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Troubles And Tragedies Come
And Jesus Cared
– Matthew Fourteen –
Jesus
cared for those that were facing sorrows, troubles and tragedies in this life.
When Christians hurt, He cares and comforts troubled hearts. He is also
concerned about the hurts of all humanity. His interest in humanity springs
forth from the fact that He "truly is the Son of God." (Matthew
14:33)
Matthew 14 pictures the care of Jesus for humanity in four brief
but touching accounts. Here we read, (1) the account of John the Baptist's
death (Matthew14:1-12), (2) the record of Jesus feeding the five thousand
(Matthew
John
was killed and Jesus cared – Matthew 14:1-12: Hatred leads people to do and
say terrible things to one another. John had told Herod the Tetrarch that it
was not right for him to have his brother, Philip's wife (Herodias). John
reproved Herod at the risk of his own life. (Matthew 14:3) Mark likewise
recorded that this remarriage was a violation of God's law. (Mark 6:14-29)
Herod, like many in our day, had total disregard for Biblical laws of divorce
and remarriage.
The hatred of Herodias for John led to his being beheaded.
(Matthew 14:9-10) John died for his preaching. He died with the approval of God
on his life and with a good conscience. John was a great hero of faith. His
death touched both his disciples and the heart of the Savior Himself. Troubles
and tragedies will come and when they do, remember the Savior cares!
The death of John was used to show that Jesus cares when people
are hurting. What happened to John was a precursor of what the hatred of the
people would eventually do to Jesus Himself. The fact that John was killed
because of an "angry" woman compounds the tragedy of his death. Herod
concluded that Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead. This, within
its self, put Jesus in great danger.
People
were hungry and Jesus cared – Matthew 14:13-21: "When Jesus heard of
it" He went to a "deserted place by Himself." (Matthew 14:13) It
is not clear whether Matthew intended us to understand that Jesus had just
heard about the death of John the Baptist or of was it that He heard about
Herod's opinion that he was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Likely the
second is true!
The popularity of Jesus was so great that the word of His movement
spread and before he arrived people were already waiting for Him there. He
cared about their needs and was very touched with their situation. "He was
moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick." (Matthew 14:14)
Jesus cared so much that He did not want the multitude to be sent away hungry.
He told the disciples, "You give them something to eat." (Matthew
14:16) The disciples could only see the five loaves and two fish. They could
not see the power of God's Son. (Matthew 14:17) "He took the five loaves
and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the
loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all
ate and were filled." (Matthew 14:19-20) Even after 5,000 men, plus women
and children had eaten their fill twelve baskets of fragments still remained.
Jesus cared when people were hungry and so should we.
The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle mentioned in
all four gospels. In the Old Testament God fed the people with manna. Now in
the ministry of Jesus He multiplied the food and fed thousands. The compassion
of Jesus motivated His actions. God cares about people and supplies their
needs. This miracle, along with the other miracles of Jesus, proves that He is
the Messiah.
The
disciples were tossed and Jesus cared – Matthew 14:22-33: Jesus sent the disciples to the
other side of the sea. This time alone allowed Him a time of prayer. "And
when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray:
and when the evening was come, he was there alone." (Matthew 14:23)
However, as they went they were beaten and tossed for the wind was against
them. (Matthew 14:24) Jesus came to the disciples walking on the sea. His
message was "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." (Matthew
14:27)
Peter asked Jesus for permission to walk on the waters. (Matthew 14:28) Jesus told Peter to come. So “when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.” (Matthew 14:29) Nevertheless, Peter's doubt caused Him to sink. (Matthew 14:30) Jesus cared when the disciples were tossed about and when Peter was sinking. We should care when the world beats and tosses about those we know. We should care when they are sinking, lift them up, and bring them into the boat for safety.
When the storm came Jesus spoke words of peace and encouragement
to the frightened disciples. When He said, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be
not afraid" it must have lifted the disciples up. The conclusion of these
miracles that were done on sea was, "they came and worshipped him, saying,
Of a truth thou art the Son of God." (Matthew
14:33) Their response was just right. They did not say, "Wow that man can
walk on water." They understood that by Jesus walking on the water he was
teaching them His deity. They said, "Truly, this is the Son of God."
If Christ is God there is no reason to fear.
People were hurting and Jesus cared – Matthew
14:34-36: Gennesaret is a valley on the west side of
the
The sick were brought to this man that had
come to be known as the healer of all kinds of diseases. Jesus cared about
hurting humanity and so should we. He did what He could to relieve their hurts.
Wherever He went He was doing good. Though we cannot
do what Jesus did, at least there is something we can do to help those that are
hurting. If we have the compassion that Jesus had, we can never just pass by
and do nothing!
