Study Desk

When they went to the well to talk to him, they begged him to stay for a while. He gave a two-day clinic at that little ranchito. He taught them who God was and how to ride for him.

While he was heading back, he ran into one of his servants who had been caring for the boy. The servant told him that his son was alive and well.

Later on, Jesus went back to Jerusalem for another Jewish festival.

One man had been lying there sick for thirty-eight years.

Now this really kicked the hornet's nest, and the leaders tried to find a way to get rid of Jesus for good. Not only had Jesus broke the Law by working on the day of rest, when he called God his Father, he was saying that he was equal with God.

"Listen carefully to what I'm fixing to tell you. Those who believe what I am telling you right now, and believe that the God has sent me, that person will live forever in heaven. No sin will be held against a cowboy who believes in me. That cowboy has walked from the land of the dead and crossed the cattle guard to saddle up for eternal life.

"And don't let all this surprise you. There will be time for amazement when those who are dead hear the Son's voice and

rise from their graves. Those who believe will go on to do good things and experience eternal life, but those who dismiss this message will only ride for themselves and continue to live evil lives. These will experience judgment for their sins.

John was a campfire that shined bright in this dark world and y'all enjoyed the warmth of his message for a while.

You pat yourselves on the back for memorizing all the scriptures that describe me, but you are too blind to see that I stand here before you.

I see into your hearts and know that you do not ride for God.

The crowd finally made it up the hill so Jesus said to Phil, "Where can we get food for all these folks?"

Then Jesus lifted up the biscuits and thanked God for them and put them in a few different baskets to hand out to everyone. Everyone had as many biscuits as they could eat. He did the same thing with the jerky, and everyone got full.

That evening, Jesus's cowboy rode down to the water's edge to wait for their boss.

When everyone realized that Jesus and his cowboys were not around, they got in the boats to go look for him.

Jesus said to them, "Y'all aren't here to ride for God. You're here because I filled your bellies and now you're hungry and wanting another free meal.

Quit chasing meaningless stuff like food and start longing for eternal life by riding for the Top Hand. For God has approved of him by giving him the key to the ranch."

They all replied, "We want to rope, ride, and brand for God's outfit too. What do we have to do first to saddle up with ya?"

They pondered this for a second and then someone shouted out, "Well, show us a miracle so that we know you are the Top Hand. We want to see what you can do. I mean, our ancestors got to eat bread from heaven while they rode across the desert.

Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. Whoever rides for me will never be hungry again. Whoever gives his life to me will never be thirsty.