READINGS FOR OCTOBER 30- November 5 

OCTOBER 30

Some amazing miracles are included in today's reading.  And some amazing lessons to be learned.

When Jesus said He had no place to lay His head, was He thinking of His heavenly home as His real home and He had no place in this earthly kingdom?  Is He telling us that we shouldn't get too comfortable in this temporary home called earth?

There were some hard lessons that Jesus gave to His followers.  Some of them said they would follow Him but they had other commitments that took top priority.  Do we do that too?  One man said he had to go bury his father.  Another said he wanted to say good-by to his family.  These seem like pretty important things.  But Jesus wanted these followers to proclaim and serve the kingdom of God and not be distracted by anything.

Wonderful lessons to be learned from the calming of the sea.  Jesus had complete control over the wind and the waves. He has complete control over all the winds and waves of our lives as well. He tells us the same thing that He told the wind and the waves, "Peace!  Be still!"

While the Chronological Bible gives an excellent combination of the four gospel accounts, it is still important for us to also read each of the individual gospels.  At times, some very important words, phrases, and concepts are left out.  For example in the account of the demon-possessed man, an important word is left out that comes from the gospel of Luke.  Luke records that the demons asked Jesus not to send them into the Abyss before their time.  This little piece of information is essential for understanding future readings.

When Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, He gave orders not to tell anyone about it. He told the blind men the same thing. Why? Earlier He told the demon possessed man to tell. Whenever Jesus heals the physical, He asks people not to tell. When He performs a spiritual miracle, such as driving out demons, He wants people to tell. This gives us a clue as to the importance Jesus places on the spiritual. He wants the spiritual healings to be broadcast to everyone. 

Jesus’ family is listed in today’s reading His mother, Mary, His brothers James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon, and sisters who are not named. But we know He has at least two sisters.

Jesus didn’t do miracles in his hometown, except to heal a few sick people. It was their lack of faith that prevented them from being healed.

Is our lack of faith preventing us from receiving or witnessing miracles? Are we putting limits on Jesus because of our lack of faith?  Heaven forbid!

OCTOBER 31

Jesus preaches throughout the country. He went into large wealthy cities and into the poor, obscure villages. He preached and healed both rich and poor. He taught in the synagogues. He had compassion on them, but in a spiritual way. His concern was that they were ignorant with a lack of spiritual vision. 

Listed in today's reading is the verse containing "sheep without a shepherd"…can you imagine a field of sheep with no direction and no shepherd?

This would be a sad condition of those who are without Christ. Sheep when they have gone astray are helpless and exposed to danger. They are not capable of finding their own way. They need shepherds to bring them into the fold and give them direction and protection. Jesus spoke of false shepherds who not only led the sheep away from the fold but they also fleeced the flock. They didn’t feed them. They didn’t nourish them with the word of truth.

“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
People obviously wanted the teaching that Jesus was giving them. They needed it, they desired it, and they went out of their way to get it. There were probably only a very few teachers who were teaching the truth.

Jesus sent out his disciples. There was work to be done.  There is work to be done now as well. Are there enough laborers to do the work?  Jesus sent the disciples out into the field as an evangelistic training exercise in preparation of going out later as apostles.

Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes."

This is an urgency, not only for the disciples then, but for us today and a great urgency for us to lend support to Moshe in Israel as he continues to go "through the cities of Israel".

“Shake the dust” is mentioned. When we are unwelcome, at times we need to just walk away.

Jesus sent the disciples out as sheep among wolves. He warned them of the dangers involved. They could expect from this warning that they would be as a helpless sheep among a herd of ravenous wolves to be devoured and destroyed. But because He sends them forth, He will protect them. Be aware of the dangers but be meek and mild.

Jesus says to be afraid of the one who can kill the soul - the total essence of a person. Who can kill the soul? Rejecting Jesus and salvation through Him...that will kill our souls - the second death.

Jesus calls His disciples “little ones”. Is that because they were “babes in the faith” even at this point?

John the Baptist is beheaded. He had completed his mission on earth. Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist who had risen from the dead - Herod was a Sadducee: and the Sadducees denied the resurrection of the dead. They also denied the existence of angels. So Herod was shaken by Jesus. This says he didn’t know much about Jesus or the prophecies that He and John the Baptist were fulfilling even though Herod was raised a Jew.

