Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Reflection:

Jesus was amazed at their ‘lack of faith’.  Whereas we tend to think that not to have faith is natural and that we need to gee ourselves up into it through reading & listening (maybe fasting if we’re really desperate!) Jesus regards having faith as the most obvious, sensible and ‘normal’ state for one who has seen Him. The crowd had seen miracles and recognised His supernatural wisdom yet the chose only to look on the human carpenter, an earthly family member. For this view they paid a heavy price – not having the God of creation working miracles in their lives. We know we should have more and deeper faith. Let’s ask the Lord to form in us the same faith and view of faith Jesus had as the only sensible and ‘normal’ way to live for one who has met Jesus. It is only through having this faith can we enable Jesus to do the things he wants to do in us, among us and in our community.

The problem is that as Christians we often get caught up in the detail and forget the fundamentals. That is bad for us, but also makes it confusing for those curious about what we believe.

That is why we are running a series on this blog where we go over the basics of the Christian faith. Each week we will show a video outlining some of the key components of Christian life.

Whatever you believe we would encourage you to watch these videos and discuss them in the comments below. No question is too stupid, no comment disallowed. Just be respectful of what others believe.

Enjoyed the video? Send it to a friend.

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To participate just visit the website and add your comment at the bottom of the page.

Personally I think the caption should be “Brook’s sneeze was unnecessarily melodramatic.” What’s your suggestion?

Sorry Brook

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”  And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside.  The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.  When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.  Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well.  Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.  Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”  So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolishow much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. 

Today’s reflection

In this passage, we see a man possessed by multiple demons.  This would have been a humiliating condition for him and he would have been rejected by those around him.  The need for him to be bound in chains to try and subdue him, showed that those around him were frightened by his actions and what he might do to them.

Jesus’ response to the man is one of love.  He permits the demons to leave the man and go into the herd of pigs.  Jesus shows by his actions that this one man is worth more to him than several thousand pigs.  Afterwards, the man is unrecognisable and fully in control of himself.

Those who had seen the healing asked Jesus to leave the area.  Why would they ask a man who has shown so much love and compassion to go?  The sight of thousands of pigs running to their death showed the power that Jesus had.  Having only seen the power of the demons, this must have been even more frightening.  From this passage, we can see that Jesus’ power is tempered by his even greater love.

For the church family

• Give thanks for the huge success of Kidz Klub and pray for its continued growth.
• Debbie Barty who will be going into hospital on 13th February for surgery.
• Paul Tuck, improving well after having shingles.
• For Nigel, Annette and the family that they would begin to adjust to life back in the UK , especially that the children would settle and    begin to look forward to new opportunities they can enjoy here.
• For Neil and Colin for their continuing healing.
• For Trish’s mum, for healing from the pain in her back, and also strength for Trish as she continues to care for her.
• For Chris, Hannah, William & Isabel who moved house on Saturday, that they will all settle really quickly into their new family home.

For Simon and Sarah Deveraj with Joshua, Hannah and Matthew working at the Bethesda Project in India

• Give thanks for God’s amazing provision for the needs of Bethesda and the generosity of so many.
• Pray for all the pupils at the school that as they listen to the good news of Jesus  they would accept him into their own hearts.
• Pray for the young people who have left the project for further studies, pray that they will remain strong in their faith despite opposition and lack of Christian fellowship.
• Pray especially for the girls who have dreams and ambitions but are often married off very quickly. Pray that the values instilled in them will enable them to make something of themselves.

For those around the world

For the past six months, Kenya has been suffering from one of its worst droughts on record. This has had a devastating impact on the country’s already arid north – with water and grazing at perilously low levels. Some areas have had some rainfall which has resulted in floods ! with another set of problems.

• Praise God for the work of all the Tearfund partners in Kenya. Pray that their efforts would continue to yield results as they equip communities to become more resilient to future disasters.
• Pray for the communities affected by drought and flooding. Pray that God will be recognised as a source of love, comfort and support through their hardships.
• Thank God for the rains – pray that communities adversely affected by them will find help and support in their hardships.

It would be great to read your prayers. Encourage others by sharing your prayers in the comments.

Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Today’s reflection

Jesus uses a parable again to help those listening to understand his message. Jesus was illustrating that from small beginnings, a small baby in a stable, Christianity has grown into a worldwide following and this is an encouragement to us as individuals today. Though we may feel alone at times, we are part of a greater Kingdom and within this we have the opportunity to grow as Christians and bring more followers to Christ.

The use of parable also shows how Jesus was in touch with those he was speaking to, ‘to teach people as much as they were able to understand’, a guide for Christians today that by understanding those we are spreading the word to, and with God’s help, we will find the right way to tell them the good news about the peace and salvation found in Christ.

He also said, “This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain-first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

Today’s Reflection

After I have read this passage, I think of my beautiful garden in springtime, and realise how little I know about the wonders of this world – especially the everyday things like the workings of plants and seeds. I have tried to grow seeds and have never had much success. So I usually buy ‘ready-made’ from a garden centre. It is not like that with God, because you cannot buy a harvest. To grow from seed it’s all about the nutrition of the soil, sun and water. And so it is with the seed planted in a man’s heart. It needs to be nurtured and cared for and brought to fruition. It is essential, therefore, that the Church, after it has planted the seed, provides adequate support to an individual – otherwise they cannot be brought to harvest.

The problem is that as Christians we often get caught up in the detail and forget the fundamentals. That is bad for us, but also makes it confusing for those curious about what we believe.

That is why we are running a series on this blog where we go over the basics of the Christian faith. Each week we will show a video outlining some of the key components of Christian life.

Whatever you believe we would encourage you to watch these videos and discuss them in the comments below. No question is too stupid, no comment disallowed. Just be respectful of what others believe.

Enjoyed the video? Send it to a friend.

He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”

“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

Today’s Reflection

I was searching for something in my garage during the summer, and came across the old bicycle lamp I used to use when I did a paper round as a teenager, it was rusty and corroded, and the chrome reflector was peeling away. I was disappointed and decided it had definitely seen better days. Now when we go away in the caravan or camping I take with me a very small LED torch, not much to look at , but ideal: very compact to carry, and with 9 LED’s very bright.

As His children, God has lit His light in you and me, his light, not ours, his power, not ours. He wants you and me to shine, to dispel darkness, to be ‘Salt and Light’ in the places he has put us: to bring a good flavour to  conversations and to shine with Him. Also wherever you put a light, it cannot be dark. Wow! What a privilege and responsibility. I wonder how brightly you and I will shine today? Remember it is His light in us, we don’t have to work it up, generate it, or pretend, we have to let him live in us in power and shine through us. We don’t even have to look good, trendy or beautiful, my LED torch looks very plain, but what an amazing light it gives out.

My old torch wasn’t any good, it had spent too many years mistreated, left in a damp cupboard in the garage, and so wasn’t much good at shining (a bit like us if we spend too much time in bad company, away from the light  etc.).  If I had the patience I could have cleaned it up and it would have worked again. The apostle Paul said ‘The things I don’t want to do, I do, and the things I should do, I don’t do’ (my paraphrase). So if Paul found it difficult, we also need to come to the Lord, to ask him again and again to clean us up, and let us shine more brightly for Him.