Read: John 5; Mark 2:34-3:6; Matthew 12:1-21; Luke 6:1-11
John doesn’t identify which feast this is but I would think it was Pentecost because they were at the Sheep Gate near the pool of Siloam which means “sent”. Pentecost has to do with making disciples and sending them into the world to multiply. It was also about the kingdom of miracles and wonders coming to the Church. This man was trying to get into this pool that was suppose to be a place of healing when the waters were stirred by the angels. It stood for the living water of the Spirit that moves in healing and restoration. Jesus asked the man if he wanted to get well and the man gave all the reasons why he couldn’t. So Jesus just commanded him to stand up and pick up his mat and walk. He did. When the Jewish leaders saw him carrying his mat on the Sabbath they asked him why he was “working” on the Sabbath. He told them his story. When they asked the man who healed him, he couldn’t even tell them Jesus’ name.
Later, Jesus found him and told him to stop sinning or he would end up worse than he was. Jesus knew that his sickness was rooted in sin and unless this man got rid of the root, he would never remain healed.
The religious leaders were constantly finding fault with Jesus because of their jealousy. Jesus had everything they wanted. He had authority and could do miracles. He had the respect of the people and their affection and he was not afraid of them. This made him a terrific threat to the religious system since they lead out of manipulation and fear. Jesus lead out of love and submission to God.
Jesus told them that they would be judged by the very person they admired the most which was Moses since he gave the law and they were all about the law. They used the law to lord over the people and control them. Jesus told them that Moses would one day accuse them because they didn’t believe what he wrote. This had to make them super mad! He went on to say that if they had have believed what Moses wrote then they would believe what He said…since Jesus is the law!
Jesus came to bring grace and mercy to the law that brought death. He came to usher in a new and better covenant and to explain the spiritual meaning of the law. The written law taken literally brings death, but the spiritual meaning of the law brings life. Jesus came to make the law become flesh and life-giving!
Lord, help us to embrace your grace and mercy and life that your Word offers.
Friday, September 30, 2016
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Thurs.’s Devo - The Gospels
Read: Luke 5:1-39; Mark 1:40-2:22; Matthew 8:1-4; 9:1-17
Reading through the Bible in chronological order brings out some things that I have missed before. Luke is the only one who tells the story of the great catch of fish and he is not even a fisherman; Luke was a doctor. Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell about the man healed of leprosy, the paralyzed man who walked, how Jesus called Matthew from the tax collecting table into discipleship and answered the question about why Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast. John is totally silent about all these things.
Each of the gospels were written for a different audience. Matthew, the wealthy tax-collector wrote to the Jewish believers and his theme was that Jesus was the King of the Jews. He saw the royalty of Jesus. Mark, a wealthy Roman, wrote to the Romans and his theme was that Jesus was the servant of Jehovah. Mark must have watched how Jesus, the son of God chose to serve his fellow men. Luke, the physician, wrote to the Greeks and his theme was that Jesus was the son of man. The Greeks were into the greatness of man. Physicians during that day were not the wealthy people they are today. They were the philosophers and the deep thinkers. Luke is the one who gives us an orderly account so his book is in the order it happened. But, John, the fisherman, wrote to the Church and his theme was that Jesus was the Son of God. John only tells of seven miracles. He speaks from a more intimate relationship with Jesus.
I don’t know why John left these stories out but each gospel is strategic in God’s plan. We need to see Jesus as the King of Kings, the Servant of the world, the Son of man, and the Son of God.
Lord, expand our sight to see you in your entirety.
Reading through the Bible in chronological order brings out some things that I have missed before. Luke is the only one who tells the story of the great catch of fish and he is not even a fisherman; Luke was a doctor. Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell about the man healed of leprosy, the paralyzed man who walked, how Jesus called Matthew from the tax collecting table into discipleship and answered the question about why Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast. John is totally silent about all these things.
Each of the gospels were written for a different audience. Matthew, the wealthy tax-collector wrote to the Jewish believers and his theme was that Jesus was the King of the Jews. He saw the royalty of Jesus. Mark, a wealthy Roman, wrote to the Romans and his theme was that Jesus was the servant of Jehovah. Mark must have watched how Jesus, the son of God chose to serve his fellow men. Luke, the physician, wrote to the Greeks and his theme was that Jesus was the son of man. The Greeks were into the greatness of man. Physicians during that day were not the wealthy people they are today. They were the philosophers and the deep thinkers. Luke is the one who gives us an orderly account so his book is in the order it happened. But, John, the fisherman, wrote to the Church and his theme was that Jesus was the Son of God. John only tells of seven miracles. He speaks from a more intimate relationship with Jesus.
