Life of Jesus Overview

 

LIFE OF JESUS

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM ISRAEL’S GEOGRAPHY & CULTURE

 

By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer  jerry@schmoyer.net 

  http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/ Copyright Ó 1998

1. GEOGRAPHY JESUS KNEW

2. JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

3. LIFE OF JESUS – AN OVERVIEW

4.MT, MK, LK & JN: COMPARED & CONTRASTED

5. JESUS IS BORN

6. JESUS GOES PUBLIC

7. “BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD!”

8. A SUMMER OF FIRSTS

9. WELL, WELL, WELL

10. SO FAR, SO GOOD

11. THE TURNING POINT

12. BY THE SEA, BY THE SEA, BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA

13. THE BEGINNING OF THE END

14. JESUS’ SECOND MOST STRESSFUL DAY

15. SIX MONTHS TO LIVE

16. WRAPPING UP THE FINAL DETAILS

17. JESUS’ LAST WEEK ON EARTH

18. CRUCIFIXION OF THE KING

19. RESURRECTION!

 

 

 

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM ISRAEL’S GEOGRAPHY & CULTURE

 

                        By Jerry Schmoyer    Copyright Ó 1998

 

1. GEOGRAPHY JESUS KNEW

 

            “Where are you from?”  This common inquiry gives us lots of information about a person.  The east coast, deep south, northwest — each place has its own life style and cultural patterns.  Often they are shaped by the geography of the area.  When we are away from home and find someone from our area there is an immediate rapport.  When a person moves into a new area one of the first things he does is to learn his way around — know the geography.  For understanding an event in history one must know the geography of the event.  All this is true of learning about the geography of Palestine.  In order to understand Bible history and view Jesus from the viewpoint of those who lived in His time, knowing the geography of the area is very important.  Palestine then was divided into three main areas.

        GALILEE was located in northern Palestine, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee.  It was about 40 miles wide by 70 miles north to south.  It didn’t have any large towns, but had about 240 small villages.  Thus it was a very rural area.  It was mostly hill country: rich, beautiful and fertile.  The temperature averaged 45 to 80 degrees. 

            Joshua conquered the area from the Canaanites, and the tribes of Asher, Naphtali, Zebulun and Issachar first settled the area.  It was part of Israel after the split. 

            Half the inhabitants of Galilee were Gentiles and half were Jews.  They were farmers, shepherds, fishermen and craftsmen.  As rural people often are, they were warmhearted, generous, patriotic, practical and hardworking.  They were sincere people who were open to God, but not nearly as legalistic as the Jews in Judea.  This area was home to Jesus and all the disciples but Judas.  It was in this area that Jesus’ message found its most fertile ground, and where most of His followers came from.  They then left this area to spread the word throughout the world.

            JUDEA was located in the southern part of Palestine, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea.  It was named for Judah, the tribe that settled in this area.  A ridge of tall mountains went north and south through the middle.  On the west was a coastal plain and the east the Dead Sea Valley.  The land was dry, barren, with temperatures 55 to 88 degrees.  The rough, rugged hills were used for pasture in the north but in the south the land was too desolate to be used for anything.

            Few farmers lived in Judea.  Mostly businessmen and craftsmen lived in the few large cities that comprised Judea.  They were more materialistic and legalistic than those in Galilee.  They had a reputation for being prideful, cold and driven.  They were perfectionist in all areas of life, strict on themselves and others.  This applied to their religion, too.  Perhaps this explains why so few from this region followed Jesus.  Its main claim to fame is Jerusalem, God’s special city then and His earthly capital, the only city on earth which He said was His and which He graced by His presence. 

            SAMARIA was the region in between Galilee and Judea.  It was named after the main town of the area, Samaria.  When Joshua conquered it from the Canaanites it was settled by Manasseh, Ephraim and Gad.  The town of Samaria became the capital for the north (Israel) when the nation split.  When the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom, they took the best Jews away and moved Gentiles in instead.  This created a mixed breed of people, ‘Samaritans.’  The pure-blooded Jews to the north and south hated and rejected them because of their mixed blood.  They would have nothing to do with them or their land. 

            The land of Samaria was a mix of Galilee and Judea.  It was similar to Galilee but a bit rougher and less developed.  They were semi-Jews in their religion.  They believed the Pentateuch (Gen – Deut) but made Samaria the seat of their worship instead of Jerusalem.  Without the priesthood or temple, they substituted their own rituals and beliefs.  For this, too, the Jews hated them.  When Jesus used a Samaritan as an example of one who showed love to his neighbor, proper Jews were shocked (parable of the Good Samaritan – Luke 10:29-37).  The good Samaritan was kinder to the hurt Jew than the good and proper Jews who passed by on the other side.  The Samaritans benevolence is all the more meaningful in light of how he, a s a Samaritan, was viewed and treated by the Jews.

            Jesus had a real love for the people of Samaria.  They were quick to respond to Him.  He went there specifically to offer eternal life to an immoral woman (John 4).  Jews never talked to Samaritans, nor even set foot on their land.  A man would never talk to a woman in public, especially if the man was a rabbi, and even more so if the woman was immoral.  In light of all this Jesus’ reaching out to the woman at the well was all the more remarkable, as was her response.  Many others believed in Jesus, and without any miracles done.  This is in strong contrast to the Jews who had much proof in the way of miracles but didn’t show the faith the Samaritans did!  And that isn’t the end of the story.  When Philip returned to Samaria after the resurrection a great revival broke out (Acts 8), greater than in Galilee or Judea. 

            Note the pattern: rich, educated, cultured urban Judea almost totally rejected Jesus; rural Galilee was more responsive, but rejected Samaria responded more than either of them.  That shouldn’t surprise us.  The same is true to day.  “Not many rich” the Bible says (I Cor 1:26-27).  God blesses the humble, but rejects the proud and self-sufficient.  “He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” (James 4:6; I Pt 5:5; Job 30:12; Prov 3:34). 

            If you lived in Palestine in Jesus’ day, where would you fit in? 

 

 

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM ISRAEL’S GEOGRAPHY & CULTURE

 

                        By Jerry Schmoyer    Copyright Ó 1998

 

2. JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

 

            If you were a Jew living during the time Jesus was born, what would know about the coming Messiah?  What would you have understood about God coming to earth?  These are interesting and thought-provoking questions.  Understanding what Jews then knew about God who would visit earth as Jesus is very important to understanding the life of Jesus. 

            THE TRINITY  The early church councils decreed “there is only one God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are 3 eternal and coequal persons, the same in substance but distinct in personality.”  God the Father (Jn 6:27; Eph 4:6), God the Son (Heb 1:18) and God the Spirit (Acts 5:3-4) are one God (Mt 28:19; II Cor 13:14) in three persons.  The Bible says no man has seen God the Father at any time (John 1:18; I Jn 4:12).  The Spirit’s role is not to manifest Himself but to focus on the Son.  Therefore it is always God the Son who is visible God in the Bible, both the Old and New Testament. 

