Today, I would that you remember and take to mind and heart that JESUS is watching, taking note, and is speaking to others on your behalf.
And here is why.
Read it carefully and see if you see what I see.
41 Then Yeshua sat down opposite the Temple treasury and watched the crowd as they put money into the offering-boxes. Many rich people put in large sums, 42 but a poor widow came and put in two small coins. 43 He called his talmidim [disciples] to him and said to them, “Yes! I tell you, this poor widow has put more in the offering-box than all the others making donations. 44 For all of them, out of their wealth, have contributed money they can easily spare; but she, out of her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.” source
One Day,
Please know your honest questions are welcome here, via comment oremail.
8 But I tell you, even if he won’t get up because the man is his friend, yet because of the man’s hutzpah he will get up and give him as much as he needs. source
Do you see it? Hutzpah.
It’s a strong word. With much flavor and spice.
But let’s gets some history.
Yeshua is teaching and as He often does, He is sharing a parable for those with ears to hear. (Mark 4:33-34) In this parable, He is teaching the art of persistent asking (that is we must persist in asking until we get His answer) and He uses the word hutzpah.
Now the world has taken this word and used it to mean arrogant, obnoxious, and other such unpleasantries. [Yes. It’s the same word some add a C, some do not]
Do you see what I mean?
Now let me share with you a different slant and the one JESUS surely meant.
Boldness, Audacity, Insolence. Nerve. Gall OR a combination thereof weighted according to the situational need. (from the glossary of my Complete Jewish Bible)
Now let’s see the TEXT. Let’s see how JESUS illustrates the word.
9 “Moreover, I myself say to you: keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who goes on asking receives; and he who goes on seeking finds; and to him who continues knocking, the door will be opened. source
He is notsaying don’t take no for an answer. He is saying don’t stop untilyou get HIS ANSWER.
And don’t you love, I do, the first 6 words of verse 9? “Moreover, I myself say to you:
I Myself He said. I Myself am saying to you. How AWESOME is that? JESUS is saying to us: ask Father.
Ask Him with hutzpah. With full intent of asking until He gives you His Answer.
And know this please, Father does not wait long with His answers so He can see how long we will ask; He waits so WE will see how long WE will ask. How much hutzpah do we really have?
We do need to know! Don’t you think?
We were made for this,
Please know your honest questions are welcome here, via comment or email.
I read in Matthew 20 that James and John along with their mother came to JESUS to ask of Him a favor. The favor was that James and John could sit one on His right and the other on His left when He set up His kingdom.
Mark 10:35-45also gives an account of this happening. Forgive me if I am wrong but from this, I see the Disciples were oh so human. Yeshua is about to be crucified for the sins of the world, including theirs, and they have missed it. At this time James and John are thinking politics, power, getting out from under Roman rule, they are thinking Yeshua would soon be setting up His Rule, His Kingdom and they wanted in on it. Do you see what I mean?
As you read Matthew 20:20-23, look what Yeshua tells them. What does He tell them about His Kingdom and greatness in His Kingdom?
NOW. John 19:25-27 Where is John? Where are the other 10?
Your assignment: What could have happened to John between the Matthew 20 encounter and the John 19 happening? How different was he, do you think?
We are glad you are here; stay a while, look around, and be encouraged. There are over 3,500 posts here at The White Stone Blog. Please know my hope is ALWAYS to help and NEVER harm. I have voiced many opinions and thoughts here since 2007 and by now I MAY NOT EVEN AGREE with all of them and some of my grammar and punctuation likely needs editing. But this is changeless: JESUS is our ONLY Savior and Hope. Do you KNOW Him?