I don’t know why John left these stories out but each gospel is strategic in God’s plan. We need to see Jesus as the King of Kings, the Servant of the world, the Son of man, and the Son of God.
Lord, expand our sight to see you in your entirety.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Wed.’s Devo - The Word Became Flesh
Read: Mark 1; John 4:46-54; Matthew 4:18-25; 8:14-17; Luke 4:38-44
John the Baptist is thrown in prison and Jesus continued his ministry going to the people’s towns that had come out to see John. John had prepared their hearts for Jesus to bring them salvation.
When Jesus went back to Cana he was grieved when the man came and asked him to heal his son. He was hoping that they would be hungry for more than just a miracle.
When he returned home he walked into the synagogue where he usually attended. He was handed the scroll of the days scripture. It was in Isaiah. He found the part that explained his ministry and just read a part of it. He stopped before it said, “and to bring the vengeance of the Lord” and said, “Today this is fulfilled in your ears.” (It wasn’t time for the vengeance of the Lord.) Then he sat down. When they questioned his authority to say that he explained to them that he would not be able to do much there because they could not be able to see him for what he really was. They could only see him as the little boy that grew up among them. Then he really offended them when he gave two examples of Gentiles being healed by God. He was using his home town to represent the Jewish nation. They couldn’t accept him as the Messiah because they couldn’t see past his humanity. He was trying to show them that he wasn’t just sent to the Jews, but to the world.
They couldn’t accept any of it so they tried to push him off a cliff. He miraculously walked right through the crowd and escaped.
One of the statements we read repeatedly today was that Jesus spoke with authority. He spoke like he knew what he was saying and that he believed it. He not only believed the Word; he was the Word. The demons recognized it but it took the people a little longer.
Lord, may we eat this Word and become it. We have the very Jesus inside us so may we recognize that and walk and talk with authority.
John the Baptist is thrown in prison and Jesus continued his ministry going to the people’s towns that had come out to see John. John had prepared their hearts for Jesus to bring them salvation.
When Jesus went back to Cana he was grieved when the man came and asked him to heal his son. He was hoping that they would be hungry for more than just a miracle.
When he returned home he walked into the synagogue where he usually attended. He was handed the scroll of the days scripture. It was in Isaiah. He found the part that explained his ministry and just read a part of it. He stopped before it said, “and to bring the vengeance of the Lord” and said, “Today this is fulfilled in your ears.” (It wasn’t time for the vengeance of the Lord.) Then he sat down. When they questioned his authority to say that he explained to them that he would not be able to do much there because they could not be able to see him for what he really was. They could only see him as the little boy that grew up among them. Then he really offended them when he gave two examples of Gentiles being healed by God. He was using his home town to represent the Jewish nation. They couldn’t accept him as the Messiah because they couldn’t see past his humanity. He was trying to show them that he wasn’t just sent to the Jews, but to the world.
They couldn’t accept any of it so they tried to push him off a cliff. He miraculously walked right through the crowd and escaped.
One of the statements we read repeatedly today was that Jesus spoke with authority. He spoke like he knew what he was saying and that he believed it. He not only believed the Word; he was the Word. The demons recognized it but it took the people a little longer.
Lord, may we eat this Word and become it. We have the very Jesus inside us so may we recognize that and walk and talk with authority.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Tues.’s Devo - Signs and Wonders
Read: John 3 & 4; Luke 3:19-20
Jesus came doing signs and wonders which made the people believe what he said. The church has become a place where words are spoke with little signs and wonders. God wants to bring back his power to his Church…all of his Church. Nicodemus realized that Jesus’ signs were evidence that God was with him. This made him ready to receive Jesus words of salvation.
Jesus explained being born again of the spirit to Nicodemus. He explained living water to the woman at the well and he explained spiritual food with his disciples. He was trying to get them to see outside their natural eyes to the realm of the spirit. It is the invisible world that must be entered by faith. In order for the Church to move in the power Jesus moved in we must be able to see with spiritual eyes.
The Samaritan woman was so blown away at Jesus “word of knowledge” about her life that she was able to convince the whole town to come and hear him. Many of them believed that he was the Messiah.
Lord, may we walk in the power that You did on earth because You are in us.
Jesus came doing signs and wonders which made the people believe what he said. The church has become a place where words are spoke with little signs and wonders. God wants to bring back his power to his Church…all of his Church. Nicodemus realized that Jesus’ signs were evidence that God was with him. This made him ready to receive Jesus words of salvation.
