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What does that mean, You are The Son of God ?“Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.”

Identity.  I have been told that there are two extremely important questions :  Who is God and who am I ?  Jesus sends Peter to the lake.. to ponder these profound questions.Matthew 17:24-27  : "When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?”  He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?”  And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.  However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

As people, we pay very close attention to how we are greeted and introduced when we meet someone new to us. If someone remembers your name it makes us feel known and happy.  If they stammer or even worse call you by the wrong name, everybody is embarrassed.  In this text, Jesus says something that startles everyone in the room.  Jesus meets and greets a total stranger in the most peculiar way,  He calls him, Son.  This podcast is about Mark chapter 2 verses 1 through 12.  Four ambitious friends lower a paralytic man through a roof in an attempt to get him healed.  He gets a lot more than he bargained for and we get a clearer picture of who God really is. 

Caution: No humans were injured in the making of this podcast. This is a very challenging passage. It's designed to make you stop dead in your tracks. It was very successful.What did He just say ?  Tear what out ?  Saw what off ?  Throw who in a furnace ?What was Jesus really trying to get at?  The clues to this confusing passage are hidden in context of ancient Jewish Rabbinical Teaching.  “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” Matthew5:29-30ESV

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew5:17-20ESV““You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.” Matthew5:21-26ESV

" You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. "

We are still setting on the hillside with Jesus as he paints a picture of what life looks like for those who follow God and are a citizen of His Kingdom. We have seen how he teaches using paradox and principals instead of bullet points of rules. He has shown us the living outcomes of what happens when you live in close relationship to God. This verse is no different except the outcome has an adverse side effect. Persecution.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Wait a minute .. what does that mean ?

Jesus on a hillside teaches the people the path to real happiness. It looks a lot different than obligatory rule following. It will require a change of heart. "“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”  Matthew 5:7 ESV. Mercy on the surface sounds quite nice..a beautiful sentiment. It’s particularly attractive to the offender. I do something horrible to you and you grant me mercy and i get off “ scot free “. 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

“When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:"

An interesting way to begin a ministry ...

From the top of Mount Nebo, a meal and a long walk. One man's ministry comes to an end, another man's ministry begins. A bright light shines in a dark world. The rescue mission has begun. And it doesn't look anything like everyone though it would.

The testing continues.. In podcast 8, we left Jesus in mid conversation with Satan.. They were discussing food, a preoccupation of all humans, myself included. Now satan changes his attack strategy.. religion...

So... In podcast 7 we left Jesus standing in the Jordan river.. John had reluctantly baptized him and The Spirit descended on him and God spoke a blessing in an audible voice over him. John’s preparatory mission is officially over.. and Jesus official Messianic ministry has begun. One might wonder ..  what’s next ? 

“Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. John objected, “I’m the one who needs to be baptized, not you!”

Previously in podcast #5 we were introduced to John B.. thunder in the desert.. the Holy Spirit filled, bug eatin , honey suckin, desert livin, man’s man, prophet of God who’s soul job was to prepare people for who was about to show up.. The Messiah.

" Prepare Ye the way of the Lord " Matthew 3:1-6. John the baptizer makes his way on the scene as the forerunner to Jesus. Not your average guy.

We take a closer look at Matthew 2:13-23. High drama unfolds as the birth of Jesus brings the full wrath of Herod down on the baby boys of Bethlehem.