READINGS FOR OCTOBER 23-29

 

OCTOBER 23

Jesus calls His followers. Two of John’s disciples left John to follow Jesus. One of them is named...Andrew, the other isn’t named, but many think it may have been the disciple John. Jesus really didn’t call them, they followed Him.

 “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him…”

Can you imagine being the one to evangelize Peter!!!

Jesus first recorded miracle was to turn water into wine. When Mary tells Jesus there is no more wine, it is clear she was expecting Jesus to take care of it. Because of the way Jesus responded to His mother, it is evident that He understood that she wanted something more of Him than just go buy some wine. She was expecting a miracle.

Could have He already performed supernatural things at home that Mary had seen?

The master of the banquet says the bridegroom has saved the best for last. Why do we sometimes wait until everything else runs out to try God?

Jesus performed miraculous signs so that others would believe. The disciples at that point put their faith in Him.  And at this point, it seems as if the only disciples who are closely following Jesus, at least at this time are Andrew, Peter, Phillip, and Nathanael and one other who is not named.

After the wedding, Jesus, His mother, His blood brothers, and His disciples left Cana and went to Capernaum.  Some time after this Jesus went back to Jerusalem in time for the Passover. While Jesus was there many people saw the miraculous signs that He did and believed in His name.  Just what is it that they believed?  Did they believe in Jesus as the Messiah or only in the miracles He did?

When Nicodemus asked the question, "How can a man be born again?" this was a new concept for him.  Jesus answers with an explanation about being born of the Spirit. Just as one can see the effects of the wind, people will be able to see the effects of being born again, being born of the Spirit.

One of John's disciples expresses concern about ceremonial washing done by Jesus and His disciples, reporting to John that Jesus is baptizing.   However, this man is mistaken.  John 4:1-3 clears that up. Only the disciples are baptizing. 

John mentions that God "gives the Spirit without limit."  Isn't that interesting!  We, the Believers with the indwellment of the Holy Spirit are the ones who limit the Spirit's power and effect.

When Jesus and the disciples left Judea and went back toward Galilee, did Jesus call Judas before they left? We know that Judas was from the villages of Cariot located about 23 miles south of Jerusalem in the Judea countryside.

On the way to Galilee, they journeyed through Samaria. The Samaritans were known by the Jews as half breeds and not true Israelites. Jews avoided traveling through Samaria. Jacob’s well was on property originally owned by Jacob. Wells were usually located along the main road outside the city. Women would come twice a day to draw water, in the cool of the morning and in the cool of the evening. This woman came in the heat of the day at noon, probably to avoid being seen by the other women. No respectable Jewish man would have spoken to her for several reasons: she was a Samaritan, she was living in sin, she was in a public place. Yet Jesus not only talks to her. He gives her the promise of “living water”. 

What is this “living water”?

Just as we should not deprive our bodies of food and water, we should not deprive ourselves of spiritual food and water, God’s Word. We receive spiritual nourishment from fellowship with Jesus, doing God’s will and telling others. Our food should be like that of Jesus to do the will of God. If Jesus received spiritual nourishment from doing God’s will, then shouldn’t we?

Many of the Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the Samaritan woman’s testimony. How many people will be drawn to Jesus because of our testimony?  The Samaritans came to see for themselves. A person may be drawn to Jesus, but each person needs a personal encounter.

OCTOBER 24

Jesus taught in the synagogues.

 A synagogue is a “house of instruction”, “house of learning”, “gathering place”, “place of worship” and “place of prayer”. In Jesus’ day synagogues were scattered all over the country. And people didn't just go there on the Sabbath day. It was open daily and people learned about the Jewish way of life as well as having the rabbis explain the Scriptures.  Synagogues were first and foremost schools of instruction from the scrolls for the boys. 

It was in the synagogue in Nazareth, His boyhood home that Jesus read the words of Isaiah and announced that the prophecy had been fulfilled.  Interestingly, this particular reading from the scrolls was the regular reading for that day.  How appropriate that it just so "happened" that Jesus chose this day to announce His mission. At first the people spoke well of Him and then later they drove Him out of town to throw Him off a cliff. What happened???  

