Luke 9 starts telling us that Jesus sent out the 12 with authority to drive out demons, cure diseases and preach the kingdom. They were to take nothing with them for their travels and to shake the dust off their feet if they were rejected. Herod became inquisitive about Jesus as he heard about Jesus's exploits. Jesus then fed 5,000 men with 5 loaves and 2 fishes after teaching them about the kingdom, and they even collected 12 baskets of left-overs afterwards. Next Jesus asked the disciples who people were saying he was and they answered John the Baptist, Elijah or another of the prophets. "But what about you?" Jesus asked, and Peter said that Jesus was "the Christ of God". Jesus told them to repeat this to nobody, and proceeded to repeat to them that he was going to die and then rise again. And he said that to follow him would demand taking up the cross daily... and that some of them wouldn't die before seeing the kingdom. 8 days later Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain where his clothes became as bright as lightening and Moses and Elijah appeared. Then a cloud enveloped them and a voice told them to listen to Jesus. Following this a man asked Jesus to heal his son suffering with constant convulsions as the disciples had tried unsuccessfully. Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed him and returned him to his father, before again warning the disciples of his impending betrayal, but they didn't grasp what he was saying. Then the disciples argued about which of them would be the greatest and Jesus said that "he who is least among you is the greatest". Then they told Jesus how they had tried to stop someone driving out a demon because he wasn't a disciple. Jesus stood against this saying he who isn't against us is for us. Then there was a clash in a Samaritan village and Jesus rebuked the disciples' intended aggression against the people. Then a man promised to follow Jesus wherever it takes, but Jesus said "foxes have holes, birds have nests, but the Son of Many has nowhere to lay his head... then Jesus called another man to follow him but he asked for time to bury his father first... so Jesus said let the dead bury the dead". Then Jesus called another to follow him and he asked to go and bid farewell to his family first. Jesus said "no-one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in God's kingdom!"
Friday, 21 August 2026
Sacha's Birthday
Last night we had a family get-together for our youngest daughter Sacha's 40th birthday with her husband Biba and their two daughters Alice and Bia. We took the opportunity to get a photo of us with all 4 of our children and all 9 of our grandchildren. It was a lovely evening together around a light meal.
Yesterday our church band guitar player Rogaciano and his wife Monyque had their first baby which was a lovely little girl called Allana.
Our late EAB supporter Sid Wilder's celebration of his life will be held at 1 pm on Friday, September 11th, at the St John's Church, Southend-On-Sea, SS1 2AL. Sid was 93.
Thursday, 20 August 2026
Luke 8 (résumé): The Parable of the Sower & more miracles
Jesus went from place to place proclaiming the Gospel, the 12 were with him and so were some supportive women such as Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna. Then Jesus told the Parable of the Sower to the crowd saying a farmer went out to sow, and some seed fell on the path where the birds ate it (Jesus says the birds represent the devil's opposition to his word), other seed fell on rocky ground and soon withered for lack of roots (Jesus says this represents those who initially accept the Gospel but don't last), further seed fell on thorny land and the thorn choked the plants (Jesus said they represent those who accept the words but then get choked by the pressures of life), and finally seeds fell on good soil which produced much fruit (Jesus says this represents those who receive the word and persevere). After this Jesus says nobody lights a lamp and puts it under a bed. Rather they put it on a stand. So Jesus says that "there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed". Then Mary and the family came to visit Jesus, but couldn't reach him because of the crowd, but when someone told Jesus his family was there he dismissed this saying that his mother and brothers are those who practice God's word. Then Jesus and his disciples were crossing the lake in a boat and Jesus dropped off to sleep as he was very tired. However a storm came putting them in danger so they woke Jesus telling him they were going to drown! Jesus immediately calmed the storm and asked the disciples what had happened to their faith? Next Jesus set free a demon-possessed unstoppably-strong man possessed by a "legion" of spirits. These spirits fled into a herd of pigs and killed them! However the man now sat peacefully at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind. Finally a synagogue leader called Jairus asked Jesus to go and cure his 12-year-old daughter, but on the way Jesus got delayed curing a woman who suffered from non-stop bleeding. By the time Jesus got to Jairus's daughter she had died, but Jesus said to him, "don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed". Jesus then said to the girl, "My child, get up! Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up".
