Good morning! I hope you are having a good start to your day. I'm cuddled up in a quilt, surrounded by some of my cats and listening to my son in the other room. His joy touches me no end.
Before we continue with the verses that will end chapter 14 of Luke, I feel I must apologize and clarify a point I made in yesterday's Cup of Tea post concerning excuses for missing worship. I am sorry if I offended anyone with the way I worded it. I did not attend services yesterday. I was home with my son. My husband had to work a twelve hour shift yesterday and because his weekend morning shift lasts from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM and we have one car, that keeps me at home one Sunday a month. We live about 52 miles from my husband's work and (don't quote me on this, my husband is asleep and I haven't paid much attention to mileage when it comes to distance to the church building) are about 45 I'm guessing miles from the building -- in the opposite direction. At any rate, the mileage alone would prohibit me from taking my husband to work so that we could attend services and I don't feel comfortable asking someone from the church to drive out of their way to come get J and me. To some, including myself, those are excuses. But it's also fact. If we lived closer to the church, which we would love to do, we would be that much further from my husband's work. If we moved closer to my husband's work (which we are looking into) it would most likely take us away from a congregation we dearly love. There are some fine congregations in the area where my husband works, don't get me wrong. But I hesitate because not everyone "gets" my son. He is comfortable with the church members here and they love him as well. They talk to him directly, not through my husband or myself, and have since day one. Our church has been such a blessing to us. My husband has been looking into finding work closer to home so we can stay in the area and possibly move closer to the church, and I pray that he does. But I also have to realize that this is not in God's plan. In the meantime, I'm doing the best I can to do what is right.
I am sorry. I meant to apologize, clarify and move on but there is my life in a nutshell. If you're still with me, thank you. I'll take a deep breath and move on to today's lesson. Yesterday Jesus reminded the Pharisees that if the ox is in the ditch on the Sabbath you arent going to leave the poor animal until the next day. Same with us on the first day of the week. Sometimes there is an ox in the ditch and you have to take care of it. If you are a single mother and the child is sick, of course you're going to miss service. But if you are married and the child or the husband is sick, why miss both services? Surely one can stay home while the other cares for the sick child, then switch for the evening service.
Today Jesus reminds his followers , which includes us , to count the cost of what we are doing. In verses 26 and 27 of chapter 14, Jesus told us that if we do not hate our father or mother or other family members we cannot be his disciple. Or if we will not bear our cross and follow him, we cannot be his disciple. Does this mean we cannot love our family members? No. It means that we shouldn't love them so much that we cannot give them up. Missionaries leave their families (minus their wife and kids if they have them and it's possible for them to go as well) to go to sometimes dangerous places in the world to teach others about God. It is not an easy life. And sometimes, in becoming a Christian, we may be forced to choose between our Christian family and the family we grew up with. This is all part of counting the cost.
We each have to deal with the situations in our lives. Hopefully we don't deal with them alone. We should be able to talk to our brothers and sisters in Christ and they should pray with us. We should encourage one another, and help one another as best we can.
I've talked your ear off enough for one post. If you have any comments, good or bad, please feel free. I would enjoy hearing from you and maybe we can learn together. Until next time, have a wonderful day! :)
Showing posts with label chapter 14. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chapter 14. Show all posts
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday, October 30, 2011
A Morning Cup of Tea: The Capture, The Denial
Good morning! I'm cuddled up in a blanket this morning, mindful of the time. I don't want to be late this morning for services.
Jesus took his disciples with him to pray. Most he left at a certain spot, but he took Peter, James and John with him a little closer. He told these three to watch and pray,his soul was exceedingly sorrowful. Jesus went a little further away from the three to be alone when he prayed. He prayed that God the Father would take this cup from him, but also said thy will be done, not mine (v36). He knew what was coming up, what was to happen. As he was in the flesh, he would feel every bit of the pain and agony.
When he went back to the three, he found them sleeping. He woke them up and admonished them again to pray. And he went back and prayed again himself. A second time he came back and found his companions asleep. He woke them up again and admonished them to pray, and for a third time he prayed also. After the third time he woke them and told them that the people who were coming for him were near.
