Luke 11
THE MODEL PRAYER
1 He was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”

• All the Jewish prayers (Pharisaic Judaism) were read from a Jewish prayer book.
• Jesus prayed without reading.
• Matthew 6 – May 28, 2017 - #12

2 He said to them, “Whenever you pray, say,
Father, your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins,

• Pre-cross prayer.
• Hebrews 9:22 - “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”
• How many times did that happen?
• Thanks for forgiveness
• Because this is “red Letter” it is still taught as necessary.
• Teach prayer on context

for we ourselves also forgive everyone
in debt to us.
And do not bring us into temptation.”
 
ASK, SEARCH, KNOCK

• Does God get tired of the same prayer requests?

5 He also said to them: “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ 7 Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness (persistence), he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.

• Keep praying.
• As a group… it intensifies.

10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

• Jesus just told the Pharisees they are quite the opposite of God.
• Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.[1]

 
A HOUSE DIVIDED
14 Now he was driving out a demon that was mute.

• What is special about this miracle?

When the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds (multitude) were amazed.

• Only the Messiah could cast a demon out of a mute.
• The others casts demons out by calling on the name of the demons.
• Matthew 12 – Pharisees accused Jesus of doing this miracle under the power of Beelzebul.

15 But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”

• The crowds should have been rejoicing for the healing that took place… quite the opposite.
• Now the multitudes took on the belief system of their leaders.

16 And others, as a test, were demanding of him a sign from heaven.

• “All your miracles come from hell.”
• Now they were testing God.

17 Knowing their thoughts, he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls.

• Same response as Matthew 12. (06/25/17)

18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?

• They were so illogical.
• If Jesus & Satan are on the same team, why would they be fighting against each other.
• Jesus just cast out a demon.

For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out?

• The Pharisees are doing very similar miracles and you are not condemning them.
• How do their works differ?

For this reason, they will be your judges. 20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons he trusted in, and divides up his plunder.

• Jesus has just described Himself as a hero.
• In a season of super hero movies… Jesus proves to be better than Marvel & DC combined.

23 Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.

• Can you imagine Jesus eyeballing the crowd as He makes this last statement?
• You can’t stand here in the middle of the battle and not choose a side.
• Your indecision is your choice.

 
AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT’S RETURN
24 “When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest, and not finding rest, it then says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ 25 Returning, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person’s last condition is worse than the first.”

• Two things here: 1) The healed person could have easily made no choice to pursue God and his situation became worse than before.
• 2) Jesus could easily be foreshadowing what was to come for His Jewish nation. John the Baptist came, Jesus came and indecision ruled. Destruction came in 70 AD.
• How much history would have been impacted if Jesus would not have come?

 
TRUE BLESSEDNESS
27 As he was saying these things, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the one who nursed you!”
28 He said, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”

• It is not about His earthly ties but His heavenly ties.
• Keep the Law…

 
THE SIGN OF JONAH
29 As the crowds were increasing,

• The disciples were impressed with the numbers (Luke recorded this) but Jesus was not.

he began saying: “This generation is an evil generation. It demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh (capital of Assyria), so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.

• What is the one sign they will see? Resurrection
• Lazarus
• Jesus

31 The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and look—something greater than Solomon is here.

• The Queen of Sheba came all the way from the south to hear the wisdom of Solomon, yet Jesus stands right in front of them and they cannot hear it.
• The Gentiles will end up judging the Jewish nation.

32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s preaching, and look—something greater than Jonah is here.

• Even the corrupt men of Nineveh believed and repented.

 
THE LAMP OF THE BODY
33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in the cellar or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness.

• The brightest sun cannot enable a blind man to see.[2]

35 Take care, then, that the light in you is not darkness. 36 If, therefore, your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be entirely illuminated, as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
 
RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY DENOUNCED
37 As he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him. So he went in and reclined at the table. 38 When the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that he did not first perform the ritual washing before dinner.

• What can you learn from this statement about the purpose of this invite/dinner?
• The Pharisee was looking for something to accuse Jesus.

39 But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and evil.

• Pharisees (religious people) have a tendency to draw their students to them personally.
• Therefore, they need to be perfect on the outside.
• Hollywood doesn’t want anything to do with people who “blow it”.

