St. Matthew, Chapter 20, verse:20a, A Mother's wish.

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.

St. Matthew, Chapter 20, verse:19b, The Triumph over death.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The third prediction of the passion) Part 4. 

The journey to Jerusalem was taking place as Christ led his disciples to his end.  He told them what was to happen.  He warned them that he would be handed over to the Gentiles and that he would face death.  The horror of what he was about to do was unimaginable.  The dishonor of what he surrendered himself to was unbelievable.  The mockery and pain that he would suffer was beyond the comprehension of those who followed him. 

They knew who he was.  They believed in him.  They loved him.  They saw with their own eyes, heard with their own ears, and felt with their deepest emotions the love that he had for them and the love that they felt for him.  But to have him intentionally give himself up to death was beyond their understanding.  Yet beyond all that he would face, all that he would experience, all that he knew about what was to happen, he trusted in his Father and the knowledge that he would triumph over death.  So he told them: "And on the third day he will rise again."

This is the Christ that lived some two thousand years ago.  This is the Christ that came down from heaven to walk among us.  This is the Christ who taught us of love, and peace, and mercy, and forgiveness.  He was here.  He was present.  He was and is with us.  He gave us the example.  He left us his words.  He showed us what we should do.  And most of all he redeemed us from eternal damnation. 

Do we follow?  Do we believe?  Do we know that we are saved?  Many will fear.  Many will not believe.  Many will be lost to what is believed to be unknown.  Yet nothing is unknown if we believe.  Nothing is unknown if we seek to know.  Nothing is fearful if we trust in what has been given us by our Redeemer.  He loved us.  He died for us.  He gave up his heavenly crown to come and be with us.  And now he waits for us to come home to him that we may know how much he loves us.

We know the world.  We can see what is here.  We can test, and experiment, and extrapolate the truth of the physical.  We know not the spiritual.  We cannot test, or experiment or know what lies beyond the door of death.  Yet Christ has given us an example to follow.  He has shown us the way.  He has left us his words.  He has given us a path to follow.  He has brought forth the truth that we may know with certainty who we are in him.  The flesh profits nothing.  It is the spirit that gives life. 

We are spiritual beings in a physical body living in a physical world.  Our time here is limited.  Our physical life is limited.  But our spiritual life is eternal.  Look beyond the physical!  Look beyond that which is before you.  See the life that is within you and you will know the truth of who you are.  We are eternal being living in a physical world. Celebrate the life that is within.  For death is but a transition into that which you will become.  And you will know the truth of who you are in Christ.  Of his free will, God gave us life eternal.  Seek that which is spiritual and you will know the truth of where you belong. 

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.

St. Matthew, Chapter 20, verse: 18b-19a, Betrayal: The Mockery, Dishonor, and Horror.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The third prediction of the passion) Part 3. 

Christ has spoken to his disciples and tells them of what he faces as he travels onward to Jerusalem.  They do not know.  They do not understand but they continue to follow and believe in him.  They continue to see the miracles that he performs, the message that he provides, and the hope that he gives to them and to the people around him.

He is the Messiah.  He is the Chosen One.  He is the Son of Man and the Son of God.  Yet he walks toward death.  He walks toward betrayal.  He walks toward mockery, dishonor, and the shear horror of crucifixion.  The disciples know what has happened to the prophets.  They know what has happened to those that transgress the will of the high priest.  And Christ has treated them unkindly.  He has scorned them, and told them of their sins even in the presence of the public.  And he tells his disciples:  "And they will condemn him to death, and will deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified." 

And he will be mocked, and scourged, and crucified.  These are the words that come from the Christ, the Chosen One, the Messiah.  And the disciples understand scourging, and crucifixion and mockery.  They have seen these things.  They know of mockery.  They shudder at the thought of crucifixion.  For they live daily in the real knowledge of these words.  Yet they cannot believe that one would willingly accept such fate.  But this is the will of the Christ.  This is the will of the Father.  This is what must be done.

We can look back on these happenings and try to understand what they understood.  We can look back on these events and try to feel what they felt.  We can look back on this journey and attempt to believe what happened in that time and place.  Or we can reject the message as simply a story that was told many years ago and continue to live blindly in the world today.  The choice is ours to make.  The belief is ours to believe.  The knowledge is ours to have if we choose.

In making our choice we must live with the consequences.  And that is also the choice that we make.  I pray that we will have the opportunity to reconsider all the choices that we make in this world.  I pray that we will have the opportunity to understand the consequences of our choices.  I pray that the love and mercy of God our Father will continue to follow us that we may not fall from his grace.  For had it not been for his mercy and grace I would not be here.  Had it not been for his love and forgiveness, I would suffer the consequences of the choices that I made in life.  Had it not been for the passion of his son, Christ Jesus, I would not have the life that I have today.

Today I understand.  Today I know.  Today I believe.  Today I trust.  Today I see the miracles that happen in my life on a daily basis.  And today I know that I am loved by my Father.  And today that knowledge and his love is overwhelming.  Today that knowledge is fulfilling.  Today that knowledge protects and provides for my every need.  Today I know that there is nothing in this world that can equal the love that comes from the Father.  Today I know that the only thing that I strive for and live for is to be with him.  You too can know!  You too can see!  You too can understand the truth of who you are in his sight!  Come!  Seek that which is yours that is freely given, his love. 

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.