March 21, 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 Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 11 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Growing Opposition
Read Sections 4.73 through 4.76 (pages 128-131)
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.
On lent 2023 day 11. When Jesus talked to the apostles about His death and resurrection, they couldn’t understand because the meaning was hidden from them. I wonder why this was unless Jesus knew that they would understand it later and they would know that Jesus accepted His death as a sacrifice for our sake.
The workers of the vineyard. I personally do not care if someone excepts Jesus on his death bed after a life of sinning or someone who served his whole life for God. I will never take for granted the grace of God that has been given to me and my family. Jesus once more predicts his death. The apostles still don’t get it, so much so they argue about their position in heaven. To ask for the top position in heaven, they should be asking what do you want from Your sons here on earth. Not making brushes but don’t care where my position is. The fact that I have the promise of eternal life is overwhelming. Jesus always full of compassion show the apostles. Life is about serving others as he heals 2 blind men
I did the reading. No comment tonight.
Day 11
4.73-4.76
“The son of Man did not come for people to serve Him. He came to serve others and to give his life to save many people”
Jesus came to earth and felt things the way we feel things; happiness, love, fear, sadness, and still He lived a perfect life knowing His ultimate purpose while fighting all those feelings. I think of the things that I don’t do that I know I should because I get in my own head and let fear take over or worry stop me and yet I have this marvelous example of humble service and unquestioning faith that Jesus provides. I have a Father in heaven that provides and yet still I worry.
Lord help me to trust your plan and lean on your promises and not my own understanding and emotion!
Amen Kelly! And thanks for sharing that….
Day 11 4:73 – 4:76
Another great principle found here about God’s economy is He is the one who decides who and how people will be blessed. He will be faithful to the promises He has made to all of us, but He will be gracious beyond that in whatever way He sees fit. It is also an expression of the backward nature of His economy that the last will be first and the first will be last. And Jesus Himself is the model of that in His willingness to die to make salvation possible for us. He has come to serve and not to be served even though He would be worthy of it. And yet John, James and their mom just don’t get the point. I guess they weren’t really listening to what Jesus just said. And Jesus shows both His service and His power by healing this blind man. And yet He also reenforces the importance of faith by declaring that it is the reason Bartimaeus receives his sight.
Jesus says this several times, “those who are last will be first and those who are first will be last.” It is those people who are not prominent or easily noticeable but are obedient believers, living godly lives who will receive the greatest honor in heaven. How awful it must have been for Jesus to know how and when he will die. The Son of God did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life to save many people. Jesus loves us so much that he was willing to to die a horrible, humiliating death to take the punishment for our sins so that we would be saved.
Amen, Shelly!
The recurring theme is that Jesus came to serve and He calls His apostles and those that followed Him to serve others. There is an innate desire in man to have power and wealth and authority and control, and to elevate those in those positions here on earth. I think even as believers, we elevate those who are “famous” or in power, whether in the world or in the church. We need to be careful not to have idols.