Laugh a Little because Jesus Couldn't Pick a Denomination

As I read and re-read the gospels I see in Jesus’ ministry, the already blooming seeds of Protestant denominations.  An it's kinda funny.

Of course the miracles and prophetic declarations foreshadow Pentecostals and charismatics.

In Luke 9, Jesus took His disciples way out into the country just to talk,

And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place (Luke 9: 10)

but it turned into a major meeting ,

But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God (verse 11)

with side gatherings  and breakout sessions,

Then He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.” ^15 And they did so, and made them all sit down (verses 14, 15)

and they couldn’t dismiss until they'd served a meal and packed some to-go plates.

So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them (verse 16)

That was a Methodist moment.

And then there’s John’s account of the Last Supper.

After 2 chapters of preaching, Jesus said Arise, let us go from here (John 14: 31), but they didn’t go anywhere.  Jesus kept preaching for another 3 chapters.   

When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. (John 18: 1)  

Jesus said He was closing, but He preached longer after His first close than He had before it.

Now that was full-on Baptist.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

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To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com  .

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