Seeking the Life in Christ

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

I Received Public Acclamation

Meditations based on readings from

The Story of My Life As Told by Jesus Christ

January 15, 2020

I Received Public Acclamation

Page 223-224

Matthew 21: 1-11;

Mark 11: 1-11;

Luke 19: 29-44;

John 12:12-19

If you look closely you can see Peter, John and the others following Jesus into Jerusalem. They were awed by the response of the crowd. It was no longer just a solitary woman in the privacy of a home demonstrating unrestrained devotion to Jesus. Hundreds were giving Jesus their heart, as they laid their coats before his feet, waved palm branches, and sang, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:9). For a brief few minutes, all was right for the disciples as the crowds expressed love and devotion for their Messiah King who had come to end oppression, restore Temple worship, and establish his worldwide Kingdom of Justice.

However, it wasn’t long before the disciples and the crowd began to realize Jesus’ definitions of oppression, Temple worship, and the Kingdom of God differed entirely from their expectations of the Messiah. Jesus’s mission went much deeper than ending the relatively superficial oppression of the Roman occupation. Jesus came to end the oppression of evil, sin and death. Jesus’ mission was no less than the restoration of Paradise where the Temple of God is not a building built with hands; rather, it is God’s presence within His ultimate creation: human beings. Jesus’ mission was not to establish a new political kingdom for Israel; rather, Jesus came to establish the Kingdom of God where God’s justice and mercy will transform the entire world.

My Takeaway: Sometimes, I can be so naive and think that when I call out to God for help, God will help me according to what I think I need. Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem is a reminder to me that God interprets my every cry to Him for help as an invitation for Him to come and do what He thinks is best in and for me; not to fulfill my temporal desires, but to accomplish His eternal purposes.

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(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. The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also 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.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Mary Anointed My Head and Feet

Meditations based on readings from

The Story of My Life As Told by Jesus Christ

January 14, 2020

Mary Anointed My Head and Feet

Page 217

Matthew 26:6-13;

Mark 14:3-9;

John 11:55-12:11

In our reading for today the religious leaders are plotting to do away with Jesus. Mary, believing Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, allows herself to worship Jesus without inhibition. The disciples are grumbling about Mary’s extravagant generosity.

There is an interesting parallel between this gathering and an occasion when Jesus was in Lazarus’ home, as recorded in Luke’s Gospel. In Luke, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet listening to him teach, and her sister Martha objects because she thinks Mary should be helping her prepare to serve a meal for Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Mary is again at Jesus’ feet, this time serving him as she anoints him for burial. I suspect the house was filled not only with the scent of perfume, but also with tension as the others witnessed Mary’s shameless, extravagant adoration and worship of Jesus. Judas is the one who breaks the silence with the practical observation that the perfume was needlessly being wasted.

Jesus said Mary would always be remembered for her act of adoration. Jesus’ recognition of Mary is also his way of emphasizing the great cultural reversal that takes place when the Kingdom of God is present. Mary’s affirmation that Jesus was the Messiah stood in sharp contrast to all the men – the religious leaders, Judas, and the disciples – who failed, at that time, to recognize Jesus as the Christ.

There was quite a divergent gathering that day in Bethany. Lazarus, the man Jesus brought from death to life was there. Martha was there, working, striving, and doing what needed to be done. Judas, the pragmatic one, who knew the cost of everything, was there. The other disciples were there, in silence. Mary was there, oblivious of everyone else, giving her heart to Jesus.

If this had been your time in history, where would you have been? Would you have looked away in embarrassment because someone was so unrestrained in their devotion? Would you have concluded Jesus was more trouble than he was worth and abandoned him? Would you have given everything you had to honor Jesus?

My Takeaway: Today, perhaps more than at any other time in my life, we need a chorus to form and sing with Mary:

Lord, I Give You My Heart

(Hillsong United)

This is my desire, to honor You

Lord with all my heart I worship You

all I have within me

I give You praise

all that I adore is in You

Lord I give You my heart

I give You my soul

I live for You alone

Every breath that I take

Every moment I'm awake

Lord have Your way in me

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(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.)

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Monday, January 13, 2020

I Was Nearing Jerusalem

Meditations based on readings from

The Story of My Life As Told by Jesus Christ

January 13, 2020

I Was Nearing Jerusalem

Page 208-209

Luke 19:11-28

This is a troubling parable because it graphically portrays judgment, and none of us wants to be judged. Jesus was not speaking about the future judgment of God at the end of this present age, at his coming again. He was speaking to the people about their here and now, what was about to happen in Jerusalem when the Messiah of God comes to claim his throne.

The Jews had three expectations of their Messiah: he would end the oppression of the Romans; he would re-establish God’s presence in the Temple; he would rule the world as the true King. Those listening to Jesus on the dusty road from Jericho to Jerusalem would have understood the parable to affirm that God’s Kingdom was in fact coming then, and it was coming with judgment and mercy against Israel. Given the increasing hostility directed at Jesus by the establishment, I think those listening to Jesus also began to understand that Jesus would be rejected in Jerusalem. What they clearly did not understand is that Jesus was not just telling them about God and the coming Kingdom of God; Jesus was the incarnation of God. It was Israel’s God who would soon make a triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

My Takeaway: The Bible and the creeds we affirm in church affirm that Jesus is the sovereign God of the universe. (see Colossians 1:15-20 and the Nicene Creed) How different might our life be if we let this truth permeate deep within our soul and guide our every thought and action?

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(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.)

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Another Man Received His Sight

Meditations based on readings from

The Story of My Life As Told by Jesus Christ

January 10, 2020

Another Man Received His Sight

Page 207-208

Matthew 20:29a, 31-34;

Mark 10:46b-52

Most churches in the USA operate in a fairly democratic way with the pastor, whether elected or called by the congregation or appointed by an episcopal leader, working collaboratively with the elected lay leadership. This form of administration is more of a cultural model than it is Biblical. In contrast are the churches in communist, dictator-led countries where the pastor has absolute authority over the congregation. Again, this form of administration is more of a cultural model than it is Biblical. Jesus spent much of his time teaching his disciples that the Kingdom of God operates by principles that are completely opposite of their cultural norms. Jesus used the healing of blind Bartimaeus to help the disciples gain their Kingdom vision.

Just a short time prior to Jesus engaging Bartimaeus, James and John made a request of Jesus, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left” (Mark 10:37). Jesus denied their request and went on to tell them that in the Kingdom of God, “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else” (Mark 10:43-44).

Then Jesus encounters Bartimaeus and asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51). Bartimaeus didn’t ask for fame or fortune, power or prestige: “My rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” (Mark 10:51b). Upon being made whole by Jesus, Bartimaeus “followed Jesus on the way” (Mark 10:52).

My Takeaway: How do you think Jesus wants us to respond to his question, “What do you want me to do for you?” As for me, I ask for his renewing grace and power to enable me to live out this prayer each day:

Prayer of Adoration

O Lord, our Lord,

how excellent is Thy name in all the earth;

I worship Thee.

With all angels and saints I adore Thee.

I acknowledge Thee to be by Creator and my God.

I render Thee the homage of my being and my life.

I am not my own,

I am Thine.

By creation and redemption

I am Thine.

I will devote myself to Thy divine service

this day and forever.

O grant me grace for this, dear Lord.

Amen

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(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.)

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

My Meeting with Zacchaeus

Meditations based on readings from

The Story of My Life As Told by Jesus Christ

January 9, 2020

My Meeting with Zacchaeus

Page 207

Mark 10:46a;

Luke 19:1-10

Tax collectors like Zacchaeus were despicable, immoral and hated in their communities. Often, when a person had a significant encounter with Jesus, they immediately began to follow Jesus. Did you notice that Zacchaeus did not follow Jesus out of Jericho? The inference is that he stayed in his community to work out the meaning of his new life in Christ.

This little story has three themes. First, there is the issue of wealth and money and how they should be understood in the Kingdom of God. Second, there is the company Jesus keeps; he continually goes to the least, the last and the lost. Third, there is the faith that affirms Jesus as Messiah and that leads to new life.

The story of Zacchaeus makes an interesting contrast to the rich young man we read about in Luke 18. Our human nature wants to reduce Jesus’ encounters to principles that can be replicated. In the case of the rich young man in Luke 18, one possible conclusion for those seeking eternal life is that you must sell everything you have and follow Jesus. However, Zacchaeus only offered one half of his wealth and he did not leave home. Even so, Jesus said “Salvation has come to this home today” (Luke 19:9).

My Takeaway: While Zacchaeus is an interesting contrast to the rich young man, he has much in common with the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Both humbled themselves and acknowledged their sin and both received new life. In this sense, both Zacchaeus and The Prodigal Son are good role models.

