Category: Gospels
Who do you say that I am?
Scripture reading for October 9th: Matthew 16-19
The Pharisees and Sadducees were two groups of religious people that were in conflict with Jesus. They often came to Jesus to test Him or discredit Him in the eyes of the people. (Matthew 16:1-4) One day, they asked Jesus for a sign from heaven to confirm that He was Messiah. Jesus had just fed the 5000 with the loaves and fishes and had been doing many other miracles. (Matthew 14:16-21) He had offended the Pharisees earlier by warning the people about their hypocrisy. He called them blind guides who would lead their followers into a pit! (Matthew 15:12-14)
Jesus told them that a wicked and adulterous generation would seek a sign. They would only be given the sign of Jonah, the prophet. He then warned his followers to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. They didn’t understand. Jesus explained that the yeast was their teaching that would lead them and others away from the truth.
Next they traveled to Caesarea Philippi at the mouth of the Jordan River near Mount Herman. There Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13) They told him various answers that were common among the people. Jesus then asked them the most important question, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15) Simon Peter immediately answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) Jesus commended him for his answer. The Father had revealed this truth to him!
How have you answered Jesus’ question? Is He someone who must show you one more “sign” before you will believe? Are you skeptical that He is the Son of God? Do you just feel that He is a prophet sent from God or someone famous who came back from the dead? Do people’s opinions shape your thoughts on Jesus Christ? All of these responses were present when Jesus walked the earth and was doing miraculous signs. Revelation comes when we are humble and teachable enough to believe. Faith is the key ingredient, and that is a gift from God! (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Jesus promised to build His church and told them that the gates of hell would not prevail against it . The “rock” was Peter’s confession of who Christ was, not Peter himself. Jesus is still building His church on that rock! It is the only secure foundation for eternal life!
The farmer sows the seed!
Scripture reading for October 8th: Matthew 12-15
Jesus used parables to speak to multitudes of people. The knowledge of the kingdom of heaven was hidden from those with hard hearts and closed ears. (Proverbs 14:6) (Matthew 13:11-15) Parables were stories that spoke of something common but with additional meaning that applied to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus ended many of these stories with something like: ‘if you have ears, listen!”. (Matthew 13:8) The listening that Jesus encouraged was spiritual and revealed truth.
As a former Iowa farmer, the parable of the sower always fascinated me. I raised corn one year for a Master Corn Grower’s contest and the return was over 1100 pounds back for every pound sowed! This parable talks about a thirty, sixty, or hundred fold return! Now that was good seed and good ground and God’s amazing grace! By the way, I got third place in the contest!
The farmer scattered his seed and it fell on different types of soil. Some fell on the path and birds ate it up immediately. Some fell on rocky soil, and sprouted quickly but died out. Some fell among the weeds and was choked out. Most of the seed went to the good ground and it yielded a crop. This simple story would have been very familiar to everyone in that culture and held great spiritual understanding for those with ears to hear!
Those who heard the word but did not understand it were like the seed on the path. The evil one came along and ate it before it could produce or even sprout. The rocky soil represented those who initially heard the word but failed to let it go deep enough to sustain growth. The seed among the weeds represented those who received the word, but the cares of this life and deceitfulness of riches choked it out. Finally, those who heard the word, understood it and put it into practice were like the good soil!
God is the farmer and has commissioned us to sow His word in the soils of hearts. We can’t control what kind of soil the seed falls on but we have good seed! Is the crop of eternal life growing in you? Are you keeping the weeds out? God has blessed the seed and wants to multiply it through the soil of your heart! Why not bless our Lord with a great increase!
A yoke of rest!
Scripture reading for October 8th: Matthew 8-11
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
This portion of Matthew is one I have preached on often and love to return to on a regular basis. It seems that I have a tendency to love to work and take on lots of projects. It is like I have a subtle need to find my worth in what I do or how much I can do. This is hard to admit and even harder to detect the true motives. I must remember that my work earns me nothing because salvation is all grace!
