Jonah 2:1-10

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. ² And he said:

     “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,
     And He answered me.
     “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
     And You heard my voice.
³     For You cast me into the deep,
     Into the heart of the seas,
     And the floods surrounded me;
     All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.
⁴     Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight;
     Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
⁵     The waters surrounded me, even to my soul;
     The deep closed around me;
     Weeds were wrapped around my head.
⁶     I went down to the moorings of the mountains;
     The earth with its bars closed behind me forever;
     Yet You have brought up my life from the pit,
     O Lord, my God.
⁷     “When my soul fainted within me,
     I remembered the Lord;
     And my prayer went up to You,
     Into Your holy temple.
⁸     “Those who regard worthless idols
     Forsake their own Mercy.

⁹     But I will sacrifice to You

     With the voice of thanksgiving;
     I will pay what I have vowed.
     Salvation is of the Lord.”
¹⁰ So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Vs. 1 From the time of His receiving God’s command to go up to Nineveh to the time Jonah went down to Joppa, bordered a ship, and headed west across the Mediterranean Sea in the opposite direction, Jonah never prayed once. Not even when the captain requested his supplications, when he thought all was lost, did Jonah pray. But here in the belly of this great fish, in the midst of the sea, in what was literally a type of death, Jonah prays. Now Jonah is again personally identifying Yahweh as his God.

Vs. 2 Verses two through eight then are Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the great fish that God commanded to swallow him up.

“I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction,

             And He answered me.
            “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
            And You heard my voice.


Now Jonah cried out to the Lord because of his affliction. No other reason is given. Yet it was while Jonah was being afflicted for his disobedience that God heard him. Indeed the passage says God not only heard him, God answered him. If you search the Psalms this theme of being afflicted for ones transgressions, and then being heard by God when one cries out to Him, is an essential part of how God deals with us (Psalm 22:24-25; 25:15-18; 32:1-6; 38:1-22; 66:10-12; 69:1-36; 85:1-13; 107:1-43 etc.). For God does not chastise or discipline anyone without opportunity for reconciliation. Indeed the whole point of a believers chastisement is that God might keep us in a right relationship with Himself (Consider Heb. 12:3-11). Only when people or nations continually refuse to heed Him does God give them over to judgment (Hosea 7:12; Jer. 30:14; Luke 13:5; Rom. 1:18-36). So when Jonah hardened himself and refused to do the Lord’s will as he was commanded to do. Instead choosing to flee from the presence of the Lord. (Since Jonah did not want to preach repentance to Israel's enemies in Nineveh for then God would spare them if they did indeed repent). And thus Jonah though a prophet, instead of obeying the Will of the Lord, though he clearly knew it. Chose to shut out the Lord's voice and  literally travel as far away from the Lord and Nineveh as he could go. Therefore the Lord as a last resort (to turn Jonah away from the error of his ways) gave Jonah over to what an existence would be like apart from Him. Now Jonah likened being in the belly of the great fish to death. The word Sheol he uses is the Hebrew word for that, where one has conscience existence after being physically dead. Not that Jonah had actually died, but that he likened himself as being as those who are dead. Indeed Jonah’s being in the belly of the great fish is about as close as a living man can get to death without actually experiencing it. Now Jesus likened Jonah’s experience to what His own death would be like when He would taste death for everyone (Matt. 12:40). And spend three days and nights in the heart of the earth, after being crucified for our sins. And thus having purchased our redemption from sin and death (John 3:16). The Lord Jesus Christ now restores each and every believing individual back to life, and union with God, when we repent and believe in Him through the gospel (Mark 1:15). Therefore God had not given Jonah over to the grave, as Jesus would be given over to it. Though Jonah’s experience foretells Christ’s death, as Jesus says it does, it in no way mirror’s it. For Jonah’s taste of “death” is from this side of living; that is the place of utter despair and hopelessness that sadly some men and women experience in this life so that God might mercifully redeem then and restore them to Himself when they repent and cry out to Him (Consider Job 33:12-30). While Jesus’ taste of death was from death itself, which no one who goes to, without having first come to a personal faith in His Person before dying, ever returns.

Vs. 3 Jonah then acknowledges in his prayer and supplications to the Lord, that it is the Lord who has brought him to this grave place:

 “For You cast me into the deep,

              Into the heart of the seas,
              And the floods surrounded me;
             All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.” ^{Vs. 3}


Jonah then was literally shut up on all sides, as Jonah describes his alienation from God. Not a spiritual alienation, Jonah knew God, but a literally one . Now it should be mentioned the Tenor of Jonah’s words is also the tenor of Temple prayer, as recited in psalms (Psalm 42:7; 88:6-8). And thus Jonah returns to Lord according to God’s Word, not his own. Verses two and three then open Jonah’s declaration of the saving mercies of Almighty God. For though He afflicts, He heals and restores people when they repent and return to Him. While Jonah’s declaration of looking towards the Temple in Jerusalem (vs.4) was in the Old covenant economy where God was to be sought. Where sacrifice for the sin was to take place; both for the nation of Israel and God’s people individually. As well where the Gentiles could seek God (1 Kings 8:41-43). Now in the New Covenant we do not look to a Temple when we sin, since God has provided something far better and far more enduring for us. God has commanded that we all look to Jesus Christ’s cross, whether Jew or Gentile, for that is where God has made the finial and everlasting sacrifice for all our sins (Heb. 10:14). God’s mercies are found freely there for all who trust In Jesus Christ and His crucifixion death for the atonement of their sins (John 3:15-16).
Now returning to Jonah's state verse five to seven presents Jonah trapped in the belly of the great fish; a literal watery grave; for the word-translated pit in verse six is being used as a metaphor for Sheol. Thus it presents to the reader a word picture of being literally trapped in the pit of death. Something no one can escape from, for man universally having sinned is destined to it; to never return from it; unless they repent and believe in this life (Mark 1:15). For there is no ressurection life apart from repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ. Now Jonah’s prayer closes with an strong exhortation against idolatry by saying:
"Those who regard worthless idols
Forsake their own Mercy" vs. 8
For God will not give His glory to another (); nor will He be worshiped alongside of any other (). Therefore if you remember no other verse from the Book of Jonah remember that one, for it will take you far with God, and far away from those who worship Him in error. And thus in contrast to the multiplicity of "gods" of this world, Jonah's declaration is singly directed to the One True God who alone is Sovereign over all of His creation, and thus who alone is able to save anyone, from any circumstance of life.

"But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the Lord." vs. 9

"So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land" vs. 10

Therefore Jonah's prayer/song closes with the bold declaration that salvation is of the Lord. For there is no other God who can deliver us from the grave and the eternal judgment found there (See Rev. 1:18).

Scripture Quotations

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

Jonah 1:4-16

4 But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” 7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” 9 So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. 11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous. 12 And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.” 13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, “We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows.


Now as Jonah’s ship headed in the opposite direction God commanded him to go, so the Lord in His perfect timing responds to Jonah’s move away from Him. "But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up." vs. 4
Notice first that it is the Lord who causes the storm to arise. This was no random act of "nature". This was the direct hand of Almighty God stepping into Jonah's life to stop His servants ongoing disobedience to Himself. Therefore as we will see perils in our lives can be the means by which God draws us to Himself, or back to Himself, as will be the case with Jonah. And so the ships men fearing for their lives; being exceedingly terrified of this mighty tempest that was threatening to destroy the ship and them with it; each one cries out to his “god”, that is their idols, but their “gods” did not lesson the tempest. Which is a lesson for us all now. For whoever or whatever is our "god" now, better be able to save us when our lives storms arise.
The Scripture also says in desperation that the ships crew threw its cargo overboard into the sea to lighten the ship, to keep it from breaking up, and they going down with it. And thus in a last ditch effort to save themselves, the men throw out the ships cargo, and with it any chance they would've had to profit from it. For when it's all said and done, all of one's worldly pursuits and pleasures will mean nothing but suffering eternal loss if one was never reconciled to God through the Lord Jesus Christ in this life. In this Jesus warns us all to examine our lives before Him, in this life, while we can.  36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:36-38
Maybe it's time then to seek the Lord and call upon His Name (Isaiah 55:6-7). For in the Lord Jesus Christ's Name there is salvation from sin, judgment and eternal damnation for all who turn to God and in faith receive Him (John 1:12). "For whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved!" Rom. 10:13

