50th Post Jesus And His Mission Con't - Luke 4: 18-19, & 21.

This passage takes place in a Synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath very early in Jesus ministry. Jesus stood up to read which is the custom for the men in the city to do on the Sabbath. They would read from the scroll and then comment on it. On this Sabbath the scroll happened to be opened to Isaiah, Jesus read from 58:6 and 61: 1-2. Jesus did this before the scriptures were broken up into chapter and verse as our Bibles are today. This feat would be almost impossible for a common man whom Jesus was to do, because they would not be that familiar with the scrolls only seeing them on Sabbath, and not having a copy of their own at home to refer to. The Jews had heard these words many times and would know that they talk about the coming Messiah. Then Jesus did something very bold, after He had finished reading He told them that the scriptures had been fulfilled in their hearing. This statement spoken by Jesus could have only one meaning, He was telling them He was the promised Messiah. Instead of the men embracing Him, what did they do? They tried to take Him out of the Synagogue and throw Him off a very steep cliff on to the rocks below. The people shouted we know your parents Mary and Joseph, you grew up among us. Jesus moved through the crowd without being touched. Remember this is very early in Jesus ministry and it was not the time or the place for his death to take place. If you read Isaiah 61: 1-2 and look at what Luke wrote in his account, Jesus did not complete the whole passage, why?? Jesus only spoke that which did come true in their hearing, the rest of the passage deals with Jesus when He comes back. Jesus knows His job, and knows what is required of Him. Jesus is Lord and our Savior. This will be coming more and more clear as we continue to study His Words.

49th Post Jesus His Mission con't - Mark 1: 38

The passages Mark 1: 38 and Luke 4:43 are from very early in Jesus ministry. This passage takes place after Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law which caused the whole town to bring their sick and crippled to him for healing. Jesus worked all night working in this capacity. In the morning Jesus tells his disciples that they must go out into the surrounding towns and do the same thing; for this is why He was sent. Jesus was sent by God the Father, as we learned that Jesus only did the work of His Father. This takes place around the Sea of Galilee, this is located in the Northern Part of Israel. It is fitting that Jesus should start his ministry here, after all this was part of the ten tribes that forsook God first as foretold in Deuteronomy chapter 28. One of the jobs of the Redeemer was to restore Israel. Isiah foretold in chapters 42, 43 & 44 that the Messiah was to redeem His people. The people were also commanded to return to Him, they would be blessed if they did. God even here is well aware that the Jews have free choice and could choose to reject Him and His Redeemer. Many Jews did reject Him, but not all. These are the ones that the Bible calls the remnant. These are the believing Jews all through out history that did not lose their sight of their God. God said He would never turn His back on His people, or leave them. This is the start of Jesus ministry, and He is fulfilling what His Father said He would do.

48th Post Jesus Mission Con't - Matthew 15: 24

This passage is from Jesus encounter with a Canaanite woman (the whole story Matthew 15: 21 - 28). At first glance it looks like Jesus is very rude to this woman. This woman called Jesus "Son of David", and asked him to cure her daughter. The fact that the woman is called Canaanite, means that she was not a Jew, and maybe not even a believer. Jesus tells the woman that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. Clearly this woman is not a Jew and outside the territory of Israel (district of Tyre and Sidon), so she was not one of the people Jesus said He was here to reach, but the lost sheep of Israel. She would not be put off and kept following Jesus. Jesus said to her "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. Jesus was telling her that His Blessings were for the Jews only and not dogs. Dogs in the Bible are usually held in a negative light. So When Jesus likened her to dogs, it was not a compliment. This also did not deter her, for she responds with "Yes Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." The woman turned the story around by putting the dogs under their masters' table. These dogs were pets and not wild dogs as Jesus had made them out to be. These dogs were not fed the bread directly, but fed on what was dropped by the children. The woman was saying to Jesus, you are here in our territory outside your land, and you are helping your own people, since you are here, You could help my daughter also. Jesus went through all this drama, not for her benefit, but for His disciples. He knew her heart, and wanted them to know it also. Jesus praised her for her faith and healed her daughter.

47th Post Jesus Said About His Mission - Matthew 9: 12 -13

The Passages Matthew 9: 12 - 13; Mark 2: 17; Luke 5: 31 - 32 deal with Jesus having dinner at Matthew's house. The fact that Jesus was in the presence of tax collectors, prostitutes, and other shadowy figures; made the religious leaders uncomfortable. You see they believed that since they studied the Law they had become sinless through their interpretation of God's Law. The point of the Law as given by God to Moses, was to show the people that they have sinned in God's eyes and the need for a Savior to save them from their sins. The religious leaders made the Law their God, and tried to keep it perfectly; and what they could not keep, they would build a hedge around the Law so they could not get close enough to break it. The problem was they got so far away from the meaning that God intended, that they became prideful in their interpretation of the Law. They had forgotten God is also a God of mercy, not just a God of justice. They embraced the legal side of God and totally tried to forget the mercy side of God. They gave their alms to the poor, but not cheerfully. If the Sadducees and Pharisees, were Christians you would find them among the salt in the shaker. To be salt in the shaker you only deal with Christians, go only to Church, and talk only to Christians. It is very easy to stay a Christian under these conditions, you are all like minded, and will not push each others buttons. When we get out of our comfort zone and go out amoung non-believers the salt is poured out of the shaker. Jesus commands us to be in the world, but not of the world. If we do this we will be doing the words of Jesus and be doing what Jesus did by going to Matthew's house for dinner.

