Growth of the Kingdom of God

Posted on May 18, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 31 of 49

When I was little, I swallowed a charm with a mustard seed in it. I remember it so I was old enough to know better. It was more of a pain for my mom than me.

When I studied the Word as a Christian, this memory came up as I learned about faith the size of a mustard seed. I think sometimes God uses our life experiences to secure some spiritual truths in our lives. Stories and our life experiences will often stick with us far longer than a lecture. 

In yesterday’s devotional, we looked at a treasure and a pearl. Jesus often used pairs to get his point across. Today, we will look at a grain of mustard seed and leaven.

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 

It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 

He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” 

Mt 13:31–33.

The mustard seed growing into a tree confused me. It doesn’t really grow into a tree, but it can get 5-6 feet tall, and is larger than all the other plants in a garden. 

I’ve always viewed these two parables as a picture of the growth in the Kingdom of God. But perhaps it is not just about the expanse of the Kingdom, but the small start.

The mustard seed was the tiniest seed known to man in the first century. It became the proverbial comparison for anything small. 

Jesus said that if we have faith the size of a grain of mustard seed, nothing would be impossible for us. 

We see small, and we think insignificant. Jesus saw small and knew great things can happen.

For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” 

 Mt 17:20.

And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 

 Lk 17:6.

Jesus brought up another small thing, leaven. Leaven or yeast can cause bread or cakes to multiply in size. Just a little bit goes a long way. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Ga 5:9).

Usually, Jesus used leaven in a negative sense. “Beware the leaven of the Scribes and Pharisees” (Mt 16:6). 

But he compared the Kingdom of Heaven to a grain of mustard seed and leaven. Both begin small. Both take time to develop and grow. Both expand exponentially compared to the small beginning.

There is a saying, “Don’t despise small beginnings.” 

Don’t we all look for the big finish? 

The people in Jesus’ day looked for the grand Messiah to overthrow Rome and establish a permanent throne in Jerusalem where all the nations would come and bow to the chosen one. Big ending. And one day that will come to pass, but not yet.

Jesus chose twelve disciples from the hill country. He walked around proclaiming the Kingdom had come, healing and delivering the people…one by one. Small beginning. 

The disciples received the Holy Spirit and began to spread the message of hope. First day brought 3000 to belief…but after that, the ministry spread with healing and deliverance…one by one. 

Lord, help me not to rush to achieve the big and the flashy. Help me to be faithful in the small things that you have placed before me. Let me find joy in the process as you develop and grow your plan in my life. 

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The Value of the Kingdom of God

Posted on May 17, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 30 of 49

It is said that if you want to know what a person values, look at their calendar and checkbook. How we spend our time and money do reveal what we find important…what we truly treasure.

Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

Lk 12:31–34.

Forrest Fenn created a treasure hunt, saying that he had buried a bronze chest filled with gold and gems somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. Many people tried to find it, my daughter included. There is something fun about a treasure hunt. We think that finding a treasure or winning the lottery will solve all our problems. 

He reported it has been found in case you were going to look for it.

Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God in parables. He explained some to his disciples, but mostly he painted word pictures. He made it clear that we are to seek the Kingdom, not the stuff of this world. 

I love the phrase in Luke 12:32, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” He is not sending us on a wild goose chase, he wants us to find it.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. 

Mt 13:44–46.

These two parables tell us the value of the Kingdom. 

Many people in the first century buried valuables on their land. Banks didn’t exist. If it stayed in the house, it could be stolen. If the person who buried it died and had not revealed where it was buried, a descendant could be unaware of his valuable asset.

Pearls and other gems served as currency in the first century. Dollar bills didn’t exist and coins were heavy to carry around. (I think the Templar’s developed the banking system that allowed a person to carry a note that could be exchanged for money.)

The first man stumbled on the treasure. The merchant searched for the pearl. It doesn’t matter how we come to know about the treasure, it’s what we do next.

Both men sold everything they had in order to buy it. 

How much do we value the Kingdom of God? Is it worth the time to study the Word and to pray each day? Can we take time to encourage someone who is struggling? Are we willing to give money, clothes or other items to the poor? 

