Those Dastardly, Despicable Pharisees!

Our God is truly amazing and awesome.  When I consider the “gods” of this world, no other god compares to Him.  None is holy like He is.  There is no other God who shows lovingkindness, mercy, and faithfulness to His creation.  No other God called a people and manifested Himself in their midst and made covenant with them.  And our God is longsuffering unto salvation.  Over and over again He called the Israelites back to Himself; again and again their hearts wandered.  In keeping of His word, in about 600 B.C. all the choice Israelites, the strong, intelligent, healthy and talented were taken away; even still He kept them and blessed them while they lived in the land of their captors, the Babylonians. 

Living in a land of idolatry and slavery, they quickly turned their hearts back to the true and living God.  Although the Jews were taken captive by the pagans, they did not adopt their captors’ customs.  Far away from the temple they loved, faithful Jews began to meet together to read the Torah, to remember God’s faithfulness and His promise to return them to their land after 70 years.   From Babylon, to Persia, to Greece, to Rome, Israel and her people were occupied by foreign nations.  Teachers of the Torah (the Law) began to appear known as Pharisees.  A fervor and expectancy rose again in the hearts of the people as these men would teach the Law in the synagogues.

Since the Jews kept their own laws, the Romans allowed the religious leaders to rule under Roman authority.  These Jewish rulers were known as the Sanhedrin.  They had power only in matters that applied to Jewish religious law and life.   The Sanhedrin was made up of both Pharisees and Sadducees.  For more detailed explanation see: http://www.gotquestions.org/Sadducees-Pharisees.html

Sadducees were generally wealthy aristocrats and also included the priests and Levites.  They favored Roman policy and enjoyed majority rule in Jesus’ day.  Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection of the dead (they were “sad-you-see”) and did not believe in angels or demons.  They held strictly to the Torah.  Pharisees were a minority in the Sanhedrin, but related more to the common person.  They opposed the Sadducees and taught that the soul was immortal.  In addition to the Torah, Pharisees added an oral set of laws known as the Mishnah.  God’s laws were given by a loving God to protect and prosper His people, but as these religious teachers applied the Torah, they became more concerned about the details of the law rather than the spirit of the law. Over time, oral traditions were added that over-defined and extended the law. 

Under Roman authority and with religious control, these two groups had extensive and oppressive power over the people.  When John the Baptizer and Jesus began to preach, they disrupted the system that gave the religious leaders supremacy.  All this, of course, occurred in ancient times without printing press and modern media.  One more group, the scribes, will also factor into the opposition that Jesus faced.  The scribes were educated men who knew well the Law they meticulously copied by hand. 

They were so detailed and treated God’s Word so fearfully that it is said that they counted every letter, space and mark (known as jots and tittles) to help assure the accuracy of their transcription.  If an error occurred, the entire page would be destroyed.  It is also said that they would change pens every time they wrote God's holy name, “Yaweh/Jehovah”.  Because of this there is very little variation in our copies of Old Testament documents.[1]

The Sadducees, wealthy and aristocratic, and the Pharisees, powerful and influential had much to lose from a man who preached repentance in the wilderness dressed in camel hair and leather.  Only strict adherence to the Law under their power could please and appease a holy God.  Surely the promised Anointed One—Messiah—Christ would be a powerful ruler who would deliver them from Roman oppression and favor their elite authority. 

But the people flocked to hear first John, then Jesus.  The Pharisees and Sadducees feared losing their influence with the people.  If Jewish life was disrupted and the people began to reject the power of the Sanhedrin, the Romans could dismiss their rule and oppress the people more. 

It is easy to disregard these religious leaders and easily hold their hypocrisy in disdain.  But what disrupts the balance or stability of my life?  Do I manipulate circumstances to favor myself?  How quick am I to see the Lord working in the heart of another?  Or am I quick to find fault? Oh, those contemptible Pharisees!  Oh, do I sometimes see myself?

I need the Lord, my Shepherd, His rod and His staff.  I’m ready to follow.  Are you ready, too?

Next:  Mat 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23

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[1] The New Testament is made up of five historical books—the four Gospels and Acts, twenty one letters known as Epistles, and one book of Prophecy.  By comparison, these books and letters were copied quickly and passed from church to church as the numbers of believers grew.  Persecution also grew leaving little opportunity to transcribe with the same detail as the Old Testament. 

Prepare!

