John’s tweets for today:

• When we got to Capernaum, the tax men asked Peter if our teacher pays temple taxes. Peter told them “Of course”.
• As soon as we went in the house, Jesus said to Peter “When a king collects tax, who do they get it from? Their sons or others?”
• “The children don’t have to pay the tax, right? But so we don’t upset them, go down to the lake. Pull in the 1st fish that bites…”
• “It will have a coin in its mouth. Use that to pay both my tax and yours”

I love this story.  It’s so funny to me.  Peter is outside and gets asked if Jesus has paid the temple tax.  We learn later in the story that Peter hasn’t paid his own temple tax, but he answers that of course Jesus has paid.  He stand there and lies like a dog!

Jesus takes care of it in the end with a cool miracle of a fish with a coin in its mouth.  Not just any coin, but one of the right amount.

But I just love to think of Peter answering the Jewish rulers, knowing he hadn’t paid his own tax.  Wonder if he was embarrassed when he did go to pay the tax with that coin?

I also think it’s interesting that this story is only found in Matthew.  He was a tax collector before he met Jesus, so I bet he saw the humor in it too.

Bible reference: Matthew 17:24-27

John’s tweets for today:

• Coming down the mountain from that amazing experience of seeing Jesus w/ Moses & Elijah. Another crowd is waiting for Jesus.
• A man brought his son to the other disciples.  He wanted them to drive an evil spirit out of the boy, but they couldn’t.
• The man said the demon made the boy mute & throws him to the ground so he writhes & foams at the mouth.
• Jesus is upset that they couldn’t drive out the demon. He called us unbelieving generation & wondered how long he’d have to put up w/ us.
• They brought the boy to Jesus. He was having a seizure, writhing on the ground. Jesus asked the dad how long this has been going on.
• The dad said since boy was very little, the demon has even tried to throw him in the fire or river to kill him.
• “If you can do anything, please help him.” Jesus told the man “There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”
• The man said “I want to believe. Help me w/ my doubts.”
• A crowd is running up to see it all now. Jesus commands the demon to get out. It left w/ lots of screaming & thrashing.
• Now the boy looks dead, pale. The people think he’s dead but Jesus takes his hand & he’s getting up!
• Later, the other disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t drive out the demon. He said it takes prayer to get rid of that kind.

There’s so much going on in this scene.  Jesus is coming down from the mountain with Peter, James and John.  They had just seen Jesus transfigured before their eyes.  The disciples who didn’t go with them are trying to cast a demon out of a boy.  They have evidently been able to do this before, but this time it isn’t working.

The boy’s father wants to believe Jesus can help his son, but he’s having trouble.  And no wonder.  The boy is writhing on the ground and a crowd is gathering.  It would be hard to believe with all of that swirling around, especially since the disciples have already tried to cast out the demon unsuccessfully.

The father asks for Jesus to help him believe.  I think this must be one of the most powerful prayers we can pray.  When the darkness swirls around us, we only need to ask Jesus for his help in believing that He can do what He says He can do.

Our situation may not turn out the way we hope or imagine.  But we can know that God will never leave us and He is always more powerful than any situation we may face.  And if we have trouble believing that, He will help us believe.

Bible reference: Mark 9:14-29

Do you ever wish you were different?  I do.  I wish I were more impulsive and quick to take action, like Peter.

As soon as Peter heard Jesus’ voice, he was out of the boat.  John and the others stood by and watched.  Peter actually walked on the water.

And yeah, he sank too.  But I bet he never forgot the feel of Jesus taking his hand and helping him out of the icy water and back into the boat.  I bet Peter never forgot the look on Jesus’ face as he sat in the boat with him, the wind blowing cold across his wet skin.

The other disciples were spectators but Peter participated.  He lived it out, lived it all.  I know this is John’s story, John’s perspective in the tweets.  But right now I admire Peter.

Bible reference: Matthew 14: 24-33, Mark 6:47:52, John 6:16-21

photo credit: IMISSMYJUNO

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