When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!" Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
It interests me how the Lord often withdrew to be by himself. Passages like this gives us a peek into what it must have been like to be Jesus. People were constantly pressing in on him.. every day they wanted more of him.. more signs.. more healings.. more miracles.. more teachings.. and in this passage they wanted to make him king. Small wonder why he needed times of solitude. Yet things change when he discerns that his disciples are in trouble.
Such is the image that Jesus paints of the God who hears the cries of struggling people - deep waters cannot stop him.. strong winds will not delay him.. rough waves do not hinder him as he travels to his friends. Can you imagine struggling in that boat.. feeling the pull of the waves and the spray of the waters? What would it have like to look up and see the image of a man coming towards you? And how welcome would Jesus' words be to you?
Come Lord Jesus and bring peace to the ship of my life.
Have the people sit down.
Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
It is so easy for those of us who have heard this story so many times to gloss over it and not take in the extent of this amazing time in that meadow. I close my eyes and try to imagine the atmosphere in the crowd that day - unlike me these had never heard the story. What would it have been like for the disciples to experience this miracle? It is one thing to read of the miraculous in the scriptures but it is something else entirely to experience it. To taste that fish and bread must have been so surreal. To gather the leftovers would be amazing.
Yet I wonder how many of us read this passage, scratch our heads and discount such happenings in our reality. I wonder what my response would have been when Jesus said "Have the people sit down". Sadly, I have to admit that I do not think faith would arise in me today. Like so many, back then and even now, my experiences in life have hardened me to such miracles - I wish that it was not so. But perhaps one can never be prepared for a miracle? Maybe that is the message - that miracles come when they are not expected.
I will sit down Lord. I will wait on you. I will trust in your provision.
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
It is so easy for those of us who have heard this story so many times to gloss over it and not take in the extent of this amazing time in that meadow. I close my eyes and try to imagine the atmosphere in the crowd that day - unlike me these had never heard the story. What would it have been like for the disciples to experience this miracle? It is one thing to read of the miraculous in the scriptures but it is something else entirely to experience it. To taste that fish and bread must have been so surreal. To gather the leftovers would be amazing.
Yet I wonder how many of us read this passage, scratch our heads and discount such happenings in our reality. I wonder what my response would have been when Jesus said "Have the people sit down". Sadly, I have to admit that I do not think faith would arise in me today. Like so many, back then and even now, my experiences in life have hardened me to such miracles - I wish that it was not so. But perhaps one can never be prepared for a miracle? Maybe that is the message - that miracles come when they are not expected.
I will sit down Lord. I will wait on you. I will trust in your provision.
You do not have the love of God within you.
I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
In a very real sense the delineating factor between believers and others is the existence of the love of God in a person's heart. Love is what has always defined the people of God. From the very beginning love for God and for people have framed what it means to be a child of the Almighty. Love frames the ten commandments and yet it goes further because love is not about the negatives but about the positives. Jesus' indictment to the Jews was that, even though they were religious, they did not have God's love in them.
Jesus points to the lawgiver saying that Moses testifies to the coming of the Messiah. It is worthy to note that the writers of the Jewish scriptures looked forward to the coming of the Christ. These learned religious elders were not ignorant of the scriptures but were simply blinded because they sought their own fame rather than the glory and fame of God. It is a lesson for us today - religious pride will blind us.. seeking our own fame and reputation is a dark path.. a sad journey that leads us to fighting Him who we seek to serve.
I need your help Lord. Open my eyes to the ways that I am fighting against you.
In a very real sense the delineating factor between believers and others is the existence of the love of God in a person's heart. Love is what has always defined the people of God. From the very beginning love for God and for people have framed what it means to be a child of the Almighty. Love frames the ten commandments and yet it goes further because love is not about the negatives but about the positives. Jesus' indictment to the Jews was that, even though they were religious, they did not have God's love in them.