As we reflect on the Scripture readings for today, let's take to heart the words of the Lord of the Harvest, let's go out as workers into His harvest field!

NOVEMBER 1

Consider this statement in the Chronological Bible commentary; Jesus remains in Galilee for a while longer, apparently not even leaving to attend the Passover Feast in Jerusalem....

As stated before, just because it isn't written in Scripture doesn't mean it didn't happen.  Jesus was faithful in honoring the commanded Feast Days.

When Jesus fed the 5,000 men (had the women and children been counted, the number would have been much higher) He was moved with compassion. This means he was full of tenderness and concern at their plight. Notice Philip immediately told Jesus how much food it would take to feed this many people. Andrew on the other hand immediately brought Jesus the loaves and fishes, knowing that He could somehow make it work.

The people thought the Prophet had come. They wanted to make Jesus king. They wanted their physical needs met.

Jesus sent His disciples ahead of Him with the promise that He would join them later. It was between the hours of 3 and 6 am when they saw Jesus walking on the water. Peter wanted to come to Him, so Jesus commanded him to come. Peter did just fine until he took his eyes off Jesus. Does that happen to us? When we take our eyes off Jesus we begin to sink. When the winds of life thrash around us, do they beat us down and make us afraid?  If so, time to look to Jesus!  Remember, He can calm the wind and the waves of our lives.

Jesus rebukes the people who are looking for miraculous signs. Even though they had witnessed the miracle of the feeding of the multitude and they knew the crossing to the other side of the lake was a miracle, they still seemed to pay little attention to it and only wanted the miracles of God in ways to satisfy the physical needs, namely the demands of their appetite. Few were looking for the spiritual blessings. They wanted physical food not spiritual food.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.”

If we bury ourselves in the Word, we will eat and drink the Word, something we must do every day! Just as we must eat every day or we will get weak. If we don’t internalize the Word every day we will get weak in our faith.  Jesus said that His flesh was real food.  The word real is a misleading translation of the Greek word, which means "true".  

“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”
Did they turn back to their sinful ways? To remember the parable of the soils, did the birds come and eat the seeds? Did they turn back because of hard teaching or because they didn’t believe? Check out the address of this scripture. Its John 6:66. Hmmm....

Jesus asked the Twelve if they wanted to leave too. Peter answers, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words to eternal life.”

Indeed! Only Jesus! 

Jesus condemned many of the traditions, such as the ceremonial washing of dishes.
“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”

The Pharisees and teachers of the law were more concerned about tradition than the truth. Jesus quoted Isaiah who said, "Their worship of me is in vain;"  In other words, their worship meant nothing.

Can you think of some ways that we hold on to the traditions of men and ignore the commands of God? How about the way we celebrate Jesus’ birth or the way we celebrate His death and resurrection? Do we celebrate according to the traditions of men? Or do we honor His birth, death, and resurrection as fulfillment of prophecy?

NOVEMBER 2

The story of the Canaanite woman is a great testimony to persistence, humility and faith of the woman.  Jesus said He was sent to the “lost sheep of Israel” (the Jews, as well as the other tribes). The woman was a Gentile. She understood what Jesus was saying and yet she pleaded for mercy for her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus testified to her faith and her faith paved the way for her daughter's healing.

In the reading today it is recorded that Jesus withdrew from the people and tried to keep His presence a secret.  Later on we read these words:

“He looked up into heaven and with a deep sigh…”
Jesus seems tired because all the people want physical healing and not spiritual healing. Could it be Jesus was demonstrating to the Father and to the people around Him how exasperated He was?

A large hungry crowd again gathers around Jesus. Did the disciples forget about the feeding of the multitudes earlier when they asked this question, "...where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?"

Jesus feeds 4,000 with seven loaves and some fish, with seven baskets left over. What was different this time from the feeding of the 5,000? There must be something significant in this because Jesus spoke to His disciples about it.  For one thing, even though there were fewer people, they consumed more this time than the previous time with the 5,000.  Could it be that the people were craving more of the physical and less of the spiritual? Earlier Jesus had told the crowd that they were coming to Him only to be physically fed.

Jesus warns them about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Leaven (yeast) is not a good thing in this case.  In fact leaven is not a good thing in most cases.  We need only read in Matthew 22 and 23 about the religious leaders of the day.  Just read about all the "woes" Jesus pronounced on them. When Jesus referred to yeast He was speaking about the false teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees and told the disciples to guard against this.  Something we should guard against today as well. 

