Wednesday, June 26, 2013

A Day in the Life of Jesus by Frank Black


“A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JESUS”

 

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to spend some time with Jesus? - back when Jesus walked the roads of Israel with his disciples, going from village to village.  We’re given the “Reader’s Digest” version in the New Testament.  Wouldn’t you like to know “the rest of the story” – kind of “read between the lines.”  I certainly would like to join Jesus on his travels and spend “A Day In The Life Of Jesus.”

 

  We’re not told what transpired along His journey from one place to another.  The Bible will simply say something like, “A few days later when Jesus again entered Capernaum…”  or   “…He traveled from village to village.”  Well, do you realize that those few days were filled with the daily living of Jesus and His disciples – their walking, eating, resting, sleeping, etc.  Speaking of “walking”; how do you think Jesus got around?  He probably exclusively walked from place to place.  This is easily said, isn’t it?  I can tell you first hand, from being in Israel in August 2011 that it’s very hot and dry and dusty (it was over 100 degrees most days we were there).  So how far did He walk?  It’s about 30 miles from Nazareth (Jesus birth place and boyhood home) to Capernaum (where Peter lived and where Jesus spent a lot of time).  While I’m talking distance; do you realize it’s about 68 miles from Nazareth to Jerusalem.  I don’t want to lose you in the geography; but my point is that in the daily life of Jesus he often walked up to 20 miles a day in various harsh conditions.  If you walk 4 miles per hour, this would be a minimum of 5 hours walking per day.

 

What did Jesus do during all these hours He spent walking?  Can’t you just imagine the amount of talking and teaching he did with His disciples.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have been with Jesus during those times!  To listen and to learn.  We’re not privy to all these conversations that would have taken place or the situations that Jesus would have handled in His divine ways. Of course Jesus would have had “small talk” and all the usual conversation when living and traveling with people.  Remember He was totally human [yet divine]:    * Philippians 2:6-8 - “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death…”

 

Have you ever wondered whom Jesus used for advice – where did He get His counsel?  We’re often told in the Gospels that Jesus would go out alone and talk [pray] to His Father God.  As in Jesus’ conversations with His disciples, we’re not privy to what Jesus prayed [only when He instructs His disciples how to pray (the “Lord’s Prayer) and His anguished prayers after His capture in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross].  Here we have the divine Son of God having regular prayers with His Father God.  Amazing!  This being the case; how much more should we commune [pray] with our Father God!  I confess my deficit here, and I imagine most of you can say the same. 

 

Jesus was real; the historical Jesus is a substantiated fact - [the topic for a future article].  If you sometimes have difficulty realizing, understanding, believing that there is an all powerful, creator God; then just keep your eyes on the real Jesus.  Jesus came from God, regularly prayed to God, honored God, and lived by God’s desires.  We can be confident of this and put our total faith and trust in our God because of Jesus.

 

I also find great strength and confidence in the fact that Jesus prayed for me [and for you]!!  Yes, He did. 

* John 20:29 – “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” -  (this is us)

* John 17:20“My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” – (this again represents us)

 

Let us all continually find faith, strength, and confidence through Jesus – as we frequently spend “A Day In The Life Of Jesus”.

 

                                    Frank Black – June 2013

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