Reflective Bible Study

In our passage for this journal entry, we read one of Jesus’ descriptions of His return and the judgment that takes place. The big thing I want to focus on is the idea that both groups of people do not know their actions (or lack thereof) are towards Jesus. Those people who help others are in reality helping Jesus, while those who don’t help have neglected to help Jesus.

It is as though the group of people who are determined to help others do so without really even thinking about the reward of heaven, while the group who missed out on heaven is equally surprised when they learn why they missed out.

This passage tells me that both groups have determined, by having previously focused on developing both habit and character, whether they are interested in helping those who are hurting. The group who helps those in need does so because they can, and not because they see a reward coming in the distant future.

This is the big thought: Have you determined what type of person you will be, starting today? Will you be someone who helps, for no other reason than because you can? Even if heaven wasn’t a potential reward for your help, you are still making a positive impact with each act of kindness you show.

In a very counter cultural move, Jesus and His crowd of followers interrupt a funeral procession. While it may have been appropriate for Him to wait and let the funeral pass by, we read that Jesus felt sorry for the mother who had just lost her son, and this prompts Him to break from formalities.

What probably made this incredibly uncomfortable was when Jesus walks right up to those carrying the coffin. He even reaches out and touches the coffin, prompting those carrying it to stop. In this moment, it is as though time stops and all eyes are on Jesus.

Then with a loud voice, Jesus talks directly at the coffin saying, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” (v. 14)

The people living at that time knew when people were dead vs. simply being unconscious, and it is incredibly unlikely for them to have given up on the young man before being absolutely certain that he was dead – with no hope of resuscitation.

But before anyone in the crowd could question Jesus or even think He had gone crazy, we read, “The dead man sat up and began to talk. Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.” (v. 15)

In this event, Jesus demonstrates that He has the power to restore life. Another way to say this is that He has power over death.

We have no idea if the young man died because He was sick or if it was because of an animal or snake attack. We have no idea if the young man died because he was doing something wrong, or if it was a fluke accident.

Whatever the reason for his death, this young man’s death helps us discover that Jesus has power over death and life. From that point onward, another title for Jesus could be “Life-Giver”. While Jesus gave life before this point, it is only after this point that He ultimately gives His own life for each of us.

Jesus gives life to those who are dead, and He gave His own life for all who want to leave their life of sin and exchange it for God’s promise of eternal life with Him.

Probably the one thing Zechariah, the priest and father of John the Baptist, is known for the most is questioning the angel that appears to him in the temple while he was preparing to burn incense.

The gospel of Luke shares what happened. Zechariah was chosen by lot to be the one to go in and burn the incense, and an angel appears to him with the promise of an answer to his prayer. But immediately following the angel’s message, Zechariah taints his reputation by asking, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” (v. 18)

Zechariah’s question is self defeating. By asking for more proof, he shows the lack of belief he really has. At this point in his life, he has given up hope for ever having a child, and the angel’s promise seems too unbelievable. Had the angel come ten years earlier, it would have at least been feasible in his mind, but Zechariah has already resigned himself to die childless.

His question of doubt would be the last words he would speak until the birth of his child. In an unexpected turn of events, the angel does give Zechariah a second form of confirmation. He responds by saying, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” (v. 19-20)

Zechariah probably thought the entire 10 months or so between when this happened and when his son was born about the foolishness of his questioning God’s promise. If Zechariah were alive to give us a message, it would likely be something along the lines of, “When God gives you a promise, you should simply believe it.”

However, in Zechariah’s doubt, we also see an amazing picture of God. God gives Zechariah a very tangible sign that the promise would come true – and it is a sign that would stand out to everyone who knew this elderly couple. Zechariah’s doubt opened the door for God to draw more attention to the birth of the man who would prepare the people of Israel for the Messiah’s arrival.

In today’s journal entry, we’ll be looking at just one of the many verses where Jesus directly tells His disciples that He will be arrested, sentenced, abused, killed, and then be raised from the dead. It seems shocking that the disciples don’t understand any of this, especially when it seems so clear to us looking back on this event.

Which leads me to the one idea I want to focus on in this passage: Jesus does not want us to be surprised by the future. He wants to share with us what will happen, both as a way of confirming our faith in Him, and so that we won’t be scared when what He has predicted will come to pass.

The Bible, including the gospels, are filled with prophecy and foreshadowing about what the future will hold. Too many people seem to forget this, or they rationalize away these prophecies saying that they have already been fulfilled.

I will agree that many Biblical prophecies have been fulfilled already in the timeline of history, but this doesn’t diminish the remaining prophecies. Instead, it enhances them, and our faith in the entire message of the Bible. Prophecy is given primarily to strengthen the faith of those within the church, and only secondarily to impress those outside of the church.

Prophecy is much less impressing to a secular person than our actions and attitudes towards them and each other. It is completely possible for us to have an accurate understanding of prophecy, and repel everyone we meet when we share it. Our best witness is the personal witness of our lives and how we treat each other, and only after this are we able to share faith building truth – such as what we find in this passage.

Jesus didn’t share this message with the broader crowd, but with His close followers. It is unclear all the different reasons, but one reason He did this was to strengthen their faith in Him after it was shattered during the fact.

Jesus does not want the future to scare us, because He has seen it, knows what will happen, and will be with us all the way through it.