The gospel of Luke presents Jesus as the perfect man, busy doing His Father’s business. He is teaching, healing and refuting lies. I am studying the gospel of Luke in my daily devotions and recently realized how Luke links the teachings of Jesus and happenings together

Look at this example in Luke 10:²⁵And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

²⁶He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

²⁷And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

²⁸And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Notice the lawyer wanted to tempt Jesus. What do you think was his motive? What do you think he wanted to tempt Jesus to do?

Notice the lawyer asked how he could inherit not merit eternal life. What does that mean to you?

The law refers to an attitude: loving God with our whole being; loving others as we love ourselves. Yet we each have a sinful, rebellious nature that conflicts with that attitude. How often do you and I follow our own desires and wants rather than surrendering to what God wants? How much easier is it to do what we want than to surrender to what God wants?

Jesus said the lawyer gave the right answer from the law. Then Jesus gave an instruction: this do.

²⁹But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?

³⁰And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

³¹And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

³²And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

³³But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

³⁴And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

³⁵And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

³⁶Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

³⁷And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Priest = male descendant of Aaron with responsibilities in the temple and synagogues

Levite =male of the tribe of Levi, initially a bearer and guardian of the sacred things

Samaritan =2 Kings 17:²⁴And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

Mercy = not giving what judgment requires

Jesus gave another instruction: show mercy on your neighbor.

Why do you think the lawyer used the word ‘mercy’ rather than ‘compassion’ or ‘kindness’?

How easy is it for you and me to show mercy rather than judgment to others?

What surprises me is that Luke immediately describes the solution to our problem of inability to follow the law.

³⁸Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

⁴⁰But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

⁴¹And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

⁴²But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

What did Mary choose?

Paul explained the purpose of the law

Galatians 3:¹⁹ Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

²⁰Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

²¹Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

²²But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

²³But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

²⁴Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

²⁵But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

²⁶For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

I need Jesus – George Webster

I need Jesus: my need I now confess, No Friend like Him in times of deep distress;

I need Jesus: the need I gladly own, though some may bear the load alone,

Yet I need Jesus!

Chorus

I need Jesus (with me); I need Jesus (always); I need Jesus every day;

Need Him in the sunshine hour; need Him when the storm clouds roll;

Everyday along my way. Yes, I need Jesus.

I need Jesus: I need a Friend like Him. A Friend to guide when paths of life are dim.

I need Jesus: when foes my soul assail; alone I know I can but fail,

So I need Jesus!

I need Jesus: I need Him to the end; No one like Him, He is the sinners’ Friend;

I need Jesus: no other friend will do; So constant, kind, so strong and true,

Yes, I need Jesus!

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

Jesus Christ, our God, placed Himself in a human body; lived that way to satisfy all God’s law in our place; died by crucifixion to pay the penalty for our crimes; rose from the dead to defeat the power of death over you and me. Why do we think Jesus ministered for 3 years?

The age for priestly service according to law

Numbers 4:³From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Jesus begins His earthly ministry

Luke 3:²³And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

Passover observed annually

Exodus 12:¹¹And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover. ¹²For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all t he firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. ¹³And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. ¹⁴And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.

1^st Passover

John 2:¹³And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, ¹⁴And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: ¹⁵And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; ¹⁶And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.

What do these events mean to you?

What do you learn about Jesus from these words?

2^nd Passover

John 6:³And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

⁴And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. ⁵When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? ⁶And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. ⁷Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. ⁸One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, ⁹There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? ¹⁰And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. ¹¹And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. ¹²When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. ¹³Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

What do these events mean to you?

What do you learn about Jesus from these words?

3^rd Passover

John 12:¹Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. ²There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. ³Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. ⁴Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, ⁵Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? ⁶This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. ⁷Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. ⁸For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

What do these events mean to you?

What do you learn about Jesus from these words?

So we see Jesus began His ministry at age 30 and experienced 3 annual Passovers. So we believe Jesus ministered for 3 years and defeated death at age 33.

Jesus Christ is our perfect High Priest

Hebrews 4:¹⁴Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. ¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

What do these words mean to you?

What do you learn about Jesus from these words?

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

The gospel of Luke presents 13 different views of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. As you consider each view, what is the one word you would use to describe that view?

