Lesson 3261

 (Lesson 3261)(12-07-20) Mark 1:35-45

    “ And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.”

    Today’s quote relates that Jesus continued performing miracles of healing as he traveled troughout Galilee.

   It is important to note that Jesus instructed the leper to go and present himself to the Jewish authority and to make an offering for the mercy of God as was required of the Jews under the Law of Moses. If Jesus had been teaching, what is now referred to as Christianity prior to His having been sacrificed for our sins, that offering would not have been necessary.~

Lesson 3260

 (Lesson 3260)(12-06-20) Mark 1:29-34

    “ And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.”

    Today’s lesson relates that Jesus miraculously healed Simon’s mother-in-law as well as all those who were brought to Him from the surrounding area.~

 (Lesson 3259)(12-05-20) Mark 1:21-28

    “And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.”

    Today’s quote relates that Jesus went into a synagogue at Capernaum and preached to the Jews. He astonished them with His knowledge of God, the Law and Jewish history. They were also astonished by the demonstration of His power over a demon, one who recognized Jesus as the Son of God.~

Lesson 3258

 (Lesson 3258)(12-04-20) Mark 1:16-20

    “ Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.”

    Today’s quote, as it relates to the process of the selection of Jesus’ apostles, marks the beginning of the church that was established by Jesus.

    Mark’s account of those events differs considerably with the account that was given in the book of Matthew but the difference is insuficient to alter the overall intent of the scriptural narrative.~

Lesson 3257

 (Lesson 3257)(12-03-20) Mark 1:14-15

    “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

    It is important to note that, as is related in today’s quote, when Jesus began to preach, He was delivering the same message that John the Baptist delivered, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

    To believe the “gospel” is to believe the truth. Jesus preached, in truth, that the His kingdom was soon to begin.

    It is also important to note that the message Jesus and John both delivered, was delivered to the Jews ONLY.~

Lesson 3256

 (Lesson 3256)(12-02-20) Mark 1:12-13

    “And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.”

    Today’s quote relates Mark’s account of the temptation of Jesus. It does not, however, agree with the Matthew account in total.

    For comparison, the following is the Matthew account: (Matthew 4:1-11),“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him."~

Lesson 3255

(Lesson 3255)(12-01-20) Mark 1:9-11

    “And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

   Although the author of Mark’s account of the water baptism of Jesus, by John the Baptist, differs slightly from the account of the same events in Matthew, the difference is so minor as to have no affect on the original intent of either lesson. 

    Jesus, the human man, by His own account was a Jew and bound by the laws of the Jews. Jesus, the Son and Spirit of God, was bound by His Father's law only. It is very important to keep that in mind as we proceed through these lessons.

    As a Jew, in order to be sin free within the boundaries of the law, and therefore qualified to be a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world, Jesus was required to commit Himself to the commanded ritual of physical water cleansing, or as written, or as incorrectly written, baptized.  

    God the Father, upon seeing that Jesus, the human man, had completed the requirements of the law to perfection, immediately recognized Jesus, both in the Spirit and in the flesh, as His beloved Son.

    We must remember, Jesus WAS NOT baptized in water to become the Son of God, He already was the Son of God. He was baptized in water in order to demonstrate that, as a human man, He was obedient to the law and therefore worthy to be the perfect sacrifice and savior of all those who would come to believe in Him.

    For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast”. (Ephesians 2:8-9)~