Devotions

Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem

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The disciples are walking with Jesus toward Jerusalem. It is nearly time for him to give his life but they are talking about who will rule with him. They still have not understood that their role was to redeem lives, and this means serving, or as it says in Jude 23 (LEB) “and save others by snatching them from the fire”. But this takes real active engagement with people as we see Jesus interacting with Zacchaeus and the result was as Jesus said in Luke 19:9 “Today salvation has come to this house”. And it is here that Jesus arrives at the Mount of Olives and laments over the city, those who are about to crucify the prince of peace.

James and John Seek Position in God’s Kingdom

Mark 10:35-45
Matthew 20:20-28 

Do For Us Whatever We Ask You

Mark 10:35–45
There were many times when Jesus asked people what they would have him do as in Luke 18:41 so it seems they thought they could ask. And, after all, they had been with Jesus at the transfiguration in Mark 9:2-7. They were part of the inner circle. But this is a setup question and Jesus inquires to get the true meaning, their real request. They have overstepped, as people often do. How important it is that we guard our hearts and our minds and bring every thought into captivity. It is not our place to set ourselves in position. This is God’s domain. 

To Sit At My Right Hand and At My Left

Matthew 20:20–28
Matthew 20:20-23 records that “the mother of the sons of Zebedee came” asking “Say that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your kingdom”. Jesus responded, first to these men, “Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” because there is a level of obedience required, to live without sin, to stand in the face of the ungodly, to give even your life. You might say that he told them to count the cost, but they quickly answered “We are able.” as we often answer in a moment of enthusiasm. But even Jesus had his moment in the garden struggling to fulfill his purpose in

Luke 22:42-44 saying, “Father, if you are willing, take away this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.” ⟦ 43 And an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44 And being in anguish, he began praying more fervently and his sweat became like drops of blood falling down to the ground.⟧

Then Jesus answers further, that is “not mine to grant, but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father”. There are some positions in God’s kingdom that only the Father can offer.

After this, Jesus addresses the real issue, they were thinking in wordly terms about God’s kingdom. So he says to them in

Matthew 20:25–26 (LEB) But Jesus called them to himself and* said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions exercise authority over them. 26 It will not be like this among you! But whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

There is a different economy, a different set of values, there are different rewards in Gods kingdom, “The point is that the values of secular society do not apply among you; authority and ‘greatness’ among the disciples of Jesus are the reverse of what the world is used to; true greatness is in service. In this, as in other areas of human values, Jesus has turned the world upside down. (Cf. above, on 18:1–5; 19:13–15, 23–30; 20:1–16; etc. For other teaching on ‘greatness’, cf. 5:19; 11:11; 18:1–5; etc.)”1 The example that Jesus give is himself, in

Matthew 20:28 (LEB) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

We aren’t accustomed to using this word ransom as they wold have been, but we can understand that “The term basically means “to loose” or “to set free,” and refers to releasing, redeeming, or liberating on payment of the ransom price, to redemption, deliverance, or liberation, and to the one who does these things.”2

There are parts of the world where tribal and civil and racial wars still occur and some, if they are not killed outright, are taken hostage. These hostages have no ability to redeem themselves. Someone must intervene on their behalf for them to be released. This is where “The word ransom took its origin from the practices of warfare, where it was the price paid to bring a prisoner of war out of his captivity.”3

The kind of service that Jesus is talking about is in

Jude 22–23 (LEB) And have mercy on those who doubt, 23 and save others by snatching them from the fire, and have mercy on others with fear, hating even the tunic stained by the flesh.

Blind Bartimeus

Mark 10:46-52
Matthew 20:29-34
Luke 18:35-43

Jesus, Son of David, Have Mercy on Me!

Mark 10:46–52
Beggars often sat along the road where they could ask money from travelers. It was in Mark 10:46 “a large crowd” and Bartimaeus heard them passing by and in

Mark 10:47 (LEB) And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

He was making noise and disturbing the crowd and they told him “he should be quiet” in Mark 10:48 “But he was crying out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”. Sometimes we need to make our voice heard. If he had listened to the crowd, Jesus would have passed him and left with him still being blind. But he would not be quiet! In Mark 10:48 “Jesus stopped and said “Call him.” and he was healed.

What Do You Want Me To Do For You?

Matthew 20:29–34
Do you know that God hears your cry? Jesus stopped what he was doing to give them his attention and asked in Matthew 20:32 “What do you want me to do for you?” and he did exactly what they asked. He healed their infirmity. It didn’t matter if this was a genetic deformity from birth or an accident in life or a degenerative disease, he healed them just as he had been doing in

Matthew 4:23–24 (LEB) And he went around through all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24 And a report about him went out ⌊throughout⌋ Syria, and they brought to him all those ⌊who were sick⌋ with various diseases and afflicted by torments, demon-possessed and epileptics and paralytics, and he healed them.

He Regained His Sight and Began to Follow Him

Luke 18:35–43
What was it that caused Jesus to respond to this blind man? In

Luke 18:42 (LEB) And Jesus said to him, “Regain your sight! Your faith has saved you.”

His faith was that he heard in John 18:37 it was “Jesus the Nazarene”, he responded immediately crying out for mercy. He believed God could restore his sight and he jumped to act on it, that was the demonstration of his faith. His action opened the way for Jesus to heal him and that glorified God, not just because the blind man could see and because this now seeing man was following Jesus, but also all the people gave praise in

Luke 18:43 (LEB) And immediately he regained his sight and began to follow*him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

 

Today Salvation Has Come to This House

Luke 19:1–10
Zacchaeus was a small man and he couldn’t get through the crowd to see Jesus in Luke 19:2-6. So, even though he was a rich man, he set aside all social decorum and ran ahead of the crowd to climb a tree where he could at least see Jesus passing by. But no one that is seeking God goes unnoticed. Jesus called to him and said “it is necessary for me to stay at your house today!”. In Luke 19:7-10 Zacchaeus tells Jesus how he has turned his life toward God, not like the rich young ruler who walked away with his possessions in Luke 18:18. Jesus assures Zacchaeus in

Luke 19:9–10 (LEB) And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save those who are lost.”

 

Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem

Luke 19:41–44
This may seem out of order, but read Luke 19:28-32. There was a period of time while the disciples went to find the colt, and during this time, Jesus was on the Mount of Olives looking over the city. Here he is in

Luke 19:42 (LEB) saying, “If you had known on this day—even you—the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

But they are about to crucify the prince of peace and he sees the day when in Luke 19:44 “they will raze you to the ground”. Much earlier than this, Jesus had already told them of Nineveh (see Jonah 3:1-10) in

Luke 11:29–32 (LEB) And as the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation! It demands a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah! 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation … 32 The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here!

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Matthew 20:20-34
  • Mark 10:35-52
  • Luke 18:35-43
  • Luke 19:1-10
  • Luke 19:41-44

The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ – The Gospels

This series follows the order of readings from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible. 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 at the end of 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. France, R. T. (1985). Matthew: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 1, p. 296). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 2. Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Ransom. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, p. 1822). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
  • 3. Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (p. 512). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.