Jesus announced to the weary fishermen to cast their nets once again to catch fish. Peter announced that they had fished all night and caught nothing. “But because you say so…”

What a compelling statement. If only we would all obey Him just because He said so!

In the synagogue at Capernaum the evil spirits declared that Jesus was the Holy One of God.

We read several times in Scripture that Jesus often sought solitary places to pray. Early on in His public mission, He affirmed that He had come to preach and not just to heal. 

The leper had the most wonderful of attitudes in petitioning God. He said, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” What a great statement of faith. The leper knew that Jesus could heal him. He asked for his cleansing only IF Jesus was willing. A model prayer for all of us, wouldn’t you say?

OCTOBER 25

The tax collector Levi (Matthew) is called by Jesus. Notice Levi got up and followed.  The fishermen had done a similar thing. When Jesus called, they followed. The fishermen however could go back to fishing (which they did). Once Matthew left his lucrative tax collecting business, he burned a bridge. He couldn’t go back. 

John 5:1-3, 5-9 records a significant miracle performed by Jesus, a man who had been an invalid for 38 years.  Jesus posed an interesting question to the man, "Do you want to get well?"  The man responds with an excuse that appears very valid.  "There is no one to help me get into the water."  The man has been there for 38 years.  In all that time there hasn't been a single person to help him get into the water???  Perhaps Jesus' question to him is more than just a simple question.  Jesus told him to get up and walk.  Scripture says the man was cured.  However, in the original Greek, it says " made to be sound or well". The word cured is not exactly the correct word in this context.  The Greek word for sound or well means figuratively "teaching that does not deviate from the truth." Sounds as if Jesus gave the man a bit of an attitude adjustment. When Jesus saw the invalid man later He said, "Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."  This implies that the man had been sinning in some way. Perhaps pretending to be an invalid or not really wanting to be cured?

Some significant pieces of Scripture in today’s reading.

John 5:21
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.

John 5:28-29
"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out-- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

John 5:25
I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

 God the Father raises ALL the dead. Only those who hear Jesus’ voice will live forever. They are the ones who know Him and have salvation.  Those who are raised and do not know Jesus will die the second death. 

John 5:46
If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.

Moses…wrote about Jesus??? How can this be???  Isn't this an interesting little treasure hidden away? How many people miss the significance of the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, simply because they do not read and understand the Old Testament?  How did Moses know what to write about Jesus? Because he met with the Son of God face to face as a friend would meet with a friend.  (you can find this in the book of Exodus 33).

See the booklet Encounters With God the Son available on Amazon.

Jesus is reported as going through the grainfields on the Sabbath and picking heads of grain.  Most likely what they were picking were the gleanings left over in the fields for the poor.  Jesus would not have encouraged theft.  Besides, the Pharisees were only condemning Jesus because of the "work" done by the disciples on the Sabbath.

Several times Jesus gives strict orders to the demons and evil spirits not to tell who He was. Why? 

Luke 6:12-13
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:

Jesus had many disciples or followers, not just the twelve. A disciple is someone who wants to learn. Many people followed Jesus around to learn from Him. But Jesus chose twelve to become apostles (sent out). He chose these twelve (including Judas) to be the ones to send out and be the leaders of the others. Interesting that Jesus spent the night in prayer before choosing the twelve. If Jesus spent the night in prayer with His heavenly Father, shouldn’t we spend time in prayer with Him too?

OCTOBER 26

Ah…the Sermon on the Mount…just a few thoughts. 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit…” Poor in spirit refers to a state of mind, as in a broken and contrite spirit, drained of self, emptied in order to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Truly blessed are those who are filled with the Holy Spirit and not filled with self. 

