Saul’s Conversion
1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers.[a] So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.
10 Now there was a believer[b] in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord!” he replied.
11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”
13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers[c] in Jerusalem! 14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”
15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul stayed with the believers[d] in Damascus for a few days. 20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”
21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”
22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. 23 After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. 24 They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot. 25 So during the night, some of the other believers[e] lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.
26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! 27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
28 So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. 30 When the believers[f] heard about this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown.
31 The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
Peter Heals Aeneas and Raises Dorcas
32 Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda. 33 There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly. 35 Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.
36 There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas[g]). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. 37 About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. 38 But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!”
39 So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them. 40 But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive.
42 The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, a tanner of hides.
That's some good word. It's crazy how Jesus will go to such measures just to save one person. He brought his presence to a person who was "with every breath" trying to persecute Jesus. My Jesus is awesome, because that isn't an uncommon thing. I beleive that sort of thing happens daily, whether we realize it or not. I know that Jesus will intervein in our lives to help us out, whether we realize he is there or not. Now him physically throwing us to our backs and yelling at us dosn't happen to me as much as i would like it, because Lord knows i need. The cool thing about him yelling at Saul is that the people with Saul heard it to, but they didn't know what it was. So that means that Jesus was physically in heaven screaming at Saul to the point where other people can hear it. I cant even fathom how awesome that it. I mean just imagine hanging out with one of your friends in the middle of a convorsation and then he spazes out onto the ground and then a crazy powerful voice comes from the sky and surrounds y'all. I don't know about you, but i have to go change pants.
Then God went to one spacific person to go and help Saul. One person to go and heal him. Wow, first off imagine being Anaias. Having God tell you that you have to go help out this enourmous jerk, who has been persicuting your brothers and sisters "with every breath." Could you do it? If God came up to you and told you to go and love on Hitler, could you do it? I don't know if i could. But Anaias did it.
But think of that from the other side. How would it be to have a stranger come up to you pull the scales from your eyes, and lead you to baptism. The coolest thing about that is that it happend to me, and i bet it happend to you to. Is there any one in your life who just seems to be there when you need them most, whether it be a parent, sibling, boy/girl friend, or just some random homless person. All in all we are never alone.
Right after Saul regained his sight, he went into the temple to tell Jews about Jesus. If you talk to a mature beleiver they will tell you to have strong roots before you go into ministry. How ever Saul had been around christ followers for a very long time, before his life change. And you should never wait to witness, or tell people what has happend to you. But you don't want to get strait into world ministry either.
The people were amazed by Saul because he had strong arguements, and he was a very smart guy (a scholor). But better than that was his life change. People knew that Jesus had to be amazing for a guy like Saul to go to him. Thats awesome because that is just like me. I left my old party life style and went into Jesus' arms. So now my ministry to my old "party" friends is strong. And when ever someone is trying to leave that lifestyle i'm usually the first person they come to since i concord it. The way that Saul made the Bible a defendant of his faith, is awesome. But even better is how he made his life back his words up fully, just as we should do.
When you do that, there will always be someone who dosn't like it. For me, people always want me to go the parties, so they can try to trick me into drinking or smoking. That is funny to me because when i do go to those parties i bring some 2 liters of Mountain Dew, and im set. With most people in the Bible it leads to murder. We as Christians should expect this. Jesus told us when he was on earth that he was sending us out like "sheep among wolves." But he also said that he will go with us.
I don't blaim the other beleivers for thinking that Saul was lying. He spent a very long time trying to have them all persecuted, so i would be a little on edge around him to. Plus it is so hard to change a bad reputation. It has taken me almost a year. And Saul had a terrible rep. But Barnabas became the bridge between Saul and the apostles. New followers (especially those with less than perfect backgrounds) need people who will come a longside, encourage, teach, and introduce them to their new brothers and sisters. How can we be a Barnabas to new believers?
Now we can see what kind of a guy that Saul is. We see that he is bold, and he was radicall. You can tell this because he has now had 2 attemps on his life. But the beleivers found it wise to let him go back home and have some r&r. Which we all need some times, just some r&r. And now that the most zealous persecuter (Saul) is walking with Jesus, the church enjoyed a short time of peice. Well deserved if you ask me.
There was this parable that i wrote one time and it reminds me of this versus 32-35. The way it goes is that sheep will either follow the sheapord and get through the gates, or they wait for the dogs to come and scare them in. We can see that all the time through scripture. When ever Jesus would heal someone, they would turn to the Lord. When ever the aposles would heal someone they would turn to the Lord. Now when every someone is sick or hurting or worse, i've noticed that the first they normally do is pray. How is it that people can go to Jesus when they are hurting, without previously walking with him. I'll tell you why, i belive that every one has the natural urge to be with Christ. It took a paralzed man to change these people.
Peter went with some belivers to raise their loved one from the dead. Do you think that was an aquard trip. You know just walking with these people expected to raise someone from the dead. Seriously what would you do if you called this guy and asked him to raise like you doughter from the dead. Then you had to go and pick him up. What would you talk about in the car? Just wondering. But Peter gets there, and by the power of his "servant" Jesus ( Read Acts 3) he raised that person from the dead.
I've been in a weird funk emotionally. And i just thought that i would share with you, DON'T CONFUSE EMOTIONS WITH YOU WALK WITH CHRIST. I've been doing that and it's messed me up a lot. Also if you are spending time in the word daily, you are growing whether you know it or not. Just thought i would tell you
In Christ,
Stewart Ryall
Monday, June 8, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
UHHH i can explain
I havn't been blogging as you might have noticed. Well, my computer was broken for a while. And after it got fixed i just got lazy and i stoped. Which brings up what i want to talk about.
