Wonderful Jesus!

Parental Faith!

Mark 7: 29-30- “Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.”

If you are a studier of the Word, then this is a familiar and challenging passage. As a matter of fact I have already written a blog on this from Matthew’s version titled, “The Children’s Bread”. It is one of my favorite passages on faith. What’s challenging about it is that it causes me to take a look at my personal faith in Jesus to see if it is producing results!

From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet.
Mark 7:24-25 NKJV

Jesus has entered a home where He is looking for rest. We know this because Mark stated that He didn’t want anyone to know He was there. But there are some things that just can’t be kept a secret. Especially when people are looking for you! And people were always looking for Jesus!

There was a woman, a mother, whose daughter had an unclean spirit. We are not given details about how bad things were, but we can surmise that they were pretty bad. When this mother heard about Jesus, she knew she had to find to Him. Since she had heard about Him, she had to know that He was Jewish, and as such, would probably not look favorably upon her or her request. But she also knew that if her daughter had any chance of being free, it was a chance she needed to take.

As people, we often find ourselves in desperate situations; and if not us, then our children. It looks like drug addiction, alcoholism, attempted suicide, demon worship, bad relationships, and a host of other things that cause us to cry out to Jesus. If you raise them in Christ, you are at a loss for what is helping. If you became a Christian later in life, you might be beating up yourself, wondering why you didn’t surrender earlier. It’s time to release the guilt and move forward in faith!

She had heard what Jesus had done for others. Many times He told them not to tell anyone, but they couldn’t keep the secret! Shame will cause you to keep silent about your need for Jesus, or your child’s need for Jesus. Don’t let it! Had these people not shared about being set free from demons, she would have never heard that He could set her daughter free! We need to break the code of silence that keeps us from giving hope to this troubled world and let others know that Jesus hasn’t changed!

The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
Mark 7:26-27 NKJV

The Syro-Phoenician woman wasn’t just sitting by Jesus’ feet doing nothing. Mark wrote that she kept asking Jesus to cast the demon out of her daughter. There are some people who believe that if you are asking in faith, you only need to ask one time. But here, this woman kept asking. In fact, we get the impression that Jesus is ignoring her. Why?

But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
Mark 7:27 NKJV

With this statement, He told her that His ministry wasn’t to the Gentiles, but to the Jews. Let them be filled first, was His way of telling her that it wasn’t time for the Gentiles to partake of the goodness of God. In answering her request, He would be taking that which belongs to the Jews and giving it to the Gentiles. He used the analogy of bread, children, and dogs. Since she was a mother crying desperately for help for her daughter, He told her that it would not be good to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs when the children had not been filled yet! But she would not be deterred.

And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.”
Mark 7:28 NKJV

She agreed with Him! Called Him Lord! Then she made a statement that countered timing. A statement that countered fairness! A statement that pulled tomorrow’s provision into her today. She said that the dogs eat the crumbs from under the table. In other words, she didn’t need the bread, she just needed the crumbs. But to the ears of God, her desperation was her faith. She wasn’t moved by a “not now” like so many of us are moved. She wasn’t moved from her position because He seemingly ignored her. She didn’t allow her feelings to cause her to become offended or angry. He had what she needed for her daughter and she was willing to do anything to see her daughter free.

Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.
Mark 7:29-30 NKJV

Mothers, I know you can relate to this woman’s cry of faith! I know you have testimonies of when the need was so great that only Jesus could come through for you. So you fell on your face before Him and cried out in desperation, with a heart of faith, and He answered. Dads, I know you have read this passage and said that you could identify with this mother. Your family had a need, or your child had a need, or maybe even your wife had a need, and you went straight to the Lord. Your desperation wasn’t one of begging and pleading and hoping something would happen. It was a heart’s cry of faith. Jesus I know you are my only help and I’m trusting you to do this! I won’t leave until You assure me that things are going to be well. And He answered you!

So here’s my question, as one of my favorite bloggers always say: Why don’t we pray like this all the time about everything? If this kind of praying moved heaven and earth once, won’t it work again and again?

As parents, we don’t ever stop praying for our children. They are our heart’s cry for life! Maybe, you are in a place where you have given up on your children ever being free. Maybe you have good reason to feel that way. I want to encourage you today to keep praying for them. Trust that what they need most can only come from Jesus. Faith will move His hand in their direction because faith moves mountains and crosses dimensions! Wonderful Jesus!

A Heart Condition

Mark 7:14-16- When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” NKJV

The Pharisees are at it again! No matter what Jesus is doing, they always find fault with it. This time they brought those who were experts in the law. It reminds me of the times when the Jehovah Witness would knock on our door. First, a novice would come and try and convince me that they held truth and I needed that truth. When I would counter what they had to say with the word, they would leave frustrated. The next group would be a little more skilled, but would leave with the same frustration. Then one day, I simply had enough and asked them not to return. No one has knocked on our doors in years!

The problem the Pharisees apparently have with Jesus is that He and His disciples are not following tradition and they want to know why? The traditions of elders evolved as the scribes took the law and added things to it that had not been there. The elders were the ancient Jewish scholars who were responsible for the rules and regulations that later became known as the Mishnah.

“Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”
Mark 7:6-8 NKJV

Jesus went straight to the matter of the heart. He called them hypocrites. We have a pretty fair understanding of the word hypocrite, but I still want to look at its Greek meaning. Hupokrites denotes a stage-actor. William Barclay wrote that it doesn’t simply mean an actor on the stage, “but one whose whole life is a piece of acting without any sincerity behind it all.”

Jesus knew that this conversation wasn’t about the sincerity of honoring or keeping the law, and called them on it! He reminded them of the words of the prophet Isaiah that went straight to their heart. The first point was that the time would come when they would lay aside the commandment of God and hold fast to the tradition of men. The traditions of men are still more important to church people than God’s word. If there is a contradiction in the word to one of our practices, we continue with it and ignore His word. For example, Jesus stated that He would be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. Yet, tradition states that He died on Friday night and rose early on Sunday morning. Even a kindergartener can figure out that isn’t three days and three nights, but it’s our sacred cow and we aren’t changing it for anything!

