Jonathan Goforth-It Was A Repeat of Job's Blessings

By Mary Vee
Year: October 1901

Jonathan Goforth-42 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind and I are missionaries to China. I left my family safely in Canada until I knew if China was safe for them to return.

Mr. Ho finished telling what happened to him while I was gone. He was hung! Yes, he was hung. Some local bad guys took him and strung him up to a tree. He hung high above the ground with ropes tied to his thumbs left to die. After the bad ones left, some good people came and cut him down. 

After sharing our stories with each other, we went into the town to see how the other Christians were doing. They told their stories of suffering. The good news: we were alive.

The agreement made between the Chinese government and other nations to settle the Boxer Rebellion included the reimbursement of cost to replace damaged foreigner's belongings. 

I received a letter from the government asking me to list the items damaged and the cost for the replacement. Since I bought most of the items in Canada, I wrote the cost in Canadian dollars.

The money didn't come right away. Actually something interesting happened. In the time it took for the Chinese government to process my request, the exchange between Canadian and Chinese currency changed. I ended up getting almost twice what I asked! 

After I got over the surprise I didn't feel right about keeping the extra money. I also knew that sending the money back to the Chinese government would be like stuffing it in the pockets of a dishonest official. 

I prayed, asking God what should be done with the extra money. He gave me the idea to build a Peace Village. In the past, Chinese workers who came to help our mission left their families at their home for a time, worked here for months, then returned home. 

The Peace Village would have small homes and land for gardens. The worker's family could come with them and live here. They would be with other Christian families and live in peace.

I moved forward with the project and soon had families moving in. Everything had gone so well. The country was mostly safe. I wrote Rosalind and asked her to bring the children here. She wrote me back saying she and the children would set sail July 1, 1902. Yes. All is well. I can't wait to see them.

There is more to this story. Come back next time.

Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

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Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

The Woman Who Met HIM

By Mary Vee
John 4

From The Woman's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Shepherd and his sheep
Samaria, Israel

I am known to most people as the Woman at the Well. I, like other women, go to the well at Sychar each day to get water and bring it back to my home.

I am a Samaritan, which means Jews keep as far away from me as possible. I won't take the time to say why at this time other than the Samaritans and the Jews don't get along.

The well that I go to is well-known among the Jews. This well is said to be the one that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph. 

I carried my pot like usual, left home to get water, and was alone, as I usually am. I'm the kind of lady who has a bad reputation. Anyone seen talking with me is usually in trouble by the end of the day. So when the others saw me walk toward the well at the sixth hour, they stayed away.

As I left the city and continued down the road, I saw a man sitting by the well. He looked very tired. I knew I shouldn't go near the well when a man happened to be nearby, but I needed water. He stayed seated as I stepped close to the well. This was not a Samaritan, this was a Jew. 

In my culture, I knew I should not speak to this or any other man in situations like this. I also knew I should not speak to a Jew. I decided I would walk straight to the well, fill my pitcher, and leave without saying a word. I didn't want any trouble. Just water.

Honest, I didn't do anything to encourage him to speak to me. On His own He said, "Will you give me a drink?"

I answered, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" If anyone heard this conversation, I knew I'd be in a lot of trouble, but I looked around and didn't see anyone.

The man said, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

What he said took me completely by surprise. This gift of God he mentioned, I didn't understand it at all. And how could I know who he was? Of course I didn't know him. But I was really curious about this living water he spoke about. 

"Sir," I said, "you don't have anything with you to draw up water, and this well is deep. Where can you get this living water you speak about?" 

I think he must be trying to trick me. "Are you greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself? You know, his sons, flocks, and herds drank from this well too!" I laughed. I'm not the foolish one here.

The man didn't pause to think about his answer. Instead his eyes had this compassion look, like he cared that I understood what he meant. He said, "Everyone who drinks the water from this well will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst again. In fact, the water I give him will become like a spring of water welling up inside him as eternal life."

