Days 277-280

I've caught myself with a very looonnnggg post...my apologies. I was working to keep headings and sub-headings together...lesson: post daily. 

Days 277-280

Galilean Ministry
1. Early Days
- Jesus arrives in Galilee - Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:14-15; John 4:43-45
- Healing of the nobleman's son (M-2) - John 4:46-54
- First rejection at Nazareth - Luke 4:16-30
- Removal to Capernaum - Matthew 4:13-16

2. First Circuit
- Call of four fishermen - draught of fishes - Matthew 4:18-20; Luke 5:1-11
- Teaching in Capernaum Synagogue - Mark 1:21-22; Luke 4:31-32
- Healing man with unclean spirit (M-4) - Mark 1:23-28; Luke 4:33-37
- Day of miracles in Capernaum (M-5) - Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:38-41
- Tour of Galilee with four disciples - Matthew 4:23-25; Mark 1:35-39; Luke 4:42-44
- Preaching and cleansing a leper (M-6) - Matthew 8:2-4; Mark 1:40-16

3. Enmity of Scribes and Pharisees
- The paralytic, borne of four, healed (M-7) - Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26
- The call of Matthew - Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32
- The question of fasting answered - Matthew 9:14-22; Luke 5:33-39
- Jesus heals impotent man (M-8) and attends second Passover - John 5:1-18
- His discourse on eternal life and the Father (John 5:19-47)
- Disciples pluck grain - Matthew 12:1-28; Luke 6:1-5
- Man with withered hand is healed (M-9) - Matthew 12:9-4; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11

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Mark 1:14 - "..preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God." ~ verse 15: "...the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." ~ I have to admit this caused me some perplexity...the basic 'gospel' message is summed up in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, buried and rose again the third day, according to the scriptures. Yet, Jesus is very much alive, not having yet been the sacrificial Lamb and He is preaching the 'gospel.' Which begs the question...what is gospel and what was Jesus saying?

gospel - G2098 - euaggelion - From the same as G2097; a good message, that is, the gospel. G2097 - To announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel.

Good news? The Kingdom of God is at hand. Though Jesus had not yet physically died, He was (in the economy of God) seen as the propitiation for our sin. The fulfillment of what the prophets had foretold. What good news. What gladness to weary hearts that message entails. The year of Jubilee.

Luke 4:18-19 - 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, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

I can not think of any better 'good news.' Do we follow our Lord's example? Preaching the gospel, spreading forth the seeds given us by our Father? Trusting Him who gave the seed, has made the ground and prepared it and will give the increase. We need only do as HE has done...speak forth the Word of the Lord.

Calling of fishermen - I am always challenged by these passages - the immediately left or forsook all and followed Jesus. Do we hear HIS call and do the same?

Luke 5:16 - And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. Do we take or make time to withdraw from the hustle and bustle of the daily demands upon us, to spend time in prayer and intimacy with our Lord? To re-charge from the world and its nagging obsession to always be in constant motion. Be still and know that I am God. Still, quiet, alone, do we earnestly seek this time of fellowship with our Maker?

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

Father, cause us, your weary sheep, to seek Your pasture land. To desire to spend time in Your presence. To stand down from the pull and tug and demands of daily life - to guard our time with You...to make a concerted effort to avail ourselves of Your invitation to come and be refreshed in Your presence.