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2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 316

Nov12

     Day 316—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

Day 316 – Matthew 27, Mark 15. (Judas, Pilate, Barabbas, Crucifixion/Death, two thieves, Burial/Tomb)

(Today’s and tomorrow’s readings cover the same events,  so we will look at the details of each.)

The Jews, finished with their three mock trials with their verdict of “blasphemy” (John 18), now deliver Jesus to the Roman authorities to get the death penalty. (The Jews, under Roman rule, were not allowed to impose the death sentence. Also, their means of death would have been stoning, and prophecy stated that Jesus would die cursed “on a tree”

Judas sees Jesus condemned to death, and changes his mind (not his heart in true repentance). He tries to return the 30 pieces of silver he was paid and stop the fiasco, but the Jews do not care for him and refuse.  He throws the money at them, then goes out and hangs himself.  They take the “blood money” and buy a burial ground for strangers.

“Are you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asks Jesus.

“You have said so.” (In other words, yes.)

(Luke 23 here tells how Pilate, trying to get out of his responsibility, sends Jesus to Herod. Herod sends him back.)  (John 18 tells of Pilate’s extended conversation with Jesus about truth and His kingdom that was not of this world, and his attempts to release Him.)

“I find no guilt in Him,” says Pilate. “And according to my tradition, I will release one criminal to the people at Passover.  Do you want Barabbas (a murderer and insurrectionist), or Jesus who is called the Christ (Messiah)?”

“BARRABAS!!” they shouted.

“Then what do you want me to do with Jesus?” he asks in desperation.

“Let Him be crucified!” they shouted.

“Why? What evil has He done?”

“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

“Okay,” Pilate finally agrees, knowing they wanted Him dead out of envy, “but I am innocent of this man’s blood.”

“His blood be on us and on our children,” shouted the Jews.  (They meant the “guilt” of Jesus’s death, but in reality, Jesus’ blood on us is what saves us in God’s sight.)

So Pilate released Barabbas, scourged Jesus, and delivered Him to be crucified.  It was the soldiers, a whole battalion of them, who scourged Jesus (whipped Him with cords embedded with bits of bone). They also mocked him, putting on a scarlet robe and a crown of thorns and kneeling before him. They struck him about the head with a reed and spit on Him. “Hail, you King of the Jews!” Then they stripped Him of the robe.

They laid the cross piece of the cross on Jesus’ bloody shoulders and compelled Him to carry it up Golgotha’s hill. When He stumbled and fell, they compelled a stranger, in town for the Feast – Simon of Cyrene – to carry it for Him. (Luke 23 tells about Jesus addressing some weeping women along the way.)

They offered a drugged wine for Jesus to drink to dull the pain, but Jesus refused it. Then the nailed Jesus to the cross, hands and feet.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 314

Nov10

     Days 314—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

NOTE:  THIS WEEK, the Sunday and Monday studies will be posted separately because they are lengthy.

Day 314 – Luke 22, John 13. (Judas’ betrayal, Passover/Lord’s Supper, Jesus foretells Peter’s denial, Gethsemane, Arrest and trial, Peter’s denial)

Luke’s passage is similar to yesterday’s Matthew and Mark but has a few other details. Verse 3 mentions that Satan entered into Judas. Verse 8 reveals that it was Peter and John who acquired the room for the Passover meal. Verses 24-29 show that the disciples are STILL vying for the chief spots in the Kingdom. Jesus tells them they must be servants first, and that He and the Father have indeed assigned them to sit at His table and on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

John describes how Jesus illustrates how to be a servant. He removes his robe, kneels, and does the job of the lowest slave: He washes their feet.  Peter objects at first but then tells Jesus He may wash his whole body. Jesus tells the eleven they are “clean” already and just need the dust of the world removed.  Judas, however, is NOT included in this “clean” group.

John also reveals how, when Jesus says one of them will betray Him, Peter signals to John across the table to find out from Jesus who it is, as John is sitting next to Him.  Jesus tells John – and Peter, who is watching – that the next person He gives a portion to is the one. Jesus hands it to Judas. Then, Jesus dismisses the traitor from the group to “do what he must.”

