Mark 6 - 2012.04.28

WHAT IS YOUR VERDICT?

“He marvelled because of their unbelief.” — Mark 6:6a

         

The amazement expressed by the Savior in our text for today expresses His reaction to the question raised by “many” who witnessed His ministry “in His own country,” “From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?” (v.2)  That question embraces two things; His discourse (“wisdom”) and His deeds “mighty works.” Those under indictment here “saw,” but did now perceive; they “heard,” but did not comprehend; they queried, but did not reach the right conclusion. They have many descendants even to this present day.  They are judged elsewhere as those who are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the TRUTH [II Tim. 3:7].” And the Truth, of course is Christ Himself (cf. 14:6).

It leads us to recall the occasion later in His ministry when Philip asked, “Show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” Jesus’ reply: “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake [John 14:8-11].” 

When John the Baptist sent to verify His person, Jesus called attention to His works: 

“And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me [Luke 7:19-23].”

Sufficient evidence had been set before them, yet they failed to reach the right verdict. Knowledge is one thing; wisdom and understanding another. It was true then, it is true today. If He marvelled then, He marvels still.

Evidence for God and the gospel has always been the same: His word and His works. The apostle Paul wrote:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools… [Rom. 1:16-22].”

If men perish, it will not be for lack of evidence; it will be because of their unbelief. “Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him [Heb. 11:6].” For, “…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God [Rom. 10:17].” And, it is by faith that we embrace the truth of God—”Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear [Heb. 11:3],” and the gospel—”The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved [Rom. 10:8-14].”

A university education, a PHD, will not bring about salvation from sin and eternal life. Faith will. Indeed, a “little child” who trusts the Savior has more understanding than a university professor, rises higher than a king, obtains more enduring wealth than Croesus, and will live infinitely longer than Methuselah! (See Mt. 18:2-3) “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God [Ps. 14:1],” but “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved [Rom. 10:14,]” and justly able to say, “I have more understanding than all my teachers… (See Ps. 119:99, 144).”

"Pastor" Frasier

Mark 5 - 2012.04.21

I TOUCHED HIM!

“And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?”   —Mark 5:30

As Mark continues to provide evidence for the deity of Christ, this chapter gives account of His power over demons, disease and death. Our sophisticated culture is not inclined to give much credence to demons, or to anything supernatural, for that matter. “Spiritual wickedness in high places,” is the stuff of science fiction, if anything. Disease and death we are forced to believe in, for they are thrust upon us daily.

Those familiar with the New Testament are likely to be more interested in Jairus, whom we know by name, and his concern for his little twelve year old daughter who died before Jesus could reach her side. Less well known, I suspect, is the account of the unnamed woman who braved the jostling crowd that surrounded the Savior as He was on His way to Jairus’ house.

Her plight was pathetic. She had been ill for twelve years with a bloody flux and had been impoverished by the health care system of the day only (like some today) to become worse rather than better. In short, she was in desperate straits.

Then she heard of Jesus. And, she believed in Him. “When she had heard of Jesus, [she] came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole [v. 27-28].” While others doubted and debated, and many were just swept up in the enthusiasm of the multitude, this woman who had been disappointed so many times and reduced to despair, hearing of Jesus did not say, “what’s the use?” or, “Well, it won’t hurt to try one more thing.” She is recorded as saying, without qualification, “If I may but touch His clothes, I shall be whole.” It was not superstition, nor experimentation, but the unwavering confidence that characterizes true faith.

Jostled in the throng, she pressed on against the odds and finally reached her objective. She touched Him. She needed nothing more and sought no publicity. “She felt in her body that she was healed of her plague.” Her need met, she would have retreated into the crowd and slipped quietly away—but for Jesus. “Knowing in Himself (“nothing is hid from the eyes of Him with whom we have to do”) that virtue(“power” Gk.) had gone out of Him He turned”—in her direction, no doubt,—and said, to her consternation, “Who touched my clothes [v.30].” This anonymous woman, overcome with fear and trembling confessed before Him “all the truth.” Her name is not recorded in the record, but it is written in “the Lamb’s Book of Life!”

