Category: Gospels
Simeon and Anna
Scripture reading for October 21st: Luke 1-2
The Gospel of Luke mentions two people who prophetically confirmed Jesus Christ as the Messiah shortly after His birth. Simeon and Anna were people of prayer who had the Holy Spirit upon them. They had been waiting for the promised Messiah for many years. Their prayers were answered as Jesus was brought to the Temple by His parents.
Simeon had lived in Jerusalem for many years. The Lord had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Christ. (Luke 2:26) The Spirit of God moved him to go to the temple courts just as Jesus’ parents came that day. Simeon knew by the Spirit that this was the child and he took Him into his arms and spoke prophetically: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32) God was faithful to fulfill His promise to Simeon. Simeon spoke of his eyes beholding God’s salvation prepared by Him! This Holy Child was to be a light to the Gentiles. God’s plan was world-wide as well as to the glory of Israel!
After Simeon blessed the parents, he spoke a short word to Jesus’ mother. “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:34b-35) Simeon warned Mary that her child would be controversial and cause the downfall of many as well as the rising of others. He also told her that she would suffer something that would pierce her heart like a sword.
Anna, a prophetess who was eighty four years old, was widowed early in her life. She was a woman of prayer who spent her time in the temple worshiping God and praying. When she saw Jesus and His parents, she came up to them and gave thanks to God, telling others about the child and His future redemption of Israel. We are blessed to hear about God’s faithful watchmen and women who recognized Jesus soon after His birth.
Broken and Poured Out
Scripture reading for October 20th: Mark 14-16
“While He (Jesus) was at Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head.” (Mark 14:3) This event occurred just before the Passover Feast in a small village just outside of Jerusalem. Jesus often stayed in this village as it was also the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. This woman came to where Jesus was eating and brought this expensive gift. Instead of just presenting it to Him, she broke the jar and poured out the contents on His head.
This act of loving sacrifice was met with anger on the part of some present at the meal. They thought this was a waste of expensive perfume, and that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. This perfume represented more than a year’s wages! They rebuked her sharply for her act of kindness.
“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to Me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have Me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on My body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Mark 14:6-9) Jesus spoke up for this maligned lady. Her sacrifice touched His heart. It showed that this woman was willing to break and pour out her costly perfume to honor Jesus. She probably did not fully realize that she was preparing His body for burial. She did what she could with love!
In contrast to this, Judas went out and sold His Master for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave! Judas seemed not to care that he wouldn’t have Jesus with him always. He was more interested in the money. In fact, it was recorded by John that Judas was the one who objected and ridiculed another woman for doing a similar thing. (John 12:4-8) Which of these two best represents your heart?
The Most Important Commandment!
Scripture reading for October 19th: Mark 11-13
As the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry approached, many of the religious leaders were looking for ways to trap Jesus and have Him arrested. They plotted together as to how they might get Him to do or say something that would enable them to get rid of Him. Jesus answered their questions with skill and wisdom, avoiding their traps and silencing them with His replies. His good answers caused one of the teachers of the law to ask Jesus a serious question. “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28b-31) To answer this teacher of the law, Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy for the first commandment. (Deuteronomy 6:4) God had impressed the need for loving relationship with Him on His people. What Jesus quoted was known as the Shema (Hebrew for “listen”), and is still recited twice daily by faithful Jews. This commandment was to be taught to the children and passed on from generation to generation. They were to share it as often as they could in every day life and find ways to so impress this on the children that they would never forget.
The second part of this greatest commandment came from Leviticus 19:18: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” God desired good relationships between His people as well. Love was the word God chose to describe His people’s responsibility to act towards their neighbors. After all, God is love and love is of God! (1st John 4:7-8) He is the Lord of love!
As New Testament Christians, we are people known for our love. We are people that love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength! We love because He first loved us and we have experienced that love in Christ. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit brings a river of God’s love into our hearts. (Romans 5:5) We are then able to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Jesus Teaches On Divorce
Scripture reading for October 18th: Mark 8-10
“Some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” “What did Moses command you?” he replied. They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. (Mark 10:2-6) Questions about divorce were prevalent in Jesus’ day as they are in ours. The religious leaders came to test Jesus in His views. In that day, they believed that if a woman was not pleasing to the man, he could just write her off. They took the writing of Moses and justified their legal ruling. (Deuteronomy 24:1-4)
Jesus told them that it was because of hard hearts that Moses allowed this to take place. He took them back to God’s original plan from Genesis, also a writing of Moses. God designed marriage. It was to be with one man and one woman, male and female. The man was to leave his mother and father and be united with his wife and the two would become one flesh. God joined them together in such a way that they should not be separated! (Mark 10:6-9)
The disciples later questioned Jesus about this teaching. He answered them with further insight about divorce. “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” (Mark 10:11-12) Jesus tied divorce to the breaking of one of the ten commandments, which is a sin against God. That particular sin was punishable by death under the old covenant. God was trying to help mankind understand the need to stick with His plan for marriage and raising godly children. (Malachi 2:15) Divorce was destructive to what He had joined together, the one flesh relationship. Adultery defiled the relationship and caused violence between those who once loved and were intimate. (Malachi 2:16) God hates divorce for what it does to the family and children!
