Recognizing Jesus

November 17

(Luke 1:39-44 NIV) ““At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, {40} where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. {41} When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. {42} In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! {43} But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? {44} As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.””

(John 1:29-37 NIV) ““The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! {30} This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' {31} I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." {32} Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. {33} I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' {34} I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." {35} The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. {36} When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" {37} When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.””

Elizabeth and Mary found themselves in tough situations. One was very old. The other was very young. Both carried babies who would become extraordinary men, but for now, each had their own anxieties to deal with. Yet when Mary went to visit Elizabeth, something miraculous happened. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy. That baby would become John the Baptist. John the Baptist, while still in his mother's womb, was the first to recognize Jesus and be filled with joy. Even before He was born, Jesus was bringing joy to those who recognized Him. When John grew up, he was again the first to recognize Jesus. When he saw Christ nearby, he called Him "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." We too can be filled with joy if we recognize Jesus as our Savior -- the One who takes away our sins. Have you? Will you? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Submissive to God’s Plan

November 16

(Luke 1:38 NIV) ““I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said.””

(Psalms 81:11-12 NIV) “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. {12} So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.”

(2 Chronicles 30:8-9 NIV) “Do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were; submit to the Lord. Come to the sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. {9} If you return to the Lord, then your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”

When Mary came to a fork in the road, she chose the faith way. She was submissive to God's plan. Scripture does not say that she understood it completely -- she was simply submissive to God’s plan. That is the challenge for today’s Christian. Submit to God. Do not be like those in Israel’s history who developed stubborn hearts and went their own way. Ignoring God’s will, and refusing to follow His ways, can be toxic to a nation. A stiff-necked people incur stiff penalties from the Lord. Their children suffer because of their stubborn refusal to live under God’s authority. Do not be found among those who refuse to submit to God. If you are among the rebellious, repent and return to the Lord. Christ is full of grace and mercy -- but to enjoy His grace and mercy, we must be among those who say to God, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” --  Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Nothing Is Impossible With God

November 15

(Luke 1:36-37 NIV) “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. {37} For nothing is impossible with God.”

(Matthew 17:18-20 NIV) ““Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. {19} Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" {20} He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.””

(Matthew 19:23-26 NIV) ““Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. {24} Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." {25} When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" {26} Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.””

(Acts 2:23-24 NIV) “This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. {24} But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

When Mary was told she would have a baby, she had questions. How could a virgin have a baby? Gabriel told her that God could do anything. Even Elizabeth, a relative who was beyond child bearing years could have a baby, because nothing is impossible for God. No demonic power is invincible to Jesus, for nothing is impossible with God. Mountains can be moved by “mustard seed faith”, because nothing is impossible with God. The worst of sinners can be saved, the leper can be cleansed, the drunk can become sober, the lost can be found, and the dead can be raised… because all things are possible with God. This was the God of Joseph and Mary. Is this your God? Or does your Jesus operate under limits that you have imposed upon Him? Reorient your theology to the truth of Scripture. Nothing is impossible for God. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Son of God

November 14

(Luke 1:34-37 NIV) ““How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" {35} The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.””

(Matthew 8:28-29 NIV) ““When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. {29} "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?””

(Matthew 14:29-33 NIV) ““Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. {30} But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" {31} Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" {32} And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. {33} Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God.””

(Matthew 26:62-66 NIV) ““Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" {63} But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." {64} "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." {65} Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. {66} What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered.””

(John 20:30-31 NIV) “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. {31} But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

The angel told Mary that the baby conceived in her would be no ordinary infant. This child would be the Son of God. Mary had her doubts, but the angel was not the only one to declare that Jesus was the Son of God. When Jesus grew up, the demons immediately recognized Him, and they trembled. They knew who was Lord. It took the disciples a little longer, but eventually they too confessed that Jesus was the Son of God. More importantly, Christ Himself said that He was the Son of God. The religious gestapo killed Him for saying it, but Jesus died maintaining that He was the Son of God. Later, John would declare that eternal life is found only in believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Our salvation depends upon two things: that Jesus Christ is the Son of God -- and that we put our faith in Him to save us. Do you believe this? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day