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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 310

Nov6

A NEW MONTH!

Day 310 – Reading – Mark 13

Read and believe in Jesus!

Mark 13.

Today’s reading is another account of the dire predictions we read about yesterday in Luke 21, and what we will read about again in Matthew 24 tomorrow.  The setting is Jerusalem, mid-week before the horrible time of Jesus’s suffering leading up to His crucifixion on Passover. He has had several encounters with Jewish leaders, who are even angrier now. 

Jesus also spoke some dire things about the future that have made His disciples curious.  When they leave the Temple, one of His disciples comments, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”

Jesus answers him cryptically, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”  

As they walked through Jerusalem and out the gates, through the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives, I’m sure they were thinking about what Jesus had predicted.  From their viewpoint, they could see the Holy City across the Western horizon, with the Temple prominently standing. All the enormous stones were “golden” in the setting sun.  It was hard to imagine it all in rubble.  (But hadn’t that very thing happened centuries before when Babylon attacked and destroyed the city and temple, taking Israel into exile?  Would that happen again?  (Sadly, yes.)

Sadly, this first part would happen in less than 40 years after Jesus’ warning. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple buildings by the Roman General Titus occurred in 70 A.D., and thousands of Jews were killed or taken as slaves.

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As they rested on the Mount of Olives – possibly in the Garden of Gethsemane – the four fisherman brothers (Peter & Andrew, James & John) approached Jesus privately. “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”

They wondered if this would happen very soon, not-so soon, or not for a long while. Should they start preparing? 

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His answer may have been confusing. 

Jesus begins with warnings, “Beware that no one leads you astray.”  “Don’t be alarmed.”  “Be on your guard.”  “Don’t be anxious.”  “The one who endures to the end will be saved.”

This first section seems to refer to the near future, and the persecution they will suffer after He has departed.  However, it could refer to any suffering by believers throughout the centuries.  There will be “false Messiahs” coming that try to fool believers into believing that He has returned.  There will be earthquakes, famines, and wars between nations, but these are just the beginning.

They are to expect persecution from the Jews and governments (think of all that happens in the book of Acts) as they spread the Gospel.  They will be brought to court to give their testimony.  In those times, the Holy Spirit will show them what to say. 

And they are to expect persecution even from their own families, including being put to death (possibly out of fear for their own lives).

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In the next section, Jesus seems to be warning believers IN THE END TIMES. (see verse 14, “let the reader understand.)  The Antichrist of the Great Tribulation will act and appear like that historical Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria in the second century B.C., who raided Jerusalem, killing 80,000 Jews, and then set up a statue of Zeus in the temple and sacrificed pigs on the holy altar. 

Jesus, “For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be.  And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved.  (Read Revelation for further details.)  But for the sake of the elect, whom God chose, He shortened the days.”

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I’m sure the disciples were thoroughly scared by then (I would be).  But Jesus has a little more to reveal.

“After that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”  (As if they were not fearful enough!)  

“And THEN 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.”

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And as for their “When?” question, Jesus gives an example of the fig tree.  When it begins to leaf out, you know that summer is near. “So, also, WHEN YOU SEE THESE THINGS TAKING PLACE, you know that he (and the Kingdom of God) is near, at the very gates. 

Then, before they can ask further, Jesus answers. “But concerning the DAY and the HOUR… no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”  Only those alive in that final generation will live to see the return of Christ.

And some final warnings, “Be on guard. Keep awake. Stay awake.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 309

Nov5

A NEW MONTH!

Day 309 – Reading – Matthew 23 and Luke 20-21

Read and believe in Jesus!

Matthew 23.

Remember in yesterday’s study, Jesus was confronted with several groups of the Jewish religious leaders with questions meant to trick Him.  Jesus never faltered, and even asked THEM a question that left them stumped.  Then He warned his disciples to “Beware of the scribes/Pharisees for their hypocrisy.”

Now, this chapter is a series of scathing remarks or judgments on those very leaders to warn the crowds and his disciples about their evil ways.

But first, a caveat. Jesus tells his hearers that these leaders do “sit on Moses’ seat.” In other words, the laws they teach ARE holy as God gave them to Moses.  The people are to “practice and observe” what these leaders SAY from the Scriptures, but they are not to imitate what they DO.

Why?  As hypocrites, they “heap heavy burdens, hard to bear, on the people’s shoulders, but don’t lift a finger to help them.   And they “do all their deeds to be seen by others.”  They love the places of honor, the best seats, greetings in the marketplace, and to be called “rabbi.”  “Don’t be like that,” Jesus tells them. “The greatest among you shall be your servant.”

Then Jesus doubles down with seven “woes” or condemnations.

  1. WOE!  Jesus condemned their harsh demands on the people (far above what Moses wrote), and yet they did not observe them.
  2. WOE!  These hypocrites went to great lengths to make a single convert to Judaism, but then made him “a child of the devil” by their excessive demands.
  3. WOE!  These “blind fools” valued gold, offerings, and material objects more than the sacred things of God.
  4. WOE!  These hypocrites tithed minutely on everything, even the herbs they used, but they neglected the weightier things of God’s Law, like justice, mercy, and faithfulness.  They were straining out “gnats” while swallowing “camels.”
  5. WOE!  These blind hypocrites washed the “outside” of their cups and plates in precise, legalistic ways, while allowing the serving pieces to be full of greed and self-indulgence.  “First, clean the inside!” Jesus told them.
  6. WOE!  Jesus told these hypocrites that they were like white-washed tombs.  Pretty on the outside with their self-righteousness, but inside, they were full of “dead bones and uncleanness,” which is what Jesus called their hypocrisy and lawlessness.
  7. WOE!  They were such “false” leaders that they built monuments to honor the prophets of old who spoke God’s truth.  And all the while they were KILLING them because they did not want to hear God’s condemnation. Jesus calls these sons of murderers, “serpents” and a “brood of vipers” and asks, “How are you to escape being sentenced to hell?”  Jesus says HE is sending them prophets, wise men, and scribes, but they will kill and crucify some, and others flog and persecute … so that … on YOU may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from Abel to Zechariah. 

