Jesus Close-Up
Introduction
Jesus spent so much time walking the dusty roads of this earth and living among us in ways that must have been humiliating for the King Of Glory. Why did he do this? Why didn’t He just get right to the point? We understand that Jesus came to save us. He was born to die. Bethlehem, the place where Jesus was born, points to Calvary, the place where He was crucified. We get that. Its the foundation of Christian faith.
So why did Jesus bother doing anything else? Could Jesus not have just fast-forwarded from Bethlehem straight to the cross? Could He have skipped the parables, the one-on-one conversations where He patiently dialogued with individuals, the Sermon On The Mount, the walking on water, the miraculous picnics for crowds? None of it was really necessary in providing salvation.
He did all these things to show us a way of life that is absolutely vital if we want to find rest for our inner longings. It’s not about salvation; it’s about truly becoming the God-followers He intends us to be. It’s about finding His purpose for us and thus satisfaction for our inner restlessness. He knows that comes about as we become more like Him. So He’s showing us Himself in a journey of 1000 days. As we plunge into those 1000 days, listen to Him saying simply, “Watch Me.”
Leading Up To The 1,000 Days
Before God created the universe and set it into motion, He planned to someday personally enter into His creation. He planned to target planet Earth to provide a way to bring us back into relationship with Him, and e are told He had each one of us in mind. At a specific point in time and a particular place, He began this mission of mercy.
God stepped into human history on a tiny piece of real estate at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, a little sliver of the world called Israel, a place about 55 miles wide and 130 miles from north to south. All Christ’s ministry, everything recorded in the bible about His earthly life, took place on that little strip of land, except for one brief journey when Joseph and Mary to the infant Jesus to Egypt to escape from King herod who was out to kill all babies to eliminate Jesus.
Birth of Jesus Foretold
Luk 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Luk 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
Luk 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Luk 1:29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
Luk 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
The Birth of Jesus Christ
Luk 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Luk 2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
Luk 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
Luk 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
Luk 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Luk 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
Luk 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn
Jesus Presented at the Temple
Luk 2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
Luk 2:23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
Luk 2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
The Return to Nazareth
Luk 2:39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
Luk 2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
Luk 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
Luk 2:42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
Luk 2:43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
Luk 2:44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
Luk 2:45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
Luk 2:46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
Luk 2:47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
Luk 2:48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
Luk 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
Luk 2:50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
Luk 2:51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
Luk 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
The Baptism Of the Man Jesus
Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Launch Of The 1,000 Days
Jesus launched His ministry in His hometown of Nazareth. He went to the synagogue as was His custom. When Jesus walked into the building that day, the same synagogue where He had grown up, the ruler of the synagogue recognized Him s the visiting rabbi and invited Him to read the scripture. Jesus was handed the scroll of Isaiah 61, and with this scripture He announced His ministry.
Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
A hush probably fell on the room. Every eye was fixed on jesus. How would He interpret what He had just read? He said, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).
Jesus chose that small group in His hometown synagogue to announce, “I am the Messiah. I am the one who will do all those things Isaiah wrote about. This scripture is being fulfilled in your hearing.” He was rejected.
Luk 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
Luk 4:23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
Luk 4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
Luk 4:25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
Luk 4:26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
Luk 4:27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
Luk 4:28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
Luk 4:29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
Luk 4:30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,