Jesus Searched for the Man Thrown Out of the Temple

By Mary Vee
John 9 

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee. View from the Mount of Olives facing
the Temple area

My name is Peter, I am a disciple of Jesus. I am in the temple courts. 

Last time I told you about a man born blind whom Jesus miraculously healed. The Pharisees have had a problem with what was done. First, they didn't believe the man who could now see was the man born blind. His parents had to be called to the courts to prove the fact. 

Next, the Pharisees couldn't believe that Jesus was the one who performed the miracle. Their reason: No one who performs a miracle can be from God if it is done on a Sabbath. No work is to be done on the Sabbath according to the law of Moses. That was the proof for their dispute. 

When the man born blind confirmed that Jesus was the one who gave him sight and that he firmly believed Jesus was God, the Pharisees became so angry they threw him out of the Temple.

By this time the other disciples and I joined up with Jesus. We looked and found the man born blind outside the temple. 

Jesus said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

The man born blind had a puzzled look, "Who is he, sir? Tell me. I want to believe in him."

Jesus said, "You have now seen him. He is speaking with you."

Photo by Mary Vee.
The pool where people came to be healed.
Jerusalem

The man looked at Jesus and smiled. "Lord, I believe." He bowed to his knees and worshipped Jesus.

Jesus put his hand on the man, "I have come into this world to help the blind see and to cause those who see to become blind."

A few Pharisees had followed the man and listened to this conversation. They squinted in anger. One said, "Are you saying we are blind?"

Jesus has a fantastic answer that will take another post. I will share it with you next time.

Photo by Mary Vee
The blind man wasn't the only person
Jesus healed. This sign is near the pool
shown above. Jerusalem

The battle isn't over. 

What happened next? Next week I will tell you more. 

 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.


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

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.

Why The Pharisees Lost a Debate with A Blind Man

By Mary Vee
John 9 

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee. View from the Mount of Olives facing
the Temple area

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

A few moments ago, Jesus healed a blind man. He told his friends and neighbors. They didn't believe he was the same man who had been blind all those years. 

The Jews took the man to the Pharisees who asked the man, "How is it that you can see when you have been blind?"

The man answered, "A man named Jesus put mud on my eyes and told me to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam. I did as he said, and now I see."

The Pharisees shook their heads and whispered to each other before saying, "Jesus cannot have come from God as He claims. This is the Sabbath, a day in which we are to rest. Healing this man is an act of work. He has disobeyed the Law of Moses."

Some of the people in the crowd asked, "If that is so, then how can a sinner do such a miraculous sign?"

The two groups argued for some time. They finally turned to the blind man and asked, "Tell us about this man, Jesus. It was your eyes that you claim he opened."

The man said, "Jesus is a prophet."

The Jews standing there still didn't believe that the man standing before them used to be blind. They sent for his parents to come and settle the matter. The Pharisees asked them, "Is this your son?"

The man and wife looked at the one who said he used to be blind. "Yes. He is our son."

The Pharisees still did not seem satisfied. They asked, "Is this the one you say was born blind. If that is so, explain to us how he can see right now?"

The father shook his head. "I know my son. This is him. He has been blind since birth. As for how he is able to see now, or who was it that caused him to see, I don't know. Ask him. He is old enough to answer your question. Let him speak for himself." 

The parents were afraid of these Jews. The Pharisees had announced: anyone acknowledging Jesus as the Christ would be banished from the synagogue. 

Photo by Mary Vee.
The pool where people came to be healed.
Jerusalem

The Pharisees called the man who had been bind again and said, "Give glory to God. We know this man, Jesus, is a sinner."

The healed man said, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I have no idea. But this I know, I was blind but now I see!"

The Pharisees said, "Tell us what he did. How did he open your eyes?"

"I told you already and you didn't listen. Why should I tell you again? Do you want to become one of his disciples?"

This made the Pharisees very angry. "You are a disciple of Jesus. We are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, Jesus, we don't even know where he comes from."

Photo by Mary Vee
The blind man wasn't the only person
Jesus healed. This sign is near the pool
shown above. Jerusalem

The man who had been blind said, "Now isn't that amazing! You say you don't know where Jesus comes from, yet he opened my eyes and gave me sight. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man did not come from God, he couldn't do any miracle. 

The Pharisees said, "You were full of sin at birth. That is what made you blind. How dare you lecture us as though you are smarter than us!" They grabbed the man who had been blind and tossed him out of the temple area."

The battle isn't over. 

What happened next? Next week I will tell you more. 

 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.


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

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 Man Born Blind

By Mary Vee
John 9 

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee. View from the Mount of Olives facing
the Temple area

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

Jesus walked in the courts of the temple and saw a man who had been blind since birth. I asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents. One of them had to be responsible for his being born blind?"

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus. "This happened so others could see the work of God displayed in his life. We must do the work of my Father as long as we have days on earth. The night is coming, though, when no one can work. While I am here in this world, I am the light of the world."

Jesus turned back to the blind man and spat on the ground, made some mud from it, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go wash in the Pool of Siloam." 

Photo by Mary Vee.
The pool where people came to be healed.
Jerusalem

The man's friends helped him find the way to the pool. He knelt down to the water and washed his eyes. He blinked water from his eyes and shouted, "I can see!! I can see!!"

His neighbors and friends who had seen him begging asked, 'Isn't this the blind man? The one who sat and begged all these years?" 

"Yes, that's him."

Others said, "No. That man can see. He only looks like the one we know."

The once blind man said, "Believe me. I am the one you want. I once was blind and now I see."

Photo by Mary Vee
The blind man wasn't the only person
Jesus healed. This sign is near the pool
shown above. Jerusalem

The neighbors said, "How is it that you can see?" They scoffed at him. Clearly, they didn't believe him.

The once blind man said, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to the Pool of Siloam and wash. I did what he said and washed. Now I can see."

The people looked beyond the crowd, "Where is this man?"

The blind man looked into the crowd and said, "I don't see him. I don't know where he went."



What happened next? Next week I will tell you more. 

 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.


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

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.

What Hushed A Crowd

By Mary Vee
Luke 8

From Luke's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee. View down to the Sea of Galilee from
the Mountain where it is believed Jesus was at this time.
Capernaum is down and to the left by the shore.

Jesus left Capernaum. He didn't walk by himself. Oh no. He'd recently taught crowds on the mountain then healed the Centurion's servant. People wanted to see if he would do more.

Let's see, there was the twelve close disciples, many other disciples, and a large crowd who walked with him from Capernaum. They didn't know where he was headed, but they did know they wanted to see what might happen next.

Needless to say, the journey took longer than if one person had traveled the twenty plus miles southwest to a town called Nain.

As Jesus approached the city gate, a group of people carried out a person who had died. It was a man, the only son of a mother. The mother was also a widow, so she had no one to help for her.

A large crowd of people had followed the widow to support her in her grief. 

Jesus stopped and looked at the woman. He said to her, "Don't cry."

Jesus walked to the coffin and touched it. Those who carried the casket stood still.

Jesus said, "Young man, get up!" The casket swayed. 

Those carrying it set it on the ground. "It's moving!" They said. Their eyes widened.

The man sat up then began to speak. Everyone was shocked. The crowd following Jesus and the crowd following the widow had silenced. That was a lot of quiet people!

Jesus said to the young man, "Go. Help your mother."

He stood and walked to his mother then he gave her a hug. 

She hugged him and wept and kissed him. 

Just like that, the silent crowd became noisy. 

People cheered and shouted praises to God. 

They laughed.

They cried for joy.

They talked.

And even though everyone there saw what had happened, they retold the story as if the retelling confirmed what they saw.

YES! THE boy really came back to life after Jesus commanded him to.

The people then said, "A great prophet has appeared among us. God has come to help his people.

And just like that, the news of what happened spread through all of Judea and the surrounding country.

 Come back to read the next story.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Marriage at Cana-The Finest and the Best

By Mary Vee
John 2

From A Servant's Journal 

I am a servant. Have been my entire life. 

