Compassion Experienced

N.T.#357 "Compassion Experienced"

July 31, 2024 

Mark 5-Part 3

LET IT GLOW 

Previously, we studied about the demon-possessed man delivered by Jesus. His story was about restoration, commissioning, and obedience. Jesus made an amazing difference in this man's life by restoring it. Friend, are you in need of your life restored, home restored, marriage restored, family restored? Jesus can do it. Let Him make an amazing difference.

Jesus' popularity grew to such an extent that wherever He traveled word quickly spread and crowds clustered. (verse 21) Then one of the rulers of the synagogue in Capernaum, Jairus, fell at the feet of Jesus. His 12-year-old daughter was seriously ill at the point of death. Obviously, the father had observed Jesus' healing ability. All he wanted was to have Jesus touch the girl and she would be healed and live. Isn't that faith?

Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him to the man's house. He wanted these guys to have a first-hand experience witnessing the miracle.Jesus put everyone in the house out except the parents and the 3 disciples. He didn't want to make a scene or put on a show. 

Jesus touched the girl's hand and commanded her to arise and walk. The onlookers were greatly astonished. Can you imagine the joy to have the girl made whole again? Then Jesus instructed the couple to remain silent about the girl's resurrection. 

LET IT GROW 

It was Jesus' compassion, not His attraction, that set the Lord apart from others. Are we compassionate too?

LET IT GO

Change my heart, sweet Jesus, make me into a loving person.

Open my eyes to see the needs of others. 

Who is Jesus to You?

N.T.#356 "Who is Jesus to You?"

July 30, 2024 

Mark 5-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

We left the demon-possessed man with Jesus, as the legion(6,000) of demons conversed with Him. They asked, in verse 7, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 

In other words, those demons knew who Jesus is, asking what business they had with Him. Although the disciples did not fully understand who Jesus was, those demons knew. He is superior to all things created. 

Torment means torture in the Greek language.

How did Jesus converse with those demons?

• Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (verse 8) 
• He asked what its name was, to which the answer was Legion. (verse 9)
• The demon asked Jesus to not send them out of the country, but into the swine nearby. (verses 10-12)

That resulted in the demon-possessed swine ran down the cliff and drown in the sea. Evil is manifested in disease, disasters, discord, death, and decay. Satan opposed the work of Jesus in the wilderness, (Mark 1:13), in the synagogue (1:23), at home (1:32), and throughout His travels (1:39, 3:11) The author of evil hates God and wants everything God created to be consumed in his self-destructive rebellion. (Swindoll)

This probably occurred over several days, not a single afternoon. 

James 4:7 tells us, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

With God's grace, we can totally submit to Him. We should stand against outward opposition, resist the accuser, and walk in the Spirit with the utmost caution. (Falwell)

Not all bad things that happen to us is due to the devil working. They could be of our own doing, sin. Our duty is to submit to God and to resist the devil and his temptations to sin.

LET IT GROW

What happened next?

•  Those hired hands keeping watch over the seine fled to the city and country telling what happened. 
• People went to see what was done, finding a mass of rotting pig carcasses washed onto the shore, and the formerly deranged man behaving normally. (Swindoll)
• The delivered man was sitting, clothed, and in his right mind. (verse 15)
• the people who feared the demon-possessed man living among the dead, but they feared Jesus more, wanting Him to leave. They preferred the status quo where everything could be explained by natural means. 

Jesus didn't have to leave, but it suited His purposes to go. The delivered man wanted to go with Jesus, but He had a greater purpose for the man. 

Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. (verse 19)

Did the man obey Jesus? Yes. He went to Decapolis, and area of 10 cities southeast of the Sea of Galilee, and told of the great things Jesus had done for him. Jesus had released him from bondage, restored his dignity, renewed his mind, and gave him a divine purpose. All the men marveled. What an evangelist.

When we get the opportunity, do we tell others what Jesus has done for us? Who is Jesus to you?

LET IT GO

What a wonderful Savior is Jesus!

He is my Savior, Healer, Redeemer, Provider, Sustainer, Giver of Life.

Whom do We Worship?

N.T.#355 "Whom do We Worship?"

July 29, 2024 

Mark 5

Thank you everyone for being patient with me. We returned Saturday exhausted from Boston for a week of Vacation Bible School. There were some challenges along the way-delayed flights, late luggage, leaders left behind. Yet, we pressed on to accomplish God's will. Our luggage did not arrive until late Sunday night, which contained our personal items and VBS materials. Other obstacles included late children, late lunches, lack of space, and little ones disrupting classes.

Although we had challenges to overcome, the Lord blessed us with 26 kids attending and 5-8 salvations. Five of us were able to paint the outside of a three-story church building. Three of us stayed at the pastor's house and was able to minister to him and his wife. All in all, we consider it a successful mission trip. Exhausted, but blessed, we hit the ground running back home on Sunday.

LET IT GLOW

Let's pick up in chapter 5 in our study with the healing of the Gadarene demoniac. Matthew calls the people Gergesenes. ruins of Khersa (Gerasa) on the lake shore disproved these claims because this location was in close enough proximity to the larger city of Gadara that a single event could be identified with either place. (Falwell)

Mark mentions a man, while Matthew rsays there were two. They were demon-possessed, at any rate. So immediately when Jesus got out of the ship He was confronted with this man.

LET IT GROW

How does Mark describe him?

• His residence was among the tombs. This shows us he was not a rational person choosing such an environment. 
• He was demon-possessed, an unclean spirit.
• No one could bind him, not even with chains. There was no hope in controlling this man, for he was able to break the chains and escape. (verses 3-4)
• No man could tame (subdue) this one, for he had supernatural strength. 
• He cried night and day in the mountains and tombs, cutting himself. What an effect on the man's mental faculties that he would cut himself. This must have kept people away from the area.
• The man ran to Jesus when he saw Him and worshipped (prostrate oneself in homage, bowed down before Him)
• What do we have in common? The demons considered Jesus was there to destroy them. (1:24)

When we come to Jesus, do we bow before Him? Even the demons acknowledge Jesus to be the Son of the Most High God. Do you?

Or do we give more time to our things than to our God?

LET IT GO

Lord Jesus, truly, You are the Son of the Living and Most High God.

We bow down and worship You, for You alone are worthy of praise, honor, and worship, my God and my King and my Savior.

 

Who is in Control?

N.T.#354 "Who is in Control?"

July 24, 2024 

Mark 4-Part 6

LET IT GLOW 

When Jesus and His disciples were in a ship on the Sea of Galilee, a storm arose. It was a whirlwind or cyclone, which is common there. It is surrounded by mountains and often the weather changes quickly and vicious. 

What was happening to those men?

• They were headed to the other side of the lake. (verse 35)
• Waves beat into the ship filling up with water. Other ships were with them.
• Jesus slept on a pillow in the back of the boat. 
• The disciples woke the Lord up asking Him, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?"

Jesus had been teaching His students so it was test time. 

They traveled from the Bay of Parables southeast to a region near the southern shore known as Gerasa, of which Gadara was a principal city. (Swindoll)

What spiritual immaturity to ask their Lord if He cared. They lacked understanding of who Jesus is-Creator of the wind and seas and the One who loves them so much that He died for them. Didn't they know nothing was doing to happen to the Son of God? Yet, don't we tend to get in a frenzy when something disrupts us, scares us, delays us, gets us out of our comfort zone? 

As I write this, a global shutdown on airlines' computers has happened this morning. I am sure many people are upset that they are grounded and can't return home to family today. (I was upset last month when our planes were delayed several hours while going to visit our daughter.) I am praying our mission team will be able to fly tomorrow to Boston.

LET IT GROW

What did Jesus do to help?

• He arose and rebuked (to express strong disapproval of someone, reprove, charge) the wind and told the sea to be still. (verse 39)
• The wind ceased and there was a great calm.
• Then Jesus rebuked His disciples., asking, Why are ye so fearful? Now is it that ye have no faith? (verse 40)

Fearful means timid; faithless; faith means persuasion; conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher); assurance; belief.

So the disciples were lacking faith in Jesus. They had God in their boat. Shouldn't they have understood that when God is with you, nothing can harm you? Sinking is impossible! Now they knew Jesus as the Messiah sent by God to lead them. Those guys witnessed first-hand the power of Jesus. We should fear Him more than our circumstances. Then we will trust Him above all else.

And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea oby Him? (verse 41)

This is one of my favorite passages. We must remember what storms Jesus brings us safely through, then we will trust Him more today.

How is your faith?

LET IT GO

Let God be God over our life.

Trust Him in all things. 

Give Him glory and praise whenever He rescues us. 

Tiny Seeds

 N.T.#353  "Tiny Seeds"

July 23, 2024

Mark 4-Part 5

LET IT GLOW 

Mark gives us the only recording of the parable of the sower given by Jesus. It complements the parable of the sower by explaining in more depth the results of spiritual growth accomplished in good soil. the interpretation pictures the gospel working in lives. the Word of God works in individual hearts, sometimes slowly, until the time when God reaps the harvest in that person and saves him. 

Another interpretation is Jesus sowed the gospel message until the final harvest in the future. His disciples would continue the work of presenting the gospel that would eventually yield a harvest.  (MacArthur)

 Is God's Word growing our faith and obedience?

LET IT GROW 

The mustard seed parable is found in verses 30-32.  Have you seen and held mustard seeds? They are tiny round seeds, yet they can grow to the size of a tree where birds can lodge. God's Word has produced millions of followers in Jesus, but it only began with a few good men. we need to be careful that it is not snatched out of our life by impure thoughts, hurtful words, mean people, Our faith, no matter how small, can join with that of others to accomplish great things.

Jesus explained His parables to His disciples. (verse 34) He spoke other parables not recorded. Those with ears to hear gained spiritual knowledge and grew wise in kingdom living. Others remained willfully ignorant or were perpetually distracted by temporal concerns eventually drifted away with the wind. (Swindoll)

I thank God for those who are studying God's Word with me. What an encouragement you are!

LET IT GO

Grow our faith, Lord Jesus. 

Help us faithfully plant seeds of Truth and salvation.

We trust You will grow it for Your glory.

