New Testament Reading Plan: Week 6

Week 6 summary:

Mark 10:1b (which means the last part of verse 1) says (from the Common English Bible translation):  “Crowds gathered around Him again and, as usual, He taught them.”  Most of the gospel stories are about the crowds that gathered around Him.  Jesus didn't just make these times social events (although I am sure He built relationships).  His usual approach to the crowds was to teach them!  (The Message paraphrase says it this way:  “A crowd of people, as was so often the case, went along, and he, as he so often did, taught them.”)

In this week's readings, Jesus will be entering Jerusalem for the last time on what we today call Palm Sunday.  So what Jesus is teaching will be some of His last teaching as the day of His crucifixion approaches.

Day 1:   Matthew 19; Mark 10, Exodus 20:1-17

A [rich] man approaches Jesus in these passages and wants to know what he has to do to have eternal life.  Jesus turns the tables and asks the man what the commandments say.  Read and compare Matthew 19:18-19 and Mark 10:19.  (Jesus is basically reciting commandments 5-10 of the Ten Commandments.  These 6 commandments are the ones that relate to our horizontal relationships with other people.)  The man says that he has been keeping those commandments, basically loving neighbor.  Note that the man says nothing about the first 4 commandments that are related to our vertical relationship – loving God.  Jesus knew this man was wealthy and knew his heart.  The man probably had allegiances to money that were getting in the way of his relationship with God.  For this man, selling his possessions was the way to be perfect or complete as Jesus said.  You can't serve two masters, God and money.  It is important to note that Jesus is not giving instruction to all disciples to sell all of their possessions.  He is speaking specifically to this individual, at this time, knowing this man's heart.  But, Jesus does call everyone to love God and love neighbor.  These commands probably have an impact on how we should use our resources (time, talent and treasure).

Day 2:    Matthew 20-21

One of God's many characteristics is His sovereignty (in other words, God can and will govern as He sees fit – as long as what He does fits in His overarching character).  See the parable of the workers in the vineyard – Matthew 20:1-16.

We are called to bear fruit – we are required to bear fruit for the Kingdom.  (See the story about the fig tree in Matthew 21:18-22.)  Bearing fruit includes repenting of our sins and going in a new direction – going toward Jesus.  If we don't repent, we won't end up in God's Kingdom (see Matthew 21:28-32).  Those that don't heed the warnings given through the prophets in past times and through Jesus (the Son) in the current time will not enter God's Kingdom (Matthew 21:33-44).

Day 3:    Luke 18:15-19:48

Luke 18:24 - “It is very hard for the wealthy to enter God's Kingdom.” (CEB)  When we have wealth and are self-sufficient, it is hard for us to surrender ourselves and trust God.  Trusting God and knowing we need Him requires humility. 

But the good news comes in Luke 18:27 - “What is impossible for humans is possible for God.”  In other words our salvation does not depend on us and what we do but is totally dependent on God!

Day 4:    Mark 11; Zechariah 9:9, John 12

In John 12:27, Jesus says that He is deeply troubled.  He knows what is about to happen to Him and wonders out loud if He should ask God to save Him from this hour.  But He answers His own question by saying that it is for this reason that He has come into the world.  He asks (again out loud) that He would be glorified and He and everyone else hears a voice from heaven.  Jesus says that He didn't need to hear the voice.  The voice was for everyone else to hear.

John also says (in John 12:37) that Jesus did many miraculous signs and yet people still did not believe.  This fulfilled prophecy from Isaiah.

John's entire gospel was written so that people would believe.  The miraculous signs written in the book are so that people would believe and be saved.  And yet some did not believe.  And some don't believe now.

Day 5:    Matthew 22; Mark 12

No additional comments.

Day 6:    Matthew 23; Luke 20-21

Hypocrites!  Blind guides!  Blind fools!  Snakes!  Brood of vipers!

In Matthew 23, as Jesus talks to the crowds, He tells them to do what the legal experts and Pharisees say, not what they do.  They know the law but don't obey it themselves.  They make it look like they do (on the outside) but on the inside, they are far from the law.  They are like white-washed tombs – pretty on the outside but full of dead bones and filth on the inside.  (Matthew 23:27-28)

They do everything for show.  But the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.  It is the heart (and our internal motivation) that John Wesley would say needs to change in order to keep “going on to perfection” (i.e., Christlikeness).

