March 30, 2024
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Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 41 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Last Forty Days
Read Sections 6.9 through 6.12 (pages 190-193)
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.
Lenten day 41 Praise God!
I find it compelling that on the Emmaus road,and the last days with the disciples, Jesus reminds them of Moses and the prophets regarding the Messiah. The Scriptures abound, as we know, with references of Christ, some easy, like Isaiah 53, and perhaps some obscure, Psalm 107:29-31.
As an infant Christain in July ’79, I remember young adult Bible study, where associate pastor Don Lawson led us in a Romans 5 discussion. I never heard such expression of Scripture truth made understandable to me. Not only explaining each verse, but connecting each fact to other passages throughout both testaments. His reasoning was beyond refute.
Coming out of Catholicism, the facts were presented to the parish, without anyone, me at least, understanding the substantative source document on which the fact rests. Reading my Gideon’s bible in boot camp exposed that 18 year old to perplexing contradictions with RCC doctrine.
In Chula Vista, at a fundamental independent baptist church, now long gone, a little Ohio boy learned there is truth to hold in Scripture. I was given the keys to heaven, in one respect, dividing truth from error in what had been taught me,and discerning God’s word from traditions of men, which Jesus says is vain worship, Matthew 15.
Reading this Lentel program reminded me of the verity of Scripture, and how Jesus wanted us to know it, and rest in God’s peace. Oh how precious a conversation it was on that dusty Emmaus road with the risen Savior! What mysteries were explained that we would love to know! -gy
18 ¶ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 “Go thereforefn and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Was Jesus in his resurrected body when he appeared to the apostles. The doors were locked!! Then he ate!! Doubting Thomas not with them. Neither would I be. I’d be by myself. Trying to figure this all out. Not a bad thing to doubt. Makes you think. Just don’t stay there. Thomas said. If you must go to Jerusalem then we will go and die with you. Far from doubting non believer. The Holy Spirit breathed upon the apostles. For years we had a Bible in our house. I used to pick it up and read. Didn’t stick. God breathed the Holy Spirit into me 35 years ago. Was not going to church. No one was mentoring me. But immediately I bought a Bible and the words came alive!!!!!! And are still alive. Forever. My words will never pass away!!!
I feel for Peter here having Jesus challenge his love for Him. Peter knows his own heart and his love for Jesus, and Jesus knows too, but Jesus challenges Peter to repent of his previous denial and to move forward in the obedience that Christ is asking of him, to “feed His sheep”.
It makes me think of things I have done that may cause Jesus to question my love for Him. Not that I am saved by my works or that my salvation would be in peril, but as a child of God am I loving the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind. I want to! I think of the steady walk Peter had with Jesus, even his zeal at times, and then when threat comes, he stumbles, and stumbles badly. So grateful for Jesus’ death on the cross for my sins, past, present and future.
Thank God that He has given His word { Bible} to teach us. Back in the day when these events happened there was no New Testament. Thank God that He inspired His Holy word. 2 Tim. 3:16,17 { All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works.} We also have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us to help us in our walk with Him. He gave us so much by dying on the cross for our sins. He took our place. And yet He actually asks so little of us. He wants us to preach Him crucified throughout the world. It starts with our own small circle of family and friends. Then those that are we are around like at our place of employment. Then other people we are in contact with. Stores, service people that come to our homes, Other parents or grandparents that we may meet through our children or grandchildren, Beaches, and maybe even giving out tracts on the streets that we live. There are so many opportunities that God gives us. We just need to be aware of these opportunities. Ask God to show them to us. Years ago when I was in my 20`s I put tracts on most of the doors along Weaver Hill Road and Sharpe Street. This was in the 1970`s during ” The I Found it Campain.” It was through out Rhode Island done by many churches. I could walk then and that is how I passed out the tracts. I have been thinking about that recently. I still haven`t had my knee operated on but perhaps I could drive. I also wonder how God used me and what were the results. By the way. This is where Melodye and I live now. On Weaver Hill Road. We moved here about 10 or so years ago. God bless.
I think it was important for Jesus to redeem Peter’s denial of Him by having Him affirm to himself and Jesus three times that he loved Him. I also love how Jesus shows Peter that we should not look at other people’s lives and wonder why God is doing this or that with them compared to us. Our responsibility is to follow Him. It is really all that matters and is a good way to deal with the wondering about how things will unfold in our lives. All we need to do is find God’s will and do it. And part of that will is to share Jesus and make disciples of Him. And that we can do anywhere and anytime. It is also the most important thing we do, and so being successful at that trumps being successful at anything else.
And you can imagine how much clearer the things Jesus had said about what would happen to Him were after they had happened. So how good that Jesus gives this download to His apostles and explains how this had always been God’s plan. And as He clarifies what the scriptures from the past revealed about Him, Jesus chooses not to reveal when things will happen in the future. They get the what of Jesus’ return, but not the when. And so we can know that that was on purpose because it was gong to be so long before He returned. If His return was going to be soon, in the way we understand soon, we might imagine Jesus sharing the time frame. But as we continue to wait for what the angels tell the disciples, we can patiently rely on God’s provisions and guidance as we simply continue to follow His will.
God knows that even the most zealous of Christians will stumble so he makes a way for us to be forgiven and restored through his Son, Jesus. After that we must leave the past in the past, and continue to walk in the ways of the Lord. And because of our human nature, we need to do this continually, but we have Jesus to go to every time we fall. Jesus made a way for us, and he will always be there to lift us up. We must not let Satan make us think otherwise.