Anita Mathias: Dreaming Beneath the Spires

Anita Mathias's Blog on Faith and Art

The Perils of Stubborn Unbelief, Matthew 12, Day 35, Feb 5th

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The Pharisees Question Jesus, Tissot 
Matthew 12
Jesus and Beelzebul

 22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
The simple people are wowed by the undoubted demonstration of power. The professionals however are threatened.Jealous and insecurity can make people say and do strange things.
ESV The amazement of the crowd suggests that Jesus’s casting out demons without a word was unprecedented.

 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
 25 Jesus knew their thoughts
The mark of the Pharisee, they think their thoughts quietly to themselves. Their thoughts do not become words.


and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
ESV–Satan would not work against himself by exorcising a demon which was part of his attempt to control the world.


27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
ESV–Jesus’ amazing power over demons was due to the power of the Holy Spirit working through him.

   29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
ESV notes–Jesus was able to expel demons because he had bound Satan. Beginning with Jesus’ victory over Satan during the temptation in the wilderness, Jesus demonstrated that Satan was powerless to prevent him from proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom and demonstrating the reality of its presence through his work and words.
   30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Neutrality is not possible. There is a saying “If Jesus is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all.” 

 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

   33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, 
Jesus just said what he thought. He did not mince words.

how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 
Speech is a good indicator of the person.  Wicked words reveal evil within the heart.

35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Our words will be taken into particular account on the day of judgment!! ESV Words are an outward evidence of inner character.
The Sign of Jonah

 38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
Jesus is canny and careful. He thinks before he speaks. So he does not reflexively give a sign. Nor does he fall for their flattery.
He had already done many signs to confirm his Messianic identity. They were asking for a sign which they could use against him. 

 39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! 
Lines worth considering for those who believe Jesus was always nice.
Adulterous–unfaithful to their spiritual husband, God.


But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.
His death and resurrection will be the sign.

   43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

 46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

 48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”
49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Whoever does God’s will is the kin of Jesus!

A Bruised Reed He will not Crush. Matthew 12, Day 33, Feb 2

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Matthew 12

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

 1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

 3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[a] you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Following Jesus trumps following any laws or rules. It is okay to suspend the laws we place on ourselves–strict Sabbatarianism for instance, for a greater good–in this case, to satisfy hunger.
God desires us to act mercifully rather than to keep rules.
The whole of the Old Testament Law and the Prophets is now embodied in Christ, the promised Messiah, who is greater than the whole system of temple, priests and law, who commanded the Sabbath as a gift to man, and is Lord of it. 
ESV As Messiah, Jesus authoritatively interprets every aspect of the law, and here points out the Pharisees blindness to the actual intent of the sabbath–to bring rest and well-being. He is greater than the law.

 9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
 11 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
The purpose of the Sabbath was to be a blessing to people. So it is okay to do good on the Sabbath.
NIV The fact that he stretched out his hand shows the connection between faith and healing.
The Pharisees care more about maintaining their power than the fact that Jesus was healing the sick and showing mercy. Their response to this is to go out and attempt to kill Jesus. 
God’s Chosen Servant

 15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. 16 He warned them not to tell others about him. 
He warns people to keep the Messianic secret until the time was right for his glory to be revealed.




17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

 18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
   the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
   and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out;
   no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
   and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, 
till he has brought justice through to victory.
 21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”
The quiet ministry of Jesus, the Messiah.
Gentleness and mildness are the distinguishing features of the Messiah. He will be merciful. The nations will put their hope in him.

The Easy Yoke, Matthew 10-11, Day 31, Jan 31

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His eyes are on the wonderful sparrows he has made–and I am not surprised–and also on those who believe in him.
  
Matthew 10

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

   26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
I love Jesus counsel, and just the way he thinks. If the things he said led people to call him diabolical, how much more will those who follow him be called diabolical.
And then he goes on to say, SO, do not be afraid of them.
All concealed and hidden things will one day be disclosed and openly known.

27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight;
Be fearless about saying what God tells you to say.

