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Episodes
Monday Oct 16, 2023
Monday Oct 16, 2023
John’s Gospel Portrait
We are on Day 6 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Today we will look at the fourth of our Gospel Portraits, John and see together what it teaches us about Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The author is self indentified as the “disciple whom the Lord loved.” We know quite a bit about this John! John was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and thus was a half-cousin of Jesus! John was also the brother of James, another of the Twelve Apostles, and together they were known as the sons of thunder! John was called by Jesus to follow him! John was one of the three witnesses of the raising of Daughter of Jairus, the Transfiguration as well as Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane. John remained the only disciple near Jesus at the foot of the cross on Calvary. He was instructed by Jesus from the Cross, to care for Mary, the mother of Jesus. So John, as you may gather, knows Jesus very well!
John presents Jesus as the incarnation of God, through whom all things were made! John reveals teaching that only the 12 disciples would have heard, where Jesus talked at length about himself and his divine role. John focuses on different miracles from Matthew, Mark and Luke, whereby signs are given to stimulate faith. John’s Gospel portrayal begins with the witness to, and affirmation of, Jesus by John the Baptist and concludes with the death, burial, resurrection, and post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. John shows the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ so that mankind would believe in him as the Son of God, Messiah, and Saviour of the world. His selective argument portrays Christ as the God-Man. John records miracles and messages that affirm the deity and humanity of Christ. John builds his record around the public ministry of Christ, the private ministry, the cross, and the resurrection.
Key writing for John can be found in:
John 1: 1-4, 9-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 20:30-31 - Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Come back tomorrow for Day 7 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! See you soon!
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Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Luke’s Gospel Portrait
We are on Day 5 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Today we will look at the third of our Gospel Portraits, Luke and see together what it teaches us about Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
The author is Luke and is probably the same man identified by Paul as a doctor, and was one of his travelling companions (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11). The style and language used are those of a native Greek speaker. Luke’s remit is clear. He is to write an historical account about Jesus Christ for a gentile man called Theophilus. As a consequence, theological significance rises to the fore. Even though he is a Gentile, Luke emphasizes the kingdom program with Israel's place in the kingdom. This Gospel is not complete in itself but rather the first of two parts addressed to Theophilus, with the Book of Acts being the second section.
Through his investigative portrayal, Luke presents Jesus as the God-Man, as a saviour for the entire world. He does this from a broad vantage point that is compatible with the fact that he is a Greek. Luke traces Jesus’ birth, introduction, ministry, rejection, subsequent teaching in view of His rejection, the cross, resurrection and ascension.
Key writing within Luke to show what his Gospel portrayal of Jesus is all about are:
Luke 1:1-4 - “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eye witnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”
Luke 19:1-10 - “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”
Come back tomorrow for Part 6 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look at the life of this most extraordinary person in all human history – Jesus of Nazareth.
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Saturday Oct 14, 2023
Saturday Oct 14, 2023
Psalm 111 to Psalm 118
Often we hear the Psalms one by one, but today we offer you the chance to hear a group of Psalms read as a collection!
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Psalm 111
1 Praise the LORD.
I will extol the LORD with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the LORD;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant for ever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established for ever and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant for ever –
holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.
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Psalm 112
1 Praise the LORD.
Blessed are those who fear the LORD,
who find great delight in his commands.
2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures for ever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
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Psalm 113
1 Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD, you his servants; praise the name of the LORD.
2 Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and for evermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.
4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD.
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Psalm 114
1 When Israel came out of Egypt,
Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
2 Judah became God’s sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled,
the Jordan turned back;
4 the mountains leaped like rams,
the hills like lambs.
5 Why was it, sea, that you fled?
Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
6 Why, mountains, did you leap like rams,
you hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turned the rock into a pool,
the hard rock into springs of water.
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Psalm 115
1 Not to us, LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
2 Why do the nations say,
‘Where is their God?’
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.
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Psalm 116
1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD:
‘LORD, save me!’
5 The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
6 The LORD protects the unwary;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
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Psalm 117
1 Praise the LORD, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
2 For great is his love towards us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever.
Praise the LORD.
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Psalm 118
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures for ever.
2 Let Israel say:
‘His love endures for ever.’
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
‘His love endures for ever.’
4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
‘His love endures for ever.’
5 When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD;
he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
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Saturday Oct 14, 2023
Saturday Oct 14, 2023
Mark’s Gospel Portrait
We are on Day 4 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Today we will look at the second of our Gospel Portraits, Mark and see together what it teaches us about Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
We know very little about Mark as a person, or when he started following Jesus Christ of Nazareth. In his Gospel Portrayal, Mark’s target audience would seem to be Greek speaking non-Jews. We see this because Mark explains Jewish traditions and language, such as ‘Abba’ and ‘talitha koum’. Mark’s use of the Old Testament originates from a source where it had already been translated into the Greek language.