Now in contrast to the ships fearing crew who was discarding the ships cargo in attempt to save themselves. Jonah from the onset had gone down into the depths of the ships hull. "But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep."  vs. 5  Again the same Hebrew word that was twice used in verse three is used here again to describe Jonah’s having gone down. Yet Jonah seems neither worried, nor inclined to seek the Lord at this time, even while the ship and its crew was in peril of being taken by the sea; the cargo already being lost to it. Now this word is also Scripturally used to describe death or going down to the grave. Jonah’s "going down" then was not only bringing him near to it, but also those around him. For secret sins never have secret consequences (Num. 32:23). The idea then that by my sinning "I'm not hurting anyone" as the cliche goes, is never the reality. Sin always has consequences, and it always has ripple affects that inevitably harm others.
Verse six then opens with the ships captain coming to Jonah and saying: …“What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” The captain's words then are a stern rebuke to the stubborn prophet who seems bent on having his own way and having nothing to do with the "pagans" whom God wants him to preach too. While verse seven says that the ships men in desperation to find out who amongst them was the cause of this trouble coming upon them, cast lots. For there is a general belief amongst all peoples that troubles in one's life must have an origin: "For affliction does not come from the dust, Nor does trouble spring from the ground" Job 5:6  And thus these men with their lives on the line sought out an answer the only way they knew how by casting lots, an ancient practice, to see who was the cause of this trouble. Now casting lots is also a Biblical means to understanding God's will (1 Chr. 24:31; 25:8; 26:13; Acts 1:26 etc.). However before you start cast lasting lots as a means to discern God's will for you. It should be noted that for us in the church after the selection of Matthias as an Apostle to replace Judas Iscariot there is no more mentioning of casting lots amongst Christ's disciple's. For with the Holy Spirit's outpouring it is now the Spirit of God who sets His seal and approval on those whom Christ has chosen and called (Acts 13:2-3). And thus we as followers of Jesus Christ are to be Spirit led and guided by God; by His Word and His Spirit in our lives, especially regarding church affairs. Though here these men don't yet know God. Yet it was for Jonah whom this storm had arisen. And thus the Lord in His Providence answers them by lot (Prov. 16:33). And so verse seven concludes by saying that the lot fell to Jonah. If Jonah than thought that as a prophet of God he could avoid obeying the will of God to warn the people of Nineveh of God's imminent judgment, and thus avoid being realized by these men as a servant of God, by hiding in the depth’s of a ships hull, he was gravely mistaken. For just as a Christian can no more conceal their true identity in the world, even though they seek to hide themselves in the depths of it, so it is here with Jonah. For what we truly are always comes out (Acts 1:8). And so Jonah once previously unknown to the ships crew, is now at the center stage, with the men asking Jonah: …“Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” vs. 8

Five questions, in a sort of fearful rapid succession, are now fired off at Jonah by the ships crew.
“For whose cause is this trouble.” Or as the NIV puts it: "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us?" In other words they are saying to Jonah, what have you done to bring all of this trouble on us? And thus their questioning Jonah is more of an indictment of Jonah's person than an inquiry. Though it's not Jonah's person or character that needs to be called into question. It's his disobedience to the Will of the Lord, which these men are unaware of as of yet.

“What is your occupation?” Probably the most common question men first ask each other, and or use to asses another. Though it is no measure of ones person or character. Consider that Jesus Christ never regarded the "person of man" as if by these the true man, or the truth, would be made known (Matt. 22:16). Therefore whether one is a President or policeman, or even a priest or pastor, one cannot know the nature of the man, or his guilt or innocence regarding anything, simply by his occupation.

“Where do you come from?” Another frequently used question by men to asses another, and or their character. This is especially true where geographic locals or one's socio-economic standing has come to mean that someone has two strikes already against them! However one's stature in life, or anywhere else, never reveals one's character or person. For good and evil men (and women) are found amongst poor and rich, and in low and high places. Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan was given to shatter God's people's unjust biases (Luke 10:29-37).

“What is your country?” Another faulty “character test” which all to often leads to showing partiality, something God does not do (Acts 10:34). For nationalism is not the means by which God's people, or even Godly and righteous people are known. People are not inherently just or unjust simply because they belong to a certain nation (Rom. 3:23). Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ didn't just die for one nation, or to exalt one nation. He was crucified and rose from the dead so that He might gather all nations, people's, tribes, tongues (i.e. languages) to Himself. If you got biases then towards one, or against another, throw them out! For there not fitting the Kingdom of Heaven and it's citizens.

“And of what people are you?” Probably the most discriminatory and useless way to asses a person’s character. This can be anything from ethnicity, to even religious, or non-religious affiliation.

Now in response to their questioning him Jonah responds by saying: “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Vs. 9 Jonah’s declaration then is simple and to the point. Not that he is a Jew from a certain religious, social or geographical segment of it. Rather he indeed is a Hebrew who fears the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land. Jonah then unequivocally identifies himself with the one true God and nothing else. Now with Jonah’s reply the Scripture says: “Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.” Vs. 10

Now there are two different words used to describe the crews and Jonah’s fear of God. And though they are linked a distinction in this case should be made. Their fear of God was from a polytheistic outlook; which grew exceedingly as Jonah declared to them that it was his God alone, who made the sea and the dry land, who made this storm arise, a storm that none of their “gods” could quell. Therefore their fear was not only of the storm, or the consequences it presented to their lives, but more directly of the God whom Jonah had offended by His disobedience, which brought these events about. While the word Jonah uses to describe his own fear of the Lord is far more frequently the Word used to describe a relational fear of the Lord, especially in the Psalms (Ps. 22:23, 25; 25:12, 14; 31:19; 33:18; 34:7, 9; 60:4; 61:5; 66:16; 85:9; 103:11, 13, 17; 111:5; 115:11, 13; 118:4; 119:74, 79; 128:1, 4; 135:20; 145:19; 147:11) where it is exclusively used that way. Nonetheless Jonah’s profession of fearing the Lord is seriously marred by his actions in fleeing from the Presence of the Lord; for which he is rebuked by these men. Since it is Jonah’s sin, which has put their very lives in danger. However with Joanh's revelation of Yahweh to them, the men realize if there is any hope for their lives it must be by obedience to Jonah’s God and not their own “gods.” Therefore Jonah’s shipmates ask him: ...“What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous. 12 And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.” Vs. 11-12

In the midst of this ferocious storm Jonah’s words must have seemed surreal to them. For to throw a man into the seas raging waters would surely mean his end! Yet the ships crews supplications to their own “god’s” did nothing to calm the sea, and they were now aware that it was Jonah’s God who was the source of their peril. Nonetheless instead of heeding Jonah’s words the Scripture says that the men (likely fearing Jonah's words) rowed hard and tried to make for land. But the “…sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, “We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows. Vs. 13-16

Notice that five times that the men to whom Jonah just revealed the Covenant Name of God too, used that very Covenant Name to appeal to Him! Since these men were in the midst of having a first hand encounter with the Living God they responded as men do who encounter God, with great fear! For when the Eternal God manifests Himself or His Power to mortal man there is always a quickening of one's person and ones obedience towards Him. Now several other things also took place that we should consider. First before they did this God did not relent. The storm continued to rage and grow more tempestuous even after Jonah confessed the name of the Lord. Only when Jonah was thrown into the sea did God cause the storm to cease. Thus not until God's Will was obeyed did the sea cease to rage. Therefore repentance always precedes deliverance. Whether this is an acknowledgement of ones sin, disobedience or even ones own helplessness. Repentance; that is a changing of ones mind, which leads to a changing of ones will, is where God meets us before He ceases our storms. For it is God, in His great love for us, who allows or creates circumstances that cause our own strength, resources or resolve to run out. That is one of the many and great mercies of our Heavenly Father that He draws many to Himself through the many distresses of this life (Ps. 117:23-31). For it is the Lord alone whose Mighty hand saves those who cannot save themselves (Consider Deut. 32:36; Psalm 7:1; 31:2, 16; 44:6; 54:1; 55:16; 57:3; 59:2; 69:1; 71:2, 3; 86:16; 108:6; 109:26; 116:16; 119:94, 146; 138:7; Isaiah 38:20; 45:22).