Before Peter can get puffed up, Jesus tells him that HE will deny his Lord that very evening. Peter violently objects, but Jesus tells him He has prayed for Peter, but, before the rooster crows, he WILL deny Jesus THREE TIMES.

(John 14 – 17 recounts the intimate time of teaching and prayer Jesus has with the eleven in the upper room, which we’ll read tomorrow.) 

Then, the company goes to the Mount of Olives – as was Jesus’ custom – to the Garden of Gethsemane. While the disciples sleep, Jesus prays three times that “the Cup” He is meant to drink to the dregs might be removed, But three times, he acquiesces to the Father’s will.

It is Jesus’ human body that shrinks from the coming torture and bearing the sin of the world. His divine nature willingly accepts the plan of salvation that He and the Father planned before the world was created.

Afterward, while his three close disciples joined the others in a post-meal/wine nap, God sent an angel to strengthen Jesus, whose sweat had become bloody with stress and agony.

Then…. it begins. The traitor, Judas, leads a pack of 600+ men/soldiers to the customary place where he knows Jesus will be.  Confirming the sign he’d planned with the Jewish leaders, Judas goes to Jesus and gives Him a welcoming kiss. Jesus calls him “friend.”

Impetuous Peter, perhaps thinking to dispel Jesus’ prediction that he will deny Him, grabs his short sword and attacks the chief priest’s servant, Malchus. He misses the man’s throat and slices off an ear.  Jesus, probably loving Peter even with his misled and violent ways, says to stop. Then He calmly replaces the ear back on Malchus’ head.

Jesus tells Peter that if He chose to, He could ask His Father for 10,000 angels to rescue Him (who could in a single night kill the entire world’s population!).  But how would all be fulfilled? (How would salvation be bought?)

Jesus, knowing what was happening, then asks the crowd WHOM they seek. He is protecting his disciples from arrest, even as they are poised to flee. He wants the mob to state clearly the only person they want. The answer comes, “We seek Jesus of Nazareth.”

“I AM He,” Jesus says, stating His Sovereign-God name. The crowd falls to the ground at its power and awesomeness.  Scrambling to their feet again, Jesus repeats that He is Jesus of Nazareth and willingly surrenders to them, stating that He had been daily in the Temple. They didn’t need to make this midnight raid to arrest Him. (He and they both know that they would NOT have arrested Him during the daylight because they feared what the crowds would do.  Cowards!!)

As they lead Jesus away, the eleven vanish into the trees. One young man (perhaps Mark) is caught by his tunic, which comes off and makes him flee away naked!  It seems John followed the mob at a distance to see what would happen to Jesus.  Peter followed him at a greater distance.  Both men observe the horrendous ordeal that begins for their Master in Caiaphas’s palace….the accusations, spitting, slapping, verbal and physical abuse to which Jesus says not a word. (Only that He IS the Son of God, which causes them to nail down the verdict — guilty of blasphemy.)

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Peter watches in horror and anguish.

“This man was also with him,” says a servant girl, pointing at Peter. “Woman, I do not know Him.”

“You also are of them,” said another a little later. “Man, I am NOT!”

“Certainly, this man also was with Him, for he too is a Galilean,” accused a third.  “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” (Mark tells us that Peter begins to invoke a curse on himself and to swear he isn’t a follower of this Jesus.)

AND IMMEDIATELY, WHILE PETER WAS STILL SPEAKING, THE ROOSTER CROWED.

And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. (Oh, what a look!!)  And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord.  And he went out and wept bitterly. 

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(We will backtrack a little tomorrow to read about Jesus’ teaching & priestly prayer before they all leave the upper room.)

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 311

Nov7

     Day 311—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

Day 311 – Matthew 24 (more on the destruction of the temple, end-time warnings, antichrists, His coming)

This chapter covers what we’ve looked at in the last two days, with different details.  The conversation begins with the disciples admiring the temple building and ends with the Lord’s second coming.

