Devotions

The Power of the Lord Was There to Heal

by  • 

Jesus returns to Capernaum, he is back in the place he now calls home and begins to confronts religion. He forgives a mans sin to heal him. By calls a tax collector to be one of his disciples and then eats with sinners. His disciples are not fasting. He and his disciples eat grain from the field on the Sabbath when it is not allowed by their tradition. The scribes of the Pharisees are frustrated, why isn’t he following their traditions? Jesus came “for the removal of sin” Hebrews 9:26.

They Brought to Him a Paralytic

Mark 2:1-12
The gospel of Mark records this with the greatest detail. It is recorded also in Matthew 9:1-8 and Luke 5:17-26. 

Your Sins Are Forgiven

Mark 2:1–12
Jesus has returned to Capernaum in Mark 2:1-2 and “it became known that he was home”.

The people pressed in, and so much so that in Mark 2:4 “when they were not able to bring him to him because of the crowd, they removed the roof”. This man’s friends made a hole in the roof of the building to lower him in. They had an expectation of healing for their friend. And in Mark 2:5 “when Jesus saw their faith,” It was unexpected that Jesus would say “your sins are forgiven”. This is the realm of God’s authority. This caused the religious to challenge Him. He reiterated His authority by saying “take up your bed and walk”.

The people were amazed. They had the custom of animal sacrifice for sin and there were offerings for cleansing from disease. Here though, Jesus spoke the word and sins were forgiven, He spoke the word and sickness was gone.

Why Do You Think Evil In Your Hearts

Matthew 9:1–8
Matthews account seems to focus on the response when “the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!””. And their response was because Jesus had said “your sins are forgiven” in Matthew 9:2. Jesus then claims his title, “Son of Man” and his “authority on earth to forgive sins” in Matthew 9:6 as he tells the paralytic to “Get up”. Jesus made the connection between sin and disease. As soon as this mans sin was forgiven, his body was made whole. This is what it says in 2 Chronicles 6:28–30 and also in 1 Kings 8:37 

The Power of the Lord Was There In Order To Heal

Luke 5:17–26
Luke gives some additional insight in Luke 5:17 “he was teaching” but it is more specific, there were “Pharisees and teachers of the law there who had come from every village”, this was not just the local people. And Luke makes one more important statement, “and the power of the Lord was there in order for him to heal”. But there isn’t any record of anyone in this crowd being healed. That is, until the paralytic gets up in Luke 5:25.

Jesus Eats With Sinners

Mark 2:13-17
The gospel of Mark records this with the greatest detail. It is recorded also in Matthew 9:9-11 and Luke 5:27-32. 

He Began To Teach Them

Mark 2:13–17
In Mark 2:13 we see that Jesus “went out again by the sea” which is likely where he had found Peter and Andrew previously. And in Mark 2:14 “as he was passing by” the tax booth would have been on the road and intended to be in a busy place of transit for people. Here Jesus finds “Levi the son of Alphaeus” also called Matthew. This was no honorable profession, “People never knew just how much they had to pay; the tax-collectors extracted from them as much as they could possibly get and lined their own pockets with the surplus that remained after the demands of the law had been met”.1

Levi, in Mark 2:16 invites Jesus and his disciples to eat with him and Levi’s whole crowd is there for the meal. It doesn’t bother Jesus, but outside are the religious, “the scribes of the Pharisees” in Mark 2:16 moaning because Jesus is eating with “tax collectors and sinners”.

Mark 2:17 (LEB) And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy do not have need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

I want Mercy and not Sacrifice

Matthew 9:9–13
To those that complained that Jesus and his disciples ate with sinners, he responded, “go and learn” in

Matthew 9:13 (LEB) But go and* learn what it means, “I want mercy and not sacrifice.” For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Those Who Are Healthy Do Not Need A Physician

Luke 5:27–32
Luke’s account is very much the same as the others. Jesus came for those that were lost. Or. as Jesus will say it later in

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save those who are lost.”

