Author: coachdkeith

Always the teacher…

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

Luke 20:1-7
1 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2 “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”

3 He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

5 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”

7 So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”

8 Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Jesus saw the traps. God had told Him exactly how it would go down. As Jesus saw the traps ahead, He walked with the authority of the Creator straight through the traps without fear. And He did it as a man.

The question was where Jesus’ authority came from. We know where it came from. The Pharisees sure knew. Everyone knew where it came from. The Pharisees where trying to get Him out. Their fear was growing, and the traps became more public and desperate.

Jesus did not act until the Father told Him to. He waited. The plan is perfect. The plan that continues to this very day. The plan that includes you. What is your role in it? Ask.

Amen.
DK

There are still rules everyone. We are covered in His blood and forgiven, but we must not wander from the path. If we do, we will be corrected…

Jesus at the Temple

Luke 19:45-48
45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’[c]; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[d]”

47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

Jesus taught at the temple every day. The question may come up, “Why didn’t He do this sooner?” Also, many people wonder of Jesus is mad. Both of those inquiries are ok. Jesus is a teacher remember. The perfect teacher. Ask the question.

In this case, the temple merchants had gone too far. God the Father spoke to Jesus and gave Him instruction when to act. This was the day He would act. It is one of the most memorable visions I had as a kid. Jesus turning tables over and money and merchandise flying everywhere.

I imagined such authority did not exist here on Earth. But it did as man in Jesus, and now lives in us as the Holy Spirit. We have that authority. We have the Word of God to stand on. We have truth. Be sanctified. Regardless of the pain. The apostle Paul tells us what is just on the other side. Blessings.

We need correction in our lives. We need to be checked and strengthened through the crucible of life. Stand tall and stand on the knowledge that you belong to Jesus Christ.  That you are free. Spread His truth. Start with your kids. ASAP. If you dont, the devil will.

Father we pray to you with the thankful hearts. Lord, we know you are with us because you have promised that you would be. We thank you for your many blessings. We pray for those are in the dark tonight. We pray that they see your light right now. Lord, we ask that you continue to correct us like the perfect Father that you are. We may grumble, we may complain, but your will is perfect. We lo
ve you. In the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.
DK

He is coming again…

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
Luke 19:28-44
28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

As a history teacher, the knowledge of what happens to Jerusalem throughout history is incredible. Invasion after invasion, death upon death come to mind. Perhaps the movies have done more of this than teaching, but they each play a part.

In this verse we see that the King has arrived. The Messiah. The Deliverer.  Yet not everyone can tell. Perhaps because he is arriving on a small colt or donkey that they cannot tell. I mean surely the Son of Man wouldn’t be on a donkey…right?

The first responders. The ones that know. Did you read what they did? They placed their cloaks on the ground beneath the feet of the donkey. A sign of honor. A spur of the moment red carpet so to speak. What love they showed what reverence.

However, at the same time, those that “knew” the law. The higher class. The rich and esteemed couldn’t see Him. They only saw a man. A man that threatened their way of life. A life of comfort and complacency. One that required little faith, but lots of money. They were in love with what they saw. Only what they saw.

Even in all of this, Jesus wept for them. He wept for them because He loved them. He loved them, and died for them and for all so that sins may be forgiven. So that all would be able to afford salvation, which now only requires FAITH.

The walls came down. They went up again and came down again. But Jesus removed the barriers. He crushed the dividers between us and God. He crushed the devil and He crushed sin. Yesterday’s sin, today’s sin, and tomorrow’s sin. All crushed, forgiven, and paid for. By Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

Amen!
DK

We have been given Minas by God. He will return. What will you have done with yours?

Luke 19:14-27
14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

17 “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

25 “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

There is no doubt about it. We will be judged by God. For those that choose to be judged by man and conform to this world only, beware. What is first here on Earth, is last in Heaven.

This does not means that blessings will not find you. They will. That is one of God’s many promises for you on this Earth.  What you do with what you have been given is what this parable is talking about. And what you do in the eyes of God, rather than the eyes of man as well.

The easiest way to do what God will see as a blessing to others is by developing a relationship with the Holy Spirit by reading God’s Word. Reading the Bible and praying. God is with you.

I pray for all of us to use the blessings (minas) that God has given us the way that He wants us to use them. For His glory.

Amen.
DK

Jesus wants us to inquire, to question, to search. This only the first half of the parable. Read on…

Luke 19:11-13
The Parable of the Ten Minas
11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.[a] ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

Many of you know this parable, or teaching directly from Jesus Christ. If so, choose one word or phrase and meditate on it. Mine would be “Until I come back.” If you have never read the parable before but know Jesus personally, chances are you could finish this parable. Or at least know that He will return. This is the Holy Spirit talking to you.

He sparks inquiry. The Holy Spirit wants you to search. The question should come to like, “What would Jesus do?” Also, “What did Jesus do?” Read it.

Now let’s make this relevant to your situation right now. Say you attend a church that you attend because your parents attended, or because that’s all you know. The Holy Spirit will talk to you if you ask. If you inquire.  If you search. The foundation is your relationship with the Holy Spirit, a vital part of the triune God.

Amen!
DK