The disciples naturally want to know the details, and Jesus proceeds to teach about short-term, long-term, and unknown-term happenings. I’m not sure the disciples understood any more after Jesus was finished. I don’t!

Jesus talks about false messiahs, wars, and catastrophes near and worldwide. They are not to fear but remain faithful.  Jesus says many will grow cold, and fall away, and betray each other, and that lawlessness will increase. They are to endure to the end.  And they are to consistently proclaim the gospel of the kingdom to the whole world. When that is complete, the end will come.

Further, in the end times, the abomination of desolation will appear that was foretold by Daniel. False Christs and prophets will perform great signs and wonders and try to lead even God’s elect astray.  DO NOT BELIEVE THEM!

Terrifying occurrences in the heavens will happen, and then the Son of Man will appear in clouds with power and great glory. And “all the tribes of the earth will mourn.”  When the disciples of that day see these things happening, they will KNOW the time of the end is near.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Jesus is and speaks the truth. We can always trust in what He says.

He compares the end times to those days of Noah. People will be eating and drinking as they normally do every day. They will marry and attend weddings until the DAY of judgment comes when they will be swept away.

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know what day your Lord is coming.  Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do NOT expect.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 310

Nov6

     Day 310—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

Day 310 – Mark 13 (destruction of the Temple, end times)

Mark 13 is similar to what we read yesterday. When the disciples comment on the beauty of the temple, Jesus tells them that soon, not one of the huge stones will be left standing on another.

They question Him when it will happen and what the sign is that it is about to happen. Jesus answers that first question at the end of the chapter, but first, he warns them of other more dangerous things like their being led astray by false Messiahs, rumors of unrest, and individual persecution. Jesus tells them that these things will happen, but they are not to be fooled or be afraid.  Instead, they are to “be on their guard.” They are to endure to the end.

Jesus also mentions the “abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be.”  If they see that, they are to flee to the mountains fast.  They would have recognized the reference to Antiochus Epiphanes, the king of Syria who invaded Jerusalem in the 200’s BC and sacrificed a pig on the alter.  However, here Jesus is warning them both of the Roman invasion which would tear down this current temple, and in the days of “great tribulation,” the Antichrist would again defile the altar.

The warning to NOT believe every prediction of Christ’s appearance is to us, also. “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.  But be on guard, I have told you all things  beforehand.”

There will be days of great tribulation and terrors. The sun will be darkened, and the moon too, and stars will fall from heaven. But… the REAL THING they will see — “the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send out the angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.”

Then Jesus answers their first question – when it will happen.  “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”  So then (and we) are to be on guard and keep awake, for we do not know when the time will come.

“What I say to you, I say to all; ‘stay awake’.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 309

Nov5

     Day 309—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

Day 309 – Matthew 23, Luke 20 – 21 (seven woes to religious leaders, destruction of the Temple, end times)

Several things are repeated in these chapters, but Matthew begins with seven “woes” (or pronouncements) against the religious leaders who do not practice what they preach. Jesus tells the crowd to obey Moses’ Law, which they teach, but do not copy what they do, for they act righteously only to be seen, adored, and respected by others, not God. 

Jesus tells the people that their religious leaders (Scribes and Pharisees) scrub clean the “outsides” of their lives, but their hearts are full of greed and self-indulgence. God views them as white-washed tombs with rotting remains inside. (Whoa!)  Outwardly, they seem righteous, but inside, they are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 

Jesus calls them hypocrites, blind guides, fools, serpents, a brood of vipers, and murderers. And even as they challenge His authority, Jesus turns back their words on them in obvious and condemning parables.  They burn inside and desire to seize Him and kill Him, but… they fear what the people would do to them.  And so, they watch and wait and send spies who pretend to be sincere that they might catch Him in SOMETHING to deliver Him to Pontius Pilate. But it all fails because it is not yet “His hour.”

Later, Jesus tells his disciples (in the people’s hearing) to “Beware the scribes!”

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Jesus uses their admiration of the Temple’s beauty to teach about the coming destruction.  “The days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Perhaps thinking of Jerusalem’s fall at the time of the Babylonians, they ask, “Teacher, WHEN will these things be? What will be the sign?”

