TOJ #50: Love God more than anything or anyone. [MT 8:20-22//LK 8:60-62] This is the greatest TOJ or commandment. {MT 22:37-38} Loving God more than money or material things (TOJ #38) seems to be the point of Jesus’ comment to the first man. Regarding the second man, Jesus would have been unkind (LK 6:35) to deny him permission to attend his father’s funeral. Thus, I agree with those who think his father was still alive, and he wanted to delay making a commitment to follow Jesus.
The account in Luke shows that perhaps Jesus detected a wavering desire to follow Him at all. Such ambivalence is portrayed in the Parable of the Great Banquet {LK 14:16-24; also see v.26-33.} As Paul wrote (in 2CR 6:2): “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (See HB 3:15, 4:7 & TOJ #62.) Another illustration of this truth is the brief allusion {in LK 10:41-42} to the different priorities of Mary (LGW) and Martha (housekeeping). The woman who anointed Jesus with perfume also showed her great devotion {MT 26:10-13//MK 14:6-9//JN 12:7}.
TOJ #51: Also have working faith. [MT 8:10&26//MK 4:40//LK 8:25] In addition to having saving Faith, Believers should trust God to provide for their earthly needs (TOJ #35). Jesus commended the centurion for his great faith, but He reproved the disciples and later {MT 14:31-33} Peter in particular for having too little faith that He could save them from drowning. Also, Jesus commended the sick woman {MT 9:22//MK 5:34; also see MT 15:28} and blind men {MT 9:27-29} for their faith that He would help them.
We see that ideally and eventually qualitative Faith in God or the kerygma (TOJ #8) includes a “great” quantity of faith in didachaic parts of God’s Word as it is learned. {MT 17:17-20, LK 17:6} This truth is beautifully conveyed by a man’s prayer, “I do believe [have Faith]; help me overcome my unbelief [lack of faith]!” (MK 9:24)
Unbelief cannot limit God’s power, although it may blind one to perceiving it (MK 6:5), and illness is not necessarily due to a person’s sins or lack of faith (TOJ #190). Jesus’ statement {in MT 17:20//MK 9:23} that nothing will be impossible is related to TOJ #119. Regarding receiving “whatever you ask for” {MT 21:21-22//MK 11:23-24}, we should remember TOJ #34.
The type of miracle God desires to perform is not moving mountains into seas, but rather transforming souls (RM 12:2, EPH 3:14-20), so they may move into heaven. Thus, Jesus encourages His disciples to ask for spiritual miracles {JN 14:14} such as the power to love {JN 15:7&16}, for resurrection to eternal joy {JN 16:24} and for true knowledge about God {JN 16:26}.
TOJ #52: Jesus has divine authority. [MT 9:5-6//MK 2:8-11//LK 5:20-24] The Great Commission begins with this TOJ {MT 28:18}. This authority includes forgiving sins and doing good work on the Sabbath {MT 12:8, LK 6:3-10}. In John’s gospel this authority is described in terms of judgment {JN 5:22-30} or giving eternal life {JN 17:2}, which means that God the Father and Son are “one” {JN 10:18&30}. The phrase “Son of Man” (MT 26:63-64) is another term signifying Messiah/Christ (TOJ #7). It was first used by the prophets Daniel (DN 7:13) and Ezekiel (EZK 2:2, 3:1, etc.). It is equivalent to Son of God or God the Son (TOJ #1). {LK 10:22}
TOJ #53: Jesus calls all sinners to be saved. [MT 9:12-13//MK 2:17//LK 5:31-32] Here sinners are viewed as sick; elsewhere as blind. {JN 9:41} Although some may claim to be good, all have sinned (TOJ #185), even those who were raised by godly parents and never Sinned or rebelled against their Faith. God saves all who respond to Jesus’ call {MT 11:28-29} by accepting His Lordship (TOJ #49). Jesus likens lost souls to stray sheep {MT 18:12-14//LK 15:4-7} and to missing silver coins {LK 15:8-10}. All were once little ones {MT 18:10} like Zacchaeus, who was considered to be one of the greatest sinners. {LK 19:9-10}
TOJ #54: Jesus died to atone for sinners. [MT 9:15//MK 2:20//LK 5:34-35] Jesus showed an awareness that He would die {MT 26:1, LK 9:22, 17:25}, which is probably one reason He promised to send a Comforter for those who mourn (TOJ #11). He spoke {in LK 12:50} of His impending suffering and death as a baptism. His most complete statement was on the journey to Jerusalem {MT 20:18-19//MK 10:32-34//LK 18:31-33}. However, it remained for Paul to explain the rationale for Jesus’ death (in RM 5:6-11).
Paradoxically, although the death of Messiah seemed to be the devil’s victory, actually it was the moment when evil was judged (TOJ #195). Christ died for all—for Hitler as well as for his victims—but only those who satisfy GRFS benefit from the atonement. Jesus cited the story of Jonah as foreshadowing these events {MT 12:40}, and He connected them with the prophecy of Elijah’s reincarnation in Malachi 4:4-5 {MT 17:22-23}.
Jesus portrayed this teaching by means of the Lord’s Supper {MT 26:26-29//MK 14:22-25//LK 22:15-20}. In John’s gospel references to being “lifted up” also speak of His crucifixion {JN 3:14-15, 8:28, 12:31-32}, as does the reference to a dying seed {JN 12:24}, this hour {JN 12:27} or time {JN 17:1}, going away {JN 13:33&36, 16:5-7,10,16a,17a,19a,20a,21a,22a} and night {JN 9:4} or darkness {JN 12:35}. See TOJ #94 for the rest of the story!
