December 24, 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 24 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Growing Opposition
Read Sections 4.1 through 4.4 (pages 67-72)
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 24
Advent Day 24
Jesus continued to preach the good news and heal many people. He felt bad that they were sheep without a shepherd. If only they would come to the Good Shepherd. [ Jesus] Now He prepares the 12 disciples to go and do the same as they follow His lead. They will not only preach but have power to heal, cast out demons, bring the dead back to life, etc. Also they were not to carry anything with them so their dependance would be on the Lord. They were also at this time to only go to the lost sheep of Israel. He also warns them of the dangers of following Him for people will hate them because they hate Christ. And how to respond when they are not welcomed. Also another way of fully relying on Christ is trusting that God would give them the words to speak as was needed. They were to be wise as serpents but innocent like doves. Jesus also sent out these 12 disciples in pairs. Even with all the power that Jesus gave them to cast out demons, etc. they still had to rely on Him. Interesting to think how they were paired up but not necessary like we would think. At least I think so. Consider that there were at least 4 fishermen. Perhaps 6 or 7. A tax collector, a Zealot, [ warrior like against Rome.] A few we don`t know what the profession was. But they were all different in personalities, etc. A tax collector who was Jewish yet worked for Rome who was hated in this group by the others. They had two things in common. They were Jewish and called by Jesus to be of the 12. I find this interesting because life is in the details. Sometimes the slightest change could change everything. Yet with all our decision making whether good or bad God over rules it all. Look at John the Baptizer. God allowed John to be beheaded by evil people yet His purpose was fulfilled. John`s work was finished and the focus had to be on Christ and not on John. People needed to follow Christ and no longer John. Then we have the feeding of the 5,000. There was also many more people there for it only lists the men. There was a boy who supplied 5 barley bread and two little fish. How many women and children. Perhaps 12,000. But either way Jesus did a great miracle. He used what was provided and went from there. The boy did his part and Jesus did the rest. But all that were there saw this great miracle. Then after Jesus is alone He went up into the hills to pray. God bless you all.
Jesus had so much compassion for people, both individually and in their masses. He understood their lost state and realized He could not minister to them all. He gives us the task to go as well as praying to the Lord of the harvest to send more workers. It made me wonder how many people haven’t been sent because we have been unfaithful to pray this prayer.
Jesus sends out the twelve and His instructions can be summarized in 4 aspects. First is the provisions He would make for them through His presence and power as well as other people, including giving them words when they are facing high officials in His name. Second is guidance as to when to stay and continue to minister and when to leave when people oppose the message so they can move on to someplace else. Third is preparing them for opposition, realizing that they persecute us because they persecuted Jesus, and to be persecuted is to be in good company of others that have been willing to stand before God in spite of opposition. And fourth is the rewards that they will receive for standing for Him. It was also interesting to me that Jesus spoke of things they would not face on this ministry journey, but they would face later on after Jesus passed. It was a way for Jesus to prepare them and all His followers of what we might face and they ways God will intervene on our behalf.
And how truly incredible it is for Jesus to feed multiple people. I some ways, it is the greatest display of the power that He has. And to show the gracious nature of how God works, they pick up more in leftovers than they had in the beginning.
I was really struck emotionally by the story of the beheading of John the baptist. The depravity of this act against God’s chosen ambassador is so very dark. I think of the Spiritual battles in heavenly places and how we see when it overlaps with earth.