            THEOPHANIES, occurrences of God appearing to man, are recorded in the Old Testament.  Usually written “Angel of the Lord,” it always refers to God the Son (Jesus before His birth).  Cf Gen 16:13; 22:15-18; 24:17; 32:24-32; Hos 12:4.  Therefore Jews who knew their Bible in Jesus’ time would have known that God had appeared to man in the past, and would again.  There is more information, though, than just appearances of God to man.

            TYPES  There is more in the Old Testament about God the Son than just what is actually said about Him (Luke 24:27).  There are pictures of Him as well.  These pictures, called types, are like shadows in reverse.  You see the shadow first (Old Test.) and then the real thing (New Test.).  For example, David is a type (picture) of Jesus in that there are many parallels between them, things in David’s life which show more about Jesus.  Jesus Himself used the serpent on the pole as a picture of Himself (Jn 3:14) and He used Jonah the same way (Mt 12:40).  Much information about God the Son can be gleaned from studying the pictures of Jesus contained in things like the Tabernacle, priesthood, offering system, holy days, etc.

 

            PROPHECIES  The rabbi’s list 456 Messianic passages in the Old Testament.  These give more precise information about God the Son and His coming to earth, than types.  For example, the Bible said He would come from a woman’s seed (Gen 3:15); born of a virgin (Isa 7:14), from the line of Abraham (Gen 12:3,7; 17:7), from the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10), the house of David (Ps 132:11; II Sam 7:12-13; Jer 23:5), and the seed of Isaac (Gen 21:12).  He was prophesied to be born at Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), called Immanuel (Isa 7:14), called out of Egypt (Hos 11:1) and preceded by John the Baptist (Mal 3:1; Isa 40:3).  Many, many other prophecies about His life, person, ministry, message, works, death and resurrection also abound.  The odds are astronomical that even just a few of these could have been coincidentally fulfilled.  Only God could have foretold all these.

            Thus Jews living in the time Jesus came had more information about the Son of God coming back to earth than we might expect.  They knew God Himself was coming to earth to sit on David’s throne forever (II Sam 7:13-14). 

            THE SON OF GOD AS HUMAN  He had a human body (Gal 4:4; Lk 2:52; I Jn 1:1; Mt 26:12) but was sinless (Heb 4:15).  He also had a human soul and spirit (Mt 26:38; Lk 23:46).  As a man He got hungry (Mt 4:2), thirsty (Jn 19:28), tired (Jn 4:6), sad (Jn 11:35) and tempted (Heb 4:5).  He had human names (Mt 1:21) and died a human death.

            THE SON OF GOD AS DEITY  He was called God (Heb 1:8; Mt 16:16; 26:61-64).  He was omnipotent (Mt 28:18), omniscient (Jn 1:48), omnipresent (Mt 18:20) and unchangeable (Heb 13:8).  He was life (Jn 1:4) and truth (Jn 14:6).  He did the works of God: create (Jn 1:3), sustain nature (Col 1:17), forgives sin (Lk 7:48), raises the dead (Jn 5:25), judges sin (Jn 5:27) and sends the Holy Spirit (Jn 15:26).  He accepted worship by men (Mt 14:33) and angels (Heb 1:6).  He claimed equality with the Father (Jn 14:23; 10:30).  Over and over He claimed to be sent from God (Jn 4:34; 5:37; 7:16; 7:28-29; 8:16; 8:26; 9:4; 11:42; 14:24; 16:28; 17:18; 17:23). 

            CONTRASTS IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST  Jesus was both God and man.  He was hungry (Mt 4:12) yet He fed multitudes (Jn 6:1-14).  He was thirsty (Jn 19:28-29) yet gives the water of life (Jn 4:10-14; 7:37).  He was tired (Jn 4:26) yet gives rest (Mt 11:28).  He prayed (Mt 14:23) yet answers prayer (Jn 14:3,14).  He was sold for 30 pieces of silver (Mt 26:14-15) yet redeems the world (I Pt 1:18-19; I Jn 2:2).  He had no where to lay His head (Mt 8:20) yet He created all things (Jn 1:3).  He died yet He gives life (Jn 6:51,44).  He was killed (Heb 2:14) yet destroys death (I Cor 15:26, 54).  He lay down His life, then He took it up again (Jn 10:17-18). 

            If you had been alive when Jesus was born you’d have to decide:  Did you believe the accounts of God Himself coming to earth?  Would He come again as the prophecies said?  Would you bow down and make Him lord and God of your life?  Would you recognize Him as God and man in one – the God-man Messiah?  Most of the people living then rejected the truth and turned from Him.  Most still do.  What about you?  The facts are in.  They haven’t changed.

            If He is God, that means He has everything in the universe under His control — including your life and mine.  HE is the king of the universe, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19). He is God and He is king.  Make sure He is your king.

 

 

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM ISRAEL’S GEOGRAPHY & CULTURE

 

                        By Jerry Schmoyer    Copyright Ó 1998

 

3. LIFE OF JESUS – AN OVERVIEW

 

            History tells us that early in the nineteenth century the whole world was watching with bated breath the campaigns of Napoleon.  There was talk everywhere of marches, invasions, battles, and bloodshed as the French dictator pushed his way through Europe.  Babies were born during that time.  But who had time to think about babies or to care about cradles and nurseries when the international scene was as tumultuous as it was?  Nevertheless, between Trafalgar and Waterloo there stole into this world a veritable host of heroes whose lives were destined to shape all of humanity.  But again I ask, who had time to think about babies while Napoleon was on the move?

            Well, someone should have.

            Let’s take the year 1809.  Internationally, everyone was looking at Austria, because that was where blood was flowing freely.  In one campaign after another that year, Napoleon was sweeping through Austria.  Nobody cared about babies in 1809.  But when you check the record, you realize the world was overlooking some terribly significant births.

            Take, for example, William Gladstone.  Gladstone was destined to become on of the finest statesmen that England ever produced.  In that same year Alfred Tennyson was born to an obscure minister and his wife.  Tennyson would one day greatly affect the literary world in a marked manner.  Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1809.  And not far away in Boston, Edgar Allen Poe began his eventful, albeit tragic, life.  It was also in that same year — 1809 — that a physician named Darwin and his wife named their child Charles Robert.  And it was that same year that the cries of a newborn infant could be heard from a rugged log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky.  The baby’s name?  Abraham Lincoln.

            If there had been news broadcasts at that time, I’m certain these words would have been heard:  “The destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today.”  Or was it?

            Funny, only a handful of history buffs today could name even two or three of the Austrian campaigns.  Looking back, you and I realize that history was actually being shaped in the cradles of England and America as young mothers held in their arms the shakers and the movers of the future.  No one could deny that 1809 was, in fact, the genesis of an era.

            The same could be said of the time when Jesus of Nazareth was born. No one in the entire Roman Empire could have cared less about the birth of that Jewish infant in Bethlehem.  Rome ruled the world. That’s where history was being made!  Or was it?

