Their Happiness Spilled Into Praises to the God of Israel

By Mary Vee
Mark 7, Matthew 15

Peter

Photo Courtesy: Google Maps plus added notations

I am a disciple of Jesus.

The eleven other disciples and I went with Jesus to Tyre where he met a woman who had a sick child. You can read what happened in the last post. Scroll down.

The next day we walked up through Sidon then turned east and south into the area of the Ten Cities: Damascus and eight major cities to the east of the Jordan River, and one on the western bank of the Jordan River.

In one city, some men brought their dear friend to Jesus. The friend was deaf and could hardly speak. The men begged Jesus to place his hand on their friend. 

Jesus took the friend and the men who brought him a distance from the crowd. Once they were alone, He put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. Jesus looked up to heaven. He heaved a deep sigh then said to the man, "Ephphatha," which is translated: be opened. 

Instantly, the man's eyes went wide. He touched his ears and turned his head at every sound. Even faint ones. Then--he spoke as plainly as I would. "I can hear! I can talk," he shouted. His friends hugged him. They laughed. They patted him on the back and rejoiced.

Jesus then said, "Don't tell anyone what has happened." But the more Jesus asked, the more the men and their friend told people. It wasn't out of cruelty. They were just so happy they couldn't keep the good news a secret. 

The crowds that heard their news were overwhelmed and amazed. They said, "Jesus has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

It didn't take long before masses of people came to the area bringing loved ones who were lame, blind, crippled, mute and with many other issues. They laid them at Jesus' feet.

Compassion poured out of Jesus for these people. He healed the ones brought to Him. 

Men and women stood amazed when they saw the mute speak, the crippled made well, the lame walking, and the blind clearly seeing. As they watched. Their happiness spilled into praises to the God of Israel. It was a great time of rejoicing.

And--it was a time I will never ever forget. 

 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.

Through Pressing Crowds They Wanted to Touch His Garment

By Mary Vee
Matthew 12, Mark 3,

From Matthew's Journal 

Sea of Galilee, Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Matthew. I am a disciple of Jesus. I am here with other disciples, so they may add something today. 

We followed Jesus to the lake to get away from the large crowds. Word had spread about Jesus healing the sick. It seemed as though the entire country came to visit Him, asking for healing.

There were people who came from Tyre and Sidon over on the Mediterranean Sea, from cities on the other side of the Jordan River, Judea, Jerusalem, and far south of Jerusalem in Idumea.

Jesus looked at the growing number of people and said to us, "We will need to have a small boat ready to keep the people from crowding me into the water."

None of us could blame the people. Most had traveled long distances with their loved ones who had great needs. They saw he had healed many, and that simply touching Jesus brought healing to the sick. The crowds pushed, not like as in fighting, but as in strongly wanting to get close enough to Jesus to touch even his garment.

When those came who were possessed by evil spirits, we heard the spirits cry out, "You are the Son of God." Jesus faced the spirits and gave them strict orders not to say who he was."

I know, I wondered why He said that, too, until Jesus reminded us of Isaiah's prophecy:

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, I am delighted by Him.

I have put my Spirit on Him, by this He will judge the nations.

He won't scream, or yell, or cry out for people to hear in the streets.

What is bruised or bent, He will not break

He won't blow out a smoldering candle--rather he will lead justice to victory.

Nations will put their hope in His name. 

So, we kept a boat close by knowing that at some point the crowds would press Jesus toward the water...not to harm Him. They just wanted to touch Him. At that point, he'd get in the boat and speak to them from there.

You need to know that our country is not under the control of the Jews. The Romans have a strong arm, the Greeks had their influence, and many of our people long for someone to come and rescue our country from those who force us to become like them. We are seeking someone to save us from these controlling powers.


I'll tell you more about that next time.

Author's note: what they didn't realize at the time was Jesus was the Savior, but he would not save them from the temporary political problems and turmoil, he give the only way for eternal life. 

Come back to read 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.

The Great Debate Between Good and Evil

By Mary Vee
Matthew 12, Mark 3, Luke 6

From Matthew's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Jerusalem

My name is Matthew. I am a disciple of Jesus. I am here with other disciples, so they may add something today. 

We've been talking about the crazy things that have happened on the Sabbath at the temple. Most resulted in a dual of words between the Jewish leaders and Jesus.

Another Sabbath came along and sure enough the Jewish leaders and Pharisees searched for Jesus looking for another fight. 

Inside the temple was a man whose right hand was shriveled and useless. 

