St Matthew, Chapter 14, verse: 16, The Needs of the People: Christ's ability.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus feeds five thousand) Part 1.    

The people came.  They came looking for Christ.  They heard the word.  They heard that John the Baptist was murdered and they came looking for Christ to satisfy their needs.  Christ saw their needs and was moved with compassion.  He cured their sick.  He preached the good news of the kingdom.  He restored hope.  He instilled faith.  He gave them assurance.  For chaos had come.  Doubt had come.  Fear began to spread throughout, taking away faith, taking away hope.   But Christ was there and the people sought him for guidance. 

The disciples walked at his side.  The disciples saw the miracles first hand.  The disciples heard the words of heavenly wisdom from the King of Kings, yet not really knowing him.  They watched him cure the sick.  They watched him heal the lame and oppressed.  They saw the casting out of demons.  They knew that he was different.  But they did not know.  The disciples were filled by his presence.  The disciples were at peace in his surroundings because he protected them.  The disciples knew hope from the present day worries through him, but they did not know him.  Christ filled them.  Christ nurtured them.  Christ taught them.  He gave them his blessings that they may perform miracles.  Yet they did not know.  They only knew what was before them and not what was in them.

The night was drawing near and the crowd was large.  There was no food to feed the people and the disciples became worried.  They thought about the needs.  They thought about the consequences.  They thought about the anger and frustration of the people.  The people would come upon them with their frustration and they did not know what to do.  They did not know what was in them so they feared.  The disciples came to Christ and pleaded that he release the people that they may go into the villages and towns and buy food to eat.   The disciples wanted Christ to dismiss the people and send them away for they feared of not meeting the needs of the people.  But Jesus said to them, " They do not need to go away; you yourselves give them some food."    

The disciples did not know what was in them.  They did not know the power that Christ had bestowed upon them.  They did not see the strength that he had given to them within.  They did not understand the glory of his presence that rubbed off on them.  But they wanted to send the people away.  They did not understand what to do with the people.  They did not know that they had the power, through Christ, to feed the people, to satisfy their hunger.  They only wanted to send them away, back to the pits, the trials, the temptations, the sin.  Christ said to the disciples, you yourself feed them, but they did not understand.  

Too often today lost souls come to Christ through the church.  Christ said, you yourself feed them but we do not.  They hunger for spiritual food and we do not feed them.  They are fed scrapes.  They are fed crumbs.  They are fed pieces of what is to be, only to return hungry for more.  Church people are addicted to pieces.  They are addicted to scrapes, not knowing that they can be filled and hunger no more.  But how can you feed the people if you are hungry yourself?  How can you feed the people if you are not filled yourself?  How can you feed the people if you do not know what is in you, yourself?   You will only give scrapes.  You will only give pieces.  You will only give crumbs if you are not filled and overflowing yourself.  Christ told his disciples to feed the people themselves.  They did not know they had the Holy Spirit within them.  They did not know the power of the Holy Spirit to satisfy all needs.  Do you know the Holy Spirit?  Feed the people!   

St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses: 15, The Needs of the people: The Disciple's inability.

Our paragraph topic is: (Hunger of the crowd) Part 2.   

And the people were lost.  The people needed a leader.  John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod and Christ was there to fulfill their needs.  For when he arrived from the boat, the people were waiting.  The people were in need.  The people had come from all around to hear his words, to see his face, to be near him that they may be comforted.  For chaos had come.  Fear had come.  Doubt had come since the word spread of the murder of John the Baptist.  For John was their beacon.  John was their voice.  John was their inspiration for the things that were to come.  John baptized the people.  John called the people to repent.  John told the people of the coming of the Messiah.  And then he was gone.

And Christ came ashore and saw the crowds.  And Christ came ashore and saw the people waiting.  And Christ came ashore and saw the need in the hearts of the men, women, and children. And Christ came ashore and he cured the sick that they may believe.  But then the disciples came, the disciples that followed Jesus and knew of his teachings.  But then the disciples came, the disciples that knew of the power and majesty of Christ.   But then the disciples did not know.  The disciples did not see.  The disciples did not understand the truth of the Christ they followed.  For they were concerned about the people.  They were concerned about the needs of the people that they did not believe that they could fulfill.  They did not understand that they followed Christ who could fulfill all needs.  They did not understand that they followed a Christ who was the fountain of satisfaction.  They did not understand that they followed a Christ that was filled with the spirit of fulfillment and they did not know.

