ARCC Sermons

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October 14th

The bible reading today is in Matthew 13 and Luke 8.

By the way friends, when I'm reading, I not only desire to see what God is doing, but I also love to especially remember God’s words through the prophet Isaiah...“My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose”

Is. 46

That’s so awesome!

Jesus only accomplishes what He sees the Father doing and accomplishing.

Let’s listen to Jesus again...“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”

‭‭John‬ ‭5:19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Father is accomplishing all His purposes in and through God the Son, the Lord Jesus. Let’s keep watching and listening, fellow followers of Jesus.

There is one thing from yesterday’s reading that I want to touch on before Luke 8. “After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.”

And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:1-9‬

Jesus said that this Roman centurion had more faith in Him than all who were in Israel. Jesus came to his own and his own received him not. How sad!

O friends, Jesus would see some Jews believe him. But the vast majority would not. However, that did not keep him from witnessing and preaching and teaching the gospel...which was the power of God unto salvation. May we continue to spread the gospel even if our own family members are hesitant to believe. Who knows, there may be a Roman centurion close by who is listening.

Now today’s text...“Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:1-3‬ ‭

Yes, Jesus was accompanied by women who believed and loved him. Every other Jewish rabbi refused to call women to follow them. Yes, the 12 apostles were men. They would lead in the establishment of the church. But Jesus invited women to follow him and serve in his ministry as well.

Our text today illuminates three women by name. Mary Magdelene from the dark side, Joanna from the House of Herod, and Susanna and many other women who provided for Jesus from their own substance.

The other rabbis assigned women a very inferior place. It’s interesting to note that in all four gospels, all of Jesus’ enemies were men. And let us remember that Mary Magdelene and Joanna were among the first witnesses to Christ’s resurrection.

Men and women following Jesus and bearing witness to Him and the gospel from full and glad hearts.

Lord thanks for adding us to that number!

Have a great day!

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October 13th

The bible reading today is in Matthew 12:22-50.

Jesus is in Jerusalem. The reading today is another window into the conflict between the religious leaders of Israel and Jesus. We are going to look through one window.

Before today we have read that the ark of the covenant was not in the Temple. The Urim and Thummim of the High Priest’s garments were not in the Temple. The Shekinah glory was not in the Temple. The Holy fire from heaven was no longer in the Temple.

Jesus said that He was greater than the Temple. He was saying that the things missing from the Temple were just shadows and types pointing toward the coming Messiah. Jesus was saying that He was the Throne of the Presence/the Ark...that He was the very Presence of Yahweh...that He was the High Priest that would deal with sin and death by bringing mercy and grace. Jesus was saying that the Holy Fire of God’s judgment was upon Him for the salvation of guilty Israel.

He was saying that He was the Messiah. And the religious leaders rejected His message and His works. And were plotting to kill him.

Jesus performed miraculous works on the Sabbath. And He was condemned by the religious leaders. Jesus quoted the prophets and said, “God requires mercy over sacrifice/ritual...” Jesus went on to say that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the sabbath like the Pharisees taught.

Yes, a battle royal was heating up in Jerusalem...not by the pagans, but by the religious Israelites. Not good and not God.

Then Jesus cast out demons and it was spectacular. But instead of giving him any credit, the Pharisees charged that His work was really Satan. Then Jesus proved it wasn't Satan and brought truth to bear...“But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12:28‬ ‭

The pressure is on you, Pharisees. If you are right, you're no closer to the Kingdom of God, because the devil you oppose has won. But if you are wrong, then you have missed the Kingdom of God altogether...

Wow, Jesus...I'm believing You more today than ever.

Have a great day

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October 12th

The bible reading today is in Matthew 11.

“Now when John the baptizer heard in prison about the “deeds of the Christ”, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11

The news of the deeds of Jesus spread far and wide. Even inside the fortress of Machaerus, east of the Dead Sea, where John the Baptist was imprisoned. John the Baptist knew that he was sent by God to bear witness to the coming Messiah, the Christ.

Earlier in our reading, we learned that John baptized Jesus in the Jordan. He also told his own disciples that Jesus was the Messiah...that he was the Lamb of God that had come to take away the sin of the world.

But now John is sending some of his friends to ask Jesus an important question: “Are you the One?” “Or do we look for another?”