I can't tell you how many times people will get into the habit of reading the word, and talking with Jesus, but the second that their "daily routine" gets messed up, they drop of God's map. And once you fall off of Gods map it is soo hard to get back on. Why is That?
Well it is human nature to fall into habits, or into a routine. And those aren't bad by any means, but when they change we don't know what to do. For example i read my Bible everyday during SSR, then i normally blog on it. But it seems that every weekend I don't get into the word as often. And when my computer was messed up after i got it back i didn't blog untill now. We never think about it, but what we are doing is the same as what the religious leaders did when Jesus came. On the surface they looked clean, but underneath they couldn't have been farther from God. We are lacking that intament relationship with God. And i beleive that it is our fault, not his.
Their was a man, and he just got married to this beautiful woman. And every day they would lay next to each other , eat with each other, watch T.V with each other, do all the things that a good couple does. Then a couple days later the woman got a job, and she would go to work every day. When she would get home her husband would have dinner waiting on her, but she wouldn't be hungary. Then when she layed down in bed, he would have her favorite show on DVR for her, but she didn't feel like watching it. So she would just give him a peck on the cheek and go to sleep. The next morning her husband woke up with her and told her good bye, but she just went on and left the house. This continued for a few months, the the woman told her husband that she wanted a divorce because she said "you lost you passion." So she left him all by himself in an empty house.
Now that may not mean any thing to you, but this is exactly what we are doing to God. When we first found (married) God, we were all over him, we couldn't take our hands off. But then we got into some other routine, or maybe we thought that he was leaving us. Really he was their with dinner and DVR, but we wanted nothing to do with him. When we are off at "work" it gives the devil time to steel our hearts, or just have a little foothold. When we fall out of the word, we lose our passion. Then we decide to blame it on God.
This means alot to me because i know that every summer i start out on fire for God, but then a lose some momentum when i get out of my School routine. And when i start to slow down, the devil speeds up, and he tears me apart. And I start to think that i'm losing that intamassy with God. When really he is missing me. I begin to leave him, and the worst part is that it is unintentional. We don't just wake up one morning and say "I want to grow farther away from God." But somehow satan gets his nasty fingers inside of a milimeter whole in our heart where he will begin to dig, and eventually its a gaping whole.
So how can we prevent this from happening? Well first of all stay in God's lap. Keep on reading, keep on talking to him. The moment that you think "I should read my word," or "i'm boared."Pick up the Word and dive into some scripture. I have written to you who are God’s childrenbecause you know the Father. "God’s word lives in your hearts,and you have won your battle with the evil one."(1 John 2:14) That tells us that if we Keep in the word of God that we will never sin again. You can be completely blameless in the eyes of the Lord.
You also need to find a good group of Christians to fellowship with. As we see in Acts 2, the best way to stay with God, is to be around people who stay with God. If you have some friends that will keep you accountable, and that love you, i promise that you will continue to grow in the Lord.
Finally give all that you have to God. Don't try to hold back some things, he can handle all of it. (he made the earth he can handle your issues). Don't be scared to take that leap into his lap. Just grab onto him and don't ever let go. It wont be easy, but you know the saying "blessed are the ones who hold on." So don't let go, he's your only life line.
A few months after that woman left her husband she saw him walking down the street and she began to cry. She ran and jumped into his arms and told him that she was sorry for leaving. He just looked at her and smiled then said "I knew you would come back."
It's never to late to start back up with your Father.
In Christ,
Stewart Ryall
I can't tell you how many times people will get into the habit of reading the word, and talking with Jesus, but the second that their "daily routine" gets messed up, they drop of God's map. And once you fall off of Gods map it is soo hard to get back on. Why is That?
Well it is human nature to fall into habits, or into a routine. And those aren't bad by any means, but when they change we don't know what to do. For example i read my Bible everyday during SSR, then i normally blog on it. But it seems that every weekend I don't get into the word as often. And when my computer was messed up after i got it back i didn't blog untill now. We never think about it, but what we are doing is the same as what the religious leaders did when Jesus came. On the surface they looked clean, but underneath they couldn't have been farther from God. We are lacking that intament relationship with God. And i beleive that it is our fault, not his.
Their was a man, and he just got married to this beautiful woman. And every day they would lay next to each other , eat with each other, watch T.V with each other, do all the things that a good couple does. Then a couple days later the woman got a job, and she would go to work every day. When she would get home her husband would have dinner waiting on her, but she wouldn't be hungary. Then when she layed down in bed, he would have her favorite show on DVR for her, but she didn't feel like watching it. So she would just give him a peck on the cheek and go to sleep. The next morning her husband woke up with her and told her good bye, but she just went on and left the house. This continued for a few months, the the woman told her husband that she wanted a divorce because she said "you lost you passion." So she left him all by himself in an empty house.
Now that may not mean any thing to you, but this is exactly what we are doing to God. When we first found (married) God, we were all over him, we couldn't take our hands off. But then we got into some other routine, or maybe we thought that he was leaving us. Really he was their with dinner and DVR, but we wanted nothing to do with him. When we are off at "work" it gives the devil time to steel our hearts, or just have a little foothold. When we fall out of the word, we lose our passion. Then we decide to blame it on God.
This means alot to me because i know that every summer i start out on fire for God, but then a lose some momentum when i get out of my School routine. And when i start to slow down, the devil speeds up, and he tears me apart. And I start to think that i'm losing that intamassy with God. When really he is missing me. I begin to leave him, and the worst part is that it is unintentional. We don't just wake up one morning and say "I want to grow farther away from God." But somehow satan gets his nasty fingers inside of a milimeter whole in our heart where he will begin to dig, and eventually its a gaping whole.
