Oct
27
For six days the disciples are depressed, talking sadly together, questioning each other in low tones, afraid to ask Jesus more.
He gives them time to process their feelings, knowing their difficulty.
They can’t see the cosmic view of two laws in conflict: the Law of Death, and the Law of Life. Satan has activated the Law of Death with his choice to rebel against God. Pretending to love brings death, but finding your true self in being loved and giving love brings life.
They don’t understand that God is on trial before the whole universe* and that the cross is necessary before the crown. They had been taught that Messiah would reign… but their leaders had skipped that first he must suffer to answer the fraudulent charges against Elohim, and show Their character of unselfish, giving love to everyone.
The disciples believe he’s been sent to rescue the Jews. It is beyond their comprehension that he is rescuing the whole universe from a misunderstanding of God and putting an end to evil. His mission is bigger than they can imagine.
It is unthinkable to them that Jesus would voluntarily go back to Jerusalem and accept what he has just told them will happen to him. How can he allow his death and leave us?
It will be many months before each one will understand that Jesus’ disciple will deny the easily acquired false self, admit his own brokenness, and trust Abba enough to walk with Ruach through the refining fire into true self and true life that never ends.**
*Romans 3:4 (NEV is clearest, but most translations give this view–even KJV) **Luke 9:23-25
Oct
26
Calling the crowd who is waiting to hear him, Jesus now gives one of his hardest teachings. “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Crucifixion was the cruelest Roman death. The lowest criminals were required to carry their crosses to the site–a humiliation violently resisted.
But Jesus is willing to go through suffering. He doesn’t count heaven as a desirable place without us. Conquering death and Satan is the only way to give us back our choices and establish the safety of the universe.
He tries to explain, “Whoever saves his life for himself will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake (to love and become authentic) will find it. What will a man gain by winning the whole world’s approval if it costs his true self? You have nothing else.
“And I will come in the glory of my Father, with the holy angels… and some of you will not see death until you see my glory.” He finishes strong with what they do expect, but they can barely hear it.
“The cross” is stuck in their ears. There is to be no turning point? This life of loving and healing and poverty is all there is?–with death as the reward?
This is painful to all his followers, but especially the twelve. They love Jesus. Can it be true that he will not be crowned king–not sit on the throne of David? Death awaits him? On a cross? Surely there will be a rescue. We won’t give up hope.
Matthew 16:24-28, Mark 8:34-38, Luke 9:23-27, 1Thessalonians 4:15-18
Oct
25
Long before He came here, God saw and planned his path through our world. He chose to come, for the joy it would bring the universe, not caring about the pain of it.*
Now that His disciples believe he is their Messiah, Jesus pulls back the curtain on the future, and tells them that he is going to suffer at the hands of the priests and elders and be killed and rise again the third day.
They are grief-stricken. It doesn’t compute. He has just affirmed their acknowledgement that he is Messiah, then how…? They deny the pain of believing him, still expecting that something will turn their leaders around and Jesus will reign on the throne of David.
Peter can’t be quiet, jumping up he takes hold of Jesus as if to protect him from his words, “No Lord, this shall never happen to You!”
Peter speaks from love, but his words are not helpful to Jesus or the other disciples.
His words bring a strong response from Jesus, “Get behind me Satan, don’t discourage me from accepting God’s way, wanting me to go the way of men.” Jesus recognizes the true culprit behind the temptation that Peter’s blind love presents. Peter’s misguided love is used by Satan to again tempt Jesus to take an easier way, just as he did in the wilderness temptation.
Peter is shocked. Did Jesus just call me Satan?
Knowing Peter can’t yet understand what just happened, I imagine Jesus holds his wounded disciple, explaining for him and the others that he was addressing the one who inspired Peter’s words.
Matthew 16:21-23, Mark 8:31-33 *Psalm 40:7,8
Oct
22
Jesus knows his time is limited. By the next Passover he will be crucified. But his disciples still have no true understanding of his mission. So he takes them up to the area of Caesarea Philippi where they will be away from Judaism and the large crowds. He wants to devote himself to preparing the twelve for the crisis ahead.
After spending time alone praying that their hearts would be receptive, he begins with, “Who do men say I am?”
“Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah…” Sadly they admit that Israel has not accepted their Messiah.
“But who do you say I am?”
