Scripture

Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered? ” Peter replied, “The people they have conquered.” “Well then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free!”

Observation

Jesus again tells the disciples that He will be betrayed into the hands of His enemies to be killed, but He will rise on the third day.

In Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple Tax ask Peter if Jesus pays the tax. He tells then, “yes”. Jesus then ask Peter whether kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered.

Jesus concludes that the citizens of the kingdom are free. But He sends Peter to go down to the lake where he will catch a fish that will have a coin in its mouth.

Application

Every adult in Israel was required to pay half a shekel each year to pay for the maintenance of the temple. Jesus stated that, as citizens of God’s Kingdom, they were exempt, but He provided the money for the tax anyway.

Christians are required to pay taxes in our society. Our taxes do not go to support the old covenant worship, but to providing services for people. We might argue about Government priorities, but we cannot claim to be exempt from taxes.

Jesus’ death and resurrection brought the old covenant to an end. The new Temple is the people who make up the covenant community. It is no longer a physical building but a spiritual reality.

There is no need for us to pay the temple tax. We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Lord, it is an awesome thing to realise that I carry the Holy Spirit in the same way that the temple was once considered your dwelling place. Amen.

Scripture

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

Observation

Jesus and the three disciples come down from the mountain, where a man comes and kneels before Jesus. He pleads for Jesus to heal his son. He asked the disciples, but they could do nothing.

Jesus is exasperated by this lack of faith. He rebukes the demon, and it leaves.

The disciples ask Jesus why they could not remove the demon. Jesus replies that if they had only a mustard seed of faith, nothing would be impossible for them.

Application

Jesus rebukes His disciples for their lack of faith. Even a mustard seed of faith would be enough to move a mountain, much less heal a sick boy.

This is a rebuke for all of us. We just don’t have enough faith.

We fail to experience miracles because our faith is so tiny, so insignificant as to be meaningless.

I think that Jesus is trying to tell us that we need to trust Him more, especially with the big issues in life.

How do we get faith? By believing.

We have to make that decision to walk by faith and not by sight, to believe what God’s word says, not by what our eyes see or a doctor tells us.

This is not to say that we will become a sideshow of miracle workers. No, it is normal Christian living..When faced with opposition or a lack of something, we say to the devil,“You have no authority here. Be gone! “

Prayer

Lord, a mustard seed of faith is all that I need to see you at work. Please plant that in my spirit and cause it to grow in me. Amen

Scripture

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ”This is my beloved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”

Observation

Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain to be alone. Jesus’ appearance is transformed, and His face shines like the sun. Moses and Elijah also appear.

Peter wants to build some shelters as memorials, but a cloud overshadows them and the Father speaks from the cloud. “This is my beloved Son.”

The disciple fall to the ground in fear. Jesus comes and touches them. He then tells them not to tell anyone about this event.

Application

This event, especially the voice of the Father speaking from the cloud, was overwhelming for the disciples. They were terrified, although they should have known that Jesus would keep them safe .

Sometimes getting a revelation from God can be very terrifying. We often think of the Holy Spirit as being gentle like a dove, and He is. But sometimes He manifests as a wild wind and tongues of fire.

I remember one lady who came to me and said that she had had an encounter with the Lord in which she experienced his wrath. Even though she had been serving the Lord for many years,it was in her own strength, and not from submission to God.

We need to be open to what the Lord wants to show us and teach us. Sometimes that will stir up unpleasant emotions, but it will always be good for us.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please reveal your true nature to me as you did for the disciples on on the Mount of Transfiguration. Amen.