So how can we prevent this from happening? Well first of all stay in God's lap. Keep on reading, keep on talking to him. The moment that you think "I should read my word," or "i'm boared."Pick up the Word and dive into some scripture. I have written to you who are God’s childrenbecause you know the Father. "God’s word lives in your hearts,and you have won your battle with the evil one."(1 John 2:14) That tells us that if we Keep in the word of God that we will never sin again. You can be completely blameless in the eyes of the Lord.
You also need to find a good group of Christians to fellowship with. As we see in Acts 2, the best way to stay with God, is to be around people who stay with God. If you have some friends that will keep you accountable, and that love you, i promise that you will continue to grow in the Lord.
Finally give all that you have to God. Don't try to hold back some things, he can handle all of it. (he made the earth he can handle your issues). Don't be scared to take that leap into his lap. Just grab onto him and don't ever let go. It wont be easy, but you know the saying "blessed are the ones who hold on." So don't let go, he's your only life line.
A few months after that woman left her husband she saw him walking down the street and she began to cry. She ran and jumped into his arms and told him that she was sorry for leaving. He just looked at her and smiled then said "I knew you would come back."
It's never to late to start back up with your Father.
In Christ,
Stewart Ryall
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
I LOVE GRACE
i saw this video at church tonight, and it made me cry. So i figured y'all should see how good grace is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GwdTg9l_bI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GwdTg9l_bI
luke 10
Jesus Sends Out the Seventytwo
1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
5"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
8"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' 10But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' 12I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
13"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.[b]
16"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
18He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
21At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
22"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
23Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'[c]; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[d]"
28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
At the Home of Martha and Mary 38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
I love Jesus. He is the most rad guy ever. He has really been helping me these last couple weeks.
So...Jesus sent out 72 messengers. He basically told them, "go." Thats all he had to do. He told them that they were sheep among wolves, and to go. I don't know if you know this, but wolves eat sheep. I'm just sayin that these people must have some strength to do what they're told, after they are told that they would be eaten.
Jesus told them to take nothing with them. They had to completely rely on God to take care of them. I read this book one time, and this man had a problem. So he went to his pastor and told him that he felt like he was being streched to thin, and that he was having so much trrouble just coping with life. So his pastor told him one thing, "Good." So the man started freaking out, he asked the pastor if he understood what he was saying, if he understood the seriousness of this. And the pastor said "Did you think it would be easy having to rely on God." ...That is so true. We have to understand that the only reason that we are even hear is by the grace of God. And the best way to realize that is by leaving everything behind. Am i telling you to leave your hose naked and go some where, No. What i'm saying is that you can't rely on earthly things to get you through life, all you have is trust in God.
He told us to have do good in towns that except you. He says that we should eat their, heal them, and tell them the good news. But for the towns that don't except you that we need to dip out. And don't just say "no i have to leave" you have to intentionally make a statement on why. That is not easy. I have a friend, who i love, and he has been my best friend for so long now. But lately i have been getting so angry at him, for just no having any respect for my life style. And i feel like it is about time for me to wipe me feet off and leave.
Then Jesus gives the biggest "ifso facto" Statement i've ever heard. He says that if they don't beleive you they wont beleive me, and if they don't beleive me they don't beleive God. Thats pretty basic, but it's pretty intense. That lets me know that i am a direct messenger for Christ. Plain and Simple. And if people don't accept what the word has to say, they don't accept anything, God has to offer.
When they messengers came back they were stoked. I would be too. They said that even the demons were listening to them. And Jesus is so happy that they are happy and he tells them not just to be joyfull about the demons obeying their name, but to be happy that their names are insured in heaven. That is So RAD. Jesus is telling us not just to be happy about people beleiving us about him, but that we have a spot in heaven. Praise God. That is amazing stuff.
Then Jesus reveals somthing to me, through one of his prayers. He says that the truth was revealed to the childlike, not the ones who think they are wise. That tells me that i need to slow down, cus i'm getting a little to big for my britches. He says that we need to have childlike faith. That means that we don't question it, and try to find the answers. Do you know why, WE CAN'T FIND THE ANSWERS. At church on sunday my pastor was talking about how so many Christians will try to tell people why they are going through hard times, and that makes God angry. Like when Job was going through all those hard times, his friends tried to tell him why, and they were wrong. When we try to find out why somthing is going on, we miss the whole point. We just need to be like kids, and beleive without question.
I love Jesus's parables. You can always get somuch from them. The one about the Good Samaritan is one that i have been familiar with for my whole life. I also love them because they tell me how i can live. Jesus always told us that we need to be servants. And this is another good example. When we see someone in need, we need to help them. And i've always wanted to be the guy who helps. So whenever i get the oppurtunity to help someone, i try to take it. Expecially when it comes to girls. If it were up to me, my girl friend and her mom would never have to lift a finger. I love carrying stuff for them, or just trying to do all the little things that can make their life easier, but thats just because i like to help and because i was brought up that way. But i love it when i do something whether it is big or little, that shows someone how good God is, because i know that my Jesus is smiling at me when i do. So i just hope that we can live in that. Everyone helping each other. Because i am a strong beleiver that this world can run on love.
In Christ,
Stewart Ryall
p.s. thank you all for praying. This past week, so many prayers have been answered for me. My friend who i talked about last blog, is back walking with Jesus. I still want y'all to pray that he stays that way.
On that note, i need y'all to pray for me. I don't know what it is, but i am feeling really weird lately. It's like none of the big things get to me, but all the little things are starting to drive in. So i feel like i am in some kind of spiritual slump. So thank you for your prayers. I love all of y'all.
1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
5"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
8"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' 10But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' 12I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
13"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.[b]
16"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
18He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
21At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
22"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
23Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'[c]; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[d]"
28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
At the Home of Martha and Mary 38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
I love Jesus. He is the most rad guy ever. He has really been helping me these last couple weeks.
So...Jesus sent out 72 messengers. He basically told them, "go." Thats all he had to do. He told them that they were sheep among wolves, and to go. I don't know if you know this, but wolves eat sheep. I'm just sayin that these people must have some strength to do what they're told, after they are told that they would be eaten.
Jesus told them to take nothing with them. They had to completely rely on God to take care of them. I read this book one time, and this man had a problem. So he went to his pastor and told him that he felt like he was being streched to thin, and that he was having so much trrouble just coping with life. So his pastor told him one thing, "Good." So the man started freaking out, he asked the pastor if he understood what he was saying, if he understood the seriousness of this. And the pastor said "Did you think it would be easy having to rely on God." ...That is so true. We have to understand that the only reason that we are even hear is by the grace of God. And the best way to realize that is by leaving everything behind. Am i telling you to leave your hose naked and go some where, No. What i'm saying is that you can't rely on earthly things to get you through life, all you have is trust in God.
He told us to have do good in towns that except you. He says that we should eat their, heal them, and tell them the good news. But for the towns that don't except you that we need to dip out. And don't just say "no i have to leave" you have to intentionally make a statement on why. That is not easy. I have a friend, who i love, and he has been my best friend for so long now. But lately i have been getting so angry at him, for just no having any respect for my life style. And i feel like it is about time for me to wipe me feet off and leave.
Then Jesus gives the biggest "ifso facto" Statement i've ever heard. He says that if they don't beleive you they wont beleive me, and if they don't beleive me they don't beleive God. Thats pretty basic, but it's pretty intense. That lets me know that i am a direct messenger for Christ. Plain and Simple. And if people don't accept what the word has to say, they don't accept anything, God has to offer.
When they messengers came back they were stoked. I would be too. They said that even the demons were listening to them. And Jesus is so happy that they are happy and he tells them not just to be joyfull about the demons obeying their name, but to be happy that their names are insured in heaven. That is So RAD. Jesus is telling us not just to be happy about people beleiving us about him, but that we have a spot in heaven. Praise God. That is amazing stuff.
Then Jesus reveals somthing to me, through one of his prayers. He says that the truth was revealed to the childlike, not the ones who think they are wise. That tells me that i need to slow down, cus i'm getting a little to big for my britches. He says that we need to have childlike faith. That means that we don't question it, and try to find the answers. Do you know why, WE CAN'T FIND THE ANSWERS. At church on sunday my pastor was talking about how so many Christians will try to tell people why they are going through hard times, and that makes God angry. Like when Job was going through all those hard times, his friends tried to tell him why, and they were wrong. When we try to find out why somthing is going on, we miss the whole point. We just need to be like kids, and beleive without question.
I love Jesus's parables. You can always get somuch from them. The one about the Good Samaritan is one that i have been familiar with for my whole life. I also love them because they tell me how i can live. Jesus always told us that we need to be servants. And this is another good example. When we see someone in need, we need to help them. And i've always wanted to be the guy who helps. So whenever i get the oppurtunity to help someone, i try to take it. Expecially when it comes to girls. If it were up to me, my girl friend and her mom would never have to lift a finger. I love carrying stuff for them, or just trying to do all the little things that can make their life easier, but thats just because i like to help and because i was brought up that way. But i love it when i do something whether it is big or little, that shows someone how good God is, because i know that my Jesus is smiling at me when i do. So i just hope that we can live in that. Everyone helping each other. Because i am a strong beleiver that this world can run on love.
In Christ,
Stewart Ryall
p.s. thank you all for praying. This past week, so many prayers have been answered for me. My friend who i talked about last blog, is back walking with Jesus. I still want y'all to pray that he stays that way.
On that note, i need y'all to pray for me. I don't know what it is, but i am feeling really weird lately. It's like none of the big things get to me, but all the little things are starting to drive in. So i feel like i am in some kind of spiritual slump. So thank you for your prayers. I love all of y'all.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Luke 8
Women Who Followed Jesus 1 Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed 4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets[a] of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’[b]
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
Parable of the Lamp 16 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. 17 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.
18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
The True Family of Jesus 19 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to see you.”
21 Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.”
Jesus Calms the Storm 22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. 23 As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.
24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”
The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man 26 So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes,[c] across the lake from Galilee. 27 As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town.
28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had already commanded the evil[d] spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power.
30 Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. 31 The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.[e]
32 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs.
So Jesus gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.
34 When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. 35 People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 36 Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them.
So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. 38 The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, 39 “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.
Jesus Heals in Response to Faith 40 On the other side of the lake the crowds welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come home with him. 42 His only daughter,[f] who was about twelve years old, was dying.
As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. 43 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding,[g] and she could find no cure. 44 Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.
45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” 47 When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. 48 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
49 While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”
50 But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”
51 When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother. 52 The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”
53 But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. 54 Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!” 55 And at that moment her life[h] returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.
That was good. Jesus did alot in this passage, and i didn't realize it untill the second time reading it. Like in the first part when the women followed Jesus. This is just another instance when Jesus decides to forget about the barriers of society. First off it tells us the He casted out 7 deamons from Mary Magdalene. That means that she was possed, and now she is hangin out with the son of God. That tells me there that no matter how nasty i am, no matter how many things i have done, Jesus loves me and he isn't ashamed of it.
I like the parable about the farmer scattering seeds. I've read it tons of times but i just started looking at it in the right way. I used to think that God put the seeds on the path, or on the rocks, or in the torns. But i just realized he just spreads the seeds, it's up to us where they land. The way i see it is that God wants all of us to land in fertile soil, if he didn't why would he give us his awesome word?? Beats me.
