Our paragraph topic is:
(The mother of James and John) Part 1.
What was she like, the mother of James and John. They must have told her of what they were doing. They must have spoken to her of the miracles that they had witnessed, the words that Christ had spoken to them, the promises that he made to them. They were filled with the joy of who he was. They were joyous that they had found the Messiah. They were indeed fortunate that, in all time, they were the ones chosen to follow him. Yet they did not know what lie ahead.
Their mother must have been elated for her sons. Hearing all the words spoken by those who followed him and the words that were spoken by others, she must have been proud. She was their mother. She was the one who gave them life, the one who loved them as children, and taught them the words of the scriptures. She knew that they were indeed special children, special sons, special believers in the Chosen One. So she went to him with her request. She went to him to ask recognition for her sons. Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons.
They may not have wanted her to speak with him. They may not have felt it their place to speak to him of recognition. They may have been humble followers seeking not the recognition that their mother wanted for them. Yet she came with them. She brought them with her that she might speak to Christ about her sons. She wanted him to know her pride for them. She wanted him to know that she was a believer. She wanted him to know how she felt about what they were doing. And in coming forward with them, she spoke her mind and theirs also.
Mothers are like that. They are passionate. They are loving. They are quick to see what the children miss. And they will take action when action is needed. And so it was with the mother of James and John. She was a loving parent, a watchful mother, a patient guardian over her children. She had high hopes for them. She wanted them to make something of themselves. She wanted recognition for them that they might be proud members of the community.
But Christ was a man of humility. He was a man of grace, a man of insight and sincerity. He was a man of truth. But most of all he was the Son of God. He had power. He had forgiveness. He had majesty that did not show. He was a simple man who walked the earth in order to save mankind. He was the first, brought forth by and through the love of the Father. What does a father wish for his sons and daughters? What is the desire of all parents? What, of all things, will make them most happy with their children?
The mother of James and John wanted to see them happy. She wanted to know that they will be taken care of. She wanted to be assured by the Messiah that her sons would be with him in his kingdom. And that is the desire of all mankind, to know that peace comes after this life ends. We have been given life through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. We have been redeemed. We can choose to know him. We can choose to be with him. We can choose to know him in the fullness of his love, his forgiveness, his mercy, and his grace. Or Not! That choice is ours to make, if we know who we are. Otherwise others will seek to deny us of that choice. Come, all who want to believe! Come, all who want to know! Come, all who seek the truth of who they are! The answer awaits those who desire. God is our Father and Christ Jesus is our redeemer and the Holy Spirit is our guide through the portal of death to life everlasting.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
What was she like, the mother of James and John. They must have told her of what they were doing. They must have spoken to her of the miracles that they had witnessed, the words that Christ had spoken to them, the promises that he made to them. They were filled with the joy of who he was. They were joyous that they had found the Messiah. They were indeed fortunate that, in all time, they were the ones chosen to follow him. Yet they did not know what lie ahead.
Their mother must have been elated for her sons. Hearing all the words spoken by those who followed him and the words that were spoken by others, she must have been proud. She was their mother. She was the one who gave them life, the one who loved them as children, and taught them the words of the scriptures. She knew that they were indeed special children, special sons, special believers in the Chosen One. So she went to him with her request. She went to him to ask recognition for her sons. Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons.
They may not have wanted her to speak with him. They may not have felt it their place to speak to him of recognition. They may have been humble followers seeking not the recognition that their mother wanted for them. Yet she came with them. She brought them with her that she might speak to Christ about her sons. She wanted him to know her pride for them. She wanted him to know that she was a believer. She wanted him to know how she felt about what they were doing. And in coming forward with them, she spoke her mind and theirs also.
Mothers are like that. They are passionate. They are loving. They are quick to see what the children miss. And they will take action when action is needed. And so it was with the mother of James and John. She was a loving parent, a watchful mother, a patient guardian over her children. She had high hopes for them. She wanted them to make something of themselves. She wanted recognition for them that they might be proud members of the community.
But Christ was a man of humility. He was a man of grace, a man of insight and sincerity. He was a man of truth. But most of all he was the Son of God. He had power. He had forgiveness. He had majesty that did not show. He was a simple man who walked the earth in order to save mankind. He was the first, brought forth by and through the love of the Father. What does a father wish for his sons and daughters? What is the desire of all parents? What, of all things, will make them most happy with their children?
The mother of James and John wanted to see them happy. She wanted to know that they will be taken care of. She wanted to be assured by the Messiah that her sons would be with him in his kingdom. And that is the desire of all mankind, to know that peace comes after this life ends. We have been given life through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. We have been redeemed. We can choose to know him. We can choose to be with him. We can choose to know him in the fullness of his love, his forgiveness, his mercy, and his grace. Or Not! That choice is ours to make, if we know who we are. Otherwise others will seek to deny us of that choice. Come, all who want to believe! Come, all who want to know! Come, all who seek the truth of who they are! The answer awaits those who desire. God is our Father and Christ Jesus is our redeemer and the Holy Spirit is our guide through the portal of death to life everlasting.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
