JESUS READS ISAIAH

 BIBLE STORIES OF JESUS

JESUS IS REJECTED IN NAZARETH

"And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read.  

And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the scroll and found the place where it was written, 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed, 
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

And He closed the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.  

And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”  

And all were speaking well of Him and marveling at the gracious words which were coming forth from His lips, and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”  And He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard took place at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown as well.’”  

And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown.  But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land,  and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.  And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”  

And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things,  and they stood up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the edge of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff.  

But passing through their midst, He went on His way."   Luke 4:16-30  LSV  (Legacy Standard Version)

Jesus read the scripture, Isaiah 61:1-2 on the day it was appointed to read that scripture.  But he only read part of verse 2, because it was a prophecy of His first coming, and the rest of the verse was about His second coming.

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to preach good news to the poor;
He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted,
    to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 
to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn,"  

Isaiah 61:1-2  MEV  (Modern English Version)

WHAT CHRISTIAN MEN WANT

 PARABLE OF THE SINGLE MEN

CHRISTIAN SINGLES POTLUCK

Carrying a plate full of food, three men sit together at a table noticing all the single women seated at the other tables.

ITALIAN 

Guys, we're here to meet women, this is not a men's meeting.  Guys, don't be shy.

ASIAN 

Before we move to other tables, I want to know your opinion.  What type of woman are you looking for?  Are you searching for a wife?

SCOTCHMAN 

I agree, if we don't know what we are looking for, how can we find our soulmate.  We need a strategy before we make our next move.

The Scotchman and Asian stare at the Italian man, wanting him to speak first.

ITALIAN

Italian men want a beautiful wife who knows how to cook pasta.  She must be romantic, a hugger, kiss a lot, and is affectionate.

ASIAN

She must be my best friend, hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, kayaking, traveling the world together, know how to cook Asian food and make hot tea.

SCOTCHMAN

That's wonderful.  All those things are important; but I am looking for excellence in a wife.  Before we move to other tables, let me read Proverbs 31.

 

"How hard it is to find the perfect wife.

    She is worth far more than jewels. 

Her husband depends on her.
    He will never be poor. 
She does good for her husband all her life.
    She never causes him trouble. 
She is always gathering wool and flax

    and enjoys making things with her hands. 
She is like a ship from a faraway place.

    She brings home food from everywhere. 
She wakes up early in the morning,
    cooks food for her family, and gives the servants their share. 
She looks at land and buys it.
    She uses the money she has earned and plants a vineyard. 
She works very hard.
    She is strong and able to do all her work. 
She works late into the night
    to make sure her business earns a profit. 
She makes her own thread
    and weaves her own cloth. 
She always gives to the poor
    and helps those who need it. 
She does not worry about her family when it snows.

    She has given them all good, warm clothes. 
She makes sheets and spreads for the beds,
    and she wears clothes of fine linen. 
Her husband is a respected member of the city council,
    where he meets with the other leaders. 
She makes clothes and belts
    and sells them to the merchants. 
She is a strong person, and people respect her.

    She looks to the future with confidence. 
She speaks with wisdom
    and teaches others to be loving and kind. 
She oversees the care of her house.
    She is never lazy. 
Her children say good things about her.
    Her husband brags about her and says, 
“There are many good women,
    but you are the best.” 
Grace and beauty can fool you,
    but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised. 
Give her the reward she deserves.
    Praise her in public for what she has done."

Proverbs 31:10-31  ERV  (Easy to Read Version)

ASIAN

You got a big list.  Will you ever be ever be able to find her?

ITALIAN

I'm not going to be picky and choose the first romantic woman who wants me.

SCOTCHMAN

The Bible has three types of love.  Eros is the romantic physical love.  Phileo is friendship love.  And Agape is Christ-like love, the love I look first in finding my wife.  Let's go and meet some women.  Seek and ye shall find!

IS JESUS A PROPHET?