40 Fools! Didn’t he who made the outside make the inside too?

• the same God who created the outside also created the inside, the “inner person” that also needs cleansing (Ps. 51:6, 10).[3]


• Bob Warren taught there were 5 stages of growth:
• 1) You’re a heathen – Born spiritually dead and never had ears to hear or eyes to see and you are perfectly fine with that because it is your sinful nature. It is all about “me”.
• 2) You’re a religious person – You do all the good things to make yourself look good. You pray a prayer. You come to church, you keep the 10 commandments, etc. You realize you have a sinful nature.
• 3) You’re a new believer – You are here and waiting for God to fix all your bad behavior and change your life for you.
• 4) You understand your identity – You know you are a holy, righteous, forgiven saint but you are still waiting for God to align your behavior with who you know you are. God is going to give you the strength to fix myself (exterior).
• 5) You not only understand that you are a new creation but you also realize that it is God’s responsibility to change your behavior. “I can’t fix my behavior.” Then you trust and rest. This is real life.
• The way to clean up a dirty vocabulary is not to brush your teeth but to cleanse your heart.[4]

41 But give from what is within to the poor, and then everything is clean for you.
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass justice and love for God. These things you should have done without neglecting the others.

• Tithing and didn’t help those in need.

43 “Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.

• Pride

44 “Woe to you! You are like unmarked graves; the people who walk over them don’t know it.”

• You are causing people to fall into holes and die.

45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult us too.”
46 Then he said: “Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, and yet you yourselves don’t touch these burdens with one of your fingers.
47 “Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 Therefore, you are witnesses that you approve the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments. 49 Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world--51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.
“Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.
52 “Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were trying to go in.”

• Religious people will try to kill you.
• Religion will never change one’s heart.
• Religion only causes people to try to conform in their behavior and it is impossible.
• Religion will kill you.

53 When he left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him fiercely and to cross-examine him about many things; 54 they were lying in wait for him to trap him in something he said.[5]

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Eph 1:3). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 217). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 217). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 217). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 11:1–54). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

John 9
1 As he was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.

• In the final analysis, all physical problems are the result of our fall in Adam, for his disobedience brought sin and death into the world (Rom. 5:12ff).
• But afterward, to blame a specific disability on a specific sin committed by specific persons is certainly beyond any man’s ability or authority.
• Only God knows why babies are born with handicaps, and only God can turn those handicaps into something that will bring good to the people and glory to His name.[1]

4 We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After he said these things he spit on the ground, made some mud from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he left, washed, and came back seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit begging?” 9 Some said, “He’s the one.” Others were saying, “No, but he looks like him.”
He kept saying, “I’m the one.”
10 So they asked him, “Then how were your eyes opened?”
11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So when I went and washed I received my sight.”
12 “Where is he?” they asked.
“I don’t know,” he said.
 
THE HEALED MAN’S TESTIMONY
13 They brought the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees. 14 The day that Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Then the Pharisees asked him again how he received his sight.
“He put mud on my eyes,” he told them. “I washed and I can see.”
16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” And there was a division among them.
17 Again they asked the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he opened your eyes?”
“He’s a prophet,” he said.
18 The Jews did not believe this about him—that he was blind and received sight—until they summoned the parents of the one who had received his sight.
19 They asked them, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”
20 “We know this is our son and that he was born blind,” his parents answered. 21 “But we don’t know how he now sees, and we don’t know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he’s of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed him as the Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue. 23 This is why his parents said, “He’s of age; ask him.”

• Fear has set in with his parents
• How do we even respond?
• Isaiah 51:12 - I—I am the one who comforts you. Who are you that you should fear humans who die, or a son of man who is given up like grass?[2]

24 So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”
25 He answered, “Whether or not he’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!”
26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27 “I already told you,” he said, “and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t want to become his disciples too, do you?”
28 They ridiculed him: “You’re that man’s disciple, but we’re Moses’s disciples. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But this man—we don’t know where he’s from.”

