Jesus

Peter and John came into the city of Jerusalem, weaving their way through the crowded streets, looking, and searching. The city was abuzz with everybody in preparation for the Passover. Not sure where they were going, they continued to be on the lookout for a man bearing a pitcher of water. Peter would exclaim, “Look, there’s a pitcher!” But as they got closer, they would realize it was a woman carrying the pitcher. No, Jesus had specially said it would be a man. That would certainly be something different as there were usually a lot of women carrying pitchers but not men. What next?

Who or what was the Satan that tempted Jesus in the wilderness? For many, the seemingly obvious answer would be the angel that rebelled and fell from heaven. It is the popular belief that Jesus in the wilderness confronted this powerful angelic Satan that goes around opposing God, seducing people and created evil in the world. There are challenges to this assumption.

The Scene

 “And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.” (John 10:22-23)

I’d like to share a story with you about compassion or rather the lack there of. This is a true tale with a twist. It’s an experience where it turns out the person you thought you knew so well turns out to be completely different. Revelations come to light and your whole world changes. It’s about compassions lost.

Prayer is a very powerful thing in the hands of a righteous man. It can change events. God will listen to a request and grant it if the person is righteous. James says in chapter 5:16,

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

or as the RSV says,

“The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.”