Tag Archives: discipleship

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Mark 12:28-34

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

Mark 12:28-34

(PRT) v. 28 Then, one of the religious teachers, after listening in on the discussion and discerning Jesus answered them well, approached him and asked: “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” v. 29 Jesus answered: “The most important of all is this – “Here this, Israel; our Lord God is One Lord. v. 30 “And you will love your Lord God with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. v. 31 “The second is this – You will love your neighbor like you love yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.” v. 32 Then, the religious teacher said to him: “Excellent, teacher – What you have said, that He is one and there is no one beside Him; this lines up with the truth. v. 33 And to love him fully with the heart, understanding, and strength and to love our neighbor like we love ourselves is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” v. 34 And Jesus, seeing that he answered wisely, told him: “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” Then, no one dared to ask him another question.

Study Notes:

v. 28 Then, one of the religious teachers, after listening in on the discussion and discerning Jesus answered them well, approached him and asked: “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

Matthew indicates that this priest “tested” Jesus, as if he was put up to it. But the curiosity seems to lead in this account. Could it be he was almost convinced to exchange allegiances?

Jesus is in the Outer Court where the Gentile God-fearers and the nations came to worship. He has a clear picture here of what love means.

This question was commonly debated among religious teachers. It relied on the level of piety to achieve or accomplish that law. But Jesus says in answer – the priority is immeasurable, unreachable, always the goal but never the attainment. That’s why grace is required.

If you were asked this question, what would you answer? Jesus accepts the question as valid and it has a valid response.

These religious leaders were the ones who interpreted the law. They saw life through the lens of the school of interpretation of either the Sadducees or the Pharisees (the full OT revelation or the Pentateuch.) Jesus is calling on him to see life through the lens of the Kingdom and he as King.

v. 29 Jesus answered: “The most important of all is this – “Here this, Israel; our Lord God is One Lord.

This is the Shema, the “Hear” or “listen up.” It’s the central passage in Jewish theology from Leviticus 6. Interesting that the word for “one” is the word for a compound unity that is a unity of elements into one. Father/Son/Holy Spirit.

To hear this is to seek to know the one true God.

Don’t miss the possessive – Our God is One, Our God is Lord, and Our God is relational. He has established a relationship with us.

v. 30 “And you will love your Lord God with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.

And to hear this is to love the one true God.

To love God is thorough in all ways for the individual. It is a response to love first demonstrated.

All is completeness. God has redeemed and restored us fully; we love him back fully.

Our love is not philosophical or academic; it is active, real-time expression of our choice to follow Him and love the unlovely.

Back to the Garden – there was no separation. All that Adam did was out of love for the Father.

v. 31 “The second is this – You will love your neighbor like you love yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”

And this second commandment goes with the first. We can’t love God without love toward others; we can love other without the love of God in our hearts. Our self-centeredness gets in the way. And we might try to fix the relationships on the horizontal level; but without the vertical in place, the horizontal gets in the way.

Illustration: With God at the center, like a spinning top, the rest of our relationships are balanced and moving at the right pace; but without God as the point, the center, the first place in our lives as our confession, the rest of our relationships wobble or lose control

To love others = to give life as ransom, to serve and not be served.

Jesus connects love on the horizontal with love on the vertical. We love others because we had found God’s love to matter.

Unlike the first, this love is in response to love poured in through the Father’s love, but not in response to a horizontal love first given.

Our love for God is toward one who is perfect and complete and utterly deserving; our love for others is toward one who is often hateful, deceptive, unconcerned, greedy, etc., imperfect, broken, and undeserving of our love – apart from the father’s love poured into us.

Luke 10:25-37 A neighbor is more than “my people.” A neighbor is everyone.

v. 32 Then, the religious teacher said to him: “Excellent, teacher – What you have said, that He is one and there is no one beside Him; this lines up with the truth.

This religious leader gets it, hears it as truth, and steps toward the Kingdom.

v. 33 And to love him fully with the heart, understanding, and strength and to love our neighbor like we love ourselves is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Hosea 6:6 Mercy above burnt offerings.

v. 34 And Jesus, seeing that he answered wisely, told him: “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” Then, no one dared to ask him another question.