The Jewish leaders knew the man was there and weren't very quiet about their plan. They were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus of what they felt was sin. They huddled in groups and watched Him closely to see if he would heal the man on the Sabbath. When Jesus neared the man, one of them stopped him and said, "Jesus, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"

Now anyone listening would know the tone of the Jewish leader's voice. He was not asking. He was trying to trap Jesus. As if they could. So the other disciples and I stayed close, too knowing Jesus would have the perfect answer to prove the Jewish leaders wrong.

Jesus said, "Say any one of you had a sheep and it fell into a pit on the Sabbath, wouldn't you lift it out and set it safely on the ground?" He paused. None of them answered. Jesus then said, "How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! So, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

Jesus turned to the man with the shriveled hand and said, "Stand up. Turn and face all of these people. Let them see you."

The man did as Jesus asked. 

As he stood there, Jesus turned to the Jewish leaders and Pharisees and said, "Which is lawful to do on the Sabbath: good or evil? To save a life or to kill?" 

Again they said nothing. Really? They stroke their beards and looked at each other, waiting, and clearly hoping Jesus would say something they could accuse him of. Unbelievable.

Jesus looked at the group of leaders, eyeing each one. He was angry and very distressed at their stubborn hold to rules, and to their complete lack of compassion, the very compassion they expected from God.

He turned away from them and faced the man with the withered hand. He said, "Stretch out your hand."

The man did as Jesus asked. And at the second the man's arm was fully stretched, his hand was healed. Completely!

The Jewish leaders stepped forward and looked at the healed hand. Their faces scrunched into anger. They huddled and discussed what they thought. Their words were not kind. They were talking about ways they could get rid of Jesus.

After a few minutes, the Pharisees stormed out, looking for Herodian officials, and hoping to get help in planning a way to kill Jesus.

So, the Jewish leaders couldn't think of anything to answer Jesus' questions. They knew they were in the wrong, but they couldn't handle what might happen if they admitted they were wrong. They would have to change their thinking. They would have to understand people would want to listen and follow Jesus. They would have to be compassionate.

Their way of doing things would change....and they didn't want to do that. 


I'll tell you more about that next time.

Come back to read 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.

Matthew- Four of the Best Friends

By Mary Vee
Matthew 9; Mark 2; Luke 5

From Matthew's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Remains of the synagogue in Capernaum
The area has several rooms and is quite large.

My name is Matthew. I am a disciple of Jesus. I am here with other disciples, so they may add something today. 

Jesus told us this morning we would go back to Capernaum. We followed him there. Several of the disciples had grown up here and were very happy to return.

Again, the word spread that Jesus was going to Capernaum long before we even reached the city. We barely made it into a home where He planned to speak to the crowds. 

The people quieted when Jesus began to preach. The quiet was so good. He taught may new and amazing things. Teachings that tell us how God wants us to live and how we should worship HIm. 

More men and women came. They pressed closer, trying to hear Jesus speak. No one could move in or out of the home where He stood. 

We didn't know at the time, but four friends brought a man they cared about deeply. He was paralyzed. They carried their friend a distance on a stretcher hoping to get close enough to Jesus.

As they came closer they asked the men and women in the crowd to let them through. No one did. The friends tried from different angles hoping to find some kind person to let them through.

Meanwhile on the inside Jesus continued to teach. There were also the Scribes standing close to him. Their squinty eyes said they wanted to find evidence to prove Jesus wrong. 

Back outside where the four friends carried their friend, they decided to give up. Not completely. They wanted to find another way to get close to Jesus. Our homes have roofs that we use for gardens, eating, some people even put bedrooms up there. The roofs are flat and have a parapet, that is a small wall that lets a person know they are near the edge. 

The four friends carried their friend to the roof using the stairs along the outside of the house. They carefully walked him to the roof, taking care to not let him fall off the stretcher. On top, they began to pull away the roof tiles.

Back inside the home, Jesus and all the people near him look up and watched the roof tiles move. The Scribes who stood inside couldn't believe their eyes. Actually, they became too upset to speak. 

Jesus, though, welcomed the men. They lowered their friend down. Slowly. Releasing inches of rope at the same time until their friend lay on the floor near Jesus. 

Jesus looked at the man and then his four friends on the roof. He saw proof of their faith and turned to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

The Scribes who saw the whole thing whispered to one another, "Why does this man talk like that? He is blaspheming God. Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Jesus told us that He knew in his spirit, right then, that this was what they were thinking. He said, "Why are you thinking this? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven or to say 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 

"So you will know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." Jesus turned to the paralytic man and said, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." The man got up, took his mat, and walked out in full view of everyone there. 

The people who watched this happen whispered and talked with each other. They praised God saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

The paralyzed man walked away.

Jesus didn't hide the healing of the paralytic. He showed the people and had written for us what God did for this man. 

Come back to read 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.