Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Matthew 14:32 – 36

Jesus went about healing the sick and preaching about the Kingdom of God.  But to think that Jesus might have power over wind and wave, cosmic powers, was a bit much for the disciples who welcome Peter back on board their ship, along with Jesus himself.

What a harrowing experience!  As the disciples tried to absorb what just happened, they simply melted.  Unbelievable! Their Jesus could not only heal individuals who were ill, he could direct the weather of the sea for his purposes!  Can he really do that?  It was not a question of “could” because the disciples just experienced it.  They must surely have asked, “Who is this Jesus?”

Matthew notes their amazement as Jesus revealed more of his power than they had ever seen, power over nature itself!  Their response rings through the ages, “Truly you are the Son of God.”  Not “a son” but “the Son of God.”  The one and only.

On to the other side, Gennesaret, where, when they landed, they met crowds of people who brought their sick to be healed by this miracle-worker, Jesus Christ.  He healed them with great compassion.

As I reflect, Jesus is concentrating his energy on healing the sick, not setting up an opposition to Rome, what one would have expected of the Messiah.  Even John the Baptist was confused. The kingdom that Jesus is building is made up of people who need him desperately.   This mystified the theologians who concentrated on Biblical promises that the Messiah would restore Israel, the nation.  Jesus does not seem to be interested in that.  He heals the sick and stills cosmic winds.  Mmm.

Zel feels Jody’s beard sort of approving.  Jody is the one who seems troubled.

These grandsons are special to us.  Zel is in Australia and Jody is now in Philadelphia practicing law.

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.  When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”   Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”   “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

“Bring them here to me,” he said.  And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.  They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 14:13 – 21

Few stories in the New Testament are as sad and heartless as the life and horrible death of John the Baptist.  Jesus was aware of what was happening to his cousin, John, but he did not do a thing to try to release John from prison or to protect John from his terrible death.  The sad story concludes, “His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.  Matthew 14:11, 12.  Is there anything more horrible than that – John’s severed head on a feasting platter, like a dead goat, ready to be cooked!  There is no language to describe this.

The ways of God are not always gilded and pleasant.  As in the case of John, it is all confusion and darkness.  Even for Jesus, the burden John is bearing is beyond heavy.  Matthew tells us that Jesus boarded a boat and proceeded to a solitary place, probably one of Jesus’ special spots where he spoke with his Father.  Even that plan did not work on this occasion for no sooner than he pulled his boat to shore the crowds were there with their sick and needy.  Not a moment of solitude.

Jesus not only served the crowd with healing, etc. he had compassion on them because they had nothing to eat.  So, Jesus had them sit down, took a few fish and loaves of bread that the crowd could scrape up, and proceeded to bless what was in his hand and then broke fish and bread, enough to meet the needs of all, 5,000 plus!

I am struck with these two scenes, John’s beheading and this marvelous feeding.  Is this not our fare as well?  We would like an easy road, every day, but we know that is not to be.

For me, at my age, I pray that I might meet each situation with love and courage, no matter if pleasant or unpleasant.  It all works together for good to those who love God.  So, Lord of all wisdom, grant me and those who read these words to rest in you with full assurance that Jesus has infinite compassion still!

Zel and Dani two years ago at their wedding in Lancaster.  I love this picture.

They just spent a month next door with Jane and Glenn.  This was a very special time for it offered them opportunity spread the good news that they are expecting a child in a few months, probably April. Thrill, thrill!

Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet. 

On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison.  His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.  John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

Matthew 14:2 – 12

This is one of the most gruesome scenes in the Bible and in history.  And, behold, it has to do with a man of God, a cousin of Jesus, who gave his entire life to calling people to faith.  When in prison he had doubts that Jesus was the Messiah, so, as we have noted earlier, he sent friends to find out if Jesus is the one predicted.  In his answer, Jesus spoke of his healing, not of his Messiahship.  This probably troubled John, we just do not know.

We do know that John was having other problems which centered on his denunciation of the King who was in an adulterous relationship.  For that reason, he was in prison.  Poor John.  The time had come, his cell door opened, Herod’s guards entered his cell and killed him, beheading him horribly.  That ends the earthly life of the one chosen by God to introduce Jesus Christ to the world.  It seems as though suffering goes with being faithful. He must have been 35 or so years old when he was martyred.  He knew what it meant to suffer for righteousness’ sake, that is for sure.

Of course, Jesus was not spared his heavy suffering.  That suffering earned for us freedom from the curse of sin.  John’s suffering is just plain suffering for the truth.  I feel for John.  He is now in glory, of course, praising forever that he had the joy of introducing Jesus Christ to the world as the Lamb of God.  Such reflections help us to endure the hardships that come with following Christ.  No one escapes his or her portion of suffering as we seek to follow Christ with our whole hearts, without wavering.

“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.  When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

Mathew 13:47 – 51

Jesus resets our sights – in order to understand the present, we do well to examine the end times which will surely come, are already coming in a sense.

Once again, the teaching is that good and evil co-exist, a fact that is obvious.  Like tares growing among the wheat.  So, good and bad fish share the same waters and the same foods.  But the day is coming when a great separation will occur, the day of reckoning, when the good fish will be collected for use, the bad ones thrown away.

Earth’s courts will not decide on who is good and who is bad.  That is the role of the angels who will come from the heavenlies to assist in the judgement.  Jesus is teaching about the kingdom of heaven, here and now and in the future.  People of the kingdom of heaven live in the light of this great separation.  They do so without fear, knowing that they are citizens, not primarily of a nation of this world, but they are under the good reign of Jesus Christ, citizens of the kingdom of heaven.

I sometimes wonder if I see myself as a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, primarily, or as a member of a kingdom of the earth.  I have made my decision, as you probably have as well, to take my place in the kingdom Jesus came to establish.  As I read these parables of Jesus, I am reminded that my hope is in this everlasting kingdom.  That hope is bed-rock foundational.  There is a place in this kingdom of heaven for me and for you.  Let us not be moved!

I realized that I can make something from bits and pieces of hardwood that I have hoarded – cutting boards. Here are a few.  I made 32!

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

Matthew 13:44 – 46

Two great stories.  Both describe the kingdom of heaven that Jesus is bringing to all mankind.  First, this kingdom is not to be found where earthly kingdoms are, among the power centers of the world, but in a common, ordinary field.  Someone hid it there.  Jesus does not tell us who.  That is not important.  The point is, the fellow found it – in a field he did not own. He was so convinced of the worth of the treasure that he sold all he owned to purchase the field.  Jesus applauded the good fortune of the ordinary man.

The second parable, also two sentences long, likened the kingdom of heaven to a successful dealer in pearls.  He knew pearls, all right, that is how he prospered.  So, when, behold, he came across an outstanding pearl, precious beyond measure no doubt, he decided to sell everything he had to buy it, like the man in the first parable.  Neither man held anything back, nothing, but sold all they had to buy the treasure.

In the kingdom of heaven, that treasure is salvation and all that goes with it.  I wish I could say that I sold all to get it, but praise God, I have the treasure and will cling to it forever.

I did not buy it, Jesus bought it for me, with his own life blood.  For that I am eternally grateful.

Anna Ruth, bless her, is set on getting this 1000 piece puzzle.  A fine and wholesome Winter avocation.  We often work together, just for fun.