Mark 3 - 2.13.24

Mark 3:1 – 6

Scripture:  Mark 3:1 – 6:  Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Observation: The religious leaders were looking for anything they could to accuse Jesus and to kill him. They began their quest to accuse Jesus in Chapter 2 by accusing him of blasphemy when he forgave a man’s sin on the Sabbath (Mark 2:5 – 7), for dining with sinners (Mark 2:12-17) and allowing disciples to pick and eat grain on the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-28). The event at the synagogue was also written about in Matthew 12:9 – 14 and Luke 6:6-11.

There are only a few times where Jesus was angry and interestingly it happened against religious leaders and those who used the Temple as a marketplace (see Matthew 21:12-17). The religious leaders were obviously blinded by their hate of Jesus and their long held and rigid rules about the Sabbath.

The whole idea behind the Sabbath came from several references in the Old Testament. The first time it is mentioned is in Genesis 2:2 – 3 where God rested on the 7th day after creating the Universe and called it the Sabbath. In Exodus 20:8 – 11 the Lord commands Israel to keep the Sabbath holy. Leviticus 23:3 says “Six days a week are for work but the seventh day is a day of rest and assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.””

Jesus was definitely rocking the religious boat when he questioned the leaders about activities on the Sabbath. The religious leaders had taken the scripture about the Sabbath and took the “not to do any work” to the extreme. He called them out by saying “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.” In Matthew 12:10 the religious leaders asked him “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” In response Jesus asked “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?” Jesus is pointing out their hypocrisy in making such rigid rules about the Sabbath. Jesus is saying there are times where an action on the Sabbath might be done for the greater good.

Application:  We should rest on the Sabbath, worship and assemble together but it doesn’t mean we abstain from doing good on the Sabbath just because it’s the Sabbath. It’s also important to look at the intent of the law or scripture and not be rigid in our beliefs. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus says “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” My life in Christ should reflect serving him and not serving the laws.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to see your vision in the Scriptures. Open my eyes and heart to follow the intent of your Word and not be rigid or legalistic in any way. Your ways are not about enslavement but of freedom. Thank you for your Word and guiding me on your path to freedom.

- Mary Oberg

Mark 2 - 2.12.23

Scripture

Mark 2:4-5

Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Observation

Jesus was preaching in a home in Capernaum and 4 men brought a paralyzed man to Him for healing. Because of the large crowd (there wasn’t even room outside the door as stated in vs. 2), they made an opening in the roof to bring the paralyzed man to Jesus.

Their faith made them do everything possible to see Jesus. When they couldn’t get to Him, they didn’t give up. Because of the 4 men’s persistence, Jesus healed the paralyzed man’s paralysis and forgave him of all his sins.

Application

Be desperate for Jesus. Jesus wants to be found by us. Seek God because He sought us first.

When we feel like Jesus’ presence is far away or feel like He is not listening to us, we need to be willing to knock down walls and dig holes in roofs in pursuit of Him. When we feel far away from Jesus, it is not because of Him, but because of us. The Lord wants to be found by us because He loves us. He sought us first (see Luke 15 with the story of the lost sheep and lost son), so we must continue seeking Him in response to that love.

Let’s be like the 4 men in this chapter and like the persistent widow with the unjust judge in Luke 18:1-8. God honors our persistence in our pursuit of Him and because He’s a good Father, He will act and respond. Don’t give up praying, seeking, or knocking. We will find Him if we don’t give up.

What practical things do you and I need to do to show our desperation for Jesus?

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33).

“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29).

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew‬ ‭7:7-8‬)

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water" (Psalm 63:1).

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for seeking us out first and pursuing us with a relentless love. Because of that love, You desire to be found by us. May we continually seek You in faith when we feel You are far away. Your Word says You never leave or forsake us, so we know that it is us who need to draw closer to You when dry times like that happen. We need You and can’t live without your love and grace towards us. Thank You for every breath we take which is evidence of Your grace and existence. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Psalm 73 - 2.9.24

Scripture: 

Psalm 73:23, 27-28

”Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.“

”Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.“

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Observation:

The writer of this Psalm, Asaph, starts by reflecting on how he envied the arrogant and prosperity of the wicked.  In verse 2 he says he nearly lost his foothold and slipped. After ranting he reflects back and realizes the truth, God has great things in store for those who love Him and the wicked will perish.  He turns to God who is always there. God will guide us just like a teacher takes a student’s hand who needs direction. It is easy to get distracted when we see those doing wrong appearing to prosper.  However, as we open up to God’s direction, He is good to those pure in heart. He will take us into glory. Prosperity on earth is nothing compared to what waits in Heaven.  I love what this results in: verse 28 Asaph declares, ”But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.“  

Application:

I need to do a mindset check daily and be sure I am focusing on God.  Remembering what he has in store for me is good. There is no reason to envy those who appear to be prospering while doing evil.  God is my refuge, and has done so many marvelous things. How can I not tell of all He’s done?

Prayer: 

Lord, When we take a deep inventory there are times envy can sneak into our lives and cause us to lose our foothold. Thank you for taking my hand to guide me back on course. May I seek your counsel, dwell in your safety, make you my refuge, and tell others of all your deeds. Thank you that you will take me into your glory.  Amen

- Cindy Howard