“Subtle Hints”

 

DISCUSSION                                                                       

                Jesus knew that there would be some people that would not fully buy into Him being the Son of God.  He knew that it would take time for them to see that He was the complete fulfillment of prophecy and that it would even take the resurrection before some would become disciples.  To help encourage their faith along, Jesus would leave a few subtle hints throughout His ministry about things that would shortly come to pass.  For instance, when Jesus overturned the money changer in the Temple in John 2 the subtle hint was “Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up again” (John 2.19).  The hint being that He was speaking of His impending resurrection.  In our reading for today, Jesus again leaves one of those subtle hints. “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto Me” (John 12.32).  Today, it is easy for us to see that Jesus was speaking of being lifted on the cross.  However, for them, this wasn’t something that they would catch on to until it happened.  In fact, this is the second time that Jesus makes this reference.  In John 3, when Nicodemus comes to Jesus to gain some insight concerning Jesus being the Christ, Jesus leave this hint: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

(John 3:14-15).   The parallel to the story is found in Numbers 21, when the brass serpent was placed on a pole to offer healing to those who had been bitten by the serpents.  We will never know, this side of eternity, how many people were able to look back on these subtle hints that were happening in real time and allow those incidents to be what lead them to their faith.  But we can, as students of the Word, appreciate the fore thought of God as He offered these subtle hints to help them believe.  I also pray that it lifts your spirits, peaks your interests and encourages you to want to know more about this wonderful man…JESUS!

 

Prayer Requests:___________________________________________________________________________________

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday - October 4, 2016

Woodlawn Family Bible Study TUESDAY BIBLE READING:    Genesis 32:22-32 Do you want to be blessed? That sounds like a rhetorical question, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t want to be blessed? I guess it really depends on your definition of “blessed.” Many people desire blessings that will make them wealthy or, perhaps, material goods. However, being blessed is not limited to those physical things. In fact, sometimes we can be blessed in the most unusual ways. For instance, in Genesis 32:26, we find Jacob wrestling with what we often call an angel. Within the story, Jacob is overtaking the angel and holding him down; refusing to let go until the angel gives him a blessing. The angel obliges Jacob, but not in the way he might have imagined. The angel changed his name from “Jacob” to “Israel,” but he also did something else. He put Jacob’s hip joint out of socket, causing him much pain and difficulty walking. In part, his blessing had to do with him walking with a limp. How is tha...
Read more

Resolutions: Draw closer to God through study of His word

BIBLE READING: John 14.7 Spend time alone with God’s Word.  Besides the spiritual growth we will gain from study, we will also come to know Him better.  Reading His word brings us in touch with Him.  Jesus tells us in John 14:7 – “If you had known Me, you would have known my Father also.”   Just studying the life of Jesus will help us to know God better.   In seeking God’s help, we can draw closer to Him through prayer, meditation, nature, and study.   “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2  I Tim.4:13,15 - “Give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine… meditate on these things; give yourself wholly to them.”   Regardless of our circumstances we can rely on God’s unchanging character.  God is good. God loves me. God is with me. God knows my problems. God cares. Romans 8:31(b) tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Make a resolution to slo...
Read more

“Examples”

BIBLE READING: Mark 13- Luke 1 DISCUSSION                                                                                   This past week we have read of some great examples in the bible.   We read in Mark 13 about us being ready and being prepared for when Jesus returns.   We need to all stay awake!   In Mark 14 we read of one action having such an impact.   How this woman gave her very best to Jesus because of her love for Him.   In Mark 15 we read of Pontius Pilate and his desire to keep his power.   He loved his power and did not want to give it up even if that meant sending an inno...
Read more