In his Gospel portrayal, Mark presents Jesus as the Suffering Servant of the Lord, coming in fulfilment of the Old Testament. He tells the story of Jesus, starting at His baptism and culminates in His death and resurrection. Mark portrays Jesus offering His credentials as the Messiah, how He gathered His disciples, and the way in which Jesus preaches the Kingdom of God and its message. Jesus’ teaching is seen in short parables, which hide the truth from those hardened against Him, yet prepares and instructs those who are responsive to Him.
In a fast pace manner, Mark portrays Jesus as being a dynamic man of action, a man who heals the sick and performs many miracles. Mark’s overall message about Jesus however, is that Jesus specifically calls those who choose to follow him, are to serve others, deny themselves and take up their own cross, just as He indeed did.
Mark’s particular focus is on the last week of Jesus’ life in Jerusalem. Mark devotes a third of his portrayal to it. Early tradition states that Mark’s Gospel had a connection with the Apostle Peter. Therefore this Gospel portrayal may well have been written to preserve some of Peter’s memories and sermons.
Key writing within Mark to show what his Gospel is all about are:
Mark 8:31-37 - ““He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.’”
Mark 10:42-45 – “Jesus called his disciples together and said, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’”
Come back tomorrow for Part 5 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look at the life of this most extraordinary person in all human history – Jesus of Nazareth.
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Friday Oct 13, 2023
Friday Oct 13, 2023
Psalm 11 to Psalm 15
Often we hear the Psalms one by one, but today we offer you the chance to hear a group of Psalms read as a collection and meditated upon and prayed!
Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file
Psalm 11
For the director of music. Of David.
1 In the Lord I take refuge.
How then can you say to me: ‘Flee like a bird to your mountain.
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;
they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?’
4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.
5 The Lord examines the righteous,
but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion.
6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulphur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.
7 For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice;
the upright will see his face.
Psalm 12
For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.
1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful any more;
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbour;
they flatter with their lips but harbour deception in their hearts.
3 May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue –
4 those who say,
‘By our tongues we will prevail;
our own lips will defend us – who is lord over us?’
5 ‘Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,’ says the Lord.
‘I will protect them from those who malign them.’
6 And the words of the Lord are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.
7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us for ever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
when what is vile is honoured by the human race.
Psalm 13
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me for ever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
Psalm 14
For the director of music. Of David.
1 The fool says in his heart,
‘There is no God.’
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God.
3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.
4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?
They devour my people as though eating bread;
they never call on the Lord.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous.
6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is their refuge.
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord restores his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Psalm 15
A psalm of David.
1 Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
2 The one whose way of life is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbour,
and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
but honours those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things will never be shaken.
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Friday Oct 13, 2023
Friday Oct 13, 2023
Matthew’s Gospel Portrait
We are on Day 3 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Matthew's Gospel Portrait
Today we will look at the first of our Gospels, Matthew and what that overall teaches us about Jesus Christ of Nazareth. We read about Matthew being summoned to follow Jesus Christ in Matthew 9:9-12 “Jesus … saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’”
Matthew was one of Jesus’ main disciples. He wrote primarily to Jews who knew the Old Testament. Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah to Israel and he also records Israel’s attitude towards Jesus being the long waited for Messiah. Throughout his Gospel, Matthew gives us the genealogy, presentation, and the authentication of Jesus as the Christ Messiah. Matthew then shows the nation of Israel's opposition to, and subsequent rejection of, Jesus as the Christ Messiah. This leads to Jesus' rejection of Israel, due to Israel’s unbelief in him as their Christ. Matthew records in detail the death and resurrection of Christ and concludes with Jesus Christ commissioning the disciples.
Throughout, his Gospel portrait of Jesus, Matthew presents a well ordered and balanced account.
Key writing within Matthew to show what his Gospel is all about are:
Matthew 16:13-20 “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[ loosed in heaven.’ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.”
Matthew 28:18-20 ‘Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Come back tomorrow for Part 4 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look at the life of this most extraordinary person in all human history – Jesus of Nazareth.
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Thursday Oct 12, 2023
Thursday Oct 12, 2023
Psalm 46 to Psalm 50
Often we hear the Psalms one by one, but today we offer you the chance to hear a group of Psalms read as a collection!
Right mouse click or tap here to save/download these Psalms as a MP3 file
Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’
11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 47
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
2 For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.
3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.
8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.
Psalm 48
A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1 Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King.
3 God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress.
4 When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together,
5 they saw her and were astounded; they fled in terror.
6 Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labour.
7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind.
8 As we have heard, so we have seen
in the city of the Lord Almighty, in the city of our God:
God makes her secure for ever.
9 Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.
10 Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, go round her, count her towers,
13 consider well her ramparts, view her citadels,
that you may tell of them to the next generation.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end.
Psalm 49
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
5 Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me –
6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
7 No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them –
8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough –
9 so that they should live on for ever and not see decay.
10 For all can see that the wise die,
that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.
11 Their tombs will remain their houses for ever,
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they had named lands after themselves.
12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure;
they are like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
14 They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd
(but the upright will prevail over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;
he will surely take me to himself.