The second point was that they would honor God but their hearts would be far from Him. We would not want to be called a hypocrite by anyone, especially Jesus! But when we attend church, is our heart involved, or are we punching the spiritual clock? When we pray, is our heart involved, or just our lips? When we read the word of God, are we checking off a spiritual discipline, or does our heart hunger for a word from God? Have we become religious, and therefore hypocrites, or is there still a burning in our hearts for the Lord?

He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
Mark 7:9 NKJV

Not only did they add rules and regulations to the law, not only were they hearts far removed from Him, but they rejected the commandments of God for those rules, regulations and traditions! When we get to a place where what we believe, think, feel, or do, matters more than what the word of God states, we are rejecting the commandments of God. Especially in the church! For example, love is important to God for He is Love. Demonstrating that love should be important to us! We shouldn’t pick and choose when to demonstrate love, but endeavor to make it a lifestyle!

When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand:There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Mark 7:14-16 NKJV

Jesus appears to ignore the scribes and Pharisees after making His point and turns His attention to the multitude. He tells them that it isn’t food and drink that defiles a person, but what comes out of a man is what defiles him. The disciples were confused at His saying and asked Him to explain what He meant.

He said to them, “Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don’t you realize that nothing going into a person from the outside can defile him? For it doesn’t go into his heart but into the stomach and is eliminated” (thus he declared all foods clean). And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders,adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, self-indulgence, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.””
Mark 7:18-23 CSB

Jesus clearly states two points in this discourse. The first point is that food does not defile us and we can eat whatever we want to eat. The second point was of greater value, sin comes from the heart and defiles man. His concern wasn’t about rituals and legalism, but with the condition of the heart. Remember the sermon on the mount?

But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 5:38 CSB

That means that someone can commit adultery with another person without their permission! And if they continue with those thoughts, they will begin to move on those thoughts with their behavior.

But thank God for Jesus! He can bring change to a heart that is filled with sin. He is the solution and the antidote for all that defiles a man. When a sin filled heart opens up to Jesus, He cleanses it, making it a place of influence for the Holy Spirit! (Acts 15:9)

If the condition of your heart is still filled with sin, I urge you today to surrender it to Jesus, and He will cleanse it. If you are a believer and sin is trying to recapture your heart, cry out to Him! He will deliver you! Take some time right now and allow the Holy Spirit to check out the condition of your heart. It is truly a matter of life and death! Wonderful Jesus!

Don’t Be Afraid!

Mark 6:49-50- And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” NKJV

Sometimes it is easy to forget the fact that God has unlimited power. I know that we have all trained our mouths to say that He is God and nothing is impossible for Him! I know we all confess that there is no one like Him, not in the heavens above or the earth beneath! But when it really comes down to it, most of us live like the devil has more power than God does. That needs to change!

When trouble hits us and we become overwhelmed in the midst of it, feeling like giving up on God, that’s our moment of thinking that God isn’t who He said He is! When stuff just keeps coming at us, bombarding us on every side, and we want to walk away from God because things are just too hard, that’s our moment of thinking that Satan is greater than God!

What we need to understand and settle in our hearts is that there is no other god like our God. He is truly greater than the enemy, and Satan hasn’t forged a weapon that God cannot thwart every single time!

Most people know of the time when Jesus walked on water. The only other person in history who walked on water was Peter. I know of no others. For some reason, Jesus’ ability to walk on water has always been associated with His holiness, yet that certainly didn’t apply to Peter. It was simply because He believed that He could!

Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.
Mark 6:45-46 NKJV

From the disciples perspective, this night was no different than any other night. Jesus had ministered to crowds, and miracles took place. Other than the fact that He had miraculously fed 5,000 men, it was business as usual. Jesus had sent them to Bethsaida, He closed the service, and went to a mountain to pray. But what He did next was completely supernatural, and I have not heard of its duplication!

Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.
Mark 6:47-48 NKJV

Mark says that Jesus saw the disciples in the boat, struggling to get to the other side. They had made it to the middle of the sea, but the wind was against them and they weren’t making much progress. After His time of prayer, He decided to go to Bethsaida, but since He didn’t have a boat, He decided to walk on water! Look at God!

I’ve seen a lot of water in my lifetime. I have seen both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, Lake Michigan, and several other large bodies of water. Every once in a while, I’ll stick my feet in the water, and without fail, my foot cuts through the water and touches land. But not so with Jesus!

Once He decided that He was going to the other side by walking on the water, the water became a road in the midst of the sea! Mark said that Jesus had planned to pass them by. He wasn’t walking to get in the boat, He was walking to the other side!

And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.
Mark 6: 49-51 NKJV

Can you imagine being on a boat in the middle of the sea and suddenly you see a person walking towards you? I can only imagine! The fear He caused to rise in the hearts of His disciples had to be great! Who has ever heard of anybody walking on water? At that time, I am pretty sure that the answer was a firm, nobody! And we have only heard of two! Yet, He walked on water without anything under His feet to give Him additional support!

Mark said the disciples thought they were seeing a ghost and it caused them to cry out. I’m thinking they did more screaming than a crowd at a horror flick! I would have been louder than they were! Jesus stopped to talk with the disciples and told them to be of good cheer because it was Him, and they didn’t need to be afraid! I don’t know y’all! I think I may have still been dealing with the adrenaline rush that accompanies fear! This was not your everyday occurrence! This went beyond speaking to the winds. As a matter of fact, He had literally walked across water, with winds and waves strong enough to hinder them from progressing in their journey! This was a lot!

Don’t be afraid, Jesus said! How many times do we have to be told by God, or Jesus, or the Holy Spirit to not give in to fear? Too many times! I’m included in this number, but it’s nothing to be proud of! At some point, we have to learn to trust His word to us knowing that nothing can stop His word from coming to pass! We have to just decide to not to be afraid!