 

Then Jesus turns to his surroundings and weeps.  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!  How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings … and you would not!

“See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

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Luke 21.

While some were looking around and speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stores and offerings, Jesus said,  “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”   (Did they think of the first Temple’s destruction and their exile?)

“Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?  they asked, worried.

Jesus:  “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and ‘The time is at hand!’  Do not go after them.  And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.

Then Jesus lists events that will occur before His return.  Some are distant, even to us right now. Others will happen in 70 a.d. when the Romans destroy Jerusalem and the Temple.

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  • “Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom.
  • There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences.
  • There will be terrors and great signs in the heavens.
  • Before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, before kings and governors for My name’s sake. (You will be given wisdom to witness.)
  • You will be delivered up even by parents and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.
  • You will be hated by all for My name’s sake.
  • And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is near.  FLEE to the mountains.
  • There will be great distress upon the earth, and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and be led captive among all nations.
  • And Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
  • There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations because of the roaring of the sea and waves.
  • People will faint with fear and with foreboding of what is coming o the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
  • And THEN they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  When you see this begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, for your redemption is drawing near.
  • Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”

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Then Jesus turned to them with warning and encouragement.   “But WATCH yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life … that the Day come on you suddenly like a trap.

“Stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place … and to stand before the Son of Man.”

 

(Definitely a serious lesson and it may cause us to be fearful, but TRUST in Jesus, pray, and believe.)

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 305

Nov1

A NEW MONTH!

Day 305 – Reading – Matthew 20 – 21

Read and believe in Jesus!

Matthew 20.

The Parable of the Vineyard. (Read verses 1-16. What do you think is Jesus’ message?)

At sun-up (6:00 a.m.), a vineyard owner went to the marketplace to hire day workers. (You’ve all see them: men waiting abound Home Depot or other places for day work.)  The owner picked some and took them to his vineyard. On the way, they settled on the usual day’s pay for a day’s work – a denarius.   

The owner saw that he would need more laborers. Perhaps the heat was damaging the grapes, or a storm threatened.  At 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. he went back and hired more men. Each of these later hires agreed on “what was fair” as pay.

At 6:00 p.m. (12 hours after the first hire), the owner told the foreman to pay the men and send them home. All had done a great job.  Oh, and he was to begin with the last hired, and go on until the first hired with his “paychecks”. (coins) 

The foreman did just that.  As the earliest hires who had worked a full 12 hours watched the others being paid the same wage they had agreed on, the thought “Wow, WE must be getting much more, having been here ALL DAY.  But when the foreman came to them, he doled out a denarius to each.  These workers looked at the coin in their hand and were disappointed, even a bit outraged. THEY had worked for 12 hours, the last men had worked only ONE!  It wasn’t fair!

Was it?

The owner of the vineyard came to see the problem and asked them, “Friends, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?  Take your pay and go. I choose to give these last workers as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?  Do you begrudge my generosity?”  

Jesus added to the listeners of this parable to help their understanding, “So the last will be first, and the first last.”

OH PLEASE! Let us not begrudge the Lord’s generosity!  For this is a picture-story of all those who are saved by faith in the work of Jesus on the cross.  Some are saved early and work their entire lives for God, perhaps even giving their lives as martyrs.  Then some believe and are saved late in their lives, such as an old gentleman, or and elderly house cleaner.  Or … the thief on the cross.  They have no, or very little time to work in some ministry.  The thief, had only time to BELIEVE.  But still, we all can be confident that a beautiful, forever “Eternal Life” is waiting for us when they die.  Praise God! Thank You for Your so great salvation!

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Matthew 21.

The time of Jesus “hour” that he predicted three times to His disciples … is beginning.  Having set His face like a flint to do as His Father asks, Jesus now approaches Jerusalem. They stop in Bethphage.  Jesus is not tired, but He knows there is scripture to be fulfilled. (Zechariah 9:9) He sends two of His disciples into town to get a donkey for Him to ride on. (Matthew tells us that the donkey had a foal, which had never be ridden.)  

“But what if…” they questioned Jesus.

“If anyone asks, say, ‘The Lord has need of it.”

They get the animals and throw their cloaks on the back of the colt, and Jesus sat on it.  (Now…in normal life, that unbroke colt would have shied away from the flapping cloaks, and surely bucked at the weight of a human on its back.  But this Man, was his Creator. He instantly obeyed.)

As Jesus began riding down the Mount of Olives toward the City gate, the crowd “saw” what was happening.  They began to throw their cloaks and cut palm branches on the road before Jesus.  Excitement grew, and they began shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosannah in the highest!” (Psalm 118:25)

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up.  “Who is this?” some cried.  “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee!”

(If you want to see how all this (and Jesus’ death) fulfills Daniel’s “weeks” prophecy, read Daniel 9:24-26.)

(At some point, Jesus dismounts the colt and either a disciple, or the owner who followed along, takes the two animals away.) 

Jesus enters the Temple area and sees again the “marketplace atmosphere” of buying and selling sacrificial animals, and changing money.  Jesus is furious for His Father’s sake.  He drives them all out, quoting Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11.  “My house shall be called a house of prayer, but YOU make it a den of robbers!”

Cleansed, the temple court now becomes a place of healing for all who come to Him. 

BUT, when the chief priests and scribes SAW the wonderful things that He did, and the children calling “Hosanna to the Son of David!” THEY WERE INDIGNANT.

Leaders: “Do you hear what they are saying!!??”

Jesus: “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise?”  (Psalm 8;2)

Then Jesus left the Holy City and went to Bethany and lodged there. (Perhaps with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.)

The next day, four incidents happen that all point to the failure of Israel and her leaders to obey and please the LORD God.