Jesus explained being born again of the spirit to Nicodemus. He explained living water to the woman at the well and he explained spiritual food with his disciples. He was trying to get them to see outside their natural eyes to the realm of the spirit. It is the invisible world that must be entered by faith. In order for the Church to move in the power Jesus moved in we must be able to see with spiritual eyes.
The Samaritan woman was so blown away at Jesus “word of knowledge” about her life that she was able to convince the whole town to come and hear him. Many of them believed that he was the Messiah.
Lord, may we walk in the power that You did on earth because You are in us.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Mon.’s Devo - Jesus Begins His Ministry
Read: Mark 1:12-13; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-15; John 1:19-2:25
Mark and Luke make it clear that Jesus was tempted the whole forty days in the wilderness even though we know of only three temptations. “Wild beasts” is synonymous with demons. He was out there surrounded by demons and visited by Satan, himself. Satan tempted him with three things that God had promised him already. Jesus was the stone that was turned to bread. The law was written on stone and Jesus took the law and made it life that they could taste and eat. Jesus is the bread of life. The second temptation was for power and glory. God promised him both of these things countless times. The last was the temptation to tempt God by jumping off the Temple and having God resurrect him. One day, Jesus would die and be resurrected and receive glory and honor. Satan’s temptation was for Jesus to get his promises now and not have to go to the cross. If he had done that Jesus would have been famous but the world would still be lost. Satan always tempts us to get our promises now and not go through the channels of pain and suffering which make us wise and able to hold the glory God wants to give himself through us. Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered and we will also.
John came into his ministry preaching the coming kingdom and repentance. He baptized people to be cleansed from their sin. When the Pharisees asked him who he was, he told them he was there to baptize with water, but the Messiah would come who was much more worthy of praise than him. The next day Jesus appeared to be baptized. John announced him to the world, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” He tells them that Jesus existed long before him even though in the natural we know that John was six months older. He baptized Jesus that day and the next day, John’s ministry started to diminish and Jesus’ ministry started to grow. That was what was suppose to happen. John was sent to earth to prepare the people to Jesus and to announce his arrival. When he had finished his destiny, he was taken to heaven.
Lord, let us see our lives like John’s. We are on earth to prepare people for eternity and to announce Jesus to the world. May we fulfill our destiny.
Mark and Luke make it clear that Jesus was tempted the whole forty days in the wilderness even though we know of only three temptations. “Wild beasts” is synonymous with demons. He was out there surrounded by demons and visited by Satan, himself. Satan tempted him with three things that God had promised him already. Jesus was the stone that was turned to bread. The law was written on stone and Jesus took the law and made it life that they could taste and eat. Jesus is the bread of life. The second temptation was for power and glory. God promised him both of these things countless times. The last was the temptation to tempt God by jumping off the Temple and having God resurrect him. One day, Jesus would die and be resurrected and receive glory and honor. Satan’s temptation was for Jesus to get his promises now and not have to go to the cross. If he had done that Jesus would have been famous but the world would still be lost. Satan always tempts us to get our promises now and not go through the channels of pain and suffering which make us wise and able to hold the glory God wants to give himself through us. Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered and we will also.
John came into his ministry preaching the coming kingdom and repentance. He baptized people to be cleansed from their sin. When the Pharisees asked him who he was, he told them he was there to baptize with water, but the Messiah would come who was much more worthy of praise than him. The next day Jesus appeared to be baptized. John announced him to the world, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” He tells them that Jesus existed long before him even though in the natural we know that John was six months older. He baptized Jesus that day and the next day, John’s ministry started to diminish and Jesus’ ministry started to grow. That was what was suppose to happen. John was sent to earth to prepare the people to Jesus and to announce his arrival. When he had finished his destiny, he was taken to heaven.
Lord, let us see our lives like John’s. We are on earth to prepare people for eternity and to announce Jesus to the world. May we fulfill our destiny.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Sun.’s Devo - Jesus Starts his Ministry
Read: Matthew 2-3:12; Mark 1:1b-11; Luke 3:1-22
When you read it I hope you saw how many times it mentioned prophecy and dreams. Jesus fulfilled all the prophesies about his first coming to earth and he was preserved and protected through dreams. Dreams are very important in our lives if we will take hold of them and meditate on them. Some times they can be a short snippet that gives clarity to your life.
I had one of those last night. I dreamed that I was in on a building project and we had the best carpenter. That was such a blessing to me because I have been pouring into a family member and am watching as God transforms her and her husband. God is building a new temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell in their hearts and Jesus is the best carpenter. The result will be perfect!
I used to have a children’s book that showed the star as a huge star that lit up the sky. I wondered why only the wise men saw it. Now I realize that these wise men were astronomers and they spent their nights watching the sky. When a star fell, they knew that a great man had died. When a new star appeared, they could tell what kind of man was born by the nature of the star. This star must have been extraordinary because it made them travel two years to find whose it was.