*Note:  Most of the rest of the Harmony readings will be pieced together like a puzzle putting the four Gospels together into one narrative.  I am copying the order from George W. Wright’s A Simplified Harmony of the Gospels (Holman Bible Publishers, 2001), but I am using the New King James Version.  Of course, you can also read the passages side by side separately if you prefer.

The Passage

Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-18

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

In those days John the Baptist came preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.' "  Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' "

Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, "and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as [our] father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?"

He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."

Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"

And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you."

Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?"

So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."

Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ [or] not, John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. "His winnowing fan [is] in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire." And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.

A Little Background

When we read Matthew 2:13-23 we talked about Herod, one of a dynasty of Herods that ruled during this time in history.  A tetrarch was one of four co-emperors which reigned under Roman authority.  There were four Herods that are mentioned during Christ’s life.  The Herod mentioned in Matthew 3:1 is Herod Antipas[1].  This description gives us an historical anchor and sets the stage for what will soon be happening.

When John was born, his father, Zacharias, prophesied about him under the power of the Holy Spirit.  John had a miraculous birth.  His mother was barren and well beyond child-bearing years.  God specifically arranged for John’s birth in this manner.  There is no question that he was sent by God for a specific purpose—to fulfill the prophecies that stated God would send someone to prepare for the coming of the Messiah.  Here again are some of the descriptions of John’s task:

·         make ready a people prepared for the Lord

·         turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God

·         have the spirit of Elijah (a spirit like Elijah—this is not reincarnation)

·         go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways

·         give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins

John the Baptizer was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb (Luke 1:15).  From early in his childhood he lived in the wilderness (Luke 1:80).

What was John’s baptism?  When the priests came to minister at the temple (formerly the tabernacle), they had to go through a cleansing process.  The cleansing was necessary to wash off the literal dirt before coming to minister worship to the Lord, but it was also symbolic of the requirement of cleansing from sin.  The baptism that John did was leading the people to recognize their need for a cleansing heart change and an acknowledgment that they were publicly proclaiming their repentance.  But this was more than just religious ritual; it was accompanied by confession of sin.

Some Explanation

Today as well as in ancient times, dignitaries send advance teams to prepare for their arrival.  In fulfillment of Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1, John’s purpose was to prepare the way of the Lord.  Until this time, faithful Jews were focused on obeying the Law and looking for the promised Messiah who would deliver them from Roman occupation.  But God had told them that a time would come when the Law would be written on fleshy tablets of the heart (Ezekiel 36:26; Jeremiah 31:33).  The coming of the Promised One was not going to be what they were expecting.  Jesus’ kingdom would be in the hearts of believers, not a literal kingdom at that time.  It was necessary for the Jews to prepare themselves for this coming King by repenting.  This would require them to look inward and acknowledge their sin. 

There are several interesting metaphors or word pictures in this passage.  Make His paths straight...  When dignitaries traveled, they sent workers in advance to clear the way in the road.[2]  Stones strewn in the path were a danger to the carts and pack animals.  It was also dangerous for the travelers to wait for the way to be cleared.  They would be vulnerable to attacks of marauders as they waited. 

Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth...  This is another use of word pictures to describe the effect of Jesus’ coming.  Valleys shall be filled—empty hearts and those who have been abused will find their hearts filled and heads lifted up to Jesus.  Mountains and hills will be brought low—the proud and haughty will be made humble.  Crooked and rough ways will be made straight and smooth—kindness and love will replace deception and harshness.  These promises are fulfilled directly in the Lord Jesus Christ.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism...  The Pharisees and Sadducees were religious groups/sects that dominated religious practice in Israel with harsh hypocrisy.  We “jump” into history with these passages about John the Baptizer, but it is apparent here that John has already had some run-ins with these men.  He says to them, “Brood of vipers, who told you to flee from the wrath to come?”  This is really harsh language coming from this man who is filled with the Spirit, but it is also a picture.  To clear a field to prepare it for planting, many cultures even today will burn its weeds and debris.  This will also rid it of vermin such as dangerous snakes.  John is using this agricultural practice as a picture, but he is saying it in sarcasm.  The fire of judgment is coming, but these leaders are not fleeing to the truth for refuge by repenting.  John’s preaching is flushing them out and exposing their hypocrisy.