• Psalm 27: - 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom should I be afraid?
• When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.
• Though an army deploys against me, my heart is not afraid; though a war breaks out against me, still I am confident.
• I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking Him in His temple.
• For He will conceal me in His shelter in the day of adversity; He will hide me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high on a rock.
• Then my head will be high above my enemies around me; I will offer sacrifices in His tent with shouts of joy. I will sing and make music to the Lord.
• Lord, hear my voice when I call; be gracious to me and answer me.
• My heart says this about You, “You are to seek My face.” Lord, I will seek Your face.
• Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or abandon me, God of my salvation.
• Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord cares for me.
• Because of my adversaries, show me Your way, Lord, and lead me on a level path.
• Do not give me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing violence.
• I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.
• Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous.

Wait for the Lord. [3]
 
30 “This is an amazing thing!” the man told them. “You don’t know where he is from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will, he listens to him. 32 Throughout history no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.”
34 “You were born entirely in sin,” they replied, “and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.

•  The religious leaders officially excommunicated this man from the local synagogue.
• This meant that the man was cut off from friends and family and looked on by the Jews as a “publican and sinner.”
• But Jesus came for the “outcasts” and never let them down.[4]

 
SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, and when he found him, he asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

• Religious people despise revelation.
• It upsets their apple cart.
• It crashes their routine.

36 “Who is he, Sir, that I may believe in him?” he asked.
37 Jesus answered, “You have seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38 “I believe, Lord!” he said, and he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind.”
40 Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and asked him, “We aren’t blind too, are we?”
41 “If you were blind,” Jesus told them, “you wouldn’t have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.[5]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 324). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Is 51:12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ps 27:1–14). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 327). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 9:1–41). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

John 7:10
10 After his brothers had gone up to the festival, then he also went up, not openly but secretly.[1]
 - Festival of Booths/Tabernacles/Shelters.

• Priests would go to the Pool of Siloam from the temple and fill their golden pitchers with water and then return to the temple through the Kidron Valley and pour out the water over the altar at the Temple Mount to symbolize the pouring out of the Spirit.
• Then they would light the golden lampstand in the Holy Place (In front of the veil and Holy of Holies).
• “Lead us not into temptation” – Lights our way.

Luke 9:51-56
51 When the days were coming to a close for him to be taken up, he determined to journey to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead of himself, and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for him.
 - Samaritans were half-breeds and resented Jews.
53 But they did not welcome him, because he determined to journey to Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”
 - James & John had been with Jesus at the transfiguration.
55 But he turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went to another village. [2]

Matthew 8:19-22
19 A scribe approached him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20 Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
21 “Lord,” another of his disciples said, “first let me go bury my father.”
22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” [3]
 
Luke 9:57-62
57 As they were traveling on the road someone (a scribe according to Matthew 8:19) said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 Then he said to another, “Follow me.”
“Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.”
60 But he told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.”

• What if the man’s father had not even died?
• Jewish tradition is that the son had to stay at least 1 year after their father dies.

61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.”
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” [4]

• Jewish parents held a funeral for their children if they left the Judaism.
• If you go home… your parents will attempt to “win you back”
• Jesus is calling for complete surrender.
• Obedience comes with a sacrifice.
• Now wonder the workers are few (harvest is plentiful)

 
John 7:11-24
11 The Jews were looking for him at the festival and saying, “Where is he?”
- Could he possibly be the Messiah?
 - Jesus was actually doing the Messianic Miracles and they were watching everything He did.
12 And there was a lot of murmuring about him among the crowds. Some were saying, “He’s a good man.” Others were saying, “No, on the contrary, he’s deceiving the people.”
 - Jesus has already been condemned by Jewish leadership and accused of doing miracles under the power of Beelzubel.
13 Still, nobody was talking publicly about him for fear of the Jews.
14 When the festival was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. 15 Then the Jews were amazed and said, “How is this man so learned, since he hasn’t been trained?”

• How is this possible for the uneducated to speak so eloquently?
• How did Jesus learn? He did not go to any of the Rabbi’s schools. He was taught by God.
• Isaiah 50:4 - The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.[5]
• Seminary?
• Rabbi Such&Such says this… Rabbi Such&Such says this… different schools of Rabbis.
• Jesus never quotes Rabbis… just God’s Word.
• College generation and pastors are quoting theologians and philosophers more than they are quoting the Scripture… watch it happen.