Fasting

Mark 2:18-22
Matthew 9:14-17
Luke 5:33-39

Jesus Picks Grain on the Sabbath

Mark 2:23-28
Matthew 12:1-8
Luke 6:1-5

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Mark 2:1–28
  • Matthew 9:1-17
  • Matthew 12:1-8
  • Luke 5:17-39, 6:1-5

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. Barclay, W. (2001). The New Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Mark (p. 60). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.
Devotions

The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me

by  • 

Jesus has been in Jerusalem for Passover and overturned the table of the money changers. Now, John the Baptist is in prison and Jesus begins his public ministry. As John had said, “He must increase”. Jesus had given his disciples a lesson while they were in Samaria, “The fields are white to harvest” and they proceeded into Galilee where Jesus taught in the Synagogues. It isn’t until he returns to Nazareth that we hear the content of his message. Jesus quotes Isaiah 61:1-2 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me … to set … free”. 

The Beginning of Jesus in Public Ministry

All of the gospels record the beginning of Jesus in public ministry. It wasn’t though, that he was looking to create a public following. Instead, it was simply Jesus going from city to city proclaiming the gospel.

The Time is Fulfilled

Mark 1:14–15
There was an appropriate time for Jesus to begin his ministry and we see one of the reasons in Mark 1:14 “after John had been taken into custody”. John the Baptist’s ministry had been fulfilled. The message Jesus was proclaiming was, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

A Light Has Dawned on Them

Matthew 4:12–17
Mark says that Jesus went into Galilee. Here in Matthew, we find that, after the rejection in Nazareth, in Matthew 4:13 Jesus moved to Capernaum. And in Matthew 4:14-16 there is a link to old testament prophecy from Isaiah 8:23 and Isaiah 9:1. With a message in Matthew 4:17 “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near”.

He Began To Teach

Luke 4:14–15
Luke gives us a different view of Jesus saying “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee”. This was after his baptism. It was after his temptation in the wilderness. It was after he cleansed the temple. And now, Luke describes Jesus as moving “in the power of the Spirit”. Jesus is not just marking time, but he is moving with purpose to fulfill the plan of the Father. In fact, we begin to understand how he was thinking as they returned through Samaria. Jesus said to his disciples in

John 4:34-35 Jesus said to them, “My food is that I do the will of the one who sent me and complete his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months and the harvest comes’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already.

They didn’t have cell phones or the nightly news to inform them, but “news about him went out throughout all the surrounding region”.

They Had Seen All the Things He Had Done

John 4:43–46a
But John’s focus is on the response of the people and in

John 4:45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, because they* had seen all the things he had done in Jerusalem at the feast (for they themselves had also come to the feast)”.

 

Jesus is Rejected in Nazareth

Jesus had been going from place to place teaching in the synagogue and after being in Jerusalem for Passover, has made his way back home to Nazareth.

The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me

Luke 4:16–21
It was common practice for visitors in the synagogue to be asked to speak, “Others besides rabbins were allowed to address the congregation. (See Ac 13:15.)”1

So, it seems this was not a lectionary type reading that would have been prescribed for all synagogues to read at the time of year. This makes this section of old testament prophecy all the more important. This is how Jesus wanted people to recognize him and he preached Isaiah 61:1-2 as recorded in

Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because of which he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to send out in freedom those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

There are many places in the old testament where the messiah is mentioned, but it is this anointing, this proclamation of good news that Jesus uses to commemorate the beginning of his public ministry.

Truly I Say to You

Luke 4:22–30
This reading of Isaiah 61:1-2 is at first well received in

Luke 4:22 ”And they were all speaking well of him, and were astonished at the gracious words”.

Then someone says, “Is this man not the son of Joseph?”. They were saying, this is the carpenters son. They began to question his word. They began to question his authority. Then Jesus responds in Like 4:23-27 and in Luke 4:28 “all those in the synagogue were filled with anger”. In a few moments, they had turned from accepting his “gracious words” to forcing “him out of town … so they could throw him down the cliff”. They turned and were trying to kill him. 

Jesus Teaches With Great Authority

Jesus moved to Capernaum and began living there as his base of operation.

