Monday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Luke 9
10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida. 11 But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick.
10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida. 11 But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick.
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
9:10 The apostles, the “twelve” (Luke 9:12), and the “disciples” (vv. 14, 16) are used interchangeably here. All that they had done refers to their use of Jesus’ delegated power and authority in the casting out of demons, healings, and preaching (vv. 1–2). Bethsaida was just northeast of where the Jordan flows into the Sea of Galilee from the north. Research since the 1980s has focused on et-Tell as the site for Bethsaida. This site does have residential remains from around NT times (including an apparent “fisherman’s house” with ancient fishing equipment) atop an earlier Iron Age (OT-era) settlement. Excavation geologists suggest that the Sea of Galilee originally extended closer to this site than it does today.
9:11 kingdom of God. Jesus’ and the apostles’ message was identical (cf. vv. 2, 6 with 4:43; 8:1). cured those who had need of healing. As in 9:6, “healing” receives more emphasis than casting out demons; probably the need for exorcism was less common than the need for healing.
9:11 kingdom of God. Jesus’ and the apostles’ message was identical (cf. vv. 2, 6 with 4:43; 8:1). cured those who had need of healing. As in 9:6, “healing” receives more emphasis than casting out demons; probably the need for exorcism was less common than the need for healing.
Study Questions:
- Scripture tells us that Jesus, upon seeing the large crowd of people, was moved with compassion. He saw them as sheep without a shepherd. These were fringe people too, not faithful followers. They were mostly there to see the show or to get something from Jesus. But he doesn't send them away or rebuke them... the welcomes them and teaches them and spends time with them and heals them. And he knew what they actually needed. They WANTED to be healed and to eat, but what they NEEDED was truth. We are very similar to the crowd. We come to him for what he can do for us. But what we need most in our lives is ultimate truth that only comes from God's Word. We don't want truth most of the time. We'd rather have a little truth sprinkled in with our own thoughts and preferences and ideas. But without ultimate truth, we are a rudderless ship. Think about a time in your life when you needed truth that was hard to hear. What was that truth? Who gave it to you? Is there a truth that you are resisting in your life right now?
- Jesus was so moved with compassion as he looked at these hurting people that it broke his heart. Matthew 14:14 uses a from of the greek verb, "splagchnizomai" (good luck with that one), which literally refers to internal organs... that pain in the pit of your stomach. It's saying that Jesus felt such deep compassion for the people that it physically hurt him. Human suffering truly caused him pain and moved him to do something to alleviate it. God's heart breaks when we suffer, too. His heart breaks with ours. Question: Does YOUR heart break with THEIR'S? Do you have compassion for those suffering around you? What about those that don't look or believe like you? Do you tend to be all grace and no truth, or all truth and no grace? Are your convictions clothed in compassion?
Pray:
- That you would seek ultimate TRUTH.
- That you would be clothed in compassion for others.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
1 Comment
Amen!
Happy Independence Day