Daily Advent Lectionary Readings - Saturday December 23
Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
Judges 13:2-24
John 7:40-52
On the last day, the climax of the festival (Feast of Tabernacles), Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" (When he said "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.) When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, "Surely this man is the Prophet we've been expecting." Others said, "He is the Messiah." Still others said, "But he can't be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born." So the crowd was divided about him. Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him. When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, "Why didn't you bring him in?" "We have never heard anyone speak like this!" the guards responded. "Have you been led astray, too?" the Pharisees mocked. "Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him? This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God's curse is on them!" Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. "Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?" he asked. They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself--no prophet ever comes from Galilee!" John 7:37-52
Search the Scriptures and see for yourself--no prophet ever comes from Galilee! But....Jesus is the Messiah.
Research. That is what those people in Jrusalem needed to do. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Why didn't they ask Him where He was born? Isn't that one of the first questions you ask someone when you first meet them. Where are you from? How long have you lived here? Jesus would have answered that He was born in Bethlehem and after living in Egypt for a while He grew up in Nazareth. But like Nathanael said before met Jesus..."
Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46) Since Jesus ministry was centered in Galilee, people naturally assumed He was from that region. As the there was no prophesies about the Messiah coming from Galilee, few people believed He was one who had come to be their Savior--their Messiah. Would you have believed in Him? Do you believe now...or do you need to do more research? Tomorrow we begin the celebration of His birth. We are blessed to have the freedom to worship Jesus in spirit and in truth. Take advantage of that opportunity--worship and adore Him--as your Messiah.
Prayer ~ Lord. You are my Messiah...my Lord...my Savior. I praise You and look forward to celebrating Your birth--as the shepherds and wise men did. Holy. Holy. Holy--are You, Lord God Almighty. Open the eyes of anyone reading this--and reveal Yourself as their Messiah.
Daily Bible Reading: Hebrews 11-13
Advent Random Act of Kindness - Give care packs to the homeless.
© 2017 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
No comments:
Post a Comment