The teacher of the law moved from antagonistic to accepting. Jesus’ teaching smacks of Kingdom truth. He is almost there to connect the person of Jesus with the presence of the Kingdom.

It could be that, after hearing this scribe equate love of God and love of man as superior to the sacrificial system that was so precious and guarded, no one wanted to step into another possible non-PC conversation.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Mark 11:15-18

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Pastor Rick’s Translation: Mark 11:15-18 (PRT)

v. 15 When they arrived in Jerusalem  and was going through the Temple, Jesus began to drive out those busy peddling their wares and doing business buying and selling in this sacred place. And he flipped over the tables of the currency exchange rate dealers and benches of the sacrificial dove hucksters.

v. 16 And he would not give space for anyone to carry their goods through the Temple.

v. 17 Then, he taught them and said: “Has it not been written, ‘My house will bear the name House of Prayer for all tribes and nations; but you have turned it into a safe house for robbers and gangsters.”

v. 18 And the chief priests and religious legal experts heard this and they plotted how they might kill him; for they all feared him because they saw the crowd was amazed at Jesus’ teaching.

Study Notes:

v. 15 When they arrived in Jerusalem  and was going through the Temple, Jesus began to drive out those busy peddling their wares and doing business buying and selling in this sacred place. And he flipped over the tables of the currency exchange rate dealers and benches of the sacrificial dove hucksters.

The passage prior is the physical “parable” Jesus presented with the fig tree with plenty of show, but no fruit, and its subsequent removal from the fruit-bearing stage. This fig tree near Bethphage (“the place of the winter fig” is what its name means) showed all potential through its “profession” to have fruit, but with no performance. Jesus proclaims through his actions what the national order of Israel had adopted: many words, but no fruit.

Jesus then faces the display of this very loud and physical activity of “profession” without producing fruit in the Temple. As Jesus walked through the courtyard known as the “outer court” or the “Court of the Nations,” he saw a return to the cacophony of a marketplace that had supplanted the purpose of the court – a place of prayer for all nations.

And in the progression of walking through, he became zealous once more for the place which His Father designated for His purpose usurped by greed and evil. There were people peddling their wares at tables and booths where the holy act of seeking the Father’s will and presence should hold sway.

The money changers were there first to give a way for pilgrims to pay their share, but it  had to be in temple tender. The dove and animal traders maintained a spot where they would sit on a bench with animals and cages awaiting purchasers. Fraud and price gauging were common. Still, this is neither a condemnation of capitalism as some might hold, nor a judgment of churches who ask for a donated price for a coffee mug or t-shirt; it is a condemnation of a religious culture that has supplanted the purpose of God’s people and their worship and prayer with schemes that push God’s purposes to the margin.

On top of all this, the Court of the Nations had become a market short-cut for loads of supplies, goods, and animals. You can see and hear (and smell) the scene! The press, the noise, the odor of animals and the travelers replaced the scent of worship, the sweet sound of prayer, and the weighty presence of God’s glory.


Jesus had enough.

v. 16 And he would not give space for anyone to carry their goods through the Temple.

And he shut down the corridors and pushed them to return to their normal paths of merchandise outside the courtyard.

v. 17 Then, he taught them and said: “Has it not been written, ‘My house will bear the name House of Prayer for all tribes and nations; but you have turned it into a safe house for robbers and gangsters.”

The temple is a place not “of” but “for” prayer for every tribe, language, culture, and geography; that God-fearers might seek the Father.

Instead, it has become a safe house for brigands, usurers, and gangsters in league with the cartel of priests, animal merchandisers, and money brokers.

v. 18 And the chief priests and religious legal experts heard this and they plotted how they might kill him; for they all feared him because they saw the crowd was amazed at Jesus’ teaching.

The result is reinforced that Jesus has to go. This man, this single person, must be sacrificed for the good of the nation of Israel (e.g. the established money-making scheme and the status quo); hence the “prophecy” of the High Priest that “validated” Jesus’ murder.

