Mark 6

Do you ever wonder about the earthly family of Jesus?

 In chapter 3 Mark tells us that His family tried to take Him into "custody" thinking He had "lost His senses". (v21)  In verse 32 we are told that His mother and brothers were "outside" looking for Him. Here we are told that the people in Jesus' hometown knew that Mary was His mother and that His brothers were James, Jose, Judas, and Simon.  They also knew His sisters.  Common folk.. with an uncommon son/brother.  This made it difficult for the people to accept Jesus and His teaching. "And He wondered at their unbelief." Even His own brothers did not believe until after the resurrection! Acts 1:14 records this.. " These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers."  James became a leader in the early church and it is thought that the book of Jude was written by His brother,  Judas.  There is no further mention of Jose or Simon.. or the sisters of Jesus. Did they also come to faith in Jesus?  I hope so!   One more thought - In John 19:25-27 we are told that Mary, the mother of Jesus and her sister were present at the foot of the cross.  Jesus commits her into the care of John and "from that hour the disciple took her into this own household."  Why John?  Why not one of the brothers?
Makes me wonder...

Anyway.. Jesus sends out his 12 disciples to preach.  They were given instructions to:
Take no bread
Take no bag
Take no money
Wear sandals and one tunic.
No back up plans, no extra resources.. just faith in the One who sent them.

They had authority over unclean spirits.
They anointed the sick to be healed.
And, they shook off the dust from the soles of their feet when they were not received or listened to..

Then they came back exhausted.. so Jesus took them off to a "lonely place" to rest.  However, what happened next was not what they had in mind!

Father in heaven,  You have called us Your children.  You have made us the brothers and sisters of Jesus !  You have given us hearts to believe and to receive Your Word. We are reminded again, that no matter what the circumstances, You are all we need.  Father, I thank You that the brothers of Jesus came to believe in Him.  And, once again I ask that You would bring my own brothers to believe in Him too.  Thank You that nothing is impossible for You!  Thank You that You love them even more than I do. Thank You that You hear my prayer today.  For it is in the name of Jesus that I come. Amen.

Mark 5:21-43  Two more amazing miracles are recorded in this passage.  These two are woven together, each revealing the power and authority of the King who reigns over His creation.

Jesus was approached by Jairus, a synagogue official.  Jairus' daughter was critically ill and dying.
As Jesus heads towards Jairus' home, He is surrounded by multitudes, pressing in and around Him. So many needy and hurting people.. but, there was one who reached out in faith and touched His garment with hope of healing.  This poor woman had suffered for 12 years.  No physician could help her and so she had gotten worse instead of better.  What is fascinating about this passage is that Jesus felt "the power proceeding from Him had gone forth.. "  He stopped and focused on this one woman.
She was so afraid that she was trembling.  Perhaps she expected a rebuke.. but Jesus offered only peace and healing!   Our King pours out His grace and compassion on those who come to Him in faith.  What a wonderful truth about His Kingdom! We need to remember that He knows each of us and can feel us when we reach out to Him in faith!

Meanwhile, the daughter of Jairus dies. But, Jesus tells him, " Do not be afraid any longer, only believe."  And so he does!  Jesus raises this young girl from death.  It is done privately.  It is done simply.  And, He gives them orders to tell no one.  Only seven people were in that room, and one of them was dead. Jesus takes this child by the hand and she gets up and walks!

In these four miracles we are reminded that:

Jesus has authority over all of nature.. even mighty storms.
Jesus has authority over every supernatural power.
Jesus has authority over every illness.
Jesus has authority over death.

Our God reigns.  His Kingdom has come. We are citizens in His Kingdom now and forever more !

Father in heaven we give You all praise and thanksgiving for You have sent to us a Mighty Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns over all the earth.  This truth is what gives us hope!  In Your Kingdom, You have given to us a Savior, Shepherd, and Ruler who loves and cares for us and Who exalts and glorifies You in every way.  We will follow Jesus and live according to the Word by the power of Your Spirit.  Amen!

Mark 4:35-5:43   There are four amazing miracles recorded in this passage.  Four glimpses into the Kingdom of God.. I'll look at two today.

Jesus and His disciples were in a boat crossing the sea of Galilee. There was a "fierce gale" and waves that were "breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up."  This was a serious storm. Some of these men were fishermen who grew up on these waters.. yet they were afraid.
Jesus, however, was asleep and unconcerned.  When they woke Him up, Jesus said three words, "Hush, be still".  And the wind and waves obeyed.   Like the disciples, we need to ask, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"   

Jesus is the "appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.." Hebrews 1:2.  He "upholds all things by the word of His power." (v3) Not only was everything made through Him, but it was made for Him.. "For it is fitting for Him for whom are all things and through whom are all things.. " (2:10) The wind and the sea are His creations and they were made FOR Him... As were we..
Jesus asked His disciples, "Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?" ( Mark 4:40)
We pray, "Your kingdom come.."  Yet, do we understand fully that the King reigns even over wind and waves.. are we ready to see His Kingdom in this way?

The second miracle in this passage is the deliverance of the man possessed by a legion of demons. This man couldn't be chained or shackled because of his strength.  No man could subdue him, but he was imprisoned by the evil spirits and spent his life in a graveyard, miserable and trying to harm himself.  I cannot imagine the depth of his despair and pain.  He truly had no hope, until Jesus came.
As soon as he saw Jesus, he knew. The demons inside him were immediately afraid. They begged for mercy from Jesus, recognizing Him as the "Son of the Most High God".  Jesus allowed the demons to enter the swine.  He gave the man clothes and sat down with him.  Wonder what they talked about?
Probably Jesus told him about the Kingdom of God. For the King came to overcome the darkness, to break the chains of Satan, to deliver men from captivity.  This is what His Kingdom is about!

Father in heaven, You have granted authority to Jesus, Your Beloved Son, to bring Your Kingdom to earth.. to us!  So thankful for Your amazing grace and unending mercy and for the power of Your Word.   May Your Kingdom increase and overcome the present darkness of this world. May Jesus reign and bring glory to You, our Father. Amen.

Mark 4   Jesus begins to teach using parables. When asked why, He responds, " To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God; but those who are outside get everything in parables, in order that 'while seeing they may not perceive; and while hearing, they may hear and not understand lest they return and be forgiven.'" (v11-12)

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear. " Jesus says.  There is a "mystery"  that can only be discerned by those who have opened their hearts to receive the Word.  Those on the "outside".. are those who have hardened their hearts and refused to believe the Word, rejecting the Lord Jesus.

In the first parable, the Word is freely sown to all. The response is according to the state of one's heart:

There are some who will not receive the Word at all. It was given, but Satan snatches it away, for the heart is as hard as a well packed road.

There are some who enjoy the Word, but don't care enough to really think about it and they just move on with their lives.

There are some who start to think that the Word might be good and they start to look into it.. but there are so many more things in life that need their attention... they need more money, they want a bigger house, a better car, a more beautiful or handsome spouse.  Or they have worries and fears that they need to focus on first.. and there is no time to grow spiritually.

But, there are some who hear the Word and take it to heart.  They receive the truth and grow in the truth. They live it and their lives overflow with the greatness of God and the wonder of His love. Everywhere they go they plant more Words, sharing the good news of the Kingdom.

Jesus says, "Take care what you listen to.."

Lord, attune our ears to the Truth.  Let the Word of God produce in us much fruit for the Kingdom.  Take what has been planted in us and produce "the mature grain".. the tree that extends to all who need it.   Let our hearts be good soil, Lord.  You are the sower and You are the One who makes seeds grow.  We are so thankful for the Word and for the understanding that You give to us, so that we might know the mysteries of Your Kingdom. Complete that work that You have begun in us, for You are faithful.  Praise to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Mark 3   I want to continue looking at the key pictures that Mark gives us to show us the Kingdom of God.

In verses 1-6 Jesus goes into a synagogue and heals a man with a withered hand.  The Pharisees we're watching. looking for something to accuse Him.  Here Jesus teaches us about what is truly valuable, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to kill?"  They had no answer and no compassion.. Jesus was angry, "grieved at their hardness of heart,"  In God's Kingdom the life of a man, the need of this particular man, was of more value than the Sabbath law.
Picture this poor man, unable to care for his family.  Unable to farm or work for a living.  Jesus knew the man was there before He even went into the synagogue.  He knew that the Pharisees would try to trap Him.   But, not only did He want to help this man and had compassion for him, Jesus wanted to reveal a Kingdom truth - Mercy is greater than the Law. 

In verses 7-19 Mark records that the news of Jesus had spread all over the country and beyond.  People were coming from everywhere. The crowds were becoming oppressive. Everyone wanted to touch Him and be healed.  Even the unclean spirits were crying out!  Jesus calls 12 men and appoints them as His apostles.  He gives them the authority "to cast out the demons."  He sends them out to preach the good news of the Kingdom.  The Kingdom truth here is that Jesus not only has authority over the unclean spirits, but that He gives that authority to His chosen followers.

Verses 20-35 The Jews accuse Jesus of being possessed by Beelzebul... Satan. They are so hard-hearted that they refuse to accept the presence of God and then they give credit to Satan.  Jesus patiently explains that this is impossible.. for if Satan was casting out himself.. it would all be over!  Only One who is greater than Satan could cast him out.  Jesus goes on to say that they were blaspheming the Holy Spirit in their accusations.. and this was unforgivable.. "an eternal sin".  Here is another Kingdom truth -Satan is bound by the One who is greater. What good news!!!

In God's kingdom:
Mercy is greater than law.
Jesus has all authority.
Satan is defeated and bound by the One who is greater.
All who do the will of God.. become the "brother and sister and mother" of Jesus, Himself.

Father, open my ears to hear  and by heart to understand Your word and what Your will is for me.
Where have I put rules as more valuable than mercy or compassion? When have I missed the fact that You have all authority in heaven and earth?  Teach me and fill me with the truth of the Holy Spirit.
I ask this in Your name, Jesus, amen.

Mark 2  If we look at the book of Mark in the light of his opening statement.. "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." .. and Jesus' statement, " The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.."  Then, we can take Mark's somewhat hurried account of event after event.. as snapshots.. postcards..declarations... of the Kingdom's appearance.. of His reign, come to earth.

In this chapter Mark writes about  the paralytic let down through the roof.  Here, Jesus makes the startling statement, "My son, your sins are forgiven."  He heals the man.. " in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins."  ( v2-13)

Next, Mark records the calling of Matthew the tax-collector and the dinner at his house with other tax-collectors and sinners. When the Pharisees question this, Jesus declares, " it is not those who are healthy that need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous but sinners." ( v14-17)

Then,  there was a question about fasting and Jesus compares Himself to the bridegroom who is present, but who would go away.. (v19-20)

Finally, Mark writes of the disciples plucking grains and eating them on the Sabbath and how that offended the Pharisees.  Jesus responds that, " The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. Consequently, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." 

Four remarkable statements.. pictures.. monuments, if you will, of the Kingdom:
Jesus, the One with authority to forgive sins.
Jesus, the One who came to call sinners.
Jesus, the One Present with them, but who would go before them.
Jesus, the Lord over "even the Sabbath".. over every Law, every statute, every commandment.

Verses 21-22 sometimes seem out of place in this sequence of events ( to me at least).. but maybe I am beginning to understand what Jesus means when He talks about not putting a new cloth on an old garment or new wine in an old wineskin.  The disciples, the crowd, the Pharisees.. were all comfortable and familiar with their old ideas of the Kingdom of God, and Jesus was giving them a whole new picture. The Truth of God's Kingdom couldn't just be a patch or a replacement in an old vessel.. There had to be a complete change in each individual.  A new birth.  A new creation.

Oh so thankful, that Jesus came to call sinners, to forgive sins, to reign forever as King of kings and Lord of lords. So thankful that God's Kingdom has come and that the Bridegroom is coming back again to take us to be with Him forever.  How much greater and more wonderful is the True Kingdom of God than anything thought or imagined by those who questioned, challenged, and crucified our Gracious Savior.  Father, open our eyes, fill our hearts with Your Word and Your Spirit, that we might declare the truth of Your Kingdom everywhere we go.  Amen.

Mark 1

Mark rushes head on with the narrative of the gospel.  The "beginning" of the story, he writes, is the coming of John, who baptized with water.. "preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."  Next, is the appearance of Jesus at the Jordan, being baptized by John, being anointed by the Spirit, and announced by the Father.. " Thou are My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased." 

Jesus is impelled by the Spirit into the wilderness, tempted for 40 days by Satan, and ministered to by angels. From there, Mark tells  of the calling of disciples, the healing of the sick, the casting out of demons, and the preaching of the gospel.  All of this in one chapter....

From the little town of Nazareth,  Jesus emerges into the ministry that He came for.. to tell the good news, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." 

It's time!  Time for repentance. Time to turn around and find the One True God.  Time to see Him in a way that none had ever seen before.. in the Person of Jesus Christ, His Beloved Son.

Mark doesn't want to waste any time in getting to the point.. Jesus Christ, the Son of God.. came to save, to heal, to deliver.... so let us have eyes to see and ears to hear!

Father in heaven, give us new understanding of the wonderful old story.. of Jesus and the Kingdom.. of Your love and power and forgiveness. Teach us Your ways and Your Word in the power of Your Spirit.  Breathe into us new life, we pray. In Jesus' name. amen.