Page 2: The Life of Christ Following the Harmony of the Gospels
An ongoing series on the life of Christ, following the Harmony of the Gospels found in the Thompson Chain Bible. We are beginning at Jesus' baptism (paragraph 47) and will continue until His ascension. The gospel harmonies attempt to place each event of the life of Christ in order and give the relevant scripture as recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. All of these devotionals will be posted on the About-Him website at http://about-him.com/devotionlink.html
Jesus had returned to Cana where He had performed His first miracle
of turning water into wine. His fame reached the ears of a certain
nobleman who lived about 20 miles away at Capernaum. The man came
to Jesus, "Sir my son is dying, come and say the word that he might
live." Jesus put him off by placing him in the class of the many
miracle chasers who's only interest was in seeing the spectacular.
The man cried out again, "Sir, come my son is dying." Jesus was
moved and told the nobleman to go home, his son would live. When he
arrived home he found that his son's fever had left at the same hour
that Jesus spoke the word. He and his whole household became
believers.
Conclusion and application:
Jesus turned His back on the popularity and acclaim He was enjoying
in Judea and went to remote regions to continue preaching. His sole
motive was to advance the kingdom of God. Are we willing to do the
same? Conditions may change, the message remains the same: "Repent
and believe the gospel."
When those of the religious establishment rejected Jesus, He took His
message to the remote regions where He found receptive listeners.
When Jesus spoke, people listened, because He spoke as one with
authority (Matthew 7:29; Luke 4;22; John 7:26).
Jesus found it unnecessary to travel 20 miles to pray for the
nobleman's son. He simply spoke the word. Many today go to elaborate
lengths to get God's attention. Some today act similarly to the
prophets of Baal (I Kings 18:28) who prayed and carried on in a
frenzy all day. We don't have to be like that. We need only to
believe the word and speak it in the name of Jesus. (Mark 16:17-18)
Heaven is obligated to respond (Luke 21:8; John 14:13; Hebrews
4:16).
58: The Imprisonment of John Mt. 4:12, 14:3:5; Mk. 1:14, 6;17-20 ;
Lu 3:19-20
John had shaken the religious and political establishment. His final
public act was to denounce the unlawful marriage of King Herod to his
brother's wife. Herod had John cast into prison as a result.
60: His discourse at Nazareth - Lu. 4:16-27
Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up:
and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath
day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias.
And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was
written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath
anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal
the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are
bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Shortly after returning to Galilee Jesus attended a Sabbath service
at His boyhood home of Nazareth. He was asked to read and expound an
assigned portion of Scripture from Isaiah 61. The custom was to
first read the word, expound on the text and answer questions from
the congregation. The people were happy to have Jesus in their midst
because they had heard of His many miracles. Jesus began to read and
claim this six-fold anointing as His own. As He spoke in the power of
the Spirit, the people wondered at the gracious words that came from
His mouth.
Conclusion and Application:
He has anointed me/you to preach the gospel, the good news, to all
who will hear.
Are you oppressed because of poverty? Many people are bound by the
effects of poverty that carry on from generation to generation. You
can break this generational curse by believing and accepting the
gospel.
Are you broken hearted? As the old hymn states, "Tell It to Jesus
Alone." He cares and listens. He will heal your broken heart, when
no one else cares.
Are you a captive? To sin? To drugs? To illicit sex? The good news of
the gospel is that Jesus spilled His blood to deliver you (1
Corinthians 6:11 ). You can be set free (John 8:36)! Are you blind
and bruised? Come to Jesus., you'll see things as you have never seen
them before.
This is your year, your day. Jesus is calling to whosoever will to
come and partake of the waters of life. His heart goes out to you. He
is listening for your faintest cry (Matthew 12:20). His hand is
extended to you. He promised to never cast out anyone who would to
Him (John 6:37).
Jesus spoke with gracious words. We should do our very best to always
do the same. Unfortunately, our preaching is often not much more
than harping, which only destroys. It is very sad to see some who
seem to be trapped in a vicious cycle of building up the kingdom on
one hand and tearing it down on the other, all because of ungracious
words! Let us never be guilty of that.
Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture
fulfilled in your ears.
22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words
which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's
son?
23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb,
Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum,
do also here in thy country.
24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his
own country.
When Jesus finished reading and expounding on the text of Isaiah
61:1-4, He read it with such an anointing that all eyes were
fastened on Him and the people wondered at the gracious words that
came from His mouth. They were used to scribes droning on in a
monotone, not to One who spoke with such authority. The author of
the book was reading the book, in the Spirit of the book, as He had
intended that it should be read. However when Jesus said, "This day
is this scripture fulfilled in your ears," they knew that he was
claiming to be the Messiah. Their wonder turned to anger. They
questioned how a carpenter's son could claim such things. No doubt
there were some whisperings regarding the circumstances of His birth.