Our core values determine how we speak and what we do. If we are focused on the temporal assets on earth, we miss out on the heavenly perspective. Every thing we have or don’t have will fade away. Our words and actions…those have eternal significance. 

Lord, thank you for reminding me that the things on earth have no lasting value. Help me to spend my time and money wisely, with my eyes on eternity.  

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Php 3:7–14.

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Kingdom of God

Posted on May 16, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 29 of 49

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 

29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 

30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 

31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 

33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 

34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. 

Mk 12:28–34.

Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God/Heaven wherever he went. He sent his disciples on trips two by two to declare the Kingdom of God. We generally think of this in the future tense, when Jesus Christ returns in all his glory. However, Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God in the present tense. 

But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 

 Lk 11:20.

The Kingdom of God is one of love of God and love of one another, righteousness, peace, and joy (Rom 14:17). Isaiah 9:7 tells us that the kingdom is upheld by justice and with righteousness, and that there will be no end of peace.

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 

21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” 

Lk 17:20–21.

I like to watch Star Trek. One episode had Geordi and Ro out of phase with the crew of the Enterprise. They walked on the ship, they saw and heard the crew, but they could not be seen or heard without a special instrument. 

I see us that way with the Kingdom of Heaven. We are out of phase with the spiritual realm. It is all around us, it affects us, but we cannot sense it with our physical senses. 

Daniel and Elisha spoke of this disconnection. Isaiah and Ezekiel explained visions of heavenly places. Even John on Patmos had an out of this world experience. 

Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 

13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 

Da 10:12–13.

Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

2 Ki 6:17.

Why is it important for us to have an awareness of God’s kingdom? Jesus declared it to the people in his day. Jesus taught his disciples to pray for his kingdom to come and for his will to be done. One day we will see it in all its glory, but today, we can behave as citizens of that city. We can declare it to the world by our words and actions. 

Over the next few days, we will look at the parables about the Kingdom.

Lord, open our eyes to see the truths about your kingdom. Guide us as we present to this world the eternal hope that we have because of who you are and what you have done.

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A Story of the Prodigal Son…or is it?

Posted on May 15, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 28 of 49

We often look at parables through 21st century eyes. And while we do get some understanding while doing it that way, there is a lot we miss when we take out the first century perspective. 

A good book to read is “Jesus, The Middle Eastern Storyteller” by Gary M. Burge.

Before this parable in Luke, the Pharisees and scribes grumbled about how Jesus hung around with sinners. Jesus then tells the story of the one sheep that was lost and the shepherd left the 99 to look for it, followed by the story of the lost coin of a set of ten, the woman cleaned until she found it. And then, this parable.

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 

 12  And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 

 13  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 

 14  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 

 15  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 

 16  And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.  17  “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 

 18  I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 

 19  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 

 20  And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 

 21  And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 

 22  But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 

 23  And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 

 24  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.  25  “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 

 26  And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 

 27  And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 

 28  But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 

 29  but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 

 30  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 

 31  And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 

 32  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”  

Luke 15:11–32

The younger son asks for his share of the inheritance. The older son received a double portion when the father died, because he would be responsible to keep the land in the family and take care of all who were there. 

We see the sons request as rude and entitled. However, in the first century, only a degenerate son would ask. it was a way of saying, “I wish you were dead”. It brought great shame on the father.

The father took the shame, and gave the son his portion which he promptly went off and squandered. He ended up very far from his roots, not only in physical distance, but in attitude. When things got very bad, he hired himself out and took care of pigs, an unclean animal in the Jewish dietary laws. 

And it says that when he came to himself, he decided to return home, not as a son, but as a servant. He knew the kind of man his father was, and that he would do that much for him, he could not expect more.

In the first century, this son would have been one of the worst offenders of the Law. His work with the pigs would make him totally unclean, practically unredeemable in the eyes of the Pharisees.

He headed home, and while he was still coming, his father ran to him. We say today, how much the father loved the son, he saw him afar off and ran to him. 

It goes deeper than that. When the father headed for the son, he brought shame on himself. Honor demanded that he wait for the son to come all the way to him. Also, he ran to the son, a man with honor always walked. Once again, the father took the shame on himself.

