Matthew 5: 1-12Jesus is teaching with his disciples close at hand. Teaching the masses, but also informing his closest friends and helpers. Jesus begins laying out the blueprint for what we are to be if we are to be Christ-like, Christ in a world that so needs the benefits of changed and transformed people.The poor in spirit. What is poor in spirit? To me, it's the person who has Christ and knows of our spiritual poverty if we are to draw upon ourselves and not God. It' s the person who knows... Read Full Story

Matthew 4: 23 - 25Jesus has called those who are following close to him. They have dropped everything to follow and with them at His side, their tasks begin. Jesus begins teaching, preaching and healing.He goes straight to where the people currently are going to learn and be instructed - the synagogues and starts preaching obviously in a way not heard of before. Most likely, He's telling them - the structured rules that are impossible to follow have been supplemented with His love and gra... Read Full Story

Jesus has heard that John was out of commission in telling the tale of repentance and the Kingdom of God. So, Jesus comes into his own, preaching and teaching the Good News to others. Once He starts his ministry, He builds His support team. He first finds two sets of brothers and calls them and they follow. They leave their jobs to take on the heavenly mission that Christ has for them.I think there are many pertinent facts to this that can be overlooked if you just read the story on the surfa... Read Full Story

(Matthew 4: 1-11 below)Jesus is baptized, God speaks His favor of the event and immediately, Jesus is carried into the wilderness. A little aside here....Have you ever noticed when you are really trying to do your best to follow Christ, the most ridiculous, trying, ungodly temptations, trials and stresses enter your life? Satan knows we often tie our feelings and emotions to our faith, and if the devil beats on us enough, he knows we might give up. Take heart, if the devil isn't trying to... Read Full Story

(Matthew 3: 13 - 17 below)As I had written in my last posting, people were all coming out to John, showing repentance and being cleansed by baptism. Jesus goes out to His cousin to get the same baptism. Isn't this peculiar when you think of it? God in the flesh who needs no purification, no washing, no cleansing asks for baptism - the outward sign of a cleansed heart that is willing to repent. Why did He do it? I think it was to show that although He was God, at this moment, He was a man,... Read Full Story

(Matthew 3:1-12 below)John the Baptist, First Baptist, no less....Sorry, couldn't resist. John was Jesus' first cousin. Nothing is said of their relationship prior to their adulthood. Sometimes I wish we had more fill in the blank info on the years not recorded in scripture. John and Jesus had to have known each other growing up. In John's adulthood, he has either been called by God and/or seen who Jesus really is and has gone forth to notify the world of the impending ministry of... Read Full Story

(Matthew 2:19-23 below)We don't know exactly when this happens, it states that Jesus is still a child. Herod has died and his plan of doing away with Jesus has failed. God sends and angel to speak to Joseph again - twice to be exact. The angel lets Joseph know that all is well, you can go back. Upon arriving in Israel, Joseph is told of danger since Herod's son is ruling in his former area. Under advisement from the angel in a dream, Joseph settles in Nazereth. Nazereth - the Nazarene... Read Full Story

(Matthew 2:13-18 below)The wise men have left Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The gifts have been delivered and after the wise men have witnessed the Savior, they proceed home, interestingly by a different path. They have seen God on earth, realized Herod's attempted deception and in their wisdom have realized that this "King of the Jews" was no threat, He was a blessing. God comes to Joseph again in a dream. First God entered Joseph's dreams to tell him to keep Mary, change his pla... Read Full Story

(Matthew 2:1-12 below)Jesus - even those who don't know of Him get the notice of His arrival. The wise men stop and pursue the king of the Jews. Right away, jealousy and ulterior motives enter the story. Herod is disturbed. If Rome knows that the Jews have a king, Herod might lose his power. If the Jews have a king, they won't need Herod. If the Jews have a king, Herod might be liked less than Jesus. Herod feared that which he did not understand. Note also, all of Jerusalem is disturb... Read Full Story

CONTINUING FROM MATTHEW:18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to ta... Read Full Story