Scripture Passage
Scripture Focus
“You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” (John 7:8 NLT)
As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51 NLT)
Observation
I can’t get past the first few verses in today’s reading. The opening verses from John hint at a level of opposition to Jesus’ ministry that I don’t often think about—the scornful disbelief of Jesus’ own brothers. And yet it’s not hard to imagine. If honor is hard to come by in one’s own town (cf. Matthew 14:57), how much more is honor hard to come by in one’s own family!
The “encouragement” from Jesus’ brothers in John 7 drips with sarcasm. “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this!” (John 7:3-4 NLT) Of course, Jesus’ reply has a bit of an edge, too. “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime” (John 7:6 NLT). The difference between the brothers’ sarcasm and Jesus’ retort is that Jesus’ statement rings with truth.
Because the brothers’ lives were no more submitted to the Father’s purpose than the man on the moon, it really didn’t matter when (or whether) they traveled to Jerusalem for the festivals. Jesus, however, lived in submission to His Heavenly Father, and therefore lived a life marked and directed by the Father’s purpose. There was intentionality to Jesus’ days. There was timing to His movements.
That’s made all the more clear by the record of Luke 9. Jesus has just come down off the Mount of Transfiguration, having spoken with Moses and Elijah concerning “his departure” (Luke 9:31 NLT)—a phrase scholars take to refer to the events surrounding his death, resurrection, and ascension. Following that conversation, “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51 NLT). That connection—that sense of intentionality and determination following such a conversation—has always fascinated me.
I’m reminded, today, that a submitted life is a purposeful life, and a life filled with purpose, then, ought to be an intentional life—that I am privileged to cooperate with what the Father is already doing…and, if my life is to count for eternity, am obligated to do so—that my resolution must be matched to His purpose and timing.
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Scripture Passage
Scripture Focus
“This kind can be cast out only by prayer.” (Mark 9:29 NLT)
Observation
Guilty as charged. That’s what I think—about myself—when I read Jesus’ indirect indictment of his disciples in Mark 9:29. Jesus, Peter, James, and John have just come down from the Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8) to the sight of the remaining disciples arguing with “some teachers of religious law” apparently because of those disciples’ inability to deliver a demon-possessed boy. (Isn’t that the way it works—great moments of spiritual delight are so often followed by some experience of utter frustration!)
Jesus takes charge, and—after a brief interaction with the boy’s father—commands the evil spirit to leave the boy. The evil spirit does leave and the boy is completely delivered.
“Afterward,” Mark says, “when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, ‘Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?’ Jesus replied, ‘This kind can be cast out only by prayer’” (Mark 9:28-29 NLT).
The obvious implication is that the disciples hadn’t prayed—at least, not enough, or rightly, or…something! And neither do I, apparently. I mean, I understand that there are different gifts and callings—that perhaps my strengths won’t be found speaking deliverance to demoniacs. And at the same time, an honest guy has to ask, “Why not?” That is, read the Biblical account and tell me why it shouldn’t be within the somewhat ordinary experience of somewhat ordinary believers to see, say, Matthew 10:8 fulfilled? Or Mark 16:17-18?
I’ll say it again—some of our limited success here is that we don’t pray more because we don’t see the spiritual realities of the world we inhabit. We’d turn to medical science for a diagnosis of the cause of this boy’s condition…and we’d turn to medical science for a cure. Well and good—I get that. But for those things that medical science can’t cure (only treat), is it possible that there may be a spiritual issue at the root—something perceivable and addressable only by those who consistently walk in intimate fellowship with their Heavenly Father through prayer? Could it be that we miss that possibility because our rationalistic culture has blinded our eyes to spiritual realities? Guilty as charged.
Scripture Passage
Scripture Focus
From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. (Matthew 16:21 NLT)
Observation
Today’s reading contains a most remarkable series of events. Most familiar, perhaps, is that moment when Peter declares that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16 NLT). That is, I’m convinced, the single most important issue any person will ever address—who is Jesus, exactly? A great teacher or philosopher? A miracle worker? Perhaps simply a madman spouting inconsistent babble? Or is Peter correct—is Jesus the Messiah, the Son of the living God? If Peter is correct, everything changes—everything.
It’s always been interesting to me that once the disciples have declared their understanding—once the disciples have affirmed Christ’s person and role—Jesus immediately begins to explain what this means in terms that are the opposite of what the disciples expected.
From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. (Matthew 16:21 NLT)
Spiritual growth seems to often work like that for me. About the time I finally start to “get” something, Jesus turns it all on its head and reveals a whole new perspective I hadn’t seen or considered before. Turns out (again) that all I thought I knew about who Jesus is (surprise!) isn’t all there is to know about who Jesus is. That’s wonderful and frustrating both.
And that’s at least one part of the beauty of growing daily "in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18 NIV). I’ll never be without the opportunity for understanding better tomorrow what I already love understanding today. It's my everyday opportunity.
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Scripture Passage
Scripture Focus
Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 16:12 NLT)
Observation
As testified to in today’s reading, Jesus has continued to evidence the invasion of God’s Kingdom by life-changing miracle after life-changing miracle. Today’s reading includes specific reports of a little girl delivered from an evil spirit and the healing of a deaf man with a speech impediment. After that, Matthew simply lumps a multitude of miraculous healings together, saying simply, “A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all” (Matthew 15:30 NLT). All of this is followed by yet another miraculous mass meal—this time feeding than 4,000 people. Then—after all that—“…the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority” (Matthew 16:1 NLT).
