Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time 22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.  This is the second time Jesus tells the disciples about his suffering, death, and resurrection.   " The substance of what they heard was the same as before, but its repetition gave it a new force, as showing that it was not a mere foreboding of disaster, passing away with the mood of sadness in which it might have seemed to originate ." (Ellicott) 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief. It is interesting that Jesus talks in the third person about himself.  In the Mark and Luke it says that the disciples did not understand what Jesus was talking about because it was hidden from them.  The sadness the disciples exhibit probably comes from two reasons.  One, they were sad their friend and mentor would be killed and taken from them...

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy 14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.  Right after the three disciples have the mountaintop experience with Jesus, they get right back into the thick of things.   “ It is easy to feel Christian in the moment of prayer and meditation; it is easy to feel close to God when the world is shut out. But that is not religion – that is escapism. Real religion is to rise from our knees before God to meet men and the problems of the human situation.” (Barclay) The man expressed respect and humility as he kneels before Jesus.  15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.  The man likewise addresses Jesus with a term of respect "Lord", which could also mean "sir".  Luke and Mark tell us that this was the man's only son."   The affliction seems like the combination of a physical malady, the seizures an...

The Transfiguration 17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  Six days after Jesus had predicted his death to his disciples, he has a special experience in mind for them, where he will give them a glimpse of his future glory.  Jesus decided to invite only his inner circle of three disciples, not the others.   " The name of the ‘high mountain’ can never be known; for those who knew the locality have left no information. Tabor, if you please; Hermon, if you prefer it. No one can decide ." (Spurgeon) This is where we probably get the term " mountaintop experience ".  2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. " The word transfigured speaks of a transformation, not merely a change in outward appearance. The effect was extremely str...

  Jesus Predicts His Death 21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. From this point on the level of persecution by the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders of Jesus is going to grow quickly.  He brings the disciples into "the know" by telling them his destination is in Jerusalem. What will await him there is his suffering and death, but also he will be raised to life on the the third day.  One can only imagine what the disciples are thinking at this point.   " The disciples were probably so shocked that Jesus said He would be killed in Jerusalem that these words didn’t sink in. Later, an angel reminded them of these words ." (Luke 24:6-8). (Guzik) Notice "he began to explain".  He didn't expect them to "get it" right away.  The "...

  Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” " Jesus again withdrew from the mainly Jewish region of Galilee and came to a place more populated by Gentiles. This was likely a retreat from the pressing crowds. " (Guzik) Jesus had now revealed himself in many ways with signs, wonders, and teaching how God's kingdom came through Him.  Many Gentiles accepted Jesus by faith, the religious leaders rejected him, and now Jesus checks in to see what his disciples think of him.   14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Basically most people thought Jesus was a prophet.  Elijah and Jeremiah were prophets in the Old Testament, and John the Baptist was the one Elijah predicted.  Since John the Baptist had already come and announced Jesus' coming, it is strange they confused Jesus w...

  The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees 5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. St. Mark adds that they had only one loaf they brought with them, though after the last feeding they had lots of leftovers.   6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” In Judaism leaven was always seen as a picture of sin and corruption.   "So it was with the doctrines of the Pharisees. They were insinuating, artful, plausible. They concealed the real tendency of their doctrines; they instilled them secretly into the mind, until they pervaded all the faculties like leaven ." (Barnes) 7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.” The disciples are confused and not sure why Jesus is referring to the Sadducees and the Pharisees.   " This was a strange concern after Jesus had, in the recent past, miraculously fed both crowds exceeding 5,0...

  The Demand for a Sign 16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. While the Gentiles are continuing to exercise great faith in Jesus, the Pharisees are still exercising great cynicism.  Though the Pharisees were different in almost every way, they were united in their opposition to Jesus.   Consider some of their differences: 1. The Pharisees subscribed to the smallest points of the oral and scribal law.  They took the Hebrew bible literally.  The Sadducees, only received the written words of the Hebrew bible. They often interpreted the bible as figurative rather than literal, especially in regard to the supernatural miracles.   2. The Pharisees believed in angels and the resurrection.  The Sadducees didn't.  3. The Pharisees were not involved in the government and only cared about their freedom to worship.  The Sadducees were aristocrats and collaborated with the Roma...

