So, He Knows??

Aren't sparrows are such neat birds. They bounce along the ground. They feed their young. They are harmless, cute, and lovable. 

They don't work 8 to 5, 11 to 7, or 3 to 11. They don't plant to garden. They don't pick corn, green beans, or cut hay. What is in a sparrows barn? You say you have never seen one?

Although they are delightful creatures, they have little monetary value. Jesus said five sparrows are worth only the two smallest copper coins.

Jesus used birds as an example of how transient a disciple's life is. He said birds were better than He was. They have nests, but He had no regular home.

Jesus use these creatures to reveal your value to God. 

Matthew noted sparrows don't work for a living, but God takes care of them. Did he not ask, "Are you not worth more than they?" 

Well, are you?

 

Although they have little monetary value, God does not forget one of them.

Will He forget you?

Not one sparrow falls to the ground without God knowing it, He said.

So he knows???

Yeah. He knows!

Mind Reading Reported

Wandering Preacher Heals, Forgives Sins

Scribe claims preacher reads minds 

Capernaum – Thursday the traveling preacher returned to his adopted home town after a two week absence to teach and heal a long-term paralyzed man after forgiving his sins. The scribes present at the time of message, forgiveness, and miracle say he knew what they were thinking.

Jesus, the roving Nazarene preacher returned to Capernaum, with the focus of the trip being preaching. The last time he was in town many of the disease-laden and demon-possessed were healed in a lengthy night-time gathering. 

"This time my mission is different. This time I came to Pete's house to teach," Jesus said, adding, ”Challenging peopled to change is my job, and it was a key reason I left town two weeks ago.”

Pete's modern home was packed with listeners, disciple-hopefuls, and curiosity seekers. All reported his teaching authoritatively.

Two hours into his message a foursome began tearing the roof off Pete's home at 220 Sardine St. The four men created a hole large enough for a rope-borne stretcher to be lowered into the great room.

Joshua Trotter, 27, of 517 Perch Street, said he has not walk for more than 12 years. "I caught the fever when I was 15 and have not walked a step since," Trotter said. 

"My four friends heard Jesus was back in town and got real excited," exclaimed Trotter, adding, "They were not going to let him get out of town this time before getting me to him."

Those in attendance reported how jammed the house was. 

Trotter said his friends were convinced that the traveling minister would heal him. "They just knew it would happen. There was no doubt in their minds," the Capernaum native said.

The men, after peeling back the roof, tied ropes to the pallet and lowered Trotter down directly in front of Jesus. "That is when the unexpected happened," Trotter said.

"Jesus said my sins were forgiven," Trotter reported. "The scribes gasped so violently I thought they were going to swallow their tongues," he added. 

Joe Sample, an accomplished scribe in attendance, said the next statement from Jesus shows he was reading their mind. "I was thinking that only God can forgive sins. So this man was blaspheming," Sample said.

Sample said Jesus looked sternly at him and asked "Why are you thinking like that? Which is easier, to forgive this man's sins or to tell him to go home."

Jesus continued, "I want you to know I have the authority to forgive men's sins," Sample reported.

"He stopped talking to Joe and looked right at me. He told me to get up, roll up my pallet and go home," Trotter chimed in.

Trotter said he had not felt strength in his legs for years but suddenly did. "So I did what he said. I got up and went home," he added.

Sample said he just sat there for a long time. "I heard people saying things like, 'Never seen anything like that before.'," Sample concluded.
–--------------------
This fictionalized news story of a Bible event leaves me with a question that Mark, the gospel writer, failed to answer. What is it going to take before these people figure out Jesus is God's son???

Why do I have to learn this stuff?

As a teacher, students come to me asking "Why do I have to learn this 'stuff'?"  It is a good question, and deserves a respectful, thorough answer.

The simplest answer is 'it is the right thing to do."

What was it like for Jesus? We know he was a good Jewish boy, developing as he should. As a good boy he learned the trade of his father, Joseph, who was a carpenter. I am sure he had some cuts and smashed his fingers with a mallet more than once.

But he was not just a good Jewish boy. He was God's son. And as God's son, he was divine and knew all things. He asked his mother and father why they didn't realize he had to be about his FATHER'S business. So, he knew everything.

So, why did Jesus spend so much time learning a trade, carpentry, when he knew from the beginning that he would never earn a living using this knowledge? Could it be he was showing us what it means to learn obedience, even when we don't understand why? Could it be wanted us to know how much is necessary to be submissive?

Please put your thoughts in the comment section.

If you find this blog enjoyable,  please let 10 of your friends/favorites know about it. Thanks.