Category: Gospels
The necessity of preaching!
Scripture reading for March 9th: Luke 4
Key scriptures for over-comers: Luke 4:42-43 “At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for Him and when they came to where He was, they tried to keep Him from leaving them. But He said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.“”
Jesus based all His ministry on prayer. He often withdrew from the crowd and His own disciples to seek the Father’s will and direction. People were motivated by His ministry to seek Jesus out. They tried to keep Him with them and begged Him to stay with them longer.
But Jesus had a good grasp on the mission given Him by the Father. He must seek out and save lost people and give all a chance to see and hear about the kingdom of God and the good news of repentance and forgiveness of sins. (Luke 19:10) He did not let crowd pressure determine His agenda, but followed the Father’s plan to reach out to all men. He set an example for all His followers and for us today! God chose the foolishness of preaching to save those who would believe! (1st Corinthians 1:21)
Observations for over-comers: We must be careful of crowd pressure and the desire to please men. Prayer and obedience to God’s call to preach the good news must always take precedence! “”. . .but let the one who has My word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not My word like a fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:28-29)
Identity from the Father!
Scripture reading for March 7th: Luke 3
Key scriptures for over-comers: Luke 3:21-23. “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a Voice came from heaven: “You are My Son, whom I love, with You I am well-pleased.” Now Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry, He was the son, so it was thought of Joseph, . .”
Who is your father here on earth? Jesus had an earthly adoptive ‘father’ named Joseph who was descended from a famous ‘father’ in Israel, King David. David, in turn, was a descendant of Abraham. Abraham’s lineage went all the way back to Adam! Luke was showing the Gentiles that Jesus was the ‘Son of Man’. But Luke also showed that Jesus had a real Father in heaven. At Jesus’ baptism, the voice of the Father clearly declared “You are My Son, Whom I love, with You I am well-pleased!” Jesus may have been known as ‘the carpenter’s son’, but He was also God’s Son!
Observations for over-comers: We may have an earthly father, or maybe not one we know. But when we are born again in Christ Jesus, we have a Father in heaven who says to us at our baptism, ‘You are My Son (Daughter), Whom I love, with You I am well-pleased.” “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4)
Father’s House!
Scripture reading for March 4th: Luke 2
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Luke 2:48-50 “When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. His mother said to Him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” “Why were you searching for me?” He asked. Didn’t you know I had to be in My Father’s House?” But they did not understand what He was saying to them.”
We know very little of Jesus’ childhood after the visit of the wise men and His trip to Egypt and return to Nazareth. Joseph and Mary evidently lead an ordinary life and had other children that Jesus grew up with. They were Jews who were devout and visited Jerusalem for the feast of Passover every year. (Luke 2:41) Luke records that Jesus went with His family when He was twelve years old and on the way back home, was found to be missing from the company of travelers from Nazareth.
When His parents returned to Jerusalem, they found Jesus in the temple courts sitting with the teachers and asking questions. When they questioned Him, He told them they should have known that He had to be in His Father’s House! This was one of the earliest revelations by Jesus of His true identity! Our identity is now tied to our Father through Jesus Christ!
Observations for over-comers: It is a good thing to be in ‘Father’s House’! We must never forget our identity and our destiny! “I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, “You are My Son, today I have become Your Father. Ask of Me, and I will amke the nations Your inheritance and ends of the earth Your possession.” (Psalm 2:7-8)
Being confident in Christ!
Scripture reading for March 3rd: Luke 1
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Luke 1:1-4 “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”
Luke’s gospel account was carefully investigated in order to be accurate and orderly presentation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles written in Greek. Luke documented this account from eyewitnesses of Christ, many who were his personal friends. Luke was a Greek who was a medical doctor and close friend of the Apostle Paul, often traveling with him.
Luke, and our Lord Jesus wanted Theophilus, and us, to have this account so that we might be certain of what we were taught. Faith comes by hearing God’s word from God’s servants! Faith is transmitted by sharing God’s word in written form as well as spoken form. We can have confidence in this written record because it ties directly to those who walked with Jesus Christ while He ministered and revealed the Father’s heart to reach all nations with the gospel of the kingdom.
Observations for over-comers: Put your trust in God’s word as transmitted from the eyewitnesses and servants of the word! “Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel just as He has promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He gave through His servant Moses.” (1st Kings 8:56)
Disciples are not alone!
Scripture reading for March 2nd: Mark 16
Key scriptures for over-comers: Mark 16:19-20 “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and He sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it.”
Jesus appeared to the disciples a number of times after the resurrection to prepare them for their ultimate mission to reach the lost people of all nations. Jesus conferred His authority on them to go and preach the “good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15) He promised them that as they went and preached this ‘good news’ that they would not be alone but He would work with them confirming their message with miraculous signs. These signs would be Christ’s way of showing His love to the lost and confirming the authenticity of His disciples. It would require the disciples to walk by faith and do what Jesus commanded them to do–reach out to lost people everywhere! Mark records that they were sent and then they went!
