Friday: Further Thought – Miracles Around the Lake
Daily Lesson for Friday 2nd of August 2024
Read Ellen G. White, “Peace, Be Still,” Pages 333–341; “The Touch of Faith,” Pages 342–348, in The Desire of Ages.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
“In all who are under the training of God is to be revealed a life that is not in harmony with the world, its customs, or its practices; and everyone needs to have a personal experience in obtaining a knowledge of the will of God. We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. He bids us, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ Psalms 46:10. Here alone can true rest be found. And this is the effectual preparation for all who labor for God. Amid the hurrying throng, and the strain of life’s intense activities, the soul that is thus refreshed will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace. The life will breathe out fragrance, and will reveal a divine power that will reach men’s hearts.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 363.
“Their dissatisfied hearts queried why, if Jesus could perform so many wondrous works as they had witnessed, could He not give health, strength, and riches to all His people, free them from their oppressors, and exalt them to power and honor? The fact that He claimed to be the Sent of God, and yet refused to be Israel’s king, was a mystery which they could not fathom. His refusal was misinterpreted. Many concluded that He dared not assert His claims because He Himself doubted as to the divine character of His mission. Thus they opened their hearts to unbelief, and the seed which Satan had sown bore fruit of its kind, in misunderstanding and defection.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 385.
Discussion Questions
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We have spent the week examining the miracles Jesus performed around Lake Galilee. It must have been even more impressive for those who witnessed these events. Those who were looking forward to the Messiah were sure that someone who could cast out demons, raise the dead, and feed thousands of people on short notice, had the power to throw out the Romans and set up a powerful conquering Jewish kingdom that would teach the rest of the world a thing or two.
They had just witnessed the feeding of the 5000 and the logistics of feeding an army on the move had not gone unnoticed.
There is a conversation in Capernium recorded in John that is an interesting addition to this. It is also about bread.
It became clear that Jesus was portraying the Messiah message in terms that were unpalatable to many of his followers. The Kindom of Heaven was not about rulership but service.
I like Peter's answer:
It may be pertinent to ask the question of ourselves: Are we into this Christianity thing so that we can be vindicated for our view of how prophecy is being played out? Or, have we come to understand who Jesus really is?
2. Why does God allow... I can't think of any supporting text right now. I do believe that a parallel would be Steven who was stoned by simular people who were almost successful in pushing Christ over a clif. The same people who witnessed Christ, going about spreading, with testimony and preaching the character of Our Father in Heaven.
Acts 7:59.
Luke 4:28-32.
John 14:7.
As read in the Feeding of the 5000, many expected Jesus to fulfill their dreams and goals for this life. Although if we asked according to God's will, such requests may happen, the primary purpose of Jesus was to rescue us from the current corrupted world. He has much better things for us, prepared just for us that no eye has ever seen. It is only through the eyes of faith that we can patiently walk through this world, follow His example, and wait for a better world.
I'm encouraged that God, reminded us, to “be still and know that I am God”. That he is God. Even when we are not seeing him working, that he is still working.
Why didn't Jesus help John The Baptist in prison?
John was well aware that his mission was to prepare the way for Jesus. So when John asked from prison for assurance that his work had been done, he received this response from Jesus:
John may not have been rescued accoring to the story line that we would like to hear, but he died knowing that Jesus was the Messiah and that he, John, had done his part. Gods idea of rescue does not follow our story lines.
In a world of fear and turmoil
In a race that seems so hard to run
Lord I need Thy rich infilling
Even so Lord Jesus, come.
As time went on the understanding of the extent of Christ’s power became overwhelming. Yet in the face of that power it was evident that much of His teaching and activity was so contrary to our natural way of thinking.
Living in the kingdom of God, Psalm 46:10 - ”Be still, and know that I am God”, is a powerful reminder of our station in life. Ellen G. White states that: “here alone can true rest be found.” I consider learning to live with inner peace in the kingdom of God is what our life is all about – Isaiah 30:15.
All the questions about what is fair or just, what is needful or deserved, can be settled from this vantage point – “be still and know that I am God!” All questions waiting to be answered find their answer through our faith that it is God’s benevolent providence which guides life in His kingdom; as we delight ourself in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart – Psalm 37:4.
The apostle's greatest desire was for Jesus' earthly kingship to begin right then and there. Little did they realize that it indeed had begun as their hearts and minds changed with their growing faith. God wants us to learn to trust Him as the governing, sovereign ‘king’ ultimately responsible for our wellbeing whiles living in His kingdom.
As the Apostle's spent their life with Jesus, their hearts and minds changed - learning to be at peace, accepting and appreciating living by faith in the kingdom of God here on earth.
Like them, we learn during our ‘apprenticeship’ all about what really matters – continuing to deepen our personal relationship with our heavenly Father and to trust Him that He will give us sufficient living ‘bread and water’ to sustain this living soul.
Jesus knew John would live again. Our perspective of bad happenings is sometimes tunnel vision and out of focus. I just lost a very dear friend. She’s sleeping now, went to sleep and didn’t wake up…for now. The lesson asked the question “what has Jesus freed you from”? Jesus has freed me from the sorrow that I won’t see her again. Divine Perspective and faith.
May your heart be blessed and may you experience joy at all times. Take heart ma'am.
God's ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts, but that doesn't mean that He doesn't want them to be.
Jesus came to deliver them, and us, from a far superior enemy than Rome - He came to deliver humanity from the devil's dominion of darkness. Jesus's lessons were spiritual, yet even His disciples often didn't get the purpose of them because they were carnal.
Jesus didn't want people following Him just for the miracles, which is why He taught some very challenging things in order to separate the sincere seekers of truth from the curiosity seekers.
A greater Kingdom than Rome or even the devil, was among them and yet they largely missed it. Are we really much different today? Do we follow Christ for the "goods", the blessings we receive? Does unanswered prayer cause us to lose faith? Do the challenging teachings of Jesus cause us to want to leave Him? Are we willing to let Him be who He came to be, the King of the world, and our hearts.
The words of Peter "Where else would we go?" ring true even today. In reality there is no where else to go. The world, the flesh, and the devil only offer death. Jesus offers deliverance from a living death to a life of abundance, here and hereafter.
Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go! Let's go there together!