Day Two

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Laying down the hammer used in his carpenter’s trade, Jesus kissed his mother on the cheek and started out the door with nothing but a bag flung over his shoulder. His time had come as he had heard his father’s voice speaking clearly. This was his appointed time to fulfill his destiny; the reason for his birth, and ultimately, his death from the very beginning of time.

Off in the distance, John’s voice echoed above the crowd, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!” Baptizing many on that day, with the scorching sun beating down upon his brow, John looked up and Jesus was standing beside him to be baptized. “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” John asked Jesus. Jesus replied, “Let it be so now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus was baptized, and rising up out of the water the heavens were opened and the Spirit of God descended like a dove on him and a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil for forty days and forty nights. For the first time, he felt the pangs of hunger, with his stomach feeling hollow and every rib could be counted from lack of food, and his mouth parched from thirst. If only he could have just one drop of water to wet his tongue that was sticking to the roof of his mouth. Falling from the extreme heat and lack of food and water, alone in the desert sun with no shelter, he was alone to be tormented and taunted by Satan. “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Knowing his eternal purpose and what he was doing for all of humanity, Jesus overcame the pangs of hunger and thirst, realizing that all those who would come to him would be satisfied in a deeper way than food or drink. They would be fed spiritually and after coming to him, they would be filled. They would never hunger or thirst again for the scraps of the world. Crying out to God for supernatural strength, he spoke back to Satan, with the same words he has taught all that have followed behind him, with all authority, “Away from me Satan, for it is written, worship God and serve him only.”

What a victory! He had passed the test! Satan left him, and God smiled down on his precious obedient son. Returning to Galilee, Jesus was full of the Spirit. Everywhere he went, he drew a crowd. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. Come to me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. I will refresh your weary souls and give you streams in the desert. Be set free today! Be healed today!” They came one by one, the lonely, hopeless, forsaken, the outcasts, the downtrodden, the sick, the woman caught in adultery, the woman with the issue of blood, the young, the old and of every economic status. It didn’t matter. They had a need and Jesus filled their needs, from the small to the great. He didn’t do it for the multitudes, but for that one individual, steeped in sin and bondage, knowing that he held the answer to their most urgent heart cry. No matter how long it would take, he would never give up on them. He was born for this very purpose. First, one would come, and then another; one by one they came to him with the realization that they needed a miracle and he had the cure. The beggars, the harlots, the lepers came one by one to sit at the feet of Jesus, to hear his stories, share a meal or be warmed by the campfire. They would learn from him and find hope where no other hope could be found.

The greatest miracle of all is that he loves me, even me, the sinner that I am. He loves me; all the good, the bad and the ugly. He does not push me away, but he pulls me close. He is the glory and the lifter of my head. He sees my desperation in a crowd full of people and he looks straight at me into my eyes and I know love like I have never known before!

Romans 2:4

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

John 6:37

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Luke 15: 1-7

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable; Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

We are so busy reflecting on Jesus’ ministry that we sometimes forget how Mary, his mother, must have felt, knowing her son was about to embark on a mission that was ordained by God. As a mother and a grandmother, I can just imagine all the emotions she must have had welling up inside of her when Jesus left that day to start his ministry. She had the same memories that all mothers have. She had given birth to him, fed him, clothed him, bandaged his cuts and bruises and watched him play as a child. I’m sure she had the same problem of letting go as so many of us face today when it’s time for our kids to leave the nest. She knew this was God’s plan from the beginning of time, and I love her gentle words of faith in her God when the angel, Gabriel, gave her the news that she was going to be the mother of the Messiah that would save his people from their sins.

Luke 1: 46-48

and Mary said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden; for, behold, from henceforth to all generations shall call me blessed.

Because Mary was chosen by God to bring forth her son, Jesus, the world will never be the same! What a glorious hope for all mankind!

Because of Jesus’ mercy and grace, we can come boldly to his throne and make our requests known to him. There is no sin too great to keep us away from his fathomless love. His mercies are new every morning and because he welcomes the sinner, and all who need a Savior, we have a glorious hope. We can live a victorious life with a new beginning as we accept his invitation to “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is near.” His love is boundless! What wonderful news to know that Jesus invitation still stands today, to embrace eternal life! We have been sent the invitation from the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! This is the party of all party’s and the one giving the party gives us a gift, the gift of eternal life! We don’t have to wait until life as we know it here ends. We can start right now living the abundant life that only Jesus can give us today!

