June_29

SHARING BREAD

³¹ Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. ³² A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

³³ “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

³⁴ Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 3:31-35 (NIV)

Perhaps in an attempt to restrain our Lord’s activity, we discover in our verses for today Jesus’ earthly family seeking audience with Him.  We learned previously in this same chapter that they had come to take charge of Him because they thought He was out of His mind.  Remaining firmly planted outside rather than searching through the crowds for Him they disrespectfully send someone in to fetch Him.  Not bothering to go inside themselves appears to be indicative of their desire to remain detached and aloof from His teaching.  When told His relations were seeking for Him our Lord’s response shows He was not overwhelmingly pleased with their actions.  Indeed, He asks:  “Who are my mother and my brothers?”

I do not believe Jesus’ Words were intended to slur our familial relationships rather elevate our spiritual ones. His intention was to highlight a far deeper issue of a person rightly related to Him through faith.  Our brothers and sisters in Christ are to be as much esteemed and loved as our nearest relations.  I am confident that is why the New Testament is replete with admonitions to love one another.  In fact John tells us that we are called children of God because of the love the Father has lavished on us through His Son.  Faith in the Lord Jesus involves the obligation of the love of the saints.  We would do well to remind ourselves that brotherly love is a command from our Lord not an option:

¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.   John 15:17 (NIV)

 

¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.   1 John 3:14 (NIV)

 

²³ And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. ²⁴ Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.   1 John 3:23-24 (NIV)

 

“When you read God’s Word, you must constantly be saying to yourself, ‘It is talking to me, and about me.’”    Soren Kierkegaard

“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us to love.”   Augustine

“He is present and precious to His own.”   Hudson Taylor

“When sin penetrated the hearts of Adam and Eve, they not only became alienated from God, but they also became alienated from each other. When Jesus died on the Cross, He made it possible for all who believe in Him to be in fellowship with God—and also in godly fellowship with one another. Godly friendships are the evidence of our belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ. But godly friendships are not found; they are made. They are built up stone by stone. They are established on biblical principles.”   Michael Youssef

“It is impossible for us to be the children of God naturally….we must be born again.”   Oswald Chambers

We discover as well our Lord’s words in regard to the value and high esteem He placed on familial relations later in Mark.  He admonishes the Pharisees for their wrong treatment of their mother and father’s through the manmade traditions they had established:

⁹ And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! ¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ ¹¹ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), ¹² then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. ¹³ Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”    Mark 7:9-13 (NIV)

 

“The Christian is a new creature, born and taught from above.  He has been convinced of his guilt and misery as a sinner, has fled for refuge to the hope set before him, has seen his Son and believed on Him: his natural prejudices against the glory and grace of God’s salvation have been subdued and silenced by almighty power; he has accepted the Beloved and is made acceptable in Him; he now knows the Lord; has renounced the confused, distant, uncomfortable notions he once formed of God…He sees God in Christ, reconciled, a Father, a Savior and a Friend, who has freely forgiven him all his sins and given him the spirit of adoption; he is now no longer a servant, much less a stranger, but a son; and because a son, an heir already interested in all the promises, admitted to the throne of grace, and assured expectant of eternal glory.”

John Newton, Letters of John Newton 1781

 

What I glean from this:

 

• As I love my earthly family, I am to love my brothers and sisters in Christ as well.
• God loves me when I am unlovable and I am to love others as well.
• I am to read the Word of God as it is talking to me and about me. 

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June_27

SHARING BREAD

²² And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

²³ So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. ²⁶ And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. ²⁷ In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. ²⁸ I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. ²⁹ But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”

³⁰ He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.”

Mark 3:22-30 (NIV)

First His family says “He is out of His mind” and now the teachers of the law are impudently claiming He is demonically possessed and driving out demons with Satan’s power.  It is amazing how low people can go when they are casting verbal stones is it not?  There was no arguing the fact that Christ had cast out demons – proof was present – therefore the enemy sought to twist and distort our Lord’s miraculous works.  Satan never voluntarily abandons his possessions.  Someone stronger, Someone with more authority must come and overpower him. That Someone is Jesus, the Victor.

Satan is a creature of immense vengeance doing anything he can to keep us from rightly worshipping and serving God.  He is always on the prowl to devour – to make us like one of his own.  Not a pretty picture.  If he can’t get us to stop our worship of the Almighty – of the Great “I AM” – he attempts to diminish or distract us from it.  He hates God being worshipped because he craves it so himself.  Indeed, he desires to be God.  The five “I will’s” of the devil are synonymous with the “I will’s” of the King of Babylon clearly presented in Isaiah –  Satan being the real power behind that pagan king:

¹² How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn!  You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! ¹³ You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. ¹⁴ I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”   Isaiah 14:12-14 (NIV)

Remember as well what the adversary tempts Jesus with in a vain effort to get our Lord to fall prostrate at his unholy feet – all the kingdoms of the world:

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'” Matt 4:8-10 (NIV)

 

Surely, the Most High God inhabits the praise of His people and the most low creature is revolted by this worship.  Praise and worship is the voice of faith and the enemy abhors it.

 

¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that confess his name.   Heb 13:15 (NIV)

 

Jesus counters the teachers of the law’s inane accusations with reason – how like Him!  Rather than avoiding or shunning the opposition, our Lord calls them to Him to hear His retort and refute their charges.  What would it possibly behoove Satan to fight against himself?  How would his kingdom of darkness stand much less advance if he were in constant opposition battling evil against evil?  Don’t you know Jesus wanted to say “Really people…..think about what you are accusatorily spouting?”

 

Satan – depicted by Jesus as the strong man – whose houses are filled with sin, sickness, sorrow and death.  He does not give up his residences without a battle.  It is he, the root of all evil, which must be tied up to set the captive free.  Jesus, our Victor, disarmed Satan’s power over those who would believe in Him by the cross.  The victory belongs to all believers – we do not have to give the adversary an inch.  Remember, everything Satan stands for is death.  All sin carries with it a death sentence if you will play it out to the end – death to relationships, death to fullness of joy, death to character and on and on the list goes.  Seriously….what have we ever gained from sin but death and destruction?

“No more let sin and sorrow grow, Nor thorns infest the ground.  He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found.”   Isaac Watts

Lastly, Jesus issues us a strong warning – a solemn affirmation:  all the blasphemies against God are open to God’s gracious forgiveness with one exception the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit the achieving power behind what His Hand produces.  In light of the context, this has more to do with a prevailing attitude of defiant hostility toward God that rejects His saving power toward man rather than an isolated act or utterance.  It is to prefer darkness after being exposed to the light.  It is the persistent attitude of willful unbelief as evidenced by Judas the turncoat disciple.  It is sadly sin against the last remedy rendering it unpardonable.

What I glean from this:

• Jesus is the Victor Who has disarmed the powers and authorities by the cross:   ¹³When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴ having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.   Col 2:13-15 (NIV)
• Satan does not give up without a fierce fight yet Jesus is stronger still.
• I am to worship God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  Worship is the voice of faith.

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June_25

SHARING BREAD

²⁰ Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. ²¹ When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

Mark 3:20-21 (NIV)

To be sure, “wounds from a friend can be trusted” but it is certainly as true that insults from close relations can bite bitterly! The “sticks and stones ditty” stating “words won’t hurt” – we are so well grounded in – is far from reality.  Here our Lord’s “fam” – His nearest and dearest – those whom should have known Him best – dishes out verbiage which had to blister.  His kin bought into what others had espoused regarding Jesus’ zeal and reasoned He had gone mad.  Whether their intent was good or bad, their words still had to sting our Lord.  In seeking to humbly obey, our Lord’s actions were misconstrued by others – that is painful.  We should not be surprised when this happens to us as well.

There appears to be quite the disconnect between our Lord’s relations and the following Proverbs.  At the very least these verses were not reverberating in their fleshly ears or different words would have been flowing from their tongues:

²³ A man finds joy in giving an apt reply–and how good is a timely word!  Prov 15:23 (NIV)

 

²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Prov 16:24 (NIV)

 

The words of the Prophet Isaiah regarding the Suffering Servant come to mind – surely our Lord endured much undeserved insult and hardship while His feet walked this earth yet all the while leaning heavily on the help of His Father.  We are to do likewise:

⁶ I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. ⁷ Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.   Isaiah 50:6-7 (NIV)

 

We must be sober in our discernment of others as well – what call has God placed on another’s life that may appear askewed in our eyes?  I am reminded of the missionary Amy Carmichael’s words – the bottom line being we are to be confident, like she, that we are standing firm in the will of God mature and fully assured. That keeps us from scrutinizing others’ lives.  She sought only humbly to obey her Master:

“It is not at all that we think that ours is the only way of living, but we are sure that it is the way meant for us.”    Amy Carmichael

 

“Who will be utterly other-worldly, utterly single-hearted, utterly consumed.  Don’t think I am that myself!  I fall far short of my own standard.  But that is what I want to be, and that is what we must be if we are to stand the strain and conquer.”   Amy Carmichael

The crowds in our verses for today continued to flock to Jesus – unsent for – pressing and surrounding our Lord and His guys so much so that they had had no opportunity to even eat.  Yet we discover the Master did not shut the door in their faces nor turn any petitioner away rather He unhurriedly and graciously bid them welcome.  These crowds presented an opportunity for Jesus to fulfill His mission and He was not about to miss the golden opportunity – grabbing hold of it regardless of the cost to Himself.  When one is resolute in undertaking God’s work, inconveniences are a given.  Yet, we must “strike while the iron is hot” or we may miss God’s best for our lives – and to be sure we don’t want to miss what He sweetly presents – rather fully embrace it disregarding the cost.  Unfortunately, there are some things that are irretrievable – like the last minute – like the opportunity to do another good bypassed because of inconvenience.  I am confident that spurred the apostle Paul to write:

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.   Eph 5:15-17 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• Insults from those closest sting hardest.  Sweet words heal bones.
• I am to stand firm in the will of God, mature and fully assured.
• I am to make the most of every opportunity presented. 

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June_22

SHARING BREAD

¹³ Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed twelve–designating them apostles –that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach ¹⁵ and to have authority to drive out demons. ¹⁶ These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); ¹⁷ James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Mark 3:13-19 (NIV)

In the account of this same incident – in the thorough Gospel of Luke – we discover the reason our Lord went up on the mountainside – prayer alone all night with His Father.  Oh that we would be as zealous prior to our great decisions – or in any other size decision for that matter:

¹² One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. ¹³ When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: ¹⁴ Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, ¹⁵ Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, ¹⁶ Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. Luke 6:12-16 (NIV)

Prayer was Jesus’ holy habit – early in the morning, late at night and all through the night we discover the Master in Scripture praying to the Father unseen.  His prayer life was not out to impress men rather He yearned for communion, direction and strength from His Father.  I am reminded of our Lord’s Words in the Sermon on the Mount against prayer spoken for man’s fawning approval – spiritual pride being detestable in the Lord’s sight:

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”  Matt 6:5-6 (NIV)

 

Prayer was never meant to be a liturgical performance whereby one sets out to eloquently espouse religious jargon for the benefit of man’s ear only.  Prayer is conversation and communion with the great I AM the Creator God of all.  It is often the sweetest in this audience of One.  When the supplicant can envision themselves resting “between His shoulders” is peaceful and needful indeed. When we forgo this immense privilege – this treasure – we end up wandering around in a “trackless waste” of our own choosing, going from weakness to weakness rather than from “strength to strength”.  We are the losers when we rapidly pursue our own vain imaginations rather than listening for His still small voice for our direction, power and timing.

“Our attitude of surrender and dependence upon God is best evidenced by our prayer life.”  Chip Ingram

“A prayerless soul is a Christless soul.”  Charles Spurgeon

This is not the way God intended life to be fleshed out.  From Adam on it was God’s desire and design for man to walk with Him in Holy Communion.  When our first father failed, God cried out to him in the Garden:  “Where are you” – as if He did not know.  God always presses us to confess and repent of our wrong doings for our own good.  The worst possible place for any and every person on earth to discover themselves to be is outside of God’s perfect and pleasing will for our lives.  Unfortunately, many of us continue to discover ourselves there due to our prayerless rushing ways.  We are to wait upon the Lord for His guidance.
⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.   Prov 3:5-6 (NIV)

 

This is why prayer is foremost for every Believer.  Not just over monumental things – like the selection of the twelve – but over everything else as well.  God delights in hearing the earnest supplication of His children.

“The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying.
He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion.
He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.”   Samuel Chadwick 

¹³ And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.   2 Thess 3:13 (NIV)

 

¹⁷ Pray continually.   1 Thess 5:17 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• Jesus was always praying to the Father.
• I am to be in constant prayer to the Father as well for both direction and strength.  Amy Carmichael’s short prayers in each of her trying as well as exciting circumstances ring in my ears:  “Your patience Lord”; “Your peace Lord”; “Your grace Lord”; “Your kindness Lord”; “Your joy Lord”; “Your goodness Lord”; “Your direction Lord” etc.  These are zingers to our spirits and arrows or prayer with faith of feathers sent straight to God’s throne.
• I am to never tire of doing what is right.     

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June_20

SHARING BREAD

⁷ Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. ⁸ When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. ⁹ Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. ¹⁰ For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. ¹¹ Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” ¹² But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was.

Mark 3:7-12 (NIV)

Withdrawing from His enemies – the Pharisees and Herodians who sought His life – Jesus now heads for the sea.  Our Lord demonstrates to us in troublesome times it is not wrong to provide for our safety.  Throngs continued to follow Him in His retirement like flies to honey.  The sick, the demon possessed, those having seizures, the suffering, the paralyzed – you name it, human suffering in all its various forms – sought the touch of the Master’s hand.  The infirmed were not the only ones seeking His audience – the curious were induced to see firsthand the reports their ears had only heard.  Our Lord was followed by crowds from all parts of the nation in consideration of the many wondrous things He had done.  People were amazed at Jesus’ teaching and the demonstration of His power and authority.  He was certainly riding the “acclaim of man wave” – gaining great popularity among the people.  Matthew and Luke both state:

²³ Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. ²⁴ News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. ²⁵ Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.   Matt 4:23-25 (NIV)

 

³⁶ All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!” ³⁷ And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.   Luke 4:36-37 (NIV)

Foreseeing the need, next we are told Jesus makes provision for the upcoming onslaught of failing and frail flesh.  He was compassionately well aware that such throngs clamoring to touch Him and be touched by Him – pushing forward, striving to get near Him – would prevent many from hearing His Word.  Our Lord’s compassions are particularly directed to the helpless and hopeless – to be sure, that would be all of us apart from Him.  His voice would also travel better over the water almost with a microphone effect.  The boat would enable Him to go from place to place on the coastline and be heard.

Interestingly, our Lord never turned away those earnestly seeking Him.  I am reminded of the woman with the issue of blood.  She had heard of Jesus’ healing power and it had aroused her faith.  She would have been deemed “unclean” for twelve long years due to her condition excluding her from normal social relations. Reasoning if she only were able to touch the hem of His garment she would be healed and be able to slip away unobserved – she resolutely heads for the Master.  Surely we should all have such resolution towards Jesus.  Indeed she was healed but our Lord desired for her to go further still.  He attributes her cure to her faith and not to the touch of His clothing.  Calling her with the affectionate title “Daughter”, He restores her to wholeness of life.  We are told later in Mark her story:

 A large crowd followed and pressed around him. ²⁵ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. ²⁶ She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. ²⁷ When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸ because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. ³⁰ At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” ³¹ “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?'” ³² But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. ³³ Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. ³⁴ He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”  Mark 5:24-34 (NIV)

 

“Faith engages Christ’s power, and His power ensureth the victory.”   Bogatzky

“But there’s a decision that I find God is asking us to make: whether we are going to choose to interpret our circumstances based on what we hold to be true about God, or whether we’re going to judge what we hold to be true about God based on our circumstances. People ask how we’re doing, and I like to say: ‘We have a faithful God.’ Every promise he’s kept, every need he’s met.”   Laura Story

Lastly, we are once again reminded in Scripture that the demonic world knew exactly who Jesus was and ever trembled at His presence and authority over them.  They fall at our Lord’s feet not to bring Him honor rather to turn away His wrath.  Luke tells us:

⁴⁰ When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. ⁴¹ Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.   Luke 4:40-41 (NIV)

 

What I glean from this:

• Jesus’ teaching with power and authority amazed the people – His Word continues to do likewise.
• Jesus never turns away those who earnestly seek Him.  ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  Jer 29:13 (NIV)
• The demonic world is well aware of Who Jesus is.

 

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June_18

SHARING BREAD

¹ Another time he 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.

Mark 3:1-6 (NIV)

I love the way Jesus responds to these accusatory naysayers.  Fully aware of the oppositions thoughts and intents in searching for ways to accuse Him, Jesus here openly gives them what their closely looking for – a front and center healing on the Sabbath in view of all.  By our Lord’s confronting and overwhelming these religious leaders’ authority, their vengeance against Him soon fanned into a roaring flame.   

No healing permitted on the Lord’s Day unless it was a life threatening circumstance – this was the rule of thumb for these picky Pharisees.  I suppose they were the determiners of a life threatening circumstance.  If the problem could wait a day or so, it should wait a day or so – or so they thought.  If Jesus healed the man with the shriveled hand He would certainly be worthy of death in their eyes because He would have violated their Sabbath rules.  Never mind that our Lord’s actions promoted this invalids welfare.  Never mind that our Lord’s actions were inherently good and virtuous.  Jesus’ workings stood in stark contrast to the Pharisees who were consumed with their scheming actions against the Lord – all replete with evil and wrong intent.  What they considered breaking the Sabbath law, God considered doing good.  They took the commandment in Exodus and added to it – tweaking it to suit their fancy: 

 ¹⁴ “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. ¹⁵ For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. ¹⁶ The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. ¹⁷ It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.'”  Ex 31:14-17 (NIV)

Never deterred from His mission by the threats of mere man, our Lord commands the infirmed to take his stand in front of everyone.  There would be no hiding of the good deed performed – the light would be on the miraculous.  The Sabbath was made for restoration and restoration was getting ready to occur at the hands of the Master.  The renown will always be His.  I am reminded of the words in Jeremiah’s prayer:

²⁰ You performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, both in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours.   Jer 32:20 (NIV)  

Our Lord begins the healing by asking the Pharisees two rhetorical questions leaving them speechless – “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?”  Deeply distressed over their hardened and stubborn hearts, Jesus heals.

²⁶ Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: ²⁷ “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”   Jer 32:26-27 (NIV)

 Jesus came refreshing the weary and satisfying the faint.  He came to do the people good but sadly for these Pharisees they would have none of it.  It is a great grief indeed for our Lord to see sinners bent on their own destruction and ruin.  Like our Master, we must never deny ourselves the satisfaction of serving God and doing good though offense may be wrongly and unjustly taken by our actions.  Building high places in their hearts with their pompous prides, sacrificing their sons and daughters by teaching them their abdominal ways, these Pharisee now begin to plot slaying the Savior.  The wickedness found in a fleshly heart can never be overstated.

⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? ¹⁰ “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”   Jer 17:9-10 (NIV)

 

 “Pride not only withdraws the heart from God, but lifts it up against God.”   Thomas Manton

What I glean from this:

• I am to stand on the Truth of God’s Word – never taking away from it or adding to it.
• Jesus came to do good not evil.  He came to refresh and restore – Hallelujah for that!
• My heart can deceive me.

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June_15

SHARING BREAD

²³ One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. ²⁴ The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

²⁵ He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? ²⁶ In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”

²⁷ Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Mark 2:23-28 (NIV)

Walking on a path thorough a grainfield on a Sabbath morning the Lord’s disciples began picking heads of grain to fill their empty stomachs.  This was a legitimate action according to Deuteronomy yet the Pharisees in their narrow focus viewed their deeds as breaking the Sabbath Law by reaping.  The disciple’s were going against the explicit tradition of these elders.  The Pharisees regarded Jesus’ guys as working and therefore breaking the Sabbath Law.  Picky, picky, picky – the Pharisees delved so much in minutia they missed the Truth all together – fencing in the Law of the Sabbath with at least thirty-nine of their man made prohibited activities which included reaping grain.  Their narrow interpretation of the Law blurred God’s intention – the spirit of the Law in respect to human need was a higher priority than ceremonial regulations – ritual observances must give way to moral obligations.  I am reminded of Micah’s words regarding God’s requirements of His servants: 