Surely one born in a manger to an unwed mother was deranged if He
thought He was the Messiah, the Son of God.
Jesus discerned their thoughts and knew that they would demand to see
Him perform miracles such as He had performed elsewhere. They
couldn't or wouldn't believe the message or the messenger without
seeing great signs and wonders.
Jesus referred to the widow who fed Elijah and Namaan the leper to
let them know that the sovereign God does signs and wonders at His
own discretion at the time and place of His choosing. They were not
any better than the poor widow or the foreign captain.
They took Jesus to the edge of the city and attempted to throw Him
off of a hill. he being under the anointed and in the power of the
Spirit walked right through their midst and departed.
Conclusion and Application:
People haven't changed a bit since the time of Jesus. There is still
a desire to place the spectacular above the word of God. A song with
an upbeat tempo (which I do like) is likely to be preferred to the
old staples like The Old Rugged Cross and Nearer My God to Thee
(which I like also). A sermon with three points and a poem is always
preferred to one which is based on the Word and causes one to examine
his or hers relationship with the Master.
God seldom does things according to our expectation and preconceived
ideas. He is God and does as He wills. Whether He speaks in the
thunder roll or in a still small voice (I Kings 19:11-12), we have
the assurance of His word that we are at liberty. Our prisons have
been opened. We have exchanged the spirit of heaviness for the
garment of praise. We have forsaken mourning and rejoice in joy.
Messiah is here and we accept Him.
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD
hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent
me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of
vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty
for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the
spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of
righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
63: Four Disciples Called (A Second Time) - Mt. 4-18-22; Mk. 1:16-20;
Luke 5:1-11
Matthew 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two
brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net
into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of
men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
When Jesus returned to Galilee, the four disciples whom he had called
shortly His baptism (See Par. 49 - Five disciples enrolled - Jn.
1:35-49), left Him and returned to their secular work as fishermen.
Jesus called these men a second time. Peter and Andrew who are
mentioned by name in the first call, along with James and John. It is
widely assumed that James and John were also included in the first
call but that John, for the sake of modesty, did not mention his or
his brother's name.
The accounts of Matthew and Mark are essentially the same. The
account of Luke differs in some small details. This is not unusual
considering that these stories were passed along by oral tradition
and not recorded until several decades later.
According to Matthew and Mark, Jesus was walking near the shore of
the Sea of Galilee and came upon the four disciples and simply said,
'Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." They left their nets
and their fishing business and followed Jesus.
Luke 5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch
out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the
night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let
down the net.
The Luke account places the call after the draught of fishes. Jesus
came upon the empty fishing boats and asked the nearby owners to push
out a bit from shore. He then used the boat as a platform to address
a multitude of people who were following Him. When Jesus finished
addressing the people, He commanded Peter to "Launch out into the
deep and let down your nets for a draught." Peter answered, "Master
we have toiled all night and have taken nothing, nevertheless at thy
word, I will let down the net."
There were so many fish that Peter had to call out to James and John
in a nearby boat for help. Both boats began to sink because of the
amount of fish. The disciples were filled with awe and wonder. Peter
recognised the glory and majesty of our Lord, confessed that he was a
sinner and asked the Lord to depart. Jesus replied, "Fear not, from
henchforth, thou shall catch men."
Conclusion and Application.
Once Jesus places a call upon our life, we are bound to Him forever,
His gifts and callings are without repentance (Romans 11:29). He
knows where we are and will call us when needed.
The call of the Lord did not depend upon personal feelings. I doubt
very much if Peter felt especially spiritual after fishing all night
and catching nothing. My own experience is that the sweet presence of
the Lord often appears in the midst of trial and frustration, when I
feel the least spiritual. He has a way of coming upon the scene and
letting us know that we are His and are not forgotten.
When Peter obeyed the word of the Lord He was rewarded above all
expectations (Ephesians 3:20).
After recognising the majesty of our Lord these four forsook all to
follow the Master. They preferred to catch men rather than fish.
65: The Demoniac Healed - Mk. 1:23-28, Lu. 4:31-37
Luke 4:31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
Mark tells us that after the great catch of fish that resulted from the disciples obeying the Lord's command to "Launch out into the deep," the disciples forsook their nets and followed Jesus into the city of Capernaum. Luke places this event immediately after the Lord's rejection at Nazareth.
