Matthew 5:6 ~ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled

 

When we say Jesus is Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, we could give a millenniums and millenniums long historical search.  And what the heart and soul we have cries out to find is,

“Today, What is Jesus Saying to Me?”

I'd like to answer this for Edward and me, today. 

Several years ago, Edward and I set out on a long car, road trip, vacation one early, early Sunday morning. As we got several states away, we were about 10 in the morning. And every Church, we passed, seemed to be well tended and with a 'zero' capacity parking lot. And I pointed this out to Edward. 

The vacation car ride became tense. Edward would say, “We have another Church ahead of us.” We would become silent and watchful as a tennis match.  Either neither of us would not say a word, but sporadically, we would say, that Church parking lot had 2 cars. This happened for an hour. Edward finally cried out and said, The Deep South is Bible Country! Where is everyone! And it seemed to get better. And then a little better. And then a lot better by about 11 AM.

That night, we stopped in a Hotel, and we asked the dinner staff about our drive. To our relief of decades, the waiter laughed. Laughing was good... He said it's spring forward. Oh, My God. Thank You, God.  And the waiter added, this is the South. We like our Saturday and we Love our Sunday. 11 O'Clock is Church Time.  Good. Twilight Zone far, far, far away.

Today,

Since the Pandemic, we have heard about the pews being empty. And in light of the recent availability of barely veiled lies, schemes, mistrust, missing truth, lies by omission. Social media trolling rejoicing in blatant disregard for the feelings of others, to proclaim mob rule and get behind the one idea of knowledge, a cold to deliberately cold scheme. We are all aware of what is more politely called, “the divide.”

Good News.

In recent years, Ash Wednesday has become increasingly filled. Filled like Christmas. Dare you to find a parking space. Good News.  There are Heavenly Words for those seeking Life to build up to the Lord. Goodness. Mercy. Truth. Kindness. Hope.

Hearts and souls growing warm for the Lord and His Steadfast Love.

Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 
for they will be filled.

Jeremiah 31:25

 

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.

Psalm 107:9

For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

The Light shines, darkness has been overcome

Habakkuk 3:17 

Though the fig tree does not bud 

and there are no grapes on the vines, 

though the olive crop fails

 and the fields produce no food,

 though there are no sheep in the pen

 and no cattle in the stalls

The Light shines, darkness has been overcome.

Jesus has overcome the world.

Jeremiah 31:12

They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; 

they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD

--the grain, new wine, and oil, 

and the young of the flocks and herds. 

Their life will be like a well-watered garden, 

and never again will they languish.

Psalm 62:8

Trust in Him at all times, O people; 

pour out your hearts before Him. 

God is our refuge. 

Selah

Selah

When we say Jesus had 40 Miracles

or 

Jesus had 37 Miracles

The Good News, we are definitely not saying Jesus

healed 40 people

Let's say 41 Miracles!

The Crowd spontaneously Praises

Jesus for His Words, Ministry and Miracles

Luke 19:37-38

As He was drawing near

—already on the way down the Mount of Olives

— the whole multitude —

of His disciples 

began to rejoice and praise God 

with a loud voice 

for all the mighty works that they had seen,

saying, 

“Blessed is the King 

who comes in the Name of the Lord! 

Peace in Heaven 

and Glory in the Highest!”

— Multitude —

The Historian Josephus

was a General in Judea,

after Jerusalem was laid waste,

Josephus looked at the accounting of the Temple

and wrote the History of the Jews

and Roman History

for 3 Roman Emperors.

The accounting of pilgrimages told Josephus

the Temple would have up to 16

Temple Ceremonies during

High Holy Days

the pew counts were obtained by the number

of accounting for animal sacrifices,

and the count of Jerusalem High Holy Days

as Good Friday and Easter

occurred on Passover

— was 2 Million Pilgrimages by the people, —

generally excluding children,

this is the definition

of the word

— MULTITUDE —

This Multitude

of 2 Million People

filled the Temple

to proclaim on Easter

The Bible agrees

and during the Road to Emmaus,

the Disciples say all of Israel

knows of Good Friday

and the death of Jesus Christ.

— Multitude —

42 Miracles, Prophecy fulfilled

Luke 1

“Glory to God in the highest,

    and on earth 

peace among those with whom He is pleased!” 

43 Miracles

Mark 6:56

— Wherever He entered —

into 

villages, cities, or in the country,

 they laid the sick in the marketplaces, 

and begged Him 

that 

they might just touch the hem of His garment. 

And

— as many 

as touched Him

 were made well —

44 Miracles

Luke 9:11

When the multitudes knew it, 

they followed Him; 

and 

He received them 

and 

spoke to them 

about the Kingdom of God, 

and 

— healed those who had need of healing —

Jesus taught part of John's 6th Chapter in the Synagogue in Capernaum. 

This relief of the Ark of the Covenant is found in 

Capernaum's White Synagogue.

This Synagogue 

was next door to the Large House

of Peter and Andrew and their extended family.

Their plaster walls show pilgrimage messages 

from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Century and later.

Their House became a Church.

Beautiful Stone work, columns of the late first Century

listing “Sons of Thunder, James and John” (on Capernaum's Synagogue)

45 Miracles 

Matthew 4:23-25

— And He went throughout all Galilee —

 teaching in their synagogues 

and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom

— And healing every disease and every affliction among the people —

 24 So His fame spread throughout all Syria,

 and they brought Him 

all the sick, 

those afflicted with various diseases and pains, 

those oppressed by demons,

 those having seizures, 

and paralytics, 

— and he healed them. —

— And great crowds followed Him —

from Galilee 

and the Decapolis, 

and from Jerusalem and Judea,

 and from beyond the Jordan.

 Psalm 122

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

    “May they be secure who love you!

7 Peace be within your walls

    and security within your towers!”

8 For my brothers and companions' sake

    I will say, “Peace be within you!”

9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

    I will seek your good.

The Jordan River 

begins on Mount Herman

from the snow

46 Miracles, 47 Miracles, 48 Miracles

Matthew 9:35

And Jesus went throughout 

all the cities and villages, 

teaching in their synagogues

 and 

proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom 

and healing every disease and every affliction.

Matthew 10:1

And He called to Him His twelve disciples 

and 

— gave them authority over unclean spirits, 

to cast them out, 

and to heal every disease 

and every affliction. —

Matthew 12:15

 Jesus, aware of this,

 withdrew from there. 

And many followed Him, 

— and He healed them all —

Miracle 49, Miracle 50

Luke 4:40

Now when the sun was setting

All those who had any who were sick with various diseases 

—  brought them to Him, 

and He laid His hands 

on every one of them 

and healed them. — 

Luke 6:17-19

—  And He came down with them

 and stood on a level place,

 with a great crowd

 of His disciples

 and a great multitude of people 

from all Judea 

and Jerusalem

 and the seacoast of Tyre

 and Sidon, 

— who came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases —

 And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.

And all 

the crowd sought to touch Him, 

for power came out from Him and healed them all.

Abba, Father,

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.

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 †

YES Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You Jesus

Nehemiah 8:9-11 ~ this day is holy; do not be grieved

 

How did we get from the New World, joyous discovery for mankind, to all types of death and illnesses?

How did we get from all this opportunity in History, of the New World, and intense bond servitude, actually slavery, of overpowered and sold children who would be worked to death or starve, practically complete certainty to begin the New World ... all the way to Benjamin Franklin?

How did history see the bounce of King Charles I, art and religion with the right of kings in England, 1649 AD, overthrown and killed, to end up with Oliver Cromwell, stockades for shaming and jail for celebration of Christmas?

How did the Holy Lands of God become without Peace? Jews, Christians, Muslims.

And what brought us from Shrove Tuesday, a wonderful and warm winter day tradition, to Mardi Gras? To the repentance of sin in Lent? That's a Bounce.

I have always loved the fellowship of Shrove Tuesday since childhood and parish elementary.  It's a great fellowship of warm goodness in chilly winter. A respite and shelter.