Our daughter joined the Navy several years ago. One of her first assignments when she graduated from OCS (Officer Candidate School) was a year in Bahrain. I want you to know that we weren’t happy with that assignment. Immediately every negative thing we had heard about the Middle East tried to bombard our hearts and minds, but we had to reject it. We knew that in accepting the negative thoughts and situations that could come at her, we would be filled with fear, worry, and become paralyzed in our faith. So we decided to not be afraid. Did we pray? Absolutely! But not in fear, in faith! And she had an uneventful year! Thank the Lord!

Just as I have had to be reminded not to fear, I have also had to be reminded to trust God! When Jesus said, “Be of good cheer,” He wasn’t telling them, “Don’t worry, be happy!” What He was telling them was to be courageous and not full of fear! That’s still His message today! Every piece of bad news doesn’t have to cause fear in our hearts! We don’t have to live in fear of getting cancer! We don’t have to live in fear of being shot down in the streets! We don’t have to live in fear of having our identity stolen!

If we are not careful, we will allow statistics, news reports, what happened to Cousin Sally and Uncle Bob cause us to think that the devil is sovereign and God is a weakling. This is so far from the truth that it is hilarious. The devil has never been a match for God. Jesus said that He saw Satan fall from heaven like lightening! (Luke 10:18) Paul wrote that Jesus made a spectacle of the devil in Colossians! These are the types of pictures we need to keep at the forefront of our mind when trouble attacks! The One that lives within us is still greater than the one who lives in the world! Wonderful Jesus!

You Can Do This!

Mark 6:12-13- So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. NKJV

We serve the God of miracles. There is no one like Him. He most definitely is the Sovereign Lord, ruler of the universe! And nothing is impossible for Him! As people of the Most High God, we should expect to see miracles. Although there are many who disagree with that statement, to me, it makes a lot of sense!

Typically, children display many of the qualities of their parents. For example, children of pastors and ministry leaders, typically become pastors and ministry leaders. Musicians generally raise singers or musicians. Actors typically raise children who follow in their footsteps. I think you see where I am going with this! And yet, we serve the supernatural God and Creator of the universe, who is limitless in power, and we don’t often experience Him in the supernatural, or believe that we can!

And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts—but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
Mark 6:7-9 NKJV

In this 6th chapter of Mark, we see that Jesus has sent His disciples out to do ministry. Mark notes that Jesus gave them power over unclean spirits. That means that He gave them the power to cast out demons, just like Him. When they returned to Him, they had this testimony:

So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.
Mark 6:12-13 NKJV

As they went out, two by two, they shared the same message that Jesus shared, and then they worked the same works that Jesus worked. They cast out demons, and they healed the sick! They were so excited to see things work for them, as they had worked for Jesus. That’s the point that He wanted to make for them, that they could do what He was doing!

This doesn’t often happen over night. It didn’t happen over night with the disciples. But as we live for Him and fellowship with Him, He begins to rub off on us and we begin to act just like Him! Each of our daughters have mannerisms of their father and of me. Why? Because they are our children. Some things they picked up, and some things are inherent!

Later in the chapter, Jesus was having a service. The service lasted long enough that the disciples noticed that dinner time had passed and the people were probably hungry.

Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.”
Mark 6:36-37 NKJV

According to Mark, they were in a remote location and getting food for such a large crowd was going to be a problem. But Jesus tells the disciples to feed them. Can you just imagine the look on their faces? As we read further in the text we find that the crowd was about 5,000 men. So when the disciples heard Jesus say that they should feed them, they responded like they didn’t know who they were hanging out with!

But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”
Mark 6:37 NKJV

That’s about a year’s salary in Jesus’ day. Today the value is around $368.00. That’s not a lot of money on anybody’s scale, but for the disciples they didn’t think it would do the job. Having mercy on the disciples, Jesus asked how much food did they have around?

But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”
Mark 6:39 NKJV

We know from other accounts that this meal belonged to a young boy. Some say it was not really two fish and five loaves of bread, but it was tiny fish like sardines with crackers. Since Jesus called it fish and bread, then that’s my take on it.

Jesus took that meal and blessed it, then He told the disciples to serve it. Here’s where it gets interesting to me. There were twelve disciples and thousands of people. Did the food multiply as Jesus gave it out to the disciples, or as the disciples gave it out to the people? What’s your thought? I believe as Jesus gave each disciple food to pass out, it began to multiply giving the disciples faith to move out with it. As they gave it out, it just kept multiplying! And then there were leftovers! Twelve baskets! Each disciple had a basket, and each disciple’s basket had leftovers! Pretty cool!

When I was in high school I heard an amazing testimony. The evangelist visiting our church had been on a missions trip to Haiti. While he was there he experienced a similar miracle. They had prepared food for a group of people that were connected to the place where they were ministering. Many more showed up than was expected. As they prayed over the food they asked God to do a miracle. It multiplied and everyone present ate. I don’t remember if there were leftovers, but I remember that the food had multiplied. It caused my heart to burn for the God of the supernatural. The God who still performed miracles!

Do you want to know what I believe? I believe that had the disciples remembered how the demons fled at their command, and how the sick was made whole, and then trusted that they could feed the 5,000, it would have happened! How do I know that? Because when we step out at His command, failure is not an option!

I’ve seen God do some amazing things over the years. I truly believe in miracles! I know that I can believe for a miracle and see a miracle come to pass. I’m not God and I don’t have a perfect record of seeing miracles happen around me, but I have seen enough of them to keep me pressing toward the life of the miraculous! The life of God!

Can I share a healing miracle? I was grocery shopping when I saw a lady falling to the floor. I don’t know how I knew she was having a seizure, but I knew. I immediately dropped beside her and began to command that seizure to stop! I bound the activity of that demonic spirit and everything that I could think of. In the meantime, I heard someone call 911 and people were gathering. I didn’t give any of that an ounce of attention. Before the ambulance arrived, the seizure stopped, the lady got up and declared that she was fine. They wanted her to be checked out but she refused it. She thanked me and we both went our way praising God and continued with our shopping! If I saw her today I wouldn’t know her from anyone else! But that day, God used me to give her a miracle!