16 Jesus answered them, “My teaching isn’t mine but is from the one who sent me. 17 If anyone wants to do his will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own.
- How do you know what God’s will is for your life?
 - You follow the Spirit.
 - How do you know when it is the Spirit of the Lord vs the power of sin?
 - You have to know the Father.
 - How do you know the Father?
 - You have to know His Word.
 - The Spirit is not going to lead you to do anything that is contrary to His Word.
 - Therefore you can match up what you hear the Spirit of God saying with God’s Word… It will not contradict.
 - You will hear people drop that line all the time… “The Spirit told me to…”
 - You can many times determine which spirit they are listening to.
 - Then you have to listen to the Spirit of God to know if He is leading you to “rebuke” the believer.
18 The one who speaks on his own seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
 - It is not about you “being happy”… “God, wants me to be happy.”
 - It is about being obedient so God is glorified.
 - Think about the decisions you make even in difficult relationships…
 - “I wonder how much glory God is going to get out of this decision?”
19 Didn’t Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”
 - Jesus kept every Law perfectly.
 - Jesus tried to break every oral law.
 - There is only person who will ever live the Law perfectly.
20 “You have a demon!” the crowd responded. “Who is trying to kill you?”
 - They tried to say they were innocent.
21 “I performed one work, and you are all amazed,” Jesus answered.

• John 5 – Jesus healed a paralyzed man and told him to pick up his pallet… on the Sabbath.

22 “This is why Moses has given you circumcision—not that it comes from Moses but from the fathers—and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.
 - The rabbis circumcised all Jewish baby boys on the 8th day… even if it fell on the Sabbath.
 - It was not against the Law for Jesus to heal this man on the Sabbath… just against their Jewish tradition (oral law).
23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses won’t be broken, are you angry at me because I made a man entirely well on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.”
 - Outward appearances – surface issues… symptoms… “He said, she said”.

• Righteous judgment – Root of the issue.
• You need wisdom from a wise person so you can get to the root… not the fruit.
• Getting to the root means dealing with pain and issues… it is work.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 7:10). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 9:51–56). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 8:18–22). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 9:57–62). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Is 50:4). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 9:35 – 11:1
35 Then Jesus went to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. 36 When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
 - Thankful for the 15 adults going to camp with us.
 - Jesus was teaching his boys how to be shepherds.

• How to protect, teach, heal and feed the flock.
• The flock is torn between which shepherd to follow (Jesus or the Pharisees)

 
10 Summoning His 12 disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.
 - These miracles were to validate the ministry of Jesus.
2 These are the names of the 12 apostles:
First, Simon, who is called Peter,
and Andrew his brother;
James the son of Zebedee,
and John his brother;
3 Philip and Bartholomew;
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot,
who also betrayed Him.
5 Jesus sent out these 12 after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road leading to other nations, and don’t enter any Samaritan town.
 - The Jews first… then the Gentiles.
 - Samaritans became half-breed Jews in 722 BC when Sargon conquered the Northern Kingdom and the Assyrians moved in to Israel.
6 Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, announce this: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, drive out demons. You have received free of charge; give free of charge. 9 Don’t take along gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts.
 - Trust the Lord that all their provisions would be met.
10 Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a walking stick, for the worker is worthy of his food.
11 “When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 Greet a household when you enter it, 13 and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it. But if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 I assure you: It will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
 - Open your eyes to see who is open to Jesus.

• No worries to the ones who are not interested.

 
16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves. 17 Because people will hand you over to sanhedrins and flog you in their synagogues, beware of them.
 - Use discernment gifted by the Holy Spirit to know when to “get involved.”
 -It is definitely not because I am pressured by other people’s leadings or agendas.
18 You will even be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the nations. 19 But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you should speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, 20 because you are not speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.
 - I had my shot at OBU this winter.
 - They gave me the whole week.

• I was prepared going in but it was not me that spoke.

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will even rise up against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. 23 When they persecute you in one town, escape to another. For I assure you: You will not have covered the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 A disciple is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!
 - Be like Jesus
 
26 “Therefore, don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops. 28 Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
 - Don’t worry about the Judeaizers.
 - Stay focused
29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. 30 But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. 31 So don’t be afraid therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows.
 
