Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Mark 6:1-4 - A Prophet Without Honor

Mark 6:1-4
1 Jesus went out from there and *came into His hometown; and His disciples *followed Him. 2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.”

Message: A Prophet Without Honor

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Jesus leaves Capernaum and heads back home to Nazareth. Thus, the days between the end of chapter 5 and chapter 6 is at least 3 days, as it was about a 40 mile trek between the two cities. His disciples followed Him.

When the Sabbath came - thus there was probably time between his arrival and the Sabbath, He began to teach in the synagogue. At the end of chapter 1, Jesus was preaching in the synagogue in Capernaum, which caused quite a stir and what stuck out to me then was the authority in which he spoke, that he had; he spoke in a way different from the seasoned rabbi's that gave interpretations of what God's words were saying, Jesus meanwhile spoke in a different way: 1:22 - They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Now, here, in chapter 6, verse 2 is the remark that many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? The word miracles is significant because it is a word given by the gospel writers to describe the works Jesus incarnate had done while on earth. It is the idea of Jesus coming into our world and working in this world in a different way. It is a word that is sometimes rendered wonderful works, mighty works, and here as miracles. Jesus did not have a profession as a rabbi or scribe, but rather he was a carpenter and this must have produced a different sort of response in people. It would be like a mechanic suddenly speaking in the church and presenting a greater authority of scripture than the teachers. Jesus was clearly spoken of as someone who was unique.

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?”  This is the only place that references Jesus as a carpenter. Other versions of this text state that he is the carpenter's son and his likely profession would be a carpenter as well. It is thought that Joseph has already passed because he is not mentioned here. It is not clear if these are his brothers by Mary and Joseph or if Joseph had children from a past relationship or if these were cousins. Whatever the case, they are mentioned to denote the surprise in Jesus and what he was putting forth at this time. And they took offense at Him. They were unwilling at this moment to believe that God could humble himself in this way and choose someone of such feeble means to speak with this sort of authority.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” Jesus here mentions something that is often very true. However unworthy may be the feeling, the inhabitants of a district, or members of a community, do not like to see one of themselves put above them, more especially a junior over a senior, or a man of humble origin over a man well born. We often tend to listen more to acquaintances that we listen to those who know us most intimately--our closest relatives and dearest friends. I have found this to be especially true in the raising of my children. All to often, it is the parents that are not listened to by the children, but the children's friends and families words have a greater weight. This is somewhat normal even though it is hard. For Jesus, those in his community thought it was remarkable that he spoke the way he did, but they also didn't think he was a prophet. Mark 3:21 recorded When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.” In chapter 3, I read and studied this idea that it was his family members that were not quick to accept him, but rather think that he had lost his good senses.

Summary - Jesus arrives in Nazareth, about a 3 day journey from Capernaum. He has made it to his hometown and he speaks in the synagogue, as he has done elsewhere. If there was the thought maybe that his own people, in his own hometown would accept him, that was immediately not seen. Instead they took offense of him. Too often we want to see something like us, not different. And Jesus saw this as well.

Promise: Hardened hearts often keep people from believing Christ. The information is there, before them, but their stubbornness keeps them from believing. We pray for Him to change the hearts of sinners and awaken their hearts. I love the words of Ezekiel 36:26 - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Prayer: Lord, I can identify with this that happened to you. It is hard when the people that we feel closest too often are the ones that are the most harsh and tough on us. Lord, help my heart to be open and to see my own family members with a more welcoming heart. Sometimes I'm waiting to hear good reports from other families about my kids before I really believe it about them. And all too often, I am still tough to believe. Break my heart Lord and help me to be my children's biggest cheerleaders. Thank you for the wife that you have given me and the support and love and acceptance she always expresses towards them. It's hard when her sons reject her or are tough with her. Help them to quiet their hearts and see their mother for the wonderful person she is.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Mark 5:40b-43 - Jesus Raises Jairus' Daughter

Mark 5:40b-43
40 He took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this,and told them to give her something to eat.

Message: Jesus Raises Jairus' Daughter

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Jesus performs a healing, not before a large crowd, but just for a select few. He has pulled in 3 of his disciples for this moment, not the entire crowd and he ends this healing by saying to not tell anyone. Perhaps he knew that this was a miracle that if many got wind of it, he would be possibly arrested for this fanatical healing. He was in Capernaum where he would reside for most of his time, but his time was still just starting.

