December 31, 2022
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Reading along with us in our Advent readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 31 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Growing Opposition
Read Sections 4.29 through 4.32 (pages 92-95)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
Advent Days 30&31
The woman caught in adultery. Where’s the man? This was totally a trap for Jesus. And once again he destroys this argument. How fast do we pass judgement on someone who has sinned Makes us look better. Jesus brings reality. You’re just as bad! Jesus the light of the world. Telling the religious leaders they are going to die in their sins. There is no condition on earth worse than that one. Can’t imagine. Thinking of friends that don’t believe and don’t want to know. Pray for them that condition changes
Day 31
4.29 – 4.32
The Pharisees and Jewish leaders were so blinded by their own understanding of things that they missed all the things that Jesus did and said that showed that He is the Messiah and the Son of God. And yet those less learned could tell in the way that He spoke that He was different. And He had wisdom to turn these Jewish leaders on their heals. As much as they tried to trick Him, He always had a quick response to cause them to get caught up in their own wrong thinking. Right questions can be very powerful like that. And He is right, what right do we have to stand in judgement of someone else when we too are sinners? It is interesting to read that the older people left first…they most knew that they had no standing to judge. And so the only One who could judge her, didn’t.
And in all this Jesus has shown Himself to be the Light of the World. He both shares the truth and He is the truth. We will never go wrong following Him and applying the principles He taught to our lives. And how clearly He professes here that He has come from the Father and only speaks the things the Father tells Him to. So He and the Father are witnesses to who He is. And if they really knew the Father, then they would have known who Jesus was as well. And none of this would have mattered if Jesus didn’t do the things He did that revealed His power. And yet for Jesus to demonstrate that power and not associate it with God the Father, then that would not have been fitting either. It is both His professions about who He is and the works that He accomplished that reveal the reality of who Jesus is. And no other credentials can make you right with God besides faith in Him!
John chapter 8. What a powerful truth. The religious leaders. Thought because of their genealogy with Abraham they were children of God. Being a member of a church or a church my family has been attending for years does not make anyone a child of God. Your father is the devil. Wow! A liar always. CAN’T imagine hearing those words. Would have cut me to the bone. These men were constantly following Jesus and listening to him. There’s no way they weren’t influenced. Trying to trap him. I wonder how many secretly believed him. Back to their argument of Abraham. This is the climax of Jesus argument with them. Before Abraham was born. I AM!!!!!! The deity of Jesus Christ equal with God. God in flesh dwelt among us!! What a great truth!! Used this scripture many times to people caught in cults. Why else would they pick up stones. Blasphemy. Equal with God. Yes he was. Revelation chapter 1. Along with acts chapter 5. The trinity!!!
Day 31 readings completed.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never live in darkness. They will have the light that gives life.” What an amazing promise for us who live in this dark world. “If you don’t believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” If we believe in him, we will not perish but have eternal life. And that statement of truth and hopefulness is a good place to end this part of the study : )
“So he has fooled you too! You don’t see any of the leaders or any of us Pharisees believing in him, do you? But those people out there know nothing about the law. They are under God’s curse!”
I couldn’t help but relate this to today. We are expected to blindly follow “leaders”, political leaders, leaders in science, leaders in hollywood, the wealthy elites, they are viewed as our betters, wiser, more knowledgeable…but they aren’t. In fact, they will proclaim something that is true that is actually a lie.
The Jewish leaders throw out a false statement. “Study the scriptures. You will find nothing about a prophet coming from Galilee.” There were actually prophets from Galilee, but also, there are plenty of prophesies about the Messiah and where he would be from that Jesus fit perfectly – Bethlehem.