MARCH 12 THE JESUS QUESTIONS JQ#09-02 >>> Lessons, Lifestyle, and Parables of Jesus <<< JQ#09 “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28)

LIVING FOR JESUS --- Daily Devotional

MARCH 12  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#09-02 >>> Lessons, Lifestyle, and Parables of Jesus <<< JQ#09 “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28)

Daily Prayer 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 Jesus, no explanation is needed, let us instead of questioning “Why” or “How” it is possible that God would Sacrifice Himself, I pray that we will Trust God and step out in “Faith” and accept the “Gift” of Grace and praise You for Your Mercy! Forgive me this day of my iniquities and guide me in Your Path of Righteousness.    AMEN

THE JESUS QUESTIONS

MARCH 12  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#09-02 >>> Lessons, Lifestyle, and Parables of Jesus <<< JQ#09 “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28) Jesus has asked 8 previous Questions that point us to discipleship and at the close of JQ#08 Jesus asked a “Summary Question” when He stated to the Pharisees that questioned Him “Why?” (as they saw that Jesus was “eating with tax collectors and sinners”) would He associate with “sinners” which the Pharisees saw as going against their “religious traditions” — but Jesus explained His motive to them when He stated: “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Matthew 9:11-13) Jesus was then approached by some of “the disciples of John” who asked Jesus, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” (Matthew 9:14) Jesus answered that question about the “traditions” that were practiced by the Jews of that time with a Teaching Question of His own when He asked the disciples of John and the Pharisees that were listening, “And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?’” (Matthew 9:15) In order to fully understand what Jesus is Teaching with this summary Question we must keep in mind that Jesus had just been questioned by the Pharisees as to His conduct with “sinners” and then the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist questioned Jesus on the Jewish “tradition” of “fasting” — and it was in this context of the “traditionalist” and “legalist” questioning of Jesus as to His conduct with “tax collectors and sinners” that Jesus introduces a new concept with His rebuttal Question (which at first glance looks like He is avoiding the question on “traditionalism and legalism” by changing the subject but in reality His rebuttal Question is a new “Revelation” of God’s Master Plan). However, as Jesus asks this seemingly off the wall Question about “friends of the bridegroom”, if you take into consideration the  context of the Questions Jesus has asked so far and what miraculous things He has been doing in the name of “our Father in heaven”, the Question Jesus poses about “friends of the bridegroom” is both right on time for His earthly mission and is a foreshadowing of future events in God’s Master Plan of Salvation. 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 of God which in turn should cause us to simply live a Godly and righteous life as we apply the Lessons Jesus Teaches us about 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 of God” contained within our answers. Jesus asks a series of Questions that appear individual in nature but are building “precept upon precept” the “Truth of God” so that with each Lesson we gain another glimpse of the “Almighty”. In this study so far, all the JESUS Questions and their context have been in a “logical sequence” and have established “Godly 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#08b 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 certainly all the “friends of the bridegroom” 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 that 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  of Jesus and building the “foundation of Faith in God” on the “solid rock” — JQ#09 is then asked by Jesus as the “final exam” of “Introductory Discipleship” as Jesus asks “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28)  Jesus points us to the “correct answer” with His Summary Question JQ#08b where he introduces the concept of His disciples being “friends of the bridegroom” as the key to understanding Lessons JQ#1-8.  We have so far read of the miraculous Work Jesus has done in the Name of God whom Jesus has proclaimed as “our Father in heaven” so we too must answer this “Final Exam Question on Introductory Discipleship” about what we have learned about Jesus so far:  JQ#09  “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28) and immediately Jesus assures and encourages us with this great “Truth of God” — “According to your faith let it be to you.” (Matthew 9:29)