March 12, 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 2 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Growing Opposition
Read Sections 4.37 through 4.40 (pages 98-103)
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.
“The sheep follow the shepherd because they know his voice. The sheep never follow someone they don’t know.” I love the image that God is the shepherd and Jesus the gate. The way to the Father is through Jesus. We must believe and we must know God’s voice. We must dig in and listen and not be lead astray.
Follow Him and do the works of the harvest. God can use all of us not just the great priests or royalty but rather Jesus gathered regular people to go town to town spreading the word. People with open hearts like that of a child. It brought Jesus great joy when He saw these men put a child-like faith into action to spread His message of hope that others might believe and follow.
Day 2
4.37-4.40
Day 2
We enter through the gate to be saved for He is that gate. He is the Good Shepherd by which His sheep follow Him. We hear His voice and follow Him. He called us to him in so many ways. Some of us were children, some were in our 20s ,some were older but God had His purpose for each one of us. And from different walks of life. It could only happen if we humbled ourselves before the Almighty God. He at times used tragedy to bring us to him. It was through the death of my sister that I was brought to the Lord. She had already found Jesus but none of the family were Christians yet. She was hit by a lady in a car speeding to pick up her husband at the airport. My sister[ Susan] was in a comma for three weeks and the Lord took her home the day before I graduated from Pilgrim High. This led to each one of us coming to Christ at different times after this. From the youngest to the oldest. God is amazing. If I had been the one that died I would be in hell now. I remember praying to God to take me and not my sister for she was so smart and had so much to offer. She spoke 4 languages ,etc. I thought I was stupid and didn`t have anything to offer. Thank God that He didn`t answer this prayer of mine. I found Jesus just over a year after this. It was from someone following God`s direction to share Christ with others. This person[ Larry] led me to Jesus a couple weeks after. I didn`t intend on sharing this but since I did perhaps it can be an encouragement to someone else. God does want us telling others about Jesus.
Wow Dennis, I was not aware of this. So sorry for your loss, but thanks for sharing.
So sorry for your loss, Dennis. I really appreciate hearing people’s testimonies. It is amazing how God works. You should share that in church…..
Day 2 4-37-40
Jesus is trying to teach the Pharisees about spiritual blindness, and they are guilty of sin.
Jesus explains how he is the gate and all who enter through him will be saved. He is the good shepherd and he gives his life for his sheep, he gave his life freely, and again the Jews think he has a demon in him who is making him crazy , but some of the Jews know that a demon couldn’t heal the eyes of a blind man.
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
I and my Father are one.
Lent Day 2
“When anyone listens to you my followers, they are really listening to me. When anyone refuses to accept you, they are really refusing to accept me.” When people don’t accept the message Christians are giving about Christ, they are doing something very foolish because they are rejecting God, His Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus gives us more power than Satan has. But we can rejoice not because we have this power, but beause are names are written in the Book of Life. Praise God!
How descriptive of our world that people who think they see (the woke ones) are actually blind, and yet those of us who recognize our need for sight and turn to Jesus are truly the ones who can see. And just like the Pharisees here, they just don’t get the point. And what a beautiful picture it is as Jesus describes Himself as the Good shepherd! In our weakness and vulnerability we know very well the thieves and robbers that try to steal our souls and deceive and kill. And yet how different is Jesus who sacrifices Himself for the sheep. He is the one who is worthy of us sacrificing to Him and yet He is the One who lays down His life. How important it is for us to learn His voice and follow. What a personal, still small voice that is when we get to know it. And yet our commitment to Him is to be sure and resolved, not looking back over our shoulders to see what other things lie there.
And isn’t it amazing that God trusts us with ministry. That His plan for spreading His message is through those who come to know and value Him. Jesus even expands those He sends out from the 12 to 72. Similar directions are given to seek their provisions along the way and find a person of peace and treat towns that are open to the message very different than those that don’t. It really does let us know we shouldn’t force the message down people’s throats but we should make it clear the implications of their rejection. And I just love that it describes that Jesus got happy about the good report that came and how excited He was for those who found Him. You can bet that He is just excited about us as well!