There are three paragraphs today: (Jesus in Capharnaum), (The first disciples called), and
Christ has finished his training in the desert. He sparred with the devil, did a TKO and now begins his ministry of preaching. This first paragraph reminds us of how the scriptures are being fulfilled through Christ as he goes about his ministry. It has been spoken through Isaias the prophet that a great light would shine in Zebulon and Nephthalim for those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Jesus begins preaching repentance so that those who would, could find the kingdom of heaven, for it was at hand. It was not far away but at their fingertips where it could be reached by the hand that sought it. Is the kingdom of heaven at hand today?? Can we find it if we sought it today?? Is it at hand??
Christ calls his first disciples. He called Peter and Andrew, James and John. Just like that, they left all and followed him. If Jesus called you today would you leave all and follow. Would you drop work, and ambitions, and prestige, and fame, and friends, and family and goals, and wife and relationships, and A--L--L, and follow!!!
I think about, say, Warren Buffet, or Donald Trump, or Bill Clinton, or Bill Gates. If they appeared in our lives and called us to follow them would we?? Where would they lead us?? What would be our reward?? What is it that would compel us to leave behind all and follow. Could it be because of their fame and fortune that we would follow. Christ had none of these things. He had just begun to preach. No one knew of what he was about to accomplish. No one knew of the miracles he would perform. No one knew him. Yet there must have been something about him that compelled obedience. There must have been something about him that so filled the first disciples that their entire being overflowed with a desire to follow.
It is amazing the efficiency of the scriptures. Words are not wasted on those who might have been called. Words are not wasted on those who hesitated, those who doubted, those who did not have the desire, those who were filled with procrastination. Words are only spoken of those who were called and who followed without hesitation. They dropped everything and followed. Christ would make them fishers of men.
He began his mission by preaching in all of their synagogues. Preaching and healing the sick, the lame, the possessed; curing the lunatics, the paralytics, and the suffering; healing the diseased, the tormented. He cured them all. He did not half cure them, or partially cure them, or give them hope of being cured. He cured them A--L--L!!!
Imagine what amazement and awe this must have caused in that time. Imagine the talk that these miracles generated. Words must have spread like wildfire. People from as far away as Alaska came to see him and be cured. Everyone was talking about him and his miracles. He created such an uproar throughout the entire territory that everyone with any problems were being drawn to him for help. And this makes me wonder about the life force that was in him which must have shown through in his physical presence. What must it have been like, to be around Jesus or in his presence??? Blessed are those who knew him.
We worship rock stars, and awe at presidents, and marvel at industry giants, and TV personalities. They had personalities back in those days, rulers, and men of great wealth, and great solders, and priests of great stature, men of great wisdom, philosophers, and scholars, etc. And they had their fame and influence. But Jesus commanded the crowds and throngs of the lowly and suffering, of the lame and sick, of the rejected. He did not have the influence of the rich and famous.
If you are a person having never read the New Testament Bible, how would you imagine Jesus. How would you see him?? How would you feel about him having read about all of the miracles that he performed?? Would he find a place of love and awe in your heart?? If you were able to see these miracles yourself, what would you think?? What would you believe?? Our emotions and beliefs are so moved by all of what is happening in our world today. Would this be just another fleeting info bite that is here today and gone tomorrow. Or would this be something that would remain with you forever. Would your heart be touched so much so that your life would be changed?? Or would your reason and intellect take over the feelings of your heart and bring you back to the rationalization of the world?? We do not have these miracles today. Yet, one has to question. The Bible is God's true word brought to man. Can we believe this truth today??
Christ has finished his training in the desert. He sparred with the devil, did a TKO and now begins his ministry of preaching. This first paragraph reminds us of how the scriptures are being fulfilled through Christ as he goes about his ministry. It has been spoken through Isaias the prophet that a great light would shine in Zebulon and Nephthalim for those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Jesus begins preaching repentance so that those who would, could find the kingdom of heaven, for it was at hand. It was not far away but at their fingertips where it could be reached by the hand that sought it. Is the kingdom of heaven at hand today?? Can we find it if we sought it today?? Is it at hand??
Christ calls his first disciples. He called Peter and Andrew, James and John. Just like that, they left all and followed him. If Jesus called you today would you leave all and follow. Would you drop work, and ambitions, and prestige, and fame, and friends, and family and goals, and wife and relationships, and A--L--L, and follow!!!
I think about, say, Warren Buffet, or Donald Trump, or Bill Clinton, or Bill Gates. If they appeared in our lives and called us to follow them would we?? Where would they lead us?? What would be our reward?? What is it that would compel us to leave behind all and follow. Could it be because of their fame and fortune that we would follow. Christ had none of these things. He had just begun to preach. No one knew of what he was about to accomplish. No one knew of the miracles he would perform. No one knew him. Yet there must have been something about him that compelled obedience. There must have been something about him that so filled the first disciples that their entire being overflowed with a desire to follow.
It is amazing the efficiency of the scriptures. Words are not wasted on those who might have been called. Words are not wasted on those who hesitated, those who doubted, those who did not have the desire, those who were filled with procrastination. Words are only spoken of those who were called and who followed without hesitation. They dropped everything and followed. Christ would make them fishers of men.
He began his mission by preaching in all of their synagogues. Preaching and healing the sick, the lame, the possessed; curing the lunatics, the paralytics, and the suffering; healing the diseased, the tormented. He cured them all. He did not half cure them, or partially cure them, or give them hope of being cured. He cured them A--L--L!!!
Imagine what amazement and awe this must have caused in that time. Imagine the talk that these miracles generated. Words must have spread like wildfire. People from as far away as Alaska came to see him and be cured. Everyone was talking about him and his miracles. He created such an uproar throughout the entire territory that everyone with any problems were being drawn to him for help. And this makes me wonder about the life force that was in him which must have shown through in his physical presence. What must it have been like, to be around Jesus or in his presence??? Blessed are those who knew him.
We worship rock stars, and awe at presidents, and marvel at industry giants, and TV personalities. They had personalities back in those days, rulers, and men of great wealth, and great solders, and priests of great stature, men of great wisdom, philosophers, and scholars, etc. And they had their fame and influence. But Jesus commanded the crowds and throngs of the lowly and suffering, of the lame and sick, of the rejected. He did not have the influence of the rich and famous.
If you are a person having never read the New Testament Bible, how would you imagine Jesus. How would you see him?? How would you feel about him having read about all of the miracles that he performed?? Would he find a place of love and awe in your heart?? If you were able to see these miracles yourself, what would you think?? What would you believe?? Our emotions and beliefs are so moved by all of what is happening in our world today. Would this be just another fleeting info bite that is here today and gone tomorrow. Or would this be something that would remain with you forever. Would your heart be touched so much so that your life would be changed?? Or would your reason and intellect take over the feelings of your heart and bring you back to the rationalization of the world?? We do not have these miracles today. Yet, one has to question. The Bible is God's true word brought to man. Can we believe this truth today??
