The Opposition Time of Jesus

“The Opposition Time of Jesus’ Ministry”

He is rejected at Nazareth again! ( Mat. 13:54-58; Mark 6:1-6) He sends the twelve disciples out to minister and baptize (Mat. 9:35-11) and starts His third tour of Galilee, ( Mark 6:6), John the Baptist is beheaded by the executioners of Herod while in prison, (Mat. 14:1-2). The twelve disciples return from ministry boasting about their being able to cast out demons, but Jesus tells them not to rejoice about those small things, but to rejoice because their names were recorded in the Book of Life in Heaven!

The miracle of the 5,000 being fed by a few loaves of bread and a couple of fishes near Bethsaida is recorded in Matthew 14: 22-23. Many other miracles are performed (Mark 6: 53-56) and Jesus gives His discourses explaining that He was the “true Eternal Bread of Life” which came down from Heaven, and whoever ate that Bread would never hunger~ (John 6:25-59). After hearing this, some of the disciples defected and left Him, (John 6:60-71). Since disciples are only learners, the defecting disciples obviously had not learned the true meaning of Jesus being God the Son, and had not been drawn to Jesus by the Father! (John 6:44). Jesus rebukes the Pharisees further, (Mark 7:1-13) and the tour of Phoenicia in Matthew 15: 1-9, Jesus heals the daughter of the Syrophenician woman (Mat. 15: 22-28), and then journeys to Decapolis, (Mark 7:31). While there, a deaf and dumb man is healed, (Mark 7:32-37), and more miracles are performed, (Mat. 15:29-31), the 4,000 are miraculously fed again, (Mat. 15:29-31), and the sign seekers are rebukes, (Mat. 16-1-4). Jesus then heals a blind man at Bethsaida, (Mark 8:22-26).

Peter confesses Christ as Savior and Lord (Mat. 16:13-19), proving his having been born of the Spirit, because Jesus told him that “flesh and blood” had not revealed that great truth to him!

The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ is recorded in: (Mat. 17:1-9; Mark 9: 2-10; Luke 9:28-36). Peter and John went up on the mountain with Jesus, and for one instant of Glory, Moses and Elijah appeared, while Jesus fleshly body was transfigured into the glorified state as He was after the resurrection. This was the perfect example of the future “rapture” of the church. Jesus in His Glorified state coming for His church which consisted of Elijah as the example of being translated without physical death as he was, and as the church is promised; and Moses, as the example of having died physically, but being resurrected from the grave to meet Jesus with the Church who had not died physically. Paul explains to the Corinthians that at the rapture of the church, the corrupt will put on incorruption, ( Moses, who died and had corrupted), and the mortal would put on immortality~ ( Elijah as an example of the church that is promised to be raptured without seeing physical death), ( I Corinthians 15:53).

Jesus heals an epileptic (Mat. 17:14-21) and then tries to warn of His death and resurrection which will take place (Mat. 17: 22-23). He pays His tribute money to the tax collector (Mat. 17:24-27) and gives the disciples a lesson in humility, loyalty, and patience, “ Mark 9:33-50). He gives a parable about the unmerciful servant ( Mat. 18:23-35) and sends seventy disciples out to minister, (Luke 10:1-16). He is again rejected by the Samaritans, (Luke 9:51-56) and then heals ten lepers with only one returning to give thanks for the healing. (Luke 17:11-19). Jesus deals with a woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8: 1-11). He tells the Pharisees who want to stone her, to go ahead and stone her, but let the one without sin be the first to cast the first stone! He then talked about fatherhood, (John 8:15-58) and gave a parable on the “Good Samaritan,” (Luke 10:25-37), and of the “Friend at Midnight”, (Luke 10:17-24). The seventy returned from their missionary tour (Luke 10:17-24), and Jesus heals another blind man! (John 9:1-41). He gives the parable of the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-17), and proceed to the Feast of Dedication. (John 10:22-40)

Blessings!
Marked Elect