The father restored this son to a son’s status. He had no more inheritance, but was restored to being a son. Like the story of the sheep and the coin, we see God’s heart to restore those who are lost in sin to fellowship within his family.

But Jesus did not end there, he told of the older son.

The older son did not look for his brother to return, so he did not see him when he came. When he found out about the party for the younger son, he refused to enter. He brought disgrace on his father by the refusal. 

Again, not waiting for the older son to come to him, he went out to his son, he took the shame upon himself. 

The son complained about the father’s disservice to him…faithful service and no party with his friends. 

The Pharisees knew he was talking to them. For the Pharisee, it was difficult enough to keep the actual Law, let alone all the oral traditions that had been added to it.

Once at a relative’s bar mitzvah, one of the aunt’s said that when she came back in another life, she wanted to follow a different religion because the Jews had too many laws. 

The father assured him of his position as his son and recipient of the inheritance. 

And then a challenge to the son, your brother was dead, and has returned. Come and rejoice with me.

We don’t know whether the older brother entered the party or not.

Like the younger son, the older son shamed his father. The father came out to both of them, bringing shame upon himself. The Pharisees needed forgiveness just as much as the sinners in the land.

This story is about the lengths the father would go for his sons. He did not shy away from walking in shame in order to restore his sons to a good relationship with him. 

Jesus took on our shame at the cross. By doing so, he opened the door for us to have relationship with God. And he rejoices at our salvation. 

Lord, thank you for reaching out to me when I was lost in sin, unaware that I even needed you. Thank you for taking on my shame, help me to honor you in my words and actions. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 

 2  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Hebrews 12:1–2

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Isolation

Posted on May 14, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 27 of 49

Isolation

Leviticus 13 explains the rules for leprosy. Today, when we hear leprosy, we think of the skin eating disease. However, according to the descriptions given, measles, chicken pox, small pox, all diseases of the skin were a leprosy. 

The passage contains instructions on dealing with a leprosy. A person would go into isolation for seven days, then be inspected by the priest. If it had not improved, another seven days, then another inspection. 

While the person was unclean, they had to wear torn clothes, let their hair hang loose, cover their upper lip and cry out to all, “Unclean, unclean”. Whoever had the disease had to live outside the community alone. 

Once declared clean by the priests, they washed their clothes and were able to return to the community. 

We are still dealing with Covid. Two years ago, isolation and separation became the normal way of life. Many people died alone, or with a considerate nurse in attendance, the disease so contagious that it threatened all who came in contact with it. 

We all covered our upper lip and stayed six feet away from others. A cough was the same as saying “unclean” and brought a barrage of dirty looks. A diagnosis of Covid meant ten days of isolation. 

We discovered that people do not do well in isolation. Even though we have great technology that allow us to keep in touch, it does not replace the person to person contact that we need for survival.

I wanted to add to yesterday’s devotional. The nurses, doctors, EMTs, and police deserve many thanks for the times they entered into the fearful situations of Covid, sat by the side of the lonely and fought for the health of those who were sick, at times separating themselves from their own families to help other families. 

And with them, we can thank the teachers, grocery store and department store stockers and clerks, truck drivers, and restaurant employees, who weathered the risk mostly for minimum wage jobs, so that we could continue to have what we needed while in shutdown.

So lepers in the first century dealt with loneliness fueled by hostile separation from those who feared the disease. And all this was added on top of a debilitating disease, a miserable existence. Leprosy not only affects the skin, but  also affects all relationships, mental health, and one’s moral.

And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 

 3  And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 

 4  And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 

Matthew 8:2–4

The man said to Jesus, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean”. Jesus reached out his hand and touched him…touched him…and made him clean. 

And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 

 13  and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 

 14  When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 

 15  Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 

 16  and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 

 17  Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 

 18  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 

 19  And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” 

Luke 17:12–19

Ten lepers asked for mercy and received healing, only one came back in gratitude. 

As the disciples missionary journeys two by two, one of their commands was to heal the lepers (Matt 10:8). God desires restoration. 

As we look at the people around us, are we aware of those suffering effects from their experience with Covid? It could be a lost loved one, and the sorrow of not being able to say good bye. It could be a fear of infection that continues, and they remain in isolation. It could be a pulling back from any social contact, they got comfortable doing church in their pajamas. 

