The Narrow Door

By Mary Vee
John 10

Peter

The Jordan River.
Men and women being baptized.
Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Peter. 

The other disciples and I left Jerusalem with Jesus after the Pharisees threatened to stone Him yesterday. We crossed the Jordan and stopped at the place where John had baptized many in the early days. 

Rather than visit villages, we stayed in this place for quite some time. Word of mouth spread the news of Jesus' location. Many men and women came to talk to him.

During those days, some people said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, we have seen that all John said about this man was true."

During those days near the Jordan, many believed in Jesus. The restful days from our hectic schedule felt good. 

Some days later, we continued on visiting towns and villages. The route took us back in the direction of Jerusalem. Jesus taught all who wanted to listen at every opportunity. 

One man said, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"

Jesus answered, "The door is narrow. This is the only way, though. Only those who enter at this place will be saved. There are many who will try to go through this door and yet not enter. Once the owner of the house gets up to close the door, those who have not entered will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.'

"But he will say, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'

"Then you will respond, 'We ate and drank with you. You taught in our streets. We saw you there.'

"He will say, 'Go away. I don't know you or where you come from. Leave at once you evildoers.'

"At this time there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God go in...and you are forced to leave. Men and women will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 

"There will be those who are considered last who will be made first, and those thought to be first who will be made last."

A group of Pharisees arrived as he finished speaking. They said, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you."

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.

John the Baptist- That Man-On the Other Side of the Jordan

By Mary Vee
John 3

From John's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee - The Jordan River, farther south
than is talked about in today's story.

My name is John. I am often called John the Baptizer. My job has been to prepare the way for the One who is coming to save the world.

The number of people who had come to hear me speak about matters of God and the One who'd come to save grew to large crowds. They journeyed from cities near and far using camels and donkeys to travel. 

Because there were so many people, I moved up the river to Aenon near Salim where there was plenty of water for their animals to drink and for me to baptize those who repented of their ways.

The sad part about the large crowds was they should have been able to hear these words from the priests, Pharisees, and Sadducees. These men were not doing their job. 

I didn't teach about rituals, I told those who came to hear my words about the just and loving God, the only living and true God, His expectations, and the One he was sending to save us. 

One time there was an argument among those who followed me and other Jews about the idea of ceremonial washing. They came to me to have the issues resolved. During the discussion, one said, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, the one you spoke highly about, well, he is baptizing, and everyone is leaving you to follow him."

They were talking about Jesus of Nazareth. The One who the dove landed on after I baptized him. The One who a voice said from heaven, "This is my Son, whom I love, and am pleased." 

I answered the men, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You heard me say, 'I am not the Messiah but have been sent to prepare the way for him."

"Yes, but we don't understand. What about that man? The one people are leaving you to follow?"

"He is the one I have been preparing the way for. Think of it this way, the bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who takes care of the details and prepares for the bridegroom waits and listens for him to come. The friend is really happy when he hears the bridegroom's voice because his work is finished. The joy I speak of is mine, and it is now complete. The man you speak of must become greater like the bridegroom. I must become less.

Then words of explanation came to me from God, so I spoke them. "The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He tell of what he has seen and heard. Sadly, few believe him. But those who accept his words show God is truthful. The one whom God has sent speaks the words of God.

"Remember I said the Voice from heaven called him Son? Well, the Father loves the Son and has put everything in his hands. If you believe in the Son, you will have eternal life, but if you reject that man, the Son of God, you will not see life." I rubbed my beard and finished saying God's message, "and God's wrath will stay on you."

I listened to myself speak these words, words God told me to say, and knew my work was nearly finished. My job was not only to tell people that the Messiah was here, but to encourage them to leave me and follow Him.

I hope you will follow Him, too.

Come back for the next story.

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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.

John the Baptizer- Who Are You?

By Mary Vee
John 1

From John the Baptizer's Notes

Photo by Mary Vee - Desert near the Jordan River

My name is John. I live on my own in the desert near the Jordan River and have for some time. 

Apparently, I have become the talk of the city. Crowds travel to the desert where I live and listen to me speak. Some believe the message I tell about the coming Messiah. Some repent of their sinful ways and ask for water baptism..so I baptize them and teach them what God wants them to do. 

Some of the men who have heard my messages went to the priests. They told them what "the man in the desert" says. 

They tell them I wear camel skin clothes and eat locust and wild honey. I think they wanted the priests to come hear what I said then decide if my message was true.

Of course my messages are true. I'm only saying what God tells me to say. It's their choice to believe or not.

One day a group of priests showed up on the shore of the Jordan River. They stood in the back of the crowd and listened to me speak. When I finished they asked, "Who are you? Are you the Christ? The One you are speaking about?"

No way. Just hearing their question made me feel sad. I am only the one bringing the messages. "I am not the Christ." I spoke in a firm and clear voice so no one would mistake what I said.

The priests and rabbis then said, "Well, then, are you Elijah?"

Elijah? Really? The prophet of long ago who used to perform mighty miracles? "No, I am not Elijah."

The priests and rabbis looked confused. They talked among themselves then said, "Are you the Prophet?"

No. Not the One they meant. "No, I am not."

They stroke their beards and said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. Tell us about yourself."

They wanted to know, so I told them using words from Isaiah the prophet. "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'"

The Jordan River, Photo by Mary Vee

Among the people were some priestly men called Pharisees. These men spent many, many years studying the Scriptures. They were the learned ones, but didn't have a love for God in their hearts. The Pharisees asked me, "Why are you baptizing people if you are not the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet?"

I answered them, "I only baptize with water. Here among you stands one you don't recognize. He is the One who has come that I have told you about. I am not even worthy to untie His sandals."

