Mark 2:29-39

"And immediately..."

Mark likes to use that phrase, or at least translators like to use it. Jesus has just had his "fame spread" and he leaves the synagogue immediately!! This is the first we read of him visiting one of his disciples homes and it's the first disciples he called, Simon and Andrew.

Simon's mother-in-law was sick. The disciples have recently seen Jesus cast out a demon so they talk to him about her. Isn't interesting that it's the mother-in-law? Which means the Simon is married, something I always forget about. It wasn't just the disciples traveling and ministering with Jesus, it was their wives and children as well. Or would they have stayed home, not knowing when they would get to see their loved ones again?

Simon has concern for his mother-in-law and Jesus goes to her house and heals her...and "she began to serve them" (vs 31). It's a beautiful picture really. Jesus and the disciples have been walking to get to the house. They're tired, hungry and dirty. When they arrive, Simon is told his mother-in-law isn't doing well, so they go to her house...or would she have been living in the same house as them? I'm not sure what the custom was. Anyway, I'm sure they would have loved to sit down and rest/relax, yet they go to her. And as soon as Jesus heals her, she begins to serve them. I'm assuming that means takes care of their needs: food, drink, sleep, etc. Even the disciples and Jesus had the care of a mother...probably of all the mothers.

The disciples must have been in awe of this because they go around town collecting everyone who is sick/demon possessed and bring them to Jesus (vs 32). While their gathering people, words spreads, or I guess it already has spread, about what He can do so the whole town gathers to watch.

He didn't heal everyone. It says, "he healed many" (vs 34). Which is interesting. What would it be like to be someone who wasn't heal, or to be their family. And why didn't Jesus heal them all?

It's also interesting that Jesus silences the demons "because they knew him". It's like he wants to keep His identity a secret, yet word is already spreading.

I wonder if Jesus was an introvert, or if He even had those tendencies, fully God, yet fully man. Early the next morning after a night of healing people and casting out demons, Jesus retreats "to a desolate place" to pray (vs 35). A desolate place...what would that look like? I like to retreat to a place of beauty, a forest, lake, etc. Devoid of human interference, yet not what I would call desolate. I bet alot of places are desolate early in the morning. The world doesn't like to wake up earlier than normal.

The disciples wake up, find Jesus missing and being looking for him. When they find him, I can hear the scolding in their voice, "Everyone is looking for you." (vs 37). "Why did you put us through this? We thought we had lost you!" Etc. Jesus doesn't defend himself, or tell them they don't understand, he just asks to go "to the next town...to preach there also, for that is why i came out". That is why i came out...interesting phrasing there; coming out.

That's just what he did, throughout Galilee, preach in the synagogues and cast out demons. Teaching people about God's love, filling them with His truth and removing them from the evil presence of Satan.

Mark 1:21-28

Jesus and his disciples (are all of them with him now or just the 4 we heard of?) went to Capernaum, According the little map in my Bible that city sits on the Sea of Galilee. I bet it's beautiful! Anyhow, they "immediately, on the Sabbath, entered the synagogue and was teaching" (vs 21). I wonder what the other members of the synagogue thought when this stranger comes walking in and starts teaching? And what did teaching look like? Living on a college campus makes me think of school where there are students in desks and a teacher at the front of the class. Or was it more like a gathering of people who discuss ideas and the significance of what they've read/studied? Whatever it was like, they were amazed with Jesus because "he taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes." (vs 22) I've always liked dynamic teachers and I can picture Jesus being like that! What's better is that He's unlike like any teacher they're ever had! That would make you want to listen!

Then a crazy guy comes in and disrupts the gathering and declares Jesus to be "the Holy One of God" (vs 24). That would be interesting...here you've just been amazed at this teacher and then a man "with an unclean spirit" (vs 23) appears and claims to know Jesus! What would you think? Jesus knows what He think about it and commands the spirit to "be silent and come out" (vs 25). The spirit obeys, though the shrieking and convulsing communicate to me that it obey, because it's forced to, not because it wants to.

The men in the synagogue are even more amazed then and start seeking answers about who this guy is...they're such scholars! And Jesus' "fame spreads everywhere" (vs 28). It will be interesting to see what follows. Jesus commanded the spirit to be quiet before commanding it to come out which is interesting. Why silence the spirit for speaking the truth? Jesus is now known throughout the region on Galilee, how will that affect him? His followers?

Mark 1:12-20

Jesus has just gotten this great boost from God, "you are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" and then the "Spirit immediately drove Him out into the wilderness". I love that God gave Jesus something to hold onto before that happened. As Jesus is being tempted by Satan, not only did God sent angels to Him, He also gave Him that confidence boost beforehand.

Mark is rearing to get into Jesus' ministry. Mathew and Luke take much longer to develop the story, but not Mark or John. They want to get to the good stuff!

