December 9, 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 9 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Beginning of Jesus’ Public Life
Read Sections 2.16 through 2.18 (pages 29-31)
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 9
Advent Day 9
A royal official from herods army walks 29 miles to ask Jesus to heal his son. Calls Jesus sir! He not only believed Jesus could heal. But he obeyed and headed back home. Some healings Jesus touched. This one was 20 mile distance. No space between believers and Jesus. Jesus tells the Jews prophet is not believed by those who know him. So Jesus tells these Jews God will work amoung the gentiles. A bunch of men March him to the edge of a cliff. And scripture says he walks through them. How???? Jesus knew exactly where he was in his fathers timeline
Good comment Mark about the nobleman how he went many miles to see Jesus for he knew and believed that Jesus would heal his son. Once Jesus said his son is healed the nobleman believed and went his way. His son was made well that very hour. Then when the crowd was so angry at Jesus for speaking the truth that they brought Him to the edge of a hill to cast Him down and kill Him. And He just walked through the midst of them and they didn`t know what happened for He was there and then He wasn`t. Like they were froze in time. His time was not yet. This was totally amazing. May the Lord lead and guide us as we walk with Him. Please keep Melodye in your prayers for her health.
will do Dennis!
What greater affirmation of power is there in Jesus declaring someone well from a distance. He consistently shows throughout the gospels that He can do anything. And many believe in Him because of this. And wherever Jesus was, His reputation proceeded Him. And yet the greater news that Jesus had was the salvation He offered and not the healing that He could perform. And what a great portion of Scripture Jesus reads in Isaiah and how controversial the statement He makes before people that knew Him best. So hard for them to accept, and yet the greatest reality that there is. And even though they feel justified to kill Him, no one can kill Jesus until His time has come. So He reveals a power over the hearts of men to change the course of action in this moment.
Such amazing things done in this section. First a healing from so many miles away. Jesus did not need to touch this boy to bring him back from the brink of death but rather just speak and it was done. The confidence this royal official had that the Son of God had provided for him in his time of need speaks volumes for the presence Jesus must have had. Second was walking right through a crowd that wished Him dead. You picture it almost like the parting of the sea, an angry mob attacking and yet Jesus just walks right through the group unharmed! Amazing!
An interesting progression in this section.
Jesus heals the official’s son from far away. He comments, “you people must see miraculous signs and wonders before you will believe in me.”
I think of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 1: 22 “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”
Jesus is directly addressing the Jews when reading from Isaiah, stating that the prophesy is fulfilled in their hearing. When they question Him, He makes the point that many other prophets were sent to individual Gentiles, not Jews – Elijah to the widow, Elisha to Naaman. The Jews present don’t get it and become angry. God’s plan for the whole world is unfolding. His own people will reject Him….but to those who believed in His name, He gave the power to become children of God. (John 1:12).