Tuesday, March 19, 2013

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Tuesday, March 19, 2013  I Revealed the Future to My Disciples - Part 1 

Page 246-248         Matthew 24: 1-31

Jesus’ mission as the Messiah fulfilled parallel purposes for God. In the first purpose, Jesus pronounced God’s judgment upon Israel for her failure to be the light to the nations for which she was created by God. The second purpose was the establishment of the New Covenant; God’s plan of redemption for the whole world. Through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, his followers can be the New Israel as we proclaim the Good News and become a light to the world.

Naturally, the disciples wanted to know when the Messiah’s purposes would be accomplished. Whenever we experience events that are international in scope there is no shortage of people interpreting the events as signs that the end of time is near. The event may be an earthquake, or recession, or war. When the Gulf War began in 1990, TV preachers were lined up with their maps trying to show how the war had been predicted in the Book of Revelation; so therefore, the end was in sight. Nonsense!

In response to the disciples’ questions, Jesus made three points I think are worth pondering.

Jesus said that wars, oppression, and natural calamities are the normal cycles of history. They are not an indication the end of time is near. Jesus mentions only one condition that will be fulfilled before the end of this present age. The Good News will be preached throughout the world and every nation will hear it. (verse14)

Jesus’ second point was that when the Son of Man comes again in glory, no one will miss it. It will not be a secret, or an event reserved for just a select few. The world will know that the King has come.

It is important for us to remember that many of the events described in Jesus’ response were not predictions of what would happen in ages to come. These events were fulfilled at the very time Matthew’s Gospel was written and first circulated within the new church.  At that time, Rome was destroying Jerusalem and Israel. People were fleeing to the mountains to be safe. In the midst of this turmoil, Jesus’ words provided a comfort for the suffering church. As the third point, Jesus’ words are a reminder that the Gospel is all about hope.

The Christian has a hope, grounded in the Gospel, that life is stronger than death. The Christian has a hope, grounded in the Gospel, that God’s justice and mercy are stronger than the oppressive power exercised by tyrants. The Christian has a hope, grounded in the Gospel, that God will comfort the brokenhearted and that “God will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious” (Matthew 12:20).

The Christian has a hope, grounded in the Gospel, that Jesus will come again in Final Victory and vindicate all those who have put their trust in their Risen Savior.

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  In addition to this BLOG they are distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription

The second edition of my book, First Think – Then Pray has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BGQL5JC

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Wednesday, March 20, 2013       I Revealed the Future to My Disciples – Part 2 

Page 248-250         Matthew 24:32-51