“Blessed are those who mourn…” This mourning is a Godly sorrow, a mourning over sin. But those who mourn over their sins are also blessed because they know they have forgiveness for those sins.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

The Jews, under the guidance of the Pharisees were taught to keep the outward manifestations of the Law. Jesus commands that the heart be purified. These who are pure in heart have the inward manifestations and will see God with spiritual vision by faith. They can see God in all things, both here and in eternity. 

“Blessed are you when people insult you…” Sometimes this can take the form of unchristian talk around us. 

“Rejoice and be glad…” Easy to say, not so easy to do when we are being insulted and persecuted.

See the booklet Climbing the “Be Attitude” Mount by Phil and Patti Moore available on Amazon.

Jesus pronounces woes on certain people.  This doesn't mean these woes apply to all who are rich, or well fed or happy or respected, but those who put their faith, trust, and hope in those things. It is when those things are objects of pride that the woes apply.

When Jesus responded to Satan, He said, “It is written…” Jesus quoted Scripture. During the readings for today, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said…”
Jesus made it very clear that we shouldn’t rely on what others say or what traditions hold, or different interpretations, but that we should go straight to what is written in God’s Word and receive understanding through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus warns several times about doing good works only for the praise.  While it is important to do good works, the desire to do those good works should stem from obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit and not just for the praise.

Jesus was very clear concerning that debilitating emotion, worry.  "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"  Replace worry with seeking His kingdom and His righteousness!

Matthew 7:7-12 deserves an entire day of its own!  So very much to ponder!  He has promised us that if we ask and seek and knock, we will receive, we will find, and the door will be opened.  When we "knock on His door", ask for and seek a personal relationship with Him, He absolutely will not deny us! However, we must be very cautious about some things we ask Him for.  For example, we can read in the Old Testament about what happened when the Israelite people asked for a king.  God warned them about what would happen and yet they persisted and so God gave them a king.  Most of the kings of Israel and Judah were ungodly. Another example is when the people during the wilderness wanderings complained about not having meat to eat and were longing to return to slavery in Egypt. God gave them quail to eat, so much quail that it made them sick.  If we are seeking Him, and desire a relationship with Him, we will ask Him for the things He wants to give us anyway.

Some very hard teaching in the following passage, so hard that many spiritual leaders avoid it for fear of being judgmental or politically incorrect. But…God’s Word says it and that settles it! No “wiggle” room here! Not all pathways lead to God.

Matthew 7:13-14
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

A famous quote:  "The fact that there is a highway to hell and only a stairway to heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers."

Jesus tells us that He is that narrow gate.

John 10:9
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
There is NO other way!

The crowds around Jesus then were "amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority..."

We can be just as amazed today!

OCTOBER 27

John the Baptist inquires for confirmation of Jesus’ divinity.  This was so that his disciples would know.  John already knew.

Luke 7:20
When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"

Jesus didn’t answer with a yes or no. He answered with:

Luke 7:22
So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

Jesus was quoting Isaiah and He knew John would know that. John would have known that this prophecy foretold the Messiah's coming.

It is only after the disciples of John leave that Jesus tells the crowd that “there is no one greater than John…”

Why didn’t Jesus tell that to the messengers from John? Wouldn’t that have given great comfort to John? Or was Jesus preventing even a hint of pride to creep into John? 

Some interesting thoughts on the anointing by the sinful woman at the home of Simon the Pharisee and are in the book, The Journey of Jesus From the Manger to the Mansion.

Simon the Pharisee had not offered the common cultural courtesy of the day to Jesus and Jesus pointed this out to the Pharisee.  Jesus contrasted this to what the sinful woman had done for Him. One must wonder what the motives of Simon really were concerning Jesus. Was He trying to trap Jesus.

Jesus condemned blasphemy in Mark 3:21.  When the Pharisees claimed that Jesus drove out demons by authority of Beelzebub ( Chaldean origin meaning "dung god") they were in effect calling the Holy Spirit an evil spirit.

Luke 11:27-28
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

Jesus didn't seem to bless His mother above anyone. He was more concerned with those of us who hear and obey the word of God.  Once we become a believer in Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, there is no greater blessing than to hear and obey His Word.