Had John lost faith in Jesus? Perhaps he did for a time. Haven't we all...? But maybe he was sending friends who were struggling. Perhaps John taught them the prophecy about the works of the Messiah and then sent them to be with Jesus for a while...to hear him, but more importantly, to watch him as he lived. Then ask the questions.

“And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:4-5‬ ‭

Jesus was telling John and his friends that Isaiah’s prophesy was being fulfilled in him. He was telling them that he was the Messiah. But he was also telling them that his power would be displayed mostly in humble acts of service, meeting individual needs, and not in spectacular political deliverance, like most Jews thought the Messiah would do.

And Jesus would finish his answer to John’s friends like this... “blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭

Who does the blessing belong to? One who can be left in prison. One who can be silenced in his testimony. One who can seem to be deserted by his Lord...And yet still believe and hush every doubt. And who was that?

John...the baptizer...the martyr...Jesus and his cousin...in thick and thin.

Have a great day!

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October 11th

The bible reading is in Matthew 8:1-13 and Luke 7.

“When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8:1‬

From yesterday’s reading, we remember that a multitude of people made their way up the mountain to here Jesus teach. I can just imagine the excitement in the lives of those who have heard him and considered him Messiah.

So it does not surprise us that great crowds followed Jesus after he came down the mountain.

This first verse of chapter eight speaks of a “great crowd”. Some say that translates as a few hundred. Others propose that it means at least over a thousand people from the region followed. We will read later in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John that Jesus fed five to fifteen thousand people on a hillside. So even a thousand count may be low.

The crowd was “noteworthy” for sure. Why the little town of Capernaum nearby only had around 1,500 people itself. So the townspeople would certainly remember the day that it was engulfed with that many visitors from near and far.

But the headliner that day was not the crowd, it was the carpenter from Nazareth...Jesus! People came to see and hear this One. Jews were whispering, “Could he really be the One...could he really be the Messiah so long awaited for?

“And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8:2-3‬ ‭

This man could not live in the city. Leprosy made him despicable, shameful, contemptible, and most hated. So maybe he lived in the mount and there on the far fringe of the crowd he heard good news from a gracious voice to his heart.

Leprosy was a horrible disease that disfigured the face and body of its poor victims. From as far back as Moses, Jews forbade lepers to live within the camp. Contact with them would make the Jew unclean and not qualified to participate in congregational worship at the Tabernacle.

So not only was this man dying, he was dying alone, without hope. This desperate seeker came to worship Jesus, and request of him help for his hopeless condition.

Jesus stretched out his own hand and touched the needy man. Was Jesus afraid that the disease would infect him? Apparently not...Jesus could see the Father working. And so he would join him by ministering to the man personally.

Reminds me of another verse...“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:45‬

Jesus gave his life away every day to ransom and redeem men, women, and children everywhere he went. O Lord empower us to do the same.

When asked if he would help, Jesus gave words of hope for his soul and power for his body...“I will be cleansed”

Perhaps the Lord will use us this day to give hope and empowerment to those he brings our way in Jesus name!

“What a Savior is Jesus, my Lord...”

Have a great day

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October 10th

The Bible reading today is in Matthew 5-7...Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.

“Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain”,

Early in Jesus’ earthly ministry, word of His teachings and His miracles traveled fast around Judea, Samaria, and Galilee...and beyond. Crowds of people sought him out. Most were at least curious. But many of began to believe him and to follow him and the twelve.

Jesus would choose twelve as apostles to eventually be sent out with the gospel message as missionaries and church planters. But for now, the 12 stayed with Jesus wherever he went.

We read that Jesus saw the crowds and went up on the mountain (just outside of Capernaum). We shouldn't assume that Jesus was trying to dodge the multitudes. More than likely he knew that it would be better to address the crowd on the mountainside, so he led them there.

By the way, according to the gospel accounts, Jesus would often retreat to a mountainside for conversations with the Father. He desired that “alone time”. But today, from earth’s housetops, Jesus was teaching anyone and everyone on the mountain.

“and when he sat down”, his disciples (the crowd of seekers and believers) they came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them...

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:1-2‬ ‭

On a mountain outside of Capernaum, Jesus would often retreat for conversations with the Father and the Spirit.