In the time of Jesus, a rabbi was a master teacher whose disciples were training to be like their teacher. When a student was fully trained, he would be like his teacher and could also become a rabbi himself. (Luke 6:40) It was an honor to follow a rabbi and only the brightest and best were usually asked. However, Jesus the “Rabbi”, went among the common people and called those who appeared to be the unqualified. Jesus looked at the heart and took those who were willing to leave all and follow!
The ‘yoke’ of the rabbi was his authority and his teachings. A disciple would learn to follow the master so closely that it is said that the dust of the rabbi was on their clothes. Jesus asked followers to come under His authority received from His Father. (Matthew 11:27) Sickness departed at His word! (Matthew 8:2-3) Demons in people left at His command! (Matthew 8:28-34) Sins were forgiven and a paralytic healed. (Matthew 9:1-8) A dead girl was raised to life at His word! (Matthew 9:23-25) Blind men received their sight at His touch. (Matthew 9:27-31) At His command, the disciples were sent out and miracles were done through their hands! (Matthew 10:1-8)
Following Jesus requires a complete surrender to Him. His ‘yoke’ of authority is easy and His ‘burden’ light. He has all authority and has given authority to us to do His work! We are promised even greater works because He has gone to the Father! (John 14:12-13) Are you under Jesus Christ and His yoke?
Blessed Kingdom Kids!
Scripture reading for October 5th: Matthew 5-7
Matthew records one of the longest discourses of Jesus in the Bible. It contains a rich wealth of teaching for those who are followers of the great Rabbi and teacher who is the Son of God. Today we will focus on the blessedness of those who embrace the King and His kingdom!
The kingdom of heaven was the subject of this great teaching. God, the Father, was to be King over the nation of Israel and they were to be His loyal children. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) Kingdom kids were not to be proud, boastful or self-sufficient. Their sufficiency came from their Father who gave them a rich inheritance.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6) They would be satisfied by their King with a banquet of bread and wine He supplied. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8) They would have a new heart given as a gift! “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9) Father gives peace that the world can’t understand! Even when persecuted for their righteousness, they have the Father’s wisdom and know that the best is yet to come! They have a reward in heaven that no one can steal or destroy. (Matthew 5:7-12) They will see their King’s face one day and bask in His glory!
Kingdom kids are blessed to be the light of the world. They reflect the glory of their King everywhere they go. They are the salt of the earth! They bring out the “God-flavors” of this world according to the Message Bible! (Matthew 5:13-16) They help stop the corruption of sin and bring out God’s saving message of Gospel hope. They are a people who love God and love their neighbors from their hearts, fulfilling God’s law.
God’s kingdom kids do not worry about tomorrow or fret over provisions. They know how to talk to God in prayer and trust Him for everything. He is their provider and protector! They are blessed with all they need. (Matthew 6:33) They have built their houses on a Rock! Storms may come but they are secure and safe in Him! We are so blessed to be “Kingdom Kids” of our amazing Father in Heaven!
This is My Son, Whom I Love!
Scripture reading for October 6th: Matthew 1-4
Four hundred years of silence had passed and God was speaking again! He was fulfilling a number of prophesies that He had given over the years concerning His Son. A virgin named Mary gave birth to a son. (Matthew 1:22-23) This virgin and her betrothed husband, Joseph, were descendants of King David and their genealogy was traced back to Abraham. (Matthew 1:1-16) This “Son” was born in Bethlehem and fulfilled what the prophet Micah had predicted nearly 700 years earlier. (Matthew 2:6)
Gentile wise men came to worship Him who was born “king of the Jews.” Gentiles would also be blessed and come to this “king of the Jews” for salvation! After talking with them, Herod became jealous and ordered the destruction of all boys 2 years and younger. God had already intervened and warned Joseph and Mary to depart for Egypt. This fulfilled two other prophesies about Rachel weeping for her children and God calling His Son out of Egypt. (Matthew 2:15-18) When Joseph and Mary returned to Israel after Herod’s threat had passed, they settled in Nazareth. Jesus was called a “Nazarene” in fulfillment of prophetic word!