Day 7:  rest

New Testament Reading Plan: Week 5

Week 5 summary:

More teaching from Jesus this week.  Jesus continually teaches about being His disciples.  Maybe another way to say that is that He teaches about being members of the Kingdom of God.  (A kingdom implies there is a king.  In this Kingdom, the King is Jesus.  What do you do for a King?  Obey him!)  Jesus is to the point in His teachings.  Even though He teaches in parables, there is no doubt what His expectations are for His disciples.

Day 1:   Luke 10-11; John 10:22-42

Luke 11:28 says that we should hear God's word and put it into practice (or in other words, obey it).

Starting in Luke 11:37, there are several verses where Jesus is confronting the beliefs of the Jewish leaders.  The section heading in the Bibles I looked at described this section of scripture these ways:  1) Jesus condemns Pharisees and the Legal Experts;  2) Woes on the Pharisees and Experts in the Law;  3) Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders.  Depending on the translation of the Bible you are using, you may find Jesus saying, “What sorrow awaits you...,” or “How terrible for you...,” or “Woe to you...”  Whichever translation you choose to use, Jesus' language is pretty clear.  The people He was talking to were severely missing the boat related to how to obey God's law.

Day 2:    Luke 12-13

Luke 12:10 talks about an unpardonable sin, attributing the works of the Holy Spirit to the devil, which denies the work of God.  A person who commits this sin does not recognize sin at all and is far from God.  (If you are worried you have committed this sin, your very concern shows you have not.)

Because of Jesus' teachings about discipleship, He knows that following Him will cause conflict between people, even within families.  (See Luke 12:51-53.)

Jesus again talks about the need to change our hearts and lives – repent!  (Repent means to turn around 180 degrees and go in the other direction.)  (See Luke 13:1-9.

All of Jesus' teachings point to disciples needing to go through the “narrow gate” (Luke 13:24).  Disciples will take the narrow road/narrow gate and will follow by obeying Him.

Day 3:    Luke 14-15

There is a cost to discipleship – following Jesus.  Disciples of Jesus sometimes will need to make decisions that will cost them the friendship of family and friends (Luke 14:26-27).  As we make that decision to follow Jesus, we need to count the cost (knowing there is a cost and being willing to accept the cost – Luke 14:28-33).  But the rewards are great!

When a disciple chooses to following Jesus (knowing the cost and accepting the cost), there is great rejoicing in heaven because a person that was lost is now found.  (See the parables in Luke 15:3-24.)

Day 4:    Luke 16-17:10

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus the poor man (Luke 16:19-31), there are two points to make.

1)                  First, the rich man was not taken up to be with Abraham when he died because he was rich.  He ended up elsewhere because he did not use his resources to take care of and love others.

2)                  The rich man was basically asking for a “sign” for his 5 brothers, Lazarus visiting them after he was dead.  This is similar to other passages in the gospels where the religious leaders in particular are always asking for another “sign” to show that Jesus is the Son of God.  The parable basically says what Jesus says elsewhere – you have had signs and whats more, Moses and the Prophets (what we would call the Old Testament consisting of the Law (the 1^st 5 books of the Bible) and the Prophets) have already provided all of the information that is needed.

Day 5:    John 11

The entire chapter 11 of John details the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave.  You may be familiar with the story.  Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus (this is a different Lazarus from the parable of the rich man and the poor man Lazarus read yesterday) are good friends of Jesus.  Lazarus dies.  Mary and Martha send for Jesus because they know that Jesus can heal Lazarus.  Before Jesus gets there, Lazarus dies and has been in the grave 4 days. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.  But if we read this story too fast, we miss some interesting parts of the story.

1)                  After hearing that Lazarus is ill, Jesus stays where He and His disciples  are for 2 more days before heading to his friends.  We learn that the illness Lazarus has won't lead to his death but will lead to glorifying God and the Son of God.  Later, we find out that Jesus will raise Lazarus from the dead so that others will believe that God sent Jesus.

2)                  Lazarus dies before Jesus gets there and Jesus seems to tell His disciples that He is glad that He was not there to heal Lazarus so that they would believe in Jesus.

3)                  Mary and Martha both believe that there is life after death (at the end of times) but they were not understanding that Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead now.

4)                  Jesus was disturbed and saddened at what was taking place.  He wept.

5)                  As Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave, many Jews believed in Him. However, because many were believing in Jesus, the leaders from that day forward, plotted to kill Jesus.

Day 6:    Luke 17:11-18:14

People were interested and concerned about the coming of God's Kingdom.  But in Luke 17:21, Jesus says that God's Kingdom is already among them.  Jesus ushered in the Kingdom.

Day 7:  rest

New Testament Reading Plan: Week 4

Week 4 summary:

In the readings from this week, Jesus continues “drawing lines in the sand,” explaining clearly what it means to follow Him.  He challenges the religious leaders, His disciples and the crowds.  Jesus also knows that His mission will end in His crucifixion (although His disciples don't want to believe it).  So knowing that, Jesus is off to Jerusalem to complete His mission.

Day 1:   Matthew 15; Mark 7

There are two interesting passages in today's readings, recorded both in Matthew and Mark.

1.                  In Matthew 15:1-20 and Mark 7:1-16, bottom line is that Jesus calls the Jewish leaders hypocrites.  They are following their own interpretation of God's law instead of following the intent of God's law.  They are more concerned about externals (washing their hands) than they are about cleansing their heart.  They had replaced the true religion of the heart with a religion of form.

2.                  Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30 record a Gentile woman coming up to Jesus, wanting Him to heal her daughter from demon possession.  Jesus responds that He has come only to the lost sheep, the people of Israel.  However, Jesus ministered to Gentile people and in fact, when this occurred, He was on His mission in a Gentile area.  He was telling the woman that He came first to the Jewish people so that those that accepted Him could help in presenting His message to the rest of the world.  He might have also been proving a point to those watching as He tested the faith of the woman (which she proved she had great faith).  Jesus did heal the woman's daughter from being possessed by a demon.

Day 2:    Matthew 16; Mark 8; Luke9:18-27

If you want to follow Jesus, you must “take up your cross,” and “lose your life” to save it.  In other words, say “no” to yourself and “yes” to Jesus.

A little yeast goes a long way.  Jesus refers to the “yeast” of the religious leaders.  Jesus was referring to the incorrect teachings of the leaders.  Be careful not to let that “evil” spread.  A little “yeast” (evil) will go a long way toward affecting the whole batch.

Day 3:    Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke9:28-62

All three readings for today tell us of what is referred to as the transfiguration.  Jesus was transformed “in front of” Peter, James and John, His closest friends.  This occurred shortly after Jesus asks them who they think He is to which Peter responds, “You are the Christ.”  Because this occurred “in front of them,” it was for their benefit that they saw this, confirming Jesus' identity.  Moses and Elijah were there with Jesus.  Moses represented the Law (from the Old Testament) and Elijah represented the prophets and therefore, Moses and Elijah appearing together confirmed that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (i.e., the Old Testament).

Day 4:    Matthew 18

Matthew 18:15-17  are Jesus' guidelines for dealing with people who sin against us, or in other words, dealing with conflict in the church.  1) Jesus is talking about using these guidelines within the church, not the community at large.  2) These are guidelines for sins or offenses against YOU, not others.  These guidelines are to be used to keep harmony within the Body of Christ (the church).  Therefore, these guidelines are to help us from doing the opposite of what we sometimes do in these situations:  turn away in hatred; seek revenge, and/or; engage in gossip.  In contrast, we should go to the person first, directly, and attempt to resolve the differences we have.  This is the best way to restore a damaged relationship among believers.

Day 5:    John 7-8, Exodus 3:14

Several times in the reading for today we hear Jesus say, “the time has not come yet.”  Jesus was living by a divine calendar, not by chance.

Another interesting part of today's reading is the end of John 8.  As you read, pay attention to verse 58.  Jesus makes a very strong statement about who He is and His divine nature.  He says that He existed before Abraham who lived about 2000 years before Jesus.  In this conversation with the Jewish opposition, Jesus even uses the term to refer to Himself that God used when God told Moses His name – I AM! Obviously, this made the leaders mad enough to want to stone Jesus right then.  After all, the punishment for blasphemy (which is what the leaders thought Jesus was doing) was death.

Day 6:    John 9:1-10:21 (read starting in chapter 9 verse 1 through chapter 10 stopping after reading verse 21)

More teaching by Jesus and more confrontations with the Jewish leaders – this time related to healing a blind man on the Sabbath.

