Since March 2012 I’ve read the gospels monthly. Plus, I’ve compiled two blended gospels, The Jesus Story and The One. Editing those two chronological accounts of the life of Christ involved many more readings. I’m unable to put into words the affect daily walking a few pages with Jesus has had on my life. It amazes me that every time I read the Gospels I learn something new. In 2021 I  memorized the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7) and the Sermon on the Plain (Lk. 6:20-49) blended together in The Jesus Story. I review it daily. As with reading the Gospels monthly, immersing myself in His Sermon has transformed my mind and my life.

The Sky Parted

I decided to write a series of blogs highlighting some of the things I’ve learned about Jesus. For instance, at the baptism of Jesus, after He rose from the water, while praying, we’re told, “He saw heaven parting  and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove” (Mk 1:10)  The root Greek word for “parting” is “schizo.” The use of this word is important because the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament used at the time of Jesus, uses that same word to describe the miraculous parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21).

The Sea Parted

At the Exodus, God released His people, the Jews, from slavery in Egypt. Concerning this event some Bibles translate Jude 5, “Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.”  (ESV and others). At the Exodus an angel,  Yahweh in human form, parted the waters and brought Israel out of slavery into the promised land (Judges 2:1-2, Exodus 23:20-23).

Jesus Leads Us To Freedom

God led the Israelites through the split Red Sea into the wilderness where they were tested for forty years. After Jesus rose from the water, the blue heavens split and the Spirit led him into the wilderness for forty days to be tempted by the devil.

God is establishing His kingdom on earth. He parted the sea and sky. Jesus is leading us through the wilderness to freedom. We must follow close behind. A few pages a day.