So they came, with their concerns of their own needs for feeding the people.  They did not believe.  They did not understand.  Their needs were pressing upon them so they brought them to Christ.   Now when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, "This is a desert place and the hour is already late; send the crowds away, so that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."

So often today we see the same scene repeating itself.  Many, come to a place of spiritual worship, seeking.  They come seeking hope.  They come seeking faith.  They come seeking relief.  They come seeking truth.  They come, with their needs, seeking fulfillment.  And what do they find?  They find momentary relief.  They find momentary hope.  They find momentary faith.  But they do not find lasting peace, they do not find lasting fulfillment.  For we do not give them what they seek.  We only give them a daily piece of bread, we give them something that will only last for a moment.  For we do not know.  We do not understand.  We do not believe that Christ is our satisfaction.  Man is not our satisfaction.  Pastor is not our satisfaction.  Priest is not our satisfaction.  Apostle, nor preacher, nor minister, nor anyone can be our satisfaction.  God is our satisfaction and through Christ we have the opportunity to find eternal satisfaction, eternal peace.  But man does not lead us to Christ.  Man turns us to himself.  

Preach the gospel!  Preach the word!  Tell all the nations about the Christ who came down from heaven to save the world.  Be the shepherd!  Lead the people!  But where do you lead them?  Do you lead them to the church?  Do you lead them to the synagogues?  Do you lead them to the temples, the places of worship?  Resoundingly, we say yes.  But why do they still need?  Why do they return again and again to hear the same sermons, the same preachings, the same words without having some relief.  Christ saw the need in the people.  Christ knew the satisfaction that would fill the hole in their hearts.  Christ was their need.  If you do not know Christ how can you lead someone to him?  If you do not know Christ how can you show someone how to find him?  If you do not know Christ how can you tell someone how to find the satisfaction they seek?  If you do not know Christ how can you demonstrate hope and faith and love?  Is Christ in you?  Can you show the people the way to Christ.  Words will not get them there.  Only your example of knowing him will show the people the way to their satisfaction.  If you do not now the way how can you lead?

St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses: 13 - 14, The Needs of the people: Christ's compassion.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Hunger of the crowd) Part 1.  

And so it was.  John the Baptist was murdered by Herod, Herodias and her daughter, agents of evil.  They had planned their plot with the advice of evil and carried it out.  John had warned the people of the evil of Herod.  John had spoken to them about his lies and deceit.  And John was imprisoned for speaking out against evil.  For evil wanted to silence John the Baptist.  Evil wanted to put John to death.  Evil wanted to stop John from winning souls to Christ.  John baptised the people.  John preached to the people of repentance.  John won souls for Christ and turned people against the evil that existed in the kingdom.  And evil wanted him dead.  And so it was.  John was murdered and sent home to his father.  His mission accomplished on this earth to prepare the way for Christ.

And the disciples of John came and removed his headless body from the prison and gave him a proper burial.  For Herod and Herodias were gloating over the head of John the Baptist.  They were rejoicing to his lifeless head how they had triumphed over him.  And evil watched on the sidelines as they became embolden in their merriment of their power.  For the people did not revolt.  The people did not cry out in shame over the death of John.  But the word spread how Herod was against his death and how he swore an oath to Herodias' daughter to give her anything that she asked for her reward to dance at his birthday party before the people.  Their plan was crafty.  Their plan was deceitful.  Their plot was carried out flawlessly.  And they rejoiced over the death of John the Baptist.

And the word spread of the death of John the Baptist.  The people were lost.  The people were in need and without a guide.  The people were in chaos.  For John was their leader.  John was their prophet.  John was their sign, pointing to the Messiah.  They were in need.   When Jesus heard this, he withdrew by boat to a desert place apart; but the crowds heard of it and followed him on foot from the towns.  And when he landed, he saw a large crowd, and out of compassion for them he cured their sick. 

Jesus traveled by boat and the crowds traveled by foot.  And they were in need.  A great loss had taken place here on earth and a new beginning was unfolding.  And the people were in chaos.  They new not where to go.  They knew not what to do.  They knew not any more of John the Baptist so they turned to Christ for their answers.  And the word spread of the loss of John the Baptist.  And the word spread of the whereabouts of Christ.  The people were in need and when Christ landed and saw the crowds he was moved with compassion because of their need for direction, their need to believe, their need for hope, their need for guidance.  And he gave them their direction.  He gave them their hope.  He gave them their belief.  He showed them that God was still with them and he cured their sick.

The time is coming and is almost here.  Chaos is coming.  Unbelief is coming.  Doubt is coming.  Fear is here.  And the people are lost and without direction.  With the uncertainty in the world today, people are feeling uncertain.  People are loosing faith.  People are loosing hope for themselves and their God.  For the evil one is bringing about uncertainty that the people will know doubt.  The evil one is bringing about uncertainty that the people will loose their belief.  The evil one is bring about uncertainty that the people will loose their hope and open the door to fear. 

There is no fear in Christ.  There is no doubt in Christ.  There is no uncertainty in Christ.  For all things are in Christ.  There is no impossibility in Christ for all things are in Him.  Those who know will stand tall in this time of uncertainty.  Those who are rooted will not be moved by uncertainty.  Those who believe will see the truth come forth in spite of the fear and doubt in the world.  And those who practice perfect patience in the Lord will see the certainty of his love.  Christ is Lord of all and he sits at the right hand of God our Father in heaven.

St Matthew, Capter 14, verses: 9 - 12, Herod's murder plot: The Act of Murder committed.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Herod murdered John) Part 3.  

Herod was a murderer.  He was a liar.  He was possessed of evil.  John the Baptist spoke to the people of the many evil acts committed by Herod.  John made the people aware of the evil that was in the heart of Herod.  John spoke to the people of Herod's evil with Herodias, his wife, and Herodias wanted to have him killed because he spoke against her, the queen.  Many a lesser person would have been killed on the spot.  But John was a prophet.  John was loved by the people.  John was the messenger of God.  He baptized the people and prepared the way for Christ. 

Herod heard about the John's popularity.  Herod heard about the message that John preached to the people.  And Herod heard that John spoke of him to the people.  John had not committed any crime so Herod had no reason to exact justice against him.  But Herod and Herodias were agents of evil.  John was baptizing souls for Christ.  He preached repentance to the people that they may be saved.  And people came from the neighboring countrysides and many far and distant districts. They wanted to be baptized.  They wanted to repent of their sins.  But evil did not like John.  Evil wanted John dead.  And evil worked through Herod and Herodias to have John murdered.

They plotted and planned and created a scheme to murder John the Baptist.    Evil and Herod and Herodias came together and hatched a plan to have him killed.  On Herod's birthday an oath was given to Herodias' daughter to have her dance for Herod.  Anything she asked for would be her reward to dance for Herod and his guests.  So the plot was planned and the dance was given and the request was made, "Give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter."  was her request.  And this was the plan.  But Herod had to appear grieved before the people as if he was against the plan.  If he did not show that he was grieved the people would not believe that he did not want to have John beheaded.  So he had to feign grief before the public so all would see that he was tricked into the act by Herodias' daughter.  But in actuality it was the plan of evil to get rid of John the Baptist and it was carried out by Herod, Herodias and her daughter.  

And grieved as he was, the king, because of his oath and his guests, commanded it to be given.  He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.  And his head was brought on a dish and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.