Jesus points to the lawgiver saying that Moses testifies to the coming of the Messiah. It is worthy to note that the writers of the Jewish scriptures looked forward to the coming of the Christ. These learned religious elders were not ignorant of the scriptures but were simply blinded because they sought their own fame rather than the glory and fame of God. It is a lesson for us today - religious pride will blind us.. seeking our own fame and reputation is a dark path.. a sad journey that leads us to fighting Him who we seek to serve.
I need your help Lord. Open my eyes to the ways that I am fighting against you.
His word abiding in you
And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
The issue in these verses is life. Jesus knows these to whom he is speaking to. He knows that these are people of the book. These people know the scriptures and perhaps love the word of God. Yet in all of their reading and studying they have come away not knowing God when he appears to them in human form. It is an indictment of all religious folks who claim to know God because they know the scriptures. Sadly, these folks are rebuked by Jesus time after time because they knew the letter but not the spirit of the scriptures.
Jesus tells these religious folks, and many of us today, that it is not enough to intellectually search the scriptures. For if we search them only with our brains we will miss the God who permeates them between the words and between the lines. The scriptures must be embraced and consumed with the heart - his word must be living in us. If not we will miss the very essence of the word of God. This involves meditating, praying and living the words of Holy Writ. These are life giving things that will cause us to come to the author of life.
Teach me Lord how to embrace the scriptures with my heart.
The issue in these verses is life. Jesus knows these to whom he is speaking to. He knows that these are people of the book. These people know the scriptures and perhaps love the word of God. Yet in all of their reading and studying they have come away not knowing God when he appears to them in human form. It is an indictment of all religious folks who claim to know God because they know the scriptures. Sadly, these folks are rebuked by Jesus time after time because they knew the letter but not the spirit of the scriptures.
Jesus tells these religious folks, and many of us today, that it is not enough to intellectually search the scriptures. For if we search them only with our brains we will miss the God who permeates them between the words and between the lines. The scriptures must be embraced and consumed with the heart - his word must be living in us. If not we will miss the very essence of the word of God. This involves meditating, praying and living the words of Holy Writ. These are life giving things that will cause us to come to the author of life.
Teach me Lord how to embrace the scriptures with my heart.
What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?
Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet’?
If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
I think that some answers to deep questions are fairly simple unless you are predisposed to reject the obvious answers. Such is the case in this question that Jesus asks the Pharisees. The son of David and the Son of God stood before some of the greatest biblical scholars of that day and not one of them had a clue concerning the answer. One might think that these who knew the scriptures might have known that the Messiah was not a mere mortal.
I have to admit that, like the Pharisees, my biblical predispositions have caused me to be blind towards the workings of the Holy Spirit. Because of my rigid belief system I once could not see people in 'liberal' churches as people indwelt by the Spirit of God. Interesting to note that I now attend one of those churches and have been blessed by the way that my eyes have been opened to biblical truth there. And my eyes are a bit clearer these days.
Open my eyes again today Lord that I might see Jesus.
“‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet’?
If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
I think that some answers to deep questions are fairly simple unless you are predisposed to reject the obvious answers. Such is the case in this question that Jesus asks the Pharisees. The son of David and the Son of God stood before some of the greatest biblical scholars of that day and not one of them had a clue concerning the answer. One might think that these who knew the scriptures might have known that the Messiah was not a mere mortal.
I have to admit that, like the Pharisees, my biblical predispositions have caused me to be blind towards the workings of the Holy Spirit. Because of my rigid belief system I once could not see people in 'liberal' churches as people indwelt by the Spirit of God. Interesting to note that I now attend one of those churches and have been blessed by the way that my eyes have been opened to biblical truth there. And my eyes are a bit clearer these days.
Open my eyes again today Lord that I might see Jesus.
The stone that the builders rejected
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
The Lord has just shared a parable with the crowd. In it he speaks about how the tenants of a vineyard repeatedly mistreated and killed servants of the vineyard owner. The parable ends when the tenants murder the owner's son. Such is the picture that Jesus paints of the religious leaders of his day. For years God sent prophets to their forefathers and they rejected their message. And in like manner these elders rejected John the Baptist. And sadly they were now rejecting the Son of God.
