Banquet With The King

Monday, June 15, 2026

Please Heal My Daughter—So She Can Live

The calm Sea of Galilee.
They sailed away from the "pig" region
and crossed over to Capernaum.

Jesus got into the boat again and went back to the other side of the lake, where a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, pleading fervently with him. "My little daughter is dying," he said. "Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live." Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him. Mark 5:21-24

Meditate on life and death.

Parents want what is best for their children. Life—a long, healthy, and happy life. This synagogue leader, Jairus, had heard that Jesus could heal people. Now Jairus’ daughter was dying. Could Jesus help her? Would He help her? Jairus pleaded with Jesus…and Jesus went with him to see the little girl.

A huge group of people was gathered around Jesus, following Him as He went to Jairus’ home—crowding Him so much that the procession interrupted His mission and journey.

What will happen to this synagogue leader’s little girl? Will Jesus get there in time to save her—to cure this illness that had come upon her? Stay tuned for further developments—and the rest of the story, another day.

What do we learn about Jesus from this passage?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for the compassion and love that You show to us as we plead to You for health and healing. You hear our prayers and come willingly into our lives to minister to us where we are.

Verse of Salvation ~ (Wisdom from the Lord through Jerimiah.) "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve." ... O LORD, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! Jeremiah 17:7-10, 14

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Who is Begging Jesus?

Would you send a demon into this pig?
Pig created by Liberty.

When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area. They began screaming at him, "Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God's appointed time?" There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. So the demons begged, "If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs." "All right, go!" Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone. Matthew 8:28-34

Meditate. Consider that demons recognized Jesus.

The demon-possessed men were screaming at Jesus. They knew who He was. Notice what they said. "Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God's appointed time?" God’s appointed time? They knew about God’s plan and timeline. The book of Daniel references appointed time—at the end of time.

Seeking nothing but each other's harm, these kings will plot against each other at the conference table, attempting to deceive each other. But it will make no difference, for the end will come at the appointed time. The king of the north will then return home with great riches. On the way he will set himself against the people of the holy covenant, doing much damage before continuing his journey. Then at the appointed time he will once again invade the south, but this time the result will be different. For warships from western coastlands will scare him off, and he will withdraw and return home. But he will vent his anger against the people of the holy covenant and reward those who forsake the covenant. His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration. He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him. Wise leaders will give instruction to many, but these teachers will die by fire and sword, or they will be jailed and robbed. During these persecutions, little help will arrive, and many who join them will not be sincere. And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come. Daniel 11:27-35 (Underlined for emphasis.)

The end times are confusing—but God has a plan, and He has given us clues, direction, and specific guidance within the Bible so that if we dig deep, we will be reassured with His answers to understand this mystery. It is a puzzle that we have to piece together. It is not necessarily in chronological order—so we have to get the puzzle pieces upright and match the clues to identify the big picture. Do you like puzzles?

Jesus mercifully sent those demons away from those two men. It is an interesting story since Jesus specifically went to a Gentile area to save those two men. The pigs were a source of income for the farmers there—they ate pork. No Jews lived there—and they don’t eat pork, so it gives this story another noteworthy dimension. Jesus cared about the Gentiles even at this point in His ministry. The story ends with those Gentiles asking Jesus to go away. Begging Him. They recognized His power. Were they afraid?

Are you afraid of letting Jesus have power over your life? What do you learn about Jesus from this focus passage today?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, protect us from evil influences in our lives…just as You taught in Your famous Lord’s Prayer…deliver us from evil. Help us to put together the puzzle pieces and clues You have given us to understand the appointed time—the end time.

Verse of Salvation ~ The Lord had Isaiah write, giving us a clue about the end times and His salvation. My mercy and justice are coming soon. My salvation is on the way. My strong arm will bring justice to the nations. All distant lands will look to me and wait in hope for my powerful arm. Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end! Isaiah 51:5-6

Happy Birthday Sweet Lydia!

May God continue to bless you and guide you as you seek and serve Him!

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Saturday, June 13, 2026

The Wind and The Waves Obeyed

The calm waters of the Sea of Galilee.

Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" Jesus responded, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. "Who is this man?" they asked. "Even the winds and waves obey him!" Matthew 8:23-27

Meditate on storms in your life.

Have you had storms in your life like Jesus had? Wind and waves. Here and now, if it is windy, it is best to stay off the water. The Columbia River, near where I live, can get good-sized white caps when it is windy. One-time, when I was kayaking with friends, the wind came up and…whoa. The waves were crashing over the bow of each of the kayaks. A bit scary! One of the ladies called her husband, and he came to our rescue as we quickly exited the raging river. The storm roared on, but we were safe on land again.

