Matthew 9:1-8
And getting into a boat He crossed over and came to His own city.
2 And behold, some people brought to Him a paralytic, lying on a bed.
And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,
“Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”
—He then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
7 And he rose and went home.
8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
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We don't use the title headers of the Bible. This gives too much already handed out and given the summary over the Word of the Lord. If we don't use the titles, then one has to scan the text and grab what grabs their own heart and soul.
Each Chapter is carefully delivered, personally, by the Holy Spirit. We know He considers this Living and Active. The opening of Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 9 informs us, immediately, Jesus considers Matthew's Gospels Chapters of 8 and 9 as one continuous day of Ministry.
Matthew 8 has the people of the country of Gadarenes ask Him to leave. Which did happen to Jesus in several gospels, several times. Our Father considers the success of entering familiar Capernaum and the, ask politely for you to leave, “before” portion of Gadarenes as the same work. An interesting view of the ongoing Ministry of God. Perhaps Winston Churchill knew this quite well.
Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
— Winston Churchill
Rejoice! In This Chapter, Jesus sees the Children of God cooperating to Shepherd together!
Continuing on with the idea of Headers being the hedge clippers of more in-depth meaning,
if we had to have the titles, shouldn't we look to see what Jesus might have called the Healing of the Paralyzed Man?
v36 When He saw the crowds,
He had compassion for them,
because they were harassed and helpless,
like sheep without a shepherd.
One of the joys of seeing decades expand, finding echoes and memories of the past. Rejoicing when one sees the Victories. When I talk to people in the area I live, which is dramatically growing, no one is pleased or excited to see the giant timber falling to square buildings. And the people I know who have built commercially say it almost took bribes to get a building permit, when no real beauty is being planned. I pray every time I go down the highways of 'progress' someone will wake up and city management and planning will see meaningful life is where the Real Value of Life IS for future generation and even safety.
Sacrifice, in the planning, is not a virtue … even in Lent.
Today we are in Victoria, Texas. Where I love to be as spring appears. Apparently, springtime loves to arrive in Victoria first. The Sky is a beautiful color, matched by the green, emerald green of the grass. Giant Pecan Trees line the impressive River.
If the City Planners of Victoria, Texas could have a Biblical Verse, it would be Shepherds care for their Sheep.
Victoria has been here since the 1820s. Beauty was not swept up and killed by the 1960 uglies of Fox and Jacobs. Modern economy cropping out gracious comfort and joy. The downtown has planned to use what is older and to expand on new, using impressive architecture. The Churches are cared for. Well tended. Crowded on Friday Lent, probably for pot luck dinners. Sundays show full parking lots.
Even the old and sometimes abandoned industries look like they remember when The King Ranch was exporting most of the East Coast Cattle. There is History, here.
The historic district is vast and is not cropped to strident restrictions on older residents. No one is trying to be a carbon copy of the next. The exterior of the houses is cared for and thought about.
The newer houses have yards and side yards. The streets are content and peaceful. The giant trees are given great consideration and planned to stay and honor.
And there is not a monopoly on the industry of improving and loving older homes. Smaller cottages are showing revivals of love and care. The older housing is improving as the newlyweds and retirees begin to show flourish.
Going back to Industry, not so many Big Box Stores. There is a plethora of local owners, trying hard and, creatively, to have restaurants, fantastic nurseries, clothing, hobbies and arts.
Dallas proper City limits, at the beginning of the 1970s, started as a population of 75,000 people and ended at the LBJ loop. Victoria is, now, 65,000 and is a joy to see and remember. A reminder of Galveston and the talents of seriously interested in their community to prosper minded people. The Victoria massive USA Flags are a real indication of the hope for Community and Pride in peaceful achievement.
The USA is interested, currently, in Big Box Stores and the opinions of the Big Cities. Wow, what a community. We still remember when Cities didn't just put up square buildings and instead invested in the meaningful lives of what we bring forth. Let's see this remembered nationwide instead of accepting the grind of graceless, identity less boxes as some sort of new, modern identity. The Churches of the United States in the 1990s began to see Major Shifts in Major Denominations. And now we see major shifts in the States to leave and try again. Could be … the major cities will see this shift eventually.
Hang on to your Shepherds, beautiful smaller cities and towns. We need to see the Love Continue.
And remember, Chapter 8 of Matthew had the Holy Spirit deliberately combining Chapter 9 with Matthew's ongoing work. Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
Abba, Father,
You are
Help,
Helper,
Comfort,
Comforter
God of Love
God of Encouragement
God of Hope
In You,
we
RENEW
REDEEM
and
RECOVER
You are our Shepherd
You are our Gate.
Praise You, Father,
For the Gift
of
JESUS CHRIST,
Your Son,
Our Lord.
Our Salvation
Our Merciful Advocate.
Thank You.
Surely, He took on our infirmities
and carried our sorrows;
yet, we considered Him stricken by God,
struck down and afflicted.
But He was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace
was upon Him,
and by His stripes
we are healed.
We ask healing
of Your Good Creation
The fullness of the earth is Yours.
The healing of those we pray for
in our heart and soul.
in our heart and soul.
Dwell in us, Father,
Dwell fully in those we love,
Help us to seek You first
and we will finish well in Jesus Christ.
Thank You.
Our God is working. His Son,
Jesus is working.
Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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