Scripture

“Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.”

Observation
Jesus tells another parable about the kingdom of heaven.
A farmer plants good seed in the soil. An enemy comes at night and plants weeds amongst the wheat. The weeds grow up amongst the wheat.
The farmer’s workers ask what they should do. The farmer instructs them to leave the weeds until harvest time. Then the weeds will be separated, bundled and burned, but the wheat will be kept safe.

Application
People condemn the church as being “full of hypocrites” as if this is a bad thing.
Some of the so-called hypocrites are immature christians who are yet to be completely sanctified.
Others, though, are people who, for whatever reason, are in the church but are not a part of the people of God. They are not truly saved or wanting to be led by the Holy Spirit. These are the weeds in the parable, people planted by the enemy not sown by the Saviour.
The parable tells us that we must not judge, for that is God’s job. Judgement will take place at the end of the age when it is clear what the fruits of a person’s life are.

Prayer
Father I know that judgement is real and that one day the weeds will be separated from the wheat. May I always be faithful to you so that on the Day I will be found amongst the wheat. Amen.

Scripture
“Come to me all of you are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Observation
Jesus criticises the religious people who condemned John for being too serious and Jesus for being a glutton and a drunkard who hangs out with the wrong people.
He goes on to denounce the towns where He has demonstrated His power in miracles and healings, but they refuse to repent. The people of Tyre, Sodom and Sidon will be better off on judgement day than these people.
The only way to salvation is by the Father and through the Son to whom the Father has entrusted all things. Jesus invites all who are worn down by the burdens of religion to come to Him and enjoy His rest.

Application
Those who are motivated by the religious spirit never find rest. They will always be critical of those who fail to perform to their expectations- even the Son of God.
They pile up burdens of duties and behaviours and sacrifices on themselves and on others. These burdens don’t bring any freedom or reconciliation with God. They just make them miserable.
Jesus lays no expectation on people but that they follow Him. He brings us into relationship with the Father, not by performance but by grace. We don’t have to earn God’s favour or forgiveness, just receive what He already gives.
His yoke truly is easy to bear.

Prayer
Lord Jesus I take your yoke. I connect myself to you, trusting you to lead me, direct me and mould me. Amen.

 

Scripture

“Whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

Observation

Jesus demands a dedication stronger than love for our parents or children. We must take up a cross and follow Him. To find your life is to lose it, and to lose your life in him is to find it.

To welcome a disciple is to welcome Jesus. Even a cup of water to His disciples brings a reward.

Application

When our relationships get in the way of eternal life with Christ, we have to be prepared to let them go for His sake. Love for Jesus must be even greater than our love for family.

We even have to give up our life for Christ. To take up a cross is to walk towards certain death.

Everything- my possessions, my dreams, my family, my life- has to come under the lordship of Christ. He, and He alone, must determine all that I do. Anything that gets in the way of my total surrender to Christ must go.

Does that mean I stop loving my family? Of course not! It does mean that there is a higher love, a higher calling, that must take precedence.

Prayer

Lord your love for me means everything. Help me to put you first today. Amen.

Scripture

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.”

Observation

The eleven disciples go to Galilee to the place Jesus had directed them. He appears, and they worship, though some doubt.

Jesus tells them He has been given all authority and therefore they must go and make disciples of all nations. They are to baptise them and teach them to obey everything He has commanded.

Application

Of the eleven apostles, the ones closest to Jesus, some initially doubted the resurrection. It was too big for hem to get their heads around.

Jesus ignores their doubt and tells them to get on with the job- making disciples of all nations.

All of us doubt at times. The critical thing is to move onwards, to keep following even in periods when it doesn’t make sense.. The fog will lift and we will see Christ again.

The awesome task of making disciples will not end until the end of the age. Wherever the Lord plants us, we are to look for opportunities to preach the gospel and train up those who seek to follow Jesus.

Prayer

Help me Lord to invest my life in disciple making. Show me who to share with and how to do this. Amen.

 

 

 

Scripture

The crowd replied, “It is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

 

Observation

Jesus and His disciples come to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sends two of his disciples into the village to collect a donkey and its colt.

The disciples bring the donkey and colt to Jesus who then proceeds to Jerusalem riding on the colt.

A crowd gathers, spreading their garments and palm branches on the road ahead of Jesus. They start shouting praises to Jesus, and the whole city is in uproar.

 

Application

Jesus made a political and prophetic statement here. The prophetic statement is that He is the long-awaited Messiah. The political statement is that there is a new King and a new Kingdom in the land.

Both statements scared the ruling powers- both human and spiritual.

 As a follower of Jesus, constantly pointing others to Him and standing up for righteousness and mercy, I should also scare the ruling powers.

When christians get active, lives and communities are changed. Satan doesn’t like that. The human purveyors of sin and addiction don’t like that.

How will I scare the powers today?

 

Prayer

To truly follow you Lord means to confront the powers of darkness. Please help me to do that in your way today. Amen.

 

 

Scripture

While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him.”

Observation

Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain. While they are there, Jesus is transfigured, his face shining brightly and his clothes dazzling.

Suddenly Moses and Elijah appear and talk to Jesus. Peter offers to build three shelters for them.

A cloud comes over and a voice speaks to them announcing that Jesus is God’s beloved Son.

The disciples fall to the ground in fear. When they look up Jesus is alone.

Application

What we see with our physical eyes and interpret with our brains is only a faint shadow of reality. Often we need that blinding revelation to see things as they really are.

Christians find it easy to fit into a comfortable groove. We operate with a devotional routine, say the easy prayers and fail to see what is really happening around us.

We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, learning to listen to Him and depend on His wisdom.

We need to learn to see the Lord as He really is, not the safe image we prefer to worship.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, reveal yourself to me again. May I see your glory, the reality of who you are. Amen