46th Post - Comment on the Story of Easter.

HE IS RISEN!!! HE IS RISEN INDEED! When you say this to one another today, do you think about all that these simple words mean? Why do we say these words in this order? Tradition tells us that this is how the disciples passed on the GOOD NEWS of Jesus rising from the dead. I know, I know, you will say to me that that was a long time ago. It is not that important anymore. Is that True?? I think we need this message more today than when they were first spoken 2,000 years ago. When you read the Easter Story starting with the women early in the morning, there is a recurring story within the story. This recurring story is that each one when given a piece of the news did not keep it to themselves, they passed it on. Have you told anyone about your RISEN LORD TODAY? What is the point of going to Bible Studies and Church, if you don't pass on what you have learned?? You can never learn everything there is about this story or anything else in the Bible, that is what makes THIS BOOK different from any other book! The more you know, the deeper the story goes, you can not out think GOD! If you are reading the Bible for all it's worth like Gordon Fee says, you will never cease to learn new and have a deeper knowledge of the Bible. We as Christians are under attack today, and instead of STANDING UP FOR OUR KING, we hide ourselves away in a secret room, like the disciples did.
The story of Easter is spreading the Good News. Will they have enough evidence to convict you??

45th Post - Comment on Reading Psalms 22, 23 & 24 for Good Friday.

I asked you to read the following Psalms during your quiet time on Good Friday; and Meditate on them. I asked you to do this and hope that you have done this before reading this post. Psalm 22 should be fairly obvious, but Psalm 23 and 24 may require further explanation. Psalm 22 opens with "My God why have You forsaken Me." This was quoted by Jesus on the cross, this Psalm was written by David almost 1,000 years before Christ was born, and some 300 years before crucifixion was invented as a means of capitol punishment. Now that you are aware of this information, you might want to re-read Psalm 22 again. Notice how close this Psalm coincides with the account of the crucifixion mentioned in the Gospels. It is almost like David was an eye witness to what happened to Jesus on the cross. David describes what it might feel like to be crucified, this Psalm gives us an insight to what it might have been like. It is incredible how much this Psalm foretells what actually happened.

Then I had you read Psalm 23. This Psalm should be quite familiar to you. This Psalm tells you about the Good Shepherd. Jesus is our Good Shepherd, he takes care of our every need. This is what the phrase "I shall not want" means. God will provide for our every need. He leads us beside still waters. This line means that God as our Shepherd knows that we will not drink from running or fast moving water. The shepherd will have to make a special pool for us to drink from. Jesus showed us all the aspects of the Good Shepherd during his earthly ministry. This is why he fed the thousands, twice; healed the sick and the lame and raised people from the dead.
When we walk through the valley of death, He will not leave us.

The last Psalm was 24. This Psalm talks about an exalted King returning to reign in His Kingdom and rule His people. This Psalm points to the Millenial period when Jesus will reign in Jerusalem and govern for 1,000 years. This is Biblical and since the Bible is the complete Word of God I believe what it says. Jesus said "I have not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill. Heaven and Earth may pass away but my Words will never pass away. Not one yot or tittle." That means not one dot of the "i" or cross of the "t". Thats pretty strong language coming from Jesus.

I hope that meditating on these three Psalms, and having them explained to you here has been a help to your observance of Good Friday and getting ready for Easter.

God is still on the throne.

44th Post Jesus Relationship with His Father Con't. John 15: 23 - 25

This passage is taken from chapter 15 of John verses 23 through 25. The background for this passage is as follows. Jesus and His Disciples are up in the upper room where they will partake in their Last observance of the Passover meal together. We will study the Last Supper at another time. Jesus has washed the disciples feet and is talking to them about the things to come. Chapter 15 of John is a good one to try to read all in one sitting, that means try to read the whole chapter through at one time. There is a lot of good material in it. We are only interested in verses 23 - 25 at this time. Jesus talks about people who hate Him also hate the Father. Listen to these words, the religious leaders of the day hated Jesus, but thought they loved God. In fact if you questioned their love for the Father they would be ready to fight you. Hear Jesus clearly says if you hate Me you hate the Father. Jesus goes on to say that if I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin. Why do they have sin now? The Bible teaches about a prophet that will come and perform miracles. The Blind see and the Deaf hear (Isaiah 29:18 deaf, and Isaiah 35:5 blind see). These works were done in order for the people to believe that Jesus was who He said He was. They did not believe and even that was foretold in Psalms 35: 19 and in Psalms 69:4. God knew the people would not believe, even if he told them ahead of time they would not believe. You like them have to make a decision, is Jesus who He said He was? Or is He an imposter?