I was amazed. I have longed for something like this for so long. Just think, I won't ever have to walk all the way from my home to this well and carry the heavy pitcher of water back. I said, "Sir, give me this water so I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."


Then he said something that surprised me even more. And yes, you must wait until next week. But I will tell you what the man said then.

Come back to read the rest of this story.

From Mary Vee, the day we were scheduled to see this well, there was a skirmish. For our safety we were not allowed to go there. So today's photo is of a place near there.

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

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-Jealous Pharisees Wanting Attention

By Mary Vee
John 4

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 a follower of Jesus the Nazarene. Many people followed Jesus because John the Baptizer said to. John had spoken of a man who would come who sandals he was not worthy to loosen. A man who was sent from God to save us. 

Crowds of people heard John the Baptizer say this. Many left him because he asked, and followed Jesus.

Other followers came because they first heard Jesus. A few Jesus spoke to and asked them to follow Him.  

So, I am John the disciple and follower of Jesus the Nazarene, not John the Baptizer. It will take a while to explain why I follow Jesus, but for now I'll just say there are many people who have heard Jesus' message and have come back to hear more or have stayed with him to not miss any of his words. 

Jesus has spoken about many topics so far. The Pharisee have sat in on some of the talks. I don't think they are interested because they like what Jesus says. The look on their face is  more like they're trying to collect evidence. 

Jesus speaks of God's law. He teaches using stories about things we know. It is at this time that I, along with many in the crowd realize the Pharisee and priests demand more than what is in the law. See, most of us can't read. We depend on the priests to tell us what God wants.

We should have done a better job of passing the Sacred words from father to son, but many have become lazy, depending on the priests and the learned Pharisees. 

It is these Pharisees that said to each other, loud enough for others to hear, "Jesus gathered and baptized more disciples than John." They didn't even say that right. I saw. While it is true more people had chosen to follow Jesus than John the Baptizer, Jesus did not baptize those who repented. His followers, His closest disciples did the baptizing.

The Pharisees acted like this was a popularity contest. They didn't want the people following Jesus any more than they wanted them following John. They wanted the people to stay loyal to them. 

Most, not all the Pharisees clung to a long list of rules that had been added to the laws of Moses. They demanded the people follow these rules as well and resorted to punishing those who did not. 

When Jesus heard them grumbling, He decided to leave Judea, knowing the Pharisees would not want to go away from their jobs or homes. He lead those who wanted to follow Him north toward Galilee. We didn't have cars or any other motor vehicles like you do now and the distance was about 70 miles, so we didn't walk it in one day.

To get there, we walked through Samaria and that is where the next story takes place

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.

Jonathan Goforth-The Shocked Magistrate

By Mary Vee
Year: October 1901

Jonathan Goforth-42 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind and I are missionaries to China. I say to because things aren't going as I had hoped.

I returned to Changte on my own, leaving my wife and children in Canada for their safety. The first person I met was my friend Mr. Ho. He told me the first half of what's been happening here while I was gone in the last post and left off with him being dragged to the magistrates office where he expected to be killed.

"So, what happened next?" I asked.

He took a bite of the bread I shared with him. "I was beaten before they asked any questions then dragged to his chambers. The magistrate asked me why had I decided to worship the God of the foreign devils. He said I must have been poisoned and forced to believe the teachings.

"The weird part is, I didn't feel afraid. They could have beaten me until I died and I wouldn't have had been afraid." He patted his chest. "Because God is living here, inside of me. I trust Him."

"So...what did the magistrate say?"

Mr. Ho laughed. "I told him he misunderstood. I was not following the foreigner's and their teaching, I am a follower of the one true living God. I told him all about what God has done for us, like how He loves us so much that He sent His Son to pay the punishment for our sins. He he listens to our prayers and helps us.

