Heart Condition

Mark 7:1-23 has lots of stuff in it. As Martin and I re-read the scripture together this morning, we paused as things jumped out at us. Verses 6, 7 have always been amongst my favorite verses in the Bible. They challenge me to examine my Heart Condition.

We both were reminded about how we worship in song on Sundays. Do we do it just because it's part of the program? Why don't we "feel" his presence at times? Are we really focusing on what we're singing and what the song means?

This was one of our conclusions...

It is dangerous and wrong to worry about our reputation rather than our character. It is dangerous and wrong to set standards for others out of our own interpretation of the Bible. We need to focus on how Christ needs to deal with us and allow Him to deal with others in certain details of their own lives (I'm not talking about sin here, I'm talking about standards of living--or traditions). It is also dangerous and wrong to elevate ourselves and point out the wrong in others.

What it boils down to is what is in our hearts. "It is not what goes into a man that makes him unclean, it's what comes out of him." Being in the world is not sin. The manifested evil within our heart is sin. Jesus gives a list of 13 things that come out of man's heart that makes him "unclean" in verses 21 and 22.

What are your thoughts on this passage?

Jesus is Near

From Mark 6:45-56

After Jesus fed the 5,000 people, he sent his disciples to the other side of the lake and he went off to pray. At about 3am, he saw them struggling at the oars with the wind against them. So, he went out to them.

This was pretty interesting to me because it says "he went out to them," but once he was close to the boat it says that "he was about to walk by them." Why? Why would Jesus walk all the way out there, then walk by the disciples who were struggling? I'm not sure I have the answer to that, but one thing did occur to me that when we are struggling with an issue whether it be death, divorce, career change, weighing big decisions, or finances, Jesus is Near! At times it may seem that everything is against us (just like the wind against the disciples)...Jesus is Near! Why would he just "walk by"? Maybe that is to show us that we need to call out to him, he is available to help us and once we invite him in our "boat," he will give us peace.

What are your thoughts?

Believe me...really!

The guys saw a number of things in this passage; Jesus giving thanks for the meal, meeting with his disciples after ministering, the disciples' obedience to Jesus, Jesus' compassion towards the multitude, and Jesus' Leadership.

The one that spoke to me the most was Jesus' Leadership and how he led his disciples by

1. Keeping them accountable: After the disciples returned from Jesus sending them out two by two to preach and evangelize, he met with them so they could "share with him all they had done and taught."
2. Being sensitive to their needs: Jesus recognized that it's important to take a rest...we see this not only since the beginning of his ministry, but the beginning of time also.
3. Showing compassion towards the crowd: When they arrived at the other side of the lake, there was a crowd waiting for him. Even though they were tired, the compassion Jesus had for the lost (sheep w/o a shepherd) called his attention more than what his desire to rest.
4. Encouraging them to BELIEVE: This probably had the most impact on me because I've never seen this passage this way. The disciples said, "send them away so they can go and get something to eat." They saw their need...that's good. Then Jesus says, "YOU feed them." Sometimes, we like to see the need and expect someone else to meet it. The disciples couldn't fathom how they could feed so many people, they doubted their ability. Really, they couldn't do anything about it, but Jesus could. He told his disciples to give him what they had and he took it...and performed a miracle! You might think you don't have much to offer, but God will use what you have for His glory...if you give it to Him.
5. Organizing them: I thought this was interesting how Jesus was able to accomplish this task and organize the huge crowd. He told the disciples to divide them into small groups of 50-100 and hand the food out.

After everyone had eaten and were satisfied the disciples gathered 12 basketfulls of left-over bread. God not only provided for the needs of the people, but there was more than enough. This looks like God saying "Believe me...really!"

"Los Errores de Herodes"

Los Errores de Herodes means "Herod's Errors" and in this passage we see them (6:14-29).

The first few verses connect to the last passage. After Jesus sent his disciples out two by two, Jesus' name became very popular. When Harod found out he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead." Up until now, apparently Herod had not heard of Jesus and he still had the guilty conscience of killing John the Baptist.

The next 13 verses are a parenthesis in the passage. They do not flow with how the thought of the 12 disciples continues in verse 30. They tell of why Herod had killed John the Baptist and it's here that we see his errors.

