October 18, 2019 – Day 292 Matthew 14-17; John 17

As we return to Matthew 14, we read of John the Baptist’s death, of Jesus feeding the 5,000, walking on water, and healing many people in Gennesaret.  John’s death shows us how callous King Herod was.  Jesus miracle of feeding the 5,000 is the only one of His miracles recorded in all four gospels.

In Matthew 15, Jesus and the religious leaders debate over the Jewish ceremonial hand washing.  The religious leaders condemn the disciples for not always making certain they did it, and Jesus condemns the leaders for not following the actual Law of Moses.  Jesus made it clear it isn’t what we eat that defiles us, but what’s in our hearts.  Next, we read of a Canaanite woman’s faith. At first, Jesus wasn’t going to heal her child, because she wasn’t a Jew, but then she offered Jesus a great response to His unwillingness to heal the child, so He does.  Jesus heals many people after this, and feeds four thousand men and their families miraculously.

Matthew 16 offers us another example of the Pharisees demanding Jesus for a “sign” of His authority, which is odd considering He just fed 4,000 people.  Jesus tells them they won’t receive a sign. Then as Jesus and the disciples travel, He warns them of the “leaven” of the Pharisees.  He was not talking about yeast, but about their teaching and lives.  In one of the most important actions of his life to this point, Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, the son of the living God.  Jesus blesses Peter for this announcement, but shortly after, Peter tells Jesus he ought never die.  Jesus calls Peter “Satan” for such a statement, because it focuses on Peter’s earthly desire, rather than God’s divine plan.  Then Jesus tells the crowd to follow Him, they must deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Him.

Matthew 17 records Jesus’ transfiguration with Moses and Elijah, which was witnessed by Peter, James, and John. After this amazing time, they return to the rest of the group to find the other nine disciples unable to cast a demon out of a boy.  Jesus casts out the demon after noting His frustration with them.  Jesus again predicts His death, and the chapter closes with the account of Jesus sending Peter to catch a fish that will have coins in its mouth, with which Peter can pay the Temple tax for Him and Peter.

As we return to John 17, Jesus offers His “High Priestly Prayer” on behalf of the disciples.  This closes out the long section of prayer Jesus offers to His Heavenly Father on their behalf.  This also is the last thing that happens before Jesus is betrayed by Judas, arrested and starts the process of moving toward His crucifixion.