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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (7/13) John 8:31-47

Jul13

Read and believe in Jesus

“If you abide in My WORD, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the TRUTH, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31

The Gospel according to John

REVIEW – At the end of the Festival of Tabernacles, at the lighting of the lamps, Jesus cried out, “I AM the light of the world. Whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the Light of Life.” Since this Festival “remembered” the time God led and cared for Israel in the wilderness, this statement of Jesus would instantly remind the celebrants in Jerusalem of God (represented by the pillar of fire at night and the cloud by day), leading them so they did NOT walk in darkness. Of course, the Jewish authorities complained that it was a lie, for Jesus was testifying about Himself. Jesus told them TWO testified to this fact, Himself and His Father in heaven. The closing verse of this section stated that MANY believed in Him.

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John 8:31-33.

Now Jesus addresses the ones who had believed in Him. What was next, after belief? It’s the same today.

“…Abide in My word…” Stay (continually live) in God’s Word, the Bible – read, study, meditate on, memorize, preach it to yourself, and trust in it.

“…and you will KNOW the truth.” If you do the above, Jesus promises you will know the truth. You will not be tempted to believe the lie of the devil.

You will KNOW you are a sinner and cannot save yourself. You will KNOW that God is holy, holy, holy, and can not allow sin in His presence. But you will also KNOW that God loved you so much that He provided a way for you to be saved from your sin, a way for you to live forever in His presence. He sent His own priceless, sinless Son (in the flesh) to die in your place (to take the punishment for your sin on Himself, and DIE for it.) You will also KNOW that if you trust in what God did for you, He will now see you as righteous (clothed in the righteousness of Christ) and acceptable in “the Beloved (Son).”

…And the truth will set you FREE.   Free from what?  Free from the POWER OF SIN.  Before Christ, we were “dead” in our trespasses and SIN, unable to save ourselves in any way. We all followed the prince of the power of the air,  carrying out the evil deeds of our flesh, by nature children of wrath! We were SLAVES to this, powerless to escape!

But the TRUTH of the Gospel is that “God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, EVEN when we were dead in our trespasses …. made us alive together with Christ! (By grace you have been saved, and THAT not of yourself, it is the GIFT of God [that He gave, that by believing we might have eternal life.[ ) – This truth, when we combine it with God-given faith, sets us free from enclavement to Satan and our own sinful flesh. (Ephesians 2)

(WHAT GLORIOUS GOOD NEWS!)

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John 8:34-35

And the Jews all rejoiced in it. NOT!!

“We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it,” they asked Jesus, “that You say, ‘You will become free?'”

“Everyone who commits sin is a SLAVE to sin. If the Son (Me) sets you free (from sin), you will be FREE INDEED.” “And yes, I know you are offspring of Abraham, yet…. you seek to kill me because My WORD finds no place in you.”

Because they have so hardened their hearts, the truth of Jesus’ words of grace and salvation and freedom from sin … find no sticking place in them. They are cold and hardened, and His love and offer of freedom bounce right off their hearts.

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John 8:38-47.

Jesus boldly tells them that THEY have and obey a different “father” than He does.

“Abraham is our father,” they claim.

“If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works that Abraham did.” (which was believing God, having faith in God’s words.) “No, you are doing the works your father did (the devil).”

Incensed, they answered back, “WE were not born of sexual immorality. (Speaking of Jesus’ mother, Mary, being pregnant with Him before she was married.)

‘WE have ONE Father – even God,” they boastfully shout.

Um, no. (And Jesus gives a clear description of our arch-enemy, and these opposing leaders’ father.)

“If God were your father, you would love Me, for I came from God. I came of my own accord, but He sent me.

“YOU are of your father, the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a MURDERER from the beginning and has nothing to do with the TRUTH, because there is NO TRUTH in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a LIAR, and the Father of LIES.

“Whoever is of GOD hears the WORDS of God. The reason why you do NOT hear them is that you are NOT OF GOD.” (Plain and simple.)

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The Jews will do some blaspheming in the next reading, and then Jesus will speak a powerful “I AM” revelation of truth. We already know they will be incensed and moved to murder by “their father,” a murderer from the beginning.

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (5/18) Luke 19:11-27.

May18

A 5-day per week study.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“.”  Luke

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The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – Last time was the wonderful story of the “short” Tax Collector, Zacchaeus, who climbed a tree to see Jesus.  But Jesus saw him first and desired to fellowship with him.  Zacchaeus joyfully welcomed Jesus into his home and heart.  The evidence of his true conversion was the abundance of giving back and restitution. (Unlike the rich, young ruler, Jesus meant much more to Zacchaeus than all he possessed, even though he was also very rich.  (Oh, for such a hungry heart!)

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Vs. 11.

  1. Because of who Zacchaeus was and what he had done with all his MONEY after meeting Jesus, and …
  2. Because Jesus was getting close to Jerusalem, and his followers “supposed” He would now take the Kingdom NOW, overthrow Rome, and rule (and they would be by His side) …
  3. And because the Jews were “circling” Jesus, like beasts of prey …
  4. Because of these things … Jesus told this parable about a Nobleman who went away to a FAR country to receive his kingdom, and then returned to settle his affairs.

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Vss. 12-15.

There are three main characters in this parable: the Nobleman, His servants, and His citizens. See if you can guess who each represents.

The nobleman, of course, illustrates Jesus, who would soon depart to receive His kingdom … and ONE DAY return to rule.