Luke 23:³³And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Jesus’ view

³⁴Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

The soldiers’ view

³⁴And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

The people’s view

³⁵And the people stood beholding.

The rulers’ view

And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

Another view from the soldiers

³⁶And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

³⁷And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

³⁸And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

One malefactor’s view

³⁹And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

The other malefactor’s view

⁴⁰But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

⁴¹And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

⁴²And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

⁴³And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Another view from Jesus

⁴⁴And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

⁴⁵And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

⁴⁶And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

The centurion’s view

⁴⁷Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

Another view from the people

⁴⁸And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

His acquaintance and the women’s view

⁴⁹And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

Joseph’s view

⁵⁰And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

⁵¹(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

⁵²This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

⁵³And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

Another view from the women

⁵⁴And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

⁵⁵And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

⁵⁶And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Your view is what?

Why should He love me so – Robert Harkness, 1925

Love sent my Savior to die in my stead; Why should He love me so?
Meekly to Calvary’s cross He was led; Why should He love me so?

Chorus
Why should He love me so? Why should He love me so?
Why should my Savior to Calvary go? Why should He love me so?

Nails pierced His hands and His feet for my sin; Why should He love me so?
He suffered sore my salvation to win; Why should He love me so?

O how He agonized there in my place; Why should He love me so?
Nothing withholding my sin to efface; Why should He love me so?

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

We are examining the components of our earthy inheritance bequeathed to us by Jesus Christ through His death on the cross to pay for our sins and His resurrection to defeat death for us.

In his letter to the church at Ephesus Paul describes another component of our inheritance: showing the manifold wisdom of God to principalities and powers in heavenly places.

Ephesians 3:⁷Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. ⁸Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; ⁹And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: ¹⁰To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, ¹¹According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Imagine! God is showing to the fallen angels and the devil and the angels in Heaven His manifold wisdom.  How much love for God to devise the plan of salvation and grace for Him to provide the solution to our sin problem! That solution put the penalty on Jesus and freed us from the penalty.

Ephesians 3:^12In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Why you and I can have confidence as we approach God

He has born our griefs and carried our sorrow – Isaiah 53:⁴Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted., that is no longer per

Jesus knows exactly the difficulties you and I face living in this fallen creation that is no longer perfect and not even good. He knows what it is like to be tempted by the devil. He knows what it is like to face accusers and betrayers. Jesus understands exactly how you and I feel.

We are healed with His stripes – Isaiah 53:⁵But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

The wounds we encounter from our own sin and the result of another’s sin can be healed.

We are blessed with all spiritual blessings- Ephesians 1:³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

We are chosen in Jesus to be holy and blameless before Him before He created the world – Ephesians 1:⁴According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

We are predestined to be His adopted children – Ephesians 1:⁵Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

We are accepted in the Beloved – Ephesians 1:⁶To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

By His grace we have redemption from sin and forgiveness – Ephesians 1:⁷In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

His wisdom and prudence abound toward us – Ephesians 1:⁸Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

We know His will because He purposed it to be so – Ephesians 1:⁹Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

We will be gathered together with Him – Ephesians 1:¹⁰That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

In Jesus we have obtained an inheritance – Ephesians 1:¹¹In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:¹²That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

We are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise – Ephesians 1:¹³In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,¹⁴Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

 

 

Why would God leave His heavenly abode where everything is perfection to take on a physical body and come to earth, a fallen creation where all mankind with a rebellious sin nature reside?

Why would He choose a time in history without mass communications, mass transit, electricity or technology?

History indicates Jesus Christ chose to come to earth at the time in history when criminal execution was most barbaric, severe and cruel.

What information does history provide about crucifixion?

King Darius of Persia had 3000 Babylonians crucified in about 519 B.C.

Around 300 B.C., Alexander the Great had 2000 citizens of Tyre crucified after he conquered the city.

The Romans did not invent crucifixion but did perfect its cruelty.

Crucifixion as performed by the Romans included

-flogging,

-the condemned carrying own cross to the place outside the city walls, led by a complete military guard, headed by a centurion. A sign (titulus) which told what the condemned man was guilty of, was sometimes carried by a soldier and sometimes put around the condemned man’s neck. Later this sign would be attached to the top of the cross

– given a drink of wine mixed with myrrh (gall). This was intended to be a mild narcotic that would

deaden the pain. It is significant that Jesus refused this drink

– stripping of garments

– being thrown to the ground where outstretched hands were nailed to the crossbeam

– being hoisted up so that the crossbeam was attached to the upright beam.

