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

The disciples who had been with Jesus on the mountain asked why the teachers said that Elijah must return. Jesus tells him that Elijah had already been there with them. They realise that He was talking about John the Baptist.

At the foot of the mountain, a main comes and asks Jesus to heal his son. Jesus rebukes the disciples who had been unable to heal the boy. He then commands the demon to leave.

When the disciples ask Him why they could not remove the demon, He says that they did not have faith. Just a mustard seed of faith could command a mountain to move.

Application

Just a tiny faith overcomes Satan moves mountains and raises the dead.

What does this say about the western church that we are unable to see these things come to pass?

This is not about saving faith, the knowledge that Jesus’ death has set us free from sin and its penalty.

This faith is a deep faith that comes from a close walk with God. We hear the Holy Spirit commanding us to pray, then we pray with confidence and assurance that God really is with us.

When, you know the Lord, nothing is impossible for God.

But how do we get there?

1. Read the Bible, meditatively and prayerfully. Ask the Spirit to reveal the meaning of the text.

2. Listening prayer. Don’t just talk to God with endless requests. Listen to Him. Listen for that small still voice.

3.. When He speaks do what He tells you.

Prayer

Hallelujah! God, you are alive and active. Please give me faith to trust you. Amen.

Scripture

Now, I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘Rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of Hell will not conquer it.

Observation

Jesus asks the disciples who people say that he is. They answer, John the Baptist, Elijah or some prophet. Then Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” Peter replies that Jesus is the Messiah.

Jesus tells Peter that this is from the Father. From now on Simon Peter will be known as Peter, the Rock. Jesus will establish His church and the power of hell will not overcome it.

Jesus then begins to tell His disciples that He will suffer many terrible things. Peter rebukes Jesus for this. Jesus tells him, “Get away from me, Satan. You are seeing things from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Application

How quickly Peter goes from being “the rock” on which the church is founded to “Satan.” This, of course, is our common experience. We can be full on for God one day and sin terribly, the next.

Our sins don’t define our identity, and they don’t end our calling in Christ. Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah was was the rock on which the church was built. This calling was so certain that it did not falter when Peter slipped up.

The powers of hell cannot overwhelm the church, nor the individual christian. When we come to Christ, we connect to the greater power. Nothing, not even, Satan and the legion of demons can destroy us or our faith.

For nearly 2 000 years, the church has been steadily advancing and overcoming the powers of hell.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, nothing can overcome you. Thank you that the victory is yours. Amen.

Scripture

Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but the deceptive teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Observation

The Pharisees and Sadducees come to Jesus demanding a sign to prove His authority. Jesus tells them that they know how to predict the weather from the signs in the sky, but they don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times. The only sign they will receive is the sign of Jonah.

Later, Jesus tells His disciples to be aware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The disciples think he’s talking about bread. Jesus reminds them of the feeding miracles. and then they understand that He was talking about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Application

Whereas the Old Covenant was about physical signs, such as animal sacrifices, a temple, a land, the New Covenant is a spiritual reality. We are the temple. We are the living sacrifices.

The disciples were tripped up by thinking physically, when Jesus wanted them to think spiritually.

Many christians make similar mistakes. The yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees must have included legalism and keeping rules. Many christians judge others and themselves according to outward behaviour, but God looks at the heart.

Some want to observe the Old Testament feasts, forgetting that the feasts are all fulfilled in Christ. Why would we observe the Old Testament Pentecost when the reality of the Holy Spirit is already in us?

We are the children of the Living God, regardless of whether we follow the law or not. The only thing that matters is our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Thank you, Father for your everlasting love. Amen

Scripture

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” He said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Observation

After the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus sends the disciples in a boat across the lake. He dismisses the crowd and goes to the hills to pray.

A strong wind arises on the lake. Jesus comes walking across the water at about three o’clock in the morning. Thinking that He is a ghost, the disciples are terrified. Jesus tells them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!”

Peter calls out to Jesus, “Lord if it is you, command me to come to you walking on the water.” Jesus does this, and Peter gets out of the boat and walks on the water.

Jesus and the disciples land at Gennesaret. Word of his arrival spreads quickly. People come from all over the region, bringing sick people to be healed.

Application

The disciples were scared for their lives on the lake in the middle of a storm. Seeing a ghostly figure approaching them on the water terrified them even more.

At different points in our lives, we can be filled with fear, anxiety, insecurity or terror. If we let them, Jesus’s words, “Don’t be afraid. Take courage. I am here!” can bring amazing peace into our hearts.

Jesus is always with us. He promised he would never leave us nor abandon us. That means we can face any situation, any challenge, even death itself, with courage.

This is more than the stiff upper lip form of soldiering on in adversity. Jesus promises to take away the terror and to enable us to face our ordeals with peace, calmness and serenity.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for the peace that passes all understanding when I put my trust in you. Amen.

Scripture

About five thousand men were fed that day in addition to all the women and children.

Observation

When Jesus hears the news about John’s death, He goes off to a remote place to be alone. The crowds follow Him, so He has compassion and heals the sick people.

As evening approaches, the disciples tell Jesus, to send the people away so they can go and get food. Jesus tells the disciples to feed the crowd.

The disciples report that they only have five loaves and two fish. Jesus takes them and gives thanks, then gives it to the disciples to distribute.

Everyone has sufficient. And there are twelve baskets of leftovers.