  • (Kings in Roman provinces like Galilee actually went to Rome to receive their kingdoms from the Emperor. This was true of the Herodian dynasty. The listening audience would know about this.)

Before the Nobleman left, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.  (A mina was worth about 100 days of salary.)  He told His servants to “Engage in business until I come.”  (The KJV says, “occupy until I come.”)

These are those who are left to represent Jesus on earth – true and false followers.

Then Jesus introduced another group of characters in the parable.  The “citizens” of his land HATED the nobleman and sent a delegation after him, saying, “We do not want this man to reign over us.”

  • (Actually, this happened in the case of Herod. The Jews sent a delegation to Rome saying they did NOT want him to reign over them.  But they were denied, and he returned as king for a while.)

These “citizens” represented the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day, who rejected Him as their Messiah, and were plotting even then to kill Him.

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Eventually, the Nobleman returned, having gained His Kingdom, and He called His servants to account, rewarding them in His Kingdom.

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Vss. 16-26.

In this accounting, the nobleman addresses only THREE servants, but let’s consider them representatives of the others.

The first came and presented ten minas for the one he was given. “Well done, good servant!  Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.”

The second came and presented five minas for the one he was given.  “And you are to be over fivc cities.”

Then another came with  “such an excuse!!”  “Here is your one mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man.  You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.” 

Ah-oh!

  • (Could this servant represent those who profess to be followers of Jesus, but who are afraid to witness, and never mention His name or share the good news with someone? The “least” this servant could have done was to support those who DID spread the Gospel)

The nobleman answered, “You wicked servant!  I will condemn you with your own words.  If you knew I was that kind of man … why did you not put my money in the bank, and I would (at least) get it back with interest?”

And the nobleman gave this servant’s mina to the servant who had earned ten.

THEN, the nobleman dealt with his citizens (enemies), who hated him and didn’t want him to reign over them.   “Bring them here and slaughter them before me.”

WHOA!!

This is the end for those who reject Jesus.

 

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (5/11) Luke 17:20-37

May11

A 5-day per week study.

May 11 – Reading Luke 17:20-37

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God would come, He answered…the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”  Luke 17:20-21

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The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – Jesus spoke of a believer’s duty and faith. He told an awkward (to us) story about obedience. Then he healed 10 lepers, but only one – a Samaritan – returned to worship and thank Jesus.

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Vss. 17:20-21.

The Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the kingdom of God come?”  

hey were probably mocking Him, because they had already decided Jesus was not their Messiah.  They believed the Messiah would overthrow Rome and set up the millennial kingdom.  Jesus’ path was totally different.

Jesus’ kingdom would be the invisible rule of God in men’s hearts through faith in Him as Savior. He did not say that the expected Old Testament Millennial Kingdom would NOT come.  Just not now or first.

But the Kingdom of God was there and then, in Jesus.

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Vss. 17:22-25.

But now, Jesus’ disciple wanted to know the answer too. Jesus told them the two sets of “signs” to watch for that would herald His coming to rule. 

BUT … there were events that would occur first, even in some of their lifetimes. He warns them of these.

There would be news of false comings. “Look here!” and “Look there!” but they were not to be fooled. His coming would NOT be a secret. It would be like lightning flashing across the sky.  ALL would see and know.

Also, Jesus told them, “But first the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.”  (Again, predicting His soon death.)

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Vss. 17:26-33.

Then Jesus illustrated His coming in power by two familiar Old Testament stories of judgment.

Sign one:

“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.”

How was it then, in those 120 years it took Noah to obey God and build the Ark? 

They were eating and drinking. (Daily life, as usual)

They were marrying and giving in marriage. (Joining families and procreating, planning for the future of their generations.)

All, as if it would go on forever.

Noah preached about the coming judgment for all those years, and no one listened or prepared.  Instead, they mocked him. They hooted and howled … until the first raindrops fell…and the water began to rise…and they tried to cling to the pitch-covered ark and pounded on the door….

It was too late then. Noah’s family, and the representatives of all the beasts of the earth and fowl of the air had entered that great boat.  The door was shut and sealed … by God.

(Just a side note; Do you ever wonder why specimens of the creatures in the sea were not taken on board the Ark when all creation was judged? It “could” have been done. My thoughts – and only thoughts – are that the sea creatures were needed to clean up the oceans of all the dead bodies of humans and animals, and all the rotting vegetation. In Revelation 19:17-21, God calls the birds of the air to come clean up the corpses after the Battle of Armegeddon. so why not the fish?)

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Sign two:

“Likewise, just as it was in the day of Lot.)

This was a much shorter warning period. God revealed his plans to Abraham, and the man of faith interceded for the people as far as he could.  Then God sent angels, and it was a mere day’s warning.  “Get out now.”

But the townsfolk were busy.

Eating and drinking. (life as usual)

Buying and selling. (greedily trying to acquire more and more)

Planting and building. (assuming they had lots of time to live in the future).

But on that DAY (when Lot left town, pulling his reluctant wife and daughters along, it “rained” fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed them all.

Jesus specifically tells them to “Remember Lot’s wife.”  Her attachment to Sodom and her “things” was strong.  Even as fire rained down, she looked back in longing.

How much do our own “things and way of living” mean to us?  Have we laid down our lives, forsaken all, taken up our cross, and truly followed Jesus?

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No one will expect Jesus’ coming (except those who are His own). All will be bound up with their own ordinary lives, future good and bad schemes, and wild machinations and fears.

Like today.

