WHO IS MY BROTHER AND SISTER?

Read Matthew 12:46–50; Mark 3:31–35; Luke 8:4–21

While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him Matthew 12:46 NKJV

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Jesus was teaching his disciples in an extremely crowded home while outside there were those who opposed Him. He was telling them the story of a farmer who sowed seed on thorny, rocky and good ground. He explained that the seed was the Word of God and the rocky or thorny ground represented the cares that choke out the Word. But the seed on good soil, He said, "stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." (Luke 8:15 NIV)

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Then someone came in and said that Jesus’ mother and brothers were looking for him. “He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." (Mark 3:34–35 NKJV) In spite of the interruption, this room was filled with “noble and good hearts”–and Jesus continued sowing the seed.

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Lord, I pray that I will be one of those who does the will of God with a noble and good heart.

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. . . and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." Mark 3:32 NKJV

ARE YOU THE CHRIST?

[24]

MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE

Read John 10:1–33

The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." John 10:24 NIV

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There was much disputing among the Jews about who Jesus was. They were ready, perhaps, to look for an earthly king to deliver them from Roman rule, but they were not ready for a Savior. Jesus knew those who were His because the Father had already given them to Him.

To their question Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. (10:25-26) When they threatened to stone Him, He asked them which miracle deserved death. They replied, "We are not stoning you for any of these, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." (10:33)

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When false teachers come to my door to dispute the Trinity, I need to remember that Jesus was crucified because He claimed to be God. He was God the Son, One with the Father. Soon those who were His sheep would know the indwelling power of His Spirit and go forth to proclaim the gospel of Christ. Lord, help me to faithfully share the good news of the risen Son of God.

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"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." John 10:27–28 NIV

WHO ARE YOU?

[23]

BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM

Read John 8:18–58

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31–32 NKJV

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Jesus was speaking in the temple to two different groups of people – those who believed and those who didn't. To those who would seize Him and kill Him if they could, He said, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I Am…, you will die in your sins." (8:23b-24)

Then Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He”…As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. (8:28a, 30) To those who believed He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death." (8:51)

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Lord, your Son Jesus was Messiah, the One that Abraham looked forward to – who would come from his descendants. By faith, Abraham trusted in You – By faith, we look back to the cross and believe in Jesus Christ – who was and is the great "I AM."

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"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I AM!" John 8:57–58 NIV

WHO IS WITHOUT SIN?

THE ADULTEROUS WOMAN

Read: John 8:1–11

"Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" John 8:4–5 NKJV

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Once again they were trying to trick Jesus–this time in regard to the law of Moses. If he contradicted the law, they could arrest Him for blasphemy. But Jesus would not be taken by trickery. He stooped down and wrote something in the sand. Then he said, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (8:7b) The men left one by one and they were alone. He said to her, "Woman, has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." (8:10–11)

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A posse of supposedly religious men trying to find an excuse for murder, and a humiliated woman who calls Jesus, "Lord" is a striking contrast – Jesus came to save sinners. Those men were sinners for whom he came, but pride and power prevented them from receiving the Son of God. Lord, help us to remember that no one is too sinful to be saved by Your matchless grace.

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Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." John 8:12 NKJV

NICODEMUS

SECRET BELIEVERS

Read John 3:1–21

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night… John 3:1-2b NIV

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Nicodemus believed that Jesus was a teacher sent by God because of the great miracles He performed. But Nicodemus did not have an understanding of saving faith. He was a teacher of the law, but he had not experienced the work of the Holy Spirit in his life. He needed to be born again–not natural birth but spiritual.

Later, as Nicodemus continued to blend in with those who wanted to kill Jesus, they asked, "Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him?" The best he could do was to say, "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?" (John 7:48–51) After the cross, Nicodemus, along with Joseph of Arimathea risked their lives to ask for Jesus body, indicating that they were His followers.

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It is very difficult for most of us to speak up about our faith among those who do not believe. But the Holy Spirit can give us the courage to do so. Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, so that I will have the courage to share my faith in You.

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Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:3NIV

JESUS CLEANSES THE TEMPLE

A DEN OF ROBBERS

Read: John 2:13–21; Mark 11:15–19

"Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" Mark 11:17 NIV

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On these two different occasions–at the beginning and end of His ministry– we are told that Jesus physically exhibited anger. The Jews had turned the temple into a market place, carrying on dishonest business in a house of worship. In anger, Jesus drove the merchants out of His Father's house. The Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." (John 2:18–19) The temple He spoke of was His body, which they would seek to destroy on the cross.

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Although our churches today are not the same as the Jewish temple, we should still honor them as places of worship. Most of all, as believers, we should remember that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.

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Lord, I want to take good care of the body You have given me and dedicate it for the purpose of glorifying You. Help me to avoid anything that would compromise that purpose.

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After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. John 2:22 NIV