Category: Daily Devotionals

And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
Mark 5.34

There are some people who just cannot be ignored. Wherever they go or whatever they do they cause a stir. I cannot think of anybody of whom that is more true, than Jesus. How we react to Jesus is from the Christian perspective the most important thing we do in life and that includes if we completely ignore him. How many chances do we get? For modern people the opportunities are far more than in ancient times when communication was essentially limited to face to face contact. How would you have reacted in this series of events?

Jesus had the previous day been teaching them the power of the word of God in the parables of the sower, the lamp under a basket, the seed growing in the earth and the mustard seed. Mark 4.1-33 Jesus travelled with his disciples across the sea of Galilee and when the boat was in extreme danger of sinking the terrified disciples woke Jesus and with the words said to the wind and sea, ‘Peace! Be still’ v39 he calmed both the wind and sea. Jesus then rebuked the disciples for lack of faith. v40The disciples failed to make the connections between the teaching, the person and the action. Their reaction was therefore confusion and fear because they had not yet properly understood Jesus’ identity. Does the identity of Jesus confuse us?

When Jesus and the disciples landed in the Decapolis, Jesus freed a man from the power of demons who entered a herd of pigs who then rushed over a cliff and drowned. When the locals saw with their own eyes a man they had previously had to chain up in his right mind and what had happened to the pigs they wanted Jesus out of their lives. ‘They began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. Mark 5.17 The man freed from his mental and physical anguish wanted to climb back in the boat with Jesus. But Jesus told him to go home and tell his friends, ‘how much the Lord has done for you, and how much he has had mercy on you.’ Mark5.19 The unnamed man did that and more, he travelled around the region’s ten cities proclaiming what Jesus had done for him with tremendous impact. The locals could not cope with the impact Jesus made on their lives, whilst the transformed man excitedly obeyed Jesus and proclaimed his power in his life. Do we shun him or do we tell all we can of all he has done in our lives?

Desperation can bring courage and preparedness to sacrifice our dignity. Jairus needed both of these to beg Jesus to save his daughter’s life. He was a prominent synagogue leader, he would have known how much Jesus was upsetting the religious hierarchy and potentially sacrificing his respect in the community he threw himself at Jesus feet. He had faith, perhaps born out of desperation. On the way to Jairus’ home they are greeted with the news that it is too late. Jesus reassured Jairus and told him not to be afraid and believe. The mourners were already at the house, indicating she had been dead a while, and laughed in their faces. Jesus however took a few close disciples and the inner family into the girl’s presence and said, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise. Mark 5.41 Once more in this precious intimate moment Jesus demonstrated the power of his word. The girl as if to show she was indeed physically alive and well both walked and ate. Jesus then told them to keep what had happened to themselves. Why was this? Could it be that he was not yet ready to show his power over death to those who were moments ago mocking him. This was a beautiful intimate family encounter with Jesus. We do not know how this then changed the life and ministry of Jairus and the rest of the family.

On the way to Jairus’ home a distressed and socially outcast woman touched Jesus outer garment as he walked by. There was a press of people around him but Jesus could tell that her faith had brought about healing even though he did not know who it was who touched him. She knew and Jesus knew she had been healed. Jesus asked to see her. The woman who would have known years of scorn and rejection was full of fear and one can imagine shame to confess her need in public. But she showed great humble courage and spoke the truth to Jesus. He spoke to her words of reassurance, peace and healing. One more life had been transformed.

Can you place yourself in any of those situations? How would you have reacted?

What is your response to Jesus in your life?

Lord, I need you – Chris Tomlin

Mark 2.18 – 3.6

From the beginning of his teaching Jesus strongly divided people in their responses towards him. There were those who felt he was undermining the established Jewish religion by flagrant disregard for their rules. Others entered into a new freedom as Jesus revealed the underlying intentions of the law and exposed the difference between a multitude of add-on regulations and God’s purposes behind his laws. A critical factor being Jesus fulfilled the law by being the prophesied Messiah while others believed he should be a slave to the law. Additionally, secular political leadership found Jesus as problematic as John the Baptist because his teaching not only showed up their corruption it also had the force of Jesus’ remarkable authority behind it. In the above sequence of events Mark records how Jesus divides opinions and challenges the status quo.