By the way… have you noticed how many of God’s spokespersons are now calling for people to “get ready,” and turn to Jesus, BECAUSE HE IS COMING VERY SOON?

“All the prophecies are being fulfilled! Nothing is hindering His appearance! Don’t be left behind!”

God states in Amos 3:7 that He will warn of His coming, especially in judgment.

“Surely, the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants, the prophets.”

God graciously does this to allow time for repentance.

It was 120 years in Noah’s time…barely a week for Sodom.

How long for us today?

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Vss. 17:34-37.

“There will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken, and the other left.” Jesus warns.

Sleeping, doing chores … just like in the days of Noah and Lot.

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Oh, be prepared!  

Trust in Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross for your salvation!

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (5/5) Luke 15:11-32

May5

A 5-day per week study.

May 5 – Reading Luke 15:11-32

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Let us eat and celebrate. For this, my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” Luke15:24

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The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – Jesus told two “lost and found” parables: a lost sheep and a lost coin, emphasizing the importance of the missing one and the need to restore it.

Today is the third such parable, about a son who was lost and then found, and the great rejoicing that followed.

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Vss. 15:11-12. 

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is very well known and loved.  It’s the longest of Jesus’ parables, and it has several applications.  I always thought “prodigal” meant a wayward son, but the word actually means “recklessly wasteful, extravagant spending of resources without caution.”

It would be like winning the lottery and spending it all on the pleasures you’ve dreamed about without a thought of future responsibility.

In this parable, a man had two sons. The younger demanded to have his inheritance immediately. This would be like a wish that his father were already dead.  It was unheard of and shocking.

But the father did it. He converted 1/3 of his wealth into cash and gave it to the boy. (As the oldest, the other son had the birthright inheritance of two portions (or 2/3 of his father’s wealth. Now, it was ALL his.)

(The religious leaders who so hated the tax collectors that Jesus was associating with were shocked at the younger son’s behavior and saw immediately that he must represent those sinners. THEY, of course, were represented by the faithful, hard-working older son.)

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Vss. 15:13-16.

Jesus continues the story about the fall of the younger son, causing the religious leaders to feel smug and proud that THEY would never do that.

The wandering son journeyed far away (out of his father’s influence) and squandered his inheritance in reckless living. He was living the “good life,” with lots of “fair-weather” friends.  But when the money ran out, he found himself alone and in need.  To top it off, a famine came to that country, and he became hungry.

Desperate, he hired himself out to one of the citizens there, who sent him into the fields to feed … pigs. (super detestable to Jews) Things got so bad that he longed to be fed EVEN THE PIGS’ SLOP, but no one gave him anything.

(Can’t you imagine the pious Pharisees nodding and giving Jesus thumbs-up signs.  This is JUST what that boy deserved.  The tax collectors standing off to the side probably recognized themselves in this parable. So far from God, sinners, unworthy … but with hope.)

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Vss. 15:17-20a.

In that distant land, during a famine, standing in the mud with pigs, this wasteful, selfish younger son “came to himself.”

“How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger. 

I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’”

THIS is a clear picture of repentance.

It’s recognizing the helpless, horrible state that you are in, and that in no way can you help yourself. It’s realizing that you are completely unworthy to be God’s child. Your sin has separated you from Him. But, because you know what kind of God He is – just, but merciful – you have hope.  You will humble yourself and return to Him, and lay your life into His hands, trusting Him.

This part of Jesus’ story probably made the religious leaders a bit uncomfortable.  They might have soothed their thoughts by assuming the father would probably punish the son and put him in the lowest servant position he had. He would have to labor hard and eat little.  THAT would teach him a lesson!

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Vss. 15:20-24.

The skinny, dirty and in rags, son stumbles homeward.  When he is still afar off, barely able to make out the buildings of his father’s property, he sees an image that must surely be a mirage!

His father, with his robes girded up so his legs are free, is running towards him!  And he’s weeping with joy, calling, “My son!  My son!”

How can this be?

Reaching him, the father embraces his son in a hug so genuine, so loving, and soon they both are weeping.

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son……”

But the father immediately calls for his servants. “Bring the best robe quickly, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate!

Or THIS, my son, was dead, and is alive again, he was lost, and is found.”

And they began to celebrate.

(Okay, you know for sure that the Pharisees and scribes did NOT like this ending.  That kid should have been punished severely, not only for stealing his father’s property and wishing him dead, but for his gall in accepting all the prizes and the restored position.  THIS UNFAITHFUL SON DID NOT DESERVE THIS HONOR!

Yes, of course, the sinners and tax collectors who had hopped in Jesus rejoiced at this ending.)

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Vss. 15:25-32.

The religious leaders cooled down when Jesus began with “the rest of the story,” about the faithful oldest son.  HE was the one that deserved praise!

”Now, the older son was in the field, and as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.  He called one of the servants and asked him what it meant.

The servant said, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’

As you can imagine, this infuriated the older brother, jealousy raising its ugly head in his heart.  He refused to join the celebration, but remained outside, no doubt pouting.

The father came out and begged him to join in the celebration.  But he would not.

“Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when THIS SON OF YOURS came – who has devoured your property with prostitutes – you killed the fattened calf for him!!!”

(I can imagine the religious leaders, hearing this with their arms crossed on their chests and looking down their noses, totally agreeing with this son.  HE was the faithful one. (Like them.)  It was totally NOT FAIR for the son who wasted all to be honored so. (Like those tax collectors and sinners and gentiles.)

Jesus’ words were gentle as He finished the parable.

“Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this YOUR BROTHER was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”

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Lost and found things.  Yes, the 99 sheep, the 9 other coins, and the older son were important and valued. But the lost ones… they (he) needed to be brought back, and then celebrated.  This is the love and mercy of God for lost sinners.

Oh, thank You, LORD!

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (4/22) Luke 12:1-21

Apr22

A 5-day per week study.

April 22 – Reading Luke 12:1-21

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness…”  Luke 12:15a

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The Gospel according to Luke 

Review –

Jesus confronted the arrogant religious leaders and spoke SIX WOES on them for their greed, pride, and self-righteousness, and their neglect of justice and the love of God.  They respond with renewed energy to “catch Him” in something.

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Vss. 12:1-3.

Even though there were “many thousands of people gathered together around Jesus, so many that they were trampling one another,” Jesus spoke to his disciples first about the disgruntled Pharisees and scribes they’d just left.

He said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

(The hypocrisy or ‘teaching’ of the Pharisees was their over-concern about externals and ceremonies and what people saw and thought of them, but not matters of the heart.)

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Vss. 12:4-12.

Jesus also warns them about persecution by the religious hypocrites, thinking perhaps of His own upcoming death.  “Don’t fear those who can kill the body and have nothing more they can do.  Fear Him who, after He has killed, has the authority to cast into hell.”

Jesus continues to “His friends” with a gentle, “Not a single near-worthless sparrow is forgotten by God, so you are not to fear.  Are you not of more value than many sparrows?”

And again, when any of His own are persecuted by rulers in the synagogues and by other authorities, they are not to be anxious or try to defend themselves. “For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you shall say.”

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Vss. 12:13-15.

Then, right in the middle of Jesus’s teaching, and changing the subject completely, a man calls out loudly,

“Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me!”

Okay, someone in this family has died, and there is a dispute over the inheritance. (No sorrow or grief about the loss is noted at all.) The money, lands, and goods are all that fill these two brothers’ hearts.

 

First, Jesus says, “Man, who made ME a judge or arbitrator?” 

Then, probably seeing the greed and covetousness in the man’s heart, Jesus continues with a warning, a parable, and a startling truth to ponder.

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The warning:

“Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

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The parable:

“The LAND of a rich man produced plentifully.”

The man thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store MY crops?”

Then he snapped his fingers. “I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all MY grain and MY goods.”

Pleased with the plan, he leaned back and said to himself, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry!”

But God said to him that very night, “Fool!  This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared … whose will they be?”

(Obviously argued over by his descendants!)

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The truth to ponder:

“So is the one who lays up treasure for HIMSELF, and is not rich toward God.”

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Jesus will continue on the topic of wealth and anxiety in the next study.

 

 

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (4/21) Luke 11:33-53

Apr21

A 5-day per week study.

April 21 – Reading Luke 11:33-54

Read and believe in Jesus.

“One of the lawyers said, ‘Teacher, in saying these things, you insult us too.”  Luke 11:45

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The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – The foolish crowd accused Jesus of freeing a demon-possessed man by using the devil’s power.  Jesus has ALL the power He needs to do any miracle. The false exorcists, on the other hand, do not. The unbelieving crowd asked Him to do a sign. Nope. The only sign they’ll get is Jonah. Yes, think about it.

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Vss. 11:33-35.

Jesus tells two metaphors about light. In verse 33, the “lamp” is the word of God.  You don’t want to hide it, but to share what God has to say to all who enter your house.

In 34-35, the “lamp” is your eye or the source of light for your body/heart.  The crowd’s problem was their perception, not the lack of light. They didn’t need “another sign.”  They needed hearts to believe the miracles (and power) Jesus had already shown.

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Vss. 11:36-41.

While Jesus was saying these things, a Pharisee walked up to Him and invited him to dinner. Jesus accepted and went with him. In the man’s house, Jesus reclined at the table (presumably already set).

The Pharisee stood there aghast, his jaw hanging open.

Why?

“He was astonished to see that Jesus did not first wash before dinner.”

Now we aren’t talking about a little boy with grimy hands whose mom told him to wash his hands and face before he could eat.

No. What Jesus did not do that offended the Pharisee so much was the elaborate ceremonial rinsing of His hands. These uber-righteous men thought it would cleanse them of any “accidental” ceremonial defilement.

  • It involved someone pouring water from a jar onto another’s hands, with the other’s fingers pointed upward, letting the water drip off the wrist.
  • Next, water would again be poured on the person’s hands, this time, with the fingers pointing downward.
  • Then each hand would be rubbed with the fist of the other hand.)

Jesus hadn’t done that.

It’s not clear what happened next, or if Jesus eventually got to eat.  But He certainly was not going to let this pass.

“Now YOU Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.  You fools!  Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?”

Jesus told the “offended” man that he should be concerned more with his inner attitude before God than with outward ceremonies.

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Vss. 11:42-44.

Jesus then began a series of “woes” (the opposite of blessings) on the Pharisees.

“Woe to you Pharisees!  You tithe tiny pinches of herbs, but neglect justice and the love of God.”

“Woe to you Pharisees! You love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.”

“Woe to you! You are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it (a hidden source of defilement).”

These are pretty strong words!

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Vss. 11:45-52.

About then, some lawyers (or scribes who were experts in the Law) came to Jesus and said He was “insulting THEM too.”

Jesus then spoke to them.

“Woe to you lawyers also!  You load people with burdens hard to bear (minute laws), and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with your little finger!”

“Woe to you!  You build tombs for the prophets (whom your fathers killed), just as God had prophesied. The “blood” of all the prophets is charged against THIS generation … from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah (A – Z).”

“Woe to you lawyers!  For you have taken away the key of knowledge.  You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

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Vss. 11:53-54.

Well, all that did not sit well with the usually much-honored and respected religious leaders.

The Pharisees began to “press Jesus hard and to provoke Him to speak about many things … lying in wait for Him, to catch Him in something He might say.”

 

 

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (3/31) Luke 6:27-49

Mar31

A 5-day per week study.

March 31 – Reading Luke 6:27:49

Read and believe in Jesus.

“As you wish others would do to you, do so to them.” Luke 6:31

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The Gospel according to Luke 6:27:49

Review – Jesus, after a night in prayer, chose twelve of all the disciples to be Apostles.  Then Jesus began teaching the Sermon on the Mount to His disciples, starting with the Beatitudes.

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Vss. 27-36.

Have you ever read (and really pondered) 1 Corinthians 13?  If you have time, do it now.  It describes the selfless LOVE we are to have towards each other: the self-sacrificing LOVE Jesus had for sinners when He died in their place.

Now, read these verses in Luke about loving OUR ENEMIES.

REALLY??  Our enemies?  (And yet, isn’t that what sinners are to a Holy God?)

  1. Love your enemies,
  2. Do good to those who hate you,
  3. Bless those who curse you,
  4. Pray for those who abuse you,
  5. Willingly accept a blow to the other cheek,
  6. Give to him more than what he takes from you,
  7. Generously lend to him, and neither require nor expect anything back.

And WHY does Jesus say His disciples are to do this?

“You will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.  Be merciful, as your Father is merciful.”

And also, “your reward (in heaven) will be great.”

(Of course, there is no way we can do this without the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Romans 5:5 tells us that “God’s LOVE has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

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Vss. 37-45.

BAD judging and GOOD judging.  FIRST, the BAD kind.

“Judge not, lest you be judged. Condemn not, lest you be condemned.” 

This is the self-righteous, pompous, looking-down-your-nose, wagging-your-finger type of judging.  It says, “I” certainly would NOT do that!

The thing is, WE probably WOULD do the offence, given the right circumstances.  We are ALL sinners.

(And as my Hubby likes to say, “When you point a finger at someone, the other three fingers are pointing back at YOU!”)

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No, Jesus tells His followers to, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven, give and it will be given to you, and in a measure you will barely be able to hold!”

And to illustrate His words, Jesus tells them to “picture” a big LOG in your eye, keeping you from seeing anything.  Then, picture a tiny speck of dust in your brother’s eye.   SERIOUSLY, you need to remove that “log” before you can help your brother.

(Jesus was not talking about literal logs and specks, but those faults that we are so eager to point out in others, when OURS are totally larger and more grievous. Go to God, humbly confess your sin, repent of it, and then with tenderness and understanding you can help your brother.)

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GOOD judging.

We aren’t to be “judges” of others, but we CAN be “fruit inspectors.”

Jesus said, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit.”

And again, it is a HEART issue.  What is in the DNA makeup of a tree determines what fruit it will bear, and what is in the heart of man is what will come out in his life and through his mouth

We can try to be sweet and kind.  We can try to bear sweet juicy peaches.  But if our unsaved nature is to be a “crabapple tree,” all we can bear is … crabapples.   Again, it is the Holy Spirit of God, given to us when we are saved (regenerated), who can change our selfish selves into Christlike ones.  THEN, the “fruit of the Spirit” will grow freely and naturally.

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Vss. 46-49.

Jesus now gives a familiar illustration of two homebuilders.

One is thorough, spends more time and money, but builds a sturdy house on a bedrock foundation.

The other is impatient, does not seek out or listen to building codes, and puts up a “quickie” pre-fab home on soft, golden sand.

What happens when a storm breaks the upstream dam, and a huge flood of water rushes at the houses is both reassuring and horrific.

  • The house on the rock (Christ) stood firm.
  • The house built on sand went “smack,” as kids clap their hands when singing that song.  (“It fell, and great was the ruin of it.”)

Okay, so trees and houses, what is Jesus teaching?

Come to Him … hear His words … obey.   Simple.  Let the Word of Christ change you from the inside out, and you will be strong, loving disciples in His kingdom.

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (2/23) Mark 14:1-26

Feb23

A 5-day per week study.

February 23– Reading Mark 14:1-26.

Read and believe in Jesus.

“I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”  Mark 14:25

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The Gospel according to Mark 14:1-26

Chapter 13 on the destruction of Jerusalem and the “End Times” was sparked by one of the disciples’ comments about the Temple’s magnificent stones.  Jesus told them that not one stone would be left on another, and in 70 A.D., that’s exactly what happened.  This would be proof that Jesus’s other prophecies about the Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, and His glorious second coming in the clouds would also come to pass.

It was a lot to think about, but the disciples probably promptly forgot it for the time (like they had of Jesus’ 3 times predicting his death and resurrection).  They were still thinking that Jesus would soon declare himself KING, and that they would help Him rule the Kingdom.   Alas…

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Vss. 1-2.

A quick note that even though Jesus had left the city, the religious leaders were still very angry with Him. They were mulling over ways they could arrest Him by stealth, and KILL Him.  But, they thought, not during Passover, because the people would cause a great uproar.  (Ha!  The best laid plans of mice and men!  Little did they know that Jesus would indeed be arrested and then killed on Passover.  And that the crowds would be the ones shouting, “Crucify Him!”)