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand 29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down.  Jesus left the cities of Tyre and Sidon and came to the Sea of Galilee, where he had originally called his disciples.  "It is significant, as Sidon lay to the north of Tyre, that He thus extended His journey, as though seeking for Himself and His disciples a longer period of rest for prayer and meditation. His return to Galilee must have been through some of the mountain passes of the Hermon range, bringing Him down upon the eastern shore of the lake. " Ellicott 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.  Most commentators assume these were mainly crowds from Gentile, heathen nations.  We see again the mission of Jesus shifting away from his own people, the Jews, to the Gentiles, who were as we can see open to Jesus' ministry.  T...

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman 21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  " Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities, located some 50 miles (80 kilometers) away. Jesus went all this way to meet this one Gentile woman’s need. This shows remarkable and unexpected love from Jesus to this woman of Canaan." (Guzik) 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Matthew uses the older term "Canaanites", which reminded his Jewish readers of the ancient peoples that the Israelites conquered when they went into the Promised Land.  Biblically, Canaanites are identified in Genesis as descendants of Canaan, a son of Ham and grandson of Noah. It is significant that she cries out "Lord Son of David".  This is a clear reference to Jesus as the Messiah.   " Perhaps this woman knew that Jesus had healed Gentiles before (Matthew 4:24-...

10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand.  Jesus not only addressed the Pharisees, but also wanted the crowds to understand what he was saying. " It is evident that, in our Lord’s judgment, the whole multitude was capable of understanding those things which the Pharisees did not understand, and by which their traditions and those of the elders were overthrown. " (Benson)  11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Jesus' principle is clear here and it is all about direction.  Eating unclean food is not what defiles someone as it comes in from the outside, but what defiles them is what comes out of them which comes from the inside.   " Defile means to pollute, corrupt, or render as sinful. " (Barnes) 12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” "This is a humorous scene. The disciples came t...

1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked,  News about Jesus quickly spread south from Galilee to the heart of Jewish capital of Jerusalem.  The delegation of scribes (teachers of the law) and the Pharisees were sent to investigate Jesus' teaching. They are quickly getting jealous of him and therefore looking for a way to trap him.   2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” They start with what almost seems like a "cheap shot".  He accuses them of not taking part in ceremonial washing of their hands before meals.  "T hese ceremonial washings were by tradition, not by Scripture. The religious leaders say as much when they refer to the tradition of the elders and not the commandment of God." Guzik The matter had nothing to do with hygiene but the personal offense taken by the leaders, which had everything to do with their pridefulness.  3 Jesus r...

29 Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Peter acts in faith by getting out of the boat and is rewarded with the remarkable experience of walking on water.  Though we normally are hard on Peter, it is hard to overstate his trust in Jesus in this scene  I am sure he remembered it forever.  30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” When Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was able to do something supernatural.  When he kept his eyes on Jesus, he had no fear of drowning.  When he kept his eyes on Jesus, he had no fear of the storm.  When he took his eyes off of Jesus, his peace was replaced by fear. When he took his eyes off of Jesus his supernatural power was replaced by human inadequacy.  When he took his eyes off of Jesus, he began to sink.   As he saw what dire straits he was in, he turned again to Jesus this time fervently calling on Jesus to save hi...

Jesus Walks on the Water 22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.  John's gospel gives us more insight into why Jesus departed so quickly.   John says in chapter 6;14-15, "Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “ This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world. So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone. " 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,  We see here the second reason.  Jesus needed to pray.  He needed to be alone with His Father.  Though he had no problem ministering to the masses, he also knew when he needed to retreat and be rejuvenated spiritually.  Though he had invited his disciples to pray with him many times, this time he instr...

 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand 13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.  Jesus withdrew to a solitary place for three reasons:  1. Though he wasn't afraid of Herod, his time had not yet come. 2. He needed time to grieve the loss of his friend and relative John.  3. In Mark's version, we see the disciples returned from their short term mission and needed to rest and get some food as well. Though the religious leaders didn't follow Jesus, the crowds did.  14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. His compassion was great: “The original word is very expressive; his whole being was stirred to its lowest depth, and therefore he proceeded at once to work miracles of mercy among them.” (Spurgeon) Though Jesus had sought respite and solitude, the large crowd did not stop coming to him.  Jesus could have...