Jesus gives them a list of horrors that will come first but are NOT the sign of the end. (Jesus’s prophecies combine the coming destruction of Jerusalem with the end times of all flesh.)  

Many will come saying they are the Christ. (Don’t go after them.)

Wars and tumults will come. (Do not be terrified.)

Nations and kingdoms will war. Earthquakes, famines, and pestilences will happen in various places. There will be terrors and great signs in heaven.  

But, before that happens, they will lay hands on YOU, deliver YOU up to persecute and imprison you. But use it as an opportunity to bear witness.  Settle in your minds not to meditate beforehand how you will answer, for the Spirit will give your mouth wisdom.

When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies…KNOW that desolation is near. Leave the city and flee to the mountains. For there will be great distress and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and be led into captivity.  And Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  (This last could be describing 70 AD when the Roman general, Titus, destroyed the city and led many Jews away as slaves who had not escaped.)

Then Jesus looks more to the future.  “There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then, they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When you see these things begin to happen… straighten up and raise your heads… because your redemption is drawing near.”

Jesus then warns them to watch themselves, and not let sin or cares distract them. “Stay awake at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Did they even understand what He was saying?

Do we?

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 306

Nov2

     Day 306—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

Day 306 – Luke 19 (Zacchaeus, ten minas, [Jerusalem])

Luke 19 backs up a little on the timeline and tells about another happening in Jericho besides the healing of blind Bartimaeus. (From a poor blind beggar to a hated, wealthy tax collector.)

Zacchaeus was not a regular tax collector but the chief tax collector in Jericho. He had cheated and stolen so much that Luke says he was RICH. He heard about Jesus coming to town (maybe news about Bartimaeus reached him), and he was curious to see this healer.  BUT this hated. Roman-collaborator was a shortie.  He couldn’t see Jesus because of the crowd surrounding Him. So Z climbed a nearby sycamore tree to get a better look. But the one who sought to see was seen instead. 

Jesus came to the place, looked up, and said his name. “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”  Wow, and Whoa!

Z hurried down from the tree and received Jesus joyfully into his home. (The crowd grumbled about Jesus dining in the house of a sinner!)

Jesus’ visit (and no doubt conversation) changed the heart of this diminutive Publican. He repented of his cheating and scheming, greediness and pride.  “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”  Willingly, Z gave to the poor far beyond what was required in the law for charitable giving.  Only one-fifth of restitution (20%) was required by law to pay back someone defrauded.  Z pledged more, saying he was no better than a common robber.

Unlike the “rich, young ruler” whose money meant more to him than eternal life, Z showed he had found incalculable spiritual riches in knowing Jesus, the Messiah.  “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus said, “since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  (How this must have cheered Jesus as his death drew closer.)

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Amazed by what happened in Zacchaeus’ house, Jesus’ disciples and the crowd needed some clarification. (Wicked sinners coming to salvation, while self-righteous Jews being turned away.) 

So, Jesus told the parable of the Ten Minas (Greek form of money, about a 60th of a talent). It symbolized the work that He would entrust to His servants while He went away and the hatred of the citizens who told Him they did NOT want Him to reign over them.

A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then to return. (This pictures Jesus going to Heaven to receive His Kingdom and then returning.) The nobleman left his servants in charge of his business. He gave them each one mina to manage for their master (equal gifts). When the nobleman returned, he rewarded each servant for what they had gained. The one who did nothing with what his master gave him was rewarded nothing. Indeed, the one mina was taken from him. 

And for those citizens who did NOT want the nobleman to reign over them…they were all slaughtered.  This was directed towards the Jews who actively opposed Jesus, and it “could” depict the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD…or the final wrath of God in the end times.

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Then Jesus arrives at Jerusalem, rides into the city on a donkey, weeps for it, and cleanses the Temple. We’ll look at that more tomorrow. 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 305

Nov1

     Day 305—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

Day 305 – Matthew 20-21 (Parables, healings, triumphal entry, the temple, the fig tree, angered leaders)

Matthew 20 continues to recount the parables of Jesus as His time grows near. It seems the people cannot “hear” the plain truth. 

