Tough reading on this episode, but we get through it and find encouragement and hope in what the Lord Jesus had to tell his disciples as he finished sending them off. 

Tonight we read the details Jesus gave the disciples concerning the mistreatment they would face as they went through Israel and gave the commission for which He sent them. We concluded that standing firm to the end was a message for the disciples at that time, and an encouraging promise for them and not a threat to our right standing with God through the work of Jesus Christ. 

The Lord offers his first commission to His disciples in this reading. We discuss what was unique about this first commission, what message they were supposed to carry and miracles they were to provide. This episode helps setup the context for the remaining instruction the disciples would receive. Jesus finishes with this - be innocent. Don't get entangled in improper places and behaviors. 

Maybe nature to our flesh, or perhaps nurtured legalism but it can be very easy to read the things Jesus had to say to the people He was talking to in the time period He was talking to them and assume that He was meaning to continuously reprimand us for some recent behavior. In this reading we see Jesus give the invitation to those who are willing to join Him in the harvesting of followers and we discuss how we believe Jesus is often comforting those he was speaking to and inviting them - not threatening and discouraging them. 

We continue our reading through Matthew chapter 9 and see Jesus, between miracles, having time for the people who came to Him. It reminds us that He always has time for us while challenging us to find time for those around us. We call these "divine interruptions" and they are gifts even though we often think of them as nuisances. 

Tonight we where Jesus told those questioning Him that His disciples were practicing a new wine - they weren't putting new patches on old clothes (mixing what Jesus had to bring with the old covenant) they were having a relationship with Him - the Father. We conclude with an affirmation to the children that all they did to be children is be born. After having been born they are always my children, no matter what. 

The theme for the next few episodes - Jesus is kind to those who can recognize faith in Him as their source, and he is more challenging to those who want to rely on their own righteous efforts. Tonight we explore this as Jesus is criticized by the religious leaders for eating with sinners. 

I had a great conversation with a friend tonight, he was very skeptical of healing. I understand why someone would be - we don't always get the healing we want and it's far easier to conclude that God no longer heals then it is to conclude that we lack the faith to receive. We are not claiming one or the other in all circumstances just that when you, and those around you have great faith and act on it the bible records Jesus as responding to this type of faith. Tonight's well known story about the paralytic is no different. 

In this chapter we find ourselves reveling when we consider the miraculous powers of Jesus and consider that our best option is to respond in faith. 

One word can have a lasting effect. It's one reason we should choose our words wisely and with thought. If our words offer encouragement then they can change the course of a life. In this episode we discuss the power of Jesus' one word to heal followed up with a discussion as to why it was not wise or well thought out to tell Christ, "I will follow you wherever you go." When I was a child (maybe 7 years old) I once told my Dad I could run faster than his truck - he raced me down the street and I lost bad. I learned I wasn't as impressive as I thought. Jesus uses this tact as well.