Theme for this month: Jesus in the Four Gospels
Theme for this week: “Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew”
December 8, 2021 (Wednesday)
Matthew emphasized that the multitude was astonished by Jesus’ teachings for “he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matthew 7:29).
One day Jesus called out to the multitudes, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV). He was talking about the burdens put upon people through the teachers of the law. Jesus warns the disciples to avoid the teaching of the Pharisees.
As the time for his arrest drew near, Jesus encountered the scribes and pharisees and called them, “hypocrites,” announcing to the crowds gathered there that their religious leaders did not practice what they preach.
Jesus’ invitation for people to become citizens of the kingdom included their doing the will of God, seeking to live their lives in ways that honor Him. As he said, He did not come to destroy God’s law, but to fill it full of meaning.
The people listened. They understood that Jesus spoke the truth and was telling them what is essential and important for them to know, so that they may follow the Lord with open hearts, sincerely seeking God’s face, serving Him with joy.
The enemies of Jesus were only interested in protecting their self-serving status in the community, claiming the respect of the people even though they did not deserve it. Their cunning, devious plans soon resulted in the arrest, trials and crucifixion of Christ.
But He rose from the dead, and now His followers number in the millions. Are you one of those followers?
JOY TO THE WORLD
Isaac Watts
1719
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.