Many had been laughing at him that he had even got to the house, wondering why a man would even enter a place when the daughter had died and wailers had begun. But, Jesus remarked to them to not fear, only believe. He pulls the father and mother and his disciples into his inner circle. His purpose seems to be to minister to three people - father, mother, daughter - and then also his disciples will witness this event. Mark recounts the exact words Jesus spoke, in Aramaic - “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Aramaic was the common language spoken in that area by the Jews. Mark writes this in Greek, which means he is speaking predominantly to a Gentile population. Thus, the reason he provides the translation of these Aramaic words he has spoken. 

When Jesus speaks, action or response happens immediately. There is no delay. There is no waiting. We witness the power of the spoken word. Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). Jesus is one of action. There was no touching, just words spoken and the girl rose. It mirrors the words spoken of God at creation. He speaks and it happens; creation occurs. There is something clearly very different about Jesus. He has a unique authority that the scribes even see. He has forgiven sin. And so far, like this, he does things that only God can do. He has a power like no one else.

At this they were completely astonished.  People are often surprised by his works. It is said that Jesus is either a Liar, Lunatic, or Lord. It seems like in our day Jesus is often thought to be a Liar or Lunatic by the way people respond to not just him, but his followers. People have bee trained in our day and age in the ways of Peter who wanted to see the nail-scarred hands: if I can't see it, I won't believe it. Despite the fact that the Gospels themselves provide us eyewitness accounts, people still do not believe. Even for this healing, Jesus could have included the crowd, but he didn't. He brought witnesses. That's all that was needed. It's almost like, if people can't believe by a witness, then they won't ever believe.

He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this. As Benson remarked in his commentary - "That he might avoid every appearance of vain-glory, might prevent too great a concourse of people, and might not further enrage the scribes and Pharisees against him; the time for his death, and for the full manifestation of his glory, not being yet come."

Promise: From Tabletalk: There is no “secret method” for growing the church and seeing people believe in Christ; rather, the faithful preaching and teaching of the Word of God is what the Lord uses to build His church.

Prayer: Lord, you know my desire in reading and studying through this Gospel of Mark is to put myself in the shoes of those that were witnessing you for the first time and honestly see what sort of reaction they were having. I am often trained by other people and I want to be trained by Your Spirit and what you have spoken to me. People often dismiss you and it saddens me because your Word is clear of who you are. I continue to ask that you would draw people to yourself and people would see you for who you really are and believe. Thank you for this message. Thank you for working the way You do. Thank you for healing and providing us witnesses to your message. I believe in the words of those witnesses. I can have confidence in this. Thank You Jesus.


Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Mark 5:35-40a - The Laugh of Unbelief

Mark 5:35-40a
35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him.

Message: The Laugh of Unbelief

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Jesus is on his way to Jairus to see his daughter. He has been stopped by a woman suffering from a hemorrhage for 12 years. She touches him, she communicates to Jesus what she did and why, confessing to him and she is healed from the disease. While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” Thus, while Jesus is still speaking, someone comes forward to say that the daughter Jesus is going to see is dead, so they think there is no reason to trouble Jesus (the Teacher) further.

But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” It is unknown who this person was, but Jesus turns to Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue to offer words of comfort. His response to Jairus is "Do not fear, only believe." Thus, in Jesus' response is the idea that Jesus has authority over life and death. Jesus can do anything. let Jesus decide what he will do. Along the way, we do not need to fear the outcome.

And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. The crowd was present around Jesus when the woman with the hemorrhage was healed, but for this situation, only Peter, James and John would be allowed to come. There could have been many reasons, but Jesus trusted that witnesses were important and needed and they would share with others then what Jesus did. It wasn't important and necessary for everyone to see what Jesus would do. Plus, the girl was dead (supposedly) and perhaps it was a private matter now.

They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. Evidently, there was a custom in those times for people to wail loudly and weep over a death. There were even specific people, perhaps hired to mourn over the dead. There was a great commotion going on, perhaps another reason why Jesus only asked 3 of his disciples to come with him.

And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. In a phrase, Jesus removes the sting of death and instead introduces the idea of an awakening that will occur of the girl.

The responses of Jesus are normal, given the circumstances. They seem funny and odd to us, but we know more now than those at this time, in these settings. These verses remark that the daughter is dead, Jesus should not waste his time, people were already wailing and weeping, and Jesus' remark that she was just sleeping produced laughter. Jesus, however, has a specific purpose in mind and these people are really just distractions.