Luke 7 (résumé): The Faith of the Centurion
A centurion sent a request for Jesus to heal his servant at a distance because he said that he didn't deserve his presence under his roof. Jesus remarked that he hadn't seen such faith in Israel and he healed the servant. Jesus then raised from the dead the only son of a widow that was passing at Nain in a funeral procession. All the people "were filled with awe and praised God". Then John the Baptist sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the expected one or not, and Jesus answered with his miraculous works rather than with his words. Then Jesus spoke to the crowd about John saying: "This is the one about whom it is written: I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you". Then Jesus went and had dinner at a Pharisee's house and "a woman who had lived a sinful life" wet Jesus' feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. The Pharisee was skeptical and thought that if Jesus were a prophet he would realize who was doing these things to him. But Jesus said to him that he who is forgiven most loves the most, and proceeded to say to the woman that her sins were forgiven, and yet said to the woman: "Your faith has saved you; go in peace".
Twenty-five percent
Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Luke 6 (résumé): Lord of the Sabbath
Jesus and his disciples were criticized by the Pharisees for having picked some corn when they were hungry on the Sabbath and Jesus pointed out that David had taken similar measures with consecrated bread centuries earlier. Then Jesus healed a man with a shrivelled hand on a Sabbath and answered criticism asking was it lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath? Then after a night of prayer Jesus designated the following 12 disciples as apostles: 1) Simon Peter. 2) Andrew. 3) James. 4) John. 5) Philip. 6) Bartholomew. 7) Matthew (Levi). 8) Thomas. 9) James son of Alphaeus. 10) Simon the Zealot. 11) Judas son of James. 12) Judas Iscariot. Then Jesus taught an enormous crowd and healed many saying, "blessed are you who are poor... and you who hunger... and weep... for you will laugh, be satisfied and receive the kingdom of God... and when hated... rejoice because great is your reward in heaven... but woe to the rich... and to those that laugh now... and are spoken well of... for you have received your comfort... and will mourn and weep". Jesus said "love your enemies... bless those who curse you... if someone hits you give the other cheek... do to others what you would have them do to you... lend to your enemies without expecting return... be merciful just as your Father in merciful". "Don't judge and you won't be judged... give and it will be given to you... don't look at the speck in your brother's eye and ignore the plank in your own eye... no good tree bears bad fruit... the good man brings out the good stored in his heart". "Don't call me Lord if you don't put my word into practice... he who builds his house on rock survives the storm... but he who builds without foundation is destined to complete destruction".
Luke 5 (résumé): The Calling of the First Disciple
Jesus taught the people from Simon's borrowed boat, and when he had finished Jesus told Simon to put down the nets in the deep. He shrugged that he would do what was asked, but they'd just worked there all night for nothing! The result was phenomenal with a net-breaking catch which needed extra hands to cope with. Simon Peter fell on his knees saying "Lord, I am a sinful man". Jesus said "don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men"! So Peter, James and John left everything and followed Jesus. Next Jesus healed a man covered with leprosy. One day when Jesus was teaching some men brought a paralytic on a mat for healing, but they couldn't get to Jesus owing to the crowd so they went up on the roof and lowered the man in front of Jesus. When the Lord say their faith he forgave the paralytic his sin which angered the Pharisees as it was a prerogative of God. So Jesus proved his authority healing the man too and people were amazed. Jesus then went on to call tax collector Levi (Matthew) to follow him. When there were complaints about Jesus' friendship and links to publicans Jesus retorted: "It's not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick". Jesus was than questioned as to why his disciples didn't fast. Jesus said that their time for fasting would come, but not whilst they had the bridegroom with them. Things were changing and "new wine must be poured into new wineskins".