When Jesus finished teaching with these stories, he left there. Jesus went to the town where he grew up. Jesus taught the people in the synagogue, and the people were amazed. The people said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and this power to do miracles? This is only the son of the carpenter. And his mother is Mary. His brothers are James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. And all his sisters are here with us. So where does this man get this wisdom and the power to do these things?"
—Matthew 13:53-56
Key Thought
It's so easy to put people in boxes, to neatly categorize them based on opinions we've made of them in the past. We don't want to let them change. Even more damnable, we don't want our opinions of them to change, even if our opinions were wrong or misguided. For Jesus, the hometown folk had already put him in a box—Mary's boy, the carpenter's son, brother of some folks, no big deal. After all, it was Nazareth and "what good thing could come out of Nazareth?" No big deal. Not from our town. Not from one of our boys. "Don't get too big for your britches, boy!" is what he'd be told today. "We know who you are, boy, and you ain't that great." Familiarity bred contempt just like low expectations sunk their dreams. But they were wrong! Not just a little wrong, VERY wrong. And today, when a person is in Christ, s/he can change, too. There can be no boxes in Jesus' family because there are no boxes big enough or strong enough to contain one in whom the King of glory lives!
Today's Prayer
Father, please correct me and then forgive me when I put people in boxes and do not allow room for Christ to change them. Thank you for changing and transforming me and please give me the grace to encourage others, not discourage or criticize them, when they are trying to let Christ change them. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
When Jesus finished teaching with these stories, he left there. Jesus went to the town where he grew up. Jesus taught the people in the synagogue, and the people were amazed. The people said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and this power to do miracles ? This is only the son of the carpenter. And his mother is Mary. His brothers are James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. And all his sisters are here with us. So where does this man get this wisdom and the power to do these things?" And the people refused to accept Jesus. But Jesus said to the people, "Other people give honor to a prophet. But people in that prophet's own town or own home don't give honor to him." The people there did not believe in Jesus. So Jesus did not do many miracles there. At that time Herod, the ruler {of Galilee}, heard the things people said about Jesus. So Herod said to his servants, "This man (Jesus) is really John the Baptizer. He must have risen from death. That is why he is able to do these miracles. " Before this time, Herod had arrested John. Herod had tied John with chains and put him into prison. Herod arrested John because of Herodias. Herodias was the wife of Philip, Herod's brother. Herod arrested John because John told Herod: "It is not right for you to have Herodias." Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people. The people believed that John was a prophet. On Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for Herod and his group. Herod was very pleased with her. So Herod promised that he would give her anything she wanted. Herodias told her daughter what to ask for. So she said to Herod, "Give me the head of John the Baptizer here on this plate." King Herod was very sad. But he had promised to give the daughter anything she wanted. And the people eating with Herod had heard his promise. So Herod ordered that the thing she asked be done. He sent men to cut off John's head in the prison. And the men brought John's head on a plate and gave it to the girl. Then thegirl took the head to her mother, Herodias. John's followers came and got his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what happened.Matthew 13:53-14:12
Related Scripture Readings
The Lord is the Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And our faces are not covered. We all show the Lord's glory. We are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings more and more glory. This glory comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. — 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. Jesus found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Philip was from the town of Bethsaida, the same as Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "Remember what Moses wrote in the law. Moses wrote about a man that was coming. The prophets wrote about him too. We have found him. His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph. He is from Nazareth." But Nathanael said to Philip, "Nazareth! Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip answered, "Come and see." — John 1:43-46
From this time on we don't think of any person like the world thinks of people. It is true that in the past we thought of Christ like the world thinks. But we don't think that way now. If any person is in Christ, then that person is made new. The old things have gone; everything is made new! — 2 Corinthians 5:16-17
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
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—Matthew 13:53-56
Key Thought
It's so easy to put people in boxes, to neatly categorize them based on opinions we've made of them in the past. We don't want to let them change. Even more damnable, we don't want our opinions of them to change, even if our opinions were wrong or misguided. For Jesus, the hometown folk had already put him in a box—Mary's boy, the carpenter's son, brother of some folks, no big deal. After all, it was Nazareth and "what good thing could come out of Nazareth?" No big deal. Not from our town. Not from one of our boys. "Don't get too big for your britches, boy!" is what he'd be told today. "We know who you are, boy, and you ain't that great." Familiarity bred contempt just like low expectations sunk their dreams. But they were wrong! Not just a little wrong, VERY wrong. And today, when a person is in Christ, s/he can change, too. There can be no boxes in Jesus' family because there are no boxes big enough or strong enough to contain one in whom the King of glory lives!
Today's Prayer
Father, please correct me and then forgive me when I put people in boxes and do not allow room for Christ to change them. Thank you for changing and transforming me and please give me the grace to encourage others, not discourage or criticize them, when they are trying to let Christ change them. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
When Jesus finished teaching with these stories, he left there. Jesus went to the town where he grew up. Jesus taught the people in the synagogue, and the people were amazed. The people said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and this power to do miracles ? This is only the son of the carpenter. And his mother is Mary. His brothers are James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. And all his sisters are here with us. So where does this man get this wisdom and the power to do these things?" And the people refused to accept Jesus. But Jesus said to the people, "Other people give honor to a prophet. But people in that prophet's own town or own home don't give honor to him." The people there did not believe in Jesus. So Jesus did not do many miracles there. At that time Herod, the ruler {of Galilee}, heard the things people said about Jesus. So Herod said to his servants, "This man (Jesus) is really John the Baptizer. He must have risen from death. That is why he is able to do these miracles. " Before this time, Herod had arrested John. Herod had tied John with chains and put him into prison. Herod arrested John because of Herodias. Herodias was the wife of Philip, Herod's brother. Herod arrested John because John told Herod: "It is not right for you to have Herodias." Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people. The people believed that John was a prophet. On Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for Herod and his group. Herod was very pleased with her. So Herod promised that he would give her anything she wanted. Herodias told her daughter what to ask for. So she said to Herod, "Give me the head of John the Baptizer here on this plate." King Herod was very sad. But he had promised to give the daughter anything she wanted. And the people eating with Herod had heard his promise. So Herod ordered that the thing she asked be done. He sent men to cut off John's head in the prison. And the men brought John's head on a plate and gave it to the girl. Then thegirl took the head to her mother, Herodias. John's followers came and got his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what happened.Matthew 13:53-14:12
Related Scripture Readings
The Lord is the Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And our faces are not covered. We all show the Lord's glory. We are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings more and more glory. This glory comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. — 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. Jesus found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Philip was from the town of Bethsaida, the same as Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "Remember what Moses wrote in the law. Moses wrote about a man that was coming. The prophets wrote about him too. We have found him. His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph. He is from Nazareth." But Nathanael said to Philip, "Nazareth! Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip answered, "Come and see." — John 1:43-46
From this time on we don't think of any person like the world thinks of people. It is true that in the past we thought of Christ like the world thinks. But we don't think that way now. If any person is in Christ, then that person is made new. The old things have gone; everything is made new! — 2 Corinthians 5:16-17
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
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