Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Story: New Beginnings - Living In The Light

Focus passage: Matt 3-4, John 3-4

His miracles were so numerous and powerful that people could not ignore them. Crowds began to follow Him everywhere He went hoping that he would heal their sick. Even the Jewish leaders who came to hate him could not dispute the miracles of healing, providing food or raising the dead. His teaching attracted crowds as well. He had a way of bringing the most complex doctrines of the Old Testament to light in a way that common people could understand them. He spoke as if He knew God personally instead of just reading out of a commentary somewhere. Some would shy away from the light in Jesus day. Yet those who come into the light of Jesus will find new opportunities and joys.

The Light is announced Matt. 3:1-2 On the scene after 400 years comes John the Baptist. He comes with power gathering his own disciples and proclaiming a message of repentance. The last of the Old Testament prophets has come like an opening act to warm up the crowd for the light to come. He announces the light so all may know Him. He also announces the Light’s theme: change. Change is coming and people need to be aware that things will not be just as they have always been.

The Light is powerful Matt 4:10-11 The Light can do amazing miracles. Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead and cast out demons. He is so powerful that the consequences of sin and the power of Satan in people’s lives can be overcome by a simple word from Jesus. Yet the true measure of his power is found here in the way that Jesus flicks Satan away. Satan used the three main tricks in His arsenal against Jesus and Jesus pushed them all away without working up a sweat. It was as if Jesus was serving notice that Satan was toast.

The Light brings salvation John 3:17 Nicodemus was a leader of the Jewish people who had come to have a deep talk with Jesus away from the crowds. He and others had seen the power of Jesus’ miracles. They had heard his teaching which was more powerful than any rabbi that they had heard. Yet they wondered “Who was this man?” Jesus minced no words, but got to the heart of the matter. He was the one who brought salvation.

The Light is available to all people John 4:9 The woman at the well was a half breed with several divorces who was living in sin. By all the Jewish rules, she didn’t belong in the kingdom of God. Even she is surprised with Jesus stops to talk with her and offer His love and forgiveness. He was saying that the Light belongs to all people. It was God’s plan from the beginning that all men might have light. Jonah was sent to the people of Nineveh. The queen of Sheba came to Solomon to learn of his God.

Jesus changed everything. The Jews were looking for a Messiah-king who would make life easy and golden like the age of King David. God gave them so much more as He came to be their Messiah and their Savior. Kings and presidents can make life better, but they cannot change things like Jesus can. He changes our past by giving us forgiveness and healing. The light has come. Don’t let the past destroy the present. Give it to Jesus. He changes our present by walking beside us and helping us each day with our lives. Those who have the light have an advantage that money cannot buy. He changes your future. We don’t need to fear death for we have salvation. You are the keepers of the light. Turn up the wattage of the light in your life so that Jesus can make your life less stressful and more filled with joy. Bring light into the people around you. There is no reason for people to have to live in the Darkness of Satan when the light of Jesus can change everything in their world.






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