The second very noticeable thing is that it was the ships mariners who realizing that they could'nt outrun the storm, cry out to the Lord, and pray to the Lord, using the Lord's Covenant Name, not Jonah. Jonah though a prophet of God is noticably silent. Yet they having done all they could do to avoid throwing Jonah into the sea, they were the ones charged to do this through Jonah’s word. And thus they were exceedingly fearful of the Lord charging them with shedding innocent blood for doing so. For truly this was an unorthodox way to bring about a prophets obedience, and their deliverance from the storm. Therefore their petition of the Lord is to not to charge them with innocent blood for what they were about to do; that is throw Jonah into the sea, and thus to a certain death “…for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You.” Vs. 15

The third thing that that they yielded to will of the Lord, something Jonah had not yet done. Though it might be said that they were coerced into taking that course of action. It was the Lord’s will for them, and they obeyed it, which is never unwise. While Jonah was not yet submitting himself to will of the Lord. He had to have the men throw him into the sea! Jonah though is not unique in his actions. People who know the Lord can refuse to do the will of the Lord. God having granted us all, as His image bearers a free will, makes that a very real possibility. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can refuse to do the will of the Lord when God reveals His will to them. Clearly then Jonah presents that attitude here, which again is not unique to him. Nonetheless God’s plans are never thwarted by mans. God always accomplishes His purposes. And He accomplishes them even when His own children disobey Him. Indeed God already knew how Jonah was going to react to His command even before He sent him to preach to Nineveh. And thus these events are not so much a reaction to Jonah’s disobedience, but a anticipation by God, which He Himself weaves into His salvation plans for humanity. And thus they will be used by Him to reveal the future coming of the Son of Man. Therefore God having forced their hands, He will bring Jonah to the place where they can meet and where Jonah's pride can be broken. For truly God (in spite of Jonah's ongoing defiance to His will) provided a fearful and powerful witness for Himself to these men whom Jonah's path had crossed, even while he was trying to flee from the presence of the Lord. And thus the Lord brought about a Witness for Himself and good for others, in that these men had an encounter with the Living God even as His chastening hand was upon Jonah.

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

Note: This is an ongoing study of the Book of Jonah and it may undergo changes as I edit it. It will chronologically continue in the next blog entry.

Jonah 1:1-3 (Extended Commentary Version)

Jonah 1:1-3
1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.


Vs. 1-2 Jonah was a prophet of God from Gath Hepher; a town in the tribe of Zebulon in Northern Israel during the divided Kingdom era; when King Jeroboam II (793-753 B.C.), an ungodly King (2 Kings 14:24) became king in Samaria, the capital of Northern Kingdom (2 Kings 14:23) and reigned from Tirzah, the former capital, which Jeroboam I reigned from, King Solomon’s servant who became the first king of the ten northern tribes when God divided Israel (1 Kings 11:26-40). Now Jeroboam II aligned himself with the sins of Jeroboam I (1 Kings 12:25-33) just as his father’s before him did (2 Kings 10:31; 13:1-2; 13:10-13). So King Jeroboam II was Israel’s thirteenth king (of the nineteen before their captivity by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.) and he was the great grandson of Jehu; Israel’s commander under king Ahab, the king whose house God said He would destroy forever to avenge the blood of the prophets whom Jezebel his wife murdered. Therefore by the hand of Jehu; whom God foretold through the prophet Elijah that He would do this (1 Kings 19:15-18) raised up during the prophetic ministry of Elisha, Jehu whom He commanded to destroy the house of Ahab forever (2 Kings 9:1-13). And so God raised up Jehu a treacherous man to avenge the treachery done in Israel by the house of Ahab. Now for Jehu’s obedience towards Him in destroying the house of Ahab, and putting an end to Baal worship in Israel. Jehu was promised by God that he and his sons would sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation (2 Kings 10:30). Of which king Jeroboam II was the third (Zechariah would be the fourth and final king in the legacy, 2 Kings 15:11-12). Yet even with that promise Jehu took no heed to follow the Law of the Lord; neither him nor his sons after him (2 Kings 10:29-31). Now back to King Jeroboam II’s reign. The nation of Israel was prospering. His father and grandfather under the prophesying of Elisha had been shown great mercy by the Lord God for the oppression done to the nation by the Syrians (2 Kings 13:14-23). And this grace continued towards the nation down through the lineage of Jehu to King Jeroboam II, right up to the prophesying of Jonah the son of Amittai (2 Kings 14:23-29). Thus King Jeroboam II’s tenure would be one of great prosperity and growth as his military campaigns according to the Word of the Lord caused Northern Israel to reclaim many of its territories back from the Syrians to the farthest extent not seen since the days of King Solomon, just as God said He would do for them. “He restored the territory of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which He had spoken through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet who was from Gath Hepher.” 2 Kings 14:25
Now the entrance of Hamath was the northern boundary that God originally assigned for Israel (Num. 34:8), which came up to the foot of Mount Hermon (Josh. 13:5). This year round snow covered mountain marked Israel’s northern extremity, which itself is within eye shot of Syria and Lebanon. While Hamath (outside of its surrounding territories) was an ancient fortified city located on the Orontes River, about 115 miles north of Damascus (Syria’s capital) that King Solomon in his reign conquered and built storage depots in (2 Chr. 8:3-4). Now Hamath at various times was ruled by the Hittites, Syrians (Or Arameam’s), and the Assyrians. Its importance was that it was on a major trade route, which linked Near Eastern trade and traders with those of Egypt. Thus Jeroboam’s II recapturing it according to the Word of the Lord around 780 B.C. paved the way for the immense prosperity his reign had. Its strategic location also provided an excellent military outpost for northern Israel to guard against Syrian aggression. While the Sea of Arabah is synonymous with the Dead Sea in the south marking the Northern Kingdom’s boundaries with Judah, the Southern Kingdom.
Now the Dead Sea is fed from Mount Hermon whose highest point exceeds 9200 ft. whose snowy peak feeds a stream system that begins the Jordan River and which ultimately empties into the Dead Sea. Their mention here is simply to indicate that Northern Israel had recovered all of its territories from north to south.

Now though the nation was immensely prospering under King Jeroboam II, this prosperity was severely polluted by the moral corruptions within. The idolatrous sins of Jeroboam I; that is the golden calves by which he made Israel sin; were still being worshipped. The poor were being severely oppressed, even as the upper classes grew proportionately and more affluent, often at their expense (Amos 4:1-2). For there was institutional bribery, greed, oppression, immorality, arrogance, and blatant idolatry (Amos 2:6-8; 11-12; 3:9-10, 15; 4:1-5; 5:10-13; 6:3-7), even while God chastened the land to turn them back to Himself (Amos 4:6-13). And especially during the tenure of King Jeroboam II these sins were heightened. It is against that backdrop of false worship and God’s nation being devoid of true justice, righteousness, and holiness (Amos 4:4-5; 5:4-9; 21-24) that Jonah’s contemporaries Amos and Hosea also prophesied. In this Amos prophesied against six foreign nations or their capitals that surrounded Israel and Judah, then Judah herself. But the bulk of his prophesying was against the arrogance and corruptions within Israel. Declaring a spiritual famine on the land, of hearing the Word of the Lord, that would conclude with God’s judgment on all those who swore by the sin of Samaria; that is the golden calves that Jeroboam I set up for it (Amos 8:1-14). Thus Jeroboam’s II prosperous tenure was illusionary; a calm before the storm; an Assyrian storm that was rising up in the east to bring God’s judgment on the whole house of Jeroboam II; and ultimately end the Northern King’s dynasty forever. As the nation itself would be taken into captivity (Hosea 1:4; Amos 7:7-11) and it's kingdoms dynasty permanently abolished. That’s the backdrop against which Jonah the son of Amittai was called to go and preach to Nineveh.

Now Nineveh was an ancient city founded by Nimrod, the mighty hunter who also built Babylon (Gen. 10:10-12). It was located on eastern bank of Tigris River, opposite present day Mosul, Iraq. Later Sennacherib, the Assyrian ruler (705-681 B.C.) in the days of King Hezekiah would make it his capital. And though the Assyrians as a people cover a wide span of Old Testament history, Nineveh’s mention outside of Genesis in the Scriptures is silent until the time of Jonah, when it was at the height of its prosperity. In many ways than Nineveh’s importance to the Assyrians will revival that of Babylon to the Babylonians. Now Nineveh was an incredible achievement, of engineering and beauty, whose partially excavated site supports the Biblical account of Jonah. While Assyria at the time of Jonah was an expanding world power, whose increasing campaigns into Judah and Israel were the cause of a deep seated hatred by God’s people. For the Assyrians were known for their fireceness in battle and brutality towards those whom they captured. Now they first came up to Northern Israel beginning with King Jehu (841-813 B.C) and would continue to do so until the Israelites were according to Word of the Lord taken into captivity by Assyria in 722. B.C.
Therefore the Word of the Lord to Jonah, which was go and warn Nineveh to repent of their wickedness, for God’s judgment was imminent to fall upon them, but that was not something Jonah wanted to do. For God wanted the Ninevites to repent so He could spare them His judgment. And this was looming at the height of their prosperity; which in many ways parallel’s Israel’s own prosperity around this time. Thus Nineveh’s later repentance in many ways could be said to model what God wanted for His own people, as Jonah would later declare of the foolishness of idolatry, after being delivered from the belly of the giant fish; which became literally, as well as symbolically, a place of death, as Jesus would later cite Jonah in regards to His own (Jonah 2:8-9; Matthew 12:39-40). However God does not make people obey Him, not even His own people, He offers conditions of peace, but ultimately leaves the choice up to us all. Still Jonah wanted God to destroy Israel’s enemies without first offering conditions of peace. Not send him to go and preach repentance to the Ninivites so that they might be spared if they did indeed repent.