            Dr. Luke was as careful with his study of history as he was with his practice of medicine.  In the Gospel that bears his name, he provides for us several dependable, helpful facts.  We can look up these facts and realize that if never before, at least at that time, God chose things that seemed to be terribly insignificant to put to shame the things that seemed highly important. (Growing Deep in the Christian Life, by Charles Swindoll )

                        Jesus’ ministry started in obscurity.  The first year only a handful knew about Him and followed Him.  Gradually His reputation spread.  He was more interested in quality than quantity, though.  Still, everyone needed to have and did have a fair chance to decide on their own if they would accept or reject Him. 

            After the first year His popularity hit its high point.  He traveled throughout Galilee with the disciples and did miracles to prove He was the Messiah.  Most would have followed Him if He would have continued to provide free food for them.  Instead He challenged them to give everything up and follow Him.  The masses would have cheered a military leader who would raise an army to throw off the yoke of Roman bondage.  Jesus set high standards for those who would follow Him: put Him 100% first in everything and all the time, before everyone and anything else in life.  It is a high requirement, and even today not many are willing to meet it.  As a result Jesus’ popularity started declining.

            As it declined opposition increased.  The religious leaders had been against Him from the very start.  He pointed out their sin from the beginning when He cleansed the temple for the first time.  Gradually they were able to turn more and more people against Jesus.  People were willing to accept Jesus as Messiah.  Where they got hung up was with admitting their sin and accountability before God.  Pride still keeps man from God.

            As public opinion shifted, so did Jesus’ message and methods.  Instead of going to the people offering them His message of the coming kingdom, He spent His time training and discipling His disciples.  He did less and less miracles, for the people had enough proof and didn’t need more.  He wasn’t going to force anyone to believe.  He started teaching with parables to reveal truth to His followers while also hiding it from those who wouldn’t accept.  Instead of going to anyone everywhere, He specialized in training the disciples to take on when He was gone.

            After the end of the third year the die was cast.  Opposition increased daily.  The religious leaders were committed to having Him put to death to stop Him and His message.  Little did they know that that was just what was needed to assure its continuing forever. 

            They had their chance to decide.  Now is our turn.  Will you accept or reject?  Are you just following for the ‘free food’ — what He can do for you?  Are you willing to obey up His challenge of taking up your cross to follow Him?  It will mean rejection and oppostion to those who follow Him, too.  No servant is greater than His master.  Still, it’s the best way to life life to the fullest, to make this one life count for eternity.  Don’t make the mistake they did.  Give up all to follow Him. 

 

 

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM ISRAEL’S GEOGRAPHY & CULTURE

 

                        By Jerry Schmoyer    Copyright Ó 1998

 

4. MT., MK., LK., JN. = COMPARED & CONTRASTED

 

            Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  Their names are very familiar to us.  They fit together in our minds, in that precise order.  We are so familiar with them that we take them for granted.  But why wasn’t it Philip, Peter and Paul?  Or just Andrew?  Why four gospels?  Why these four?  Why a New Testament at all?  It’s important to know the answer to these questions to be able to correctly interpret the Gospels.  The answers are quite interesting.

WHY A NEW TESTAMENT?  From God’s viewpoint the New Testament was to complete the incomplete revelation of the Old (Heb 1:1-2; Jer 31:31-34; Mal 3:1), to show the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies (Lk 4:21: Jn 13:18; 17:12; Acts 1:16), to fully present the way of salvation (Jn 20:31) and to give all needed information for God’s people to live for Him (Jn 4:25; 17:8; 16:12-13; Mt 16:18; Eph 5:23-32).  From man’s viewpoint it was written to have a clear and accurate record of Jesus’ life on earth.  The eye-witnesses were dying off and heresies were growing and spreading false teachings.  Plus, Christianity was spreading and expanding, and the best way to carry the truth to faraway places was in written form.

WHY THE GOSPELS FIRST?  The Old Testament shows the promises and prophecies of a coming Redeemer and why He is needed.  The Gospels show that Jesus fulfilled those prophecies and met man’s need.  Acts shows the results of the Messiah’s coming.  The Epistles add further teaching about the Messiah’s work and its results as well as how that applies to our daily lives.  The book of Revelation shows the final culmination of all things, when all prophecies are totally and completely fulfilled with God Himself on David’s throne.

WHY MORE THAN ONE GOSPEL?  Various men viewed Jesus from different perspectives.  They wrote to vastly differing audiences.  Several writers help to confirm what the others say, and shed light on each other’s accounts.

WHY FOUR GOSPELS?  The Law required the testimony of 2 witnesses (Dt 19:15; Mt 18:16).  For something this important twice the number of witnesses is given.  Also, the number four in the Bible and to the Jews stands for earthly completeness: four season’s directions on a compass, walls in a building, phases of the moon, etc.  Together Matthew, Mark, Luke and John show the completeness of Jesus’ life on earth. 

WHY THESE FOUR GOSPELS? Actually  several other gospels were written to help spread the message of Jesus, but aren’t included in the New Testament.  The four that are included were the ones God Himself chose.  He inspired them and kept them perfect for us.

WHICH GOSPEL WAS WRITTEN FIRST?  Most scholars agree that Mark wrote first, recording Peter’s message in tract form.  About 10 years later, in the 60’s, Matthew and Luke wrote.  They had Mark’s gospel and elaborated on much of what he wrote.  Then, 20 years later, John supplemented what they wrote by adding much new material focusing on the deity of Jesus.

WHO DO MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN COMPARE?  Matthew, Mark and Luke are called ‘synoptic’ gospels because so much in them is ‘synonymous’ (similar) material.  They all cover virtually the same events.  John, however, includes almost all (92%) new material which they didn’t cover.  The synoptic focus on Jesus’ outer life, giving facts about Him as a person.  John goes deeper inside and focuses on showing Jesus as God.  Matthew’s focus in Jesus as the prophesied, mighty King.  Mark shows Him as the obedient, lowly Servant.  Luke pictures Him as the perfect, ideal Man.  Matthew wrote to convince the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah (1:1; 23:37-39), Mark to spread the gospel among Gentiles (10:45), Luke to give an accurate history of His earthly life (10:10) and John to help believers to grow by trusting in Jesus’ power as God (3:16).

WHY DOES MATTHEW COME FIRST?  Since Mark was written first, why is Matthew put first?  Thematically Matthew links the Old Testament with the New Testament by showing that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the prophecies and is, indeed, the promised Messiah.  Mark moves away from Judaism, but not completely.  Luke presents Christ as the Savior of the Gentiles.  John then concludes with a strong, clear declaration that Jesus is in essence God, the Savior of all mankind. 

SPECIFICALLY HOW DOES THIS APPLY?  The Triumphal Entry is one of the very few events in the life of Jesus that is included in all four Gospels.  It was so important and so pivotal that each had to include it.  We can use it as an example of their various perspectives and purposes.  This shows why understanding the differences in the gospels is so important.

