Mark 4 - 4.23.26

SCRIPTURE: Mark 4:1 - 8

“Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said:  “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

OBSERVATION

The sower never stops sowing.

I am someone who loves when something works the first time.

I recently started gardening , making sourdough, and getting into getting good at my espresso machine at home. Post grad hobbies are getting crazy, I know. 

If there’s one thing about me, I love when I get things right, and am great at it the very first time. I am sure someone reading this can relate. So it is a bit funny that these three hobbies have been my past times of choice . . . Why? Because they are hobbies that require patience and persistence. 

Though I wanted an artisan sourdough loaf my first go, that is most definitely what I didn’t receive. Katie Thompson gave me sourdough baking advice that encouraged me similarly to the Lord’s encouragement in this passage, “just keep on baking and eventually you will get a great loaf.”

When reading this part of Mark 4, God highlighted to me how the sower did not quit when the seeds he had planted withered or were taken away. He kept sowing. I can imagine it is discouraging for the sower to see what he invested in his efforts that did not grow into what he really desired them to be. Similarly to us, we can get discouraged in our faith when we sow and we sow, but are eagerly anticipating a seed to take root so we can experience a bountiful harvest.

But we pray for that person and see no curiosity in Jesus.

Or we pray for healing and still see sickness or pain.

We pray for reconciliation and still have not gotten a call back.

We are sowing good seeds - so where is the harvest?

The key lessons that are taught here are to keep sowing & to have faith in God’s generous heart, which is the fertile soil we are promised.

Though some seeds have fallen to die and not grow, continue to sow as God has asked you because He desires to answer. . . Not in our timing but in His.

The sower did not stop sowing, he sowed and sowed and eventually saw a harvest produce that was abundantly more than he had ever seen or could have dreamed; never stop sowing. 

We must not stop sowing love, even if we face hate in return. 

We must not stop sowing faith, when all we feel is doubt.

We must not stop sowing forgiveness, when we experience hurt. 

Even if there is no harvest immediately, these are actions the word of God guides us into, and there is no part of the word of God that will ever return void to us. We must sow, as He calls us to do. We must be like this sower, who is devoted and committed to what is asked of Him.

God wants to use every seed we sow as a way to get closer to us and that may be in obscure timing to our flesh, but God’s plan and sense of time is divine, and greater than our own. Sowing seeds cultivates faith, it cultivates relationship with God through prayer to Him about things, and it is a foundational aspect to our lives as laborers for the kingdom. 

Though the harvest timing may not make sense now, keep sowing and leaning in, for the harvest is coming. And even when it does, we must praise, celebrate, and keep sowing. 

APPLICATION

Pause and tell God where you are sad or grieved that you are sowing and seeing no harvest, confess this to Him.

Now pause and ask God to walk you through a time where He showed a harvest that is more than you could have ever cultivated on your own. As He brings things to mind, write it down.

Ask God for delight as you sow, no matter what happens to the seed - ask for delight in the gift it is to sow seeds for Jesus.

Now, pray and intercede for that area you want to see a harvest in. Whether it be a person you want to come to know the Lord or a situation you need breakthrough in, petition Him. Know He is the fertilizer to the soil our seeds are being planted in.

PRAYER

God, hear our hearts and see our desires for a bountiful harvest that honors you. Where we need to sow, guide us. Where we need to remember a harvest, remind us. Where we need to confess and repent for our tainting of soil where seed needs nourishing, reveal that to us. Lord, we give you our yes to sow faithfully. Help us be patient in the process and enjoy the ride. We love you. 

Amen.

- Tess Schrupp

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