Peter again speaks for them, “You are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
“You are favored, Simon, for God has revealed this to you,” responds Jesus, strengthening their faith in Him. “Upon this rock I will build my church. And the kingdom of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Some read this to mean Peter is the foundation of the church. However, Jesus is called the foundation, the Rock, and the Cornerstone.* And the disciples did not teach or recognize that anyone had been set above the others. (Would they always have been arguing about who would be first if he had?) He and they taught the opposite–position yourself to serve.
Jesus never taught men to dictate what other men should believe.** He, himself, spent two years knowing his disciples were in total denial of the outcome of his true mission. He was clear but not demanding.
Matthew 16:13-23, Mark 8:27-33, Luke 9:18-22 *1Corinthians 3:11, Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 62:7, Isaiah 28:16 **Matthew 23:8,10, Jeremiah 17:5
Oct
21
The thing is, the Pharisees and Sadducees have been given many signs that Jesus is who he claims to be–their Messiah.
First, they have had signs in the heavens: They are aware that angels had announced and celebrated his birth to shepherds. They have heard about the special star that guided the Magi to him. They have known about the dove of light and the voice from heaven at his baptism.
Second, they know the scriptures, that Jesus is doing the very work prophesied of Messiah: healing disease, casting out demons, raising the dead, preaching hope and God’s love to the poor. He is setting God’s oppressed people free.*
But the catch is Jesus’ miracles call them out because they are so indifferent to human suffering–often causing it. He won’t give a sign at the demand of pride and unbelief.
Again and again, they have seen the prisoners of Satan set free. They witness the change in hearts as well as bodies, the transformation of character. But they miss the sign–the highest evidence that he is here as Messiah–the presence of the Holy Spirit empowering everything he says and does, revealing the character of God.
Their hypocrisy comes from their self-glorifying spirit. Exalting self is their purpose. Wanting an easier way than submission to God, they pretend holiness! (Truly NOT easier!)
The religion of Jesus is authenticity. He lived on earth to show us what God is like. The keynote of His life was, “Father, make Your name shine. Make Your character known.”
Matthew 16:1,4,12 Mark 8:11,12,21, *Isaiah 60:1
Oct
20
Jesus and company cross the lake to Magdala. Back in Galilee, where his greatest miracles were done, he is met by a deputation of Pharisees and Sadducees who have joined forces against him.
Typically, these groups hate each other: the Pharisees foster hatred for Romans; the wealthy Sadducees “kiss-up” to their Roman rulers. But as often happens, a common enemy unifies them.
“Master,” one speaks for them, “show us a sign in the heavens.”
The disciples are excited. Maybe this will convince them. But Jesus reads them, and knows that no sign will make any difference to their scripture-filled minds. Their hearts need makeovers.
So he answers, “If the sky is red at evening you say, ‘Tomorrow will be fair weather.’ If it’s red in the morning, you say, ‘Bad weather today’. You pretenders! You can read the weather, so why can’t you read the signs of your times? No sign will be given this perverse generation but the sign of Jonah.”
There is only one more sign for them–crucifixion and resurrection. An Assyrian king and people, known for their violence, repented for Jonah who had spent parts of three days in a whale to bring them God’s message. Jesus is on a parallel mission.
At that, Jesus, and his, get back in the boat and leave for the north shore. The disciples are silent–disappointed. Finally Jesus says, “Beware of Pharisee yeast.” (Yeast symbolized sin and evil.)
The disciples worry–that they didn’t bring bread.
“Really?” says Jesus, “You don’t know yet that I can provide bread? I’m talking about their arrogant attitudes. Their closed minds. Their influence.”
Matthew 15:39-16:12 Mark 8:10-21
Oct
19
After needed rest, Jesus and the twelve leave Phoenicia and sail across the lake to Decapolis between Gergesa and Gadara, where the demoniacs had been healed, and the people were afraid of him. This time, word gets out that Jesus is back, and the people come looking for him.
Jesus heals a man who can’t hear or speak. Taking him aside, Jesus touches his tongue and his ears and sighs. Longing to open all ears who won’t hear him, he says, “Be opened.”
He climbs up a mountain to a wide level space, and the people bring their sick. He heals them all–heathen Gentiles!
For days they come and stay, eagerly taking in his words, sleeping under the stars at night. After three days their food is gone–4,000 men plus women and children. Jesus calls his disciples saying, “I can’t send them home hungry. Some are far from home.”
Again he hears, “Where would we get bread…? It’s impossible,” from his disciples. (These are Gentile pagans! Surely God won’t feed them!)