            Matthew gives it 15 verses (21:1-11, 14-17), Mark 11 verses (11:1-11), Luke 16 verses (19:29-44) and John 8 verses (12:12-19). Mark wrote first, a short account showing Jesus as a humble servant who makes Himself available but doesn’t shove Himself on Israel.  Matthew, who adds more details to Mark’s story, structures his account around three prophecies which Christ then fulfilled (Zech 9:9; Ps 118:26; 8:2), quoting them and showing his Jewish readers how this further proves Jesus is the Messiah.  Luke also builds on Mark’s account.  Doctor Luke focuses on Jesus as a man, a human being like us, but a man who was also God.  He records that Jesus wept (41) as a man but also prophesied the future (43) as God.  Only Luke records the religious rulers challenging Jesus the man to stop His disciples (39) as well as Jesus’ response that if they are silent the stones will cry out (40) because they are proclaiming Him Messiah – God and man in one.  John, writing last, doesn’t repeat the details that the others have already recorded but, in accordance with his theme, shows Jesus is God.  He refers to His resurrection (16) and miraculous signs He had been doing (18).

            Thus it is important to understand the history of the writing of the four gospels to accurately interpret them.  It is true that ALL Scripture is inspired and important for us (II Tim 3:16).  God’s Word is so special, so important, so precise, so wonderful and so life-giving that we must immerse ourselves in it all we can.  Spend some time in the Bible today.

 

 

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM ISRAEL’S GEOGRAPHY & CULTURE

 

                        By Jerry Schmoyer    Copyright Ó 1998

 

5. JESUS IS BORN

 

GABRIEL COMES TO ZACHARIAS  (Luke 1:5-25)  Because of the large number of priests, they took turns serving in Jerusalem several weeks a year.  The rest of the time they ministered in their own home areas: teaching, judging, encouraging and helping in any way they could.  When in Jerusalem they served in the temple, helping with the sacrifices, worship and ritual duties to the thousands who came to the temple each day.  The highlight of the day was in the morning and late afternoon, when a priest went into the Holy Place to trim the wicks on the lampstand and put fresh incense on the golden altar (a picture of prayers as a sweet savor ascending to God).  The late afternoon was the most important of the two.  Because of the special nature of these duties, priests to perform the duties were chosen by lot.  Fortunate, indeed, was the priest who would be chosen once in his lifetime.  Zechariah had served many years and had never been chosen before this day. 

            Entering God’s house was a privilege but also a responsibility, for God could strike dead any who entered without His blessing.  It was rumored that the angel of death would appear them and they would die.  You can imagine why Zechariah was so fearful when he saw Gabriel.

            When he was told he’d have a son and disbelieved, Zechariah was letting out some of the hurt and even bitterness of all the years of going childless.  Children were considered blessings from God, and to not have a child was a curse from God.  It was an awful, terrible stigma, especially for one trying to serve God as a priest!  Why would God bless many who didn’t love Him with children when he and Elizabeth remained childless?

GABRIEL APPEARS TO MARY (Luke 1:26-38)  It must have surprised Mary greatly for a strange man to enter her presence and speak to her. Such things were never done in her world.

MARY GOES TO SEE ELIZABETH (Luke 1:39-56)  While Mary undoubtedly had the trust and understanding of her parents, she knew what the local gossip about her would be.  To talk to someone also having a supernatural pregnancy would be very helpful.  Perhaps someone in her family accompanied her to Elizabeth’s, or she went with a caravan of local friends who were heading south.  It would have taken several days, walking and camping at night, to get there.

JOHN IS BORN (Luke 1:57-80)  It was the custom for a child to be named after a family member, the first son being named after the father.  Refusal to do so was often interpreted as claiming the son was not his.  When Zecharias didn’t name his son after himself everyone was very startled!  Surely Elizabeth hadn’t been unfaithful?  Actually God Himself was claiming this son as His in a special way by naming him.  He would raise and train him, and He did.

GABRIEL APPEARS TO JOSEPH (Matthew 1:18-25)  I admire Joseph greatly.  Mary had a daytime appearance of Gabriel as well as several months of talking with Elizabeth.  She knew she was still a virgin.  All Joseph had was one dream to go by, and he staked everything on it.  He wanted to marry her despite her pregnancy, but the law forbid it and, following and obeying God, he wouldn’t go against His law.  While stoning for adultery wasn’t practiced much any more, it was still a possibility.  Other options were open to Joseph.  He could have had her publicly disgraced in the synagogue as an example to other young women, keeping his reputation in tact and getting his dowry back.  This would have been the legal way to get revenge, hurting back someone who has hurt you.  The final option is the one Joseph had chosen: a quiet divorce where he would bear the brunt of the disgrace and reproach instead of Mary.  He would lose his reputation and dowry, but Mary would be protected.  Despite feeling so deeply betrayed by Mary, Joseph still chose to sacrifice himself to protect her.  No wonder God chose such a man to be the earthly father to His son!

JESUS IS BORN  (Luke 2:1-20)  While Hallmark cards show Jesus being born in a barn, historians and scholars agree it was more likes a cave.  Caves dotted the limestone hills at Bethlehem, and were used by local homes as a place to keep animals.  Wood was very scarce and wasn’t used to build houses, much less barns or sheds.  Also, some towns had ‘inns,’ which were really places for traveling herdsmen to keep their flocks while they spent the night before traveling on.  Only the large towns would hire someone to oversee their operation and sell feed to the traveling herdsmen.  Bethlehem was not nearly large enough for an ‘inn keeper.’  Being born in a humble cave, though, was appropriate for Jesus’ first coming.  In both His birth and death He was wrapped in linen strips after having the blood wiped from His body by a man named Joseph.  He was laid in the dark on a cold stone shelf in a cave, unknown and rejected by most.  His entrance into life was a foretaste of His exit from this world.

            Choosing shepherds to be the ones to come worship was something only God would do for shepherds were the bottom of society, rejected and looked down on by all.  They would have best understood the loss of innocent animals killed, for perhaps some of the sheep they raised were destined for temple sacrifices.  David had been a shepherd on these very hills.

JESUS IS PRESENTED IN THE TEMPLE  (Luke 2:21-38)  It wasn’t mandatory for boys to be dedicated in the temple, but Mary and Joseph did it to show their respect for Who Jesus was.  Mary’s ritual cleansing from childbirth came first.  Simeon was probably the officiating priest.  That they only had pigeons for offerings showed how poor they were.

THE MAGI ARRIVE (Matthew 2:1-18)  Here’s another place where our Christmas cards influence our theology.  The Magi were really king-makers from Persia.  Hundreds would have come, with calvary, all on white horses (and some camels to carry tents and supplies).  It would have taken months to get ready and make the trip.  In face, the Greek word for Jesus is no longer ‘infant’ but ‘young child.’  Also, Mary and Joseph had moved to a house by this time.  They had long since moved out of their house.  They wanted to stay in Bethlehem, near Zacharias, instead of going back to Nazareth and the gossip about Mary’s early pregnancy.

