SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-I Can Begin Again-Larnelle Harris

A Study in Luke Week 24

Luke Chapter 24

Verses 1-12 – When the women arrived at the tomb of Jesus, his body was not there. As usual, when the angel appeared he evoked fear. He asked, “Why are you looking in a place for dead people for someone who is alive?” Then they explained, “He is not here. He has risen.” They reminded the women that He had told them about this. The women just had not been able process the information. They didn’t understand.

According to verse 11, the apostles thought the women were speaking nonsense and did not believe them. Even though they had been told what would happen, they had not understood it, neither had they accepted it.

The resurrection is key to the Christian experience. Without it, we are just hopeless, wishful thinkers (I Corinthians 15:12-17).

Those who don’t believe in the resurrection align themselves with the Sadducees, who did not believe in a resurrection.

Verses 13-35 – Two “followers of Jesus” were on their way to Emmaus. They were discussing crucifixion and the events leading up to it and after it. Jesus used the Books of Moses all the way through the prophets to explain that what had happened was exactly what God had said would happen.

That is how I know that the Bible is God’s revelation of His character, His love for His creation and His plan for its redemption. All interpretations that do not reveal these three things are dead wrong…eternally dead wrong.

Jesus acted as though He was going to “go on His way.” They invited Him to dinner.

Jesus does not invite Himself into our hearts, He waits for us to invite Him in through faith.

Jesus went to eat with the men. The moment he broke the loaf of bread, they recognized Him. Then He just disappeared.

These two men went and shared what had happened to them with the disciples and the other people.

Whereas they had been discouraged, now they were encouraged. When we meet the risen Savior, it fills us with encouragement.

Verses 36-49 – Imagine their surprise when Jesus appeared again and “stood among them.” He said, “Shalom” (peace be with you). Jesus is peace and He was with them.

The disciples struggled with what they were seeing. Jesus demonstrated that He was real by asking for some food. (Clearly He was a Baptist, as Baptists always eat when they gather together.)

Once again He reiterates that the three parts of the Hebrew Old Testament were all about Him. He also told them that repentance had to happen before they received the forgiveness of God.

Jesus tells them that “what the Father had promised” (the Holy Spirit) would be given them as they waited in Jerusalem (see what Luke wrote in Acts 2 about the Holy Spirit coming on them).

Verses 50-53 – Jesus walked with them as far as Bethany, then He blessed them and left them.

The good news in Luke’s Gospel began with Zechariah in the Temple. He received God’s promise about Jesus the Christ (Messiah). It culminates with the disciples praising God in the Temple.

They are waiting for the Holy Spirit, whom the Lord Jesus Christ has promised to send to them.

The Christmas Story-Michael W. Smith

CHRISTMAS SOUNDS OF PRAISE-What Child is This-Andrea Bocelli (With Mary J. Blige)

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-O Come All Ye Faithful-Celtic Woman

Luke’s Lamb of God

Luke Chapter 2

Verses 1-7 – The birth of Jesus could not logically have happened the way it was predicted in the Old Testament, most notably in Micah 5:2.  “…one will come for me, one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

No one would have expected Messiah to come out of Bethlehem unless they were very knowledgeable of the Scripture.

Joseph and Mary did not live in Bethlehem, they lived in Nazareth. The trip to Bethlehem was long and rugged and would have not even been considered by a pregnant woman.

For the Messiah to be born in the right location (Bethlehem), a series of events worked together to bring that to pass.

A pagan emperor named Caesar Augustus living thousands of miles away issues a decree that all his subjects be registered and taxed.  This order for a census is sent out far and wide.

The call is issued in Israel and Joseph takes Mary and returns to the ancestral of his family, Bethlehem.

The birth of Jesus could not have logically happened...but it did.

From this we know that Caesar may have been ruling, but God was overruling!

Why would the King of Kings be born into poverty?

2 Cor. 8:9 gives us the answer “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich.”

The cloths used to wrap Jesus were the same kind used to wrap dead bodies for burial. Even in His birth we have a picture of His death.

Jesus was born in a feeding trough and became the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35.

When someone important comes near you, say a Hollywood celebrity, a governor or even the president of the United States, how comfortable do you feel? Could Jesus have come in humble surroundings so that we would feel comfortable in His presence?

Verses 8-20 – Why were the shepherds an important part of the birth of Christ?

Shepherds were hard men who had to deal with the worlds most base troubles. (Remember David had to ward off lions, wolves and bears.) They were often crude, vile men, known for their sinful lives and considered ceremonially unclean. Society considered them the lowest of the low.

What do shepherds do for a living? What was done with the lambs they shepherded? And what was Jesus called: The Lamb of God.

This picture tells us that anybody, from any walk of life can be used of God.

Why do you think God sent an angel to the shepherds?

When the shepherds went to spread the news, where did they find the courage to tell this outrageous story?

How do you think people responded to them when they told people about the Baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger?


Notice that after they had seen the Christ Child, these formerly vile, vulgar, crude men returned to their flocks glorifying and praising God.

What do you think the shepherds’ lives were like following these events?

That God would send His darling Son Jesus into this world to die for sinners is a blessing beyond description.  That He would love us to that level is amazing beyond the power of words to describe.

Of course, it is nothing more than a story until you experience the power of the Lamb of God in a personal way.

You may enjoy hearing the Christmas story and you may love Christmas time, but you have missed the real meaning altogether if you have never trusted Jesus as your Savior.

Until you have received the Lamb of God as your personal Savior and until you know the power of His salvation, you will never really understand Christmas and the wonder of what God did when He provided His Lamb for the sins of the world.

Are you in a personal relationship with Jesus today?  If you are, then you know what I am talking about.

If you are not, you can come to know Him if you will come before Him and trust Him by faith.

Will you do that today?  Will you embrace Heaven’s Lamb as the Savior of your soul?  The Lamb was provided for you, but He will do you no good unless you come to Him in faith, trusting in, and only in , the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Give This Christmas Away-Matthew West and Amy Grant

A Study in Luke Week 23

Luke Chapter 23
Verses 1-7 – Pilate was in Jerusalem, not because he celebrated Passover, but because he feared unruliness from the throngs of people there. The priests and Pharisees who had brought Jesus to Pilate lied about what he had done. He had, in fact, told people to pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus claims to be “King of the Jews,” but Biblical context lets us know that He referred to His spiritual kingdom, not a political one.

Learning that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate sent Him to Herod. He hoped Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, would handle the Jesus problem for him.

Herod Antipas, after renouncing his first wife he married Herodias, the former wife of his half brother Herod Philip, who brought her daughter Salome with her to Antipas’ court. He’s the one who had John the Baptist beheaded.

Verses 8-12 - Herod thought of Jesus as some sort of magician and wanted Him to perform some miracles for him. However, when Jesus refused to even so much as answer his questions, Herod was not happy with Him. Herod and Pilate formed a sort of alliance.

Verses 13-25 – Pilate declared that Jesus was not guilty of the “crimes” the Jewish leaders had accused Him of. He was not inclined to execute Jesus. But the Jewish leaders persisted, so Pilate offered them a way out: choose to execute Jesus or the murderer, Barabbas. They chose to release Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

Verses 26-31 – Although Jesus was executed by Roman soldiers, we need to be very clear that Jesus was placed on the cross to pay a penalty He did not owe: the penalty of OUR sins. In verses27-30, Jesus foretells a time when the world will suffer unbearable calamity. Those times are within our view today.

Verses 32-43 – Isaiah’s prophecy that Jesus would be counted among sinners was fulfilled at the cross (Isaiah 53:12). He was crucified on a “hill” named Golgotha. “Calvary” is the Latin translation of that word. Both names mean “skull.”

When Jesus said, “Father forgive them…” he was referring to the Roman soldiers, who were only following orders. One of the others being crucified beside Jesus challenged His Messiahship. The other recognized it. One was saved. One was not.

Verses 44-49 – Lots of theories have been bandied about concerning the darkness in the land: some sort of solar eclipse, a cloud of dust and many others, but none account for what really happened.

The curtain that was torn in the temple was huge. It’s purpose was to separate the people from God. When it split, it signified that people no longer had to be separated from God because of what Jesus accomplished at the cross. Jesus’ death did not bring the expected calming of the crowds.

Verses 50-56 – Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb because He was only going to need it for three days. Most of the crucified were thrown into a common grave, but Jesus was given a tomb fit for a king.