Because the people hung on Jesus words, the religious ruling class was cautious in proceeding in the plot to kill Jesus. The words mean a continuous action of plotting and conniving and watching in order to accomplish what was in their hearts.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Mark 9:1-13

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If you’ve ever wondered how I take what I learn and prepare it to share in a teaching, here is one of my ways to organize my thoughts, applications, illustrations, etc. The goal is to have one main point that the passage is mainly about; then bring applications that will help bring the truth of God’s Word into the “live-it-out” stage. If this goes well, the church gets the Scripture’s main point and leaves with ways that change their lives, and in the process of hearing and worshiping, experiences God’s presence through encouragement, healing, restoration, and most importantly redemption.

Teaching Prep Outline –

  1. Declare – Invite God’s Presence to heal, save, set right according to the Kingdom; Worship; Communion
  2. Getting There – Main point of the passage, main reason for the message. Appeal. Some background. What I want to end with.
  3. Where – The passage for the day.
  4. There – Applications to the Main point of the passage and reason for the message. Story. Hermeneutics. Remind of Main point and where I want to end.
  5. Now Where – End with story. Prayer. Focus on what God is up to in the moment. One more song. Giving response. Announcements.

(Pastor Rick’s Translation)

Mark 9:1-13 (PRT)

v. 1 And Jesus said to the crowd along with His followers, with all certainty I tell you that there are some among those standing here who will not experience death until they see the kingdom of God come with power.

 v. 2 Then, six days later, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with him and leads them into a high mountain alone and isolated; and he was transfigured in front of them,

v. 3 And his clothes became dazzling white beyond the ability of any launderer’s bleach.

v. 4 Then, Elijah along with Moses, appeared right in front of them, and they were speaking together with Jesus.

v. 5-6 And not knowing what to say, for they were terrified, Peter began to speak and said to Jesus, “Teacher, it’s good that we are here; we can construct three shelters – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

v. 7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them in its shadow, and a voice spoke out of the cloud: “This is my son, the one beloved and chosen; listen to him.”

v. 8 Then suddenly, they looked around and saw no one with them any longer, only Jesus.

 v. 9 And as they were coming down from the mountain, he compelled them to tell no one what they had seen, at least not until the son of Man had risen from the dead.

v. 10 And that account they kept to themselves but discussed what “risen from the dead” means.

v. 11 And the disciples said, “Why is it that the religious scribes teach that Elijah must come first?”

v. 12 And he answered them, “Elijah indeed appears first and restores everything just in the way it is written that the Son of Man should suffer many things and be utterly despised.”

v. 13 But I tell you this, also, that Elijah has appeared, and they did to him whatever they desired just as it has been written about him.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

Mark 9:1-13 v. 1 And Jesus said to the crowd along with His followers, with all certainty I tell you that there are some among those standing here who will not experience death until they see the kingdom of God come with power.

Some commentators indicate the “kingdom” coming with power to the next verses and the transfiguration – this is the first application that God changed the lives forever of three disciples as Jesus’ glory broke through. Others point to the resurrection. The pouring out of the “promise of the Father at Pentecost is my choice as it is where all three disciples were present, the power of the Kingdom through the pouring out of the “promise of the Father” came, and everyone who said yes to Jesus was transformed.

If 8:38 points to the warning to step out of the world’s rule and into a cross-centered life, 9:1ff points to the encouragement of the certainty that Jesus will come into His rightful glory.

The kingdom coming and the presence of Jesus are entwined throughout Mark.

v. 2 Then, six days later, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with him and leads them into a high mountain alone and isolated; and he was transfigured in front of them,

Luke’s account is “about eight days later” – that would include the day of v. 1 and the day of the trek up the mountain.

One commentator indicates Peter as the disciple who loves Jesus so much, John as the disciple whom Jesus loved so much, and James, the first to give his life in love for the savior in martyrdom.

The six days corresponds with the six days of preparation to receive God’s revelation or presence.

Jesus leads them up to a place where he wanted them. When we cross a valley or face a chasm or tackle a mountain because it is part of our journey with Jesus, he is taking us to a place he wants to take us.

