Mark 9:14-29   Mark sets another scene for us.. Jesus coming down the mountain.. to a crowd surrounding His disciples.. with scribes arguing.. and with one desperate man hoping someone could deliver his son from an evil spirit.  

This young man suffered so much.  He could not speak.. he had terrible seizures that would cause him to fall to the ground, grind his teeth, foam at the mouth, and stiffen out.  The father tells Jesus, " And I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it."  

What was going on in this encounter?  Jesus centers in on the main problem.. "O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you?... "  Was He addressing the man, the crowd, or the disciples?  Whose lack of faith kept this boy from deliverance?  Perhaps it was all of them.. 

Jesus continued, "... Bring him to Me!"   He watched the boy being attacked by the evil spirit, thrown to the ground.. convulsing, rolling about and foaming at the mouth.. but He still did not act.  "And He asked his father, 'How long has this been happening to him?' "   Jesus seemed to be waiting for the father to ask the question.. to make the plea.. to state his position... until finally the man humbled himself and realized his own need.. "But if You can do anything take pity on us and help us!"  

Still Jesus waited, ".. If You can!  All things are possible to him who believes."  Only then does the father cry out, "I do believe ; help my unbelief."   This cry is one that we all probably have made at one time or another.. "Lord, I believe.. but help my unbelief."  My faith is puny sometimes. Like this man.. we want help.. we need help.. we think we can demand that help.. but only when we really encounter the One who can hear our cry, do we bow before Him and surrender our unbelief. 

Jesus healed this young man. As the evil spirit left him it cried out.. it threw the boy down.. and he appeared to be dead.  But.. Jesus took his hand and raised him up.  "All things are possible to him who believes."!!   Even if that belief is puny... 

Father, There is nothing that You cannot do. There is no-one that is too far gone for You to help. We pray that You will increase our faith.. that You would draw us nearer to the grace and truth found in Christ Jesus our Healer and Deliverer.  Help us learn to trust fully and to pray always.  Thank You for this word that reveals to  us the power and the kindness of Jesus. Thank You that He can do all things! We need You, Lord Jesus.. have Your way in us today we pray. Amen. 

 Mark 9:1-13  Mark takes us up the mountain with Jesus, Peter, James and John.  He tells of the transfiguration of Jesus before these 3 disciples.. unlike anything they could have imagined up to this point.. they saw with their own eyes the reality of Who Jesus is.  

His garments became whiter than anything on earth.. He was radiant.. and He was not alone, for Moses and Elijah appeared and talked to Him.  

Terrified.. Peter wanted to build 3 tabernacles. Struck with nothing else to say.. they were covered by a cloud that formed "over-shadowing them", and they heard a voice "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him." 

And then... they were once again alone with Jesus. 

Some say that this brief glimpse was what Jesus was referring to in verse 1 , "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."    Jesus told the three disciples to not talk about what they saw until after He was resurrected from the dead.  They would understand the Truth about Jesus then.. after He went to the cross, was buried and then came out of the grave .. glorified.  They needed the filling of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost before they could put it all together. They would see the kingdom of God when it came "with power".  

The Father tells the disciples to "Listen" to the Son. Elijah had come.. and gone.  Moses had come and gone.  But.. Jesus was still there and His Words were life and they needed to listen.  John would later write, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) He saw and he heard.. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (v14)  Many years later as he was captive on Patmos, John once again saw Jesus, fully glorified.. "And when I saw Him, I fell at HIs feet as a dead man.. " (Revelation 1:17)  The Kingdom of God came with power and John and the others knew it and proclaimed it the rest of their lives. 

How do we know Jesus?  Do we see Him as He was before or after His death and resurrection?  Are we listening? Are we experiencing Him .. beholding His glory.. His grace.. His truth? 

Father, once again we plead to have our eyes opened and our ears able to hear Your Beloved Son.  Help us to listen !  We ask for Your Kingdom to come "with power"!  We ask that Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.. that we might behold the  glory of Jesus Christ and be filled with all grace and truth in Him..  to the glory of Your Name.  Amen. 

 Mark 8:34-38  It seems that there is a shift in Mark's presentation of Jesus after the proclamation by Peter ...that they believed Him to be the Messiah.  This revelation to the disciples and the rebuke of Peter's reaction to the news that Jesus would die by the hands of the Jewish leaders began a new season of teaching.. beginning with this intense sermon... 

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me." (v34) 

Jesus had done miracles, healed many, cast out demons, and fed the hungry.  He had taught about God's kingdom and revealed to them what that Kingdom looked like.  Now, He begins to teach about the deeper truths of Kingdom living.. starting with denying one's-self.  To deny means to disown and forget one's self, to lose sight of your own interests.. to abstain from focus on yourself.  This is a hard word to hear, let alone do.  But, it is necessary, Jesus says, to follow Him. 

Jesus calls His followers to take up a cross.  Those listening to this sermon knew all about crosses.  They knew that it was cruel.. they knew it meant death.. they knew that the worst of criminals ended up on the Roman crosses.  What would it mean to them that Jesus calls them to "take up his cross"?  To willingly chose death? It was incomprehensible.. but Jesus said it was necessary... to follow Him. 

Jesus calls us to "Follow Him".. to join with Him.. to accompany Him on the same road that He walks.  It speaks of a union with Him.. being  on His side.

Jesus goes on to say, "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's sake shall save it."  Can we save ourselves? We know the answer is "NO".  We can't save ourselves from suffering, from disease, from peril, or from evil.  We need Jesus!   But.. Jesus says.. if we lay down our lives and follow Him.. He will save us.  He is the only One who can. 

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"  This was a startling and powerful teaching.  The people then.. as people do now.. desired to "gain".. to win.. to get more.. to prosper.  It is only when we believe in eternal life.. when we become aware that the choices we make determine our soul's final destination.. do we see the great value of following Jesus, the only WAY to the Kingdom of God... so much more profitable than all the riches of the world. 

Jesus has one more thing to say about this, "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." 

Our decision to follow Jesus or to reject His salvation... effects all of eternity.  This message is like a laser that goes deep into the heart.. it is a greater challenge.. a powerful call to all who have "ears to hear".  

Father, open our ears.. open our eyes.. let us look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.  Help us to always choose to follow Jesus.. "no turning back.. no turning back.."  Here's my life, Lord.. "let it be consecrated Lord to Thee."  I deny myself.. I am taking up my cross to follow You wherever You lead me. May it be so.. by the power of the name of  Jesus Christ the Messiah.. Amen. 

 Mark 8:27-33  Jesus and the disciples left Bethsaida and walked north to the area known as Caesarea Phillipi.. about 25 miles.  Along the way Jesus begins to ask the disciples some questions, starting with "Who do people say that I am?" 

The disciples said that people thought He might be John the Baptist or Elijah or some other ancient prophet come back to life.  He was a mystery to most people. They couldn't grasp that God was doing a new thing.. 

Then Jesus asked His disciples, " But who do you say that I am?"  They knew Him better than any of the multitudes..better than His mother and brothers.. better than the religious leaders.  They were with Him in the storm when He calmed the waters and the wind.  They were there when He raised Jairus' daughter from her death bed. They had heard His words and were granted explanations of every parable. They had held the bread and fish that multiplied in their own hands...  If anyone should know Who Jesus was.. it was His disciples. Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ."   The Messiah. The anointed One. The Son of David, the Son of man.. the Son of God. 

Had the conversation stopped there we would have applauded.. but it didn't. 

"And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again." 

Mark tells us that Jesus spoke these words "plainly".   It was not an illustration or parable.  It was not a vision or dream.  It was the plain truth.. and Peter didn't accept it.  He was so upset that he actually took Jesus aside to rebuke Him!  But.. Jesus turned His back on Peter and rebuked him.  "Get behind Me Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." 