– nailing the feet, one on top of the other, to the upright beam with another iron spike. Jutting out from  the upright beam was a small block or plank (sedile) which the crucified would straddle, thus absorbing some of the weight of the body.

The crucified person could not exhale properly and this eventually would lead to painful muscle cramps. Furthermore, adequate exhaling required the crucified to lift his body by pushing up on the feet and rotating his elbows. This, of course, resulted in searing pain in both feet and hands. Lifting of the body to properly exhale would also painfully scrape the scourged back against the rough wooden cross, probably reopening wounds and causing more bleeding. On the cross every breath would be an agonizing affair and finally in combination with exhaustion would lead to asphyxia. Death by crucifixion at times came quickly, but sometimes didn’t come to the crucified for several days. There the crucified would hang, naked, the object of jeering and ridicule, insects landing in their mouth, eyes, and open wounds, and unable to remove them, exposed to the elements, unable to eat or drink. And this is the death that Jesus Christ died. All this our Savior did for you and for me, to save us from the penalty of our sins.

Questions for Reflection

1) Are you living an abundant life?

2) Is the life you are living worth His death on the cross and resurrection?

3) Will you allow Jesus Christ to give you the abundant life, for which He came to earth?

Colossians 3:¹If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

• When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory

4) Have you been saved from the penalty and power of sin or does it still control you?

The Christian life is a growing process. Talk to Jesus about it.

John 8:³⁴ Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

³⁵ And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

³⁶ If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

5) Do you believe Jesus Christ has delivered you from bondage to the fear of death?

How does that play out in your daily life?

6) What does it mean to you to take up your cross?

7) Is there an area in your life where someone or something is more important than Jesus Christ?

Matthew 11:²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Why Should He Love Me So- Robert Harkness
Love sent my Savior to die in my stead; Why should He love me so?
Meekly to Calvary’s cross He was led; Why should He love me so?

Nails pierced His hands and His feet for my sin; Why should He love me so?
He suffered sore my salvation to win; Why should He love me so?

O how He agonized there in my place; Why should He love me so?
Nothing withholding my sin to efface; Why should He love me so?

chorus

Why should He love me so? Why should He love me so?
Why should my Savior to Calvary go? Why should He love me so?

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

 

Why did Jesus Christ come to earth?

Why would God leave His heavenly abode where everything is perfection to take on a physical body and come to earth, a fallen creation where all mankind with a rebellious sin nature reside?

Why would He choose a time in history without mass communications, mass transit, electricity or technology?

Jesus never took a hot shower.

Jesus never tasted an ice cream cone.

Jesus never flew in an airplane, rode a train, drove a car.

Jesus never enjoyed quick leftovers warmed in the microwave.

Jesus walked everywhere.

Jesus was tired and weary.

Jesus wept.

Jesus was thirsty.

Jesus was hungry.

Why?

What information does the Bible record provide?

• 1) Jesus came to Call sinners to repentance

Matthew 9:¹² But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

¹³ But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 2:¹⁷ When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 5:32³¹ And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

³² I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

2) Jesus came to Redeem them that were under the law-

Galatians 4:⁴ But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

• To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

3) Jesus came to Save –

John 3:¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Luke 9:⁵⁶ For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

1 Timothy 1:¹⁵This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

4) Jesus came to Seek and to Save-

Luke 19:¹⁰ For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Do you remember a time when you heard and responded?

5) Jesus came to Fulfill the Law and the Prophets –

Matthew 5: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

6) Jesus came to Bear Witness to the Truth-

John 18:³⁷ Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Do you know the truth?

Romans 3:²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Will you receive His gift right now?

