Today's Christian clip art: The parable of the wedding feast

Matthew 22:1-14.

Jesus told Pharisees another parable, which was about a wedding feast the King prepared for his son. King sent his servants to inform the guest of the wedding that the feast is ready. But the people invited to the wedding did not care about it and they just went away for their own work. Other invited people hurt the king's servants and killed them. The king was so enraged and destroyed those murderers and burned their cities. Then, the king ordered his servants to bring people from the streets, no matter they were good or bad. The feast was eventually filled with guests. The king noticed a man who was not wearing wedding clothes, he asked this man why, but the man did not answer. The king ordered to tie this man up and throw him out of the feast.

Then Jesus said, "Many are invited but few are chosen".

Today's Christian clip art: The parable of the vineyard

Matthew 21:33-46, Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-19.
At the temple. Jesus told a parable of vineyard. A man was renting a vineyard and winery there. At harvest time, his servants went there to collect his share of fruit. But the renters beat one servant and killed another and stoned the third. The man sent more servants but the renters treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his own son, expecting them to respect him, but they killed him too.
Then, Jesus asked chief priests, "What would this owner do to the renters?". They answered "He will put those villains to death and rent the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the harvest.". "Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to people who will produce its fruit."

Today's Christian clip art: The fig tree with no fruit

Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11:12-14, Mark 11:20-24.
Jesus found a fig tree on the way to Jerusalem from Bethany. He noticed there were no fruit on that tree. He cursed the tree saying "May you never bear fruit again." Immediately the tree withered. Disciples were amazed by watching this. Jesus said to them "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.".
This is a rather difficult part to understand. Jesus cursed a fig tree and killed it...? It seems this was implying the destiny of Jerusalem which did not bear fruit.
Reference:Faith of a mustard seed

Today's Christian clip art: The house of prayer

Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, Luke 20:45-46.
Jesus found many people were buying and selling when he entered the temple. He drove them all out, and knocked over the table of moneychangers and seats of dove sellers. and said "This is written in the scriptures, 'My house will be called a house of prayer', but you are making it a den of thieves".
Jesus did the same thing previously (John 2:14), it seems temples are very good place for merchants to do their job because many people are coming. The Scripture Jesus quoted is Isaiah 56:7.

Today's Christian clip art: Jesus wept for Jerusalem

Luke 19:41-44.
When Jesus came near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept for it. "If only you know things which belong to the peace today! but they are hidden from your eyes. Your enemy will come surrounding you, and defeat you and your children onto the ground. They will not leave one stone upon another. This is because you didn't know the time of God's visit".
In AD 70, Jerusalem fell by Romans, and what Jesus said here was fulfilled.

Today's Christian clip art: Hosanna in the highest

Matthew 21:7-11, Mark 11:7-10, Luke 19:36-40, John 12:12-15.
On the way to Jerusalem, people covered the path with their cloaks. Others spread palm leaves in the way. People praised God loudly and joyfully. "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!".
Some Pharisees asked Jesus to stop them. Then Jesus answered, "I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

Today's Christian clip art: You will find a colt

Matthew 21:1-7, Mark 11:1-7, Luke 19:29-35.
In Jerusalem, Jesus ordered two disciples to go into the village ahead of him, and said "You will find a colt tied, which never have been ridden. Untie it and bring it to me. If anyone asked why you do it, just say that your Lord needs it.".
They went into the village and they found a colt as Jesus said to them. Jesus rode this donkey from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem.
Long before Jesus was born, Zachariah the prophet said this would happen, which is in Zechariah 9:9.

Today's Christian clip art: She did it for my burial

Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:1-8

Jesus was having supper at a house in Bethany. A woman came to Jesus and poured very expensive ointment into his head. Disciples got angry and said "What a waste!!, we could sell that and give the money to the poor!". Then Jesus said "Don't trouble her, she's done a good for me, she did it for my burial. Listen to this, the gospel will be preached all over the world, what this woman did for me will be remembered."

Today's Christian clip art: The faith of a blind man

Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43.

Near Jericho, a blind man whose name was Bartimaeus was sitting by the road and begging. As soon as he knew Jesus was walking by, he started shout "Have mercy on me!". Some one tried to stop him, then he shouted louder "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped, and healed him, then said "Your faith saved you".