I just want to take a minute and think about where we land somtimes. I think that I would land in the thorns. It seems that after i read some awesome stuff, i will forget about it soom after, or i will worry about what people think about me. It's not 'till reasantly that i started being really bold with my faith. I've read the Bible, and have been going to church all my life.But i never changed. I would think that it was awesome when i heard it (I only read the Bible when i was in trouble, cuz my mom would make me copy it down.) but after words i would just go on living like hell. It's not because i would hear lies from the devil, but because i cared about what my friends thought. I see now that i just had no back bone. I couldn't Man Up, because i was a pansy. I thought i was the man when really i was a punk follower. You want to be strong, be different.
I like the parable about the Lamp, because it means alot to me. When ever i give a message as a guest speaker, 9 times out of 10 it will be about reflecting Jesus. I normally use this parable, because it calls us to be light to the world and not to hide or try to be covered. But it turns out the parable means so much more. My youth pastor, Bary Russle, Did a series about being in the dark. And just a cool thing that i picked up is that the definition of Dark is the absence of light. If you have a pich black room, and you shine a laser pointer in the room, it's called penatration. Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, it just can't. So to me this parable can be so hopeful. We can't be stuck in the dark, JESUS LIVES. No matter how down "in the bacement" you are, your never in the dark. When you allow the light in your life, nothing can hide. When you turn on the lights in a dark room, i promise you bugs hide. That can't happen inside of you. When you accept the light of Jesus in you life, sin can't escape. It blows my mind how much my Jesus loves me, and it's crazy cool how much he loves you to!
Jesus calms the storm. Thats rad already. I just picture Jesus laying on a hamach (spelled wrong) with his dreadlock, just passed out asleep during this storm. And i can see his disciple running around with buckets trying to get the water out of the boat and screaming at Jesus to wake up. And Jesus just pokes one eye open tells them whats up, calms the storm and goes back to sleep.
My Jesus is so rad. I seriously see that every time i think of that. Just how humble he is and how powerful he is, it's amazing. I can't fathom it. And i love it when the desciples are like "who is this dude." I don't know, i just wish i could have been there, cus i would have peed myself, it just sounds funny to me.
Jesus heals a demon possesed man. Thats cool. Jesus once again touches the untouchable. He once again shows his love to someone hated/feared by everyone else. And what else can someone do after Jesus fixes them except for worship him.
Another thing that is cool to me is how scared the demons are. They are freaking out. So Jesus does what any one else would do, he sent them into the pigs and they drowned --love deviled ham :)--! The people who witnessed this were scared, i would have been to cuz if i saw some guy tell demons to go into pigs, and then all the pigs die, i would freak out.
But one thing really sticks out and it is this "37And all the people in the region of Gerasense begged Jesus to go away and leave them slone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jeus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake."
That confuses me. I have this friend who lost God, he's just convinced that Jesus dosn't love him. And it kills me, so me and one of my friend's, Jeremy, love on him all we can. Last night he cussed Jeremy out. So i'm wondering if since left these people alone when they told him to leave, it Jeremy and i should leave our friend alone. I really don't know, so i'm going to ask that 'yall pray for jeremy and i, as well as our friend.
In the next section Jesus does another cool thing, crazy right it's almost like Jesus love to do awesome thing:). He goes to heal this girl, and on his way he walks through a big crowed, and a women who had been bleading touched him and she was healed. Jesus's reaction is priceless, "who touched me." Thats a funny question cus your walking through an enoumess crowd. plus you the son of God and you already know, come on Jesus what are trying to teach us hear. I think what your trying to tell us is to be intentional when we want you. And i think that when Jesus said that he felt healing powers leave him, he didn't really mean it the way some of us might take it. What i think is that He wants the women to know the he is looking for her, and that he knows what she did. I don't think that it is Jesus's robe that saved the women, i think that it was her faith. (After reading the Bible, i came to a conclusion that Jesus's was a big dude, because everyone is scared of him. Just sayin)
Also Jesus was a funny guy. You have to be funny to go to a funeral and say that the girl isn't dead. Eather funny or crazy awesome, or both. And i love that he brings her back to life and then he said, get her somthing to eat. Yeah, if i was dead and i came back to life i would be pretty hungary.
There is somthing on my heart tonight. Like a said earlier, my friend has lost God. I was him tonight, and it broke my heart. I saw him from behind and i was so stoked to see him. But then he turned around and i could see no life is his eyes. His eyes are dead. everytime i saw him i was on the verge of tears. He had cuts down his rist and that was just twisting the knife, because this kid used to have such faith, and now it's gone. Jeremy and i wanted him to stay for the service, but he left.
But it just scares, because i now see what happens when you let the devil get a foothold on you. The devil is such a pansy. He finds your weekness and he attacks it, then while your down he will beat you. This kid now thinks that Jesus dosn't love him, he looks completely dead on the inside. So I just want everyone reading to pray for him, and for everyone to shine God onto him. I don't know what i can do except for love on him. Please just pray for him.
In Christ,
Stewart Ryall
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed 4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets[a] of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’[b]
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
Parable of the Lamp 16 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. 17 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.
18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
The True Family of Jesus 19 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to see you.”
21 Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.”
Jesus Calms the Storm 22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. 23 As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.
24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”
The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man 26 So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes,[c] across the lake from Galilee. 27 As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town.
28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had already commanded the evil[d] spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power.
30 Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. 31 The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.[e]
32 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs.
So Jesus gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.
34 When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. 35 People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 36 Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them.
So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. 38 The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, 39 “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.
Jesus Heals in Response to Faith 40 On the other side of the lake the crowds welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come home with him. 42 His only daughter,[f] who was about twelve years old, was dying.
As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. 43 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding,[g] and she could find no cure. 44 Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.
45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” 47 When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. 48 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
49 While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”
50 But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”
51 When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother. 52 The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”
53 But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. 54 Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!” 55 And at that moment her life[h] returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.