At first, the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard seems unfair, especially to our commercial minds. Five sets of workers are hired to work in a man’s vineyard. The first comes early in the morning, then more workers are hired at 9:00 am, noon, 3:00 pm, and finally at 5:00 pm, only an hour before quitting time. When it comes time to hand out paychecks, the vineyard owner pays ALL the workers the same day’s wages.

“Wow!!” think the last of the crew.

“Unfair!!” proclaim the ones who worked all day in the heat.  

We would think it unfair, too, right?  But remember, this is a parable; it is meant to teach truth. Jesus had just been telling His disciples who can be saved (after His encounter with the rich young ruler). The criteria is that only those who forsake all and follow Him will inherit the Kingdom. Jesus said then that “many who are first (to follow) will be last (least in the kingdom), while some later followers will be first.”

Now to the parable of the equally paid and unequally worked laborers.  Jesus is still teaching about eternal life and the Kingdom of Heaven. It doesn’t matter when in life a person begins to follow Jesus or how long he serves Him before he dies; the same salvation is given.  Take the two brothers, James and John.  James was the first martyr in the early church, while his brother John lived to be over ninety and wrote the Book of Revelation.  Then think of the thief on the cross (Luke 23:29-43) who, just before death, becomes a true follower of Jesus, compared to a saint who has spent his entire life serving his King.  NO MATTER the length or hardness of labor, the “inheritance” is the same.

Jesus then brackets this parable by again saying, “The last will be first, and the first last.” to make sure we understand. 

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Matthew 21 shows Jesus, at the beginning of “Holy Week,” triumphally entering Jerusalem on a donkey’s foal. But we’ll look at it more closely in a day or two in the other Gospels.

In the temple, Jesus continues to heal the blind and lame and teach the people. The religious leaders were indignant when they saw this and heard the children calling, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” 

“Do you hear what they are saying???” they asked Jesus.

“Yep. Haven’t you ever read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and infants You have ordained praise?” (Psalm 8:2).  Saying that, Jesus turned His back to them and left the city. He lodged in Bethany (maybe in the home of Martha and Mary.)

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In the morning, heading back into Jerusalem, Jesus did another “weird” and controversial thing.  He curses a fig tree for not bearing fruit, and instantly, the tree withers. Huh?  Was this Jesus in a fit of early morning “hanger?”  No, of course not.  From Hosea 9:10 and Joel 1:7, we learn that the fig tree is often a “picture” of Israel. The curse on the barren fig tree symbolizes judgment on them for spiritual fruitlessness despite all their privilege and the prophecies about their Messiah.  (Jesus also uses this as a teaching point to His disciples about having faith when you pray.)

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In the temple, the religious leaders are still after Jesus. They want to arrest him at any cost, so they try to catch him by asking about His authority to teach and act as He did.  Jesus throws the question back at them, asking about John the Baptist, and they cannot answer.

Then, He tells a parable that surely the disciples recognize as pointing to another failure of Israel to obey God despite their privilege.  Two sons.  One command. (Work in the vineyard today.) The first son says, “No way!” but changes his mind and obeys.  The second son says, “Sure, Dad.” but it’s a lie, and he does his own thing. 

“Which son did the will of the father?”  Jesus asks them.  When they answer correctly, Jesus basically tells them that sinners (tax collectors, etc.) are like the first son, but they turn and follow Jesus, while THEY, the religious leaders who had access to the very Word of God, refuse to obey.  (How clear can Jesus get??)

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To heap more coals of condemnation on their heads, Jesus tells another parable about a King with a vineyard, some worthless tenants, several servants, and finally, the King’s Son, who go to receive the harvest. All are killed by the greedy, black-hearted tenants.

When Jesus asks what they think, the religious leaders proclaim their own condemnation and punishment, “The king will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”  (Talk about your own words coming back on your head!!)

Jesus agrees with them and says to their chagrined, angered faces, “Therefore I tell YOU, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.”