Vs. 3 Therefore instead of obeying the command of the Lord to go and preach to Nineveh so that they might be given a chance to repent. Jonah (likely in great anger) arose to go from the presence of the Lord. Going down to Joppa a beautiful city on the Mediterranean Sea coast where he found a ship heading to Tarshish, another city renowned for its wealth and trade (2 Chr. 9:21). Now Nineveh was a land journey located near the Tigris River northeast of Jonah’s hometown, readily accessible by trade routes to him, while Tarshish was a major ships voyage in the opposite direction heading west across the Mediterranean Sea! And so Jonah, after paying the ships fair to go to Tarshish “…went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.”
Take note thn that Jonah after fleeing from the presence of the Lord “went down” to Joppa, a seaport city on the Mediterranean coast. Then he “went down” into bowls of the ship heading west for Tarshish. The word used in the Hebrew to describe Jonah's "going down" is quite literal meaning just that, “to go downwards” and it used twice to describe Jonah’s “progress” after fleeing from the presence of the Lord. Which stands juxtaposed if he had gone “up” to Assyria, which was the Lord’s command to him. The point is that in defying the will of the Lord Jonah was basically on a self-directed downward spiral. By outward appearances Jonah may have been heading to some beautiful Mediterranean locals where he thought he could flee from the presence of the Lord, and or would see no more of the Assyrians, Israel’s enemies; but apart from the Lord, and obeying His will for him, Jonah’s chances at success were nil. And as we will see the Lord can, and will, move heaven and earth to motivate His children to obey Him.

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

Resources consulted for geographical and historical information:
Nelson’s new illustrated Bible dictionary: An authoritative one-volume reference work on the Bible with full color illustrations [computer file], electronic edition of the revised edition, Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1995.

Jonah 1:1-2 (Short Commentary Version)

Jonah 1:1-2
1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.”

Vs. 1-2 Jonah a prophet of God, was from Gath Hepher, a town in the tribe of Zebulon in Northern Israel during the divided Kingdom era when King Jeroboam II an ungodly King (793-753 B.C.) reigned in Samaria. While Nineveh was an ancient city founded by Nimrod (see Genesis 10:10-12), which was located near the Tigris River, and eventually became the capital of the Assyrian empire, (885 B.C. to roughly 625 B.C.). Now Assyria at the time of Jonah was a growing world power, which frequently threatened Israel, beginning with King Jehu's reign, and would continue to do so until the Israelites were according to Word of the Lord taken into captivity by Assyria in 722. B.C. Now the Word of the Lord which came to Jonah was go and preach to Nineveh; but that was not something Jonah was willing to do, given their enemy status with Israel, though Jonah had already been a faithful preacher to his countrymen (2 Kings 14:25). Therefore when God commanded Jonah to go to and preach to Israel’s enemies at Nineveh, so that they might be given an opportunity to repent and be spared. Jonah hardened himself and refused. And thus Jonah’s hardness of heart is seen throughout the Book. For Jonah didn’t want the people of Assyria to receive God’s mercy, he wanted God to punish them. Which is an attitude that can easily frequent us as well if we harden our hearts to God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ to all people as well, especially those “we have a history with” and or who have sinned against us? Indeed if we grew up in the faith and have been "obedient" to it all our lives, we can also rather easily become like the older brother in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son who was quite unwilling to receive even his own brother, and thus became very upset at their Father for receiving and celebrating the return of His own repentant son (See Luke 15:11-31). Nonetheless God does not deal with people that way, for He wanted to show the people of Nineveh mercy, as He does everyone, for the Lord God takes no delight in the harm, death, or destruction of anyone or anything (Ezekiel 18:23), only Satan does (John 10:10). Therefore God never brings judgment on anyone without first seeking reconciliation. Offering conditions of peace by which He may bring forth our well being when in repentance and faith we turn to Him  (John 3:16). Again that the wickedness of the people of Nineveh had come up to God indicates God’s longsuffering towards all people, even His enemies. But even that has an end as the Apostle Peter warns us of those who now foolishly scoff at the Lord Jesus Christ’s Second coming and are not reconciled with Him while they can be (see 2 Peter 3:9-17).

Have you then come to the place of grace, of acknowledging your sins to God, and asking Him because of the crucifixion  death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross to save you from them? For repentance towards God begins with a humble heart (James 4:8-10); of being poor in spirit as Jesus said, which opens the doors of the Kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:3). For Jesus can and does save us from God's wrath and judgment to come when we believe in Him (John 3:35-36). Trusting His death on the cross and Resurrection from the dead apart from anything we do or have done He then brings us into God's favor and peace. And this He does by bringing us into a relationship with Himself and God the Father by His Holy Spirit who indwells us all who believe, by which we experience His life and peace. For these things always begin on the inside, and are an outworking of Christ in our lives. They are not something we are to try to do for ourselves. They are something God does in us and through us when we repent and believe (Mark 1:15). If you would like to receive the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life (Rev. 3:20) and become a child of God (John 1:12) just pray a simple prayer like this, in repentance and faith: Dear Lord Jesus I know that I am a sinner and that apart from you I have neither life, nor peace with God. Therefore I repent of my sins and self directed living and invite you into my heart and life to be my Lord and Saviour, in Jesus' Name amen.

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

John 1:5

John 1:5
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

That the darkness did not comprehend the light (or overcome it) as the margin reading gives it, is that it is of the Sovereign God that all those who do not believe and receive the love of the truth will neither prevail or prosper against the truth. For though the Lord Jesus Christ’s light shines everywhere and upon every person, there are those who simply do not comprehend it, as neither the Jews, chief priests or the Roman governor Pilate who acquiesced to their desire to crucify Jesus did not (see John 18:28-38; Acts 13:26-41). And thus they do not believe the revelation of the Living Word of God Jesus Christ, neither receiving God's gospel nor His redemption work done through it, for them, and us all. Yet that is exactly what God desires for everyone, to personally know Him, by receiving the love of the truth, the glorious gospel, the only Good News and hope for humanity, to mentally and emotionally grasp all that is about His Son Jesus Christ sent to save and redeem us all from our sins and death. To take firm hold of it like a thirsting man would a pitcher of water; or a starving man a loaf of bread. For only in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is found the grace of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Titus 3:4-7). That profound reality that God loves us all and has already atoned for our sins by Jesus' death on a cross, and now wants to restore His life back into us all (John 3:3-5), and thus by doing so restore us back to Himself, and thus save us all from the judgment to come, must never be lost on us (John 3:16-21). For the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is not some “mystery” that one acquires by observing religious rites and rituals; nor is the gospel a message for only a select “obedient” few who think themselves worthy of it (Mark 2:15-17). The gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is for everyone who sees their need for the salvation of God and believes in His Son Jesus Christ as the sole means and Person charged with bringing it to us all. For it is the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ who came down from heaven to earth as a Man to redeem us from our sins (Isaiah 59:2). And by doing so restore us to a right relationship with God the Father, by what He has done, not by what we have done (Eph. 2:8-9). Therefore By His own birth, life, crucifixion death, then resurrection from the dead and finally His ascension back to God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God has made the way to God the Father possible for everyone and anyone who simply believes in His Person (John 6:29). For that is the light of Christ God shines on all of His creation, to come to Him through His Son Jesus Christ as the sole means of being reconciled back to Himself (John 14:6; 2 Cor. 5:21). To do so while the hour of grace is upon us all. For when you do, new and everlasting Life, Jesus Christ’s Resurrection Life will come within you, and thus the Holy Spirit by whom this life comes to us all who believe in Jesus, will seal you for all eternity (Eph 1:13-14). And thus Jesus having secured you forever (John 6:39), you have both physical life now, but also Spirit life by which one enters the Kingdom of heaven (John 3:3-5). No longer then separated from God by sin and death; and thus under the wrath of God, which is now reserved only for those who don’t believe in, nor obey His Son (John 3:35-36; 2 Thess 1:8). Instead having been born-again by the Spirit of the Living God, you and I are the children of God, because we believe and received the love of truth about Jesus, God’s only Son. For "...as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13


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

John 1:4

John 1:4
"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men."