Observations for over-comers: Christians want to see the signs and miracles but are not being obedient to go and preach to the lost! We must be going and preaching the good news and Jesus will do His part! “One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and I will meditate on Your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of Your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.” (Psalm 145:4-6)
Don’t play to the crowd!
Scripture reading for March 1st: Mark 15
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Mark 15:9-11,15 “”Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. . .”Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.””
At Pilate’s judgment seat, he had a custom of releasing to the crowd one of the condemned prisoners. This was his way of gaining favor with those he had to govern. Earlier, he had been warned by his wife not to have anything to do with Jesus’ death because He was an ‘innocent man’. (Matthew 27:19) He knew that it was simply ‘out of envy’ that the Jewish Priests had handed Jesus over to him. He found no fault in Jesus worthy of death! All this being recorded, Pilate still played to the crowd and handed Jesus over to be crucified! In the end, Pilate would rather please the crowd than bring justice to the innocent! Political expediency trumped truth!
Observations for over-comers: Always stand firm on God’s word and truth. Don’t play to the crowd! “You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with You the wicked cannot dwell. The arrogant cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all who do wrong. You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the Lord abhors.” (Psalm 5:4-6)
She did what she could!
Scripture reading for February 29th: Mark 14
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Mark 14:6-9 “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.”
Jesus was anointed with costly perfume by one of the women that followed Him. Some of the disciples, and particularly Judas, were upset over the apparent waste of a valuable and rare commodity. Their feelings concerned the poor and what the money could have done for them. Judas had other more selfish concerns. Jesus mildly rebuked them and reminded them of what would very soon happen to him.
As for this woman, Jesus commended her for doing a ‘beautiful thing to Me’! He was honored and knew that what she did came from her heart of love for Him. She ‘did what she could’ simply and willingly and is even today being rewarded as Jesus promised!
Observations for over-comers: Love for Jesus, extravagant giving and worship mark the lives of over-comers! They will enjoy eternal rewards! “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth–for your love is more delightful than wine. Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out.” (Song of Songs 1:2-3)
Don’t be found asleep!
Scripture reading for February 26th: Mark 13
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Mark 13:35-37 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back–whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If He comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!”
Jesus talked frankly to His disciples in His final hours with them before facing the cross. He warned them about their need to be watchful concerning the coming of the Lord to take His people to be with Him. (Mark 13:26-27) He explained that no one knows the exact day or hour, only His Father. Because of this, this event could come at any time of the day or year. He did not mean literally not to sleep, or we would all not make it. He referred to being awake spiritually and ready!
Observations for over-comers: Those who follow Jesus live in a state of readiness and watchfulness because of real relationship with Jesus. He is their guarantee of over-coming spiritual slothfulness! “I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, and the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I . . . learned a lesson from what I saw; A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest–and poverty will come on you like a bandit. . .” (Proverbs 24:30-34)
The greatest commandment!
Scripture reading for February 25th: Mark 12
Key scriptures for over-comers: Mark 12:28-31 “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “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.”
Religious people like to discuss theology and God’s word. It was no different in Jesus’ day. The teachers of this time had identified the ten Mosaic commandments and over 600 other commandment from the Scriptures. Each teacher had their own interpretations of the various laws and scriptures. One of these law teachers came to Jesus with an honest question: “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus did not hesitate for a moment, but identified two that comprised the greatest commandment: Love God completely and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus taught that these two summed up all the laws of God. In loving God, we eliminate idolatry and giving God second place. We won’t profane His name or His day–the Sabbath. In loving our neighbor, we won’t murder, commit adultery, lie, steal or covet and we will honor our father and mother. This complete love fulfills the law.
Observations for over-comers: Love involves relationship–first with God and also with our neighbor and ourselves! Love never fails! “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness of His own name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:1-3)
A House of Prayer for all Nations!
Scripture reading for February 24th: Mark 11
Key scriptures for over-comers: Mark 11:15-17 “On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as He taught them, He said, “Is it not written: “‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?” But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.'”
Jesus was beginning His last week ministering on earth as a man. He went to the temple the first evening and just observed what was going on and then quietly left. (Mark 11:11) The next day Jesus returned to the temple and began to drive out the money-changers and those who bought and sold sacrifices. He upset their tables and their “apple cart!” His problem was with the purpose of the temple: God designated it a place of prayer for all nations! (See 1st Kings 8:23-61) The activities of buying and selling were hindering people in their sincere approach to God! God desired to give all people joy in His house of prayer as they received answers and forgiveness through drawing near to Him. (Isaiah 56:6-8) Jesus used this cleaning of the temple again to emphasize and teach His desire for all nations to commune with Him and the Father.
Observations for over-comers: Jesus is zealous for His house and has designated it a “house of prayer for all nations.” His Church must joyfully allow the Spirit freedom to direct them in prayer for the nations! “And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve Him, to love the name of the Lord and to worship Him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to My covenant–these I will bring to My holy mountain and give them joy in My house of prayer.” (Isaiah 57:6-7)