Summer 2011 Bible Study: Week 1 Day 5

As I walk through the end of life with a young woman who I deeply care for, I find myself in an odd place today. Not only is this journey with my beloved friend rough, but it seems to come at a time in life when a lot of things are unsettled. I find myself emotional. I find myself asking more questions. I find myself face down, sprawled out on the floor blowing snot into the carpet, or better yet, in the McDonalds parking lot with a lovely snack in hand, Bible open, computer on the dash of my car, with tears streaming down my face but yet hidden by my sunglasses. Am I the only one who ever wonders what the Lord is up to? Am I the only one who has ever experienced loneliness that leaves you so raw it is unbearable at times? I wonder if I am the only one who has ever felt like they have given up everything for this so called thing called life, love and the pursuit of happiness… Sometimes I feel so much like a wall flower that I wonder if Jesus would even notice me if we were in the same room with people more attractive than myself. I am currently in a place of change in my life.

Things are changing, I am pregnant with our 2^nd child, I went from working in the corporate world for more than 6 years to full time ministry that is operates out of my home, I have now gotten a part time job at a local fitness club and my husband continues to work nights, but his schedule is never the same on any given month. Change leaves me unsettled. Not only are the exterior things changing but the Lord is changing the interior things as well. He has brought me out of some ugly pits that I have resided in for years. He has stripped people from me life that either push be back into those pits or are so far into their own pit they can’t see the sun light when they look up. People who have been consistent in my life, either for the good or the bad have faded out in one way or another. Sometimes I wonder if anyone would even notice my tear stained face, I am comfortable hiding behind sunglasses or water proof mascara, I prefer to cry in the shower or the car when I am alone. If everything and everyone really left, would HE, would Sweet Jesus, really be enough?

Lord, meet me where I am at. Come, Lord Jesus Come. Amen

We left off yesterday in the middle of Matthew 4, so turn with me to Matthew 4:12.

Take a minute to read Matthew 4:12-25

I think it is interesting that this is the passage we happen to land on while I am parked in the McDonalds parking lot with more questions than answers.

You see, the last time we hear about John was in Chapter 3, as he baptized out Sweet Jesus in the Jordan River. We know two things right off the bat, #1; we know that John has been put in prison and #2; we know that Jesus is on the move again! Jesus moves from Nazareth, his home town, to Capernaum about 20ish miles farther North. Capernaum because Jesus’ home base while he was ministering in Galilee.

Currently, right now, I am wondering why in the world would He just up and move? The last thing I want to do in my life right now is pack boxes, clean house and move. But I have comet o find out that He might have moved to get away from the opposition in Nazareth, or to have a greater impact on a greater number of people, as Capernaum was a busy town, or he could have moved to utilize the extra resources and people that would have been accessible in Capernaum and therefore His ministry would have more support.

But as we read one, we learn that the Word has made one thing clear, Jesus moved to fulfill prophecy.

Turn with me to Isaiah 9:1&2, take a minute and read it.

Once again, Matthew connects the Old Testament to the New Testament in verse 15 & 16. This is important because at the time, this connection was very helpful for the Jewish readers who were very familiar with the Old Testament. Not to mention, the connection shows us again that Jesus, is the One and Only Son of the Father.

Isaiah 9:1&2 states that the Messiah will be a light to the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, which was the region of Galilee where Capernaum was located. It is also important to point out that Zebulun and Naphtali were two of the original 12 tribes of Israel.

Now, for some reason, I can’t move past verse 17. I read it over and over.

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Notice the very first word Jesus began His ministry with… REPENT… I find it interesting that Sweet Jesus uses the same word John the Baptist used. Never the less, it is the one word that sums up my consist relationship with Jesus. If I were to say one thing about where I am in my love life with Sweet Jesus right now, it would be REPENT… I can’t seem to do it enough.

I also find it odd that in other areas of the Word, the term, “kingdom of God” is used, but here, I n Matthew, he uses the terminology “kingdom of Heaven”. The phrases mean the same thing, whoever, Matthew uses this phrase because the Jews, out of there intense reverence and respect, did not pronounce the name of God. Matthew uses the same terminology in Matthew 3:2.

So, Matthew 4:18-25 makes me a little emotional today. So, let’s take a few more minutes and read those verses again.

Here we are in the final verses of this chapter; it seems that Jesus is taking a stroll along the water’s edge when He notices two men fishing; we read on to see that Jesus says 11 words to them and they drop everything and follow Him. Something didn’t feel right to me. There has to be more. 11 words wouldn’t convince me to drop my everything and follow a man who happened to just be walking by. So, given that I am in a rather emotional state today, again with more questions than answers, I question… is there more here?

As I dig in a little more, I find out that in the Gospel of John, which we will spend some time in over the next 13 weeks, I learn that these men already knew of Jesus and possibly had already met Him.

Turn with me to John 1:35-42. Read these verses carefully.