Please let me take a side road for a moment...Some have called the Rabbi “the lonely”, as though his singleness meant that he was truly alone and that we should try to understand that burden that He bore.

Yes, in his humanity, Jesus felt all that we feel. But, Jesus was far from alone. The Father and the Spirit were right there in constant fellowship with him and he with them. And so Jesus taught “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Who are the beneficiaries of the gospel? The Poor in Spirit...those who “finally recognize” that they can “never” afford eternal life. They “finally admit” that they cannot earn eternal life...the poor in spirit “finally confess” that they need someone who has what it takes to get eternal life for them. The poor in spirit will “finally hear” the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ...and hear it they will...all the way down to the depths of their souls.

And the poor in spirit will not only hear the gospel of Jesus, they will embrace it...embrace Him...run toward it...run toward Him...and believe it...believe Him...with utmost joy and gladness...For “their’s” is the Kingdom of heaven!!! Praise the Lord!

What else did Jesus say on the mountain that day?

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Who else will experience the joy of the Lord? The meek will.

Who are the meek? The slow to anger...those who yield their rights to God and leave the results up to Him. Who is the Meek One? Jesus. Slow to anger and quick to forgive and show mercy to those who offended him unjustly. Jesus, as the Lord of hosts, had the right to call 10,000 angels to his defense at the whipping post. Jesus had the right to call angel warriors to his aid during the shameful bloody walk with the cross through Jerusalem. Jesus, greater than the fire claiming Elijah, certainly had the right to call down fire upon the self-righteous and murderous religious leaders who played their part in his suffering.

And when Jesus hung on the cross, he had the right to call on the mighty Holy Spirit of power to lift him up so he could breathe through the pain. But he didn't...The Meek One yielded his rights to the Father and left the results up to him...which meant death that day and resurrection glory on the third.

The “meek ones” are those in Christ...and being one with Him, they, we, have the spiritual power to yield our rights when offended and give forgiveness and mercy instead of anger and retribution.

And how does that meekness benefit the Jesus followers? They are counted among those who inherit the “new earth” that is apart of the prophesied new heaven to come! Halleluiah!

And what else did Jesus teach that day on the mountain? Well, that’s the rest of the story...enjoy

Have a great day

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October 9th

The bible reading today is in Matthew 12:1-21, Mark 3, Luke 6.

“Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, “so that they might accuse him”. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “ Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭3:1-6‬

Jesus was back in Capernaum, His home between mission trips. And it’s the Sabbath. And Jesus was there in the synagogue along with some scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem. Oh, and there was a man there with a withered hand.

Because we know the end of this account, Jesus proved that He was at synagogue to worship. The national Jewish leaders from Jerusalem were not.

They were there to sit in the chief seats of recognition and judge Jesus for whatever He said or did so that they might accuse him. The religious leaders watched Jesus closely. But it wasn't in love...it was an investigation with hate at the core.

Jesus saw the man with the withered hand at synagogue. And he reached out to him to help him. Jesus knew that the hypocrites in the chief seats would accuse him of breaking the Sabbath if he helped the crippled man. But Jesus helped him anyway. And then Jesus publicly exposed the self-righteous loveless heart and soul of the Pharisees.

Those guys were used to “doing the exposing”. Today, God was doing it to them.

But instead of humbly confessing their sins and repenting of their wickedness, they left synagogue with one mind...to destroy Jesus.

And then we read about the righteous, selfless anger of Jesus toward these Pharisees. Later Jesus would call them “the blind”...the blind leading the blind.” They were choosing their man-made traditions over God the Son...and then teaching God’s people to do the same.

This is one of the few places where Jesus is described as having anger. It was righteous. He was angry at the hardness of their hearts.

Did you notice how Jesus commanded the man with a withered hand to “stretch out his hand”? It was paralyzed forevermore. Jesus was commanding the man to do something impossible for him to do.

Which meant that “God” would have to enable the man to do such a thing. The God who commanded it would be the God who enables it. Halleluiah!!!

Friends, when Jesus commands us to do something that seems impossible for us to accomplish, let us remember the man with the withered hand...God Himself will enable “us” to obey.

