Archive for January, 2010

In all the times I’ve read through the Gospels, I somehow missed this scene.  It’s a short passage in Mark, but it really shows how things were for Jesus.

He asked the disciples to get a boat for him.  The crowd was so thick and pressing they were afraid he would be trampled.  Those kinds of crowds are scary, but being the object of the crowd’s attention would up the intensity level.

To add to the confusion of the people, demons were falling down before Jesus.  They were screaming out and calling him “Son of God”.

Can you imagine what the disciples were feeling?

Bible reference: Mark 3:7-13

photo credit: Stevie-B

After reading through the Gospels to write the tweets for @john1Jesusloves, I realized even more the compassion that Jesus has for people.  It’s beyond our comprehension.

I have no doubt that Jesus’ heart is breaking over the suffering of the people in Haiti.

I’m joining those who are giving to the relief efforts.  I will donate $1 for every comment on this post and $1 for every new follower for @john1Jesusloves on Twitter.  Up to $100 will be donated to Samaritan’s Purse.

You can comment telling me what organization you are giving through, or that you’re praying for Haiti or just say “commenting”.  Then, if you aren’t already following the Apostle John on Twitter, add him to your follow list.

Together we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people of Haiti.

I love this scene in the Temple.  Jesus is there, teaching on the Sabbath.  There’s also a man with a crippled hand there.

The religious leaders must have seen Jesus looking at the crippled man.  They were whispering about him healing on the Sabbath again.

So Jesus, instead of letting them continue to whisper, brings the man to stand in front of everyone.  And he puts them on the spot with the question, “What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Good or Evil? Helping or leaving helpless.”

The silence and anticipation in that moment was awesome.

Jesus tells the man to stretch out his hand and the hand was restored.

What the Pharisees were whispering about, Jesus did so that everyone could see and understand.  He came to bring help and healing and He wasn’t about to be stopped.

Bible reference: Matthew 12:1-14, Mark 2:23 – 3:6, Luke 6:1-11

photo credit: striatic

“It’s urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider.  This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.” – John 5:24, The Message

A giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.

Bigger than the step from Earth to the Moon.

I take it so much for granted.

Bible reference for today’s tweets: John 5:1-38

So far, on our journey with John we’ve seen Jesus heal people, free people from demons, forgive people of sins.

He is the elixir for all that ails us.

He’s the balm for our wounded hearts.

He’s the salve for all that itches and irritates us.

He’s the relief for suffering.

He’s the antidote for the poison.

He’s the panacea, bringing changed life, inside and out.

He’s the Remedy.

photo credit: darkpatator

Bible reference: Matthew 9:10-17, Mark 2:15-22, Luke 5:29-39

What do you think about a man literally going through the roof to get to Jesus, only to have Jesus at first “ignore” his paralysis and treat a different problem instead?

I think it’s safe to assume that this man had heard about all the healing Jesus had been doing and wanted some of that healing for his body too.

Have you ever had it happen to you?  You pour your heart out to God with your problem, only to have him address a different issue?

Tell me what you think.  What’s your story?

Bible Reference: Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26

photo credit: hoyasmeg

The leper could have called out to Jesus from a distance.  In fact, he should have because lepers weren’t to go near other people.

But he came close.  He fell on his knees at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus could have healed him with his words.  He spoke the world into creation, to speak healing would have been an easy thing for him.

But he touched.  He reached out and touched all that was ugly, sick and broken – and made the man whole and well.

Sometimes I need to come close.  To come near Jesus with all my ugly, sinful, broken self and let him touch me.  What about you?

Bible Reference: Matthew 8:2-4, Mark 1:40-45, Luke 5:12-16

Have you ever heard someone scream at the preacher in church?  While he was teaching?

I haven’t.  But that’s exactly what happened to Jesus in the synagogue.  A man screamed at him while he was teaching.  Jesus immediately recognizes the man has a demon and he commands it to leave.  It throws the man to the ground and leaves.

Can you imagine?  What must John and the others thought about that?

Later the same day, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law and then the whole town shows up at the door.  He touches sick people and they are well again.  Demons are coming out of people, calling Jesus “Son of God”.  Darkness is falling on this scene at Peter’s house.

What would have been going through John’s mind as he lay down to sleep that night?  Jesus isn’t just turning water into wine on this day.  He’s turned the whole town upside down – right side up!

Bible Reference: Mark 1: 21-34, Luke 4:31-44, Matthew 8:14-17

photo credit: batega

I love this story.

Jesus’ first miracle takes place at a wedding – relationships, love, family, celebration.

It wasn’t “needed”. No one was suffering or dying.  It wasn’t urgent. Having wine seems to fall under the category of “want”. A nice “want”, to be sure, but not a need like food or water.

Jesus was extravagant.  He didn’t make a glass of wine.  He made 6 jars of wine, 20-30 gallons each.  Rough math says that is well over 800 bottles of wine!  That is a lot of wine!

He made good wine, really good.  Wine isn’t made in a day (or a minute).  It takes years to make good wine.  Aged wine, instantly.

He didn’t wave a wand or say a magic spell or draw attention to himself.  He asked the servants to fill the empty jars with water. They obeyed and there was wine.

He’s the same, yesterday, today, forever.

Bible reference: John 2:1-11

photo credit: iwona kellie

I wish I could hear with my own ears what Jesus said to Peter and Andrew, to James and John, that made them want to follow him.  How compelling he had to be for them to leave their boats and nets.  What did Jesus say to them that they were willing to leave their father and the other workers?  Did their father approve?  Were the workers upset that James and John left them holding the torn nets?

What kind of adventure does he have in store for you?  Are you following or holding back?

Bible reference: Matthew 4:18-22

photo credit: lensbug.chandru