Forty Things That Jesus Did For You and Me: 27 ~ 29

27. Jesus loves children. Luke 18:16

Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me. Do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” He wanted the children to spend time with Him at His feet, listening to the stories and trusting in His words. If only we could all be like those innocent ones who instinctively identify a genuineness of spirit and truth.

Jesus also taught that unless we become like that child, we will never enter the kingdom. He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter.” We must change. We must redirect our thinking. We must become like them in innocence, openness, receptiveness, and trust. We must receive the gift of salvation as the grace it is with no thought that our own contribution has in any way influenced its giving.

Jesus indeed loves the children. In the book of Mark, Chapter 10 and verse 16, “He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them.” What a precious sight this must have been for those parents. Their innocent lambs in the arms of their shepherd, touching them with hands that created them, hands that would be pierced for them, hands which would one day welcome them into His kingdom.

Jesus does love the children. We are His children and He loves us…

you and me.

28. Jesus fed many thousand with little food. Matthew 14:17

Accounts of these miracles are found throughout the gospels. There were two episodes where the mountainside was thronged with crowds of country folk anxious to hear and experience the words and works of this Jesus of Nazareth. Both times, as the day drew on and the multitudes grew hungry. Rather than send them away at the disciples urging, Jesus demonstrated His power and gave His Father the glory in nourishing their hungry flesh after feeding their weary souls.

In doing so, Jesus took the provision, looked to heaven, and gave a blessing. He demonstrated in His actions the process we are to follow in blessing, breaking, and giving. Jesus showed too that no matter how lean the platter, the fullness of our thanksgiving should not be effected. He placed the emphasis solely on offering thanks.  Our thanks and glory are to God for what is placed before us, our daily bread.

That Bread of Life had already been served that day. That Bread of Life served bread made of wheat and barley. That Bread of Life is Jesus the Messiah, who did all of this

for you and for me.

29. Jesus celebrated Hanukkah and other Jewish feasts. John 10:22

We often forget that Jesus is a Jew. He grew up studying in the synagogues and celebrating the ordained feasts of the Lord in Jerusalem, the Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles. Some might be surprised to know that He even celebrated Hanukkah!

The scriptures tell us in John that “it was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication.” (The Transformational Study Bible) This feast was appointed by Judas Maccabaeus to commemorate the purification of the temple which had been defiled so greatly by Antiochus Epiphanes.

All of the Feasts painted a picture of Jesus. All of them either have been or will be fulfilled. They give us insight into our own relationship with God, the Father; Christ, the Son; and the Holy Spirit.

Let’s make it a point this year to put a whole lot less emphasis on the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus and read what God’s word has to say about the Passover Lamb and the manger. We Christians should study to learn the story of Hanukkah. Let’s do it because Jesus is in those events. He was, is, and is to be in them,

for you and for me.