A Morning Cup of Tea: Questions of the Phariseees

Good morning! Today we are finishing chapter 5 of Luke.  As Jesus' fame became greater, more people came to him as he went into towns, many wishing to be healed. A man with leprosy sought him out in a certain city (v 12) and beseeched Jesus to heal him. Jesus did, and told him not to tell others what happened, only to go present himself to the priests.
 But Jesus' fame was already wide spread by this time. Even the Pharisees and the doctors of the law had taken notice. They were in the same place with Jesus when some men, seeking to bring a bedridden man stricken with a palsy came to Jesus by means of a hole in the roof of the house. There were so many people milling about there was no other way in! Jesus saw this and told the man, your sins are forgiven (v20). 
  The Pharisees immediately demanded to know how such blasphemy could be spoken! Just who does this person think he is, forgiving a man's sins! Only God can forgive sins  (outright paraphrasing here).
  Jesus knew their thoughts, and addressed them. Which is easier, he asked, to say your sins are forgiven or to rise and walk? But to show you that the Son of man has power to forgive sins, Arise, take your bed and go to your house, he spoke to the sick man. Immediately the man got up and took his bedding with him, praising God the whole way.
  Those who saw this were amazed, and glorified God.
 During this time Jesus saw another man, Levi the tax collector, and called him to follow Jesus, which he did. Levi invited Jesus and his followers to his house for a great feast, and there were many publicans (tax collectors) there. The scribes and the Pharisees could not believe that Jesus would dare be seen with these people. After all, they would not do such a thing. Publicans were sinners!
  Jesus told them, those who are not sick don't need a physician. I haven't come to call the righteous, sinners to repentence.  
  When asked why Jesus' followers did not fast and pray as John's followers did, Jesus replied, Can you make the children of the bridegroom  fast while the bridegroom is with them? But there will be a time when the bridegroom is away, and then they will fast. (Paraphrased). While Jesus was with them, there was no need to fast.

A Morning Cup of Tea: Jesus Quiets the Wind

Good Sunday morning to you! I am home today, due to my husband's work schedule. It will be a quiet day, just J and me.
 Today we are finishing up chapter 4 of Mark. Sometimes I just want to zip through some of the chapters because they are similar to what we just read in Matthew. But what would I learn if I did that? Reading something over and over helps the information to stick better in the mind, and you comprehend it more. My mother in law, who these days listens to the bible more than she reads, says she learns something new all the time. There are always new lessons to be learned in the scriptures if we look.
  Jesus said in v24: And he said unto them, Take heed with what ye hear:with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
 25. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
 I like the next parable where Jesus says the Kingdom of God is as if a man had cast seed into the ground. The man sleeps, and watches the field by day, and the seed grows. The man doesn't really know how. But the fruit comes up; first the blade,  then the ear, after that the full corn. When the fruit is ready, then the harvest comes. (Mark 4:26-28)
  Jesus told them more parables, and sent the multitude on their way. He wanted to go to the next place by ship.  Jesus, I imagine, was worn out from teaching and healing, so he was asleep deep in the ship. A storm came up and tossed the boat around, and the waves brought water into the boat. His disciples came and woke him.
 Master! They cried. There is a storm, don't you care that we are all going to die?
 39. And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still.  And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 
40. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41. And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
 I have a lot of "favorites" in the bible; lots of verses and stories for lack of a better word, reach out to me, touch me more than others. Jesus calming the wind and the sea always gets to me.  How often do we have storms in our own lives: loneliness, troubles that seem to come out of nowhere, fears that threaten to drown us like the sea did to the disciples and the others on the ship. And yet, if we let him, all Jesus has to do is say Peace, be still and things calm down again. All too often we (I) forget that Jesus is wanting to help. Is our faith an ongoing daily walk with Jesus, or do we have God in a bottle like a genie: we figure oh dear, I'm really stuck now, Lord please help me? He isn't a genie. He isn't Santa Claus. He is there to help us, but he also wants a daily relationship, to know your good times as well as your bad times. But when the bad times come, let Jesus say Peace, be still.  

A Morning Cup of Tea: The Sower

Today we are beginning chapter four of Mark. Jesus is sitting on a boat teaching the multitudes that are on the shore. Jesus taught them in parables, and the first one mentioned is the parable of the sower. The sower sowed his seed and some fell by the wayside, some fell onto stony ground, some fell into the thorns, and some fell onto fertile ground.
 That which fell by the wayside, the word does not stick in some people's hearts. The seed that gets sown on stony ground, the person receives the word with gladness, but when trouble arises, their faith goes away because it had no roots to hang on to. Likewise, with the seed that fell into the thorns. The joy is there at first, but it gets choked out by the cares of the world. Lies, deceit, riches of the world take precedence.  The seed that gets sown onto good ground is known by the fruit it produces. They are the ones trying to live better day by day, trying to bring others to Christ, by example and by word.
  Jesus reminded his disciples that a candle is not to be put under a bushel basket, or under a bed. 
  22. For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
23. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.