What Jesus Did! - Disciple

Jesus saw that all the people were around him. So Jesus told his followers to go to the other side of the lake.
- Matthew 8:18 (ERV)

THOUGHT:

Jesus had this intriguing habit of withdrawing from the crowds. At first glance, we want to correct him, and remind him, that he is trying to win the world for God. How is he going to do that by running away from folks who are seeking him?

Then we realize how ludicrous such a thought is, and we realize the audacity of even thinking we could give him advice. Hopefully, this insight will lead to conviction. Jesus wasn't trying to gain an audience; he was trying to prepare an army. He is not trying to gain a following; he wants to forge followers. He didn't need "hangers on"; he was looking for disciples. A disciple, a true follower, doesn't just go around listening to all the neat stuff the Teacher says.

No, a true disciple is going to become like the Teacher. In the process of becoming like the Teacher, the true follower will be confused, amazed, bewildered, astounded, tested, saved, broken, encouraged, exposed, protected... Jesus’ goal for his disciples was to make true followers. He wasn’t interested in a big church membership roll; he wanted committed followers! That is as radical today as it was then.

Yes, true followers will be church members, but they're also going to be a lot more. They're going to live to share Jesus' life with others and teach them how to live it.

PRAYER:

O majestic Lord, forgive me for wanting the easy way and the popular discipleship. Today I'm asking for your help to become a true follower of Jesus, displaying his character and living by his values. In Christ's name I pray. Amen.

Related Scriptures:

Jesus knew that the people wanted him to become king. The people planned to come get Jesus and make him their king. So Jesus left and went into the hills alone. After Jesus said these things, many of his followers left him.

They stopped following Jesus. Jesus asked the twelve apostles, "Do you want to leave too?" Simon Peter answered Jesus, "Lord, where would we go? You have the things that give life forever. We believe in you. We know that you are the Holy One from God." - John 6:15, 66-69


A student is not better than his teacher. But when the student has fully learned, then he will be like his teacher. - Luke 6:40


The people were amazed. They asked each other, "What is happening here? This man is teaching something new. And he teaches with authority (power)! He even gives commands to evil spirits, and the spirits obey him." So the news about Jesus spread quickly everywhere in the area of Galilee. Jesus and the followers left the synagogue.

They all went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was very sick. She was in bed and had fever. The people there told Jesus about her. So Jesus went to her bed. Jesus held her hand and helped her stand up. The fever left her, and she was healed.

Then she began serving them. That night, after the sun went down, the people brought many sick people to Jesus. They also brought people that had demons inside them. All the people in the town gathered at the door of that house. Jesus healed many people that had different kinds of sicknesses. Jesus also forced many demons to leave people. But Jesus would not allow the demons to speak, because the demons knew who he was.


The next morning, Jesus woke up very early. Jesus left the house while it was still dark. He went to a place to be alone and pray. Later, Simon and his friends went to look for Jesus. They found Jesus and said, "All the people are looking for you!" Jesus answered, "We should go to another place. We can go to other towns around here. Then I can tell people {God's message} in those places also. That is why I came." - Mark 1:27-38

The Wonderful Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown





O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless
Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

*from the album |The Noise We Make|*

What Jesus Did! - Victory

That evening people brought to Jesus many people that had demons inside them. Jesus spoke and the demons left the people.

Jesus healed all the people that were sick. Jesus did these things to make happen what Isaiah the prophet said: "He took away our diseases and carried away our sicknesses."
- Matthew 8:16-17

THOUGHT:

Matthew continues to show us Jesus' power over what destroys our lives. Interestingly, it is Jesus' touch and word that are so powerful in these stories. His touch seems to be more of a demonstration of God’s love, while his word is a demonstration of his authority and power.

Matthew reminds us, however, that Jesus' authority and power are not for his advantage, but for the blessing of those in need. He is God's promised Servant! His authority is demonstrated in his service to us. Thus, as we seek to be like Jesus, we need to be servants as He was.

PRAYER:

Mighty and majestic God, I am touched by Jesus’ humble use of his power to bless others. Please keep my heart humble and pure so that I may be used by you to bless others. Help me be more a “burden-lifter” and a “blessing-giver.” In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Related Scriptures:

God defeated the spiritual rulers and powers. With the cross God won the victory and defeated those rulers and powers. God showed the world that they were powerless. - Colossians 2:15

Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world's darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly places. - Ephesians 6:12

He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we've learned: that there's one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free.

Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth. 1 Timothy 2:4-7

What Jesus Did! - Tender Power

Jesus went to Peter's house. There Jesus saw that Peter's mother-in-law was in bed with a high fever. Jesus touched her hand and the fever left her. Then she stood up and began to serve Jesus.
- Matthew 8:14-15 (ERV)

THOUGHT:

This final episode in this series of miracle stories is told carefully and succinctly. Clearly Jesus has the power to heal and Matthew shows us who he gladly heals in these stories. He heals an outcast and helpless leper with a word, he heals a powerful Gentile's servant from long distance, and he heals the mother-in-law of Peter with a touch of his hand.

The whole range of humanity is represented -- a Jew, a gentile, two men, and a woman. Jesus’ power is displayed by word, faith, and touch. We get to see the desperation of a leper, the faith of a Centurion, the need of a friend, and the illness of a mother-in-law. Matthew also lets us know what we are to do when we are touched by Jesus’ healing touch; like Peter's mother-in-law, we serve the Lord!

PRAYER:

Thank you, dear Father, for sending Jesus your Son to be my Savior. Because of his earthly ministry, I am confident that you love me and long for me to be whole. You have saved me from so many things; please accept my service to you as my thanks for all you have done for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Related Scriptures:

Jesus called all the followers together. Jesus said, "You know that the rulers of the non-Jewish people love to show their power over the people. And their important leaders love to use all their authority over the people. But it should not be that way with you.

If one of you wants to become great, then he must serve you like a servant. If one of you wants to become first, then he must serve you like a slave. It is the same with the Son of Man. The Son of Man did not come for other people to serve him. The Son of Man came to serve other people. The Son of Man came to give his life to save many people." - Matthew 20:25-28

Jesus touched the man. Jesus said, "I want to heal you. Be healed!" And immediately the man was healed from his leprosy. - Matthew 8:3

Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, "You believe that I can make you see again, so this will happen." Then the men were able to see again. Jesus warned them very strongly. Jesus said, "Don't tell any person about this." - Matthew 9:29-30

Nu te teme!

Plangerile lui Ieremia 3:


1 Eu sunt omul care a văzut suferinţa supt nuiaua urgiei Lui.

2 El m'a dus, m'a mânat în întunerec, şi nu în lumină.

3 Numai împotriva mea îşi întinde şi îşi întoarce mâna, toată ziua.

4 Mi -a prăpădit carnea şi pielea, şi mi -a zdrobit oasele.

5 A făcut zid împrejurul meu, şi m'a înconjurat cu otravă şi durere.

6 Mă aşează în întunerec, ca pe cei morţi pentru totdeauna.

7 M'a înconjurat cu un zid, ca să nu ies; m'a pus în lanţuri grele.

8 Să tot strig şi să tot cer ajutor, căci El tot nu-mi primeşte rugăciunea.

9 Mi -a astupat calea cu pietre cioplite, şi mi -a strâmbat cărările.

10 Mă pândeşte ca un urs şi ca un leu într'un loc ascuns.

11 Mi -a abătut căile, şi apoi s'a aruncat pe mine, şi m'a pustiit.

12 Şi -a încordat arcul, şi m'a pus ţintă săgeţii Lui.

13 În rărunchi mi -a înfipt săgeţile din tolba Lui.

14 Am ajuns de râsul poporului meu, şi toată ziua sunt pus în cântece de batjocură de ei.

15 M'a săturat de amărăciune, m'a îmbătat cu pelin.

16 Mi -a sfărîmat dinţii cu pietre, m'a acoperit cu cenuşă.

17 Mi-ai luat pacea, şi nu mai cunosc fericirea.

18 Şi am zis: ,,S'a dus puterea mea de viaţă, şi nu mai am nici o nădejde în Domnul.``

19 ,,Gândeşte-Te la necazul şi suferinţa mea, la pelin şi la otravă!``

20 Când îşi aduce aminte sufletul meu de ele, este mâhnit în mine.

21 Iată ce mai gândesc în inima mea, şi iată ce mă face să mai trag nădejde:

22 Bunătăţile Domnului nu s'au sfârşit, îndurările Lui nu sunt la capăt,

23 ci se înnoiesc în fiecare dimineaţă. Şi credincioşia Ta este atît de mare!