We know from the time Jesus went into the desert to prepare for his ministry that he fasted to enable him to focus on prayer and his relationship with God. However, he was accused by people that his disciples did not publicly fast as the Pharisees and even John the Baptist’s disciples did. The implication being Jesus’ disciples were not as holy. Mark 2.18 Jesus’ answer was, that is because I am with them, it is a time for celebration and gladness. This is the time for preparation for marriage and that marriage is to be between myself and the coming church. My presence should bring great joy. He is turning on his accusers and saying, “You only think that because you do not recognize who I am.” Mark 2.19 Jesus was not ruling out the need for fasting and prayer, far from it but the time for that is in the future, when I have left, meaning after his death and resurrection.
By claiming to be the bridegroom of God’s people he was saying he is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament – Isaiah 54.5; 62.4-5; Hosea 2.16-20.

In New Testament time goatskins were used to hold wine. When the pressed grape juice was fermenting it was place in new goatskins as they stretch. Old goatskins become hardened and would crack and burst if fermenting wine was stored in them. Jesus in using this analogy Mark 2.21-22 is stating his teaching cannot be restricted by old religious forms. An assertion such as that was bound to provoke conflict where people did not recognize Jesus for who he was.

Once more Jesus was challenged regarding his disciples’ behaviour by the most rule bound group of all, the Pharisees. They interpreted picking a few grains of cereal as the disciples walked through a field as working on the Sabbath. Jesus then challenges them to understand the spirit of the Sabbath which is to be refreshed in the presence of God rather than be oppressed by petty burdensome rules. He reminded them of their great hero, King David, when he and his followers ate consecrated bread, forbidden to ordinary people, when they were being pursued by Saul’s men and their lives were in danger. He equated this to his disciples by inferring that the Pharisees should understand the law in the light of its purposes. ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’ Mark 2.28

Jesus then extended this principle when challenged again in a synagogue on a Sabbath day. Jesus’ accusers were determined to find fault. ‘Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.’ Mark 3.2 A man with a shriveled hand had walked into the synagogue. The question was, would Jesus heal him? If he did that was forbidden work. Their “stubborn hearts” had inverted God’s law, mercy and justice. Good had become bad and bad had become good. Without touching the man, Jesus told him to, ‘stretch out your hand.’ Mark 3.5 As the man did so his hand was healed. This so inflamed the Pharisees and teachers of the Jewish law that they plotted with the supporters of Herod Antipas, the tetriach of Galilee and Perea, (a section of Palestine) to have Jesus killed. The hatred of Jesus was so strong that natural enemies, agents of the Roman Empire and Jewish religious leaders joined forces against Jesus.

The dividing line between followers of Jesus and his enemies is whether Jesus is recognized as the Messiah or the Son of God. Those who oppose him fear what they believe they have to lose.

Who do you believe Jesus is?

What is it that controls your life?

Come alive – Lauren Daigle

Mark 2.1-12

When roof of the house is broken through leaving a hole large enough for a man lying down to be lowered onto the floor it seemed that nobody was that concerned with the damage, the risk to people crowding in or even the house holder’s reaction. Jesus had been in the wider region of Galilee stirring up the masses with many healings and teaching. He had now returned to his Galilean base at Capernaum, a coastal town on the inland sea of Galilee. Crowds had discovered where he was and he was given no rest, they crowded into the house and surrounded it, making it impossible for new people to gain entrance. Jesus continued his first mission, to teach the crowds. We know the core early message, it was a continuation of John the Baptist’s. ‘The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the gospel.’ Mark 1.15 In other words, the Messiah or Saviour prophesied for centuries is here, it is time to face up to that, change your lives and have faith in the teaching I am giving.

It was compelling because along with his words Jesus was demonstrating the power of God, not by force but through love and mercy. His growth in popularity represented a threat to the existing establishment and they were keeping an eye on him and so formed part of the crowd. You can imagine they used their status to get to the front so they could see and hear clearly. Their default position was skepticism, even hostility and in this case being scribes probably recording what they saw and heard to use later. For Jesus then this was potentially an awkward situation. How was Jesus going to handle the dramatic intervention of a paralyzed man being lowered from the roof to his feet?

Jesus firstly responded to their evident faith. In this case faith was not just that of the paralyzed man but also those who brought him to Jesus. It is easy to overlook the faith filled friends. These unnamed friends did what all believers should endeavour to do, bring their friends, family, workmates, neighbours to encounter Jesus. They were determined to bring him, they carried him the whole way, they lifted him onto the roof of a house and broke through the roof. They may have been motivated in part by self interest in that he may have been a daily burden to them but Mark is clear, they had faith in Jesus.

Jesus found himself faced with a tricky situation, he had a man in front of him with complex needs. His physical disability made him a highly vulnerable person, he was dependent on others for nearly everything including being taken to a place to beg. His self-image, safety, financial independence and life prospects would all have been low. What was Jesus to do? Jesus chose to deal with the thing of greatest importance first rather than what was immediately obvious to the man, his friends and the observing crowd. He forgave his sin. Jesus will always forgive sin in response to faith in him. The forgiveness of sin and the capacity to live out the freedom from sin that follows is the most life changing event. This is in no way minimized the very great need for healing to relieve suffering and restore his dignity in the sight of society.

The forgiveness of sin and restoration of relationship with God is the reason why Jesus was there. It is why he was prepared to die in the way he did. It is why he was resurrected. It was the fulfilment of God’s plan for human kind. When spending time with people who have fallen on hard times and may be homeless or refuges it has been vital to do what one can to meet their physical and welfare needs. However, from a Christian perspective that is only half of a responsibility fulfilled. The other, if one can non-mathematically say, greater half, is to introduce them to Jesus and the forgiveness of sin.

Jesus demonstrated that he was able to do what only God can do, forgive sin, he did what also only God can do, miraculously heal the paralyzed man. Those who came and witnessed the events recognized that God, through Jesus, was present and at work. ‘He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”’ Mark 2.12

If Jesus takes sin so seriously, how seriously do we take our own sin?

Have we asked Jesus for forgiveness or are we still self-justifying ourselves to him.

His Mercy is More – Matt Papa and Matt Boswell

Mark 1.12-13

‘At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted[a] by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.’

How real is spiritual conflict? Is there a difference between temptation that comes from a natural alienation from God’s ways, in other words simply conforming to the pattern of the world around us and spiritual evil? Is it relevant to contemporary Christian life? Hasn’t modern psychology replaced concepts of evil and temptation?

For the Christian the place to first look to answer these questions would be the bible and specifically Jesus’ life. Jesus differed from all other humans in that he was the only one who did not have what is known as a fallen nature. That can be thought of as a natural inclination to reject God and God’s ways. The purpose of Jesus’ coming was to restore the relationship between humanity and God. The angel explained to Joseph following Mary’s conception with Jesus that Mary will bear a son, ‘and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ Mathew 1.22 Jesus though experienced temptation that could not have come from a fallen nature. Mark tells us he was tempted by Satan.

Does that mean that all temptation, even most temptation comes from some spiritual source of evil? Paul recognises that even after his conversion, having personally had a vision of Jesus, having learnt great spiritual insights from the Holy Spirit and in human terms an incredible ministry, he still wrestled with the sin within himself. He graphically describes this inner wrestling, ‘For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.’ Romans7.17-18

There does therefore appear to be a difference between what might be termed an inner temptation and spiritual opposition including temptation that comes from outside the individual. In Jesus case as Jesus was preparing for his ministry through fasting and prayer, Satan tempted him. Mark 1.13 The objective of Satan was to prevent the spread of the gospel or God’s word, he was trying to attack it at source. Through the bible this is a recurring theme starting at the very beginning where in the Garden of Eden account the devil was seeking disobedience to God’s word.