I see people all the time that I don’t feel the urge to walk over to and pray for them. And that’s not my usual way of doing things. I must admit that I am more comfortable praying for people in church or in their home. But if I am led to pray or something is going down in my presence, I will step out in faith and pray. And you can do this, too! I know you can! Wonderful Jesus!

Reject Rejection!

Mark 6: 4-6 -Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and among his relatives and by his own family.” And because of their unbelief he couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he could hardly accept the fact that they wouldn’t believe in him. TLB

We’ve arrived to chapter 6 of the book of Mark. A lot has been happening with Jesus, through Jesus, and around Him. Mark still writes with a sense of urgency and portrays the ministry of Jesus as energized and busy with purpose. After all, He knew that His time on the earth was going to be short, and He had much to do!

It’s the Sabbath, and Jesus has returned to His hometown in Nazareth. He may have left alone, but He has returned with His disciples. As has become His custom, He went into the synagogue to teach.

Soon afterwards he left that section of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. The next Sabbath he went to the synagogue to teach, and the people were astonished at his wisdom and his miracles because he was just a local man like themselves.
Mark 6:1-3 TLB

At first, they are astonished and impressed with what Jesus is saying. They are also amazed that miracles are attributed to Him because they never saw that coming. Years ago, a movie came to the theaters about Jesus as a little boy, and the miracles that He could have performed. Not only is this a stretch of the imagination, but it is adding to the narrative in the word of God, which tells us that His first miracle was at Cana. Having said that, they had never seen anything from Him to prepare them for this side of Jesus.

“He’s no better than we are,” they said. “He’s just a carpenter, Mary’s boy, and a brother of James and Joseph, Judas and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” And they were offended!
Mark 6:3 TLB

They had the nerve to think that Jesus was no better than they were! But He was! And He still is! And nothing in Mark’s narrative of the event gives us insight that says He was trying to say that He was better than them. Although, He truly was better than them!

Then they began to attack His character and identity. Underlying the words they said was a message heard loud and clear: He’s just a carpenter. (When did He become a rabbi)? He’s Mary’s boy! (The one she had under suspicious circumstances. The one they tried to claim as Joseph’s boy)! His family lives amongst us! (We aren’t anybody, and neither is He)! But they were so very wrong! He was so much more! And they missed it because they were too busy with jealousy and pettiness to see the Light!

Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and among his relatives and by his own family.”
Mark 6:4 TLB

Can you relate to Jesus’ words? Do you feel respected and accepted everywhere except in your home, amongst your family? Do you feel like the people who are supposed to cheer you on are the ones putting you down? Do they try to make you feel like you think you are something, when they feel you are nothing? Jesus knows exactly what you are experiencing because He already walked in those shoes!

Rejection comes in many forms. When you apply for a job and receive a rejection letter, it makes you feel some kind of way. You’ve been rejected! When you are applying to a college, a program, for a scholarship, it makes you feel unworthy, not smart enough, not good enough. Rejection! When your spouse say means things, want a divorce, walk away, rejection is on the attack! When your parent abandons you, tell you they never wanted you, or send you to live with someone else, again, you feel rejected! Unfortunately, rejection can happen several times in a lifetime, to same individual, causing the pain to run deep! Don’t allow it, it’s time to reject rejection!

Jesus didn’t allow this rejection to stop Him! To Him, what was worst than their rejection was their unbelief.

And because of their unbelief he couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he could hardly accept the fact that they wouldn’t believe in him. Then he went out among the villages, teaching.
Mark 6:5-6 TLB

Jesus, the Son of God, could not do any mighty miracles in Nazareth because of their unbelief! That’s interesting to me. Some will say that they didn’t receive a miracle from God because of this or that, but Jesus could not, Mark wrote, not would not do mighty miracles in Nazareth. Why? Unbelief hindered Him from performing miracles, then, and it will hinder Him from performing miracles today!

There were a few folks who benefitted from Jesus laying hands on them. They were sick and He healed them; but the vast majority of them demonstrated their unbelief in Him with their rejection of Him!

Jesus did not allow that to define Him, and neither should we. All of us have, and will experience rejection. All of us have to choose to succumb to it, or to make it bow to us! It’s our choice! With His help, we can overcome rejection every single time.

I thought I was in position for a promotion. I was really excited about this opportunity. But in the end, it was given to someone else. Before rejection could make its way into my spirit, I had a Jairus moment! Jesus said, “promotion comes from the Lord”! That settled it for me and I was able to go on and work with the individual and do my job! I’d like to tell you that I got a better promotion. As of today, it has not manifested in my life! But I choose to trust God with my promotion. Every time I submit an application for a position and it is rejected, I just remind myself, promotion comes from the Lord! I rejected rejection!

Isaiah wrote one of my favorite scriptures:

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

Jesus knew who He was. He knew the mission on His life, His purpose. Even though they rejected Him, He continued with the plan of teaching and preaching the gospel. He loved the unlovely, and forgave what seemed to be unforgivable. He allowed nothing and no one to hinder or stop Him. That needs to be our attitude!

He marveled at what they said and did. He commented that He hadn’t expected to receive any honor from them. But He still was disappointed by it. Go ahead! Be disappointed in the moment! Then realize that what God is doing in your life, and what He has planned for you is far greater than the rejection that wants to grip your soul.

Decide today to reject rejection, and trust God with those things you have no control over! One day you will look back over your life and thank Him for those rejections! Wonderful Jesus!

Believe For It!

Mark 5:36- “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” NKJV

The woman with the issue of blood had managed to touch His garment, and she was whole. Jesus, knowing that power had left Him wanted to know who had touched Him. She confessed with fear and trembling, but Jesus wasn’t upset with her, He just wanted to know what had caused the unexpected flow of power. While He was telling her to go in peace, for her faith had made her whole, Jairus had visitors.