Almost as soon as he said this, Judas appeared with a group of people brandishing swords. One of the disciples grabbed a sword and cut off someone's ear, but the disciples did not stay to defend Jesus or to be counted as being with him. They all fled, even Peter, who had earlier vehemently insisted that he would never leave Jesus, nor would he deny him.
The mob took Jesus to the high priest, where a council had been waiting, trying to find witness enough to convict Jesus. Those who spoke against Jesus all told lies, and none could even agree with one another.
Jesus stood there, hearing all that the people were saying about him, and he said nothing. The high priest asked him, Don't you hear what they are saying? Don't you have anything to say about all this? Still Jesus said nothing. Finally the high priest asked him, Are you the Christ? The Son of the Blessed? (v61)
62. And Jesus said, I am; and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of prayer, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
The chief priest considered Jesus' words blasphemy, and they decided it was enough to put him to death. They began to spit in his face, and hit him with their hands, taunting him to "prophesy".
Out in the courtyard Peter was warming himself. A woman saw him, and pointed him out as one who had been with Jesus. Peter denied this accusation, saying I don't know the man and I dont even understand what you are saying. A rooster crowed in the distance. A second time someone pointed out Peter as having been associated with Jesus and once again he denied it. The third time a woman said he had ties with Jesus he began to swear and curse, loudly denying he knew Jesus. He heard the rooster crow once more, and he remembered what Jesus had told him earlier, and he wept. (Scripture and lesson is from Mark 14:27-72.)
Jesus took his disciples with him to pray. Most he left at a certain spot, but he took Peter, James and John with him a little closer. He told these three to watch and pray,his soul was exceedingly sorrowful. Jesus went a little further away from the three to be alone when he prayed. He prayed that God the Father would take this cup from him, but also said thy will be done, not mine (v36). He knew what was coming up, what was to happen. As he was in the flesh, he would feel every bit of the pain and agony.
When he went back to the three, he found them sleeping. He woke them up and admonished them again to pray. And he went back and prayed again himself. A second time he came back and found his companions asleep. He woke them up again and admonished them to pray, and for a third time he prayed also. After the third time he woke them and told them that the people who were coming for him were near.
Almost as soon as he said this, Judas appeared with a group of people brandishing swords. One of the disciples grabbed a sword and cut off someone's ear, but the disciples did not stay to defend Jesus or to be counted as being with him. They all fled, even Peter, who had earlier vehemently insisted that he would never leave Jesus, nor would he deny him.
The mob took Jesus to the high priest, where a council had been waiting, trying to find witness enough to convict Jesus. Those who spoke against Jesus all told lies, and none could even agree with one another.
Jesus stood there, hearing all that the people were saying about him, and he said nothing. The high priest asked him, Don't you hear what they are saying? Don't you have anything to say about all this? Still Jesus said nothing. Finally the high priest asked him, Are you the Christ? The Son of the Blessed? (v61)
62. And Jesus said, I am; and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of prayer, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
The chief priest considered Jesus' words blasphemy, and they decided it was enough to put him to death. They began to spit in his face, and hit him with their hands, taunting him to "prophesy".
Out in the courtyard Peter was warming himself. A woman saw him, and pointed him out as one who had been with Jesus. Peter denied this accusation, saying I don't know the man and I dont even understand what you are saying. A rooster crowed in the distance. A second time someone pointed out Peter as having been associated with Jesus and once again he denied it. The third time a woman said he had ties with Jesus he began to swear and curse, loudly denying he knew Jesus. He heard the rooster crow once more, and he remembered what Jesus had told him earlier, and he wept. (Scripture and lesson is from Mark 14:27-72.)
Saturday, October 29, 2011
A Morning Cup of Tea: The Passover
Good morning! It's a beautiful, if somewhat chilly day here. Feels perfectly like a time to snuggle in and burrow under comfy blankets and read.
The time is near. Judas has conspired with the chief priests. He will hand over Jesus to them, and for this he will receive money. It is now a very busy day. In the evening the Passover begins, and the disciples know they need to find a place to celebrate the feast. Jesus tells two of his disciples to go into the city and look for a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him. (mark 14:13)
14. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
15. And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.
They found the man, and made ready the room. That evening they gathered together. As they ate, Jesus announced that one of the twelve will betray him. All of the disciples were sorrowful, wanting to know which of them would do such a thing.
21. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
It seems harsh that Jesus would say such a thing. Jesus knew that one of the disciples would do this, and that it must be done in order for Jesus to become the sacrifice for us all. Judas wasn't forced to do it by any means, he did it on his own free will. Whether he knew that the chief priests planned to have him killed I don't know. We just know that he did it. Jesus didn't hate him for what Judas was about to do. But he knew that others would.
While they were eating, Jesus gave the disciples unleavened bread, and the fruit of the vine. These were symbols of Jesus' body and his blood, and thus began our memorial feast which we take on the first day of the week ( Acts 20:7) To find more about the Lord's Supper go here. After the supper they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
The time is near. Judas has conspired with the chief priests. He will hand over Jesus to them, and for this he will receive money. It is now a very busy day. In the evening the Passover begins, and the disciples know they need to find a place to celebrate the feast. Jesus tells two of his disciples to go into the city and look for a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him. (mark 14:13)
14. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
15. And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.
They found the man, and made ready the room. That evening they gathered together. As they ate, Jesus announced that one of the twelve will betray him. All of the disciples were sorrowful, wanting to know which of them would do such a thing.
21. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
It seems harsh that Jesus would say such a thing. Jesus knew that one of the disciples would do this, and that it must be done in order for Jesus to become the sacrifice for us all. Judas wasn't forced to do it by any means, he did it on his own free will. Whether he knew that the chief priests planned to have him killed I don't know. We just know that he did it. Jesus didn't hate him for what Judas was about to do. But he knew that others would.
While they were eating, Jesus gave the disciples unleavened bread, and the fruit of the vine. These were symbols of Jesus' body and his blood, and thus began our memorial feast which we take on the first day of the week ( Acts 20:7) To find more about the Lord's Supper go here. After the supper they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Friday, October 28, 2011
A Morning Cup of Tea: Anointing for Burial
It looks like today's study is an afternoon cup of tea rather than morning! I hope you'll forgive this being a little late today. I had an early doctor's appointment this morning.
We are closing in on the time of Passover. It is very sobering to read and remember the events to follow, but I think it is very important to do so. The people of the world was given a great gift.
Today we are focusing on Mark 14:1-9. During the few days before the Passover, Jesus and his disciples were staying in Bethany. On this day they were at the house of Simon the leper, sharing a meal. A woman came into the room where they were eating, carrying an alabaster box of spikenard. This is a very expensive oil, sometimes used in making perfume. It was used for preparing bodies for burial as well. The woman broke open the box and poured the oil over Jesus' head.
Some in the room were upset at her actions. They thought it would have been better to sell the oil and give the money to the poor rather than waste it as this woman did!
Jesus told them not to be angry at the woman, for she did the right thing.
7.For ye have the poor with you always, and whnsoever ye will ye may do them good; but me ye have not always.
Jesus explained that she was anointing him for burial. He was once again letting the disciples know that he was going to die.
We are closing in on the time of Passover. It is very sobering to read and remember the events to follow, but I think it is very important to do so. The people of the world was given a great gift.
Today we are focusing on Mark 14:1-9. During the few days before the Passover, Jesus and his disciples were staying in Bethany. On this day they were at the house of Simon the leper, sharing a meal. A woman came into the room where they were eating, carrying an alabaster box of spikenard. This is a very expensive oil, sometimes used in making perfume. It was used for preparing bodies for burial as well. The woman broke open the box and poured the oil over Jesus' head.
Some in the room were upset at her actions. They thought it would have been better to sell the oil and give the money to the poor rather than waste it as this woman did!
Jesus told them not to be angry at the woman, for she did the right thing.
7.For ye have the poor with you always, and whnsoever ye will ye may do them good; but me ye have not always.
Jesus explained that she was anointing him for burial. He was once again letting the disciples know that he was going to die.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
A Morning Cup of Tea : Losing Sight of Jesus.
