Day #45: So That We May Know

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,

it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Luke 1:1-4, ESV

 

After having read the first two Gospels, Matthew and Mark, you will note some differences in the way that the Gospel of Luke is written. Luke is a physician. What difference does that make, you may be wondering? Doctors are usually pretty orderly in the way they set out to do things. As an example, think about the way a doctor treats a patient. They typically will get the patient's charts to see their history, then talk to them to find out what is going on, then examine them, then and only then, they will treat the patient. An orderly pattern such as this helps the physician to best do his or her job of treating the patient in the right way. 

 

Note how Luke sets out to present the events of Jesus' life: In his own words, he has closely examined the history of what has taken place and then he sets down an orderly account so that we may know the certainty of what we have been taught. Of course the main thing that gives us confidence is the fact that Luke, like all of the other writings of the Bible, is inspired by God, so its narrative contains no flaws because God would not have permitted error in His holy Word.

 

So that leaves us with this important point: We can be certain of the things that God wants us to know! And in this particular book, God wants us to know the most important events of the life of Christ. And for all the seekers of the meaning of life down through all of the ages of men, when it gets down to the essence of what they seek, isn't it simply a certainty of why we are here and what we are here for? The beauty of God's Word is that it not only tells us that, but it tells us in such a perfect way that we may indeed know for certain all that God has for us. This is why we read!

 

Today's reading is Luke 1. For those who like order, this particular Gospel will provide just that. 

Day #44: He is Risen!

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!"

Mark 16:5-6, NIV

 

"He has risen!" I don't imagine that there is a more important statement in the entirety of Scripture than this. While we are all well aware of the importance of Jesus having shed His blood for our sins, it would have been for naught had He not then risen from the grave those three days later. In fact, it is because He arose from the dead that we have hope. Perhaps the apostle Paul said it best when inspired to write the following:

 

"Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection."

Romans 6:3-5, NIV

 

This is the hope that we have! For all who are obedient to the Gospel and are serving God is His way, we too will rise from the dead and take part in the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. This is the hope that we have, and this is why we are reading! As a famous man was once so fond of saying, "Isn't God Good"!

 

Today's reading is Mark chapter 16. It tells us all about the hope that we can all share in this time when hope is so desperately needed.

 

 

Day #43: Jesus Didn't Come Here to Save Himself

Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads and saying, "So" You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself." In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked Him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but He can't save Himself. Let this Christ, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe."

Mark 15:29-32, NIV

 

I used to wonder why Jesus allowed the people to insult Him as they did. I wondered why He didn't just come down from the cross and save Himself so that these wicked men would be silenced and so that He would not have to die. But of course, there is a reason for everything that Jesus did, and there was a very obvious reason for Jesus not doing as these wicked men who were taunting Him suggested:

 

Jesus did not come into this world to save Himself, He came into this world to save us!

 

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost."

I Timothy 1:15. ESV

 

Jesus knew this truth. Paul showed that knew this truth. And now we know this truth as well. The question is, "What will we do about it?" That's the reason we are reading: To find the answers to the truths that God wants us to know, and then to live our lives according to these truths... otherwise, Christ would have died in vain.

 

Today's reading is Mark 15. It reveals much about the love that Jesus and God have for us.

Day #42: Do What You Can

But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me."

Mark 14:6, NASB

 

This is certainly one of the most beautiful events of Jesus' ministry here on earth. In a life filled with doing wonderful things for others, here we have a circumstance where someone actually does something wonderful for Jesus. A woman, Mary, is so overcome by Jesus' kindness that she breaks an expensive vial of perfume and anoints the feet of Christ with it. It is such a beautiful act that it is told about in all four accounts of the Gospels - one of the few events to have such a distinction. As we continuing reading, Jesus says, "She has done what she could..." Mark 14:8, RSV

 

The strange thing (though maybe not so strange, when you think about it) is that she was immediately criticized for her "waste" because the perfume that she used to pour on Jesus' feet was very expensive. As it turns out, it was Judas who was the primary critic. He accused her of wasting something that could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor, when all the time we find that he was just a thief looking to get something for himself.

 

Just think about the simplicity of what has been done: A woman did what she could! Yet this was such a novel occurrence that it became one of the most noteworthy events of Jesus' ministry. That being the case, maybe there is a lesson for us, today. Maybe, if we will follow Mary's example and do what we can, we too might find that our lives can actually be pleasing in the sight of God.

 

And that truly would be a beautiful thing! Are you doing what you can?

 

Today's reading is Mark chapter 14. It is definitely worth your consideration!

 

 

Day #41: We Were Planning on Going to Heaven Anyway, Weren't We?

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on Guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

Mark 13:32-33, NIV

 

In my sixty plus years here on earth, I have watched men and women get worried over a lot of things that are simply beyond their control. In this past year, we have seen many people frozen into inaction over the fear of getting a bug and dying. An unreasoned fear has overcome so many to the point where they have simply stopped living, because they are afraid of dying. How very sad! How very useless!

 

I don't want you to get me wrong. I realize that many people have gotten the "bug" and a number of people have died from it. It is serious, no question about it, but we have had serious things before this bug and we will have serious things after it. For those so terribly worried about what may happen to them because of a stupid bug, perhaps they should ask themselves this question: 

 

Weren't they planning on going to heaven, anyway?

 

That brings us to the theme of the verse above. Jesus is talking about His Second Coming and the Day of Judgment. It is a day that will definitely arrive, and a day that we are commanded to be on guard and alert for. But, as Jesus so clearly points out, it is a day whose time no one but God can know about... so we don't need to be worried about its coming, for we were planning on going to heaven anyway, weren't we?

 

I hope you can see the point of all of this. We plan to go to heaven, not because we deserve to, but because God wants us to and has made provisions for that very occurrence. Since this is a fact, we simply do not have to worry over things such as "what happens if we catch a bug and die?" or "what happens if the Day of Judgment should come tomorrow?". It's not that we shouldn't be concerned about such things, it's just that we shouldn't worry about them beyond our responsibility of due diligence in being alert, on guard, and prepared.

 

We are planning on going to heaven anyway, aren't we? So let us get to our job at hand of preparing ourselves for that inevitable day of our passing from this life by living for God now! We have things to do for God and things do to help our fellow man. Don't you think that this is what we were put here for in the first place? 

 

Today's reading is from Mark chapter 13. It will help us with gaining that proper perspective so desperately needed during times such as these.