OCTOBER 28

Jesus condemns hypocrisy. One of the most scathing condemnations is this one.

Luke 11:52
"Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."

Those experts were not teaching the truth and were quenching the spirit of those who were seeking the truth. Not much has changed today.  So many "man-made traditions" have superseded the God-made truth.

For those of you out there who are “worry warts”…this verse is for you!

Matthew 6:27
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Jesus said to seek first His kingdom. What does it mean to seek His kingdom?

Jesus also said to be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. What does it mean to be ready?  We are not guaranteed our next heartbeat. 

To repeat a previous blog entry, Jesus made it very clear in this verse that baptism has nothing to do with water. It has everything to do with spiritual matters.

Luke 12:50
But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!

Luke 3:16
John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

So often especially during the Christmas season we hear the words, “Peace on earth.” Did Jesus come to bring peace on earth?

Luke 12:51
Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

This verse should bring us comfort as believers in Jesus Christ. If we are His followers and doing His will, there will be division, not only in the world, but in our churches and even within our families. We must stand firm with the Monument of Truth (God's Word) no matter what happens around us.

OCTOBER 29

Today’s reading is filled with parables. A parable is a short, simple story designed to communicate a spiritual truth, religious principle, or moral lesson; a figure of speech in which truth is illustrated by a comparison or example drawn from everyday experiences. The Greek word for parable literally means “a laying by the side of, or a casting alongside of”, thus a comparison or likeness. In a parable something is placed alongside something else, in order that one may throw light on the other. A familiar custom or incident is used to illustrate some less familiar truth.

We can look at the surface meaning of a parable or we can dig deeper and discover a much deeper meaning. In finding the central meaning of a parable, the reader needs to discover the meaning the parable had in the time of Jesus (the culture and customs as well as the social, political, spiritual climate of the day). As an illustration, let’s look at the parable of the pencil. (Thanks to a friend who sent this to us several years ago.)

PARABLE OF THE PENCIL

In the beginning the pencil maker created the pencil. “You must remember these five things,” the maker told the pencil.

1.     You will do great things but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.

2.    You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time but it is required if you are to become a better pencil.

3.     You have the ability to correct any mistakes you might make.

4.    The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.

5.    No matter what the conditions, continue to write as you submit to the master’s hand, leave a clear, legible mark no matter how difficult.

If we compare ourselves to the pencil, we can do great things if we allow ourselves to be held in God’s hands and allow other people access to our many gifts. We may undergo a painful “sharpening” by various problems to make us stronger and sharper. We will be able to correct our mistakes or we might grow through them. The most important part of us is what’s inside. On every surface we walk we should leave our mark serving God in everything, following His leading, and never taking credit for authorship of the work.

If this parable of the pencil had been told in Jesus’ time, would they have understood it? But if we could explain our culture and the importance of pencils and how they are used, then they might have understood the practical application of this parable of the pencil.  In understanding Jesus' parables we must keep in mind five things:
1. content
2. context
3. culture and social, political, and spiritual climate of the day
4. customs
5. current connection

We must read the content within the entire context of Scripture, not only the verses before and after but the whole Bible.  We must place ourselves in Jesus' day and learn as much as we can about the culture and customs as well as the social, political, and spiritual climate of the day.  And then, we must make that all-important current connection.

The parable of the sower and the parable of the tares are easily understood because Jesus Himself gives the meanings.  Some of the others are not so easily understood and can be explained in different ways.  For example the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the yeast and the parable of the hidden treasure can be taken both positively as encouragement and negatively as a warning.

Through the parables Jesus gives us the secrets to the kingdom of heaven. Are we getting just the surface meanings or are we going after the hidden treasures? How are we doing digging into his word for those secrets? Are we really working to dig out the nuggets by reading and studying the entire Bible?

Check out one of our books, Parables to Ponder.
https://www.amazon.com/Parables-Ponder-Phil-Patti-Moore/dp/1521592918/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=