Promise: Jesus remarks that they only need to believe in Him and not look at the situation from man's point of view. Our confidence needs to be in what only God can do in situations. There is no need to be bothered or worry. We only need to believe.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for having a mission on this earth and for working in a way that is amazing to us. I struggle at times to make sense of things because I look at life too much by natural means. Help me to trust You for the outcomes of life and to continue to worship You and praise Your name.

Friday, February 16, 2018

Mark 5:30-34 - The Compassion of Christ

Mark 5:30-34
30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Message: The Compassion of Christ

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

As Jesus is headed to Jairus to see his daughter, in the crowds a woman suffering from a bloody hemorrhage condition wants to get to Jesus, just to touch him. She knows that this is all she needs, to touch Jesus and she will be healed. This section of the passage provides further detail to the compassion of Jesus in healing this lady.

On this day, I continue to think about the horrific act of violence that happened the other day, in our country, at a high school in Parkland, Florida, where a young man, with firearms, went to a school he attended and had been expelled, with the purpose of hurting others. He had been hurt and had felt like he had been failed. His livelihood, evidently, was that school and being there, and I'm guessing that since he couldn't be there anymore, he wanted the administration and other people to experience his pain and anger. So, in an effort to achieve the most deaths, he shot and killed 17 people. What a huge number and yet not the biggest school shooting, but rather the 2nd biggest in deaths.

We are a people struggling to know how to deal with issues when they don't go as we had planned. My son is in the process of coming off of a drug that has controlled him for many years. He is struggling right now with anger issues and seeing how little things can set him off. He has no outlet for his anger anymore or he has no way to harness it as the drug was calming himself down and providing him relief. O God, help our country, our young people, us, to find comfort and solace and peace in You. Peace is found nowhere else.

This woman in the crowd had complete confidence in Jesus and him being the one that could bring comfort and healing to her. You rescued her God and you can rescue others. I hurt for this community, these families that now will have to experience their lives without a child that meant the world to them. Bring comfort to the families for their pain will not be momentary, but will be lifelong. Help people to heal. Thank you for the police chief that called on the community, the nation to pray. Help us to be a nation that does pray. As a nation, after 9/11 we did so much to guard ourselves from the terrorists that would come into our country and yet, we now continue to struggle with terrorists within.

And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” At first, I see this as an odd statement, like the power that enveloped Jesus, he had no power for the way it left him. Yet, I think Jesus knew what had happened, but his question was for the benefit of the woman who thought that perhaps she go unnoticed by Jesus. And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” The disciples look at it from my perspective - how could Jesus single out one touch when multiple touches were occurring. The question seems strange and unnecessary by Jesus.

And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. Jesus, in looking around for the woman, had compassion and interest. But the woman, at that moment, almost like the fear that Eve might have had in the garden when she and Adam hid themselves with loin cloths, realizing for the 1st time that they had done something wrong -- this woman, at this moment, wonders if she also has done something wrong. She has been noticed. Perhaps she thought she could just anonymously grab a hold of a garment and then get away, be healed, and no one would notice. But, she didn't flee from him when she saw Jesus looking around, instead she came before him, fell down and told him the truth. Does not Jesus have this effect on people? IT is like a child not running from his parent, but instead falling down before them. Yet, this woman had not done anything wrong, but she didn't know that. But perhaps her appearance in public, due to her uncleanliness and the rules related to that, was her fear. There needed to be an acknowledgement from Jesus. She told him the truth. It is not enough for her to steal a touch, her lips must acknowledge before Jesus her condition and what she requests. Her words are not detailed, but it is said she told him the whole truth. She confessed to him.

And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” And Jesus remarks to results: one, that her faith has made her well. But, this is mentioned separate from the healing of her disease. He also calls her daughter, a word of affection. He wants to show all these people that this unclean woman is a not simply another woman, but Jesus has affection for her. Who saved her? Jesus. How did this happen? Through faith. And now she can go forth in peace. There is no more stain on her, no more blemish, no more uncleanness. She is clean and healed.

Promise: God is all-powerful. Yet, he is tender to those who trust Him. He is powerful, but also a loving Father. He has tender care for His children.

Prayer: Lord God, I love this story. I love the faith that this woman has and shows us. She has confidence in You, a confidence that I want to have daily in my life. Thank you for caring for me and desiring to be close to me and showing me continually that you do want what is best for me. Sometimes that best hurts, but in the long-term you are growing me. Help me to continually trust You no matter what occurs. And help me to encourage others. We are a people in need of grace, your grace. Thank you for healing me and making me whole.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Mark 5:24b-29 - A Healing in the Crowd

Mark 5:24b-29
24 and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him.
25 A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26 and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— 27 after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28 For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” 29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.


Message: A Healing in the Crowd

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Jairus has just presented himself before Jesus amidst a huge crowd and asked Jesus to come as his daughter is dying. Jesus is becoming much more popular. After having been in Gederanes with the demon possessed man, he returns to Capernaum where he will reside with the people. Capernaum was a fishing village with a population of 1500, much larger than Nazareth that probably had 400 people.

As Jesus goes to see the daughter of Jairus, a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. Again, we see Jesus' popularity as the crowd goes with Jesus. A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years was present. She was in continual menstruation. Under the old covenant, women were unclean during menstruation. In an unclean state, people are not able to assemble with the community or be in the sanctuary with people. Thus, this woman is alone most of the time or only able to be with others that are also unclean.

She had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse. It was her desire to be well. She was suffering much. She was wanting out of her situation and had spent all of her money getting relief, but in the end it just got worse. Not being well takes a toll on you. My wife has spent the last 45 days in a state of not being well. From flu-like symptoms to having MRSA appear and continue and then to also have an infection near her uterus, she has been suffering and weak and in a state of discomfort. Now, as she is getting better a new germ appears, a cold with sneezing and stuffy nose. It is back and she is miserable again. She is tired of the discomfort and misery that envelopes her. She just wants to see it end. She has gone to many doctors and yet she still has no relief. Sickness takes a toll on you. It is hard to be upbeat and not just linger in a state of misery. This woman was probably feeling this and this is something we all feel at certain times. Some spend much of their lives in this state.

But, after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” Is this not one of the most remarkable testimonies of the confidence and faith that this woman has in Jesus? I think it is incredible. Just a touch of His garment is all that she is looking for. It is not to see him or speak to him, but just to touch his cloak. Wow. That is incredible faith. I feel like too often I'm waiting for Jesus to do something radical in my life before I have that kind of faith in Him. Isn't this what many people do? They want Jesus to something amazing first and then they will say they believe in Him. But, this woman instead knows with confidence that He is who He said and so all that she wants is to touch his outer garment.

Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Her faith made her well. She was healed.

Promise: This is amazing faith and faith that I want to have in Jesus. Jesus cleaned this unclean woman. The law could not do it, only Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, you are the great and wonderful One. Deepen my faith and confidence in You. Lord, I want to have the kind of faith as this woman in the crowd of you. Too often, I am not this way, waiting for you first to show up some way in my life before I say I believe. Lord, too often I feel like I have textbook knowledge of you and not active faith in the day to day of who You are and what you can do in my life. Change me God.



Monday, February 12, 2018

Mark 5:21-24a - Jairus Comes to Jesus

Mark 5:21-24a
21 When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore.22 One of the synagogue officials named Jairus *came up, and on seeing Him, *fell at His feet 23 and *implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.” 24a And He went off with him;

Message: Jairus Comes to Jesus

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Jesus has left the Geradene side of the lake (sea of Galilee) and now come back to the west side, at Capernaum and a large crowd gathered around Him; people were waiting for him to come back, anticipating his arrival. Thus, Jesus is getting more popular. "Christ ennobled Bethlehem by his birth, Nazareth by his education, and Jerusalem By his death, so he honored Capernaum by making it his ordinary residence, and the focus, so to speak, of his preaching and miracles. (Pulpit Commentary)."

One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet. Synagogue officials were Jewish layman (not full-time ministers) in charge of maintaining the building and organizing, such as the schedule of synagogue services; though there could have been more than one of these per synagogue.

Jairus implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.” Matthew remarked that she was already dead in his account, yet later in Mark (v. 35) was the declaration that the daughter had died before the Lord could get to her. As a reminder, this account given to Mark probably came from Peter. It is possible that Peter knew Jairus or perhaps this stood out from Peter. It's difficult to know the details of these events. What we do know is Jesus went off with him. Jesus has compassion and concern and he addresses this man's need.

Promise: I can be confident that Jesus will address needs, my needs. He has compassion on specific needs and Mark wants us to know this through these words.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being personal. Thank you for loving people, all people, and desiring to help people in their time of need. Thank you for the message that we receive from these words that you do care for people and want the best for them. Help us to have confidence in You at all times and in life. You will not always do exactly what we want all the time, but I continue to praise your name. Help others to trust you as well. Draw people closer to you.

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Mark 5:18-20 - A Witness to the Decapolis

Mark 5:18-20
18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. 19 And He did not let him, but He *said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.


Message: A Witness to the Decapolis

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Mark has been rather thorough in his explanations. Mark 4 was thorough about Jesus and the gospel falling on good soil and then the response that takes place from those and/or needs to take place. Chapter 5 has been about the way Jesus has authority over what is inside a person, namely demons and their real place in this world. But, in each chapter Jesus is clearly shown as the one with ultimate authority. And yet there are demonic forces in our world today, wreaking havoc.

The man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him (Jesus) that he might accompany Him. I wonder if Jesus was getting into the boat alone or the disciples were also with him. There may have been others as well and the demon-possessed man wanted to come along and be with Jesus. It makes sense. Without him, he had been demon-possessed and perhaps feared for his past life; but also, he had been impacted by Jesus and the benefactor of his strong work and wanted to simply be with him. Who wouldn't? But perhaps it was more important for this man to return to his life and speak of the impact Jesus had on him, thus evangelizing and then also living his life. He *said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you." There was an aim in Jesus calling disciples, for a purpose, but this man had already been impacted and could be a gift now to his people. This man is similar to us today. Jesus has had an impact on us and now we are to have an impact on those around us.

And Mark shows us in this passage that the man did what Jesus had asked him to do. He was a witness. He did it. And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. See, this works out the way Jesus drew it up. He left and went back to Decapolis and everyone was amazed.

Earlier in this chapter there was a different response to Jesus when they saw what he had done to the swine and the demon possessed man, they began to implore Him to leave their region (v. 17). That was one response: get away. And now Jesus shows us the other response: go and proclaim. The man was effected, while the people nearby were not. The man could now be a witness for Jesus.

Promise: From Tabletalk: One day we will see the Lord face-to-face and enjoy His presence forever. Until then, we have been commissioned to preach the gospel and declare God’s saving grace to the nations. This mission is for us all, though in God’s providence, each of us has a different part to play. In obeying Him and carrying out our role in this mission, we demonstrate our gratitude to the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, you remind me here that your ways are the best ways and we are to submit and surrender to You and let you speak to us about the path we should go on in life. I like to think that I know best most of the time. That somehow my way is the better way, but Lord you have authority over all and you know all. Help me to submit to You, follow you and then do what you ask of me.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Mark 5:14-17 - Afraid of Jesus

Mark 5:14-17
14 Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what it was that had happened.15 They *came to Jesus and *observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the “legion”; and they became frightened. 16 Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine. 17 And they began to implore Him to leave their region.

Message: Afraid of Jesus

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I mentioned earlier, the farmers in this community were Jewish and therefore, they did not have any pigs. Pigs were considered unclean animals as the Law had prohibited them from being an animal they could eat. When Jesus released the demon from the man, the demons, including Legion, were vanquished to swine, 2,000 of the swine that then periled to their death. But, these were herdsmen that came to them. The herdsmen were the owners of the swine and so they came to Jesus, probably a little shocked as to what had happened to their animals and maybe even wondering if they were going to be recompensed. And as the herdsmen came to Jesus they saw the demon-possessed man (maybe someone they had seen previously) and now he was no longer demon-possessed, but instead was in his right mind...and they became frightened. But rather than seeking to know God's love, they were afraid at what had happened. They were astonished at what had happened.

But in this moment, their concern was for the loss of their swine.  They wondered how it had happened to the man, but also about the swine. And they began to implore Him to leave their region. They were concerned about losing more as they had lost 2,000 swine. This Jewish man was powerful. They saw this and they became concerned that his power would adversely affect them more. As herdsmen they were not Jewish. There was fear in him and what may happen to them.

In previously looking at the given of the Gospel, the word, the seed upon different soils, there were 4 different responses and 3 of those responses rejected the seed. Here is an example of people not embracing the message, but instead they were concerned of themselves. Perhaps they saw themselves unworthy. Perhaps they saw a big difference between Jesus and themselves. Perhaps their sin is thought to be too great.

Promise: Unholiness cannot bear the presence of holiness. People who don't look at his goodness, but instead of how they might be affected by Him in an adverse way, don't come to Christ and embrace Him. The reality is many don't understand Jesus and reject him in many different ways.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for healing me, for touching me and helping me to see the need I have for You. Again Lord, give me compassion on those that don't see you. Help me to not be quick to judge them or look down on them or even to put a division between me and them, thinking that I am somehow superior to them because of seeing You for who you are. Lord, let their be love in my life first, not judgment. Let there be understanding. You love me, you understand me and accept me for who I am. And then as the gospel is implanted in my life, I can't help but to change. I can't help but be a new person, a new creation in Christ. I see this, but I know others do not. Again Lord, thank you for saving me and giving me the perspective I now have in You. 





Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Mark 5:11-13 - Legion Destroys some Swine

Mark 5:11-13
11 Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. 12 The demons implored Him, saying, “Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.” 13 Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.

Message: Legion Destroys some Swine

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

I continue these lessons on Jesus and his encounter with Legion, one of the demons. And Legion's encounter with Jesus. Legion wants nothing to do with Jesus. He know that Jesus is the Son of the Most High God. He knows that Jesus has control over where Legion is allowed to be. Legion is not interested in submitting, naturally, to Jesus so he doesn't want to be tormented by Jesus. He wants to keep his freedom to go wherever and doesn't want to have to go outside of where they are now. It is also noteworthy to realize that Legion inhabits a person. And yet, the person rarely is speaking in this account. I wonder, are there people that we deal with frequently where the demon in them is what is speaking most of the time. I'm speaking to a man right now in Greece regularly, by email, and I notice that rational reasoning is not what he is interested in. He is defending his behavior, stating that it is based upon feeling, not a standard of the Word of God and he is imploring me to be guided by my feelings instead of my faith in God. He is not interested in submitting to a God if that God would have him live in a different way than he is living. Am I really speaking to this man or rather a demon inside of him? There is another man I've spoken to in London and despite all attempts to reason with this man, his feet are almost like in cement and he will not consider anything beyond what he wants to understand.

It simply makes me wonder at times, do I consider that people have perhaps been inhabited by a demon. I believe the Spirit of God is in me. Jesus said that the Spirit would come to dwell in me, in his followers. There are definitely many times that my responses are not selfish, but instead glorifying to my creator. That is the Spirit in me. That is not my natural self speaking. Thus, there is a contrast in life - one lives by the Spirit, one lives by a demon.

In verse 9, Jesus takes the unclean, demon out of the man. But where did Legion and his other demons end up?

On the scene, in this passage is a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. For the Jews, pigs are unclean. In Leviticus 11:7-8 it says, the pig does not chew cud, it is unclean to you. You shall not eat of their flesh nor touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you. Thus, no Jewish farmer would keep swine. And here, per verse 13, states there are about two thousand. 

It is here where the demons implored Jesus to send them saying, "Send us into the swine so that we may enter them." Jesus gave them permission. And coming out of the man, the unclean spirits entered the swine and the herd of swine rushed down the steep bank into the sea and they were drowned in the sea. 

The mission of Legion and his dominion was death and destruction. Perhaps Jesus wanted the people to see this. Demons are not something to mess around with. In our world, people have become very friendly to creatures similar to demons - vampires, zombies, pirates -- many creatures of death and destruction. We have TV shows and movies that mirror sorcery and magic. Are we dancing with danger? We call it all harmless but are we allowing this evil in subtle ways into our lives because we love entertainment? I wonder. There is so much good in life, but instead we like to walk on the wild side.

Also, there was an exchange of life here. The demon came out of the man and entered the swine and the swine perished. One man lived and two thousand swine died. Perhaps Jesus also wants to show us that there is value in each person. people are more important than animals. Human life is supremely more powerful. This doesn't mean we don't have to care for animals, but in the long run, the human is more important. One lost person saved is worth the death of many animals.

Promise: Scripture exhorts us to care for animals and not to be cruel to them. Yet, their worth, per the Bible is not on the same level as humanity. We "are of more value than many sparrows" Matthew 10:31.

Prayer: Lord, you remind me once again the importance of human life. You also remind me that we need to be people of God and choose righteous ways and living. We have a myriad of choices in our life for how we spend our time. Lord, help me to spend it wisely and on things that honor you. Thank you for the wholesome entertainment I do have at my disposal, when I do need a rest. Help the people of God to not dance with danger. Instead center us on your Word Lord and help us to voice it in our lives as we engage with people. I want people to see the real me. I want to be the same person inside my home as I am outside my home. Draw people to You Lord.

Monday, February 5, 2018

Mark 5:6-10 - Jesus Confronts Legion

Mark 5:6-10
6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him;7 and shouting with a loud voice, he *said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” 8 For He had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he *said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”10 And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country.

Message: Jesus Confronts Legion and Legion makes requests to Jesus

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I learned in the previous lesson, Satan is real and active and was attacking Jesus through a man. He did this in his day and there is no reason to not think that he doesn't do this today. I think he does. There is just too much in our world that is not friendly to the things of God. We are getting further away and getting more distracted.

Now to the text:

The man that was not about to be bound ran up and bowed down before Him (Jesus). The Power of Satan in this world, in people's lives, is still subject to Jesus. God still has control. The KJV states that he worshiped Him. The man could have been conflicted in his being, realizing who Jesus was and yet the demon also didn't want to be tormented. In this man is dueling spirits. The demon spirit in the man knows that he is under the Lord's control, while the man may see that he desires to be under God's control. As the man and the demon within him approach Jesus, the man says Jesus, Son of the Most High God. 

John Gill (1697-1771), English baptist pastor and theologian said:
Devils believe there is one God, and tremble at him; and they confess that Jesus of Nazareth, who was born of the virgin, according to the human nature, is the Son of God, according to his divine nature: and whereas they had no interest in him, as a Saviour, they desired they might have nothing to do with him as God; and since they had no share in the blessings of his grace, they beg they might not feel the power of his hand.
This is the best summation I've seen of this text. Devils knew who God was and Jesus but that they did not want to have anything to do with him. And they definitely didn't want to be under the power of God. Thus, the demon responds when Jesus is near - I implore You by God, do not torment me! He knows Jesus and knows his power and doesn't want to have anything to do with it. Like Jesus will just let him off. Come out of the man, you unclean spirit! And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he *said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”  Jesus, by asking his name, wants to communicate to us that the unclean spirits, the demons are many. We must remember that Jesus is always teaching.

This passage is really about the Legion confronting Jesus as well as Jesus confronting Legion. The Legion really wants nothing to do with Jesus and wants to find a way to be clear from him. He doesn't want to be sent far because his desire is to impact pagans locally.

Promise: From Tabletalk- That Jesus could cast out so many demons shows that He was more than a mere man. Rather, He was—and remains—God. We can trust Him to break spiritual oppression and preserve us forever in His kingdom.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the power you have over the darkness. There are spiritual forces present in our world, around us. You are in control of them. I submit to You. Continue to protect me and bring order to this world of ours, so that more will know you and surrender to you. It feels sometimes that we are going backwards in our world and getting further from You. Change our ways and train us daily to be Godly. 

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Mark 5:1-5 - The Gerasene Demoniac

Mark 5:1-5
1 They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. 2 When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, 3 and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.

Message: The Gerasene Demoniac

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

I have often felt this past week that my life was in chaos. There were multiple things coming at me during the week. My mind was overloaded yesterday especially. As I sit here and read the word of God and think about the lessons from this past week, I remember that Jesus calmed the storm while the disciples were in the boat. And Jesus can calm my life. I wish I could figure this out because my countenance lowers when I feel stressed with more to do and not enough time. I want to keep my confidence in Him. I want to trust Him more. Jesus takes the forces from the outside and calms them. As I skim this chapter and read through it I see Jesus doing the same thing, but this time to demons are invisible spirits inside of a man. The writer Mark, through the work of Jesus, is reminding me that there are invisible forces going on in our lives as well, in people's lives, perhaps aiming to disrupt my content ways and yet Jesus continues to bring order to this chaos. If this was real in Jesus' day, I must think it is also real today.

My world is not perfect and on earth it never will be. All evil can be tied directly or indirectly to the devil. The devil introduced wickedness into creation by rebelling against our Creator. We saw this clearly in the garden as he confused and allured Eve to focus on something God wanted them to trust him on and that they didn't need to understand. At this point, Eve started questioning God and in the end to sin, doing what God said not to do.

In this passage, a man is possessed and not in his right mind. It says that no one was able to bind him and the chains had been torn apart by him and no one was strong enough to subdue him. He was screaming...and gashing himself. He was out of control. He didn't have control of himself. No one could bind him. No one could subdue him. And he was hurting himself.

One thing is clear, Satan has rebelled against God and therefore hates anything of God and will try with all his might to distraught the ways of God. Jesus had just come from a slew of teaching moments. He had spoken to his disciples and followers about the Gospel and the mission of those that He calls good. And upon landing on the sea, this violent possessed man runs up to him. I must realize that unrest and chaos is what Satan wants in my life. He wants questions.

I've been talking to a man this week who does not have a wife any more because she died and he can no longer see anything of value in his life. He raises a son and still wants the best for him, but only sees a less than perfect world now. I'm trying to reason and point him to Christ and God's word, but he is a hard sell and has already been brainwashed by other teachings that appeal to his pain. Also, this week I had lunch with a co-worker who shared that she and her husband live in the same house but are rarely together. He sleeps on the couch, his choice. They keep separate lives monetarily, at her choosing, for she is concerned about the bills. They share parenting but this is often tough and out of control. She loves him for he and her brought these children into the world, but she is not in love with him right now. They are dueling without speaking. 

What an interesting contrast that I saw this week. One man doesn't have his wife and is miserable without her. And then two people are married and are miserable together. Could there be demon possession? I think so. People have been lured away and living lives not yielded to Him. This isn't simply apathy but outright rebellion.

So my conclusion today is there are forces, demonic forces that want to lure us away from God and disrupt the peace that we have. They are at work everywhere and they are real.

Promise: Satan goes after human beings because he hates God. If we are united to Christ, God will put Satan finally under our feet.

Prayer: O Lord, how we need you, every day, every hour, every moment. Satan is real and has taken over so many people and he desires to make my witness less so he can defeat you. Lord, I pray for your protection and ask Lord that these people that I've spoken to this week would come under your control and then you would set up a hedge of protection around their lives so nothing can come against them. Restore relationships. Give people hope. Center them on You. Help people to submit and surrender to You. You God are in control. You are our creator and Lord. There is peace only in You. I praise and glorify Your Name.


Thursday, February 1, 2018

Mark 4:41 - Master of Wind and Sea

Mark 4:41
They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Message: Master of Wind and Sea

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Following the feeling that the Lord did not care for them against the violent storm and the concern that they might drown and then after seeing what Jesus did in calming the storm, they now have a fear, a great fear toward Him. They are marveled. They have already seen things that are great, like removing a demon from a person and healing many people of their diseases. And yet now in this moment, they are very much afraid over him beckoning the wind and the sea to obey him. Before, with those other miracles of healing, they didn't seem to have this response, but as Jesus now controls an outside force they even ask the question, "Who then is this?" or "Who is this man?"

It seems in that moment that the disciples probably, up to this point, still felt like they were dealing with a man despite the words that Jesus had said. Jesus had already, up to this point, talked about forgiving sins. And the rabbi's in the temple had heard Jesus claim a different type of authority. Yet, those words didn't compel them to think of Jesus as being able to calm the sea and wind. So despite people seeing Jesus do other things that only God could do, they were not moved to seeing who He really is, until this moment.

There are several verses in the Old Testament that seem to speak of an authority God had over the seas:

  • Psalm 69:1 - Save me, O God, for the waters have threatened my life. [This verse is hard because the request for saving could be apart from the reaction the person is having from the water or it could be connected.]
  • Psalm 77:16 - The waters saw you O God; the water saw You and were in anguish, the deeps also trembled. [Here the waters have a reaction by God. The waters and see are under God's authority.]
  • Isaiah 43:2 - When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. [Again, the idea here is that as you go through water and rivers, God will still be in control and He will protect you from the waters.]

The verse here about Jesus is more commanding. He actually moves and controls and reduces the movement of the sea and waters. Thus, the response from the disciples seems not surprising. It's possible that they, up to this point, had seen his works and not come to the conclusion. But, this act, was simply there to show his power. He wasn't necessarily doing any work of the Lord, other than showing them on this ship that He was in control of all.

They now know that Jesus is more than a man. He is God. Perhaps, the messages and all that they have seen up to this point now took on greater meaning, for they saw the rest of the Story. We will see as we continue through the Gospel of Mark.

Promise: Seeing Jesus as He is - the Holy God - drives us to our knees in fear. This is the God that can save us and we will submit to. All that I have thought of, up to this point, about God, I can now subscribe to Jesus as well. He is God. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for saving me. Thank you for letting me see your authority and that you are in complete control. You are my Savior and Lord. You have saved me, forgiven me and because of You I am safe forever. You do command the sea and waves.  You have control over all in the same way God does, so you are God. Continue to help me understand these truths of You. I praise You for Your love and revealing yourself to me.