Jesus went away alone often; this time, he invited the Three.

v. 3 And his clothes became dazzling white beyond the ability of any launderer’s bleach.

Jesus was transfigured, transformed while he was praying. The brilliance of glory broke through the plainness of flesh. What he is in heaven became visible. White light, dazzling. The closest Mark could write and Peter could describe when he was able to bear looking at Jesus was the bright white of the most bleached of robes.  Even his face was changed.

Luke reminds us that the three were likely asleep when this process began and they were awakened by and to the Lord’s brilliance and light and saw the two men with Jesus.

v. 4 Then, Elijah along with Moses, appeared right in front of them, and they were speaking together with Jesus.

Elijah left the earth without dying; Moses died, but his body was taken by an angel into glory. They were the pre-eminent figures of the Law and the Prophets.

What were they talking about? Luke tells us that it was the plan. Jesus was finding assurances about the plan – the kerygma – the suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension.

Peter wanted to capture the moment in time as proof of the Messianic arrival attested to by Moses and Elijah, the last whom represented the forerunner.

Moses delivers God’s people from bondage and into the place of promise; Jesus brings deliverance from our bondage to sin and separation from fellowship with the Father and takes us to a place of restoration and blessing.

v. 5-6 And not knowing what to say, for they were terrified, Peter began to speak and said to Jesus, “Teacher, it’s good that we are here; we can construct three shelters – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

That’s why Peter blurted out, let’s set up the tabernacles to show people that your arrival is attested to by the great ones who had gone before – Moses and Elijah. This would clearly prove that the New Covenant, the New way of knowing Yahweh, had come in Jesus.

The” booths”, or tabernacles, reference is not so pointing to the Feast of Tabernacles as it is to the new “Sinai” or mountain experience that supplants Moses’ experience with the commandments.

v. 7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them in its shadow, and a voice spoke out of the cloud: “This is my son, the one beloved and chosen; listen to him.”

Matthew notes it was a bright cloud filled with light, not a dark, brooding, cloud. The light was so bright as to obscure with its own presence, like a shadow, what they had seen a moment before. The cloud appeared, covered them with the shadow, and the Father spoke.

This experience totally changed the disciples, so much so that, Peter would write later about being an eyewitness to the glory and majesty of the Son of God, and John would write about Jesus’ glory visible.

2 Peter 1:16-18. This experience was with Peter the rest of his life.

This cloud became both the revelation and the concealer of Jesus’ glory. God’s voice is heard here as Jesus moves from ministry and demonstrations of power to misery and demonstrations of humility.

“Listen to Him” is important since Jesus leans into sharing the hard truths of the plan the Father has put into place through Him. They need to hear “listen to him.”

v. 8 Then suddenly, they looked around and saw no one with them any longer, only Jesus.

After recovering from the awe and fear of the experience (Matthew says they fell down) they looked around as the cloud cleared and saw only Jesus. There are times when the Father speaks or makes His presence know so powerfully that we are shaken and changed. Those experiences are “Kairos” moments in our lives; we look back on them, but we remember that Jesus remains near even as we move from those powerful moments. And he is more than enough.

Jesus remains as the sole bearer of Kingdom presence and revelation. “His words and deeds transcend all past revelation.” W. Lane.

v. 9 And as they were coming down from the mountain, he compelled them to tell no one what they had seen, at least not until the son of Man had risen from the dead.

They were to say nothing to their fellow followers until after Jesus conquered death.

The resurrection is seen only in the full context of the brutal treatment, death, and burial of Jesus.

The disciples got it that Jesus is Messiah and current Lord and Savior. And they understood that in the final “Parousia” Jesus would be enthroned. They just couldn’t get the whole suffer, die, bury him, but raise again part.

Jesus exaltation, glory, enthronement are only understood in the context of the Cross and empty tomb.

v. 10 And that account they kept to themselves but discussed what “risen from the dead” means.

The three disciples would frequently discuss this event among themselves. But what most didn’t fit was why Jesus would need to rise from the dead, especially since Elijah had come and ushered in the Messianic age. Sure resurrection from the dead was in the mix, but much later at the end of the age. Why would Jesus need to rise from the dead while they were still around? Perplexed.

v. 11 And the disciples said, “Why is it that the religious scribes teach that Elijah must come first?”