 What is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Do not be afraid of people. Be afraid of evil and of Satan.
 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[b] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Not even the smallest of creatures, sold for the smallest Roman coin is outside the care of the Father.
The Father is sovereign over even seemingly insignificant events. 
You are under your Father’s care, so do not be afraid. If the sparrows are under the Father’s care, how much more are you!

   32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
He will acknowledge his fearless followers. Those who disown him for personal gain or to be cool, he will also disown.

   34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
   “‘a man against his father,
   a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
   36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
Doing what Christ tells you to do will always be divisive, because he has to come first.
NIV The inevitable result of following Christ is conflict–between light and darkness, between those who follow Christ, and those who do not.

   37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Jesus says that those who do not grasp the fact of who is–his grandeur, his sublimity, his eternal nature–and thereby treasure something else more than they treasure him are not worthy of him.
ESV–Jesus asked for unqualified allegiance, something even the most esteemed rabbis did not demand.

 38Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Those who do not make the necessary sacrifices to follow him are not worthy of him.
ESV Crucifixion is a shocking metaphor of discipleship–and the painful death of the old self.

39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Those who lose some of the pleasantness of their life for the sake of Jesus will find true life.

   40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
The Lord rewards hospitality. I know from my own life that there is no question about this.
ESV on “one of these little ones.” Those of little standing, who may be overlooked as leaders focus on the more prominent in the community.

Matthew 11
 1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Even the greatest of Christ’s followers can be prone to despondency and depression.
 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
His actions–the signs of the kingdom– are the proof that Jesus is the Messiah. His works speak for him.
ESV –Jesus ministry is in line with the prophetic promises about the time of salvation, esp. in the words of Isaiah.


 7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
   “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way before you.’[c]
   11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 
The least in the Kingdom of Heaven who have the spirit of Jesus himself living within their hearts are greater than even John the Baptist.


12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. 
It takes effort and self-denial and violence to our natural desires to enter the Kingdom of God.


13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
   16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
   17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
   and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
   and you did not mourn.’
   18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
It is near impossible to avoid hostile criticism, whatever one does.
The criticism of the Pharisees actually provides quite a winsome picture of Jesus who comes “eating and drinking, and is accused of being, ‘a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’”

Woe on Unrepentant Towns

 20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! 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 in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[e] For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

There will be judgement for those who see God’s mighty works, but do not repent. 

The Father Revealed in the Son

 25 At that time Jesus 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. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
The truths of the Kingdom are revealed to those who have simple, childlike hearts.

   27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
We can only know God fully through a revelation of Jesus.

   28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
These are puzzling lines.  Jesus suggests that those who are weary and burdened take his yoke upon themselves to find rest. 
Take the light yoke of obedience to find rest from burdens we were never meant to bear.
Many of our burdens are unnecessary and self-imposed–by pride, by ambition, by fear. Following Jesus is walking in step with him in a measured way, but it does lead to a easier and lighter load then when we are careering wildly doing whatever comes into our head to do. 
NIV–Possibly a reference to the heavy yoke the Pharisees places on men’s shoulders. 
ESV notes–The wider application is that Jesus provides eternal rest for all who seek forgiveness of their sins and freedom from the crushing legalistic burden and guilt of trying to earn salvation by good works. 
In contrast to the multiplicity of the lay, Jesus’s yoke of discipleship brings rest through simple commitment to him.

And here’s another post on the easy yoke.