Why did Jesus perform this miracle of restoring sight to the blind man in two parts? This blind man was brought by friends. The friends begged Jesus to touch him. Could it be the man didn’t have the faith himself? Was his belief or knowledge of Jesus confused or fuzzy at first (like the man saw fuzzy shapes at first). As knowledge and faith grows, things are seen more clearly. Faith is active. It requires action on the part of the person being healed. This man at first didn’t act. It was the action of his friends. Faith is personal! 

Is our faith and knowledge in Him growing so that we are beginning to see more clearly as did the blind man that Jesus healed? Is our faith active?

NOVEMBER 3

Jesus begins to prepare His disciples for the role they are to play after He has fulfilled His mission.  It is at Caesarea Philippi that Jesus asks the question of a lifetime. “Who do you say that I am?”

Our entire destiny and especially our eternal destiny depends on how we answer that question. 

Matthew 16:16-17
Simon Peter replied, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."  And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

To better understand this passage we must look at some of the Greek words and their meanings. The word "this" is extremely significant.  We must examine what the "this" is.  "This" refers to Peter's statement of "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."  

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Peter (petros- a piece of a rock - a piece of the mountain) rock (Petra – a mass of rock - a mountain) Jesus says He will build His church on this rock,  Again "this" refers to Peter's declaration of "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."  Jesus is speaking of Himself (Jesus) as the foundation, the mass of rock - the mountain. Jesus is saying that Peter is a part – a piece of the rock (Jesus).  Paul explains a little further in the following verse. 

1 Corinthians 10:4
and all (those who were with Moses in the wilderness) drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 

At the time of these statements, Jesus and His followers were at the center of pantheistic faith (earth worship).  At this place there was a cave that was referred to as the Gates of Hades, symbolically the entrance to hell.  When Jesus spoke of the "gates of Hades" He was referencing gates as being somewhat of the courthouse of the day. Jesus is saying that Satan's rulership of eternal death will not prevail against believers. 

Jesus gives the "keys of the kingdom", He gives the power and authority so that all things that we bind or loose on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven. If we have the power and authority of the kingdom, we will be only operating in righteousness.  Only righteous things we do will be released in heaven.  See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

Peter rebukes Jesus telling Him that His crucifixion will never take place. John Wesley says that this was the deadliest advice that could ever be given. If Jesus had not gone to the cross, where would we be? Notice Peter goes from being the ROCK to being a stumbling rock.

Jesus says that some of them will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power. He is telling them that some of them will see Him transfigured. John got a “double dose”, once on the mountain (Mount of Transfiguration) and once on the Isle of Patmos, where he was given visions that are written in the book of Revelation.

While on the mountain  (Mount of Transfiguration), a bright cloud enveloped Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. This word "enveloped" is the same Greek word used concerning Mary at the conception of Jesus, except it is translated overshadow in that gospel account. "Overshadow" means "to envelop in a haze of brilliancy". 

Jesus said, "Elijah comes and will restore all things." The word "restore" in this passage was a bit confusing to us until we looked at the Greek word. It means that John completed the prophecies concerning the Messiah and ushered in a new order of things.

Immediately following the transfiguration. Scripture says the people were overwhelmed with wonder when they saw Jesus. Why? Could it be that He still glowed somewhat from the transfiguration? Remember Moses’ face when he came down from the mountain?  It glowed.

In the epileptic boy episode, we can see a micro model of Satan and his interaction and demise in the world.  The man who brought his son to have demons cast out, told Jesus that the disciples had tried and could not drive the demon out. Was it the man’s lack of faith that may have contributed to the failure? He asked Jesus, “… if you can do anything…”

Jesus responds with, “If you can?”

When Jesus rebukes the evil spirit He commands it to come out and never enter again. The spirit shrieks and convulses the body before it comes out. If we compare this to Satan’s reign on earth, he knows he has been defeated, but he is convulsing us now. He will shriek at the end!

Jesus tells the disciples that they were not able to drive out the spirit because they have so little faith. And these were His disciples! They had seen Him perform many signs and wonders. Was it their lack of faith in Jesus or their lack of faith in God’s ability to work through them? They had been given the power but maybe they had figuratively "turned the spigot off". Or were they trying to do it in their own strength.