While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”
Mark 5:35 NKJV

Hearing this news had to be devastating for Jairus! He was so close to getting a miracle of healing from Jesus. He had found Jesus and they were headed to his to home. If only they had not been stopped by this woman! If only they had moved quicker! If only he had found Jesus earlier! The if onlys were rushing through his mind, his heart and his spirit!

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
Mark 5:36 NKJV

I’m sure Jesus read Jairus’ body language. Maybe he looked defeated, or his eyes were filling with tears. We don’t know! But we do know that before Jairus could speak a word, Jesus stopped him by saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe!”

Is it possible that when Jairus asked Jesus to come to his home that he didn’t believe? Or maybe he believed that Jesus could heal his daughter, but raising her from the dead? Maybe that was stretching him!

My daughter was a young girl when she asked me if I had ever noticed that the woman suffered for 12 years, and Jairus’ daughter was 12 years old? Actually, I hadn’t! I wondered if there was a spiritual connection since Mark mentions the 12 years in both situations.

Twelve has a lot of biblical meaning. It represents the 12 tribes of Israel. It symbolizes God’s power and authority; the authority and perfection of God’s kingdom. Since it is mentioned twice in this chapter, I think it had a significance. Jesus was all about the kingdom and it could be that these two events were about establishing or promoting the kingdom in a greater way. I’m certain they held significance on some level.

And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”
Mark 5:37-39 NKJV

This is a good place to share about ministering healing to the sick. Let’s look at what Jesus did:

He only took Peter, James and John with Him. He wouldn’t allow the crowd to follow. When you pray for the sick, take people who will encourage faith and not fill you with fear and doubt.
He questioned the mourners being there, because He said the child was not dead but sleeping. If you go to pray for a miracle, don’t let the noise distract you and cause you feel the hopelessness of the situation. In reality, if it wasn’t hopeless to man, then why would you need a miracle. You already know it’s going to take a miracle, so don’t get into conversation that can pull you out of faith.

And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.
Mark 5:40-42 NKJV

Too many people in the room, or house, can give the devil too many ways to distract you. Jesus put them out of the house. Notice that Jairus and his wife did not argue with Him. Make sure the person who asked for prayer is in agreement with your requests. Friction is tough on faith!
The girl was immediately raised from the dead! Sometimes the miracle will be immediately, and sometimes it will not. I don’t know why that is so, but I just continue to trust Him when I pray, leaving timing to Him. However, I have learned that persistence in prayer brings manifestations! When I pray for someone in great pain, I persist until things changes. Usually until they are pain free!
Obey the Spirit of God! Jesus knew what God was leading Him to do. It is important to be led by His Spirit. I have never been led by Him and not seen Him move. Sometimes I just step out and sometimes I see people healed. But when I am following His leading, I am pretty sure that things are going to change!

Jairus chose to believe the word that Jesus spoke him, “Only believe!” What He saw Jesus do for his daughter was greater than a healing, it was a resurrection. His daughter was restored to him and his family. He was ecstatic! We are still talking about it today!

What a powerful demonstration of the kingdom of God in Mark 5. First, a demoniac is set free! He had terrorized his community for years, but Jesus set him free and gave him a new lease on life. Then the woman with the issue of blood was healed. Twelve long years of being ostracized from society, from attending the synagogue, from living life, and after her encounter with Jesus, she was made whole. And it closes with Jairus’ daughter being raised from the dead! Look at Jesus! Look at God!

Power over demons! Power over sickness and disease! Power over death! That’s the gospel of the kingdom! Many pastors and church leaders are afraid to teach that Jesus is still demonstrating power in this manner. They are fearful of telling people that they can be healed and then they are not.

But if that’s the logic we use, then why go to the doctor? Some people are helped, and some are not. Some walk away healed, and others die. Some get better, some get worst. And yet, we continue to encourage people to go to the doctor.

Jesus has a much better track record, and you can believe it! The problem isn’t with Him, but in what we believe about Him. We can see miracles! I believe that we must see miracles. People are tired of religions that stress what they need to do for God. It is up to us to show them that our God isn’t like other gods! He didn’t die on the cross to see what we could do for Him. He died on the cross to demonstrate what He can do for us!

We can easily quote Hebrews 13:8:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever
NKJV

and still not believe in the miracle working power of God being available to us today! Beloved! Jesus’ words are true even today “according to your faith be it unto you”! What do you believe? That you will receive! Believe for miracles today! He’s still working them on our behalf! Wonderful Jesus!

Twelve Years a Slave

Mark 5:25-26- “Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. NKJV

In 2013, a major motion picture was released, 12 Years a Slave, based on the true story of Solomon Northup. Solomon was a free man, living in New York, when he was abducted and sold into slavery. After 12 years of slavery, he met an abolitionist from Canada; a meeting that changed the course of his life!

This is the story in Mark 5! A young Jewish woman, living life, was taken captive by an issue of blood. We don’t need the Vine’s to help us to understand what Mark was telling us. This woman’s body had gone haywire, causing her time of the month to last for 12 years. Now, this probably wasn’t 12 years straight, but for 12 years she battled with the issue. For her, this was bondage. She was a slave to the dictates of her body for it had taken control of her life. By Jewish law, she was unclean, limiting her access to society and even her family. And there was nothing she could do about it!

Mark tells us that she spent all of her money going to the doctors, but not only were they unable to help her, she got worst.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.
Mark 5:25-26 NKJV

The physicians she sought to make her better, caused her to suffer more in her body than they helped her. They also bankrupted her with their fees. But she keep seeking an answer to the issue of her life, because she realized this condition kept her in bondage and she desperately wanted to be free.

After dealing with the demoniac in Gadarene, Jesus and His disciples had returned to their side of the Sea of Galilee. In the crowd was a ruler of the synagogue, Jairus. He had heard about Jesus and had come to Him on behalf of his beloved daughter. He begged Jesus, telling Him that his little girl was at the point of dying, and to please come and lay hands on her that she might live.