Isolation is not good for any of us. God does not want us to be alone.

Lord, give me the eyes to see those who are hurting in isolation. Give me courage to reach out, again and again, if necessary. 

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Price of Eternal Life

Posted on May 13, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 26 of 49

A rich young ruler approached Christ with a question about eternal life. He wanted to know what good deed would guarantee him entrance into the Kingdom of God. Mark actually adds the word one, “what one good deed can I do”. 

And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 

 17  And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 

 18  He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 

 19  Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

 20  The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 

 21  Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 

 22  When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.  23  And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 

 24  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 

Matthew 19:16–24

Some people think that our good deeds will be weighed against our bad deeds, and if the good deeds weigh more, we get into heaven. In reality, our good deeds on our own are just dirty rags. Our works will be measured against the holiness of God, the only way to heaven is accepting Jesus Christ to stand in our place. 

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 

 2  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 

1 John 2:1–2

I find it interesting that this man was seeking the one thing that could open the door of heaven. When Jesus told him to keep the Law, he asked which ones he had to keep. 

This may have been common thinking in the first century…and today. A person obviously cannot keep the entire law, therefore I should concentrate on the important ones.

He probably breathed a sigh of relief when Jesus stated the ones that could be measured…I don’t think he heard Jesus’ sermon on these particular commands. He said, “All these I’ve kept.” 

Jesus did not contradict him and expose his failures to keep the Law. In Luke, it says that Jesus had compassion on him. 

So then Jesus told him the one thing he had to do, give all that he owned to the poor. And added a second, follow Jesus.

The man left, deflated, his riches were more important than eternal life.

Is there something you are holding that keeps you from total commitment to Christ? Money? A habit? A person? I’m going to have to do some reflection on this.

Reading suggestion: “My Heart Christ’s Home” by Robert Boyd Munger.

And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 

 29  And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 

 30  who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” 

Luke 18:28–30

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Desperate Faith

Posted on May 12, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 25 of 49

Desperate Faith

Today, I’m going to look at the interactions of two people from the same narrative. The first, a ruler of the synagogue, in Jewish eyes, a man of honor, worthy of Jesus’ attention. His daughter in bed, dying.

The second, a woman, low in first century Jewish estimation, who also had an issue of blood for twelve years. For twelve long years, declared unclean, so she couldn’t visit the temple. Probably barren, if married at all. Isolated and alone. She spent all she had on doctors, and no one could help her. 

And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 

 22  Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 

 23  and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 

 24  And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 

 25  And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 

 26  and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 

 27  She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 

 28  For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 

 29  And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 

 30  And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 

 31  And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 

 32  And he looked around to see who had done it. 

 33  But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 

 34  And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”  35  While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 

 36  But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 

 37  And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 

 38  They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 

 39  And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 

 40  And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 

 41  Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 

 42  And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 

 43  And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. 

Mark 5:21–43

Since Jesus held celebrity status, everyone in the region knew when Jesus would appear in their village or town. They met him at every juncture.

There was an animated series of Bible stories done in the 1990’s. For this story they showed the crowds and the hands reaching out to touch Jesus as he walked by. Think of the Beatles at the height of their popularity and the lengths girls would go through just to touch one of them. 

Jesus gets off the boat, and is immediately surrounded by a crowd. The crowd gave way to Jairus, an important man in town, a ruler of the synagogue. Desperately, he humbles himself before Jesus and asks him to come to his home and touch his little girl so that she could be healed. 

We could compare him to the Centurion and say that he didn’t have the great faith to just ask Jesus to say the word, but Jesus did not condemn or comment, he went with Jairus. 

It says the people thronged around him, looking for another miracle. What would he do at the home of Jairus?

To the dismay of Jairus, Jesus stopped in the middle of his journey to discover who had touched him. I can see why the people around him were confused. Jesus had been being touched ever since he got off the boat. 

The woman had hoped to touch the Lord anonymously. As an unclean person, people avoided her, and a rabbi, even more so.  But, she saw her only hope in Jesus.