The Book of Malachi had ended with a promise from God that He would send Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord. (Malachi 4:5-6) Elijah’s message would seek to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Matthew records the ministry of John the Baptist preaching in the Desert of Judea and calling God’s people to repentance and water baptism. John was Jesus’ cousin and had a special call from God to prepare the way for His Son. (Matthew 3:1-3)
John the Baptist spoke plainly to the religious leaders who came to ridicule him. He warned them that one was coming who would not just baptize with water, but with the Holy Spirit and fire! (Matthew 3:7-11) (Matthew 3:15) Jesus was baptized and John and the crowd there witnessed the Father speaking concerning Jesus His Son!
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went out of the water. At that moment heaven opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17
Peter’s restoration and the great catch!
Scripture reading for June 2nd: John 21:1-25
Jesus had appeared to the disciples several times. He breathed on them to receive the Holy Spirit and gave them authority to preach forgiveness of sins. John records that Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples which he did not record. All that he wrote were for the purpose of helping us and others believe that Jesus is the Christ and Son of the Living God so that we might receive the gift of eternal life in His Name. (John 20:31)
The last miracle recorded by John concerned a large catch of fish. Peter had decided to return to fishing, their original occupation. He and several of the other disciples had fished all night and caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore near where they were fishing and called out to them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. When they did, the net was loaded so much that they had to drag it to shore. (John 21:1-6) That’s when John recognized Jesus and told the others.
Peter jumped into the water to race to the Lord. Jesus had started a fire there and asked for some of the fish. Peter helped bring in the catch: 153 fish! Jesus invited them all to enjoy breakfast and he fed them bread and fish that He cooked! This was Jesus’ third appearance to His disciples.
After breakfast, Jesus spoke specifically to Peter, asking him three times if he loved Him. Each time Peter replied that he did love Jesus and Jesus asked him to feed His lambs. After the last reply, Jesus spoke prophetically to Peter, “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” “Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then He said to him, “Follow Me!” (John 21:18-19)
As Peter had denied Jesus three times, Jesus restored him with a three-fold confession of love. He also emphasized the work that Peter was to do and how he would die. The great catch would not be fish, but many souls! On Pentecost, 3000 were to be brought into Christ’s sheepfold!
Jesus appears alive!
Scripture reading for June 1st: John 20:1-31
After witnessing the mockery of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion the disciples were filled with grief. I can imagine how they felt. They had left everything to follow Jesus and had been so full of joy at what they learned in His presence. They had heard Him tell them about going away and then they would see Him again, but they really did not understand. Now they felt hopeless, not knowing what to do next. But they had not seen the last of Jesus! He was not dead, but alive!
The women who were close to Jesus were the first to see Jesus alive. John tells about Mary Magdalene who had gone to the garden tomb while it was still dark. (Luke mentions “women”.) When she arrived, the stone was rolled away from the tomb. Mary Magdalene ran and told Peter and John, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!” (John 20:2) John records that he outran Peter, but Peter arrived and went in first to examine the tomb. There were the strips of cloth that had been used to wrap the body lying there. The burial cloth that had covered His head was neatly folded, separate from the linen. The body was gone. John records that he saw and believed. (John 20:8-9) They did not understand from Scripture about the resurrection, however. Jesus would later show them this!
After the disciples went back home, Mary stood there by the tomb, weeping. She looked back into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had laid. They asked her, “Woman why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put Him.” At this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.” Jesus spoke to her and she thought it was the gardener until He spoke her name, “Mary”. She was told to go and tell “My brothers” that Jesus was alive! (John 20:15-18)
Finally, Jesus showed Himself to the brothers, coming into a locked room without assistance. He showed them his hands and side. He spoke peace to their troubled souls and gave them a gift, breathing on them! “Receive the Holy Spirit!” (John 20:22) The second Adam was a life-giving Spirit!
Jesus’ last words!
Scripture reading for May 31st: John 19:23-42
It is said that a man’s last words as he leaves this world have meaning. They reveal something about the heart of the person and leave something for those left to remember him by. Jesus, as He hung on the cross, spoke some last words that have been contemplated by those who followed Him.
