Why did Jesus make the offer of Messiah to a generation He knew would reject Him? It's a burning question, and today, we're diving deep into Matthew 12 to unravel this mystery. Get ready for a mind-blowing ride! Let's start with a personal story. I recently reached out to a loved one, eager to share my faith in Jesus. I knew the possibility of rejection was high, but my heart was sincere. Just like Jesus, I offered love, knowing it might not be accepted.

In Matthew, Jesus extends an offer of Messiah to His generation, fully aware that they would reject Him. Why? Well, because He is omniscient. God knew the response beforehand. But here's the mind-bending part: the offer wasn't completely removed. It was postponed. The rejection of Jesus by that generation of Jews was a part of God's ultimate plan for redemption. Their rejection led to something remarkable - the church age. You see, the church age, which we are in now, is a brand new revelation that stemmed from the Jews' rejection of Jesus. God didn't mention the church age in the Old Testament because it depended on the Jews' decision. It's like prophecy, watching mountain tops from a distance.

The Old Testament prophets didn't see the valley of the church age between Jesus' first and second comings. It's in the New Testament, available to everyone, that the secrets are revealed to those who listen. The church age is a mystery unfolding.

The New Testament was written quickly by a generation who knew Jesus or were close to someone who did. They recorded the teachings and acts of Jesus, including His plea for the generation to embrace Him as the Messiah. Even individuals from that initial rejection group, like Nicodemus and Paul, were granted grace to change. Paul became the apostle to the Gentiles, revealing the mystery of the church age. Jesus started teaching this mystery to individuals after the nation rejected Him. In Matthew 13, Jesus shares parables that provide a timeline and description of what will happen. The church age continues until Jesus comes again. We are in this incredible, unpredictable chapter of God's plan.

So, why did Jesus offer Himself as Messiah to a generation He knew would reject Him? Because God's perfect plan unfolds through rejection, grace, and redemption. The rejection of Jesus by the Jews is the ultimate redemption for believers. Awe-inspiring, isn't it?

Are you looking for a place to take notes, some topics to research on your own, or some questions you could ponder to go deeper during your quiet time with God or with a friend? Remember, we have workbooks available for this episode, and every other episode of our Jesus Rabbi and Lord series. For each episode, they contain a summary, listening guide, key takeaways, quotes, questions and topics to go deeper. Go to gospelspice.com/jesus to purchase these workbooks.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit alongside Jesus and his initial audience? To experience the fresh spiritual flavors that the Messianic Jewish culture weaves into the four gospels? Well, that's exactly what we here aim to do through this original series, JESUS RABBI AND LORD. Stephanie invites you to dig deep into Scripture, unearthing raw diamonds that may need a little cleaning up, but will ultimately shine brightly.

So get ready to embark on this enlightening and transformative journey with Gospel Spice. Prepare to encounter Jesus in a way that resonates with our modern world and discover the richness of the gospel through the lens of Jewish culture. Let's dig deep, uncover the hidden spices, and experience the beauty of the Scriptures together. Welcome to Gospel Spice!

Grab your headphones, hit play, and let Gospel Spice be the catalyst for encountering Jesus in a way you've never experienced before!

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You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer 

There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God’s eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement.

But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I’ll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn’t prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision?

As an unassuming student, I’m going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray.

If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don’t miss out!

A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER

To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God’s Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts.

We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation.

So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is.

There’s only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this.

Let’s begin.

THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE

Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don’t really know how to pray. I’m a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn’t really about what I’ve learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I’ve sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings.

So, I’ll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ.

Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it’s up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let’s make it delightful together!

So, let’s get started.

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