Reflective Bible Study Gospel Adventure

Allying With Jesus: Luke 14:25-35

Published December 7, 2022 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: Luke 14:25-35 (TNIV)

²⁵ Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even life itself—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

³¹ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. ³³ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

³⁴ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? ³⁵ It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.
“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

Read Luke 14:25-35 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

Throughout the gospels, as Jesus moved from town to town, He attracted large crowds and plenty of fans who enjoyed watching and listening to Him. However, periodically, to challenge the crowd’s motivation, Jesus would share difficult to accept ideas.

In our passage for this journal entry, let’s focus on the progression of the ideas presented in one of the times Jesus challenged the crowds that were following Him.

Verse 26: Jesus give one of His most challenging statements regarding following Him – something that would make people really question whether or not it was worth it.
Verse 27: Jesus then gives them the direction their life will go – the cross, which meant rejection, humiliation, as well as death. So far, we don’t see a very bright (optimistic) picture.
Verses 28-30: Jesus then give a comparison about building a tower, and how ridiculous it is for someone to only build it half way – whether that is because they didn’t plan ahead and ran out of money, or because they became disinterested and simply stopped. This tells me that our commitment and dedication must be there until the end.
Verses 31-32: Jesus gives a strategic thought which compares death (attacking a stronger king), vs. submission (surrendering to a stronger king).
Verse 33: Jesus summarizes the completeness of the dedication of His true followers – that they give up everything in order to follow Jesus.

Looking at this progression, we have Jesus being the most important relationship, so important that it doesn’t matter what other people think, say, or do – even if it results in death.

We then see Jesus challenging us and saying this commitment must be complete and a half-dedicated disciple looks as ridiculous as someone who has a half-built building.

And finally we move to the idea that we face either death or submission because the enemy is stronger than we are.

We give up everything to follow Jesus, we intentionally make Him the priority in our lives, and we resolve to keep Him as our number one priority – each day.

Verses 34-35: Jesus describes His followers as salt – something that was used for flavoring and for preservation. When “salt” (or a follower) has lost its/their purpose, they are completely useless.

To be followers of Jesus, we must be completely dedicated to Jesus, we must submit to His will and plan for us as long as we are alive, and we must live a life that shows our dedication to Him in such a way that it impacts others.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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The Freedom to Choose: Matthew 28:11-15

Published December 6, 2022 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: Matthew 28:11-15 (NASB)

The guards who witnessed the resurrection can teach us some surprising things about human nature. While they were placed there by those who were most against Jesus, they became the ones who would have the most amazing story to share.

The first people they would be responsible to share what happened with would be those who hired them: the chief priests and religious leaders.

This is where things get interesting. When you tell your boss some amazing, but also unbelievably bad news, there are some different ways that the boss could respond. They could get mad, be upset, simply not believe the news, or any number of other responses. In the case of the report these guards bring, the news they brought was about the worst possible news that could have come, and it was lucrative for the guards because their already questionable morals were again tested with a big bribe to change the details of what actually happened.

The chief priests and religious leaders know that the only rock solid, valid testimony would be the guards, and if they can change the story the guards tell, then they can maybe salvage the plan to erase Jesus’ fame and glory.

But this is where we can learn about ourselves from these guards. The guards chose to spread the lie. The passage concludes with the statement, “They took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story [the lie] was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.” (v. 15)

The lie was more believable than the truth, and in this event, we can learn the important idea that it is vital for each of us to wisely choose who we obey. In this event, we see God leaving the free will of the guards in place; God allows the guards to spread lies about what happened. But even with the lies, God knows that the truth will come out, and even though the debate surrounding the resurrection has been going on ever since that point in time, in the end, the truth will be the only story that is left when we reach the new heaven and the new earth.

God allows us the freedom to choose the type of person we will be, and He lets us make choices that go counter to His will because He values the freedom of choice above all else. But with this freedom comes the responsibility on our parts that we are careful who we choose to obey. The ideas we obey and the worldview we adopt have eternal implications – and while we have the freedom to reject God, that didn’t stop Jesus from giving His life for those who choose to accept Him.