Jesus was on His way to Jairus’ house when the woman with the issue of blood had her encounter with Him. While they were walking towards Jairus’ home, she had made her way closer and closer to Him. But the people were all around Him, making it difficult to get to Jesus. She realized it wouldn’t be easy, but she was determined to get to Jesus. She wanted to be free!

When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
Mark 5:27-28 NKJV

What could she have possibly heard about Him? She heard that He cared about people. She heard that He made people feel good about themselves. She heard that He could really teach and preach! So she wanted to see Him. Maybe! But that isn’t what had her in public that day, willing to risk it all! She heard that He healed people of their diseases. She heard that blind eyes were opened, demons left screaming from the mentally bound, withered hands were made straight, and the lame could walk!

And so she had made up in her mind that she was going to find the One called Jesus and be healed! She didn’t know how it would happen, but she knew that if she could just get to Jesus it would happen. After all, she had already tried every natural thing imaginable, and had lost all of her money, what could this hurt. She needed healing, and from all that she heard, this time would be different! Something had resonated on the inside of her causing hope to be stirred in a way it had never been stirred before. Yes, this is the answer she had been seeking! This day, she would get her healing.

I personally believe that she made up her mind to touch His garment when she saw the crowd. As she talked with herself, and the devil tried to talk her out of what she was doing, he probably told her that Jesus was too busy. That she was unclean and shouldn’t be out. That He was on His way to save a little girl from dying, which was way more important than her situation. But she was desperate, and I can hear her saying, if I can touch the hem of His garment, I will be made whole. He doesn’t need to stop, He doesn’t need to give me any attention, if I can just touch the hem of His garment, I will be made whole! And so she touched it!

Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
Mark 5:29-30

The power of faith! Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, she could tell the difference in her body, and she knew that she was healed. Thinking that she could just slip out of the crowd unnoticed, she was not prepared to respond when she heard Him say, “Who touched My clothes?”

But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
Mark 5:31 NKJV

Seriously Jesus? That’s what His disciples were asking. All these people are pressing around you trying to get your attention, and you are wondering who touched your clothes? Lots of people are touching your clothes! How can you ask such a question?

Jesus was on a whole different plane than His disciples. He wasn’t talking about being touched physically, but being touched with the hand of faith! Luke actually stated that Jesus said her touch caused power to flow from Him!

But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.”
Luke 8:46 NKJV

Wow! That was some touch! And that was some serious connection to the anointing! Jesus wasn’t ministering to anyone, and yet He did!

And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Mark 5:32-34 NKJV

Immediately she was whole! But when Jesus stopped and asked who had touched Him, she became fearful. Had she done something wrong? Did she take what she wasn’t entitled to? Was there a particular way that she was supposed to approach Him for her healing? Doubts flooded her mind in the midst of the most wonderful thing that she had experienced in twelve years. Will He take it back? Please, God, no!

But she fell before Him and told Him everything. She testified with fear and trembling that she had finally been made whole after twelve years of being a slave to the condition in her body. She waited for what He would say or do next!

And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Mark 5:34 NKJV

Wait! What did He say? Did He just call me daughter? Did He just tell me to go in peace? Is everything really ok? Oh God, thank you! It’s just too good to true, yet it is! Healed! At no cost!

This is such a powerful encounter with the Great Physician! But we will have to stop here until next time! Wonderful, wonderful Jesus!

Deliverance in the Kingdom!

Mark 5:7-9 – “And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name? And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” NJKV

We’re in chapter five of Mark, and Jesus and His disciples have just experienced the storm on the Sea of Galilee. It is the same night, and they have made it to the other side.

Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.
Mark 5:1-2 NKJV

When we think about making it to the other side of the storm, we think about a time of relaxation or celebration, not more trouble! But that is exactly what Jesus and His disciples ran into when they crossed to the other side, a man under the influence of demons!

Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
Mark 5:3-5 NKJV

The influence of the demons was so pronounced in the man’s life that Mark shares with us some scary things. He tells us that the man lived in the tombs and that no one could bind him, even with chains. He says that even when people would put chains on him, he would pull them apart and break the shackles into pieces. The demonic influence was so strong that no could tame him as he roamed through the mountains crying out and cutting himself with stones. This sounds like someone in a horror film. Someone whose dwellings in the tombs would never have to worry about a visitation from us, as the people of the city also avoided him. But God!

I easily remember encounters I have had with people possessed by demons. They are pretty unforgettable. One of the first time happened when I was a college student. We were in a service and the demons started manifesting through this young person. As the demon made itself known, the person became loud and distracting. When they tried to remove this 100 pound individual from the service, they were met with a supernatural strength they hadn’t bargained for. Grown men tried to remove the individual to no avail. It became a spectacle. I can’t believe that I don’t remember a deliverance, but I surely remember the utter embarrassment of how the grown men were unable to handle the situation!

When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!”
Mark 5:6-8 NKJV

Jesus never encountered a situation that was too much for Him! When this demon possessed man rushed towards Jesus screaming, I’m pretty sure He didn’t bat an eye. Although he worshipped Him, (because every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess), it wasn’t from a heart of worship! I am pretty sure there was a tug of war over that man’s soul as there was something in him crying for deliverance, while the deons in him were vying for the right to remain in him. But Jesus gave a command that the unclean spirit would come out of the man, and there was no struggling with individual!

Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
Mark 5:9-10 NKJV

Legion is a word that described a group of Roman soldiers. Within this group were 6,000 soldiers. Does this lead us to believe that the man was possessed with 6,000 demons? Quite possibly, considering all of the things they were driving him to do! What we can infer is that there were certainly a lot of demons living in this man. This was an unfortunate situation, but Jesus was the One who could handle it without breaking a sweat!

I believe in deliverance ministry. I personally prefer to not get into a situation where I have to deal with demons, but it does happen. I’ll share an experience from a few years ago. We were in our women’s ministry service when a woman walked into the service who was demon possessed. As the service progressed, so did her antics. As I was sitting in the front, I began to pray. I remember saying something like, “Lord, I don’t want to have to deal with this, but I have to pass her to go to the bathroom, and I really need to go. If she is there when I return, I will deal with it.”

