The events of this week are a sobering commentary on what we human beings are becoming. Social unrest and civil disobedience highlight the worst in our fallen human natures. Unfortunately, the more we think about the bad things that other people are doing, the more bad we become! While we may never actually do the same things that we have been disgusted by in others, we are most certainly being negatively impacted by rehashing and dwelling on their sins.
So, since our society is becoming increasingly bold in an unhealthy way, and since our society is becoming increasingly crass, rude, disrespectful, contentious etc., why don’t we fill our minds with thoughts of Jesus? He is bold in a holy way. He is refined and very respectful and polite. He loves His enemies and seeks to be as long-suffering as possible towards them while still using appropriate firmness and severity where necessary. He hates sin with all of His heart and He loves sinners with all of His heart at the same time. He isn’t fickle and cowardly. He never changes (Hebrews 13:8). You can be sure that the wonderful Jesus you can know now will have the same loving and just character, motives and purposes forever. You can rest securely in His arms.
The more people look at Jesus, the more they become like Him. Jesus changes people. He makes rough people gentler. He makes cowardly people decisive. He gives miserable people peaceful, grateful hearts. He gives reckless, careless and self-centered people the character traits of responsibility, carefulness and unselfishness. The list could go on. Jesus changes people. In weeks to come, I will be sharing at least two testimonies of transformations that Jesus has performed on people’s hearts.
In this blog-post, I am providing you all with lists of stories of Jesus that you can prayerfully read and think about. If you come to God’s word in sincerity, and if you are even willing to allow God to make your insincere heart sincere instead, your life will become cleaner as you soak in the wonderful words of God. So, I encourage you all to take advantage of the stories of Jesus I am citing below. Instead of dwelling on the tumultuous presidential election, dwell on the wonderful, noble and unselfish life of Jesus.
Jesus’ Love for Children
This page has a list of verses on Jesus with children.
The Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount
The Beatitudes are a series of blessings that Jesus pronounced on people. They are beautiful and rich with meaning. The Beatitudes are found in Matthew 5:1-12.
The Sermon on the Mount, which immediately follows the Beatitudes, is an incredible sermon. It challenges the selfish, exacting, unmerciful, careless, sin-cherishing and unforgiving ways in which we people typically think and operate and shows us a much better way. The Sermon on the Mount is found in Matthew 5: 13-48, Matthew 6 and Matthew 7.
Parables of Jesus
Parable of the Sower – Matthew 13:3-8
Parable of the Weeds – Matthew 13:24-30
Parable of the Mustard Seed – Matthew 13:31-32
Parable of the Yeast – Matthew 13:33
Parable of the Hidden Treasure – Matthew 13:44
Parable of the Pearl – Matthew 13:45-46
Parable of the Fishing Net – Matthew 13:47-50
Parable of the Unmerciful Servant – Matthew 18:23-35
Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard – Matthew 20:1-16
Parable of the Two Sons – Matthew 21:28-32
Parable of the Tenants – Matthew 21:33-46
Parable of the Wedding Banquet – Matthew 22:1-14
Wise and Faithful Servants – Matthew 24:45-51
Parable of the Ten Virgins – Matthew 25:1-13
Parable of the Talents – Matthew 25:14-30
Parable of the Growing Seed – Mark 4:26-29
Traveling Owner of the House – Mark 13:34-37
New Cloth on an Old Coat – Luke 5:36
New Wine in Old Wineskins – Luke 5:37-38
Wise and Foolish Builders – Luke 6:47-49
Forgiven Debts – Luke 7:36-50
Parable of the Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37
Friend at Midnight – Luke 11:5-10
Parable of the Rich Fool – Luke 12:16-21
Unfruitful Fig Tree – Luke 13:6-9
Jesus at a Pharisee’s House – Luke 14:7-11
Parable of the Great Banquet – Luke 14:16-24
Parable of the Lost Sheep – Luke 15:3-7
Parable of the Lost Coin – Luke 15:8-10
Parable of the Lost Son – Luke 15:11-32
Parable of the Shrewd Manager – Luke 16:1-12
Parable of the Persistent Widow – Luke 18: 1-8
Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector – Luke 18:9-14
Parable of the Good Shepherd – John 10: 1-5 and 11-18
I copied and pasted this list from this website.
Jesus’ Miracles (of healing, casting out demons and raising the dead)
Here is a complete list of all of the miracles that Jesus did while on earth.
Conclusion
I know that you will be blessed by thinking about the beautiful life of Jesus. Next week, I will focus specifically on why Jesus had to die, and after this I will blog about the Crucifixion and its importance to us. I will conclude this series with posts about how to have a wonderful, saving relationship with Jesus. I hope that you will stay tuned with me on this wonderful journey. I welcome you to follow my blog so that you won’t miss any posts in this series.
Update: (1/21/2021) I have decided to expand this series a bit. In addition to blogging about the crucifixion and its importance to us, and about how to have a wonderful relationship with Jesus, I will also blog about what Jesus is doing now, about how we can know that He is coming again soon and about Heaven and the New Earth. I hope that you will stay tuned with me on this wonderful journey.
Blessings and courage!
Photo credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/jesus-reaching-out-gm182707450-12497376
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