December 11, 2023
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Reading along with us in our Advent readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 11 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Popularity
Read Sections 3.5 through 3.8 (pages 34-36)
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 Day 11
The Life of Jesus 2.16-3.8
I love how often Jesus stops to take time to pray throughout His time on earth. Even the Son of God takes time for quiet devotion with God. Each time I read that, I am convicted of how busy I let myself get and forget to just spend quiet prayer time with my Father in Heaven because if Jesus needed that, I certainly do!
“Isn’t it the sick that need a doctor?” Such a simple and powerful statement! Whenever we are tempted to avoid those poeple in our lives for their sin, differences, or even for the way they treat us we should remember these words and that it is those people who need our prayer and our caring most.
Imagine going to this area where Jesus heals this man who has been an invalid for 38 years. Everyone there had some form of disease. I’ll spare you the details but let’s just say it was not a clean happy place. Then imagine this man sick for 38 years with no hope from anyone and no hope in himself. Don’t let hardship stop you from doing the work of God. He has a plan for all of us. These Pharisees drive me nuts!!!!! A guy who was sick for 38 years has been healed. And they’re more concerned that he is carrying his mat on the sabbath. Show me that law in the Old Testament. What a bunch of idiots. More concerned about a petty law that they made up than the Son of God standing before them. As Jesus describes that he and his father are working together all the time. Imagine if God stopped working on the sabbath. Absolute Chaos!!!
The miracles supported the message Jesus brought and that was one reason why He did so many. The other is that He had compassion on people. And yet He had something far greater to save them from and that is why they needed to understand who He was and not just what He was able to accomplish. That is also why He tells people at times not share what He has done…because it was His person and message that mattered more. It is also why He raises the issue of the Son of Man being able to forgive sins. These religious leaders would think it was sin that had caused his condition. So Jesus really is addressing the primary issue in all of their minds. But that they can’t see, so His words can’t validate His person….ah but healing him can. So Jesus can forgive sin and tell the lame to get up and walk. So I guess He is in fact the Son of man and the Son of God.
Jesus was the great healer when he was on the earth, and he still is. He is the One we should go to first when we are sick and in need of healing and restoration. He healed people of every kind of sickness, there was nothing he could not do for people of faith. And Jesus loved to see people exhibit acts of faith. He proved that he could forgive sins by healing the paralyzed man. The people were amazed that he healed the man and they praised God. But the most amazing thing is not the healing, but that he has the power to forgive our sins.
This was an amazing faith of the four men and the crippled man. For they knew that if they could somehow get him to Jesus, He would heal him. And that is actually what He did. And Jesus uses this to demonstrate His awesome power to forgive sins by healing the cripple. And then Jesus calls Levi [ the tax collector] also known as Matthew to follow Him. But not only that but Jesus and His followers have a meal at Matthew`s house along with other sinners who had bad reputations. The Pharisees were beside themselves over this. But Jesus gives the best answer for He says that He came to not invite good people but to invite sinners. And of course we are all sinners but unless one can acknowledge his sin and turn to Christ he cannot be saved. The Pharisees didn`t think that they were sinners so why would they need a Savior. May God bless each of us.
I always think about the homeowner. I heard a sermon years ago which has really stuck with me that looked at the incident from his perspective: He invited Jesus into his home to minister to a few neighbors and there are people so desperate in their need that they tore the poor guy’s roof off. The sermon made the point that we’ve invited Jesus into our hearts… What should we expect when He starts ministering through us? That broken people break things and ministering to those who need Jesus will sometimes put us through similar inconveniences as this anonymous guy who invited Jesus into his home. That we should be willing to have our hearts broken by broken people who need Jesus and who he is ministering to through us.
Advent 2023 – Day 11
In 3.6 where the man with leprosy begged Jesus to heal him, it says, “these last words made Jesus angry.” That struck me as a wrong translation, so I looked it up in the KJV and NKJV and it says “Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand…….and said, “I am willing, be cleansed.” I wonder why they chose angry instead of compassion. I do think that reading this different translation, does cause me to notice things that I hadn’t noticed before.