It is important to realize that the gospel writer's with the possible exception of Luke (Luke 1:3 ) did not feel compelled to write everything in chronological order. This may seem odd to our western mindset but it was perfectly acceptable to the people of that time and region. They simply took events that fit the particular theme that they were developing. Matthew wrote of Jesus as the King of Israel, Mark wrote through the eyes of Peter with the theme of Jesus the Son of God, Luke stressed the humanity of Jesus and John stressed His Deity. A Harmony of the Gospel attempts to reconcile all the various accounts and place them in order. Naturally the Harmonies will vary. We are following the Harmony of the Gospel that is found in the back of the Thompson Chain Bible, which chooses to follow the Mark account.
Jesus taught in the synagogue on the next Sabbath and the people were astonished at His doctrine. He didn't teach with the dry humdrum of the scribes, but with the power and authority of the Spirit.
Their was a man in the synagogue with an unclean spirit. he may have been a regular member who attended every Sabbath, paid his tithes and sang in the choir, etc. However, when Jesus spoke in the power of the Spirit, as no man had ever spoken (John 7:46), the devils was forced to cry out, "What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth, have you come to destroy us? .
The devils who believe and tremble (James 2:19), recognised Jesus as the Holy One of God. Jesus commanded them to be quiet and to come out of the man. The people were amazed at the authority and power that he used to command the unclean spirit to depart. The fame of Jesus spread throughout the whole region.
Conclusion and Application:
We give too much credit to the devil. Jesus triumphed over him by the power of His cross
(Colossians 2:15 ; Hebrews 2:14) and rendered him as a defeated foe. This is not to say that he and his cohorts are not still an active force (Ephesians 6:12), his time is coming and he knows it. However, we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11), and have been empowered by the Holy Ghost to take authority and deal with him when he presents himself ( Mark 16:17), just as Jesus did when He delivered the man in the synagogue.
When Jesus and the disciples left the synagogue, they went to the home of Peter, where Peter's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever. Jesus rebuked the fever. She was healed by the word and touch of the Master. She got up and ministered to the group.
Mark 1:32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.
34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
When the end of the Sabbath came at sundown, the people of Capernaum brought all of their sick and infirm to Jesus. Jesus laid hands on each individual and healed them all. Once again the devils could not hold their peace and were forced to cry out. Jesus rebuked them and told them not to speak, even though they knew He was the Messiah.
Conclusion and Application:
No hoopla, no dog and pony show. With the anointing of the Holy Ghost, Jesus spoke the words of healing and restoration. He took the time to lay hands on each individual and all were healed. Not just the subjective cases. He healed them all, the blind, the deaf, the paralytic and those on stretchers, the insane and the possessed. Nobody went away disappointed.
Do you have a need? We all do. The compassionate Christ is ever listening for our faintist cry. He is eager to take individual time with each of us and fulfill our need.
67: Later Galilean Ministry - Mt. 4:23-25; Mk. 1:38-39; Luke 4:43-44
Luke 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.
After spending a very exausting evening ministering to the people, Jesus rose early in the morning and found a solitary place to pray. Crowds of people were were already there to see and hear him, hoping for His touch. He did not yield to the public acclaim, but stated that it was His calling was to preach in all the cities of Galilee, and this He did.
Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
While on this first of three preaching tours of Galilee, Jeus was approached by a leper. The man fell and worshipped Jesus and and said, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." Jesus simply said, "I will, be clean." Immediately, the man was healed.
Leprosy was a dreaded plague in biblical times, which typlified the ravages of sin. It, like sin, would start with a small blemish and spread throughout the whole body. The flesh would rot and drop off. After attacking the vital organs, death was a welcome relief.
The Jews believed that leprosy was a punishment from God for certain sins, therefore the leper was treated very cruelly. He could not enter a walled city and nobody could speak to him. He was required to cover his face, as if in mourning, and cotinually cry, "Unclean unclean." To touch a leper was considered to be a ceremonial defilement equal to touching the dead.
Jesus instructed the man not to advertise his healing but to go to the priest as a testimony to them and to offer the required gifts for ceremonial cleansing.
Leviticus chapters thirteen and fourteen give detaiiled instructions in the case that a leper were to be healed. Rabinical tradition divided miracles into two groups: those that anyone could do throught the Spirit of God and those that only Messiah could do. Leprosy was assigned to the latter. Thus Jesus was making a claim to Messiahship when He sent the man to the priest. They would isolate and inspect the man and inquire who had performed this miracle.
The healed man just couldn't keep quite. The fame of Jesus spread quickly, resulting in larger crowds seeking healings. Jesus, knowing the ordeal that would result, withdrew himself to the wilderness and prayed.
Conclusion and Application:
There is no problem too big that the simple touch of the Master can't handle. When we call, we hear His sweetly saying, "I will."