Sheep, Wolves, Doves, Serpents, Matthew 10, Day 28, Jan 28,

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Matthew 10
 1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Does every believer have the authority to heal every disease and sickness, or those to whom God gives the gift of faith to heal? Theology apart, in practice, I have observed that some people’s prayers heal the sick, and change things, which is not true of every prayer uttered for healing.
If I were sick, I would, of course, ask for prayer from someone with a track record of healing disease and sickness, because they are more likely to have the faith and authority.
 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
Salvation, because of God’s sovereign choice came from the Jews, and was preached first to the Jews.
These are the signs of the kingdom of heaven on earth—the sick healed, the dead raised, lepers cleansed, demons exorcised.
Healings, exorcisms, miracles. Signs of the Kingdom.
Are these the only signs of the Kingdom?
No. Because the Kingdom of God is also within us. Where one experiences and demonstrates love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control, whatever the provocation.
Freely you have received; freely give.
God freely gives spiritual power, and expects it to be shared freely.
  9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 
While Jesus does not want his apostles to profiteer, or make a fortune off the spiritual gifts he has given them, he does expect those blessed by their endeavours to support them.
11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 
And what a blessing they would have been to their hosts!!
12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 
Peace is the gift given to individuals, homes or cities which receive the good news of the kingdom.
14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
They come non-coercively bearing blessing. If they and their blessing are not wanted, they move on.
   16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 
ESV The serpent was the symbol of shrewdness and intellectual cunning, while the dove was emblematic of simple innocence.
What protection might a sheep, among the most tasty and most defenceless creatures in the animal kingdom (even more so than rabbits which have speed and sharp teeth) have when surrounded by ravenous wolves?
Or us when face to face with evil?
We can ask God for shrewdness, whether it is a natural quality of ours or not.  We can think. We ask him for guidance in how to be shrewd enough when we suspect that we are out of our depth in miry situations.
Goodness, innocence, gentleness and naivete also have an immense power. People after all are made in the image of God.  
The ultimate power however for a sheep among wolves is the fact that the eyes of the shepherd are on it.
 17 Be on your guard;
Jesus was meek and humble, yet his advice was edgy.
Don’t trust too soon, too easily, and perhaps not too much. Be guarded, be careful.
This is hard advice for me, I am naturally sanguine, trusting, and open. But heeding it is part of growing up.
you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Jesus tells his disciples not to be anxious because the spirit will guide them.
Jesus promises protection and infusion of wisdom when one lands up in tricky situations because of doing the right thing.
One needs to experience it to know its reality.
I will give you words and wisdom which your adversaries cannot withstand or contradict. Luke 21:15
   21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Following Christ is always a divisive thing.
It  may well lead to persecution—unfair, unjust targeting.
And sadly, not just from non-believers, but also from believers and church-goers, who, for instance, may prefer the status quo and power to anything which might rock the boat.  
* * *
And here’s how the disciples would stack up if we were hiring.
 TO: Jesus, Son of Joseph, Woodcrafters Carpenter Shop, Nazareth
FROM: Jordan Management Consultants, Jerusalem
Dear Sir:
Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; and we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant. The profiles of all tests are included, and you will want to study each of them carefully.
As part of our service, we make some general comments for your guidance, much as an auditor will include some general statements. This is given as a result of staff consultation, and comes without any additional fee.
It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.
Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.
One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All the other profiles are self-explanatory.
We wish you every success in your new venture.
Sincerely yours,
Jordan Management Consultants

Jesus loves through a busy day, Matthew 9, Day 26, Jan 26

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Jesus heals a Blind Man, El Greco.

Matthew 9
18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
 20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
I have often wondered as to what constitutes the difference between a garden-variety Christian, and a radiant, joyful one.  Here are some: faith in God’s power and ability, and the willingness to obey.
Apparently, a half-hearted “Let’s give it a try,” might not have healed this woman. Her faith, however, did so.
The simple touching faith of these individuals activated God’s power in their lives.





23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.

What strikes me is that this is not an efficient way of working. Jesus is preaching, and is interrupted by a desperate synagogue leader. He responds, but on the way, heals someone else who comes up to him.
He interrupts preaching to go to raise the dead, interrupts that to heal a sick woman.
And yet he died saying, “I have done the work you have given me to do.”
How could he live like that? 
Brother Lawrence– “The time of work does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess GOD in as great tranquillity as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament.”
Perhaps living in the consciousness that there is a stairway between you and heaven, with grace descending, and angels ascending and descending, and a waterfall pouring into your thirsty soul, and knowing that you can can escape into the presence of God can help you possess your soul in patience through a busy day.

This prefigures Jesus’s ultimate power over death shown in his resurrection

 27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

 28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
   “Yes, Lord,” they replied.
 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.


So would the Son of God not have healed them if they did not believe he was able to? Apparently so.


In which areas of your life do you possess weak faith? Ask God to increase your faith. Pray to see his activity in these areas.