Malachi 4:2 says “But for those who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.” The word for wings, is also the word for the hem of a garment. Some considered this a messianic promise, that even the hem of his garment could heal.

She reached out to the Messiah in faith, and received her healing.

Meanwhile, Jairus received distressing news, his daughter had died while the Lord tarried dealing with an unclean woman. I love how Jesus intervened before this man could sink into the if only’s: if only Jesus had not stopped. If only this woman had not interfered…

He told the man to not fear, but believe. He continued to the house and healed his daughter, despite the disbelief of the people in attendance.

Each of these healings dealt with the touch of the Messiah. Jairus asked Jesus to come and touch his daughter, making a public appeal. Jesus healed her, but asked them not to tell anyone about it. 

The woman with a blood issue reached out to touch the hem of his garment anonymously, and Jesus called her out publicly, telling everyone she was healed.

Both were desperate, they had exhausted all other sources. Jesus responded with kindness and compassion to both, no condemnation at all.

Lord, sometimes my faith is small. Sometimes I have no faith at all. When I am desperate, you are there. When I am needy, you are there. When I think I’ve got it all together, you are there. Thank you for your compassionate, merciful presence in my life, whatever the circumstances.

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Great Faith

Posted on May 11, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 24 of 49

Great Faith

When Jesus spoke to his disciples, he often said, “Ye of little faith.” 

In Mark 4, as the storm raged and Jesus slept, the disciples feared for their lives. When Jesus woke, he asked, “Have you still no faith?”

At this point of the narrative, they have seen multiple miracles of healing. They have heard his teaching. They had even gone out on a journey where they themselves prayed for the healing and deliverance of many.

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 

 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 

 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 

 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 

 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 

 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” 

Mark 4:35–41

By this time, with all their experience, they should have known that when Jesus said “we’ll go to the other side”, they’d get there. 

However, they still held a superstitious view of the sea and its power. 

After Jesus calmed the sea, they feared him. If Jesus could stop the wind on the sea, then he was greater than even the gods of the sea. Perhaps this is the first time they realized he might be the Lord God.

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.  In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.  The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.  Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!  For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. 

Psalm 95:3–7

Let’s contrast with some of Jesus’ interaction with Gentiles. The Jews grew up with the teaching of the Torah in which they learned of the power of God. They learned of the many miracles performed by God. They learned that God always kept his word. But God didn’t always act in the way they wanted, sometimes it seemed he was absent.

Gentiles in the land of Judea, learned about God from the people around them. They had limited access to worshipping God. They might listen at the synagogue, but could not participate. They could only go into the court of the Gentiles at the Temple. 

God-fearers defined the Gentiles who desired to follow the Lord God. Despite their exclusion from the Temple worship, they still wanted to worship the Lord God of Israel.

One such God fearer, a Roman army commander, heard about Jesus. He approached Jesus in order to find healing for his servant. When Jesus said he would come, the centurion knew Jesus would be criticized for entering a Gentile’s home. 

When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 

“Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 

 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 

But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 

 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 

 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 

 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment. 

Matthew 8:5–13

So what statement did the centurion make that received the praise of Jesus. The centurion understood the extent of Jesus power in the kingdom as the One who came in the authority of God. He knew that Jesus did not have to be present in order to work a miracle. He knew the power of the Word of God over the earth.

A Gentile in his heart, recognized truths about God that the Jews knew, but doubted in their hearts. 

Lord, restore the awe and wonder of who you are. Let my heart’s desire be to always seek you, even when it feels like you are sleeping in the boat.

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Choices

Posted on May 10, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 23 of 49

Choices

In the latter part of the Sermon on the Mount we find pairs.

Treasure on earth vs treasure in heaven

Two masters, one loved the other hated

Narrow and wide gate

Good and bad fruit

A house on a rock and a house in the sand

We have a temporary citizenship here on earth, but our true home is in heaven. The two kingdoms are diametrically opposed. And we are called to live in this world by the rules of the Kingdom of God. We are to respond to hurt with forgiveness, not revenge. We are to yield our own desires in order to extend mercy and grace to another. We are to pray for and bless those that hate us. To be great, we need to become a lowly servant. 

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 

For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 

Mt 7:13–14.

