Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

I’m Jemima L Yeggs, a.k.a. Stinker.  Pink Lady Apple Yeggs, my landlady and my auntie, wants to read about how younger people, especially couples respond to what the Bible says.  And she wants to know how God is at work at Lily the Pink.

Mary, Arabella, and I were in our “green room.”

Stormie and Joan were already in the classroom playing with the other children.  I confirmed Easy was awake and watching them, but then again, Dr. Ellie and Dr. Ben should be watching Joan anyway.  Ethan was on the swooning couch playing with his mommy.  The old game of I might be hungry, but I would rather fool around first.  B.B. wanted him ready for a nap when class started, but this might be one of those days when her plans get interrupted.

Arabella was fixing my hair, “Aunt Jemima, what is wrong with you?  Your hair is fine the way it is.”

I replied, “Arabella, maybe nothing is wrong.  Maybe I am just getting better at this thing.”

B.B. snickered, “Or she got lucky.”

Arabella grumbled, “We do not rely on luck, B.B.  We rely on God.”

I turned to B.B., “B.B., I guess Fireball put you straight that time.”

B.B. laughed, “But, Stinker, if you relied on God to fix your hair, it would be a rat’s nest in a couple of days.”

I shrugged, “Maybe, but I think I could handle it.  Besides, I would have Hannah Bandana fix it for low maintenance.”

Arabella sighed, “Hannah can do amazing things, but only God can perform miracles.”

I looked at my two friends.  “You are supposed to be boosting me up so I can be confident to do a good job leading the class.  All I hear are putdowns.”

Arabella said, “No, Aunt Jemima, I said that your hair looks great! … for now.”

Arabella, giggling, held the door and bowed.

Mary gave up on Ethan having a full meal.  She and I went into the classroom, Aunt Pink’s den.

Rev. Joseph led us in prayer.

Emmett and the choir sang Only Jesus.

I said, “Nice song, guys.  You make great harmony.”

Emmett bowed, “Anytime we can help, Aunt Jemima.”

Samuel asked, “Where are we searching for Jesus today, Aunt Jemima?”

I smiled, “We are looking at the Gospel of Matthew.  Arabella, do you need Mr. Dictionary?”

Arabella shook her head, “Aunt Jemima, I think I know who Matthew was.  I know who Matthew Dykstra is.  So, what else is there.  We can have Mr. Dictionary take a long nap this week.  But he better watch out.  I will have a lot of questions next week about a hair-lipped dog.”

Easy smiled, but I was a little slow, “What do you mean by that?”

Arabella replied, trying to imitate a dog, “Mmmmark!  Mark!  Mark!“

I groaned, “I played the straight woman.  I should have known.  Jemima!  Think before you ask Arabella a question.  THINK!”

Easy said, “That’s okay, dear.  If you don’t set her up, she’ll find another way.  The jokes seem to come out no matter what you do.“

I was still upset with myself.

Rosie (Matthew 12:40) “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Rosie said,”This refers to the book of Jonah. ‘Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.’ (Jonah 1:17).  This isn’t a quote as much as Jesus is telling the people what will happen to Him.  The Pharisees and religious leaders wanted a sign, but the sign of Jonah was all they were going to get.”

I said, “And your husband has a week off from directing the music at your church.  Welcome Johnny Jacks.  I think we all enjoyed your wedding and the reception.  I usually let people sit and watch for a week or two, but I don’t know when I will get a chance like this.”

Johnny Jacks (Matthew 13:14-15) “In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’”

Johnny Jacks said, “Sorry for fumbling through that.  I do a lot better when I’m singing.  But this is Jesus explaining why He speaks in parables.  Jesus says that He is quoting Isaiah.  ‘He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”’ (Isaiah 6:9-10).  But you can see something similar in Jeremiah.  ‘Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear:’ (Jeremiah 5:21).  And in Ezekiel ‘“Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.’ (Ezekiel 12:2)  So, you can take your pick of whether you are senseless, foolish or rebellious if you don’t understand what the parable means, but then, some of these parables are harder to figure out than others.  And sometimes, once you think you have it, someone else comes up with a different idea.”

I smiled, “I think that is the beauty of the parables.  As we grow in faith, the parables tend to mean different things.  Or a deeper meaning along the same line of thinking.”

Tammie (Matthew 13:32) “Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

Tammie said, “Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy. ‘On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.’ (Ezekiel 17:23).  Jesus uses similar words as He talks of a mustard seed.  But a mustard seed does not turn into a cedar.  So, Jesus uses the metaphor that Ezekiel established.  And it illustrates how a small seed can produce something substantial and our faith is like that mustard seed.”

I smiled, “Thank you, Tammie.  You were the maid of honor at Rosie’s wedding, but how is it going without her being in her apartment?”

Tammie said, “Johny Jacks may not like it much, but if I need to come down off a wall of some kind, she answers the phone and Johnny Jacks understands.  She is still my sponsor.  Both have come over when I really needed something, but to be honest, those are rare times.  My days and nights are full.  I work 32 hours for Mommie Pinkie.  I go to school with a full load of classes.  And I will be seeing more playing time this coming season.  Miss Evers trusts me.”

I sighed, “I am so glad.  Know that our door is open and I might suggest that Rev. Joseph is available, but he is sort of busy himself.”

Bart (Matthew 13:43) ‘Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.’