 

 

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM ISRAEL’S GEOGRAPHY & CULTURE

 

                        By Jerry Schmoyer    Copyright Ó 1998

 

6. JESUS GOES PUBLIC

 

            There comes a defining time in everyone’s lives, a time when they have to make a touch choice about which path to take.  These watershed decisions often aren’t fully realized until years later.  Sometimes we know we are ‘crossing the Rubicon’ and sometimes not.  Jesus fully realized this time in His life.  He had spent about 30 years working with His father, Joseph, building from stone and wood.  Then God’s Spirit started to stir in His spirit, drawing Him to where His relative John had been baptizing.  He was well aware of where this path would lead.

            It is important to understand all the historical and cultural implications of what was happening in those days to fully interpret these passages in the life of Jesus.  Our purpose isn’t to be exhaustive in all aspects, but to point out cultural and geographical facts that help us better understand John’s ministry as well as Jesus’ baptism and temptation.

 

THE BAPTIZER  (Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-18)  John had grown up in the wilderness when his older parents died, living off the land.  His lifestyle was similar to the Essenes and those in Qumran (who hid the Dead Sea scrolls), but he wasn’t part of any group.  As a Nazarite (Numbers 6) he didn’t touch anything dead (including, some say, eating meat), cut his hair, or drink any fruit of the grape (wine or juice). 

            Unlike modern evangelists, John required the people to come find him.  It often took several days travel.  Then what they heard was a message of repentance.  Why would people go?  God’s Spirit drew them.  Some say it was a Sabbatical year, when there would be time for as well as interest in Sabbatical things.  It seems like John came in the fall of the year AD 29, near Rosh Hashanah which focused on repentance. 

            John calls himself a ‘herald.’  When a king was coming into an area he would send a ‘herald’ ahead so the people could prepare for his visit.  They would repair the roads and clean up the area to make the trip safe and easy for the king. 

            Baptism was familiar to the Jews.  All their synagogues were built with pools or near water sources for water was used for ritual cleansing (see Acts 16:13).  Washing in water was done in a mikveh and was a picture of cleansing.  Thus the Jews were familiar with what John was doing.  That, too, is why he didn’t think he should baptize Jesus.

 

THE BAPTIZED  (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:19-23)  It would have been very unusual for someone not to marry but to live at home into their thirties.  It must have been hard to put down His tools and say good-bye to His mother and father as He followed His heavenly father.  How much was Jesus aware of what lay ahead?  Did He know details or just vague generalities?  Remember, He had voluntarily lay aside all the divine attributes which would have made life as a man easier (Philippians 2:6-8).  He was still holy and righteous and eternal, keeping His attributes of Being.  He voluntarily decide to not use anything in His deity that would have given Him any advantage over any of us, for He went through all things we go through (Heb 2:18; 4:14-15).  Thus His omniscience was set aside, too.  That’s why He spent so much time in prayer with His Father.  He got His direction by the Spirit, the same as is available to all of us today. He faced temptation and Satan the same way we do, too.

 

THE DEVIL  (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13)  God’s Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, which is a semi-desert area between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.  It is a very dry, arid, barren place — terrible to live in but great for solitude and privacy.  Jesus went to have time connecting with His heavenly Father and preparing Himself for service.  He was so intense in His prayer and communion with God that He didn’t eat for the whole time, although it seems He did drink water when He found some. 

            Satan didn’t’ hit Him until the 40th day of His fast.  Up to that time the body lives off stored fat, but about that time the fat is all gone and the body starts digesting its own organs to feed itself.  This is starvation and soon ends in death.  After the first couple days of a fast hunger pangs are gone — until about the 40th day when it hits VERY hard!  Thus Satan’s temptation to turn a stone into bread to eat was very real.  There wasn’t anything wrong with getting bread and eating it.  Jesus Himself made bread for the 3,000 and the 5,000 by the Sea of Galilee.  What was wrong was that it wasn’t God’s timing.  Often we aren’t tempted to do a thing that is wrong in itself, but the timing of it is wrong (marriage, sex, job change, move, purchase, etc.).  Patiently awaiting God’s leading is the key to it all.

            Then Satan took Him (physically or mentally — we don’t know and it doesn’t really matter for the opportunity was real) to highest point of the temple and challenged Him to jump down, knowing the angels would catch Him.  The Jews had a belief that the Messiah would come from the highest point of the temple, and to see a man jump from there and be caught by angels would certainly impress everyone so much that they were sure to make Him Messiah then and there.  Again, there was nothing wrong with being recognized as Messiah — this was why He came.  However the means doesn’t justify end.  It would have meant bypassing the cross.  Getting the crown with going through the cross must have been very tempting, but also very wrong.  Remember that when you are tempted to take the easy way out.

            Finally Satan used his ace card, the one he didn’t think he would have to use but was prepared to in order to win.  He had used it on the first sinless man, offering him a chance at being like God, and man quickly fell.  Then Satan had won rulership of all the earthly kingdoms from Adam.  Now he was willing to use that to bait his trap and offer Jesus instant access to ruling like God, right then, over all the earth.  The problem was that it would again mean missing the cross.  Also, getting his authority from Satan would mean He was under Satan — the very one He came to dethrone.

            These temptations were very subtle.  They came at an extremely vulnerable time.  They were all for Jesus to meet legitimate needs, but to meet them in His way and time, not in God’s.  They were self-focused and  now-focused, not looking for what was better for others and for the long run.  Satan did the same basic thing with Adam and Eve (Gen 3), and still works that way today (I John 2:16).  Watch out!

 

 

 

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM ISRAEL’S GEOGRAPHY & CULTURE

 

                        By Jerry Schmoyer    Copyright Ó 1998

 

7. “BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD”

 

            Have you ever had to introduce some of your friends to each other?  That can be a very enjoyable experience.  You usually find yourself choosing your words very carefully, for each word is important.  John the Baptizer found himself in a similar situation when he needed to introduce the Messiah to his followers.  The right words were very important, and it seems John spent some time thinking about them.  Listen to what he chose.

 

INTRODUCTION 1: JOHN TO ALL LISTENERS  (John 1:19-34)  “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  Why not “The Messiah”?  Because their concept of a Messiah was a military leader who would come and lead them in a revolt against Rome, bringing in political freedom.  Why not “Jesus”?  That was just His earthly name, which some of them already knew, and didn’t really say anything about Who He was.  Why not “God”?  That would have taken too much explanation and have brought too much doubt.  It would take time before they could come to that conclusion on their own.  “Son of Man,” which Jesus started calling Himself, would have just confused them at this time.  “Son of God” alone would have left out His humanity.  No, John chose well.  His listeners would have immediately thought of the Passover lamb and other lamb sacrifices — innocent blood shed to cover sin.  This started with the first Passover when the Jews were in Egypt and the firstborn of all those without innocent lamb blood died (Exodus 12).  The very reason they were responding to God’s message was because they saw the need for repentance from sin and cleansing by God.  They called on Him to provide mercy and cleansing, and that was exactly why Jesus had come!