"I reminded him that I use to make gods for people to buy and worshipped. I made a lot of money making big gods and to be nice, I made small gods for people who couldn't afford much. These objects were not real gods but the people worshipped them anyway. Wood carved into shapes. Shapes that couldn't hear or help anyone.

"I reminded him how bad I used to be. All the laws I use to break when I worshipped the gods made from wood. Since I have believed in the one true living God, I have not been brought in for any crime." He laughed again. "The magistrate's eyes went wide as he listened to the whole story. Finally, he told me to go home."

"He said for you to go home? Just like that?"

"Yes. He even said he would protect me."

"It looks like he has. You're in good shape." 

He nodded and ate more bread.



There is more to this story. Come back next time.

Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

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.

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

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 Man Who Sneaked Up to the Roof At Night

By Mary Vee
John 2-3

From Nicodemus's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Taken in Joppa, Israel. This was typical
housing used even in Jesus' day.
See the one section of roof above the light?

I was in Jerusalem during passover week. My name is Nicodemus and I have studied many years to become a Pharisee and be called one of the ruler of the Jews. I know a lot about the Scriptures, can quote words and tell you what they mean. There are many requirements and tests to pass before someone earns the right to be a Pharisee and I placed high in my class. But I must admit I have unanswered questions.

I've listened to the priests, read the Scriptures everyday, and spent so much time trying to find the answers to my questions. Then I saw this man who came to Jerusalem whose name was Jesus. From the moment I first saw him I knew this passover week would be different. 

People watched Jesus. They saw Him do miracles. They followed Him wherever He went and said things like they believed on His name. Jesus didn't seem moved by their words. It was as if He knew those people said those words just so they could see more miracles. 

I liked His honesty.

I wanted to speak with Him alone, maybe ask Him my questions. I didn't want to be seen by any of the other Pharisees so I went to the place where Jesus stayed. I waited until it was late at night. He was with a few other disciples on the roof. In Israel the weather is warm enough to use the roof as a room. Some use it for a bedroom, some use it for dining, or a gathering room.

Photo by Mary Vee
Taken in Joppa, Israel.
This shows how close the houses were
and the narrow streets. 

I went up the stairs to the roof and asked to speak with Him. He offered me a place to sit and patiently waited for me to speak. "Rabbi," I said. Rabbi means teacher. I know, a learned man such as myself wouldn't normally call someone he didn't know, Rabbi, but it just seemed to be the right thing to do. 

The other Pharisees had talked about Jesus and they seemed to agree that He was a teacher who had come from God based on the miracles he did and the words he spoke. I said, "Only someone who had God with him could do the miracles you do."

Jesus said to me, "I tell you the truth, unless a person is born from above, it is impossible to see the kingdom of God."

I heard his words but didn't understand what He meant. "How can a man be born when he is old? No one can go back inside his mother and be born again."

Jesus patiently spoke, "I will explain it differently. No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. As a human, you were given your human birth by your human mother, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. Look now, you can't be surprised at my words about being born again. All right, let's try again. The wind blows wherever it pleases, right?"

"Yes."

"You hear the wind, right?"

"Yes. At times more than others."

"Right. But can you tell where it comes from or where it is going?"

"No. It seems like we could but the wind changes without any reason, blowing in every direction."

"Life in the Spirit is like the wind of God."

All of this was new to me. I wanted to hear more. "I'm still not sure how this can be."

Jesus shook his head. "You are one of Israel's teachers and you do not understand these things? It is this way, we talk about what we know, and we tell others what we've seen, but even after the miracles and the words I've spoken people don't accept what I'm saying. I've even explained using things from the earth and you still don't believe. How then will you be able to understand the heavenly things?

He said, "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven, that is the Son of Man." Jesus paused. 

I was thankful because I really wanted to understand. I really did. 

He said, "Think of it this way, Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

He smiled gently and said, "God didn't send his Son into the word to condemn the word, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in his Son is not condemned. Those who don't believe in God's Son are condemned already."