So let’s go for it. Stretch out that hand of faith in Him! “O Lord enable us to trust You...Your voice of the Spirit...Your word in the Bible...especially when Your assignments seem so out of our reach...so out of our comfort zones. Thanks, Jesus...

Wow...another live illustration of how much better Jesus is.

Lord, You don't just tell us what to do...You empower us to do it! No other god does that!

Have a great day.

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October 8th

The bible reading today is in John chapter 5.

“After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.”

‭‭John‬ ‭5:1-2‬

A multitude of very sick and afflicted people gathered around the pool of Bethesda in the city of Jerusalem, especially during feast times. It could have been Passover, it could have been Pentecost, or it could have been the feast of Purim. Whichever one it was, thousands of Jewish people were in the city...including Jesus and His disciples.

Surrounding the great multitude of impotent people at the pool of Bethesda was a greater multitude of Israelis awaiting the angelic appearance at the House of Mercy...or pool of Bethesda.

The people were looking to the pool or house of grace and mercy for their help or their salvation from any number of maladies. Yet they were about to see grace and mercy, not in the pool, but in the person of Jesus...the ultimate healer.

Something greater than a visit from an angel was about to happen.

“One man was at the pool who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭5:5-7‬ ‭

What hits me in that dialogue?...“Sir, I have no one...”

What a sad statement. ”Sir, I have no one...” “I have “no one” to help me into the pool, should the angel come...“I have no one, human or angel, to save me from this miserable existence.”

But soon the invalid would realize that this day “the One” he needed was there with him. Jesus “saw” this man and his hopelessness.

When someone would ask this man how long he had been waiting for his miracle, he probably said, “...for a long time.” But after Jesus met him and healed him, his “long time” sigh most surely turned to, “I'm so glad Jesus stepped into my “for a long time”...He changed everything!

“Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.”

‭‭John‬ ‭5:8-9‬ ‭

“Get up...and walk”...was the same powerful statement that Jesus would use to address Lazarus, lying dead in his tomb.

Lazarus would rise and walk out of the tomb alive. The lame man...the paralyzed man that Jesus addressed stood to his feet and walked...completely healed...with a story to tell.

That was and is me...spiritually lame, halt, blind, and completely helpless. I could not save myself. But Jesus chose me among the multitude of needy people. I didn't deserve His attention. I didn't deserve His salvation. He just gave it to me and immediately I wanted Him. Immediately I could see Him, and immediately I ran toward Him on spiritual wings of forgiveness and faith.

How awesome the lame man must have felt. How awesome you and I in Christ felt at our conversion to Jesus.

And how awesome we may feel... every day... knowing that the “pool of grace” in Jesus, in which we stand, will always be more than enough for our “long time” seasons of sighs.

Have a great day.

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October 7th

The bible reading today is in Mark chapter 2.

“And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭2:1-2‬

Jesus had been traveling through the Galilean region. In that region, a leper came to him. And unlike others, Jesus ministered to him with compassion. In fact, Jesus ministered to him in power.

That leper knew rejection and cruel inhumane treatment from everyone. He probably expected it from Jesus too. But he had heard of the miracles done by his hand and he was desperate. Jesus reached out His hand and touched him and said...”I am willing...be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left the diseased riddled man.

At this point in Christ’s ministry, crowds began to gather to hear him teach and preach with a hope of seeing a miracle. Today Jesus is back home in Capernaum, the headquarters, you might say, of His three-year earthly ministry before His crucifixion and resurrection. Christ’s fame had spread in every direction. Jesus attracted crowds wherever He went. And it was no different in Capernaum.

Jesus preached the word to the overflowing crowd at his house. Mark doesn't tell us what Jesus preached. He simply emphasized the preaching ministry of Jesus.

It seems to me that Jesus was avoiding the streets because they had been turned into a healing campaign venue. Everywhere Jesus went people besieged Him with requests for healing and the casting out of demons. Jesus healed many. But nothing would keep Jesus from preaching the words of God!

So we could say that Jesus took advantage of people‘s curiosity and while they gaped, He preached to them the words of life.

Next...“And friends of Jesus came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭2:3-4‬ ‭

These friends guiding the caravan of the paralyzed man believed Jesus. The four men carrying the paralytic believed Jesus. They so wanted this paralyzed friend to be made whole again. They believed Jesus could and would heal him. But they thought they had to get him into the presence of Jesus in order for Jesus to heal him. So they tore a hole in the roof and lowered the body of the paralytic to the feet of Jesus.