The women from Galilee saw where the *tomb was. But they had no time to prepare the body. They usually put oils, which smelled sweet, on it. Nicodemus helped Joseph to put *spices between the strips of cloth (John 19:38-40). The women wanted to finish doing this.

They went back to where they were staying in Jerusalem. The Sabbath ended at sunset on Saturday.

Sunday was on its way.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Angels We Have Hear on High-Belmont University Choir

A Study in Luke Week 22

Luke Chapter 22

Verses 1-6 – Passover was a commemoration of what God had done for the Jews in Egypt after the plagues of frogs, gnats, flies, on livestock, of boils, hail, locusts and darkness had failed to soften Pharaoh's heart.

The apostles (the 12 men whom Jesus chose to be his special helpers) were followers, but were not yet saved. We know that because Satan cannot indwell a saved person. Judas was the treasurer of the group, but actually stole from them often. He made a deal with the chief priests to turn Jesus over to them.

Verses 7-13 – Jesus instructed Peter and John to prepare the Passover meal. This will become what we call “Communion,” or more properly, “The Lord’s Supper.”

Verses 14-23 – The completion of Passover did not happen in Egypt, it happened in Christ, who became the Passover Lamb.

Verses 24-30 – The apostles still didn’t get it. They wanted to know which of them would be “greatest” in the Kingdom of God. This was the second time they had brought up this subject see Luke 9:46-48). Jesus responded that the Kingdom of God is very different from what they were expecting, and there would be no “pecking order” there.

Verses 31-34 – Simon was Peter’s name before he met Jesus, and Jesus used it to get his attention. Then he calls him “Rock,” the meaning of his name, Peter. He predicts Peter’s denial of Him.

Verses 35-38 – Jesus tells the disciples that all of the Scriptures concerning the Messiah would come true. He called Himself the Suffering Servant, from Isaiah 53:12.

Verses 39-46 – Jews prayed standing, but here Jesus falls on His knees. I do not believe He was praying about the physical pain He was about to endure, but the pain of being forsaken by His Father. The price paid for our sin is more terrible than we can begin to imagine.

Verses 47-53 – Judas led the priests and a Roman contingent of soldiers to Jesus, where he betrayed Him with a kiss. Peter cut off Malchus’ ear (John 18:10-11). Jesus healed him and put an end to the apostles’ aggression.

Jesus had given them plenty of opportunity to arrest Him in the Temple, but they didn’t want His followers to see them do it. Instead, they chose to do Satan’s work away from the crowds, in the cover of darkness…Satan’s darkness.

Verses 54-62 – Peter denied that he knew Jesus out of fear and cowardice. His denials must have seemed hollow, because some of those around him were apparently with him when he cut of Malchus’ ear.

Verses 63-65 – Jesus’ persecution and prosecution had begun. The Sanhedrin were not interested in justice. They would not call the requisite number of witnesses to testify against Jesus.

Verses 66-71 – When the Sanhedrin asked whether Jesus was the “Messiah,” they were asking about an earthly king. Jesus recognized that they would not believe Him if He told them the true nature of His being.

In verse 70 they asked Jesus a direct question about his relationship to God. He did not deny that he was ‘the’ Son of God. This had multiple meanings, including about Mary and Joseph.

Verse 71 The Sanhedrin said that this was ‘blasphemy’. They said that he was guilty. But they had broken their own laws.

Two witnesses had to agree about the person that they accused.

The Sanhedrin should not have asked a direct question.

There was another law. They could decide that someone was guilty. Then they had to wait for a day before they decided his punishment.

But they were so anxious to kill Jesus that they broke their own rules. They did not have the authority themselves to kill Jesus. So they made up charges that the Roman ruler, Pilate, would consider serious.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Do You Hear What I Hear-Mannheim Steamroller

Do You Hear What I Hear? 

Said the night wind to the little lamb 

 Do you see what I see? 

 'Way up in the sky, little lamb 

 Do you see what I see? 

A star, a star
Dancing in the night 

 With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite 

 Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy 

 Do you hear what I hear? 

Ringing thru the sky, shepherd boy 

Do you hear what I hear? 

 A song, a song
High above the tree 

With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea 

 Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king 

Do you know what I know? 

In your palace warm, mighty king 

 Do you know what I know? 

A Child, a Child
Shivers in the cold 

 Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold 

 Said the king to the people ev'rywhere 

Listen to what I say! 

