In Matthew 18:1-6, Jesus and the disciples were in Capernaum. The disciples thinking like man, asked Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom? Jesus took a child and placed him in the middle of the disciples. He said, unless you be converted and became as a child, you can’t enter into kingdom. He was saying that we have to humble ourselves before God. It means that we have to be vulnerable to this world. Why open ourselves to attack? People are looking for something that will not threaten them. It draws them in to recieve what Jesus is saying. Jesus also that any that harms one of his children, will be fighting against God. Jesus said it this way. It would be better if the person hung a milestone around his neck and were cast into the sea. Jesus was giving direction and protection to his family.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 17:22-27, Jesus and the disciples were near Capernaum. Jesus told the disciples that He would be betrayed into the hands of men. And shall be killed. On third day He shall rise again. The disciples were disheartened. They didn’t understand. All they could see is that Jesus was going to die. They came to Capernaum, the tax collectors, asked the disciples if they had paid tribute? Jesus answered the disciples, who prays tribute? The disciples answered, strangers. Then Jesus said, that the children are free. Jesus said, not to be an offense to them, go to the sea of Galilee and cast a line in the water. He said, the first fish you catch, there will be money in it’s mouth. Go and pay the tribute. In every plan that God has for us, we have apart to play. God will use what we do to bring about the right results. There is always things to do in the kingdom. Even new babies have their part to play in the work of the kingdom. And Jesus told the disciples and us how He will accomplish God’s will by His death and resurrection.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 17:14-21, Jesus and the disciples came down the mountain to the multitude. A man came and fell down before Jesus. He ask Jesus to heal his lunatick son, who was possessed of the devil. The disciples tried but couldn’t cast the devil out. Jesus said, O faithless and perverse generation, how do I have to be with you. Jesus cast out the devil. The disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t. Jesus said, only by prayer and fasting could you. The world has gone to hell in handbasket. We are looking on the sidelines, saying that’s terrible. It shouldn’t be. And you wring your hands in discuss. O faithless and perverse generation how long will you wait before doing what God has said. Only by prayer and fasting are these devils cast out. Jesus is our example. He was always praying and fasting.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 17:9-13, Jesus and the disciples came down from the mountain. Jesus told them not to say anything about His transfiguration, until He has risen from the dead. Then the disciples were discussing why the scribes were talking about Elijah coming first. Jesus began to explain. He said Elijah has come and they killed him. Which they will do to Me. Then they understood that John the Baptist was Elijah. Why was John the Baptist Elijah? Elijah wore a leather skirt and his prayer shawl was made of camel hair. Elisha wore this until he died. God directed the high priest, after Elisha died, to store the leather skirt and camel hair prayer shawl under the table of the showbread in the Holy of Holies in the temple. John the Baptist’s father was performing his duties as high priest, when the angel Gabriel told him of his son the next prophet in Israel. Gabriel told him to take the leather skirt and camel hair prayer shawl for his son. And John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah, preaching the gospel.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 17, Jesus is transfigured into His glorified body. Moses and Elijah appeared with Him. They were talking to Jesus. Then God appeared in a cloud over them. Then Jesus was by Himself. Both Moses and Elijah are prominent in both old and new testament. Both because they did many things to led the people to God. But they are prominent for another reason. There are 3 people who haven’t died on earth and went home to heaven. They are Enoch, Moses and Elijah. Enoch walked with God and was not, because God took him. Moses watched as the children of Israel walked over the Jordan river. Moses climb up mount Nebo and disappeared. Elijah was walking along as a chariot of fire came from heaven and took him home. You’ll find the stories in Genesis 5, Joshua 22 and 2 Kings 2. Enoch is mentioned in 2 scriptures. But what it says applies to us today. Enoch walked with God and God took him and he was no more.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 17:1-8, Jesus had finished teaching the disciples. He took Peter, James and John up Mount Hermon. When they reached a pinnacle, there appeared Moses and Elijah standing next to Jesus. They were talking to Him. Jesus was transfigured before their face into His glorified body. He shown like the sun. Peter said it’s good that we are here. Peter wanted to make 3 tabernacles. A cloud descended upon Jesus and Moses and Elijah. Then God spoke and said, this is My beloved Son, hear Him. Peter, James and John fell on their faces, because they knew it was God Himself. Jesus told not to be afraid. When they looked up, it was just Jesus. God will confirm all things to us. Peter, James and John saw a portion of heaven. We see in part, but when we will be there we shall know as we are known.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

How many of you want to die? But if you aren’t dead, you aren’t a Christian. Jesus is our example. In Matthew 16:21-28, Jesus began to tell the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem to suffer and die. Peter spoke up first and said God forbid. Jesus rebuked him for being selfish. Jesus told him that he was thinking of himself not God’s will. God’s plan for each of us is corporate. It not only includes us but everyone else. God brings you along and to the place where His plan unfolds and it effects everyone. No one is a loner. We are a church fitly joined together. Jesus is the cornerstone. In Galatians 2:20, it says I’m crucified with Christ. It means we are dead to ourselves. And don’t own yourself any more. We are to follow. Paul said it, I die daily. And this how we are to live. And those who choose not to will lose everything they have, including Jesus.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus had finished His ministry around the city of Magdala. They got into their boat and begin rowing north, up the river Jordan. They came to the coast of Caesarea Philippi, which is today in northern Israel in the Golan heights. Jesus left the multitude and took His disciples to speak to them privately. Jesus asked them who that people say He is? The disciples said, some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, some say Jeremiah and others one of the prophets. Then Jesus asked the disciples, who do you say I am? Peter answered and said, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus said upon that belief, I will build my church. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Who are the church. It isn’t the buildings or the demonination. It is the people who believe in Jesus Christ as savior, no matter what church they attend or where there faith is. If they believe in Jesus, they are brethren. Do you know what Jesus said about coming against the brethren? Christian or non Christian who come against the brethren will suffer the same result as coming against God. The people you thought were not worth being in your church, you will spend eternity next to. God sees your heart, not your clothes or pocketbook.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 16;5-12, Jesus had just rebuked the pharisees and sadducees. Jesus and the disciples got into their boat and went to the other side of the sea of Galilee. When they got there, Jesus spoke to them in a parable. He said, beware of the leaven of the pharisees and sadducees. The disciples didn’t understand what He was talking about. Jesus had to explain that the leaven of the pharisees and sadducees is their doctrines, they had made up. They weren’t following God. Jesus said, it’s not what we eat that defiled us. It is what comes out of our heart, that does. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The disciples understood. The title is from a John Steinbeck book, Of Mice and Men. It says, the best laid plans of mice and men go awry. With God all things are possible. This is why we must guard our hearts and minds with the peace of God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 16:1-4, Jesus had to deal with the unbelief of the pharisees and sadducees. He used the example of the sky. If it’s red in the evening, bad weather is over. But if the sky is red in the morning, there is a storm coming. Then He said, if you can discern the face of the sky, why can’t you discern the signs of the times? The only sign that you will recieve is the sign of Jonah, 3 days in the belly of the whale. Unbelief is the opposite of faith. It is opposite sides of the same coin. That coin is us. Jesus said how can fresh and salt water come out of the same well? It can’t. It’s one way or the other. It starts with hope, then becomes faith. But to keep the faith, takes effort on our part. We must seek after God by reading the word of God and praying. Then doing the word of God. This is how to deal with unbelief.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com