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Vs.3.

This is the only time that “Simon the Leper” is named in the Bible.  Although he still carried the title of “the Leper” to distinguish him from other Simons in town, he had been totally cured, probably by Jesus. (No person suffering from leprosy could come near, let alone host a meal for other people.)

Some have thought that Simon was the father of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, and that this was HIS house, but that he’d been absent on other occasions when Jesus visited because of his disease.  Regardless of this, we do know from John’s account in chapter 12 that the woman there was Mary.

While Jesus and the disciples were reclining at dinner, this young woman (Mary) came in, broke an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, and anointed Jesus’ head. (John’s account says she also anointed His feet and dried them with her hair.)

This was a total act of love on Mary’s part. She thought nothing of the expense.  Consider:  she had often sat at Jesus’ feet, hearing His teaching;  Jesus had healed her father of leprosy;  and Jesus had raised her brother back to life from the grave.  She had long ago given her heart, soul, and spirit to Him.  What was an heirloom jar of perfume?

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Vss. 4-9.

What was an heirloom jar of perfume?  Well, it was a year’s wages!! (Think of that amount today for an hourly worker!)  Some of the disciples were indignant.  “Why was this not sold and the money given to the poor?”

Seriously?  The poor?  You KNOW who brought this up.  It was Judas.  He was the group’s treasurer.  He carried the money pouch and paid for expenses (and yes, donated some to the poor).    John 12:6 says of him, “He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybags, used to help himself to what was put into it.”  Tsk, tsk, tsk.  

Jesus, of course, knew this.  And He swung back hard in defense of Mary.

“Leave her alone!  Why do you trouble her? 

She has done a beautiful thing for me.  You will always have the poor, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have Me.  She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 

And truly, I say to you, whenever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

Of course, what Judas is about to do will also be told of him whenever the gospel is proclaimed throughout the world.

Did you catch Jesus’ statement?  “She has anointed my body beforehand for burial.”  Again, the disciples didn’t seem to notice.  I mean, if Jesus was going to be buried, it meant He was going TO DIE!   But, Mary, sitting and learning at Jesus’ feet all those times, HEARD him.  And she believed.  And she offered her expensive perfume to pre-anoint Jesus’ body for that burial.  It not only proved her love but also her faith.

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Vss. 10-11.

“Then Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them.”

He just could not take it.  Not only the sight of all that money “wasted” on Jesus, but also the fact that Jesus honored the woman and the act… and at his expense.   He could have HAD that money.  Well…..  he knew where he could get some ready cash.  “Just you wait, Jesus!” he might have thought, as he headed back into the darkened city.

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Vss. 12-15.

It was the first day of Unleavened Bread-Passover, and Jesus sent two of his disciples into the city to prepare the room where they would eat the Passover meal.  How would they know where to go?  Jesus gave them a sign, like finding the donkey and its mother tied up a few days earlier.

This time, they would see a man carrying a jug of water.   You might think that this would be happening all around the city.  But no.  It was a woman’s job to fetch and carry water.  To see a man doing it would be highly irregular.  So HE would be the one they should ask.  That man would show the two where the room was, and they would set about preparing it for that evening’s meal.

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Vss. 17-21.

(We will learn much more about what happened in that upper room when we study the other Gospels. Mark is very brief.  “Just the facts,” he seems to say. They are: the betrayal announced and the bread and wine.  And that’s that. (Remember, Mark, is probably getting all those facts from Peter’s point of view.)

And so, the disciples reclined around a spread of Passover food and ate.  At one point, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”

Talk about dropping a bombshell!

They all began to be sorrowful and, one by one, asked him, “Is it I?”   (Isn’t it heartbreaking, that they all believed their hearts could have betrayed Jesus!  We all could, and have.)

Jesus answered, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me.  The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would have been better if he had not been born….”

The other Gospels make it clear in several ways that it was Judas Iscariot. (We’ll study them one by one this year.)  And Judas leaves the room.

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Vss 22-26.

Then Jesus institutes “The Lord’s Supper.”  This is what is celebrated in churches today, “in remembrance of Jesus” and what He did for us on the cross.

First, Jesus took up the bread and blessed it. He gave it to them and said, “This is my body.”

Next, He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them for all the drink of it.  “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.  Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”

(Cups of wine and the Matso bread are common in the traditional Passover meal, even today.  The Jews remember their escape from Egypt, when, with the blood of the Passover Lamb painted on the sides and tops of their doors, they stood dressed and ready to travel, eating the lamb for sustenance.  There hadn’t been time for the bread to rise, so they were eating it unleavened.   Soon, they would be delivered from slavery and become a Nation to God!

This is what the Lord Jesus was purchasing for them with his own blood – deliverance from slavery to sin and Satan, and transformation into the true children of God.

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“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 364

Dec31

Day 364 – Reading – Revelation 12 – 18

Read and believe in Jesus!

The Revelation 12 – 18

The next seven chapters escalate. Satan, the Beast (Monster), the Antichrist appear. The Tribulation escalates. And there is all-out War in Heaven. Michael and his host of mighty angels battle. The seven bowls of wrath and the seven plagues do their worst, and the “great prostitute, Babylon” (who is a dwelling place of demons) appears and …. falls!

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Revelation 12

“And A GREAT SIGN appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

A SIGN:  A symbol pointing to something else. This is the first of SEVEN SIGNS in the last half of Revelation. This first sign, the Woman giving birth, represents Israel. 

