Jesus was the master teacher. Having invited his disciples to see what the rule of God looks like through the parables in chapter 13, Matthew brings this next section of the gospel to a climax with some pointed questions. Throughout this section (13:54–16:12) as we have seen, Jesus has been interpreted by the likes of Herod, the Canaanite woman and the crowds. He has been rejected by religious leaders and his fellow citizens in Nazareth.
Read More Messiah, teacher, PeterThe whole structure and flow of the Gospel change with this paragraph. “From that time on…” Matthew used the same expression in chapter 4:17 as the Gospel began to move from John the Baptist to Jesus. Now it moves to the culmination of the story that Matthew wants to tell. The immediate future does not look bright.
Peter is front and center and will stay there for the next several years.
Read More discipleship, self-interest, Kingdom of GodThere are a few experiences in life that are unforgettable and life transforming. As we journey through life and reflect back on our own story, we can all remember those special moments that marked our life.
Interestingly, the text we are reading today is that one experience that Peter marks out in his own experience and wrote about it in 2 Peter 1:16-18.
Read More listening, transformation @en, mountainMatthew has a fascinating way of putting events together so as to engage his readers in the story. The transforming experiences of three of the disciples on the mountain gives way to the inability of the nine others to practice what Jesus had instructed in chapter 10. But the mountain and all it means is in the background.
This interesting encounter with the demonic and physical illness of a young boy illustrates Jesus tender approach, especially of children.
Read More mustard seed, trust, faithThis is the second time in a short period of time, in the recounting of the story by Mark, that the reader meets Jesus feeding an incredible number of people. (I would encourage you to re-read 6:30-44. In fact it is well worth while to sit down with the two texts and mark out all the similarities.)
Read More compassionThis short story is full of meaning for the reader. Now at sea and heading to the confines of Palestine, the disciples are concerned that they only have one loaf for the thirteen people in the boat. The two incredible multiplications of chapter six and eight have gone right by them. Their actions and attitudes remind Jesus of how religious and political types react to him. For the third time in the Gospel Jesus directly challenges them (see 4:13 and 7:18).
Read More understanding, miracles @en, signsThis is about learning to see.
The disciples are blind according to Mark as he leads his readers to the “hinge” upon which his whole Gospel is constructed in the following paragraphs. Just as the healing of the deaf mute in chapter seven completed a cycle of stories that started with the feeding of 5000 people and 12 basketfuls of pieces that remained …
Read More healing, spiritual awakeningJesus was the master teacher and Mark does a masterful job drawing us into the story he recounts to his community. We are in the very centre of the Gospel. We arrive at the “hinge” to which Mark has been taking us. Interesting enough, the only ones who recognize him to this point in the story are the evil spirits. It is time to ask the critical questions of his followers. Like a good teacher, he begins with an open question, “Who do people say that I am?” Upon their response, he asks what any perceptive teacher would ask, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?”
Read More promises, gospelThe whole structure and flow of the Gospel change with this paragraph. “He then began to teach them…” The Gospel moved from John the Baptist to Jesus and all the encounters we have read since chapter three. Now we move to the culmination of the story that Mark wants to tell. The immediate future does not look bright.
Peter is front and center once again and will stay there for the next several years.
Read More discipleship, self-interestThere are a few experiences in life that are unforgettable and life transforming. As we journey through life and reflect back on our own story, we can all remember moments that marked our life.
Interestingly, the text we are reading today is that one experience that Peter marks out in his own experience and wrote about it in 2 Peter 1:16-18.
In Luke’s recounting the story, he places this event at a very critical moment.
Read More transformation, mountain