They Were Amazed At His Teaching

Mark 1:21–28, Luke 4:31-37
Jesus continues going to the synagogue wherever he travels and he is teaching in Mark 1:21 and in

Mark 1:22 “he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like the scribes”

We must understand here that “The synagogue was primarily a teaching institution. The synagogue service consisted of only three things—prayer, the reading of God’s word and the exposition of it. There was no music, no singing and no sacrifice. It may be said that the Temple was the place of worship and sacrifice”2

So, when the man with an unclean spirit cried out in Mark 1:23-24 “Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene!”, the people were amazed, but not so much at the outcry, but that in Mark 1:25 “Jesus rebuked him saying, Be silent, and come out of him!” No one had that kind of authority. But it is the evil and unclean spirits that are often the first to speak out and challenge Jesus as is recorded in

Luke 4:34 “Ha! ⌊Leave us alone⌋,l Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

Jesus Heals All

Mark 1:29–39
Matthew 8:14–17
Luke 4:38–44

So That I Can Preach There Also

Mk 1:29–39

He Healed All Those Who Were Sick

Matthew 8:14–17

The Crowds Were Seeking Him

Luke 4:38–44

The breakers anointing – work to follow

Heals A Man With Leprosy

Mark 1:40-45
Matthew 8:1-4
Luke 5:12-16

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Mark 1:14–15, 21–45
  • Matthew 4:12–17
  • Matthew 8:1-4, 14–17
  • Luke 4:14–44
  • Luke 5:12-16
  • John 4:43–46a

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. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 102). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 2. Barclay, W. (2001). The New Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Mark (p. 33). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.
Devotions

You Must Be Born Again

by  • 

Jesus has stepped fully into his ministry. Nicodemus, a ruler in the temple, comes asking questions and Jesus replies, “you must be born again”. But Nicodemus didn’t have any frame of reference for this statement except the natural birth of a man so he asks, “He is not able to enter into his mother’s womb for the second time and be born, can he?”. No, is the answer, then Jesus quotes Moses lifting the serpent, this Nicodemus knows. Now, Jesus tells him of the sacrifice, the Son of Man on a tree and John 3:16 that we so often quote, “everyone who believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life”, they will be born again to live in God’s eternal kingdom.

Those Who Were Selling

John 2:13–25
Jesus had been to Jerusalem before. He had been in Jerusalem for the Passover before. Certainly in Luke 2:49 with his family but then, “when but a youth, with no authority, He was simply “a SON IN His own house”; now He was “a SON OVER His own house” (Heb 3:6), the proper Representative, and in flesh “the Heir,” of his Father’s rights.1

The important note here is that people in Israel regularly operated using the shekel as their currency, but the drachma was the Roman currency which was also used for business and travel. When coming to the temple, people converted their money to pay the temple tax, to buy their offering. See more about money changer at: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/money-changers.

But it wasn’t just the money changers, “Ancient historian Josephus calls Annas the high priest “a great hoarder up of money.” The sons of Annas had bazaars (known in the Talmud as the hanuyot bney hanan) set up in the Court of the Gentiles for the purpose of money changing and the purchase of sacrificial animals. It was the combination of their greed, the fact that they brought in foreign coins, and that they carried out these activities in a sacred area that aroused the zeal of Jesus”.2

For example, every Jew paid the temple tax and in Matthew 17:24 we find Peter being questioned about whether Jesus would pay also the voluntary civil tax. “And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money—the double drachma; a sum equal to two Attic drachmas, and corresponding to the Jewish “half-shekel,” payable, towards the maintenance of the temple and its services, by every male Jew of twenty years old and upward. For the origin of this annual tax, see Ex 30:13, 14; Ex 30:13, 14, 2 Ch 24:6, 9. Thus, it will be observed, it was not a civil, but an ecclesiastical tax. The tax mentioned in Mt 17:25 was a civil one”.3 

You Must Be Born Again

John 3:1–15
The account of Nicodemus is well known. He was, in John 3:1 “a ruler of the Jews”. And he came to Jesus with honor, and I think, in sincerity seeking answers because in John 3:2 he says “Rabbi, we know …
(because) no one is able to perform these signs that you are performing unless God were with him”. Jesus gently instructs him in John 3:5 “unless someone is born of water and spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God”. There is precedence for this statement, as the “element of water and operation of the Spirit are brought together in a glorious evangelical prediction of Ezekiel (Ez 36:25–27)”.4

Some would use this to require water baptism for salvation, which is not a doctrine I hold. Yes, water baptism is an important step in the life of every believer as it symbolizes the transition from death to new life in Christ. But it isn’t the water baptism that saves us. And now that I have entered this area of potential controversy, I will go one step more and say, no man is born into the earth until the water is broken. There is a purity of natural birth and this next step that Jesus is teaching Nicodemus, this spiritual birth is what prepares us to enter the kingdom of heaven. Now, whether you accept this paragraph or not, Jesus ends his conversation with Nicodemus with the sacrifice of his (Jesus’) life on the cross. The way to eternal life is in

John 3:14–15 (LEB) And just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, thus it is necessary that the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.”

 

God Loved the World

John 3:16–21
Here is the scripture many quote to describe God’s love and the way of salvation. It is through the son, Jesus Christ, that we are saved.

John 3:16 (LEB) For in this way God loved the world, so that he gave his one and only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life.

Now this is where most people get hung up because we, most of us, understand that God is Holy and righteous and we aren’t. Again yesterday, I listened as a man said, I am broken and I wanted to get myself right before I came to Church. But, it isn’t going to Church that saves us. Please, read this next verse because God said in

John 3:17 (LEB) For God did not send his Son into the world in order that he should judge the world, but in order that the world should be saved through him.

It is the accuser, the enemy, the devil that recounts all of your faults and gives you all of the reasons you can’t come to God. It isn’t God that is looking to judge and condemn you. It is God that is saying “Come”. Jesus said it this way in

Matthew 11:28–30 (LEB) Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to carry and my burden is light.”

We come to Him, Jesus Christ first, then we live our lives in fellowship with others that also Love Him. 

The One Who Comes From Above Is Over All

John 3:22–36
John, here in John 3:22-23 we are talking about John the Baptist, who had a great ministry. People were following him, coming out of the cities to be baptized. He had disciples that were helping, and seeking God’s will for their own lives. This man knew God and though his disciples felt threatened by the ministry of Jesus, John said:

  • In John 3:27 “A man can receive not one thing unless it is granted to him from heaven!”
  • In John 3:28 “I am not the Christ”
  • In John 3:29 “the friend of the bridegroom … rejoices greatly” We might say it this way, the Best Mann at a wedding is not the center of attention. But the Best Man rejoices in the marriage of his good friend.
  • In John 3:30 “it is necessary for that one (Jesus Christ) to increase”.
  • In John 3:31 “the one who comes from heaven (Jesus Christ) is over all”.
  • In John 3:32 “What he (Jesus Christ) has seen and heard, this he testifies”. Jesus isn’t making up a story, he isn’t sharing what he has gleaned from history books, he isn’t repeating what he learned from his mentor. Jesus is speaking what he hears from the Father.

John the Baptist understood that in

John 3:36 (LEB) The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son will not see life—but the wrath of God remains on him.

If You Had Known The Gift of God

John 4:1–12
John 4:10 (LEB) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you had known the gift of God and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me water* to drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

The Water Which I Will Give

John 4:13–26
John 4:14 (LEB) But whoever drinks of this water which I will give to him will never be thirsty for eternity, but the water which I will give to him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

Do the Will of the One Who Sent Me

John 4:27–38
John 4:35 (LEB) Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months and the harvest comes’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already.

This One Is Truly the Savior of the World!

John 4:39–42
John 4:41 (LEB) And many more believed because of his word,

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • John 2:13-25
  • John 3:1–36
  • John 4:1-42

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. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 130). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 2. Leen Ritmeyer, “Temple Mount and the Money Changers”, n.p. [cited 2 May 2018]. Online: https://www.bibleodyssey.org:443/en/passages/related-articles/the-temple-mount-and-the-money-changers
  • 3. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 49). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 4. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 131). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Devotions

The Lamb of God

by  • 

Jesus is baptized by John and the Holy Spirit descends to rest on Him and a voice from heaven says “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”. God Himself is the first witness to Jesus Christ. Jesus is led into the wilderness and tempted for forty days. The accusers tactics are still the same today. He says, “if you are the son of God …” and when Jesus replied with “it is written (God’s revealed Word)”, the devil had no hold or influence and departed. This is the beginning of Jesus ministry and he calls his disciples to follow him and says, “I will make you fishers of men”.

You Are My Beloved Son

Mark 1:9–11
Mark records, in Mark 1:10-11 “the Spirit descending like a dove … and a voice came from heaven”. God himself was the first witness to who Jesus Christ is. Then came the twelve.