1-The woman he married, Herodias, was already married to his brother Phillip and had a daughter. This is what John had confronted Herod on and Herodias held a grudge. But she was unable to kill him because Herod protected John.

2-Herod was greatly puzzled by John's messages, but he enjoyed listening to him. Herod grew up with an evil father...Herod the Great who killed all the little boys when Jesus was born and also killed three of his sons (Herod's brothers--one of which was the father of Herodias). Even with this background, it's evident he didn't change too much.

3-Herod had his step-daughter dance before him and his friends at his party. What kind of morals would allow a man in that time to have his daughter dance like that? Even her mother apparently approved.

4-Finally, when it came time to keep his word in front of his friends, he did. However, he didn't want to because it required killing a man whom he knew to be "righteous and holy." But, instead of letting what was right prevail, he didn't want his friends to make fun of him or lose respect for him, so he ordered John to be beheaded.

How many times do we choose friends over what's right?

Mark Chapter Six

This week we looked at the first 13 verses and summed it up like this: "Sharing Jesus with Others."

The Bible divides these verses into two sections which makes sense. It's interesting how they relate to one another...

Jesus in his home town (vv. 1-6) suggests that we can expect our family members and close friends to reject the Jesus we believe in simply because they know us.

Jesus sending out the 12 disciples (vv. 7-13) suggests that we need to share Jesus with others even though they may reject him. Our responsibility is to "Share Jesus with Others," it is not our responsibility that they accept him.

A couple of things to think about...

1. Do we respect and honor our own pastor the same way we do a visiting evangelist or prophet? Do we expect the same results after they're done preaching?

2. If Jesus was amazed at the lack of faith of the people from his hometown and was only able to "lay hands on a few sick people and heal them," what does that say about our faith if we are not seeing healings and miracles?

3. How often do I not share Jesus with others because I expect them to reject him?

any comments?

Mark Chapter Five

We met for the first time since July on Wednesday morning. I had each of them share what caught their attention throughout the chapter and here are some things that were mentioned...

• Jesus has power over the worst-case scenarios (vv. 2-13).
• Jesus took the time to save a man that no one cared for (vv. 2-13).
• The townspeople were afraid...they had never seen anything like this and they had concern that Jesus' work would change their way of living. They would have to give up their own "herd" (job, possessions, etc.), in order for others to be saved. They asked Jesus to not be a part of their lives and told him to leave (vv. 14-17).
• The man who was freed from demon possession wanted to follow Jesus. However, Jesus did not let him, but instead told him to return to his family to testify about what the Lord had done for him (vv. 18-19). How many times do we get so involved in "following Jesus" (ministry) and neglect our own family?
• The man went back to his family and testified (v. 20). This was the beginning of the preaching of Jesus to the Greek in the Decapolis.
• Jairus was a leader in the synagogue, it took humility and a strong belief in Jesus for him to "fall at his feet" and ask healing for his dying daughter (vv. 22,23).
• The bleeding woman had to have strong faith in order to approach Jesus the way she did. By Jesus asking "who touched me?", he gave her the opportunity to continue to put her faith into action and publicize it. Jesus said, "your faith has healed you" (vv. 24-34).
• Jesus ignored the claims that Jairus' daughter was dead. This bit of information could've disheartened Jairus, but Jesus encouraged him in his sorrow and said, "Don't be afraid; just believe" (vv. 35-36).
• As they approached Jairus' house, Jesus claimed that the girl was only sleeping, not dead. Despite being laughed at, Jesus continued and did not let the people's ridiculing bother him. He healed the little girl (vv. 38-43).
• The fact that the bleeding woman's story was right in the middle of Jairus' daughter's story suggests that it was a reinforcement for Jairus' faith...something to help him continue to believe.

CONCLUSION: Jesus cares for those who are suffering and wants to free them. The man was freed from demon possession and mental anguish. Jairus was freed from the suffering of losing a loved one. The bleeding woman was freed from the 12 year sickness in her body.

Your comments?

Meeting again

After arriving from our trip to Washington, the guys are ready to meet again...hopefully next week we'll look at Mark 5.