7) Jesus came to Minister and Give His life a Ransom-

Matthew 20:²⁸ Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

8) Jesus came to Give Life – 

John 10:¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly

9) Jesus came to become Lord of the Living and the Dead-

Romans 14:⁹ For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

10) Jesus came to bring Glory to the Father’s Name-

John 12:²⁷ Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

²⁸ Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

11) Jesus came for Judgment –

John 9:³⁹And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

     ⁴⁰ And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

   ⁴¹ Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

12) Jesus came that we might receive the Adoption of Sons –

Galatians 4:⁴ But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

⁵ To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons

13) Jesus came to Preach the Gospel to the Poor, to Heal the Brokenhearted, to Preach Deliverance to the captives, to recover sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord,

Luke 4:¹⁶ And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

¹⁷ And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

¹⁸ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

¹⁹ To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

14) Jesus came to Destroy the devil-

Hebrews 2:¹⁴ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15) Jesus came to Deliver you from bondage in fear of death –

Hebrews 2:¹⁵ And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16) Jesus came to Bring a sword –

Matthew 10:³⁴ Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

³⁵ For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

³⁶ And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

³⁷ He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

³⁸ And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

³⁹ He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

17) Jesus came to be the Mediator of a New Covenant –

Hebrews 10:⁵ Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

⁶ In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

⁷ Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

⁸ Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

⁹ Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

¹⁰ By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

¹¹ And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

¹² But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

¹³ From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

¹⁴ For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.

18) Jesus came to preach the kingdom of God –

Luke 4:⁴³ And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

19) Jesus came to do the Father’s will –

John 6:³⁸ For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

³⁹And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

⁴⁰And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Hebrews 10:⁷ Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

⁸Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

⁹Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

¹⁰By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

20) Jesus came to send fire –

Luke 12:⁴⁹ I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

21) Jesus came to bring division –

Luke 12:⁵¹ Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

22) Jesus came to bring light -John 12:⁴⁶ I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

Jesus is coming again! The Old Testament prophets proclaimed a coming Messiah but did not explain there would be two comings. When Jesus first came to earth in a human body, the Jewish people mostly did not receive Him as Messiah. They expected the Messiah would rescue them from Roman oppression. Jesus came to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world and to defeat death for our justification. He came to rescue people from judgment just as Noah and his family in the ark were rescued from judgment. Jesus is coming to earth a second time to receive His church to Himself and bring judgment to the unbelievers!

Where is Jesus now?

He has returned to His Father. He is preparing a dwelling place in His Father’s house where all those who receive Him as Lord and Savior will live with Him forever.

John 14:¹ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

²In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

What does it mean to you that Jesus is preparing a dwelling place specifically for you?

Jesus warns us to be ready for His coming

Luke 12:³⁵ Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

³⁶And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

³⁷Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

³⁸And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

³⁹And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

⁴⁰Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Where is your focus?

Are you watching = focus on Jesus

Are you wanting = focus on wants

Are you worrying = focus on needs

Do you know this song?

Coming Again – John Peterson, 1957

Marvelous message we bring, Glorious carol we sing,
Wonderful word of the King, Jesus is coming again!

Chorus
Coming again, Coming again, May be morning, may be noon,
May be evening and may be soon! Coming again, Coming again;
O what a wonderful day it will be -Jesus is coming again!

Forest and flower exclaim, Mountain and meadow the same,
All earth and heaven proclaim, Jesus is coming again!

Standing before Him at last, Trial and trouble all past,
Crowns at His feet we will cast, Jesus is coming again!

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

How valuable are you? Some days we feel great, accomplished, on top of the world. Other days we feel small, unsuccessful, neither important nor valued. We live in a fallen creation, which is no longer perfect and not even good. Sin and death have entered the world. Everyone is born with a sinful, rebellious nature so there is often strife.

Here is what Jesus says about your value

Luke 12:⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

⁷But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

When Jesus Christ resided on earth a farthing was worth about ¼ cent. So 5 sparrows sold for ½ cent.

How great must God be to know and remember every sparrow?

How many hairs are on your head?

Have you ever tried to count your hairs?

What does this scripture mean to you?

Here is more of what Jesus says about your value

Luke 12:²⁴ Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

²⁵And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

²⁶If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

²⁷Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

²⁸If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

²⁹And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

³⁰For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

³¹But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

³²Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Do you know your dimensions at birth?

The average baby at birth is 19.13 inches in length and weighs 6.3 pounds.

How do you compare today to the average baby at birth?

Have you ever examined a lily?

Have you thanked God for valuing you and providing for you?

What does it mean to you that God knows your needs?

What does this scripture mean to you?