"This kind can come out only by prayer." Some manuscripts add the words "and fasting." The Greek word for prayer is "proseuche" and carries the idea of abiding in an intimate relationship with God as we present our prayers and are willing to sacrifice something back to God in thanksgiving for answers to those prayers. This adds a bit of a different perspective to praying doesn't it?

Jesus tells the disciples they should become like little children, with a childlike innocence, to believe without question.

“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones…”

How little is little? Is it as little as two cells at conception? The words "look down on" mean "to entice to sin, to cause to distrust, to fall away, to place a stumbling block in front of". With that definition in mind, the meaning of the verse reads quite a bit deeper.

“thrown into hell, where their worm does not die…”

Hell in this instance is the Valley of Hinnom, ghenna, a valley outside Jerusalem where garbage is burned. The fire never goes out. It smolders and burns all the time because trash and garbage is constantly added to the fire giving it the fuel to burn. Worm here means grub, maggot, earthworm, all those things that go along with dead, rotten things. 

“Everyone will be salted with fire.”

Everyone will be salted. Will we be salted in hell’s fire and make it burn better or will we be salted with His Divine grace?  Fire is brought into our lives to make us better. It stings and smarts but it often takes us in a new and better direction.

Jesus explains about the testimony of two or three witnesses. This is important when studying the Bible as well. Check scripture to find a confirming verse.

Jesus explains to Peter about forgiveness. This was a whole new concept for Peter.  Forgiveness at that time under the Old Testament was to make atonement for sin by giving a sacrifice at the temple.

As we pondered these verses today, we began thinking about the words rebuke and repent.  
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him."

The definition of rebuke is "to admonish" or call attention to the sin.  Another of the definitions is to "show honor".  The word repent means "to heed, to change" and "heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins".  So, in this passage, it is a given that once the person's sins are pointed out (respectfully or with honor), the person repents of that sin and doesn't commit that sin again.

Sometimes we may not be aware of our own sins and must depend on someone else to point them out.  As for the "seven times in a day" sins, these are other sins that person has committed that also should be pointed out so that the person may repent of those sins as well.  It isn't the same sin over and over.  If that were the case, then the person didn't really repent in the first place.

Do we as believers have a handle on the importance of forgiveness? It isn't always easy is it?

NOVEMBER 4

A word of caution concerning the commentary at the beginning of today's reading in the Chronological Bible.  It is stated that Jesus evidently did not attend the previous Passover.  However, there is no clear evidence in Scripture to support that supposition.  The verse the commentator may have been referring to is:

John 7:1
After these things Jesus walked in Galilee, for He did not desire to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 

It was stated earlier in the previous chapter in John that the Passover was near.  It is a stretch to make assumptions that Jesus did not want to go to the Passover in Jerusalem based on this verse alone. Additionally, Jesus was certainly not afraid to go there.  He knew when the time was for Him to be crucified.  He did not need to worry that the Jews would kill Him before the appointed time.  He simply chose not to go there at certain times for reasons of His own.   Seems as if we can draw a logical conclusion that Jesus would have attended ALL the commanded feast days, whether the gospels writers record this or not.  Also according to the following verses in John 7, Jesus could have gone unnoticed.

John 7:8-10
You go up to this feast; I am not yet going up to this feast; for My time is not yet fulfilled.  And having said these things to them, He remained in Galilee. But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as in secret. 

Jesus makes a statement in response to the accusation of the crowd that He is "demon-possessed". 

John 7:24  Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.

Unfortunately, society today has redefined the word "judge", defining it only as "condemnation".  In truth, the word "judge" in this context means "to distinguish or decide or make an assessment based on evidence".  The outcome of the judgement can be favorable or condemning.  The meaning can be compared to the ruling of a godly presiding judge in a court of law today.

In John 7:25-31 some people in Jerusalem said, "when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."  Apparently they did not know the prophecies of Scripture.  The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and would be called a Nazarine because He would be from Nazareth, which is in Galilee. (Micah 5:2)

And then in verses 45-52, the chief priests and Pharisees said to Nicodemus, "Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee."   So, did the religious leaders not know the prophecies of Scripture either???

John 7:38
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

We should go to the well (the Bible, through the Holy Spirit) to be filled, and then spill ourselves out for others. The Holy Spirit will show us the truth so that we will be able to speak the truth.  Just as a tree soaks up water and produces luscious fruit, if we soak up God’s word, we’ll bear fruit. The more we delight in God’s presence the more fruitful we are. If a tree is planted by streams of water, it survives when drought or bad times come. If we “plant our tree” by God’s word, we will not only survive, but we will flourish when bad times come.