Have you ever begun to do something, then let something distract you to the point you couldn't do what you had planned in the first place? Say you wanted to go to college, and you found the right classes to go to, you looked into financial aid, the whole bit. But then the baby gets sick, the car won't start, and hubby decides he doesn't like your turkey lasagna and hey, could you iron my uniform for me?
Okay, so that's an extreme example. But in today's reading, Matthew 14 : 24 -36, Peter lost sight of his goal. I'll be paraphrasing the story a bit, but please take the time to read it.
Jesus had already sent out the multitudes, and the disciples were on a boat, so that Jesus could go up on a mountain to be alone and pray. Sometime during the night, the wind picked up and sea started tossing the boat a little. About the fourth watch of the night (somewhere between 3 and 6 am) Jesus walked on water to meet the boat. The boat at this time is nowhere near the shore. His disciples see someone coming toward them, walking on water and their first reaction is fear. It's a spirit! But Jesus calls out to them. It's okay, he says. It's me, Jesus.
Peter says Lord, if it's you, call me to come to you. Jesus says come. Peter steps out of the boat and begins to walk on water. As long as he keeps his goal in mind --reaching Jesus, he does fine. But then he starts noticing the wind blowing real hard, and the waves crashing, and he lets fear creep in. Peter began to sink. Lord save me! he cried. Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him.
O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (verse 31b) Jesus said to him. Jesus and Peter got into the boat and immediately the wind and the waves calmed down. If the disciples had doubted before, they understood now that Jesus was the Son of God. (v33)
In our day to day lives things will always be there to distract us. Those things usually work themselves out with prayer and patience. In our spiritual lives, we do well when we keep our eyes on Jesus. We sometimes have to get out of the boat for things to happen, but if we trust, its going to be okay. If, however, we get distracted and worried like Peter, we're going to sink. But as with Peter, Jesus is there to pull us out of the water. When we commit our lives to serving Him, we learn daily to trust Him.
Now the boat has taken them to Geneseret. Like other places, once they knew Jesus could help, they brought to him all who needed healing.Some had such faith that all they had to do was touch his garment and be healed. And all that did were made perfectly whole. Do we have faith that Jesus can take care of us?
Okay, so that's an extreme example. But in today's reading, Matthew 14 : 24 -36, Peter lost sight of his goal. I'll be paraphrasing the story a bit, but please take the time to read it.
Jesus had already sent out the multitudes, and the disciples were on a boat, so that Jesus could go up on a mountain to be alone and pray. Sometime during the night, the wind picked up and sea started tossing the boat a little. About the fourth watch of the night (somewhere between 3 and 6 am) Jesus walked on water to meet the boat. The boat at this time is nowhere near the shore. His disciples see someone coming toward them, walking on water and their first reaction is fear. It's a spirit! But Jesus calls out to them. It's okay, he says. It's me, Jesus.
Peter says Lord, if it's you, call me to come to you. Jesus says come. Peter steps out of the boat and begins to walk on water. As long as he keeps his goal in mind --reaching Jesus, he does fine. But then he starts noticing the wind blowing real hard, and the waves crashing, and he lets fear creep in. Peter began to sink. Lord save me! he cried. Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him.
O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (verse 31b) Jesus said to him. Jesus and Peter got into the boat and immediately the wind and the waves calmed down. If the disciples had doubted before, they understood now that Jesus was the Son of God. (v33)
In our day to day lives things will always be there to distract us. Those things usually work themselves out with prayer and patience. In our spiritual lives, we do well when we keep our eyes on Jesus. We sometimes have to get out of the boat for things to happen, but if we trust, its going to be okay. If, however, we get distracted and worried like Peter, we're going to sink. But as with Peter, Jesus is there to pull us out of the water. When we commit our lives to serving Him, we learn daily to trust Him.
Now the boat has taken them to Geneseret. Like other places, once they knew Jesus could help, they brought to him all who needed healing.Some had such faith that all they had to do was touch his garment and be healed. And all that did were made perfectly whole. Do we have faith that Jesus can take care of us?
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
A Morning Cup of Tea : Death of John the Baptizer, Jesus Feeds the Multitude
Good morning! Today we begin chapter 14 of Matthew.
