Through the Bible - Genesis 9-11, Matthew 4
Good morning,
In the coming year my goal in these devotionals is to choose verses from throughout the Bible give us a clearer picture of Jesus Christ. Many through the years have attempted to learn more about the "historic Jesus" through extra biblical materials while others, even within "Christian" circles, have limited their search to selected portions of scripture, picking and choosing what they would believe.
Sometimes it gets to the point where, as theologian Luke Timothy Johnson states, that "Jesus has become (to them) a faculty lounge lizard". Think about that, they've made Jesus the type of "person" that they like to hang around with, have theological and philosophical discussions with, but with Jesus having no authority, no true, lasting impact on their lives. They can have a theological discussion then go on living their lives as they see fit.
Jesus did get involved in some debates but also challenged religious authorities, calling them out as with "you brood of vipers" or challenging the rich young ruler to sell all that he had in order to enter the kingdom.
For today's verse we'll go to Luke chapter 24 where the risen Jesus talks to a couple of dejected followers that had seen him suffer and die leaving them uncertain about who Jesus really was.
Luke 24:25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. NKJV
Jesus showed them that He was the key to unlocking the Old Testament, that He was the predicted Messiah, He holds the keys to life.
I would encourage you to read through the Bible this year, at least the New Testament, in order to gain a better understanding of Jesus Christ.
Dr. Iaian Campbell writes, "we are not simply New Testament believers, we are whole Bible believers. We read, preach and meditate on the whole of the inspired Word, because in every part of it our access to the eternal, incarnate, and glorified Word. We come to the scriptures in every part, as the Greeks came to the feast in John 12, saying "we wish to see Jesus" (v.21). And bathed in the finished work of Jesus Christ, the Old Testament shows us things about Jesus that we might otherwise have missed, as the Psalms (for example in Psalm 22) tell us what Jesus was thinking on the cross."
He continues, "nothing can dispel gloom or lift us out of despair quite like having the story of the Bible unfolded."
Have you experienced this in your life? I have, and it causes me to want to dig deeper, to learn more year by year, of this Jesus Christ, who is my Saviour.
May we not be simply New Testament believers, or look to Jesus as a theological "lounge lizard", but may we grow in the grace and knowledge of Him in the coming year, come to know Him in more of His fullness.
In Christ,
Mike
Blessings,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com Luke 24:13-28
The Road to Emmaus
(Mark 16:12,13)
13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
17 And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"
18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"
19 And He said to them, "What things?"
So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."
25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. NKJV
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