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What does Mat 19:1 say Jesus did after finishing His discourse with the disciples about their attitudes toward little ones in the faith, dealing with the sins of those who stray, and forgiveness (Mat 18)?  Cf. Mar 10:1.  What does Luke add about this journey?  See Luk 9:51-56.  In harmonizing the gospel accounts, what does this indicate about when the events of Luk 9:51-19:30 take place in relation to the events of Mat 19-20 and Mar 10:1-11:1?  Cf. Luk 10:1,38-39, Joh 11:1, Luk 12:50, 13:22,33, 14:25, 17:11, 18:31, 19:1,11,28.  How do these events harmonize with John’s account?  See Joh 7:1-3,10, and the rest of Joh 7 through 10, esp. Joh 10:22-23,40-42[1].  See also Joh 11:1,6-8,47-55.

Jesus' Journey Map

Apart from setting His face resolutely toward the cross He would bear in Jerusalem, for what more immediate, pragmatic reason did He likely move on from Galilee?  See Mat 12:1-2,14-15,22-24,34, 14:1-2,13, 15:1-2,12,21, 16:1-4,13, Mar 9:14,30-31.  What does His example teach us about the inevitable results in this world of fearlessly and boldly proclaiming the unadulterated truth?  See 2Ti 3:12.  Why is that so?  Cf. Luk 4:6, Joh 14:30, 1Co 4:4, Eph 2:2, 6:12, 1Jo 5:19.  In what way was Jesus’ bold and fearless proclamation of unadulterated truth the same thing as saying that He resolutely set His face to bear the cross?  Who else did the same?  See Act 21:10-14.  In what way must this same spirit fill all who would follow Christ?  See Mat 10:38, 16:24, Luk 14:27.  What does Jesus’ example in the face of the persecution He faced teach us about the primary way true apostles, prophets and evangelists in whom the Holy Spirit of Christ is most manifest unto total faithfulness and obedience are able to survive in this world?  See Mat 10:23a, Act 9:23-25,29-30, 13:50-51, 14:5-6,19-22, 16:40, 17:10,13-14, 20:1, Heb 11:37-38; cf. Heb 11:9,13.  What is it that makes the true people of God such strangers and aliens in this world that the world cannot stand them so that it persecutes them even unto death?  See 1Pe 2:11, 4:1-4, 1Jo 2:15.

Although true Christians are peaceable, hard working, and faithful citizens in their communities who enrich the world, for what reasons can the world not just let them be?  Think: is it possible for true Christians, who know the fear of the Lord and are compelled by His love to keep from speaking to others about the truth that has set them free?[2] What effect does being reminded about a day when God will judge the world in righteousness have on those who will not repent?  What effect does it have upon those who love the world when others repent?  See Act 19:23-28.  Think too: is there not something even deeper than men’s physical existence among the kingdoms of this earth, so that the proclamation of another kingdom to whom we ought to give our allegiance is an affront to the sovereign control of the ruler of this age, in the same way that attempting to rescue people from behind the iron curtain or from North Korea is an affront to those regimes?  Cf. Exo 5:1-2, Act 26:18, 2Co 10:3-5, Eph 6:12, Col 1:13.

Besides the call of the cross in Jerusalem and the threat of persecution that arose anywhere He preached for very long, for what additional reason may Jesus have moved on from Galilee?  See Luk 10:13-15.  Should we suppose when people reject the gospel and do not repent that the Lord will continue to tarry with them indefinitely?  What does this teach us about our own endeavors to share the gospel?  What does Mat 19:2 indicate about Jesus’ popularity in the new regions to which He traveled after He left Galilee?  What does this verse indicate about why He was so popular?  What is the relationship between the teaching of unadulterated truth, the proclamation of God’s kingdom, and healing?  See Mat 4:23, 9:35, Psa 107:17-20.  If someone today was drawing large crowds and teaching them truths that resulted in their healing, what would be the reaction from the world’s medical and pharmaceutical industries?

 


1. The Feast of Booths took place in September/October, the Feast of Dedication in December, and the Passover in March/April.

2. If we are content to say nothing to others about our faith, what may that indicate about having truly been set free?

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