Luke 2:41-52
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Luke 4:14-30
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read,17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.
23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”
24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”
28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
Luke 7:18-35
Jesus and John the Baptist
18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”
21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.27 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
“‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
John 3:5-15
Jesus Tells Nicodemus He Has Gone into Heaven
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
John 3:31-35
Heavenly Speaking and Earthly Speaking
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
John 4:21-26
God is Spirit
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
Matthew 13:10-17
Jesus Spoke in Parables
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
John 16:25-33
Jesus Talks to His Disciples Plainly
25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus said and did some of the most amazing things when He walked the earth and taught...And those who believe in Him believe that He is from heaven and is above all...Those that are from the earth belong to the earth, and we speaks as people from earth....But the One who comes from heaven is above all...He testifies to what He has seen and heard, but is is hard to understand and believe His testimony, since He is from heaven and is Divine...But those who do believe accept that God is truthful...For the One whom God sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit to Him without limit...The Father LOVES the Son and has placed everything in his hands...Jesus told Nicodemus that being from earth it is hard to understand heavenly things...Very truly Jesus tells us that we speak of what we know and that are things of earth, and then we testify to what we have seen on earth, but still since we are on earth we find it hard to accept testimony about heaven, the Spirit, and the Divine...Jesus spoke of many earthly things in His teachings and parables...Yet, we found it difficult to believe...So how then will we believe when He started and speaks of heavenly things?...No one has ever gone into heaven except the One who came from heaven—the Son of Man...
At a very young age, we see that Jesus is just different...He had an amazing understanding of the Bible in His early years...When Jesus was twelve years old, Him and His parents went up to the festival, according to the customs of their religion...After the festival was over, while His parents were returning home, the Young Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it...Mary and Joseph thought He was in their company, for they had traveled on for one whole day...Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends...When they did not find Him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for Him...It took three long days to find their Son in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions...Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers, because He was so young...When His parents saw Him, they were astonished...His mother Mary upset said this to Him, “Son, why have you treated us like this?...Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”...Jesus asked, “Why were you searching for Me?”...“Didn’t you know I had to be in My Father’s house?”...But they did not understand what He was saying to them...Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them...But His mother treasured all these things in her heart...And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man...
This story of a twelve year old Young Jewish Boy learning and Him questioning the experienced teachers of the Old Testament -and Jesus giving amazing them answers to Scripture questions shows us of His knowledge of the Bible, at such an early age...This gives us an early view of His wisdom and stature at such a young age in His life...Jesus would learn phrases and words from the Bible and know and learn the proverbs that only the most experienced Hebrew Rabbis would know and understand...His wisdom is of the utmost importance of what He knew about the Bible...He would take these early lessons in His life and become a Rabbi...He would know the entire Bible word for word, when He went out on His ministry...He would say He fulfilled the Old Testament...This would show us what kind of Boy He was...He was Divine...He was not trying to hurt or make His parents angry and anxious, when He was in the Temple at age twelve...He did have and knew He had a Father in the Temple watching over Him for three days...And He would have felt safe and secure in His Father's house...
And as He grew and started going to different synagogues, one day He returned to Galilee and entered one of the synagogues...The power of the Holy Spirit was with Him, and the news about Him had spread throughout the whole countryside...He was becoming more and more known...He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone was praising Him...But people noticed, He was a different type teacher and a most unique Rabbi...Next He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day He went into the nearby synagogue, as was His custom...He stood up to read the Scripture, as the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him...Unrolling the scroll, He found the place where He wanted to read and He knew what He wanted to say to His people...He said it is written:
“The Spirit of the LORD is on Me,
because He has anointed Me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor.”...
Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat back down...His words had everyone riveted to their seats...The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him...He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”...All spoke well of Him and were amazed at these gracious words that came from His lips...He had spoken so bluntly, yet so naturally...“Isn’t this Joseph’s Son?” they asked...Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell Me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that You did in Capernaum.’”...“Truly I tell you,” He continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown...I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land...Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon...And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”...
And as He said these words about His hometown people were perplexed...But what He said seems to spoken very frankly and the people seem to understand what He just said...Yet, I believe they were wondering what He just said -or asking themselves why did He say that?...He is so complex of an Individual...The people started getting mad, at what He just said in their synagogue...All the people in the synagogue were furious now after hearing this...The people got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him off the cliff...But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way...
He certainly is wise and full of wisdom...He is also controversial...Jesus teaches us that some wisdom manifests in the future and is proven by its offspring and by the fruit that is bears...Things have played out in the future as He said it would...And through all of His wisdom, it is often hard to follow what He is saying...Maybe some of it, is because He completely knows the Bible word for word, and its exact interpretations...He knows the context of each and every verse of the Bible...Maybe some of it is hard to believe just because He says things like the Scripture is fulfilled by you hearing Me speak these words of Isaiah...
There are many places in the Bible, where I have had trouble understanding, and continue to have to go back and read it again...I have reread many parts over...And I love reading the words of Jesus, yet I have trouble following some of the things that He said in the gospels...It would have been nice if He spoke plainly throughout the four gospels...But He did day, "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about My Father...In that day you will ask in My name...I AM not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf...No, the Father Himself LOVES you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God...I came from the Father and entered the world; now I AM leaving the world and going back to the Father.”...Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech...Now we can see that You know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions...This makes us believe that You came from God.”...
John the Baptist said that when we are on earth we belong to the earth and we speak as one from the earth...We also, I think it hard to believe in the Spiritual things, such as Jesus telling us He fulfills Scripture...So we continue to speak as if we are from earth, because we are...I understand some of the things I have read on earth...He says the the One who comes from heaven is above all....He comes from heaven, so He is above all of us...Jesus speaks a little different because He is actually from heaven...And He testifies to what He has seen and heard in heaven, but no one accepts his testimony....Jesus is a little harder for us to understand, being He is from heaven and we are not...And He completely understand the Bible and its context...He completely understands those things of the Spirit...For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God and from heaven, for God gives the Spirit without limit...But whoever has accepted what He says has certified that God is truthful...
Jesus knows the Bible...He knows the Bible better than anyone ever has...He completely understands the Bible...Jesus is Scripture...He fulfills the Bible...