When the disciples heard Him call out, “Who touched my clothes,” they thought Him a bit irrational, saying, “Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest, Who touched me?” (v. 31) Under ordinary circumstances their reaction was perfectly logical, but these were not “ordinary circumstances.” This was an encounter with “Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Her confidence, miraculous cleansing and trembling confession combined to receive from the Son of God much more than she bargained for;  “He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” The implication, “Thy faith hath made thee whole,” appears to include her soul’s salvation; the physical healing was, as with the handicapped man we considered in chapter 2, a secondary benefit. This remarkable Man came “to seek and to save the lost,” not merely to make them healthy, wealthy and happy. She did not know that then; we do now.

Today, on a dramatic scale, this story is oft repeated. There are multitudes who have an occasional, casual contact with Christ. They make no significant impression on Him, and He is to them only a matter of curiosity. “Having eyes to see they see not, having ears to hear, they hear not.” His voice is to them as  pleasant song. But here and there one breaks through to touch Him, convinced against all doubt that He is the answer to all their need. “If I may but touch His clothes, I shall be whole.” Impoverished by the dreadful malady of sin, despairing of all human help and ready to die, these press on with a determined faith and find Him able to deliver them and “full of grace.” How wonderful!!

The account reminds me of a familiar gospel song: “He Touched Me.” But with a significant twist. This song would be  entitled, “I Touched Him.” The initiative was hers. She believed what she had heard about His power, and was determined not to be denied. She pressed against the odds, ran counter to the crowd, obtained His blessing and got His attention. I know this perspective will trouble some of the “theologians” among us, but that is exactly how it reads.

The gospel of the Son of God declares, “…whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved..” (Rom. 10:13, e.g.) That is why He came! Have you touched Him? Or are you just one of the crowd?

"Pastor" Frasier

Mark 4 - 2012.04.14

WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS?

“And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” — Mark 4:40

Mark continues to provide support for his opening proposition, “Jesus Christ, [is] the Son of God.” Wearied from a day of teaching a multitude Jesus proposed that they take ship to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. On a pillow in the little vessel He promptly fell asleep, an indication of His real humanity. He “was in all points tempted, like as we are… [Heb. 4:15]” and understands the fatigue of a hard day’s work.

In the course of their relatively short voyage a storm arose on the Sea; not an unusual occurrence, but in this instance a storm so severe that hardened and experienced sailors feared they were going to perish (v.38). The ship was full of water, on the verge of sinking and they had exhausted their resources and their skills. So, they awakened their Master with the cry, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”

When you consider their action, it is almost ludicrous, since from their perspective His awakening would offer little but His added concern. I have been often tempted to paraphrase their remark as “Wake up and worry with us.” Sometimes misery does love company!

Jesus’ reaction was threefold. He rebuked the wind, and it ceased. He spoke to the tempestuous sea saying, “peace, be still,” and there was a great calm. Then He spoke to the disciples and said, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” That extraordinary development gave rise to another “fear”—awe and wonder provoking the question, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (v. 41) Mark gave us the answer in the beginning: this is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

How often in the storms of life the Jesus we know (or think we know) appears to be asleep; indifferent, if not unaware of the peril we perceive, the dread (fearful, v.40) we are experiencing. Like the disciples, but because we have forgotten what they did not yet know, we want to wake Him to come and help us worry through our crises. They were going through the story and were still perplexed by “what manner of man” this might be. We have read the book. We know the answer to the question. Here is no ordinary man, but the Lord of glory, God manifest in the flesh, Who has promised those who trust Him as Savior, “they shall never perish.” (Jn. 10:28)

“If He is, in fact, our Master, our Savior and Lord; if His word is true, then “Carest Thou not that we perish?” is a question we have neither need nor right to ask. He is the One Who has “made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures [Jer. 10:12, 13].” And, He is the “God who cannot lie.” (Cf.Titus 1:2)

And if that is true, then we have reason to be “anxious for nothing.” Mercifully, our gracious God does not command us to silence, but encourages us “…in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving [to] let [our] requests be made known unto God,” assuring us that “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [our] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus [Phil. 4:6-7].” We are encouraged to bring all our anxieties and cares to Him, not out of dread, but in unwavering assurance that “with Christ in our vessel, we can smile” at the storms of life.