He could see instantly and followed Jesus. He was not only healed his eyes but also he was saved.

Today's Christian clip art: Workers at a vineyard

Matthew 20:1-16.

Jesus told his disciples a parable to explain what "who are the first will be the last, and many who are the last will be the first" is like.

Workers were sent to a vineyard to work for a denarius.
Some workers could start to work in the morning, some could start only at 5 in the evening.
All the workers got paid a denarius including workers started late. Workers started early complained to the master about why they got paid the same even they started earlier. The master told one of them "You agreed to being paid a denarius, and I would like to pay the same for the last one too. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money?"

So, the last will be the first, and the first will be the last.

Today's Christian clip art: Let the children come

Luke 18:15-17.
Some people took their children to Jesus to be touched by him. Disciples noticed this and rebuked them. Then Jesus said "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." and he also said that anyone would never enter to the kingdom of God unless they receive it like a child.

Reference: Humble as little child

Today's Christian clip art: A Pharisee and a tax collector

Luke 18:9-14.
Jesus told a parable for those who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down other people.
A Pharisee and a tax collector were praying at the temple. The Pharisee prayed and thanked God, saying that he was a right person, was not a sinner, and was doing right things for God. The tax collector prayed to beg the forgiveness recognising he was a sinner.
Jesus said that it was not the Pharisee, but it was this tax collector who was justified before God.

Today's Christian clip art: The unjust judge and the importunate widow

Luke 18:1-8.
Jesus told a parable for people to pray always and not to faint. It was about an unjust judge and an importunate widow. This widow was not judged fairly by this unjust judge who were not afraid of God and did not respect people. The widow always came to him and asked to judge fairly again and again and again, so that the unjust judge decided that he would judge her fairly because she was so importunate.
Then Jesus said "Why don't the God judge quickly and fairly for people who are crying day and night for the fair judgement? The God will avenge them speedily."
As in the parable of "A gentile dog", it's very important key to keep pray and ask with hope and faith to the Lord.

Today's Christian clip art: Where are the nine?

Luke 17:11-18.
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus healed 10 people who were suffering by leprosy. Among those ten people, only one Samaritan came back to Jesus and praised God. Jesus asked this Samaritan "Weren't there ten people cleansed? Where are the nine?".
The other nine was satisfied by just the healing on them, but only this Samaritan recognised real salvation by Jesus.
Jesus said to him. "Arise and go, your faith healed you."

Today's Christian clip art: Lazarus and the rich man

Luke 16:19-31.
A rich man died and went to the hell, looked up and saw Lazarus, who was a begger in front of this rich man's house and suffered with sores when he was alive, with Abraham. The rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus to give him a drop of water. Abraham said there was a great gulf no one could cross between the rich man and them, then the rich man asked Abraham to raise Lazarus from the dead to warn his brothers. Abraham did not agree to it.
This is such a scary parable. Some description of hell is very scary too, and that's eternal.

Today's Christian clip art: The Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11-32.
This is the one of most famous Jesus' parable about the prodigal son. This young man came back to his father with repentance for what he did. His father was so glad that the lost son got back and held a big celebration. His brother was jealous because he did always good following his father. Father said to him. "You are always with me. Everything that's mine is yours. We must celebrate because your brother was lost and has been found."
We can clearly see that the God wants us to come back with repentance, God will welcome us just like this father did.

Today's Christian clip art: One lost sheep

Luke 15:1-10.
Pharisees and other lawyers were murmured saying "Jesus welcomes sinners and even eats with them." Jesus told them a parable about one lost sheep. "You have a hundred sheep and you lost one of them. Don't you leave the 99 sheep to look for the lost one? When you find it, you would be very pleased laying the sheep on your shoulder. Listen, there is a great joy in heaven when one sinner turns away from sin, more than 99 people who need no repentance."

Today's Christian clip art: Invitation to the great supper

Luke 14:16-24.
Jesus said a parable when he was talking to Pharisees and lawyers. It's about a man who made a great supper and he invited many people, but most of them didn't come for various excuses. The man get angry about them and told servant to bring people who are poor, blind, or lame from the streets of the city. Even though servant got them all, the house was not full yet. The man ordered the servant again to bring people by all means. Then Jesus said that "For I tell you that none of those who were invited will taste of my supper".
In this parable, the man is the God. Jesus was the invitation from the God. People like Pharisees did not see the importance of that invitation and did not come to it.