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Flashback Episode — When We Have Given Up: John 21:1-14

Published December 5, 2022 in Audio Journal Entries

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It seems like such a long time ago since we began our year focusing on Jesus’ miracles. So much has happened, and we have discovered so much. At this point in our journey, according to most lists of miracles, we have just one miracle left to cover, and this miracle happens to be the only one that is recorded following Jesus’ resurrection and prior to His return to heaven.

This miracle is almost like a repeat miracle, because it is very similar to one of Jesus’ earlier miracles, though this second time around we discover some pretty amazing truths about Jesus’ character and His love for all of us.

After Jesus had been resurrected and had visited the disciples two times in the upper room, we learn that at least half of the disciples returned to Galilee, and while they were there, Jesus appeared to them again.

Let’s discover what happened, and the miracle that Jesus wanted to surprise His followers with. Our passage is found in the gospel of John, chapter 21, and we will read it from the New International Version of the Bible. Starting in verse 1, John tells us that:

¹Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: ²Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

⁵He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. ⁹When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

In this passage and in this miracle, we remember the earlier miracle surrounding the first disciples and their official call into being disciples, or followers, of Jesus. Perhaps Peter and his fishing buddies had heard of Jesus or heard Him speak prior to their first personal encounter with Jesus as He asks to preach from their boat, but the foundation leading up to both the original miracle and this last miracle are the same. In both cases, the disciples had fished all night and caught nothing.

Following the original fishing miracle, Jesus invited Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be His disciples. From this point forward, these four men were among the closest and most well known of the group of disciples. Andrew, more than any other disciple, is portrayed as bringing individuals to Jesus, and the other three disciples formed Jesus’ inner circle of disciples.

Looking at this second fishing miracle, I wonder if these disciples were confused or discouraged. They had spent over three years with Jesus and had expected His kingdom to follow a certain path that the religious leaders had been describing the Messiah to walk for as long as they could remember. They knew Jesus was special and that Jesus was sent by God, but Jesus simply didn’t fit the role they were expecting.

Not only that, but Jesus also had died, and leading up to His death, they all had abandoned Him to the cross. According to the religious leaders, and the expectation of the disciples, the Messiah wouldn’t die and He would last forever. While they got the second part right, those in the first century missed the sacrificial portions of the scripture predicting Jesus’ death. Even the sanctuary service pointed forward to the death of the One God would send.

In this last official miracle, we discover a second chance. Part of me believes that these disciples believed they had failed God beyond what was forgivable. At the one point when Jesus needed them the most, they had run away. While things turned out well for Jesus, they likely wondered if Jesus would forgive them for what they had done. Peter was probably the most discouraged out of the group, because he had been the most vocal about staying by Jesus’ side, and he had fallen exactly like Jesus had predicted he would.

However, while the disciples may have given up hope of being the champions they believed Jesus wanted them to be, Jesus steps up with a surprise. Jesus comes to them and He repeats the miracle that prompted their first invitation. With this miracle, Jesus invites the disciples back into being His followers, and with this miracle, we discover a second chance for all of us.

When we fail God, and when we are tempted to believe that we have turned too far away from God for Him to be willing to take us back, remember that at least we didn’t reject Jesus leading up to the cross like His first followers did. And even with their rejection, Jesus invited them back. This means that no matter how far we have fallen away from God, He is willing to invite us back. No matter how badly we have messed up, while we have breath, we have been given the chance to return. Even if we think God no longer loves us, know that Jesus came to redeem sinners – and that includes whatever you feel you have done that isn’t forgivable. God wants to forgive you, and He is more than willing to invite you back into being one of His followers.