To Fulfill All Righteousness

Matthew 3:13–17
In Matthew 3:1 “Jesus came to John to be baptized by him”. There are no exceptions to the law. Jesus, God himself, subjected himself to them. How could he not? As Jesus said to John in Matthew 3:15 “it is right for us to”.

Jesus Also Was Baptized

Luke 3:21–22
Luke also witnesses to the baptism of Jesus, saying in Luke 3:21 “when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized”. 

The Lamb of God

John 1:29–34
John had just, in John 1:24-26, answered those “sent from the Pharisees … saying, ‘I baptize with water. In your midst stands one whom you do not know—'”. Jesus was already among them and they didn’t know him. Now, John begins to introduce him in

John 1:29 (LEB) On the next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

And in

John 1:33b (LEB) ‘The one upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon him—this one is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

Then John says in

John 1:34 (LEB) And I have seen and testify that this one is the Chosen One of God.

This is still our role today, to testify to the world, at least to those around us, of this one, Jesus Christ, the chosen of God, savior of the world, now King of kings and Lord of lords.

Being Tempted by Satan

Mark 1:12–13
After Jesus was baptised and baptised with the Holy Spirit, he went into the wilderness. After this, Jesus took on His work of ministry as He proclaimed “believe in the gospel”, “the Kingdom of God has come near” in Mark 1:15. See notes from The Kingdom of God Has Come Near 

The Tempter Approached

Matthew 4:1–11
Jesus was being led by the Spirit and he was in the wilderness and “he had fasted forty days” in Matthew 4:2. It is then, “when he was hungry” that the tempter approached. Then, in Matthew 4:3 “the tempter … said … If you are the son of God”. It really doesn’t matter what the tempter said after that, it is the seed of doubt that he was trying to plant. And every time the challenge comes, Jesus answers with “it is written”. Finally in Matthew 4:8-10 the real motivation of the tempter comes out, “fall down and worship me”.

Being Tempted by the Devil

Luke 4:1–13
The temptations are the same as those recorded by Matthew. There is here though, a sense that Jesus was being tempted for the whole forty days with these final challenges coming at the end, when Jesus was the weakest. Jesus answers every challenge and in Luke 4:13 it says “when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed”. There is a limit to temptation, the devil’s schemes are numbered. 

We Have Found the Messiah

John 1:35–51
Jesus begins gathering disciples. John 1:37-39 “two disciples heard him (John the Baptist) speaking, and they followed Jesus”. We find that one of them is Andrew in John 1:40 and he brings “his own brother Simon” in John 1:41. In John 1:42 Jesus said … you will be called Cephas (Peter)”. And, in John 1:43 “on the next day … he found Philip”. Then in John 1:45 “Philip found Nathaniel” but Nathaniel hesitated saying in John 1″46 “can anything good come out of Nazareth?” but in John 1:47-50, Jesus sets Nathaniel at ease. Then, Jesus says to all of them in

John 1:51 (LEB) And he said to him, “Truly, truly I say to all of you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Follow Me

Mark 1:16–20
Mark also recounts the call of Simon (Peter) and Andrew in Mark 1:16. They were brothers. They were fishermen. Then in Mark 1:19-29 Jesus calls James and John. They were also brothers and also fishermen.

And Immediately They Followed Him

Matthew 4:18–22
Matthew also recounts the call of Peter and Andrew and James and John. Peter and Andrew left their business, their livelihood to follow. James and John also left their business and they left their father, and the family business.

Let Down Your Nets

Luke 5:1–11
Luke gives us a much better picture of why these fishermen left their business and followed Jesus. He didn’t just walk up to them a lone individual. Like 5:1 says “while the crowd was pressing around him”. People were following and pressing in to hear what Jesus had to say. In fact, they pressed so much that Jesus was looking for a way to separate a little so he could teach them. This, in Luke 5:3, is how Jesus introduced himself to Simon (Peter). After Jesus taught, in Luke 5:5-9 “he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep'”. When Peter and the others saw what happened, the catch of fish, “Peter fell down at Jesus’ knees … for amazement had seized him”. They followed Jesus because they experienced who he is, the son of God, the Messiah.