That was good. Jesus did alot in this passage, and i didn't realize it untill the second time reading it. Like in the first part when the women followed Jesus. This is just another instance when Jesus decides to forget about the barriers of society. First off it tells us the He casted out 7 deamons from Mary Magdalene. That means that she was possed, and now she is hangin out with the son of God. That tells me there that no matter how nasty i am, no matter how many things i have done, Jesus loves me and he isn't ashamed of it.
I like the parable about the farmer scattering seeds. I've read it tons of times but i just started looking at it in the right way. I used to think that God put the seeds on the path, or on the rocks, or in the torns. But i just realized he just spreads the seeds, it's up to us where they land. The way i see it is that God wants all of us to land in fertile soil, if he didn't why would he give us his awesome word?? Beats me.
I just want to take a minute and think about where we land somtimes. I think that I would land in the thorns. It seems that after i read some awesome stuff, i will forget about it soom after, or i will worry about what people think about me. It's not 'till reasantly that i started being really bold with my faith. I've read the Bible, and have been going to church all my life.But i never changed. I would think that it was awesome when i heard it (I only read the Bible when i was in trouble, cuz my mom would make me copy it down.) but after words i would just go on living like hell. It's not because i would hear lies from the devil, but because i cared about what my friends thought. I see now that i just had no back bone. I couldn't Man Up, because i was a pansy. I thought i was the man when really i was a punk follower. You want to be strong, be different.
I like the parable about the Lamp, because it means alot to me. When ever i give a message as a guest speaker, 9 times out of 10 it will be about reflecting Jesus. I normally use this parable, because it calls us to be light to the world and not to hide or try to be covered. But it turns out the parable means so much more. My youth pastor, Bary Russle, Did a series about being in the dark. And just a cool thing that i picked up is that the definition of Dark is the absence of light. If you have a pich black room, and you shine a laser pointer in the room, it's called penatration. Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, it just can't. So to me this parable can be so hopeful. We can't be stuck in the dark, JESUS LIVES. No matter how down "in the bacement" you are, your never in the dark. When you allow the light in your life, nothing can hide. When you turn on the lights in a dark room, i promise you bugs hide. That can't happen inside of you. When you accept the light of Jesus in you life, sin can't escape. It blows my mind how much my Jesus loves me, and it's crazy cool how much he loves you to!
Jesus calms the storm. Thats rad already. I just picture Jesus laying on a hamach (spelled wrong) with his dreadlock, just passed out asleep during this storm. And i can see his disciple running around with buckets trying to get the water out of the boat and screaming at Jesus to wake up. And Jesus just pokes one eye open tells them whats up, calms the storm and goes back to sleep.
My Jesus is so rad. I seriously see that every time i think of that. Just how humble he is and how powerful he is, it's amazing. I can't fathom it. And i love it when the desciples are like "who is this dude." I don't know, i just wish i could have been there, cus i would have peed myself, it just sounds funny to me.
Jesus heals a demon possesed man. Thats cool. Jesus once again touches the untouchable. He once again shows his love to someone hated/feared by everyone else. And what else can someone do after Jesus fixes them except for worship him.
Another thing that is cool to me is how scared the demons are. They are freaking out. So Jesus does what any one else would do, he sent them into the pigs and they drowned --love deviled ham :)--! The people who witnessed this were scared, i would have been to cuz if i saw some guy tell demons to go into pigs, and then all the pigs die, i would freak out.
But one thing really sticks out and it is this "37And all the people in the region of Gerasense begged Jesus to go away and leave them slone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jeus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake."
That confuses me. I have this friend who lost God, he's just convinced that Jesus dosn't love him. And it kills me, so me and one of my friend's, Jeremy, love on him all we can. Last night he cussed Jeremy out. So i'm wondering if since left these people alone when they told him to leave, it Jeremy and i should leave our friend alone. I really don't know, so i'm going to ask that 'yall pray for jeremy and i, as well as our friend.
In the next section Jesus does another cool thing, crazy right it's almost like Jesus love to do awesome thing:). He goes to heal this girl, and on his way he walks through a big crowed, and a women who had been bleading touched him and she was healed. Jesus's reaction is priceless, "who touched me." Thats a funny question cus your walking through an enoumess crowd. plus you the son of God and you already know, come on Jesus what are trying to teach us hear. I think what your trying to tell us is to be intentional when we want you. And i think that when Jesus said that he felt healing powers leave him, he didn't really mean it the way some of us might take it. What i think is that He wants the women to know the he is looking for her, and that he knows what she did. I don't think that it is Jesus's robe that saved the women, i think that it was her faith. (After reading the Bible, i came to a conclusion that Jesus's was a big dude, because everyone is scared of him. Just sayin)
Also Jesus was a funny guy. You have to be funny to go to a funeral and say that the girl isn't dead. Eather funny or crazy awesome, or both. And i love that he brings her back to life and then he said, get her somthing to eat. Yeah, if i was dead and i came back to life i would be pretty hungary.
There is somthing on my heart tonight. Like a said earlier, my friend has lost God. I was him tonight, and it broke my heart. I saw him from behind and i was so stoked to see him. But then he turned around and i could see no life is his eyes. His eyes are dead. everytime i saw him i was on the verge of tears. He had cuts down his rist and that was just twisting the knife, because this kid used to have such faith, and now it's gone. Jeremy and i wanted him to stay for the service, but he left.
But it just scares, because i now see what happens when you let the devil get a foothold on you. The devil is such a pansy. He finds your weekness and he attacks it, then while your down he will beat you. This kid now thinks that Jesus dosn't love him, he looks completely dead on the inside. So I just want everyone reading to pray for him, and for everyone to shine God onto him. I don't know what i can do except for love on him. Please just pray for him.