32 “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven. 34 Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to turn
a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36 and a man’s enemies will be
the members of his household.
37 The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. 39 Anyone finding his life will lose it, and anyone losing his life because of Me will find it.
 
40 “The one who welcomes you welcomes Me, and the one who welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. 41 Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple l—I assure you: He will never lose his reward!”
 
11 When Jesus had finished giving orders to His 12 disciples, He moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.[1]
 
Mark 6:12-13
12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they were driving out many demons, anointing many sick people with olive oil, and healing them. [2]
 - Jesus set them loose to do ministry and they were even sure who He was.
 
Mark 6:14-29
14 King Herod heard of this, because Jesus’ name had become well known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that’s why supernatural powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He’s Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet —like one of the prophets.”
16 When Herod heard of it, he said, “John, the one I beheaded, has been raised!”
 - There was fear in Herod because he thought Jesus was John the Baptist, who he had killed.
17 For Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!” 19 So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 because Herod was in awe of John and was protecting him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him he would be very disturbed, yet would hear him gladly.
21 Now an opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When Herodias’s own daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 So he swore oaths to her: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24 Then she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”
“John the Baptist’s head!” she said.
25 Immediately she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter —right now!”
26 Though the king was deeply distressed, because of his oaths and the guests he did not want to refuse her. 27 The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.[3]
 - John the Baptists ministry was 12-14 months.
 - Herod had him arrested for 2 years.
 
Mark 6:30-44
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all that they had done and taught.
 - You wouldn’t believe it… there was this one dude that… and this whole group of Jews… and then there was this little…”
 - Who couldn’t believe what had occurred? Jesus or the disciples?
31 He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
 - Jesus knows… there has to be a detachment from the activity and a connection with the Father.
 - There has to be physical rest and spiritual rest.
 - Come away… breathe… Fitbit breathing function…
 - It is really good.
32 So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place, 33 but many saw them leaving and recognized them. People ran there by land from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 So as He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then He began to teach them many things.
 - It is the shepherds responsibility to feed the sheep.
35 When it was already late, His disciples approached Him and said, “This place is a wilderness, and it is already late! 36 Send them away, so they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat.”
 - Never considered that Jesus could feed the crowd.
37 “You give them something to eat,” He responded.
They said to Him, “Should we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”
38 And He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look.”
When they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”
39 Then He instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in ranks of hundreds and fifties. 41 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to His disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 Everyone ate and was filled.
- He was teaching His disciples to feed the flock the truth.
 - He hands the food to the disciples to feed to the people so they will be satisfied.
 - There is a difference between being satisfied and unsatisfied.
 - The Gospel is satisfying if it is taught in proper context.
43 Then they picked up 12 baskets full of pieces of bread and fish.
 - This about being a good steward of what God has given you.
44 Now those who ate the loaves were 5,000 men.[4]
 -  The feeding of 5,000 constitutes yet another of Jesus’ messianic “signs,” placing Jesus in the line of God’s provision of manna to Israel in the wilderness through Moses.[5]

Mark 6:45-46
45 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. 46 After He said good-bye to them, He went away to the mountain to pray.[6]
 
John 6:14-15
14 When the people saw the sign He had done, they said, “This really is the Prophet who was to come into the world!” 15 Therefore, when Jesus knew that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself. [7]

Mark 6: 47-51
47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48 He saw them being battered as they rowed, because the wind was against them. Around three in the morning He came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them.
- If they got in at 6 PM… they had been battling the sea storm for around 9 hours.
49 When they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. Immediately He spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”[8]
 
Matthew 14:28-33
28 “Lord, if it’s You,” Peter answered Him, “command me to come to You on the water.”
29 “Come!” He said.
And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped Him and said, “Truly You are the Son of God!”[9]
 
Mark 6:51-52
They were completely astounded, 52 because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened. [10]
 -They had just seen one more amazing thing about the “awe of God” yet they couldn’t understand.
 
