December 8, 2024
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 Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Advent 2024 – Day 8 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Popularity
Read Sections 3.1 through 3.7 (pages 32-36)
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.
With excitement 4 fisherman leave their surroundings and lifestyle. To follow Jesus. Always question what I would have done So we have read that Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves and they Stop. Now fish are commanded. Many times out fishing. I would pray and cast to the other side of boat. Nope!! Every time Jesus came in contact with possession, the demons would totally submit knowing who Jesus was. Demons were active when Jesus was walking the earth as Satan was constantly looking to trick him. Terrible strategy!! Years ago came in contact with a man who was under satan’s influence. The power that is in the name of Jesus!! Jesus early in the morning goes off to pray. We all get so caught up in our lives and ministry. We forget to pray. If Jesus put this first to keep his focus and mind and heart clear!! Same for us!! The 4 men who were so desperate to have their friend healed. How important to look around at those around us that are trying to get in but we are preoccupied. May that never be the case at Living Hope Christian church.
Advent day 8 3:1-3:7
“From now on your work will be to bring in people, not fish” something we should remember to do by sharing the Gospel, be careful not to miss those opportunities God places before us.
The Life of Jesus 2.13-3.7
In section 3.4 it amazes me to read about Jesus’s prayer life. There are several passages in scripture that talk about Jesus getting up early in the morning and going to an isolated place to pray. And something I noticed in this part is how, regardless of how many people in that area were still seeking His help, after praying Jesus understands that it is time to move on to the next location. What dedication to seeking and following the direction of The Father.
How would our lives change if we were better at taking time at the start of each day to pray to God, seek His guidance, and actually follow it?
Amen, Josiah!
Advent Day 8
Certainly during the time that Jesus was on the earth healing so many and performing great miracles, there was no doubt that this was the Son of man. All were in awe and believed because they ‘saw’. Almost seemingly making it easier to believe.
In the world today we have to truly rely on our faith. In our day it is our faith that gives us belief in the Son of man. We see Jesus’ miracles and healings in our lives differently – always through our faith in Christ.
Our faith is our rock.
I have to admit…..I would have liked to been a fly on the wall back in time just to witness Jesus’ himself performing all these miracles. Can you imagine? Until that time comes that I can see my Lord physically, I’ll hold on to my rock and lean on my faith!
Amen, Sue, and we will be right there beside you helping you hold on…
Recently I read something about the man that was lowered down the roof to see Jesus. It said “surround yourself with people willing to tear a hole in the roof, lift you up, and carry you down to the feet of Jesus”. Such a powerful picture of true godly relationship! My prayer since then was to try to be that kind of person for my friends and to be sure those are the people I am spending time with so that when the trials come we are encouraging and working together to do God’s will in our lives.
This was not these mens’ first exposure to Jesus, but to them it was clear who He was, so of course it makes sense in the faith realm to leave everything and follow Him. What a privilege it would be to do so, but it makes us realize what a mark Jesus made on people because of who He was and what He did. And wow did He do a lot. It makes sense that His reputation would spread over all the things He could heal and resolve. He even had power over the evil sprits, giving them their marching orders…And how amazing that Jesus took time to pray. He spoke often of His connection to His Father, but that was not only in His being, but also in practice. What a lesson to us…how much more do we need to pray than Jesus?!!?!!? And Jesus’ miracles were so amazing that it was hard to keep people silent. Jesus doesn’t want the attention, but how to keep silent over such a life transforming act? And I really like this story about the paralytic. We know He had the right to forgive sins because He was the One who made forgiveness possible. But for those who don’t believe, how about I show you that I have the right? Ok, take up your mat and walk. Simply amazing!!!
Jesus says, “your sins are forgiven” and the teachers of the law question His ability to forgive sins, as only God can forgive sins. So Jesus chooses a smaller miracle of healing the man to prove it to them. Little do they know how much more difficult it will be to forgive sins, Jesus does the most difficult, dies on a cross, so that our sins can be forgiven.
Advent day 8