Serious Fruit (Matthew 21:18-22)

Jesus's closest followers, the twelve, needed to be convinced who he was.  They didn't know.  They met him, listened to his teachings, walked with him, and watched his work.  Changing water into wine, healing the sick, calming the storm, feeding the thousands, and empowering Simon to walk on water was all a part of their process.  They needed reasons for their faith and Jesus gave them the reasons.

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered. (Matthew 21:18-19 NIV)

Even the simplest moment of a day (looking for breakfast) becomes an opportunity to build their faith.  Jesus found no fruit, then exercised God-like authority over the tree.  He gave them another reason to believe he was the Son of God.

When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked. Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matthew 21:20-22 NIV)

Now that they are understanding who He is, Jesus begins to teach them who they are.  He starts giving them clues about their role in His Kingdom.  He tells them that they will not just be walking on water, but performing miracles in His name.  They weren't ready to hear this before they believed Jesus was the One.

How about you?  Do you believe Jesus is the One?  Are you talking to Him regularly in prayer?  Are you getting to know Him through His Word?  Has He started explaining your part in His Kingdom work?  Do you know your calling from God?

Seeing and Believing (Matthew 14:22-33)

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.  (Matthew 14:22-23a NIV)

Jesus still hasn't had the opportunity to mourn the loss of his cousin and friend, John (see yesterday's post).  Now that he's healed the sick and fed the 5,000+, they are ready to go home for the night.  He is ready to spend the night in prayer.

Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. (Matthew 14:23b-25 NIV)

Now, he's ready to spend time with his closest friends here on earth.  His disciples are out in the boat.  He goes out to be in the boat with them...walking on water to get there.

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (Matthew 14:26-29 NIV)

I really believe this was a moment of truth for Peter.  He had watched Jesus turn water into wine.  He had been in the boat when Jesus calmed the storm.  He had just participated in the feeding of the 5000.  Now, he hears a "ghost" saying, "It is I."  Peter was ready to take a step of faith.  He was ready to see if Jesus really was the Savior/Messiah.  He was ready to put God to the test.  When Jesus called, he stepped out of the boat.

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"  And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." (Matthew 14:30-33 NIV)

How about you?  Would you step out of the boat if Jesus called?  Are you ready to step out on faith?  Would you keep your eyes on Him and stay walking on water, or would you get distracted by the storm and sink?  Do you really believe that Jesus is the Son of God?

Miracle Meal (Matthew 14:13-21)

It's so easy to forget that people in Jesus' day were still trying to figure out who he was.  He looked like any other person of their day.  His preached as though he had authority, but did he have the authority to teach that way?  He had emotions and temptations just like the rest of us.  Was he really the Savior/Messiah?

Jesus was living out another very human moment.  John, his cousin and friend, had just been beheaded for his prophetic-style teaching.  Jesus wanted to be alone to mourn.

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. (Matthew 14:13-14 NIV)

Even in a time of normal humanity, Jesus had compassion that surpasses many of us.  He chose to serve others in his time of need.  He put off his quiet time with The Father to serve others who needed Him.  Now he heals them when he needs some healing himself.

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. "Bring them here to me," he said. (Matthew 14:15-18 NIV)

Jesus continued to serve others even in his time of need.  He healed their sick.  Fed their souls.  Now, he will perform a miracle to feed their bodies.  Jesus is giving them another sign that he is, indeed, the Savior/Messiah.

And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 14:19-21 NIV)

How about you?  Has Jesus healed you?  Has He fed your soul?  Has He fed your body?  Is Jesus your Savior?

Fear Factor (Mark 4:35-41)

I had the pleasure of spending some time with friends Traci and I hadn't seen in over ten years.  They were on vacation and swung through Valparaiso as a part of their trip.  We, of course, spent some time up at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.  We went to the beach.

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. (Mark 4:35-37 NIV)

The day was beautiful, but it still wasn't clear enough to see the Chicago skyline from our vantage point.  It was a little too far away.  The water was a little choppy with 1-2 foot waves, but the lifeguards still allowed people to swim safely.  I looked out over the water and wondered how far the disciples used to travel by boat when they went across the Sea of Galilee.  I looked it up.  The distance would be roughly the traveling distance from the beach where I was standing to South Chicago.  I'm not sure how I would react to a storm brewing out in that water...in a rowboat.  I'm guessing I would have been just as worried as the disciples.

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:38-40 NIV)

There's no way I would have seen that coming.  He calmed the storm?  I would have expected my spiritual mentor to lead us in prayer.  Maybe he would say something wise to calm our minds, hearts, and spirits.  I'm not sure what I would expect him to do, but calming the storm would not have been on the list.

They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:41 NIV)

The miracles of Jesus were just that: miracles.  They were intended to get their attention and get them asking the right question:  Who is this man?  Then, he would explain who he was and what he was sent to do.  The miracles convinced them that Jesus was the Savior/Messiah.

How about you?  What convinces you that Jesus is the Savior/Messiah?  Do you believe these miracles actually happened they way they are described?  Are you convinced?

New Wine (John 2:1-11)

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. (John 2:1-2 NIV)

It's easy to wonder if Jesus really is someone worth following.  After all, there have been many great spiritual leaders and teachers throughout history.  Why does Jesus deserve all our attention and not the others?  After all, Jesus was just another man like the rest of us, right?  He had parents just like us.  He had friends like us.  He even attended weddings just like us.

When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." (John 2:3-5 NIV)

His relationship with his mom was even "ordinary."  Jesus knew his mom so well that she didn't even need to ask him for help.  He knew what she wanted.  When he objected to her request, his mom knew Jesus would do it anyway.  She knew her son that well.  Again, they had a normal family relationship.

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." (John 2:6-10 NIV)

What's not normal, though, was their solution to the problem.  If I were asked to help out at a wedding reception that was running out of wine, I would go down to the corner market and buy some more wine.  I wouldn't even consider the idea of miraculously transforming water into wine.  Clearly, Jesus is different.  There is something about him that is extraordinary.

What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:11 NIV)

Jesus performed miracles.  Those miracles happened for a reason.  They were "signs through which he revealed his glory."  They happened to convince his followers to believe in him.  It worked.

How about you?  What kinds of signs do you need before you believe in him?  Do you believe in him now?  Are you his follower?  What convinced you?