Revelation 12.9 calls Satan, the great deceiver. Paul in 2 Corinthians 4.4 referring to those who have refused to believe says, ‘In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.’ Mathew in retelling the parable of the sower, where the seed is the word of God, says the weeds who choke the new seedlings are, ‘the sons of the evil one.’ Matthew13.38 Deception to blind people to the truth of Jesus takes many forms including those that disguise themselves with apparent goodness. Paul warns the Corinthians that, ‘Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.’ 2 Corinthians 11.14

Jesus in Mark’s gospel clearly recognises spiritual forces of evil and they also recognise who he is. Jesus is shown to have authority over them. The culmination of Jesus’ victory is through his death and resurrection.

When sharing the gospel do we underestimate spiritual opposition?

Jesus spent dedicated time in prayer and applying God’s word. Do we follow his example?

To live is Christ – Sidewalk Prophets

Mark 1.21-22

‘They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.’

In the opening two chapters of Mark’s gospel he quickly records how Jesus showed his authority through the impact of his words and actions. Without him personally saying he is the prophesied Messiah it quickly became evident that only someone with divine authority could do what he did.

Jesus’ spiritual personality and presence was such that when he called people to follow him they did so immediately. The fishermen, Simon, Andrew, James and John all left their daily livelihoods to become his disciples. Mark 1.16-20 Jesus commissioned them at the very beginning to be people whose role was to be part of extending the kingdom of God. They were to be fishers of men. These were not likely people to choose. They had no formal religious training, they were used to hard physical work, not study or speaking. Yet these were the men who after spending three years with Jesus were given the responsibility of writing major parts of the complex New Testament and starting a movement that has continued for two millennia and expanded to include billions of people. The calling of the disciples echoes the many times in the Old Testament when God called people from obscurity into significant leadership roles equipping them with his own authority.

The way in which Jesus spoke was fundamentally more authoritative than the religious leaders of the time. The people who listened were amazed. Mark 1.21-22 It was not just a matter of rhetoric, he had a depth of understanding of the Old Testament scriptures that was not evident in the teachers of the law. As the gospel of Mark unfolds we see Jesus confounding the teachers of the law with his grasp of scripture. This was a man who apparently had not been trained as they were and had until recently earned his living as a carpenter. At the time it puzzled the people as to where he could have gained his depth of understanding and wisdom.

Jesus demonstrated his authority over evil spiritual forces as he rebuked them and caused them to leave. Mark 1.25 The bible teaches that there is an unseen spiritual world and there is a conflict between evil and God. The evil spiritual forces are hostile to God’s people as well as God himself. Jesus has authority over them and by his death on the cross has overcome their power.

Jesus demonstrated a unique capacity to heal even the most serious sicknesses. Mark 1.29-34, 40-45 His healing differed from our normal understanding of healing in that they were immediately healed. They did not gradually get better following a course of treatment. Miracles such as this in the New Testament were not the main point in themselves. They were of course acts of mercy but they were principally to demonstrate Jesus’ authority and identity.

Finally, Jesus claimed to be able to forgive sins. Mark 2.1-12 Jesus’ statement, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’, in response to the extreme act of faith by both the paralyzed man and his friends in breaking into the house through the roof where Jesus was teaching was effectively a claim to divinity. The teachers of the law correctly made the judgement that only God can forgive sins. Mark 2.6 Their error was to accuse Jesus of blaspheming because they refused to recognize the evidence before them. The ordinary people did not have the same response when Jesus pre-emptively demonstrated his authority by healing the paralyzed man.

Do we recognize that Jesus has divine authority?

If not what additional evidence would we want?

Jesus (There is a truth) – Chris Tomlin