But they follow Jesus’ directions to bring what they have, and find seven loaves and two fish. Again, Jesus blesses it, and the disciples distribute, and everyone eats until satisfied. Again, he has them pick up the fragments so nothing is wasted–seven baskets!
But this time, the people leave, grateful; Gentiles “glorifying the God of Israel.” Jesus himself is refreshed in spirit. “Pagans” have received him with gladness and faith.
Crossing the lake, he returns to those given the most, his own people, supposedly “believers” in God–and their unbelief. As he gets close a cloud of sadness settles on him.
Matthew 15:29-38, Mark 7:31-8:9
Oct
18
Jesus wants more than simply healing the Phoenician woman’s daughter. He wants to tear down the walls that exist between Israel and all others. He wants to teach them that God loves everyone. All are heirs to His gifts and blessings, along with the Jews.
But the disciples are slow learners.
Their prejudice is long-standing and deep; and Jesus gives them lesson after lesson. In their minds, the Samaritans knew about God, and the Centurion had been kind to the Jews, so these had some claim to Jesus’ gifts.
Now Jesus shows them how he wants them to regard a “total heathen” who has no claim at all on his gift of healing. They believe he is too generous dispensing his gifts. So he takes them to the borders of Tyre and Sidon to show that his love is for everyone, not for only one race or nation.
This woman is one of “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” It is Israel’s God-appointed work--which they had neglected, in fact rejected–that Jesus is doing. Healing the heathen woman’s daughter begins to show the disciples that others are also longing for a touch from God, hungering for what has been so generously given the Jews.
Pride and prejudice have built huge walls between different classes and nations. Jesus desires us to trust him as the woman of Phoenicia dared to, regardless of appearances and discouragement.
Nothing but your own personal choice prevents you from participating in God’s promises and living in His loving presence.
Acts 17:26,27, Galatians 3:28, Proverbs 22:2, Romans 10:11-13
Oct
15
After the confrontation in Capernaum, Jesus takes his disciples to the hills bordering Phoenicia for the rest he had hoped for on the north shore.
But more importantly, he is putting himself in the path of a Greek Canaanite woman who is seeking him for her possessed daughter–creating another picture for his disciples of God’s all-inclusive love. They think he is too free in healing those outside of Israel. But he wants to teach them that God hates prejudice. His love sees all men as equals, no matter their country or social standing.
This discouraged, heart-broken mother hears of the teacher who heals everything imaginable. Hope revives and she determines to take her need to Jesus.
Recognizing him on the road, she falls down, “Lord, have mercy on me, my daughter is tormented by a devil.”
Jesus pretends not to hear her, giving the typical response of the religious leaders at home, for benefit of his disciples.
She continues to ask and the disciples say, “Send her away!”
Jesus stops, addressing her, “Let the children eat their fill; it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to their dogs.”
Not discouraged, she sees a compassion he cannot hide, and answers, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs get the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.”
Jesus’ response is full of grateful joy, as if he’s been holding his breath–praying for her, hoping she wouldn’t give up, “O woman, great is your faith! Your daughter is well. Go home and see!”
Matthew 15:21-28 Mark 7:24-30
Oct
14
The Pharisees taught that the fifth commandment could be set aside if children devoted their property to the temple. It was a tradition called “Corban” and considered more sacred than their duty to take care of aging parents.
A son could pronounce “Corban”–meaning devoted to God–over his property, and this would allow him to use it during his lifetime, and turn it over to the temple upon his death. This pretense of devotion to God released him from providing for his parents. And it padded the pockets of the priests.
“You hypocrites!” says Jesus, “Well did Isaiah describe you, saying, ‘This people draws near Me with their mouths, and honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. In vain they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commands of men.'”
Jesus answers their question, (“Why don’t your disciples wash…) by revealing their true spirit in asking. His words free the people from the load of tradition heaped on them, especially those who really want to serve God– hearts open to him.
The disciples see the Pharisees’ angry looks and words, and later ask Jesus if he had noticed. It bothers them that he doesn’t make nice with them.
“Leave them.” He says, “They are blind guides.”
Knowing their confusion, Jesus continues teaching, “Defilement doesn’t come from outside us but from inside”–it’s our evil thoughts, words, and actions that change us, creating negative thought and behavior patterns. These create false beliefs leading to a false self–defiling us.
In effect Jesus says, “You’ve turned religion up-side-down! Refusing to observe man-made rules may help you find God!”
Matthew 15:5-20, Mark 7:6-23
