The Bold Witness

Scripture reference: Mark 2:1-12 "There is no way we can ask him to come way the heck out here into the middle of nowhere. We simply must take Jesse to him." Jacob spoke to his brothers Jason and Saul, and their cousin Matthew, as he stitched up the leather sleeve a wooden pole would go through. This would complete one side of the stretcher he was making which he, his brothers, and thier cousin would use to carry their neighbor, Jesse, to the Rabbi they had heard of living in Capernaum. Word had come to even their remote location that this man, named Jesus, can heal all ailments. Without doubt or question, as soon as Jacob and his brothers had heard this news, they made the decision to take their friend, Jesse, to him. Capernaum is a good half day journey under normal conditions. Four men carry the weight of another between them would add difficulty and time to the journey. For that reason they had decided to set out before dawn of the next day. So Jacob worked quickly...

Scripture reference: Luke 17:12-19 It seems that asking for a blessing is something we can find time for. We will actually plan and set aside a specific time and place to make a request of the Lord. And receiving an unexpected blessing that was not requested is even easier. What seems to require thought and effort is remembering to give thanks and praise to God for every blessing. Even the ones we do not recognize when they occur. In our reference passage there is a clear point being made by the fact that the only one of the ten lepers who gave thanks to Jesus for being healed was a Samaritan. It tells us that those who believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob tend to take him for granted. While those who are not inclined to think of God as their friend are greatly moved by his grace. The problem lies in the fact that we think we are worthy of God's blessings because we are Christians. When the truth is that none are worthy, "for all have sinned, and come short o...

Scripture reference: Matthew 8:5-13 My name is Marcus Giaus Marcellus. I was born in the city of Tyre, and was raised in the city of Ceasarea. I am the only son of a guard of the Summer Palace of King Herod. My mother is a weaver of fine linen used in the king's palace. My father died of a fever when I was twelve years old. At that time my mother turned me over to the captain of the palace guard to train me in the ways of a man and a soldier. I lived with him for the next four years. I enjoyed my life among the men of the guard. I got pleasure from the games and activities we participated in. My master had one of the men under him teach me to read and write Greek. I also received instruction in math, science, growing crops, the names and cycles of the stars and planets, riding a horse, and sailing a boat. I grew strong in body and mind, and brought honor to my guardian and his company. My experiences with the guard unit taught me about authority and discipline. The wa...

Scripture reference: Ephesians 6:2 The Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to share my faith with teenage boys from time to time. I always enjoy the excitement and imagination of those in early puberty. Their mind and emotions, being tossed in a wild sea of sudden growth and change, always present challenging ideas and questions. One troubling questions that arises as a result of the evil age we live in is this. Why should I honor and respect my father or my mother when he/she is an alcoholic, a drug addict, adulterous, abusive, or in prison? Am I really commanded by God to respect and honor someone sitting in prison for the crime of raping a child or killing a man in a bar fight? Surely the behavior of my parent exempts me from this command. The answer to this question, as with all difficult questions of real life, can be found in the scriptures. If we read and study the Bible carefully we can find instructions for every situation we face in life today. And this one is no...

Scripture reference: 2 Kings 4:8-37 In my many years as a woman of Shunem I have served my people with the talents and wisdom such as God has given to me. For that reason I have some standing and reputation for greatness among them, but it is of God and not of me. Even still, I never conceived. Therefore, my husband and I were without child, and were great in years. Now there came a day when a man would regularly pass by my home, and I perceived that he was a great man of God. I invited him to come into my home and let me feed him. This he did every time he passed my way. So I compelled my husband to build a small room onto our home, and furnished it with a bed, a stool, and a candlestick. Then when the man of God next passed by I invited him to stay the night with us. This he did, and whenever he came to Shunem. One day when this man of God was staying in my home, he sent his man servant to summon me to him. When I stood in the door to his room, he said that since I had been ...

Scripture reference: Mark 10:15 One of the greatest problems the Modern Church has created for mankind is making Christianity far more complicated and complex than God made it. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is really quite simple and straight forward. But man's ego and need to feel important has added requirements and restrictions to Christ Gospel, just as the ancient Jewish priests added to the laws God gave to the people through Moses. And Jesus seemed to know this would happen. So he showed open disdain for the Pharisees with their complicated and burdensome additions to God's law. And he made it clear that anyone who does not accept the offer of salvation with the simplicity of a child cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. You can conduct your own instructive demonstration of what Jesus means when he implores us to "receive the kingdom of God as a little child." Gather together a small group of children between the ages of four and six. Then present a platt...

My days used to be spent sitting at either the entrance to the market place or outside one of the gates of the Temple. I would recite prayers, psalms, and portions of the Holy Scriptures. A simple clay bowl sat next to me into which some who took notice of me would drop a coin. The motivation of those giving a pittance of their good fortune varied. Some hoped to gain favor from God through their generosity to one less fortunate than themselves. Some gave out of a sense of duty. Still others gave out of a feeling of guilt; thinking that some trouble they were experiencing was the result of their lack of concern for the poor. Sometimes I would also receive a loaf of bread and some cheese. Occasionally some truly generous person would give me a little meat and some wine. But I also would be scorned and told to be quiet by those who considered my condition a curse from God. For them I was unclean, and tainted their environment with unholiness. Surely, they would say to their fr...

Amazing and incredible do not begin to describe the change in body and life I experienced crawling in the dust on a road outside Capernaum. I had suffered pain, revilement, sorrow, embarrassment and isolation for twelve years. The flow of blood from my body, which would have been normal one week a month, had become a curse which labeled me as "unclean." I could not go to the synagogue to hear the Word of God read. I could not commune with others in the market or at the well. Members of the community who were strict about the purity laws would neither have anything to do with me, nor allow others to visit me. During that time I had believed and trust, and been disappointed and taken advantage of by many physicians and purported healers. In my loneliness I cried and besought God to have mercy on me, a child of his chosen people, the children of Israel. I awoke that morning believing I had heard a clear, calm voice say, "Daughter, wake up. For today is the day of ...