And one more word picture... His winnowing fan [is] in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.  When wheat matures and is harvested, it has a shell around it called chaff.  This is somewhat similar to the dried covering on garlic, which has to be removed.  The dried wheat would be tossed into the air with a winnowing fork so that the chaff fells off.  The chaff is lighter, so the breeze separates it from the grain.  The heavier grain falls to the ground.  Chaff cannot be consumed by humans and so was worthless.  Later, it would be gathered up and burned.  The reference here is to Jesus.  He will separate the wheat from the chaff—true believers from false.  Or it can also refer to works done in true repentance as opposed to dead works (Hebrews 6:1; 9:14)

Observations and Insights

I think that it’s interesting that Jesus’ life is introduced to us by John the Baptizer.  We learn of John’s arrival in Luke 1 before we learn of Jesus’ birth.  Then in adulthood, again, we are introduced to John’s ministry before we see Jesus.  This is noteworthy because John is a forerunner of Jesus.  His calling was to prepare the way of the Lord.  It’s also significant because John’s life is a picture of the ministry or role of the Holy Spirit as we will see later in our study. 

John called the people to repentance.  The word repentance is metanoia meaning to change one’s mind.  How specifically are we to change our minds?  The context of the passage explains this clearly.  We are to confess sin and then prove our repentance by changing our lifestyles.  Don’t get the cart before the horse!  First comes a change of heart—recognition of sin; then comes action as proof.  Changing our behavior without recognizing the need in our heart becomes legalism.  This was part of the problem with the Pharisees.  They emphasized actions, but did not open their hearts to repentance.  John called them on it, “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance...” 

John told the people that One was coming, Jesus, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  This is a favorite verse quoted by Christians who define this baptism as one that brings spiritual fervor, manifestations or powerful ministry and preaching.  But we must look at the whole context here.  The verses following define the character of this baptism. John, filled with the Holy Spirit, and speaking as the Lord moved him, was proclaiming judgment that will come through the Holy Spirit (or Jesus—the distinction is not clear here, but understanding either would be correct.  (John 16:8-11 says that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin righteousness and judgment).  He will separate the wheat and burn up the useless chaff with unquenchable fire.  The baptism of fire here is conviction.

Particularly as I watch current history unfold before me, I am tempted to complain and judge certain sinful activities that have now been normalized in our culture.  Absolutely we must denounce it and pray for our country to turn to the Lord.  But it becomes very convenient to see only the obvious moral decline of society without looking at my own besetting sins.  The repentant ones asked, “What shall we do?”  John’s response defined specific actions that showed heart change.  Even the hated tax collectors and soldiers responded.  It is the Pharisees who were silent. 

These descriptions of John’s ministry are not teaching that we are accepted by God for our good works.  We will see that salvation comes through faith in the Lord’s sacrifice for sin on our behalf.  But we are to prepare our hearts—clear out the stones—so that the King may do His purifying work.  May I, a simple sheep, be quick to ask the Lord daily to show me those things that need to be repented and purified.  May I also recognize that the answer will often be a fire, trial or obstacle that God desires to use to burn away the chaff.  I pray for a submissive heart that is quick to respond.

Next

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[1]Herod Antipas was Tetrarch of Gallilee; Archelus (son of Herod the Great) was Ethnarch of Judea.  Charts of the Gospels and the Life of Christ, Robert L. Thomas, Zondervan, 2000.

[2] The Land and the Book, William M Thomson, BakerBook House, 1973.

A Word about the "Silent Years"

First a personal note

I am so thankful for this opportunity to read the Gospels as a harmony or chronologically through the life of the Lord Jesus and to write about it along the way.  I have found myself growing in my love for Him more and more.  I’ve been gaining a greater peace and ability to trust Him.  I hope you have been enjoying the journey, too. 

I want to say a special “thank you” to my industrious and generous nephew Gene who so graciously loaded a Blue Letter Bible app into my blog.  This app brings up Bible passages when you to hover your cursor over a Bible reference (now appearing in blue).  Go ahead and try it:  Revelation 19:11-16  And note:  if you click on the passage that appears, you can continue to read it in its full context.  (That makes me smile!) 

And another special thank you to Gene for entertaining my whimsy by installing a “favicon”.  When you open the blog page, you will see the title of my blog, “Just a Simple Sheep” at the top of your browser.  Next to the title is a cute furry little sheep.  In addition to delighting my fancy, this little symbol makes finding the blog easier if you bookmark it on your favorites bar.

