Tag Archives: Jesus
Wash Your Hands
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The Beatitudes and Superman
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Jesus’ Model Prayer
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Accomplish Their Purpose
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Destroy This Temple
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Joseph & Mary Lost Jesus
Scripture:
41 Every year Jesus’ parents would go to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When he was 12 years old, they went as usual.43 When the festival was over, they left for home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn’t know it. 44 They thought that he was with the others who were traveling with them. After traveling for a day, they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they didn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
46 Three days later, they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. 47 His understanding and his answers stunned everyone who heard him. 48 When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!” 49 Jesus said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you realize that I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant. 51 Then he returned with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them.
Luke 2:41-51
Passover festival time again. Jesus was 12 years old now. He and his family went to take part in the festival as they did every year.
Imagine now, if you will, attending a festival with your children/child. Everything was going great. Now, it’s time to go home. Jesus had his own agenda. He didn’t tell his parents what he was doing. Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. When they didn’t see him in their entourage they just assumed he was hanging back with other travelers. When a day passed and they didn’t see Jesus in their group they started to worry and began looking for him. Now, I picture here, according to today’s society, the police have been called in and a huge search party was sent out looking. The parents stay home next to the phone waiting for any news of their missing child. Well, back then, they didn’t have the resources we do today. Imagine the scare of their life upon them. Their child is missing. They lost him. Total freak out ensues. I know how I’ve felt when I couldn’t locate my daughter on occasion.
Three days later, his parents found him in the temple courtyard. He was with the teachers, listening and questioning them. Jesus stunned everyone with his understanding and his answers. His parents saw him and were shocked to find him there. Mary asked Jesus, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!” in verse 48. Jesus said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you realize that I had to be in my Father’s house?” in verse 49. He didn’t see what the issue was. He assumed they would know. They didn’t understand what he meant. So, they returned home. He was obedient to his parents. The kids today aren’t so obedient. They kick up quite a fuss.
This is a great lesson in communication and obedience. I believe we could all learn from this. What are your thoughts? Please share.
Prayer:
Thank You, Jesus, for Your guidance and obedience to Your Heavenly Father. Teach us to be obedient and to communicate. Thank You, for everything You said, still say (in Your word) to lead, guide, and direct our lives to You. I pray the readers of this blog will look to You for this leadership, guidance, and direction that leads to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Anna Met Jesus
Anna… She’s an elderly woman who is widowed and a prophet for God; who also lives in the Temple. Scripture says she was very old and that she lived to the age of eighty-four (84). I guess in those days 84 would’ve been very old. Today, very old is more in the range of 100. My goodness, how times change. Scripture also tells that she never left the Temple; that she stayed there day and night, worshiping God. That afforded her the chance of meeting lots of people. She happened to come along when Simeon was talking to Mary & Joseph (more details of this in the previous post.) Anna was so excited about meeting Jesus that she shared the Good News of Jesus with everyone who had been waiting expectantly for the Messiah; so they could be rescued. Also, Jesus was filled with wisdom and God’s favor was on him.
Exciting indeed! I’d tell everyone too. This was a very long-awaited event to take place, the Messiah arriving. Though, no everyone knew he would arrive in this manner. It came as a great surprise to many.
Can you imagine, as a parent, having this experience with your child? I’d be beside myself and not know what to do, or be afraid I’d do something wrong in raising him. Or, all the different folks who encountered Jesus during this time after he was born; can you imagine what life would be like? What are your thoughts?
Prayer:
Thank You, Abba Yah, for giving us this gift of Jesus, the Messiah, to save us. It’s the ultimate gift of love. Love = Action, right? This is an amazingly awesome act of love. I pray that all the readers of this blog accept the gift of Jesus, A Savior. I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
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Glory to God in the Highest
Scripture:
Luke 2:12-20
12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough (manger).” 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”
15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They came with haste and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough (manger). 17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.
Wow! What an amazing display of joy, adoration, glory, and praise for the newborn, who is Jesus. The multitude of heavenly angel army praising God, Mary & Joseph; then the shepherds. Such a beautiful mental image.
It’s so amazingly great that the shepherds went out and shared this good news so quickly. I wonder how many would do that today? I wonder what their response would be. Would it be one of fear, or cowardice, or something else, other than joy and an urgency to share the good news of Jesus? What would our response be?
Prayer:
Dear Abba Yah, Adonai, thank You for this great good news of Jesus. Thank You for this gift to become our salvation. I pray that all who read this are and if not, will be saved. I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
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Mary’s Shocking News
Scripture:
I posted 2 years ago about Mary in great detail. To get a better grip on Mary in this life stage, read/listen to the post here.
We heard about Elizabeth in a previous blog post. The same angel that visited Elizabeth, Gabriel, now visits Mary. The shocking news had Mary in a quandary about the whole situation.
It’s time for the Savior of the world to come as a man and live out His earthly ministry. We heard in and throughout the Old Testament about a Savior, the Messiah, coming to save us. He’s the long-awaited messiah.
Poor lowly Mary is only a teenager. However, she’s been promised to Joseph in marriage. His betrothed. Neither of which has had intimate relations. Virgins. Mary being a virgin is a main factor of God having favor with her. She’s a good Jewish girl.
She was dumbfounded at the concept of becoming pregnant since she is a virgin.
You read the interaction between Gabriel and Mary in the scripture. Gabriel tells Mary that she’ll conceive of the Holy Spirit. In v. 35 it says this:
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:26-38
Mary couldn’t argue with that. She accepted it. But, she added this at the end of their interaction in v. 38:
“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Mary had some doubts. Who wouldn’t? That’s a pretty major thing; become pregnant while still a virgin. I’m sure she also had major concerns being not fully married to Joseph, yet.
How would you feel if it were you going through that situation? What would be going through your mind?
It’s scary, to say the least. In those times, they stoned/crucified people for offenses. Betraying a spouse to be… that’s infidelity. They didn’t take that very lightly. Read the Bible for yourself and see. Don’t take my word for it. It’s all there in black and white.
So, the big news… The Messiah is coming! That’s exciting! Joyous! How does that make you feel? Me?
If I lived in that time where I could encounter Jesus in person… I’d fall face down at His feet honoring, praising, and worshipping Him.
But, before he’s grown I’d try to find a way to get to Him to meet him in person. I’d definitely be one of the women who followed Jesus throughout his ministry. The ones who experienced things just out of arms reach of everything.
Your turn! Go!
Prayer:
Dear Abba Yah, Adonai, I lift up every reader, even the brief visitors, of this blog. I pray that even if just one sentence, or one word, is written that the reader will be so blessed that they don’t want to leave Your word and Your presence. I pray they are blessed beyond measure and their needs are met. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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