  • 1.)  The fig tree.  On the way back to the city the next day, Jesus sees a fig tree and reaches for some fruit.  However, the tree is void of all fruit.  Jesus curses it and immediately it withers and dies.  (Remember, that the fig tree often represents Israel. This picture shows Jesus disgust at Israel’s leaders, and is predicting the eventual destruction of the city and their pious rule.
  • 2.) The challenge of authority. Inside the temple court, these leaders come to Jesus demanding WHO gave Him authority to do these things (ride into Jerusalem as Israel’s king and cleansing away the “robbers” in the temple. Jesus asks them a question they fear to answer – from where did John get his authority to baptize” – so Jesus tells them HE won’t answer THEIR question. As Israel’s spiritual leaders, they should be praising God, not questioning the holy One He has sent.
  • 3.) The Parable of the Two Sons represent the leaders themselves, who pompously say they are sent by God, but who do not obey His law, and in fact. corrupt it for the people.  The father asked son #1 to go work in the vineyard.  The son said he didn’t want to go, but later went out to work.  Son #2 said he would go work in the vineyard as his father said, but later did not go out.
  • Jesus said the tax collectors and prostitutes were sinners, but finally obeyed God.  Whereas the religious leaders were represented by the second son who said the kept the entire law, and yet inside they were corrupt and obeyed none of it.
  • 4.) The Parable of the Tenants.  In this parable, the Vineyard owner was God, and the evil tenants were the currant religious leaders.  When God looked for the fruit of righteous in His vineyard, they murdered all God’s servants sent to get it (the prophets) and even HIS SON (Jesus) out of greed.  Jesus told them that the Vineyard owner – God – will come with justice and kill all of them, and give the “vineyard” to others.
  • Jesus was direct with them. “The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and give to a people producing its fruits.”

Of course the chief priests and Pharisees KNEW Jesus was speaking about them.  Right then, they feared to arrest him because of the crowds who held Jesus to be a prophet. But just wait, they thought. 

Just you wait.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 302

Oct29

Day 302 – Reading – John 11

Read and believe in Jesus!

John 11.

THIS Lazarus (brother to Martha & Mary) is not the same as the poor beggar, Lazarus, who sat begging at the rich man’s gate, died, and went to Abraham’s side, in yesterday’s reading.  This man is probably the youngest of the three siblings in a semi-wealthy family. Not rich by any means, but owning a house that could accommodate Jesus and His disciples. 

The Setting:  Jesus and His disciples are way North-East of the Holy City, on the other side of the Jordan River. Jesus had barely escaped being stoned to death for blasphemy in Jerusalem by the Jews. He was well aware of the events that must occur before Passover and His death, and He adjusted His ways.  He later referenced this when He said that the daylight was only for twelve hours each day, and He must “work” while it was light, before the darkness came.

Anyway, while there, a message comes to Him from Martha and Mary. “Lord, he whom You love is ill.” There was no demand for Him to come, although it was probably in their hearts.  Just a statement of need.

(Why aren’t our prayers so simple?  Why do we usually try to plan out all the ways God could answer our desperate needs?)

Jesus immediately tells his disciples that Lazarus’ illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, and so the Son may also be glorified through it. They rest at ease.  Jesus loved this family, but He deliberately stayed two more days where he was.  The disciples didn’t question Him.

Finally, another message arrives saying, “Lazarus is dead.” 

Without sharing that news with His men, Jesus announces, “Let us go to Judea again.”  This confounded them.  If He didn’t go when His friend was sick, why was He going now?  It was dangerous there.  He was a “wanted man.” 

“Rabbi!’ they cried. “The jews were just now seeking to stone you, and you are going there again?”

“Our friend, Lazarus, has ‘fallen asleep,’  but I go to ‘awaken him.’“

“Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover!” they cry.

“Lazarus is dead,” Jesus said plainly. “And for YOUR sake, I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.  Let us go to him.”

Thomas, that melancholy disciple, looked around at his fellows and said with a sigh, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

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By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany (only 2 miles from Jerusalem), Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. When Martha heard that Jesus was near, she went out to meet him.  “Lord! If You had been here, my brother would not have died!” Then she steadied herself. “But even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give you.”

Jesus: “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha: “I know that he will rise again… in the resurrection on the Last Day.”

Jesus: “I AM the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, THOUGH HE DIES, yet shall he live. And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.  Do you believe this?”

Martha: “Yes, Lord; I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

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After proclaiming that truth, Martha went to Mary and told her privately (for there were many well-wishers around), that “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”

Mary rose quickly and went to Him.  When she saw Him, she fell at His feet. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  (Surely the sisters had been saying that to each other for days.)

Jesus spoke to Mary much differently than to Martha.  He responded not in an intellectual way, as with Martha, but purely emotionally, like Mary herself.  He was greatly “moved” in His spirit, and wept with her.  “Where have you laid him?” He asked.  “Lord, come and see.”  

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Jesus was totally overwhelmed again when He arrived at the tomb with Mary.  Martha had gone there earlier. 

Jesus: “Take away the stone.”  (The tomb was a cave with a large stone rolled over the opening.) 

Martha: “Lord, by this time there will be a death odor, for he has been dead FOUR days.”

Jesus: “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

Martha stared at Him a moment, and then commanded that they take away the stone covering the tomb’s entrance.

Jesus looked to heaven and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that You sent Me.”

Then, He shouted ……. “Lazarus, come out!”

Breathless silence, then…..

The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. (a living mummy)

“Unbind him, and let him go,” Jesus said.

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Many of the Jews who had come to comfort Mary and Martha SAW what Jesus did, and believed in Him.  However, (HOW CAN THIS BE TRUE???) some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

The chief priests and Pharisees gathered the Council and said, “WHAT are we TO DO?  This man performs many signs. If we let Him go on like this … everyone will believe in Him…. and then the Romans will come and take away both our place, and our nation!”

Caiaphas, the high priest that year, coolly responded, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that …. it is better for you that ONE MAN should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”

(He didn’t realize that, as high priest, he was prophesying for God, that Jesus would die, not only for the nation of Israel, but to gather into ONE the children of God who are scattered abroad.)

And so, from that day on, they made plans to put Jesus to death.

Jesus, fully aware of His approaching trial and death, went with His men, about 12 miles north of Jerusalem, to a town near the wilderness, until it was time for His triumphal entry into the Holy City as the Messiah.

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Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, people were looking for and talking about Jesus. “What do you think? Will He not come to the festival at all?”

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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 296

Oct23

Day 296 – Reading – John 7 – 8

Read and believe in Jesus!

John 7.