Now back to Jesus’ early life...

We have just finished the opening chapters of Jesus’ life.  The Bible gives us very little detail about His childhood and early adult years.  With the exception of the account of Jesus at twelve years old, we know nothing from His infancy to age 30.  These “silent years” have caused some speculation. 

First, we’ll discuss what we DO know.  We know from what we’ve just been reading that Jesus’ parents were devout Jews.  That means that they obeyed the Law of Moses, (also known as the Torah or Tanakh[1]).  We know that they went to Jerusalem every year at the Passover.  We also know from Mark 6:3 that Jesus was a carpenter. 

Most Biblical scholars agree that Jesus grew up learning carpentry, probably from Joseph.  Since Joseph is not mentioned after the temple experience, most scholars also agree that it is likely that he died some time during these years.  Though these are speculations, they are either implied from the text or assumed by natural life processes.

However, there are other fanciful speculations and fabrications that are circulated about Jesus’ early life.  Years ago, most Bible teachers would not even give these notions a second thought let alone teach them. However, the Bible tells us that in the last days there will be an increase of false teachers and prophets (Matt. 24:3-13) and that the spirit of antichrist will be active (1 John 2:18, 4:3).  We don’t know if we are truly in the “last of the last days”, but we do know that even the early Christians were warned about these spiritual dangers.  Today, we need to be on our guard so much more. 

In 2003 Dan Brown wrote The DaVinci Code in which he used “extrabiblical” sources to craft a fictional story that incorporates portions of Jesus’ life.  Extrabiblical means that these sources or writings are not Biblical meaning they are “outside” the truth of the Bible.  Every other book in the world is “extrabiblical”.  Scholarly books are researched and documented so that others may verify that they are factual.  However, the sources that Brown and a host of others now popularize are Gnostic and/or esoteric in origin.  That means that they are closely related to the Occult.

Because these writers have become so popular (even Christians have been entertained by them) myths and falsehoods are seeping into the church and are deceiving many at an alarming rate.  For this reason, I will bring out points about various false teachings in my blog.  Many of these are subtle and not easily recognizable.  1 Timothy 1:19 tells us that Paul warned the early believers against allowing their faith to become shipwrecked.  2 Peter 2:18-22 describes the result unpleasant of believing these false teachers.  We are ALL simple silly sheep who need our Shepherd to guide and feed us.  He is the Word made flesh itself.  We can trust Scripture and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to illuminate truth for us.

Today, many Bible-believing Christians are on their guard against Islam for good reason.  But most of us have let down our guard against Buddhism/Hinduism.  One fabrication about Jesus’ life states that He went to India during His “silent years” to study under Buddhism.  This teaching has hijacked the term Christ to mean ascended one or ascended master.  Please note the subtle shift.  The Biblical use of the term “Christ” means anointed one (Messiah in Hebrew) or the promised One who would come to deliver mankind from sin’s curse (Genesis 3:15).  Jesus died, rose again, and ascended into heaven.  But the false Christ’s ascension is very different.  In the nonBiblical view Christ was one of many ascended ones or masters.  This view teaches that God is in everyone and everything.  Therefore, all of humanity has the potential to recognize his/her own divinity.  This is also known as the “higher self” or “true self”.  When we realize and tap into our own divinity, we become “christ” or an ascended one.

Am I being petty, or am I going off on a ridiculous tangent?  My dear fellow sheep, please hear my urgent pleading.  These teachings are already embedded into new theologies coming to us from writers, conference speakers, songs, and seminaries.  If you are hearing that you can do all the works of Christ because He did them as a man—all you need to do is grow into the anointing, then you are being influenced by this false Christ spirit.  If you are reading books that tell you to embrace your true self and reject the false self, then you are experiencing teaching that, at its core, is based in a false view of who the Lord Jesus Christ is.

The angels declared at His birth that Jesus is Christ the Lord.  From His birth to His death and resurrection Jesus never ceased to be God in flesh the anointed One who came to deliver mankind from the curse of sin.  We need His deliverance because from conception to the grave our true self is full of sin, separated from God by wicked works (Isaiah 59:2, Colossians 1:21).  Jesus Christ took the punishment that we deserved on Himself to propitiate or appease God’s wrath (1 John 2:2, 4:10), thus atoning for our sin.  When we believe or embrace this truth by faith, we receive Jesus Christ’s righteousness.  His blood makes us holy (sanctifies us) both in total standing before God and in an on-going process of growth and faithful living.  There is no other “self”; there is only the Lord Jesus Christ living in me by the Holy Spirit. 