Pray for peace, people ev'rywhere 

 Listen to what I say! 

The Child, the Child
Sleeping in the night 

 He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

A Study in Luke Week 21

 Luke Chapter 21

Verses 1-4 – Jesus was teaching in the Court of the Women, also called The Treasury.

The Court of the Women was so-called, not because its use was solely reserved for women but because this was the farthest they were allowed to proceed into the Temple.

Women, who had come to purify themselves after childbirth, as Mary did (Luke 2.24), were allowed to stand in the side opening and watch the sacrifices being offered on the altar. It was in this court also that, when Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (Luke 2.22), they met with Simeon and Anna the prophetess.

Israelite men could proceed through the Nicanor Gate into the Court of the Israelites to bring their sacrifices.

The Apostle Paul, who preached primarily to the Gentiles (except for his letter to the Hebrews, which was a commentary for the Jews of his letter to the Romans), and was the first to allow women directly into the place of worship and sacrifice.

Verses 5-6 – The Temple was a magnificent building. Its construction is described in I Kings, chapters 5-8. The instructions for building it were detailed and organized, as is God, Himself.

Jesus predicted the destruction of the building, and 40 years later it happened.

Verses 7-19 – In the King James Version of the Bible, Jesus is quoted as saying, “…many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ. Notice that in the KJV this word is in italics. That means the Greek word “Christos” is not in the best original texts.

In most other translations, the phrase is translated “I am he,” but the word “he” does not occur in the best original texts, either.

The actual words used here are “ego aimi” I AM. These are the same words Jesus used when He identified Himself as the “I AM,” such as in Mark 14:62 and John 18:6.

Many will come claiming to be God or the returned Christ, but we are not to be swayed, influenced or convinced by them.

There are perilous times ahead, even for Christian Americans. Today in America there is an all-out war on things Christian. There towns that no longer allow Christian displays, Christian prayers or Christian speech in public. But we must understand them as signs that the return of Christ is “near.”

Verses 20-24 – Jesus stated that the predictions of the prophets would be realized. He especially thought of expectant mothers.

Where was He when He thought of them? See above. He was in the Court of the Women, where mothers had themselves “purified” after childbirth.

Verses 25-33 – Strange things will happen to the sun, moon and stars, just as prophesied in the Old Testament (eg.: Amos 8:9 and Joel3:15) . “This generation” (verse 32) is a reference to the “church age.” Jesus’ words are eternal. They always have been true, are true now and always will be true, even after time is no more.

Verses 34-36 – If we concentrate on the circumstances of our time and spend our time in physical pursuits, we will miss the signs of His return.

His return will take place quickly, in the twinkling (not the blinking) of an eye (the speed of light).

Verses 37-38 – Jesus continued to teach in the Temple Court every morning after sleeping on the Mount of Olives. People thronged to hear His teaching.

A PUN MY WORD

1. King Ozymandias of Assyria was running low on cash after years of war with the Hittites. His last great possession was the Star of the Euphrates, the most valuable diamond in the ancient world. Desperate, he went to Croesus, the pawnbroker, to ask for a loan.
Croesus said, "I'll give you 100,000 dinars for it."
"But I paid a million dinars for it," the King protested.
"Don't you know who I am? I am the king!"
Croesus replied, "When you wish to pawn a Star, makes no difference who you are."

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2. Evidence has been found that William Tell and his family were avid bowlers. Unfortunately, all the Swiss League records were destroyed in a fire, and so we'll never know for whom the Tells bowled.

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3. A man rushed into a busy doctor's surgery and shouted,
"Doctor! I think I'm shrinking!" The doctor calmly responded,
"Now, settle down. You'll just have to be a little patient."

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4. An Indian chief was feeling very sick, so he summoned the Medicine man. After a brief examination, the medicine man took out a long, thin strip of elk rawhide and gave it to the chief, telling him to bite off, chew, and swallow one inch of the leather every day. After a month, the medicine man returned to see how the chief was feeling. The chief shrugged and said, "The thong is ended, but the malady lingers on."

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5. A famous Viking explorer returned home from a voyage and found his name missing from the town register. His wife insisted on complaining to the local civic official, who apologized profusely, saying, "I must have taken Leif off my census."