However, we have run out of time for this episode, so next week, leading up to our finale-wrap-up episodes, we’ll expand on where we have left off here, and focus in on probably the greatest miracle we have, which is a gift from God to us. Most people don’t realize the miraculous nature of this gift, and dedicating a whole episode to it seems like the best way to finish off our year of podcasting Jesus’ miracles.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

Always remember to seek God first and when we mess up, don’t delay returning to Him. The worst thing we can do is to leave God when we feel we don’t deserve forgiveness. It is for people who don’t deserve forgiveness that Jesus came to give forgiveness to. Forgiveness is freely given to those who come back to God and acknowledge their sin and their need for a Savior.

Also, always pray and study the Bible for yourself to grow personally closer to God. While listening to others can be helpful, never let someone else’s experience or relationship with God get in the way of your personal relationship with God. A personal relationship with God is too important to let someone else into.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or walk away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Flashback Episode: Year of Miracles – Episode 49: After the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus appears to a group of disciples with a miracle that resembles a miracle leading up to their first invitation to be disciples. Is Jesus giving these disciples a second chance, and if so, do we have a second chance when we have failed or given up hope?

Denounced By Jesus: Matthew 11:20-30

Published December 2, 2022 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: Matthew 11:20-30 (NIrV)

²⁰Jesus began to speak against the towns where he had done most of his miracles. The people there had not turned away from their sins. So he said, ²¹“How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon. They would have turned away from their sins long ago. They would have put on clothes for mourning. They would have sat down in ashes. ²²But I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you. ²³And what about you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted to the heavens? No! You will go down to the place of the dead. Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom. It would still be here today. ²⁴But I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom than for you.”

²⁵At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father. You are Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from wise and educated people. But you have shown them to little children. ²⁶Yes, Father. This is what you wanted to do.

²⁷“My Father has given all things to me. The Father is the only one who knows the Son. And the only ones who know the Father are the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to make him known.

²⁸“Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest. ²⁹Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls. ³⁰Serving me is easy, and my load is light.”

Read Matthew 11:20-30 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

When reading the gospels, we may mistakenly begin to think that everyone except the religious leaders was a fan of Jesus. After all, Jesus fed crowds larger than 5,000 people on more than one occasion. Everywhere Jesus went, lives were transformed and hearts were pointed towards God. I imagine that there were several places that had no sickness or disease in it when Jesus and His disciples were ready to move to the next town. Jesus’ ministry was definitely life-transforming.

But even with all the fame and reputation, Matthew draws our attention to a series of statements Jesus makes that cut through this mask of popularity. Matthew describes Jesus speaking out against the towns and cities where He had done most of His miracles because, “the people there had not turned away from their sins.” (v. 20b)

Jesus denounces them by saying, “How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon. They would have turned away from their sins long ago. They would have put on clothes for mourning. They would have sat down in ashes. But I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And what about you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted to the heavens? No! You will go down to the place of the dead. Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom. It would still be here today. But I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom than for you.” (v. 21-24)

In His statement, Jesus draws our attention onto some of the worst, most secular and most evil cities in the Old Testament world. The ultimate example is that of Sodom, which was so bad that God even came down from Heaven to witness it personally—before ultimately destroying it. Jesus states that if He had come earlier in history and to these cities like He had come to them, they would have changed their ways.

While what I am about to write may sound odd, reading these verses from Matthew about how some of the main cities in the first century simply ignored Jesus makes me less surprised that there are people living today who simply ignore Jesus. This idea also lessens the pressure in my mind to help others understand my point of view, because, if Jesus was walking around and He couldn’t convince people to change their ways, who am I to think that I could be successful.

This challenge Jesus shares is also a warning for everyone living today. It is a warning for those who are living without God to think about this choice. If they choose to believe God doesn’t exist and they are wrong, then there will be a time when they will be called to account for their choice.

But this is a challenge for those of us who believe in God and who have placed our faith in Jesus. This warning challenges us to share our experience and what we believe with others. We have been called to love others, to show grace, and to share our faith and after we have finished this, we leave the outcome up to God. When we do this, we give the Holy Spirit room to work. Some hearts will be softened, other hearts will be hardened. What happens in someone else’s heart when we show God’s love is not our concern. What matters is that we are showing God’s love and being representatives of Jesus to the world around us.

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