The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 9
Awake Us Now
Prayer is an amazing gift from God! We have His plea to talk with Him. Genuine prayer; not showy prayer, but rather simply experiencing the presence of our Living God, the Father. Other topics covered are Jesus’ teaching on fasting and possessions. Based on Matthew 6:5-24.
info_outline
The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 8
Awake Us Now
Pastor points out the Old Testament’s words, “Thus says the LORD,” and compares them to the words of Jesus in the New Testament that say, “But I tell you.” What does this tell us about who Jesus is? Pastor explores the “But I tell yous” as found in Matthew chapter 5 and we learn what Jesus calls us to. That call is to a changed heart, which can only happen when we come to faith in Jesus. God’s call is personal! He wants to change each one of us by the shed blood of Jesus, the Son of God.
info_outline
The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 7
Awake Us Now
In Week 7, we hear more of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus calls us salt and light. What does He mean when He uses these words to describe how we are to be? As historians have looked at world history, more and more of them are coming to the realization Christianity changed everything. Jesus has had a greater impact on the human condition than anyone in all of history. What Jesus produces in people, changes them!
info_outline
Dig Deeper - Week 11: Two Pictures of the Messiah
Awake Us Now
We will look at the two pictures of the Messiah found in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). 2 Pictures of Messiah Reigning King Humble Substitute This double picture is what led some of the great Hebrew rabbis to suggest there might be two Messiahs that would come at different times and in different manners. And that then became the dominant tradition: Messiah will raise the dead Messiah will be victorious Messiah will reign in Jerusalem Messiah will bring peace If we look at the New Testament the early followers of Jesus believed this same thing about the Messiah....
info_outline
The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 6
Awake Us Now
We finish Matthew 4 on following Jesus, and begin the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 that opens with the Beatitudes.
info_outline
The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 5
Awake Us Now
Week 5 of our Matthew study digs into chapter 4 on the Temptation of Jesus, His three temptations and the reality of an unseen spiritual world.
info_outline
Questions - Week 23: How Are Minds Opened Today?
Awake Us Now
This message focuses on the question: “How are minds opened today?”, which is part of our ongoing series: “What’s the answer?” Pastor explores how people’s lives are changed and what changes their attitudes about God, about Jesus, the resurrection, and about the power of God’s Word. Pastor takes us through Luke 24:36-47, an encounter with Jesus that His disciples have with Him after His resurrection. Jesus tells them: “This is what I told you while I was still with you; Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets...
info_outline
Daniel: When Kingdoms Collide (1) - Daniel's God
Awake Us Now
The Book of Daniel is the story of the collision of two kingdoms, a spiritual war that is still being fought in the heavens and on the earth. In the end, the Kingdom of God wins!
info_outline
The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 4
Awake Us Now
Week 4 of our Matthew study is all about John the Baptist and his message of repentance, a message that can be difficult for the religious to accept.
info_outline
The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 3
Awake Us Now
In our study of Matthew this week we look at chapters 2 and 3, with an emphasis on deliverance through Jesus the Messiah and the fulfillment of the New Covenant through Him as well.
info_outlineUp To Jerusalem - Teaching 2
Scripture - Matthew 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43, Luke 19:1-9
“Up to Jerusalem” are words used by several of the Gospel authors - this phrase is teleological, meaning it has evidence of design, purpose, and planning of the Heavenly Father. And it shows the heart of Jesus as He steadfastly walks the route that leads to Jerusalem where He knows the coming events of betrayal suffering, crucifixion, and paying the full penalty for our sins against the Father. Jesus was willing to take on all the filth of the human race.
The feeling of many at the time of Jesus was that now that the Messiah is here - now everything will fall into place and the kingdom of God will - after waiting and waiting centuries - finally be established on earth.
As a precursor to our story today, Pastor shares the controversy surrounding Jericho and the controversy of Jesus’ appearance in Jericho along with a look at the geography and topography of Jericho. He shares archeological discoveries and information on the ancient city of Jericho, plus archeological evidence indicating the truth of scriptures and the timeline of the scriptures. The evidence is compelling.
Pastor addresses the “discrepancies” in the verses we will explore today:
Matthew 20:29-34 - two blind men and Jesus leaving Jericho
Mark 10:46-52 - one blind man begging and Jesus leaving Jericho
Luke 18:35-43 - one blind man begging and Jesus approaching Jericho.
What accounts for the differences? Two blind men vs 1 one man and Jesus leaving Jericho vs approaching Jericho. Pastor poses an interesting answer that shows all three accounts to be true. Meaning there was 1 man, there was 2 men, Jesus was leaving and He was approaching!
There is evidence pointing to TWO cities of Jericho during the New Testament times. One a rebuilding of the Old Testament Jericho and a thriving newly built Jericho. Pastor shares some great insights on this. One city was just a bit south and west of the other. If Jesus was leaving the older Jericho location He would have then been entering the newer, modern, bustling New Testament Jericho location. The authors were describing the story from different vantage points. Same story, just written from differing frames of reference. Also, Mark and Matthew wrote for the Jewish audience and would have been more inclined to speak of ancient Jericho, whereas Luke’s audience was gentile so Luke would probably focus on the newer more busy and active newer Jericho.
How do we reconcile 1 or two blind men? As we read the story we see one is very vocal. So much so that the crowds try to shush him. Matthew noticed both men, but Mark and Luke noticed the vocal one, the one who kept calling to Jesus and would not stop.
Mark 10:46-52: The outspoken one’s name is Bartimaeus and he calls out to Jesus, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” Bartimaeus’ description of Jesus as the “Son of David” is a way for Bartimaeus to express that he understands who Jesus is, the Messiah. While Bartimaeus was physically blind, he had great spiritual sight in order to address Jesus in the way he did. He could ”see” very clearly who Jesus was.
When Jesus answers him, Bartimaeus tosses aside his cloak - a most valuable possession - and jumps to his feet going to Jesus. “What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asks. “Rabbi, I want to see!” Bartimaeus answers. Jesus responds, “Go! Your faith has healed you!” And immediately Bartimaeus receives his sight and follows Jesus “Up to Jerusalem.”
This is not simply an historical description of something that took place - it is a declaration that shows us that by faith we too are changed - forever changed - just like Bartimeaus.
Following the healing of Bartimaeus,,“Up to Jerusalem” continues in Luke 19:1-9. Jesus enters the newest Jericho and there he meets Zaccheaus, singles him out and goes to his house. Jesus continues to show us that He is concerned about us individually!
Zaccheaus, like Bartimaeus, is transformed. Zaccheaus tells Jesus he will give away 1/2 of all his possessions and payback 4-fold anyone he cheated. Zacchaeus is a transformed man because he met the Transformer, Jesus the Messiah.
Today’s teaching ends with Jesus saying to Zacchaeus, “Today, Salvation has come to this house, for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Salvation had indeed come! And that Salvation come to us, too, for Salvation is found is none other than Jesus.
Up to Jerusalem continues in Luke 19:11 where we read many in the crowd were thinking that the Kingdom of God was going to appear suddenly. But Jesus knows the road to Victory is paved with His blood, and the road to the kingdom is a road of sacrifice.
Join us next time for the parable of the 10 minas - another controversial story!
Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com
Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper
Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01
Up to Jerusalem is a study of the final weeks of Jesus' ministry concluding with His resurrection and ascension, using the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John together with material from ancient sources and recent discoveries. Up to Jerusalem is part four of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Up To Jerusalem is the story of the plan of God to redeem the world, and the story of a Savior willing to obey the Father’s plan. As we study Jesus’ final days, we will be impacted as we discover the Love of God for each one of us.
This study is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time.