Yeshua’s Early Ministry …from my journal
Posted by Vanity of Vanities! on October 26, 2009
October 24, 2009
John 1:35-42 (Andrew and Simon Peter)
–I know it’s overused as an illustration, but I love Andrew and Peter’s obedience. And Andrew’s immediate response was to bring his brother to Christ. Why am I not so obedient?
John 1:43-51 (Philip and Nathanael)
–I think it’s beautiful that, even though Jesus’ time had not yet come, He’s revealing His divinity in personal ways, and then He promises greater things.
John 2:1-12 (Miracle at Cana)
–I’ve never thought of this miracle in this way before, but I wonder if anyone uses it as proof that Christ cares about ordinary, earthly things. I mean, the argument could be made that a wedding feast running out of wine has no eternal — or even lasting earthly — implications. But, Jesus was sensitive to the needs, priorities, and feelings of the people at the moment, and fulfilled their immediate desire as a gesture of love. That could be. However, I’m struck by the underlying messages here. He had servants fill giant jugs full of water and serve it to the headwaiter. As the unsuspecting man scurried off to praise the groom for his generosity in serving the best wine, the lowly servants were undoubtedly left totally dumbstruck. While “saving the day” out of the kindness of His heart may have been a byproduct of this miracle, I don’t believe it could be His primary focus. Of course, He was displaying His deity first and foremost. But He also seems to be setting the tone for His entire ministry, in which He will choose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise — in which He will reveal hidden things to the lowly and keep them from the rich and powerful. How sneaky! (In a good, thought-provoking way.)
John 2:13-25 (Moneychangers in the Temple)
–I love this. I love it because it shows Yeshua angry — really angry. He was so angry, He got physical. He made a whip! I mean, this wasn’t just a sudden burst of rage in which He “lost His head” and threw a fit. I wonder how long it takes to make a whip out of cords. There’s probably braiding, cutting, and tying involved. He had time for His blood pressure to go down, as He had to focus His fine motor skills to fashion a weapon. So, this wasn’t just an impulsive temper tantrum — He, as Holy God, was personally offended that these religious persons would turn a sacred place of worship into a money-making business center. I think this event teaches us two things: God does not overlook the things we overlook, and God is not “understanding” of our selfish belittlement of His holiness. God is fierce.
John 4:46-54 (Boy in Capernaum Healed)
–The reason for everything is that God would receive glory, and that some might be saved.
~Maranatha
Amanda said
“I wonder if anyone uses it as proof that Christ cares about ordinary, earthly things.”
He provides parking spaces for me. So, yes, I do.
“I wonder how long it takes to make a whip out of cords. There’s probably braiding, cutting, and tying involved. He had time for His blood pressure to go down, as He had to focus His fine motor skills to fashion a weapon.”
Never in my life thought about that process in this context until you wrote that. Totally goes along with what He tells me over and over again when I get riled up: “Don’t act in haste.”
Great insight, friend!
francis said
Y’shua’s anger was directed at those who were dispoiling the temple…….
And today it is as Paul testified, the temple is the believers body and as The Messiah so they also must drive out all things in their ‘temple’ that offend Our Father, HE WHO IS The ONE and Only True Living G-D, Father(Creator) of ALL…….
Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(no-peace) that is of this world, for “the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one” indeed and Truth……. francis