John 1:35 tells us that the events within the next few verse happened the day after John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Now, if you are anything like me, I assumed that John the disciple was the same person as John the Baptist, but, after a rather embarrassing moment in front of a lot of other people, I learned that these were two different men.

So, we know that John the Baptist was arrested and put in prison the day after Jesus was baptized, because John the disciple who wrote the Gospel of John confirms that these events happened the very next day. And Matthew confirms that Jesus’ relocation and the events that followed happened after John the Baptist was put in prison. Are you with me?

So, the description of these events are more detailed within the Gospel of John, the events are the same. There was more to the story. I personally think it is perfectly okay to dig in and research the Word. This is how we get to know WHO HE IS, this is how we get to really Know Him. I love that the verses of John tell us that the men who followed Jesus questioned Him. They asked Him where He was staying. These men, became the disciples of Jesus, there was eventually 12 of them.

I love that Andrew believed what he had heard about Jesus and was so excited about it that he went and told his brother about him and brought him to Jesus. Andrew literally lead his brother to our Sweet Jesus, in the flesh! I love that His disciple, Simon came to know Him through his loved one.

I can’t help but think about how much relationship, real relationship, means to Sweet Jesus. People believe because we believe. People love because they were once loved. We believe the news because it is told to us on TV. Simon believed his brother .

I was lead to Sweet Jesus by my beloved college roommate and friend. She literally loved me to His feet. She loved me, and loved me, and loved me. She loved Him, so much so that her life was different. The way she spoke about Him was intoxicating. I wanted it. I wanted Him because I liked what I saw.

We are going to return to Matthew, and we are going to focus on verses 20 and 22. These verses tell us that the men who choose to follow Jesus left everything else behind. They even walked away from their family.

Hear me when I say, I am not saying that we should walk away from our parents, siblings, marriages or such to follow Jesus. But what I am saying is that I have come to understand that I am not the first one who has experienced external and internal change after an encounter with Sweet Jesus. I do know, first hand, that Jesus will remove things, people, places, or whatever He has to, in order to captivate the heart of His beloved – YOU –

Painful, yes… Rewarding, yes… Life changing yes…

The most painful part of my relationship with Sweet Jesus is the refinement that comes with repentance and obedience. But the most rewarding part of my relationship with Sweet Jesus is the intimacy and passion and love that comes during the process.

Matthew 4:23-25 tells us that Jesus was a teacher, preacher and healer. His teaching shows us is concern for understanding, He wanted those He taught to really KNOW Him, not just take His Word. His preaching shows us His commitment, He was passionate, excited, He spoke the truth to crowds of people, and He wanted to get His message out. Teaching and Preaching are two different things. In my opinion, teaching involves relationship and questions and answers and possibly debate, and preaching involves one person speaking while others listen. His healing shows us His concern for wholeness. Healing involves exterior healing and interior healing. Healing is proof that YOU KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW to be TRUE. I know the pits I have come from because I have evidence of the journey and I may have scares and I may have shed tears but I have experienced HEALING. PRAISE HIS NAME!

I never really knew what a synagogue was. I assumed it was a church type of building where lots of people gathered. I assumed it was a “Sunday Church Service”… well, I did some research and I have found out that most towns which had ten or more Jewish families had a synagogue. The building served as their gathering place on the Sabbath and as a school during the week. The leader of the synagogue was not a preacher as much as they were an administrator, means their job was to find and invite rabbis/teachers to come and teach.

Verse 24 tells us that news about Jesus spread all over. What this means to me, is that Jesus was on the cover of People Magazine and people wanted to know Him, touch Him, see Him and hear Him teach. Jesus was the first celebrity with a poparotsy issue. He was followed; He was followed by large crowds. His every move was being watched and people talked about Him around the water cooler, or well. He healed His people.

His ability to bring healing to His people brings me to tears as I walk through my beloved friends last days or weeks on Earth. I have watched her suffer; I know that healing means being taken HOME. I have also watched my Sweet Jesus captivate the heart of a woman in a way I have never experienced. I have witnessed the healing that comes when one is removed from a pit they use to call home and loved and prayed over and told the Truth. I have witnessed the Word change the heart of a woman. I have witnessed healing. I have been healed.

I cannot explain it, but I am a little less emotional than when I started writing to you today. I am a little more healed. I am a little more educated in His Word and I am more in love with my Sweet Jesus than I was before I devoured my McDonalds snack.

Before we close in prayer, leave a comment today, answer one of these questions, or both if you want. Were you like Simon/Peter, were you brought to Jesus by a loved one, family or friend? Have you experienced the power of our Sweet Jesus’ healing, either physically, emotionally…?

Lord, You are enough. Thank You for Your Word and the men who gave it all up to follow Your Son. Thank You for meeting me right where I am today. Thank You for the ability to get to know my Sweet Jesus more and more each day. I love what I have learned today, teach me more tomorrow. Amen.