Scripture

“So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven – except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.”

Observation

A demon possessed man who can neither see nor speak is brought to Jesus. Jesus heals him, causing the crowd to ask if Jesus is the Messiah.

The Pharisees dismiss this, claiming that Jesus gets his power to remove demons from satan.

Jesus replies that any nation that fights against its own people is doomed. If satan is casting out satan then he is divided, and his kingdom will not last.

Every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, except the sin of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. A good person, like a good tree, produces good fruit, but an evil person is like a bad tree that produces bad fruit. The words we speak show the quality of the heart, and we will be judged for our words.

Application

Some christians worry about whether they have committed the unpardonable sin. Jesus does not explicitly say what it is, so this can be a cause for concern. I think anyone who is worried about this has nothing to fear because the very term “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” suggests a certain hardness of heart.

In the context of this statement, Jesus has cast out a demon from a man, allowing him to see and speak. The the Pharisees attribute this powerful act of compassion to satan. This is an extremely high level of religious blindness. If a person who claims to speak for God cannot discern between what God does and what satan does, they are in a very bad place spiritually. Not only that, but their pride will make nearly impossible to repent and so their sin cannot be forgiven.

Prayer

Father, I pray that you will keep my heart soft towards you. Let me never be so hard that I am no longer able to see the difference between you and satan. Amen.

Scripture

And his name will be the hope of all the world.

Observation

Jesus knew that the Pharisees were planning to kill Him, so He left that area. He healed many sick people amongst those who followed him. He warned them not to reveal who He was.

All of this was God’s plan as revealed by the prophet Isaiah (see Isaiah 42: 1-4).

The servant of the Lord is His beloved. The Lord puts His Spirit on the servant, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He won’t fight or raise his voice. He will be gentle and cause justice to be victorious. His name will be the hope of the world.

Application

The name of Jesus is the hope of the whole world.

Many people put their hope in political leaders, but they are only human and limited in power. They will inevitably disappoint us because they are there to govern (hopefully wisely). They are not there to bring salvation or even the hope of a better life.

Jesus is the hope of the Nations

* He brings us eternal life. This hope gives us the ability to rise above life’s challenges.

* He brings abundant life. Jesus enables us to live wisely and to prosper in our work, finances, relationships, and so on.

* He transforms national life. The prosperity and freedom in the West are the fruit of Christian shaped laws and institutions. Nations that are shaped by faith in Christ tend to enjoy peace and prosperity.

At every level, Jesus is our hope.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for the promise of eternal life and abundant life to all who walk with you. Please help me to share my hope with my friends and colleagues. Amen.

Scripture

Then Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy to bear and the burden I give you is light.”

Observation

Jesus prays, thanking the Father that He hides things from those who think they are wise, and reveals them to those who are like children.

He then invites those who are weary and heavy laden to come to him for rest. The teaching that Jesus gives is comforting because He is gentle at heart. We find rest in Jesus because he’s yoke is easy to bear and his burden is light.

Application

It doesn’t matter what the burden is that we carry or how long we have carried it. When we hand it over to Jesus, He takes it and the burden He gives in return is much lighter.

The burden of sin, with its companion emotions of guilt and shame, comma is one such burden. When Jesus died on the cross, He carried the sin of the whole world on Himself. Now we can come to the Father trusting in Jesus’ sacrifice.

Some people carry the burden of sexual, emotional, or physical abuse. Jesus is the one who can heal us when we lay this burden at his feet.

There are many other spiritual and emotional burdens that we carry needlessly. Jesus will take it all away and make you a new person.

Prayer

Thank you Jesus for this wonderful promise of taking on burdens onto your own shoulders. Please help me to trust you to carry these burdens and to let you deal with them. Amen.

Scripture

“From the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.”

Observation

Jesus continues to teach the crowds.

He says that of all the people who ever lived, John the Baptist is the greatest. But even the least person in God’s kingdom is greater than John.

From the time John began preaching, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing. Violent people are attacking it. This is the time all the prophets looked forward to.

The present generation are like children playing in the village square. They complain because John was too austere and now they complain because Jesus goes to feasts and befriends tax collectors and other so-called sinners.

Application

We often think of God’s work advancing quietly, perhaps going backwards rather than advancing. Yet, all over the world the kingdom of God is growing rapidly.

In many places, violent people attack it and persecute the followers of Christ. In Muslim countries, new converts may be beaten, thrown out of their homes, or killed. In North Korea, mere possession of a Bible may lead a person to be executed. In Central America, Christians refuse to be intimidated by gangsters and are killed for their resistance.

God’s kingdom is advancing, like a flood that cannot be resisted. People may try to attack God’s people, but they will never stop the way of God from prevailing.

Prayer

Thank you Lord that with you, I am on the right side of history. Please help me to stand firm in you when I am faced with opposition for your name’s sake. Amen.

Scripture

“Go and announce that the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Observation

Jesus calls the twelve together, giving them authority to heal every kind of sickness and to cast out demons.

