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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.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 291

Oct18

  Day 291—We are in the TENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

    Day 291 – John 6 (Another recount of 5,000 fed and walking on water, the Bread of Life discourse, believing in Him, Peter’s proclamation.)

John 6. This chapter covers a lot. The first part is about and adds some details to the feeding of the 5,000 (it was near Passover; they sat on grass; the crowd wanted to make him king) and Jesus walking on water (immediately the boat was at land).

THE NEXT DAY, Jesus teaches one of His most difficult discourses on the BREAD OF LIFE. The crowds He’d fed so handily now rush around the lake to confront Him again.

“Rabbi, how did you get here?”  (Um, I walked on water, then got into a boat that came instantly to shore.)

“You all are seeking me for the miracles and the loaves,” Jesus says. “Don’t work for the food that perishes, but the food that endures to eternal life, which I will give you.”

“What must we DO to be doing the WORKS of God?”

“The WORK OF GOD is to believe in Him whom He has sent.”

“What sign do you do that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?”  (Duh, what about the free bread/fish they got yesterday and all the miracle healings?)  “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. He gave them bread from heaven.”

“It was NOT MOSES who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father. And He gives you the TRUE Bread from Heaven that gives life to the world.”

YAY!!!  “Sir, give us this bread always!!”

“I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.  You’ve seen me, but you won’t believe it.”

And Jesus tells them that EVERYONE the Father gives Him will come to Him.  He has come down from heaven to do His Father’s will, and He will lose no one that the Father gives him. And “THIS is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 

Grumble, grumble, grumble. “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose mom and dad we know?  How can you say you come down from heaven???”

Jesus tells them not to grumble but to face the facts. No one can come to Him unless the Father draws them.  He is the bread of life. Their fathers ate manna, but they died.  Those who eat the LIVING BREAD will live forever.  “And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

What????

“Yes, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. For my flesh is TRUE FOOD, and my blood is TRUE DRINK.  If you eat and drink this, you will ABIDE IN ME AND I IN YOU.

This was WAY TOO MUCH for those Kosher Jews, and they left Him. Many of his followers also turned back and no longer walked with Him. 

“Do YOU twelve want to go away as well?” Jesus asked them.

“Lord, to whom shall we go?  YOU have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to KNOW that you are the Holy One of God,”  said Peter.  (YES! Amen, Peter.)

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NOTE:  Jesus was teaching in an analogy that had SPIRITUAL rather than LITERAL meaning.  Just as eating and drinking are necessary for physical life, so is belief in His sacrificial death on the cross necessary for eternal life.  The eating of His flesh and drinking of His blood metaphorically symbolize the need for accepting Jesus’ work on the cross.  To the Jews, a crucified Messiah was UNTHINKABLE. And they could not see the absolute spiritual truth behind Jesus’ statements.

PS: Jesus is not speaking here of communion. That ordinance does NOT teach that communicants would receive eternal life.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 290

Oct17

  Day 290—We are in the TENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

    Day 290 – Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9 (John the Baptist killed, 5000 fed, walks on water, transfiguration)

Matthew 14.  Herod Antipas, one of Herod the Great’s sons, is ruling in Galilee. He stole his brother Phillip’s wife, Herodias, for himself, and John the Baptist condemned him.  Now, he’s having nightmares because he hears about Jesus preaching and doing miracles. He wonders if He could be the Baptist reincarnated!!

GUILTY CONSCIENCE!  For, at Herodias’s request, the king had beheaded John. It was at a big birthday party when his scantily-clothed stepdaughter danced, and he foolishly offered her a wish. Herodias told her to ask for the prophet’s head on a platter, and it was done. Herod was very sorry afterward, but “his word” and all that.  Now, this deed haunted Herod.

John’s disciples buried his body and told Jesus.  When Jesus heard, he withdrew in a boat to a desolate place (to grieve and pray?). John had been the one to introduce Him, who’d prepared His way, said He was the Lamb of God, pointed his own disciples to Jesus, and baptized Him.

But when Jesus came ashore, a vast crowd met him with their own needs. With compassion, Jesus healed and taught them, and when evening approached, He told his disciples to feed them.

“Say what? There’s…. fifteen thousand people here with the women and kids!”

“Tell them to sit in groups and bring that young boy to me. The one with the lunch bag.”

Jesus took the five rolls and two dried fish the boy offered, thanked God, and fed the multitude. Afterward, the disciples each got a take-home basket. Jesus dismissed the satisfied crowd and sent His men into the boat to go home. He remained to grieve for His cousin and pray to His Father.

Around midnight, Jesus “saw” His disciples struggling in a storm on the lake.  He went to them, walking on the water. (Was it fun?)  They thought they were seeing a ghost!

“Don’t fear, it’s just Me.”

“If it IS you, Lord, command me to come to you on the water.

“Come.”

And Peter walked on the water with Jesus until he looked down at the waves and started to sink.  Jesus quickly grabbed his hand.  “Why did you doubt?”  When they both were back into the boat, the wind ceased.  “You are truly the Son of God.” they cried in awe.

Back on the other side, another crowd recognized and rushed to Him, bringing their sick and begging to touch the fringe of His garment.  And as many as did so were healed.

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Mark 6.  Mark tells again about the beheading of the Baptist, Jesus feeding the great multitude with the boy’s lunch, His coming to them in the storm by walking atop the water, and the incredible healing of a crowd that only touched the tassels of his garment.

He also retells the incident when Jesus first went into the synagogue, read the scroll, and claimed to be the One Isaiah was writing about. Of course, they took offense. “He marveled because of their unbelief.”

He also adds a note to Matthew’s account (Matt. 10) that the Twelve who went out proclaimed that people should repent, cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil so they were healed.

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Luke 9.  Luke also recounts Jesus sending out the Twelve, giving them POWER and AUTHORITY over demons and diseases.

He also recounts Herod’s confusion over John and the feeding of the 5,000.  Then he tells of another time when they were with Jesus, but Jesus had been praying alone.

Jesus suddenly asks them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

“John the Baptist.”

“Elijah.”

“One of the other prophets that has risen.”

“But who do YOU say I am,” Jesus asked.

Peter answered boldly, “The Christ of God.”

“Tell this to no one,” Jesus warned. “The Son of Man must first suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

EIGHT DAYS LATER, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on another mountain to pray.  And there He was TRANSFIGURED.  The appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And with Him, Moses and Elijah appeared, talking about the very same “departure” in Jerusalem that He’d just told the disciples about.

Peter, James, and John found themselves flat on their faces on the ground, unconscious.  Peter awoke, saw Moses and Elijah leaving, and said, “Master, it’s great that we are here. Let’s make three tents, one for you, Moses, and Elijah—-“.

Then came a voice from heaven. (Shut up, Peter.)  “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to HIM!”  No one said anything as they made their way back down the mountain.

Down at the bottom, his other disciples struggled to heal a boy with convulsions.  Jesus stepped up and healed him. And, all were astonished at the majesty of God.

While they were still marveling at everything, Jesus said, “Let these words sink into your ears. The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” 

Huh?

LATER, they argued who was the greatest among them (Did the Transfiguration Three start that??), and Jesus had to scold them

LATER AGAIN, they tried to stop someone who was casting out demons, saying that he wasn’t ALLOWED TO because he wasn’t in their group.  Again, Jesus scolded them.

STILL LATER, they wanted to call down fire from heaven on a village of Samaritans because they didn’t welcome Jesus.  This time, Jesus REBUKED them.

(I wonder if this is how Jesus feels about ME sometimes.)