Peter was the first to proclaim the deity of Jesus and the first to come against the reality of what the Messiah came to accomplish. Jesus went from the Person that Peter thought He knew.. to a mysterious God who he didn't know hardly at all. 

Sometimes, God speaks into our hearts and we begin to feel like we are starting to grasp the Truth of Who He is.. and then sometimes He does things that we just can't understand.. It is there between those two conditions that our faith grows... if... we cling to the Truth and Trust in the dark. 

Father in heaven,  Abba, Your Name is holy and worthy of praise and we pray that Your Kingdom will come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. You are our provider, our deliverer, and our protector. We desire to walk in Your Truth and trust You in everything.  Keep us from unbelief.. Keep us from evil. Keep us walking in Your Spirit by faith. May we be committed.. convinced.. courageous .. and faithful to Christ Jesus the Lord today and every day. Fill us Spirit of God we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

 Mark 8:22-26  When Jesus came to Bethsaida some people brought a man to Him who was blind. Again, Jesus took this man aside.. away from the crowds.. to heal him.  

Jesus again uses His own saliva.. like He did to the deaf man...  to touch the man.  Mark tells us that Jesus "spit" on the man's eyes and laid His hands on him.  Then Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?"   The man could see but it was still blurry, " I see men, for I am seeing them like trees, walking about."  Again, Jesus touched the man's eyes and everything became clear. 

The Bible Knowledge Commentary suggests that this miracle illustrates the conversation that Jesus had with His disciples just prior to this. He had asked them, "Do you not yet see or understand?" in verse17 and again in verse 21 He asked, "Do you not yet understand?"  They were beginning to see.. but it was blurry.. they were beginning to understand.. but they didn't have it altogether yet.  Just like me.. 

I want to see Jesus more clearly.  I want the Lord to restore my sight fully so that I can see Him and understand.  Do you?

Jesus sent the man home and told him not to go back into the village. This was a private.. personal encounter between the Son of God and a newly healed individual.  He had a story to tell.. but only after he had gone home and adjusted to this new life..  and took the time to contemplate the One who touched him and made him whole. Perhaps? 

Father,  "Open my eyes that I may see..Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;" the old hymn begins.. "Silently now I wait for Thee, Ready, my God, Thy will to see; Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit Divine." they wrote.  This is our prayer, Lord God.. Bring Your touch upon us not just once.. but again and again so that we can see You clearly and walk in Your ways. In Jesus' name we come. Amen. 

 Mark 8:1-21  In this "desolate" place... somewhere on the coast of the Galilee..  the multitude stayed with Jesus for 3 days.  They had eaten up all the food that they had brought along... and were hungry.. so hungry that Jesus was concerned that they would faint on their way home. Four thousand hungry fainting people..  this is quite a picture that Mark is sharing with us. 

Of course the disciples once again thought in practical terms.."Where will anyone be able to find enough to satisfy these men with bread here in a desolate place?"  How could they forget?! "How many loaves do you have?"  Jesus asked them.  They had 7 loaves and Jesus took those, blessed them, and gave them to the disciples to serve.. "and they served the multitude."  Then they had a few small fish.. which they also served.  "And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces." 

Once again Jesus and his disciples get in the boat and travel across the sea, landing in a region called Dalmanutha.  And... here comes the Pharisees to "argue with Him."  This time they wanted a "sign".. They wanted to dictate to God what God should do to prove Himself to them.. "And  sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, 'Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation."

What an interesting statement!  Jesus had done miracle after miracle.. He had healed the sick and blind and deaf and lame.  He had cast out demons and fed thousands with a few loaves and fishes.  His whole life was a sign of God's power, love, and presence.  He spoke the Word and lived the Truth.. yet they wanted a sign??  Jesus wouldn't play their game.  He simply leaves on the boat.

"Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."  Jesus tells His disciples as they traveled to Bethsaida.  The disciples thought He was talking about bread... because they didn't bring enough with them for dinner!   Jesus must have been a bit frustrated with this group.. "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?" 

Jesus reminded them of the five loaves that fed 5000 and the 7 loaves that fed the 4000.  He asked them a pointed question, " .. how many baskets of broken pieces did you pick up?"   

"Do you not yet understand?"

How often do we find ourselves in the position of the disciples.. not understanding that with Jesus the focus is not on feeding our stomachs.. but feeding our souls.  It's not about signs that we demand.. but about His love and compassion for those who are lost and in need.  How often do I miss the point?  There is nothing that our God cannot do.. there is nothing that He does not see!  He sees the hunger in our bodies and the hunger in our hearts.. and His priority will always be our hearts.. that we would have eyes to see and ears to hear.. Him. 

Father in heaven, open the eyes of my heart that I might see You clearly... That I might know You more and draw closer to Your loving heart.  Let my life be a sanctuary where You reign and Your love abounds more and more. May I seek You with all my heart and find You.. pouring out Your power and love... high and lifted up.. Oh surround us and fill us with Your Spirit today we pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 Mark 7:31-37  Jesus and His disciples returned to the Sea of Galilee.. to the "region of Decapolis". Mark paints us a picture of one man brought to Jesus..  and those who brought him "entreated Him to lay His hand upon him."  This picture is so unique that it draws us in and brings  us many questions. 

The man was deaf and had a speech impediment.  We don't see whether this man is young or old.. if he knows who Jesus is.. or even if he had any faith of his own.  We are only told that "they" brought him to Jesus. So.. my first question is, "Why was this man treated so differently than all the others?"

Jesus takes the man "aside from the multitude by himself.. "   Then Jesus does something very unusual.. He put His fingers into the man's ears.. "and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva.."  Then, Jesus looked  "up to heaven with a deep sigh.. "  When He spoke it was one word, "Ephphatha!"  which we are told  means, "Be opened".  

The man was healed immediately and completely. He could hear and he could speak "plainly".  He had a story to tell.. and even though Jesus asked him not to tell anyone, he could not keep it to himself. 

"And they were utterly astonished, saying, 'He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak' " 

Jesus could have healed the man with just a word or just a touch.  The man could have touched His robe and been healed. But.. there is something different going on here. Something more that we need to see .. something more we need to know about Jesus.  I imagine most of us have never had anyone put their fingers in our ears.. nor touch our tongues with their spit covered finger.  It is strange.. yet very intimate..  It is personal and yet very powerful.  It was done in private.. but proclaimed very publicly.   Why did Jesus heal this man this way.. and why did He sigh so deeply?  

The Bible Knowledge Commentary gives us one possible answer..  "In healing this man, Jesus used sign language and symbolic acts ( which Mark did not explain) that uniquely suited the man's needs and caused him to exercise faith. Jesus took him aside privately in order to communicate one-to- one.. By touching his ears and tongue, spitting (on the ground) and looking up to heaven, Jesus conveyed what He was going to do. His deep sigh may have reflected compassion for the man but it is likely Jesus' strong emotion as He battled the satanic power that enslaved the suffering man."  The word "Ephphatha" was an Aramaic word that would "easily be lip-read by a deaf person".  

Jesus is so kind. He meets us where we are.. He sees us in our need.  He cares about us as individuals and takes us aside to touch us, to heal us, to comfort us, and to save us.. What a precious picture we have in this scene that Mark has painted for us.  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Abba Father, hallowed be Your Name.. we are so thankful for the Savior who came to make us whole.. to bring us into Your Kingdom, to be Your children. Thank You for meeting us here.. where we are.. in our need.. in our sin.. in our fears and failures. Thank You for taking us aside and touching us with the Hand of our Precious Lord Jesus.. that we might find deliverance and healing and cleansing.  Let Your will be done in us today.. and in all of the earth.. as it is in heaven. Keep us walking with Jesus in peace today we pray. Amen.