In Christ,
Stewart Ryall
Monday, April 20, 2009
Acts 2
I know that i've been doing Luke, but I'm doing a lesson on Acts 2 at my club tomarrow. I just figured that i could let yall know what i'm talking about
Pentecost 1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11(both Jews and converts to Judaism Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
13Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine.[b]"
Peter Addresses the Crowd 14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17" 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'[c]
22"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[d] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him: " 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, 27because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 28You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'[e]
29"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,[f] that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand 35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '[g]
36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
The Fellowship of the Believers 42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Thats some good word. In the beginig, it talks about how the aposles were just sitting around, just chillin and all of a suddon fire comes down onto them and they start speaking languages they don't under stand. No big deal that happens all the time, jk. I know a couple people who go to Churches that speak in tounges and stuff, and they talk about how they've seen people being filled with the holy spirit, and doing stuff like that. I personally havn't but i think that i would freak out if i did, and probally call an ambleance. It just blows my mind how powerful the holy spirit is. It made the people talk in languages they didn't understand, but the people they were near understood.
I kind of laughed when the person said that they were drunk when they were talking in tounges. Mainly because that stuff happends to me all the time. I was at a dance and i started bootydacing with these girls. I just thought it was the funniest thing ever, and they thought i was wasted. So i straightend out and tried to act sober. I don't know if you have ever been sober and had to try to act sober, but it was really hard. The crazy thing is, is that i had to take a breathalizer test in order to get into the dance, and i had only been at the dance for about 5 minutes when these girls started accusing me of being drunk. That same the happend to them. Peter is just like "theres no way there drunk this early, its only like 9 o'clock." So i just think that it's cool that im not the only sober guy getting called drunk.:)
Not only did Peter defend them by using the time and saying it's too early for them to be drunk, he uses scripture. No better way to make people beleive than by using the Bible, take my word for it. He tells them about what Joel said about the Holy Spirit. And to me what that mainly meant is that the power of God is not lemmated to one or two people, and that it lives in us.
Then he tells us the AWESOME truth about Jesus. And how God is so rad!!
I love the quote from king David. I also love how Peter tells me what it means so that i don't have to search all over the place for it. There isn't much i can say about that, because Peter does an excellent job of doing that.
This is just the part that got me most stoked. 3000 PEOPLE WERE SAVED. 3000 saved, baptized, and added to the Church, IN ONE DAY. AMEN that is the most excing thing in the world to me. I belive with all my heart, that this number and all the things that happend are limited to this one passage. I beileve that we as a group of Christ followers can make this happen, and i am so stoked to see it happen in my generation.
I love fellowship. I think that it is the best thing ever. Nothing is better than a bunch of people geting together praising, and growing in God. There is nothing better. This passage is a grewat example of how we have got to stay together. As a whole. We need to stay together as one, all helping eachother to grow. Nothing is better than that. seriously, it's Rad.
In Christ,
Stewart Ryall
P.S. This post was pretty bad, but the scripture is awesome. If my post messed you up, just forget what i said. I'm just really tired and it is really hard for me to stay consentrated right now. So if you hated the post, then im really sorry. But if you liked it and you learned, that thats awesome. I love all of you.!
Pentecost 1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11(both Jews and converts to Judaism Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
13Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine.[b]"
Peter Addresses the Crowd 14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17" 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'[c]
22"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[d] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him: " 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, 27because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 28You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'[e]
29"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,[f] that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand 35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '[g]
36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
The Fellowship of the Believers 42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Thats some good word. In the beginig, it talks about how the aposles were just sitting around, just chillin and all of a suddon fire comes down onto them and they start speaking languages they don't under stand. No big deal that happens all the time, jk. I know a couple people who go to Churches that speak in tounges and stuff, and they talk about how they've seen people being filled with the holy spirit, and doing stuff like that. I personally havn't but i think that i would freak out if i did, and probally call an ambleance. It just blows my mind how powerful the holy spirit is. It made the people talk in languages they didn't understand, but the people they were near understood.
I kind of laughed when the person said that they were drunk when they were talking in tounges. Mainly because that stuff happends to me all the time. I was at a dance and i started bootydacing with these girls. I just thought it was the funniest thing ever, and they thought i was wasted. So i straightend out and tried to act sober. I don't know if you have ever been sober and had to try to act sober, but it was really hard. The crazy thing is, is that i had to take a breathalizer test in order to get into the dance, and i had only been at the dance for about 5 minutes when these girls started accusing me of being drunk. That same the happend to them. Peter is just like "theres no way there drunk this early, its only like 9 o'clock." So i just think that it's cool that im not the only sober guy getting called drunk.:)
Not only did Peter defend them by using the time and saying it's too early for them to be drunk, he uses scripture. No better way to make people beleive than by using the Bible, take my word for it. He tells them about what Joel said about the Holy Spirit. And to me what that mainly meant is that the power of God is not lemmated to one or two people, and that it lives in us.
Then he tells us the AWESOME truth about Jesus. And how God is so rad!!
I love the quote from king David. I also love how Peter tells me what it means so that i don't have to search all over the place for it. There isn't much i can say about that, because Peter does an excellent job of doing that.
This is just the part that got me most stoked. 3000 PEOPLE WERE SAVED. 3000 saved, baptized, and added to the Church, IN ONE DAY. AMEN that is the most excing thing in the world to me. I belive with all my heart, that this number and all the things that happend are limited to this one passage. I beileve that we as a group of Christ followers can make this happen, and i am so stoked to see it happen in my generation.
I love fellowship. I think that it is the best thing ever. Nothing is better than a bunch of people geting together praising, and growing in God. There is nothing better. This passage is a grewat example of how we have got to stay together. As a whole. We need to stay together as one, all helping eachother to grow. Nothing is better than that. seriously, it's Rad.
