Mark 6:1-6 ~ done by His Hands

Mark 6:1-6

He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.

And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5
 And he could do no mighty work there,
except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.

And he marveled because of their unbelief.

And he went about among the villages teaching.



Oh Little Town of... Nazareth
How still we see thee lie


What Jesus did living out the Gospels Jesus told us.


Matthew 7
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Briefly, let's say archaeologists have found a population of 480 people in the hometown of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas — mentioned as the brothers of Jesus in Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3.

Mary's family is not given the Biblical historical nod. Yet they returned to live there and Nazareth records the city saw them as perfectly blended.

Luke 2:51
And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

Nazareth re-built watchtower Isaiah referred to.

Rejection is something we will all experience.

How did Jesus do with the rejection of his hometown?

Thirteen times he is referred to - not as Jesus bar Joseph - instead Jesus of Nazareth.



Jesus is recorded as vacationing. Visiting with His disciples, seeing His mother and family for a week. Having His brothers tell Him to claim His Kingship. Almost being pitched off a hillside at Nazareth.

And with the rejections - Jesus - went Forth to Live Abundantly.

Matthew 4:13
And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtal

Epiphanius in his Panarion (375 AD) numbers Nazareth among the cities without Christians. No relationship to Christ.

Eusebius tells us this is because Constantine, under Diocletian, killed all the Christian great nephews of Jesus who refused to renounce Him. Eusebius (Church History 1.7.14), speaks of “Nazara.” In the same passage Africanus writes of desposunoi - relatives of Jesus - who he claims kept the records of their descent with great care.




Luke 18:37
They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”


Jesus healed Nazareth. Even when Nazareth was discredited in Jerusalem, in the Temple, among the Governing Body of the Temple, sneered as biblically of no account, Jesus never says "I'm Jesus of Capernaum."


2 Corinthians 5:7
For we live by faith, not by sight.

Romans 8:24
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?

1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.


Because Jesus healed them.
                          Nazareth was never lost to history.

John 10:11 
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.

John 17:19
For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.


Father God,

How well we remember Atticus Finch in Nell Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird." Surely Nell Harper Lee was really writing of Jesus. The Father who would uphold us to Goodness. To cover us in His Righteousness.

We welcome Thee Lord Jesus. Into the lives of our loved ones, the people we pray for, our concerns and theirs. Into our Churches and Communities. We lift up You and Ask You to dwell here and to heal our Nation. Blessing all Who Call upon Jesus. 

Help us Father God, to Live Each Day knowing we will Pass into Your Merciful Hands.

Our common Cause. Jesus. This is our Hope. This is our direction. This is a Call to Look To Him.

God sees us as we are. And His Reaction is Salvation in Jesus Christ.

Living with awareness. Gratitude,  Respect for Others. Seeing the Good. Remarking on the Good. Willing to Pray at all times and in all places. This Is Our God. Calling us to uphold and encourage each other. To work for the good of all men and call them precious in the sight of God.  Amen. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

John 14:6-10 ~ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

 

If we could sit and speak with people from the first century A.D. 

The 1st century would be astonished with our knowledge and ability to name the Prefect of Judea. Syria was just an outpost with a suburb.  Staggered - at our lack of intimate knowledge of the Roman Emperors of this period. When we think of building projects, we are largely at a loss to know building achievements of the building oriented Roman Empire. Instead, we know the names of fishermen, tax collectors and Jesus. We know the Colosseum was used for the persecution of Christians.

Coin of the Roman Colosseum,

minted with 70 s A.D. gold from Jerusalem.

The wisdom of the wise -  
The 1st Century would be completely and utterly astonished at the common knowledge our 21st Century labelled important. The winds of the Spirit create what really remains of History. Even today, in this Anno Domini year of Our Lord.


2 Corinthians 4:18
We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. 

For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

The Bible unites people far more than we realize. 

We pray more Heaven on earth - few of God's mankind would disagree.


Consider John 14, Jesus is telling the uncertain Disciples about what is important as Jesus still continues with the idea they will eat His Body and drink His Blood. 72 Disciples left over the idea God gets to decide and tell mankind His ideals.  Jesus chooses to tells us what He sees is important - His joy of the life God calls good as Jesus approaches His death.

Still uniting people.

John 14:6-10

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through me. 

