I find it hard to believe I have done 900 Gems. Amazing! It won’t be long before I have done a thousand. Time to celebrate at that point I think.
Those of you who have followed Gems for a long time now know the drill. We are studying one of the synoptic Gospels, and have come to a passage where all four gospel writers include this passage. So take the time to compare the accounts looking to gain a better perspective on what Luke has written as a result of what he includes, what he omits and what he changes or adds. I would suggest you look back at Bible Gems 879 and see the schema that was used then to handle the differences and uniqueness of each writer.
Shared
Uniquely Matthew
Uniquely Mark
Uniquely Luke
Note how Luke uses this story differently from the other three and strategically links it to the Herod interlude in ways different from the other gospel writers. Luke has a particular purpose which becomes evident when you see what he has done to order and structure what he has written. I won’t add anything more now. I will give you time to compare these accounts for yourself. Meet you back here with the next Gem in the remote area by Bethsaida, the house of fish, food. Oh just one more thing. You don’t need to bring any lunch. Lunch is provided, I hear tell, a fish roll is on the menu.
Take the time to colour the comparative columns according to the coding I have given you. for yourself. If you wish to do that for yourself then do it before you look at the next Gem. You will always get most of out the exercise when you do it yourself.
See you at lunch tomorrow.
If you read the Bible today; spare a thought for the speakers of 1,600 languages who don’t have one word of Scripture.
Ian Vail
The sweetest satisfaction lies not in climbing your own Mt. Everest but in helping others climb theirs!
Max Lucado
Courage is not the absence of fear but it is taking action in the presence of fear.
Anon
Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
Martin Luther King, Jr
Have you received a word that awaits your next step of faith? Proceed, no matter how incredible it seems.
Bob Gass