Three Minute Thoughts

Jesus does a lot of things we're not expecting. One of those things is when he heals people he doesn't always do what they're expecting. In this case it's no different. Jesus heals people but from an illness they don't even know is a problem.

This is not a license to do evil. It's not a license to do wrong. Disclaimer over. Jesus does some powerful things and sometimes to accomplish those powerful things he needs to show that the way of the world isn't the way of God.

As Jesus finishes the sermon on the mount we see a few more examples of what a transformed life will actually look like. Can we tell people right from wrong? Do you really understand the golden rule? And why am I not getting what I asked for?

Jesus moves from the "not to's" and moves to the should dos. This means there are things we should be doing as followers of Jesus. But Jesus gives a pretty strong caution that's easy to miss.

Matthew includes a cool part of Jesus' life and teaching called the sermon on the mount. This chapter is the kick off for that very long and thorough teaching by Jesus. The point of this sermon is to set the world on its head.

Temptations are all around us. Eat a little more. Sleep in a little later. Just one more drink. Drive a little faster. Go with the crowd. Jesus shows us how to handle temptations of all sorts in this short lesson.

John the Baptist has a strange message about repentance. Turn from your wrongs and live a different kind of life to experience the Kingdom today.

So why was Herod so mean? Who were the wise men? Why does it matter?

Matthew's gospel is intentional in the way it is set up. We'll talk authorship and recipients in today's episode.

James speaks a lot about prayer and actively doing the things of faith. Check it out.