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Gleanings From The Word

Category: Luke

  • The Gospel – Spreading Joy

    The Gospel – Spreading Joy

    Johnny-jump-up (viola tricolor) has a lot in common with the gospel

    If you’ve known me for any length of time, you likely know that my favorite flower is the Johnny-jump-up (Viola tricolor). It seeds prolifically, pops up in unexpected places, grows in rough conditions and brings a smile when you see one. It reminds me in many ways of the gospel, bringing joy.

    Only God knows how many gospel calls have gone out (He sows prolifically). The gospel is seeded through the words of the Bible. The life of Christians calls people. Our testimony calls people.  The Holy Spirit calls out the good news of the gospel in ways we can only imagine. Like Johnny-jump-up seeds, the gospel is being sown everywhere, bringing joy as it grows.

    The gospel takes root in what we might consider the hardest of soils and the worst of conditions. It’s sown into the hearts of the enemies of God, people who love their sin, and people who had no idea that they needed a savior or who at times rejected the concept entirely.

    It happens unexpectedly. Even you and I were transformed by the power of the gospel and God’s incredible, unending grace. The Lord died to cover our sins and bring us to life.

    When the gospel takes hold, the person is changed forever. It’s a beautiful sight to behold. The newborn is far from perfect yet (what newborn is?), but they are undeniably changed.

    A sinner is forgiven. An enemy is now an heir. A former slave to sin is welcomed into the Kingdom of God.

    I have to rejoice and smile every time I see or hear of the gospel bearing fruit. I know it isn’t just me. The Lord rejoices and all the angels in heaven do as well.

    Yahweh your God is in your midst, A mighty one who will save. He will be joyful over you with gladness; He will be quiet in His love; He will rejoice over you with joyful singing. Zephaniah 3:17

    I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7

    In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10

    My Johnny-jump-ups bring temporary smiles and joy. The fruit of the gospel brings everlasting rejoicing.

    Let us do our part to sow seeds of the gospel and rejoice when we see what the Lord does with them.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone) 

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    SUMMARY

    The Johnny-jump-up becomes a picture of the gospel: spreading unexpectedly, taking root in hard places, and bringing lasting joy wherever God causes it to grow. Just as the flower thrives in unlikely conditions, the gospel transforms sinners through God’s grace and produces eternal rejoicing in heaven and among believers.

    KEYPOINTS

    ·  The gospel spreads widely through Scripture, Christian witness, testimony, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

    ·  God causes the gospel to take root even in hardened hearts and impossible circumstances, transforming lives completely.

    ·  Every repentance and changed life brings joy not only to believers, but also to heaven itself.

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    This might be the best news you’ve ever heard. You may also like “Spread of the gospel”

  • Gospel of Barabbas

    Gospel of Barabbas

    gospel manuscript

    Let’s talk about the gospel of Barabbas. It’s not some new book that’s been found; in fact, as far as I can research, historically, such a book has never existed.

    The gospel of Barabbas is the name I’m giving to a profound passage that appears in all four gospels. It doesn’t really have anything to do with Him, but it’s a great visual of the gospel of Jesus Christ played out in the life of Barabbas.

    It’s the night Jesus faces the mock trials and is condemned for crimes he did not commit. The Jewish leaders have pushed him before Pontius Pilate and Herod, demanding his death. Pilate and Herod don’t want anything to do with the situation, but the crowds become dangerously unruly and Pilate gives in.

    But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. Luke 23:18-25

    Barabbas was a bad dude. A rebel against Rome and a murderer, essentially a murdering terrorist. Yet the religious leaders would rather see him free, and Jesus killed. Further in the text, we see that it is fulfilled.

    Jesus dies so that a guilty man can go free. That’s a physical manifestation of the gospel. Jesus came to die so that you and I would be reconciled to God and set free from the penalty of our sin.

    We don’t know what happened to Barabbas after he was freed. The Bible doesn’t tell us, and his name isn’t recorded anywhere else. Did he change his ways? Did he continue as a terrorist?

    That’s also the way of the gospel. Jesus has done His part to set the guilty free. What becomes of that sacrifice depends on what we do with Jesus. We can accept or reject his offer of freedom.

    Perhaps, we’re not murdering insurrectionists. Yet, we are all guilty of sinning against the Lord, and without Jesus, there is no way for us to be free.

    If you haven’t already done so, allow Jesus to free you. If you are a believer, give Him praise and thanks for what he has done.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear
    What about the “new gospel”?