If you'd been with Jesus and walked: Mark 10:32
They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe
We think of Valentine's Day as the Love we Share.
What about the giving of Love by the Disciples to Jesus?
Matthew 1:22
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet
And if you thought about writing one Gospel to cover and reveal the life of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Why, you'd think, I only need 28 Chapters. But Mark used only 16.
John 21:24,24
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down.
We know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books
that would be written.
Consider the millenniums between Books of the Bible.
The difference between the Exodus, Old Testament, and the New Testament - in the Exodus the people complained - A LOT.
Walking with Jesus - they were mostly overwhelmed. Worried. Asking each other questions. But they saw what John said - God is Love.
Where did Matthew start?
Except - this Man preaching Mercy each day at odds with peace - has nothing but Trouble in the commentary. And Matthew decides - he will defend Jesus.
1 Timothy 3
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
Did Matthew? So. Matthew starts out with apologetics. A sad word. Surely. For the greatest Truth of all time.
Matthew starts out with genealogy, not a recent convert, appeasing the people who set the Samaritans out of the Second Temple and left people behind in Iran. And the Second Temple builders married the local women, but not the Samaritans with 3 tribes of Israel DNA. This is uphill work. Trying to point out the many ways fulfillment happens in the Old Testament. Genesis 2:4, Isaiah 7:14.
Matthew 16:26
“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world,
yet forfeits his soul?
Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Matthew 22:37-40:
"Jesus replied, '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two.'
John's Gospel is intricately planned from the first day, including John's covert testimony about the Transfiguration. And then the reward of John's loyalty, while allowing the Victory to Jesus and man's desire to know God's Plan and to Challenge God's Plan.
Matthew fans out from here. Explaining to the Temple people for their redemption - how the Law hung Jesus (from a Cross) thinking they had a disposable Prophet on their hands. Matthew logically starts to draw from the beginning of Jesus' Ministry.
Matthew as a tax collector would have been incredibly talented in Logic
yet, we see Matthew grow and develop and falter, even at the end of the Gospel.
Yet, Matthew is going to persevere with faith.
Both Matthew and John want us all to understand the
awe felt near Jesus
could be our Salvation. Beloved works.
Jesus is the healing and miracle-working Messiah of Israel who has increasing levels of trouble.
Matthew is at first impressed with Jesus' teaching and then amazed by His Acts. He begins by allowing how Jesus fits into their image of God and expands this into God works for Himself.
Matthew's entire and whole Gospel is the blending from clarifications of the expectations.
(Perhaps like our own interpretation of the Revelation and theirs to Isaiah, to the Fulfillment of God.)
Matthew's Gospel realized you can't un nay the nay sayers.
14 "Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit. "
15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.”
Matthew 15
15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.”
16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.
21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.
And then Jesus includes the Nay Sayers.
22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”
23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”
23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Matthew gave a party...
and began to understand the hurt of God that His own Children were insensitive.
25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Matthew gave a party...
and began to understand the hurt of God that His own Children were insensitive.
The Gospel of Matthew explains how a thug was loved
and his redemption in that Love began to change the world.
Matthew 28:9
Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
Matthew 28
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
20 "And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Abba, Father,
God's Love
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Every day we work to believe the One He has sent us, Jesus.
Father GOD, bless, protect, guide and lead those who require a Savior.
Remember them in your Mercy.
Your overwhelming Mercy.
Dwell in us.
Help us to seek You first.
And we will finish well in Jesus Christ.
In Jesus we pray, Your will be done! Amen.
♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †
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