Lesson 886

(Lesson 886)(01-31-14) Mark 6:47-56:

"And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole."

Today's lesson tells us how Jesus walked across the sea as if it were dry land. This lesson also relates what happened when Jesus and His Apostles landed in Gennesaret. The people immediately recognized Him and went throughout the countryside gathering up the sick and bringing them for healing, wherever Jesus went. The faith of those people was such that they believed that to just touch Jesus' clothes would heal their bodies.

Wouldn't it be great if we today could be so effective at reaching people, and teaching the good news of the coming of Christ, that they would all rush to hear it?~

Lesson 885

(Lesson 885)(01-30-14) Mark 6:45-46:

"And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray."

Today's lesson makes a point about prayer that I believe is very important. The text says, "And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray."

We should make note that Jesus first sent His Apostles on their way across the sea and then went alone upon a mountain to pray.

Nowhere, that I can recall, is there New Testament evidence that Jesus prayed publicly, except, of course, when cried out to God from the cross.

In Matthew 6:5-6 Jesus said, "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

In direct disobedience to what Jesus said, some form of public prayer is both taught and practiced in almost ever religious ism that is known today.

I don't think there could be a clearer message concerning how we are to pray than this. Jesus very distinctly condemned praying while "standing in the synagogues"! ("Synagogues" by the majority of "Christians" today, would be recognized as "Churches")

There are, however, examples in the New Testament whereas it would appear that some of the early Christians prayed together yet there are no clear examples that define those prayers as having been prayed aloud. We could imagine what it would be like if two or three hundred people all prayed aloud for what was in their hearts at the same time, it would be nothing more than a distraction to everyone praying.

Therefore, I believe the prayers mentioned by the early Christians, were prayed either in private as Jesus taught, or silently so as not to be heard by those assembled.
Sadly, I doubt that modern "Christianity" will ever revert back to the proper way to pray. ~

Lesson 884

(Lesson 884)(01-29-14) Mark 6:33-44:

"And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men."

Today's lesson relates the miracle of the "loaves and fishes" wherein Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fishes.

Even though Jesus worked the miracle, defined in this lesson, it demonstrates to us how through faith, any problem that might confront those of us who believe in Jesus Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit, can easily be solved by and through our absolute faith in Him.

The days of using miracles to convince people of the authenticity of Jesus as the Son of God are over. However, the only reason many believers don't see miracles in their own lives today is because of a lack of sufficient faith. When the Apostles asked why they could not cast out a certain devil Jesus said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you"(Matthew 17:17-20)

Many who wear the coat of Christianity today, don't seem to recognize the awesomeness of this promise! If all of us who claim to believe in the almighty power of the Holy Spirit would pull together enough faith, we could ease all the suffering, not only in our own lives, but in the lives of all of those for whom we pray.~

Lesson 883

(Lesson 883)(01-28-14) Mark 6:12-32:

"And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately."

This lesson relates how king Herod had John the Baptist, a man whom he had once believed to be a righteous, beheaded because of the whim of his illegitimate sister-in-law/wife.~

Lesson 882

(Lesson 882)(01-27-14) Mark 6:7-11:

"And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city."

In this lesson, Jesus granted His Apostles the power to work miracles, He also gave them power to overcome whatever challenge might confront them and assured them they would have need of nothing. Jesus gave explicit instructions as to where and to whom His twelve Apostles were to go and teach.
He made a point of telling those Apostles not to take anything with them, no food, no money, and not even an extra coat. He also told them that if they came upon someone who would not listen to their message, they were to leave and let God make judgment against them.

This last portion of the lesson is the part that has been most abused by the leadership of today's "Christianity".
Instead of simply teaching and preaching the gospel, as Jesus commanded, today's preachers and many of their followers want to enforce the gospel, which is an absolute no-no according to what Jesus said directly to His Apostles.

They were given NO right to try to force feed the the word of God to anyone! Every human being has been given his/her own independent free will to, either accept the soul saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ have eternal life, or reject it and face the inevitable wrath of our just God.
Jesus very clearly said, "whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city."

Therefore, as we strive to follow the orders Jesus gave to His disciples, as we go about to teach and preach His word, we should always remember that there will, always and inevitably, be those who refuse to hear it. They have a God given right to either accept it, or reject it. We are neither authorized, nor commanded, to force them believe it, nor is it our right or responsibility to condemn or punish them for their decision, whatever that might be.~

Lesson 881

(Lesson 881)(01-26-14) Mark 6:1-6:

"And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, 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? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching."

Today's lesson tells us how when Jesus returned to His own country, although His countrymen were astonished by His great knowledge and wisdom, even the fact that He worked many miracles, it was still not enough to convince them that He was anything more than just the guy who once lived down the street.
This lesson is very true in that it is extremely hard for someone to impress those with whom he/she was raised.
Therefore, Jesus spent little time there and after healing some of the sick, He went about preaching throughout the countryside.~

Lesson 880

(Lesson 880)(01-25-14) Mark 5:35-43:

"While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat."

This lesson relates the first example of Jesus having raised someone from the dead.

In the text from which yesterday's lesson was taken, one of the chief priests of a local synagogue, a man named Jairus, came to Jesus saying that his daughter was gravely ill and asked Jesus to come and heal her.

While Jesus was occupied with the events surrounding the healing of the woman who had touched His clothes, in yesterday's lesson, a messenger from the family of Jairus came and told them that the girl had died. Jesus, hearing what was said and after telling Jairus to "believe", went to Jairus' home and literally woke the young girl from death and commanded that she be fed.

This lesson provides yet another example of how faith alone did the healing for the young girl. Jesus did not require the man to say a bunch of magic words, or to do any special tricks. Jesus simple said "be not afraid, ONLY believe".
In order for the those who are lost without God today to be granted the power to cure the illnesses of both body and spirit, they must, "be not afraid, ONLY believe".~