The priests left still uncertain about the whole conversation. Hopefully they will understand when they see Jesus.

Just so you know, this event happened on the other side of the Jordan River in an area called Bethany. 


Note from Mary Vee: in the photo above, the picture is taken from Israel's shore. Across the river, or the Jordanian side, is a building where armed military men stood with guns. That was the side that John the Baptist stood on when talking with these Pharisees, priests, and rabbis. 


Come back for the next story.

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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

* Jewish History.org
*Jewish Virtual Library.org

*My research in Israel.

John the Baptizer-When Jesus Came to the Jordan River that day...

By Mary Vee
Matthew 3
Mark 1
Luke 3

From John the Baptizer's Notes

Photo by Mary Vee - Desert near the Jordan River

My name is John. I live on my own in the desert near the Jordan River and have for some time. 

I'm not completely alone. God has given me a message to tell every person I meet. The weird thing is, men and women bring their children and walk all the way from the city where they have water and food and everything they need. They come to the desert where I live, where there is no water to drink or food to eat, looking for me. When they find me, they sit on the ground and listen to the message God gave me to share.

Some people come because they are curious. Others come because God has stirred their heart's desires to hear His message.

God does that. He gives us all opportunities to hear from Him. 

His message is not just about His love for people. God wants them to know his laws. He also wants men and women to know what they must do to have eternal life. God's message is serious. He will judge our sins. He will punish those who have not obeyed Him.

There are times when the men and women talk among themselves, trying to understand the message. This time several asked out loud, "John, are you the Christ?" It was an honest question. They weren't interested in making me a god. They truly wanted to know. 

The Jordan River, Photo by Mary Vee

So I answered, "I baptize you here in this river with physical water. The One you seek is more powerful. He will come and ignite the Holy Spirit inside you, changing you from the inside out. He has the power to gather those who are wheat and get rid of those that are chaff with a terrible fire.

The crowds listened for hours. They came back day after day to hear more. 

No, this did not impress me, because many, not all, but many came back because it was the popular thing to do. They had bragging rights to say they had journeyed to the desert and heard me speak. Whatever.

The reason they came didn't matter. I continued telling God's messages because God loves everyone and wants everyone to hear His message of love and His plan to save those who believe. And maybe, just maybe a man or woman who listens for the wrong reason, might hear the truth.

One day while I stood down at the Jordan River baptizing those who said they believed and would follow God's ways, Jesus came from Galilee. 

I knew Jesus. He was my cousin. But when He came to the river that day something stirred inside me. I looked at His eyes and I knew. God stirred my heart...and I knew, Jesus was the One who would save all of us. Jesus was and is God's Son. 

He was here. 

Right here at the Jordan River with us. 

Come back for the next story.

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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

* Jewish History.org
*Jewish Virtual Library.org

*My research in Israel.

Escape from Jericho

By Mary Vee
Joshua 2

Thoughts of an Israelite Spy

Screaming and shouting in the streets had stopped shortly before Rahab returned to the roof. Apparently she convinced the soldiers to look somewhere else for us. I'm not sure why she hid my friend and me, but I'm thankful.


She dragged stacks of flax from our hiding place and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "The guards left. You have time to escape if you go now."


She led us downstairs to a room with a window. Since her house had been built into the city wall, the window faced a valley outside the city. 


She uncoiled a rope and dragged it to the window. "Look, I know your God is the God of heaven above and earth below." She  sighed as a tear fell. "I beg you, please, spare my family. Reward my kindness to you today, my Lords. Spare my family and all they have. Please, deliver us from death."


What could I say? We didn't plan to spare anyone from Jericho. Then again Rahab did hide us from the soldiers and she planned to help us escape. "If no one, not you or anyone from your family, tells the king about us, we will save you and your family the day our army attacks."


She smiled. "Thank you, my Lord." She handed me the rope. "I'll lower both of you to the valley below, run to the mountains and hide for three days. The soldiers will stop looking for you after that time."


I wound the rope around my wrist and stepped toward the window. "Remeber, we'll only keep our promise to save you and your family if you keep our secret, and hang this same red rope in the window. Also, your family must stay inside this house. If any one leaves during the attack, we won't protect them."


She nodded. "I understand, your secret is safe. My family and I will be here as you said and this red chord will be in the window."


She tied the rope to the doorknob then lowered me down to the ground outside the city wall. My partner followed.


We search the area and saw no one. All the merchants had retuned to their homes since the city gate had closed. We dashed through shadows away from Jericho and up into the mountains. 


We set up camp in a secure place on a peak overlooking the city. Three days later we crept safely down the mountain, hiked back to the beach then swam the high waters of the Jordan River to our camp. 


Joshua, the Israelite leader, called us to his tent to report. "What did you find? Has the Lord blessed?"


"Yes, my lord, our journey went well. We sneaked into the city and listened to townspeople complain about the Israelites and their God. Some said the king and his soldiers feared our army. A woman named Rahab hid us from soldiers. She asked for protection and we agreed. I'm convinced the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands because the people of Jericho are afraid of us."


"You promised protection? I didn't plan to spare any one from Jericho." Joshua pushed his shoulders back and nodded. "All right. God has shown His will. We'll spare her, but you must take care of her and her family. Good work on this mission. We leave for the Jordan River shore tomorrow."


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1. What did Rahab want the spies to promise?
2. What instructions did the spies give Rahab?
3. Where did Rahab tell the spies to hide for three days?
4. Did the spies plan to help anyone from the city?  Did Joshua?
5. Who planned to save Rahab and her family?  (If you need help with this question, email me, mimary_vee@yahoo.com or leave a comment)