Planting Seeds

N.T.#352 "Planting Seeds"

July 22, 2024 

Mark 4-Part 4

LET IT GLOW 

I recall planting sunflower seed with my granddaughter as a young child. We didn't do much to help them grow other than watering. The pretty flowers seemed to grow on their own, as if it was automatic. Some would grow to be over 5 feet tall. It was a fun experience to share with her. I'm going to ask her if she remembers this. Jesus gave us a parable concerning the grow of seed.

Now we have the fourth of five parables Jesus taught as Mark recorded. In verse 26, Jesus compared the kingdom of God to seed that a man planted. As he went about his life, the seed sprouted and grew, though he didn't understand how. (verse 27) Over time a crop was produced that was ready for the harvesters. (verses 28-29) The disciple of Jesus who faithfully proclaims God's Word can have confidence that it will accomplish its work. (Isaiah 55:10-11) The Word has life within itself, so God will ensure growth and harvest as people respond to his Word when it is rightly explained. (Evans)

God promises His harvest will be magnificent and prolific-the best fruit ever grown. Our witness may be weak and our efforts may seem to influence so few, but the Word of God is a powerful growth agent. We need to keep our eyes on the great harvest to come and not let bad soil or weeds discourage us from faithful service and witness. (Life Application Study Bible)

LET IT GROW 

In verse 28, of herself means automatically in the Greek language. Isn't it wonderful that God's procedure for growth does not need to be intellectually perceived to be experienced. (Falwell)

Please pray for our mission team as we have Vacation Bible School in the Boston area this week. It is a Hattian church where we are going, so it seems like a foreign field. We are planting seeds of the Gospel there.

What kind of seeds are you planting?

LET IT GO

Help us sow seed of faith, love, peace, and joy today, Lord Jesus.

How thankful we are for Your Word, Your salvation, Your forgiveness.

Please save the lost.

Heeding and Sharing

N.T.#351 "Heeding and Sharing"

July 19, 2024 

Mark 4-Part 3

LET IT GLOW 

Do you realize that it isn't enough for us to study the Word of God, but He wants us to apply it and share it. 

In verses 24-25, Jesus gives a parable of new standards. (The Bible records 39 parables of Jesus.)  Jesus' kingdom does not operate like the world's system. The closer we listen, the more we understand and we are given. Watch what we hear. False teachers are everywhere. Stay in the Truth and Word of God.

First, Jesus tells us to take heed (look at, see, beware) what we hear. There is a lot of deception out there, so we need spiritual ears to discern the truth. The world measures success in physical materials and money, but believers are to be successful when they hear God's Word and apply it in their life, bearing fruit of the Spirit. 

LET IT GROW

Secondly, Jesus tells us whatever mete (measure) we use towards others will be used toward us.

 If we are faithful servants to Jesus, He will be a faithful Master to us.  (Dr. Hammond)

More knowledge will be given to those who use it for the glory of God and to benefit others. An example is teachers of the Word when they apply it and share it, honor God with it. If we don't use what we have, it will be taken away. (verse 25)

Please pray for our mission team as we do VBS next week in Massachusetts. We will be leading children in a Hattian church there. Please pray for our safety and the seed of the Gospel planted, watered, and produce fruit.

LET IT GO 

Help us apply what we learn Lord Jesus in Your Word of Truth, then share it with others.

To You be glory forever.

Seeds and Light

N.T.#350 "Seeds and Light"

July 18, 2024 

Mark 4-Part 2

LET IT GLOW 

Can we determine which soil represents our life? (verses 1-20) Swindoll uses these questions to help us:

• Are you a productive, persevering believer? Do you cling to the truth and seek to apply it consistently, open to the Scriptures and Holy Spirit, grateful for grace, and growing toward maturity?
• Are you a busy, preoccupied believer? Do priorities choke out the teachings in Scriptures, allow comfort, power, position, or affluence keep your relationship with Christ a low priority?
• Are you in the shallow soil of a superficial seeker? Following a crowd, not wanting to befriend one, don't want a changed mind, but are a hearer and not a doer, these can hinder you.
• Are you the hard-hearted, stubborn one who has no interest in spiritual things? Your self-willed attitude will catch up with you one day. 

Jesus will forgive our sins when we ask for forgiveness. One day we will all stand before Him. 

LET IT GROW 

If a candle or lamp isn't worth much if its light is hidden. Many Christians are that way. Are we one? Or are we shining our light before others so they see Jesus in us?

In verses 21-23, Jesus was speaking to "them", who are followers of Jesus, which numbered in the thousands. (6:30-44) Jesus taught the parable of the candle. One doesn't hide it under a bushel or a bed, and not put a lit candle on a candlestick. (Of course the purpose of lighting a candle is to let it shine and provide light.)

Truth is often depicted as light. The same is true of the special manifestation of God's presence, which appeared in the form of a supernatural light called the shekinah. (Exodus 3, 14, 19, 24) John depicted Jesus as light coming into a dark world.(John 1:1-9) In the new heaven and new earth, we will have no need of a lamp lit nor the sunlight, because the Lord God will illumine them. (Rev. 22:5) We followers of Jesus are to hold Him high so all might benefit from divine truth. (Swindoll)

There is nothing hid and kept secret that will not be manifested and scattered abroad. (verse 22) The lamp of God's Word is to shine into people's hearts. 

 Is God's Word shining in our hearts so we can bring the light to that which is hidden?

LET IT GO 

What Can We Learn From the Farmer?

N.T.#349 "What Can We Learn From the Farmer?"

July 17, 2024

Mark 4

LET IT GLOW

I recall when I was a kid, riding on the back of the seeder attached to the back of Dad's tractor. He would first plow up the ground. My job was to let him know when the seed box was empty. I think he was planting corn in our garden. What a fun memory for me. Of course, living in Arkansas meant there were rocks in the soil and birds in the trees. Despite the obstacles, we had a good crop of corn on the cob to put in the freezer and eat for supper.

 Jesus was using a parables about the soil and the seeds to teach lessons. Parables are spiritual truths using an earthly stories with heavenly meanings. There are only 5 parables mentioned in this chapter. (In Matthew 13, 8 parables are mentioned.)

First is the parable of the sower and its explanation, the candle, new standards, seeds' growth , and the mustard seed. 

• A farmer planted some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some birds ate it when the seed fell on the footpath. 
• Other seed fell on shallow soil with rocks. The plant wilted under the hot sun since it didn't have deep roots, and it died. 
• Other seed fell among the thorns causing the tender plants to be choked out and not produce grain. 
• Other seed fell on fertile soil, sprouted, grew, and produced an abundance of crop. (verses 4-8)
• 
  

Jesus spoke in parables to the crowds but intended for His disciples to understand the meanings of parables. The crowds would not perceive nor understand the meanings about the kingdom of God. It is by faith that people come to Christ, not by proof.  

Will we believe without seeing proof? It is faith that pleases God. Salvation is in no other than Jesus Christ. 

LET IT GROW

What does the parable of the sower mean?

• The farmer plants seed by taking God's Word to others.
• Some seed fell on the footpath, those who heard the Word, but Satan took it away.
• The seed on the rocky soil shows others hear the message and receives it with joy, but they don't have deep roots and it isn't long lasting when problems and persecution come
• The seed which fell among the thorns heard the Word, but worries of this life, the luring of wealth, and the the desire for other things produced no fruit. Lastly, the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear, accept God's Word, then produce a harvest. 

Which soil is your heart? Hopefully, when we hear God's Word we share it and apply it, producing fruit in our life.

LET IT GO

Jesus, help us hide Your Words in our heart so it will produce love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.

Open our hearts. 

Where is Our Loyalty?

N.T.#348 "Where is Our Loyalty?"

July 16, 2024 

Mark 3-Part 6

LET IT GLOW 

When our son was a child, he and a neighbor boy would play together on a vacant lot by our house. I knew where he was, so when it was suppertime, I would go to the back door and yell his name. Soon our son would come home, usually dirty. Jesus experienced a similar situation.

Jesus was about doing His Father's business teaching and healing when His family came to Capernaum to take Him home, calling to Him. (verse 31). they were intending to take custody of Jesus, presuming Him to be deluded by madness. (verse 21) Some in the crowd told Jesus what was going on there. Jesus asked who His mother and brethren was. (verse 34)

Jesus wasn't being anti-family with His remarks. His loyalty was to God's kingdom work. The disciples of his and others had left everything to follow their Messiah and become citizens of His kingdom.

For some people, there comes a time when their blood family ostracize them and kick them out of the family when they come a Christian. This happens expecially in the eastern cultures where false religion is practiced. Truly, those make a decision to follow Jesus no matter the sacrifice.

Are we loving, following, and obeying Jesus no matter the cost? He wants our everything. What a blessed life whenever we surrender it all to Jesus!

LET IT GROW 

For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. (verse 35)

While trust establishes this kindred bond with Christ, and faith unites His followers as brothers and sisters, true members of His family share the same birthmark: obedience. It is visible, active, deliberate, distinctive. Doing the will of God identifies us without words.(Swindoll)

Making spiritual priorities may not sit well with our natural family and friends. We are often closer to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness than to our own blood relatives. We need to face it, accept it, and adjust to it. Pray for the faithless and living in sin family members. Continue to show the love of Jesus to them. We can ask for wisdom as to how we may reach them for Jesus. However, as we live in the world, let us not be of the world. (John 17:14-19)

LET IT GO

In Romans 12:1-2, Paul tells us to present our body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Then we are not to be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Why? So we may prove what is the good, pleasing, and acceptable will of God.

Take our body, mind, and spirit to be used for Your glory.

Use us today, Father, to be Your witness of love, forgiveness, and salvation. 

Is Jesus calling you to give up something for His kingdom work?

What is Blasphemy?

N.T. #347 "What is Blasphemy?"

July 15, 2024

Mark 3-Part 5

LET IT GLOW

Jesus has been doing good things, healing and removing the evil spirits possessing people. Since Jesus' supernatural powers could not be denied, the scribes (lawyers) said it originated in Beelzebub (Satan.). (verse22)

How can Satan cast out Satan? (verse 23) Jesus asked the scribes this. using an analogy, He explained:

• A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.
• A house divided against itself cannot stand.
• If Satan rise up against himself, be divided, then he cannot stand, but has an end.
• One must be stronger than Satan in order to enter his domain (strong man's house), bind him (restrain his actions), and free (plunder) people ( his goods) from his control.(MacArthur)

There is doom for the demonic world. The devil will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone to be tormented day and night forever. (Rev. 20:10)

Jesus is all-powerful, for God is all-powerful. We must turn away from evil things, and please God. Jesus didn't try to reason with unreasonable people. They were the ones about to commit the unpardonable sin.

LET IT GROW 

All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme. (verse 28)

Anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. The scribes were saying Jesus was possessed by an evil spirit. You can be forgiven of speaking against the Son of Man, but never forgiven when speaking against the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 12:31)

Blaspheme means to speak evil; defame; defiant irreverence. 

In the case of the scribes, blasphemy included attributing the acts of the Holy Spirit to the work of Satan. They were accusing the Spirit of God to be an unclean spirit.(verse 30) The scribes never acknowledged this was their sin and did not seek forgiveness for it. They did not submit to Jesus as the Son of God.

Be careful, friend. All our sins will be forgiven when confessed, except that one. Instead of rebelling, we must submit to God and Jesus as our Savior.

LET IT GO

Jesus, You alone are the only way to heaven.

You deserve all our praise and worship.

When Family Shuns

 N.T.#346 "When Family Shuns"

July 12, 2024

Mark3-Part 4

LET IT GLOW 

When you come to Jesus and He changes your heart, then your activities change, friends often change, and sometimes family becomes cold toward you. Even Jesus family went out to fetch Him home. They thought Jesus was beside himself. 

In verse 21, friends refers to those near, which was Jesus' family, His own people. This would have included Mary, brothers James, Joseph (or Joses), Simon, and Judas (Jude); unnamed sisters; and possibly His cousins. Jesus' family members were unable to embrace Him as God and Savior at this time. After all, Jesus was the eldest brother. When fame reached the tiny, remote outpost of Nazareth, they thought Jesus had lost His mind. (John10:20) Some even thought Jesus was mad and demon-possessed. (John 10:20)

 Crowds were coming to Jesus. He healed the sick and delivered the possessed. Jesus challenged the accepted norms of religious and cultural traditions, calling Himself the ultimate authority. Many sold all their possessions and left their occupations to follow Him.  

We might conclude that Jesus' family was neither close enough to Him to understand His intentions nor discern enough to know better.

[Resource: Swindoll's Living Insights on Mark]

It makes it difficult for us whenever family shuns us because we stand for the Bible, we don't participate in their sinful ways or talk. Sometimes you just want to be one of the family, yet Christians have to stand out, be different from the worldly ones. We continue to show them love and pray for them.  I am speaking from experience. You probably figured that out. Jesus gives us strength to carry on and serve Him.

LET IT GROW 

If that wasn't enough criticism, the scribes came down from Jerusalem and accused Jesus of being possessed by Satan, who gives Him supernatural powers. Pooh! Satan can be strong, but not stronger than Jesus. Besides, have you known the devil to do good things?

Unbelief was the problem so many religious leaders had. Just believe Jesus to be the Son of God. Had they not seen His compassion, His power? Of course, they were jealous of the number of followers Jesus had. Were they afraid He might reign as King and throw them out of the Temple?

LET IT GO

Thank You Jesus for coming to show us the way to live, for being our sacrifice for our sins, and providing us with eternal life in heaven!

Called

N.T.#345 "Called"

July 11, 2024 

Mark 3-Part 3

LET IT GLOW 

The revelation of who Jesus was to come through proper vessels and at the proper time as Jesus desired. The unclean should not be the ones to identify Him as the Son of God or the Holy God. That is why He told them to not to make Him known. (verse 12)

We read of Jesus withdrawing to the mountain and calleth unto Him whom He would. (verse 13)

Jesus summoned those whom He wanted. Being sovereign, He makes decisions based on His own perfect judgment. No need to explain His reasoning to anyone. Those whom Jesus called responded and came to Him. The Jesus appointed those He called. 

Mark leaves out the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus preached to His disciples. However, Matthew 5 and Luke 6 include it. Jesus taught His disciples principles for life before He sent them out.

What happened next?

• Jesus ordained His disciples mentioned in verses 16-19. Ordained means appointed or chosen; abide; agree; raising up. 
• He sent them out to preach. Preach means to herald (as public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel); proclaim.
• Jesus gave them power to heal sicknesses.
• Also, He gave them power to cast out devils.

Has Jesus called you to salvation? Have you accepted His call?

LET IT GROW 

Keep in mind that Jesus called 12 ordinary, average men. None had impressive credentials. They were Galileans, many fishermen. They were literate and well-versed in the Old Testament Scriptures. However, none of them could be called a scholar. Yet, with Jesus' training and the Holy Spirit's filling, those ordinary disciples became extraordinary apostles.

What set those disciples apart was their willingness to obey Jesus. Peter, James, and John made up Jesus' inner circle and were often with Him apart from the other apostles. 

LET IT GO 

Help us love You and others, serve You and others, our Father.