There is an interesting question posed by His disciples at the beginning of chapter 9.  When encountering the blind man, the disciples asked “who sinned,” the man or his parents that would have caused the blindness.  During the day, it was a belief that sin was punished by some ailment (like being blind).  Jesus looked at the blind man as a way to do God's work, not as a punishment for a past sin (of the man or his parents) or as some irrational chance happening.  Through this man's blindness, Jesus was able to demonstrate the Kingdom of God through a miracle (sign) and making Him see.  (Remember week 2, day 5, we read Matthew 8 and Luke 7 that both referred to Isaiah 35.  God's Kingdom will be represented by “the blind can see, the lame can walk, the skin diseases have been healed, …”  Jesus was demonstrating that God's Kingdom was breaking into the world.)

Day 7:  rest

New Testament Reading Plan: Week 3

Week 3 summary:

This week, we will read several stories from Jesus' life from different gospels.  Matthew, Mark and Luke are referred to as the synoptic gospels because there are a lot of similarities in the stories that each author shares.  In fact, one theory is that Mark was written first and that the authors of Matthew and Luke used a lot of stories from Mark, plus additional information.

Through some of the stories we will read this week, Jesus starts to “draw the line in the sand” in terms of what it means to follow Jesus as a member of God's Kingdom.

Day 1:   Matthew 12:22-50; Luke 11

Jesus has been performing many signs and wonders (miracles) that should prove that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah (which means Savior).  However, the people ask for more signs to which Jesus replies that they won't get another sign except the sign of Jonah.  (Jonah 1:17 says that Jonah was in the belly of the fish for 3 days.  Jesus was predicting that He would be in the grave 3 days and that would be their sign.)  But people of His generation – His people the Israelites –  were not believing.  In the book of Jonah, Jonah goes to Nineveh (Gentile country) to get them to repent, which by the way they do.  Jesus says that it will be much better for the people of Nineveh because they did repent and believe than for the Israelites of His time that saw the signs and wonders and did not believe.

Day 2:    Matthew 13; Luke 8; Isaiah 6:9-10

Today we will learn about parables.  A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.  Jesus teaches in parables on purpose.  (See Matthew 13:10-15 which includes the reference to Isaiah 6.)  Why?  Given Jesus' mission to convey the message of the Kingdom to everyone, starting with Israel, He was not intentionally hiding the truth from sincere seekers.  But to those that really did not want to follow, they would not get the meaning of the parables directly.

Day 3:    Matthew 8:14-34; Mark 4-5

In the passage from Matthew, Jesus starts to explain what it means to truly follow Him.  Bottom line – for a true follower of Jesus, Jesus needs to be not only your first priority but your only priority.

Day 4:    Matthew 9-10, Hosea 6:6

Another line in the sand...Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector as one of His disciples.  (Tax collectors were Jews but collected taxes for the Romans.  Therefore, you might classify them as a traitor.  To make matters worse, the tax collectors would not only collect what they were told by the Romans to collect, but they would collect whatever amount they wanted, so that they could line their own pockets.  So not only were they traitors, but they cheated and stole from their own people.  Tax collectors were hated by their own people.  And yet, Jesus called Matthew, this “sinner” as one of His disciples.)  After calling Matthew, Jesus went to a party at Matthew's house with other “sinners.”  This was not liked by the Jewish religious leaders.  Jesus wasn't worried about that.  He came not to the religious leaders but to those that were spiritually ill – the “sinners.”  See Hosea 6:6.  The letter of the law may say “sacrifice” but the spirit of the law is “mercy.”

Day 5:    Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9:1-17

No special comments today.

Day 6:    Exodus 16, John 6

John 6 is an incredibly important passage.  Jesus continues performing miracles.  One miracle is feeding over 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.  Because of the miracles, the crowds are constantly following Him – but why are they searching Jesus out?  Jesus says (in John 6:26) that they are not searching for Him because of the miracles but because they had all that they needed to eat and were filled up.  In other words, Jesus satisfied their physical needs.  Even though they had seen miracles, they wanted more miracles and compared what they wanted to see with what their ancestors had seen when God provided manna from heaven to feed the Israelites during the Exodus as they waited to enter the promised land.  (See passage from Exodus 16 and also Psalm 78:23-24.)  Manna was given to sustain the Israelites in the desert.  But now, Jesus says that He is the bread of life from heaven, sent to sustain/feed His followers as they (and we now) wait for the ultimate promised land (eternity with Jesus).  The people of the day were clamoring to satisfy their physical needs but Jesus is the answer to their spiritual needs.

Day 7:  rest