Study Desk

"But a bad day is comin' for those of you who are rich, because you've had life so easy.

The marshal heard about the things Jesus had done, so he sent some Jewish leaders to see if Jesus would help.

So Jesus rode off with them. When they neared the marshal's place, he sent a messenger out with a message, "Lord, do not come here. I'm not good enough to have you at my place.

When Jesus saw her, he felt real sorry for so he said, "Don't cry ma'am."

So when Jesus answered them, he said, "Go back and tell John the things you have seen and heard. Tell him the blind are seeing, the crippled are walking, the mute are talking, skin rot is healing, and the dead are being raised back to life. Tell John this is the good news and it is being preached to 'em.

So what'd you go out to see? One of God's cowboys? Yes, I'm telling you that John wasn't just one of God's cowboys, he was even more than that!

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.

"John didn't drink alcohol and often went without food so he could pray, but y'all said he was evil.

There was a lady from town who wasn't really known for being a "lady." She heard Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house and so she showed up with an expensive bottle of perfume.

Cattle prices were way down and neither rancher could afford to pay the cowboy, so he told them both not to worry about it and take care of their families. Tell me, which one would have the most respect for the cowboy?"

Then Jesus asked, "Would you light a lamp and then stick it in your bedroll? Of course not. A lamp is lifted up high so that its light can shine far.

If people are unfriendly toward you, then leave that ranch and shake the dust off your boots, so you don't spread their hate around."

So Jesus dropped 'em off at different points on the first gatherin', and they gave clinics on the good news and how to ride in God's outfit. The cowboys healed folks from all over.

The cowboys all returned and were telling the tales of the trail. They rode off by themselves to a place near Bethsaida so Jesus could talk to 'em.

Late in the evening, the twelve cowboys came up to Jesus and said, "Send these people home so they can get some vittles. There ain't nothing to eat around here."

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.

Then he gave them a clinic on prayer and said, "Let's say you eat the last of the food you have in your house and some company shows up. You run over to the neighboring ranch and knock on the door. A cowboy opens it and asks what you want so late, and you ask to borrow a bag of beans to feed your visitor.

"So I'm telling you to knock on the Boss's door until he answers and don't go away until he gives you what you need.

You see, evil and selfish hearts control y'all, but you still know how to take care of your kids. If this is so, how much will your actual Dad in heaven take care of his kids with the Holy Spirit when they need help?"

"No one lights an oil lamp at night and then puts a hat over it. They will put it on a high shelf so that it can shine for everyone to see.