Are you operating on hope rather than faith?


Isaiah 35:5 “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened.”

 32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
 34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
Nothing and no one is immune from criticism–not even making the mute speak.
Jealousy and criticism from your competitors are to be expected no matter what you do. Keep your focus on Christ.
Isaiah 35:5 Then will the mute tongue shout for joy.
 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 

His teaching and proclamation was accompanied by healings.


36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
One might expect that this is a twentieth century phenomenon with the too-muchness of our day. However, 20 centuries ago, people still felt harassed and helpless and lacking direction.
The leaders had failed in their responsibility to shepherd.
Jesus asks us to pray that the sheep would find a shepherd.  I will do so now.

Your Sins are Forgiven. Matthew 9, Day 24, Jan 24

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Jesus heals the Paralytic, Carl Bloch

Gosh, I am so enjoying reading Matthew. Once, at a difficult time in my life, I read and played the Gospels over and over again (while trying to deal with domesticity and housework) until I knew them almost by heart. 

John, I adored, the poet, the mystic, the philosopher, the tender-hearted intuitive understander of Jesus. Luke, a tender-hearted poet too. Mark, full of drama, passion and brevity. Matthew, to me, was the dullest of the lot,  the tendentious Jewish rabbi who goes on entirely too long in his later chapters, but who one has to get through to get to the rest, if one has scholarly habits of mind, as I have. In traditional iconography, John is the eagle, Mark is the lion, Matthew is human. Yeah!

Well, blogging through the Bible is a different ball game to reading through the Bible. You cannot read through familiar passages at the speed of light.You do have to stop and look and ask, “What is the Spirit saying to me through this passage?”

And through this exercise, I am again encountering the magic of majestic Jesus walking through his days, seeing people, touching, healing, loving, teaching. Sometimes, it’s as if he walks into my room, and I see him afresh.

It is an encounter with a unique being. His habits of mind are unique, he sees things differently, he says things differently. He has amazing power. It is possible, however, that is not the accounts of his power which touch our hearts twenty-one centuries later (for they could have been invented, as myths were) but what he said, how he thought, how he saw reality. 

The way he suggests we should live, in the Sermon on the Mount, for instance, in profoundly counter-intuitive. It would never have occurred to us. Does it make sense? I guess we have to try it and see. 

He stretches our mind to a new dimension, and challenges us not to let it return to what it was before. 

 Matthew 9

1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
A connection between sin and paralysis, physical, emotional or spiritual appears to established
 3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
 4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 
The mark of the Pharisee, he is silent, but thinks evil thoughts in his heart.

5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” 
To wipe them away as if they never existed. 
Wow. Which sin of yours would you most like wiped away?
Ask him to, right now.

So he said to the paralysed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

The Calling of Matthew

 9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
Obedience not rendered immediately is often not rendered at all, because you see, Jesus moves on.

 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
This habit of Jesus’s is one of his most refreshing–and not highlighted often enough. Who did he choose to associate with? Sinners. Those beyond the pale. What fresh air!!
 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
He associated with those who needed a doctor. With those who desired mercy.  Not with the righteous, but with sinners.
Jesus Questioned About Fasting

 14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

 15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
Sigh. Fasting does appear to be a Christian duty.

   16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”


Jesus is not putting a patch on an old wine skin. He is bringing something entirely new which will need new forms of expression. 

Oh You of Little Faith. Why are you Afraid? Matthew 8, Day 22, Jan 22

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Peace, Be Still






I love these chapters. They have a dynamic, cinematic quality. We watch the man Jesus, a man with authority, walk through this day, dealing with people with kindness, brevity and authority. 




Matthew 8




 18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
 21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”


This is an absolutely vital element of discipleship. Obey what you hear God say when you hear him say it. “Later” too often becomes never. 


I rapidly read the autobiography of David Pytches a few years ago. He had saved money for university, and then, as a young man in the army was lovingly mentored and discipled by a older couple who lived in an abandoned railway carriage, and poured themselves into the young servicemen. He hears God tell him to give all the money he had saved to the older Christian. He does so, potentially giving up his opportunity to go to university.