Is there a more chilling passage in all of scripture than this one that speaks of a stone that breaks and crushes? When I think about that cornerstone I go back to the day I fell on it and my life was broken to pieces. My pride was broken. My attitude was broken. My sin was broken. Falling on that rock was the best thing that has ever happened to me. Yet to those who reject the Cornerstone, and do not fall on it, Jesus speaks of a terrifying expectation of crushing as the stone falls on them.
Again I fall at your feet Lord Jesus. Break me and mold me in your image.
“‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
The Lord has just shared a parable with the crowd. In it he speaks about how the tenants of a vineyard repeatedly mistreated and killed servants of the vineyard owner. The parable ends when the tenants murder the owner's son. Such is the picture that Jesus paints of the religious leaders of his day. For years God sent prophets to their forefathers and they rejected their message. And in like manner these elders rejected John the Baptist. And sadly they were now rejecting the Son of God.
Is there a more chilling passage in all of scripture than this one that speaks of a stone that breaks and crushes? When I think about that cornerstone I go back to the day I fell on it and my life was broken to pieces. My pride was broken. My attitude was broken. My sin was broken. Falling on that rock was the best thing that has ever happened to me. Yet to those who reject the Cornerstone, and do not fall on it, Jesus speaks of a terrifying expectation of crushing as the stone falls on them.
Again I fall at your feet Lord Jesus. Break me and mold me in your image.
O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
What would it have been like to have been one of disciples in the boat? Jesus has just scared the heck out of them, the winds are still raging and now they see impetuous Peter going overboard? They watch Peter walk on water for a bit and then they watch as Jesus saves the sinking Peter. They hear Jesus rebuke Peter for doubting rather than encouraging him for getting out of the boat. And as the wind ceases they fall down and worship the Son of God. Daylight comes and they are once again on dry land.
This image presents a picture of what it is sometimes like to follow Jesus. In the midst of a stormy trial we often sit in our boat scared to death about the wind. And when God shows up we don't recognize him as he walks towards us. Sometimes we ask God if we can jump ship and he allows it even though he knows we will sink.. and we experience his gentle rebuke. Then the stormy trial passes and all we can do is worship Him and acknowledge who he is.
I think that the last few verses of this passage are so filled with hope as people are healed as they simply, in faith, touch the fringe of Christ's robe. It directs me back to Peter. Little faith will sometimes cause us to walk on troubled waters for a bit and it will sometimes bring healing in a simple act of desperation. There is nothing formulaic about faith.. be it little or large.. faith simply comes when we fix our eyes on Jesus and not the winds and the waves.
Help me to keep my eyes on you Jesus.. in troubled and calm waters.
And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
What would it have been like to have been one of disciples in the boat? Jesus has just scared the heck out of them, the winds are still raging and now they see impetuous Peter going overboard? They watch Peter walk on water for a bit and then they watch as Jesus saves the sinking Peter. They hear Jesus rebuke Peter for doubting rather than encouraging him for getting out of the boat. And as the wind ceases they fall down and worship the Son of God. Daylight comes and they are once again on dry land.
This image presents a picture of what it is sometimes like to follow Jesus. In the midst of a stormy trial we often sit in our boat scared to death about the wind. And when God shows up we don't recognize him as he walks towards us. Sometimes we ask God if we can jump ship and he allows it even though he knows we will sink.. and we experience his gentle rebuke. Then the stormy trial passes and all we can do is worship Him and acknowledge who he is.
I think that the last few verses of this passage are so filled with hope as people are healed as they simply, in faith, touch the fringe of Christ's robe. It directs me back to Peter. Little faith will sometimes cause us to walk on troubled waters for a bit and it will sometimes bring healing in a simple act of desperation. There is nothing formulaic about faith.. be it little or large.. faith simply comes when we fix our eyes on Jesus and not the winds and the waves.
Help me to keep my eyes on you Jesus.. in troubled and calm waters.
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