As I got out of my seat, I was met by a woman in the church. She was concerned that things were getting out of hand and offered to call her husband and brother-in-law who were not far from the church. I told her not to call for I would handle it when I came back from the bathroom. Of course, my plan was that God would have encouraged her to leave before I returned because I didn’t really know how to handle it. But I had put myself out there, and now I was committed. Sure enough, she was still there! Lord, why me?

I opened the door to the sanctuary, got her attention, and asked her if I could speak to her. Of course, I didn’t want an audience. The word was going forth and I didn’t want to add to the distraction. She stood up in the back of the church, faced me, and I thought, okay, we are doing this the hard way! Then the demon said, “You want me to leave don’t you?” I responded with a yes, I did! Then the most amazing thing happened. She gathered her things and left! Whew! Thank you, Jesus! In hind sight, I should have said that I wanted the demon to come out of her, but I’m grateful for the way things ended!

And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Matthew 10:7-8 NKJV

I don’t believe we have to major in demon chasing. I also don’t think a demon is in everything. When they show up there is no question about it. But when they show up, we don’t have to be afraid, we can operate in the kingdom as Jesus did, and set the captive free!

The event ended well for the demon possessed man, but not for Jesus!

Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.
Mark 5:15-17 NKJV

Jesus sent those demons into the swine, and they caused the swine to commit suicide by running over the hill. The man was set free, clothed, and in his right mind; but the townspeople were afraid of this kind of power. They asked Jesus to leave! Had they understood who was in their midst, they would have begged Him to stay! Wonderful Jesus!

Muzzle It!

Mark 4:39- “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” NKJV

https://anchor.fm/martie-susberry/episodes/Muzzle-It-e17arb1

It is a common belief that the Sea of Galilee was a place of many storms. This phenomenon is something that the disciples should have been prepared for since they lived in the region and several of them were fishermen. And yet, on this particular afternoon, we find them in a storm that frightens them.

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”
Mark 4:35 NKJV

Who hasn’t heard a sermon about Jesus telling the disciples to cross over to the other side? It’s a classic! When Jesus made this statement to the disciples, of course, it was a done deal! At least from our perspective, which is a classic state of hindsight. And when He initially spoke it to the disciples, they felt the same way. As Jesus gets comfortable and falls asleep, the men may have been contemplating all they had seen and heard that day. Maybe they were even having some male bonding time on the crossing, when suddenly a storm comes out of nowhere.

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
Mark 4:37 NKJV

According to the commentaries, this was a pretty severe storm, for even the fishermen in the boat were concerned about their safety! The winds caused huge waves to beat into the boat, causing the boat to take on water. I’ve never been in this type of situation, but I have watched enough movies to know that things weren’t looking to good for the people in the boat.

But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Mark 4:38 NKJV

I know that you have heard or read this passage on many occasions, but have you ever really stopped to wonder how Jesus managed to sleep through all of this? After all, the winds and waves were kicking up a fuss! Then there had to be some pretty loud shouting between the men as they tried to save themselves. So, with the ruckus of the storm and the yelling of the men, they should have been able to wake the dead, yet, Jesus slept! Apparently He had no concerns about the weather and what it thought it was going to do to them; and therefore, He slept peacefully!

Things got so bad that they finally woke Him up! Did they cast lots to see who would wake Him up? Or did Peter just volunteer? We don’t know and I’m just teasing! But we do know that they had to wake Him up, and when they did, they accused Him of not caring that they were perishing! Here’s my wondering: Didn’t they realize that if they were dumped in the water, wouldn’t Jesus have also been dumped?

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Mark 4:39-41 NKJV

As soon as Jesus got up He rebuked the wind! Then He spoke to the sea, “Peace, be still!” When Jesus met the demoniac in Mark 1, He rebuked the spirt and told him to be quiet, and to come out of him. The same terminology is used both times, and it really means, “muzzle it”! And both times, He was obeyed! Demons obeyed His command! Sickness and disease obeyed His command! And now we see that the natural realm responds to His commands! Glory!

This was a supernatural miracle in response to a natural phenomenon that could have cost the lives of His disciples. But on that day, because Jesus was in the boat, they got a miracle! Some believe that this cannot happen again. Even in the commentary that I use, it is said that it cannot happen again, but I beg to differ! Miracles over nature, can and will happen, wherever we dare to believe for it.

When we speak of faith, we act as if the disciples exercised some great faith as they hung out with Jesus! But in this instance, Jesus asked them how could they have no faith? You would think that since they woke Him up that showed their faith! But Jesus said they had no faith! Nothing! Nada! And yet they got a miracle!

I’m sure that you have been in your own place of no faith! The waves and the winds of life have been fierce at times. It seemed as if you were perishing and Jesus didn’t care. Then you received a miracle! With no faith! He’s just good like that! But most of the times that we receive a miracle from God, it will be because somebody is operating in faith! In the case of this passage, Jesus operated His faith and brought about a miracle! Maybe in your darkest moment, a friend, a family member, a stranger was praying before God for your deliverance and their faith got your miracle!

The one thing that we can be sure of in this life is that we will all experience a storm from time to time. Your storm may not be like my storm, but it is still a storm. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, the loss of finances, the loss of a home, or the loss of dreams, you can be assured that Jesus will be with you in the midst of your storm! And not only can He still speak to the storm, but He has given you authority to speak to your storms! (See Mark 11:22).

There’s no need to wake Him, He’s not sleeping! There’s no need to cry out to Him to see if He cares, He does! We just need to take Him at His word! Had the disciples taken Him at His word, they wouldn’t have panicked. But the good news is that even in the midst of their panic, Jesus still arose to the occasion and brought their deliverance!

Spiritually or naturally, Jesus muzzles storms. When He tells them to stop, they cease their activities. When He tells them to shut up, they quieten down. He still has power over the storms of life!

This action of calming the sea caused the disciples to have great fear of Jesus! They had just witnessed a powerful miracle and they were afraid! This we don’t need to mimic! We actually need to do the opposite and have a sense of peace in our hearts that He is in the storm with us! And because He is in the storm with us, we will cross over to the other side!