Jesus described two gates. One has an easy path because we can follow our own desires. The gate is wide and spacious…again because it allows us to follow our own desires. It promises an easy life with all we could want, but it leads to ultimate destruction.

The other gate is narrow, because Jesus is the gate (John 10:7). The way is harder. Jesus died on the cross to give us access. The path requires self denial and picking up our cross to follow Jesus (Mt 16:24). But at the end is a glorious celebration with all of heaven joining in. 

Jesus began the sermon with a list of character qualities for the citizens of the Kingdom of God. Then he explained what that looks like in the world in which we live. 

Kingdom of God citizens live righteous lives, well…we jump over to the easy road sometimes, but we have a God who is ready and willing to forgive us and set us back on the narrow path. 

Kingdom of God citizens care for other people, even those we don’t like…again, sometimes we don’t love as we should, but God is ready to forgive, and he can open the door to restoration to the one we hurt. 

Kingdom of God citizens seek to know the Lord better. Time in the Word, communicating with God, fellowship with other believers, worshipping the Lord…all take time. That time well spent enables and encourages us to remain on the narrow path.

Jesus concludes his sermon with two houses. 

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 

And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 

And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” 

Mt 7:24–27.

Remember the song we sang in Sunday school as kids…”and the house on the sand went splat!”

Norm just returned from the canyon lands out west. One has to be careful about rain, because the narrow slot canyons can quickly become a raging torrent even with a smaller rain.

This is similar to a wadi, it is a narrow piece of land between hills. When it rains, the water gushes and the sand beneath it turns to mush. No one builds a house in a wadi.

Notice that the rain, floods and winds raged on both houses. We won’t avoid struggles, but we’ll be able to weather the storms.

Jesus concluded his sermon with a choice. We have the same choice today. Will we listen and obey the Word of God? Or will we let the Word tickle our ears, but set it aside to pursue our own ways?

Lord, thank you for opening the door that allows us to pursue your way. Help us to see quickly when we have jumped the fence to get to an easier path. Show us ways that we can encourage one another as we walk the road together. 

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The Golden Rule

Posted on May 9, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 22 of 49

The Golden Rule

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 

 Mt 7:12.

Jesus spent a lot of time teaching how we should relate to one another. He demonstrated mercy and grace towards most of the people he met. The gospels tell us, “He had compassion on the crowds, as sheep with no shepherd” (Mt 9:36).

He confronted the Jewish leaders who were supposed to be the shepherds, but instead they made it difficult for the people to follow the Lord. 

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 

 Mt 23:13.

In his first meetings with the Pharisees, he tried to get them to look at the Scripture and see where they fell short. But like the leaders before the exile, they refused to see their fault in leading the people. 

Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” 

 Mt 9:13.

And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 

 Mt 12:7.

The Law and the Prophets spoke of God’s desire that humans treat each other well. As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are ambassadors for that kingdom. As someone once said, “We may be the only Jesus people see”. 

For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, 

and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; 

and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; 

for righteousness, but behold, an outcry! 

Is 5:7.

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, 

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. 

Ho 6:6.

Jesus statement put a twist on a statement by the Rabbi Hillel from the first century BC. “Do not do to others what you yourself dislike.”

While the Rabbi’s statement gave a guideline for treating others well, it fell short. Not doing something bad to another can be passive, but actively doing something good for another will always take thought and effort. 

How do you want others to treat you? 

Do you want to be greeted every time you enter a room? 

Do you want to be given the benefit of the doubt when you’ve done wrong? 

Do you want others to speak well of you? 

When you are in a hurry, do you want someone to let you go ahead in line? 

When you are short of funds, do you want someone to lend to you? 

When you are ill, do you want someone to make you a meal? 

When you are lonely, do you want someone to call or write? 

Do you like to get cards in the mail? Do you like to get encouraging emails? 

Do you want to be invited out for lunch?

When confronted, do we want to be yelled at, or told with grace? 

Do we want to be judged and condemned? 

Do we want second…third…fourth…fifth chances? 

Lord, forgive me for desiring from others what I am unwilling to give. Open my eyes to the opportunities to do good to others. Give me the courage to step up and do first. 

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. 

Ga 6:9–10.

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