Year 3 Finale: Part 1

To start off our special two-part finale for our third chronological year podcasting through events from Jesus’ life, let me wish you a Merry Christmas. While Christmas is a special time when most people spend with family and friends, let’s remember together that the most significant reason for this season isn’t the gifts we give each other, but instead it is the gift God gave to each of us when Jesus came to this earth. Without God’s gift to us through Jesus, we would have no hope, and on a significantly smaller scale, no podcasts for us to review.

Because of this and because I always have trouble deciding which podcasts to narrow our list down to, let’s jump in and review insights we learned during the first half of our third chronological year moving through the gospels.

Starting with the very first episode this year, we learned when Luke was introducing us to Zechariah and Elizabeth that while it may have felt as though God was ignoring Zechariah and Elizabeth’s prayers for a son, God was waiting for the perfect time to send them an answer. Also, while we often think of Zechariah’s muteness as a punishment, this miracle also happens to be the perfect sign God could give to convince an elderly priest that God means what He says.

In our second episode this year, we learned from Joseph’s dream about Mary’s pregnancy and Jesus’ birth that the phrase “God with us” doesn’t simply describe Jesus’ mission on earth, it describes God’s desire to be with us, His love for us, and His mission to redeem us!

Jumping up to episode 4, we learned from John the Baptist’s example that we are the strongest when we live united with Jesus in the public and private areas of life.

In episode 5, during Jesus’ late night conversation with Nicodemus, we focused in on the idea that belief in Jesus is connected with living like Jesus. When we combine faith in Jesus and live a life that is surrendered to Jesus, we are living a life that avoids the judgment.

Looking a little closer at the following episode, which was episode number 6, we read about how Jesus challenged those present on the idea that “seeing is believing”. The official who wanted Jesus to come heal his son trusted Jesus’ words and he became an example for all of us that we should “believe in Jesus before seeing or experiencing miracles”. This official believed in Jesus, and only then did he receive the miracle he desired.

Episode 7 brings us to one of the biggest insights and challenges that I think was uncovered in our entire year of podcasting. Setting the stage for this challenging insight in a passage that shared how Jesus took time away from people to pray, we learned that prayer and Holy-Spirit-inspired action were two of Jesus’ foundational beliefs. This led me to state in that episode, as well as here, that if prayer was as important to us as it was to Jesus, we would be praying as much as Jesus prayed!

Jumping forward to episode 9, we learn in an event where Jesus healed a man one Sabbath at a synagogue that Jesus came to help those who needed help and He came to give us a view of God’s law that allows us to be a blessing to others.

In the next episode, which is number 10, which focused in on a challenging section of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, we come to another insight, which is that God wants us to love like He loves, care like He cares, and model generosity like He is generous. And, we should do this not only towards those in our social circle of friends, but to everyone else as well – enemies included.

I promise that we won’t cover every episode, but before skipping forward, we learned in episode 11, which also looked at a section from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, that “the safest place for our treasure, our hearts, our eyes, our light, our service, and our lives is with Jesus in heaven”. And in episode 12, which focused on a parable Jesus shared during this same sermon, we learned that “if we choose to call Jesus ‘Lord’, we should be intentionally serving and obeying Him.”

In episode 15, while talking about the parable of the wheat and the weeds, we learned that God’s people are destined to let their lives reflect and display Jesus.

Episode 16, which focused on Jesus healing a man possessed by a legion of impure spirits, taught us that Jesus was willing to cross the lake to help one individual who could not travel to see Him, and He is more than willing to do the same for us. Jesus isn’t interested in forcing Himself on anyone, but He is happy to come when invited.

Touching on episode 17, which looked at one time Jesus returned home to Nazareth, we were challenged with the idea that probably the biggest test of our faith is what we choose to do, and move forward doing, during the times when we don’t have a clear direction or answer from God.

In episode 18, while reading about Jesus feeding the 5,000, we learn that when God receives an unselfish gift, there is no limit to how He can use it and multiply it to bless others.

Episode 20 contained a big challenge for those living in the first century, and it was a challenge that just happens to be as applicable today as it was in the first century. In this episode, Jesus challenged those present, as well as all of His followers throughout history, to not look for signs in order to build a foundation for our faith and trust in God. Instead, we should build our trust and faith in Him on what He has promised us and only after placing our faith on His promises should we begin looking for evidence and signs around us.

Moving forward to episode 22, looking at the time when Peter has to go fishing for money to pay the temple tax, we learn that the nature of salvation is simple: We mess up and God provides a solution.

In episode 24, which looked at one time Jesus preached to the crowd in the temple, we learned that the state of our attitudes and hearts may keep us from finding Jesus when we seek Him and His message for our lives.

In episode 25, at the half way mark of our year in the gospels, in a passage focusing on a message Jesus preached in the temple, we discovered that only after we have begun to obey Jesus’ words will the Christian life truly be Christ-like. Only by living a life that is obedient to the Bible will a person fully learn and know why the Bible’s way is superior. Some things simply cannot be learned from looking at them from the outside.

Episode 26, which focused us on the Good Samaritan, taught us that being a neighbor in God’s eyes is based on how we act towards someone else, and not simply on who we happen to live next to.

This is a good breaking point because the illustration of the Good Samaritan is one that is always a good one for us to remember as we challenge ourselves to live like Jesus. As we conclude part one of this year-end finale, let’s finish off with some challenges and things we can learn from Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan as we enter and move through this Christmas season:

As we take time to spend with family during this Christmas holiday season, remember to always seek God first and foremost, and through the parable of the Good Samaritan, we learn and are challenged to include our neighbors who are less fortunate than we are. Some of our neighbors might need serious help, while others may simply need a friend during this holiday. Let’s remember our neighbors during our Christmas festivities.

Also, while it seems easy to think of Jesus entering the world during this time of year when celebrating His birth, remember that the reason He came was to give the greatest gift ever. This gift was Himself, and without it, there would be no reason to celebrate at this time – or really at any time – of the year. Be sure you are keeping up with your regular personal prayer and Bible study time, because intentional growth only is able to happen with regular, intentional focus and intentional steps forward.

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 give up on where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!