Mark 6:53-56
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and beached the boat. 54 As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Him. 55 They hurried throughout that vicinity and began to carry the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was. 56 Wherever He would go, into villages, towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him that they might touch just the tassel of His robe. And everyone who touched it was made well. [11]

[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 9:35–11:1). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mk 6:12–13). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mk 6:14–29). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mk 6:30–44). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Lemke, S. W. (2007). The Academic Use of Gospel Harmonies. In Holman Christian Standard Bible: Harmony of the Gospels (p. 97). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mk 6:45–46). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Jn 6:14–15). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mk 6:46–52). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 14:24–33). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mk 6:51–52). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mk 6:53–56). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

Matthew 8:28-34
28 When He had come to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met Him as they came out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 Suddenly they shouted, “What do You have to do with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
30 Now a long way off from them, a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 “If You drive us out,” the demons begged Him, “send us into the herd of pigs.”
32 “Go!” He told them. So when they had come out, they entered the pigs. And suddenly the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. 33 Then the men who tended them fled. They went into the city and reported everything—especially what had happened to those who were demon-possessed. 34 At that, the whole town went out to meet Jesus. When they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.[1]
 
Mark 5:1-20
1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 As soon as He got out of the boat, a man (two men – Matthew) with an unclean spirit (demon-possessed – Luke) came out of the tombs and met Him. 3 He lived in the tombs (he wore no clothes – Luke). No one was able to restrain him anymore—even with chains — 4 because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had snapped off the chains and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 And always, night and day, he was crying out among the tombs and in the mountains and cutting himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do You have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God, don’t torment me!” 8 For He had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9 “What is your name?” He asked him.
“My name is Legion (2,000-6,000),” he answered Him, “because we are many.” 10 And he kept begging Him not to send them out of the region (abyss – Luke).
 - Revelation 9:1 - The fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth. The key to the shaft of the abyss was given to him.[2]
 - Revelation 11:7 - 7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, conquer them, and kill them.[3]
 - Revelation 21:1-3 - Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for 1,000 years. 3 He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the 1,000 years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time. [4]
 
11 Now a large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. 12 The demons begged Him, “Send us to the pigs, so we may enter them.” 13 And He gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs, and the herd of about 2,000 rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.
 - Pigs even knew it was better to die than be possessed.
14 The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed by the legion, sitting there (at Jesus’ feet – Luke), dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 The eyewitnesses described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs. 17 Then they began to beg Him to leave their region.
18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging Him to be with Him. 19 But He would not let him; instead, He told him, “Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you.” 20 So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis (ten Gentile towns of the region) how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.[5]
 
Luke 8:26-39
26 Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 When He got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met Him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What do You have to do with me, Jesus, You Son of the Most High God? I beg You, don’t torment me!” 29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.
30 “What is your name?” Jesus asked him.
“Legion,” he said—because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged Him not to banish them to the abyss.
32 A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged Him to permit them to enter the pigs, and He gave them permission. 33 The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. 34 When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran off and reported it in the town and in the countryside. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Meanwhile, the eyewitnesses reported to them how the demon-possessed man was delivered. 37 Then all the people of the Gerasene region asked Him to leave them, because they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, He returned.
38 The man from whom the demons had departed kept begging Him to be with Him. But He sent him away and said, 39 “Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town all that Jesus had done for him.[6]
Matthew 9:18-26
18 As He was telling them these things, suddenly one of the leaders came and knelt down before Him, saying, “My daughter is near death, but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 So Jesus and His disciples got up and followed him.
20 Just then, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for 12 years approached from behind and touched the tassel on His robe, 21 for she said to herself, “If I can just touch His robe, I’ll be made well!” b
22 But Jesus turned and saw her. “Have courage, daughter,” He said. “Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that moment.
23 When Jesus came to the leader’s house, He saw the flute players and a crowd lamenting loudly. 24 “Leave,” He said, “because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.” And they started laughing at Him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26 And this news spread throughout that whole area.[7]
 
Mark 5:21-43
21 When Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him while He was by the sea. (the crowd welcomed Him because they were expecting Him – Luke) 22 One of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet 23 and kept begging Him, “My little daughter is at death’s door. Come and lay Your hands on her so she can get well and live.”
 - Being a Jewish leader… Jairus had to be torn… between what he taught, what he believed and the love for his little girl.

