February 16

Mardi Gras and Jesus (Part 2)

Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. (Matthew 4:25)
Crowd of people
Crowd of people

Have you ever wondered why Jesus was surrounded by a crowd of people?  It is Fat Tuesday here in Louisiana and I thought I would talk about the crowd.

Jesus gave the crowd great gifts. Teaching, preaching and healing was Jesus’ ministry.  He taught in their synagogues, He preached the gospel and He healed all manner of sickness and disease. (Matthew 4:23-25, Matthew 9:35)

I understand He came to die so that we might all live…I get that, but that is an accomplished work, we can receive all He did at the Cross by faith.  Our clothing company is all about salvation.  This post is about how we can draw the crowd.

If the church would imitate Christ, it is my opinion, people would be breaking down the doors to get what we have.  Jesus gave Himself away to the crowd.  He taught them, loved them and healed them.

Peter knew he had something special when he told a lame man at the gate Beautiful, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6)

Jesus said the world would know us because of the love we give one to another. Notice there is a delivery system, one to another. (John 13:34,35) Peter gave what he had, in the name of Jesus. 

Jesus did not tell His disciples in Matthew 10 to pray for the sick.  He told them to heal the sick…Big difference.  Peter didn’t  pray a prayer when the lame man was healed at the gate Beautiful.

Which is easier? Telling some lost soul you will pray for him or telling him Jesus loved him enough to heal him and by the way, Jesus is busy at the right hand of the Father so…He sent me.  The church, for the most part, is telling this sick and dying world we are praying for you.  If you are a disciple of Jesus, He has commanded you to heal them. (If the word of God is to be believed)

Different than what most of you have heard, I know, it hit me the same way, but it is in the Bible.  Jesus gave another example in the synagogue when He said to the paralyzed man, your sins are forgiven. (Matthew 9:2)

I find it ironic, many say this every service in church, your sins are forgiven. But read the whole story, Jesus read their hearts and said, which is easier to say your sins are forgiven or rise up and walk?  (That is a fair question, read Jesus’ answer.) But so that you know the Son of Man has the power on Earth to forgive sins, Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house. (Matthew 9:1-8)

I love that about Jesus, He cuts right to the chase.  Faced the problem head on, but here is the best part, He healed him and forgave the man’s sins…win, win.

Look at the Mardi Gras crowd again , which float has the most followers and enthusiasm?  It is the float with the best gifts.  Jesus gave us the power to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers and raise the dead.  Those kind of gifts will draw a huge crowd and by the way…their sins have already been forgiven. (1 John 2:2)

Until next time, remember: You overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony, and by becoming a living sacrifice. Revelation 12:11


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