24 ,,Domnul este partea mea de moştenire,`` zice sufletul meu; de aceea nădăjduiesc în El.

25 Domnul este bun cu cine nădăjduieşte în El, cu sufletul care -L caută.

26 Bine este să aştepţi în tăcere ajutorul Domnului.

27 Este bine pentru om să poarte un jug în tinereţa lui.

28

Să stea singur şi să tacă, pentrucă Domnul i l -a pus pe grumaz;

29 să-şi umple gura cu ţărână, şi să nu-şi peardă nădejdea;

30 să dea obrazul celui ce -l loveşte, şi să se sature de ocări.

31 Căci Domnul nu leapădă pentru totdeauna.

32 Ci, când mâhneşte pe cineva, Se îndură iarăş de el, după îndurarea Lui cea mare:

33 căci El nu necăjeşte cu plăcere, nici nu mâhneşte bucuros pe copiii oamenilor.

34 Când se calcă în picioarele toţi prinşii de război ai unei ţări,

35 când se calcă dreptatea omenească în faţa Celui Prea Înalt,

36 când este nedreptăţit un om în pricina lui, nu vede Domnul?

37 Cine a spus şi s'a întâmplat ceva fără porunca Domnului?

38 Nu iese din gura Celui Prea Înalt răul şi binele?

39 De ce să se plângă omul cât trăieşte? Ficare să se plângă mai bine de păcatele lui!

40 Să luăm seama la umbletele noastre, să le cercetăm, şi să ne întoarcem la Domnul.

41 Să ne înălţăm şi inimile cu mâinile spre Dumnezeu din cer, zicând:

42 ,,Am păcătuit, am fost îndărătnici, şi nu ne-ai iertat!``

43 În mânia Ta, Te-ai ascuns, şi ne-ai urmărit, ai ucis fără milă.

44 Te-ai învăluit într'un nor, ca să nu străbată la Tine rugăciunea noastră.

45 Ne-ai făcut de batjocură şi de ocară printre popoare.

46 Toţi vrăjmaşii noştri deschid gura împotriva noastră.

47 De groază şi de groapă am avut parte, de prăpăd şi pustiire.

48 Şivoaie de apă îmi curg din ochi din pricina prăpădului fiicei poporului meu.

49 Mi se topeşte ochiul în lacrimi, necurmat şi fără răgaz,

50 până ce Domnul va privi din cer şi va vedea.

51 Mă doare ochiul de plâns pentru toate fiicele cetăţii mele.

52 Cei ce mă urăsc fără temei, m'au gonit ca pe o pasăre.

53 Voiau să-mi nimicească viaţa într'o groapă, şi au aruncat cu pietre în mine.

54 Mi-au năvălit apele peste cap şi ziceam: ,,Sunt pierdut!``

55 Dar am chemat Numele Tău, Doamne, din fundul gropii.

56 Tu mi-ai auzit glasul: ,,Nu-Ţi astupa urechea la suspinurile şi strigătele mele.``

57 În ziua când Te-am chemat, Te-ai apropiat, şi ai zis: ,,Nu te teme!``

58 Doamne, Tu ai apărat pricina sufletului meu, mi-ai răscumpărat viaţa!

59 Doamne, ai văzut apăsarea mea: fă-mi dreptate.

60 Ai văzut toate răzbunările lor, toate uneltirile lor împotriva mea.

61 Doamne, le-ai auzit ocările, toate uneltirile împotriva mea,

62 cuvântările protivnicilor mei, şi planurile pe cari le urzeau în fiecare zi împotriva mea.

63 Uită-Te când stau ei jos sau cînd se scoală. Eu sunt cântecul lor de batjocură.

64 Răsplăteşte-le, Doamne, după faptele mâinilor lor!

65 Împietreşte-le inima, şi aruncă blestemul Tău împotriva lor!

66 Urmăreşte-i, în mânia Ta, şi şterge-i de sub ceruri, Doamne!``