The Power to Save: A six-week study on the powers of Jesus: Week 2

We are continuing to study the powers of Jesus. Powers, that when combined, make Jesus mighty to save. Last week, we looked at Jesus’ power over disease and affliction. This week we will study Jesus’ power over evil.

Temptation of Jesus in the Desert by Daniel Bonnell

Reading for this week: Matthew 4:1-11

“…With power and authority he commands the unclean spirits” ~Luke 4:36b

I am afraid that we think that Jesus and evil, or Jesus and Satan are equal opposites.

Just a few centuries after Jesus was on earth, an eastern philosophical concept was born: yin-yang. Quite beautiful and logical, yin-yang is the dualistic understanding that in order to have wholeness or balance in life, you need both “light”(white) and “dark” (black). And within light there is a bit of darkness, within darkness there is a bit of light. Each leading into each other, and interdependent.

Examples of yin-yang are night (yin) and day (yang), female (yin) and male (yang). You can see how the world can easily be classified under a yin-yang lense.

While I have oversimplified this philosophy, my point is that we have wrongly placed Jesus and Satan into the yin-yang circle. And in so doing, we have bought into two dangerous concepts.

Temptation of Christ by Jason Hawn

One, we see Satan as Jesus’ perfect compliment – his perfect match. The angel on one shoulder, the devil on the other. Who will win? We aren’t sure, for we believe they are equally matched.

And two, we believe that neither Jesus nor Satan are absolutes. In other words, Jesus and Satan are interdependent upon each other. And we may even go so far as to think that Jesus is good, but not absolutely good. And that Satan is evil, but not absolutely evil.

Never forget that while our world seems to fit nicely into the yin-yang framework, Jesus is not of this world. He is absolute. He is perfect. He is God. And while Satan and his evil spirits are adversaries of Jesus for a designated time, they are not His equals.

Be confident in this: Jesus has full power over the devil and all his works and all his ways (Hebrews 2:14-18; 1 John 3:8; Colossians 1:13-14). And we can rest under his promised protection.

Dear Jesus, You have full power over evil. Protect us from evil in your name. Give us the power to trust you, to fill our hearts with your saving faith, and give us the courage to lead other hearts to you. Amen.

“The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.” ~Psalm 121:7

(artist unknown)

On Day 2, you will read a complicated teaching. Simply stated, Jesus claims that if your heart is not filled with God’s spirit, then it is open to be filled with other spirits. Those other spirits may be obviously evil, Satan-worshipping and the like. Or those spirits may be subtly evil, to the point of even seeming good. But Jesus reminds us that goodness and truth come from God alone. Any truth, any spirit not of God, is against God.

This week, as you read these accounts, continue to ask yourself the following questions: Why is this story included in the Bible? What can I learn about Jesus from this story?

Day 2 – Luke 11:14-28

Day 3 – Matthew 8:28-34

Day 4 – Mark 5:1-20; 6:53-56

Day 5 – Mark 6:7-13; Luke 10:1; 10:17-20; Mark 9:14-29

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The Power to Save: A six-week study on the power of Jesus: Week 1

We are in the season of Lent. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and culminates on Good Friday. For church people, Lent is traditionally the time to stoically remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us. During this time, we tend to dwell on the fact that Jesus gave up all his power on our behalf.

While this is very true, I want to spend the rest of Lent looking at the power Jesus did not give up on our behalf. Specifically I want to discuss six powers, that when combined not only make Jesus the perfect sacrifice but also make him mighty to save.

Reading for this week: Luke 8:41-56

“I perceive that power has gone out of me.” ~Luke 8:46

At the time of this story, Jesus was still early in his ministry but famously known for his power to heal. He healed the sick, the lame, the blind, the infirm, and even the dead. Because of his power to heal anything, he had a following and everywhere he went, people gathered.

In this particular story, Jesus was heading towards Jairus’ home. Jairus’ daughter was very sick, close to death. Yet Jesus allowed himself to be delayed along the way by a desperate, sick woman reaching out to grab a bit of his power. And it worked. This woman, who had spent twelve years consulting experts, only to be left worse off, was healed in a second, simply by touching Jesus’ clothes.

Jairus’ Daughter by Barbabra Februar

After healing the woman and finally arriving at Jairus’ house, it was too late. The disease had killed the little girl. But Jesus seemed unfazed by the mourners. There was not a “let me see what I can do”. No, Jesus confidently walked over to the little girl and commanded her to arise. And she did.

There are two crucial distinctions in Jesus’ power to heal. First, unlike a doctor or an expert, Jesus doesn’t just possess a working knowledge of common diseases, ailments, and afflictions, he rules over them. That’s why he can demand Jairus’ daughter to rise up out of her death, and she does. That’s why he can rebuke a fever into submission, and it immediately dissipates (Luke 4:39). That’s why he can spit into the dirt, make mud, and smear it over a blind man’s eyes, to heal like no medicine available (John 9:6-7). He has complete power over disease.

Second, faith is involved. In both situations, Jesus links his power to their faith. In the case of the trembling woman, Jesus reveals that the power that had gone out of him was released by her faith. And to the mourners at Jairus’ house, Jesus says, “Believe, and she will be well.” In each situation, Jesus is not simply showcasing his power, but he is demonstrating that we have access to his power through faith. And that power, is life-saving.