And so it happened.  John the Baptist was murdered by Herod and his wife and evil.  They completed the plot.  They carried out the plan.  They committed the act.  The evildoers acted as agents for evil.  They committed the act.  They carried out the plan.  They became evil.  And so it was to be the same with Christ.  Evil plotted and evil planned.  They wanted to kill Christ.  So they planned with the evildoers and crucified Christ on a cross.  Do not become an agent for evil.  Evil wants you.  It seeks you.  It plans for your enlistment.  Christ calls you from evil.  Christ saves you from becoming an evildoer.  Christ gives you new life in himself.  And the Holy Spirit will teach all to you that you may know the truth of who you are.  Be not an agent of evil.  Become an agent for Christ and he will give you your reward.

St Matthew, Capter 14, verses: 6 - 8, Herod's murder plot: The promise with an Oath.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Herod murdered John) Part 2.      

Herod was a deceitful King.  He was a liar and a murderer.  He was filled with his own passion and guided by his wife Herodias.  For Herod loved Herodias.  He desired her.  He lusted  that he would do anything for her.  John spoke against Herod and Herodias and they did not like it.  How dare he speak against the king.  How dare he speak against the king's wife.  Any lesser man would have been put to death immediately.  But John was a prophet.  John was the messenger of the Messiah.  John proclaimed the coming of the savior and the people revered him.  But Herodias was filled with hatred and passion against John and she would have his head for speaking against her.

To appease Herodias, Herod had John arrested and imprisoned.  Herod would have liked to put him to death but the people would have revolted against him for such actions and that would have involved the Romans coming in to calm the crowds.  So Herod was perplexed as to what to do about John the Baptist.  He wondered, he planned, he schemed, and he plotted.  And finally he came up with a plan.  The demons were with him.  The demons helped him to plan.  The demons that possessed Herod had him do their actions to murder John the Baptist.  This was their plan. 

On Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.  Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask of him.   Then she, at her mother's prompting, said, "Give me here on a dish the head of John the Baptist.

And so the plot enacted.  John was to  beheaded because of an oath by the King to give anything to his wife's daughter.  This was the plan.  This was the plot.  This was the scheme of the demons to get rid of John the Baptist.  The demons were loosing disciples because of John the Baptist.  They were being cast out.  They were loosing souls to John the Baptist who was baptising souls to Christ.  But the demons had a plan.  The demons had a plot.  And the demons had agents to work for them.  The demons had Herod and Herodias to do their will in killing John the Baptist.

Be not an agent for the devil.  Become an agent for Christ.  There is no middle ground.  You are either one or the other.  You are either working with Christ or you are working against Christ.  And the demons are recruiting daily.  They are plotting.  They are planning.  They are running every kind of scheme to steal the souls of men, women, girls and boys, children and all mankind.  For they work for the evil one who's goal is to capture as many souls as he can and destroy them in hell. 

Christ said beware the one who can kill the body and destroy the soul in hell.  He it is whom you should fear.  There are agents in this world for the evil one.  Do not become one of them.  Repent and be born again in Christ.  For he will cleans you of the evil that would possess you.  He will sanctify you that you may be made anew.  He will justify you that you will be made holy before the father.  He will protect you that you may not fall again to the tricks and traps of the evil one.  His word is truth.  His word is life.  His word is love.  Become one in Christ and he will become one  you.

St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses: 3 - 5, Herod's murder plot: Imprison John the Baptist.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Herod murdered John) Part 1.  

Herod was fearful.  He thought that Christ was John the Baptist resurrected.  And he knew that he had murdered John.  He knew that he had planned and plotted to get rid of John.  John was loved by the people.  He was a prophet.  He carried the message of the kingdom preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah.  Many came to John to repent.  Many came to John to be baptized.  Many came to John that they may prepare themselves for the coming of the kingdom.  And John was the messenger.  John was the voice of one crying in the wilderness calling people to repent, telling them of the evil in the world.  And John spoke of Herod.  This is why Herod wanted to get rid of John.   For Herod had taken John, and bound him, and put him in prison, because of Herodias, his brother's wife. 

John told the people of Herod.  John told the people of the sins of Herod.  John told the people to repent of their evil ways and not to follow the ways of Herod.  For Herod was their ruler.  He set the morals of his people by his own example.  And the people followed what they believed was true and correct as set by Herod.  Herod had married his brother's wife.  Herod had his brother murdered so that he could marry his wife, Herodias, for he wanted her.  Lust had filled him with desire and he wanted his brother's wife.  So he created a plot to get rid of his brother that he may have Herodias.  And she, Hereodias, participated in the plan.  For she lusted for Herod.  She lusted for power.  She lusted for the position to be the mate of Herod the king.  So together they plotted that they may be together.  And John spoke to the people of this evil.   "For John had said to him, “It is not lawful for thee to have her."

John had spoken of the evil that existed in the kingdom.  John had preached of repentance to the people.  John preached of the coming of the Messiah and told the people to repent of their evil ways that they may be saved.  Do not follow the ways of Herod, he preached.  Do not fall into temptation as Herod did, he told the people.  Do not lust as Herod does, he told the people.  For Herod was living in sin and should repent of his ways.  Herod should repent and rid himself of Herodias.  But Herod did not follow the preachings of the prophet.  Herod did not believe that he should rid himself of Herodias.  Herod lusted of her pleasures and wanted to rid himself of John and his preachings.   And he would have liked to put him to death, but he feared the people, because they regarded him as a prophet.

John spoke of the evil in his time.  He told the people to repent.  He spoke to them of the coming of the Messiah that they may be saved.  John was bold.  John was outspoken.  John was a man of God.  He spoke to the evil wherever it stood.  John feared not.  Are you like John the Baptist, today?  Are you fearless?  Are you outspoken?  Are you a man/woman of God?  Speak to the evil wherever you see it.  Speak to the evil wherever you encounter it.  Be bold yet be loving.  Be courageous yet be understanding.  For God is the ultimate judge of evil. 

We speak to evil that our words may open the eyes and the ears of those who may hear the message of the kingdom, helping them to repent of their sins and be healed by Christ.  We are not to judge.  We are not to condemn.  We are to love.  We are to understand that those who commit sin are like us.  We are all human.  We are all sinful.  But with the light of Christ within us we sin no more.  And if we do sin we have his forgiveness and his love to bring us back from sin.  For it is through our repentance that we are justified.  It is through our repentance that we are sanctified.  It is through our repentance that we are born anew and glorified in Christ.  Be a John the Baptist today.  Preach the gospel wherever you go.  Call for repentance with whoever you meet.  For God is our creator and our father.  He loves us all and would have us with him in the kingdom of heaven for eternity.

St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses: 1 - 2, Jesus' fame causes fear in Herod

Our paragraph topic is:  (Herod fears that Christ is John the Baptist)   

And the word spread.  It spread from the mouth of one person to the ear of another.  It spread from the market of one town to the  market of another.  It spread from the village of one town to the village of another.  It spread from the town of one district to the towns of other districts.  And Christ was known by many.  His works were spoken of by many who had seen, many who had heard, many who had witnessed his miracles and those who were recipients of his works.  He was the latest news.  He was the latest talk.  He was the latest whisperings of the people of the towns through the kingdom.  And the word came to Herod.  The word was spoken to Herod.  The word was received by Herod from his news keepers in the streets.

The news keepers were the eyes and ears of Herod.  He paid them well to keep him informed of what the people were talking about.  He planned his life around the people.  He planned his policy around the people, and he planned his lies and deceit around the people to keep them in line.  For Herod was the King.  He was the ruler of the people, appointed by the Roman Emperor.  It was his responsibility to keep his people calm and to have them follow the rules of the Romans.  Herod had to know.  He had to hear.  He had to see what was going on in his towns, in his villages, and in his kingdom.  So he put people on the streets to listen to the latest news.  And he heard of Jesus.  At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus.

Herod heard the news.  Herod heard the whisperings.  Herod listened to the stories that were told of Christ.  And Herod could not believe.  Herod could not understand.  Herod could not make sense of what the people were talking about because Herod was full of John the Baptist.  John had spoken to the heart of Herod.  John had spoken to the people of the evil in Herod.  John the Baptist had brought forth the truth in the relationship of Herod and Herodias, his wife.  And Herod wanted him dead.  Herod wanted to kill John the Baptist and that is what he did.  Herod created an elaborate plot to murder John the Baptist and he was full of himself when he carried it out.  He gloated over the sweetness of the plan that he carried out in the face of the public that allowed him to murder a prophet.  And now comes Jesus, another prophet, another man of God.   And he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are working through him."