The most important thing in life is to become a Christian and then
live like Jesus and for Jesus. To become a Christian hear the gospel (Romans
- - - - Charles Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer List: In Need Of Prayers: Michelle Bagents,
Linda Bender, Janice Box, Emily Cain, Marie Curlee,
Nelson Daughtry, Buddy Davis, Roy Goodwin, Montine Hardin, Evan Hartsell,
Billy Heartsill, Andy Hobbie,
Darrell Jones, Dot Killingworth, Mary Lawrence, Mildred McCann (surgery), Bobby
Moore, Steve Osborne, Glenn Phillips, Mary Powell, John Reynolds, Ottey Simno, R.B. Stabler, Roger Strange, Leroy Waller, Jody & Pam
Whittington and Melissa Woodruff. Crowne
Health Care: Linda Conway, Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, and Iva Lou
Wright.
2. Baptized Into Christ: We welcome (a) Shirley Schofield into the body of
Christ. Her address is
3. Congratulations: Congratulations to David and Jamie Finlayson
in the birth of their son,
4. Please Pray For: The following people are serving in Iraq: Sam
Sanders, son of Jerry Sanders, Jason Godwin, son of Barbara Walker, Michael
Howell, grandson of Clifford and Ella Mae McCarter, Kimberly Williams, cousin
of Marie Owens and Brenda Herring, Taylor Bodie,
grandson-in-law of William & Margaret Pierce and Lynn Kervin,
granddaughter of Mary Riley. Pray for them often!
5. Prayer
Request: Please pray for Michael & Dawn Rodgers in the accidental
death of their three year old son, Bryce Alan.
6. Birthdays:
Celebrating birthdays this week are: April 4th Sam Cauthen, April 5th Stacey Black,
and April
6th Andrew Cauthen.
7. Biscuits
Baseball Game: Anyone that would like to participate is invited to
attend a Biscuits Baseball game with the group from Walnut Street on May 4th
at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are $9 and the money is due by April 1st. If
you write a check please make it out to Darrell Powell.
8.
9. 2007
Church Budget: Our Elders have challenged us with a weekly budget of
$6,427.38 for 2007. If we all give according as God has blessed us it will be
no problem meeting our weekly budget. “…So let each one give as he purposes in
his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” (II
Corinthians 9:6-7)
10. Agape
Coin Cans: Agape needs your help! Our goal is to fill these cans and
get them back in by the end of June. Do your part!
11. Put
These Dates On Your Calendar: (a) April 1-3 – North Lowndes Church of
Christ – Gospel Meeting – Speaker Tim Slauson – Time
weeknights 7:00 (b) April 6th
– Tallassee Church of Christ – Area Wide Singing – Time 7:00 – 8:30 pm (c) April 9-11 – Hickory Street Church
of Christ – Gospel Meeting – Speaker William Rudolph – weeknights at 7:00 (d) April 15-18 – Capitol Heights
Church of Christ – Gospel Meeting – Speaker Alan Watkins – Time weeknights at
7:00 (e) April 27-28 – Marriage
Seminar – Walnut Street Church of Christ – Speakers Glenn & Cindy Colley (f) May 5th – Prattville
Church of Christ – Men’s Workshop – Becoming Ephesians Fathers God’s Home
Improvement Plan – Time 8:30 – 3:00 (g) Sept
24-26, 2007 – Regions University – Spiritual Enrichment Forum – Embassy Suites,
Montgomery.
12. Birthday
Left Off: Our apology to Corrine Till. Her birthday was March 25th.
She was accidentally lifted off the list.
Be Careful,
Little Mouth, What You Say
Tongues are funny looking little things. Children sometimes playfully stick theirs out
at one another. As we brush our tongues, looking in the mirror, the words
“fire,” “restless evil,” and “poison” probably don’t come to mind. Yet this
seemingly harmless part of our bodies is one to be guarded cautiously. “And the
tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our
members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,
and set on fire by hell…It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James
3:6,8b).
Misusing our tongues can destroy things that
we hold dear. “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!” (James 3:5) How many relationships have been
annihilated by “little white lies” that escalated beyond their original
intention? How many life-long grudges have been sparked by harsh words? How many
Christians have ruined their influences by uttering foul
language? So many uses of our tongues can ignite infernos of despair in our
lives.
Most importantly, our tongues can destroy our
relationship with God. Sinful things that we say and do will separate us from
God (Isaiah 59:1-2). But one thing that James points out in his epistle is that
we cannot use our tongues to bless and curse if we want to please God. He
explains it this way: “Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both
fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine
produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh
water.” (James 3:11-12) Even if you pour gallons of fresh water into a salt
pond, when you go to draw it out, it will taste salty. Likewise, blessing God out of the same mouth
where cursing flows is useless. Our words can separate us from God. “For by
your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
(Matthew 12:37).
“Look at the ships also: though they are so
large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder
wherever the will of the pilot directs.” (James 3:4) WE ARE THE PILOTS! Though
taming our tongues is a daunting task, we must direct our efforts towards doing
so. Our lives depend on it!
-
- - - Darrell Powell
-
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