October 5, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Matthew 4 - As Jesus' ministry would begin He faces what many Christians also face when they take their first steps as a believer:  temptation.  Satan would always seek to destroy Jesus' effectiveness and what better way than to entice Jesus to fall for his temptations!  Jesus resisted Satan as we should, by quoting the Word of God and showing His determination to obey God!  Jesus would call His first disciples and begin to amass a huge following, verse 25.

Luke 4 - Luke speaks of the temptation of Jesus and notes that Satan "departed from Him until an opportune time" verse 13.  Jesus went to His hometown, Nazareth, and sought to speak to His own people.  They resisted Him and He reminded His followers that "...no prophet is accepted in his own country" verse 23.  Luke speaks of Jesus' ability to cast out demons, verses 33-36 and His authority over sickness, verses 38-40. 

Luke 5 - Jesus calls His first disciples and teaches them that they would become "fishers of men" verse 10.  He performed more miracles and even forgave a man of his sins, verse 20.  The Pharisees noted this and complained that who was He to do that for "...who can forgive sins but God alone" verse 21.  Jesus' declared His power to do so, implying His divinity.  Later Jesus would call Matthew to follow Him and dine in Matthew's house, which caused more criticism from the Pharisees, verse 30.  Jesus used this occasion to emphasize His call to reach sinners, not self-righteous people, verse 32.

John 1:15-51 - The Apostle John shows John the Baptist's ministry of focusing people's attention on "...the Lamb of God" verse 29.  John the Baptist is spoken of, then his disciples, then Jesus, and by the time you come to the end of the chapter, you read of the disciples and Jesus, and John the Baptist has faded into the background.  (Note John 3:30).  John 1 is when Jesus meets Andrew and Philip and they each get Peter and Nathaniel to come to Jesus too.