Wow, I thought. How scary. What if he had refused? What if he had procrastinated? What if he let himself believe he had imagined it? Then the next time he heard God speak, he could again have told himself that he imagined it, dreamed it, that obeying God in such things was something impulsive hotheads did. 
He would have left sad so many times that he would no longer know God’s voice and accent, no longer be able to pick up the still whisper from the noise around him. 

 23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”


So a furious storm arises, waves sweep over the boat. Experienced professional fisherman believe that they are going to drown.


Where is the Lord? Asleep.


What does he say? “Oh you of little faith. Oligopistos. Why are you afraid?”
(ESV, Oligopistos, does not mean no faith, which is apistos, but ineffective, defective or deficient faith.)


And when we go through turbulence, and there is a furious storm around us, and the waves sweep over our boat, and it appears as if we are going to drown, he says to us, “You, of little faith. Why are you so afraid?”


And at his word, it is completely calm.


In future, Lord, in the time of furious storms, help us to remember that you are in our boat, and that when you chose to rebuke the winds and waves, it will be completely calm. 


Jesus controls the wind and the waves. And the thing which most troubles us now. What is that for you?

 28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

 30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

 32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.


Wow! This is an astonishing passage. The way I’ve read it to my children is that it shows what Dallas Willard calls, “the power of the request.” The request of the demons not to be tormented. Jesus granted that request. How much more….
Interestingly, the Gadarenes, pleaded with Jesus to leave. They put their economic well-being, and the status quo above their desire for a divine encounter.

Jesus, the Compassionate Healer, Matthew 8, Day 20, Jan 20

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                                                      El Greco 

Matthew 8

Look at the amazing economy of the writing. 3 stories in 17 lines. Wow!! It is cinematic writing, rapidly moving from one vignette to another.


I was praising the literary skills of the writers to Roy, who commented that perhaps their literary skills owe something to Jesus who just got down to the heart of the matter, to blessing, without too many words, and without any wastage of time.


The Kingdom of God has come. We saw the authority of Jesus in his teaching ministry. And now we see Jesus at work in practical ministry.


Matthew 8
1 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.
Amazing, and socially taboo acceptance of a leper.


“I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Two things stand out. The compassion of Jesus, and his swift and immediate action.
In the midst of the large crowds following him, he focuses on one needy individual. Wow!

Secondly, his only focus was on being kind. Not only was he prepared to not receive the praise and honour due him for this remarkable healing, but he expressly forbade the man with leprosy to tell anyone about it, but to, instead, keep “the Messianic secret.”

Jesus was in an intense love affair, with his Creator and Father. That approval was enough for him. He didn’t need more.

Oh Jesus, strengthen my sense of your eyes on me, and your love for me. Satisfy me in the morning with your love that I may sing for joy and be glad. Satisfy me.

 5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
I would have liked to known Jesus in the flesh. He strikes me as a really sweet person. 

 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 
A Jew who entered the house of a Gentile became ceremonially unclean


But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed
There are just a few instances in the Gospels, when Jesus, the omniscient son of God is recorded as being amazed, and they are always to do with faith, such as the faith of another Gentile, the Syro-Phoenician woman

and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
I also love this picture of heaven. It is a feast.

 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.


Go. Let it be done just as you believed it would. 


Faith literally changes the course of one’s life. I think some of the biggest moves in my life–applying to Oxford University, moving back to Oxford from America and finding lucrative enough work here, starting a publishing company, were entirely the results of faith and prayer.


So, how does one use the nuclear power of faith? We talk about the walk of faith. 


So where are you now? What are greatest desires? What you most want to see happen? Start praying in those areas. Behave as if God will answer your prayers. For instance, if you desire to write, then start writing.


If your desire is for your child to be a Christian, thank God for hearing your prayers, and then behave as if she already were a Christian.
14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
 16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
   “He took up our infirmities
   and bore our diseases.”

I just love to see Jesus’ intention for human beings–healing, complete healing.
Amazing power, he drove out the spirits with a word. Oh amazing powerful Jesus, you are still alive today. Give me eyes to see you.