Those friends...that paralytic...they “believed” and they were “determined” to get Christ’s help. And what happened? Jesus healed him and told him to rise and walk!

That was great...But there was something greater that was going in here. Jesus acknowledged the faith of the friends and said to the paralytic, “Son, I forgive you if your sins.”

Is that the something greater, bro Jim? Forgiveness of sin? Well, that was great for sure. But who was the only one who could forgive sin? GOD!

Jesus was claiming to be GOD!

Wow...now that was something greater than all...greater than anything! Praise you, Jesus...Thou art worthy of all of our worship, adoration, and service.

Have a great day

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October 6th

The bible reading today is in John chapters 2-4.

Jesus had lived on the earth for 30 years and had worked no miracle. There was the hiding of His power. He had lived and worked with His parents and brothers and sisters in Nazareth. Basically, Jesus lived a normal boy to young man life. Including, taking care of His mother after His dad’s death.

Now He has broken through the obscurity and has begun his ministry by performing a miracle, turning water into wine at a wedding celebration.

“On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭2:1-6

John is writing a sort of diary of the days of Jesus’ life and work...” on the third day” after the calling of Nathaniel to follow Him, Jesus and His disciples went to a wedding in Cana of Galilee.

In Jesus’ life, every day had its work. Every day had its glorifying to God. Every day had its blessing to those about Him. With Jesus, there was never a lost day.

Every day, walking in a love relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit and His family and friends, was an adventure to be marked...to be noted... by “His” truth and grace.

May the Lord work in us in such a way that our relationship with Him will be notable “everyday”... for love and blessing toward others, “to His glory”.

There are a couple of things about the setting for the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry that catches my attention. First, why not Jerusalem where thousands of people could have seen Jesus break upon the scene as a miracle worker? Why did God choose an obscure little town, like Cana, with maybe 100 people, to introduce His son in supernatural power?

I’m reminded of something the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth that helps me answer my questions...“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:26-29‬ ‭

God could have chosen the capital city of Israel to begin His son’s kingdom campaign. But...“it just wasn't His way”.

King Jesus was born in a stable, in a little nowhere village...to just plain hard-working people.

He grew up in a little place called Nazareth. Remember what the Jewish religious leaders said about that town?...“Can anything “good” come out of Nazareth?”

And now we read about the beginning of His ministry and how it took place in a poor little back settlement of Cana, “in Galilee of the Gentiles”...right off the bat, Jesus ministers to Jews and Gentiles. Interesting.

And by the way, at the end of His earthly ministry, He said to His disciples...“Go ye into “all” the world and make disciples...”

So Cana...really...? God would choose the foolish place...the weak place...the lowly place to exalt His Son, Jesus.

May we never forget that God’s ways are not our ways. He will always choose the way that keeps man from boasting in himself rather than in the Savior God.

Another interesting thing about the setting that interested me in the reading.

Jesus came to a wedding not too many days after His 40 days of fasting and temptations in the wilderness.. Perhaps the most strenuous, disturbing, conflicting time in Jesus' ministry prior to the Garden and Gethsemene. Who would have thought that the “holy man” would have been a good fit for a party?

Jesus was invited to a wedding celebration...the biggest party thrown in a poor little town.

Jesus and the first five disciples came. Perhaps Jesus knew them from boyhood, perhaps Jesus had already recently ministered to the bride or to the groom and impressed them, all the way to their hearts, with His message of the gospel.

But however He got there, Jesus was the Savior in the midst of people celebrating a special time in their lives. He was not only honoring the couple and their families, Jesus was honoring the God-given institution of marriage.

And little did they know that their wedding party would be “saved” by a miracle. A miracle by a carpenter from Nazareth. This son of Mary...this son of God...this son of man who was sent by God “into the midst of men” with a message of love and life that would far exceed the hope and joy predicted for the newlyweds.

Thank You, Jesus...You did life with people...for the sake of the gospel and the salvation of souls...as well as weddings.

Help us to not weary in well-doing, Lord...for Your glory and the sake of the gospel.

Have a great day