Herod was fearful.  He was fearful of what he had done to John the Baptist.  He loved his elaborate scheme to murder John the Baptist, but he was fearful that John would come back and exact revenge upon him.  Herod was the ruler and no man was supposed to have more fame than he.  No man was supposed to be talked about by the common people more than he.  No common man was supposed to be more loved by the people than he.  And jealousy came to him.  Vanity came also.  Then hatred, and fear and doubt came.  And finally came larceny who helped him create a plan to murder John the Baptist.  For John was loved by the people.  John was revered by the people.  John was spoken of by the people more than Herod.  And John was number one with the people over Herod.   Herod wanted to be number one so he sought a way to remove John.

Satan seeks a way to remove Christ from our lives today.  He wants to murder Christ.  He wants to get rid of Christ.  He wants the people to talk about him and not Christ.  He wants to be number one in our lives today.  So he creates schemes to rid us of Christ.  He makes plans to turn us away from Christ and to turn us to him.  He builds worlds around us to blind us to the light of Christ that we may not see.  He creates playgrounds for us to have fun so that we will forget about Christ.  He fills our eyes and our ears with pleasures that compel us to enjoy and he fills our bodies with passions that make us want.  He does all this to distract us from Christ, to turn us from God, to hide us from the truth.  We were made for God and he is our father.  He is our satisfaction and our pleasure.  Nothing else can replace him in our lives. 

But Satan wants us to believe that we can be happy and have joy and peace if we turn from Christ and from God our Father.  Just as Herod feared that Christ was John the Baptist resurrected, Satan fears the resurrected man in Christ.  For in Christ we have power.  In Christ we are miracles.  In Christ we are the light of the world that he cannot turn off.  Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Hear the message of the kingdom.  Become new life in Christ.  Seek the Holy Spirit and you will know true life in Christ.  Seek the Holy Spirit and you will become the miracle.  Seek the Holy Spirit and you will know the truth of the kingdom of heaven here on earth.

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 57 - 58, Jesus in his own country: A Prophet without honor.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus at Nazareth) Part 3.   

Jesus was in his own country, the country where he grew up as a child.  Jesus was in his own country, the country where he knew the people of his village.  Jesus was in his own country, the country where he became a man.  Jesus was in his own country, the country where he was known as a common man.  But Jesus was not a common man.  He was the Son of God who came to earth to save mankind from damnation.  The people knew the prophecy.  The people knew the scriptures.  The people knew of the coming of the the Messiah, but in his own country they did not see.  In his own country they did not hear.  In his own village they did not believe.

When he preached in the synagogues, they were astonished.  When he preached in the markets, they were unbelieving.  When he preached in the streets they did not see.  For they knew him as the son of Joseph the carpenter.  They knew his as a local.  They knew him not as the Son of God for astonishment had taken over and brought with it anger, and hatred, and doubt, and disbelief, and jealousy, and fear, and many other spirits more evil than itself.  And the spirits worked against the people to turn them against Christ.   It is said,  And they took offense at him. 

Christ was not the son of a wealthy merchant.  Christ was not the son of a Pharisee.  Christ was not the son of a politician.  Christ was not the son of a scholar.  Christ was the son of a carpenter, a commoner amongst the people.  How could he be this man of faith?  How could he be this miracle worker?  How could he be this man of spiritual wisdom?  He was just a common person just like the rest of the common people.  Yet he was the Son of God and they did not accept it.  They did not see it.  They did not hear the message.  And it was written in the scriptures that the Messiah would come.  It was written in the scriptures that he would be born in Bethlehem.  It was written in the scriptures that he would be a common man.   And astonishment had taken over and the people did not believe.

And they took offense at him.  But Jesus said to them,  "A

prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and in his own house."  And because of their unbelief, he did not work many miracles there.