            Since it was pretty obvious to all that the Messiah would be coming soon (Daniel 9:24-26), dozens of others were claiming to be the Messiah.  The religious leaders checked into each claimant for they, too, awaited the Messiah.  A delegation went to John and asked him if he was the Messiah and he clearly told them he wasn’t.  He said he was just there pointing out the Messiah to others, and the one he pointed out as the “Lamb of God” was the one they were looking for!

INTRODUCTION 2: JOHN TO SPECIAL FOLLOWERS   (John 1:35-51)  The day after this happened John again pointed our Jesus in this fashion.  Andrew and John called Jesus “Rabbi”, a respectful term for a teacher.  The next day they returned with their brothers: Peter and Andrew.  When the left they also took Philip and Nathanael with them, traveling to Cana.  They all knew each other closely as relatives, business partners or friends.  John the Baptizer was a relative, too, although he probably didn’t see much of them in previous years. 

INTRODUCTION 3: JESUS OF HIMSELF  (John 2:1-12)  The wedding feast at Cana was Jesus’ ‘coming out’ as it were.  It was a gathering of extended family and friends.  Mary, Jesus’ mother was there, helping with the kitchen work.  Joseph was probably still at home in Nazareth.  Salome, Mary’s sister was there with her husband Zebedee and their sons, James and John.  Their friends and fishing partners, Andrew and Peter, were there, too.  They had all walked there with Jesus from John’s baptizing.  Philip was a friend to them all, as was Nathaniel who lived in Cana.  Others who also became disciples may well have been there as well.  Alphaeus (Clopas) and wife may well have traveled there with Mary.  Their sons, James the less and Judas Thaddaeus, were also fishermen.  Some feel that Thomas and Levi (Matthew), the twins, were also there children.  Thus the circle of early followers and disciples was also a family circle composed of people who knew each other and Jesus.  Their children would have been mostly grown and married, leaving them free to travel with Jesus.  Later Jesus’ own half-brothers, James and Jude, would also be part of the group.  They must have heard some stories about Jesus’ miraculous birth.  They had met Him at family gatherings such as holy days, weddings and even funerals.  It wasn’t always possible to get together for funerals, though, because they were held the same day as death and those a distance away couldn’t find out and come in time.  In a hot climate a dead body needed to be buried as soon as possible. 

            Anyway, when everyone arrived in Cana there must have been much talk and speculation about what happened when Jesus was baptized and what John had told them.  Mary must have heard and, like any mother, was anxious to show off her son to everyone.  This would finally and totally repair her reputation of being pregnant before marriage.  No wonder she was anxious for Jesus to show Who He really was.  But wasn’t this the same temptation as Satan had used earlier — show off your powers so people will accept you?  Jesus again resisted, politely but firmly telling His mother no.

            Since weddings usually lasted several days, and as today several days of drinking fermented drink and wine would cause drunkenness, the best wine was served first while tastes were more sensitive and alert.  Here, though, Jesus made wine better than the best they had bought.  This was proof of His deity, and word spread, even though He did the miracle in secrecy and privacy.  He did help the people out, but not in a show-off way. 

            Of note is the fact that this is called His first “miraculous sign.”  All Jesus’ miracles were ‘signs.’  A sign is made to point to something else, to focus attention elsewhere, to give information needed.  Jesus didn’t do miracles for their own sake, He did them as a sign that He was God.  Anyone could claim to be God, but only one who could do things only God could do was really God.  Miracles were a means to an end, Jesus’ eternal calling card.  They were not an end in themselves.  That’s why not everyone was healed.  That’s why miracles appear groups in the Bible: time of Moses and Joshua, time of Elijah and Elisha and time of Jesus and apostles.  The next grouping of miracles will be in the tribulation, again to show that those who do them have God’s power.  This is the only way they will be seen as superior to Satan’s counterfeits and substitutes.  Miracles proved that Jesus was God.  We don’t need miracles today, for God’s Spirit is at work showing us inside that Jesus is God.  Do you listen to His voice?  Are you believing His message?  He has eternal life available for all who will ask — that’s the greatest miracle there is!

 

 

 

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM ISRAEL’S GEOGRAPHY & CULTURE

 

                        By Jerry Schmoyer    Copyright Ó 1998

 

8. A SUMMER OF FIRSTS

 

            There’s a first time for everything.  For Jesus, the summer of 30 AD brought several firsts as He traveled to Jerusalem for His first Passover since coming forth as Messiah-God.  It was His first cleansing of the temple, His first clash with the religious leaders, His first public ministry in Jerusalem and His first travels through Judea preaching and healing.

FIRST PASSOVER (John 2:13)  While Jesus undoubtedly had gone to Jerusalem every Passover since His birth, we know only of His bar mitzvah trip when He was 12 (Luke 2:40-52).  He continued to go every year as a participant.  Now that He has come forward as Messiah He has an entirely different function to fill at the Passover in Jerusalem.

FIRST TEMPLE CLEANSING (John 2:14-22)  It most have really bothered Jesus year after year to go to Jerusalem and see God’s house of prayer and worship made into a commercial circus.  Outrageous rates were charged to trade regular money for temple coins.  Then the priests inside wouldn’t accept any sacrifices which were brought in, forcing people to buy their animals — again at very inflated prices.  Vendors and merchants were everywhere, calling out their prices and shouting their sales.  The whole atmosphere was one of a carnival at fever pitch.  The religious rulers were getting rich off of ‘Annas Bazzar,’ as it was named after the high priest who was behind it all.  Passover especially was important, for that time, like December in our culture, were when merchants made their greatest profits.  As Jesus traveled to Jerusalem that early summer of AD 30 He must have known what He had to do when He got there.

            The disciples had no idea what He was thinking.  They were looking forward to Him revealing to the religious rulers and Jerusalem itself, the center of their religion, His claims as to being the Messiah.  They knew He would need the solid support of the religious rulers if He were to have any chance of being crowned the rightful heir of David’s throne.  Had they even suspected the means Jesus would use to show His Messiahship they would have been shocked!

FIRST CLASH WITH RELIGIOUS RULERS Indeed they were shocked when Jesus started throwing over tables and upsetting the business of the religious rulers, turning them against Him once and for all.  His righteous indignation was such, and God’s power so present through Him, that no one even tried to stop Him.  Soldiers, Levite guards, Roman officials, Jewish religious rulers, and the masses of people, all let Him do His work unopposed.  I imagine many angels holding back anyone or anything that would have dared oppose Him.  Not only was Jesus cleansing sin, He was fulfilling prophecy, showing that He was the Messiah for He was doing the Messiah’s works (Psalm 69:9). 

