February 3, 2019
Hymn 345 - Jesus loves the little children
Prayer
The Jews have a lot of history that you can read in the Old Testament. They were taken captives in Egypt, they escaped Egypt, wondered around in the desert for 40 years, conquered Canaan and made it their land. Now we are at the part in the story where Jesus came down and made the ultimate sacrifice. He made it for everyone not just the Jews, but God needed someone to take the message to the Gentiles. The disciples had brought it to the Jews and it was now the Gentiles turn to hear. According to the law it was wrong for the Jews to mingle and visit with the Gentiles. So God had to prepare both the Jews and the Gentiles for this special milestone. God chose Peter to be the first one to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles and he chose a centurion named Cornelius to be the Gentile. He prepared them with visions.
Acts 10:3-27
God sent the first vision to Cornelius. He tells him that He had heard his prayers. He gives him instructions to get Peter to talk with him. He also tells him where to find Peter. So Cornelius sends two servants to find him and bring him there.
Meanwhile Peter has three visions all the same thing. In the vision a sheet is dropped down from heaven with clean and unclean animals in it. A voice starts talking and told him to rise and eat them. Peter answers that he had never eaten anything that was forbidden to eat by the law. The voice then replies what God had cleansed don’t call unclean. This happened two more times. God was teaching Peter that it was okay to talk and be with Gentiles. Jesus died for them too. Then God told Peter that two Gentiles were at the door for him and it was alright to go with them.
So the next day Peter goes with them to Caesarea and meets Cornelius. Next time we will hear what Peter has to say to them.
John 9:1-38
Most of this chapter is a discussion about what happened to this man. He also seems to have gained spiritual eye sight, and by the end he is worshiping Jesus. The man testified that he was the man that was born blind and now could see. We can also testify what has happened to us through the work of the Lord to others.
This all happened on the Sabbath day. Some say that the Pharisees said it was against the law to spit on the Sabbath day because it could roll down hill and create mud and that was working.
Some people think that if they have a testimony they must know a little doctrine, but this man is just telling others what had happened to him. You can’t ague with that. The Pharisees knew that he was blind and that he could now see. It’s not like that could say, “No, you’re deceived. You can’t see.”. They believe that Jesus was a sinner because He was working on the Sabbath, but a sinner can’t do miracles. When asked the man says that he thought Jesus was a prophet.
The Pharisees called the man’s parents. They came, but they knew they’ed get kick-out of the synagogue if they sided with Jesus so they try to avoid answering any questions. They got out of it quite nicely. The man stayed true to his testimony. He told the Pharisees the same thing more than once. They had heard every time, but they wouldn’t listen. He believe Jesus was a Prophet because He did what no one else could. Many don’t accept super-natural things.
The Pharisees claimed they didn’t know where Jesus was from. The man then became bolder and told them exactly what he thought about Jesus. They cast him out of the synagogue. It was their plan all along for someone who took Jesus side.
This man went from being a blind beggar to having his eyes and heart opened and worshiping at the feet of Jesus.
In chapter eight we find the woman alone with Jesus. Here, it is the man alone with Jesus. Jesus proclaimed He was the Light of the world. In chapter eight that light showed those who were guilty, but here it is shining in the heart of a man worshiping the Lord.
Hymn 333 Come to the Saviour, make no delay
Prayer