Jesus taught people about the love of God. They could see by the things he did and the things he said that he was an authority. They watched as Jesus healed a man who was sick in his mind. They saw the power of God's love. The best teachers are the ones who really know what they are talking about. Jesus is the best teacher to teach us about love.
When I'm feeling grumpy, or selfish - or I'm tempted to do or say something unkind - I try to think about what Jesus would do. And when I do, I almost always manage to change my way of thinking. I leave the wrong - or unclean - thoughts behind and trade them for better ones. Will you try to do the same this week when you're faced with a challenge?
A mother ducks calls to her babies with a quack, quack, quack. They obey and follow where she leads. A story in the Bible teaches us about another type of call. As Jesus was walking "along the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea – for they were fishermen."
The Bible tells us that immediately they left their fishing nets and followed him. He went on a little farther and saw James and his brother, John in their boat mending nets and he asked them to follow him as well and immediately they did. What do you think it was that attracted these men to Jesus? What made them want to be his disciples? They saw God's great love in Jesus and were willing to follow him. It is the same today; love causes people to follow Jesus.
This week's Gospel lesson is about a promise that has been fulfilled. For hundreds of years - and all throughout their scriptures - the people of Israel have been promised that the kingdom of God is coming. And this week Jesus tells them that the promise has been kept - and that the time they've been waiting for has come. And just like in last week's reading, Jesus finds new helpers who leave their work to follow him.
Do you ever make mistakes? I sure do. Do you ever make a mistake that hurts someone?We don't always do the right thing in the right way even though we try. Sometimes, if we are angry or hurt, we do or say things that hurt others. Jesus teaches us how to make things better.
At the time Jesus lived on earth, he was identified in a very powerful way. The Bible tells us that he was baptized by John in the river Jordan. Just as he was coming up out of the water the heavens opened and the Spirit of God came upon him, like a dove. Then, "a voice came out of the sky, "'You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased'" (1:11). Jesus was identified by God as being His Son.
It might be tempting to eat only ice cream and candy - but we know it wouldn't be good for our bodies, right? It might be tempting to take something that isn't ours - or to be selfish in the way we act toward others - but we know those things are wrong. Being a Christian isn't always easy, is it?
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about the kingdom of God. He talks about how it’s kind of like a tiny seed that grows into something much bigger than itself. That’s an important lesson for us as Christians. We can never know when our small acts of kindness – lending a helping hand to someone in need or maybe even just sharing a smile – can grow into something very big and important.
We are told that when we confess our sins and accept the love of Jesus that we are given the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God that lives within us. Let's remember to celebrate each day and be thankful for the preparations that God made for us to know about Jesus and his love.