• Luke said this was his only daughter and she was 12 years old.

24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against Him. 25 A woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years 26 had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse. 27 Having heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His robe. 28 For she said, “If I can just touch His robes, I’ll be made well!”
 - Luke says she touched the tassel of His robe.
29 Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was cured of her affliction.
30 At once Jesus realized in Himself that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My robes?”
 - Asked this for the benefit of his disciples.
31 His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing against You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

• Luke said they all denied it and Peter spoke this.
• Luke 8:46 - “Someone did touch Me,” said Jesus. “I know that power has gone out from Me.”

32 So He was looking around to see who had done this. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came with fear and trembling, fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth.
 - Luke 8:47 - In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched Him and how she was instantly cured.
 - At this point, Jesus corrects her about what healed her.
34 “Daughter,” He said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be free from your affliction.”
35 While He was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher anymore?”
36 But when Jesus overheard what was said, He told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe. (She will be made well – Luke)” 37 He did not let anyone accompany Him except Peter, James, and John, James’s brother (Father & Mother – Luke ). 38 They came to the leader’s house, and He saw a commotion (the flute players {taps} – Matthew)—people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.”
40 They started laughing at Him, but He put them all outside. He took the child’s father, mother, and those who were with Him, and entered the place where the child was. 41 Then He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” ). 42 Immediately the girl got up (her Spirit returned – Luke) and began to walk. (She was 12 years old.) At this they were utterly astounded. 43 Then He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and said that she should be given something to eat.[8]
(Matthew 9:26 - and the news spread throughout the whole area.)
 
Luke 8:40-56
40 When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they were all expecting Him. 41 Just then, a man named Jairus came. He was a leader of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and pleaded with Him to come to his house, 42 because he had an only daughter about 12 years old, and she was at death’s door.
While He was going, the crowds were nearly crushing Him. 43 A woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years, who had spent all she had on doctors yet could not be healed by any, 44 approached from behind and touched the tassel of His robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped.
45 “Who touched Me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are hemming You in and pressing against You.”
46 “Someone did touch Me,” said Jesus. “I know that power has gone out from Me.” 47 When the woman saw that she was discovered, she came trembling and fell down before Him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched Him and how she was instantly cured. 48 “Daughter,” He said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader’s house, saying, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t bother the Teacher anymore.”
50 When Jesus heard it, He answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be made well.” 51 After He came to the house, He let no one enter with Him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Everyone was crying and mourning for her. But He said, “Stop crying, for she is not dead but asleep.”
53 They started laughing at Him, because they knew she was dead. 54 So He took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then He gave orders that she be given something to eat. 56 Her parents were astounded, but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.[9]
 
Matthew 9:27-34
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, shouting, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
 - These men recognized Jesus’ Messiahship.
28 When He entered the house,
 - privately
 - Healing based upon personal faith & personal need.
the blind men approached Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they answered Him.
29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith!” 30 And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus warned them sternly, “Be sure that no one finds out!” 31 But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout that whole area.
 
32 Just as they were going out, a demon-possessed man who was unable to speak was brought to Him. 33 When the demon had been driven out, the man spoke. And the crowds were amazed, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”
 - Confirmation of Messianic miracle.
 - 2nd time this miracle was performed.
34 But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons!”[10]
Matthew 13:54-58
54 He went to His hometown and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “How did this wisdom and these miracles come to Him? 55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother called Mary, and His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where does He get all these things?” 57 And they were offended by Him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.” 58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief. [11]
 
Mark 6:1-6
1 He went away from there and came to His hometown, and His disciples followed Him. 2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom given to Him, and how are these miracles performed by His hands? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses (Joseph), Judas, and Simon? And aren’t His sisters here with us?” So they were offended by Him.
4 Then Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” 5 So He was not able to do any miracles there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He was amazed at their unbelief.[12]

• It’s their unbelief that causes them to miss the awe of God.

