AWAKE BIBLE IN A YEAR OCTOBER 22
Read John 7-9
Lynda Murphy “Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.”
John 7:13 ESV Being canceled is not new. Our silence is costly. Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the word of God.
Char here, it’s not enough for the kingdom of God to come near. Cities and towns had opportunity and close proximity but not a full visitation. We welcome God’s kingdom by welcoming his messengers. Cancel culture is rooted in prejudice and fear. Fear of persecution is not new, and for Jesus when he set his face toward Jerusalem it rears it’s ugly head.
Jesus interacts, and does miracles often with/for Samaritans, Gentiles, and those outside the Jewish state. The Cannanite woman of unoffendable faith receives healing for her daughter. Jesus spoke with a Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus had no issues walking straight into the antagonism common between Jew and Samaritan (half-Jew and half-Gentile). (John 4:9) And Luke says Jesus went straight through Samaria and Galilee. Read it if you like in Luke 17:11. The land of Canaan, which comprised of Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria saw much of GOD. Jesus was raised in Galilee where Jews and Gentiles lived together. His disciples were mostly Galileans. The religious and political situation was ripe for tension. And we will read of a difficult question in Luke 13 due to tragic if not horrific events. For now take notice how things are heating up, the water is about to boil.
He approached the village of the Samaritans, asking them to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. Jesus has just been with Elijah and Moses on the mountain and the disciples suggest, pulling an Elijah response to this town who would not welcome him. Let’s call down fire from heaven. Jesus is no terrorist. He won’t kill in the name of God, but he will die in the name of God’s love.
Politics and the like can cause people to miss HIM. Don’t miss GOD IN THE FLESH because of his bloodline, or ties to Jerusalem, or his compassion on the outsiders. It was in this Jerusalem he died. It was in this city salvation of the world was made possible. (John 3:16)