Won’t you accept his invitation if you haven’t already, and find out what the abundant life is all about? He holds the power to set you free today from fear, and the ravages of sin will lose their hold on you. Lay your burdens down and start to enjoy the abundant life found only in Jesus Christ.

Day One

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Mary let out a deep sigh as the blazing sun beat down upon her brow. With sweat pouring off her drenched face, she felt the sting from the heat wrap around her like a blanket on a hot day. Her swollen feet were as parched as her lips. It seems as though they had traveled for days and days. Mile after mile they had made their way along the dusty, dirt roads, around mountain passes and rugged terrain, riding on the back of a donkey. This was not quite the honeymoon she had in mind a short time ago. With no shelter from the hot sun or the cold windy nights, she wondered, would they ever reach Bethlehem? With every bump, her huge nine-month belly shook, and the stabbing pains were starting to become unbearable.

If only they could reach their destination soon, Mary thought. She couldn’t wait to freshen up at the Inn and get some much needed rest. She knew it wouldn’t be much longer until her precious baby boy would be born. As tired as she was, she was filled with anticipation at the miracle that was taking place.

Mary thought back to a short time ago when she was ecstatic to be betrothed to her beloved, handsome Joseph. He was a godly man and so very gentle. She had her eyes on him from the start. My, how things had suddenly changed since the night the Angel first appeared to her, telling her that her virgin womb would bring forth the Messiah, the Son of God. He would be the long-awaited answer to so many prayers for generations. His name would be Jesus. But, it was never easy from the start. So many questions bombarded her mind, and not only her mind, but her family, her friends and mostly Joseph. But Mary kept all the words the Angel had spoken to her that night, and pondered them in her heart. She knew her God had a plan that would enfold in His own time.

Now, no matter what she remembered from the past, nothing could deny that this was a full-fledged miracle of God, with every kick that she felt, knowing the heartbeat inside of her was the precious Son of the Living God.

“But why, God? Why would you bring your Son into the world under these dire conditions? Why these dusty roads? Why like this?” As difficult as it was, Mary had a heart for God and was obedient to his leading. Sometimes, you must just go on and trust him when nothing else makes sense, she thought. There was no glamour in any of this; no glitz! But they were chosen by God, handpicked for such a time as this.

At Bethlehem’s entrance, the pains grew more intense and became unbearable with each step. Joseph, frantic to find help for his wife, found help from no one. There was no room in the inn, but as a last resort, the innkeeper pointed them to a stable with livestock. At least it was quiet and out of the way of all the noise of the busy hub bub of the town.

With one last push, Mary, the young mother of the Savior of the world gave birth to Jesus, the long awaited Messiah, who was born on that most holy of nights to save his people from their sins. There in that dingy, dirty, smelly stable full of barn yard animals, after giving birth, Mary laid Jesus in a manger, a barn yard trough, that cradled him, along with some hay that the animals were sharing. The brightest star stopped overhead. It’s brilliance attracted people near and far, to come see the miracle that had just taken place. The world would never be the same!

Luke 2: 8-14

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An Angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the Angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the Angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

This holy child, Jesus, the Son of God, was born in a dirty, messy stable surrounded by barn yard animals. This leads us to ponder, Why would God allow his own son to come into the world like this? There was no royalty in this; no glory, no majesty fit for a king, the holy Son of God. Instead, Jesus was brought into the world in this humble, lowly estate to lower himself down to man’s level so that we might recognize him as one of us. God allowed his very own son whom he loved so much to be brought down lower than the angels, so that in due time, we would be lifted up, that we might have the abundant life that only he could give us.

This is where it all began, the part where God tells us to Fear Not! Do not be afraid, just like he told the shepherds that were moved by fear on that most Holy of nights! And yes, Jesus humbled himself so that when we are in the pit of despair, he is not afraid to come down to our lowest place of darkest gloom, and even get in the pig pen with us for a time, to lift us back up. He’s not afraid to get dirty. He came to reach His people in their lowest estate. He came to wipe our tears away and set us free of fear and all bondage that is holding us back from all that he came to give us.