Jesus said, "I have another way to explain, Light has come into the world. Men, though loved darkness instead of light because the things they did were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light because they know their evil deeds will be seen. Those who live by the truth aren't afraid to come into he light because the things they have done have been done through God."

I finally understood. "Thank you, Rabbi."  I walked back to my home that night and replayed all the words Jesus said in my mind over and over. I was so glad He was willing to answer my questions.

Note from Mary: Jesus knew which explanation Nicodemus would need but he also gave the other explanations because He also knew many people like us would read or hear this story and would need one of the other explanations. He thought of all of us when He answered Nicodemus.

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.

Jonathan Goforth-One Window That Faced An Angry Crowd

By Mary Vee
Year: October 1901

Jonathan Goforth-42 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind and I are missionaries to China. I say to because things aren't going as I had hoped.

Sounds like I have a story to share, right? 

I'd barely survives my injuries brought on by Chinese villagers who were ordered to kill all foreigners. The foreigners who managed to escape fled to other countries. I took my family back home to Canada to rest and heal.

Each day in Canada, my thoughts were of the Chinese, the church we'd set up, the Christian Chinese. I wanted so badly to go back but had to wait for the Chinese government to allow visitors back into the country.

One year and one month later, news reporters said the Chinese government changed their minds. Visitors would be allowed in China. I didn't know how long the Chinese government would allow foreigners to visit and didn't want to miss the opportunity to return. I packed my bags and bought a ticket for the next boat. I kissed my wife, Rosalind, good bye. "I don't know what will happen. You and the kids need to stay here until I'm sure it is safe for you to come."

She placed her hand on my face. "Be careful."

I didn't want her to see my tear as the boat pulled away. I would miss her and the children, but staying away from China would drive me crazy. God asked me to go and be a witness, so I had to go.

It took a long time to sail to Shanghai then change to a river boat and finish the journey on land back to our mission compound in Changte. I was tired, but not too tired to find the church and our house and see what condition they were in. 

Everything of value had been taken from the compound. I had expected that. There were repairs that would need to be made. I expected that too. We'd rebuild in time. As I walked through the house, I heard a noise outside. A voice calling my name. I walked to the front yard and saw Mr. Ho. He ran to me, laughing as he always did when he was happy.

I invited him inside. "Come. Tell me what has happened."

We sat on the floor in the kitchen. 

"Ku-Mu-shih." That is the name he called me. "After you left, I camped inside the church to protect it."

"But I asked you not to. You could have been killed."

He lowered his head. "I know. But I had to. That place was more than a church. It held the memories of you and the other missionaries. I tried. I tried so hard. On the second day, though, soldiers came. They tied my arms and pulled me through the city leaving me in the center. A mob swarmed around me, yelling, spitting, and throwing rocks. They said I should be cut apart for listening to the foreign devils."

He rubbed one arm then continued. "The soldiers finally untied me and dragged me to the courthouse, leaving the mob outside. They took me to a room and locked the door. I was alone. But there was a window. I looked outside and saw it faced the mob that had grown even larger."

He laughed. "This may sound crazy but I saw it as a chance to speak to a thousand people." He laughed again. "So I did."

"You did?" 

"Yes. What was the worst that could happen? They'd kill me? Even if I didn't speak they'd kill me. So I did. I stood at the window and," he paused, "I told them all about the God who loves them and what He did for them." He closed his eyes.

"What happened?"

He opened his eyes. "The mob seemed curious at first. A few minutes later the yelling started." He sighed. "They said I had been poisoned with your medicine. I didn't care. I spoke as long as I could. Soon the soldiers came and took me to the magistrate. I knew he had the power to kill me."

I wanted to know what happened next as badly as you do, but this post is getting long. I'll finish Ho's story next week.

There is more to this story. Come back next time.

Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

The Day Peter Saw Jesus Chase the Merchants

By Mary Vee
John 2

From Peter's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee - A Synagogue in Capernaum

I had only followed Jesus a short time. Everything He said intrigued me. Yes, I believed He is the Messiah, but I wasn't sure what that meant. Was He the one who would free us from Roman rule? He said He would save us, but from what? I hoped it meant having a free Israel, but I wasn't sure and for that reason I followed Jesus.

Mary Vee on the Capernaum shore
of the Sea of Galilee - Photo by Hank

I saw his first miracle at a wedding in Cana. His mother asked him to help the bridegroom when the celebration ran out of wine. Jesus did as she asked, although He spoke with her privately about it. I don't recall her asking him to help like that again.



After the wedding, we walked over to Capernaum, which is on the north side of the Sea of Galilee.The shore is rocky which made gathering materials to make buildings easy. His mother, brothers, and those of us who followed Jesus went as a group. We stayed there a few days enjoying the breeze off the lake, the fresh fish, and listening to Jesus teach. It was a good time to rest and prepare for what was to come.





When Passover time had neared, we walked south to Jerusalem. The journey was about sixty miles, much of it up hill. 

Jesus directed us to the Temple, as expected. I say that because I didn't know His plans, but was very willing to go where He said.

There was a huge crowd of people milling about in the courts of the Temple. Some families brought their own offerings for the Temple. A long time ago, merchants figured out they could set up booths to sell items for offerings to weary travelers who didn't want to chance bringing an offering so many miles from home. Money changers set up their own booths ready to convert coins to whatever currency the buyer needed. 

The area assigned to these merchants was outside the courts and Temple area. But over time, more businesses moved inside the courts to better serve all the people. I'd seen them there and hadn't thought much about it.

But.

Jesus did.

Before we walked into the courts, Jesus' movements, every one from His steps to His words, even His breath moved with abrupt motion. Something angered Him.

He'd barely taken a step inside the courts when He looked from one merchant to another. 

Sheep, goats, cattle, and birds sounded from their captivity. Coins clanked, shuffled from merchant to buyer. I'd seen it all before. Merchants calling to the people to come to their booth. The noise. The confusion. The clamor in the Temple courts.

We had a few traveling supplies packed, cord was among them. Jesus took the cord and made a whip. His face grew red with anger as he walked to a merchant's booth. He grabbed the table and flipped it over. He swung the whip and yelled at those who sold birds. "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

Jesus moved from booth to booth. I stood there, just watching Him force the merchants out of the courts. There were so many booths, yet His energy never diminished. He rushed from corner to corner waving the whip and demanding they leave until the last one had cleared the Temple area.

He didn't call this place the Temple. Not even the place to worship. He called it my Father's house. My Father's House. My thoughts ran fast. This would mean that Jesus was not only the one who would save us, but He is God's Son. Curiosity swelled inside me. I wanted to hear every word He'd say. 

He now stood on the other side of the courts and some Jews gathered around Him. I ran to hear what they would say. 

Their faces showed anger. Their stance firm ready to accuse Jesus. Maybe throw Him out of the Temple. They asked him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove you have the authority to chase these businessmen away?"

Jesus said, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

The same Jews then said, "You've got to be crazy. It took forty-six years to build this temple and now you think you can raise it in three days?"

Three years later, I remembered these words because the true meaning became clear to me. I also learned the deeper reason why those men could have never thrown Jesus, the Son of God, out of those courts. But I'll tell you more about that later.



Note: Jesus knew before He stepped into the Temple courts what He would see. Two responses were going on inside Him. One was His response as Jesus in human body form, angry at the disrespect the merchants had toward God, the Holy Father and His place of worship. The other was Jesus very much God seeing the disrespect to the place set aside for worship of the Almighty Father. Those feelings were much deeper than what we feel when others disrespect our human parents because God is our Creator and He alone is worthy of all praise.

Jesus loves us so much that He HAD to demonstrate/teach us how to respect His Holy Father's house.

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.