Dear Jesus, You have the power to heal. Heal us. Thank you for your ultimate, life-saving healing where we, through faith, receive your salvation. Amen.

This week delve into the world of Jesus the Healer. As you read each story of healing, remember that the Bible does not expound on every healing. With that in mind, ask yourself the following questions: Why is this story included in the Bible? What can I learn about Jesus from this story?

Day 2 – Matthew 20:29-34

Day 3 – Matthew 8:1-17

Day 4 – Luke 6:6-11

Day 5 – Luke 17:11-19

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Love in the Time of Barley: The Ruth Story

“Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you” (Ruth 1:16-17).

(This week we will read the book of Ruth.)

The book of Ruth opens with the introduction of an Israelite woman named Naomi. Naomi, her husband, and two sons had moved from Israel to a foreign place (Moab) to escape a famine. While there, Naomi’s husband tragically died. Her sons married two Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. And after a time, both of Naomi’s sons died as well, leaving all three wives destitute.

Unable to take care of herself, Naomi prepared to return to her homeland. She graciously encouraged both Ruth and Orpah to return to their families to seek a better life. Orpah followed Naomi’s advice, but Ruth clung to her mother-in-law. The opening chapter concludes with Ruth’s resolve and the two of them traveling together to Naomi’s hometown, Bethlehem.

They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. Israel divided its year into two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. The barley harvest normally occurred at the end of the rainy season.

Naomi and Ruth were both literally and figuratively coming to the end a rainy season: a season that had initially left Naomi hurting, empty and bitter. Yet God was not fit to leave these women in such a state. He was about to bless them both immensely.

While gleaning in the barley fields as a pauper, Ruth met a man named Boaz. He owned the fields where she gleaned and took an interest in her. He kindheartedly made sure she was safe and asked his reapers to leave extra stalks for her to collect.

The story quickly develops into a selfless love story between Ruth and her “kinsman-redeemer,” Boaz. Ending with the couple’s engagement at the threshing floor for six measures of barley. Their marriage not only saved Ruth and Naomi from extreme poverty, but also continued the lineage that would eventually lead to our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

I don’t know whether God causes rain to fall in our lives or if he just uses it. Regardless, whenever I have experienced a time of rain, whether it was a light drizzle or a torrential downpour, the experience has inevitably brought me closer to God. And as I arrive at the other side of a rainy season, I can look back and be grateful to God, because I know that if there had not been a change in weather, I would not be sitting in the center of God’s harvest.

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan.” Romans 8:28

Dear God, You know that _________________ is going on in my life. Give me peace. Give me help. Take me through this and lead me to the other side. Amen.

Let’s read Ruth’s story this week.

Day 2: Ruth 1

Day 3: Ruth 2

Day 4: Ruth 3

Day 5: Ruth 4

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Top 3 Favorite Bible Stories: #3 Jesus Walks on the Water

Reading for today: Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. ~Matthew 14:29

I had a hard time choosing my third favorite Bible story. In the final hours, I chose Jesus walking on the water. Ask me again in five weeks, and it will probably be a completely different Bible story, but for today I chose this one.

I love this story because it clearly represents the calm control of Jesus in the midst of chaos.

At the start of the story, Jesus had just miraculously fed 5,000 people with a small boy’s lunch (another favorite story). He then sent his disciples (experienced fishermen) in a boat to travel to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. He stayed behind to dismiss the crowds and have some quiet prayer time.

As the disciples crossed, however, sudden winds and waves drastically slow them down. The story tells that Jesus went to the disciples by “walking on the sea.”

It was by then the middle of the night. The disciples were worn-out, they were windblown, and their muscles ached from rowing. Upon seeing Jesus, the disciples were terrified. It was dark and Jesus looked like a phantom on the waters. But Jesus called to them, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Peter impulsively responded, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus replied, “Come.”

And as simple as that, Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water. But then, Peter saw the wind, became afraid, and started to sink. He cried out, “Lord save me.” Jesus immediately grabbed him by the hand, pulled him up out of the water, and asked Peter why he had doubted.

“Save Me – The Hand of God” by artist, Yongsung Kim

There are two things that are constant as Peter stepped out of the boat – the wind and Jesus. Both were there. And when Peter stepped out in faith, neither disappeared. As Peter walked towards Jesus, the fierce wind was still blowing at his wet clothes, still attacking his tired muscles, but he walked on the water towards Jesus! But then – for a moment – Peter changed his focus from one constant to the other. He saw the wind. He was afraid and he sank. Nothing had changed, but Peter’s focal point. And when it did, he sank.

The story would be pointless if it ended here. If Peter had drowned right there in front of his friends, in the sea that was his source of employment for so many years, next to a man he trusted with his life, that would probably be the worst story ever written. But that is not how it ended. Instead, Peter cried out to Jesus, “Save me!” And Jesus immediately took hold of him.

There are times in life where you will feel tired, windblown, or you may even be sinking. That is a given. Steady your focal point on Jesus. Know that you can confidently cry out, “Lord, save me!” and immediately he will pull you up and together you can walk through those waters.

 Dear Jesus, Save me. Save me from ___________. Walk with me. I need you. Help me to focus on you. Amen.

Jesus is our rescuer. Gain confidence in this truth as you continue your reading.

Day 2: Hebrews 12:1-2

Day 3: Psalm 139:9-10

Day 4: Psalm 107:28-31

Day 5: Romans 10:13; 2 Corinthians 1:10

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