The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

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( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Luke:20:1-8

kjv@Luke:20:1 @ And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

kjv@Luke:20:2 @ And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

kjv@Luke:20:3 @ And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

kjv@Luke:20:4 @ The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

kjv@Luke:20:5 @ And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

kjv@Luke:20:6 @ But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

kjv@Luke:20:7 @ And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

kjv@Luke:20:8 @ And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

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Today's notes:

Context:

• Before - Luke:19:45 -48 Jesus at the Temple
  
• After - Luke:20:9-19 The Parable of the Tenants
  

(see also: kjv@Matthew:21:23-27 kjv@Mark:11:28-33 )

Study Resources:

G1849 authority/power/delegated influence

Notes:

The problem with asking by what power one thing is able to be done is the question of by what power is anything able to be done. By what power are the chief priest/scribes/elders in the position that they are in to challenge Jesus? By what power has John the Baptist been established in the crowds mind as a prophet? By what power is Rome and before them Greece and before them Babylon master over Israel? By what power does anything thought or said or done come to physical existence? By what power is Satan able to sift the thoughts and intents of man and woman? And what if anything outside of HIS power is also outside the scope of HIS purpose?

If the theology of this is correct, Jesus then is looking at the chiefs and elders as being empowered by God as well to present further challenge to His messianic claims to greater establish those very claims, the Roman claim over Israel as an empowered challenge to establish the deeper certainty of God's better covenant with Israel, the heathen nations empowered claim over the lesser Christian enclaves within as the establishment of something leading towards God's greater kingdom claim over all. In the same light He could be looking at His disciples childlike fogginess and drift as God's veil working HIS very best way moving man forward into much greater spiritual light and clarity.

The simple fact, as complex as it can be taken, is that God's thoughts are not our thoughts nor are HIS ways. It has barely entered into our mind what is and what will be and how HE intends by HIS power to take us from here to there. These things are odd and foreign and nearly unthinkable. When it comes down to it it is just as Jesus said "no one knows the Father but the Son and whom He shows HIM". Perhaps that is what we are left to consider when considering the simple but pointed question the chiefs were afraid then to answer. If to answer it truthfully what would the others say or do that I do not wish to happen? That which is outside my own given power?

Key Messages:

Declaring Certainty

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Further Resources:

Comment Board:Luke:20:1-8
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Luke:20:1-8 rwp@Luke:20:1-8 mhcc@Luke:20:1-8
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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