In verse 2 we meet a demon posses ed man that lived in the "tombs" of Gerasenes. My commentary, "The 'tombs' - common dwelling places for the demented of that day - were burial chambers carved out of rock hillsides on the outskirts of town. If the man and his possible companion were Jews, for whom touching dead bodies was a great defilement, living inn such an area was an added torment." Interesting.
I don't know about you, but every time I read in the Bible about the demon-possessed, I think of the exorcist! LOL Well, Jesus was the best because He healed these people for real. This particular man had a 'legion' of demons in him. Imagine how much more awful he must have been if you picture Linda Blair that had only one. Jesus sends this legion into the near-by swine and they ran into the sea and drowned.
It was a great miracle because it really showed a stark contrast between the way the man was before and then after therefore, showing Christ's deity. "They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the "legion"; and they became frightened." v. 15 "He said to him, 'Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you." v. 19
Some people don't believe in demons or evil spirits. But to me if there is good there is the unlikeness, evil; if there is excellence there will be horror. I don't believe we see the demons today like they did back in Biblical times, but then again we don't need to, do we? The world, especially America and No. Europe, Japan, etc., is so deeply involved with themselves and their own egos that they never even look to the spiritual, let alone, Jesus. So Satan doesn't have to work very hard.
The second part of this chapter is about physical healing, again. Mark spends a lot of time on Jesus' miracles and less on His teaching. What caught my attention here is the people's complete faith that if they asked or touched Jesus, they would be healed. I wish I could have that kind of faith. When something goes wrong with my body I pray, but honestly I only half believe I can be "supernaturally" healed; I wish I could believe more wholly, without any doubting. Or even to go deeper, maybe I believe that Jesus can heal, just that He won't heal me. I'm not worthy. Hmm
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Mark 4
Most of Mark 4 is repeats of different parables we heard in Matthew: the soils, the lamp, the mustard seed.
Then this one new parable:
"The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil, and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day and the seed sprouts and grows - how, he himself does not know. The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. but when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come". v. 26-29
Very clearly, these verses describes the Christian walk, how we grow once we've accepted Christ as our Savior and start to learn. It can be fast growth or slow, just like the different plants, depending on who we are and how we are nurtured. Plants with a tropical atmosphere and lots of rain grow and flower quickly. Plants that grow in an area without much water and hard soil, grow more slowly, but are made to endure.
I thought this article on plant growth was a perfect analogy:
What after all is more important - how the garden looks 3 months after being built, or how it looks and feels five years later?...The Strawberry tree from Southern Europe is an ideal specimen for a Mediterranean and mild winter garden. It is evergreen, growing slowly to about 8-9 meters. It has an interesting sculptural form, becoming twisted and gnarled in maturity, and a uniquely beautiful peeling bark, revealing a reddish-brown trunk...There are in fact a number of advantages in growing slow growing trees over fast ones. The primary one being that they are much easier to shape and train in the early years than many rampantly growing trees.
When I first became a Christian I was like a plant in a tropical forest. I sprouted up quickly and my flowers were bright and beautiful. But over time, they withered. My life has been a series of fast growing Hawaiian delights that would die once I gave into circumstance or trial. But there has been a constant strawberry tree that has been growing slowly beneath the surface that has and will endure. That tree has withstood the refining fire, the lack of water, some bad soil, but still stands. My faith is true and secure, "twisted and gnarled in maturity, and a uniquely beautiful peeling bark."
Then this one new parable:
"The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil, and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day and the seed sprouts and grows - how, he himself does not know. The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. but when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come". v. 26-29
Very clearly, these verses describes the Christian walk, how we grow once we've accepted Christ as our Savior and start to learn. It can be fast growth or slow, just like the different plants, depending on who we are and how we are nurtured. Plants with a tropical atmosphere and lots of rain grow and flower quickly. Plants that grow in an area without much water and hard soil, grow more slowly, but are made to endure.
I thought this article on plant growth was a perfect analogy:
What after all is more important - how the garden looks 3 months after being built, or how it looks and feels five years later?...The Strawberry tree from Southern Europe is an ideal specimen for a Mediterranean and mild winter garden. It is evergreen, growing slowly to about 8-9 meters. It has an interesting sculptural form, becoming twisted and gnarled in maturity, and a uniquely beautiful peeling bark, revealing a reddish-brown trunk...There are in fact a number of advantages in growing slow growing trees over fast ones. The primary one being that they are much easier to shape and train in the early years than many rampantly growing trees.
