The POWER to Forgive
Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “Timely Teaching for Turbulent Times”
Week 2 of 6: “The Impact of Forgiveness!”
Full Sunday message, CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: Favorite Forgiveness Moments
The place was crowded. To turn back home was not an option. It was the last chance for their friend to ever walk again.
They had to get him in front of Jesus. Their desperation led to desperate measures.
Mark 2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.
Distracted by the dust and mesmerized by the mat, those around had to be wondering what was going on. For the friends, their mission was accomplished. Now all they needed was Jesus to touch him and heal his paralysis and they would be on their way.
But Jesus doesn’t heal the paralysis…right away. He knew there was a bigger illness that needed fixing. It wasn’t the condition of his limbs, it was the condition of his life. It wasn’t just a problem for the paralytic, it was a reality for all those standing around him.
The issue was bigger than a physical one. It was spiritual.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Jesus’ concern for the man…for all around…was the condition of the heart. He saw their faith. The friends believed Jesus could heal their friend. The paralytic trusted Jesus was the answer. But he got something better …forgiveness…his relationship with God was restored.
But nothing visibly changed. He was still on the mat. He probably didn’t look any different. But Jesus words stirred the teachers of the law around him.
6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Who do you think you are? God?
They knew God was the one who forgives sins. They weren’t ready to acknowledge Jesus WAS God. But Jesus was ready to show them that he was and had BOTH the power to heal AND the power to forgive.
8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralytic, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Talk is cheap…unless you back it up with actions.
The paralytic (now no longer a paralytic) walked out of the house in full view of them all. It was concrete proof that Jesus was God AND thus had the power to forgive sins.
What does that mean for you?
When Jesus says, “Mike (insert your name), your sins are forgiven.” They are…because HE is God AND has the power to forgive…you!
Apply: Have you ever felt (are feeling) like God won’t forgive you for _________? Never discount Jesus power to forgive all your sins…even the ones you don’t think he will!
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for seeing what my soul needs most…your forgiveness. Help me to always trust you have the power to forgive and the heart that is willing to forgive me! Amen.
The Importance of … a TEACHER OF THE LAW
Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “Timely Teaching for Turbulent Times”
Week 1 of 6: “The Importance of One!”
Full Sunday message, CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: You…A Tax Collector…A ‘Sinner’…A Pharisee…A Teacher
Like trained lawyers trying to lead the witness, Jesus opposition surrounded him in the temple courts and peppered him with questions. Would his answers give a reason to condemn him?
The chief priests and elders wanted to know “By whose authority are you doing these things?” (Mark 11:28)
The Herodians wanted to know “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?” (Mark 12:14)
The Sadducees (who don’t believe in resurrection) ask: “At the resurrection, whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” (Read Jesus’ brilliant responses in Mark 11 & 12)
Then came the teacher of the law as Jesus was finishing his discussion with the Sadducees:
Mark 12:28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
There was something different about the teacher’s question. He seemed to really want to know. He was impressed with Jesus’ answers to the others, and so he asked a question perhaps others had asked him. “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
Don’t we all want to know the answer to this question? Don’t you hope Jesus would say, “Don’t steal” or “Don’t murder”? Then we could feel good because we haven’t committed these “big” sins. Perhaps we’d feel pretty good about being granted an eternal life membership to the kingdom of God.
But Jesus gives a different answer.
Love God. Love your neighbor. “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:40)
The teacher of the law understood Jesus was the teacher of love. Love for God was more important than any burnt offering or sacrifice. Jesus commends him and says, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
We don’t know what happened to this teacher of the law, but I hope I see him in heaven. I hope I can ask him, “What was it like when Jesus found importance to answer your question?”
I wonder if he’ll say, “I’m glad he did. It was that day that I realized that to love God with all of your heart, God has to take over all of your heart. And he did.”
Apply: Am I trying to love God before being filled with the love of God? What happens to the activity of my day if I first filter all my actions behind the questions, “Is this showing love to God? Or “Is this showing love to my neighbor?”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for taking time to answer the question of the teacher of the law and teach him of your love. We all think we can earn your favor and forgiveness, but we can’t. Fill us with a love for you so that we may flow with a love for others! Amen.
The Importance of…a PHARISEE
Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “Timely Teaching for Turbulent Times”
Week 1 of 6: “The Importance of One!”
Full Sunday message, CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: You…A Tax Collector…A ‘Sinner’…A Pharisee…A Teacher
It’s no wonder he went at night. There was no way a Pharisee could be seen siding with Jesus…or even taking an honest interest in what he had to say.
Yet Nicodemus was curious. What he saw and heard in Jesus was not adding up to what the rest of his Pharisee buddies were saying. They were convinced Jesus was the pawn of Satan and the ruin of Jewish rule and law.
Yet Nicodemus noticed something different:
John 3:1-6 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
The evidence was not that Jesus was a tool of Satan, but that what he was doing indicated that he was from God. Nicodemus was starting to see the truth about Jesus. Jesus wanted him to see the whole truth.
3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
Jesus concern was for Nicodemus to see clearly the kingdom of God and what it meant to be part of it. For many Pharisees the kingdom of God was an earthly establishment that would surpass the greatness of Israel under the leadership of King David and Solomon. Yet Jesus was not proposing to kick out the Romans or proclaim himself an earthly king.
His kingdom was not of this world, but the reign of the good news that he was the Messiah sent, not to deliver Israel from the oppression of Rome, but to deliver them from the oppression of sin.
