can you move mountains...or do they just disappear because you looked away?

"... it's one kind of victory to slay a beast, move a mountain, and cross a chasm, but it's another kind altogether to realize that the beast, the mountain, and the chasm were of your own design.

 
Now, you can move dem' mountains or just make 'em disappear... by looking the other way."

  In many films that depict the life of Jesus, when we view Him in His ministry, what is often not depicted is how He would go off into the mountains to pray. As I read the Gospel narrative, however, there are many instances in which the crowds just got to be too much for Him and He would go off by Himself. I ponder on this. I have to separate the fact that He was Man, but also God. Wouldn't the God side of Him just be able to go on forever? But when you stop to realize it, the human side of Him saw a lot of pain. A lot of turmoil. A lot of misery. It was into this miserable world that He came.



Let's take a step back and refresh ourselves about the time He entered into: the Roman Empire was in full swing. Anyone caught "rocking the boat" so to speak, was crucified. If you thought to overthrow the empire, you were pretty much finished. Now, Jesus was born in an area that was run by Herod. Herod was a selfish, arrogant ruler. Any thought of someone coming to take over his area of rule was also sought out and killed. No trials, no advance notice. (Note the death of the Holy Innocents, the children all under the age of two years who were killed when word got out of a King being born.)

Jesus began His ministry in this same type of climate. The people in this region were poor; sheep farmers trying to eek out a living in semi-arid conditions, farmers growing grapes, the weather was harsh, the living conditions, more so. People were sick, they died too young, children and women were treated as nothing more than property. No one showed any real compassion-- and faith? The Jews were waiting for a King to come and save them...not this Man who could perform miracles, who could turn water into wine, who could show a sinner compassion and save her from certain stoning. Oh he was nice for a prophet, but a Messiah? How dare He even call Himself that! And so, Jesus needed to be careful. He knew His time had not yet come and did not want to spark the anger of the Romans just yet. Even the high priests, the Pharisees and the scribes thought He was an impostor, someone who only claimed to be what they were also waiting for. Again, keep in mind, they were waiting for a king to come...maybe on a white steed and dressed in finest cloth...not a lowly peasant type of a guy.

But who would listen to a king of fine garments? Look again to who He ministered to: lowly peasants. They were already being hounded--for NO reason--by kings and rulers in fine garb...why would they want to listen to yet another? and yet, when Jesus came, many also turned away from his word as well. To them, He was just someone who could ease their burdens for a little while, but to save them...? Nahhhhh......



Is Jesus here today? Jesus is all around us, one only need to seek Him out in prayer. However, we ARE waiting for His second arrival and this time, the trumpets WILL sound...the angels WILL herald His arrival! Thunder will crash, lightening will flicker, there will be NO doubt this time. When will this occur? No one but God knows. We can look to the signs of the times and say, "He is coming!" and yes, He is....but is it "NOW?" Again, only God knows. The best thing that anyone can do is to be ready. Are you ready? Have you emptied your heart of all anger, of all malice? Have you treated others as you would yourself? Are you loving others as much as you love God? And are you living that Love out every day of your life?

I know, the news reports can be so depressing. Who would want to "help another?" There are so many! There is so much to do? And what difference would it make...tomorrow there will be just as many, if not more...the governments are so corrupt, wars are all around us, as is greed....hunger...sickness...
oh wait...so it was in Jesus day. Things have NOT changed all that much! Only our perceptions of them have. 

I say to you--don't give up! Start with one...begin with your own little corner of the world...give of yourself until it hurts. Be like Jesus also. When it gets to be too much, go and seek Him out in prayer....tell Him how hard it is and ask for strength to continue. He has been here and done that...He knows!

Just like with the starfish who keep swimming back on shore...it seems the more they get tossed back, the more they swim back in. Does it make any difference? Only to the one who catches a tide and swims out to sea. It made a difference to that one.



amen.

"When we are on the beach we only see a small part of the ocean. However, we know that there is much more beyond the horizon. We only see a small part of God's great love, a few jewels of His great riches, but we know that there is much more beyond the horizon. The best is yet to come, when we see Jesus face-to-face."

-Corrie ten Boom

"But, as it is written,

'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.'"

-1 Corinthians 2:9

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