Who was The Prophet the people were looking for? Is The Prophet John the Baptist? Or Jesus? Who?  Were they looking for The Prophet that Moses spoke about?  (Deuteronomy 18).  Was The Prophet John the Baptist?  Just as John came in the spirit and power of Elijah (identified by Jesus as such) he came in the spirit and power of The Prophet (Moses perhaps?)

The woman caught in adultery…the Law of Moses commanded both parties be put to death. Where was the man? What did Jesus write on the ground when the woman caught in adultery was brought to Him? Could it be that Jesus was writing the men's names in the dirt when He bent down the first time? When He wrote the second time, immediately after asking them about their own sins, could He have written down some secret sin they had each committed, possibly committing adultery with the woman?  When Jesus said He didn’t condemn her, He also admonished her to go and sin no more. There are conditions to "no condemnation".  We must repent from it and never do that sin again.

NOVEMBER 5

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jesus was the light of the world at the beginning as He will be at the end. “And God said, ‘Let there be light…” Genesis
“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”  Revelation
Jesus is the light from beginning to end and beyond into eternity.

Jesus tells us that while He was walking on this earth, He was the light of the world. He no longer walks on the earth as a human man. When He left earth He promised His disciples He would send them the Holy Spirit. When we have the Holy Spirit living in us, we are the light of the world.

There seems to be a contradiction in John 8:15-16 when Jesus says, "I pass judgment on no one.  But if I do judge, my decisions are right."

In reality, people pass judgment on themselves by whether or not they believe in Jesus. Jesus sends no one to hell.  People send themselves. What Jesus judges would be the level of rewards in heaven for believers and degrees of punishment in hell for the unbelievers.

Jesus addresses spiritual freedom in John 8:31-38, "...everyone who sins is a slave to sin."  and "...if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Even in the secular society of that day, a man who is a slave can be set free by the son of the master. This comparison was extremely clear to those people Jesus was addressing.   And yet Jesus said to them, "Why is my language not clear to you?"

Jesus had no problem telling the Jewish religious leaders the way things really were with them. He rebuked them openly, even saying to them that they belong to their father, Satan.

“When he lies, he speaks his native language.”

“…before Abraham was born, I am!” Jesus establishes Himself as the Divinity. He has no past tense, no future tense, but always the present.  Jesus is the “I AM” of the Old Testament. Jesus is not the “I was” or the “I will be”. He is the “I AM!” And always will be!

Jesus heals the blind man but notice the man doesn’t believe in Jesus at first. In fact he seems to not really know who Jesus is.  His neighbors saw him first and inquired as to how his eyes were opened. He just answered back that a man named Jesus told him what to do.  Then he is brought before the Pharisees (perhaps that sect of the Sanhedrin) on charges of violating the Sabbath law by washing his eyes or to find out more condemning information on Jesus making the mud and placing it on the man's eyes.  The formerly blind man's answer to their questions of who opened his eyes was that the man must have been a prophet.  When he is questioned by the Jews he is beginning to believe. “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” The Jews threw him out of the synagogue. They not only threw him out of the building, but by implication, excommunicated him. When Jesus finds the man he asks if he believes. This is the first time the man has actually seen Jesus. When Jesus healed him, the man had to go to the pool to wash before his sight was restored. The man’s response to Jesus’ question, “Lord, I believe.” Not only did Jesus open the man’s physical eyes, but He opened his “eyes” of understanding as well.

“…the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.” Only through Jesus is salvation. He makes it pretty plain!  There is NO other way, pathway, or religion to God but through Jesus.

“The watchman opens the gate for him…” God, the Father, is the watchman.

“…He calls his own sheep by name…” He knows us and calls us by name.

“…his sheep follow him because they know his voice…” We know Him and know His voice and follow Him. If we really know Him, we will be able to recognize false teachers and false teaching.

Jesus identifies himself as the gate. He tells us that He has come that we might have life abundant. That doesn’t just mean everlasting life. He has come so that we may have an abundant life here on this earth, not necessarily physically speaking but certainly spiritually speaking.

“…but I lay it down of my own accord…”

Jesus willingly allowed himself to be arrested and crucified. Are all of us as Believers in Jesus willing to lay down our own lives in service to Him?