Devotions

In the House of My Father

by  • 

Jesus is growing up as any child in Israel would, going with his family for the feasts in Jerusalem. Three times a year they would make the journey from Nazareth more than one hundred miles each way. And even at the age of twelve, Jesus knew he belonged “in the house of my father”. There isn’t much said about John the Baptist until he begins his ministry “in the wilderness of Judea”. But as he begins to preach, and proclaim the “kingdom of heaven has come near”, people seek him out to hear. People respond to God’s message, even if it is delivered bluntly, with power, as John said, “offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee”. Even with this harsh introduction, in the end, John “proclaimed good news to the people”. 

In the House of My Father

Luke 2:41–52
We get a glimpse of family life for Jesus in Luke 2:41, “his parents went every year to Jerusalem”. After Jesus was born, Herod sought to kill him, but and angel warned Joseph and they went to Egypt. When they returned, they lived in Nazareth and “The mileage from Jerusalem to Nazareth and Capernaum and vice versa is: Approximately 120 miles (193 km)!” and Arthur Blessitt goes on to say, “Every devout religious Jew was to be at least ‘three’ times a year Jerusalem. “Three times in the year all your men shall appear before the Lord, the Lord God of Israel”. (Exodus 34: 23) Foremost among the many religious feasts was the ‘Passover’. Surely both Mary and Jesus attended the yearly Passover. Remember in Jesus public ministry of 3 years He was once at “Feast of Booths” (John 7:2) in Jerusalem and once He was at the “Feast of Dedication” (John 10:22-39). He was in Jerusalem during that 3-year period at least three times for the “Passover” (John 2:13-22; John 5:1-47; John 12: 12-19)”.1

It was common for them to be on the road and they would have been travelling with family and friends for the same purpose. It would have been a friendly, if taxing, five day walk. So it isn’t any wonder that Mary and Joseph didn’t immediately recognize that Jesus had stayed behind. He, Jesus, is coming of age. And when they find him, he responds in Luke 49, “Did you not know that it was necessary for me to be in the house of my Father?”. So, we can understand what it means in

Luke 2:52 (LEB) And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with people.

Prepare the Way of the Lord

Mark 1:1–8
Mark 1:7–8 (LEB) And he was preaching, saying, “One who is more powerful than I is coming after me, of whom I am not worthy to bend down and* untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” See notes from The Kingdom of God Has Come Near 

The Kingdom of Heaven has Come Near

Matthew 3:1–12
John, who was six months older than Jesus, in Matthew 3:1-6 “the Baptist came preaching in the Judean wilderness”. Jesus was to come from the tribe of Judah, what better place for God to begin the message than here. John’s message was, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!” People often feel far from God, separated from Him. But this is God saying, he is coming to be with us. Jesus walked here, on earth, with us. John said in Matthew 3:3b, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight”. But John didn’t go to the temple in Jerusalem. John didn’t seek public places where he could draw a crowd. John was, “crying out in the wilderness” and in

Matthew 3:5–6 (LEB) Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they* confessed their sins.

There was a strong anointing on John. People heard the sincerity, the urgency, and felt the conviction that compelled them to be baptised. What a simple thing God asked through John, be baptised, be washed, something they may have been doing daily, an easy thing. Yet many reacted and rejected and refused, instead standing righteous in their own minds. Refusing even the simplest step toward God. 

All Flesh Will See

Luke 3:1–11
Luke records the reign of government and the high priest as God prompts John in Luke 3:1-3 and adds this statement “all flesh will see the salvation of God”. Luke also adds John’s rebuke in Luke 3:7-8, “saying to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “Offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” These are the children of Israel. These are God’s chosen people. These are the children of promise, Abraham’s seed. But John tells them in Luke 3:9 “the ax is positioned at the root of the trees; therefore every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire”. Yes, God has given them a covenant of promise, but it requires action on their part. Just as it is with us today, the price for our salvation full restoration with God was paid by Jesus on the cross, but we aren’t saved until we accept that work. Are we willing to repent, be baptised, and bring fruit for God’s kingdom?

He Proclaimed Good News to the People

Luke 3:12-20

John 1:1-9

John 1:10-18

John 1:19-28

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Luke 2:41-52
  • Mark 1:1–8
  • Matthew 3:1–12
  • Luke 3:1-20
  • John 1:1-28

The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ – The Gospels

We began the year reading the gospel of Mark and this is often often the way we read the Bible, one book at a time. As we begin going through the gospels again, this time we will follow the order of readings from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible. This means we will move back and forth throught Matthew, Mark Luke and John but with little emphasis on Mark. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much different context and helps us understand the move of God as He is introducing the Saviour, the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. This series begins with Return To Me And I Will Return To You which ends in Malachi and introduces the “Witnesses” writing the Gospels.

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

References

  • 1. Arthur Blessitt, April 27 2018, Arthur Blessitt Evangelistic Association,
    http://www.blessitt.com/miles-jesus-and-mary-walked/