So many things had been written by the scribes of what Elijah would do when he came back.

v. 12 And he answered them, “Elijah indeed appears first and restores everything just in the way it is written that the Son of Man should suffer many things and be utterly despised.”

Jesus doesn’t hedge this truth from Malachi. But he does point to an even more important and frequently ignored truth: The Messiah’s pinnacle of love and glory will be in the suffering.

v. 13 But I tell you this, also, that Elijah has appeared, and they did to him whatever they desired just as it has been written about him.

And in this conversation, Jesus explains that John came in the same vein as Elijah as the greatest of the prophets and restored the reviving work of holiness and repentance that had been missing from the scene for 400 years. And in his prophetic ministry, the religious leaders would ridicule him and the political leaders executed him. He got whatever they gave him. John, like Elijah, led God’s people into repentance and forgiveness (restoration.) His was a ministry of restoration and renewal (of all things, if you respond.)

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Matthew 7:7-11

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

Matthew 7:7-11 (NLT)

7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

Mt. 7:7-11 Diligently ask and it will be given to you; seek with a longing to discover and you will find; knock on the door, and that door will be opened to you. 8 For with certainty, everyone who keeps asking, receives; the one who keep seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps knocking, it will be opened. 9 Consider this comparison: which of you, if your child asked for bread, would give him a brick or stone? 10 Or even, if he asked for a fish to eat, would give him a snake? 11 Since therefore you, being sinful and uncaring, know what a good gift looks like, and you give these to your own children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him. (PRT – Pastor Rick’s Translation)

Mt. 7:7 Diligently ask and it will be given to you; seek with a longing to discover and you will find; knock on the door, and that door will be opened to you.

Or, in reverse of action and results:

You will get what you need for those of you who diligently keep asking; you will discover and find what God has in store for you for those of you who keep on seeking; and that door for relationship and provision will be opened for you who keep on knocking.

Ask for, crave, desire, call for and it will be given, supplied, entrusted to you. Seek, seek after, strive for, crave, seek with the expectation of finding, seek with longing to know and worship and you will find, return to the place, understand.  Knock, rap on the door or gate and that gate will be opened, opened fully to you.

Could this be the first verse of Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ unspoken question following the previous teaching? How do we keep from becoming judgmental? And how do we remove the huge sin in our lives so we can help others? How do we discern between giving precious spiritual truth to those who will honor it, instead of those who will toss it into the pig pen?

Easy, prayer changes us. Keep on pressing in to your relationship to Jesus. If the Father opens your eyes to sin in your life, bring it to him. If you find yourself stuck trying to share God’s goodness with one who dishonors it, pray and seek God’ freedom.

7:8 For with certainty, everyone who keeps asking, receives; the one who keep seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps knocking, it will be opened.

For, because, for indeed. Everyone asking receives, takes as one’s own, ; seeking finds; knocking it’s open fully. Pray and, in faith expect God’s gracious provision.

Read this in reverse for emphasis as this is cause/effect. The one who receives God’s answers is the one who keeps on asking; the one who find God’s treasure is the one who keeps on seeking; the one who experiences God’s Presence, who enters into the relationship eternally is the one who keeps on knocking.

The “keep on” tense is both continuous and leads to a greater expression of the action. If I am praying a little now and keep praying a little more, God will honor this and take me deeper into him. Conversely, if I pray just a little now and back off, I will fall into judgmentalism or lack of discernment.

Knocking at the Father’s door for provision, relationship is juxtaposed with Rev 3:20 where the Father is knocking at the door of those in Laodicea who were unrepentant and lukewarm. The Father initiates the knocking and we repent and open the door for salvation; and for the rest of our lives we grow by asking, seeking and knocking.

7:9 Consider this comparison: which of you, if your child asked for bread, would give him a brick or stone?

Which, then, is of you out of or from.  Jesus gives a comparison or juxtaposition. He is saying consider this from your own perspective. Will a Father give his son a brick or rock when he wants bread? The first word in the verse is translated “or” and makes this a comparative statement.

