What Jesus Did

Jesus called a little child to come to him. Jesus stood the child before the followers. Then Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. You must change and become like little children {in your hearts}. If you don't do this, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The greatest (most important) person in the kingdom of heaven is the person that makes himself humble like this child."

—Matthew 18:2-4

Key Thought
Without being syrupy or sappy, Jesus' words hit us like a cold slap in the face...

 

At that time the followers came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

—Matthew 18:1

Key Thought
In our dreams as children, we are the greatest. In our professions, we entertain illusions of our greatness. Even when we approach what is greatness in the eyes of others, we know that we have not arrived and we dream of even greater things to do and greater heights to climb.
So surely, the desire of greatness can't be all bad! The lust for greatness is a...

 

Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum. In Capernaum some men came to Peter. They were the men that collected the two-drachma tax. They asked, "Does your teacher pay the two-drachma tax?" Peter answered, "Yes, Jesus pays the tax." Peter went into the house where Jesus was. Before Peter could speak, Jesus said to him, "The kings on the earth get different kinds of taxes from people. But who are the people that pay the taxes? Are these people the king's children? Or is it other people that...

 

Later, the followers met together in Galilee. Jesus said to the followers, "The Son of Man will be given into the control of men. Those men will kill the Son of Man. But on the third day the Son of Man will be raised from death." The followers were very sad {to hear that Jesus would be killed}.

—Matthew 17:22-23

Key Thought
Spiritual truth is in short supply in our era of politically correct speech, carefully crafted answers, and plain old stretching and hedging the truth. Jesus...

 

Then the followers came to Jesus alone. They said, "We tried to force the demon out of the boy, but we could not. Why were we not able to make the demon go out?" Jesus answered, "You were not able to make the demon go out, because your faith is too small. I tell you the truth. If your faith is as big as a mustard seed, then you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there.' And it will move. All things will be possible for you."

—Matthew 17:19-20

Key Thought
Small mindedness is...

 

Jesus and the followers went back to the people. A man came to Jesus and bowed before him. The man said, "Lord, be kind to my son. He has epilepsy and is suffering very much. My son often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought my son to your followers, but they could not heal him." Jesus answered, "You people have no faith. Your lives are all wrong. How long must I stay with you? How long must I continue to be patient with you? Bring the boy here." Jesus gave a strong command to...

 

The followers asked Jesus, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first {before the Christ comes}?" Jesus answered, "They are right to say that Elijah is coming. And it is true that Elijah will make all things the way they should be. But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People did not know who he was. People did to him all the {bad} things they wanted to do. It is the same with the Son of Man. Those same people will make the Son of Man suffer." Then the followers...

 

Jesus and the followers were walking down the mountain. Jesus commanded the followers, "Don't tell any person about the things you saw on the mountain. Wait until the Son of Man has been raised from death. Then you can tell people about what you saw."

—Matthew 17:9

Key Thought
Once again, Jesus cautions his disciples about what they have seen. They are not to speak about it until they have the key to telling this incredible truth!
How can they explain what they have seen? Why they...

 

While these followers watched him, Jesus was changed. His face became bright like the sun. And his clothes became white as light. Then two men were there, talking with Jesus. The men were Moses and Elijah. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you want, I will put three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While Peter was talking, a bright cloud came over them. A voice came from the cloud. The voice said, "This (Jesus) is my Son and I love him. I...

 

Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John the brother of James and went up on a high mountain. They were all alone there.

—Matthew 17:1

Key Thought
Soul mates. Bosom buddies. Accountability group.
I don't care what you call it, we all need it. Jesus clearly had a closer relationship with Peter, James and John than he did with the other apostles. He invested himself more in them. He revealed more of himself to them. They become the key leaders of the disciples when Jesus...