Daily Devotional
In Christ was the life (that is the life of God that everyone one of us desires and needs) for it is the life in Jesus that is the light of men. That is what draws men and women to Jesus, the life of God within Him and. For that is the purpose that Jesus came forth from God to restore the life of God within us. Something that humanity lost when Adam; the first man who sinned, and thus sin entered the world through him, hence all of us being descended from him are born into that separated state from God. Spiritually dead and in need of life, God's life restored within us (Gen. 2:15-17). For the Scripture says "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom. 6:23 And so it is for that reason that Jesus Christ came forth, stepping into our world as a Man, to not only restore us to life; the life which Adam lost when he sinned, and thus sin entered the world through him.
But to bring life, and to bring it more abundantly, which we all receive when we believe in Him (John 10:10-11; 3:16). For it is the Lord Jesus Christ's death on the cross by which first atonement for our sins is made, and thus His sacrificial death becomes the justification by which God through His Spirit imparts Jesus Christ's Resurrection life with us. And so it is Jesus Christ's life within us which likewise illuminates or gives light to all men, if we are in a relationship with Him (Matt. 5:14). For it is the life of Christ that is the light by which people find God and experience new and everlasting life (2 Cor. 5:17). We don’t impart the life, we are just partakers of it, and vessel’s by which Jesus (if we are living in a right relationship with Himself) illuminates Himself and brings true and everlasting life to others (2 Tim. 2:19-21). Again it is Jesus’ life that speaks to the very heart and souls of men and women and says: ...“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

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

Proverbs 4:23

Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.

Daily Devotional
What you give your heart over to eventually will rule your behavior and life. That is what this proverb is warning us about. For as a man’s feet are lead by his eyes. So the human heart is lead or mislead by what it embraces. And thus ones heart (that is the desires within it) often dictates what one's person and life will be like. Therefore keep your heart with all diligence is an exhortation for us to be discerning and careful about we embrace as truth and this we can do by keeping it solidly grounded in the Word of God. For it is only by knowing the Word of God that sin and error can be rightly exposed. For in this world there are many philosophers and philosophies, many “religions” and "belief" systems, and many if not all are contrary to the truth of God’s Living Word and thus God's Living Son Jesus Christ. Likewise popular culture in unending forms and mediums daily expounds various sins, vices and pleasures as the purpose and pursuit of our lives. Many subtle and not so subtle things to appeal to or entice the sinful nature of us all are bound up in this world; yet are so easily and readily justified by popular opinion and or assimilation. (Nonetheless consider what the Lord Jesus says in regards to these Matt. 18:7-9). Therefore my exhortation to you is guard your heart with all diligence and do not build your faith upon the transient values and "evolving" opinions of unregenerate men and women. Rather guard your soul by building your faith upon the Rock: that is the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead and learn obedience to His and His Apostle’s commandments. For that is the only safeguard against falling into the deceptions of Satan, who is the "god" of this world who ensnares and deludes all those who are ignorant, disobedient; or worse in their unbelieving pride make light of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word sent to save them and all who will believe in Him, from eternal destruction and the judgment to come. Therefore as a child of God be watchful and circumspect in all things, for there are many things (moral, spiritual, even doctrinal things) that believers can easily stumble into if they are ignorant and unaware of the dangers that are both in the world; and sadly, inside the house of faith as well (2 Cor. 11:13-15).

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

A Gift from God

Numbers 8:13-19
13 “And you shall stand the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and then offer them like a wave offering to the LORD. 14 “Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine. 15 “After that the Levites shall go in to service the tabernacle of meeting. So you shall cleanse them and offer them, like a wave offering. 16 “For they are wholly given to Me from among the children of Israel; I have taken them for Myself instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the children of Israel. 17 “For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are Mine, both man and beast; on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them to Myself. 18 “I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the children of Israel. 19 “And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the work for the children of Israel in the tabernacle of meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel, that there be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come near the sanctuary.”

Devotional
On the day God struck all the firstborn in Egypt He consecrated to Himself all the firstborn in Israel. And with the Law being given and the priesthood through Aaron established, God now consecrated to Himself all the Levites instead of the firstborn in Israel, of both man and beast. The reason for this is so that they, the Levites, could serve God throughout their generations in place of the Israelites in the Tabernacle duties. As well so that God could give them as a gift to Aaron and his son’s, the priests, so that they might serve them and be with them in the ministry work for Israel (Num. 18:1-7). Now these are interesting things and one can go into a lot of detail about them. Instead I want us to focus on just one verse and one specific thought from that verse. In verse nineteen God says to Moses in consecrating the Levites to Himself “And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the work for the children of Israel in the tabernacle of meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel…” Therefore please consider that God gives us gifts: His salvation is a gift, His love is a gift, our lives are a gift… Not only to be enjoyed and lived out in peaceful union with Himself but also with others as well. That is essentially what a church body is. People separated to the Lord God because of their personal faith in and commitment to Jesus Christ living their lives out in love and peace amongst each other, and hopefully with others as well.

Now within this Body of Believers God by His Spirit has given every member gifts. These are Supernatural endowments given by the Holy Spirit according to His own will to each believer, by which we are to serve each other in love (1 Cor. 12:4-11; Gal. 5:13). Now these gifts are unique. And each gift, just like each person, makes a unique contribution to whole. Therefore no particular gift or person can be said to be unnecessary, for all are necessary for the proper functioning of the whole body (1 Cor. 12:14-27), just as each member or person is. For God has placed each member in the Body of Christ just as He pleased (1 Cor. 12:18). And thus for the church to function well it must not be dependent on one particular gift or gifted person, but on the whole Body of believers from the least to the greatest exercising their Spirit given gifts in love and in accord with God’s designs for us all. That is all things are done for the edification of church (1 Cor. 14:12, 26, 33). Therefore even those members who seem weaker are necessary. And those members who are less honorable we are to bestow greater honor on, since the more honorable have no need. And thus there should be no schism amongst the members. But all the members should have mutual care for each other (1 Cor. 12:22-25). Therefore if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it, or if one member is honored all the members rejoice with it; for we are the Body of Christ and members individually (1 Cor. 12:26-27). Now there is a hierarchy of Spirit gifts that make up for church leadership (1 Cor. 12:28-31), yet as chapter twelve closes chapter thirteen begins with love being exhorted as the greatest gift and greatest exercise of Spirit gifts and talents, not hierarchical authority.

So then returning to where I started I want you to know that you are gift given by God. Your life has a purpose and meaning. First you are a gift to God Himself created to know Him and love Him and be loved by Him. Second through Jesus Christ you are a gift to the Lord Himself and the church. Set in place there by God Himself to honor His Son and build up the church in love with whatever Spirit gifts and calling God has placed in you. Third you are gift to your family. Maybe you’re a father or mother, child or grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew etc. Whatever role or roles you currently occupy you are a gift from God there. I don’t know anyone (in any circumstance of life) that cannot be a gift to others if they rightly see themselves as that, given by God to help and encourage others. Fourth you’re a gift from God to your community. The many volunteers who serve their communities in innumerable ways are indeed gifts from God. Equally in your workplace how you do your work there and treat those around you can very much be a gift from God to all there. And as Christians we should be gifts; i.e. a blessing to those around us. Same with what we do in our leisure time, we can be a gift not only to our families but also to the extended contacts and influences that come through family ties as well. Fifth you’re a gift from God to humanity. Every human being is an image bearer of God (Gen. 1:27). And thus you and I, no matter what our circumstance of life, whether healthy and strong or weak and farial have an inherent and immeasurable value and dignity placed on us and within us by God Himself (If you doubt this consider Jesus' warning not to disparage another human being, Matt. 5:22). For we are all exceedingly valued by God as Jesus Himself said of His purpose for coming forth from God to save us from our sins which separate us from God, and thus life itself (John 3:16). Therefore within us we all have the capacity to not only relate to God but also our fellow persons. People who say we cannot adequately relate to someone from a different walk of life, or life experience or culture are copping out. All people, whatever the culture or background understand common human experiences, like love or tragedy, joy and laughter, sadness and despair; dreams and failures etc. We’ve all experienced it, or have the capacities within us to do so. And thus we have the capacity to enter into another’s joy or suffering and be a blessing there, as well as by letting people into our own lives experiences. For we are all given by God as a gift to all our human brethren, equipped with natural abilities and personality traits that make us unique. But also immensely valuable in who we are as God’s creation, and what we can do and contribute and potentially contribute to the service of God and well being of others in this life. I’m always amazed and humbled by what God does through children. Little gifts of great curiosity and endless energy with a desire to serve and be involved if only given a chance. I remember when volunteering at a local food bank seeing elementary school age children arrive by the bus load and these seemingly little children with great zeal and joy would sort through the large wooden crates of potatoes donated from the various producers in the area, removing the spoilage from the usable ones. It seemed in no time flat they’d have a bin licked and be moving onto the next one. Amazing!
Parents I know you love your children. But do you know how much they want to be involved with you? Next time when you go shopping, or are doing something around the home, or in the yard, ask your children to be a part of whatever you’re doing. You’ll build some really strong bonds and be not only a blessing to them, but just maybe blessed by them. Now being a blessing begins by first receiving a blessing from God the Father. That is where it all begins. Not by trying harder in your own strength and resolve to be a Godly person, but by first admitting defeat. For it is there that God meets us, the broken, the failures, the poor in spirit, as Jesus said, and makes us into people of the Kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3).

