January 10, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Beatitudes 

Jesus teaches eight characteristics in the Sermon on the Mount; these are the privileges and requirements for people living now and during the Messianic reign, and they constitute Christ’s standard of righteousness. 

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matthew 5:3-11

1. Poor in spirit - being spiritually impoverished and depending on God
2. Mourn - grief-stricken over your own sins
3. Meek - strength under control.
4. Hunger and thirst for righteousness - means to long for a relationship with God
5. Merciful - show compassion and kindness to others
6. Pure in heart - being free from deceit 
7. Peacemakers - actively seek peace
8. Persecuted for righteousness sake - facing hostility and still doing what’s right.

We should want to embody such characteristics and spiritual attributes; Jesus has set a standard for living, and it would be disobedient to ignore them and go about our lives as if we hadn’t heard what he has taught us.

January 9, 2026

Jesus Preached And Healed

There have always been diseases. Though nowadays we attribute diseases to medications, poor eating habits, and lifestyle. In Jesus tour of Galilee, he healed all the sick people who were brought to him. In doing so, he proved that he was the Christ, the Messiah they were waiting for, and people from all over came to hear him preach and be healed. He healed the bodies and minds of those who encountered him, but it was the healing of the soul for those who listened to his message about the kingdom of God who were the most blessed. You’ve got to think about it; they needed the healing of the body as proof that he was who he said he was. Otherwise, they might have thought he was just another preacher. Even though his words were powerful, he needed a draw to get them to listen. Now, and something to beware of, some claim they are healing people to draw in the lame to fleece them of their money. These preachers are wealthy, fly in their own private jet, and even cry for more money so they can buy a new one. Please don’t waste your money on these preachers; they are a tool of the enemy, devouring all who turn their attention towards them. Jesus is the only one with the healing salve and the words of eternal life. Trust in him; your soul is more valuable than this weak body we inhabit. 

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. Matthew 4:23

January 8, 2026

Jesus Heals the Nobleman’s Son

Jesus left Samaria to go back to Cana of Galilee, where a nobleman sought him out to beg him to heal his son because he was about to die. 

Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. John 4:48

Jesus was a bit rough on that man, yet, because he knew who he was, he didn’t even blink an eye when he spoke to him with a harsh tone. 

Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. John 4:50

The man believed Jesus’s words and set out for home. The man’s servants met him along the way, telling him that his son lived. Like many of us, he was curious about when his fever broke and when he started getting better.

So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee. John 4:53-54

I don’t believe his inquiry was due to a lack of trust, but rather a way to prove that it was Jesus who had healed the boy, to seal his testimony. The entire family was saved because of this miracle. 

As Jesus said, some people need signs and wonders to believe, yet here we are many years later believing in him without seeing his miracles. That is the power of the Holy Spirit living within us and helping us keep our faith. 

January 7, 2026

The Woman At The Well: Part 3

After Jesus told the Samaritan woman about her husbands, the five she had in the past, and the one she was living with that wasn’t her husband, Jesus probably told her more than that about herself. She ran into town to tell the men about him and that he was the Messiah, the Christ they had been waiting for.

Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. John 4:29-30

In the meantime, the disciples brought him food, but he wasn’t hungry because he was satisfied with the spiritual food they knew nothing about.

I thought the story about the woman was over at this point, given the reaping-and-sowing story told in the middle of this portion of scripture, but that’s not the case. The men believed her and ran out to meet Jesus. Once they met him, they believed everything she said. 

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. John 4:42

When telling others about Jesus, don’t get too caught up in the results. Your responsibility is to share your knowledge and tell about your experience with him, but it’s up to them to experience him for themselves. The Holy Spirit is powerful enough to do the finishing work. One sows and others reap, but we are all satisfied at the harvest. 

And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. John 4:37-38

January 6, 2026

The Woman At The Well: Part 2

I couldn’t pass this portion of scripture without mentioning the following verse:

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14

Once you’ve experienced the power of the Holy Spirit, the Water, and the way he works in our lives, you realize that life wouldn’t be worth living without him. He brings to the forefront of your mind things you didn’t know, opens your mind to the truth of the scriptures, and reveals to you Jesus in ways you never imagined. You never know when that power will spring up, giving you insight into people, their intentions, and even their hearts. There is something comforting about someone who carries the Holy Spirit, drawing to them others who also have him, giving us a connection unlike anything else; it’s a kinship, and without even mentioning our relationship with Jesus, he gives us a sense and a knowing that the person we are communicating with is also a Christ-follower. I don’t know how it works, but I’m grateful for the Spirit that lives within me, that flowing water that is the wellspring of eternal life. 

January 4, 2025

All the gospels, including John, come together at this point in Jesus's walk. Part of the reason Jesus left Judea for Galilee was that he heard that John the Baptist had been put in prison by Herod for calling him out for his sin against his brother, Philip.

But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison. Luke 3:19-20

The Woman At The Well: Part 1

The most direct route to Galilee was through Samaria, but most Jews avoided it because of tensions between them and the Samaritans. However, Jesus was no respecter of cultural differences, and it was the most direct route. He was beginning his public ministry, and he had no intention of keeping the truth from Samaria. Plus, there was a very significant story that needed to be told, one most of us know and love: the story of the woman at the well. If you don't know the story, read John 4:4-29. 

As Jesus was tired from his journey, he sat down on Jacob's well while his disciples went into town for food. While there, a woman came to draw water, and Jesus asked her for a drink. She wanted to know why a Jew would ask her for a drink.

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. John 4:10

Being a practical person, she replied, "Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?" The water wasn't running, so I expect it was flat and stale. This woman, there to get water, encountered Jesus, our life-giving water, able to cleanse us of all unrighteousness and to bring new life to an otherwise dead person. She knew this was no regular conversation and was very attentive to what she was hearing. 

We must draw from the well of living water; the water the world offers is stale and without life. Drink the water Jesus offers you, and your focus will change, making living in this world joyful rather than mundane and dreadful.