King Herod at this time (Herod the Tetrarch) had just begun to hear of Jesus. His thought was that Jesus was John the baptizer, come back from the dead to do miracles. Herod's conscious must have been bothering him a bit on that one.
John the baptizer had been imprisoned because he told Herod that he should not be with Herodius, who was his brother Philip's wife. Herod didn't want to kill him because he feared retribution from the people who knew and loved John.
On Herod's birthday, Herodius' daughter danced for the king and it pleased him so much he told her to ask and it would be hers. Mama had instructed her daughter well, and she asked for John the baptizer's head on a platter. Not wanting to break his oath and wanting to save face among those who had been at his dinner, Herod ordered him beheaded. (Matthew 14: 1-11 paraphrased)
John's disciples came and took the body to be buried, then went to tell Jesus. After hearing this, Jesus had wanted to be alone for a while, but of course he had his followers. But instead of sending them away, he had compassion and healed the sick among them (v 14). Toward evening his disciples came to him and said, Lord, send these people away so they can go buy some food.
Jesus replied in vers 16 They need not depart, give ye them to eat. The disciples replied we have 5 loaves and two fishes. Jesus took the bread and the fish and blessed it, and the multitudes were fed, with plenty left over!
20. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Can you imagine feeding so many people with so little? We have no idea how many there actually were because during this time women and children weren't counted. We know there were some there, just not how many.
For me, this teaches me to share, no matter how little I have, and that the Lord will take care of us. He made sure all those people had plenty to eat.
Once they had eaten, Jesus sent the multitude away and even told his disciples to go on ahead of him in a boat. He himself went up into a mountain to pray. Another lesson there: He wanted time alone, and could have immediately sent everyone away, but he put others first. He took care of their needs, but did not neglect his own. He took the time he needed. How often do we just keep going and going and taking care of others and neglecting ourselves until we're worn to a frazzle?
Some days, especially as moms, the few minutes we take in the morning with our bibles and our cup of tea may be all we get that day! But we do need that time to collect our thoughts and prepare for the day ahead. Enjoy your quiet time. If all goes well, we'll return tomorrow and finish up chapter 14.
King Herod at this time (Herod the Tetrarch) had just begun to hear of Jesus. His thought was that Jesus was John the baptizer, come back from the dead to do miracles. Herod's conscious must have been bothering him a bit on that one.
John the baptizer had been imprisoned because he told Herod that he should not be with Herodius, who was his brother Philip's wife. Herod didn't want to kill him because he feared retribution from the people who knew and loved John.
On Herod's birthday, Herodius' daughter danced for the king and it pleased him so much he told her to ask and it would be hers. Mama had instructed her daughter well, and she asked for John the baptizer's head on a platter. Not wanting to break his oath and wanting to save face among those who had been at his dinner, Herod ordered him beheaded. (Matthew 14: 1-11 paraphrased)
John's disciples came and took the body to be buried, then went to tell Jesus. After hearing this, Jesus had wanted to be alone for a while, but of course he had his followers. But instead of sending them away, he had compassion and healed the sick among them (v 14). Toward evening his disciples came to him and said, Lord, send these people away so they can go buy some food.
Jesus replied in vers 16 They need not depart, give ye them to eat. The disciples replied we have 5 loaves and two fishes. Jesus took the bread and the fish and blessed it, and the multitudes were fed, with plenty left over!
20. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Can you imagine feeding so many people with so little? We have no idea how many there actually were because during this time women and children weren't counted. We know there were some there, just not how many.
For me, this teaches me to share, no matter how little I have, and that the Lord will take care of us. He made sure all those people had plenty to eat.
Once they had eaten, Jesus sent the multitude away and even told his disciples to go on ahead of him in a boat. He himself went up into a mountain to pray. Another lesson there: He wanted time alone, and could have immediately sent everyone away, but he put others first. He took care of their needs, but did not neglect his own. He took the time he needed. How often do we just keep going and going and taking care of others and neglecting ourselves until we're worn to a frazzle?
Some days, especially as moms, the few minutes we take in the morning with our bibles and our cup of tea may be all we get that day! But we do need that time to collect our thoughts and prepare for the day ahead. Enjoy your quiet time. If all goes well, we'll return tomorrow and finish up chapter 14.
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