Then He sends them out to go to the lost sheep of Israel. They are to announce that the kingdom of heaven is near.

They are to heal the sick, raise the dead, heal those with leprosy, and to cast out demons. They are not to take any money and nor even spare clothes, but accept hospitality when it is offered.

Application

The message that the apostles were to proclaim was simply that God’s kingdom is near. They were to prove the message by healing the sick and casting out demons.

The message hasn’t changed, except that the kingdom of heaven is already here.

Our commission and our authority is the same as the first apostles. We are to take the message of the kingdom to all who will receive it.

Jesus preached a gospel of repentance that said, “Turn away from your sins and follow me for God’s kingdom is near.” The gospel is still the same as people need to repent, follow Jesus and enter the kingdom.

There are people everywhere who simply need to believe that God loves them enough to pay the penalty for their sins.

Let’s be bold and confident the gospel and in the King.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the simple message that we can come into your kingdom because of Jesus. Please help me to share that message wherever I find myself. Amen.

Scripture

He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into the fields.”

Observation

After raising from the dead a synagogue leader’s daughter, Jesus returns to the home where He is staying. Two blind men follow Him right into the house and ask Him to heal them.

Jesus asks them if they believe He can heal them. They respond positively, so Jesus heals them.

Jesus also heals a demon-possessed man who who couldn’t speak. The Pharisees say that Jesus casts of demons because He is empowered by the prince of demons.

As Jesus ministers around that region, He has compassion on the people because they are like sheep without a shepherd. He tells His disciples that the harvest is great, but the workers are few. They must pray for the Lord to send more workers.

Application

Where I live, farmers are reaping a bumper crop of every kind of cereal and legume you can imagine – wheat, barley, faber beans, and much more. The farmers are desperate to get their crops into storage before they can be spoiled by rain, fire, or other disaster. Because of the size of the harvest, there is a shortage of harvesters, truck drivers, silo operators, and so on. Therefore people are working long hours and enduring long delays.

Jesus saw people who needed salvation and a relationship with the Father. He tells the disciples to pray for God to send out more workers into the fields. Of course, after Pentecost, the number of workers multiplied, and the church has continued to grow ever since.

The harvest is still great. People are still lost. We still need to pray for the Lord to send more workers.

Jesus was moved by compassion, not by ego. He saw the needs of the people and urged us to pray. Our prayers and actions must be directed by compassion for people.

Prayer

Lord, there are so many hurting, lost people in my town. Please send out the missionaries, evangelists, and disciples to reach them. Amen.

Scripture

After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up!

Observation

A synagogue leader comes to Jesus and tells him that his daughter has died, but he knows that Jesus can bring her back to life again.

While Jesus and the disciples are on their way, a woman who had suffered for 12 years from constant bleeding comes and touches the fringe of His robe. She is healed instantly

At the official’s home, Jesus removes the mourners. He then takes the girl by the hand, and she stands up.

Application

Who has the greater power – the crowd who celebrates death, or Jesus who brings life?

Jesus had to put all the mourners out of the house because their declarations of the girl’s death amounted to a curse, a prayer of a negative outcome.

With Jesus in the picture, death itself is defeated.

The key factor is faith. Do we believe that God is the same God? Do we bleieve that God is able to heal? Do we believe that God is willing to heal right now?

In this short passage, we have two people – a woman and a father. They both have big problems, but they know that Jesus will bring the breakthrough they need.

We do not see Jesus in the flesh, but he is still the same. It may take more faith to see that He is able to heal, but we should not let that deter us.

Prayer

Lord, I know you are still the Healer. Please help me to believe with solid faith. Amen.

Scripture

“No one puts new wine into old wine skins, for the old skins would burst from the pressure, spoiling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wine skins so that both are preserved.”

Observation

Disciples of John the Baptist come to Jesus and ask him why His disciples do not fast like they and the Pharisees do.

Jesus replies with three analogies:

1. Guests don’t mourn at a wedding, but one day the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

2. You don’t patch old clothing with new cloth, for the new cloth will shrink, tearing a hole in the old garment.

3. You don’t put new wine into old wine skins because the new wine continues to ferment, and the old wine skin will split, spilling the wine.

Application

People often speak of new wine and old wine skins to justify throwing away traditions they disagree with.

Here, Jesus is pointing out he is bringing a New Covenant that goes beyond what was possible in the Old Covenant. Therefore, our practices reflect the new realities of the presence of the Holy Spirit in every believer.

The problem is that we keep wanting to go back to old wine skins – the known ways are easier than the new ways.

Our common church buildings reflect Greek and Roman secular culture, not New Covenant culture. The institution of the pastor as the source of all wisdom is not New Covenant. The cherished three point sermon is based in Greek rhetoric not Holy Spirit direction.

Every part of our corporate worship and individual practice must be a new wine skin, otherwise the new wine of the Holy Spirit cannot be contained in it.

Prayer

Father, forgive me for wanting the comfort of old wine skins. Please help me to allow you to renew my thinking. Amen.