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(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.)

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

James and John Make a Request & A Blind Man's Sight Was Restored

Meditations based on readings from

The Story of My Life As Told by Jesus Christ

January 8, 2020

James and John Make a Request & A Blind Man's Sight Was Restored

Page 206-207

Matthew 20:20-28, 29b-30;

Mark 10:35-45

Luke 18:35-43

Jesus has been teaching his disciples about the principles of leadership from a Kingdom of God, servant-leader perspective. They still didn’t understand, as evidenced by James and John jockeying for a favored position. Just in case we are tempted to shake our heads at James and John and chastise them for being so crass, our text for today includes the story of Jesus healing the blind man.

The blind man called out, “Lord, Son of David,” a reverent Messianic title for Jesus. How did the crowd respond? The crowd told him to ‘Shut Up!’, but Jesus responded, “What do you want me to do for you?” The Gospel is asking us to choose which camp we will join:

Jesus’ camp of servants

(The sign over the camp says, “Lord, Son of David”),

or will we camp

with the crowd?

(The sign over this camp says, ‘Shut Up!’)

Whenever I am prone to put my needs, convenience, or desires ahead of others, I am shouting to the world that I am camping out with the “Shut Ups.”

We all have blind spots in our lives, places where we are still caught up in self-centeredness. The blind man believed Jesus was the Messiah; that’s why he called out to Jesus as Son of David. He knew Jesus could heal his condition. Jesus affirmed his faith, and the man left his blindness behind him as he followed Jesus to Jerusalem. We can do the same!

My Takeaway: Each day, our first step as a follower of Jesus begins with these words:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 139:23-24

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(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.)

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

My Disciples Were Filed With Dread

Meditations based on readings from

The Story of My Life As Told by Jesus Christ

January 7, 2020

My Disciples Were Filed With Dread

Page 205-206

Matthew 20: 17-19, 23:37-39;

Mark 10:32-34;

Luke 13:22-35, 18:31-34

There are different depths to knowing. I learned about the aeronautical principals of airplane flight from a book. Those principals took on another level of meaning when I made my first solo flight. In our passage today, Jesus, for the third time tells his disciples how his story will end; but they still don’t understand, and they will not grasp the truth until they behold the Resurrected Lord. Jesus knows what awaited him in Jerusalem and he was grieving over those of his own nation who would not seek their salvation in him. His reference to working two days and accomplishing his purpose on the third day is a thinly veiled reference to his resurrection on the third day. Jesus provided us with these insights to help us understand the meaning of what will happen in Jerusalem, Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the Garden Tomb. The heart of our faith is in these places.

Isaiah, in Chapters 40-55, presents the Messiah of God who suffers and dies for the sins of Israel and the world. Jesus referenced Isaiah’s words to make clear that he is the Messiah. It is impossible to embrace the Christian faith apart from the cross, and it is impossible to embrace the cross without embracing the resurrection. However, neither makes sense apart from understanding Jesus as God’s Messiah. God sent his Messiah to announce the time of the Lord’s favor had come. God’s favor, or God’s Kingdom, reorders the lives of individuals as well as society.

What did Jesus mean when he said, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom” (Luke 13:24)? The entrance door to the Kingdom of God is narrow and the pathway through the doorway is not paved by good works. It is difficult to enter into the Kingdom of God because there is no drive-through window. The Kingdom is not for the casual observer, or for those who want just a piece of the Kingdom to add to their life. The Kingdom demands all or nothing; and Jesus says, there will come a time when the doors to the Kingdom are closed. There will come a time when all people will be rewarded with the eternal consequences of the choices they have made. Some will choose to be with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and others will not.

My Takeaway: God’s grace is radical as He calls us from a life of brokenness to a “rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10). So also, His call to discipleship is radical. Grace abounds with Jesus; but not cheap grace.

“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer,

The Cost of Discipleship

Sē’lah

<>< <>< <>< <><

(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.)

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

I Received Public Acclamation

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Mary Anointed My Head and Feet

Monday, January 13, 2020

I Was Nearing Jerusalem

Friday, January 10, 2020

Another Man Received His Sight

Thursday, January 9, 2020

My Meeting with Zacchaeus

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

James and John Make a Request & A Blind Man's Sight Was Restored

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

My Disciples Were Filed With Dread

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