            Why did Jesus pick this prophecy to fulfill first?  I think it was because sin must be removed before a relationship with God can develop.  That was John the Baptizer’s message.  That is true for salvation, and God Himself dealt with that sin on the cross.  That is true for those who are God’s children — I John 1:9 says we must confess our sins.  That was the picture of the laver in the tabernacle, and Jesus’ teaching about one who had a bath not needing another bath but certainly needing his hands and feet cleansed (John 13:10). 

            When challenged as to show proof He really was the Messiah, Jesus said His death and resurrection would be their proof.  This they rejected, in fact using it against Him as proof that He was blaspheming so they could crucify Him.  They refused to be open to see their sin.

            But what about Jesus’ anger?  We, too, are commanded be angry but not sin (Eph. 4:26).  Anger is a proper motivator to do something positive, like fear, guilt, jealousy, etc. Also can be.  However, we often use them in sin instead of God’s way.  When anger is expressed to cover up for pain, hurt, not getting our own way, etc., it is sinful and wrong.  Jesus was enough in charge of His emotions to weave a whip out of cords first.  Do you show that control before expressing your anger?

FIRST CONTACT WITH NICODEMUS (John 2:23 – 3:21)  Jesus did other miracles to show He had God’s power, but was careful to not put too much faith in the response of those who were just impressed with something sensational.  A Pharisee named Nicodemus was one such case.  To find out more he came to Jesus at night when neither was busy, and avoid being seen with Jesus, too.  As was the custom, that sat on the roof where it was cooler and quieter.  The account in John 3 is a summary of all that happened that evening as they talked. 

            Of particular note is Jesus’ teaching style.  He always used illustrations and analogies to make His truths better understood by His listeners.  Physical birth is used to teach about spiritual birth, the wind is a picture of the Spirit, looking to the bronze serpent in the wilderness to be healed is how one is to look to Jesus on the cross, and light and darkness picture the spiritual battles going on between God and Satan.  We, too, should use word pictures and examples to illustrate abstract truth in a solid way. 

FIRST JUDEAN MINISTRY OF JESUS (John 3:22 – 4:4)  Because it was summer, the dry season, John and Jesus gravitated to sections of the Jordan where there was still enough water to immerse a person.  Jesus preached repentance, as did John.  It was the same message He was showing when He cleansed the temple.  Jesus Himself didn’t do any of the baptizing, perhaps so no one later would consider their baptism superior to anyone else’s. 

            John knew his ministry was drawing to a close, and was willing to let Jesus take over.  He was a very humble servant, thinking about God’s work above his own recognition or popularity.  He will willing to take on a secondary role and didn’t feel he has to be on top.  The world never has enough servants like John the Baptizer, truly one of the great men in God’s Word.

JOHN IMPRISONED  (Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14; Luke 3:19-20)  It was right about that time that John was arrested because of his pointing out sin.  In effect this was the equivalent of Jesus’ actions in the temple, for John angered the one who had power and authority over him.  Thus Herod the tetrarch had him arrested because John was telling everyone how wrong it was that Herod divorced his wife to steal and marry his brother’s wife, who was also his niece!  Taking a stand against sin has consequences.  Jesus and John both were rejected by the powerful because of that.  When Jesus starts pointing out the sin of the common people, then they, too, will begin rejecting Him.  What about you?  What is your response when the finger of God points to a sin in your heart?  Do you, too, try to silence the voice, or do you repent and cleanse yourself from the sin?  Make sure you use I John 1:9 as often as needed.

 

 

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM ISRAEL’S GEOGRAPHY & CULTURE

 

                        By Jerry Schmoyer    Copyright Ó 1999

 

9. WELL, WELL, WELL

 

            Everything went “well” for Jesus during the fall of 30 AD.  First He met the woman at the well, then He returned to Galilee where He was well received, and finally He made a nobleman’s son well.  Indeed, things were going very well at this point.  John was the only Gospel writer to record these events. 

 

WOMAN AT THE WELL  (John 4:5-42)  Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Jesus chose to return home to Galilee by going through the region of Samaria to the city of Samaria.  He was still ministering in relative obscurity, just beginning to make Himself known to the nation Israel.  As important and pressing as this work was, individual souls were even more important.  God always puts people before programs. 

            Left alone at the well, Jesus met and spoke with a woman who came in the hottest part of the day to get water.  She probably did this to be alone, for other women wouldn’t think much of someone with 5 husbands, and now living with a man she isn’t married to.  While seeking for love, she ended up settling for lust — a common substitute even today.  Jesus knew this and sought her out to meet that need with His unconditional love.

            She was shocked that a Jew, especially a man, especially a rabbi would seek her out and actually initiate a conversation with her!  That just wasn’t done!  What’s more, He asked to drink from her water bucket.  Jews just didn’t touch non-Jews, nor anything they touched — He would be ceremonially unclean if He drank her water!

            While He asked her for water, it was really He who wanted to give her — spiritual water to refresh and satisfy her for her whole life.  She was confused and unsure, but certainly interested!  When she finally understood just what He was offering — eternal life — she jumped at the chance to have it.  Having ascertained to her satisfaction that He was the Messiah, God Himself come to earth, she went back to town and told everyone about His miraculous offer.

            Jesus ended up staying there for several days to meet the needs of those who were interested in His free gift of salvation.  It must have been really encouraging to Jesus to have this wholehearted response, especially after the opposition He was already receiving from the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. 

            Many believed and started following Jesus.  This set the foundation for a great revival in that area under the leadership of Philip and other disciples after the resurrection.  Truly everything went very well in this encounter by a well!

 

WELL RECEIVED IN GALILEE  (John 4:43-45)  By the time Jesus eventually got back to Galilee, word about what had happened in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast had been spreading there. Interest in someone who would drive out moneychangers from the temple was spreading fast!  They also had heard about His miracles and were quite interested.  Was this the Messiah?  What was this all about?

            In a time when there was no news coverage, no telephones, not even mail, word spread only by mouth.  Still, that was quite effective.  Since there was virtually nothing in the way of entertainment or excitement for the people.  News about someone driving out the powerful religious rulers, who most people secretly resented, brought much attention and talk.  Without much else to do, people wanted to find out all they could.  Seeing the Man who had done this, as well as the miracles He reputedly did, was well worth the time and effort.  Curiosity was strong, probably stronger than spiritual commitment.

 

NOBLEMAN’S SON MADE WELL  (John 4:46-54)  When Jesus got into Galilee coming from the south through Samaria, Cana was one of the first places He would reach.  A royal official with a sick son, who it seemed would soon die, came to Jesus asking for help.  Jesus healed his son, without even going to him.  It was the first of several long-distance healings. 

            When the father got home and found his son had been healed at the exact time Jesus said He would be healed, the man and all his household believed.  The reason Jesus did miracles was to show His message was from God.