In Christ,
Stewart Ryall
P.S. This post was pretty bad, but the scripture is awesome. If my post messed you up, just forget what i said. I'm just really tired and it is really hard for me to stay consentrated right now. So if you hated the post, then im really sorry. But if you liked it and you learned, that thats awesome. I love all of you.!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Luke 7
The Faith of a Roman Officer 1 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people, he returned to Capernaum. 2 At that time the highly valued slave of a Roman officer[a] was sick and near death. 3 When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. 4 So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, 5 “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.”
6 So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. 7 I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 8 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” 10 And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed.
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son 11 Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. 12 A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. 14 Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” 15 Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God, saying, “A mighty prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people today.” 17 And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside.
Jesus and John the Baptist 18 The disciples of John the Baptist told John about everything Jesus was doing. So John called for two of his disciples, 19 and he sent them to the Lord to ask him, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting,[b] or should we keep looking for someone else?”
20 John’s two disciples found Jesus and said to him, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’”
21 At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. 22 Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. 23 And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.[c]’”
24 After John’s disciples left, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? 25 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people who wear beautiful clothes and live in luxury are found in palaces. 26 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. 27 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,
‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’[d]
28 I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!”
29 When they heard this, all the people—even the tax collectors—agreed that God’s way was right,[e] for they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism.
31 “To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “How can I describe them? 32 They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,
‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t weep.’
33 For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man,[f] on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.[g]”
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman 36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat.[h] 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”
“Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.
41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver[i] to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”
43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”
“That’s right,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.
47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”
50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
I LOVE JESUS, just to let you know. This passage was pretty cool to me. It took me 3 days to look and fully understand this passage. I know you hate to hear it, but i'm not going to be sharing everything that i've discovered. But if you want to hear what i think, e-mail me at bigcharlierebel@yahoo.com.
When Jesus helped the Roman soldier, the Jewish community got kind of angry about it. They couldn't understand why a Jew whould help a Gentile(old wine skins). But all in this story Jesus brings a Jewish leader, a roman soldier, and the son of God together. This shows us how Jesus isn't restricted, and that he will break down the barriers of this world to get to us.
Jesus shows compasion for us when we are in pain. He dosn't ignore our sour feelings, and he will love on us and help us through it.
The people thought that he was a prophet because he proclaimed the word of God, and Prophets from the old testament; Elijah and Elisha, raised people from the dead. The prople were right about him being a prophet, but they didn't realize that he was so much more than that.
John the Baptist doubted Christ. This is understandable, because he didn't know the guy to well. So Jesus explained to him who he was in a way that John would under stand.
When Jesus said that John was the best in the world, but every one in heavan was better than he was, he wasn't insulting John. John lived his life exactly like God intended him to, and did all that was needed from him, so he was the best in the world. But even the worse person in heaven knew that Jesus was the son of God so that made them better.
I would have loved to be the woman who washed Jesus's feet. To have Jesus defend me like he defended her would be awesome. When the world was judging the woman, Jesus said that all her sins were forgiven. That is awesome to me because i had that reputation. I was the kid that everyone thought was the worst. And in the depths of my Deepest sin Jesus died for me. And he told me that my sins are forgiven.
And we all know that our faith has saved us. And nothing can take that away from us.
In Christ,
Stewart Ryall
6 So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. 7 I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 8 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” 10 And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed.
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son 11 Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. 12 A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. 14 Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” 15 Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God, saying, “A mighty prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people today.” 17 And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside.
Jesus and John the Baptist 18 The disciples of John the Baptist told John about everything Jesus was doing. So John called for two of his disciples, 19 and he sent them to the Lord to ask him, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting,[b] or should we keep looking for someone else?”
20 John’s two disciples found Jesus and said to him, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’”
21 At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. 22 Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. 23 And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.[c]’”
24 After John’s disciples left, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? 25 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people who wear beautiful clothes and live in luxury are found in palaces. 26 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. 27 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,
‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’[d]
28 I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!”
29 When they heard this, all the people—even the tax collectors—agreed that God’s way was right,[e] for they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism.
31 “To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “How can I describe them? 32 They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,
‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t weep.’
33 For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man,[f] on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.[g]”
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman 36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat.[h] 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”
“Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.
41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver[i] to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”
43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”
“That’s right,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.
47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”
50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
I LOVE JESUS, just to let you know. This passage was pretty cool to me. It took me 3 days to look and fully understand this passage. I know you hate to hear it, but i'm not going to be sharing everything that i've discovered. But if you want to hear what i think, e-mail me at bigcharlierebel@yahoo.com.
When Jesus helped the Roman soldier, the Jewish community got kind of angry about it. They couldn't understand why a Jew whould help a Gentile(old wine skins). But all in this story Jesus brings a Jewish leader, a roman soldier, and the son of God together. This shows us how Jesus isn't restricted, and that he will break down the barriers of this world to get to us.
Jesus shows compasion for us when we are in pain. He dosn't ignore our sour feelings, and he will love on us and help us through it.
The people thought that he was a prophet because he proclaimed the word of God, and Prophets from the old testament; Elijah and Elisha, raised people from the dead. The prople were right about him being a prophet, but they didn't realize that he was so much more than that.
John the Baptist doubted Christ. This is understandable, because he didn't know the guy to well. So Jesus explained to him who he was in a way that John would under stand.
When Jesus said that John was the best in the world, but every one in heavan was better than he was, he wasn't insulting John. John lived his life exactly like God intended him to, and did all that was needed from him, so he was the best in the world. But even the worse person in heaven knew that Jesus was the son of God so that made them better.
I would have loved to be the woman who washed Jesus's feet. To have Jesus defend me like he defended her would be awesome. When the world was judging the woman, Jesus said that all her sins were forgiven. That is awesome to me because i had that reputation. I was the kid that everyone thought was the worst. And in the depths of my Deepest sin Jesus died for me. And he told me that my sins are forgiven.
And we all know that our faith has saved us. And nothing can take that away from us.
In Christ,
Stewart Ryall
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