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendour of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing with them when they die,
their splendour will not descend with them.
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed –
and people praise you when you prosper –
19 they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.
20 People who have wealth but lack understanding
are like the beasts that perish.
Psalm 50
A psalm of Asaph
1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
3 Our God comes and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.
4 He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 ‘Gather to me this consecrated people, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.’
6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice.
7 ‘Listen, my people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God.
8 I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull from your stall
or of goats from your pens,
10 for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14 ‘Sacrifice thank-offerings to God, fulfil your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me.’
16 But to the wicked person, God says:
‘What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?
17 You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.
19 You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.
20 You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you.
But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you.
22 ‘Consider this, you who forget God,
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
23 those who sacrifice thank-offerings honour me,
and to the blameless I will show my salvation.’
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Thursday Oct 12, 2023
Thursday Oct 12, 2023
Jesus - Four Pen Portraits
We are on Day 2 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
What the Gospels are! In the part of the Bible, we call the New Testament, we have four accounts of the life of Jesus Christ. They are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These are called Gospels. But what is a Gospel? They are called Gospels, because they gave substance to the ‘Gospel’ or ‘Good News’ as described by Paul in Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel. I see it as the very power of God working for the salvation of everyone who believes it, both Jew and Greek.”
We know that Jesus Christ during his time on earth wrote nothing. Yet the stories about him were preserved and passed on by Christian teachers and evangelists. For the first thirty years or so, these stories were collated and stored together. That would explain the similarity in the four accounts of Jesus’ life. The Gospels are not an exhaustive biographical detail of all that Jesus Christ did. Similarly they are also not diaries reflecting a daily account of Jesus’ life. Rather, they are selective accounts of His life, and were used by His disciples when preaching about Him. Therefore they would represent the theology of the disciples, as each story about is Jesus is told. That is why they are trustworthy accounts, as well as rooting the life of Jesus Christ in first century Judaism and the Greco-Roman world.
The first three of our Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke are what are called the synoptic Gospels. This is based on their great similarity and possibly use of a common source. Mark is probably the first Gospel as it is shorter in length than Matthew or Luke and it would appear that Matthew and Luke used Mark as a guide and elaborated where required. Matthew, was a disciple of Jesus Christ and writes from his own experiences. Luke writes for the experiences of eye witnesses. Apart from one exception, Mark wrote none of the great discourses of Matthew such as the Sermon on the Mount, nor does Mark show the great parables that Luke does, such as the Good Samaritan. Luke does share large portions of Mark and quite often verbatim, and with a greater use of the Greek language.
Our fourth Gospel, the Gospel of John meanwhile, while still telling about Jesus’ ministry, has vastly different story content. Like Matthew, John also was a disciple and close friend of Jesus Christ. Indeed, John is called the apostle whom Jesus loved. In his Gospel, John reveals Jesus talking about himself much more often than in the other Gospel accounts. For this reason, John was probably written later than the synoptic Gospels.
Come back tomorrow for Part 3 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look at the life of this most extraordinary person in all human history – Jesus of Nazareth.
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Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
Psalm 46
For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah.
According to Alamoth.
46:1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
46:2 Therefore we won't be afraid, though the earth changes,
though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas;
46:3 though its waters roar and are troubled,
though the mountains tremble with their swelling.
Selah
46:4 There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad,
the holy place of the tents of the Most High.
46:5 God is in her midst.
She shall not be moved.
God will help her at dawn.
46:6 The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved.
He lifted his voice, and the earth melted.
46:7 Yahweh of Armies is with us.
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah
46:8 Come, see Yahweh's works,
what desolations he has made in the earth.
46:9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth.
He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear.
He burns the chariots in the fire.
46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be exalted in the earth."
46:11 Yahweh of Armies is with us.
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah
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Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
Jesus - a baby who will live up to his name.
We are looking at the life of the most amazing person who ever lived - Jesus Christ of Nazareth. We will travel from the time he was born, wander through his life, glimpsing at His meeting other people and wondering at some of his wisdom, which will lead our series culminating at Easter, where we look at the significance of his death and resurrection.
When Jesus was born, his name imbued the very reason he was born. His conception and birth were extraordinary at every level. The name of Jesus, means “one who saves”. The entirety of his birth, life and death were centred on this very role. His role was to save all those who would follow Him. Jesus is the most talked about person in history. Almost everyone has an opinion about him. Jesus was born to confirm God's promises, to reveal God as a Father, and to be our representative before Him. Jesus gave us an example of how to live a holy life to the full. Jesus was not merely a man who received some special power, nor was he some strange creation that was half man and half God. He was much more than those ideas! That Jesus is both human and divine is what makes Christianity unique amongst the world’s religions.
It is why Jesus’ claims to be the only way to God are true and make sense, and it is why millions of people today worship Him and acknowledge Him as their Lord and their God. Tomorrow we will continue to look briefly at the 4 accounts of the life of this most extraordinary person in all of history – Jesus of Nazareth.
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