He wanted Nicodemus to get this.
The most well known verse in the Bible was given to Nicodemus first. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16) Life in God’s kingdom was a gift of faith, not earned by the effort of ones works.
Nicodemus came in private the first time. But publically he later was willing to carry the body of Jesus from the cross to Joseph’s tomb. The Spirit had given birth to a faith that trusted in Jesus and the work he did. Nicodemus now saw the kingdom of God…and he was part of it.
The same work the Spirit did on Nicodemus, he does on you. We all have a little Pharisee that wants to rely on our own effort to gain God’s favor. We all have a little Pharisee that would love to see God’s kingdom manifest itself on this earth. Yet, Jesus had this conversation with Nicodemus so we could all hear the same thing. He opens our eyes to see we are part of the kingdom of God, one that surpasses the kingdoms of this world, and lasts forever. He turns us from trust in our own righteousness to believe in God’s one and only Son.
For that (and being given John 3:16!) we can be forever grateful that Jesus took the time to find the lost Pharisee.
Apply: With an election coming up, are you trusting more in a political leader to bring God’s kingdom on this earth instead of praying for God to make his kingdom more real in your life?
Prayer: Father, forgive me for relying on my own effort to earn your favor. Redirect my heart and life to enjoy life in your kingdom, as a forgiven child of God whom you have connected to grace by the work of your Spirit. Amen
The Importance of…a SINNER!
Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “Timely Teaching for Turbulent Times”
Week 1 of 6: “The Importance of One!”
Full Sunday message, CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: You…A Tax Collector…A ‘Sinner’…A Pharisee…A Teacher
It was not shaping up to be a good day for this lady.
Perhaps just the night before she was caught in the act of adultery. Our current culture minimizes this activity as almost normal (unfortunately), but in Jesus’ time this was a BIG deal.
The sixth commandment prohibited it: “You shall not commit adultery.”
Leviticus 20:10 outlined the punishment for it. ‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.’
Based on the law, the Pharisees felt the obligation to follow through…but before they did, they wanted to use this woman’s sin for their own benefit…to find a reason to accuse Jesus.
John 8:1-11 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
Which was worse? The adultery or the attempt to trap Jesus? Jesus seems to ignore their question and begins to write something on the ground. The Pharisees press him until he stands up and speaks.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
Only the “sinner” remained. What happened to those that accused her? Silently they condemned themselves. The fact they all left indicated they were not without sin. They too were sinners and so were not about to throw the first stone.
Unfortunately, they didn’t stick around to hear what Jesus told the sinner that remained.
10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
The only one who had the right to condemn the woman caught in adultery (as he was without sin) was the one who chose not to and showed grace. He didn’t minimize the sin. He forgave it. He didn’t condone the behavior. He told her to leave it.
Jesus would have done this for each of the Pharisees to. It’s what he came to do. It’s why he hung out with sinners…to tell them they were forgiven and empower them to leave their life of sin.
It’s what he does for every sinner…just hang around him long enough to hear it!
Apply: What sin in your life do you need to hear Jesus say, “Neither do I condemn you?” Hear him say it. What sin in your life do you need Jesus’ power to over come? Hear him say, “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Prayer: Thank you Jesus for your love for every sinner. Thank you for not condemning me. Strengthen me to leave my life of sin. Amen.
The Importance of …a TAX COLLECTOR
Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “Timely Teaching for Turbulent Times”
Week 1 of 6: “The Importance of One!”
Full Sunday message, CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: You…A Tax Collector…A ‘Sinner’…A Pharisee…A Teacher
People say that the only things you can count on in life is death and taxes. However, I rarely hear of someone saying, “My best friend is an IRS agent or funeral director.” While not despised, few people desire to obtain each of these professions.
In Jesus’ day the community dreaded interacting with tax collectors. They were considered traitors because they were Jews working for the Roman government. They were resented because people hated paying taxes to the foreigners who ruled over them. They were also considered cheaters and often dishonest. They weren’t paid a wage, but were expected and encouraged to collect extra money to keep some for themselves, but often collected more than a reasonable wage would demand.
No wonder some in Jesus’ day refused to hang out with them.
But Jesus was different.
He saw past the occupation of the person to show concern for the heart of the person.
Jesus knew that it didn’t matter if a Jew chose to work for the Roman government, but he did know that a heart captivated by love of money could not be filled with the love of God. So he knew his love needed to reach the heart of each tax collector tempted to succumb to greed.
So he stepped outside the social norms. Dismissed the condescending remarks of the Pharisees and did what his heart compelled him to do…search for and find the lost tax-collector.
Matthew (also known as Levi) was one of those.
Mark 2:13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Like a master surgeon, Jesus went to those who were spiritually sick and applied the treatment of grace to change hearts from loving money to loving God.
The result of Jesus reaching the one…tax collector…Matthew? Matthew told his friends…Jesus changed them. Matthew was a disciple of Jesus…was a leader in the early spread of the Gospel. Matthew was inspired by the Spirit to record the life of Jesus in his Gospel…preserving Jesus’ life and ministry for us.
We too are the beneficiaries of Jesus taking time to reach the tax collector.
His concern for the tax collector simply reflects the same love he has for you too.
Apply: What blessing do you enjoy today from Jesus reaching Matthew? What blessing is God bringing to others by taking the time to reach you?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your concern for the tax-collectors. It shows your love for each soul and your concern that each heart loves you above all else. Help me to fight against love of money and love you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Amen.