As I reflect on the miracle of Jesus’ birth, I am also humbled that God looked on my lowly estate and loved me so much that he sent a part of himself, his very own Son, Jesus, to be born to ransom me from death and hell. He was born to save me from my sins and to make a way for me to spend eternity with him. He was born into a world from the very start that had no room for him. He suffered many of the same day to day struggles much like you and I, with one of them being rejection. Can’t you just see the Wise Men following that star to where the baby could be found? They were looking for a great king, but they were led to a humble stable, only to find a baby, sleeping peacefully on a bed of hay. I will spend every moment of my life making room in my heart for him.

Do you have room in your heart for him today? Will you give him a chance and let him in to pick up all the broken pieces of your life? He won’t judge you. He is waiting to give you a fresh start. Just like the shepherds, you may be afraid also. He is saying to you in his gentlest voice, “Do not be afraid. There is news of great joy for you also!”

Isaiah 60: 1

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”

INTRODUCTION

FIVE DAY STUDY

There is no doubt that we are living in unsettling times. Fear and panic have become widespread at an alarming rate over the past year, with the talk of Covid-19 being the central topic of most of our conversations. This has compelled me to embark on a journey of my own by tapping into the peace that only God can give us when everything around us is changing rapidly from day to day. It is a comforting assurance to know the Prince of Peace and I want to encourage others to do the same. That’s why I have written this five day study on “Knowing Jesus Intimately.” Only then will we find true peace, unlike the peace the world offers.

People are searching for answers to all the questions that have been plaguing so many of us these days. Speaking of the word, plague, this is a topic Jesus was familiar with when he healed people of Leprosy and many other maladies of his day. He healed the ten lepers and only one of them returned to thank him.

There has been one word that has prevailed through these past several months and that word is fear. Fear has crippled society and stopped many of us in our tracks. While we should be diligent in taking the proper precautions deemed necessary, in no way should we be consumed by fear. The Bible clearly tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. The words “Fear Not” have been reiterated repeatedly throughout the Bible. We must not allow fear to dominate our lives but be controlled by the Holy Spirit and the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. I get the feeling that God was really trying to get through to his kids that he is in total control. He has not given up his throne for a single second. We have nothing to fear if we put our full trust in him. Faith and fear cannot operate together. You either have one or the other. Fear has no place in the child of God.

In every season of Jesus’ life and ministry, there is a powerful lesson to learn and to apply to our own lives. I can think of no better topic to write about in these changing times. Getting a closer glimpse at Jesus, the one who holds our lives in his hands will bring clarity and peace to the child of God as we lean in and get a closer look at the heart of the Father for his children. It is only then that we will find true peace, the kind of peace that we so earnestly crave for a richer life. No matter what life looks like for you today, He is your peace that passes all understanding. This is a five day study to “KNOWING JESUS INTIMATELY.” I hope you will join me in this quest for real peace.

Come with me to Day One of Humble Beginnings to the humble stable where the King of Glory was born. See for yourself how he came into the world to serve and save the lost and to bring hope to a fearful and dying world.

Come with me to Day Two of Jesus, Friend of Sinners. Watch how Jesus could zero in on that one in a crowd, looking deep into their eyes, bringing them to their knees, knowing he was the only one who could give them the one thing they needed, forgiveness.

Come along with me to Day Three, Jesus, Man of Miracles, and see the compassion of Jesus when he wept at the death of his beloved friend, Lazarus, just before raising him back to life, and how he healed the sick, fed the multitudes and loved the unlovely.

Come with me to Day Four, Jesus, Lover of My Soul, and you will soon realize the love Jesus has for you. His is a love that whispers into the deepest crevices of your heart and beckons you to come and sit at his feet and drink from the well of his love that will never run dry. Come to that quiet place where he will refresh your soul and lift you out of the pit of despair. Watch how he loves the children and takes them in his arms and how he honors women and their incredible worth.

And lastly, come with me to Day Five, Jesus, Giver of Eternal Life. It is here where you will find renewed hope. Come along quiet streams as he replenishes you back to wholeness. You will see that broken things can become beautiful in the midst of the ash heap of your weary soul. All fear will fall aside when you grasp the miracle of the cross and the power it contains to give you the abundant life that is such a part of the redemption story; the power of the cross. Joy will bubble up inside of you like never before, and new freedom will be yours forever. I can hear the chains falling now. Life will take on new meaning for you as your walk in total peace.

My hope for you is that you will come away refreshed. This same God who rides on the wings of the wind and flung the stars into space is still the same God who cures diseases and rose from the grave. No matter what you are facing in life, Jesus is the Cure!