Exploring God’s Word with Brad Thurston

Thoughtful Answers

Episode Summary

Whenever Jesus is challenged, he gives careful and thoughtful answers. Filled with grace and truth, his words expose hidden and shameful acts and thoughts while offering great hope to those who will receive him.

Episode Notes

Introduction

This series of responses come as a result of Jesus healing a mute person. There were three responses: those who were amazed, those who accused him of being a devil, and those who wanted to test him. 

His response is quite revealing:

Response #1 to the accusations

  1. A divided Kingdom will not stand
  2. If God is at work, then his Kingdom is present
  3. If you are with me then your house can be cleansed and filled with a new resident!

Response #2 to those who are amazed

  1. Rejection of cultural compliments cf. chapter 6
  2. Points to the Father and his words
  3. Reminds them of the actions needed to be a part of the family

Response #3 to those who would test him (hostile though not accusatory)

  1. As crowd increases, he addresses the issue of testing:
  2. He has already proven to be a prophet by knowing their thoughts!
  3. He has already shown a sign by healing the mute man.
  4. He addresses the fact that they want greater signs
  5. Sign one: Jonah
  6. Not the death image of Matthew, but a focus on the great revival in a foreign land
  7. Compares himself to Jonah
  8. The acceptance of Gods call to repentance, though Jonah did not expressly share that!
  9. The need for a major change in attitude and approach to God’s love
  10. Sign two: Queen of Sheba 
  11. Sought after God’s wisdom with a long Journey!
  12. Listened to Solomon
  13. Take part in the judgement!  Both deal with non Jewish people groups! Challenges the thought that they were something special because of their birth!
  14. Sign three: the good and evil eyes!
  15. Being filled with the fullness of God removes all darkness on the inside!
  16. Being generous with all the gifts and resources you have.
  17. Proverbs 22:9: “He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.”
  18. Proverbs 23:6,7: “Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, Or desire his delicacies; For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you.”
  19. Proverbs 28:22,27: “A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth And does not know that want will come upon him.
  20. He who gives to the poor will never want, But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.”
  21. The nature of God is generosity with all that is in him: in giving life, sustenance, relationship, but our responses are very selfish and self centered in our response to his generosity. When God sees a need, he sends the solution. That is what he did with his son and the problem of sin. The cross is God’s greatest gift to mankind and our response to that determines wether our lives are filled with light or we keep our shame in the darkness. 

The challenge to you is the same that Jesus gave those there, repent and be transformed from the inside out, or those whom you reject can rise up in judgement against you. The choice is yours