Today's Christian clip art: Healing on the Sabbath

Luke 13:10-17.
A woman whose body had been bent for 18 years came into the synagogue where Jesus was teaching people. Jesus healed her by touching. She instantly stood up straight and praised God. It was a Sabbath. The leader of the synagogue was angry because Jesus healed the woman on the sabbath. Jesus answered. "You, hypocrite, you give your donkey water even it's on a sabbath. This woman is a daughter of Abraham and Satan kept her body bent for 18 years. Shouldn't she be healed?". People rejoiced by what Jesus did and those who were against Jesus were put to shame.
Definition of sabbath in the bible is a little delicate matter. This verse is showing Jesus' attitude to the misinterpretation of sabbath.
If this law were still effective today, it would be major disorder in society.

Today's Christian clip art: I am the resurrection

John 11:1-44.
Even it was very dangerous, Jesus went to Judea to resurrect Lazarus who was a brother of Martha and Mary. It's been four days since he died. Jesus asked Martha "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me may die, but they will live again. Do you believe this?" Martha replied, "I believe in you". Many people were weeping, even Jesus was weeping too. Jesus said loudly "Lazarus, come out!". Then Lazarus came out from his grave.
They all there witnessed the glory of God.

Today's Christian clip art: Zacchaeus who climbed a tree to see Jesus

Luke 19:1-10.
Zacchaeus climbed a tree because he was too short to see Jesus in a crowd. Jesus found him and told him that he was going to stay at Zacchaeus' home. Zacchaeus was so happy, but others were surprised because Jesus said that he would stay at a sinner's home.
Zacchaeus needed Jesus so much, it must have been embarrassing to climb on a tree but he did not care, and he changed a lot when he saw Jesus. It seems this is a case that a camel went through a needle's eye.

Today's Christian clip art: Jesus The good shepherd

John 10:1-39.
Jesus was explaining why the blind man followed him. He said "The shepherd knows his sheep by name, sheep know his voice so they won't follow a stranger. I am the good shepherd giving the life for the sheep. And I am the door, anyone who enters trough me will be saved. The thieves come to kill sheep, but I came that people would have life. I know my own sheep and my sheep know me. Just like the father knows me and I know my Father.". Some Jews did not like that Jesus said God was his father, and tried to throw stones to Jesus.

Today's Christian clip art: Confused Pharisees

John 9:13-41.

People took the man, who was blind and was healed by Jesus, to Pharisees because Jesus did it on the Sabbath. What happened to the man confused Pharisees and Pharisees did not want to believe it. Their hatred to Jesus grown bigger, and could not accept it because of their arrogance.

Today's Christian clip art: The work of God might be displayed in his life

John 9:1-9. In Jerusalem, Jesus saw a born blind man. Disciples asked whether his sin or his paretns' sin caused it. Jesus answered saying that this was happening so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. Then he made some mud with his saliva and put it on blind man's eyes and told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. His eyes opened when he did it.
What people said about him must have taken any hope from him. Only Jesus told something totally different and wonderful about him.

Today's Christian clip art: Lord's prayer

Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4.
There are two occations in the Bible Jesus taught how to say prayer. One is in Matthew, in the teaching on the mountain top. The other is in Luke. What we pray in the church service is usually the one in Matthew.

Today's Christian clip art: Martha and Mary

Luke 10:38-42.
When Jesus was at Martha and Mary's house, Mary sat at Jesus' feet and was listening to him. Martha complained about having to be serving people alone with no help from Mary. Jesus said to Martha that there is only one thing that is needed, and Mary has chosen the good one. That won't be taken from her.
Maybe Jesus wanted Marta to listen to him as well, and that might have been the only necessary thing there.

Thank you Kathy!

I found a wonderful blog introducing this blog site. This kind of encouragement gives me great amount of motivation to keep this blog going. Thank you Kathy!! I am very happy to know we both are working for our Lord in the same will.

christian clipart guide: Lifting Up Masaru Horie!