Study Desk

Jesus rode off to Capernaum and gave a clinic on how to ride for God on the day of rest.

But that fella couldn't keep his trap shut. People started looking for Jesus everywhere so he could teach 'em to ride for God and cure their poxes and cancers.

One day Jesus was giving a clinic and some religious know-it-alls and some hypocritical code keepers were listening in. They always sent someone to wherever he was giving a clinic. And on this day, just like every other day, the healing power of God was riding with Jesus.

But that was just what them religious fellows were waiting on. They jumped up and started making a racket saying, "Who does he think he is? This goes against everything God ever said. Only God can forgive sins, not some two-bit cowboy."

They all came to listen to Jesus's clinics on how to ride for God and be healed of the cankers, cancers, and even their demons.

Jesus looked out over the crowd and said, "Everyone who is poor is blessed, because God has given his outfit to you.

Treat others the way you want God to treat you.

Love your haters, do good to 'em, and lend to 'em without expecting nothin' in return. Then, and only then, will you be gettin' that big reward from God. To those who do this, God will call them his sons because he is kind, even to those who are ungrateful and live in sin.

"Don't judge others harshly, and God won't judge you harshly. If you go around telling others how guilty they are, then God will point out just how guilty you are. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Now this spooked everyone pretty good, but they all gave thanks to the Boss. They all said, "God has sent a Top Hand to help his people out. The Boss loves his people!"

Well, not all of them. The religious code keepers and teachers heard Jesus but they refused to listen. They wouldn't be baptized by John and so they didn't get the great promise God had planned for them.

When he saw Jesus, he ran out and bowed real low in front of him. With an unearthly shriek, he yelled, "Why have you come to stop me, Son of God? By God's good name, please don't torture me."

"Go home to your family and tell them what God has done for you today." Off the guy went, telling everyone what Jesus had done for him.

Still other rumors were saying that Elijah had returned. The stories also included that it was another long-dead cowboy of God who was doing all of this.

Word got around that Jesus and his boys were out there and a whole mess of people showed up. Jesus welcomed them and gave them some clinics on how to ride for God. He even healed a bunch of the sick.

"Some say you are John the Baptizer," one of 'em said. "Others claim you are Elijah or one of the other great cowboys of God from long ago."

They all looked at each other questioningly, but nobody said anything. God didn't want them to understand it yet, and so they were afraid to ask him what he meant.

Many folks wanted more proof and more miracles to prove Jesus had come from God.

He was dead three days and then came back. This miracle was to prove to the evil people in Nineveh that Jonah came from the Boss. God will do the same thing for his Top Hand.

"Y'all religious people are going to get what's coming to you. Y'all make sure and tithe even the money that comes from your herb patches, but you don't even realize that sticking up for the less fortunate and loving God are just as important. Don't pick and choose what you are supposed to do. Do it all.