Did you Know the Kingdom of God is In Those Who Believe?

By Mary Vee
Luke 17

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee, Arizona

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

The Pharisees asked Jesus, "When will the kingdom of God come?"

Jesus said, "You won't see the kingdom of God with your careful observations. People won't say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."

Jesus turned to the other disciples and me and said, "The time is coming when you will long to see the Son of Man, but you will not see Him. Men will tell you, 'There he is!' or 'Here he is!' Don't run off after them to see the man and be deceived.

"The Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. First, though, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

"Think of the days of Noah. That is what life will be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage to the very moment Noah entered the ark. The door closed and the floods came, destroying everything not aboard.

"Remember what you were taught about the days of Lot? People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. On the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven, destroying everything in the city.

"This is how the day will be when the Son of Man is revealed to the world. 

"On that day no one who is on the roof of his house will be able to go down and get the goods left in his house. Neither will anyone in the field be able to go back for anything. Do you remember what happened to Lot's wife? She looked back, longing for what she'd left behind. Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it. Whoever loses his life will preserve it.

"On that night, two people will be in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 

"Two women will be grinding grain together. One will be taken and the other left."

We turned to him, confused about what he meant. We asked, "Where will this happen, Lord?"

Jesus answered, "Where there is a dead body, the vultures will gather. Don't give up telling others the Gospel. Keep praying."

To explain what he meant he told us a story. I will share it next time.

Come back to read the next story.

*Note from Mary Vee: 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.

The Dishonest Manager

By Mary Vee
Luke 15

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee

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

When only his disciples had gathered around Him, Jesus told us this story:

There once was a rich man who had many people working for him. He'd hired a manager to oversee the workers.

Among the workers was a man who oversaw the bills. This man figured out that the manager wasted the rich man's possessions when doing his job.

The rich man sent for the manager. When the manager arrived, the rich man said, "I understand you have been wasting. Tell me what you have been doing with my land, animals, and crops."

The answer given by the manager did not justify the costs spent to do his job. The rich man said, "This is your notice. You're fired."

The manager walked outside and paced. "What am I going to do? I'll have no income. My Master is taking away my job? I'm not strong enough to dig, and I can't bring myself to beg. I couldn't bear the shame. No one will speak to me and I'll lose all my friends. " He paced a little longer until a thought came to him. A perfect idea that would cause his friends and others in the area to welcome him into their houses.

Before his last moment working, he called in each of his master's debtors. To the first, he said, "How much do you owe my master?"

The man said, "Eight hundred gallons of olive oil."

The manager said, "Take the bill from my master, sit down quickly, and make the balance owed four hundred."

While this man changed his bill then paid his debt, the manager asked the second, "How much do you owe?"

The man said, "A thousand bushels of wheat."

The manager said, "Take your bill, quickly, and change it to eight hundred." And so he did and paid the debt. 

When the master heard what had happened he called in his manager and commended him. "You have acted shrewdly. Well done."

Jesus said, "The people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. Worldly wealth will only bring friends who seem to want to be around you. When the wealth is gone, that is when you will be able to focus on what is eternal.

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Come back to read the next story.

*Note from Mary Vee: 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.

Can Salt Be Made Salty Again?

By Mary Vee
Luke 14

Peter

A road north of Nazareth, Israel
Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Peter. 

I am here to tell you some stories recently told by Jesus. 

I and the other disciples walked with Jesus from village to village. Most of the time, curious crowds came and followed Jesus with us. 

Jesus often stopped and let the people gather near while he spoke. Jesus frequently explained new teachings with stories. 

Here is one of the stories told by Jesus. This one is called the Parable of Salt.

"Salt is good, right?" Jesus asked those listening.

The people in the crowd quickly agreed. Salt preserves, enhances flavors, and much more. True.

"If the salt loses saltiness, how can it be made salty again?" He asked.

This was a difficult question. One no one from the crowd seemed to have considered in the past. If the salt loses saltiness, we simply get rid of it. But Jesus asked how can it be made salty again. This, the people in the crowd didn't know. And in truth, neither did I.

"The bad salt can't be used for the soil or the manure pile. It has to be thrown out."

Jesus told each story for a reason. So the people would understand, He often ended the parable with "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

I remember Jesus saying His disciples are the salt of the earth. From this, I think He meant we are to teach others what we've learned from Him. If we don't study His word, or follow His ways we can lose our salt. 

Well, I can figure out what this parable of the salt means from this. 

Come back to read the next story.

*Note from Mary Vee: 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.

I Will Complete My Work...Jesus

By Mary Vee
Luke 13

Peter

Eastern Gate in Jerusalem
Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Peter. 

I am with Jesus and the other disciples visiting cities and villages. 

Some Pharisees came to Jesus sent with a message. They said, leave. "Go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you."

Even I could tell the Pharisees did not bring the message because they cared for Jesus' welfare. 

Herod considered Jesus a mischief-maker like John the Baptizer. He had made it clear on more than one occasion that he wanted Jesus out of his dominion. Like John the Baptizer, Herod didn't seem to want to kill Jesus, just frighten him enough to leave the area.

Jesus said to the Pharisee messengers, "Go tell Herod, that cunning fox, I have work to do. I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day, I will reach my goal. You and Herod can try to stop me. It won't work. I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day. You may threaten me, but we both know, no prophet can die outside of Jerusalem."