Around the cross, soldiers gambled for His seamless robe. They cast lots to see who would get this robe. It would be a little extra payment for their gruesome job. This fulfilled Scripture written by David in Psalm 22:18. Over the cross was a sign written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek, “The King of the Jews”. This was written by Pilate–a designation He refused to change even when requested by the Jews. This was the setting as Jesus suffered.
“Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From this time on, this disciple took her into his house.” “ (John 19:25-27) Jesus, in His agony, took note of His mother. He placed her in the care of His beloved disciple. This was John, who wrote this account! We have an eye-witness account that is not recorded any where else. What love and compassion we behold in Christ!
“Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it and put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” (John 19:28-30) John records these last words of Jesus.
Psalm 69:21 state that they would give vinegar for the thirst. This prophesy was fulfilled here. I believe that Jesus was also thirsty for His Father’s house! (Psalm 42:2) His work was done, fulfilling all Scripture and now He wanted the glory of heaven and fellowship with the Father! “It is finished” simple states “Paid in full”! He then yielded His spirit to God!
The King and the governor!
Scripture reading for May 30th: John 18:25-19:22
As the illegal trial of Jesus continued before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, the Son of God showed His control throughout the trial. No man would take His life, He would willingly lay it down. He even reached out to help Pilate!
Pontius Pilate came out of his house to meet the Jewish leaders and their captive, Jesus Christ. He asked them what charges they were bringing against Jesus. “If He were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed Him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take Him yourselves and judge Him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. This happened indicating the kind of death He was going to die would be fulfilled. (John 18:29-32) These men wanted Jesus executed and knew that the only way that could happen is for Pilate to approve of it. But God’s plan was moving along and He was really in control!
Pilate took Jesus into his palace and had Jesus brought before him and asked, “Are You the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about Me?” (John 18:33-34) I believe Jesus was probing Pilate to see if he might be open to ministry and faith.
Jesus then told him, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.” (John 18:36-37) Jesus was offering Pilate understanding of who He was. He was speaking truth to Pilate in a way that he could understand and repent. But Pilate questioned, “What is truth?”
Pilate tried to free Jesus, saying there was no basis for a charge against Him. The people demanded that Jesus be crucified. He questioned Jesus further but Jesus refused to answer. Pilate threatened Jesus, stating he had power to free Him. “You would have no power over Me if it were not granted to you from above.” (John 19:11) In the end, Jesus was turned over to be crucified!
Jesus in charge!
Scripture reading for May 29th: John 18:1-24
John recorded the account of Jesus’ arrest and questioning in the early morning hours of His final day. What is amazing to me as I read, is the total control that Jesus exhibits. He becomes a prisoner, but maintains His ability to lead and direct the events according to the plan of the Father.
First, as the officials came in the night with torches to the Garden, Jesus asked them who they were seeking. Whey they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth”, Jesus told them plainly that He was that person. As Jesus spoke this to them, the power of God caused these men to fall helplessly to the ground. Jesus asked them a second time who they wanted and the answer was the same. “I told you that I am He,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for Me, then let these men go.” (John 18:8) Jesus was in charge and the men, who were officials of the ruling Sanhedrin, let the others go. This was all in accordance with Jesus’ prayer and words, “I have lost none of those you gave Me.” (John 18:9) (John 6:39) (John 17:12) Not only was He in charge, He was acting in accordance with plans made with the Father before time began!
As Peter stood up to defend Jesus, swinging his sword and cutting off the ear of Malchus the High Priest’s servant, Jesus firmly told Peter to put his sword away. He took control, healing the ear with a single touch! (Luke 22:51) “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given to Me?” (John 18:11) Jesus knew the suffering that He must endure to complete the mission that the Father had given Him. He was in complete control and willingly let these men take Him into their custody to fulfill His goal!
As Jesus stood before Annas, He answered their questions politely. He was struck in the face by one of the officials and rebuked. Jesus still answered politely. (John 18:22-23) He was a man who was in charge, even though bound and under arrest!
Have you surrendered your life to this Jesus? Jesus is the Son of God and He perfectly obeyed the Father in drinking the cup of suffering and sin on our behalf. He was the King of Kings, but served His subjects by doing for them what they couldn’t do for themselves! Let Him take charge today!