Bart smiled, “This is quoted in Daniel 12.  ‘Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.’ (Daniel 12:3).  I guess this might mean about any time, not just the Tribulation, but the righteous will shine like stars and people will be saved.  Kind of like what is happening in this room.  Pink Lady had an effect, but joining this class.  All of you led us to Jesus.”

I asked, “On behalf of the class, you are welcome.  That is the main goal of shining your light, but the secondary goal is for Christian growth afterwards.”

Tamara (Matthew 21:5) ‘Say to Daughter Zion, See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Tamara said, “This is about the Triumphal Entry.  This comes from Zechariah … ‘Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ (Zechariah 9:9).  And then, the entry part is in Isaiah… ‘The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to Daughter Zion, See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’ (Isaiah 62:11).  We just had these verses a couple of weeks ago, but what you said last week is important.  In looking back, you see what happened and you know that it had already been placed in Scripture.  The people in Zechariah’s time only had hope that it might happen some day in the future.”

I asked, “And how are you doing now that you moved out?”

Tamara said, “When our schedules work out, he drops me off, and I come to visit until he can pick me up.  It’s not like we left at times.  But he got the promotion to run his department, and Mrs. Standish is happy with my work.  I do some bartending, but only for Bart’s company’s events.  No getting naked.  And they tip really well.”

Penny (Matthew 21:13) ““It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’””

Penny said, “Jesus is quoting Scripture. ‘these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”’ (Isaiah 56:7).  The flipped perspective is interesting here.  If you start with Isaiah you get the house of prayer concept but the people screwed that up.  If you start with Matthew, you get the idea of the den of robbers, but Jesus was really quoting Scripture about it being a house of prayer.  The whole story seems to shift.  I like reading it all together.  God did not like people cheating the faithful, those that really did make sacrificial offerings.  Those were the people being cheated, but to do that in a house of prayer made it so much worse.”

Blake (Matthew 22:24) “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.”

Blake said, “Jesus is being put to the test.  But the ones testing Him are quoting Deuteronomy 25.  “If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her.’  (Deuteronomy 25:15).  This all had to do with the land and it having to go to the sons, the daughters getting land when they marry.  So, it was more about inheritance of the land than which man was the woman married to.  In a way, the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, were mocking the Mosaic Law.”

Penny said, “And I want to thank everyone for all your prayers.  Caeleb is healthy, and I am finally back on my feet full time.  I felt all your prayers.”

Darrell (Matthew 22:32) ‘‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”’

Darrell smiled, “This is Jesus boldly claiming to be God, but the average person might not understand unless he knew how God identified Himself to Moses, ’ Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.’ (Exodus 3:6).  And then a few verses later, ‘God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.’ (Exodus 3:14-15).  So, Jesus was putting it all together.  Jesus is the ‘I AM.’  And Jesus is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  So, He identified Himself as God by using the words Moses was instructed to use to identify where Moses got his information.”

I laughed, “That was wonderful, Darrell.”

Sally Mae (Matthew 24:15) ““So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—”

Sally Mae said, “Jesus is talking about the End Times. ‘For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.’ (Daniel 11:31).  And this king sets himself up and stops sacrifices at the temple. ‘From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.’ (Daniel 12:11).”

Otto (Matthew 24:30) “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.”

Otto said, “That was Jesus identifying Himself as the One Daniel talked about being the Son of Man… ‘““In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.’ (Daniel 7:13).”

Zuzka (Matthew 26:31) “Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”

Zuzka said, “Jesus is telling His disciples that they will fall away, but that was prophesied in Zechariah. ‘“Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!” declares the Lord Almighty. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.’ (Zechariah 13:7).  This is when Peter denies that he would ever do such a thing, and then Jesus said that Peter will deny Him three times.  But Jesus was not condemning His disciples, Jesus knew what would happen and the metaphor of a shepherd is made clear.  ‘“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’ (John 10:11).”

I said, “Excellent, adding the verse from John makes it so much more solid.  We have one left, and I want my husband to do it since Mr. Dictionary was not needed today.”

Easy (Matthew 27:9-10) “Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: ‘They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.’”

Easy said, “This connects to a prophecy by Zechariah… ‘I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.’’ (Zechariah 11:12-13).  It is not just talking about thirty pieces of silver, but it was buying the potter’s field.  The thirty pieces of silver was blood money.  The priests could not return it to the treasury, so they bought the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners.  Here are the people that got Jesus crucified on false charges, and they unwittingly fulfill a prophecy regarding Jesus as the Messiah.”

Grannie Fannie (Galatians 1:3-5) “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Lauren ran up to Grannie Fannie and hugged her.  “Are you ready to drive us?”

Brooke said, “Stormie, church time!”

Stormie laughed and said, “Aunt Brooke.  Church!  Yay!”

Credits

Having the name of Mark, I heard the hair-lipped dog joke well into my adult years.

When I am using quoted verses in the New Testament, I got those verses (different translations) from Seeing Jesus – Bible Encounter Study Guide by Marilyn Hickey.  The concept of doing this in a Sunday school setting is based on her book.  When the youngster gives the other verse, Aunt Jemima had sent the comparison verse from the Hickey book, but occasionally, a verse is added (easily found in the cross references).  The rest is from internet searches, a variety of commentaries and study Bibles, and personal knowledge.

Here is the Only Jesus from Casting Crowns.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.