The main themes today are obvious, but for some reason I am seeing some details that I hadn’t noticed before.
Read Matthew 8:14-34, Mark 4-5
I noticed in Matthew that it was a teacher of religious law that said he would follow Jesus anywhere He went. I always focus on the reply, but today the person making the statement catches my eye. Apparently not all religious leaders were opposed to Jesus, some of them were wise enough to make the connection.
In Mark 4, Jesus is leaving Peter’s home in Capernaum which is a fishing village right on the Sea of Galilee. The crowds are so large that Jesus leaves. I have to smile as I think of that. I cannot think of any other minister or evangelist…or prophet, who would leave because “there are too many people listening”. Of course, that’s not why Jesus leaves, he leaves because his mission is to spread the “Good News” to as many Jewish towns as possible. Ironically, the area on the east side of the Sea has more non-Jews. (Peter’s mother in law lived on the west side of the Sea)
I’m not sure why, but today small things in the text are attracting my attention. For instance, I notice that Jesus says He uses parables for everything He says to “outsiders”. I wonder why? Why not make the truth plain, clear and compelling…and allow people to repent and become followers right now? I’m thinking that there is something honorable about believing by faith that God desires. The 12 disciples actually had an advantage that God did not permit for anyone else. What I mean to say is that God seems to want people to have to “stretch their faith” in order to believe in Him. He isn’t revealing himself so clearly that no faith is required. In this way, those who lived at the same time as Jesus don’t have an “unfair” advantage over you and I. Everyone must accept by faith that Jesus is who He claims to be.
A second reason might be that if the crowds accepted the “seed” that Christ is planting in them immediately, they might advance the sequence of events more rapidly, giving Jesus less time to spend with His disciples. In other words, the disciples aren’t ready for Jesus to leave yet, so Jesus speaks to the crowds in parables so that it will delay the revelation of his divinity, and the postpone the anger of the Pharisees. Third reason: It fulfills prophecy.
In 4:24 my translation says “the closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given”. Distraction is a tool of the enemy. Distraction can come in many forms: entertainment, discomfort, relationship strife, you name it…the devil will try and use it to keep us from concentrating on God’s Word and spending time in Prayer. Knowing that, we should make every effort to read and pray.
In 4:35 I notice this time through that there were other boats that followed Jesus across the lake. For some reason I never envisioned any other boats being with Jesus and the disciples…but there were! The 12 disciples weren’t the only ones to witness and experience the sea becoming calm. I just had never considered that there were others nearby. Thinking of that, what about the folks on shore who were looking out their windows at the sea churning and the waves crashing and the wind howling….and then saw the sea suddenly become calm? did the sun come out? Did they know they had just witnessed a miracle, or did they shrug their shoulders saying “that’s strange” and go on their way? I wonder if I have ever witnessed a miracle and shrugged my shoulders because I didn’t recognize it?
Mark 5
I should mention that the Matthew account speaks of two demon possessed men, this account only mention one. There had to be at least two, maybe this account focuses only on the one man who wanted to stay with Jesus. I wonder what the other guy did when he was delivered? Were these guys married? Did they have kids? What impact on a family would it have to see Dad transformed into a healthy productive, normal human being again? How many people did these guys reflect the love and forgiveness of God to? It’s not beyond imagination that whole communities became Christians after hearing their testimonies. I wish I knew the rest of their story.
Sooo. The healing of the woman with bleeding happens after Jesus has returned from healing the demon possessed men. I wonder how long Jesus was gone to the other side of the lake? This woman had been suffering for years, why did she just show up now? Had she been in the crowd earlier, and not able to get an audience with Jesus? Did her illness prevent her from jostling around in the crowd, effectively keeping her away from Christ?
I wonder what “illnesses” keep me from seeking God more radically? I wonder how long I am willing to stand on the shore looking for Christ to return from the other side? I think there’s an “end times”sermon in that thought…
We hear of Jairus again today. He was a synagogue leader…THE synagogue leader. And he was a believer. I wonder if the religious leader that told Jesus He would follow him was from the same synagogue? It would stand to reason that wherever the leader goes the synagogue would follow.
What a responsibility for those who lead the local church!
Faithfully,
PR