Then you have Mardi Gras, with over a century of krewes, asking all to celebrate Life. To find color in bleak midwinter.  See the possibility of the earth finding life and color again. History supports Mardi Gras being tame and raucous. The possibility of plague, eat and drink heartily, tomorrow we die. 

And people love the fun of fun. 

With Valentines kicking off the celebration of Ash Wednesday mortality in 2024. 

Now! That's truly Pandemic Recovery! Oh LORD! 

In the Episcopal Church, Church of England, Anglican Way,

We have the Alpha Course,

where no question is turned away.

The Word of God 

is Jesus.

God's Word made living, breathing,

healing

Love with mercy and compassion

without

compromising

the need

for Love to have

a Shelter

to rely on

with rules.

And when God speaks

this is 

THE LAW.

 

That being said, John 14, 15, 16, 17 is the longest recorded portion, and Jesus is speaking without going to the next person, city, event, teaching, healing and doing God's Will Immediately. Jesus tells us prayer is answered well, when we are aligned with Him in faith. And Jesus tells us again and again, Life is Joy. Jesus is about to die and He speaks way and well BEYOND the Ben Affleck, Matt Damon movie called, "Dogma."  Where the young Jesus isn't in The Temple and instead is begging - say it ain't so. It isn't at all Biblical. Promise.

Joy. Jesus speaks over and over about JOY. And Love.

Vineyards.

 Jesus is said to be an eater and a drinker. A glutton and a drinker, willing to sit and eat with the riffraff.  Vineyards? The New Testament has mention of Jesus' joy in visiting vineyards - Twenty one times. The Old Testament isn't far behind with 100 mentions. Jesus even compares Heaven to vineyard workers.  Outside, like the Garden in Genesis. Green and working the earth. Fruit. Joy. 

Paul spoke of wine and said add it to the water for health and purity.  

Jesus sat with His people and enjoyed being Himself. 

Facts are facts. Jesus is never recorded being drunk like Noah or Lot. Or Esau. His Family.  In the New Testament, we learn as the Church grew, drinking too much was addressed during Church dinners. 

Not Carte Blanche, but being in the world and not of the world.

Jesus went to parties. 

And with the criminal element, Matthew gave Jesus a party and his friends were those who caved in to the prosperity of the Roman Empire and typically gouged the Children of God and went home with plenty of bribes or till money.  Jesus went to weddings with His Family and the Disciples. His first sign is Making and Consuming Wine. His Mom asked Him to.

So, how did Jesus get mixed up with the Shrove Tuesday event?!

A little bit like 5 loaves and 2 fish - people fainting with need.

1 Kings 17:7-16

And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 

10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 

12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 

13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 

14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 

15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the Word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

What Did Jesus have to say if we could point to anything about Shrove Tuesday?!

We can see Jesus in this direction:

Luke 4:25-30

 And He said, “But in truth, I tell you, 

there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, 

when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, 

and a great famine came over all the land, 

26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, 

in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 

27 And there were many lepers in Israel 

in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, 

but only Naaman the Syrian.” 

28 When they heard these things, 

all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 

29 And they rose up and drove Him out of the town 

and brought Him to the brow of the hill 

on which their town was built, 

so that they could throw Him down the cliff.

 30 But passing through their midst, 

He went away.

This changeable nature of mankind.  Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. And the Steadfast Love God is yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

This is why 

Nehemiah 8:9-11

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, 

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” 

For all the people wept as they heard the Words of the Law. 

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 

11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, 

“Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.”

Shrove Tuesday

Heaven mirrors earth

Jesus spoke of Legions of Angels on Good Friday

as Luke 2 spoke of His Birth

Luke 2:14

“Glory to God in the highest,

    and on earth peace 

among those with whom He is pleased."

The Scriptures are honest

and true.

Peter was about to go

when and where the Saints go Marching In

Lent 

almost begins with a feast

And so does the Victory of Jesus

Proclaiming Life forever.

Widow of Zarephath

Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine 

and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, 

for this day is holy to our Lord. 

And do not be grieved, 

for the joy of the Lord 

is your strength.

Abba, Father,

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. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

YES Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You Jesus