The term “disciple” is derived from the Koine Greek word mathetes,[1] which means a pupil (of a teacher) or an apprentice (to a master craftsman), coming to English by way of the Latin discipulus meaning a learner while the more common English word is student. A disciple is different from an apostle, which instead means a messenger.[2][3] While a disciple is one who learns from a teacher, an apostle is one sent to deliver those teachings or a message.
The Wise and Foolish Builders…
I usually only quote from the KJV, but this version best suits this post. It has the phrase, “put into practice”. The parable of the wise builder is unique, in that Jesus gives us more than the two builders, the wise and the foolish. We also see the prudent, the lazy, the manipulative, and the building itself. Sinse this is also about the building, and not just the builders, I want to give you a brick. Hopefully, it will be added to others you pick up, and you can “freely” build a relationship with the living Christ.
Freely build? Let’s talk about, “Freemasonry and the conspiracy nut”
The Wise and Foolish Builders
Matthew 7: 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
We’ve all heard the conspiracy nuts. There are other “nut cases” too, like the ones that claim to see Jesus, and the ones that claim God “talks” to them. What I want to ask you is, why do the majority of people think they are nuts? People go to church, read their Bible, and proclaim a risen from the dead Jesus. It seems strange to nobody at all, that when someone claims they have seen this same Jesus, that they must be mad, and in the next breath, start their proclamation of the “real Jesus”. The one that is “up there”…”can’t talk”…”invisible”, “is coming one day, or some day”…just not today, so this guy must be nuts. Better watch out, better not pout, I’m telling you why, Jesus Clause is commin’ to town….one day, just not today, because…
“I got too much going on to stop what I’m doing, and put an end to my world as I know it today. Hit me up tomorrow, and we’ll see about it then”
“Above all the graces and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit which Christ grants to his friends, is the grace of overcoming oneself, and accepting willingly, out of love for Christ, all suffering, injury, discomfort and contempt; for in all other gifts of God we cannot glory, seeing they proceed not from ourselves but from God, according to the words of the Apostle, `What hast thou that thou hast not received from God? and if thou hast received it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?’ But in the cross of tribulation and affliction we may glory, because, as the Apostle says again, `I will not glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ Amen.”
– St Francis
Jesus? Grants to His friends? Who are they?
Let me run something by you. Most people probably haven’t thought about this much, but you know what a concept is, I’m sure. Also, I’m guessing you know what a misconception is. I talk to people all the time, and mostly un-believers, to try to find out why they think what they think. Mostly from what I’ve gathered, or as far as I can tell, they’ve been lied to. Jesus has been turned into Santa Clause. The same reason Jesus was killed, is also the same reason He has been turned into a Santa Clause today, or some sort of “Magic Man”…a myth. “Someone” killed Him, and this “someone” wants to keep Him dead.
Ever get the feeling that the world seems to be stuck on stupid?
Let’s think about this as a fact; that we are being lied to by people that want to control everything. This is the cry of the conspiracy nuts. This is probably not news, but there are things that some people know, that can not be shared because of something in the mind. The idea that, “some things are better off kept to oneself”. This idea has to have been “placed” there. This is a truth, and no conspiracy. Commercials do it all the time. Big oil, Monsanto, Wall street…you get the idea.
Don’t rock the boat
What makes a well known (but little talked about) fact, seem to be delusion, and even laughable, as if it were not really true? Is this is a really good trick someone has played on us? Not exactly.
It’s a really good trick someone talked us into playing on ourselves.
This same “someone”, also talked Adam & Eve into doing the same thing. There are things that some people know, that can not be shared because of something in the mind… that has to have been “placed” there. This “thing” is a lie. This is a truth, and no conspiracy…
There’s no way we are as stupid as we “seem” to be.
I realize long post are not a good idea, and I try not to do long post, but some things can’t be said in an abbreviated format. So I’ll ramble some. What the heck, right? Let’s look at the Jesus story.
