Since being back from the Encounter I went on at the beginning of the month, I have began reading the 4 gospels. The goal is to finish them in about 5 weeks. I am done with Matthew and just starting Mark tonight. Came at a good time since Easter is just next week.
Here are some key points that stuck out to me while reading:
*Josephs faith in trusting God's about his wife Mary's pregnancy. Can you imagine being told your future wife who is a virgin is pregnant. I would have FREAKED!
*Jesus performed so many miracles. I thought there was just one story of him feeding thousands of people, but there were 2 stories of this taking place!
*I wonder why Jesus asked his disciples MANY TIMES not to tell people about his death to be, or his resurrection to come. It was like a secret at first.
*Jesus being SO CLOSE to John the Baptist, I couldn't imagine him hearing that John was beheaded. He not heard it BUT began healing people and feeding he hungry. He could have been so angry
and struck those people dead, but he
didn't.
* Matthew 19. The Pharisees were bothering Jesus about asking of divorce. Jesus says that no one should desecrate Gods art by cutting the two apart. But if adultery is present, there is an exception. But Jesus DID SAY, "not everyone is mature enough to live in a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. It isn't for everyone, but if your capable of growing into the largeness of marriage, do it!"
A couple of interesting things to note about John the Baptist:
ReplyDeleteIn Matt 3:13-17, immediately after John baptizes Jesus, the heavens open, the Spirit of God descends upon Him, and a voice is heard from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
John 1:29 - 34 records this incident and adds to it, proving that John actually saw the heavens open and the Spirit of God descending on Jesus like a dove. The text has John saying of Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world...And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."
Sometime later, in Matt 11:1-3, John is in prison, about to be beheaded, discouraged, and apparently having some doubts. He sends 2 messengers to Jesus to ask Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"
Obviously John expected more from Jesus. Like the other Jews of his day, he expected Jesus to overthrow the Jews' Roman oppressors and establish His earthly kingdom in Jerusalem. John did not understand that Jesus would come to earth twice, the first time to die for the sins of mankind and the second time to rule the earth as conquering King.
I think most every Christian can have doubts from time to time -- I know that I certainly can -- but whenever I do, I always think of John the Baptist. Somehow it encourages me to know that John the Baptist doubted too. When John doubted, he went straight to Jesus with his doubt. That's what all doubters should do.
This was great to read dad! I remember reading all of this that you posted. I couldn't imagine the humbleness John felt to be the one to baptize JESUS! I mean woah!! To know that He is the SON OF GOD.
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