Jesus speaks to his disciples later in a private moment. “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6 NLT). The disciples are humorously clueless, presuming Jesus—who has twice, now, fed thousands with a sack lunch—is somehow worried about finding something to eat! Jesus restates his case, and the disciples finally get it—
Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 16:12 NLT)
I read this and thought about Jesus’ battle in the wilderness. What was Satan’s challenge? “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread” (Matthew 4:3 NIV). What was Jesus’ reply? “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 NIV).
There’s something significant here—in both these accounts—about living on sources beyond the physical…trusting in realities beyond that which can be seen, touched, handled or stuck under a microscope for examination. The “deceptive teaching” against which Jesus warns somehow seems to reduce life to that which can be controlled and manipulated. “Give us a miracle! Prove yourself!” Jesus won’t stoop to that level or be reduced to that kind of manipulation—from the Pharisees, the Sadducees, or me. No matter how I provoke or protest, today God will continue to be God, and I’ll continue not to be. Any "meal" suggesting otherwise is simply bad bread.
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Scripture Passage
Scripture Focus
Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? (John 6:61 NLT)
Observation
A couple of days ago, reading from Matthew, I observed the small-minded response of the people of Nazareth towards Jesus. The same sort of thing happens again today in John 6. To a gathered crowd, Jesus has proclaimed himself to be “the bread of life” (John 6:35). Specifically, Jesus claims to “have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me” (John 6:36). And that ticks the people off. Listen carefully, though, to the basis for their complaint:
Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” (John 6:41-42 NLT)
The people think they know Him, because they know something about Him. And they can’t get their minds around Jesus—whose father and mother they know…whose roots and history they know—having come from heaven. Nor can they get it when Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you” (John 6:53 NLT).
Even his disciples (a broader group than just the twelve) are troubled by this. So Jesus ups the ante even further. “Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again?” (John 6:62 NLT)
In every way, Jesus points to Himself as unique—the Son of God…the “one and only Son” (John 3:16 NLT)—and it becomes an offense to people. “At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him” (John 6:66 NLT).
For Jesus to claim absolute uniqueness as the “one and only Son”…as “the true bread from heaven”…remains an offensive claim to those who wish things were otherwise. If Jesus is indeed the Son of God and the world’s Savior—“the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6 NLT)—all religious systems go down in flames (innuendo intended).
I’m convinced Jesus’ claims are legitimate. I’m convinced Jesus’ closest disciples got it right. When Jesus said to them, “Are you also going to leave?” (John 6:67 NLT), Peter spoke up…and spoke the truth:
“Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69 NLT).
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Scripture Passage
Scripture Focus
Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him. (Mark 6:20 NLT)
Observation
The “classic” challenge from today’s reading is probably the story of the feeding of the 5,000. It is a great piece of history. When the disciples come to Jesus with the announcement that 5,000 men and their families are hungry and there’s nothing to eat, Jesus’ reply is straightforward—“You feed them.” (Mark 6:37) And the disciples do. They receive what is given them (the simplest of gifts)…distribute it among the hungry…and everyone is filled. Application? What you have, today, if you’ll offer it to Jesus, will do more than you can imagine—you’ll be satisfied and so will others!
Having said all that, the verse that captured my attention was Mark 6:20, describing the relationship between King Herod and John the Baptist.
Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him. (Mark 6:20 NLT)
It’s funny (probably not quite the right word, but that’s the word I’ll use) how people respond to truth. Some find it so troubling they stay away from truth at any cost. Some embrace the truth in transformational ways. Herod, it seems to me, liked to play with the truth a bit, sort of like some people like to play with fire. He may have liked the stirring of emotion, the intellectual challenge, the give and take of relationship with John—but he never let the truth produce any change.
That’s a dangerous spot—a deadly spot, in fact. Paul writes to Timothy about people who are “…always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7 NIV). In reality, Paul says, “…these men oppose the truth—[they are] men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected” (2 Timothy 3:8 NIV).
My heartfelt response? Don’t want to be there. Don’t want to be among that number. “Lord, let your truth permeate who I am every day in life-changing, transformative ways!”
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Scripture Passage
Scripture Focus
And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:58 NLT)
Observation
These readings from the gospels are astounding glimpses not only into the life of Jesus Himself, but into the lives and perspectives of those who knew Him—those who interacted with Him as He walked this earth. In today’s reading, Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth where “…everyone was amazed and said, ‘Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?’” (Matthew 13:54 NLT) Their amazement, however, soon turned to scorn:
Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?” (Matthew 13:55-56 NLT)
Because of what they knew about Him, they thought they knew him. But what they knew blinded Jesus’ hometown friends from the truth—kept them from seeing who Jesus really was.
We’re the same way. Ever had a friend really “go somewhere” in life—really “do something big”? Most of the time, we’re amazed. “Never saw that coming! Who’d have thought *he’d* have ever made something of himself!” How foolish—given the potential God’s packed away in every one of us.
Worse still, I wonder who we’ve held back—who we’ve kept from achieving what God had in store for them by our own belittling expectations. Jesus Himself “did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58 NLT). Wow—if an atmosphere of “small expectations” was so limiting to Jesus, how difficult must it be for the rest of us to overcome the disparaging attitudes of others?
Perhaps worst of all, I wonder how much our attitudes still limit Jesus today. It’s remarkable to consider—that the One with unlimited power…the very power over sin, sickness, disease, the demonic that we’ve been observing in recent readings…finds His freedom to manifest that power limited by the scornful attitudes of people. Critics, scoffers, disdainers, and doubters seem to get what they expect. What are you expecting?
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