I think it's important that Mark notes Jesus didn't return to Galilee until after John was arrested. This man who has been preparing the way for Jesus has been taken captive and then Jesus, the man John has been talking about, comes into town and says, "the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom on God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." What time has been fulfilled? The time Isaiah referred to about John preparing the way? Wouldn't it be crazy to see that happen? I wonder where Jesus said this? In a very public setting? On the street to a few people? And Jesus hasn't called His disciples yet so who is He talking to? More questions than answers.

Jesus is still in Galilee, walking along the sea shore when he calls His first disciples, Simon and Andrew. They were fishing. How far out in the water were they? Were they even in a boat or casting their nets while standing in the water? I don't know, what I do know is that after Jesus tells them, "follow me, and I will make you become fishes of men" they "immediately" left their nets and followed him.

That's unreal to me!! No questions were asked, no tidying up their lives and affairs before following Jesus. Nope! They literally had just the clothes on their backs. Could you even imagine? And it happens all over again with James and John. Only James and John left their dad sitting on the boat mending nets with his servant rather than his sons; his dreams of Zebedee and Sons Fishing going down the drain as he watched them walk away. Or he could have been very supportive. I'm not sure, but in thinking about my dad, whom I have to hug and kiss on the cheek before walking out the door, that would have been hard for Zebedee!

To leave everything to follow Christ. I know I'm supposed to do that even today; be willing to drop it all and go, but that's so scary and I don't know if I could. We just got settled and as I look around our home I wonder what I would do if Jesus came up to me and said "follow me".

Mark 1: 1-11

Mark starts off making a huge statement right from the get go: "Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (1:1). There's no question for him this is who Christ is anymore, its right there for the world to see...bam! Then we get back to the history, starting with Isaiah's prophecy. Mark seems to start off very dynamically, there's not really a history here. No birth of Christ, no lineage, just stating the facts. I remember hearing from someone that Mark wasn't educated, maybe he didn't know Jesus' lineage which is why he didn't include it, I don't know, but I do find it interesting.

In the next paragraph, we get a quick glimpse of John. Yet some minor details are given, that you would normally think wouldn't matter, like what he wore and ate. It must have been quite odd to wear camel's hair with a leather belt and eat locusts and wild honey (vs 6) if Mark felt he needed to mention these details, yet not include Christ's birth or lineage. Marks tells us that John proclaimed "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (vs 4) yet later preaches of Jesus who's "sandals I am not not worthy to stoop down an untie" (vs 7).

I've seen a quote from C.S. Lewis multiple times around the web right now that says "Selflessness is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less". I can link that to John's attitude towards Christ. You can't proclaim to baptize for the forgiveness of sins is you think very little of yourself. John made bold claims, with faith in that God would follow through, while at the same time, knowing where he stood when it came to the perfectness of Christ. John didn't care of about fine clothes and food, or big houses. He cared about preparing the way for Christ. Getting hearts ready, sewing the first seeds in the field.

Jesus makes his way from Galilee to the Jordan river to be baptized by John (vs 9) "and immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove" I don't know about you, but when I think about the heavens opening up and a dove descending I think "TRIPPY!!" How could anyone who was there and witnessed that amazingness doubt who Christ was?

And we end today's ripple with the sound of God's voice telling Jesus "you are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" (vs 11). The start and end with the bold statement of who Christ is, God's son. Love it!

Israel and Roller Coasters - Chapter 29

"And in an instant, suddenly you will be visited by the Lord of hosts with thunder and with earthquake and great noise with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire."

Isaiah 29:5

"Because this people draw near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me a commandment taught by men."

Isaiah 29:13

"In the day the deaf shall hear the words of a book and out of their gloom of darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. The meek shall obtain fresh joy from the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult the Holy One of Israel. For the ruthless shall come to nothing and the scoffer cease, and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off..."

Isaiah 29:16-20

"For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel."

Isaiah 29:23

Isaiah 29 is such an intriguing chapter. The first word is "Ah", signifying great grief and suffering, then "Ariel, Ariel". Honestly, my mind jumped to The Little Mermaid :-) but that's not what we're talking about. Scholars don't actually know. It's Hebrew ('Ari'el). Some think it means "altar hearth" while others lean towards "lion of God" or "hero". How you read the rest of the chapter is significant based on which meaning you choose. I chose "Israel". It's not one of the options scholars give, but I think there were times when God was ready to sacrifice Israel (altar hearth) and find a new people. However, there were also times when He was actually proud ('lion of God' or 'hero') of Israel. So, I just stuck with the people.

Like Israel, i have my up and down moments with God. It's kind of like a roller coaster. You're always strapped in and sage because of God's love, but there are times when you feel as though that seatbelt is loose, usually when we're flying downhill towards the bottom. Those are the times I disappoint God. Then there are times when I'm pinned down, going no where, and braving the loops, twists and turns.