After the transfiguration of Jesus and His strong teaching about the Spirit and the flesh, and that no one could come to Him unless the Father drew them ….. many of His disciples turned away. (Only the Twelve remained, and one of them was a traitor.) So for six months, Jesus concentrated on teaching His chosen disciples, who would become the spiritual leaders once He was gone.

Now it’s October, and the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) has come, when Israel remembers their 40 years in the wilderness and how God cared for them. It was a fun week of living outdoors in the simple “booths” they built in their yards. 

However, Jesus knew that in just six months, at Passover, He would be crucified. Things were getting “hot” for Him in Judea and Jerusalem, so He chose not to go to the celebration with the crowds, as his family urged Him.  It was not His “time” to be arrested and killed, so He remained in Galilee until the roads had cleared. Then, He slipped in privately. 

Jesus was right, of course, because in Jerusalem, “the Jews were looking for Him at the feast, asking everyone, ‘Where is he?'”  Even the general population argued about him. “He is a good man!”  “No, he’s leading the people astray!”

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About the middle of the Feast week, Jesus went up to the Temple court and began to teach.  The Jews, while seeking to get rid of Him, could not help but be amazed at His teaching. “How is it that this man has learning when he never studied?’

Jesus, hearing their thoughts, said, “My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me. If anyone’s heart truly wants to do the will of God, he will KNOW whether my teaching is from God or myself.”

Then, turning the conversation to what the Jews really wanted, Jesus said, “WHY DO YOU WANT TO KILL ME?”

“You’re crazy and have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?”

Jesus spoke aloud (so the people could hear) that they sought to kill Him because of the miraculous healings He did on the Sabbath.  “YOU circumcise a baby on the eighth day, so as not to break the Law of Moses …. even if it is on the SABBATH DAY.”  And Jesus told them to ‘judge with right judgment.”

The common people didn’t really know their scriptures either.  Some thought Jesus might just be the Messiah, but others argued that “no one will know where the Messiah comes from, but we know that Jesus comes from Nazareth.“ (WRONG on both counts!)

But some did believe in Him, saying, “When the Messiah comes, will He do more signs than THIS man?”  When the Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things, they sent officers to arrest Him. 

Jesus said, “I’ll be with you a little longer, then I am going to Him who sent me. You will seek me, and you will not find me.” 

The Jews asked one another, “WHERE does He intend to go?  To the Dispersion among the Greeks?  What does He mean???”

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At the end of the week, Jesus gave them a wonderful object lesson.

On the last day of the feast, a golden vessel filled with water from the Pool of Siloam would be carried up to the Temple mount in a joyous procession. There, three trumpets (ram’s horns) would blast, and the people would shout in unison; Isaiah 12:3. “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”  The vessel would be carried around the altar and eventually offered in sacrifice to God.  It symbolized the blessing of the plentiful rainfall for the crops.

It was at that point that Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” (Ezekiel 47:1)  (Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive.)

Some of the people who heard him said, “This really IS the Prophet,” and “This is the Christ!”  But others scoffed, saying, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee?“

The officers that the Pharisees sent to arrest Jesus returned to them empty-handed.

“Why did you not bring him?” the Jews demanded.

“No one ever spoke like this man!” said the officers.

“Have YOU also been deceived?  Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in Him?

Then Nicodemus stood up and said, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?”

The other Pharisees answered Nicodemus, “Are YOU from Galilee too?  Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

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John 8.

(We’ll return to 8:1-11in a minute.)

Another time at this Festival, four large lamps were lit in the Court of the Women. Then an exuberant celebration with dancing throughout the night to the music of the Levitical orchestra took place under the light of those lamps. 

As the lamps were being lit, Jesus called out, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life!” (Referencing scriptures like Psalm 27:1 and Isaiah 60:19-21, etc.) 

The Pharisees called back, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony IS NOT TRUE.” (Jewish law required TWO witnesses.)

Jesus: “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going. I bear witness about myself ….  AND the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”

Pharisees, “Where is Your Father?”

Jesus, “You neither know ME nor my FATHER. You are from the world; I am not of this world.  And you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am He.”

Pharisees, “WHO ARE YOU?”

Jesus, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He.”

Hearing this conversation, MANY believe in Jesus.  He turned to them and said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The Pharisees argue with Jesus about their heritage (Abraham) and His (a Samaritan or the devil).  He eventually tells them that He knows Abraham, and they wildly protest. Jesus answers, “Truly, truly, before Abraham was …. I AM.

And they picked up stones to kill him for blasphemy.  But Jesus hid himself and left the temple.

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John 8:1-11

Back to the beginning of the chapter. It seems this event was inserted here to show more conflict with the Jewish leaders and the Law. But it probably happened at another time, as Jesus was on the Mount of  Olives.

Early in the morning. they brought a woman to Him who had been “caught in the act of adultery.” They had probably invaded the home in the middle of the night on a tip …. or, having followed her …. or, even having set her up.  The question is: Where is the man? In Mosaic Law (see Leviticus 20:10), BOTH PARTIES caught in adultery were to be stoned.

This, of course, was a “test” to trap Jesus in a legal dilemma. 

“Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do you say?” You can almost see their arrogant, smarmy smiles.  Did each of them also have a stone in hand?

Silence.

Finally, Jesus stoops and begins writing in the dirt with His finger.

What did He write?  We don’t know.

Perhaps it was Leviticus 20:10.

Perhaps it was a list of a few secret sins that each of THEM was hiding.

Finally, He stood. “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Jesus again stopped and wrote on the ground.

Was it a list of sins THEY were guilty of?

Was it a list of THEIR names, from the eldest down?

We don’t know, but slowly, beginning with the older ones, they left, one by one, silently.

Finally, Jesus spoke. “Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?

The woman: “No one, Lord.”

Jesus: “Neither do I condemn you: go, and from now on, sin no more.” 

Such compassion and forgiveness, for truly, Jesus was THE ONLY ONE without sin.

…

Interestingly, this scene ends WITH NO ONE BEING STONED, just as the chapter ends with these same men picking up stones to kill Jesus.  HE ALSO was NOT STONED. 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 294

Oct21

Day 294 – Reading – Matthew 17 and Mark 9

Read and believe in Jesus!