(There are three other symbolic women in Revelation. Jezebel (2:20) represents paganism, the Scarlet Woman (17:3-6) represents the Apostate Church, and the Wife of the Lamb (19:7) represents the True Church.

The next sign we see is the Great Red Dragon, which represents Satan. He is the woman’s mortal enemy. He has ceaselessly tried to destroy “her” to keep the Savior from coming, but he failed, and then he was unable to kill the baby, despite using Herod to massacre hundreds of infants at the time. Then Jesus did His redeeming work and ascended back to Heaven.

 

Although Satan and 1/3 of the angels (who are now his demons) fell from heaven after they rebelled, they still had access to it. (Remember Job?)  But now, after fighting with Michael and his host, they are THROWN DOWN to earth.  That old ACCUSER OF BELIEVERS who stood to accuse us day and night before God is cast down (and locked out).

Heaven rejoices, but “Woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down in great wrath, because he knows his time is short.”

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Furious, Satan pursued the Woman/Israel to kill her.  But she was given “two wings” (heavenly protection) and fled to the wilderness, where God kept her safe and nourished her for 42 months.  Frustrated and angry, Satan then went to wage war on the rest of her offspring (believing Jews and Gentiles), “who kept the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

Unable to destroy these, Satan went and stood on the sand of the sea………….

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Revelation 13.

…………….. And it seemed he summoned up his strongest and most horrible demon. 

John saw “a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and BLASPHEMOUS NAMES on its heads. And to this monster, Satan (the dragon) gave his power and his throne, and his great authority. 

The whole earth marveled as they followed the Beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the Beast, and they worshiped the Beast, saying, “Who is like the Beast, and who can fight against it?”

The Beast was allowed to exercise authority for 42 months.  It opened its mouth and uttered blasphemies against GOD, blaspheming His NAME and His Dwelling Place.  It was also allowed to make WAR on the saints and conquer them – from every tribe, people, language, and nation.

And ALL who dwelt on the earth… were made to worship it.  ALL whose name was NOT written from before the foundation of the world … in the Book of Life of the Lamb, who was slain.

 

John inserts a warning to his readers:  “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.”

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“Then I (John) saw another beast rising from out of the earth.  It had two horns… like a lamb… and it spoke like a dragon.” 

(We now have an unholy Satanic trinity of despicable evil.)

Unlikely as it looked, this lamb-appearing beast is the “enforcer” for the Beast.  It made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast.  It also performed great miracles, even making fire come down from Heaven to earth in front of people. It deceived those who dwelled on earth.  It told the people to create an image of the Beas.  And it gave the image … speech.

All who did not worship the image were killed.

All who would not receive the mark of the Beast on forehead or right hand could neither buy nor sell… anything.

 

John again inserts a warning to his readers. “This calls for wisdom; let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is …. 666.”

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Revelation 14.

Then John looked, and in his vision he saw THE LAMB of God standing on Mount Zion, with the 144,000 who had NOT taken the mark of the beast. On THEIR foreheads was written the name of the LAMB and the name of His Father.  These 144K are the first fruits for God and the Lamb.  And a special song was sung to them and about them by the hosts of Heaven.

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Next, John saw three flying heralding angels, each with a message.

  • The first – “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
  • The second – “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
  • The third – “If anyone worships the Beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or hand, he also will drink of the wine of God’s wrath … and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”

 

John again inserts a warning. “This is a call  for endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

 

Then, a voice from Heaven spoke a chilling statement.  “Write this: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.“

 

Then came angels and One, like the Son of Man, with sickles.  It was the time of THE REAPING OF THE HARVEST OF THE EARTH.  (Remember those parables Jesus told of just such a thing!)  

  • “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.
  • So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 
  • And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress as high as a horse’s bridle for 184 miles!”

 

You might be reminded of that old song, The Battle Hymn of the Republic right now.

“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. 
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

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Revelation 15.

Then John saw another great and amazing SIGN in heaven – seven angels with seven plagues.  

Here’s how it went down…..

John saw what looked like a sea of glass mingled with fire… and standing next to this sea were those who had conquered the Beast and its image and the number of its name.  They had harps and they sang “The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb.”

  • “Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!
  • Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!
  • Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?
    All nations will come and worship You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

And as they sang, the Holy Place was opened in Heaven and out from the Santuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues.  One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels the seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God.

And the sanctuary was filled with the glory of God and His power, and no one could enter it until the seven plagues were finished.

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Revelation 16.

The voice came from the Temple, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

  • The first angel – poured out harmful and painful sores on the people who bore the mark of the Beast.
  • The second angel – poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like blood, and every living thing died in it.
  • The third angel – poured out his bowl into the rivers, and they became blood.

“Just are You, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.

For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. 

It is what they deserve!”

  • The fourth angel – poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fierce heat.  (And they cursed the name of God. They did not repent. They did not give Him glory.)
  • The fifth angel – poured out his bowl on the throne of the Beast, and its kingdom plunged into darkness. People cursed God for their pain. They did not repent of their deeds.
  • The sixth angel – poured out his bowl on the great River Euphrates, and its water was dried up — to prepare the way for the kings from the east.

(Then John saw coming out of the mouths of the Dragon, the Beast, and False Prophet, demonic spirits that looked like frogs.  They did miracles and went to all the kings of the whole world to assemble them for battle on THE GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY.  And the assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called … ARMAGEDDON.)

