When a man and a woman enter into marriage, the commitment is for life. “…And no one should separate a couple that God has joined together” (v 6).
Jesus left Galilee for Judea, where he came upon a group of Pharisees. Verse 3 says that the Pharisees wanted to test Jesus on the subject of marriage and divorce.
Read More commitment, marriage, divorceWhen a rich young man boldly walked up to Jesus and asked what he had to do to inherit eternal life, Jesus answered without hesitation. Jesus stated only God was good.
Jesus made the point of how we can do nothing to earn eternal life. Earning our way into heaven, like the rich young ruler was attempting to do, requires nothing less than perfection.
Read More grace, eternityDuring the time of Jesus, work was not plentiful. Men would pass the time of day in the marketplace hoping that someone would hire them. No work meant hungry families. In the parable of the vineyard labourers, Jesus used this commonplace situation to demonstrate the extraordinary generosity and compassion of God.
Read More graceWhen I am teaching my students I sometimes will ask them to predict what might happen next in a story. Young minds come up with some wonderfully imaginative scenarios. Predicting what might happen next keeps them attuned and attentive.
Read More humility, dissensionOn his way to Judea, Jesus crossed the Jordan seizing opportunities to heal and teach about the kingdom of God as he traveled. Large crowds followed him. Likely, people were heading for Jerusalem to observe the Passover.
Threatened by his popularity, some of the Pharisees wanted to test Jesus in hopes that they could trip him up and discredit him.
Read More commitment, divorce, PhariseesChildren rely on their parents or caregivers to feed them, to clothe them, to love and care for them. They trust freely. They expect that they will be nourished and nurtured. Children instinctively know how to get on with growing and discovering.
In today’s passage we sense the love Jesus had for the children who were being brought to him.
Read More trust, children, faithHave you ever packed a suitcase and then had that niggling feeling that you are forgetting something? Something’s missing but you can’t quite put your finger on it.
The rich young man who approached Jesus was lacking something. He didn’t know what it was either. He politely knelt before Jesus and asked what he needed to do to have eternal life. Jesus reminded him of the commandments.
Read More kingdom, wealth, Eternal lifeFear can put crazy thoughts in our heads. Panic and undue expectation can fill us with dread. Sometimes we can even get sick from anticipation.
When Jesus, his disciples and the other followers headed to Jerusalem, there was a feeling of foreboding in the air. Jesus sensed the anguish of the disciples and wanted to help them gather their thoughts so they could start to deal with what was about to take place.
Read More fear, humilityJericho symbolized victory to the people of Israel. But not everyone felt victorious. Blind Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, forced to earn his keep by begging on the street, heard that Jesus of Nazareth, was in town. A crowd followed Jesus as he made his way down the street. Bartimaeus tried to attract the attention of Jesus by calling out. Some tried to hush up the loud, obnoxious cries of the blind man.
Read More healing, miracle, followingMichael “Bull” Roberts, a 6’4” 400 lb former drug lord and enforcer met God on the floor of a seedy motel. He had fought against God for years but finally, after retaliation from his own gang and a brush with death, Michael knew his time had come. The excruciating, searing pain in both his body and soul forced him to cry out to God.
“Show me one inch of love, God,” Michael begged as he lay in his own tears and filth.
Read More pride, motivation, childlikeness