Matthew 12:14-21 ~ until He brings justice to victory

 

God would choose His Son to be born to an unwed mother in harsh conditions. To live this life.

When Christmas is not the Happiest Season of All.

We look in the Bible to find God walking the realities of this life. Jesus tells us life is Joy and gives us situations to know and remember when life is in difficulty.

Mary isn't home, she is traveled roughly and is in a barn. She is in Bethlehem with a hoard of travelers competing for food.  The Shepherds would go home. Joseph is now faced with presenting Jesus in the, "Temple in Jerusalem," with his betrothed, not yet his wife. Answering a dream from God.  Next, the Magi will explain great danger to him.

The King of Kings has seen trouble and lived to overcome.

Matthew 12:14-21

14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the 

Prophet Isaiah [42:1-3]:

 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,

my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.

I will put my Spirit upon Him,

and He will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

He will not quarrel or cry aloud,

nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets;

a bruised reed He will not break,

and a smoldering wick He will not quench,

until He brings justice to victory

Let's open our Bibles and find the time Jesus said, 

"Not today - you don't count - come back tomorrow - not Youuu, oh gosh, no."

Jesus wasn't a sidewalk hack or a temperamental star.

And Jesus could be relied upon to be unique. God's Exact Nature. Yes, He healed them all.

And yet. And yet. And yet. One day.

Jesus said - you don't really count.
Another day - Jesus was too busy to go to a friend.

I remember a lot of miracles, the ones written about in more than a few sentences. Yet, that small phrase "healed them all". Sometimes Scripture says they sought to touch Him & not just Jesus reaching out. Sometimes He physically touched them, and it also says merely, "He healed them all."

The age: slavery, war, destruction, highway robbery, people born blind & the parable of the Good Samaritan - this was a difficult time.

Not just the people who were deaf, blind, ill, but the sorrow of the people who had seen difficult things happen to loved ones. Children who died, loved ones who died in childbirth, people who were well and suddenly died of fever. There are plenty of stipulations in the Bible for the fatherless and the widow.

The hopeless, the fearful, the lonely & the cut to the quick.

These people who found Jesus had put aside the everyday of life, they sought Him. Jesus didn't stay to quarrel, debate the Pharisees, shock, anger, and create a stir - - -

Jesus - from time to time - said, "No."

No? Surely, Jesus repaired the bruised reed. Jesus rekindled the flickering flame, the light became a torch. Jesus gave hope & mercy to the word - justice.  Jesus didn't select a few, the light of Jesus Christ is for all.

Jesus stood and was asked by the disciples to get rid of the woman, to whom He said, "No."

Matthew 15

22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, 

“Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

23 Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came to Him

 and urged Him, 

“Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

God being God says what God would understand the best.

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

The disciples came from, largely, Capernaum. A city created rather recently due to the need for food and goods by the Roman Empire. The Disciples knew gentiles and had argued for the Capernaum Centurion. NO WONDER why the disciples wanted the Canaanite woman swept past.

Aren't we glad the Holy Spirit never swept past us and left us wondering. 
Nasty ol Goy. Om. That's us. 
Shabbas goy. Gentile — goy·ish adjective, sometimes disparaging.

Funny of God when HIS mission statement is to save the World. 

What is Jesus doing saying "NO." God doesn't need to prove all the time that He is good. He is a Monarch. 

The woman Expected Jesus to do Good. She expected Him to be the "Helper."

The woman came and knelt before him. 

“Lord, help me!” she said.

He replied, 

“It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

This is justice to the Gentiles - who never did help Israel. Jesus does Not owe her.

She does not retreat from seeing Jesus as merciful.

“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. 

“Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

This Canaanite woman might have read about David. David routinely got into trouble. And the less loving prophets like Gad would come in to predict something Terrible. David would say, "Let me fall into the hands of God. He is merciful."



Mostly, no parent in the world, wants their children to have to beg them. Unless, That Parent knows a valuable lesson will be learned. He expects their heart to teach others. Jesus is returning the favor of her trust.





 

28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” 

And her daughter was healed at that moment.

We learn. Jesus intended us to.

1. Jesus does not owe us.

2. He feels free to say, "No.".

3. Jesus trusts people. The very point of Christmas - God the Almighty holding up the Universe with the power of His Word, gives His Son. And in Celebration, we receive the infant Jesus in hope and trust every year. God Believes we will want His Love and Salvation.

4. Jesus especially trusts people who trust Him for solutions and miracles. 

5, Jesus, just like His Father, wants His People to Expect Good from Him. The Ten Talents.

6. Jesus once told us the story of the persistent woman with the Judge. Jesus expects to answer those who keep asking.  He forgives us for thinking He is the disinterested and self-interested Judge. Busy Judge. 

Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

7. Jesus doesn't expect us to treat Him as a waiter. The woman of faith knew Him to be Sovereign.

Abba, Father,

Jesus gave His Father

a new Heaven and a new earth.

We know God heard Hannah. We know God helped Judith,

Deborah.

Jesus fills His life with the lowly and unlikely. 

Mary Magdalene, His own mother Mary,

we see recorded, later, in Scripture, His aunts, the Samaritan woman,

and the Phoenician woman. Jesus was changing the world, 

Bishop Barron points out, Eve to Ava.

The daughter of Jairus, only just a girl child.

The prayers of the unlikely were heard.

Thank You, Jesus Christ Lord. 

For answering our prayers. 

We will Trust in You. Amen. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You Lord Jesus 

John 2:1-22 ~ the Word Jesus has spoken

Lithostrotos Museum Israel - Pottery from the time of Jesus found in Jerusalem

Road begins in Cana and goes to Nazareth, Vintage Photo

John 2:1-12

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 

² Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. ³ When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 

⁴ And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶ Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. ⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.”

So they took it. ⁹ When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom ¹⁰ and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” <sup>1

1</sup> This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

¹² After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

Vintage photo of Capernaum

Synagogue and Peter's House in Capernaum

For Bible believing Christians, this passage of the disciple bearing witness to these things of Jesus, who has written these things and knows His testimony is true - is pretty familiar. Especially if you were raised in Sunday School or Parochial School. So familiar, they become words on a page.

Don't let the words stay on the page. I realized today when I read of Jesus, I see Him surrounded by people. Not saints in robes, but people you'd know from High School and College and Church. These are flesh and blood people. The kind of people you like to be with. And Jesus is warm. Laughing. He is at a wedding.

When you read the Scriptures, remember to set your table. Meaning - when it is a Holiday (Holy Day) your table is set. When you read the Scriptures, give yourself time to think of the the warmth of Israel. The texture of the jars. If they were warm to the touch. People filled them. Place yourself with Jesus.

And remember with joy. We Love the LORD. Jesus' first sign isn't just the Joy of the LORD that He would make wine (to make our hearts glad)

Jesus' first sign as God

He listened with patience and kindness to a woman (us - who do His will) asking Him to care and to provide.

Genesis 27:28

May God 

give you 

of heaven's dew 

and 

of earth's richness

an abundance of grain 

and new wine

Psalm 100

4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving

and His courts with praise;

and

give thanks to Him

and

bless His name.

Matthew 13:1-58 

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 

And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path"

What we do with our time and our lives. Our words, even the words after words spoken. Reclaimation. Renewal. Redemption. Living the real life. Doing our best. Sowing seeds and trying to make wine from water. To live the adventure and the bouquet.

How much does God Love?

Luke 12:7

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

That is a lot of Love.

Abba, Father,

Life forever more.

Life forever more. 

When we have been there 10,000 years. Bright Shining as the Sun. Living in His Grace.

We would love to have and see and hope for more Heaven on earth. From our cares to the Love known of Father God in those we Love. Every day and every hair on our head. From what is at hand to the Nation, we want entrusted to our Father.

His Willing Blessing upon us to all the Beloved of His all surrounding the earth, the fullness of God,  hearing our prayers telling us never to lose hope. 

We ask for His Blessing for more Heaven upon earth.

The Nation to do very well to get past

this National Storm Christmas Week.

Your Mercy, Lord Jesus Christ!

In our Wonderful Jesus Christ,

 Amen.

Now to Father God, Who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 

to Him be glory in the church and 

in Christ Jesus 

throughout all generations, 

forever and ever.

 Amen.

The Mercy of Your Touch, Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

2 Corinthians 1 ~ Father of mercies and God of all comfort

 

2 Corinthians 1

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of mercies 

and God of all comfort

On Monday, we were out and about. We had lunch, and because we live in the 4th largest city in the USA, restaurants are crowded, crowded, crowded with the Merry Christmas Season.  I love the word, "Christmas."  And I looked at all the diners. Plenty of families in town. Kids home from school. In Houston, they have on flip-flops and Crocs right now (until national Storm Elliott arrives). The kids looked more pleasant, but the adults looked like they had lost friends, lost a job, lost their retirement. Weary. Weary, also, the first weekend in December in Victoria, Texas. Even apartments are about half full instead of bursting a year ago. Oil.

A few of our favorite things. Not, not, not sermons with a dire message of culture woes. I don't like them. However, few of us need to be jolly and bright when we are not. Not the hap happiest season of all Christmases. We need honesty and hope. We need Comfort when people are weary.

Ok, some hope. The people, Monday evening in the grocery store, looked pleased like Christmas. 