If you have never come to see your need for the Savior and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior, maybe today is the day. By a simple prayer of faith placing all of your hope on Jesus Christ the Lord crucified to pay for all our sins, and risen from the dead so that He can impart new and everlasting life within us the moment we believe in Him, by His Holy Spirit, you can. For it’s not what you have done or have not done that makes us or will make us acceptable to God the Father, it’s whether or not we believe in His Son Christ Jesus the Lord (John 3:16-21). That is the sole basis for our being restored to God the Father and brought to Spirit life, eternal life. For it is God's Righteousness given to us when we believe in Jesus that saves us.

If you would like to begin that relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ His Son and be blessed by Him simply pray in faith something like this: Dear Lord Jesus I know that I am a sinner and have sinned against You and am in no way capable of changing myself much less paying for my sins. Yet You were sent from God to not only save us from our sins and the judgment to come but to bless us with Your Person, Presence and Power dwelling inside us. For it is only by You that we experience God’s love, grace and life in all its fullness. Therefore I now invite You into my heart and life to be both my Lord and Savior; first for salvation; and then as You work in and through my life a blessing to others as well, In Jesus' Name, amen.

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

Mark 1:16-19 "Follow Me"

Mark 1:16-19
16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.

Devotional
The following is just some thoughts on following Jesus. What it entails and what it does not. I hope that you find it instructing (if you are just beginning your journey with the Lord) or encouraging if you have been a follower of Jesus for some time. For there is no greater Person and Purpose then to follow the the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, the Son of God.

Thoughts on Following Jesus:
Notice Jesus doesn’t say follow a denomination or a program. He doesn’t say follow a charismatic leader or the latest Christian trend or book. He doesn’t say follow a particular form or day of worship. Nor does Jesus say follow a particular Bible translation; (Jesus quoted from both the Hebrew Bible as well as the Greek version of it called the Septuagint) and so Jesus says follow Me.
Again Jesus does not say follow various religious ceremonies or ordinaces born out of the traditions and commandments of men (Matt. 15:1-9; Titus 1:14-16). Nor does Jesus say become a Jew and follow the letter of the Law, or the rabbinic teachings and traditions born from that (Acts 15). Jesus says to all follow Me. For in following Christ there is a liberty of person and life expressed by the Life and Person of Jesus Christ dwelling inside all who believe in Him as Lord and Savior.
Now in this following Jesus, He does not say in our following Him, make Me cultural, national or regional. As if following Jesus is limited to a certain culture, nation or people group. For there is no culture, nation, language or people whom the Lord does not love and want to redeem from their sins and eternal damnation (Acts 10). Nor does Jesus say in our following Him for us to base His accepting people on whether they have lived good, righteous and or virtuous lives in our eyes (Rom. 3:23). For if that is the basis of our (or anyone else's) being accepted by God, our being "good enough", then Jesus’ suffering and dying on the cross for all our sins was in vain (Gal. 2:21). For neither the Scriptures, nor the Gospel, is a message about "good people" for “good people". For we have all proven that there is no one that is good, except One, and that is God, as Jesus said (Matt. 19:16-17). Again Jesus said He did not come to call the righteous, (that is those who are righteous in their own eyes) but sinners to repentance (See Matt. 9:9-13).

Similarly Jesus does not say in following Him that we are to make His accepting someone based on whether or not they will adhere to our own personal likes and dislikes (in all non-moral, ethical and doctrinal matters) in whatever areas of life we have these in. Especially in regards to how we worship and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. For God does not give us who believe liberty to love, worship, and serve Him freely in all joy and peace so that we can exclude or judge other believers when they do not conform to our (or our congregations) personal likes and dislikes in whatever areas of life we have these in (Rom. 14). For it is Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead and that makes for all our acceptance before God because we believe in Jesus Christ’s Person (John 3:16-21; Rom. 1:16-17). For that is the sole basis for our being justified in the sight of God, faith in Jesus, period (Rom. 3:19-28; 5:1).

And so back to Jesus’ command to follow Him. He’s not asking us to take on some sort of heavy religious burden (Matt. 11:28-30). And thus bear the fruits of that self-imposed and self limiting  servitude. For all works based religions inevitably lead to legalism, isolation and or self justification. And thus all to frequently religious arrogance, indifference (Luke 18:9-14), or worse justifying the condemnation of others. For sadly it is often the most “religious” of people who are often the most indifferent towards wayward mankind (Matt. 9:9-13), and or hostile towards God’s redeemed people of grace (Gal. 4:21-31), of whom we all are as Jesus' followers; for we all who believe in Christ are now Christ's and are all washed by the Lambs blood, and thus saved by the grace of God (Eph. 2:8-9). Therefore Jesus is inviting us all to follow Him, to first acknowledge our own sinfulness, and thus our need for His redemption of our persons by His Crucifixion death and Resurrection from the dead, then as we go on with Him in His Spirit's power, our own powerlessness along the way. For to follow Jesus in discipleship is to follow Him with no preconceived ideas of what that is going to look like (John 12:26). In other words Jesus is asking us to let Him write the script of our new lives (2 Cor. 5:17).

But again first we must see our need for Him (in this consider Peter's own acknowledgment of his own sinfulness when Christ called him; Luke 5:1-11, vs. 8). And so to follow Jesus in grace and truth (John 1:14) we have to come to the place of acknowledging our sinful condition to God and look to Jesus Christ crucified as the sole solution for it (John 3:16). Then having received the solution for our sins by repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ’s Person. God accepts Jesus Christ’s atoning work on the cross for our sins and then imputes His Righteousness to us (2 Cor. 5:21). Having then received the gift of God's salvation by faith in Jesus Christ's Person we then are to follow Jesus in discipleship. That is how one becomes a Christian. Not by water baptism (1 Cor. 1:17); not by trying to emulate charismatic gifts, not by endlessly confessing one's sins, or making prayers to Mary or any "saint", and thus not by practicing useless religious rituals, counting beads on a string, or observing sacred days (Gal. 4:9-11). And certainly not by scrict bodily neglect and or self abuse (Col 2:20-22). But only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person as the sole means of being made right with, and transformed by God (Titus 3:4-7). And so having been born again by the Spirit of God who regenerates us, and baptizes us into the Body of Christ, we begin the incredible journey of Living the life of Christ. That is of Jesus Christ Living inside us and manifesting Himself through us.

Today then it may be that Jesus will bring into your path someone whom He has prepared to receive the gospel; or has a certain need that He has Spirit equipped you to meet, witness too, or build up in love as Jesus has commanded we do as His disciples (Matt. 22:37-39; John 15:12). Or maybe it is too do some good work that God has prepared before hand for you to do, or to encourage or bless someone today by (Eph. 2:10). And thus you may find yourself sharing Christ on a street corner, or in a university campus. Maybe you'll find visiting someone in the hospital or serving in a local food bank. Maybe it will be preaching a sermon somewhere, or teaching a Sunday school class. Maybe it will start by just being a Godly mother, father or role model in some capacity to someone and thus preparing your children, yourself and those in your sphere of influence for greater things. I cannot limit or prescribe what Jesus will have you do for Him, and what He will do through you and me individually, as well as corporately as a church body as we follow Him in discipleship. For we are as the recipients of the grace of God to be, and always striving to be, a blessing in this life to all people. Regardless of what may distinguish one person from another. Since we all bear the image of God. Therefore whatever it is, may it always revolve around being a maturing disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. For it is Jesus Christ alone who has brought us into God’s love and salvation so that we might manifest it to all. Therefore we are to be His servants and witnesses of this by both words and deeds. That’s the outworking of following Jesus Christ, where ones faith, by abiding in Jesus Christ's love, produces works and words like Christ's (John 14:12; 15:1-11). Now the the inward part of our following Jesus is our sanctification; that is our progressively being transformed by the Power of the Holy Spirit as we obey Christ's commandments. Now in both of these obedience to Jesus Christ’s commandments really takes precedence. For in order to remain grounded in Christ’s life one must not only believe in Jesus Christ for salvation, but we must also learn obedience to Him by abiding in and keeping His Word (John 8:31; 14:23). For we cannot possibly be Christ like in this life unless we strive to put into practice what He Himself does and has commanded us all to do.

Now in saying this I want you to understand I’m not immune to either temptations or failure (just as you are not). But I am thoroughly confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in me (and you) will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6). Therefore I'm always encouraged by the knowledge of my co-crucifixion with Christ (Rom. 6) by which the Holy Spirit who works in accord with this truth, empowers me to either resist or flee, and thus eventually overcome whatever temptations the flesh or the tempter brings my way (1 Cor. 10:13). For that is my, as well as your responsibility. To overcome the flesh, the world, the devil (Hebrews 12:1-17) . Ultimately by submitting to God and resisting the devil. For in so doing he will flee from us (James 4:7-10). Now in this struggle we are not alone as the Lord Jesus Christ our merciful High Priest is with us in all our temptations and trials (Hebrews 4:14-16), as we learn to resist and overcome the enemy who seeks to devour us, and or forward our falling into sin (1 Peter 5:8-11).

Therefore as believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ we are called to bear each other’s burdens and thus fulfill the Law of Christ by encouraging and strengthening each other in our common faith, trials and weaknesses. And so when necessary restore in a spirit of gentleness those who fall into sin; (for that is what a merciful person does, Matt. 5:7) while still holding each other accountable for our own lives. For we shall each bear our own load (Gal. 6:1-5). Yet I believe it will be through every trial of person and faith that God will increase our discernment as well our knowledge and understanding of Him and His dealings with us and others as well. Therefore we are to always “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Eph. 6:10). As we bear up under the pressures of this life by using the whole armor of God which is exceedingly effective as we believe and obey the truth given us (Eph. 6:11-18), and thus as we put into practice what we are taught and commanded (1 John 5:18-20). For we must overcome it all by the power of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection (Rom. 7:4-6; 1 Cor. 15:56-57; Col. 2:11-23; Rev. 3:21). And so in accord with this as a follower of Jesus is our mind renewal (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 10:5). Therefore readily receive the Word of God which alone can sanctify us (John 17:17-19) and grant us an inheritance amongst those who are sanctified by faith in Christ (Acts 26:18). For having lived according to this world and it's evil age we should not return to it (1 John 2:15-17). Something that God works in all who truly believe, our separation from it (John 15:19-21; Rev. 18:4-5). Therefore in all wisdom, discernment and patient understanding believe in and follow Jesus Christ to eternal life (Col. 1:9-23).

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

Mark 16:9-20 Jesus Christ's Resurrection

Mark 16:9-20
9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. 12 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. 14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 “they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.


Devotional
This is the last installment of a devotional series that has been following Mark's Gospel. It began over a year ago and has been personally rewarding as well as challenging. I hope that through it someone has come to know God personally, or has grown deeper in their knowledge and understanding of God our Father, through our Loving Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So then beginning in verse nine it states that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week. This monumental event is supported by the other gospels (Matt. 28:1-10; Luke 24:10; John 20:1-8) and of course eye witnesses (1 Cor. 15:3-11). But most importantly by each and every believer since who has come to experience the Living Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in their persons (Col. 1:27). And thus we are by the very fact of our being here evidence proof of Christ's resurrection from the dead with His Spirit magnifying the Lord Jesus through us to all. And having risen, Mark recalls that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene and she went and told the disciples (vs. 9-11). This event’s details are recorded in John 20:11-18. Now Mark also recalls their initial unbelief when Mary Magdalene first told them, (these details are found in Luke 24:1-12). Mark then tells us of Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road (vs. 12-13) these details are laid out for us in (Luke 24:13-35). Mark then tells us of Jesus’appearance to the eleven while they sat at the table; there Jesus appearing to them in Bodily form rebukes their unbelief (vs. 14) before commissioning them to go and preach the gospel everywhere, not just in church amongst themselves, but everywhere, to every creature. The root of this command coming from the Lord Jesus Christ's own Authority which God the Father has bestowed exclusively on Him, meaning neither person nor place is to be off limits to the glorious Gospel of God that brings salvation to all who repent and believe. These details along with Jesus' ascension before them are given to us variously in Matt. 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-20; Luke 24:36-53; John 20:19-25; Acts 1:3-12; 1 Cor. 15:6-7. Now in the space of a couple of verses Mark actually covers over forty days of actual time (Acts 1:3). I thought I'd mention that fact in case some might be supposing these events unfolded in rapid succession, as is the nature of Mark in his presenting the gospel to us.

Now Matthews’s gospel uniquely records Jesus’ appearance to the other women who were with Mary at the tomb (Matt. 28:9-10), as well as the tombs guards appeasement from the chief priests (Matt. 28:11-15). While John’s gospel records Jesus’ appearing eight days after His resurrection to the disciples to convince Thomas (John 20:24-31) who was not present the first time Jesus appeared to them (John 20:19-23). As well as His meeting with them by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-25). Each gospel writer then as the Holy Spirit moved them recorded what was assigned to them to record. Sometimes there is overlap, sometimes there is events uniquely recalled by certain Apostle’s. Or as in the case of Mark, as he recalled what the Apostle Peter preached and taught him. The point is they each recalled and recorded the events as the Holy Spirit moved them. To provide a written account to the Lord Jesus Christ’s birth, life, crucifixion death, resurrection from the dead, then ascension back to God the Father. Therefore no single gospel has or ever will have “priority” over another. All four were given by the Holy Spirit for the church’s instruction, edification and evangelistic ministry. And thus all are necessary. For they were all given by God the Father through His Holy Spirit to present an eye witness account of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

And so Mark’s gospel (like Matthew, Luke and John) stands as a unique work given by the Spirit of God. Reflecting his own literary style and personality. Emphasizing certain things; like the Passion Week narrative as a whole; and omitting other aspects (like Jesus' birth details). Something that we scarcely even take note of since the Holy Spirit’s Ministry of the Word assures us that all the details that the Lord Jesus Christ wanted preserved for us are preserved by one or all of the four gospel writers. For the gospel is one record of the life, teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ from four different "viewpoints". Therefore each is a unique contribution to the whole. And with that I simply want to move back into Mark’s glorious gospel and pick up at verse fourteen where I left off. Where Jesus appearing to the eleven as they sat at a table will rebuke their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen Him, after He had risen from the dead (Mark 16:14). Now that sort of hardness of heart can also overtake us; who likewise believe; yet for whatever reasons become hardened to workings of God through us and or around us; even hardened towards our basic purposes in Christ like evangelism/disciple making, reading and memorizing the Scriptures, prayer, or maintaining good works as a way of life so that we remain spiritually vibrant and fruitful. Therefore we must be careful and diligent to maintain our faith in an unbelieving and cynical world that looks to itself to "save" or change itself, or science to explain everything. For there are things within the Word of God, by God's design, that science cannot explain. Just as they cannot fathom the origin of sin and evil in the world; nor of a Living God who loves, redeems and transforms sinners who believe in Him through His Son by His Holy Spirit. Or a personal devil who both deceives and holds the unbelieving world under his sway. For though true knowledge comes from God, it’s not intellectual reasoning that God ultimately wants to grow up in our person’s. It is faith in His Person. Specifically faith in His Son, who in the fullness of time came to earth and took on flesh as a Man, not as a full grown Man, but as we all come into life from God as a fetus, and specifically for the Lord Jesus Christ, a fetus in the virgin Mary’s womb. A woman who was chosen by God and told by the angel Gabriel that she would be the women through whom the Christ would come into the world (Luke 1:26-38). Later an angel confirmed this to Joseph her betrothed husband (Matt. 1:18-24). And so when Jesus was born, on the same day He was born, His birth was heralded first by an angel who appeared to some shepherds in the field telling them of Christ's arrival, then by an angelic host in the heavens praising God. Now the shepherds believing what was spoken to them went to Bethlehem with haste and saw the new born baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph. And having seen the Christ Child they spread the news everywhere, of what they had heard and seen (Luke 2:1-20). Now with the Lord Jesus Christ being born under the Law of Moses He was circumcised according to the Law on the eighth day. It was at that time He was Named Jesus according to what the angel Gabriel had told Mary and Joseph to name Him (Luke 2:21-24), His Name meaning Savior, and thus through it declaring His purpose in coming forth from God, to save us from our sins (Matt. 1:21) when we believe in His Person and call upon His Name (Rom. 10:9-10; 13).  

Now when Mary’s purification according to the Law of Moses was completed (see Lev. 12:1-8 to understand) Joseph and Mary brought the infant Christ to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord and to offer a sacrifice according to the Law for Him (Luke 2:22-24). It was during this time that two people; a Godly widow of great age named Anna, and a Godly man named Simeon whose sole desire of God was to see the Christ before he died, were witnesses to Him. And when they saw Him they prophesied and glorified the Lord God in the Temple for having seen the new born Christ (Luke 2:25-38). And having done so Anna spoke of the Lord’s Christ or Messiah (as the Jews refer to Him) to everyone who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. It was after this that the magi from the east came seeking the Christ Child in Jerusalem, being guided by a star which appeared in the east to them. Now when they came to Jerusalem both Herod and all those there were greatly troubled by their news. For such was the perceived threat to their reign that the Jews had a King born to them.
Though Jesus is far more than just a King of the Jews, He is Lord and King of all; to Whom we all owe our greatest honor, respect and obedience (John 5:23). And so Herod's opposition to Jesus is really just an outworking of Satan's, and so Herod, then the governor of Judea, under Roman auspices, sought to kill the Chosen One of God whom had been born amongst them.   

In this Herod pretends to desire to worship the Christ Child and sends the magi whom came from the east seeking the Holy Child, to Bethlehem to seek Him out, his true purposes unknown to them. Now when they departed from Herod the star which they had seen in east again appears to them and they rejoice exceedingly, for it was by it that they were being guided by God to the Child. Now when they found Him and saw the Christ Child in Mary’s arms they fell down and worshipped Him and presented their gifts to Him. And being Divinely warned in a dream not to return to Herod they depart and return to their own country. Now when they had departed an angel appears to Joseph in a dream warning him to take the young Child and His mother and flee to Egypt until he would bring them word. For he told him that Herod would seek to destroy the Child (Matt. 2:13). So Joesph took the young Child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt, and they were there until the death of Herod, thus fulfilling the Scripture which says: "Out of Egypt I called My Son." (Matt. 2:13-15). Now when Herod saw that he was deceived by the magi (or wise men) he became exceedingly angry and began to put to death all the male children in Bethlehem, and in all it's districts, from two years old and under, according to the time he had determined from the wise men in an attempt to destroy whom he perceived would be his greatest single revile. Thus fulfilling the Word of God spoken by the prophet Jeremiah which says:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.” (See Matt. 2:16-18;  Note: Ramah is the region, while Rachel is Jacobs beloved wife, whose son Benjamin was the father of the tribe of Israel where Bethlehem was located. There are twelve tribes in Israel each being named after Jacob/Israel's sons)

Now when Herod was dead an angel of the Lord appeared to Joesph in Egypt telling him to take the Child and His mother and return to Israel, since all those who sought the Child's life were now dead (Matt. 2:19-20). And so Joesph coming up from Egypt at God's command spoken through His angel might have gone into the region of Israel called Judea. But when he heard that Archeluas was reining over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene" (Matt. 2:21-23). That is the early history of Jesus' Life minus the details of John the Baptist's birth which one can learn and study by reading the first chapter of Luke's gospel. Now having given a bit of history I want to jump back into Mark’s gospel picking up at verse fifteen and concluding at verse twenty where Jesus commissions the disciples. For there He says to them (and us all) …“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 “they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

Now notice again first that Jesus in giving us the command to go out and preach the gospel to every creature, places absolutely no restrictions on us as to whom or where the gospel is to be preached. Therefore the gospel is not just to be preached in church, or at evangelistic rallies, or Bible camps or Bible study and various kinds of support groups. But everywhere, to everyone by whatever legitimate and tactful means possible. For imagine if everyone who believes simply shared the Good News of God’s love and salvation without religious formulations and pretenses. But rather by just being themselves, through their own personality, life and God experiences beginning in their own language and culture to first their family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, or anyone else God has prepared and brings their way, or sends them too. The impact would be world changing. For I know the gospel is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, to both the Jews (to whom it was first preached) and now all Gentiles everywhere, from every circumstance of life. “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Rom. 1:17 Now that truth is what makes the gospel preach-able and reachable in Prisons and Palaces and everywhere else that falls between those extremes. That it is the Lord Jesus Christ’s Righteousness imputed to us, and His Life brought within us, the moment we believe in His Person, by which we are now reconciled back to God. All because of Jesus' death on the cross by which God has atoned (or payed for) all our sins (See 2 Cor. 5:20-21; Eph. 1:13-14). And thus having been reconciled back to God by faith in Jesus Christ's Person we can now live out the new and everlasting life, given us by God through His Spirit (John 6:63). For we who believe have now been freely justified by God through the Lord Jesus Christ's Person (Rom. 5:1). Which leads us into verse sixteen which states: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Though there seems to be a formulation for salvation in Jesus’ Words it is the believing in Him that is the essential component of salvation (John 3:16; 6:29), for without faith one cannot please God and hence there would be no salvation (Hebrews 11:6). For salvation is not by our own works (Eph. 2:8-9), it’s by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ’s Person, crucified for our sins remission and raised from the dead for our justification. Therefore all those who believe in Jesus will be saved by the grace of God and those who don’t will be condemned (John 3:18). The gospel truly is that simple (2 Cor. 11:3-4). Really then there is no controversy with Mark 16:16 and Jesus’ Words there until someone tries to link water baptism with salvation. For when they try to do that they move from God’s grace into human works (or adding human works to God's finished work on the cross) and thus serious error by supplanting God's Righteousness with their own (consider Rom. 3:19-28; 4:4-5; 10:3-4). Now Mark’s gospel’s statement on believing and baptism though unique to His gospel presentation is clearly in accord with the entire gospel account. For the Apostle Peter’s preaching emphasized faith and repentance, with water baptism being an outworking of this, but not as a means to it (Acts 2:14-39). For water baptism in of itself saves no one, as the Apostle Peter himself has said. Rather it is simply an indication of a clear conscience towards God which we receive by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's resurrected Person (1 Peter 3:21). Now Jesus’ Words in verses seventeen and eighteen are likewise unique to Mark’s gospel but they are not unique in of themselves. Since they clearly foretell just what the Apostle’s did in their early evangelistic ministry, as the Holy Spirit sign gifts were very prevalent in their early ministering the Gospel. Marks gospel then concludes by saying that after the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, that He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

And though in Mark’s gospel this seems like an immediate action, again there was some forty days that Jesus spent with the disciples in His resurrected Glory teaching them things pertaining to the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). And thus Mark’s gospel ending contains a few select sayings of Jesus within that time frame. Not all of Jesus’ sayings presented to us in a chronological fashion. Verse twenty then says that the Apostles went out preaching everywhere, the Lord working with them and conforming the Word through the accompanying signs. Which again the Book of Acts variously records for us, however a word of caution, these things Jesus said would follow those who believe in Him were given to His Apostle’s to authenticate their Message about Jesus Christ’s resurrection, ascension and the gospel as a whole. And having been authenticated to first the Jews, then the Samaritans, and then the Gentiles, the message having been confirmed to the ancient world it must now be preached and received solely by faith. For we have the Scriptures, Jesus Christ’s Living Words preserved for us, as well we have since, centuries of God’s working through and transforming men and women and children’s lives who have come to faith in Jesus's Person. And thus we have the Presence of the resurrected Christ working through and abiding in every believer as evidential proof of these things. So what are you waiting for, receive the Love of God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person. By a simple prayer of faith you can pass from death into life and begin your new life and God given purposes in Christ. Simply pray something like this: Dear Lord Jesus I believe Your were crucified for my sins and that You rose from the dead and that You are now seated at the right hand of the Father. And that You poured out Your Spirit so that whoever calls on Your Name in faith
shall be saved. Therefore in humble faith knowing I cannot save myself from my sins I now invite You into my heart and life to be my Lord and Savior, in Your Precious Name Lord Jesus, amen.

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