December 10, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Advent readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 10 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Popularity
Read Sections 3.1 through 3.4 (pages 32-34)
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 2023 – Day 10
Advent Day 10
Always contemplated this. Would I drop everything and follow Jesus. My business. My wife and kids. Not sure. Definitely a spirit filled decision by these 4 apostles. Love the fact. Fishermen. Not of noble position. Always the opposite of the world’s views. Certainly seems as if satan was more prevalent in the earth when Jesus came to earth. Every time Jesus encounters a demon they shriek. They know immediately who he is. Don’t torture us before the allotted time. Always found that interesting they know they are going to hell. Jesus did not have to perform some exorcism But just with a word the demon must obey. There is nothing even close to the power that is in the name and blood of Jesus Christ.
People came after dark on the sabbath to have healings performed. Jesus had so much compassion for these people. Imagine performing all these events in one day. Then many many healings at night. Then go pray to your father all night. Get up and start over. Once again just shows how much God loves us. I simply don’t deserve the grace of God
God sacrifice of His son never really resonated until this morning while reading the life of Jesus, envisioning my son Zao being put to death in the same manner as Christ broke my heart
There are times in our life when we may not understand how God is working and maybe don’t even see him working and then there are times where He overflows our boat with fish and gives us blessing beyond what we know and understand. Point being He is always working, always moving, and always providing in the ways He knows we need! Now we just need to decide if we like these disciples can just pick up and follow Him eveyday and let faith handle the rest!
It was an expected aspect of Messiah’s ministry that there would be students He would call to Himself. His calling His disciples also shows His strategy to spend more time with a small group of people and train them to carry His message when He leaves, rather than just preach continually to the masses. And just to show them His nature and the nature of following Him, He does yet another type of miracle and either directs fish to be in that area or creates fish on the spot. And how convicting it is to in the presence of power and righteousness. Peter recognizes who he is without Jesus. Jesus recognizes what Peter will be with Him. May we all internalize that reality as well and embrace who God has and is making us!
And how amazing to see how evil spirts respond to Jesus. They know His superior power and thereby do what He says. He doesn’t want them to be the ones who reveal who He is because character matters to God. He doesn’t want the testimony of Himself related to the likes of them. And it is interesting to consider just how many people Jesus healed in His time on earth. I am always amazed at the variety of things He did to display His power. And even though He was up late healing, He was up early praying. And not that He wouldn’t understand His need to go to other places and share His message, it is interesting to consider if He and the Father had a little strategy session in that early morning prayer time.
It seems by scripture that this wasn`t their first encounter with Jesus. But when He said follow me they dropped everything and followed Him. Remember earlier John the Baptist had introduced at least two of his own followers to Jesus. They were Andrew and John [ the Apostle]. Also Philip who was from the same town as Peter and Andrew and was probably a disciple of John the Baptizer and therefore who the Christ was. At least in the series The Chosen he is portrayed this way. But perhaps there were also others that were disciples of John. As we know John was preparing the way for the Messiah and would had preached not only for repentance but about Jesus the Christ. Jesus was bringing the 12 disciples together so they would go and preach the gospel. There were also many other followers who would not be the 12. I remember when I first got saved at the age of 20 though the ministry of the Navigators which taught disciple making. The man [ Larry] that led me to the Lord ; had been led to the Lord by another brother [ forgot his name but I had met] and then I led my brother [ kind of] to the lord for he prayed on his own. Also the Lord allowed me to bring others to Christ. We know that it is the Lord that brings people to Himself but He will use us as weak vessels to share the good news. If only we are willing to be used. He chose what is foolish in the world so that He alone is glorified. I remember when I shared Christ with my brother he said to me. What do you know little brother. I said I don`t know much but I do know that if you pray and fully put your trust in Jesus alone ; not by your works you will be saved. He did a few weeks latter. And yes my mom got saved about 6 months latter though another brother in the Lord. My dad we are not sure when he got saved. If it wasn`t earlier it may had been in his latest months before he died at the age of 97. Sad but he missed out having a Christian walk with Jesus because of his pride and know it all attitude. Latter Jesus heals many people including Peter`s mother in law who had a fever. He held her hand and helped her to stand and she was healed. From in bed to standing and then serving. So much for Peter not being married as it clearly teaches that he was married. Then Jesus spends the night healing and then gets up very early to pray. He couldn`t of had much sleep. May the Lord bless us all.
Peter’s response to the miraculous catch of fish, “Go away from me Lord. I am a sinful man!” always reminds me of Isaiah response in Isaiah 6:
“Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of hosts.”