Category: Gospels
Preaching with confirmation!
Scripture reading for October 20th: Mark 14-16
Mark’s Gospel tells of Jesus Christ serving, healing, casting out demons, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus particularly sought out those who were lost and willing to listen. He gathered disciples who were willing to leave all, follow Him and learn His character and His ways. He sent them out to practice what He had taught. He evaluated their work, encouraged them as well as rebuked them.
“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” …”Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it.” Mark 16:15-18, 20.
This Gospel’s closing words are a call to Jesus’ followers to continue the action of God. They were to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit who would give them the power that was needed to be His witnesses. (Acts 1:8) Then they were to go and preach. As they preached, they were to act under the authority of the name of Jesus Christ. In His name supernatural signs would accompany the preaching of the Word. Demons would be cast out, sick people would be healed. People would be baptized in the Holy Spirit and speak with new tongues. The disciples would have supernatural protection as well.
These first disciples obeyed and went their way, preaching the Gospel and praying for the sick and demon possessed. Jesus Christ worked with them and signs followed their ministry. The truth highlighted here is that if you are seeking miracles, signs and wonders, the best place to find them is when you obey God’s command to go and preach! Are you willing to act in faith and experience the supernatural following your preaching and prayer? What is holding you back?
Faith to move mountains!
Scripture reading for October 18th: Mark 11-13
In 1995 my son Marshal and I went on a study trip to Israel. While in Israel, we visited Bethany and walked the road over the Mt. of Olives that went to the temple. It was a walk that made this portion of scripture come alive!
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived in Bethany and Jesus often stayed with them. Jesus had come to Jerusalem to prepare for Passover week. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey as Zechariah had predicted. He arrived at the temple but simply looked around and left. This would have been on Sunday, the first day of the week.
He returned to Bethany and the next morning as He walked back over the Mt. of Olives. Seeing a fig tree, He went to find early fruit. He found none on the tree and spoke a curse, stating that no one would ever eat fruit from that tree again. He went on to the temple and drove out the money-changers. He went back to his friends’ house for another evening. The next morning they went by the fig tree and it had withered from the roots! (Mark 11:20-21)
Mark 11:22-25 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, that whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
As we walked up the mount of Olives in 1995, we could see Bethlehem and a place nearby called the “Herodium” where King Herod, in the years just before Jesus walked that path, had moved a mountain! He took one hill and put it on top of another using thousands of slave laborers. In the distance we could also see the Dead Sea glistening in the valley below. When Jesus spoke that parable, He had an object lesson for his disciples! As Herod had used thousands of slaves to move the mountain, their faith in God would empower them to move mountains with their words!
Faith and possibility!
Scripture reading for October 17th: Mark 8-10
As a Christian, have you ever faced a situation that was beyond your spiritual ability to know what to do? Mark told the story of a man with a son who had an evil spirit that was always trying to kill him. This boy was often thrown to the ground, into the fire, and foamed at the mouth and became rigid. The father had brought his son to Jesus’ disciples for deliverance, but they could do nothing.
“O, unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” Mark 9:19 Jesus cried out from the depths of His being! He had spent many hours with these men teaching the power of faith and of words. As the boy was brought before Him, the spirit caused another seizure to occur. This boy had been that way from childhood. The man asked Jesus if He could help. “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23 “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”” Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and he was healed!
The disciples were perplexed as to why they had failed. Jesus explained to them that this kind of demonic activity can only be defeated by prayer. (Mark 9:29) At this point, we should stop and think about what has happened and look at our lives as disciples. Jesus called His followers to take up their cross and follow Him. He lived a life of prayer and of complete submission to God as Father. He left these records for us to know that by faith, all things are possible. When we are faced with an impossible situation, prayer (and fasting) often is the only way to victory. God has answers if we won’t give up or quit too soon!
A scriptural prayer is found on the lips of the boy’s father! Jesus’ answer to him had brought faith but he needed to drive out the unbelief! He saw the salvation of God because of his faith and Jesus’ mercy. May we enjoy growing in faith and experience His mercy in our lives today!
“Jesus, please leave!”
Scripture reading for October 16th: Mark 4-7
We who love Jesus can’t envision asking Him to depart from us or leave our town. We would invite Him to stay with us as long as possible to enjoy His companionship. Jesus wants to come and be with us as well, for He came to earth to seek out and save lost people. (Luke 19:10)
After ministering to a crowd all day, Jesus told His disciples that they should go to the other side of the lake. Jesus got in the stern, found a cushion and went to sleep. It had been a hard day and He was tired! As they crossed the lake in the night, a furious wind arose that threatened to swamp the boat. The disciples excitedly woke Jesus, pleading for help. Jesus rebuked the wind and waves and a calm suddenly fell upon them. He chastened them for their fear and lack of faith. (Mark 4:35-41)
When they got across the lake, a man with an evil spirit came from a graveyard to meet Jesus. He had chains on his hands and feet. The man’s name was “Legion” because of the large number of demons in him. Jesus rebuked the evil spirits and sent them into a herd of pigs as they requested. The swine ran over a steep bank, tumbled into the lake and drowned. Nearly two thousand pigs died!
The man was delivered, set free from the bondage, and in his right mind! (Mark 4:14-17) The people of the region, who depended on the pigs for their sustenance, were terrified and angry. They came to Jesus and asked Him to leave their region. Mark recorded that Jesus got into the boat to leave, and the delivered man asked to come along. Jesus sent him back to tell his family of what the Lord had done for him and then departed.
Jesus loves and cares for His own disciples. He’s always with us, even when we think He might be sleeping or unaware! And Jesus loves to go out of His way to find someone who needs help. He came to seek and save the lost! He will go through water, storm, and forces of hell to reach a needy soul. But those who are into themselves are threatened by Jesus’ presence. They asked Him to leave!
Faith can help your friends!
Scripture reading for October 15th: Mark 1-3
Mark’s Gospel is concise and alive with the Good News of God with us and in love with us! Mark proclaimed Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Son of Man! Mark wasted little time with preliminaries of the Jewish history of the Christ and prophesies of His birth. He told the story of Jesus living among His people and loving and serving them by teaching, healing, and casting out devils. Jesus’ stories that revealed the kingdom of heaven and their own need for a relationship with the Father.
Crowds gathered wherever Jesus went. He returned to Capernaum where he had done miracles and a crowd quickly gathered around a house where He was teaching. A group of men brought a friend who was paralyzed to Jesus for healing. Because of the crowd, there was no way to get him inside, so they carried him up on the roof. They opened a hole big enough to let the man down and lowered him into the room.
When Jesus saw the faith of the friends, He immediately responded to the man by saying: “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5) This caused some religious leaders who were present to begin to question this statement. After all, only God could forgive sins! (Mark 2:7)
Jesus knew their thoughts and sought to help them believe. He asked them which was easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven” or “Get up, take up your bed and walk”? In order to remove their objection, he told the man to get up, take up his bed, and walk. The man got up, amazing the crowd and inspiring faith!
This story should motivate us to seek Jesus for answers to whatever problems we face. Jesus honors faith and those who press through to Him for their needs! Believing friends can also be a great blessing by taking the hurting to Jesus. What friend do you know that may need your help today to get to Jesus? Take a few minutes of your day to pray for him. As the Lord leads, get another friend or two and go and lift him to Jesus together! Miracles are waiting for those who break through!
His blood be on us!
Scripture reading for October 14th: Matthew 26-28
Those who have grown up in the church have heard the story of Jesus’ betrayal, trial, and crucifixion many times. This story is a key to our redemption from the ravages of sin because it tells of a Savior who willingly took our sin and loved us so much that He gave His life for us. He offered it on our behalf as a part of God’s plan to bring us back to Himself.
Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot for thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14-15) Why Judas sold his Master, we are not actually told, except that he belonged to the evil one and was not one of the true disciples. The Jews sent temple guards to follow Judas to the place where Jesus was praying with His disciples. Judas betrayed his master with a kiss. Jesus told Judas and his followers to do what they came for and offered no resistance.
He was taken to Caiaphas, the High Priest, and the Sanhedrin, who met early in the morning. (Matthew 27:1) Caiaphas asked Jesus if He was the Christ, Son of the living God. Jesus answered “yes” and that He would be seated at the right hand of the Mighty One and come on the clouds of heaven. (Matthew 26:63-64) Because of this, the council pronounced a death sentence, spit on Him, and struck Him with their fists. His trusted disciples deserted Him and Peter denied Him three times as Jesus had predicted.
Jesus stood before Pilate, the Roman governor, the only one with authority to put Him to death. Pilate listened to the charges and asked Jesus if He was the king of the Jews. Jesus answered “yes”. Jesus made no other defense against the charges! He tried to get the crowd to release Jesus, but they insisted on having a criminal released, demanding Jesus be crucified. Pilate symbolically washed his hands of Jesus’ blood and placed the responsibility on the people. They cried: “Let His blood be on us and on our children.” (Matthew 27:25)
Two thousand years later, the truth of who Jesus is still freeing sinners! He is “King of the Jews” and the “Christ, Son of the living God”! His blood alone can cleanse those who call on Him! In faith, cry out to Jesus for that covering on you and your children!
Beware and prepare!
Scripture reading for October 13th: Matthew 24-25
These chapters of Matthew contain the last major teaching of Jesus to his disciples as recorded by this Gospel writer. Jesus remarked to His disciples about how not one stone would be left upon another at the temple. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” (Matthew 24:2-5)
Deception will be a mark of the last days before the return of Jesus Christ. The world we live in today is full of counterfeit religions and numerous cults that claim that they are the only way to God. Jesus warned of wars among the nations. There would also be famines and earthquakes in numerous places and great distress. Betrayal and hatred toward God’s people will be common. Many will fall away from following Jesus and their love for God will grow cold. (Matthew 24:6-13)
Jesus emphatically taught that no one would know the day or hour of His return. (Matthew 24:36) It would be like the days of Noah when the flood suddenly swept the world of that time away. It would be like a thief coming to a house at night. It would be like a master coming back to find his servant neglecting his duties and doing evil. Each person should be in a state of readiness at all times, for Jesus will come back at a time when everyone least expects it.
To illustrate this point, Jesus told two parables. The first was about the ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom. Five were foolish and five others were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps, but did not take any oil for them. The wise took oil along for their lamps and were ready. The bridegroom was delayed and they all fell asleep. The midnight cry woke them up to prepare for his arrival. Only the wise were prepared and got to go with the bridegroom to the wedding feast.
Our Lord emphasized the need to be read for the return of our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. He could come at any time. May this message cause you to beware and prepare!
The King’s wedding banquet!
Scripture reading for October 11th: Matthew 20-23
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.” Matthew 22:2-3
We read in the previous chapter that the chief priests and Pharisees knew that the parables that they heard were about them. They were jealous because many people were following Jesus and thought He was a prophet. (Matthew 21:45-46) They were looking for a way to arrest Jesus but He gave them another parable.
The King was God the Father who sent His only Son to earth. His plan was to gather a bride for His Son from those who would believe and follow Him. He came to the Jews first because Israel was long considered the betrothed wife of God! When the banquet was ready, servants were sent to remind the guests of the banquet. These servants were the prophets, up to and including John the Baptist. The people of Israel gave excuses and most failed to respond. Worse than that, they beat the servants of the King and killed them. (Matthew 22:5-7) The king sent his army and destroyed those murderers and their city. This likely refers to the Babylonian captivity.
The King then instructed His servants to go into the highways and street corners and find those who would come to His Son’s wedding banquet. Many responded to the urgent invitation. But one attended the banquet not properly clothed for a wedding. This person was confronted and cast out into outer darkness where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:13)
“Many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14) Jesus concluded this parable with these sobering words. The invitation to His wedding banquet has gone out to all the world. Many have responded and others have chosen to not respond for various excuses. These excuses will keep them out of the joys of the King’s presence. Others choose to come on their own terms and will be forcibly cast out at the last judgment. Only the robes given by the King’s Son will be proper attire. Have you responded to the King’s invitation?
A personal belief!
Scripture reading for October 10th: Matthew 16-19
The Pharisees and Sadducees were two groups of religious people that came to Jesus to test Him and sought to discredit Him. (Matthew 16:1-4) One day, they asked Jesus for a sign from heaven to confirm that He was Messiah. Jesus had just fed the 5000 with the loaves and fishes and had been doing many other miracles! (Matthew 14:16-21) Miracles don’t always convince people of truth!
Jesus’ response was to rebuke them. He told them that a wicked and adulterous generation would seek a sign. They would only be given the sign of Jonah, the prophet. He warned His followers to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. Jesus explained that the yeast was their teaching that would lead them and others away from the truth He was sharing.
They then traveled to Caesarea Philippi, an area at the source of the Jordan River. Jesus asked His disciples some key questions. “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13) They told him various answers that were common among the people of that day. Jesus then asked them the most important question, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15) Simon Peter immediately answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) Jesus commended him for his answer. The Father had revealed this truth to him!
What conclusion have you come to regarding the identity of Jesus Christ? Is He someone who must show you one more “sign” before you will believe? Are you skeptical that He is the Son of God? Do you just feel that He is a prophet sent from God? All of these responses were present when Jesus walked the earth and was doing miraculous signs. Human reasoning and visual proof are well and good, but truth comes by revelation from God the Father. Revelation comes when we are humble and teachable enough to believe. Faith is the key ingredient, and that is a gift from God! (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Jesus concluded his remarks to Peter and the disciples after this discussion with a promise to build His church on ‘this rock’. The “rock” was Peter’s confession of who Christ was, not Peter himself. It is the only secure foundation for eternal life!
Seed for eternal life!
Scripture reading for October 9th: Matthew 12-15
Jesus used parables to speak to multitudes of people. The knowledge of the kingdom of heaven is hidden from those with hard hearts and closed ears. Their attitudes blind them to truth that God wants to reveal to them. (Proverbs 14:6) (Matthew 13:11-15) Parables are stories about life that all people could relate to and be able to understand naturally. Jesus ended many of these stories with: ‘if you have ears, listen!”. (Matthew 13:8) The listening that Jesus encouraged was spiritual and revealed truth about the kingdom.
As a former Iowa farmer, the parable of the sower always fascinated me. Jesus described a farmer scattering his seed and it fell on different types of soil. Some fell on the path and birds ate it up immediately. Some fell on rocky soil, and sprouted quickly but died out. Some fell among the weeds and was choked out. Most of the seed went to the good ground and yielded a crop of various multiplication. This simple story that would have been very familiar to everyone in that culture held some spiritual understanding for those with ears to hear!
Jesus went on to explain the meaning to his followers. (Matthew 13:19-23) Those who heard the word but did not understand it were like the seed on the path. The evil one came along and stole it before it could produce or even sprout. The rocky soil represented those who initially heard the word but have no depth of heart. The word died out before a crop could grow. The seed among the weeds were those who received the word, but the cares of this life and deceitfulness of riches choked it out. Those who heard the word and put it into practice were like the good soil, producing a crop that multiplies!
God is the farmer and He has commissioned us to sow His word in the soils of hearts. Is the crop of eternal life growing in you? If so, are you deepening your heart’s soil so the roots go down? Are you keeping the weeds out? Is the crop bringing an increase? Could it be greater? God has blessed the seed and wants to multiply it through you!