APRIL 11 The Jesus Questions

LIVING FOR JESUS --- Daily Devotional

April 11 / Day 43

365 Prayers to JESUS

Jesus, You Lord are to be Greatly Praised, You alone are Worthy of this Great Praise from all mankind for You gave Your Perfect Life that an imperfect world could be justified before the Father who is Faithful and Just, full of Mercy and Grace. Lord Jesus, there is no explaining why God would become flesh and offer Himself as an acceptable atonement of the world’s transgressions against that same Holy Merciful God?!?!? Lord, no explanation is needed, let us instead of questioning “Why” or “How” it is possible step out in faith and accept the Gift of Grace and praise You for Your Mercy! Forgive me this day my iniquities and guide me in Your Path of Righteousness.

The Jesus Questions

JQ#9 -  The Jesus Questions that have been asked so far and the context surrounding each question JQ#1-8 (Matthew 5:1 through Matthew 9:13) has introduced us to the Divine Work of Jesus and to being a “Follower of Jesus”. In His Divine Teachings Jesus has established that the “Truth of God” should be “lived” in our lives, that we are to first “learn” the “Truth of God” then we are to “Live the Truth of God” and then share the “Light of God’s Truth” with others. These lessons are single in nature and built around simple questions designed to cause us to see the simple truth which in turn should cause us to simply live a “Godly and righteous” life as we apply the lessons in our day-to-day world. The method Jesus has been using is to ask a question that can easily be answered by observation and common sense and the expectation is that we will acknowledge the “obvious truth” contained within our answers. Jesus asks a series of questions that appear individual in nature but are building “precept upon precept” of the “Truth of God” so that with each lesson we gain another glimpse of the “Almighty”. In this study so far all the questions and their context have been in a “logical sequence” and have established “principals” such as the “Law of Choice and Consequence” and the “Fundamentals of Faith” and then in Matthew 9:15 Jesus introduces a new concept which caught me off guard and caused me to study His Word a little deeper, which could well be the lesson — “There is always more to learn in God’s Word!” JQ#9a is “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom  is with them?” (Matthew 9:15) which introduces us to the concept of Jesus being a “bridegroom” suggesting an upcoming marriage and Jesus calls those following Him “friends of the bridegroom” which suggests an intimate relationship with the bridegroom and will be expected to attend the wedding ceremony. Jesus also introduces the fact that “the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away” which foreshadows His leaving sometime in the future. Jesus immediately moves to two examples that illustrate His intent is not in “repairing” our sin nature/sickness but He has come to completely make us “new” as He uses the illustration of “unshrunk cloth on an old garment” and putting “new wine into new wineskins” (Matthew 9:16-17). This “new” concept combined with the two miracles of healing in Matthew 9:18-29 and the healing of two blind men and a demonic points to a “summary” of JQ#1-8 as the introduction to discipleship and the responsibilities of being a follower and building the foundation of faith on the “solid rock” — JQ#9b then enters as the key to understanding lessons 1-8 as Jesus asks: “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28) and then Jesus assures us with this great “Truth” — “According to your faith let it be to you.” (Matthew 9:29)