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6. There were three Indian squaws. One slept on a deer skin, one Slept on an elk skin, and the third slept on a hippopotamus skin. All three became pregnant. The first two each had a baby boy. The one who slept on the hippopotamus skin had twin boys. This just goes to prove that the squaw of the hippopotamus is equal to the sum of the squaws of the other two hides.
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7. A skeptical anthropologist was cataloguing South American folk remedies with the assistance of a tribal elder who indicated that the leaves of a particular fern were a sure cure for any case of constipation. When the anthropologist expressed his doubts, the elder looked him in the eye and said, "Let me tell you, with fronds like these, you don't need enemas."

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-O Come, O Come Emmanuel-Barlow Girl

A Study in Luke Week 20

 Luke Chapter 20

Verses 1-8 – It was Jesus’ custom to teach in the Temple. His teachings were about the Good News (Greek: gospel).

The chief priests were already upset with Jesus because He had scolded them on way too many occasions and He had broken up their “racket” of selling offerings for exorbinant  prices.

Their question of Jesus authority addressed all of His contradictions of their teachings, as well as calling them hypocrites and theives.

Jesus’ response to them backed them into both a theological and a practical corner. When they pretended not to know the answer, Jesus told them he wouldn’t answer them, either.

Verses 9-18 – This parable was aimed directly at the Pharisees and priests. Throughout history, God had sent men to the Jews to show them the way, but they ultimately rejected them all. So God sent His only Son, Jesus. The rejected Him, too.

According to verses 16-18, those who reject Him will be “killed,” that is, they will not go to Heaven, but will spend eternity in Hell.

Verses 19-26 – Still trying to trick and arrest Jesus, the religious leaders paid some men to go trap Him. Their question was about paying taxes (like they really cared about paying taxes to Rome).

Jesus’ answer confounded them. They simply could not trap Him. Unbeknownst to them, Jesus was a bit smarter than they were (if you’ll pardon the understatement).

Verses 27-40 – Some Sadducees, a group of Jewish leaders who did not believe in resurrection, threw another trick question at Him. The give him an elaborate hypothetical situation and ask Him to solve their theological riddle.

Jesus’ response indicated their total lack of understanding of what Heaven and eternal life was all about. He stopped them in their theological tracks.

They had wanted to make Jesus (as well as the Pharisees, who believed in a resurrection) look foolish, but they ended up with egg all over their own faces.

Verses 41-44 – In these verses, Jesus references Psalm 110 and applies it to Himself. In His statement, He was telling these teachers of the Law that Messiah was not a military hero, but was  a king whom the people would love.

He was also confirming his genealogy  not as a physical son of David, but of David’s “line” through God, Himself.

Verses 45-47 – Like I have said so often, “Be careful of theologians. They will do everything they can to confuse you and will be wrong 99.999% of the time.”

Jesus warns agains following the teachers of the Law. Their major attributes were their preoccupation with their outward appearance (long clothes), their showing off to the people and making certain that they got seats of honor at their public appearances.

As members of the New Covenant, we must remember that we are accepted based on our trust in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection (despite what the Sadducees thought).

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

HAVE A THANKSGIVING DAY FILLED WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRATTITUDE!

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Alpha and Omega-Gaither Vocal Band

A Study in Luke Week 19

Luke Chapter 19

Verses 1-10 

Verse 1: Jericho was a wealthy and important city. It was near a main route for trade. It was about 17 miles from Jerusalem.

Verse 2:Zacchaeus was the head of the tax district of Jericho. He would not have been popular. He worked for the Romans and had made himself rich by his job.

Verses 3-4: He had heard that Jesus was a friend of tax collectors. He climbed into a tree that grew by the road.

Verses 5-6: Jesus did not ask to stay with Zacchaeus. He said that he ‘must’ stay with him. It was part of his work for God.

Verse 7: Everyone called Zacchaeus a ‘sinner’. They did not think that Jesus should go into his home.

Verse 8: Zacchaeus stood up, as he was going to make an important statement. Jesus’ visit had changed his attitude to his wealth. He would give half of his goods to the poor people. He promised to pay back 4 times the amount that he had taken. This was far more than the Law of Moses ordered, which was original amount plus one fifth (Leviticus 6:5).

Verse 9: Jesus said that Zacchaeus was not only a physical descendant of Abraham. Because of his faith, he was a true spiritual son of Abraham (Galatians 3:7). And his whole family would benefit.