7:10 Or even, if he asked for a fish to eat, would give him a snake?

The comparative conjunction begins this, too.  The snake and fish comparison hints at follower of Jesus or enticed by the evil one. The point of these two verses: the hunger of your kid demands a proper response just like the spiritual hunger inside each of us receives the proper response from the Father.

The “me” in both juxtapositions assumes a negative answer. In no way would a father give his hungry kid a brick or a scorpion.

7:11 Since therefore you, being sinful and uncaring, know what a good gift looks like, and you give these to your own children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.

You, who by nature, from the inside, act badly, do evil, are corrupt and guilty. The comparison is of God the Father who perfectly chooses goodness and compassion toward his children and me (or you) you imperfect, not good, guilty of choosing badly, evil. Both come out of the heart, out of the inner nature.

If we are evil, even in our best days, compared to God who lacks no good characteristic, we are reminded that we need him.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Matthew 2:21-23, Luke 2:39-40, 51-52

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

Matthew 2:21-23

Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother, and reentered Israel. When he heard, though, that Archelaus had succeeded his father, Herod, as king in Judea, he was afraid to go there. But then Joseph was directed in a dream to go to the hills of Galilee. On arrival, he settled in the village of Nazareth. This move was a fulfillment of the prophetic words, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” (The Message)

After this, he got up, took the child and his mother and traveled back to Israel. Also, he heard that Archelaus now ruled in Judea in the place of his father, Herod. He was afraid to go there and, because he was warned in a dream, he turned aside to the region of Galilee. When he arrived, he made his home in the town of Nazareth and, in doing so, fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”(PRT)

  • It became such a badge of honor to be from such a place and be such a Savior that it was how others identified Jesus. Come and see Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
  • When the blind or the lame would call out for healing, they called to Jesus the Nazarene.
  • The demons acknowledged his authority to drive them out as Jesus Christ the Nazarene.
  • When Mary and her friends came to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body, the angel assured them that the one they looked for, this Jesus the Nazarene, is not here because He is risen.
  • Peter preaches the first Acts presentation of the Good News of the Kingdom in chapter 2 and declares the this Jesus the Nazarene is the very one who conquered death.
  • Then Peter in chapter 3 reaches down to take the hand of the paralytic and declares “I don’t have a nickel to my name; but what I have I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk.
  • Paul says that even Jesus identified himself when he had the vision on the Damascus highway – “I am Jesus the Nazarene; the one you are persecuting.” (Acts 22:8)

That Jesus was from such a small, backwater village in a non-descript part of the Israel is as fitting as Jesus as a baby being born in a livestock cave.

He, as the light of the world, entered where least expected and spread throughout the world.

Joseph was warned a third time, this specific to the dangers Herod’s son Archelaus posed to their safety. That’s why Joseph took Mary and Jesus back to his home in Nazareth which was under Antipas’ rule. Interesting that Herod the Great killed off so many of his sons; but some still reign in parts of his kingdom. Archelaus proved his bloodline and refused a godly lifestyle; he was cruel and unpredictable, too.

Luke 2:39-40, 51-52

39-40 When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on him. (The Message)

39-40 When they had completed all the law of the Lord required, they returned to Galilee and to their home town of Nazareth; it was there that the child grew up and became strong and filled up with wisdom, and God’s grace was on him. (PRT)

51-52 So he went back to Nazareth with them, and lived obediently with them. His mother held these things dearly, deep within herself. And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people. (The Message)

51-52 And Jesus went down from Jerusalem with them and came to Nazareth; he was obedient to them and his mother carefully kept all these things both said and done in her heart. (PRT)

Nazareth is where Jesus grew up, went to synagogue school, learned how to build things, and grew in spirit and the Holy Spirit fully within discovered how to express the Spirit’s fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Some may have difficulties with Jesus growing in wisdom and in the spirit as He is God incarnate. But the “incarnate” – in the flesh – is significant. If Jesus was born with all the wisdom and fully mature, he would not have come in the flesh; he would have come as a superman. He is not. He is God, and He is man.