The entire Bible is actually a very simple book, with a very simple message, that says only one thing that makes any difference. He died, then rose. That’s the only thing that matters, and the only thing that’s easy to find out, and easy to prove…to yourself, or anybody else… Lets establish this as a fact right now. It’s either true… or it’s not.
It’s really that simple. The whole thing is either true, or it is not.
Question. If a scientist were to come up with a way to actually come back from the dead, and live forever without being hungry, or age, and never get sick; why would that be more believable than Jesus doing the exact same thing? Simple. This way man gets he credit, or science, or in other words, anyone but Jesus would be okay…just not Him.
The people that now sell electricity (that should be free for us all), have been in control of things for a very long time. “They” started a story of a Magic Man, that does “magic things”…parts oceans, and walks on water. You may be thinking, “but I thought He did do those things”. Actually, the truth is that people saw Him do those things, but ‘you’ didn’t.
My question is, why aren’t you watching Him do those things right now?
“They” <—-nutjob conspiracy talk starts like this… they don’t want you to realize that He is only a man, just like us. There’s nothing ‘magic’ about Him.
There’s no way we are as stupid as we seem to be. Yet knowing this, we continue to be stupid anyway? Why?
We polute our own earth, and allow it’s exploitation, and rape, without much of a concern at all. We allow all kinds of abominations to go on unchecked, all the time…why? Allow me to fill you in on a very old prophecy…
“The stone which the builders refused is become the head of the corner” Psalms 118:22 KJV
This was later retold by Jesus, but Jesus says it is “marvelous”. Marvelous does not mean wonderful. This means it is something He noticed, and that we should notice it too, and “marvel at it”, or “wonder about it very, very intensely”.
It is a very, very strange thing. Jesus says this…
He had just spoken to the people that would kill Him, and told the parable of the man that had a vineyard, and let some people take care of it for him, and left to go on a journey. These people that were trusted with the vineyard saw opportunity to gain from His absence. They took over the vineyard, and manipulated the “product”. Mark 12, KJV When you’re done reading this, you really should read the first part of Mark 12.
Jesus was talking directly to these same people that had taken over the vineyard, and the parable was directed strait at them, and they knew it. He then said this, to let them know He was on to them, and that we would be as well…
“Have ye not read in scripture; the stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner” Mark 12:10 KJV(or chief corner stone for the building…first laid brick of a foundation), then he says this…
“This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes” Mark 12:11, KJV
What? I thought Jesus was “The Lord”? Notice also that He says “our eyes”. He has placed Himself in our rank, and (hello?) this is the very Gospel. He became a man, and not a magic one either…just a plain, ordinary, man. Later, after “they” killed Jesus, Peter had this to say, to the exact same people, and in the sight and hearing of the church…
He is talking about Jesus, and says..
“To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God, by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made head of the corner, and a rock of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed” 1st Peter 2:4-8
“The word” is simple. He rose, and is alive. To stumble at the word, is to keep the word, and “disallow” the chief stone. The Bible has even replaced Jesus as the stone, and is now worshipped instead. The result of this? Let’s see…
If a man happened to show up at my house, that had died, and came back…and had a map between the two ‘places’… if he could come to me now, after being dead…and could teach me how to not only do the same, but also live free of any bondage of sicknesses… and how to not only do away with the light bill, but how to be the light… and was willing to show me “the way” to do this….How stupid would I have to be to say, “no thank you, I’d rather die, and keep paying a light bill. Besides, if I listen to you, and do that, and somebody sees me…what will people think”?
This is indeed what is happening, and I, for one, am totally into finding out why people think the way they do. Keep this in mind. The “nut jobs” say that the “who’s who” behind this are, ironically, masons, and builders. “They” are building a building too. It’s the grand illusion. It’s not quite as funny as you may think.
Read the book, but while you’re reading, stop every once and a while and realize what it is telling you. It’s a simple message. Jesus is alive now, and He does not live in a book.
-Peace all