The Gramazin Blog
One article every day from Charles Wagner's two commentaries on the New Testament.
Page 9 of 22
22
Jul
Is Jesus The resurrected John the Baptist?
Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
Monday July 22, 2024
Mark 6:14-16, Luke 9:7-9
Father, the most important question anyone can answer is, “who is Jesus?” There is only one right answer – “He is the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins. He is my savior and through him I have forgiveness and eternal life.” All other answers lead to everlasting spiritual death. Those who refuse to answer this question have already answered the question. They have said, “Jesus is not someone important enough for me to figure out what He means to me.” They have already determined Him to be something less than the Son of God who died on the cross for their sin. Who is Jesus to me? He is my Savior, the Son of God who died on the cross for my sin. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the one to whom I surrender my heart and soul, and the one to whom I will serve throughout eternity.” Amen.
Father, sometime after the beheading of John the Baptist, Herod Antipas hear......READ MORE.
21
Jul
Herod Executes John the Baptist
Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
Sunday July 21, 2024
Matthew 14:6-12, Mark 6:17-29
Father, believers live in a broken world. Many of our neighbors are evil and they would like to exterminate us from society. Father, please protect us from their actions, sustaining our ministries and giving us more time to touch lives for Christ. However, if it is Your will for us to be killed by evil men and women, we pray that our last few minutes will honor You as we sing praises to the glory of Your name. Amen.
Father, when we last tuned into the “reality TV show” about the family of Herod the Great, in the section “John the Baptist is Arrested”, Herod Antipas had arrested John the Baptist in episode 25 for daring to criticize his marriage to Herodias, his sister-in-law. Here in episode 26, John the Baptist is executed for this crime.
Episode | P......READ MORE.
20
Jul
Jesus Sends out His DisciplesTake Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels Matthew 10:1-42, Mark 6:6-13, Luke 9:1-6Father, I love Your Word. For those who take the time to study and meditate on Your Word in detail, there are so many riches and treasures that can be uncovered. This passage is overflowing with wisdom and guidance for believers. Father, help me to be a faithful minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Help me to be a faithful servant, building Your Kingdom. Help me to model what a true minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ looks like by following the commands Jesus gave us in this passage. Amen. Father, Jesus has encouraged His disciples to pray for workers to go out into the harvest field and bring people to faith in Him. Jesus has already called these men to bring in a harvest. He told them it was time for them to do the ministry work that He does. Students learn from a teacher so that students will go out and do what they’ve been taught. It is clear from this passage that Jesus never int......READ MORE.
19
Jul
Great Need on the Mission FieldTake Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels Matthew 9:35-38Father, use me to build the Kingdom of God. I step forward. I raise my hand. Connect me with opportunities for the gospel in my local community and help me to be faithful, showing the love of Christ to my neighbors who are seeking hope in a world of despair. Amen. Father, the text tells us that Jesus continued to minister throughout the region of Galilee. We read that His ministry consisted of the following activities: MINISTRY Jesus met people. He shared the gospel with them. He healed them. He discipled them. For us that means we meet people, share our testimony, show acts of love, and mentor. Why would Jesus do this? COMPASSION The text tells us that Jesus knew that there were crowds of people all over the region that consisted of people who were lost, destined to spend eternity away from Him. He kne......READ MORE.
18
Jul
Jesus is Rejected in Nazareth AgainTake Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels Matthew 13:53-58, Mark 6:1-6Father, help me to love those who deny the good works You have done in my life. Help me to share the gospel with them over and over, regardless of their persecution of me. Please forgive me for being envious of those who appear to be walking closer with You than I am. Please forgive me for my attempts to find faults in those who desire to walk closely with You. Please help me to celebrate the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in those who are closest to me, even if their walk with You appears to be stronger than mine. Amen. Father, I am reminded of the title of the Beach Boys song, “Wouldn’t it be Nice” from their Pet Sounds album. Wouldn’t it be nice if the Biblical canon were in chronological order? Wouldn’t it be nice if my brothers who participated in the Councils of Hippo (AD 393) and Carthage (AD 397) had decided to organize the gospels in accordance with the step-by-step moveme......READ MORE. |