 VENDOR ASKS A QUESTION

TWO CHRISTIAN TOURISTS

THE MAN ASKS A QUESTION, "DOESN'T YOUR BIBLE TEACH THAT JESUS IS A PROPHET?"

"So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.”  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”  

John 6:12-14  NKJV  (New King James Version)

THE HISPANIC WOMAN ANSWERS:

"Jesus went to the area of Caesarea Philippi. He said to his followers, “Who do people say I am?”

They answered, “Some people say you are John the Baptizer. Others say you are Elijah. And some say you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Then Jesus said to his followers, “And who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, 

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus answered, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah. No one taught you that. My Father in heaven showed you who I am.  So I tell you, you are Peter. And I will build my church on this rock. The power of death will not be able to defeat my church.  I will give you the keys to God’s kingdom. When you speak judgment here on earth, that judgment will be God’s judgment. When you promise forgiveness here on earth, that forgiveness will be God’s forgiveness.”

Then Jesus warned his followers not to tell anyone he was the Messiah."

Matthew 16:13-20  ERV  (Easy to Read Version)

THE RED HEAD ANSWERS:

"Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  

John 20:26-29  ESV  (English Standard Version)

JESUS' DISCIPLES BELIEVED THAT JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH AND THE SON OF GOD.

WHAT WERE THE FIRST WORDS JESUS PREACHED?

 JESUS MOVES TO GALILEE

ENTERING CAPERNAUM

"Now when Jesus heard that John was put in prison, He left for Galilee.  And leaving Nazareth, He came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,  that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying:  

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
    the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
    Galilee of the Gentiles: 
The people who sat in darkness
    saw great light.
And on those who sat in the land of the shadow of death,
    light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 4:12-17  MEV  (Modern English Version)

After hearing John the Baptist's imprisonment, Jesus settled in Capernaum near the shores of the Sea of Gailee.  

Jesus was "The Light of the World" to the people of Galilee, and the regions given to two of the twelve tribes of Israel--Zebulun & Naphtali.

The "Way of the Sea" was an ancient trade route known as the "Via Marus;" from Egypt to Turkey.  And there was a connector road to Galilee. 

ARE THERE OTHER GODS IN THE UNIVERSE?

 BIBLE QUESTIONS

PASTOR, ARE THERE OTHER GODS?

The Lord, the king of Israel,

    is the Lord All-Powerful, who saves Israel.
This is what he says: “I am the beginning and the end.
    I am the only God. 
Who is a god like me?
    That god should come and prove it.
Let him tell and explain all that has happened since I set up my ancient people.
    He should also tell what will happen in the future. 
Don’t be afraid! Don’t worry!
    I have always told you what will happen.
You are my witnesses.
    There is no other God but me.
    I know of no other Rock; I am the only One.”

Isaiah 44:6-8   NCV  (New Century Version)

I am the Lord. There is no other God;
    I am the only God.
I will make you strong,
    even though you don’t know me, 
so that everyone will know
    there is no other God.
From the east to the west they will know
    I alone am the Lord.

Isaiah 45:5-6  NCV  (New Century Version)

HAS GOD ALWAYS EXISTED?

 GOD IS ETERNAL

LOOKING UP AT GOD'S CREATION

Before the mountains were formed or the earth and the world were brought forth, you are God from eternity to eternity."

Psalm 90:2  ISV  (International Standard Version)

GOD HAS ALWAYS EXISTED, EVEN BEFORE CREATION AND WILL EXIST FOREVER.

GOD IS IMMUTABLE

 THE LORD IS UNCHANGING

MOSES ON MOUNT SINAI

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever."  Hebrews 13:8  NASB  (New American Standard Bible)

"For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed."

Malachi 3:6  MEV  (Modern English Version)

GOD IS NOT LIKE MAN WHO CHANGES HIS WORD; SAYING ONE THING AND THEN CHANGING HIS MIND, SAYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.