In our present time, divorce is common, even in the church. It is not the unforgivable sin, but we take it much too lightly. It is having a devastating effect on the fabric of the church and nation. We must humble ourselves and pray for obedience to our loving Jesus. “Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (Mark 10:9)
Sunday Rest and Reflection:Jesus’ Mother And Brothers
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and coming King! What a privilege it is to gather freely today to worship and read God’s word! Many around the world do not have this privilege and meet secretly at great peril of being found out and identified. We should not take for granted what God has blessed us with!
As I reflect on the reading of this past week, I am fascinated by Jesus’ family and His response to them. After Jesus was baptized and tested, He called His disciples to follow Him. Jesus was doing many miracles and casting out demons in every place He went. Great crowds gathered seeking Jesus, and the disciples had so much to do they could not even take time to eat. (Mark 3:20-35) His own family heard all that was happening and apparently thought that Jesus was out of His mind! Then the teachers of the Law from Jerusalem came down accusing Jesus of being demon possessed!
When things happen that we can’t logically explain, we tend to label them as crazy. If we are threatened by what is happening, we want to be sure others know that we aren’t at fault or don’t think that way. Evidently Jesus’ own mother and brothers came to take Him home and away from the crowds. Jesus explained that if Satan cast out Satan, his end had come. A house divided against itself could not stand. He warned them that all sins and blasphemies of men could be forgiven, but that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would never be forgiven! He said this to counter the charge that He had an evil spirit in Him!
“His mother and brothers came and were announced to Jesus. “Who are my mother and my brothers?”, He asked. Then He looked around Him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”” (Mark 3:33-35) Faith in Jesus and obedience to Him brings adoption into His family. Natural relationships mean nothing in His kingdom. We must be careful in our assessment of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. Don’t be too hasty to label the things of God as phony because they threaten you or don’t make sense.
In His Love, Pastor John
Tired, But Full of Compassion!
Scripture reading for October 16th: Mark 4-7
Ministry is hard work. People draw energy from those who minister. After a season of intense ministry, I often have to go away for a while and be alone to re-charge my soul. Jesus also experienced this, as did His disciples. “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not have a chance to eat, He said to them, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:30-31)
This simple statement of Jesus brings encouragement to our hearts. Jesus is compassionate and understands the demands of ministry! He took good care of His workers! However, when Jesus and His disciples arrived at what they thought would be a quiet place of rest, a crowd of needy people greeted them! “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began teaching them many things.” (Mark 6:34) Even when tired, Jesus still had compassion! He had the heart of a shepherd and always put the needs of the sheep ahead of His own needs! He taught His disciples through this process what kind of a heart must be in those who follow the Lord.
In fact, Jesus taught them all day and then had the disciples prepare a meal to feed that multitude! All they could find was five loaves of bread and two fish in that lonely place, but when given to the Lord of compassion, they fed the multitude with twelve baskets full left over! (Mark 6:37-44) He sent the disciples away to row across the lake and He went up on the mountain to pray. He came to them in the night, walking on the lake and terrifying the disciples. They have not slept for quite a long time! Upon arrival on the other side of the lake, a multitude then gathers and they minister to many sick and afflicted again!
As we reflect on the heart of Jesus for the sick and afflicted, we are amazed by His compassion! Even when tired, He reached out and ministered! We must remember His example and ask for strength in secret prayer! Our energy is from the Spirit, not just our bodies!
Come and Follow Me!
Scripture reading for October 15th: Mark 1-3
“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed Him.” (Mark 1:16-18) Jesus had a plan in His heart from the Father to reach all nations with the message of repentance and life. He knew that His time on earth was short and that He must choose some faithful men who would carry His heart for the lost and obey His instructions. The men He chose were ordinary men who were working at a trade. He promised to use their training to reach men. The authority by which He spoke caused these men to immediately leave their work and follow Him!
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus was pictured as a man of authority and action. He seems to stir up demonic forces and then confronted demonic powers with authority, casting them out. He dealt with sickness with that same authority, healing many and drawing large crowds of hurting and needy people. He was angry at the ruling religious authorities for their stubbornness and refusal to believe in Him.
“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to Him those He wanted, and they came to Him. He appointed twelve–designating them apostles–that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach and have authority to drive out demons.” (Mark 3:13-15) Jesus called those He wanted by name. He appointed them as apostles, ones sent out with a message. He wanted them to be with Him and learn from Him, sharing His heart. This was common for a “Rabbi” to choose his disciples. When a disciple was fully trained, they were to be like their Master!
