The One Year New Testament

June 4

Luke 7:18-35

Luke 7:18-35

18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

24 When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’

28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,

“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”

Reflection

John the Baptist was the greatest of all the prophets leading up to Jesus (Luke 7:28), but even this remarkable man of God was surprised by the way the Messiah was conducting his mission. John sent some of his followers to confirm Christ’s identity (vv. 18–20) because Jesus’ ministry did not meet the grand political and social expectations that most Jews hoped to find in their promised King. Jesus demonstrated and explained to John’s disciples that he was, in fact, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah (vv. 21–23; cf. Isa. 35:5–6; 26:19; 61:1).

Though Christ’s kingdom will someday make an unmistakable public appearance (cf. Rev. 11:15), it is currently hidden from the eyes of the natural world (cf. Luke 13:18–21). Only those who have been graciously awakened by the Holy Spirit are able to see the splendor of God’s kingdom in its present form (John 3:3), making it impossible to appreciate when measured by the standards of human wisdom (cf. 1 Cor. 1:21). For now, when the world looks at Jesus and his kingdom, they will see only the weakness of a suffering and crucified Messiah. But for those who have been “born again” (John 3:3), this seemingly unimpressive man and his cross are the very power of God (1 Cor. 1:18).

Ephesians 5:22-33

Ephesians 5:22-33

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Reflection

The ultimate example and meaning of marriage is seen in the relationship between Christ and his bride, the church. In Christ, husbands see a model for sacrificial, loving, strong, tender leadership. The church’s submission to Christ provides wives with a model for intelligent, gracious, trusting, respectful submission. These roles and responsibilities are not a matter of cultural preference; they are timeless and universal illustrations of the unchanging relationship between Jesus and the church. Marriage exists to show the world the glory of Christ and his bride (Eph. 5:32).

Psalm 47:1-2

Psalm 47:1-2

Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.

Thoughts For Prayer

Even today, the kingship of Jesus is not recognized by most. Pray that God would open the eyes of your friends and neighbors who don’t yet acknowledge the rule of King Jesus.

Missions Prayer Requests More

  • June 4, 2023

    Supported Workers: Mark & Patti Bean

    Countries: Peru, United States of America

    Pray for good attention to detail as Mark checks through the books of Song of Songs and Lamentations for the Panao Quechua team and the book of Romans for another. Thank God that while Mark was traveling in Peru, he and Antonio were able to accomplish all the team’s goals, and Mark remained healthy. He started feeling poorly after he returned. The medical team figured out his pneumonia was his own body's problem and switched to steroids instead of antibiotics. Mark is feeling much better. Pray for his complete healing and for the building up of his immune system. Praise the Lord that the medical team believes they caught their grandson Jeremiah’s leukemia early. Pray for patience for all as they wait on God’s timing and for healing.

    Georgia (Asia). Population: 3,982,461, Believers: 1.5%. Young Georgians have lost interest in the Church, with a majority leaving during teenage years. Youth groups have grown in some cases where intentional efforts were made to reach out to young people in creative and relevant ways and where youth were empowered to lead. Pray for churches to thoughtfully share the gospel with young people in relevant ways. From Operation World DVD-ROM 2010, www.operationworld.org