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Showing posts from November, 2023

Can Anything Good Come From Nazareth? (John 1:43-51)

The next day he decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”  44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.  45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”  46 But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”  47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.”  48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”  49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”  50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.”  51 And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened

Beware of the Teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mt. 16:1-12)

The Pharisees and Sadducees came and, to test him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He said to them in reply, “[In the evening you say, ‘Tomorrow will be fair, for the sky is red’; 3 and, in the morning, ‘Today will be stormy, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to judge the appearance of the sky, but you cannot judge the signs of the times.] 4 An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away. 5 In coming to the other side of the sea, the disciples had forgotten to bring bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Look out, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 They concluded among themselves, saying, “It is because we have brought no bread.” 8 When Jesus became aware of this he said, “You of little faith, why do you conclude among yourselves that it is because you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet understand, and do you not remember the five loaves for the five tho

Jesus Heals Physically and Spiritually (Mt. 9:27-34)

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed [him], crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” 30 And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.  32 As they were going out, a demoniac who could not speak was brought to him, 33 and when the demon was driven out the mute person spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” In Matthew chapters eight and nine, Jesus showed that he is a healer of all things physical and spiritual.  In these two passages, Jesus gave sight to the blind and cast out a demon from

Jesus Speaks of the Need for Spiritual Leaders (Mt. 9:35-10:1)

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. 36 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; 38 so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.   1 Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. As Jesus continued his ministry of proclaiming the Gospel, teaching, and healing throughout the towns and villages of Galilee, he felt compassion for the crowds. He was deeply moved because their spiritual leaders had failed them.  They were like lost sheep without a shepherd (Num. 27:16-17) and it was his responsibility as the Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11) to nurture and care for them.  But