Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022
This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.
Bible Readings: Matthew 17:22-18:14, Mark 9:30-50, Luke 9:43-50
Background:
Over the last several days we've seen a subtle shift in the ministry of Jesus. He has been traveling, healing, providing meals, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. But suddenly he is looking forward to the end of his ministry. He has begun to tell his disciples about his death and that they must deny themselves and take up their crosses to follow him. People are turning away. He is transfigured and the focus seems to shift.
Jesus is less concerned now about the crowds as he is his disciples. He is training them, teaching them, and leading them in the ways of his kingdom. He will draw distinctions between his ways and the ways of the Gentiles, between his ways and the ways of the Jews. He is now trying to help them understand what they evidently will not fully understand until the Spirit indwells them at Pentecost - the nature of Christ's work and his kingdom, the way of the Cross, not the way of the sword.
Here, Jesus talks about true greatness, a theme that will be repeated often in the latter part of his earthly ministry. He will talk about taxes, children, lost sheep, and temptation. But the theme is trying to help his disciples understand the differences between the kingdom of God and the thinking of man.
Jesus is less concerned now about the crowds as he is his disciples. He is training them, teaching them, and leading them in the ways of his kingdom. He will draw distinctions between his ways and the ways of the Gentiles, between his ways and the ways of the Jews. He is now trying to help them understand what they evidently will not fully understand until the Spirit indwells them at Pentecost - the nature of Christ's work and his kingdom, the way of the Cross, not the way of the sword.
Here, Jesus talks about true greatness, a theme that will be repeated often in the latter part of his earthly ministry. He will talk about taxes, children, lost sheep, and temptation. But the theme is trying to help his disciples understand the differences between the kingdom of God and the thinking of man.
Daily Devotional: A Different Kind of Kingdom
Irony.
That's what it was. The disciples were with Jesus who was preparing to do the most selfless thing anyone has ever done. He left heaven to come in humility and die as the substitutionary atonement for our sins. He suffered in shame and pain for us that we might be saved. What were the disciples doing during that time?
Mark 9:34 says they had "argued about who was the greatest."
Jesus, the greatest of all, was laying down his life for the world and his disciples were arguing over their own greatness. They had a mindset that did not match the mindset of Christ.
Christ came to seek and save, to serve. His life was lived for others, for the redemption of the world. He had come to build a spiritual kingdom, a kingdom in the hearts of men. The disciples imagined themselves as the Knights of the Round Table. They would be Jesus' right-hand men when he announced his kingdom, chased the Romans, and assumed the throne in Jerusalem.
But as is natural for humans, there was one small problem. They couldn't decide who was going to be on his immediate right! They would all be important, but who would be most important? It was a fundamental misunderstanding of the message Jesus had just been teaching.
He'd told them to deny themselves and they were arguing over who was greatest.
He'd told them to take up their cross and they were taking up their glory.
He'd told them to follow him and they were following their own ideas of greatness.
Jesus made it clear in verse 35. In his kingdom, the first must be last and greatness is gained by serving and giving. It is still the hardest lesson to learn. We do not achieve greatness by advancing ourselves, but by seeking the spiritual welfare of others in the name of Christ.
His kingdom is very different than earthly kingdoms.
That's what it was. The disciples were with Jesus who was preparing to do the most selfless thing anyone has ever done. He left heaven to come in humility and die as the substitutionary atonement for our sins. He suffered in shame and pain for us that we might be saved. What were the disciples doing during that time?
Mark 9:34 says they had "argued about who was the greatest."
Jesus, the greatest of all, was laying down his life for the world and his disciples were arguing over their own greatness. They had a mindset that did not match the mindset of Christ.
Christ came to seek and save, to serve. His life was lived for others, for the redemption of the world. He had come to build a spiritual kingdom, a kingdom in the hearts of men. The disciples imagined themselves as the Knights of the Round Table. They would be Jesus' right-hand men when he announced his kingdom, chased the Romans, and assumed the throne in Jerusalem.
But as is natural for humans, there was one small problem. They couldn't decide who was going to be on his immediate right! They would all be important, but who would be most important? It was a fundamental misunderstanding of the message Jesus had just been teaching.
He'd told them to deny themselves and they were arguing over who was greatest.
He'd told them to take up their cross and they were taking up their glory.
He'd told them to follow him and they were following their own ideas of greatness.
Jesus made it clear in verse 35. In his kingdom, the first must be last and greatness is gained by serving and giving. It is still the hardest lesson to learn. We do not achieve greatness by advancing ourselves, but by seeking the spiritual welfare of others in the name of Christ.
His kingdom is very different than earthly kingdoms.
Father, as your Son's life redeemed others, may my life serve others in his name.
Consider God's Word:
The measure of the life of a believer is the effect he has on others, how he serves others in the name of Christ.
Stop to consider how your life is being invested in others.
Are you actively serving others in Christ?
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