This past week I, along with many of the other servants, have been called to help prepare for the wedding. The master is getting married. 

Even I can see how excited the bridegroom is. He wants all his friends to come. He invited everyone from the city, and, of course, he hopes to impress the bride's father. 

We've been busy preparing for his big wedding every hour these past weeks. Oh, I know, in your day it's the bride's job to arrange and prepare for the wedding, but not in mine. Nope, it's the bridegroom's job. We servants have been up before the sun and working long after it sets to keep up with the extra work.

Each day the bridegroom leaves instructions for the preparations then tends to his matters which sometimes takes him away from the grounds. When he returns, he expects everything to the last detail completed exactly the way he wants.

The bridegroom is not rich. I'd know that. He'd give us more if he had it, because he is a fair man, but he doesn't have a lot.

This morning the bridegroom kept his head, mostly, although I could tell he is a bit nervous. He leaves instructions then goes off to dress for the ceremony.

Men and women pour into the grounds from all over the city to attend the wedding. I'm not allowed to watch the ceremony, but it seems everyone is happy, which means the bridegroom is happy.

At the end of the ceremony, the people move to the banquet hall and take their assigned seats. We servants have to work fast to get the food served to all the guests. The wine glasses empty faster than we can keep them filled! I run back to get more and see we'd run out.

One of the guests, a woman named Mary from Nazareth, happens to stand near me when I mentioned the problem to another servant. She turns to a man standing near her. I'd seen him before. The man is her son. Jesus. That's right. His name is Jesus, son of Joseph the carpenter. From Nazareth. 

I didn't mean to listen in on their conversation, but they stand close enough for me to hear their words. She says to him, "They have no more wine." 

What a strange thing for her to say because a carpenter's family doesn't have a lot of money, and I doubt they have extra wine at their home to share. Not only that, there isn't time for servants to go to their home and bring back any wine.

Jesus says, "Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come."

What a strange thing to say. What time did he mean? 

Mary turned to me and a few other servants near me. I step back thinking she would yell at me for hearing the conversation. Instead she points to Jesus, while still looking at us, and says, "Do whatever he tells you."

Jesus looks at the six stone water jars behind me. The ones used for ceremonial washing. Each holds twenty to thirty gallons of liquid. He says, "Fill the jars with water."

The majority of the guests had drunk enough wine to not know what they were drinking any more. Serving them water instead of wine, though, seems like a crazy idea. Still, we servants do what he says. 

We fill the jars with water. It took more than one of us to carry each jar back to the ceremony. I wipe sweat from my head and wait for the next instruction. 

Jesus says, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

In my head I know I will be punished for serving the master water, but I and the others with me obey the instructions. We carry the wine to the master and served him.

He takes the wine and tastes it. There is no way he knows where the wine had come from. He sips more and calla the bridegroom to come over. The master has a huge smile on his face and sips more wine while waiting then swallows. "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and saves the cheaper wine to serve after the guests have had too much to drink. But you--you have save the best wine until now."

The best wine? But it is water. Some has spilled on my hand. I taste it and am as shocked as the master at the delicious, fine wine taste. How could that be? This was water. I was one who filled the jugs. 

This man Jesus had changed the water we'd put into the jugs into the finest of all wines for the this wedding. I couldn't help but wonder who Jesus really is. Is He the Messiah?



Note: The Bible goes on to say this is the first of Jesus' miraculous signs. Here he revealed his glory, and His disciples put their faith in him.

Jesus loves us so much that He would never do or give us anything less than the best.

Come back for the next story.

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

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.

Elisha-God Helps in Time of Need-The Axhead Miracle

By Mary Vee
II Kings 6

From Elisha's Journal

I met with a group of prophets who lived near the Jordan River. I have met with them many times. We discuss the Scriptures, pray, and sing.

The group had grown to be large. We found it difficult to sit comfortably and discuss with all the prophets there. One of the prophets said, "This room is too small. Let's build a bigger place down by the river."

The other prophets agreed. 

