Daily Devotion

 

The compliment Jesus paid to the Gentiles apparently angered the Jews, especially being done in the Temple. The Jews were so sure that they were God's people that they utterly despised all others. They believed that God had created the Gentiles to be 'fuel for the fires of hell.' And here was this young Jesus, whom they all knew, peaching as if the Gentiles were specially favored by God. It was beginning to dawn on them that there were things in this new message the likes of which they had never dreamed or heard.

 

There are two other things I feel we must note: (1) It was Jesus' habit to go to the Temple on the Sabbath. There must have been many things that He radically disagreed with, and which grated on Him-yet He went. The worship in the Temple might have been far from perfect, yet Jesus never refused to join Himself to God's worshiping people on God's day.

(2) We have only to read the scripture of Isaiah that Jesus read to see the difference between Jesus, and John the Baptist. John was the preacher of judgment and doom. Men must have shuddered with terror at his message. It was gospel---GOOD NEWS---that Jesus brought. Jesus also knew the wrath of God, but it was always the wrath of love. Jesus went to be baptized by John not because He was afraid of the judgment of God but to set an example for all men to pay attention to John's message.

Jesus' going to the Temple or Synagogue was to set an example for people to follow. His coming to earth was mainly to set examples for the people. He wanted them to know that God the Father was full of love, mercy, and compassion. Both the Father, and Jesus wanted the people to know how much God loved mankind, and how great His compassion was for them was.

 

Life Application:   How do you picture God the Father? Is He a God of judgment, and hell? Or, do you see Him as a God of love who sent His son so that people could really know what God the Father was like?

 

Praise/Prayer: Praise God from whom all blessings flow!" I am so thankful that the Father God loves me, and forgives me of my sin. He not just forgave me, but He continues to forgive. Hallelujah! Dear Father, I am so thankful that I have walked with You for a lot of years, and You have never changed. Your love continues to flow to all the world. Great is Your faithfulness. Amen!