Matthew 17 and Mark 9,

After telling His disciples about His soon-to-arrive suffering, death, and resurrection, Jesus says something hard to understand. “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not see death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Our first thought may be, well, WE are here, 2000 years later, and WE haven’t seen Jesus coming into His Kingdom.  But consider a few other thoughts. Jesus could have been referring to His resurrection.  Or, perhaps the coming of His Holy Spirit at Pentecost was in His mind. 

But most likely, Jesus was referring to His “transfiguration” when Peter, James, and John saw Jesus glorified.  In both Matthew and Mark (and Luke), it’s the very next thing that happened after those words.

Jesus and the disciples were still in northern Galilee around Caesarea Philippi. Mt. Hermon (9,000 ft.) is nearby. Jesus took the “inner-circle” disciples, Peter, James, and John, up into this “high mountain.”

Jesus was “transfigured” before them.  And these three disciples saw Him, in some of His ‘Eternal Glory.’

  • Peter says in his account – 2 Peter 1:16b-18. “…we (3) were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain.”

Matthew: “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light.”

Mark: “His clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.”

(Luke: “The appearance of His face was altered and His clothes became dazzling white.”)

Can you imagine?

And THEN, as if this vision was not enough, the revered Old Testament heroes, MOSES and ELIJAH (representing the Law and Prophets), appeared with Jesus.  These two men, whose own deaths are a mystery, were discussing Jesus’ own upcoming “departure,” which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem in just a few months. 

  • What do you think they were saying to Jesus?  How were they encouraging Him, do you think?
  • I believe they were calling to His remembrance all the Old Testament scriptures that pointed to Him – beginning at Genesis 3:15 (which Moses wrote) about the “seed of the woman crushing the head of the serpent.”
  • Did Moses remind Jesus of the “Passover Lamb” whose blood on the doors saved a nation from the death angel? Now He would provide salvation to ALL who believed.
  • Perhaps Elijah brought the prophecy of Isaiah 53 to Jesus’ remembrance, reviewing His upcoming suffering, but also the final reward He would have in the Redeemed Saints He would take to Glory. 
  • Maybe Elijah, thinking of the chariot of fire that took him to heaven, encouraged Jesus that He too would return to His Father by being “lifted up to the sky,” while his disciples watched.

We don’t know. My thoughts are just speculation. But in some way, these Old Testament powerhouses strengthened Jesus for the road ahead, and the “cup” he would drink.

And then…

Peter’s words penetrated all that sweet communion. “Lord. It is good that WE are here. If You wish, I will make three tents here, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah…!”

But the Father interrupted him, covering the scene with a bright cloud and saying in majesty, “THIS is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, LISTEN TO HIM.”

When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. Perhaps they even fainted, because it took Jesus coming to them, touching them, and saying, “Rise, and have no fear” for them to see that the vision had gone.

On the way down the mountain, Jesus commanded the three, “You are to tell NO ONE about the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”   They kept the matter among themselves, but they didn’t really understand what Jesus meant by ‘rising from the dead.’

###

When they came back to the rest of the disciples, they saw a crowd with them, some Jewish officials, a man, and a very distressed boy.  There was loud arguing by the Jewish scribes, and a great deal of distress in the crowd.

“What’s going on here? What are you arguing about?” Jesus wanted to know.

A man from the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought my son to You, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid.  So….I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”

Jesus sighed. “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?  Bring him to me.”

They brought the boy to Jesus, and when it saw Him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.  

Jesus turned to the father, “How long has this been happening to him?

“From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him.” answered the man. “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 

Jesus, to the man, “If YOU can.  All things are possible for one who believes.”

Immediately the father cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Jesus, seeing the crowd amassing around them, said, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come of of him and never enter him again.”

And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that some said he was actually dead.  But Jesus took the boy by the hand and lifted him up. And he arose.  And all were astonished at the majesty of God. 

Later, in the house, the disciples asked Jesus privately why they could not cast the spirit out.  Jesus confided in them that “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”  

###

A little later, back in Galilee, Jesus was trying to keep His disciples isolated, for He was teaching them. “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days He will rise.”

The disciples were greatly distressed and did not understand what He was saying. And they were afraid to ask Him.  Jesus would keep reminding then of what MUST happen to Him, clear up to the night of His arrest. But they didn’t understand and wouldn’t accept it.   

.

How sweet it must have been to talk with Moses and Elijah on the mountain. They affirmed what was going to happen to Him. And they encouraged Him that indeed, He WOULD rise from the dead, to the glory of God. The plan of salvation, decided on before creation, would be accomplished. Jesus would conquer death and the devil and save His people from their sins.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 292 and 293

Oct20

SUNDAY and MONDAY, posted on MONDAY

Day 292 – Reading – Matthew 15 and Mark 7

Day 293 – Reading – Matthew 16 and Mark 8

Read and believe in Jesus!

SUNDAY – Matthew 15 and Mark 7.

The religious leaders are still trying to find something against Jesus so they can arrest Him. They watch him with hawk eyes. 

When Jesus and His disciples came into the marketplace after crossing the Sea, many sick people came to Him and touched Him or His garments. Jesus healed them all, but afterwards, when the hungry disciples bought some items to eat ….  AND ATE THEM …  the Pharisees pounced. 

“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? 

For they do not wash their  hands when they eat.”

The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they first wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders. This washing involved someone pouring a specific amount of water over their hands while the fingers pointed upward, letting it drain off at the wrists. Then, the hands would be turned over with fingers pointed downward, and again water would be poured over them.  After that, each hand would rub over the fist of the other. (This was NOT in the law of Moses. It was a ritual added by the uber-strict scribes and Pharisees.  Other similar rituals applied to washing cups and pots and copper vessels …. AND ‘dining couches.’ (Say what?)

Jesus could see the heavy burdens the leaders put on the people (as compared to the light, easy burden He offered them (Matt. 11:28-30), and it made Him angry. 

He fired back at them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,

‘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.’

“You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of Men.”

Then Jesus went on to reveal just how they did that in other ways.  The Law says that man should honor their parents and take care of them when they age, but these hypocrite Pharisees, say about the money they decided to give to pay their vows (instead of taking care of Mom and Dad), that it was “Corbin.”  This meant it could ONLY be used for sacred purposes.  They get spiritual creds from the offering, and the parents suffer.

“When you do this, you are making void the word of God!”  Jesus called them “blind guides leading the blind.  When this happens BOTH will fall into a pit.

Then Jesus turned from the Pharisees and gathered the people together to teach them just what happens when you “eat with unwashed hands.”

Jesus: “Hear and understand; It is not what goes INTO the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes OUT OF the mouth.”

Peter: “Explain the parable to us.”

Jesus: “Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not see that whatever GOES INTO THE MOUTH passes into the stomach and is expelled? 

They all nod.

Jesus: “But what COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH proceeds from the heart.  THIS defiles a person. For out of the HEART come…..

  • evil thoughts,
  • murder,
  • adultery, 
  • sexual immorality,
  • theft,
  • false witness,
  • slander,
  • coveting,
  • wickedness,
  • deceit,
  • envy,
  • pride,
  • foolishness.  

“All THESE evil things come from within, and THEY defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

.

After this, Jesus went away from Galilee and withdrew north to the (Gentile) district of Tyre and Sidon.  There, He entered a house and did not want anyone to know.  But He could not be hidden. (Not this Light of the world!)

A Syrophoenician woman who lived there and had a little daughter with an unclean spirit heard of Him. She came to Jesus and fell at his feet.

  • The woman: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David, my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon!”
  • Jesus said not a word to her, and the disciples begged Him to send her away.
  • Jesus: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
  • The woman: “Lord, help me!”
  • Jesus: “Let the children be fed first. It’s not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
  • The woman: “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
  • Jesus: “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire. Go your way, the demon has left your daughter.”
  • And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon had gone.

Then Jesus left that area and returned to the Sea of Galilee in the area of Decapolis.  There they brought a man who was both deaf and mute, and begged Jesus to heal him.

In a private area, Jesus put his fingers into the mans ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. The He looked toward heaven, sighed, and said, “Ephphatha!  Be opened!”  The man’s ears were opened and his tongue was released and he spoke clearly.  The people were astonished beyond measure, and said, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!”

Great crowd came to Him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others. They put them at His feet, and Jesus healed them.

And the people GLORIFIED THE GOD OF ISRAEL!

.

###

.

MONDAY – Matthew 16 and Mark 8.

As the news of all the healing spread, a large crowd of 4,000 men gathered.  Again Jesus had compassion on them because they’d been with Him for days now and they had nothing to eat. He didn’t want to send them away, unless they fainted on the way.

Again, as before, Jesus asked them what they had.  This time, the disciples found seven small loaves and a few fish.  Jesus directed the crowd to sit down on the dry ground.  He took the loaves, gave thanks, and broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute.  He did the same with the few fish.

The people ate and were satisfied.  Then, as before with the 5,000, the disciples gathered up the left-overs. There were seven LARGE baskets full.

.

Immediately, they got into a boat and left for the region of Magdala. (near Capernaum).

Stepping off the boat, Jesus and disciples were immediately met by a mixed group of Pharisees and Sadducees, there to once again “test” Him. 

(It was very unusual that these two groups of religious leaders should come together, for they hated each other.  Big thing?  The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of man, and the Pharisees did.)

Anyway, these two groups came to Jesus, asking Him for a “sign from Heaven.”

Jesus reminded them of their lack of discernment.  “When it’s evening and the sky is read, you say ‘It will be fair weather.’  And, when the sky is red in the morning, you say, ‘It will be stormy today.’  You know how to interpret the weather, but not the SIGNS OF THE TIMES!  An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign.  NO SIGN will be given except the sign of Jonah.”

Then they got back into the boat and left for Bethsaida. 

(Did the religious leaders go away scratching their heads?  Jonah?  The prophet who preached in Nineveh? That’s His sign?  Huh??)

In the boat, Jesus looked slowly around at His disciples and said, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees!”

The disciples looked at each other.  Leaven?  Is Jesus mad that we forgot to bring those seven baskets of bread pieces?

Jesus must have sighed.  They were missing the point of the warning!!  “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Don’t you perceive?  Don’t you remember the 5,000 and then the 4,000?  How is it you fail to understand???  I wasn’t talking about BREAD.  I was talking about the TEACHING of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Beware of that!”

At Bethsaida, Jesus healed a blind man. An unusual healing because it was in two steps. First the man got partial healing, seeing people like walking trees, and then was healed completely.

.

Afterwards. Jesus led the disciples north to Caesarea Philipp. (This is the area that Herod Philip ruled.)  As they walked the 25 miles, Jesus asked them a question.

“Who do YOU say that I am?”

Peter answered immediately, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus: “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 

“You are Peter, and on this “rock” (your confession of who I am), I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Peter was the first to introduce the Gentiles to salvation).  Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

.

Then Jesus began to teach them that He must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes … and be killed. After three days he would rise again. He said this very plainly.

Peter – the one who just claimed Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God, now took Jesus aside and rebuked Him.  REBUKED the Son of God!!! He said,  “Far be it from You, LORD! This shall never happen to You!”

But Jesus whipped around and said to Peter, “Get behind me Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man!”

And then to them all,

  • “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
  • For whosoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
  • For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
  • For what can a man give in return for his soul?
  • Whosoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

.

(LORD, know my heart, and convict me. O may I never be ashamed of You. May I have courage to take up my cross and follow You!)

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 291

Oct18

Day 291 – Reading – John 6

Read and believe in Jesus!

John 6.

Jesus and his disciples are on the other, more quiet and less populated, side of the sea. But the crowds have followed Him there. Jesus knows they are not looking for the Messiah who was spoken of by the prophets who would change men’s hearts, but rather, one who would feed them and heal their bodies. Nevertheless, when Jesus sees the crowds, like sheep without a shepherd, He has compassion on them and welcomes them. The other Gospels tell us that Jesus spent the day teaching them and healing them.

When the afternoon waned, Jesus held a private conversation with His disciples … testing them, because He already knew what He was going to do. 

  • Jesus to Philip: “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”
  • The disciples: “Send them away into the other towns so they can buy themselves food.“
  • Jesus: “They need not go away. You give them something to eat.“
  • Philip: “It would take “8-months wages” to buy them some food!”
  • Jesus to Andrew: “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”
  • Andrew: “There is a boy here who has five small barley loaves and two fish. But what are they for so many people?”
  • Jesus: “Have them all sit down on the grass in groups of fifty. Then bring me the 5 loaves and 2 fish.”

The disciples went through the 5,000 men, plus all the women and kids, and settled them into groups. Jesus took the boy’s lunch, looked up to heaven, and said a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and fish and gave them to the disciples to distribute. Everyone ate as much as they wanted, and were satisfied.  At Jesus’ word, the disciples collected 12 small baskets of left-overs, enough for their own lunches.

After the free meal, the people began to talk among themselves. “This is indeed ‘the Prophet’ who is to come into the  world!” (See Deut. 18:18)

Jesus perceived that they were were about to make Him king, so He quietly sent the disciples home in their boat, and faded into the twilight up onto the mountain by Himself. There He prayed to the Father long into the night. 

(Later, He saw the disciples struggling, and went to them walking on the water.)

.

The next day, after seeing that Jesus was no longer with them, and that the boat was gone, the crowd had hurried around (or across in boats) to the other side, to Capernaum looking for the food-supplying, healing Jesus.

Finding Him, they immediately heard Him say, “You are seeking me, not because you saw miracles, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.  DO NOT LABOR FOR THE FOOD THAT PERISHES, but for the food that endures to eternal life … which I will give to You.

  • (This reminds me of the verse Jesus used against Satan’s temptation. Deuteronomy 8:3 – “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”)

They passed right over the “food for eternal life” and went to “the LABOR” for eternal life” that they were so proud of doing. “What must we DO to be DOING the WORKS of God?”

Jesus: “This is the WORK of God, that you BELIEVE in Him whom He has sent.”

  • (This reminds me of Ephesians 2:8-9. “For by grace you are saved through FAITH. And this is NOT YOUR OWN DOING, it is the gift of God, not a result of WORKS, so that no one may boast.”)

Then the crowd went back to, “Okay, what SIGN (food) do You DO, that we may see and BELIEVE you. What WORK to YOU perform?  After all, our fathers ate manna in the wilderness.  Moses gave them ‘bread from heaven’ to eat.”

“MOSES didn’t give you that bread.  And by the way, my Father gives you the true bread from heaven, “He” who comes down and gives life to the world.”

“Sir!! Give us that bread always!!”

They were totally missing the point. They wanted the LOAVES they’d tasted across the Sea.  And they wanted them DAILY (always).

  • “I AM the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever BELIEVES in me shall never thirst.”
  • “ALL that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me, I will never cast out.”
  • “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.”

The crowd, mostly led by the Jewish leaders now grumbled. (They couldn’t see the loaves coming.)  They said in disgust, “Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph whose father and mother we know?  How does he say ‘I have come from heaven’?”

  • “Do not grumble. NO ONE can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.  Truly, truly I say to you … WHOEVER BELIEVES has eternal life.
  • “I am the bread of life.
  • “THIS is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one my eat of it and not die.
  • “I am the living bread. If anyone eats this bread, he shall live forever.
  • “The bread that I give for the life of the world is my flesh.
  • “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
  • “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa.  This was just too much for the crowds.  Eat Jesus’ flesh and blood? (That’s not kosher! And it’s disgusting.)

.

After this, many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.

Jesus turned to the Twelve: “Do you want to go away as well?”

Peter: “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.”

Jesus: “Yes, did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet … one of you is a devil.”  He spoke of Judas Iscariot, for he was going to betray Jesus.

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 290

Oct17

Day 290 – Reading – Matthew 14, Mark 6, and Luke 9

Read and believe in Jesus!

In yesterday’s account in Matthew 10, Jesus called, prepared, and then sent out his twelve “apostles” to the cities of “the lost sheep of Israel” to preach the kingdom. (Later, Jesus will send out 72 others with similar instructions.)

Today, we see the Twelve doing that and then returning.

Mark 6:12-13: “So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”

And Mark 6:30-31: “The apostles returned to Jesus and told Him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.'”

 

Matthew 14:1-12, Mark 6:14-20 and Luke 14:7-9 all tell the horrible story of how King Herod killed John the Baptist, and then was uneasy, perplexed and not a little afraid afterwards. When he heard that Jesus was going around healing people, his guilty conscience made him fear that this was John the Baptist come back to life!  Herod tried unsuccessfully to “see” Jesus (but didn’t until Jesus was on trial).

Herod Antipas, son of the mega-evil Herod the Great, was ruler (Tetrarch) of Galilee.  Another son of that wicked king was Herod Philip, who ruled the far northern parts of Galilee.  Herodias was the daughter of another son of the evil Herod the Great. When she married Philip, she was marrying her uncle. Then, our Herod Antipas convinced her to leave Philip and marry him, another of her uncles. 

This compounding of incest and having a brother’s wife was gross sin in John the Baptist’s eyes.  He openly and severely rebuked Herod.  Prompted by Herodias, Herod arrested and imprisoned (and later killed) John.

It happened one day when Herod, Herodias, and her daughter were celebrating Herod’s birthday with a grand, and debauched party.  The young and beautiful Salome seductively danced before her step-father. He was entranced, aroused, and probably drunk.  He promised her anything she wanted.         

Herodias told her to ask the king for “John the Baptist’s head … on a platter.”

Yikes!!

Of course, to “save face” in front of all his guests, Herod gave the order.  He was “exceedingly sorry,” because he had enjoyed verbally sparring with John now and then. AND, he knew John was a holy man and was actually afraid of him for God’s word of condemnation he spoke

But a king’s vow cannot be rescinded.  Soon the prison guard carried in John’s bloody head on a silver platter.  

Salome turned her head away, Herodias, smiled wickedly, and Herod probably wretched.  Surely regret and guilt began to eat away his heart. When he heard of the miracles of Jesus, his nightmares seemed to be coming true! “It’s John whom I beheaded, raised from the dead!“

John’s disciples buried his body, and then went to Jesus with the horrible news.

…..

It was about then that the twelve disciples returned from their missionary trip. Their need of rest, and Jesus’ own sorrow for John’s death, led Him to take them across Galilee in a boat to a deserted place. There, he quietly grieved, and taught His men. 

  • At one point, Jesus asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”
  • “John the Baptist!” someone said, no doubt hearing the rumors about King Herod.
  • “Or Elijah.”
  • “Or one of the prophets of old that has risen.”
  • “But who do YOU say I am?” asked Jesus.
  • Peter spoke up. “The Christ of God.“
  • Jesus nodded, but answered Peter sternly, “Don’t spread this around just yet, Peter. Tell no one.  Because…. FIRST I must suffer many things…. be rejected by the religious leaders….. be killed, and on the third day rise.”

…..

They didn’t get much quietness, for when the crowds noticed that Jesus was gone from them, and heard He’d gone across the lake, the rushed as one (gathering more as they went) the 2-3 miles around the shore to Bethsaida. 

When Jesus saw the great crowd coming, He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He welcomed them, taught them, and healed them.  The day wore on, and soon everybody was hungry.

What to do? 

NOTE:  In tomorrow’s reading of John 6, we will study Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000, and His strong teaching that follows.  For now, we’ll skip it in the synoptic Gospels.

…..

After the collection of the small baskets of leftovers, the people began talking among themselves and looking at Jesus, 

Knowing their hearts, he immediately told the disciples to get into the boat and go to the other side while He dismissed the crowd.  He gently but firmly dismissed them, then slipped away by Himself.  He climbed up into the hills, and began to pray to His Father long into the night.

About three in the morning, way after the boat should have landed on the other side, Jesus saw that they were struggling in a wild and windy sea.  The waves were pushing against the men and the disciples were exhausted from rowing.

Jesus came to them walking on the water. WALKING ON THE WATER!  On TOP of the water!

When the disciples saw Him, their exhausted minds immediately turned to terror. 

“It’s a GHOST!” they screamed.

“Take heart. It’s I. Don’t be afraid,” called Jesus.

“If it’s You, Lord, command me to come to You on the water,” shouted Peter, climbing onto the boat’s rail.

“Come.”

Peter got out of the boat and… walked on the water towards Jesus.  But, when he realized what he was doing, he looked down at the water, and around at the wind… and he began to sink. 

“Lord! Save me!”

Jesus immediately reached out His had and took hold of Peter, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

When they climbed into the boat, the wind ceased.  And the tired but amazed men worshiped him. “Truly You are the Son of God.”

And immediately they were on the other side. As soon as they moored the boat, the people immediately recognized Jesus and began to bring their sick to Him.  And as many as He touched were made well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 289

Oct16

THE NEW TESTAMENT!

Day 289 – Reading – Matthew 10

Read and believe in Jesus!

Matthew 10.

Chapter ten focuses on Jesus’ disciples (learners), whom He named apostles (messengers).

The order in the list fascinates me. Jesus seems to put them into pairs.  Was this the “two by two” order they went out? How did these men work together? Or challenge each other? Did their personalities clash? What if the tax collector and the Zealot had been together!! (whoa!)

  • First, Simon Peter and his brother Andrew,
  • James, the son of Zebedee and his brother John,
  • Philip and Bartholomew (or Nathaniel)
  • Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector,
  • James, the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus (or Judas, the son of James)
  • Simon the Cananaean (or Zealot)  and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.

Jesus gave these men authority over unclean spirits so they could cast them out, and authority to heal every disease and every affliction. (He had been demonstrating these very things to them so far in His own ministry.) 

Jesus told them to AVOID Gentiles and Samaritans, and to go only to “the lost sheep of Israel.”  (Paul did this in the New Testament, although he was called to go to the Gentiles.  “To the Jew first,” was his mantra. Later, after Pentecost, the disciples would go “to the uttermost parts of the world.”)

Jesus gave His disciples the “message” to proclaim, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  Then they were to heal the sick, raise the dead (wow!), cleanse lepers, and cast out demons.

They were to take no pay, only accepting meals and lodging in “worthy” homes. And they were to take no luggage, trusting God would supply their needs, either by making the clothing/sandals sufficient or by donations.

Jesus warned them to expect persecution. They would be like sheep among wolves, so they were to be WISE as serpents and INNOCENT as doves.  They might be arrested and taken to court, Jewish leaders from the synagogues might flog them, and they might even be dragged before governors and kings for Jesus’ sake. If so, they could trust the Holy Spirit to speak through them when the time came to testify.

They would be hated for Jesus’ sake, but “endure to the end” for they WOULD be saved!  They were to go fearlessly, not being afraid to die for His sake. Instead, they should fear God, who determines their eternal destiny.  But HE cares for them; He knows even the number of hairs on their heads.  So, Jesus says, acknowledge Me before men, and I will acknowledge YOU before My Father in Heaven.

He reminded them to expect enemies of the kingdom in their own families, and to remember that whoever loves father, mother, son, or daughter MORE than Jesus is not worthy of Him.  And, pointedly, “whoever does not take his cross and follow me is NOT WORTHY of me.”   Whoever “finds” his life will lose it, and whoever “loses” his life for Jesus’ sake, will find it.

Jesus then reminds them that they are His “ambassadors.”  The way that people treat them (well or poorly) is also how they treat Him. (Remember Jesus’ words to Paul on the road to Damascus? See Acts 9:4-5)  So anyone who even gives them a cool cup of water in His name won’t miss out on his reward.”

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These words of Jesus could well be taken by us today as we seek to serve Him and tell others about His Kingdom, and the precious salvation He “bought” for those who believe. 

(LORD, Help me not be shocked if I am persecuted for Your sake (even by loved ones), but show me how to depend on You to act the way YOU did when men despised You and treated You wickedly. 

And help me not to expect praise or to seek money, but only desire to serve You humbly, trusting that You will care for me.  Help me to always look forward to my unperishable reward in Heaven.

Oh LORD, may we be “worthy of You” in all we do.”)