I heard Jesus call and chose to leave my farm, my cattle and hogs, and my family’s home area to follow. I told Him I would follow Him wherever He would lead me. The journey has been wonderful, although not necessarily easy at times. I am still being taught and need to follow daily. I want to be with Jesus and preach His Gospel with authority! Where are you in your spiritual journey? Are you following Jesus? The Master is still calling out, “Come, follow Me!”
He is Risen!
Scripture reading for October 14th: Matthew 26-28
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most important truths of our faith. “He is not here, He has risen, just as He said” is the cry of hope for all mankind! (Matthew 28:6) If the resurrection is not true, then we have no hope of resurrection. The New Testament writings are therefore a lie and not worth reading, except as fiction. The resurrection of Jesus Christ has been well-documented by the eye-witnesses who knew Him best. In spite of all the evidence, each person is left to believe by faith in this pivotal truth.
The first to see Jesus alive after his terrible crucifixion and burial were the women who were closest to Jesus. “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.” . . Suddenly Jesus met them, “Greetings,” He said. They came to Him and clasped his feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see Me.” ” (Matthew 28:1, 9-10) These women talked with an angel who told them Jesus was alive. As they were leaving the tomb, Jesus Himself appeared to them on that morning of the third day after the crucifixion. They touched His feet and worshiped Him.
Jesus also appeared to the eleven remaining disciples, just as He said He would. (Matthew 28:16-20) When these men who knew Him so well saw Him, they worshiped Him as well. It is recorded that some doubted. Seeing Jesus alive would have been a shock after they had witnessed the crucifixion and then had the shame of having denied Him and run away.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) These final words of Jesus recorded by Matthew are know as the “Great Commission”. Jesus stated simply that He possessed ALL authority in heaven and on earth. This authority was used to command these followers to go and preach in all the world. Are you obeying?
Then the End Will Come!
Scripture reading for October 13th: Matthew 24-25
“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3) Jesus’ disciples were responding to a statement that Jesus made as they had left the temple. He had stated that every stone would be thrown down in the beautiful temple. The disciples knew that Jesus was coming back again and the present age would end. This question is important for us today, because we are still waiting for Jesus to return. Let’s look again at Jesus’ insight!
The first sign of the end, according to Jesus, was the rise of false teachers and prophets. (Matthew 24:4-5) Deception of people by satanic religious lies would be wide-spread right before the end. These false prophets would claim to be sent by God and to speak for God. Some of them would even claim to be “Christ” and many people would fall for their lie!
There would also be an increase in wars and political unrest among the nations. This would be coupled with natural disasters such as earthquakes and famines around the world. These factors would cause much fear and distress among the inhabitants of the earth just before Jesus would come. These things were likened to “birth pains” that preceded the coming of a baby. When they began to happen, look out! (Matthew 24:6-8)
The next sign was persecution of believers. Followers of Jesus Christ would be hated by all nations and put to death for their faith. Because of the persecution, many would fall away and others’ love for Christ would grow cold. There would be those among the faithful who would betray others and false teaching would cause divisions in the body of Christ. This would call for perseverance and patience on the part of true followers of Christ.
The final sign Jesus gave concerned the mission of His followers. “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) As believers in the last day, the mission of reaching the nations must not be dropped! Jesus is patiently waiting for His followers to preach His Gospel to all nations. Are you doing your part?
Jesus, Man of Integrity!
Scripture reading for October 12th: Matthew 20-23
“Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap Him in His words. They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Matthew 22:15-17) Religious people were threatened by Jesus and tried to discredit Him. They tried to attack Jesus’ integrity by using a loaded question. They tried to get Jesus to say something that would enable them to arrest Him or charge Him with a crime against the Roman government. The Herodians were Jews who were loyal to Herod for monetary gain. They would have jumped on Jesus if he told people not to pay taxes. The Pharisees were against the taxes to Caesar and were trying to pin unfaithfulness to God on Jesus. They thought they had the perfect trap.
Jesus defused the trap with a simple illustration, asking them for a coin. He asked them whose portrait and inscription was on the coin. They replied that it was Caesar’s! Jesus simply told them to give to Caesar what was his and to give to God what belonged to Him! This simple answer defused their trap and left them amazed at His wisdom.
In our day and age, many people lack integrity. They are not sure what they believe or why. They are looking to find some fault in Jesus Christ or His word and continually offering arguments. They hear the word of Jesus, but aren’t listening to believe and obey, but to criticize and tear apart. Even when they are amazed, they go away to plot another attack or make excuses for rejecting the Savior.
Jesus gave these same Pharisees the answer to their question concerning the greatest commandment. “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:37-39) Jesus told them the simple requirements of God were found in loving relationships. All the Law and Prophets were based on these two. Love with integrity describes our God!