What Made Jesus Happy

By Mary Vee
Matthew 11, Luke 10 

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee
Land near Jerusalem

My name is Peter, I am a disciple of Jesus. 

The other eleven disciples and I have been listening to the seventy men sent out by Jesus to villages ahead of us. They had just returned. Their happy faces showed how much they enjoyed their journey.

They told stories of people who listened to the Gospel, and those who did not. They told about the wonderful people who let them stay in their homes and fed them. There were also those who had turned them away as though they were nothing more than a rabid dog.

It was these stories that seem to bring Jesus' next response. He said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. Thank you for hiding your mysteries from the wise and intellectual. You have chosen to reveal your truth to those who are like little children, eager to learn because their heart seeks truth. Yes, Father, your ways are full of grace."

He explained to us that His happiness came from the Holy Spirit. "My Father has given me everything. No one knows the full identity of the Son except the Father. The Son fully reveals the Father to whomever He wishes."

Photo by Mary
Land near Jerusalem

By this time, a great crowd had gathered around us. Jesus turned to his disciples and spoke softly for only us to hear, "How privileged you are to see what you have seen. Many prophets and kings have longed for this day to see what you see and hear what you have witnessed."

Jesus held his arms out to us and said, "Come to me all of you who are tired and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. If you walk with me, I will show you how to live with grace. I won't give you anything difficult. If you learn from me, you will know the way to walk the rest of your life. I will give you peace."


Jesus sat on the ground and all who had gathered there did the same, excited to hear what he would say.

Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.