            Don’t misunderstand, it’s not that Jesus didn’t care about people and want to see them well, for He really did.  However if that was His only, or even His main reason for healing, what about all He didn’t heal?  Didn’t He care for them?  Miracles were Jesus’ ‘calling card,’ to show that He had God’s stamp of approval on all He said.  Miracles were only a means to an end, not an end in themselves.  They were to show people Jesus was worth listening to, to gain Him a hearing, so He could tell them about the gift of salvation He was offering.  Physical healing would last for a few years, then the person would die.  Spiritual healing affected not only this life, but all eternity as well.  That is what Jesus was mostly concerned about.  That’s why, in a little over a year, He will virtually stop doing public miracles — people only want the physical benefits He could give (healing, free food, etc.) but weren’t interested in listening to His message.  Unfortunately there are many today, too, who come to Jesus only for what they can get from Him, not what they can give to Him.  Jesus wants us to follow Him because we love Him and are willing to do whatever He wants no mater what.  If you follow Him because He can give you peace and joy, remove your guilt, help you in times of trouble, etc., you are following Him for what you can get out of it.  These are fine side benefits, but shouldn’t be our main reason for serving Him.  That is self centered, not Jesus centered. 

            For now, though, everyone was interested in every word Jesus had to say (Lk 4:14-15).  He told them to repent of their sins and follow Him, believing His good news of salvation (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15).  That is His message to us today, too — don’t miss it!

 

 

 

SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM ISRAEL’S GEOGRAPHY & CULTURE

 

                        By Jerry Schmoyer    Copyright Ó 1999

 

10. SO FAR, SO GOOD

 

            The spring of 31 AD was a very active time in Jesus’ ministry.  Word about His claims of being the Messiah were spreading.  Interest was high.  People were starting to have to decide about Jesus’ claims.  Some believed, others didn’t.  It was a crucial time, which way would the momentum go?  Would the nation accept Him as the Messiah or would they reject Him?

REJECTION IN NAZARETH (Luke 4:16-30) As Jesus tells us (Acts 1:8) we are to go to our family and friends first with His message.  As Jesus found, though, they won’t always be open.  When Jesus went back to His hometown, Nazareth, where had lived from approximately age 4 to 30, He was rejected.  They were proud to think the Messiah came from THEIR town, but when it came time to submit to Him and follow Him in obedience, they wouldn’t do that.  It was too much to accept.  Like today, it’s easier to believe an ‘expert’ from another state.  It’s much harder to believe someone you knew from a child, someone you watched grow up, someone whose ‘diaper you changed,’ so to speak.  We run into that today, and so did Jesus.  In fact, it got so bad for in Nazareth that they tried to actually kill Jesus, but He was supernaturally delivered because it wasn’t the time, place or way for Him to die.

            As a result, however, He moved to Capernaum to live (Matthew 4:13-16), for that is where much of His extended family lived.  Many of His new followers and disciples were from there, and a good number were part of this extended family.  They were accepting of Him.

CATCHING FISH (Luke 5:1-10)  A faith-test for His followers there came one day not too long after Jesus moved there.  Peter and others had been fishing all night, as was the custom, and came home tired and empty.  They spent much time repairing and cleaning their nets and were looking forward to getting to bed when Jesus told them to go back out and drop their nets in deep water.  This was the wrong place and the wrong time to fish, plus they’d have to clean their nets again.  Also, they were very tired as well as discouraged.  Many times the things Jesus wants us to do don’t seem to make sense to us.  We have our faith tests today, too.

            As you know, though, they made a tremendous catch of fish!  This greatly increased their faith in Jesus.  Soon after He asked Peter, Andrew, James and John to leave their fishing to spend all their time with Him, so He could teach them how to catch men as fish (Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:10-11).  They had enough faith and commitment to leave their successful business to serve Him.  When He calls us to leave what seems satisfying and successful in our world to follow Him, we must not hesitate or hold back either.

DEMONIZED MAN IN SYNAGOGUE HEALED  (Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37)  Another event after His moving to Capernaum was the healing of a demonized man in the synagogue.  Jesus wouldn’t let the demons speak but cast them out.  Everyone who saw the event became more aware of Jesus’ power and authority, even over Satan himself.

PETER’S MOTHER-IN-LAW HEALED  (Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29034; Luke 4:38-41)  After a synagogue service, perhaps the same one in which the demonized man was delivered, Peter invited the disciples home for a meal.  The problem was that his mother-in-law was sick and therefore his wife was busy taking care of her.  Peter often acted impulsively, without a lot of forethought or planning.  Jesus bailed him out this time by healing the mother-in-law so quickly and completely that, not only was her fever gone, but her strength and energy returned immediately so she could help Peter’s wife feed the surprise visitors.  Jesus cares about our daily needs, our inter-personal dealings, and the burden of our daily work load.

GALILEAN TOUR WITH 4 DISCIPLES (Matthew 4:23-25; Mark 1:35-39; Luke 42:44) Before long it was time to take His message to surrounding communities again, so Jesus took the 4 ex-fishermen He had called to be with Him along as a teaching and training time for them as well.  It seems too many were coming to Him in Capernaum just for healing — what they could get out of it.  They weren’t interested in Him as much as themselves.  Thus it was time to go to other people who haven’t heard.  He went to local synagogues and spoke there, healing and delivering the demonized.  Large crowds came from all over to hear and see Him.

            One of the people Jesus healed was a leper  (Matthew 8:2-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16).  After healing Him Jesus told him to go straight to Jerusalem as proof to the priests there that Jesus was the Messiah.  Instead he started telling everyone what had happened to him.  Unfortunately many came to Jesus just for healing — for what they could get from Jesus.  As a result Jesus withdrew.  He always called His followers to build His kingdom, He never submitted to follow their desires to have Him build their own little kingdoms.

PARALYTIC HEALED  (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26)  When He got back to Capernaum Jesus continued teaching and supporting His verbal claims by miraculous acts.  One such was healing a paralyzed man who was led down through the roof because there was no other way to get to Jesus.  The clear connection between Jesus’ physical and spiritual healing is seen in this event for Jesus said He healed him physically as outer proof that He could and did heal him spiritually (forgive his sins and remove his guilt).  The religious rulers were indignant, but the common people were amazed and impressed.

CALL OF MATTHEW  (Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32)  A despised tax collector named Matthew worked the Capernaum roads, collecting as much as he wanted and turning a portion of it over to Rome.  Despite being hated by the Jews, Jesus knew his heart was empty and, when He called Matthew to leave that work and be a full-time follower of His, Matthew quickly accepted.  Proof of his complete change was that he didn’t even want to be treasurer of the disciples, leaving Judas handle that job.  Jesus used Matthew of an example of the kind of people He came for: those who are needy and know it.  Unless we know our need and take it to Jesus it will never be completely filled.  Satan’s substitutes don’t satisfy.

FEASTING AND FASTING  (Matthew 9:14-17; Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39)  A delegation of John the baptizer’s followers came and asked Jesus why He didn’t fast as they did.  He explained that there will be a time for that, but now that the Messiah was here it was a time of rejoicing.  And a time of rejoicing it was.  Except for His rejection by those in Nazareth and the religious rulers (pride of both), Jesus is being well accepted everywhere He goes.  So far.