (How’s that for a pre-roadtrip pep talk?) he reminded the Twelve that although they might be anxious about what to say, that the Holy Spirit was there for them and would guide them. He reiterated that they would have problems, but that anyone who acknowledges Him before the world would have His support and acknowledgment in return.

Jesus will ultimately bring peace to the world, but for now, He says:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36  And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matt 10:34-39 (ESV)

The Christian walk is contentious. It splits apart families – and even Jesus’ own family opposed Him at the beginning of His ministry. To walk successfully, Jesus requires that we place Him above everyone, including our own family and friends. We need to take up our cross and follow Him. Though problems will arise for us on this earth, our ultimate destination – heaven – will make it all worthwhild.

John the Baptist is killed. Remember, John was Jesus’ contemporary. They may have even played together on occasion as youth. John was a few months older than Jesus, and he was the one who God called to prepare the way for Jesus. John was quite outspoken, and he was finally jailed because he spoke out about Herod’s incestuous relationship with Herodias. Salome, Herodias’ daughter, danced (apparently a very sensual dance) for Herod at a banquet. Fueled by alcohol and lust, Herod promised Salome any reward she wanted. Salome asked for John the Baptist’s head on a platter. A very high price indeed for speaking the truth. John’s disciples came, removed, and buried his body.

When Jesus heard that John had been killed, He withdrew to be alone. The crowd followed Him, and we see a great miracle of feeding 5,000 men, plus women and children, and having some left over.

Jesus again withdrew to be alone and pray, having sent the disciples on toward Capernaum via the Sea of Galilee. Another storm broke out (but not as bad as the last storm we heard about), and the disciples battled the storm for hours. Jesus came to them, walking on the water. Peter asked Jesus to prove Himself as Christ and allow Peter to walk on the water, too. Jesus acquiesced and Peter found himself walking along the top of the waves – until he took his eyes off Jesus. Peter was rescued, Jesus got into the boat, the wind ceased, and

… immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. John 6:21 (ESV)

When I read this familiar story, I was struck by parallels to my life. When storms break out in my life, do I ask for Jesus to perform some big, supernatural miracle for me? Do I take my eyes off of Him and look at the storm that’s surrounding me? And when I finally decide to trust Jesus with the problem I can’t solve myself, does He immediately calm my inner storm (even though I may still be dealing with the consequences of the outward storm that I caused)? If I allow Him to take over, does He immediately bring that boat into a safe and peaceful harbor? He doesn’t promise to immediately make all my problems go away, for storms are the way that we grow. He does, however, promise to give my mind perfect peace if I keep my focus on Him.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

Toward the end of the reading, we see disciples leaving Him because of this statement:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58  This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”  John 6:53-58 (ESV)

On the surface, those words are disturbing (even a little disgusting). Of course, Jesus doesn’t expect us to literally eat flesh and drink blood. This was a graphic reminder that He is the bread of life. It’s through His death that we are able to come to God. His blood had to be spilled for our sins because

…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Heb 9:22 (ESV)

                                                                                    

Jesus called Himself I Am eight times in the Gospel of John. According to Jesus, He is:

I am the bread of life. John 6:35

I am the light of the world. John 8:12

I am the door of the sheep. John 10:7

I am the good shepherd. John 10:11

I am the resurrection and the life. John 11:25

I am the way, and the truth, and the life. John 14:6

I am the true vine. John 15:1

Every claim He made is true. His contemporaries, the Pharisees, didn’t see that He was the fulfillment of God’s promises. Every time Jesus made a claim, people were there to dispute it. Some people wanted Him to be made king forcefully; others wanted Him dead. Wherever He went, there was compassion and healing; controversy and hatred. But even with all the problems, Jesus pressed on to do the will of the Father. What an amazing man! The living embodiment of God – fully God and fully man.

Today, the parallels with the disciples and the storm to my own life struck me the most. How about you? Let’s study together. I’ve talked long enough. It’s your turn! Send me a comment or an email.

See you tomorrow.

Week 42 Review - Monday October 15

     Matthew 8:18-34; 9:18-38

     Mark 4:35-5:43

     Luke 8:22-56; 9:57-62

Today’s readings are all about faith. Whether it’s the faith to leave all that’s familiar to follow Him, or the faith to humble yourself and ask for His help, all the stories today are about faith – or the lack of faith.

A story is told about a woman who once told the great D.L. Moody, “I have found a wonderful promise!” and quoted Psalm 56:3, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” Mr. Moody replied, “Let me give you a better one – Isaiah 12:2: ‘Behold God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid’”. Our characters today fall into those two camps, and of course there’s always the onlookers who for one reason or another chose to disbelieve or to plot against Jesus.

But before we begin with the faithful, we see a quick story about the cost of following Jesus.

Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19  And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” Matt 8:18-22 (ESV)

Two men wanted to follow Jesus. He seems to give odd responses to each! The first wants to follow wherever Jesus goes… and Jesus reminds the man that life will be tough with nowhere to lay their heads. He tells the man that discipleship comes with a great cost. We don’t see the man following (was he possibly a rocky soil kinda guy?)

The second man told Jesus he would come after he buried his father. Jesus’ reply seems very harsh unless you know that that phrase was a figure of speech which meant “let me wait for my inheritance”. The man wanted to follow after he received something to make the journey easier. “Let the dead bury their dead”, in that context, becomes a reminder that he should allow those who are spiritually dead worry about the mundane things like creature comforts. This guy seems like he might have been sown in the thorns!

Jesus takes off in a boat with His disciples, those of the good soil. Because of the geography of the Sea of Galilee, sudden squalls frequently occur. Apparently this was a monster storm, because even the fishermen were frightened. Why did they lose their faith? They had Jesus’ promise of arrival (Mark 4:35) – but He never guaranteed them an easy trip (sounds like a parallel to our Christian walk and eventual hone in heaven). Jesus was there, right beside them, and asleep. 

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.  Psalms 4:8 (ESV)

If it wasn’t something He could handle, He would have not been peaceful. Jesus knew that they were all protected by His Father! When they woke him up, frightened, He spoke to the sea and all was once again calm.

O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you? 9 You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. Psalms 89:8-9 (ESV)

We see an interesting story, told with three different perspectives, of the healing of the demon possessed men. We know that they were oppressed by demons that called themselves “Legion”. There were so many that they begged Jesus to allow them to go into 2,000 pigs. We can surmise that these men, and this city, was Gentile because pigs were unclean to Jews. Jesus’ casting the demons into the pigs, who jumped into the lake, was a prefigurement of God casting Satan and his demons into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). It was also a graphic demonstration to everyone of the enormity of the healing! This must have been a terrible blow to the commerce of the city, and the people asked Jesus to leave. Was it just the loss of income that frightened the people, or were they fearful of Jesus’ spiritual power? The men were renewed, restored, and new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17), and Jesus told them to go back to the Decapolis (the 10-city region) and testify. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus allowed Gentiles to testify, but Jews were told to remain silent?

And then to the twin stories of Jairus the wealthy Jewish man and the anonymous woman.

Jairus – 12 years of happiness with his daughter; wealthy; breaking with his fellow leaders to plead for his daughter’s life. Took great humility to come to Jesus and beg for her life. Two people were legally required to be a witness to any event, but for the raising of the daughter, Jesus had five (the parents, plus Peter, James and John). Jesus told Jairus to tell no one. I wonder how hard it was for the family to follow that command – and whether Jairus’ service at the synagogue changed in any way as a result of the miracle he witnessed!

Woman – 12 years of misery; ostracized because she was ceremonially unclean; spent all her money trying to get well; anemic; barely able to go on; crawling to Jesus as her last resort. Jesus required her to make a public confession for her own sake: it proved to the crowd that she was healed through her faith in Jesus.

The blind men and the demon-oppressed mute: Jesus heals them all, telling the blind men to say nothing. Of course they can’t keep it to themselves and Jesus’ fame spreads. The Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by Satan! (We’ll see what Jesus has to say about this on October 12).

Jesus had compassion on everyone – Jew, Gentile, rich, poor, lame, blind, mute, demon-possessed. He met each one at their point of need provided they met him with any type of faith. He has compassion for you today, and although your answer may not be as dramatic as these stories; in fact, you may be like Paul, who hears a clear no to his plea for healing. No matter the answer, rest in the assurance that Jesus knows what you are going through, and He promises to stand by you as you go through your storms. All you need to do (once you’ve accepted the free gift of salvation) is to trust that His promises are true!

See you soon as we read more exciting passages detailing Jesus’ life. As always, I would love to hear from you!