[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 8:28–34). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Re 9:1). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Re 11:7–8). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Re 20:1–3). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mk 5:1–20). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Lk 8:26–39). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 9:18–26). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mk 5:21–43). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Lk 8:40–56). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 9:27–34). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 13:54–58). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mk 6:1–6). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

This week:
         John 1:19-51
Messianic Miracles:
- Stages of Investigation:
     1) Observation
     2) Questioning - Interrogation
John tells the Jews from Jerusalem who he is
John 1:19-28 - 19 This is John’s testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites (Sanhedrin) to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 He did not refuse to answer, but he declared: “I am not the Messiah.”
21 “What then?” they asked him. “Are you Elijah?”
“I am not,” he said.
“Are you the Prophet?”
“No,” he answered.
22 “Who are you, then?” they asked. “We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?”
23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord —just as Isaiah the prophet said.”
24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 So they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”
26 “I baptize with water,” John answered them. “Someone stands among you, but you don’t know Him. 27 He is the One coming after me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.”
28 All this happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John identifies Jesus as the Messiah
John 1:29-34 - 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the One I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’ 31 I didn’t know Him, but I came baptizing with water so He might be revealed to Israel.”
32 And John testified, “I watched the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He rested on Him. 33 I didn’t know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One you see the Spirit descending and resting on—He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God!”[1]
Jesus calls his first disciples
         - John 1:35-51 – Andrew & John

35 Again the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look! The Lamb of God!”
37 The two disciples (Andrew & John who doesn’t mention his own name) heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and noticed them following Him, He asked them, “What are you looking for?”
They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are You staying?” (Will you be our Rabbi?)

• Jewish education was made up of three primary sections:

1. Bet Safar
2. Bet Talmud
3. Bet Midrash

Bet Safar - Usually from the ages 5 to 10
- It is a time taught in the synagogue by the Rabbi.
- During this time, good Jewish boys memorized Torah - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy - memorized by the age of ten!

Bet Talmud - Progressing on from Bet Safar, it continues from the age of 10 on to 14.
- During this time, the student would continue his memorization of the Psalms, prophets, and the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament).
- It wasn't uncommon in that day for a good Jewish boy to have the Old Testament memorized by the age of fourteen.
- The student would also during this time begin to learn the art of questions and answers.
- In our western civilization today, we are into information transfer, but in those days, answering a question wasn't quite as direct.
- A rabbi might ask a student what is two plus two?
- Today, we would spout off the answer of four.
- But back then when a Rabbi would ask what two plus two was, a student might answer with, "What is the square root of sixteen?"
- This not only told the Rabbi that the student heard and understood the question, but was able to process it and respond with a question of his own.

Bet Midrash – Past age 14
Each Rabbi would have their own interpretation of how to live out the Torah.

• Rabbis would take on the best of the best as students.
• The purpose:
  • Ate, drink, lived with their teacher.
  • Disciples memorized the words of their Rabbi
  • It wasn’t just about learning what they ‘knew’ but learning how to be like them… to think, act, and do like them.
  • There are stories of disciples following their Rabbi into the bathroom!
• The disciples Jesus was pursuing had already returned to their father’s trade.

39 “Come and you’ll see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day. It was about 10 in the morning. (or 10 hours after 6 AM being 4 PM)
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Him. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which means “Anointed One”), 42 and he brought Simon to Jesus.
When Jesus saw him, He said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which means “Rock”).
43 The next day He decided to leave for Galilee. Jesus found Philip and told him, “Follow Me!”
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law (and so did the prophets ): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!”
46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him.
“Come and see,” Philip answered.
47 Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said about him, “Here is a true Israelite; no deceit is in him.”
 - In reference to Jacob, he was an Israelite who deceived his father, Isaac to steal the birthright of Esau.
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
“Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered.
 - Jewish tradition was that students sat under specific trees to study… that being fig trees.
 - Jesus even referred to the person Philip was thinking about.
 - He not only told him where he had been but what he was thinking.

Genesis 28:10-12 - 10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11 He reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place. 12 And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down on it.[2]

49 “Rabbi,” Nathanael replied, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus responded to him, “Do you believe only because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then He said, “I assure you: You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”[3]
 - Nathanael was going to see greater things than Jesus just reading his mind.

[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Jn 1:19–34). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ge 28:10–12). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Jn 1:35–51). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.