Whatever He Says to You, Do It!

John 2:1–11
Jesus honors the marriage feast and turns water into wine. Their tradition was not that different than ours in this way, the family put on a feast for the guests. It would have shamed the family to run out of provisions at a time like this. Jesus covers them, at his mothers request. But this must not be the first time she has seen Jesus do something miraculous. She says in John 2:5 “Whatever he says to you, do it!”. Why would she say that if she didn’t have an expectation that what he said would come to pass.

What if we also, took Mary’s advice and stopped for a minute, looked at what was provided around us, and listen for what God wanted to do.

Jesus Went Up to Jerusalem

John 2:12–25
John 2:23 (LEB) Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name because they* saw his signs which he was doing.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Matthew 4:1–11, 18-22
  • Mark 1:12–13, 16-20
  • Luke 4:1-13
  • Luke 5:1-11
  • John 1:29-51
  • John 2:1-25

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

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/
Devotions

A Multitude of the Heavenly Army, Praising God

by  • 

Gods plan leads Joseph to Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecy related to the birth of Jesus. Angel announce his birth to shepherds. Wise men seek the new born King. And Joseph is busy again as an angel warns of the threat Herod poses to Jesus. They flee to Egypt for a time, and on their return, live in Nazareth, again fulfilling the prophecy that he, Jesus, would be called a Nazarene.

Everyone Went to be Registered

Luke 2:1–7
God had a plan for the birth of Jesus that was known to Him many years before. The prophets spoke these thing, “born in Bethlehem”, not knowing the reasons or circumstances that would cause this to happen. Joseph in Luke 2:4 “went up from Galilee … to … Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David”. Joseph did this in response to “a decree … from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire”. And while they were there, Mary “gave birth to her first born” in Luke 2:7.Did God really move every person in the Roman Empire to participate in registration just so Joseph and Mary would be in Bethlehem on this day? Well, they were there. 

A Multitude of the Heavenly Army, Praising God

Luke 2:8–20
There were shepherds tending their flocks that night and in Luke 2:8-14 “an angel of the Lord stood near them … and the angel said … a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born for you … you will find him … and … (there was) a multitude of the heavenly army praising God”. Then in Luke 2:15 “the shepherds began to say … Let us go”. In Luke 216-18 “they went hurrying … and found the baby … and … made known … about this child”. This was a day of wonder for Mary and a day of rejoicing for the shepherds. 

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1:1–17
These lists of names are hard for us to read, but the lineage is important. God has connected His promises through our generations and this one was the way God gained legal access into the earth. Jesus was to become king and priest, not only in heaven, but also in the earth. It was said in

1 Corinthians 2:8 (LEB) “which none of the rulers of this age knew. For if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory“.

Through his family blood line, Jesus has the legal right to rule. And as a priest, not of the Law of Moses, also had the right to present the offering for our sin, to purchase our redemption.

The Son of Adam, The Son of God

Luke 3:23–38

He Was Named Jesus

Luke 2:21–24
Circumcised the eighth day, and in Luke 2:21 he was “named Jesus, his name that he was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb”. Then, Mary came with her offering, ““The days” of this purification for a male child were forty in all (Le 12:2, 4), on the expiry of which the mother was required to offer … From the … “a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons,” we gather that Joseph and the Virgin were in poor circumstances (2 Co 8:9), though not in abject poverty”.1
It is clear though, these were two separate events in the life of a new child and mother. 

Looking Forward to the Consolation of Israel

Luke 2:25–35
Simeon, in Luke 2:25 is identified as being “righteous and devout”. He saw something in the life of this child that no one else recognized. Simeon spoke a prophetic word over Jesus in

Luke 2:30–32 (LEB) For my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all the peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to your people Israel.”

Simeon recognized the savior for Israel that they were all expecting and waiting for, but even more than that, Simeon recognized Jesus as “a light for revelation to the Gentiles”, the Savior of the world.

For the Redemption of Jerusalem

Luke 2:36–40

We Have Come To Worship Him

Matthew 2:1–12

He Will Be Called A Nazarene

Mt 2:13–23

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Luke 2:1-40
  • Luke 3:23-38
  • Matthew 1:1–17

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. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, pp. 99–100). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.