“GRRRRR…..” they think, but are afraid to arrest Jesus because the crowd reveres Him as a prophet. 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 304

Oct31

Day 304—Today is the last day of the TENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

    Day 304 – Matthew 19, Mark 10.  (Divorce, Rich young ruler, Children, James & John’s request.)

These two chapters cover some of the same events in Jesus’ ministry. They are set in Judea rather than Galilee, and the area is thick with religious hierarchy.

Some Pharisees come to Jesus “to test Him” about a point of the law concerning divorce. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” they asked. “What did Moses (the law) say?” Jesus responded, showing He knew what they were up to. When they answered that Moses said it was okay for a man to divorce his wife, Jesus said, “He wrote that because of the hardness of your heart.”  Jesus explained that from the beginning, GOD meant that a man and wife be joined together forever.

Later, His disciples quizzed Him about it, and He told them that whoever divorces his (her) mate and marries another is committing adultery. “If that’s the case,” they said. “It is better not to marry at all.” Jesus agrees that for some, this is the best option.

Interestingly, the next scene involves children (the result of a married union). Parents wanted Jesus to touch, bless, and pray for their children, but the snooty disciples rebuked them, thinking the Master was too busy for babies. Jesus was indignant with their attitude and instead welcomed children, saying that anyone who would enter the Kingdom of  God must come in faith like those little ones. He gathered them onto his lap and blessed them.

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As we saw in Luke 18, Matthew and Mark tell the story of the rich, young ruler who came to Jesus with a heart question: “What (what good deed) must I DO to “inherit” eternal life?”  (Note: a person does not DO something to INHERIT. It is freely given because of a relationship.)  (Also, the man calls Jesus ‘good’ teacher, and Jesus makes sure he knows just WHO he is talking to.  Only God is good, so realize, young man, that I am giving you God’s answer.)

The man says he has kept perfectly, since his youth, ALL God’s commandments concerning how to treat other people, but he still feels something lacking. Mark says, “Jesus, looking at him, loved him.”  Jesus knew the man’s heart and that his money was “king.”  “Go, sell all you have, give it to the poor, and follow Me, and you will have treasure in Heaven.” (Give up the throne of your life, that “I” might sit on it.)  But, alas, the VERY RICH young man could not. Both he and Jesus were saddened (disheartened and sorrowful) at the conclusion.

The disciples again quiz Jesus. Peter says, “See, we have left everything and followed You. What then will we have?”  Jesus acknowledges their sacrifice and assures them that they will indeed “inherit” eternal life (and be reimbursed in other ways in THIS life, too.)

Here (for the third time), Jesus tells them He is on the road to a greater sacrifice – His own life for theirs. It will involve physical and emotional suffering and death. But he will rise after three days.

This sparks a favor that brothers James and John want to ask Jesus.  “When you come into your glory, can we sit on your right and left?”  (Um, did they not just hear Jesus tell of His upcoming pain, humiliation, and death???)

“Can YOU TWO go through all that I am destined to endure?  Can you drink that bitter cup I must drink?”  “Yes. Sure, we can.” They say. (I can imagine Jesus sighing and shaking his head at this.”  Yes, you will drink this cup (speaking at their own martyrdom), but it’s not up to Me to decide who sits by me in the kingdom.”  God has chosen those for that spot.

For sure, this made the other ten disciples indignant.  Who do those “sons of thunder” think they are?  Who made them special?  As with a class of kindergarteners, Jesus tells His men/boys, “Whoever would be great among you must be your SERVANT, and whoever would be first among you must be SLAVE of all.  EVEN I, the Son of Man, came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 295

Oct22

  Day 295—We are in the TENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

    Day 295 – Matthew 18 (parables, temptations to sin, forgiveness, when a brother sins)

Jesus’ disciples are at it again after Jesus tells Peter to fish for a coin out of a fish for the Temple Tax for Peter and Himself.  The rest want to know, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom?’

Maybe they were thinking that Peter was most favored; maybe they were thinking of the late, great Baptist…. or someone else.  Jesus surprised them by picking up a little child and perhaps settling it on His lap. 

