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Post by sarah on Feb 8, 2007 20:58:24 GMT -8
12/05:
Hey Josh, is there a spell check on this board? I would type with greater peace if there were!
When I read this chapter I was struck by Jesus trying to get a quiet moment to grieve the death of his friend and cousin John the Baptist. Throughout the chapter he is trying to get a quiet moment away, yet his compassion for the people or the disciples needs kept interupting. I was struck by his humanity in this passage and I could almost feel the challenge of grieving privately as a public figure.
I was also caught up in the phrasing " But when he saw the wind he was afraid..." I got to thinking about the fact that you can not see wind, just the evidence of it. I also like the word "immediately" no dramatic pause to let Peter learn his lesson.
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Post by michelle on Feb 9, 2007 17:58:44 GMT -8
12/05:
I felt the same way when I read about Jesus' response to John's death. In trying to put myself in that situation, I know I would be incredibly frustrated that people wouldn't leave me alone to grieve over a beloved friend. How much patience and compassion He had to always be putting others befor Himself. This is one of the Christlike qualities that I most want to have.
I really like this insight into Peter. I'm not sure if it's because I identify with him or something else, but I appreciate Peter in this story. My first thought is how Peter loses faith at the first sign of trouble. But in thinking on it further, I'm not sure that he really does. At the first sign of trouble he cries out to Jesus for help. I think that is such an amazing strength. Granted, he lacked faith that he could continue to walk on water, but he had faith that Jesus could save him. I just think that is so profound.
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Post by Josh on Feb 9, 2007 17:59:31 GMT -8
12/05:
I am often SO glad that the Head of the Church was a guy like Peter! He is so fallible, one minute jumping headlong into the will of God, the next denying his Lord. You know, Michelle, I just wrote a response to your comments about "their hearts are far from me". But I might add: be comforted by the stories of Peter. If you feel you've been all over the board in the sincerity of your faith, you're in good company. And if the life of Peter is a model for us, it means that all of that probably won't change in one day- it is a lifelong quest that God will take you on, bit by bit conditioning you into the 'new creation' He has already begun in you.
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Post by Josh on Feb 9, 2007 18:00:09 GMT -8
12/05:
Yeah... I love the whole dynamic between God (Jesus) and his cousin.
Matthew loves that word immediately... he uses it several times!
I also love how it is said that the disciples worshipped Christ after the boat incident. And some people say that the Synoptic Gospels don't teach the deity of Christ!
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