When we see History - we see this:

 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. 

From now on you do know Him 

and have seen Him.”



9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. 

How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

 The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.

Hebrews 1:2-3

In these last days He has spoken to us by his Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power.

 After making purification for sins, 

He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High

Leading us to a universal prayer request of God

Abba, Father,

Romans 12

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 

With the

Gifts of God 

given to

All,

Father, we will use our lives

and opportunities

to this.

Thank You, Jesus Lord Christ of God.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

Psalm 28 ~ When I lift up my hands toward Your most Holy Sanctuary

 

Psalm 28

To you, O Lord, I call;

    my rock, be not deaf to me,

lest, if you be silent to me,

    I become like those who go down to the pit.

2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,

    when I cry to you for help,

when I lift up my hands

    toward Your most Holy Sanctuary.

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,

    with the workers of evil,

who speak peace with their neighbors

    while evil is in their hearts.

4 Give to them according to their work

    and according to the evil of their deeds;

give to them according to the work of their hands;

    render them their due reward.

5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord

    or the work of His hands,

He will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the Lord!

    For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield

    in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

my heart exults,

    and with my song I give thanks to Him.

8 The Lord is the strength of His people;

    He is the saving refuge of His anointed.

9 Oh, save your people and bless Your heritage!

    Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

We all face the Scriptures, understanding each Chapter is about the Christ of God. And we know David wrote at least 73 of the 150 Psalms. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain at least two more Psalms, interesting. David wrote Psalm 29 about 2 Samuel 21, then David wrote Psalm 30 about 2 Samuel 24.  We could pretty well guess, Psalm 28 is from David's life and soul. 

The Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow of Scripture in God's Living Word.

2 Samuel 18 is about David's battle with his son Absalom. David recovers from the loss of an infant and says God's Will is good. When Absalom's decision to take the throne from David by undermining all of David's good faith efforts for his son and then civil war, David is beyond consolation.

We could remember God's reaction to Good Friday.

Unlike Good Friday, the bloodied General Joab bursts in front of grieving David to demand the King behave with gratitude at the win.  If we must, we could say, Joseph of Arimathea demanded of Pilate's wife's dream, the completion of mercy to give Jesus' Body respectful burial.

 

The Family of God. Are the Believers of God.  The Children of God during the Exodus constantly behave like unsure and abused people, doubtful and afraid. And our Father asked from them to Trust Their God.

General Joab demands David not to sanctify his departed son Absalom. Probably, selfishly, for Joab's own actions, placing Joab's life on the line to rescue the Kingdom of Israel. 

Both of these eras saw extreme turbulence. 

We all have families! God knows how many He has seen of our generations. With MERCY!

Chris Stapleton reminds us of the hopes we have in a struggling era.

Charles Wesley said, "God buries His workmen, but carries on His work."

The Psalms remind us of all the Hope and Joy, with worry and Overcoming we can find in this life.

Today is the day. Give us This Day. The Psalms sink down, without any romantic notions of Discipleship. The gory and the Glory.

Matthew 11:28

Then Jesus said, 

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest."

Romans 10:9

 

If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, 

and shall believe in your heart 

that God has raised Him from the dead, 

you shall be saved. 

And the Psalms raise us up, to His Glory Today.

Abba, Father, 

Your Living Word, in Jesus Christ, does raise us up, to His Glory Today.

We see the exaggeration of fact used to sway opinion,

let us have Truth

Sincerity

Mercy

Compassion

and find the Benefits 

You Daily Load us with.

Your Power upholds the Universe

help us to live lives of Faith

the Disciples were not fired for their human failings

in Faith and Trust

they were made bold

and found the Joy Jesus tells us is available.

We grow weary.

Jesus finds the Good in us.

We are Helped.

Comforted.

Thank You, Father.

We pray for Turkey and Syria and send relief funds.

Pray for those who are awful, to find

the Lord and heal.

Believe when we see glimpses of

Healing

We will heal.

Praying Allergy Season will be merciful,

my front tooth Crown will repair swiftly.

We pray for all the Struggles worldwide

With peace, food, finances, mercy, wisdom,

Steadfast Love, Redemption,

Renewal,

for our Families,

Loved ones

and His Good Creation.

He Healed Them All.

Thank You, Father,

for Jesus.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus