Day 12 with Jesus: “Demonstration”
If you are behind (or haven’t started yet!) keep reading! Even the ’60 days with Jesus’ plan is better than nothing. ;) But hopefully you’re right there with us. And if you are, today is day 12.
Chapter 12 is entitled “Demonstration,” and we find Jesus doing things that no one has ever done before. As you read, notice the consistent theme of ‘amazement.’ Let us always be amazed as we stand in the crowd witnessing the incredible miracles of Jesus.
Friday’s readings, in order: Matthew 8:18-22 (mixed with Luke 9:57-62), Mark 4:35-5:43, Matthew 9:27-34, Mark 6:1-6.
Day 11 with Jesus: “Comparison”
Today is Day 11, entitled “Comparison.”
In Chapter 8 we saw Jesus teaching (mostly in the sermon on the mount) how individuals should live, and here we see Jesus using simple yet vivid parables to explain the nature of His kingdom. This series of parables contains some of Jesus’ most famous teachings, and it is clear why the crowds loved to hear Him speak: Jesus was a teacher that everyone could understand, even if they still didn’t fully grasp what this new “kingdom” would look like.
Today’s Day 11 readings, in order: Matthew 13:1-30, Matthew 13: 36-43, Mark 4:21-29, Matthew 13:31-33, Matthew 13: 44-52, Mark 4:33-34 (with details from Matthew 13:34-35)
Day 10 with Jesus: “Confrontation”
Day 10 is entitled “Confrontation,” entirely from unique material in the Gospel of Luke.
Here we see not only that the religious leaders are confronting Jesus, but that Jesus is bold in confronting them also. Jesus wasn’t just ‘trying to make everyone happy’ in His ministry. He had a message that people needed to hear, and it did no good to ignore reality; people needed to be confronted with the truth. Jesus rebukes the hypocritical, showy religion of the Pharisees and the legalistic demands of the scribes. He urges His followers to avoid hypocrisy, to avoid fearing men over God, and to avoid waiting too long to repent. From Jesus, we learn that we do people no favors by not telling the hard truths. Let’s always show a spirit of love, but when necessary, let’s also be willing to confront with the truth.
Monday’s Day 10 readings: Luke 11:37-13:17.
Day 9 with Jesus: “Rejection”
Sunday is Day 9 of our readings, entitled “Rejection.” We have seen Jesus come to earth, grow, and begin His ministry. In the last 3 days, we have seen His miracles and His message, and seen the beginning of opposition from the religious leaders. His ministry in the region of Galilee continues throughout the next few days’ readings, and those themes of the past 3 chapters will continue also. Jesus does great things, and while many believe in Him, the religious leaders as a whole have rejected the message of John and Jesus, even claiming in this chapter that He does miracles by the power of Satan! A couple of times in these reading, we see Jesus rebuking their rejection.
If you’re reading along without a book, Sunday’s readings, in order: Luke 7:1-50 (verses 1-10 include details from Matthew 8:5-13, and verses 24-30 include details from Matthew 11:7-15), Luke 8:1-3, Matthew 12:22-50 (verses 22-37 include details from Mark 3:20-30, and verses 43-45 include details from Luke 11:24-28), Luke 11:33-36.
