After reading the Bible, I am not sure how people can still question whether Jesus ever proclaimed to be God or not. In Day 11 called “Proclaim,” the authors give us these verses from Luke 4:18-19, then remind us of an event where Jesus clearly pronounced His Deity. Jesus had come to His hometown in Nazareth, and on the Sabbath, entered their synagogue and volunteered to read from the book of Isaiah. The authors say, “He found the place where our verse of the day was written (a verse written in the eighth century BC about the coming Messiah) and read it out loud. Then He sat down and said, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’ (v21).” (p53) Their problem and ours is that we humans misunderstand what the Bible proclaims way too often.
We think too small. They thought the Messiah was going to end the Roman enslavement, while Jesus came to end our slavery to sin. They, and sadly too many people now also, think that God desires to give us all the riches of this world, while Jesus came to grant us all the eternal treasures of Heaven. They, and we, want liberty from our worldly troubles, while Jesus came to grant us freedom from a fruitless life. We think “this temporary world,” while Jesus grants us Everlasting Life. And how can He do this if He is not indeed God Himself?
I will end with this quote from our authors, “Jesus was indeed a good man and a powerful teacher, one who was kind and loving and inclusive and all that. But He also claimed to be the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy regarding the one who would save the world. And on that Sabbath day in His quiet hometown, He proclaimed it in a way no one in the room misunderstood. The long-foretold Messiah you’ve been preaching about in your synagogues for centuries? I’m Him.” (p54) clearly Jesus is the Savior of our world… and of our hearts. More tomorrow…
2023’s Got A Minute? Book Club
January: The First & Best Book Ever: The Bible
February: Love Is In the Air: “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts” by Gary Chapman
March: Spring Growth: “Secrets of the Vine” by Bruce Wilkinson
April: Living the Resurrected Life: “The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life” by Dr Charles Stanley
May: My Spiritual Mom: “Making Good Habits Breaking Bad Habits” by Joyce Meyer
June: Spiritual Dad: “It’s Not About Me- Rescue from the Life We Thought Would Make Us Happy” by Max Lucado
July: Financial Freedom “Complete Guide to Money” by Dave Ramsey
August: Summer’s Soul Restorer “A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23” by W Phillip Keller
September: Covering Our Children: “Prayers for the Prodigals” by James Banks
October: Reformation of Our Hearts: “Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine” by Max Lucado
November: So Thankful To Be Chosen: “The Chosen 40 Days with Jesus Book One, Book Two & Book Three” by Amanda Jenkins, Kristen Hendricks and Dallas Jenkins
<>< Peace, Diane