Paul explained the Kingdom of God in his letter to the Romans

Romans 14:¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

¹⁸For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Righteousness =2 Corinthians 5:²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Peace =Romans 5:¹ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Joy =Galatians 5:²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

What does His good pleasure in giving you the kingdom mean to you?

How can you best serve Jesus Christ with the righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit He gives you?

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

Where are you today? Are your circumstances difficult? What do you need? What do you desire? What is hurting you? What is confusing you? Jesus knows and cares!

If you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have a relationship with God, the Father, Who knows your needs and can supply abundantly. Here is what Jesus said in Matthew 7:⁷Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ⁸For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. ⁹Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? ¹¹If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Questions for Reflection

Was there a time when you asked your earthly father for something? What happened?

Notice you do not have to earn or deserve the gift!

Notice you are welcomed to ask your heavenly Father!

How does a gift differ from a reward?

What does this scripture mean to you?

What will you do with this invitation?

Do you know this song?

Tell It To Jesus Alone – Jeremiah Eames Rankin, 1855
Are you weary, are you heavy hearted? Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Are you grieving over joys departed? Tell it to Jesus alone.

Refrain

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus, He is a Friend that’s well known.
You’ve no other such a friend or brother, Tell it to Jesus alone.

Do the tears flow down your cheeks unbidden? Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Have you sins that to men’s eyes are hidden? Tell it to Jesus alone.

Refrain

Do you fear the gathering clouds of sorrow? Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Are you anxious what shall be tomorrow? Tell it to Jesus alone.

Refrain

Are you troubled at the thought of dying? Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
For Christ’s coming kingdom are you sighing? Tell it to Jesus alone.

Refrain

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

Everyone needs to be loved for who they are

not for what they do,

not for what they look like,

not for what they have accomplished,

not for what they possess

God loves you for who you are – His creation. He designed and created you to be you – not like any other person in all the world, in all of history. You are His unique creation. There is only one you!

1) Quality of God’s love for you is unconditional.

     There is no ‘I will love you if’.

There is no ‘I will love you when’.

There is no ‘I will love you until’.

2)  Scope of God’s love for you is everlasting through all stages of your life

There is nothing you need do to earn God’s love

There is nothing you can do to diminish God’s love for you

3) Power of God’s love for you is stronger than death

Romans 8:³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4) Cost of God’s love for you is free for you, cost everything for Him –

Your cost is explained in Ephesians 2:⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast

His cost is explained in Isaiah 53:¹ Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

² For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

³ He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

⁸ He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

⁹ And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

¹¹ He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

5) Depth of God’s love for you is that of a father and His identity

 Who is the Father?

2 Corinthians 1: ³Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Psalms 103: ¹² As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

¹³ Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

¹⁴ For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

The Father’s identity is love according to 1 John ⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

What will you do with God’s love for you?

Will you accept God’s love for you or reject God’s love for you?

Our Creator is not a dictator. He has not created us to be His puppets. He has given to each of us free will. We are able to choose to accept His love and enter into a relationship with Him because Jesus Christ took the punishment for our sins through His death and resurrection.  We are able to reject His love and count on our own judgment and abilities to navigate through life.

This is the age of grace!!!

But there is coming a time when your life on earth will end and you will face God as judge. Because God loves you and me, He gives us this free will. Because God is righteous, He also will judge our choices.

If we receive God’s love in the Person of Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior, our judgment was carried out at Calvary.

If we reject God’s love in the Person of Jesus Christ, we will be judged for our sin, the wages of which is death, eternal separation from the God Who loves us.

Who would want to face the only Person, Who ever loved you unconditionally, and know your rejection of His love causes you to be separated forever from Him? God loves you so much He allows you to choose.

Jude gives guidance for those who receive God’s love in the Person of Jesus Christ-Jude:

²¹ Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Focus on God’s love for you

Thank God for His love for you

Celebrate His love

Share God’s love with others

Jesus Loves Me – Anna Warren, 1860

Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong.

Refrain:
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! This I know, As He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee, Saying, “Let them come to Me.”

Jesus loves me still today, Walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give Light and love to all who live.

Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.

Jesus loves me! He will stay Close beside me all the way;
Thou hast bled and died for me, I will henceforth live for Thee.

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti