Category: Gospels
Turning loose is hard!
Scripture reading for March 1st: Mark 10:13-31, Psalms 44:8-26, Proverbs 10:20-21
The world and it’s goods have a powerful pull on us. Having things and money bring security that we can control and can use to provide for our needs. But sometimes our grip on material things keeps us from experiencing the best that God wants to give us as we walk by faith in His provision!
Mark records the story of a man who came running to Jesus and fell on his knees to inquire of Him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good–except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'” (Mark 10:17b-19) Jesus pointed the man to his need to keep God’s commandments. This man felt that he had kept these commandments.
Mark records that Jesus looked at the man and loved him. Out of His love, He told the man one more thing that he lacked. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (Mark 10:21-22) Jesus put His finger on the idol in this man’s life. His great wealth was hard to give up. It would mean losing his security and ability to live life as he pleased. He would have to trust God to help him. For him, this proved to be too much to let go.
Jesus went on to comment on this man and others like him. It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom. The disciples were amazed and wondered if anyone could be saved if this was the requirement. Jesus assured them that with God all things were possible! “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields–and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.” (Mark 10: 29-30) You can’t out-give God! He pays very well– if you follow Jesus!
Hell is real!
Scripture reading for February 28th: Mark 9:30-10:12, Psalms 44:1-7, Proverbs 10:19
Hell is not a subject that many like to talk about. Some believe it is a scare tactic that Christians use to brow-beat people into becoming believers. A Pew research poll in 2008 found that only 59 percent of 35,000 respondents believed in a literal hell. This is down from 71 percent in 2001! (74 percent said they believed in heaven.) It is time that people look to the Bible and what Jesus taught to determine the validity of their beliefs!
Jesus warned those He spoke to about their need to avoid hell at all costs. “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hand to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye that to have two eyes and be throne into hell, where “their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”” (Mark 9:43-48)
Jesus taught that hell was real. It was a place of fire that burned eternally. It was a place of worms eating flesh and weeping and gnashing of teeth. It was a place to avoid, even if you endured life here maimed, crippled or blind! Jesus had also taught them that the road to hell was broad, and many people were on that broad road. (Matthew 7:13) The road to life was narrow, with only a few people on it. In fact, Jesus is the only way to find life and avoid the broad path to destruction in hell! (John 14:6)
Man has an inner knowledge of eternity put into his heart by God. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) He knows that he is an eternal being and will face a judgment. We should not hesitate to talk with people about their eternal future and their preparations to avoid hell. The Holy Spirit will work with us as we share. God wants none to perish in hell, but all to come to salvation through repentance and belief of the truth. (1st Timothy 2:3-6)
Come out!
Scripture reading for February 27th: Mark 9:1-29, Psalms 43:1-5, Proverbs 10:18
Jesus was a man who spoke with authority and was not afraid to rebuke demons or His own disciples! Mark records an incident in which a man had brought his son to the disciples. The son had an evil spirit that often tried to kill the boy by throwing his systems into symptoms of a seizure or stroke. The disciples tried to cast the spirit out but were unsuccessful. (Mark 9:17-18)
“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 rebuked the people and especially the disciples for their unbelief. Jesus had demonstrated their authority to cast out demons and they had been sent out and also had experienced people getting delivered. (Mark 6:7, 12-13) The problem was not with the evil spirit, but with those who should have had faith to see it leave!
When the boy’s father brought his son to Jesus, he asked Jesus to help him if He could. “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” “Immediately the boys father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”” Jesus again corrected the father’s doubting request with a question. “If” is a word indicating doubt, not faith in the possibility! According to Jesus, there is nothing that is not possible for the person who will believe! This man cried out spontaneously for help with dealing with the unbelief! This was an honest prayer and Jesus answered by rebuking the spirit in the boy. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” (Mark 9:25b)
When they left this family, the disciples wanted to know from Jesus why they could not drive out the demon. “He replied, “This kind can only come out by prayer.”‘ (Mark 9:29) Some manuscripts added “fasting” after the prayer. Our power comes only from God through faith in Him and His ability to do anything. These disciples were encouraged to focus on prayer as they dealt with situations like this. Only prayer will drive out unbelief and enable us to successfully confront Satan’s power.
Take some time to pray today for help with driving out your unbelief. Jesus wants His disciples to walk in authority and power that comes through faith in God! (Mark 11:22-24)
Ashamed of Christ?
Scripture reading for February 26th: Mark 8:10-38, Psalms 42:1-11, Proverbs 10:17
“He (Jesus) then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.” (Mark 8:31-32) Peter was not at all happy with Jesus when He told the disciples of the coming events that would culminate with His death. Peter began to scold Jesus and tell Him not to talk like that. Jesus then rebuked Peter with a stern command, “Get behind me Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (Mark 8:33)
Jesus used this exchange to appeal to His disciples and the crowd that followed Him. If anyone wanted to follow Him, they must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow as well! Anyone wanting to save their life would lose it and anyone losing their life, would save it. Jesus knew the tendency of our flesh to want to preserve life as we know it. We all want to be in control and think that by our own efforts can have the best life. But we can’t have the world and it’s adulterous ways and Christ too! The way of the cross and death somehow leads to gain and life.
Jesus asked a question of the crowd and His disciples: “What good is is for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37) Our true life is eternal life and to enjoy that we must have our soul redeemed. We must lose our “life” here to gain “eternal life”. Jesus gave His listeners the answer, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.” In Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection, we have our only hope of redeeming our soul. We must die to our flesh and boldly stake our claim on Jesus and His words! He is coming again soon!
Healing techniques!
Scripture reading for February 25th: Mark 7:24-8:9, Psalms 41:1-13, Proverbs 10:15-16
Jesus came to preach the Good News and bring healing to people who were oppressed by the devil. Mark records some accounts of Jesus working with various people to bring healing to their bodies and family members. When we study this with a desire to find out how He did it, we find a variety of techniques being used.
The first woman mentioned in this passage was a Greek lady who was born in Syrian Phoenicia. She had a daughter who was under the control of an evil spirit and came to Jesus begging for help. Jesus responded to her in a way that could have brought offense. “First let the children eat all they want,” He told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” (Mark 7:27) He was telling her that He came to bring healing to the Jews first, for the Gentiles were called “dogs” in that culture. This woman pressed through by telling Jesus that even the “dogs” under the table eat the children’s crumbs. Jesus was so impressed by her faith that He told her to go and her daughter would be healed!
Next, Jesus traveled to the Decapolis near the Sea of Galilee. Here a man who was deaf and could barely talk was brought to Jesus. Jesus took him away from the crowd and put His fingers into the man’s ears. He then spit and touched the man’s tongue. Jesus looked up to heaven and said one word of command, “Ephphatha!” (which means “be opened”.) (Mark 7:34) This man was healed and he could speak again!
We ponder these two incidents and try to learn how to bring healing to those we find. We see that Jesus responded to faith. The first woman came to Jesus begging for help for her daughter. She was not deterred by Jesus’ comment, but pressed Him for help. Jesus responded! In the second incident, the man was brought to Jesus by friends who begged Jesus for help. The man was deaf and could not speak plainly for himself. Jesus took him aside and privately ministered to him. He physically put his fingers in the man’s ears and spit and placed his finger on the tongue. The prayer was a simple command. Jesus always did things well in response to faith!
The evil is on the inside!
Scripture reading for February 24th: Mark 7:1-23, Psalms 40:11-17, Proverbs 10:13-14
Jesus’ disciples were criticized by the Pharisee’s for eating without washing their hands, according to the traditions of the elders. The Pharisee’s told them that they were “unclean” because of this and defiled. They asked Jesus why His disciples weren’t washing and Jesus spoke clearly to them about their traditions that were violating the heart of God’s truth.
“Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.” (Mark 7:6-8)
Jesus proceeded to teach the crowd that had gathered that what goes into a man is not what defiles him, but what comes out of the inside that makes him unclean. (Mark 7:15) When someone eats something with unclean hands, that only goes into his stomach and then is eliminated from his body. Things from the outside don’t go into the heart but the stomach. In saying this Jesus was declaring all foods as clean. This was a radical departure from what the Pharisees understood from the Law! (Mark 7:19)
“He went on, “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.'” (Mark 7:20-23)
Jesus spelled out what causes defilement. It was not food or failure to wash the hands. It was evil in the heart that came through the lips. Notice how many of God’s commandments are represented here with this list of evils. At least five are covered! Thinking and speaking evil defile a man and render him ‘unclean’ in God’s sight.
There is only one way to be free from this defilement and become clean inside. It is by repentance! We take responsibility for the evil things within us and ask God for mercy and forgiveness. After confession and repentance, we seek God’s power to live free from our sinful habits and please God by living in faith and obedience to His Word. With the inside clean, we will not be just putting on a show!
If I can just touch His cloak!
Scripture reading for February 23rd: Mark 6:30-56, Psalms 40:1-10, Proverbs 10:11-12
Mankind is hurting deeply because of sin and it’s consequences. Sin brings a darkness over the soul that clouds life and leaves us restless and dissatisfied. Often, in our search for satisfaction, we selfishly get into bondage and satanic powers enslave us with addictions and fears. Sickness attacks our bodies and suffering marks our lives. Hope is elusive as many of the cures that are promised don’t really fix the problems.
Jesus came into a world just like ours. He saw the hurts and pains and came to help those who were hurting and enslaved. As He preached repentance, He reached out to touch people and bring healing. “When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was. And wherever He went–into villages, towns or countryside–they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged Him to let them touch even the edge of His cloak, and all who touched were healed.” (Mark 6:53-56)
Jesus brought real healing and real hope. When people responded in faith, they were healed! When the people recognized that it was Jesus, they responded by running to get the sick and bring them to Him. There was a desire to want to make contact with Him that drove them to desperation. They begged for the opportunity to touch His garment. The record states that “all who touched were healed.”
Jesus Christ is the same today as then. Jesus is still compassionate and looking to heal the sick and deliver the bound. He is available to all who will seek Him out by faith. Those who have repented of their sins have been given authority to go into all the world with the message of repentance and forgiveness. They are to lay hands on the sick and God works with them to bring healing. (Mark 16:15-17) If you have a need, reach out today and touch the Lord. If you are a disciple of Jesus, reach out today and touch someone in His name that needs healing! God is still healing hurting people! All who reach out to touch Him will receive according to their faith!
Multiplying ministry!
Scripture reading for February 22nd: Mark 6:1-29, Psalms 39:1-13, Proverbs 10:10
“Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to Him, He sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.” (Mark 6:6b-7)
Jesus had a plan to take the Gospel of the kingdom to the entire world. He was not in a hurry, but had only a limited time to set this plan in place. After preaching in His home town and seeing few results, He called the Twelve together and organized them into evangelism teams. He knew that two would be more effective than one in this work. Two people have power in prayer and can encourage one another. Two people provide some protection and friendship when hostility arises. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) This work that they would be engaged in was like warfare against the kingdom of Satan. Jesus gave them authority over these powers of darkness and had demonstrated how to cast them out.
Jesus sent them out two by two and told them to take nothing with them for provision except their staff. This staff represented some protection but also the authority that He had given them. They were to rely on finding people who would welcome them. If no one welcomed them, they were to shake the dust from their feet as a witness against that town. God would provide for them on their mission.(Mark 6:8-11)
“They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”(Mark 6:12-13)
The message that these disciples took was a call to repentance. They did not tell people how much their lives would be improved by the kingdom. They did not list benefits and try to sell a product. They called for repentance, a change of mind and actions, from selfishness to humble confession and faith. As they went, they used the authority given them by Jesus to deliver those bound by evil spirits and heal sick people. The simply did what Jesus had taught them to do and God worked with them! Jesus now had multiplied ministry through these men. They would in turn raise up more who would follow Jesus and do the same things! This was Jesus’ amazing plan to reach the world and it is still working today! Have you joined His team?
“Don’t be afraid! Believe!”
Scripture reading for February 21st: Mark 5:21-43, Psalms 38:1-22, Proverbs 10:8-9
Jairus was a ruler in the synagogue who came to Jesus for help. His little daughter was sick and dying and he pleaded with Jesus to come and put His hands on her so that she might be healed. Jesus agreed to go with him. (Mark 5:22-23)
A large crowd of people were pressing around them as they moved towards Jairus’ home. A woman from the crowd had been following Jesus. This woman had been sick for years with an issue of blood that no doctors had been able to cure. She had decided that if she could just touch Jesus’ clothes, she would be healed. As she got close enough, she pressed in and touched his garment. Jesus immediately felt power go out of Him and asked who had touched Him. The woman realized that she was healed and confessed that it was she. Jesus told her that her faith had made her whole and free from suffering! This is also good news for us in that we can reach out to touch the Lord ourselves and find healing as well! He is no respecter of persons!
As the woman was healed, servants came and told Jairus that his daughter had died. It would not be necessary to bother Jesus any more. “Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36) Jesus knew that faith would bring a victory. He took steps to insure that only people of faith would accompany Him. He took His trusted disciples, Peter, James and John, and sent the others away. As they drew near to the house, people were wailing and mourning. He sought to quiet them by telling them that she was only asleep. They laughed at Him so He put them all out! (Mark 5:37-40) While the child’s mother and father and His disciples looked on, Jesus took the little girl’s hand and spoke with authority commanding her to get up. Immediately, she responded to His command and all were amazed!
The lesson for us is to focus on believing Jesus and fight our fears. It is easy to let the natural view to cloud what God wants to do. Jesus invites those with faith to learn that we can speak with authority and the dead can be raised if we believe! Lord, increase my faith!
Who is this Man?
Scripture reading for February 20th: Mark 4:26-5:20, Psalms 37:29-40, Proverbs 10:6-7
“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!” (Mark 4:37-41)
Jesus and His disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee at night with some other boats. They had just finished a long day of ministry and teaching and Jesus was tired. He fell asleep on a cushion in the back of the boat. A sudden storm broke over the waters and threatened the boat. It so frightened even the seasoned fishermen among them that they woke Jesus up! They had learned that Jesus had authority over many things and could not understand why He was asleep during this crisis that needed His attention.
Jesus, upon awakening, stood up in the tossing boat and addressed the wind and the waves, commanding them to be quiet. Immediately, it became calm! This dramatic turn of events brought amazement to these terrified disciples. Jesus questioned them about their faith and why they were afraid. They wondered out loud about who this Man was who could speak to wind and wave and they would obey! (Mark 4:41)
Many Christians encounter storms that cause them to be afraid and doubt. They often feel like the Master is sleeping and does not care about them. They try to wake Him up with their prayers of anguish in the midst of the storm. It is never wrong to pray, but why be afraid? Has He not given us faith? And given us authority as well? Faith should move us to take action. If you are in a storm today, take a promise from God’s word and speak over your problem. (Mark 11:22-24) Speak with authority and don’t doubt God will back up His word! When we know Who it is that is in our boat, we can stay calm and act in the authority He gave us!