On the Other Side

Mark 5:1-20

Now they head into Gentile territory for the first time, to “the other side.”

We remember at the close of the previous chapter Jesus and His disciples had all entered small boats to cross over the sea of Galilee to the other side, which would be the region of the Gadarenes, which was a region of Gentiles and Jews who had not remained pure in their religion.

In the first case, we may marvel that Jesus would even go this “God-forsaken place,” but it serves to remind us no place on earth is ‘God-forsaken.’

God has an interest in all peoples in all places. There are no places which God has forsaken - only places that have forsaken God.

The region of the Gadarenes is one of those places. What they found there was quite startling. What they had to go through to get there was also quite startling, as we remember the storm that raged in an attempt to keep Jesus and His men from coming here in the first place. Jesus calmed the storm.

They found a man, (Matthew’s Gospel reveals there were two men,) inside whom a storm raged as well. They found a man who was clearly demon-possessed, and it seems he was well-known locally for his possession. They had done, or could do nothing for this man. Their only solution was to attempt to keep him chained and shackled away from the rest of the people who lived there. But the chains and shackles could not hold him, and so he was a constant danger to anyone who lived in that region.

Was this man, (or these men,) the reason Jesus came? Was Jesus so concerned about this man’s quality of life, (which we would have to say was less than zero,) that He was willing to go through hell and high water to reach him?

This story tells us much about the ministry of Christ, and our ministry as well. He never gives up on anyone, even one possessed by a legion of demons. He has power over all demons, and can and will save ANY lost person who is willing to be saved. Will we go the ‘the other side’ with Jesus?

-Pastor Bill

Light Shines

Mark 4:21-41

When you are in the dark, you can stumble around and possibly hurt yourself, or you can attempt to find a source of light so you can see to find your way.

It is amazing how much of our lives are dependent upon light. We really can’t function without it. We know that without light we are blind, (to be completely without light is to be totally blind.)

Our eyes may have perfect function, but we cannot know that unless we have light for our eyes to function by. They do not work in darkness.

In fact, if you had been born into a completely dark world, with absolutely no light at all, you would not even know you had eyes. They are completely useless without light.

Fortunately that is not the case. God has provided us a light in the heavens that shines forth every day in a very dependable fashion. Since we enjoy God’s light so much, we have designed our own sources of light as well, that we may have the ability to see no matter where we are. Interesting…

Light, illumination, is so precious to us we have even compared it to knowledge, and wisdom. We speak of knowledge necessary for life as being “illuminating.” When we hear some new thought or idea, “the light goes on,” in our brain. (In the cartoon world we represent this with a light bulb above the head.)

Jesus speaks of the knowledge of eternal life in the kingdom of heaven in exactly this fashion. Just as light is meant to be shared - and it is inconceivable that it would not be – the knowledge of eternal life is to be shared as well.

Who would put “light” under a bushel basket, or under a bed? That would not only be inconceivable, but cruel, allowing those who may have light I am aware of to continue to stumble around in the darkness and blindness. Jesus teaches us the wisdom of God is to be shared, immediately and often and always. Not sharing the light Jesus has shared with you is to not only keep others in darkness unnecessarily, it is to keep your own life in darkness as well. We are to shine the light we have been given.

-Pastor Bill

Heart Condition

Mark 4:1-20

Since the heart is an internal organ, its health cannot be determined from outside the body.

Or can it?

There are many tell-tale signs which reveal the condition of the heart, even though the heart cannot be seen by the eye.

The color of the skin, the dilation of the eye, the pulse rate, the energy level, the blood pressure, they all reveal the present physical condition of the unseen heart.

In the same way, Jesus lets us know the condition of our Spiritual heart is also observable, even though the Spiritual heart itself remains unseen. This is more important for self-examination purposes than knowing the condition of our physical heart.

The first step is to allow the process, which is why Jesus speaks in parables. If you aren’t interested in knowing the condition of your Spiritual heart, just take the parables at face value. Think only of their physical meaning, and move along. They do have a physical meaning, and there is a degree of satisfaction in hearing about seeds and soils, especially in an agricultural society. “Yes, this is true teaching about seed and soil. But why is Jesus teaching about dirt?”

He isn’t. But only for those who are interested in the condition of their Spiritual heart for the purpose of knowing their eternal condition. We do know that God knows the condition of our heart. Even unbelievers sense that truth – if as much as they may hate to admit it. The question is: Are you interested? Or are you content to be willfully ignorant about your Spiritual heart – and therefore your eternal condition?

The “seed” Jesus speaks of is known to be good. Perfect, in fact. What could possibly keep it from growing? When we know the seed is good, if it doesn’t grow it’s because the soil is either hard, shallow, or corrupted by the presence of weeds. Will you allow that to speak to you about the present condition of your Spiritual heart?

-Pastor Bill

The House Divided

Mark 3:20-35

If you were or were a religious leader intent on protecting your religious system, who would you protect it from?

The thinking may be the enemy would be the one seeking to bring down your power-base, but that would be untrue.

The enemy is just fine with religion. Again, the thinking may be that Satan’s territory would be unbelief – and it is – but he is quite content with the nominalism toward God religious systems produce. And even the fervent forms of religion we see in the world today are not fervent for God, they are fervent for the religious system of the practitioner.

