Mark 3 - 4.22.26

Scripture: Mark 3:1-5

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 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. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

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.

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.

Observation

Jesus teaches us to put people first.

Application

I am a rule follower. But sometimes the problem with rule followers is that we let following the rules become more important than following God. By no means am I implying that God encourages us to break rules. Rules are put in place to provide guardrails for us. Problems come if we start to feel that following rules, checking off the boxes, makes us worthy. Or not following the rules makes others not worthy. No one is worthy – we are saved by grace.

Another problem is that sometimes it is easier to just follow the rules, or traditions, or cultural norms, than to question – God, is this what you want from me? It is easier to do what we have always done than to shake things up. But Jesus shook things up!

Jesus asks the question, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” When they refused to admit that God would want him to do good – to put people first, he was angry and deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for this reminder of how much you love people. Poke me and prod me so I don’t become complacent. Continue to challenge me so I can grow. Help me to make decisions that put people first. Teach me to love others like you do.

- Debbie Dunn

Mark 2 - 4.21.26

SCRIPTURE:  MARK 2:1 – 17

1 “A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 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.”

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

OBSERVATION

Here are two great examples of Jesus showing his compassion, his position as the Son of God, and also his forgiveness.

In the first example, we have a paralyzed man with four great friends who believed in Jesus and wanted their friend to be healed. Jesus decides to first heal his soul by saying “his sins are forgiven.” The teachers of the law were thinking it’s blasphemous because they knew only God could forgive sins. They were right that God is the only one who can forgive sins but they didn’t realize Jesus is God’s son. The best part is Jesus gives the teachers of the law a simple question of which is easier: “to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?” It’s a simple question yet profound. They couldn’t answer because saying either one isn’t the issue. It’s what follows from the question that matters. Since Jesus already forgive the paralyzed man his sin, Jesus decided to then heal his physical body too by saying “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” The paralyzed man got up and walked home! Jesus showed them his divine ability to forgive sins and perform a miraculous healing.

The next story shows Jesus and his mission to save those who are lost. Jesus has dinner with tax collectors and other sinners. The Pharisees asked the disciples “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” To them Jesus was eating with the enemy! Tax collectors were viewed by the Jews as evil and betrayers since they gathered Roman taxes and swindled tax payers out of more money. Jesus’ response, again perfect, tells them his real mission here: just like sick people need a doctor, Jesus came to save sinners not the righteous.

APPLICATION

In both stories, Jesus challenged the teachers of the law and the Pharisees to think outside their limited boxes. His questions, in each instance, revealed Jesus as God, showed his spiritual authority on earth and through eternity, and also showed his ultimate mission to save sinners.

How can we apply what Jesus said and did in these stories? Jesus always went to the heart of the matter. He didn’t dance around the subject either. He had a great way to communicate with those around him. Jesus went right to the facts in every case. We might not have Jesus’ ability to have a quick and perfect response (I know I don’t) but we can study and know the Scriptures and then let the Holy Spirit do the work.

* 2 Timothy 4:2 – “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

* 2 Timothy 2:15 – “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

* Ephesians 6:13-15 – “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

The other important message in these stories is that Jesus lived life with others around him. He gathered with people in simple situations like a meal in a home or walking down the road. I now see the importance of being in community with others who don’t know Jesus. Living life together with others provide opportunities to show them about Jesus in a personal way. There was a time in my life, long ago (in a galaxy far, far way…) where I truly believed it was “bad” to hang out with people who did “wrong” things in life. I got hung up on 1 Corinthians 15:33 which says “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” That meant to me to “stay away from sinners.” The deeper thought was somehow these “sinful” people would be bad for my Christian life. Given the crowd I hung out with in my wild days, staying away from some was healthy for me, but somehow I took it too far. There is wisdom to stay away from those who can cause you to stumble into sin, but exclusively staying away from everyone that is not a Christian was wrong for me to do. I wasn’t living like Jesus!

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for your Scriptures and example in these stories. Forgive me, Lord, for the time in my life when I didn’t live out Jesus’ way of ministry to others. Help me to walk and live like Jesus, shining His light to others, and sharing His love, grace and forgiveness. Holy Spirit, guide my words and help me to be bold. Help me to study and memorize the Scriptures so I am prepared and not ashamed in any instance. In Jesus name - Amen!

- Mary Oberg

Psalm 59 - 4.20.26

Scripture 

Psalm 59:16-17

“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.”

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Observation 

In the heading of this Psalm, it says that King David wrote it, “When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.”

King David was being hotly pursued by his enemies, yet He still praised the Lord! He received God’s peace and strength as he prayed and worshipped through his circumstances.

Application

Pray, worship and give thanks in ALL circumstances. Thanksgiving is a choice and not based on emotion. 

“Rejoice always, pray continually, GIVE THANKS in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” -‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Following this encouragement is easy when our circumstances are good. When we are healthy, our finances are good, we are enjoying our job, our church is thriving, when all of our prayers are being answered the way we want them to, when we don’t have anyone close to us dying or anyone to grieve and when we don’t have any relational issues with our spouse, kids or anyone else, then it’s easy to give thanks. However, how often do those blessings occur at the same time or every day? Also, if you read the beatitudes in Matthew 5, God has a different view on who are blessed. (For example, Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit”, “Blessed are those who mourn”, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness”, etc.) 

For me personally, I know that if I based my faith and thanksgiving on only good circumstances, I would be living a very dark and depressed life. I probably would’ve abandoned my faith already too.  This is why God wants us to have a different perspective for viewing hard circumstances, where in the midst of them all, we give Him thanks. We refocus our attention on Him, rather than the circumstances, knowing that He is in control and with us through it all. 

If we are having a hard time giving thanks for a circumstance, we can also ask the Holy Spirit to help us and He will! 

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for King David’s example that there is no excuse not to pray and worship You! You always flip the script on how You want us to react to life’s challenges. You don’t want us to be overwhelmed by them, but rather give thanks in ALL of them, good or bad. I pray that whatever season, circumstances, location, or activity I find myself in, that I would run to you in worship and prayer! Help me to not only give thanks in the good times, but also the hard times, knowing that You are always working them out for my good. Amen. 

-Michelle Gaddi