33: The key thing to recognize here is the crowd’s association of Jesus’ miracles with an exception in Jewish history. What they are literally saying is that Jesus did greater miracles than all who had gone before him. This response, though brought on by Jesus’ healing of the mute man with the demon, was likely due to a recognition of the nature of many of the miracles he had done. These were not things that happened every day, to say the least. Even the great prophets Elijah and Elisha, who arguably performed more miracles than most in the Old Testament, could not top the power of Christ. Furthermore, the authority of Jesus was, throughout the gospels, recognized by those who saw and heard him.
34: The Pharisees had to say something. They were forced into some type of statement because of the evidence of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. Their response only serves as more evidence. If Jesus had been easy to argue against, or disprove, their response would have been far different. Instead, they blasphemed the Holy Spirit and said that Jesus cast out demons by the power of the devil. That they addressed his ability to cast out demons above all else is vital. The reason reveals that they understood that his authority over the forces of the devil was a huge proof of his Messianic identity.
Daily Bible Reading: Luke 13:1-14:35
Daily Memory Verse: 1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Daily Tidbit: Ewing’s Sarcoma is a cancer of the bones or soft tissues. It is quite rare. It is usually found in bones such as the pelvis, humerus, ribs, or clavicle. It is named after the man who discovered the disease and distinguished it from other forms of cancer. A person can survive with treatment, depending upon how the disease develops.
Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for this wonderful day! You have, by Your power, given us such hope for our lives. I cannot ever thank You enough for the difference that You make in my life. It is such a joy and privilege to serve You. You are worthy of all my adoration. Never will I ever find the perfect word to describe You, Almighty God. Your name alone is enough to inspire all that I can muster in the way of vocabulary. Every characteristic of Your personality is precious to me. It thrills my soul to think of constant fellowship with You, and yet You offer just that. Can I ever ask for more? I will joy in asking for more of You every day of my life. It is a pleasure to pursue You. You are worth finding out, like a treasure that is worth digging for. Thank You, Father, for Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is precious to me! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.
Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for several people who are sick. Pray for a man who just had a heart attack. Pray for a woman’s unspoken request. Pray for a woman who just had stints put in. Pray for a five-year-old girl with Ewing’s Sarcoma.
Personal Journal Entry #13037