Meeting Other's Needs

N.T.#344  "Meeting Other's Needs"

July 10, 2024

Mark 3-Part 2

LET IT GLOW 

The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. (2:27, NLT) Apparently, what Jesus said did not soak in to the brains or hearts of the Pharisees. They complained when Jesus and His disciples picked corn to eat on the Sabbath. Also, they were soured whenever Jesus healed the withered hand in the Synagogue on the Sabbath. They just didn't get it, did they? Those religious leaders turned against Jesus and became His enemies. They were jealous of His popularity, His mireacles, and the authority in His teaching and actions. They valued their status in the community and personal gain from it. Didn't those Pharisees loose sight of their goal-to point people to God.? Of all people, they should have been the ones to recognize Jesus as the Messiah?

Verse 6 tells us the Pharisees went to the Herodians to plot against Jesus as to how they might destroy Him. (verse 6) The Herodians were a Jewish political party that hoped to restore Herod the Great's line to the throne. So Jesus was a threat to them as well, since He challenged their political ambitions. The Pharisees and the Herodians were normally at odds, but they joined forces against Jesus.

So the plot thickens, from my viewpoint. Religion and politics joined forces against the true King of kings Jesus.

We need to be careful that we do not get caught up in politics when it comes to serving God versus money or power..

LET IT GROW 

A large crowd followed Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem, Idumea to the south, beyond the Jordan to the east, and around Tyre and Sidon in the northwest. His healing ministry became so well known that diseased people came wanting to touch Him. They heard what great things Jesus did. (verses 7-8)

Even the unclean spirits fell down before Jesus and cried, Thou art the Son of God. (verse 11)

Do we fall down before Jesus, speaking to the Son of God, the Savior and King?

Jesus encountered the Pharisees, the sick, and the demons. Jesus did not ignore nor shunned them.

Are we feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, caring for the stranger, clothing the naked, visising the sick and imprisoned? (Matthew 25:41-46)

LET IT GO

Help us meet the needs of others today, Jesus.

Helping Others in Need

N.T.#343 "Helping Others in Need"

July 9, 2024 

Mark 3

LET IT GLOW 

Have you ever been in need? Perhaps it was a physical need, or encouragement, help with chores around the house, or just a listening ear. We are to show compassion to those in need, like Jesus did.

Earlier, Jesus and His disciples picked ears of corn on the Jewish Sabbath, which was against the Jewish law.  Exodus 20:10 prohibited working on the Sabbath, yet Jesus disciples and He did so. They were hungry, plain and simple. The Sabbath was established for people to rest and worship God. What will He do this Sabbath? 

Well, Jesus healed a man's withered (shriveled up, dried up) hand on the Sabbath. The condition was atrophy, the decreasing in size of a member of the body because of its lack of use. Jesus showed compassion by healing those with physical problems.

The Pharisees watched (to inspect alongside scrupulously) Jesus to see what He would do. They looked for a chance to accuse Jesus, critise Him in public. (verse 2)

Jesus wanted to do good on the Sabbath while the Pharisees conspired to do evil, plotted to kill Jesus. (verse 6) Since Jesus could see into the hearts of the Pharisees, He told the man to stand, then asked :

Jesus turned to His critics and asked, "Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?" (verse 4)

How did the Pharisees answer Jesus? They didn't for they were silent. Gotcha boys!

What is our intent? Is it to do good or take revenge? Is it to show our superiority or to be humble?

LET IT GROW

How did Jesus react? Verse 5 says He had anger, was grieved for the hardness of their hearts.

 Anger means indignation;  grieved means sorrow at (on account of) someone; hardness refers to stupidity or callousness, blindness.

Could we describe these spiritual leaders as being hard-headed and hard-hearted, spiritually blind?

Inspite of all of that, Jesus restored the man's hand, making it whole again.

 Deeds reveal one's true beliefs and a litmus test of true versus false religion is its response to injustice (James 1:27) the primary test of all theology and morality is one's response to the weak and defenseless members of society. (Swindoll)

We know how this all turned out-the Pharisees remained a thorn in Jesus side, then eventually a sword in His side while He was on the cross. the man's suffering was only temporary, but theirs would be for all eternity for not believing in Jesus to be God's Son.

Are you a believer in Jesus? What about your family members?  Are we sharing the love of Jesus with others?

LET IT GO 

Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see the need of others.

Meeting Needs

N.T.#342 "Meeting Needs"

July 8, 2924 

Mark 2-Part 4

LET IT GLOW 

What do we do on the Lord's Day? What should we not do? What does the Bible say? 

Mark changes the scene to another day and time but continues the same theme-legalism. By the time Jesus came, the Pharisees had a long list of specific prohibitions concerning the day of rest on the Sabbath. It included 39 categories of work, which had reaping, threshing, and winnowing among them. (Deut. 23:24-25) 

The Pharisees criticized Jesus and His disciples for picking corn on the Sabbath. Plucking corn from its stem is reaping, An act forbidden according to the Pharisees' laws. Jesus pointed out to them that David and his men were hungry and in need of food, so they went to the high priest, who gave them bread from the showbread table. (Only priests were allowed to eat it.) King David broke the law. Meeting a need and showing compassion was fulfilling the Law.

If the Lord's anointed could eat the sacred bread when in need and be innocent, how much more could the Anointed One do the same? (Evans)

The problem was:

1. The Pharisees placed the customs of men before the Law of God. God ordained the Sabbath as a day to reflect on Him and to rest in His provision and protection; the Pharisees spent it thinking of others and how they did not keep the Sabbath.
2. God gave laws to His people to bless the, not to burden them. One day in 7 was given for the human body to rest from work. The Pharisees mande it a burden, legalistic.
3. The Law was given by God, so it can never be greater than God. (Swindoll)

The Sabbath was not theirs to regulate; it is God's gift to His people. Grace is love in action, and it produces observable results.

Do we show grace to others in need?

LET IT GROW 

The Sabbath was made for man, to meet people's needs and benefit them. It was not a mere religious observance, absent of all compassion. Jesus established the Sabbath. He knew what it was intended for, after all. 

The Sabbath was mede for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath.(verses 27-28)

The Sabbath was instituted for man's benefit. God knew we needed rest from work and restored spiritually and physically. Are we focusing on God during the Lord's Day? 

When confronted with rules of our own or others' making, ask if it serves God's purpose, reveal His character, help people get into His family, have biblical roots supported in all Scripture. Good rules pass all 4 tests. (Life Application Study Bible)

LET IT GO

Show us Your ways of love, Jesus.

 

Patches and Wineskins

N.T.#341 "Patches and Wineskins"

July 5, 2024 

Mark 2-Part 3

LET IT GLOW 

Originally, God gave the Law to Israel for order and to set them apart as His covenant people. the Law was originally to be used as a diagnostic tool to show their need (and our need) for salvation. However, the Law was deficient, as Jesus showed through the analogy of the old garment and the new wine:

No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. (verse 21)

It is like sewing on a new piece of material as a patch for a hole on an old garment. The new patch will pull the hole and make it bigger. What it needs is to be preshrunk by washing it. Then when it is sewn onto the old garment, it will not tare it.

The Law cannot save. It only points out our sins and desperate need for salvation. We cannot meet God's standard of perfection. It doesn't fix our sin problem.

 Jesus didn't come to patch up the old religious system of Judaism with its rules and traditions. The Son of God came to earth to offer people forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God. When we follow Christ, we need to be prepared for new ways to live, new ways to look at people, and new ways to serve. (Life Application Study Bible)

LET IT GROW 

And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. (verse 22)

Newly made and unused wineskins provided the necessary strength and elasticity to hold up as wine fermented. A wineskin was a goatskin sewed together at the edges to form a watertight bag. New wine, expanding as it aged, stretched the wineskin. I read that new wine causes carbon dioxide, thus the expanding bag.

This second analogy Jesus used illustrated His new and internal Gospel of repentance from and forgiveness of sin could not be connected to or contained in the old and external traditions of self-righteousness and ritual. (MacArthur)

If keeping certain rituals, specific laws, avoiding forbidden behaviors, being good could gain favor with God, then Jesus did not need to die on the cross. But those things do not meet God's standards because man cannot keep them. However, Jesus could, so He offers forgiveness of our sins, since He paid the penalty for them. We have His gift of grace through faith.

LET IT GO 

Renew our hearts each day, Lord Jesus.

Forgive our sins and failures.

Help us show grace to others.

Walking in Freedom

 N.T.#340  Walking in Freedom"

July 4, 2024 

Mark 2-Part 2

LET IT GLOW 

Are you set free today? Are you walking in freedom today? We enjoy our freedom here in America. Although, we must not forget that freedom has come with a price-sacrificial lives of men and women. In similarity, as Christians we are free in Christ. It is through His sacrifice of death on the cross that has set us free from the penalty of sin-death and forever separation from God in hell. It is through His grace and our faith in Him, not works, that we can live forever in heaven after death. This freedom does not come by keeping of the Law, which we can never accomplish on our own.

LET IT GROW 

The Pharisees in Jesus' day did not consider themselves legalists. They are individuals who examine the external behavior of others as a means of gauging their spiritual health, when they should give more attention to their own internal thoughts and attitudes in the interest of their own spiritual maturity. Legalists may appear spiritually stronger than others, but they are most spiritually anemic. Rather than finding joy in a relationship with the Almighty, they become grace killers, joy stealers, and freedom destroyers. (Charles Swindoll)

Although we are free as believers, we are not to use that freedom to sin or cvause our brothers and sisters to stumble into sin. We don't have to prove our spiritual condition either. We are to serve, love, and live like Jesus, separate from the world. Let's not forget that Jesus is our righteousness, for ours is as filthy rags. 

LET IT GO

Thank You Jesus for Your Word preserved for us today.

Teach us Your ways of love and truth so we can share it with others..

What is Your Purpose?

 N.T.#339  "What is Your Purpose?"

June 3, 2024

Mark 2

LET IT GLOW 

Here we read about the fifth disciple which Jesus called to follow Him-Matthew. Probably Jesus passed by Matthew many times while in the area of Capernaum. This tax collector may have been listening to Jesus teach out by the seashore. Levi, or Matthew as he was called, would not have been welcome in the synagogue. Tax collectors were known for their inflating tax bills and growing rich from the excess. Levi had betrayed his people, rejected his heritage, despised his temple, and renounced his God. They sold themselves to foreigners, so the were seen on the same level as harlots. How it must have stirred up the people when Jesus made Levi one of His inner circle of disciples. (Swindoll)

What a scene when Jesus dined with tax collectors and such sinners.

  ...for there were many, and they followed Him. (verse 15c)

Folks should have rejoiced that Levi repented of his sins and turned from them. Yet the Pharisees still criticized Jesus for His choice of company to His disciples, not to the Master. How would the sinners get the spiritual treatment and teachings they needed if the religious ones avoided them?

LET IT GROW

When Jesus heard it, He saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physican, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (verse 17)

Those self-righteous Pharisees were religious leaders who needed to admit their sins and seek spiritual healing from the Great Physician-Jesus. Also, they needed to help bring healing to those who needed it most. Jesus had exposed the hypocrisy of the legalists. They had become enslaved to the endless list of rules, twisting the Word of God, and adding to it. 

Jesus accepts us as we are. He changes our heart when we admit our sins to Him and believe Jesus is the Son of God and Savior. We all are sinners in need of a Savior today. Have you asked for Jesus to clean your heart? Jesus is full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) Jesus loves sinners and I am one of them. 

When was the last time you spent time with a sinner so you could point them to the Savior? Isn't our mission to point sinners to the Savior in repentance, too?

LET IT GO

Use us today to share Your Word of Truth, Your love, grace and mercy.

Help us point sinners to You, Jesus.

A Paralytic Walked Home

N.T.#338 "A Paralytic Walked Home"

July 2, 2024 

Mark 2

LET IT GLOW

If you have studied the New Testament for a while, you will recall the healing of the paralytic being carried by his four friends to Jesus. They had heard of Jesus' healing previously and wanted their friend to walk. so they did what it took for this to take place. Because the room was so crowded with listeners of Jeus ' preaching, they couldn't get through the door, much less carry a man on a cot. How were those friends determined? 

• They went to the paralyzed man. 
• Put him on a cot and carried him who knows how far to the house in Capernaum where Jesus was.
• The 4 guys determined the best way to get their friend to Jesus.
• They carried him up to the roof of the house, uncovering it and breaking it up so there was a large enough hole for them to lower their friend down while lying on the cot.
• The roof probably had dried, hardened clay with sticks. It would not have been an easy task.

What a sacrificial love for a friend. They put legs to their love. They didn't just talk the talk but walked the talk. 

There are times we need to be broken up and laid down at the feet of Jesus. Continue to pray as one broken and laid down for friends and family to come to Jesus.

LET IT GROW

Did you notice that Jesus didn't say, "Be healed, walk." 

Son, thy sins are forgiven thee. (verse 5) 

That is what Jesus told the man. 

Forgiven means to send; to send forth; leave; put away; yield up.

Jesus was and is in the business of forgiving sins, so to speak. Healing is just an extra thing.

Jesus saw into the hearts of the sceptic scribes, their thinking Jesus was blaspheming. After all, only God could forgive sin. Jesus took the opportunity to reveal His equality with God the Father. 

A paralytic walked home that day with a clean heart. Others were amazed and glorified God. Here was a man with lame legs who got up with healthy legs when he encountered Jesus.

A word from the Son of God, whose command brought forth the universe, is sufficient. (Falwell)

What is your need today-spiritual healing or physical healing? Jesus can do both.

LET IT GO

Only Jesus paid the price for us. Only His love could set us free. He paid the price because He loves you and me. Have you come to the loving Savior?

Compassion

 N.T.#337 "Compassion"

July 1, 2024 

Mark 1-Part 8 

LET IT GLOW 

Because of the unsanitary conditions in Jesus' day, lepers were numerous. A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jeus, begging to be healed. "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean," he said. Probably, the disease had advanced stages of decay so the lepose man was disfigured.  

What was Jesus' response?

• He was moved with compassion (feel sympathy; to pity).
• Jesus reached out and touched the man.
• Jesus was willing to heal the man and commanded his healing.(verse 41)
• Immediately the leprosy departed from him and the man was cleansed.
• Jesus commanded the man to tell no one about what happened.
• He was instructed to go to the priest and let him examine the healed man. (Lev. 13-14)
• He was told to take along a thank offering required in the law of Moses for those who had been healed of leprosy. It was a public testimony that he had been cleansed.

Leprosy would have made the man's rags bloody, soaked with puss and unclean. Yet Jesus touched him. No lecture, no sideshow, no elaboration to impress others, just a simple healing that changed the man's life forever. Immediately the man was healed.

However, the many disobeyed Jesus' instructions. (Had he obeyed, it would have shown Jesus' complete regard for God's law. Also, it would have verified Jesus' great miracle to the community.) Instead, the healed man spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus and He could publicly enter a town anywhere. Jesus had to stay secluded in the desert, but people came to him from everywhere.

Our response should be to King Jesus, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." (verse 40)

We sin daily and need His mercy and forgiveness.

How important is obeying God's Word and the Holy Spirit's directions?

LET IT GROW 

What can we learn from this situation?

1. Compassion encourages us to care for those who hurt.
2. Humility energizes us to remain gracious.
3. Solitude and prayer empower us to restrain our own ambitions.
4. Discipline enables us to continue reaching out to the lost. (Swindoll's living Insights on Mark)

We are to take what we gain from Jesus and release it to the world. (Swindoll)

We are challenged to share with others the Good News of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus this week. 

LET IT GO

Thank You Jesus for Your compassion on us sinners.