Five thousand men plus, women and children are fed.

Observation

When God is at work, He takes our meagre resources and turns them into more than enough.

When we are walking in God’s ways, seeking to do His will, there is always enough.

Bills get paid. People get fed. There is enough left over for us to be generous.

People have tried to explain away this miracle. Only Jesus can take one person’s lunch and make it enough to share and have even more left over than what you start with.

The key to the miracle is this: the disciples gave the little they had to Jesus, and then trusted Him to do something with it.

When we surrender what we have and put our trust in Jesus miracles take place.

Prayer

You are a miracle working God, Lord Jesus. Please help me to trust you for every need. Amen

Scripture

Then the king regretted what he had said, but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders.

Observation

Herod hears about Jesus and he believes that He must be a resurrected John the Baptist.

John the Baptist had been arrested for speaking out against Herod’s marriage to Herodias, who was the former wife of Herod’s brother.

At a birthday feast for Herod, Herodias’s daughter had pleased Herod with a dance. He offers her anything that she wants as a gift, and she asks for John’s head. So Herod has John beheaded as requested.

Application

Herod was a despotic ruler, but, it is clear in this narrative that he was motivated often by the fear of other people. He had wanted to kill John but was afraid of the reactions of the people. Then he doesn’t want to kill, John, but does so because of the vow he had made in front of his guests.

Fear of other people can motivate us to do things against our will.

People get sucked into groups of nefarious people because they refuse to say No”. Like Herod, many are coerced into acting against what they know to be right.

Politicians act to keep voters happy. Ordinary people may be bullied by employers, family members and friends. Often it is all fear of other people.

We need to stay firm in Christ. His approval. Is the only approval we need. His judgement should be the only judgement we fear.

Prayer

Lord, please rescue me from the fear of men. Grant me the grace to live a life that honours you with no thought to the opinions of others. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 13:36-46.

Scripture

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it.

Observation

Jesus explains the parable of the weeds. Jesus is the farmer who sowed the good seed. The devil is the one who sowed the bad seeds, which represent the people who belong to satan. Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned, so Jesus will remove from his kingdom all who do evil. They will be thrown into the fiery furnace.

The kingdom of heaven is like a man discovering treasure in a field, or a merchant who finds a pearl of great value. In both cases, they sell all they have to possess the prize.

Application

Jesus tells all kinds of parables in order to communicate a deep truth. In this case, the truth is that attaining the kingdom of God is worth more than anything else in the world.

The merchant sold everything in order to obtain the pearl. He knew that despite its high price its true value was even greater. He would give up a lot to get it, but would be able to gain even more.

Many people, even christians, do not understand this. The problem is what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace.” People believe that saying a prayer is enough to get salvation.

In fact, salvation is more than a prayer. True salvation results in a radical reordering of our priorities and desires as we realise just how precious our relationship with Jesus is

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are worth everything to me. Please help me to let go of anything that stands in the way of a deeper walk with you. Amen.

Scripture

“Blessed are your eyes, because they see and your ears, because they hear.”

Observation

People hear the words of Jesus, but they don’t listen or understand. This fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah who said that people would hear and not understand, and see without comprehending.

On the other hand, the disciples are blessed because they see, hear, and understand.

Jesus then explains the parable of the seeds. The seed on the path represent the people whose hearts are hard and satan steals the gospel from them. The rocky soil represents people who hear the gospel, but fall away when problems arise. The thorns represent the cares of the world that crowd out faith. But the seed that falls on good soil produces a harvest of 30, 60, or even 100 fold.

Application

Many people just cannot hear the gospel because their hearts are hardened to it. It doesn’t matter how powerful the preaching is or how earnestly we share with them, or how perfect our life is, they just do not get it. They have hardened their hearts so much that they just cannot see or hear the message of salvation.

Those of us who are saved have ears, eyes, and hearts that are blessed.

It takes a ready heart to respond to the good news. The faith to believe is itself a gift from God. A soft heart that is able to respond to the call of the Lord is itself a blessing from God.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for giving me ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to receive your love. Please help me to keep my heart soft to you. Amen.

Scripture

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away.

Observation

Jesus sits beside the lake and a huge crowd gathers to hear him teach.

Jesus tells the story of the farmer sowing seeds into various qualities of soil. Some seeds fall onto bad soil, but the seeds that fall onto good soil are very productive.

His disciples ask Jesus why he always uses parables when he teaches. He says that the disciples are permitted to understand the secrets of God’s kingdom, but others are not. God gives abundant understanding to those who listen to Jesus’s words. For others, even the little knowledge they have will be taken away.

Application

It is interesting to think that only some people are permitted to understand the secrets of God’s kingdom. God does not throw knowledge out to everybody indiscriminately. This would be like throwing pearls to pigs.

Parables provoke us or confuse us. If we are open to God’s word, we will seek more understanding and hence, we will receive it. Those who are not open to God will reject the parables as “too hard” or “confusing” and they will not receive enlightenment.

This might seem unfair in some ways. Why should God allow some people to go deeper in wisdom but not others? But this is not how it works. Some of the most spiritually wise people I know have had little formal education but they love the Lord, and He has revealed Himself to them.

Seek the Lord while he may be found.

Prayer

Lord, please give me more of you. I don’t care so much about hidden secrets. But I do care about you. Please deepen my love and desire for you. Amen.