Verse 10: Jesus came into the world to look for those who had wandered away from God. He came to rescue them.

Verses 11-27 – This parable teaches that people who use their gifts find that they increase. Some people do not use the gifts that God gives. They will lose them.

Verses 28-40 – By using the Hebrew word, “Hosanna,” The people were welcoming their Messiah. The Pharisees could not stop the crowd from shouting. So, they asked Jesus to tell them to be quiet. (Verse 40) Nothing could stop the crowd. Jesus used a phrase that showed that. It was right that they should praise God. Everything that God created would praise him.

Verses 41-44 – Jesus wept over the past, the present and the future of Jerusalem. He knew that His chosen people would reject the object of their salvation. Josephus was a Jewish historian. He wrote a book called ‘The history of the Jewish war’. In it he writes, “When the Romans seized Jerusalem, they killed all the inhabitants, young and old. Titus (a leader) ordered his soldiers to destroy the city completely. Future visitors would not believe that the city had ever been there”

Verses 45-48 – In one part of the Temple, merchants had erected stalls. Animals for the sacrifices had to be perfect. People could buy them in the city for a much cheaper price. But it was safer to buy them in the Temple. Here, the merchants said that the animals were perfect. They weren’t, but the priests said they were. People had to pay the annual Temple tax in special coins. There were stalls where people could exchange their money for the special coins. The men who changed money were charging far too much. All these stalls belonged to the family of the chief priest, Annas.

(47-48) The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus for messing up their business, but dared not because of the people who wanted to hear Him.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Here I Am to Worship-Chris Tomlin

A STUDY IN LUKE WEEK 18 IS BEING REPEATED DUE TO A PRIOR COMMITMENT

Luke Chapter 18

In this chapter we are given two parables about prayer, a statement about who can be saved, the relationship of obedience to the Law to salvation, a reminder that Jesus will fulfill the predictions of the prophets concerning Him and the healing of a blind man.

Verses 1-8 – Dr. Luke tells us the meaning of the parable before he reveals Jesus’ telling of it.

As many theologians have asked, if God is omniscient and knows what we need before we ask, why does Jesus tell us to keep on praying (bothering the judge)? A) He is testing our faith; B) He doesn’t really know everything; C) He wants us to keep our focus on Him; D) He really enjoys seeing us beg.

The answer is C).

Verses 9-14 – Who were these people who were sure they were better than anybody else? The context and the illustration indicate that it was the Pharisees.

The Pharisee proceeded to explain to God all the wrong things he had not done. He referenced himself with the word “I” at least 8 times in six short sentences. He had a case of “I” trouble. All of his alleged goodness did not earn God’s favor; not his fasting, not his faithfulness to his wife, not his tithing, not his lack of greed and not his “justice.”

The “tax-collector,” on the other hand, recognized his short-comings and brought them before God, who accepted his humility and repentance.

One of those men left the Temple green and wrinkled. The other left re-born.

Verses 15-17 – The disciples didn’t get it. They thought the children would be a bother to Jesus. Jesus used them to teach us that the only way we can enter God’s kingdom is like a little child: by being trusting; by believing; and by accepting God’s gift with joy and thanksgiving.

Verses 18-30 – When Jesus asked the “rich young ruler” why he called Him “good,” that only God is good, He was identifying Himself as one with God.

The ruler claimed to have kept all of the commandments. It was not true, but he said that it was. Jesus made it clear that the keeping of the commandments would not bring him salvation. The only way he could receive salvation was to forsake all of himself and follow Jesus. That did not sit so well with the rich young ruler.

The people listening, probably including the Pharisees were astonished. They thought riches were a sign of God’s acceptance and just rewards.

Verses 31-34 – This is the third time Jesus speaks of his death in accordance with the predictions of the prophets. The disciples still did not understand. They would not understand until after Jesus’ death and resurrection…in fact, not until Pentecost (Acts 1-3).

Verses 35-43 – In this healing, Jesus did not touch the man (Bartemaus, according to Mark 10:16) or require any act of him. He just declared him healed and commended his faith.

The man’s reaction was to thank Jesus and to follow Him. The crowd praised Him, too.

Once again we see that following Jesus is about faith, not works. We see that it costs us our 100% allegiance to Him. It requires our faith in, and only in, the finished work of Jesus at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection.