Mark 5:21-43 Jesus heals a desperate womans and saves a mans only daughter

21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. 25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” 29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” 31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” 32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” 35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” 40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.
 
Devotional
In this section of Mark Jesus encounters two people in great desperation. The first is a man named Jairus, one of the rulers of a synagogue, whose only little daughter was near death. The other a desperate women plagued by a flow of blood for twelve years, that made her under the Law perpetually unclean (See Lev. 15:25-27). Unable to marry and bear children (Lev. 18:19) or have fellowship in a synagogue, or within the community to any real extant (Lev. 15:19-24), she was bound to live a life of isolation and shame because of her ongoing aliment. Now this woman had not only the horrible social stigma of that flow of blood, she had as Mark declares: “…suffered many things from many physicians”, also “She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.” Vs. 26

Two desperate people then with nowhere else to turn, turn to Jesus. One a community leader, the other a social outcast, two desperate people, one common faith. Now when Jairus came to Jesus and he saw Him the Scripture says “…he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. Vs. 22-24

So it will be as Jesus’ is going with Jairus and the crowds are gathering around them as the news spreads that Jesus is going to heal his daughter, that the woman with the flow of blood will also hear about Jesus. And the Scripture says: “When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Vs. 27-28 In Matthew we are told that she did this suddenly as Jesus and disciples made their way with Jairus (Matt. 9:20-22). In other words when she heard about Jesus, she moved quickly towards Him, likely with a heightened sense of urgency as the people started to close in around Jesus, and when she got close enough to Him she reached out and was able to touch just the hem or the outer edge of His garment.

And with that reach of desperation the Scripture says: 29 immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” 31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” vs. 29-31

Notice a couple of things. When this happened Jesus immediately sensed that power went out from Him. Now the cause of the power going out from Him was not that the women merely touched Jesus which made her immediately well. It was that she believed in her heart that if she could only touched Him she would be made well. For it was her faith in Jesus’ ability to heal her that caused the release of power going out from Him. And that is the essence of Jesus Christ’s power of salvation that goes out to everyone who believes in Him. There is immediate life transforming power from God, that goes out through Him by the Holy Spirit to every soul who reaches out in faith to Him, will find life everlasting (Rom. 1:16-17).

Notice also the disciple’s response to Jesus’ question about “Who touched My clothes?” vs. 30 was interpreted by them as Jesus saying: ‘Who touched Me?’ ” vs. 31 The significance being that Jesus was asking a very specific question about who intentionally touched His clothes so as to cause power to go out from Him. While the disciples being unaware of what had just happened were bewildered by Jesus’ question, given the throng of people pressing all about Him. So it was with their response that Jesus “…looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” Vs. 32-34

Now it’s not that Jesus did not know that power went out from Him and to whom it went to. It’s that Jesus wanted the women to come forth and declare what had just happened. Therefore Jesus’ response to her, as it is to all who confess to Him in faith, was not judgment as she feared, but mercy. For “…He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” Vs. 34 And that is the Good News from God when anyone sees there need for Jesus Christ and confesses to Him in faith there is immediate forgiveness of all our sins. Now it will be in the light of that Good News that bad news will come. For the passage then say’s: 35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” vs. 35-37 

Jesus Words here to Jairus are not only theologically significant in that within them contains the way of salvation but they are given to alleviate Jairus fear of the unknown. For as with the woman with the flow of blood who had a fear of judgment before Jesus in a gentle spirit of grace took it away with His Words, so here Jesus is reassuring Jairus to maintain his faith and not fold (vs. 37).

These three men being leaders amongst the twelve would later bear witness to what was about to take place. And by so doing they would become catalysts for building faith in others. Now as they came upon Jairus’ home there was a tumult of people who wept and wailed loudly (vs. 38) which must have been devastating to him, but that is the traditional mourning practices for Jewish people to publicly and often dramatically express grief over loss of life. Now it will be as Jesus’ enters the house (vs. 39) that He will say to those present: “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” Vs. 40 Jesus’ Words here are not a denial of the child’s death but are likely for Jairus’ sake to keep His faith alive so that Jesus might raise his little girl from the dead. However with Jesus’ declaration that the child was not dead, but sleeping, those present ridiculed Him. Literally they derided Him (Strongs). Indicating without a question that the child was indeed dead. Though with Jesus’ Word’s His raising the child from the dead would not be spread about as if He had not spoken them, for it appears He did not intend at this time for people to be made fully aware of whom He was (vs. 43).

Therefore Jesus’ paid no attention to their deriding Him, instead after He had put them all outside of the house; He took the father and mother of the child and those with Him and went into where the child was laying (vs. 40). Then He took the little girl by the hand and said to her: … “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Vs. 41
Now the Scripture says “Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.” Vs. 42

Notice the immediacy of the little girls being brought to life, just as the woman with the flow of blood was immediately healed, and the two demoniac’s were immediately set free (Previous devotional). So here the girl being raised from the dead was immediate at the command of Christ. For Jesus Christ is more than just a Physician who miraculously heals people, more than just a Prophet who casts out demons, Jesus Christ is Lord of both the living and the dead. 21 “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 “that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." John 5:21-24
Therefore the little girl was not only brought back to life she was made fully well again. So she got up and walked, which caused those there to be overcome with great amazement. And with that Jesus strictly commanded that no one should know it, also He said that she should be given something to eat (vs. 43).

Now the reason for Jesus' not wanting His raising the little girl from the dead to become widely known is likely that He Himself had not yet been crucified and raised from the dead. Which is the forerunner to the Holy Spirit's outpouring and the power of God which transforms people from being spiritually dead to being Spiritually alive and prepared for the resurrection of dead. For if Jesus' doing miraculous healings brought people from far and wide so that He and His disciples at times could barely have time to eat, or escape being thronged by needy people, how much more if word got out that Jesus raised a man's deceased only child from the dead. He would be swamped by people and their requests for the same. And throughout the Gospel if you search it carefully you will not find a single instance where Jesus refused someone’s request for help. Jesus' healing than of Jairus only child was clearly an act of mercy on a man who came seeking Jesus to heal his than alive child, who died while he was still seeking Jesus. Therefore I believe Jesus having all knowledge of all things already knew what He was going to do even before the news reached Jesus.
Therefore Jesus did not and would not turn His back on someone who sought Him, just as He won’t turn His back on you, if you in faith seek Him. As the Scripture declares:

6 Seek the LORD while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the LORD,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7

Therefore news of our problems is not news to the Lord Jesus. In fact it was because of each of us and God's love for us, that Jesus Christ came into the world to not only pave the way for our restoration to a right relationship with God the Father and thus give to us new and everlasting life, but also to teach us the way of life as He said: … “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Have you then come to know God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son? God already knows you and loves you, but do you know Him? For that is what the gospel is, an invitation to life. Life that begins when one simply believes in Jesus Christ crucified on the cross for their sins forgiveness, then raised from the dead for their justification to new life. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph. 2:8-9

Begin new life today by inviting the Lord Jesus Christ into your life. For He has already accomplished everything that needs to be done to restore you to a personal relationship with God the Father, all that is now required is your receiving Him. To receive the Lord Jesus simply pray something like this: Dear Lord Jesus Christ thank you for suffering and dying in my place that I might be restored to God the Father through You. I now invite You into my heart and life to be my only Lord and Savior, amen.


All Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Mark 5:1-20 Jesus Heals a Demon Possessed Man

1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” 8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. 11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” 13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. 14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. 18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

Devotional
In this passage from the Gospel of Mark, though Jesus' Words here are few, His Works are Mighty and Compassionate. Now as Jesus and disciples arrive in the country of the Gadarenes opposite Galilee (Luke 8:26). Jesus gets out of the boat and He is immediately met by a demon possessed man (vs. 1). In Matthew’s account we are told it was two men who met Jesus; and both were exceedingly fierce so that no one could pass that way (Matt. 8:28). Mark and Luke than emphasize just one of them. All of the gospel accounts of this event concur with the fierceness of these men and what transpired when these men encountered Jesus. Mark then says of this particular one that “…no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.” Vs. 3-5 Luke likewise tells us this occurred near the shores of the city of Gardarenes which is on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. While Matthew calls the location Gergesenes, yet both are describing the same place, for it was "a town located six miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee, east of the Jordan on the edge of the Arabian desert", whose surrounding region was known as the country of the Gadarenes or Gergesenes.***
Now Mark paints the most vivid depiction of these events and Matthew the least. While Luke (by training being a physician) seems to emphasize this particular mans plight saying he had demons for a long time, and he did not reside in a home, but he lived naked amongst the tombs (Luke 8:27). “For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.” Luke 8:29

All in all it’s a grizzly picture of severe demonic activity in a human life. Yet were not told how that man got into that state, which is not the point, the point is how he got out of it. Previously Jesus rebuked the forces of nature with His Word. Here Jesus will rebuke with the forces of hell. From the fierceness of the Sea of Galilee, to the fierceness of a demon possessed man, Jesus’ Word brings calm when He invokes it, not chaos. Now Marks says that when the man saw Jesus from afar he ran and worshiped Him (vs. 6). While Luke says that the demonic man fell prostrate before Jesus. Both are describing the same thing. Since the word used by Mark translated worship means to kneel or prostrate oneself before ones superior, either as an act of worship, or paying homage etc. all which verse seven indicates. So it was Christ’s initial Word to “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” vs. 8 that precipitated the man’s falling before him, and the demon pleading that Jesus not torment him. Both Mark and Luke record the demons response as basically saying “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” Vs. 7

Therefore whatever manner of demon spirits that were in that man, they literally had such control of him so as to cause him to fall before, and speak out in great fear at being in the Lord Jesus Christ’s Presence. Now the response of the demons here is very similar to the response when Jesus cast out a demon in the man He encountered in the Synagogue, when He first came up into Galilee (See Mark 1:21-28). In both instances they were immediately aware of Christ’s Presence and both fearfully acknowledged His Power to send them out of the ones they possessed. Therefore their fearful response to Jesus’ Presence in their midst, whether it was meant to or not, gave immediate testimony to Jesus Christ’s Person, Power, and Authority to do so. Something Matthew, Mark and Luke all record. And in all of Jesus’ casting out of demons in the Gospel, Jesus’ asking a demon it’s name is unique to this encounter (vs. 10). The significance being not for Christ’s sake, but clearly for ours, so that we could understand the severity of that man's oppression. Now their response to Jesus' question was that their name was legion, “for we are many”. Indicates the great number of demons in that poor man. For the word Legion refers to a Roman unit of combined infantry consisting of both foot soldiers and often horsemen, equivalent in numbers to roughly the modern military brigade, about 4000-6000+. Though literalness is not being stressed in the passage, just that the man was oppressed by many demons. And as we will see when Jesus lets them enter the swine there was enough of them to overtake and overpower over two thousand swine! What a frightening scene that must have been. That they earnestly begged Jesus not to cast them out of that country indicates, again Jesus' Authority to do so, and maybe indicating that they themselves had found a refuge amongst the people of that region, as the people there will later request Jesus leave them. And so it is not the nation, but the individual that Jesus Christ first seeks to save, set free, and change. People’s reception or rejection of Jesus Christ as Lord then will ultimately determine their fate, and the fate of the nations in which they dwell (Psalm 2; 9:17-20; 22:27-28; 33:10-22; 46:10; 47; 72; 82:8; 110; Rev. 11:15-18 etc.).
Now Luke records that the demons requested that Jesus not cast them out into the abysses (Luke 8:31). In essence the same thing, since all three declare that the demons requested that Jesus allow them to enter the herd of swine that was there. Matthew also notes that the swine were a good way off (Matt. 8:30). Now we must not lose sight of both the intensity of the moment, and the immediacy of this man’s healing, as the demons immediately leave him at Jesus' command and overtake the swine. For just as Jesus immediately calmed the Sea, so here He will immediately calm an otherwise untamable man. Something that the Gospel always does when the Presence of Christ is received He brings inner peace into everyone who believes. Now verse thirteen declares that Jesus gave them permission to enter the swine, and so when they did the entire herd ran violently down the steep place where they were and into the sea. The swine then acted just as the man did when the Legion of demons entered him, causing him to run hysterically with self destructive force. Now when the herdsmen who were watching over the swine saw this they themselves fled and went and told it in the city and country (vs. 14). Now as the people of that region came out to see what had happened to the swine, they saw the man who had been demon possessed now sitting and clothed and in his right mind. Now the Scripture says when the people of that region saw the man who was formerly demon possessed sitting peaceably and his right mind they were afraid (vs. 15). It was then that those who observed all these things told them how it all happened to that man who was once demon possessed (vs. 16). In essence they gave an eyewitness testimony to Jesus Christ and His Mighty Works to their own countrymen who came to see what had happened. And with that verse seventeen declares; "Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.” Vs. 17

Now the people’s response seems to me utterly bizarre given the gracious work of Jesus in healing that man of his horrible affliction. For they neither marvelled at Jesus who had power to do such things, nor did they glorify God for it, nor did they rejoice at the man’s healing, (all which often happened when Jesus healed others of their afflictions, see Matt 9:8, 32-33, 15:29-31). Instead they were only afraid. Yet in their fear they didn’t turn to God in reverence acknowledging Jesus as a Man sent from God who had the Authority of God to do such things. Instead they only pleaded with His Son to leave their country, and thus them. Therefore whatever faith beliefs and practices they had in that region they did not have, or want to have faith in Jesus Christ. Even though they both heard and saw His mighty works to transform that demon possessed man’s life, whom they had previously chained and exiled to live in the tombs (lit. necropolis, a burial site meaning, "city of the dead"). For not one of them pleaded, (or even asked) Jesus to stay or be with them, either to heal themselves, a sick relative, or a loved one, as the people of Galilee often did. Nor did anyone ask Jesus to come and stay for dinner, as even the Pharisees would. Only the man who had been previously demon possessed when he saw Jesus get into the boat to depart from that region by the way He came, pleaded with Jesus to be with Him, ironically using the same word that they used to plead with Jesus to leave them. It’s an incredible contrast of hungering faith and willful unbelief (vs. 17-18). Notice too, that Jesus never spoke a Word to the people there (something that only occurs here in the Gospel). Only their own countrymen who gave an eyewitness accounting of what transpired did. And so even though all the evidence was there for them to believe. Yet more than that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself was there in their midst and He who could have and would've saved and healed all those people just as immediately as He healed that demon possessed man. But they didn't want anything to do with Jesus when they heard what He did, and could do. Instead they only pleaded with Jesus to leave them, so that is what Jesus did, and still does where He is rejected, He left them alone...

The Gospel truly is a message for the poor, the despised, the rejected, the demon possessed, and anyone else, from any circumstance of life who finds themselves for whatever reasons, alienated from God and all that is life. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life for everyone who receives Him into their lives (John 14:6). For Jesus sets captives of sin and Satan free. Yet it is only that man of all the people there in that country who wanted to be with Jesus. For he profoundly experienced the healing power of Christ in his life and was truly grateful beyond words for what God through Jesus Christ His Son did for him, in setting him free from that horrible demonic bondage. And having set him free Jesus said to him …“Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. Vs. 19-20

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

 ***Word in Life Study Bible . electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1996, S. Mk 5:21

Mark 4:35-41 Jesus Calms the Sea

35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Devotional
After Jesus had taught the multitudes from Capernaum, and the surrounding regions, many things in parables pertaining to the Kingdom of God, while He was sitting in a boat off the shores of the Sea of Galilee. When evening arrived, He and His disciples set out according to the Lord’s Words “Let us cross over to the other side.” Vs. 35
And so when they multitudes departed, the disciples with Jesus in the boat with them, set out for the other side. The disciple’s itinerary was likely to make haste across the Sea of Galilee before the sun fully set. Given the unpredictability of the Sea of Galilee, as cool dry air is often drawn down from the hills which surround it, into the hot tropical like shoreline making for sudden high winds which can suddenly and without warning whip up the Sea of Galilee’s relatively shallow waters, making late evening crossings particularly unnerving.

Now as Jesus and the disciples departed from there several small boats also went with them. And it was while they were crossing that a great windstorm suddenly arose, and the waves were beating violently into the boats, so that they were already filling, threatening to sink them. Now as these terrifying events unfolded the Scripture says that the Lord Jesus was sound asleep in the stern of the boat on a pillow. So it was then, as they realized this sudden storm quell was threatening to sink them, “…they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” vs. 38

Now a couple things to take note of, first Jesus was in the boat with them. They were not going through this alone. Yet Jesus’ demeanor was not like the disciples. Jesus was not panicking; Jesus was sleeping, as sound as baby in its mother’s arms, as the sea was being tossed by the winds. The disciples though were fixated on the Sea’s conditions, and their circumstances within it, not on the Lord who was also going through this storm with them. Therefore their circumstances were dictating the level of peace and security they were experiencing in their lives during that time. Now while they were panicking, and Jesus was sleeping soundly in the stern of the vessel, do you think Jesus was unaware of the storm? Do you think Jesus is unaware of the storm surges that suddenly swell up in our lives? Do you not realize He is aware of all these things? How then do we respond to those difficult things God allows in our lives? Do we remain calm and secure in the knowledge that if God is for us who can be against us? Or do we like the disciples quickly forget who’s in our vessel with us as we sail through life’s stormy seas? Now it will be as the disciples cry out to Jesus, that He arises, rebukes the wind, and says to the sea: “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm (vs. 39). And with that Jesus looks to His disciples and says: …“Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” Vs. 40-41

Are you looking to Jesus to calm the storm inside you or are you looking to trying to calm the storm yourself? Maybe by allowing these things Jesus wants us to learn to lean on Him more and ourselves and our “survival” tactics less? For many of life’s circumstances which make us anxious or fearful or upset etc. we simply cannot change; therefore rather than be discouraged or defeated by them we should look to God as our shelter when we are faced with those things. It doesn’t come easily, especially when you’re in the midst of it; but it does come as we learn to trust the Lord Jesus and lean on Him as our Eternal Refuge and Hope, and ourselves and our abilites to "control"  our circumstances less (Deut. 33:27; 2 Sam. 22:3-4; Ps. 9:9-10; 14:6; 28:7-9; 46:1; 57:1; 59:16-17; 62:7-8; 91; 141:8-10; 142:4-6).

Therefore if you have come to a personal faith in Jesus Christ then Jesus’ promise to us is not that we will not have tribulations and trials in this life, but He will be our peace and Security continually through them. For salvation is not just a single act of God to redeem us from sin and death it is an ongoing committed to our eternal well being. Therefore all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ have His Promise of peace as He said: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

Now Jesus Christ’s peace comes to all who lay hold of it by faith in His Person. Trusting His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead for their sins forgiveness. For it is only by the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for our sins on the cross and our faith in Him that we have peace with God, as well as experience the peace of God in our lives. Therefore all of God’s promises in the Holy Scriptures are for everyone who lays hold of His Son’s promises for them.

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Heb. 6:13-19

Scripture Quotations:
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Mark 4:30-34 Jesus' Parable of the Mustard Seed

30 Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31 “It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32 “but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” 33 And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

Devotional
Jesus’ parable here though the shortest of His parables is one of the most revealing. In it Jesus makes an analogy with the Kingdom to that of a mustard seed. Which as the Lord reveals is smaller than all seeds on earth. Now the word translated earth here means earth as a whole, land as in arable land, country as in national territory with fixed borders etc. Thus Jesus is making analogy through seeds that were commonly known by people in and around Israel. His reference to the mustard seed would then resonated right away with them. For it is indeed the smallest of all seeds known to Middle Eastern peoples being about 3mm (Wikipedia). Now Jesus likens the Kingdom's beginnings on earth to it, for He says: “…when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32 “but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” Vs. 31-32

The Kingdoms analogies then are this
1) It’s beginnings are extremely small,
2) It is planted in a field, lit. the entire earth.
3) When it is sown, it grows and becomes greater than all things relative to it.
4) It reaches out way beyond what one might naturally expect, and thus its influence is exceedingly far reaching as Jesus says it “shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” Now birds of the air don’t naturally find shade in a mustard seed plant. Thus the analogy of birds finding shade in it may be indicating the influence of evil on the external elements of the Kingdom because of it's massive growth (See Mark 4:4, 4:15). ***

Verse thirty three and four than conclude this passage by saying: 33 And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. Vs. 33-34

Now the word translated hear in the phrase: “as they were able to hear it” has several shades of meaning beyond just literally hearing with the ear. It also entails perception, that is the literary devices and analogies Jesus used in explaining the Kingdom of God were not beyond their comprehension. He used analogies that they could easily recognize. But when Jesus was alone with His disciples He explained all things to them. That is the deeper truths within those literary devices which they were pointing too. And that is the key to understanding the Scriptures. First knowing the Lord Jesus Christ personally by repenting of ones sins and believing in Him, then by spending time with Him in His Word, so that the Holy Spirit of God, according to the promise of God, will lead you into all truth (John 14:26; 1 John 2:27). That is why God has given us this revelation and manifestation of Himself through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we all might know Him, and ultimately obey Him. For in knowing Jesus one will find not only remission of all their sins, but also eternal life (John 3:16; 17:3). And obeying Jesus and keeping His commandments there is not only safety from the many moral and Spiritual pitfalls in this world, there is also great reward both here and now and eternally (Psalm 19:11).

I don’t know where you are at today. But I hope that something here has encouraged you, or strengthened you, or maybe even enlightened you to believe in Jesus and thus pursue a greater knowledge of God through Him alone. For I know I learn from doing this, so I hope you do to. Feel free to share any questions or comments but please don’t use the comment box to promote a blog without my first knowing who or what it is your promoting. This is a Christian forum therefore I hope that Christ will be honored by my blogs and any questions and comments made.

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

*** I think the Believers Bible Commentary is where I gleaned that thought from. I don’t currently have a copy of it, but I’m fairly certain I read that in their commentary.

Mark 4:26-29 Jesus' Parable of the Kingdom's Growth

26 And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 “and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28 “For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29 “But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
 

Devotional
Jesus now follows up His parable of the Sower with specific parables about the nature of the Kingdom of God. The first was the parable of the lampstand (Mark 4:26-29). In this parable Jesus likens the Kingdom of God’s growth to that of a man who scatters seed on the ground, “and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.” Vs. 27

In the first half of Jesus’ parable He makes analogy to the Kingdom of God’s growth like that of seeds scattered on the ground. There is a mystery to how the Kingdom grows, and thus Jesus compares its growth to that of seeds which a man has sown. Which likewise have a mystery about their growth that we cannot fully explain, though we observe the growth process. “For the earth yields crops by itself…” vs. 28

Similarly the Kingdom of God’s growth is independent of us. We do not dictate when and how the Kingdom of God grows. In many ways if we try to formulate what makes for successful growth we only deceive ourselves since that belongs to God alone. We merely scatter seeds of faith; that is a believer’s responsibility; for ultimately all growth comes by God, both in the Kingdom of God as well as a believer’s life. Now in this growth process of the seeds, and thus the Kingdom of God, Jesus describes four distinct Phases:
“First the blade.” The first phase of the Kingdom is like the first signs of a plants growth. Immediately one thinks of Jesus Christ who first preached and taught the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15) and how He did many miracles and healings and such as He brought the gospel first to His own people Israel, while discipling His chosen twelve. The first phase then would be from Jesus Christ’s Incarnation to His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension for those early events are foundational to the Kingdom of God becoming accessible to mankind on earth.

“Then the head.” The second Phase could be thought of as the “church age” which began with the Holy Spirit’s outpouring at Pentecost forty days after the Lord Jesus Christ’s ascension back to the Father (Read Acts 1-3). This being pivotal to mankind’s redemption from sin and death, for with the Holy Spirit’s arrival all of Jesus Christ’s promises of eternal life come to fruition in those who believe. For it is the Holy Spirit who brings repentant sinners to life and thus into union with God and Jesus Christ by God’s Spirit dwelling inside us (Eph. 1:13-14), that is how one becomes a member of the Body of Christ. Thus God is no longer said to dwell in Temples (Acts 7:48-50), but in His creation who repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 3:18-26). Though believing Jews are predominate at the early stages of this phase of growth. The Kingdom will increasingly come to the Gentiles with Israel’s growing opposition of the followers of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. Rejecting faith in Jesus Christ as the only means into a relationship with God and turning back to Moses and circumcision as the means of salvation (Acts 15; 28:17-29). And thus with that their fate is sealed for a season as the “pillars” of their faith will be removed from them, both their Temple and their nation will suffer ruin at the hands of the Romans according to the will of God. Something which Jesus foretold would happen, even before His crucifixion (Matt. 23:37-39; 24:1-2).

“After that the full grain in the head” The third phase then is the precursor to the finial, before the Lord Jesus Christ’s return. The Kingdom having been preached to the entire world; with both believing Jews and Gentiles sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30). All that awaits is the Lord’s return, the rapture of the church, and the final judgment which is the final phase, “But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Vs. 29

The harvest being the separation of the just souls of men, women and children made right with God by their faith in Jesus Christ from those who rejected God’s offer to pardon their sins through His Son’s death on a cross. Now there is a lot one could try to say about God first gathering the Gentiles to Himself, then Israel into a nation, their returning to Him, the tribulation period and such. Pages could spent on looking into those events foretold in the Prophetic Scriptures. Yet those things are not the issue. The issue is have you made a personal decision to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and raised from the dead for your sins forgiveness and getting right with God? For only those who see their need and thus repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will be forgiven their sins and saved from the judgment to come. Listen God does indeed love you and wants to you to experience abundant life with Him through His Son. For God’s will is not that anyone should perish but that all should come to repentance, (2 Peter 3:9), that is a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. For you cannot change yourself, nor can you atone for your past wrongs, but God has and can if you will open your heart to Him through His Son, who suffered and died for us all so that we might be set free from sin and saved from God’s judgment against it. That is why the Lord Jesus Christ says to all: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Rev. 3:20

To begin a relationship with God begins by simply:
Accepting that you are a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness
Believing that God loves you and has provided everything you need to be forgiven. 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17
Trusting that God has forgiven you when you repent and turn to Him and put your personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord who was crucified and raised from the dead so that you and I could be forgiven.
Confessing Jesus Christ as Lord (Rom. 10:9, 10, 13). Usually this takes place with initiation into a church community by water baptism. Though public confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and ones faith in Him is not restricted to that, and in no way does that alone define Christ's followers. It does give opportunity to make a public declaration of ones faith in God through the Lord Jesus Christ and get connected with Him through a local body of believers. I hope what I have written inspires faith in you, if you have any questions feel free to correspond in comment box I'd be glad to try to answer any questions you may have.

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Mark 4:21-25 Jesus' Parable of the Lamp

21 Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 22 “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. 23 “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 “For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

Devotional
In the first part of Jesus’ exhortation He is comparing His gospel with that of a lamp, which is not brought out to be put under a basket, or placed under a bed, but on a lampstand (vs. 21). Now in Jesus' sermon on Mount, Jesus says something very similar when people are in relationship with Him “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt. 5:15-16

In the sermon of the Mount Jesus is talking about believers good works which bring glory to God. Here in this parable though Jesus is referring to the Kingdom of God and its declaration, in essence evangelism (vs. 21-23). For the Gospel is not to be hidden from people. It is to be shared openly and without partiality. For what the Lord Jesus Christ said and did, He did publically. He never tried to conceal His purposes. He came forth from God as the Light of the World and His Word is not hidden from those who accept it and obey it.
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 4:3-6

Therefore Jesus’ Words in verse twenty two “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light." May be construed as meaning all of Scriptures mysteries will be revealed in their time. Jesus then concludes His exhortation by saying “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” Vs. 23

Now in verse twenty four and five Jesus says: “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 “For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

These verses are linked to God’s revelation that He brings forth through Christ. Jesus Christ is not only God Incarnate in the flesh as a Man. He is the Living Word of God who not only declares it, but also brings to life by God’s Spirit all who repent and believe in Him through it. The importance then of how ones hears Him through His Word cannot be overstated! That is what the Lord Jesus is emphasizing in verse twenty four and five. Those then who hear the Lord Jesus Christ and do not harden their hearts to Him, and thus measure Him according to what God says of Him, will likewise be measured appropriately as belonging to Him, and thus more revelation of God in Christ will be given them. But those who do not, who do not believe, or ascribe to the Lord Jesus Christ something less than who He is will likewise be measured by that same judgment, and with that they cannot be said to belong to Him. For you cannot lesson the Person of God’s Son and declare yourself as having faith in God! The Lord Jesus concludes by saying: “…to you who hear, more will be given” 25 “For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Mark 4:10-20 Parable of the Sower Explained

10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 “so that
‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.’ ”

13 And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 “The sower sows the word. 15 “And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 “These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 “and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. 18 “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 “and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 “But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Devotional
This is the follow up to the previous post of the parable of the Sower. It begins with the twelve and those near Jesus after He had spoken to the multitudes asking the Lord Jesus why He spoke to them in parables. This is Jesus’ prelude then to explaining the parable of the sower to us. Matthew also records Jesus saying at this time: “For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” Matt. 13:12 That is why Jesus’ quoting from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 6:9-10) to His disciples in Mark 3:12 is so important. People should never take lightly the Lord Jesus or the Words He speaks, for He is God's Prophet who speaks in God's Name (Deut. 18:15, 18-19). Therefore Jesus is making a marked distinction between those who know Him, who are inside the Kingdom by their believing in Him as He declares Himself to be, and those who are outside, who for whatever reasons do not. The parable of the Sower then is not describing the way into the Kingdom, it is describing potential processes that take place in people's lives when they hear the Word of God that Jesus speaks. For the gospel is a simple message: God loves you so He sent Jesus Christ His Son to die on a cross for you, then Jesus rose from the dead, and after forty days ascended back to the Father in heaven so that all who repent and believe in Him will have forgiveness of all their sins and everlasting life. Now Jesus' exhortation here is given in His and the disciple’s native land of Galilee; where Jesus' ministry began in Nazareth His hometown. But they rejected Him as the Messiah so Jesus went on to Capernaum, Herod's city, and taught in the synagogues there, doing many mighty deeds and miraculous works, healing people even in the synagogues on the Sabbath, and now by the Sea of Galilee.

 And thus as Jesus’ fame spreads far and wide people increasingly are coming to Him from farther locals. Even beyond traditional Jewish territories, to be healed by Him, or to hear Him speak, or see a miracle performed by Him etc. And with the peoples came the Jewish religious leaders to investigate this Man who seemed to be turning the world; or at least their world upside down. Often refuting their interpretations of the Scriptures, which they held to be authoritative and binding on the people, and instead preaching the Kingdom of God and His Lordship of it. Therefore you have scribes (who copied and interpreted the law of Moses and thus were held in very high esteem by the people) coming up from Jerusalem, to not only investigate Jesus, but now more than ever to refute Him before the people, to discredit Him, which is what they were trying to do when Jesus warned both them and the crowds about blaspheming the Holy Spirit. So Jesus for a time withdraws from them and the Synagogues of Capernaum and goes to the nearby shores of the Sea of Galilee and begins teaching again to the multitudes that follow Him there, but now in parables (See Matthew 13). The first parable Jesus speaks to the multitudes is the “parable of the Sower” which carries with it profound insights as well as warnings. So now when Jesus was alone with His disciples; that is the twelve Apostles and others who were following Him they asked Jesus what the parable meant. "And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?" Vs. 13

Now in explaining the parable of the Sower Jesus will reveal basically four different types of responses when people hear the Good News about Him. Jesus begins by saying: “The sower sows the word.” 15 “And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts." Vs. 14-15 In Jesus' first analogy He declares it is Satan who takes these seeds of faith away from those people’s hearts who are by the wayside. And thus the Word of God does not even begin to take hold in their hearts. Therefore don’t be surprised when seeds of faith are sown, wherever they are sown, and then the enemy comes with his own means seeking to undermine what was sown. That pattern is played out time and again in the gospel just as it is in our very lives who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ when we try to evangelize for Him. For wherever seeds of faith are sown there will be obstacles as well opposition to them taking root.
In the next instance, you may recall,  Jesus said the seed that fell on the stony ground immediately springs up, but when the sun arises it is scorched and soon withers away. Now this symbolizes those who hear the gospel, rejoice over it's good news, as Jesus say's here, they "immediately receive it with gladness". But “they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.” vs. 16 These people then do not come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ either. Though they initially rejoice in hearing about Jesus. Inwardly they never let the Lord Jesus Christ take root in their hearts (See Rev. 3:20). And sadly when tribulation or persecution arises for the Words sake immediately they stumble, meaning they give up their faith, or maybe it would be better to say they give up their pursuit of faith in Jesus Christ and fall away (vs. 16-17). In explaining the third instance Jesus says: “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 “and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” vs. 19-20

Now in stating that Jesus is warning us about the Word of God being choked out by three possible things: “cares of this world”, (see Matt. 6:25-34), the “deceitfulness of riches” (See Matt. 6:19-24) and “the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (See Mark 8:36-39). These three things can be grave obstacles to a person finding their God given purposes in Jesus Christ. Their faith journey then never comes to fruition. Instead it gets chocked out, as Jesus says here. In the first instance by the “cares of this world”, which can be an innumerable amount of worldly concerns that draws people’s time and energies in a hundred different directions. Now in regards lifes' daily worries and needs the Lord Jesus tells us: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matt. 6:33-34
In essence what Jesus' is warning about is ones faith in a loving God who promises to provide for all our needs becomes supplanted and the choked out by the “cares of this world”, by one trying to secure their own future by their own means rather than trusting in Jesus Christ who has already secured it. And that is a grave pitfall when people let life's worries dictate their lives affairs rather than the Lord of Life.

In next warning Jesus warns about “the deceitfulness of riches”. Now there is no greater spiritual deception than that which goes with allurement of wealth. Jesus warned in His Sermon on the Mount that no one can serve God and mammon. Mammon being an Aramaic word for riches, often translated money. The Lord Jesus said: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matt. 6:24
Suffice it to say that Apostle Paul also warned us in his first epistle (or letter) to Timothy to beware of those who make the godliness into a pursuit of gain (1 Tim. 6:5-9). "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1 Tim. 6:10

The last of the three that Jesus presents to us is: "and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." This is the answer to the analogy where the seed falls amongst the thorns. There are a great many things that say give me your attention, give me your focus. And unless a person is proactive in prioritizing their lifes affairs it is likely their faith journey will fall victim to this. In Luke "desires for other things" is more specifically mentioned as the "pleasures of life" (See Luke 8:14) and thus the Word of God gets choked out and they bring no fruit to maturity.

Now in the finial example Jesus  reveals the essential nature of those who truly believe in Him. Who don't fall away when living For Jesus Christ gets hard, as He promises it will (John 16:33). For God's blessing is only on those who endure (Matt. 5:10-12). Or those who don't have any real faith in God. God being more of a concept to them, than a Person of Trinity who both creates, provides, and governs the affairs of all life. Who can intercede into any person's or nations circumstances at anytime, to accomplish anything.


Remember Jesus Christ's resurrection and ascension is God's Personal victory over Satan, sin and death accomplished for us and in us. All things have been made subject to Jesus Christ who is our Lord. Therefore there is nothing that can ever remove us from God's grace once we have come to saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus and a personal faith in Him. That is why the Apostle Paul boldly declared:
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now the Lord declares in the finial exhortation of the parable of Sower: “But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” Notice where the good seed finds good ground, they accept it, and bear fruit some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred. Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ then will bear fruit in His Name.


Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Mark 4:1-10 Parable of the Sower

1 And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. 2 Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 “And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. 5 “Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 “But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. 7 “And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 “But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” 9 And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”


Devotional
Jesus then having rebuked the scribes from Jerusalem and the Pharisees for their blasphemous assertions about Himself now begins to teach the great multitude that had gathered literally from everywhere with parables by the sea. And thus Jesus begins to teach the crowds and us here a very important parable. So Jesus starts by setting out from shore in a small boat just a far enough so He is not overrun by people seeking to be healed by Him. So it is there in the still waters, a few feet or maybe meters from shore where He can project His voice off the waters, Jesus begins to teach again. Now the Scripture says He taught them many things in parables. Though were told everything He taught them at that time in this section of Mark's gospel (See Matt. 13) we are told something that is foundational to following Him and understanding the spiritual realities of doing so. And to do this Jesus uses agrarian or agricultural principles or realities to explain spiritual ones to us. Thus Jesus begins by saying: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 “And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it." Vs. 3-4

Without revealing too much at this time for Jesus explains the parable for us so when we look at that section then I’ll expand. But for now I’ll try to illuminate some of the metaphors within the parable without giving everything away at this time. Starting with Jesus’ emphatic call to us to listen! or literally hear! For what Jesus is about to say to us must not be causally heard or received. It must be indigested into the depths of our souls, for how we “hear” Jesus when He speaks to us through His Word will have a profound impact on us and our standing with Him later on. Therefore if you remember nothing else, remember this that what God’s Word says and what we hear we must apply our faith to, both our intellect and well as our actions (Heb. 4:2; James 2:18, 26). And thus Jesus describes a sower; that is a person, with a bag of seeds at their side who walks up and down a cultivated fields furrows randomly throwing out seeds on either side of it to seed it. Now as you can imagine there are a lot of variables with this method of seeding, and Jesus will use some of them to reveal spiritual realities to us. The first one Jesus chooses to reveal to us is that as the sower sowed “…some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.” Vs. 4 That some seed fell by the wayside means it did not find the ground it was intended to, and before it even has a chance to germinate the birds of the air come and devour it. This is the first scenario Jesus presents to us. Now in the Bible
birds of prey and or scavenger species can represent the presence of evil; the Law of Moses gives a list of unclean birds for the Israelites not to eat and these are generally, but not always, thought of in that light in the Scriptures (See Lev. 11:13-18; 20:25-26; Rev. 18:3-4). Here then Jesus is using them in that light to warn us that the sowers seed does not always get a chance to begin, for it is lost by the wayside and then quickly devoured by the birds of the air. The next analogy Jesus uses of the sowers seed is that “Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 “But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. Vs. 5-6

In Israel it’s not hard to imagine there being stony ground around where one might try to sow seed. And thus Jesus tells us that some of the sowers seed lands on stony ground where there is no depth of earth and thus the seed immediately springs up. But as Jesus warns when the sun came up it was scorched and having no root it withered away. Jesus then is not taking about a full grown plant here. He is talking about a seed that germinates suddenly but ultimately is withered by the sun lacking the roots to sustain it during the heat of the day. Now there are varieties of desert seeds that can sprout in as quickly as 50 minutes from the time they are exposed to even slight moisture; in temperatures ranging from 10-40 degrees Celsius in both dark and light conditions.***
Therefore these seeds unlike the first seeds make it to germination; in fact they are of such a variety that they spring up immediately when exposed to the right conditions maybe being exposed to the earlier morning dew when a sower would sow his seed to avoid the midday heat in Israel, or the moisture in the soil itself after it is cultivated, or mabe watered by some other means. Unfortunately having fallen on the stony ground they have no roots in the fertile soil. And thus when the midday sun rises and beats down on them they are scorched and soon wither away.

The third place Jesus says the sowers seed fell is among the thorns, which as Jesus said “grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.” vs. 7 It germinated and started to grow, even had roots in the ground, but ultimately became choked out by the thorns before it could come to fruition. Therefore Jesus having given us three different types of scenarios or potential outcomes for the sowers seeds that end negatively, in the forth and finial one He makes abundant use of the positive. Here Jesus says: 8 “But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” 9 And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Now the good ground is where a crop sprang up, increases and produces some thirtyfold, some sixty, some hundred. Therefore the yield from it exceeds many times more than what was initially sown as well as what was lost to either the birds of the air, the stony ground, or the thorns. For where the sowers seed finds good ground it will increase many times more than what was sown. That is what Jesus is emphatically stating here, using natural cycles of agriculture; seeding, growing, then harvesting to explain as much. Thus wherever the sower sows his seed and it finds good ground there is abundance. Jesus then concludes His parable to us all by saying “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Vs. 9

So far I’ve tried not to reveal the parables meaning since Jesus does that for us. So when we look at His explanation in the next post. I’ll make some comments hopefully that will help illuminate some of the Spiritual truths within Jesus' parable.

Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Non Biblical References
*** Gleaned from an article written by Y. Gutterman, Department of Botany, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel; in Oecologia, Volume 10, Number 2 / June, 1972; accessed through the internet via. http://www.springlink.com/

Mark 3:20-30 Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

20 Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. 21 But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.” 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.” 23 So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 “And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 “And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 27 “No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. 28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 29 “but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— 30 because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.

Devotional
Jesus having chosen His twelve disciples to be with Him on a mountain and having taught them again comes down with them to where He was staying and soon the multitude presses to see Him. And such were their needs that Jesus and the disciples could not even take time to eat bread. Now somewhere in between is the time where Jesus heals a man who was demon-possessed, blind and mute which caused great amazement amongst the multitudes, and they began saying amongst themselves: “Could this be the Son of David” (Matt. 12:23). Now Jesus’ own people, when they heard about this went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.” While the scribes who had come up from Jerusalem, said: “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.” Mark 3:22 The Gospel of Matthew records the Pharisees likewise making the same blasphemous assertion when they heard the crowd’s reasoning’s about Jesus being the Son of David.

Now in the midst of this crowds questioning amongst themselves about whom Jesus is the scribes and Pharisees seek to undermine Jesus’ Person to them which only reveals them for what they are, not Jesus Christ for whom He is. Unfortunately Jesus’ own people from Galilee still remain hardened towards Him, something that hadn’t changed since Jesus gave His first sermon in their synagogue. When He warned the people there about as much, before commending two Gentiles to the people of Nazareth as people of true Godly faith. Saying to them though there were many widows in Israel in days of Elijah. God only sent Elijah to a Gentile widow from Zarephath, an obscure place in the region of Sidon. Similarly though there were many lepers in Israel in days of Elisha the prophet, only Naaman the commander of the Syrian army would be healed by him, for which they violently rejected Jesus and thought to throw Him off a cliff; but He passed through the midst of them and remained unharmed by them (See Luke 4:23-27). Now Luke’s gospel also records that some at this time also tested Jesus and sought a sign from heaven from Him (Luke 11:16). Jesus then being reproached by His own is largely how they will treat Him until He departs from them. This is one of the things the Lord Jesus warned the twelve disciples about when He commissioned them into His Apostleship, saying: “It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!” Matt. 10:25 Now in both Matthew and Luke Jesus perceives their blasphemous thinking about Himself; both from the Pharisees and those who asked for signs from Him, which initiates His parable to them all. Jesus’ reasoning within it though is neither obscure, nor abstract, but rather to the point and goes uncontested by them (vs. 24-27). Now the word translated blasphemies in verse twenty eight is according to the NIDNTT an action noun that “means profane language or slander, defamation, by which another person is damaged” (page 95). This is the word Jesus uses when He says: “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter.”  However the Lord Jesus Christ makes a severe distinction in verse twenty nine when He says: 29 “but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— 30 because they said, “He has an unclean spirit. Mark 3:29-30

The word Jesus uses in verse twenty nine though related to the first word He used in describing God's willingness to forgive mens blasphemies, “It refers to a strong expression of personal defamation” NIDNTT
is not related to the second in how the scribes and Pharisees use it. And that is the distinction Jesus is making. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit then is those who knowingly and willingly attribute Jesus Christ’s works done by the Holy Spirit to Satan. That is what the scribes and Pharisees were doing; since they could not deny that the miracle that Jesus did was clearly a miracle of God. Instead they blasphemy the work of the Holy Spirit and attribute Christ’s Power to Satan. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit then is not having demonic powers attack a person with condemning thoughts of having blasphemed the Holy Spirit because of whatever blasphemies and or taking of God’s or the Lord Jesus' Name in vain before they came to repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ. Those people's consciences that are sensitive to the things of God through the Lord Jesus Christ are either saved or are within the reaches of Christ’s salvation. As the Apostle Paul declared of his former unregenerate self: “although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 1 Tim. 1:13

There is then a distinction to be made between what people ignorantly do in unbelief which can be forgiven them, when they repent and believe, and what the scribes and Pharisees knowingly did here. On an unrelated note when believers sin by saying blasphemous things about others the Lord Jesus says that we are to make this a priority in our lives and go and make right it again and seek out the person whom we have hurt (Matt. 5:23-26). Similarly the Apostle James says we are to confess our trespasses to one another so that we may be healed (James 5:16).
Likewise the Proverbs also declare:
“He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” Prov. 28:13

Therefore confession of ones sins and repentance from them is where a believer finds relationship restoration both with their fellow believers and with God Himself when we let our tongues get the best of us. For God promises in His Word "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9


Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Biblical Reference Works Cited
New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (NIDNTT). Abridged Edition; Verlyn D. Verbrugge, Editor.









 

Mark 3:13-19 Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles

13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. 14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 16 Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.

Devotional (cont.)
This section of the third chapter of Mark chronologically precedes the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus then after spending all night in prayer appoints the twelve that they might be with Him as well as go out and preach. And Jesus gives them a new distinction, they are His Apostles meaning “chosen messengers” (Luke 6:12-19). Yet more than just men with a message they are given power from Him to both perform supernatural healings but also cast out demons and so wherever they go they are to represent Jesus Christ the Son of God by doing the very same miraculous signs which He Himself does. The Apostle’s would initially then be His undeniable chosen witnesses through these. As well the Apostles were initially commissioned by Jesus Christ to only preach to the twelve tribes of Israel, the gospel needing to come to them first to fulfill the Scriptures (Acts 3). Matthew chapter ten is where we find the Lord Jesus’ giving the twelve Apostles their initial instructions before sending them out. Jesus Words and warnings there are likewise to be heeded by every follower of His. Now Apostleship as a governing office of the church is not something that comes into being until Jesus Christ’s resurrection, ascension and Holy Spirit outpouring (Acts 1:1-4). It is at that time at the dawn of the church age that they are recognized as such and recognize others as such, i.e. the Apostle Paul. What is unique to them all is their being personally called by and eye witnesses to the Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Now don't lose sight of the fact that Jesus first drew His disciples away from the multitude to be with Him before He would choose the twelve and send them out to minister to them. Christians then have that pattern of withdrawing from their world to spend time with Jesus and each other before returning back into it to minister the gospel to it.

Scriptural Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.