Herod didn't have the power to put Jesus to death on his own. A trial would have to be held by the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. So their threat didn't work.

While I am thinking of this,  I am reminded of these words from Jesus when we stood outside the city: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to help you. How often have I longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. 

"But you were not willing.

"Look, the Temple is left to you desolate. You wanted me to leave so I will. You won't see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

Jesus wanted to help. He wanted to gather those who believed in the one true God. I didn't know it at this time, but I later learned he was telling us they would put him to death. Jesus told us he would return one day. At that time he would gather all those who believe in the one true God. Until then, I will continue teaching Jesus' message.


Author's note: It seemed fitting to include the photo of the Eastern Gate as it currently stands, sealed. An attempt to keep Jesus out. But Jesus, God's son will return one day. Through the Eastern Gate.

Come back to read the next story.

*Note from Mary Vee: 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.


*********************************************************************************************

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.

A Time Between Time- Epic Power in A Tiny Village

By Mary Vee
Between the Old and New Testament

From the Historical records

The time in between time. 

Four hundred years are in the process of passing since God last spoke through a prophet to His people.

Remember we are counting backwards to year 0. The year is around168 BC.

    400 BC                           300 BC                        200 BC                        100 BC                          Birth of Christ
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|

The Greeks are still in power and they are quite adamant all Jews will give up their cultural ways, language, and worship no matter what. 

The army first marched to every Jewish home in Jerusalem killing those who refused to conform. Antiochus IV then ordered the soldiers to go to all the villages in Judah. They were to take a pig to each village's gathering place. 

The soldiers did so then ordered all the villagers to attend a meeting. 

Today's story is about one particular village called, Modi'in located northwest of Jerusalem. The soldiers invaded the gathering place then built an altar for Greek sacrifices. They ordered all the people to attend a meeting. 

Jewish men and women left their homes and fields as they were told. Mattathias the priest and his five sons were among the villagers.

The soldiers led a pig to the center. The leader said, "Who is the man most honored among you?"

The people pointed to Mattathias. 

The army commander faced Mattathias and ordered him to step forward. "Kill the pig and eat it. If you obey us you will be friends of the king."

Mattathias didn't move.  

To move forward would be to dishonor the One True Living God. To move back would be to call the army down on him.

He cleared his throat and said, "If obeying the king requires disobeying our God, we will not do it."

The Jewish men and women looked at him then at the guards waiting for someone to speak. One of the Jewish men stepped forward. "I can't take it," it said. "I'll do it." The man pushed through the villagers and walked toward the pig. 

The soldiers grinned. They even lowered their weapons a bit. 

Mattathias' anger boiled. He lunged forward, grabbed a soldiers spear, and thrust it into the Jewish man. He then turned on the commander and killed him, too. "We will worship only the Lord God.

The villagers rallied with Mattathias grabbing the soldiers weapons before the soldiers knew what happened. 

"What should we do now?" one of the Jews asked Mattathias.

He looked around at the village that had become their homes. Once the army in Jerusalem discovered these men hadn't returned to the city they would send more troops. "We have to leave. Those who only choose to worship the one true God, follow me."

He and his sons gathered as much food and blankets as they could carry. They led their animals to the hills and hid along with the other dedicated Jews.


Come back next time, because some really exciting events happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
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sources: 
*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
*The Hanukkah Book by Marilyn Burns, Four Winds Press, Macmillan Publishing Company, 1981

Nehemiah-Building City Walls While Bullies Watched

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 3-4

From Nehemiah's Journal

My name is Nehemiah. I have been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

I was sent to Jerusalem to insure the people rebuilt the walls. Once I arrived, I inspected the city's main protection, the walls which were supposed to be designed to keep trouble away. 

They walls had crumbled. Pieces were scattered. Last time I wrote, I shared with you about the challenge I had convincing those who live in Jerusalem to get busy and build the walls. After a time of talking and praying, the people finally agreed. They just needed a little nudge.

The city walls we needed to build had the shape of a right foot. At the top, where the toes would be, were the (from left to right) the old gate (where the big toe would be), the Fish Gate, where the next toe to the right would be, the Sheep Gate, in the center, the Master gate, where the fourth toe would be, and the East gate, where the little toe would be. 

Of course the real walls were much bigger than a person's foot. These walls surrounded the great city of Jerusalem!

Eliashib the high priest and the other priests started work to rebuild the Sheep Gate. When they finished, they dedicated the entrance to God and set the doors in place. They rebuilt that section of wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred to the right and the Tower of Hananel to the left.

Men from Jericho built the adjoining sections and Zaccur built next to them.

The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put the doors and bolds and bars in place. 

A Jerusalem gate. They are not small!!
Photo Courtesy

Meremoth repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam made repairs. Next to Meshullam, Zadok also made repairs.  The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors .

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. 

He made fun of the Jews, and in the presence of his own associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall?" He paced in front of our workers and shouted more. "Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day?" He walked close to the workers and taunted them. "Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble--burned and useless as they are?"

He laughed.

Unfortunately the workers heard everything he said. His words hurt their spirits. I was afraid they'd give up again.

Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 
               

1. What was the first gate worked on?
2. Who rebuilt it?
3. What might have slowed the men from working?
4. What looks like a right foot?
5. Do you think the men will stop working again?