⁸ He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.   Micah 6:8 (NIV)

Demanding an explanation of the disciple’s behavior the Pharisees were quick as well as smug to point out to the Lord what they presumed a trespass.     As always, Jesus’ reply comes straight from Scripture.  He reminds those pointing fingers of the actions of King David and his companion’s when eating the consecrated bread.  This is an incredibly important point our Lord brings to light here through example – we must back up what we believe to be true – as that always effects our actions – with the Truth of God’s Word.  Anything else is just an opinion – and who has authority or right to impose their opinion over another’s?     

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.   2 Tim 3:16-17 (NIV)

 

“Our claim is that God has revealed Himself by speaking; that this divine (or God-breathed) speech has been written down and preserved in Scripture; and that Scripture is, in fact, God’s Word written, which therefore is true and reliable and has divine authority over men.”   John Stott

The Sabbath was established for man as a divine and sacred institution to be embraced as a most delightful benefit and privilege – never intending to be a chore or a drudge.  Jesus tells us the Sabbath was made for man not man for it.  It was a day set forth to replenish, restore, refresh and repair – who, may I ask, does not have a need for this?  God has directed for man to rest from his work one day in seven which Jesus here affirms while all the while smashing the legalism the Pharisees had poured into its observance.  Jesus states He is the Lord of the Sabbath which is a powerful statement pointing to the fact that He Himself is the source of the deep peace we desperately need.

“The word Sabbath means a deep rest, a deep peace.  It’s a near synonym for Shalom – a state of wholeness and flourishing in every dimension of life.  When Jesus says, ‘I am the Lord of the Sabbath,’ Jesus means that he is the Sabbath.  He is the source of the deep rest we need.  He has come to completely change the way we rest.  The one-day-a-week rest we take is just a taste of the deep divine rest we need, and Jesus is its source.”    Timothy Keller

²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:25-27 (NIV)

 

³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”   John 16:33 (NIV)

 

³ You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.   Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

 

What I glean from this:

 

• Scripture states I am to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.
• I am to back up what I believe with the Truth of God’s Word otherwise it is merely my fallible opinion.
• Jesus is my peace – my sufficiency and my strength.

 

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June_13

SHARING BREAD

¹⁸ Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”

¹⁹ Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. ²⁰ But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.”

²¹ “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. ²² And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.”

Mark 2:18-22 (NIV)

Jesus’ rebuttal to the people’s query reminds me of Paul’s words to the Corinthians:

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!   2 Cor 5:17 (NIV)

Jesus came ushering in a new covenant – one filled with mercy and grace.  The Prophet Jeremiah prophesized regarding this covenant for which our Lord came from heaven to establish:

³¹ “The time is coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”   Jer 31:31 (NIV)

 

Paul states in Romans believers figuratively die to live this new life that our Lord ushers in:  

 

³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  Romans 6:3-4 (NIV)

 

“God delights in His covenant and so we are sure He will not turn back from it. It is the joy of His holy heart. He delights to do His people good. To pass over transgression, iniquity, and sin is the recreation of Jehovah. Did you ever hear God singing? It is extraordinary that the Divine One would solace Himself with song, yet a prophet has thus revealed the Lord to us: ‘The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.’ (Zephaniah 3:17). The covenant is the heart of God written out in the blood of Jesus.”  Charles Spurgeon, Grace, God’s Unmerited Favor

 

Certainly, in our verses for today, Jesus was not negating the practice of fasting – the Old Testament Law required it of the Jews yet only on the annual Day of Atonement as an act of repentance.  Jesus Himself fasted forty days.  Fasting is both an outward sign of humility as well as regret for sin and an inner discipline that keeps the spirit alert and focused.  Also, in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gets specific regarding what our actions are to look like “when” and not “if” we fast to ensure our motives pure:

 

¹⁶ “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”   Matt 6:16-18 (NIV)

 

The Pharisees however, as an act of piety, took fasting to a whole different level promoting voluntary fasts twice a week.  The Baptist, Scripture states, came neither eating nor drinking yet was being accused of being a demon.  John came with two goals – to lead people to repentance and to prepare them for Christ’s coming – our consecration preceding God’s mighty works – things too hard for man to do.  We find Jesus’ words in Matthew:

 

¹⁸ “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”‘ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”   Matt 11:18-19 (NIV)

 

Next Jesus states how out of place and inappropriate it would be for His disciples to fast while He was still walking amongst them.  They would have many opportunities to fast once He, the Bridegroom, was taken from their presence.  There was no need for this expression of sorrow while He was in their midst – in His presence is fullness of joy.  King David writes:

 

¹¹ You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.   Psalms 16:11 (NIV)

 

The new covenant Jesus came to usher in could not be placed in the old vessels of clay hence Jesus’ parabolic words to His hearers.  The rigid religiosity of the Pharisees was as the old wineskins – their hardened hearts preventing them from accepting the new life Christ freely offered.  There is a certain fleshly comfort in sameness which tugged at their hearts as well.  We must beware – hardened cynical hearts prone to worshipping the tradition of men are not fertile ground for the seed of God’s Word to be planted.  Broken and contrite hearts, on the other hand, our Lord never despises:

 

¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.   Psalms 51:17 (NIV)

 

What I glean from this:

 

• Christ came to usher in a new covenant.
• As a believer I die to live.   ²³ Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Luke 9:23-25 (NIV)
•  Hardened cynical hearts prone to worshipping the tradition of men are not fertile ground for the seed of God’s Word to be planted.  A broken and contrite heart is tilled rich soil.

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June_11

SHARING BREAD

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.”

Mark 2:13-17 (NIV)

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners (that would be all of us) – Hallelujah for that!   Those who humbly and willingly acknowledge their need for a Savior receive our Lord’s gracious hand of forgiveness and mercy.  Prior to saving faith in Jesus, we all fall into the category of a needy “sinner” – unfortunately those “righteous” in their own eyes often remain unaware of their need.  Those full of themselves- full of their religiosity – full of their “things” – full of all their “whatever’s” – appear to have no room in the inn for a Savior.  Such was the case of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law in our verses for today.

Paul reminds us of the very good news that Jesus came to save sinners stating it is trustworthy and deserving of our full acceptance.  We find in 1Timothy:

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst.  1 Tim 1:15 (NIV)

Once again, in our verses for today, we discover a large crowd assembled around the Master.  Ever on mission, Jesus begins to teach them.  Walking along beside the lake our Lord spies Levi – a/k/a Matthew – a spurned tax collector.  Jesus calls out the now familiar “Follow me” and immediately Levi is on board – obedience without hesitation.  I wonder if our obedience occurs without hesitation.  Delayed obedience is disobedience.  Interestingly, in physical cures we find Jesus being sought after yet in spiritual cures He found those who did not seek Him.  I am reminded of the words of the Prophet Isaiah:

¹ “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me.  To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’”   Isaiah 65:1 (NIV)

Matthew was a Jewish tax official employed by Herod Antipas the ruler of Galilee at that time.  Often the officials in these services were replete with fraud and scandal, bribery and extortion and therefore they were despised by the Jews.  Jesus sought out the lowly and the despised and willingly offered His hand of mercy.  Sin and scandal prior to conversion is no bar to mercy and grace in our Lord’s eyes.

Levi graciously invites our Lord and His disciples to a feast at his home and includes also some of his “sinner” comrades whose curiosity in the Lord Jesus had now peaked.  The time of opportunity was perhaps ripe for them as well.  When we have good news we want to share it with others and we see here Levi practicing hospitality by freely opening his home.  This did not go over well with the religious leaders of the day.  You can hear the Pharisees words dripping with disdain as they approach our Lord’s disciples with their query:   “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

In every age we have men and women who use their religion for their own purposes.  The Pharisees were the elite, the highly admired, the rule makers and they relished in their positions.  They mixed a feigned faith with power and pride and it was a bitter and toxic combination.  Their hearts were as hard as stone – their condition dead – and they were too full of themselves to discern it.  This was why Jesus was so full of “Woe’s” to them calling them “hypocrites”, “blind guides”, “white-washed tombs” and the like.    Matthew records our Lord’s Word to this group:

 ¹³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”    Matt 23:13 (NIV)

 

¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’”  Matt 23:16 (NIV)

 

²⁷ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.”   Matt 23:27 (NIV)

 

Before we get too fat and sassy and come down hard on these religious elite we should begin by examining our own hearts – an extremely good place to start and finish!  Do we look down on others thinking we are better?  Do we relish man’s praise over God’s?  Do we stay herded in our holy huddles holding our religious club meetings sit, soaking and souring?  Do we follow tradition or follow Jesus?  And on and on the piercing questions could go.  We are to pay careful attention to our own hearts – constantly examining them – lest our Lord is full of “Woe’s” for us as well.   Remember the lukewarm Church of Laodicea Jesus chastised in Revelation and His command to them:

¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.   Rev 3:17 (NIV)

 

 ¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. ²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.   Rev 3:19-20 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.
• My delayed obedience is disobedience.
• I am to constantly examine my own heart because God certainly does.  Scripture states:  ⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? ¹⁰ “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” Jer 17:9-10 (NIV)

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June_08

SHARING BREAD

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 the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? ¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralytic, 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!”

Mark 2:6-12 (NIV)

Shock waves spread throughout the crowds – including the teachers of the law – as the paralytic picked up his mat and walked home.  What a dramatic scene – leaving those present both wide-eyed and wide mouthed!  A miraculous event had just occurred – something too hard for mere man to accomplish – the finger marks of God smeared all over the healing. I am reminded of God’s Word to Sarah in Genesis when she laughed out loud upon hearing she would have a son in her ripe old age:

¹³ Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ ¹⁴ Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.”   Gen 18:13-14 (NIV)

 

Considering our limitations, isn’t it comforting to know that nothing is too hard for God?   

 

“Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.”   Thomas V. Moore

 Offended by Jesus’ Words of forgiveness, those Scribes present – in a surly and contemptuous tone – regarded our Lord as a blasphemer – a severe and sinful affront, punishable by death from stoning.  Immediately knowing their thoughts (why of course He did!) – Jesus confronts their hostile accusations.  Over and over again in Scripture we are told our Lord knew the thoughts of those around Him – He needs no human help in evaluating men – He was aware of what was in a man – that is why He came for heaven sake – to give us back life.  John tells us:

²³ Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. ²⁴ But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. ²⁵ He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.    John 2:23-25 (NIV)

God’s powers are inseparable – the One who could know the thoughts of men could certainly forgive sins as well as heal the lame.  Wrong thoughts of talk being cheap, saying surely easier than doing swirled around through the heads of the teachers of the law surmising our Lord had claimed to forgive sins because it was easier than healing.  They were about to have the proverbial pie in their faces when in a blinking of an eye – in obedience to Jesus’ Word – the paralytic ups and walks home.  Our Lord proves His power to forgive sins by demonstrating His power to heal.  There could be no doubt in their minds that the Son of Man possessed the achieving power He rightly espoused.  I love the way Jesus insightfully checks these Scribes in the error of their ways.  Unfortunately for them, the Truth turned them harder because they were simply unwilling to embrace it. The Prophet Isaiah gives us these comforting words:

²⁵ “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.   Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)

 

Micah increases our encouragement by adding:

 

¹⁸ Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.   Micah 7:18 (NIV)

 

“Salvation means that we are brought to the place where we are able to receive something from God on the authority of Jesus Christ, namely, forgiveness of sins….. Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace.”   Oswald Chambers

 

² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.   1 John 2:2 (NIV)

This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”   Mark 2:12B

What I glean from this:

• Nothing is too hard for God.
• Jesus knows what is in a man – that’s why He came – to give us back life.  ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  John 10:10 (NIV)
• Forgiveness of sins is the divine miracle of grace.

 

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