Luke 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
Among the crowds who had come to see Jesus were Pharisees and doctors of the law from all parts of the country. They had been sent by the religious leaders to first observe and then question anyone who might possibly be the Messiah. They had done this with John the Baptist (John 1:22) and now they were looking at Jesus.
As Jesus was preaching in a house in Capernaum, four men came carrying a stretcher with a man sick of the palsy. They couldn't get in the door, so they simle tore off the roof and lowered the man down to Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, He said, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." This upset the observing scribes and Pharisees. They correctly reasoned that only God could forgive sin. Thus they considered it blasphemy that Jesus was claiming to be God.
Luke 5:24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
Jesus told them that it was easier to say, "Thy sins be forgiven." Obviously this would require no visible proof. However to proof that He had the power and authority to forgive sins, He told the sick man, "Arise, take up your bed and go home."
All the assembled people were amazed and glorified God saying, "We have seen strange things today.
Conclusion and Application.
The religious leaders were correct in their observing and questioning. Their problem was not in the questioning, it was their unbelief. We also must judge what we hear (I Corinthians 10:15, 14:29), prove all things (I Thessalonians 5:21), know those who labor among us (I Thessalonians), and judge as another speaks (I Corinthians 14:29). The Lord does not want us to be gullible blind sheep. He has given us the Holy Ghost which gives us the ability to know when what we hear violates His Word (John 14:26). We also must respond and give Him glory when what we hear is directed by His Spirit and lines up with His word.
Jesus responded to "Their faith." Perhaps the sick man was in such a condition that his faith was weak or non-existent. We need to have faith for those among us in like condition.
Jesus also forgave the man's sin. Sickness and disease are often, not always, the result of sin (James 5:14-15). The blood of Jesus covers both (Isaiah 53).
71: The Call of Matthew - Mt. 9:9; Mk. 2:13-14; Lu. 5:27-28
Matthew (Levi), whose name means "The gift of God," was a publican (tax collector) who worked in a customs house near the Sea of Galilee. He collected customs from boats coming across the lake from various small domains. Publicans purchased their position and were regarded as a licensed thiefs. They were classed with harlots, gamblers, thieves, and money lenders. They were excluded from the synagogue by the rabbis who afforded they no hope of salvation.
It's possible that Matthew had heard Jesus teach, but felt that he had no hope. Jesus passed by and simply said, "Follow me." Matthew left it all and immediately followed Jesus.
Matthew would later record many of our Lord's teaching such as the Sermon on the Mount. He wrote a gospel in Aramaic called The Logia and also the gospel that bears his name.
Conclusion and Application:
Past history means nothing in the sight of God (Isaiah 1:18). When He washes and regenerates us (I Corinthians 6:11), we have no history ( Psalms 103:12; Isaiah 43:25; Micah 7:19). Jesus sees potential, not past failure.
Jesus wants us to respond to His gentle call of, "Follow Me," and He'll take charge of our future.
John 5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
This feast is unnamed, but most scholars feel that it is the Passover. The Passovers are used as markers in the life of Jesus. It has now been one year since Jesus cleansed the temple of the money changers and talked to Nicodemus concerning the new birth.
John 5:5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
When Jesus healed the man at the pool of Bethesda, the stage was set for a major confrontation with the religious leaders over the proper observance of the Sabbath. From the one commandment to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy, about fifteen hundred rules and regulations had been issued to keep one from doing so.
The pool of Bethesda had five porches filled with all manner of impotent folk waiting for an angel to trouble the water. The first of these halt, blind or withered, who could step innto the pool after the waters had been troubled was healed of their affliction.
Jesus approached a man who had had an infirmity of thirty eight years and asked, "Will you be healed." The man replied, "Sir, I have no one to put me in the pool. Somebody else always gets there first." Jesus simply answered, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."
When the man picked up his bed, he was subject to death by stoning for carrying a burden on the Sabbath. Rather than rejoice, the religious leaders condemmed and questioned the the man as to who had dared to heal on the Sabbath. The man couldn't say who had healed him. Without a trace of thankfulness he replied, "The one who healed me commanded me to take up my bed and walk." He was probably sent to the temple to pay some lesser fine for his transgression. Jesus saw him there and told him to quit sinning, lest some worst thing should come upon him. The ungrateful healed man immediately point to Jeus as the one who had healed him.
Conclusion and Application:
The man at the pool correctly stated, "Sir, I have no man." When it gets down to brass tacks, we don't either. But we have Jesus and that's all we need.
Jesus was eager to heal even though He knew the man was unthankful.
We, like the religious leaders of the day can get bogged with legalism to where we can't see the forest for the trees.