The Gramazin Blog
One article every day from Charles Wagner's two commentaries on the New Testament.
Page 17 of 22
12
Jun
Back in Galilee: Jesus Heals Official’s Son
Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
Wednesday June 12, 2024
Luke 4:14-15, John 4:43-54
Father, I want to have the kind of faith that does not need the evidence of a miracle for proof that Your Word is true. I want to believe You simply because Your Word tells me to. Amen.
Father, Jesus left the Sychar and Shechem area of Samaria and headed north to the region of Galilee, His “old stomping grounds”, so to speak. He received a hero’s welcome, though most likely without the ticker-tape parade, because word had gone around about the things Jesus had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival. The text tells us that Jesus taught in the synagogues in Galilee empowered by the Holy Spirit. The people praised Jesus for His wisdom and understanding.
Jesus returned to Cana, where He had turned water into wine. A royal official had traveled to Cana from Capernaum in desperation to beg Jesus to travel back with him and heal hi......READ MORE.
11
Jun
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
Tuesday June 11, 2024
Matthew 4:12, Mark 1:14, Luke 4:14, John 4:1-42
Father, who are the last people on earth I would want to share the gospel with? Please give me the courage, and the opportunity, to share the gospel with them. There are no coincidences with You. When two people “bump into each other”, there is a divine purpose behind it. Please give me insight as to what Your purposes might be for me when I meet strangers along the path of my life. Please give me a heart that loves the souls of those who are lost, regardless of how messy and broken their lives are. Father, please give me Your living water that refreshes every aspect of my life every hour of every day. You know everything about me. It humbles me. Please forgive me, in Jesus’ name, for every sin I have committed. Please heal me where I need to be healed. Please help me to grow where I am weak. Please use the unique combination of skills and opportunities that You have given me to build Your Kin......READ MORE.
10
Jun
John the Baptist is Arrested
Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
Monday June 10, 2024
John the Baptist is Arrested
Luke 3:19-20
Father, please make me fearless in speaking the truth, in love, to those who need to hear it, not concerning myself with the consequences. Amen.
Father, the life and times of our Savior, Jesus Christ, were not the only headlines of this time period. What do you get when you merge a mob family with royalty? The family line of Herod the Great. I can imagine the reality TV series that could be produced from this family’s drama. The text of Luke 3:19-20 is highlighted in gray in the table below.
Episode Plot
1 Herod is declared "King of the Jews" by the Roman Senate, but they don't give him real power.
2 Herod marries Mariamme I to gain favor with the Jews, even though he is already married to Doris, the mother of Antipater.
3 Herod joins Sosius to defeat Antigonus and win control of Judea.
4 Herod's mother-in-law, Alexandra, tries t......READ MORE.
09
Jun
John the Baptist Testifies About Jesus
Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
Sunday June 09, 2024
John 3:25-36
Father, I want to have the humility of John the Baptist. Please help me to point others away from me and to the one and only person who deserves praise – Jesus Christ. Amen.
Father, the scene shifts back to John the Baptist. He was baptizing people in Aenon near Salim, a spring where there was plenty of water. An argument developed between John’s disciples and a Jew who happened upon the scene. It appears the impetus of the argument was that Jesus was now baptizing people Himself on the other side of the Jordan River. John’s disciples heard that people were beginning to go to Jesus for baptism instead of to John the Baptist. This led to a discussion about the value of the “ceremonial washing” that John was doing versus the baptism that Jesus was doing.
The text doesn’t say it but I can hear it screaming off the page:
“Aren’t you jealous, John? He’s taking away all o......READ MORE.
08
Jun
Jesus in Jerusalem: Nicodemus
Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
Saturday June 08, 2024
John 3:1-24
Father, I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I believe that, when I die, I will be declared innocent, pure, holy, and righteous because Jesus washed away all of my sin and corruption. Help me to now live an obedient life in thanksgiving for the gift of eternal life I have received. Amen.
Father, Nicodemus was an influential man in Jerusalem, a Pharisee, and a member of the Jewish ruling council, otherwise known as the Sanhedrin (what we might call the “city council” today).
- He was searching for truth. His soul could not rest in the evening until he had answers about who Jesus really was and what Jesus meant to him. He had to meet with Jesus right away, even though it was nighttime.
- He had “fear of man” issues. His visit to Jesus in the night enabled him to go unnoticed by other political and religious leaders in the community who w......READ MORE.
