Mark 5 - 2.15.24

Mark 5: 35-36

S – 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

O – I love the book of Mark and the way it presents so many vivid pictures of Jesus in action. We just finished reading in Mark 4 some of Jesus’ amazing parables regarding the 4 soils, faith of a mustard seed, and then read how Jesus calmed the waves and the storm.  Here we read how Jesus sends a legion of demons into a herd of pigs and has them jump off a cliff, heals the bleeding woman and then restores a girl to life! It shows who Jesus is by his extreme compassion through all that he does. It’s a story of Jesus on the move…it’s a book of action! In this chapter he was literally on his way to heal one man’s daughter who was dying when the woman who was subject to bleeding all those years reaches out to touch him and receive her own healing. She knew she was unclean and shouldn’t touch him, yet she was desperate for God’s touch and healing. And He gave it to her because of her faith!

A – I love this scripture because this scene sounds so chaotic, with everyone coming at Jesus at once. There are massive amounts of people following him, people who are desperate for a touch of his hand. I love the picture I see of the sheer chaos in that moment. The desperation of the woman, as well as a father who was just told to leave Jesus alone, that it was too late, and his daughter was dead. At first, it appears devastating and unimaginable, but then the scene changes as Jesus oh so calmly tells this grief stricken and panicked father, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Wow! What if we approached all our troubles this way? I can’t pay this bill Jesus and I don’t know what to do…..but I BELIEVE you will make a way.  Everything is so expensive now. How can my kids live/make it on their own…..Jesus I BELIEVE you will provide for them.  I am so tired and can’t do another thing today….but I BELIEVE with you Jesus I can do anything.

The book of Mark is filled with story after story of Jesus doing miraculous things and just being a loving, compassionate man who wanted to bring hope and healing to the many he encountered.  This should encourage us to believe, have faith and get moving and healing in the name of Jesus!

1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues.

Mark 16:18b they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.

P – Jesus may we be a CHURCH who BELIEVES! Help us to know that all we need is that little bit of faith, as small as a mustard seed and that changes EVERYTHING. Help us to live as though we know it. To live in a way that other people see that we believe and that our hope is in you…and that when all the world around fails them, you won’t. Help us to believe in the small and the big miracles and to pray for everything. Thank you that you give us the same power you gave your son to heal the sick and thank you that you are with us and that you went before us to show us exactly what we need to do to be the hands and feet of Jesus today! Amen

- Crystal Flory 

Mark 4 - 2.14.24

Scripture

Mark 4: 39-40

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Observation

The disciples were afraid for their lives. They ran to Jesus and said - why aren’t you doing something?? He calms the storm. But he challenges them - why are you so afraid?

Application

We are going to experience storms - they are a part of life. When Jesus took the disciples across the lake, he knew the storm was coming. And he was in control. The God we serve has the power to command the elements. He has the power to control and direct our lives. And he tells us to trust him.

Psalms 46:10 - Be still and know that I am God.

Earlier in the chapter 4, we read, “With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.” Jesus spent time with his disciples, teaching and training them, preparing them for the storms ahead. Likewise, when we spend time alone with him, in his presence and in his word, he is teaching and training us, preparing us for the storms ahead.

“Whatever furious squalls are frightening us, we can be sure that the Lord who is with us is in charge. He may well lead us into trials; he will certainly lead us through … This story is not just a message of comfort for Christians who are facing trials in their lives; it’s a challenge as well. ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ Jesus asks. If we are disciples, what is our answer? (Steve Wilmhurst, Mark, A Ransom For Many)

Prayer

Lord, thank you for this challenge today. Thank you for continuing to work on my heart to change my first response from fear, worry, or panic to faith, knowing that you are in control.

- Debbie Dunn

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