Is there a silence about Jesus’ early life?  Yes, there is.  Does the Bible leave open the possibility that Jesus could have gone to India or Britain?  No, it does not.  Jesus Himself said that He came for His people, the Jews.  His ministry focused totally on Israel while on earth.  He extended His ministry to Gentiles as they came to Him and later the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles, but His earthly ministry was focused on Israel.  I can find everything I need to know about Jesus right in the Bible, and I can trust it fully. 

As I continue to read and grow in my understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ, my desire has been to focus on who Jesus is rather than on who I am.  It’s all about Him!

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  2 Corinthians 4:7

Next: Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-18

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[1]The Tanakh is the whole Old Testament which is comprised of 39 books from Genesis to Malachi.  The Torah is the first five books.  However, sometimes Torah can also refer to the Tanakh or the totality of Jewish teaching or practice (Wikipedia).  

Missing!

The Passage

Luke 2:39-52 NKJV

39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their [own] city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know [it]; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among [their] relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.

46 Now so it was [that] after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously."

49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

A Little Background

When Pharaoh refused to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt, God sent plagues to warn Pharaoh to let His people go.  The tenth and final plague was to kill all the firstborn of the land.  God warned that if they would sacrifice a perfect lamb and place its blood on the sides and top of the doorpost, the plague would not come into their home.  All of Israel obeyed, but all the firstborn of Egypt died because they did not believe God.  This event is called the Passover because God passed over the homes of the Israelites who put the blood over their doors.

The next day God led the Israelites out of Egypt into the wilderness.  There He made a covenant with them and established His law.  One of God’s requirements was to remember that fateful night every year by a feast and holiday known as the Passover. 

Some Explanation

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover as many Jews would do.  I am a Gentile, but it’s not hard to imagine what this scene might be like.  I remember many years of traveling to be with family for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter holidays.  Our children would look forward to fun times with cousins, aunts, and uncles.  So, I can imagine children asking parents, “Please, can I walk with John’s family?”  “Can Mary walk with us?”  No doubt children played games and told stories as they made the long trip together. 

And after the celebration was over, the children surely asked the same questions for the return trip home.  Perhaps Joseph and Mary assumed that Jesus was walking with cousins and friends as the families walked the long miles together.  When the day wore on, and they began to prepare to camp for the night, they noticed that Jesus was not with them.  I can certainly imagine their fear as they searched for Him for three days! 

I can understand the intensity of Mary’s rebuking question, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." But Jesus “had been about His Father’s business” listening to the teachers and asking them questions. 

Observations and Insights

What an interesting scenario it must have been as these elderly, and learned teachers exchanged with this 12-year old boy!  They didn’t know that it was The Lamb of the Passover Who was astounding them with His understanding and answers. 

This account in Jesus’ life is fascinating to consider.  First of all, as God the Son, Jesus became subject to His parents.  Can we really comprehend what this meant?  The issue here is not that Jesus was being rebellious (He was not), but as God in flesh, it must have been challenging to submit to sinful, fallible parents.  Over twelve years before, Mary had been visited by Gabriel telling her that she would give birth to the Son of the Most High God.  The shepherds brought news of the angels’ declaration that the baby was Christ—the Messiah, and the wise men had brought valuable gifts and worshiped Him.  Mary kept all those events in her heart and considered them.

Still, she did not understand what Jesus meant when He said that it was by necessity (dei—Strong’s #G1163) that He be about His Father’s business.  George W. Wright states:

It may seem strange that Mary—the one to whom the angel had revealed the scope of Jesus’ ministry (Luke 1:26-38)—did not grasp the meaning of His words.  But He would face this problem of slow understanding of His mission by others during His entire ministry.  Christ spoke plainly, but human ears were slow to understand.  (A Simplified Harmony of the Gospels, pg. 25)

We, too, are often slow of understanding.  God’s Word is simple and clear.  We are often blinded by our lack of faith in the Lord Jesus is.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  We increase our faith and understanding of truth when we stay in the Word.  Psalm 119:130 says that the entrance of His Word gives light, it gives understanding to the simple.  I am just a simple sheep, but He guides me into all truth when I keep my mind focused on Him and His Word.

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