I also wonder if John the Baptist knew Jesus as his cousin or if this was the first time he had seen him in his life. Either way, something about today showed him that Jesus was the one he had been preaching about would come. He only came to baptize the people to cleanse them of sin so that their heart would be ready to receive the Messiah when he came. That is what the Holy Spirit does today. He cleans out a path in the hearts of men so that they can see Jesus when he comes to them and accept him.
Lord, may your Holy Spirit keep our hearts open to receive Jesus and his baptism of fire.
When you read it I hope you saw how many times it mentioned prophecy and dreams. Jesus fulfilled all the prophesies about his first coming to earth and he was preserved and protected through dreams. Dreams are very important in our lives if we will take hold of them and meditate on them. Some times they can be a short snippet that gives clarity to your life.
I had one of those last night. I dreamed that I was in on a building project and we had the best carpenter. That was such a blessing to me because I have been pouring into a family member and am watching as God transforms her and her husband. God is building a new temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell in their hearts and Jesus is the best carpenter. The result will be perfect!
I used to have a children’s book that showed the star as a huge star that lit up the sky. I wondered why only the wise men saw it. Now I realize that these wise men were astronomers and they spent their nights watching the sky. When a star fell, they knew that a great man had died. When a new star appeared, they could tell what kind of man was born by the nature of the star. This star must have been extraordinary because it made them travel two years to find whose it was.
I also wonder if John the Baptist knew Jesus as his cousin or if this was the first time he had seen him in his life. Either way, something about today showed him that Jesus was the one he had been preaching about would come. He only came to baptize the people to cleanse them of sin so that their heart would be ready to receive the Messiah when he came. That is what the Holy Spirit does today. He cleans out a path in the hearts of men so that they can see Jesus when he comes to them and accept him.
Lord, may your Holy Spirit keep our hearts open to receive Jesus and his baptism of fire.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Sat.’s Devo - The Birth of Jesus
Read: Luke 1:39-2:40; Matthew 1:18-25
When Mary walked into Elizabeth’s house the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She started prophesying over Mary and ended with “You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” She knew this was not the case for her husband. Because he refused to believe he was speechless. When he named John, his tongue was loosed and he began to prophesy over his son. He told him that he would be called the prophet of the Most High because he would prepare the way for the Lord.
Next, we have the story of the birth of Jesus. I used to wonder what was so special about Mary that she was chosen. Then I understood that we are all like Mary. God comes to each of us and asks if they will carry his son, Jesus in our womb. It is our choice. When we agree then he implants the seed of Jesus and gives us three gifts to help us: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold is wisdom which is gained by our experiences we have in life. Frankincense is what gives us free access to the throne which is the Holy Spirit. Frankincense also soothes anxiety and promotes healing. Myrrh is used during death and it is to help us die to ourselves and come forth smelling like heaven. He also gives us his son which is growing inside and he is the Word incarnate. How can we lose?
This time I read this story I saw Simeon like I had never seen him before. Here was a devout Jew, an ordinary man who loved God and his promises and had spent his life in expectation of the Messiah. Because he was eagerly looking for Christ, he was able to identify him, hold him, and bless him. God visits all who expectantly wait for him.
Lord, help us to access everything you have given us to walk a life pleasing to you.
When Mary walked into Elizabeth’s house the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She started prophesying over Mary and ended with “You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” She knew this was not the case for her husband. Because he refused to believe he was speechless. When he named John, his tongue was loosed and he began to prophesy over his son. He told him that he would be called the prophet of the Most High because he would prepare the way for the Lord.
Next, we have the story of the birth of Jesus. I used to wonder what was so special about Mary that she was chosen. Then I understood that we are all like Mary. God comes to each of us and asks if they will carry his son, Jesus in our womb. It is our choice. When we agree then he implants the seed of Jesus and gives us three gifts to help us: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold is wisdom which is gained by our experiences we have in life. Frankincense is what gives us free access to the throne which is the Holy Spirit. Frankincense also soothes anxiety and promotes healing. Myrrh is used during death and it is to help us die to ourselves and come forth smelling like heaven. He also gives us his son which is growing inside and he is the Word incarnate. How can we lose?
This time I read this story I saw Simeon like I had never seen him before. Here was a devout Jew, an ordinary man who loved God and his promises and had spent his life in expectation of the Messiah. Because he was eagerly looking for Christ, he was able to identify him, hold him, and bless him. God visits all who expectantly wait for him.
Lord, help us to access everything you have given us to walk a life pleasing to you.
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