The disciples and Jesus got into the boat. No storm. Then, suddenly, there was a squall. Although He was sleeping through the noise of that storm, Jesus heard His disciples yelling for help! They were scared that they would die. Jesus reproached them for their lack of faith. He rebuked the wind and waves. Now calm and serene conditions prevailed. Jesus powerfully changed the weather and the life of those disciples. How could He do that? He amazed those men in the boat with His power. The waves and wind obeyed.

As we have “storms” in our lives, we can rely on Jesus to calm those calamities. Just ask Him—and trust Him to answer your prayers. The wind and the waves obeyed Him…and the misfortunes or tragedies of your life are not beyond His power.

What do we learn about Jesus from this story? He is so powerful! His creation…water and wind…still obeys Him. Will you trust Him?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for calming the tragedies of my life. I trust You to continue to bring peace and safety to me, my family, and friends, as we seek to worship You. We’re continually amazed at Your compassion, love, and mercy in our lives.

Verse of Salvation ~ Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:12

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Friday, June 12, 2026

Follow Me—Now

Canadian Goose guarding her nest.
Summerville, SC

When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." But Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head." Another of his disciples said, "Lord, first let me return home and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead." Matthew 8:18-22

Meditate on Jesus’ command.

Birds and animals have homes, but Jesus had no home. We know that He stayed with others sporadically, like with Peter, and with Mary, Martha, and Lazareth. Jesus wants His disciples to follow Him—immediately, not waiting until later. In this instance, Jesus said, Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead. He knew that if that disciple returned home until his father or family had died—it could be years. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead. Are you planning to bury someone? Do you need to wake up spiritually? Follow Jesus, now. No waiting. What is holding you back?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, ah—no place to lay Your head. So sad—but now You have the highest, best home ever. Heaven! And Your Father will have a houseful there someday. Just as You promised… "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going." John 14:1-4. I will be there. I believe You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I am following You.

Verse of Salvation ~ For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Water is life giving. Pure water saves lives. Not everyone in the world has pure water. Even Moses and the Israelites encountered water that they couldn’t drink.

When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means "bitter"). Then the people complained and turned against Moses. "What are we going to drink?" they demanded. So Moses cried out to the LORD for help, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the LORD set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. He said, "If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you." Exodus 15:23-26 NLT

The water became good to drink, because Moses asked for help and God provided a method of purifying that water. When you need help…ask God. Likewise, listen closely to see if God is asking you to help with water wells for those in impoverished areas of the world where clean water is not available.

Be sure to drink enough water to stay hydrated during the HOT summer that is coming soon—maybe this weekend! Keep your water pure and uncontaminated. Spiritually, seek the Living Water that Jesus offers.

Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.' John 7:38

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Do You Know the Secret of the Kingdom?

Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: "I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world." Matthew 13:34-35

Meditate. Consider Jesus’ stories.

Parables. Stories. Jesus used them to convey His messages to large groups, but the real meaning of the stories was only revealed to whom Jesus wanted to hear it.

His disciples came and asked him, "Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?" He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, 'When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.' "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn't see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it. Matthew 13:10-17 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Don't be stubborn like a donkey.
Use your eyes to see...
and your ears to hear.

Ears to hear? Eyes to see? Permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven. Are your eyes and ears open? Do you see, hear, and understand? We have the advantage of living after Jesus’ resurrection and of having the events recorded in the Bible. Do the parables make sense to you before you read Jesus’ explanation? Some folks even today may not understand. Are their hearts hardened? Can you love with a hard heart? Jesus taught that we are to love God and to love others.

To love someone, you have to know them—so we need to know God and we do that by reading His word. He reveals Himself in the Bible. Then, in order to apply God’s word to our lives—to have a relationship with Him, we have to have some kind of comprehension, an understanding of His word. Look, listen, and know God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Discover the secrets of the Kingdom.

What do you learn about Jesus from these couple of verses? What is Jesus saying to you personally?

Prayer – Lord, open our eyes and ears so that we can see and hear the things You want us to know and understand. Loving You is what life is all about—so please continue to reveal more of Yourself moment by moment. May all that I think, say, and do honor You.

Verse of Salvation ~ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 1 Peter 1:3-5

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

What Kind of Fish are You?

"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Do you understand all these things?" "Yes," they said, "we do." Then he added, "Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old." Matthew 13:47-52

Meditate on fishing.

What kind of fish are you?
Aquarium at Charleston, SC

The Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus is giving some clues as to what that Kingdom is going to be like. Here He uses the analogy of a fishing net. Lots of different kinds of fish swimming around together are caught in the fishman’s net. When He first called some of His disciples, He told them that He would make them fishers of men. (See Matthew 4:19.) The workers—who are God’s angels in this parable—go through the catch in the net and sort out the good fish from the bad fish. The good fish get set aside and the bad fish get thrown away. Jesus specifies that the good fish are righteous people, whereas the bad fish are corrupt, or wicked people who will be thrown into a fiery furnace. Is that hell? The “gnashing of teeth” is also used in another parable about servants.

Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matthew 25:30

Outer darkness…. It is associated with the gnashing of teeth, which is not a pleasant activity. Will you be gnashing your teeth when the Kingdom comes? Or will you be part of the righteous group of “fish” that are set aside? The choice is up to each person—but don’t wait too long. Times and situations change so quickly. We never know when we may be caught up in that fishing net. It may be soon…as Jesus taught in the Lord’s Prayer.

May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

What do we learn about Jesus from the Matthew 13:47-52 focus passage today? Are you learning new gems of truth from Him?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, open my eyes that I may see Your gems of truth. Help me listen and obey.

Verse of Salvation ~ As for us, we can't help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation--a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Birthday Blessings!

Glory to God—as Jesus stated at His last Passover meal.

As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, "The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can't come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:31-35

Meditate. Read God’s word again and listen to what He is saying.

Happy Birthday to Me! What do you do to celebrate your birthday? Is it just another day…or do you start a New Year with a celebration—at least in your heart and head, if not a blowout bash with others. I prefer lunch with a friend or two and supper with family, with carrot cake or a berry crisp. Yes! Top off the celebration with a sweet treat!

How did Jesus celebrate His birthday—did He? Nothing is recorded in the Gospels or mentioned in the rest of the New Testament. He did celebrate Jewish Festivals like Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Tabernacles, and He was resurrected on the Feast of Firstfruits. He recognized Pentecost when He directed His disciples to “wait in Jerusalem” in Acts 2:1-4. Like good Jews, He also observed Hanukkah and Purim. He spoke about the Feast of Trumpets as recorded in Matthew 24:30-31. Listen for that trumpet call! Any celebration that Jesus did, even His Sabbath attendance in the Synagogue, brought attention, glory, and honor to God the Father. That was a good example for us. How can we show our respect to God as we celebrate special days in our life? Prayer. Expressions of Joy. Gratefulness. God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is worthy of our worship—daily.

Prayer – Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your example of giving glory to the Father. Do I do that every day? I would hope that You can see that I do it often—and how You have changed my life. I worship You—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—with love from the depth of my heart and soul You are my hope and strength.

Verse of Salvation ~ Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Monday, June 8, 2026

A Valuable Pearl of Wisdom

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it! Matthew 13:45-46

Pearls have such an enduring quality—really good, natural pearls have a luster, a glow that is unlike any other gem. The Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, available on the Blue Letter Bible Website, tells us that besides a precious gemstone, the pearl is a valuable word—a proverb. I’d usually thought of this parable as literally a real pearl—the gem stone, but Jesus is telling us in this parable that the pearl is a valuable truth and the merchant is seeking it with all that he has. That is how we are to value God’s Word—above all else.

In a similar parable spoken at the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tell us to be careful with His words—not to give them to swine—or people that are hostile to the Gospel and will likely profane them.

Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. Matthew 7:6

That is a hard one—I thought we were to share the Gospel with everyone. Not so. Of course, there are people that I would never dare to approach—in places I wouldn’t go, like some inner city streets—but I know that God loves them, just like He loves me. Who will reach them for the Lord?

What can we learn about Jesus from this focus scripture?

Prayer ~ Lord, may I spread Your pearls of wisdom before those whom You have prepared to receive Your word? Let them seek and cherish Your teaching as I do.

Verse of Salvation ~ As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Happy Birthday blessings to a real gem of a friend - V.

Share your comment below.

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. Portions inspired by Banquet With The King blog, August 17, 2017 rights reserved. All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Sunday, June 7, 2026

What are Hidden Treasures?

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Matthew 13:44

Meditate. Consider what a treasure is to you.

There are other examples of hidden treasure —but it is actually Jesus who is the hidden treasure. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Proverbs 2:1-11

Wise choices will watch over you. I pray daily for my children and grandchildren to make good choices. Sometimes it is evident that they have made good choices…other times, it is obvious that they have not made good choices. Choices are so important—and can be life-threatening or rewarding. The choice is ours, the consequences are ours, and either can provide a golden opportunity to love God and prove just what our treasures really are. Are those treasures hidden?

I certainly value and treasure wisdom and understanding—above gold, a fancy house, or designer clothes—above anything except the love of God. How about you—what do you treasure?

May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed. Psalm 20:4

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus...Please grant wisdom and understanding to me, to my family, friends, and neighbors. With wisdom please also help us all to make good decisions—this is the desire of my heart—and my frequent prayer. Thank You—for always hearing my prayers and valuing our relationship. That is my treasure, too—relationships. I'll admit I'm struggling with a couple of relationships now—help me Lord to wisely mend fences and renew our bonds.

Verse of Salvation ~ I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure. Psalm 119:162

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Luke 12:34

What do you learn about Jesus in these scripture passages?

Please leave your comments below.

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. Portions of this are recycled from April 12, 2022, Banquet With The King blog. All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.