The appearance of moral piety merely serves to build up the flesh, and to enhance the standing of men among men. God thinks nothing of the appearance of moral piety, because he knows it isn’t true. He knows the heart, and He knows why we seek to appear pious. Every religious system has in common this building up of the flesh. (The exultation of the self even if it means by suffering, or self-flagellation, or self-immolation, or even by suicide-bomb.) Who is behind this kind of self-destructive behavior?

Less obviously, who is therefore behind every behavior which builds up the flesh to the point it believes itself worthy of God’s favor – perhaps through the burning of incense, or endless repetitions of prayers, or marvelous architecture, or performance of outward moral superiority?

And so, we wind up with religious leaders in opposition to Jesus Christ Himself. Whose position is furthered by opposition to Jesus Christ? What can be learned by the constant friction, discomfort, and contention the religious leaders had with Jesus? (That they would accuse HIM of being in league with Satan?)

When is Satan’s kingdom divided EXCEPT in the person of Jesus Christ? How sad it is the strongest-appearing form of unbelief - the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit - comes by flesh-enhancing religion which makes even Jesus Himself to be a liar about how men must be saved.

-Pastor Bill

The Miracle Worker

Mark 3:1-19

What kind of “man” could take nothing and make it into something?

What kind of “man” has the power of creation available to Himself, and how is that power made available to Him, and when?

As we continue to walk with Jesus, bearing witness as a member of His crowd of followers to the things He does, one of the things we may notice is He never seems to do anything ordinary.

All His works are clearly extraordinary, and they all have to do with what is most needed.

As Jesus entered the synagogue at Capernaum, as His follower I would not have been thinking He was entering a trap. The synagogue was a place of worship and devotion to God, and men would gather on the Sabbath to demonstrate their culture, their heritage, and their loyalty to Judaism, if not to God. This was a very special gathering which would take place each Sabbath day.

Normally, a man with a defect would be restricted in their presence because of their defect, perhaps even restricted from being in the synagogue at all. (See Lev 21:17-24.)

One thing those in opposition to the works of Christ could already trust was that He would always go to the person in the room with the greatest need. Could He be trapped into performing a ‘work’ on the Sabbath – which would therefore publicly reveal Him to be in opposition to God?

The man with the withered hand is immediately noticed by Jesus, and Jesus is angered because He rightly perceived the Pharisees were using this man in a way that was an embarrassment to the man - and also in a way that was intended to trap Jesus. Would Jesus break the Law, and perform a work on the Sabbath?

Jesus’ question pierces like a knife: “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do evil, to save life, or to kill?” (How I answer that question reveals the heart of God in me, and also for me.)

-Pastor Bill

In the Spotlight

Mark 2:1-28

Now we see how Jesus ministers under the spotlight, in the din of the crowd.

Many a good man has folded under the intense pressure of expectations. Would Jesus be yet another example of the flash in the pan?

The thing we must remember is at this time in His ministry life Jesus was still an unproven entity. While this may be difficult for us to imagine, (since we are so familiar with the gospel accounts,) it is important for us as readers to place ourselves in the story and try to imagine what it must have been like to have been there.

Jesus has much to overcome.

He must overcome spiritual opposition in a manner and power I think we know not of, He must overcome material shortcomings that only One with creation power can, and He must overcome doubt - which is perhaps the greatest obstacle of all.

Who is this?

Who would say to a paralytic their sins are forgiven? (The scribes are CORRECT in their thinking ONLY GOD can forgive sin.) Who would say, “your sins are forgiven,” and then tell you to, “get up and walk?” Who would do that? Who COULD do that?

Who would call a tax collector to be one of His followers, and then double down on that inscrutable act by dining with not only tax collectors but known sinners? Would Messiah do that?

Who would be content to skip the present practices of fasting, in a culture when voluntary fasting two days per week is how devotion to God is demonstrated? Who could get away with such a contra-version of standard religious practice?

When the glare of the spotlight is turned on, what would this ‘Man’ do? Now we know. Everything He does is confounding on every front. Nothing will ever be the same. There is now no such thing as status-quo.

-Pastor Bill

God is For Us

Mark 1:16-45

Romans 8:31 declares, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Indeed.

Immediately, at the beginning of His earthly ministry, Jesus sets out to demonstrate this fundamental truth: God is for us.

It’s why He came in the first place. He is for us. He loves us. He sees our needs. He knows our desires.

But it is more than knowing what our needs are, or understanding our desires; it is having and demonstrating the authority and power to do something about it.

We face a powerful enemy in this world. All of mankind always has. Jesus has come to defeat our enemy. His power is greater than Satan. His authority is over Satan.

Even after 40 days and nights in the desert, without food and water, Satan has no power over Jesus. None at all. This is the pronouncement of Satan’s defeat.

Since Satan is the greatest power the world can throw at us, (usually employing our own flesh in order to defeat us,) isn’t it comforting to know Jesus has the power to defeat Satan? Isn’t it wonderful to know that He wills to do just that - and that accompanying the power to defeat Satan is also the power to save mankind? (Me.)

All of our needs are met in Jesus Christ. He is our all in all. We are MORE than conquerors through Jesus Christ who loves us and has come to die for us and to help us and to demonstrate He is for us in every way we require.

Usually when someone meets your needs there is a payment required. Even in this, God meets our needs. Jesus is our payment for God’s love. And, He is willing to heal, He is willing to help, and He is willing to save. How could it be further proven that God is FOR us?

-Pastor Bill