Just like the seatbelt on a roller coaster, God is always with Israel; He stuck with them no matter how hard times got. Even when there words didn't match their actions, "Because this people draw near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me a commandment taught by men." (v. 13). He protected them, "For the ruthless shall come to nothing and the scoffer cease, and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off..." (v. 20). And eventually, at the end of the chapter, God even seems to be proud of Israel, "For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel." (v. 23).

It doesn't mean Israel didn't go through terrifying moments, "And in an instant, suddenly you will be visited by the Lord of hosts with thunder and with earthquake and great noise with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire." (v. 5) But God never gave up, never let them out of their protective seatbelt.

Mass Destruction - 34

"Draw near, O nations to hear,
and give attention, O peoples!
Let the earth hear, and all that fills it;
the world and all that comes from it.
For the LORD is enraged against all the nations,
and furious against all their host;
he has devoted them to destruction,
has given them over for slaughter."
Isaiah 34:1-2

WOW!! We're way past Assyria and the trouble that nation caused. Now we're onto all nations, all people and everything that fills the earth.

I have to admit, this passage depressed me. So much so that I needed to take a break from Isaiah and talk of destruction, it was too much for me. I had to spend a little time in the New Testament (1 John 4 to be exact) and remind myself of God's love so I could balance out His wrath.

Coming back to Isaiah 34 didn't seem as bad them, But it's still bad.

Four times in the first 8 verses the phrase "The LORD has" is repeated, The first is in verse 2, "The LORD is enraged". The comments in my footnotes say the Hebrew idiom could be translated "The Lord has rage". That verse alone is enough to terrify me, but it goes on. Verse 6a, "The LORD has a sword", verse 6b, "The LORD has a sacrifice", and verse 8, "The LORD has a day of vengeance". So, to summarize, we have an enraged LORD, who's picked out a day of vengeance, has a sword, and knows what he's going to sacrifice. In that day (to borrow the phrase from Isaiah) all hell will break lose, literally.

If you oppose Zion or its cause you will be destroyed. There are no loop holes to jump through, no clauses or exceptions, just the fact that if you're not with God, then you're against Him which means you're going down.

The scene described is a living hell, the detail is so distinct:

"land shall become a burning pitch...

it shall not be quenched...

it shall lie waste...

thorns shall grow over its strongholds...

it shall be the haunt of jackals..." 

(selection of verses 9-13). 

And in case you have any question as to whether that can happen, when then read,

"Seek and read from the book of the LORD; 

not one of these shall be missing;

...for the mouth of the LORD has commanded, 

and his Spirit has gathered them." 

(verse 16)

In simpler terms: what God says, God does. There are several other horrible things described in verses 9-15 and He says everything mentioned will happen. 

I moments like this, you have to decide if the Bible is all truth or all lies. It can't be part way, it's all or nothing. What are you going to believe?

Still re-learning the SAME lessons - 30

"'Ah, stubborn children'" declares the LORD,

'who carry out a plan,

but not mine, and who make an alliance,

but not of my Spirit, that they add sin to sin;

who set to go down to Egypt without asking my direction...'"

Isaiah 30:1-2a

"Egypt's help is worthless and empty;

therefore I have called her Rahab who sits still."

Isaiah 30:7

"And now, go write it before them on a tablet

and inscribe it in a book,

that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever.

For they are a rebellious people...

children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord..."

Isaiah 30:8-9

"In returning and rest you shall be saved;

in quietness and in trust shall be your strength..."

Isaiah 30:15a

Why do we so readily run to solutions of the world rather than look to our creator? We turn to the powers of our time before we seek God. We're no different than the Israelites. We all, it seems, have to learn the same lessons. And I'm sure, just like the Israelites, we sadden God's heart.

We can read Isaiah 30 and think, "the Israelites WANT to go back to the people who made them salves?! Are they crazy?!" But how often do we turn to (or are at least tempted) devices of the world? We all have our weaknesses.

Personally, when I'm down I like to shop Rather than turning to God, I go blow some dough on clothes, jewelry, bags, etc. I know it doesn't really help, yet I want to do it anyhow. Just like the Israelites I'm "unwilling to hear the instruction of the LORD."

I wish it could stop there. I wish that's as bad as it gets, but it's not. The Israelites resorted to telling their prophets they didn't want to hear how upset God was, they only wanted the good news. How often do we have selective hearing? Listening only to what we WANT to hear; or just wanting the good news without the bad.

Thousands of years later humanity is still learning the same lessons, still pulled towards the same distractions and evils.

We don't know how to REST in God. And it's often hard for us to return to Him. But that's what He desires of us. To "return and rest" in Him; to lean towards "quietness and trust". All we have to do is call to Him, because God ALWAYS hears the cries of His people.