March 22, 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 12 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Growing Opposition
Read Sections 4.77 through 4.79 (pages 131-133)
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.
Just as the king gave his servants a bag of money, God gives us talents and abilities that we should be using to advance the Kingdom of God. We are just stewards of what He entrusts to us; what we have is really His to start and that includes not just our things but ourselves. Jesus walked through life fulfilling His purpose daily…preaching, teaching, healing, comforting. We have the same purpose to use what He has given us to help disciple others. Jesus wasn’t limited in those He shared with and those He cared for, like Zacchaeus a tax collector or sinners or prostitutes, his ministry was seek and save the lost and that is a ministry we continue as His current day disciples!
On lent 2023 day 12
Zacchaeus actions show he wanted to change his ways. When Jesus called out his name his conversion had started. Jesus of course knew the outcome of this. Befriending him zacchaeus is a changed man. And shows it with his actions to return even more money than what he has cheated the Jews from. The parable of the kings servants. The simplest way to describe. Are you concerned about others or just yourself. Use your God given gifts to glorify God And further his kingdom. .
Day 12 4:77-4;79
The Son of Man came to find the lost people and save them!
In Jericho there was a man that wanted to see Jesus. He was a wealthy, very important tax collector.[the KJV says the chief among the publicans]. He desired to see Jesus so because he was so short he climbed up into a sycamore tree. Jesus spoke to him and wanted to eat at his house. People complained that Jesus was staying with a sinner. Tax collectors were hated by the Jews because they were Jews that worked for Rome. Zacchaeus wanted to do right. He had a repentant heart for Jesus said [ Today is the day for this family to be saved from sin]. And also [ The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them]. Also latter many of the Jews went to Bethany to see Jesus and Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead. The leading Pharisees planned to kill Jesus and Lazarus. For many Jews were leaving them and believing in Jesus. They were not only jealous of Jesus but were worried about Rome. Even with Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. How could they not believe/ Their hardness of heart. Remember what Jesus said earlier in a another section. If they don`t believe Moses and the Prophets neither will they believe if someone rose from the dead.
Day 12
4.77-4.79
” People who use what they have will get more. But those who do not use what they have will have everything taken away from them…”
This is a reminder for me to consider my gifts (spiritual gifts, talents, skills, resources, experience) and make sure I am using them for the expansion of God’s kingdom.
Lent Day 12
It makes sense that the reason Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus so bad was what he had heard about and how He was kind to those that other Jews rejected. If only others recognized that and made special efforts to see Jesus. And how gracious Jesus is to eat at Zacchaeus’ house and how evident the conviction that came from Jesus was that he repents from his ways. There is no truer expression of faith than a changed life. And how interesting that Jesus tailors His message to what people are talking and thinking about. Do you want to know what the kingdom of God is about? It is about God entrusting us to be stewards of our lives and the things in our lives and then seeing how we did to bear fruit for God’s kingdom. It just reenforces what our lives are to be about and why we are here: to have an impact, to affect change, to reveal the glory and truth of God to those around us. And we can be sure that people’s response to our activities will be similar what happened to Jesus. Some people will come enthusiastically while others will want to shut us down. Well at least we know what to expect…..
I like the story of Zacchaeus. I feel like my own conversion story is similar. “Oh, that is Jesus? I would like Him to be my savior too.” Jesus called Zacchaeus and Zacchaeus immediately responded with a change of heart in action. “I want to do good.”
Jesus said, “Today is the day for this family to be saved from sin. Yes, even this tax collector is one of God’s chosen People. The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.”
I sometimes try to look at the KJV (I find it an accurate translation) and I noticed that Jesus immediately goes into the parable of the 10 servants, the reasons given are very interesting.
Luke 19:11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
I hadn’t noticed this before (or if I did I forgot), Jesus tells this parable because people are expecting Him to establish the kingdom immediately.