I thought it would be a good idea, too, but felt the decision needed to be their's since I didn't stay there all the time like they do.

One prophet said, "Elisha, will you join us. We know you aren't always here, but we feel you are as much a part of our group as we are."

"Yes, I will," I said.

We gathered together tools and went down to the river. The group of prophets walked along the shore and found the perfect place to build. We leveled the ground and went to the woods to cut down trees.

Some of the trees grew close to the river. One prophet chose to cut those trees for his section of the room. He took out his axe and swung it at the tree. He made the first indentation, yanked the axe out and pulled his arm back to swing again. As he moved to strike the tree, the iron axhead slipped off the handle and fell into the river.

He stood there gasping at the sight. He looked at the handle and at the river. The water was too deep and mucky to see the axehead. 

The prophet looked at the water trying to decide what to do.

Finally he ran to Elisha. "My lord, I have a terrible problem. The axhead fell into the water and I can't see it. It was borrowed! Please help me."

I followed him. "Show me the place in the water where it fell."

It's over here. He walked to a spot right by the trees. "There, about  two feet into the river."

The Lord spoke to me to go to a tree, cut a stick, and cary it to the place where the axhead fell into the water. He then told me to throw the stick at the same spot. I did all that the Lord said to do.

We looked at the water. Under the stick, a piece of metal poked through the surface. It was the axhead! I turned to the prophet and said, "Lift it out of the water."

He did as I said and pulled the borrowed tool from the water.

Praise God. He is always willing to help us in time of need. The help may not always be what we think, but it will always be what we need.

************************************************************************************************************ 
photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

1. Where did Elisha meet the men?
2. Why did these men meet?
3. What was wrong with the room they met in?
4. How did they want to solve the problem?
5. What happened to the prophet's axehead?
6. Why was the prophet so very upset?
7. What did Elisha do?
8. What happened to the axehead.

Elisha-Miracle of the Bread

Mary Vee
II Kings 4

From the Journal of a Man from Baal Shalishah

I had heard the prophet Elisha went to Gilgal. It wasn't far from my home. With the famine raging throughout our land I knew he'd be hungry. 

I decided to make bread loaves for him, after all, where would we be without the prophets?

I packed twenty loaves of barley bread baked form the first ripe grains in my fields. My stomach growled as the aroma seeped out of the satchel. I grabbed my staff and the satchel and walked to Gigal and went to the home where I heard Elisha stayed.

When the servant opened the door I heard many voices. I didn't realize there would be so many prophets meeting with Elisha. I began to feel pretty bad, knowing there wasn't enough food for all of the men.

The servant welcomed me into the room with Elisha and the men, I bowed in respect to everyone in the room. "If I may, I brought bread for you, Elisha. I apologize, I did not know there would be this many guests with you."

Elisha smiled. "Don't worry. Your gift is well received."

"Thank you."

Elisha turned to his servant and said, "Take the gift and give the bread to the people to eat."

I handed the bag to the servant as Elisha indicated.

His servant turned to Elisha. He eyebrows furrowed. "How can I set this before a hundred men?"

Elisha nodded and pointed to the prophets watching. "Trust me. Give the bread to the people to eat. The Lord said to me 'They will eat and have some left over.'"

Elisha prayed, thanking God for the food.

His servant grinned. "I will." He walked to the first man and gave him a loaf. He went to each man giving one small loaf of bread. After each man received his loaf, they ate. 

The servant brought the bag back to Elisha and they looked inside. Just as the Lord said, there were more loaves in the bag. 

I don't know that I've seen a miracle before, but I did that day. God provided enough food for everyone and he let me cook the first twenty! I walked back home feeling pretty good about my day. Thanks to a miracle done by God.

*****************************************************
photo courtesy of christianimagesource.com

1. What is a famine?
2. A _________ from Baal Shalishah baked __________.
3. A bag containing ________ loaves of bread was brought to Elisha because _______
4. The man knew/did not know there would be 100 prophets meeting with Elisha.
5. Elisha told his servant to ____________________
6. What did Elisha see in the bag after the servant finished his work?