Mark 8 - 12.19.24

S - 11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. Mark 8:11-13

O – Mark 8 shows us Jesus’ continued ministry. After taking a roundabout way back to Galilee through Decapolis, Jesus returned to Dalmanutha where Jewish leaders questioned his authority before he continues to Bethsaida and Caesarea. In this chapter, the Pharisees had tried to explain away Jesus’ previous miracles by claiming they were done by luck, coincidence, or evil power.  They demanded a sign from heaven, something only God could do. Jesus refused their demand because he knew that even this kind of miracle would not convince them. They had already decided not to believe. Hearts can become so hard that even the most convincing facts and demonstrations will not change them.

A – I love Mark as we get to read again and again, all the miracles, healings and ministry that Jesus did. He never gave up, said he was too tired, or too busy. When I read about the Pharisees asking for yet another miracle or sign, I think to myself, “How much more do you need?! You have seen miracle after miracle, healing after healing.”  But then I think about how often we do that! We ask for signs and miracles, yet He has NOTHING to prove.  We tend to forget the miracles He has done in our lives already. Where is the faith Mary talked about in her post on Tuesday? She referenced John 20:29  Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

 I don’t want to test Jesus. I want to have a faith that trusts in Him alone because He has already proven who He is countless times. He owes me nothing! He has taken me from the death I deserve as a sinner and given me a new life, new purpose, and a faith and a hope I never had without Him. THAT is all I need to know.  I want to stay focused on what He has already done and not on what I want Him to do.

P – Lord help us not be a generation that continuously asks you for signs and miracles, but instead believes in you because of the faith that we have that you are who you say you are and that alone can be trusted.  Forgive me for any times that we doubt you and your powerful presence. Lord I thank you for all that you have done in my life, for the way you use me to minister to others, for the miracles you perform every single day, whether we see them or not.

- Crystal Flory

Mark 7 - 12.18.24

Scripture

Mark 7:15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.

Observation

I need to focus more on washing my heart than washing my hands.

Application

Washing your hands before you eat sounds like good advice. But the Pharisees’ hand washing wasn’t for practical purposes, it was ceremonial. They were washing their hands to cleanse themselves from the “unclean” things (including people) they came in contact with. This was part of their focus on the outward - following rituals and elaborate rules instead of following after the heart of God.

Jesus challenged them. He explained that the rottenness or dirtiness didn’t come from outside, or what they came in contact with, but from inside. He was telling them that they should focus on washing their hearts.

Vs. 6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’”

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

 We all have a heart of sin. And the only solution is to ask God to wash us.

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for giving me a new heart. Thank you for your new mercies everyday. May I not grow complacent, following a prescribed schedule or list of boxes to check off instead of running hard after you. As I spend time in your presence and in your word, please continue to wash me clean. 

- Debbie Dunn

Mark 6 - 12.17.24

SCRIPTURE: Mark 6:1 – 6

“Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,[a] Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.”

OBSERVATION

Jesus is in his hometown and the people there just couldn’t get past their human knowledge of Jesus – as the carpenter – and see his spiritual position, power, and purpose.

APPLICATION

That old saying “you can’t judge a book by its cover” comes to mind.  Although what Jesus experienced is in reverse of what we primarily know that saying has been used, I still think it can apply in this scripture. Normally that saying applies to someone who is positionally lower than their true position.  For Jesus, in his hometown, he’s showing his higher position by healing, showing great wisdom of the scriptures, but they can’t believe he qualifies for the status of his position. The people who knew him growing-up couldn’t understand how Jesus could be doing all the healings, have the amazing wisdom, or perform other miracles because he’s just the local carpenter. Their hearts and head were stuck in the past instead of believing what they were hearing or seeing. They had an amazing opportunity to embrace Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. Unfortunately, as verse 6 says, “He was amazed at their lack of faith.”  They just couldn’t comprehend the Jesus they knew is the Jesus they are witnessing all because they lacked faith.

Have you ever known someone that doesn’t look like they could be Christian just because of how they look or maybe what you’ve known of them in the past?  Sometimes our human nature goes to  judging others by their cover and not how Jesus sees them.  Everyone we encounter is precious in the sight of God. Everyone needs Jesus and is worthy of his forgiveness.  When we practice God’s love and faith, we can take our faith and believe that God can do great things in their life.

Faith is something that’s hard to describe because it doesn’t have anything to do with seeing things but it’s about the unseen. In John 20:29 “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Hebrews 11 talks about faith as hope and the assurance of what’s not seen: “ Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”

Sometimes faith can go down the wrong path too. It’s important to always test what you see and experience. In John 4:1 - 3 we’re instructed in this way:

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

PRAYER

Dear Lord, forgive me for the times my faith is shortsighted in others. Help me to always see people as you see them. You came into this world to save everyone if only they would turn to you. During this time of season, we are celebrating your birth here on earth. You lowered yourself to become a man, yet your own family and friends didn’t recognize your position. When I encounter others, help me to always point them to your position as Savior, and the Son of God. In Jesus mighty name!  Amen

- Mary Oberg