December 22, 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 22 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Popularity
Read Sections 3.49 through 3.52 (pages 61-63)
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.
44 ¶ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
This is one of those cases where it is important to distinguish between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. This translation just says the Kingdom. It is especially difficult to think about teachings that seem to indicate we are (or will be) saved by our good works or our own “goodness” rather than on Christ’s righteousness. Those who believe in Christ and are trusting in His atoning death on the cross are in the Kingdom of God. (John 3) The Kingdom of Heaven is an earthly kingdom that can be taken by force (Matthew 11:12 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”) Can the kingdom of God be “taken by force?” by men? No, but the Kingdom of Heaven can.
Matthew 13: 4 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
It is hard to read this and think about a believer’s security in Christ if it speaking of those in “God’s kingdom”…..will some in God’s kingdom be burned in bundles? No because we are in the Kingdom of God. Luke 17:20 “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
The book of Matthew is primarily written to the Jews and uses Kingdom of Heaven almost exclusively, I believe, Jesus addresses them as if He is here to establish His earthly kingdom (the Kingdom of Heaven – a physical kingdom) as their Messiah. But they reject Him (part of God’s eternal plan) and kill Him as an atoning sacrifice for the whole world to be able, through faith and belief, to enter the Kingdom of God.
The Life of Jesus 3.45-3.52
Love these parables. The weeds. The enemy. The world. There’s a sender and there’s a receiver. In between is a whole bunch of noise and weeds. One of my favorites in the storm at sea. Jesus is sleeping and the disciples are out of their minds with anxiety. Choice which one we want. Jesus knew he was in his father’s timeline and so are we until that day comes. Peace and joy
Jesus is the One who sows the seed so men can get saved. We are His instruments to boldly preach Him to the unsaved world. Those that come to Jesus are the wheat and those that don`t come to Jesus are the weeds. But to not damage the wheat He waits until the appointed time to separate them. After the wheat are revealed as wheat.[ true believers] For we know that there will be many that claimed to be His but are not. He will tell them to depart for I never knew you. The reason being that they never fully put their trust in Christ alone without works. Titus 3;5 [ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us].
Now Jesus and His followers take boats to cross the lake. Jesus is trying to get some rest for He does get tired and needs to sleep. But His followers are overcome with fear thinking that they are going to die. Even though Jesus is with them they are fearful. They call out to Him; Teacher don`t you care that we die. Of course He cares. Why else did He come. Jesus then stills the storm with His words. With all the miracles He has done they are still wondering who He is. I am so amazed that they are so slow to understand who He is. But I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised for aren’t we the same? But in our case we have the Holy Spirit living in us. God bless us all.
Advent 2023 – Day 22
The kingdom of God is so wonderful that people sell all they have to gain access to it. It is a good picture of how passionately we should pursue the things of God because there is really nothing more important. And I was struck by these parables where those of God and those not of God are separated in the end, whether it is wheat and weeds or good fish and bad fish, and those who are rejected ( those who do not believe) are thrown into the fire where they will cry and grind their teeth because of pain. Jesus is not hesitant to talk about the reality of hell and the suffering people will face there. And the calming of the storm just expresses Jesus power on another level. As the disciples say, even the wind and the waves obey Him. What difference it should have made to them (and to us) when they know Jesus is with them. We don’t need to worry about the storms of life when Jesus is with us. In fact that is what He had said before for the person whose house is built on the rock.
There are many references here about the end of time, that the angels will separate the evil people from the godly people. The evil people will be thrown in the lake of fire and the godly people will shine like the sun. There is a stark contrast between the two, and we have a choice as to what fate will befall us.