Do we take offense today at those who are in Christ?  Do we not honor those who have been transformed by the blood of the lamb?  Astonishment took the people in Christ's own country.  Will astonishment take over the people in the church?  Will astonishment creep into the minds and hearts of Christians and make them take offense?  We must constantly be on our guard to close the door to astonishment and his brothers of evil.  For they will come.  They will seek entrance.  They will attempt to take over. 

Do not take offense.  Take love.  Take peace.  Take understanding.  Take wisdom.  Take Christ into your heart and he will close the door to astonishment and his brothers of evil.  For we are all children of God who gave us life eternal.  We are all glorious beings filled with the light of Christ. And when that time comes, we will all see ourselves as we are known, beautiful images of Christ in God.  Let us love one another as Christ commanded that we do.  For we are loved by our heavenly Father just as he loves his son, Jesus.   Christ is waiting to work a miracle in you.  Will you open yourself to him and let him in?

St Matthew, Chapter 13, verses: 55 - 56, Jesus in his own Country: Astonishment captures his town.

Our paragraph topic is: (Jesus at Nazareth) Part 2. 

And they were astonished at the wisdom and knowledge of Christ.  They knew him when he was a child.  He did not have the formal education of a scholar.  He did not have the wealth of a rich family.  His father was a carpenter, they thought.  He was a man of common means.  He learned carpentry from his father.  And they were common people.  So how is it, they said, that he has come by these miracles and this wisdom to teach us in the synagogue.  He was just a common man and astonishment had taken over the thoughts and minds of the people.  It had turned them against him that they could not see.  It had closed their eyes and blocked their hearing that they could not receive the message of the kingdom of heaven.

For Christ, the Son of God, walked among them.  Christ, the Son of God, had come down from heaven.  Christ, the Son of God, took the form of a common man and they could not hear his words.  His own countrymen could not understand his teachings.  His own villagers could not listen to the words of freedom given man from the mouth of God through Christ.  Astonishment had taken them.  Astonishment had closed their hearts that they were so shocked at his presences that their hearts could not accept the love that he gave.  For he sought to plant the good seed of God.  He sought to nourish the good seed that it may grow and produce the fruit of the kingdom of heaven.  But the evil one had called astonishment to the scene to corrupt their hearts that they could not hear.

Astonishment had brought forth anger.  Astonishment had brought forth confusion.  Astonishment had brought forth jealousy.  Astonishment had brought forth hatred.  And the forces of evil blocked the message of the kingdom.  The forces of evil worked against the words of Christ.  For the seed was stolen when it was planted and the message lost.  The townspeople said amongst themselves, "Is not this the carpenter's son?   Is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James and Joseph and Simon and Jude?  And his sisters, are they not all with us?  Then where did he get all this?"  

Christ, the common man they saw, was transformed.  Christ was not the person that they knew.  He was new.  He was different.  He was in God and God was in him.  How often today, our own townspeople are astonished.  How often today are our own church members astonished.  How often today are our own family, our own co-workers, our own brothers and sisters, astonished and become jealous at the new person in Christ.  Who does he think that he is?  Who does she think that she is?  How does she come by doing the things that she does?  How does he get all of the promotions and positions that he does?  Astonishment takes over and brings forth seven more demons and spirits more evil than the first.  And our hearts become blocked.  And our minds become closed.  And we do not hear the message of the kingdom of heaven because astonishment has taken over and our hearts are filled with anger, and jealousy, and envy, and hatred, and all manner of evil.  And we become hypocrites even in the worship of God in our own churches. 

Christ brought us a message of love.  He brought us a message of hope.  He brought us a message of new life where we could be transformed from our old selves to new beings in Christ.  Love one another as I have loved you, was Christ's last commandment to his disciples before going to the cross and sacrificing his life for us.  Let us do the same.  Let us love one another so that all men will know that we are his disciples.  Let us open our hearts to the Advocate who will teach us.  Let us open our hearts to the love that is in Christ that we may rid ourselves of astonishment and the other spirits that contaminate us.  Christ offers us new life.  Are we ready to receive it?