They had plans to make something tasty and give their beloved joy. Doing. We are good at doing. The Joy of Christmas is to give. Not necessarily shopping. The Joy of Christmas is to be filled with prayer, hope and Love for those we love. Hope. This is a season. And in being deliberate about what goodness we want to bring, to give, we will, will, will be encouraged. My family has squabbled this year. Fought. I can't make someone love Jesus. I can't give them my hope. Not even in my late 5th decade of life, do they feel I can be the one Pointing out their good path in life.  I'd been quiet. They were outrageously not. So, I spoke up and when I encountered beyond rudeness, I decided it was time for family ROAR time. More than peace that is just being quiet, we have to put the good path with those we love. We can't abandon the real path for nicey, just be quiet peace.  Sure you can be just quiet if a child is jumping on a sofa and coo how cute they are with the ice cream cone jumping on the sofa. However, if the path is detour to downfall, we have to all speak up.  1 in 4 families right now aren't getting along well. Surprise. Pandemic Brain. 

We've had so many Zombie Movies. Yeah. The sarcasm of tearing flesh. Entitled. The real Entitlement is speaking up hurtfully. Entitled to Emotional Abuse. No one should feel entitled to compel, plot, coerce and wallow in giving Emotional Abuse. What is putting on the adult underpants and getting on with this?  Rude and hateful people do not have the right to be abusive. In fact, if someone is going to want to tear you down. See the truth. They are not kindness, love and joy and their opinion is not relevant, is not Significant, can't be valued and we can't be where that path is downgrading.  We should not be brought down by those who feel entitled to compel, plot, coerce and wallow in giving Emotional Abuse. We have the choice to emotionally divorce ourselves from sadists. No more room to think upon this.  Instead, find what is good and lovely and think upon this.

We have to value people who want goodness of the Lord and the best for us. 

Jesus said, sometimes in life there are divisions. Jesus didn't get along with all the people. Life. Life is the Prodigal Son until we see our Father running to say, "Welcome Home, good and faithful. Servant. Friend. Beloved."

Our lives and people change in about 5 years. It's up to us to have good relationships with good health. Discount the sadist. We have had too many punch out movies. We do NOT need punch out verbal times. And there is vast study done on dealing with sadist bullies. We don't have to give them the joy of an argument. Bye. We do not have to value their remarks.  And we can love those we love and remember brighter days. How to end the argument, pshaw, bye!

And when our heart yearns for brighter days?  Pray all that Love to Bloom in Jesus Christ.

Jesus lived in a world and government when marriage was all sorts and types. Jesus did not provoke the argument. He didn't argue about marriage and the what this and what that. Jesus said listen to His Word. Jesus didn't let the conversation degrade to salacious. Linger on the details. Nope. Instead... Love and encourage the Light of Jesus in all mankind.  Obey His Word. Love the Lord our God with all your heart, mind and soul. Love yourself! Love others as yourself!

When Jesus said in Luke 19:43, days will come. We have to see, in troubled times, the Lord is with us. We have to believe, "Give us THIS DAY." The strength we will gain being those who want to see His Blessing. Who believe God is answering Prayers if we look with Love.  Recognize the time of your visitation from God.

When Jesus spoke of trouble, He said, you all don't believe the afflicted are bad people? 

Luke 13:4 

Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam 
fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in.

Rather, we are the Prodigal Son! We see and understand our Lord.

John 9:7

Then He told him, "Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam" 
(which means "Sent") 

So the man went and washed, 

and came back seeing.

Genesis 50:20-22

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, 

to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, 

as they are today. 

So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.”

 Thus he comforted them 

and spoke kindly to them.

So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. 

Joseph lived 110 years.

1 Thessalonians 3:6-8

Now that Timothy has come to us from you, 

and has brought us the good news of your faith and love 

and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, 

as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers, 

in all our distress and affliction 

we have been comforted about you through your faith. 

For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions

 that you were taught by us, 

either by our spoken word or by our letter.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, 

who loved us and gave us eternal comfort 

and good hope through grace, 

comfort your hearts 

and establish them in every good work 

and word

Hebrews 3:14 

For we have come to share in Christ, 

if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

Romans 10:1-21

Brothers, my heart's desire 

and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved

Abba, Father,

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to Agree in the Lord. 

Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, 
whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. 

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests 

be made known to God. 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, whatever is true, 
whatever is honorable, 

whatever is just, 

whatever is pure, 

whatever is lovely, 

whatever is commendable, 

if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, 

think about these things. 

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me

—practice these things, 

and the God of peace will be with you.

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, 
but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 

I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, 
having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, 

a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 

And my God will supply every need of yours 

according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Amen in Jesus Christ.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ 

be with your spirit.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus