December 27, 2023
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Reading along with us in our Advent readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 27 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Growing Opposition
Read Sections 4.13 through 4.16 (pages 80-82)
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 27
The Life of Jesus 3.53-4.16
Advent Day 27
Day 27
I so dislike the Pharisees. Love the fact that God introduced himself to Shepherds. Who men had called unclean. God says. Who are you to call anyone unclean. Just think of the fact that they knew Micah 5. And it never came up. Jesus was from Nazareth. How did they sleep at night. I hope they didn’t especially after the crucifying. Or better. After the resurrection
A collegue of mine told me that Jesus never said he was the Son of God. Yet, here it is, Jesus stating that he was the Messiah. There is no way a person can say it isn’t so because there are many references to it in the Bible. I told him he was mistaken, and I gave him the book More than a Carpenter. I don’t know if he ever read it, but I hope and pray that he will if he hasn’t already!
Then Jesus to His followers, “And who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
It’s interesting to think that Peter was really the first (I think) to verbalize that Jesus is the promised Messiah and still when things get tough, he denies Him. He sees Him at the transfiguration too. When we stumble and struggle it is good to think back to the evidence and confirmation of our faith in the past to bring us back.
Again the Pharisees and Sadducees try to test Jesus and He calls them out and tells them that only a evil and sinful people asks for a miracle as a sign. He gives the miracle that happened to Jonah. He is telling them indirectly that He will die and rise the third day just as Jonah was in the whale for three days. In this passage is where Jesus confirms that the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000 are two separate events. Matthew 16;9,10 Jesus again tells them that their faith is small. When our faith is small it means that we are not fully putting our trust in the Living Saviour. Which also means that we would rather trust ourselves and be in control of the situation. It is like taking a hold of the steering wheel in our vehicles and not letting Jesus do the driving but only have Him there as a passenger without any instructions from Him. Here is another example of Jesus healing with His spit. Only this time right into the blind man`s eyes. Then Jesus told him to go home and not into town. Then Jesus asks His followers who do people say He is. Answers are John the Baptizer, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Then He asks His followers who He is and only Peter answers and says that He is the Messiah. Of course I don`t think that Peter was the only one who thought that. Some of them were probably not as vocal as Peter. Sometimes Peter was also the one to put his foot in his mouth as we see in the next section. Unfortunately Peter`s statement of faith has been taken out of context. Yes Peter means little rock but Jesus Christ is the cornerstone upon which the living church stands. And yes Peter did have faith to proclaim who Jesus is. But throughout scripture Christ is the Rock. Anyways Pastor can probably explain it better than I did. Then Jesus tells them not to tell others that He is the Messiah. May God bless us all.
Miracles both support faith and corrupt it. Miracles are about seeing, faith is about believing even when we don’t see. At some point asking for a miracle after so many have been given is just evil. It is time to accept Jesus for who He is or wait for the greatest miracle, his death and resurrection. And the subtle nature of legalism and man’s tendency to take credit, judge and want recognition is like yeast. It is to be avoided. And it is neat that Jesus heals in so many different ways. He doesn’t need to heal in a certain way but maybe the one being healed or those observing the healing “need” it done a certain way to reveal God’s power or compassion to them. And Jesus asks the disciples the question that every human being needs to know the answer to: who do you say that I am. Now after all the gaffs and misunderstanding the disciples have, one can imagine a special revelation to Peter from God clarifying in this moment who Jesus is. But the wording here indicates that Jesus is pointing to Himself as the rock on which the church will be built and Peter as a little stone (a chip off the old block if you will) because Jesus is the head of the church not Peter. It is much like Mary’s place…significant for what it is amongst people, but not fraught with divine implications or a greater role in His plan than their lives indicated. Anything greater corrupts what the Bible says.