When I first became a Christian I was like a plant in a tropical forest. I sprouted up quickly and my flowers were bright and beautiful. But over time, they withered. My life has been a series of fast growing Hawaiian delights that would die once I gave into circumstance or trial. But there has been a constant strawberry tree that has been growing slowly beneath the surface that has and will endure. That tree has withstood the refining fire, the lack of water, some bad soil, but still stands. My faith is true and secure, "twisted and gnarled in maturity, and a uniquely beautiful peeling bark."
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Mark 3
"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, the house will not be able to stand." v. 24-25
True words. It is the weakest link theory. I've noticed at my work that when new management came in, the number one way they chose to receive power was by bringing discord amongst employees - pitting each of us against another. We lost morale and then a huge turn over took place. Friends who let gossip about one another get in will not remain friends, or at least, lose trust. We have to stand up for each other. Husband and wife teams. Brothers and sisters.
I was thinking, there is another side to this. An alcoholic family or a family that is involved with child/spousal abuse can continue those evils unless someone talks. As soon as someone speaks out about the abuse help can get in, and the evil house is brought down. But those with something to hide tend to be strong in keeping it quiet.
Where love is there will be no division. Discussion yes, but no dissension.
True words. It is the weakest link theory. I've noticed at my work that when new management came in, the number one way they chose to receive power was by bringing discord amongst employees - pitting each of us against another. We lost morale and then a huge turn over took place. Friends who let gossip about one another get in will not remain friends, or at least, lose trust. We have to stand up for each other. Husband and wife teams. Brothers and sisters.
I was thinking, there is another side to this. An alcoholic family or a family that is involved with child/spousal abuse can continue those evils unless someone talks. As soon as someone speaks out about the abuse help can get in, and the evil house is brought down. But those with something to hide tend to be strong in keeping it quiet.
Where love is there will be no division. Discussion yes, but no dissension.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Mark 2
Jesus, after being out in the unpopulated areas, returned home. " He was at home." v.1 Most likely Peter's home. Made me think. I'd never really considered where Jesus might have lived while he was on earth. Maybe I thought He "poofed" back to heaven, or something every night. LOL Wow, to have the Son of God stay at my house!
Anyway, at Peter's home some men drop a paralytic in from the roof (they could not get him to the doorway because of the crowds) and Jesus first forgives the man of his sins. The Jews believed that sins were the cause of certain affliction and it could be that this man thought that of himself as well. Then Jesus healed the man and he got up and walked out. This was a huge testimony to His claim to be God and I'm sure it was instrumental in spreading the Good News because there were so many people there.
Next we meet Matthew, named Levi, the tax-collector. Tax collectors were thought of worse than they even are today because if they collected more taxes than Rome required they got to keep the money; so they were taking money for their own wealth from their own people! Good chance Matthew knew of his sin and was ready for forgiveness as he got up and followed Jesus. I am reminded once again that God can call and use anyone. You don't need a pedigree to be loved by God or be a powerful witness for Him.
Verse 23 to the end of the chapter talks about a recurring topic throughout the gospels: The Sadducees and Pharisees were always trying to catch someone working on the Sabbath. Jesus' reply this time, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." v.27-28 John MacArthur, " God instituted the Sabbath to benefit man by giving him a day to rest from his labors and to be a blessing to him. The Pharisees turned it into a burden and made man a slave to their myriad of man-made regulations. Jesus claimed He was greater than the Sabbath, and thus was God."
I had a dream last night about this very thing. I can't even keep the rules at work without fighting authority, sometimes. I am greatful for this freedom with Jesus.
One of my favorites. Enjoy.
Anyway, at Peter's home some men drop a paralytic in from the roof (they could not get him to the doorway because of the crowds) and Jesus first forgives the man of his sins. The Jews believed that sins were the cause of certain affliction and it could be that this man thought that of himself as well. Then Jesus healed the man and he got up and walked out. This was a huge testimony to His claim to be God and I'm sure it was instrumental in spreading the Good News because there were so many people there.
Next we meet Matthew, named Levi, the tax-collector. Tax collectors were thought of worse than they even are today because if they collected more taxes than Rome required they got to keep the money; so they were taking money for their own wealth from their own people! Good chance Matthew knew of his sin and was ready for forgiveness as he got up and followed Jesus. I am reminded once again that God can call and use anyone. You don't need a pedigree to be loved by God or be a powerful witness for Him.
Verse 23 to the end of the chapter talks about a recurring topic throughout the gospels: The Sadducees and Pharisees were always trying to catch someone working on the Sabbath. Jesus' reply this time, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." v.27-28 John MacArthur, " God instituted the Sabbath to benefit man by giving him a day to rest from his labors and to be a blessing to him. The Pharisees turned it into a burden and made man a slave to their myriad of man-made regulations. Jesus claimed He was greater than the Sabbath, and thus was God."
I had a dream last night about this very thing. I can't even keep the rules at work without fighting authority, sometimes. I am greatful for this freedom with Jesus.
One of my favorites. Enjoy.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Mark 1
Mark begins with a quote from Isaiah 40:3 and Mal. 3:1:
"Behold, I send my messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way; The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight." This verse reminds me of the song from Godspell, "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord. " Remember that? LOL
Enter, John the Baptist. Jesus is baptized. "Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: 'You are My beloved son, in You I am well-pleased.'" v.10-11 John did not see it necessary to baptize Jesus, but Jesus was insistent. Baptism does not save us from our sins but it is an outward sign of a declaration that we are followers of Christ. If Jesus was baptized then obviously we should be too. Most of the chapter is telling of many healings by Christ and casting out of demons. But we do meet Simon (Peter) and Andrew fishing, also James and John. Note: James and John may have been Jesus' cousins in that their mother and Jesus' mother may have been sisters.
Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law. This is important because this verse tells us that Peter was married. I wonder how I would feel if my husband took off for three years to follow somebody. I imagine his wife, after seeing this miracle, was all for Peter to take off with Jesus.
Jesus meets a leper and was "moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him" v. 41 and the leper was healed. This was huge! Jesus asked him not to tell anyone because doing so would make it difficult for Jesus to enter a city without being mobbed. But the leper did, of course, I would have told everyone, pushing Jesus to do his ministry out in unpopulated areas. But the people found Him anyway.
"Behold, I send my messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way; The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight." This verse reminds me of the song from Godspell, "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord. " Remember that? LOL
Enter, John the Baptist. Jesus is baptized. "Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: 'You are My beloved son, in You I am well-pleased.'" v.10-11 John did not see it necessary to baptize Jesus, but Jesus was insistent. Baptism does not save us from our sins but it is an outward sign of a declaration that we are followers of Christ. If Jesus was baptized then obviously we should be too. Most of the chapter is telling of many healings by Christ and casting out of demons. But we do meet Simon (Peter) and Andrew fishing, also James and John. Note: James and John may have been Jesus' cousins in that their mother and Jesus' mother may have been sisters.
Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law. This is important because this verse tells us that Peter was married. I wonder how I would feel if my husband took off for three years to follow somebody. I imagine his wife, after seeing this miracle, was all for Peter to take off with Jesus.
Jesus meets a leper and was "moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him" v. 41 and the leper was healed. This was huge! Jesus asked him not to tell anyone because doing so would make it difficult for Jesus to enter a city without being mobbed. But the leper did, of course, I would have told everyone, pushing Jesus to do his ministry out in unpopulated areas. But the people found Him anyway.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Mark
I am excited to be back in the gospels. Honestly, I don't think I've ever read Mark all the way through. A couple things I learned about him from my Bible commentary: His name was John Mark. He never knew Christ like Matthew, Luke and John. He traveled with Paul during his first missionary journey but left early because of the persecution - can't blame him - but Paul did, and they had a falling-out. Wow, no idea. Reminds me that these men were "real" human men used by God in a Holy way, and not of themselves. You can read more about who Mark was in the below mentioned link.
http://www.1way2god.net/bio_mark.html
My new word for today: vacillate, is how John MacArthur describes Mark in his younger years. Meaning: to sway from side to side, to show indecision and waver.
Mark accompanied Peter, and the gospel of Mark is basically Peter's memories of Jesus. Mark is also aimed at the Roman gentiles vs the Jewish people like Matthew.
http://www.1way2god.net/bio_mark.html
My new word for today: vacillate, is how John MacArthur describes Mark in his younger years. Meaning: to sway from side to side, to show indecision and waver.
Mark accompanied Peter, and the gospel of Mark is basically Peter's memories of Jesus. Mark is also aimed at the Roman gentiles vs the Jewish people like Matthew.
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