The King’s judgements The children got what Jesus was about before the adults. What have they got that adults have not? Some say that they have a simplicity that adults have lost. 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes …
Continue reading Out of the mouths of infants — Matthew 21:14–17
The King’s actions This is one of those passages which if you read it in each of the synoptic Gospels it contradicts. Luke has the healing happening to one man as Jesus enters Jericho, Matthew and Mark have it as Jesus leaves the city, Matthew heals two men, whilst Mark has one man named Bartimaeus. …
The glory of Jesus — part 4 40 blogs of Lent — day 31 The painting 'Transfiguration' by Raphael is unusual. Painted as an altarpiece for Narbonne Cathedral in France and commissioned by the later Pope Clement VII, the upper part of the picture shows Jesus in radiant glory with Moses and Elijah alongside and the lower …
The withdrawal of the King — part 8 40 blogs of Lent — day 10 It had been a long day, but also a short time in the life of Jesus. Shortly before he had been rejected in Nazareth, his birth town where his family still lived, heard that Herod had killed his cousin John …
Holy Trinity Church, HuddersfieldSunday 1st November 2020 "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." Detail from the east window of Holy Trinity, Huddersfield November, and the last day in October, is an odd time in Britain. We seem to do the dark side of things without the light. The darkness of Halloween without the …
John the Baptist and doubt Matthew 11:1–12 The conflicts of Jesus 40 Blogs of Lent: Day 12 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his …
Continue reading Opposition through doubt part 1: An extraordinary man
The Son of David Matthew 9:27–31 The authority of Jesus And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said …
Jesus brings restoration Matthew 9:18–26 The authority of Jesus While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, …
Jesus heals a paralytic Matthew 9:1–8 The authority of Jesus And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are …
Healing two possessed men Matthew 8:28–34 The authority of Jesus And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, …
Making an ass of myself 