We'll see that some resist the Servant.
The religious leaders were more concerned about protecting their tradition than helping a man with a handicapping condition.
In spite of all that Jesus did and said, they hardened their hearts and resisted His ministry.
Even to the extend of accusing Him of being in league with Satan.
In the end, they cooperated with the evil one.
Some assist the Servant.
The crowds were so large that Jesus had to empower His disciples to help Him in ministry.
There is a job for everyone, even if only giving Him a little boat to use.
If you want to assist Him, remember that the most important thing is being with Him.
As He said, 'Without me, you can do nothing.'
You may recall when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, there were those even there who assisted Him.
Presumably he was buried with that stone rolled across his grave.
Jesus had to wait for them to warm up the pitch, which of course hardened by that time.
They had to warm it up so that it will become liquefied again so that they can wipe it away and then roll the stone away.
The Bible doesn't tell us how long the process took.
We can imagine it took at least a couple of hours while the crowd stood around and while Jesus waited for those who were assisting Him to remove that stone.
The principle here is of course that Jesus who alone can save, does not choose to save alone.
He allows us to assist Him.
Some mistrust the Servant.
Mary bore other children, after the birth of Jesus.
But they did not believe in Him.
Even His mother seemed to have doubts about her very popular son, who was arousing the anger of the leaders.
But Jesus was doing the will of God.
And so should we.
We'll read about receiving God's Word.
Even when we read the Bible, or hear the Bible, we should really hear the voice of God speaking to our hearts.
It must be personal.
Never treat the Bible like any other book.
Jesus gives us 3 admonishes:
We warns us to take heed that we hear, what we hear and how we hear.
The more of the Word we receive, (not just read or hear) but the more the Word goes into our hearts and that we share and becomes life to us, the more God will give to us.
We'll read about reaping God's harvest.
In his 'Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary,' Warren Wiersbe's says,
'It's our job to sow the seed. We cannot make the seed germinate and produce a harvest. Even a busy farmer must sleep and let God work. However when the harvest is ready, we must be alert and reap it. Or the harvest may be lost.'
And we'll be reading on relying on God's power.
Our faith in His Word is tested in the storms of life.
If the disciples have really trusted His Word, they would not have panicked and accused Him of not caring.
You can trust His Word – for it will never fail.
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