If you are tempted to doubt and fear in some unprecedented circumstance, remember, He has power over it and has promised the believer His deliverance—one way or another, sooner or later. Let us never forget what manner of Man He is. Faith, after all, is not merely believing in Jesus, but believing Him!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” —Heb. 4:14-16

"Pastor" Frasier

 

Mark 3 - 2012.04.07

RELATIVES OF CHRIST

“He answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.” —Mark 3:33-35

Jesus’ mother and brothers (note that Mary had other children!) approached the house where He was teaching, looking for him. Why they looked for Him is not stated, but we note in v. 21 that His friends had tried to “lay hold on Him,” saying “He is beside Himself.” (i.e., “out of his mind” - TCNT) Perhaps his family, hearing that charge, desired to withdraw him from his demanding ministry. In any event, their presence was reported to the Savior, and thus the stage was set for the comment which constitutes our Nugget for today.

Clearly, He is implying a relationship with the Son of God that surpasses the biological one and greatly enlarges and defines His “family.” The logical question, which does not appear to have risen on this occasion, is, ‘What is “the will of God?”’ Let us pursue that question today.

The immediate reaction for many will be to conclude that this relationship rests upon works. There is another occasion recorded in the gospels which gave rise to a question on the part of the attending crowd that is intimately related to this, if not synonymous. Instructing another crowd, Jesus exhorted, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent [John 6:27-29].”

It is my judgment that “the will of God” and “the work of God,” as referred to here, are essentially the same. And here, clearly, the ground is not “works,” but faith in Christ as the bedrock of “eternal life.” Apart from faith in Him we have no relationship with Him, or with God. Doing “the will of God,” then, flows from faith as evidence of it, which is consistent with the whole teaching of the New Testament.

“Saving faith” is not a mere passive belief, but a life changing confidence in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ confirmed in the life that follows—committed to “the will of God.” The epistles of the New Testament offer considerable evidence of what this “will of God” includes.

First, it makes one a servant of Christ, “doing the will of God from the heart. [Eph. 6:6].” That is,sincerity.

Second, it involves moral purity. “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication [I Thess. 4:3].”

Thirdly, it initiates a life of perennial thanksgiving, seeing God as the Lord of every circumstance. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you [I Thess. 5:18].”

Furthermore, it eventuates in perseverence in the faith. “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise [Heb. 10:36].”

The will of God demands submission to established authority; that is, humility. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God [I Pete. 2:13-16].”

Again, it develops integrity toward God and man that stimulates consistent “well doing,” as we bear our testimony before the ‘watching world.’ “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and beready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it isbetter, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing [I Pet.3:15-17].”

The will of God involves a life that is in contrast to “the will of the Gentiles,” that is, the unsaved world around us, and ready to endure persecution because of it, should it occur. “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:…

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator [I Pet. 4:1-4, 16-19].”

All of this is followed by the assurance that we, as the relatives of the Savior, will enjoy the fulfillment of His promise of everlasting life. “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: buthe that doeth the will of God abideth for ever [I John 2:17].”

Salvation requires, not religion, but a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. That relationship is free, but it is not cheap. It calls for the surrender of our wills to His lordship, and for His glory. But it yields eternal benefits far more valuable than “the pleasures of sin,” which are but “for a season.”

“It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.”

"Pastor" Frasier