Lesson 1671

(Lesson 1671)(05-07-16) Mark 12:1-12

"And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way."

In the parable contained in today's quote, the vineyard represents the will of God in the earth. The Husbandmen that were to tend the vineyard were the Jews, God's first chosen people. The first two servants that were sent to the husbandmen represent Moses and the prophets. The son that was last sent and killed represented Jesus Christ.

The parable demonstrates how the Jews, in their disobedience throughout their history, failed to obey the laws of God. Instead, they twisted the commandments of God and tried to profit from their self established positions of authority. The parable also demonstrates why, and how, the "chosen" status was taken from the Jews and transferred to the believing Gentiles who would establish and be charged with furthering the doctrine of Jesus Christ through the authority of the Holy Spirit and His church.

"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:6-13)~

Lesson 1670

(Lesson 1670)(05-06-16) Mark 11:27-33

"And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things."

In today' lesson, when Jesus was confronted by the Jewish hierarchy and asked by what authority He preached: knowing that they counted John the baptist as a true prophet; Jesus asked if John preached by the authority of God or by his own authority? That question stumped the chief priests because either way they answered would box them into an unwanted corner. If they answered that John was authorized by God, they would be giving legitimacy to Jesus because John had previously baptized Jesus and acknowledged Him as the Son of God. And, if they said John had no authority other than his own, they would cause an uprising among all the thousands who counted John as a true man of God.

There are two distinctly different lessons that should be learned from today's quote. The first is that the Jewish hierarchy were out to destroy Jesus whether or not He was truly the Son of God. The second is that the phrase, "the baptism of John", describes much more than simply the water "baptisms" he performed. That phrase, "the baptism of John", most importantly refers to the message that John preached: "As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD, make his paths straight. (Luke 3:4)~

Lesson 1669

(Lesson 1669)(05-04-16) Mark 11:12-26

"And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. And when even was come, he went out of the city. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."

Today's quote relates how Jesus, in a demonstration to His apostles that having faith works miracles, condemned the fig tree and caused it to die.

Jesus also assured the faithful that whatever they might desire can be theirs if they pray believing beyond all doubt that their prayer will be answered. "Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."

Jesus also noted that God will not forgive those who themselves fail to be forgiving. We are to live as Godly a life as our sin-ridden body will allow. We are to be forever forgiving. We are to bind ourselves in faith to the fact that Jesus is our source of spiritual strength in all things, even to the eternal salvation of our very soul.~

Lesson 1668

(Lesson 1668)(05-04-16) Mark 11:1-11

"And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve."

In today's quote, Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and where He would eventually be crucified as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, Himself becoming the new means of "Passover" for those of us who have placed our faith in Him.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)

Lesson 1667

(Lesson 1667)(05-03-16) Mark 10:46-52

"And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way."

In today's quote, Jesus healed "Blind Bartimaeus" by giving Him sight. It is very important to note what Jesus did and what He said as the blind man received his sight. Jesus actually did nothing physically, He didn't touch Bartimaeus, nor did He say any kind of healing prayer. Jesus simply said "thy faith hath made thee whole". It took nothing more than faith in the redeeming power of Jesus to cause Blind Bartimaeus to receive his sight.

That same awesome power is available to anyone on earth today who can muster absolute faith In Jesus Christ. He promised us time and again that if we have sufficient faith, we can do anything. "verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." (Mark 11:23 in part.)~

Lesson 1666

(Lesson 1666)(05-02-16) Mark 10:35-45

"And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Today's quote Mark's account of what was covered in Matthew 20:20, wherein the Zebedee brothers attempted to set themselves apart for the rest of the apostles to which Jesus replied; "Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all."

This lesson confirms that the Roman Catholic contention that Peter was selected as the "chiefest" of the apostles is not substantiated by the words out of Jesus' own mouth.

Today's quote also, again, verifies that the term "baptize", and it's grammatical variations, do not always refer to an immersion into water. It is clear that when Jesus applied variations of the term in today's quote, He was referring to His, soon to come, sacrificial ordeal.

For a full study of what today's lesson indicates please refer to lessons from Matthew 20:20-28, lessons 1579 and 1580, wherein the term "baptize" and it's overall implications are discussed on more detail.~

Lesson 1665

(Lesson 1665)(05-01-16) Mark 10:32-34

"And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again."

    In today's quote, Jesus told His apostles about His, soon to come, soul saving sacrifice wherein He would be killed and would rise again on the third day leaving the sins of the world in the grave for those of us who , have and will, place our absolute faith in Him.

     "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:14-18)~