Who can this be, the disciples asked? None other, than Jesus, the Son of the living God! Jesus, the miracle worker! Jesus, the waymaker! Jesus, the promise keeper! Who can this be? Jesus, our Savior! The One who calms raging seas, and causes the wind to obey Him!

I only have one more thing to say!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV

If He has done it before, He most certainly can do it again. Expand your mind, your heart and your spirit to know the God of miracles, like never before! Wonderful Jesus!

Growth of the Kingdom!

Mark 4:33-34- “And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. NKJV

Mark states that Jesus taught many parables but that He taught them as they were able to hear them. In chapter 4, there are several parables that Mark shares with us, but only one is exclusive to the gospel of Mark, the parable of the growing seed.

And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
Mark 4:26-29 NKJV

Interestingly, a man would scatter or throw seed on the ground with no care about what was happening to the seed or if the seed ever took root. I must admit that this parable has troubled me all week, hence my delay in posting. Maybe I am overthinking, or looking too hard for a meaning that makes sense because everything I read about farming goes against this strategy of planting seed. However, during Jesus’ day, this technique was used for planting of crops, causing a huge problem for weeding, or taking care of the crop.

Most commentaries believe that this parable is about spiritual growth. Even as such, I have a problem with this. The seed was representative of the word of God in the first parable, and now it’s representative of my life? It doesn’t make sense to me. Yet, Jesus said that this is how the kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.

In my mind, the seed is everywhere or all over the place. The person who scattered the seed goes through life, sleeping and rising, yet the seed is growing. Although the man doesn’t know how it is growing, first the blade, then the stalk, then the corn comes forth. How is this the workings of a great farmer?

Jesus didn’t say that this was a farmer but it could easily have been. He lets us know that He is referring to the kingdom of God. He said that the kingdom of God is “as if a man would scatter the seed.” How would we think of this parable if we thought of the kingdom’s growth and not the individuals of the kingdom? Maybe Jesus was trying to get us to see that the kingdom of God would be growing in places that didn’t make any sense. After all, why would He spend His time amongst the outcasts of society? Or why would He be interested in forgiving a woman caught in adultery? Better yet, why would He spend time by the seashore talking to the regular people and not the Jewish scholars? Because seed is being scattered!

Crowds were following Him everywhere that He went. Some followed Him for food, some for healing, some for entertainment, and some for a longing in their soul. Instead of getting rid of the insincere or the thrill-seeker, the seed was scattered amongst them all.

Then growth started happening! First, the blade grew out of the dark place of the soil as He called for His twelve disciples. Then as believers began to be added to the kingdom, it grew and grew until it was ready for harvesting. Such is the kingdom of God! In this agricultural atmosphere, as mentioned earlier, you would have to wait until harvest to separate the crop from the weeds. When Jesus returns, He promises to do just that!

This understanding of the parable makes sense if we look at the verses to follow:

Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”
Mark 4:30-32 NKJV

Again, Jesus is referring to the kingdom of God. I can imagine Him addressing the crowd, His pupils, and seeing the puzzled expression on their faces as He shared the first parable. For all of them would know that a farmer wouldn’t scatter his precious seed and then give no attention to it. Or would they? So, as He takes in their countenance and can see that He has lost them, He changes tactics.

Hum, to what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? At this point, maybe He spies a mustard tree or a member of the crowd with a basket full of mustard seeds. Maybe He realizes that a mustard tree will work for His point and help them see what He was saying! Either way, He likens the kingdom to that of a mustard seed!

He says the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. When it is sown into the ground, it is smaller than all seeds. However, after the seed grows, it grows into a large tree with many branches. Isn’t that descriptive of the kingdom of God. It started with Jesus. He announced from day one that He had come to proclaim the kingdom. He was the only member of the kingdom. It was most definitely the smallest of kingdoms. But as it grew, it grew into a large tree, the largest of the herb family, with many branches. It has a lot of branches, but the birds nest and seek shade under the branches.

Had Jesus been talking to us, He would have continued with a confused crowd. But Jesus isn’t talking to a crowd of non-Jewish individuals, He’s teaching a crowd of Jews, and this makes sense! Let’s look at an Old Testament scripture that they would have been familiar with:

“These were the visions of my head while on my bed: I was looking, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.
the tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens,
and it could be seen to the ends of all the earth. Its leaves were lovely, its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, the birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
Daniel 4:10-12 NKJV

Daniel’s vision was of a great empire. In Ezekiel, there are similar references to a great tree that is symbolic of a great empire. This is language they would have understood. Nations that found themselves under the care of the great tree were like birds that nestled in the branches. Again, a reference they would have been familiar with.

Jesus was telling them that the kingdom of God was starting small but would someday be a great empire that nations would find protection and safety within it. Isn’t that the case of the kingdom of God? Many nations are blessed because they acknowledge the King! America is one of those nations!

Certainly, we can look over the world today and see the expanse of the kingdom! It’s a forever kingdom that will never be dominated by another ruler, for our King is the greatest king ever! He truly is the King of kings, and He rules over nations, and there is no end to His reign!

As Jesus continued His ministry of teaching, He taught in parables. We’ll come across a few of them. But just as Jesus wanted His disciples to understand them as He taught, He wants us to understand them. I trust this different perspective, at the least, helped you to have a greater appreciation for the kingdom of God. Wonderful Jesus!

Parental Faith!

A Heart Condition

Don’t Be Afraid!

Shipwrecked Faith-Revised & Repost! – Wonderful Jesus!

You Can Do This!

Shipwrecked Faith-Revised & Repost! – Wonderful Jesus!

Reject Rejection!

Believe For It!

Shipwrecked Faith-Revised & Repost! – Wonderful Jesus!

Twelve Years a Slave

Shipwrecked Faith-Revised & Repost! – Wonderful Jesus!

Deliverance in the Kingdom!

Muzzle It!

Growth of the Kingdom!