Jesus Feeds Four Thousand

This was really hard to find picture for - mainly because numerically it not as impressive as feeding the five thousand. Which is kinda silly as both of them are impressive! I think the thing that gets me most about this is how slow the disciples are. I mean hello he fed more people than this just a few days ago, why do you think it will be a problem now?

The Faith of a Gentile Woman

This passage has many titles depending on the translation as they all refer differently to the 'nationality' of the woman. All that matters though is that she wasn't a Jew, and yet displayed amazing faith in the messiah (much like the centurion had done earlier). What is strange though is that Jesus tries to ignore her, to the point where the disciples tell him to tell her to get lost so they don't have to listen to her anymore. Jesus tells her that he is there for God's lost people of Israel, and that he shouldn't feed the dogs before the kids (great - that makes me a dog!). However in much the same way that Moses had the cajones to remind God that he promised to take care of Israel and not wipe them out, so she replied to Jesus that the dogs get the scraps that fall off the table. Effectively acknowledging her status, and yet reminding God that she could still be taken care of. Jesus tells her that was a smart answer and then heals her daughter. What does this mean for us? Well it does demonstrate that by faith and persistence God will answer our prayers. It also shows a different side of Jesus which is not often talked about and portrayed.

Jesus Teaches about Inner Purity

In this passage Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for teaching the people to obey their laws ahead of Gods laws. He then explains to Peter that eating with unwashed hands won't separate you from God as food just passes through the body. What separates us from God are evil words and thoughts

Jesus Walks on Water

Again a well known miracle this one takes place right after the feeding of the 5000 (Matthew and Mark make sure that we know this) The disciples leave by boat, without Jesus as he was too busy praying. Which to me seems a little weird, unless he told them to do so, you'd think you wouldn't leave your illustrious leader behind on the other side of the lake. Anyhow they get a ways across and are in trouble again from a storm (they need to borrow some more storm worthy boats I think) then Jesus turns up walking on the water. They all freak out (as would I!) and Jesus tells them to chill. Peter then says

"Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you by walking on water."

which Jesus lets him do. Peter starts off okay but then gets the colly-wobbles and starts to sink Jesus reaches down and tells him,

"You don't have much faith, Why did you doubt me?"

and puts him back in the boat. The storm then stops and the disciples get down and worship him. Peter seems to be particularly good at saying one thing and then his actions do something else.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

This is probably one of the better known miracles of Jesus, it's also the point at which John rejoins us (Yay!). This particular translation does a better job of pointing out (especially in Matthew) that 5000 is really a bit of a misnomer as that only counts the men, and not the women and children. Also don't forget the really important woman in this passage - the Mum who made a pack lunch for her boy to take with him! In case you don't know the synopsis is that Jesus was teaching all day, and the Disciples remind him that he should send the people home before it gets dark as they have nothing to eat. Jesus tells the disciples to feed them, which (quite rightly) they claim is impossible. Jesus tells them to gather what is available, makes an offering to God, and proceeds to divide up the 5 loaves and 2 fish and hands it to the disciples to hand out to the people. When the crowd has eaten it's fill there are 12 baskets of leftovers.

Points of note:

• if we were to try & feed 5000 the catering truck would be obvious - therefore hiding the food in the open would not be possible. So it's not just the disciples who saw this miracle, it was the people as well.
  
• feeding 5000 families would cost quite a bit, I'm thinking that Judas wasn't carrying this much cash around in the money bag.
  
• Is it just me or is there a parallel between physically feeding people and feeding them with the word? The disciples thought it was impossible to physically feed the 5000, would they have said the same about teaching them? Did Jesus do this to show them that feeding a multitude with one man and God's power is easy.
  
• do the 12 baskets of leftovers have something to do with the 12 disciples?...
  
• and how pouring out yourself to many will result in an overflow, and provide more than you need?

The Death of John the Baptist

This passage focuses on Herod's confusion as to whom Jesus was, as some were saying that he was John resurrected. Matthew & Mark both expand on the story as to why this confuses Herod, as it was he who had John killed, and had John's head delivered to his niece/step-daughter at her mothers request. He had initially imprisoned John because John had told him that he couldn't marry his brothers wife.