  • The seventh angel – poured out his bowl into the air. And a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “IT IS DONE!”   

 

  • Followed by lightning, thunder, and a great earthquake.  And the great city – Jerusalem – split into three parts, and the cities of the earth fell. 
  • And God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.
  • And great hailstones – 100 pounds each – fell from on heaven on the people and they cursed God.

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Revelation 17.

One of the seven angels then came to John and said, “Come, I’ll show you the judgment of The Great Prostitute (remember this represents the Apostate Church) who is seated on many waters (the nations of the world), with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality.”

  • The angel carried John away in the spirit to a wilderness. He saw the Prostitute sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of blasphemous names.  The woman wore purple and scarlet, gold, jewels, and pearls.  In her hand, she held a golden cup FULL of abominations and impurities and immorality. 
  • On her forehead was written: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” 
  • And she was drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus…….

The angel then explains the “mystery” about this woman and the beast with its multiple heads and horns,  and what they mean.

  • The multitude of the nations and people hate her and plan to kill her and burn her with fire, and hand over her royal power to the Beast until the Words of God are fulfilled.  That woman is … the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth … Babylon the Great.
  • These kings also plan to make war on the LAMB, but the LAMB will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those fighting with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

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Revelation 18.

After that private lesson from one of the angels, John saw another bright and mighty angel descended from heaven and call out,

FALLEN, FALLEN IS BABYLON THE GREAT, the haunt for every demon, every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, every unclean and detestable beast!

 

And the rest of the chapter goes on to describe this great and evil nation…. her sins, her false evil glories, her deceptions, her evil fruit, jewels, and gold with which she deceived the nations, and made them rich. How the world will mourn her destruction, and how they will miss her wealth.

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Then the mighty angel said,

“And so Babylon, the great city, will be thrown down with violence and will be found no more.” 

“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her.

 

Whew!

 

Tomorrow we finish THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.  It is a beautiful ending of what heaven will be like without the devil, sin, and sorrow.  The glorious new Jerusalem. Seeing God face to face.  I can’t wait.

The last book in the chronological study/reading, and the end of the year.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 361

Dec27

Day 361 – Reading – 2 John and 3 John.
Read and believe in Jesus!

2 John 

These two letters are “short and to the point.”  The apostle wrote 2nd John to a specific church that he knew and loved.  Perhaps for protection in a Christian-persecuted world, he disguised their identity.  He calls this beloved church, “the elect lady and her children.”   

This church faced some of the same challenges that the churches John wrote to in his circulating sermon/letter of 1 John. Mainly, the false teachers, whom he calls deceivers and antichrists.

But first, he tells this church how much joy it brings him to know that “some” of the members (her children) are walking in the truth.  He reminds them to continue loving one another, as the basic command “from the beginning.”

Then, as in 1 John, the old Pastor warns this church about those “who do not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh.”  This is a basic tenet of true Christianity, for if Jesus was not wholly “man” as well as wholly “God,” He could not have died in the place of sinners like you and me, and “paid” the sin-debt we owed. 

Then a stern command: If some of these deceivers come to you, DO NOT RECEIVE THEM INTO YOUR HOUSE (church), or even give them a greeting!  “For whoever greets these people takes part in their wicked work.”

(WHOA!  Does this apply to those from “other” cults and beliefs coming to our doors today?)

John signs off on this brief letter by saying he wants to visit in person. It would fill him with joy. Okay, a letter of ink on paper is good, but a personal vision and touch is the best! 

(I’m thankful John wrote these letters, or else we wouldn’t have had them, too.)

John then tells them the members of their sister church (Ephesus) greet them, too.

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3 John

Here’s another very short letter from John. It is actually less than 300 Greek words, so it could have fit on a single sheet of papyrus.  This letter is the most personal of the three, sent to a sole recipient – his “beloved Gaius.”  He was a member of one of the churches overseen by the aged ‘Pastor John’.  Sadly, nothing else is known about this faithful man.

John gives a personal prayer to this man, “I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”  

(What a wonderful prayer and example for us to pray!)

John was also so grateful that his man was “walking in the TRUTH,” and not the prevailing false teaching. John exclaims, “I have no greater joy to know my children (converts) are walking in the truth.”  

Then he commends Gaius for his hospitality towards the men he sent to the church, and encourages him to “send them on their way” when the time comes. (In other words, to help them financially and materially as much as he can.) 

THESE MEN are different from the false teachers John tells the other church NOT to greet or help.  THESE MEN are missionaries. They are going out “for the sake of “the Name.” (For God’s glory and not their own.) John tells Gaius that when he helps men of God, he is actually sharing in that ministry.

Then John candidly tells Gaius that he’s written to the church and to the leader, Diotrephes (who likes to put himself first), but the man has ignored John’s instructions. He could have been supporting the false teachers!  “I’ll deal with him when I come!” was John’s assurance.

Then he testifies about Demetrius (possibly the one delivering this letter to Gaius), and tells Gaius he is worthy of support and hospitality as well.

John ends with his desire to visit him “face to face.”  How much better than a missive of pen & ink!

Greet all my friends there!

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NOTE: It makes you wonder if the aging John ever got to visit these churches. He is probably in his 90’s by then, and his last years have been hard. (Imprisonment, torture by Nero)  Some time after he wrote these letters, the Roman authorities arrested him and exiled him to the island of Patmos, where he received the inspiration for The REVELATION.  That book was also sent to be read in these churches in Asia.