Matthew 14:22-33
The miracle of Jesus feeding the 5000 had just finished and Jesus wanted some time alone to pray so he told His disciples to get on a boat and go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus wanted some time to pray.
During the journey a dangerous storm overtakes the boat the disciples are in and they begin to wonder where God was. Jesus comes walking to them on the water and the disciples become scared thinking Jesus is a ghost. Jesus calls to them saying, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

Peter then questions Jesus, saying that if it really is Jesus, to call Peter to come to walk on the water to Him. Jesus invites Peter to walk on the water with Him. As soon as Peter gets scared of the wind and the waves and takes his eyes off Jesus, he begins to sink. Jesus reaches his hand down and grabs Peter. They climb back into the boat and the storm stops. The disciples immediately begin to worship Jesus and recognise that He is truly the Son of God.

(from ‘The Bible-Study Tools)
Pastor Darryl

Matthew 14:13-21

Whenever I read this passage, I wonder what the disciples must have thought when Jesus said to them, “They (the hungry crowds) need not go away; you give them something to eat.” Us, feed them? Oh come on! What’s a bit of bread and a couple of fish going to do – there are 5000+ of them? Really, Jesus!!
But that’s the task before all of us, isn’t it? Jesus sends us out with his invitation to feed the neighbour, love the neighbour, and serve the neighbour. No, it is not necessarily about the physical bread and butter, but the Word of God is also food, life giving food for the soul. There will be enough; there is always enough when Jesus is involved. God’s abundance in its many forms never runs out. Jesus gives to us so freely, so we can with confidence share with others what he has given us.

Pastor Darryl

Photo by Wesual Click on Unsplash

Matthew 13:13
Jesus clearly said, “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand (Matthew 13:13).
Jesus taught his followers quite clearly how to live. He taught them about the Kingdom of God, and He showed the working of the kingdom through His miracles. Even so, his followers still struggled to understand, still struggled to realise who Jesus was, and what His purpose was. If His followers couldn’t grasp what they were seeing and hearing, perhaps they could through parables. And many of His parables spoke of “The Kingdom of God” revealing to us the impenetrable nature of God’s Kingdom and our own inability to fully comprehend it on this earth.
By their nature, parables have many layers of meaning. But one thing evident is that they invite us to spiritual pondering, to stir curiosity, exploring how the parable might reveal some truth in our own lives, for this world, in our time. While we may be tempted to want just the
facts, Jesus invites us through parables to go embrace the mystery of God and recognise our inability to fully grasp who God is and what His plan is for us.
The Kingdom of God must be pondered within one’s heart, leading the individual towards a deeper relationship with Christ. As you ponder Jesus’ parables why not allow the Spirit of God to speak to you through them.
Pastory Darryl

Photo by Joshua Lanzarini on Unsplash

Matthew 13:24-30
In Jesus’ Parable of the Weeds there is an excellent question posed: “Sir, didn’t you sow good seeds in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?” Several of us enjoy gardening, watching the seeds sprout. We water, fertilise and watch them grow, but somehow those pesky weeds manage to grow amongst our plants. Even in the cracks in the concrete paths, weeds often tend to take root. Where do they come from?

From the parable, the weeds represent sin in our lives which comes regardless of our attempts to lead good lives, and sin loves to find the many cracks in our lives to take root. I suppose when we look at the Jacob and Esau story (last week and this week’s OT readings), they were two brothers, who were trying to live good lives also, but sin crept in and took root having its way in separating that family.

Sin can be a bit that way, sneaking into lives. We try to do what we think is right, only to find that it turns to custard. Like gardening, our lives need constant weeding of sin, otherwise it can grow and choke us. We ourselves might recognise the problem, but struggle to do much about it. We need a good gardener to do the weeding. The Bible tells us that God is that Gardener, and it is to Him that we are to go when the weeds threaten to overrun us. Do you have any weeds in your life that need attention?
Pastor Darryl

Photo by Amy Humphries on Unsplash

Genesis 25:19-34
Reading the Old Testament lesson for this week (Genesis 25:19-34) we end the reading with the first born son of Isaac swapping his birthright for a simple meal, and then the statement: “So, Esau despised his birthright.”
Prior to birth, the twins were jostling in the womb in an attempt to be the first born. Esau was born first and so gained the birthright. The birthright
was no just the inheritance of the majority of the parents’ wealth and status, but the historical blessing given by God to Abraham. As we hear in a later chapter, it is the blessing that is most treasured.

Sometimes we take the blessing that we have been given for granted. Not just our physical blessings, but our spiritual ones also. Christ has always been in the possession of the birthright which has afforded Him the favoured place of blessing in heaven. And yet, what does Christ do?

Jesus exchanges his place of blessing and favour for our place of curse and dejection, something far less valuable or desirable than a bowl of lentil stew. This is a pure gift of grace and love from Christ. There is nothing in us that makes us worthy of this. Nothing.

Pastor Darryl