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn (repent) and become like children, you will never ENTER (let alone be greatest) in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the “greatest” in the kingdom of heaven.”

(NOTE: I need to be repentant and humble; childlike, not childish.)

Verse 6. “One of these little ones who believe in Me,”  Jesus warns them never to cause one to sin. 

Verse 10. “One of these little ones,”  Jesus says, “See that you do not despise one.”

Verse 14. “One of these little ones.” Jesus states firmly, “It is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one should perish. Their angels always see the face of my Father.” He illustrates this by telling a story where a man leaves 99 sheep to find a lost little one.

Verses 15-35.  Jesus teaches about sin and forgiveness; 1) what to do if a brother sins against you, 2) how many times are we to forgive a brother who sins against us, 3) the parable about being forgiven much and forgiving others, and 4) HOW to forgive one who sins against you. 

  1.  The steps of reconciliation with a Christian brother who sins against you are: First, go to him privately and talk about it. Second, take a couple believers with you and talk about it. Next, if it’s not resolved, tell the congregation of believers. Finally, if he still refuses to listen, separate him from the group of believers — until he repents — so the discord won’t spread.
  2. When Peter asks Jesus, ‘How many times do I have to forgive a brother who sins against me, seven times?’  You can almost hear Jesus sigh. Oh, Peter, how many times have I forgiven you just this week??  But He doesn’t say that. Instead, Jesus says a number – 490 times – which would be impossible to keep track of.  The point is, don’t keep track. Just forgive! Always.
  3. Jesus then tells them a parable about a servant who is forgiven a vast amount of money by a king ($4-6 million today), who then goes to a fellow servant who owes him a mere pocketful of cash.  The forgiven servant has no pity on the man and has him thrown into debtor’s prison till he can pay.  The king eventually hears what he did and rescinds his forgiveness, calling him “a wicked servant.” Then, this formerly debt-free but unforgiving man is jailed for about 150,000 years until he can pay HIS debt.  
  4. Jesus then looks around at his shocked disciples. “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 292

Oct19

  Day 292—We are in the TENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

    Day 292 – Matthew 15, Mark 7 (traditions VS commands, defilement, woman’s daughter, healings, 4K fed)

In both Matthew 15 and Mark 7, the religious leaders object to Jesus’ disciples breaking “the traditions of the elders” by not washing their hands (in a ceremonial way) before eating and so defiling themselves.

Jesus comes right back with the question, “Why do YOU break GOD’s commandment for the sake of “your traditions?”  He explained that they broke the 5th Commandment about Honoring Parents by stealing the financial support they should be giving them and instead “dedicating it to God.” (And probably getting a tax break?)  HYPOCRITES! Jesus called them.  And Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13.

          “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

Then Jesus calls the larger crowd around him and explains what it is that does defile a person.  It’s what comes out of their mouths. 

He further explains to His disciples that what is in a person’s heart — (evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, coveting, wickedness, deceit, envy, pride, foolishness, false witness, and slander) — when it comes out of the mouth in words, well, THAT is what defiles a person.   “Eating with ceremonially unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

 

Jesus and his disciples then withdrew to the districts of Tyre and Sidon (north of Israel) because He wanted some time alone with them.  But a gentile woman came to him and cried out desperately.

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon!”

Testing her, Jesus said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.“  

“Lord, help me!” she said, kneeling before Him.

“It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,” Jesus said, again testing her.

She boldly answered, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

“O woman, great is your faith!”  Jesus said,  “Be it done for you as you desire.”  And the daughter was healed instantly.

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After that, Jesus was totally cheered by the woman’s faith (a gentile at that), and went back to Galilee. There, He healed the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others.  One man in particular (Luke) was deaf and mute.  Jesus took him aside privately, put his fingers in his ears, and touched his tongue. He looked to heaven, sighed, and said to the man, BE OPENED. The man’s ears were opened, and his tongue was released. 

The people, astonished beyond measure, said, “Glory be to the God of Israel. He has done all things well.”