Lesson 1636

(Lesson 1636)(03-230-16) Mark 3:1-6

"And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him."

Today's quote tells us how Jesus healed the crippled hand of a man inside the temple as the Pharisees watched. He knew they would conspire to condemn Him for the good deed He had done simply because He did it on the Sabbath, the designated day of rest for the Jews.

This lesson should teach us that there is no appropriate, nor is there an inappropriate, time to do good works. We should be able and willing to perform the will of God every second of every day throughout our entire Christian lives. Our spiritual life and love for our fellow man, should NOT be simply restricted to the two or three times per week, if we feel like it, we might go down to the local "church". However, and very, very sadly, it seems that modern "Christianity" has become a part time job of convenience for the New Age "Christian".~

Lesson 1635

(Lesson 1635)(03-29-16) Mark 2:23-28

"And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."

In today's quote, Jesus made it vividly clear to the Pharisees that His judgment, having all power bestowed upon Him by God the Father, supercedes the rules of the old Law. He explained that the rules of the Sabbath were made to benefit mankind and that they were not instituted to lay a stumbling block in his/her path.

We should note that upon the completion of His sacrificial ordeal (His "baptism" as He described it) and His return to the Father, Jesus fulfilled every element of the old Law for those of us whom have placed our faith in Him and choose to live by His light. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-4)~

Lesson 1634

(Lesson 1634)(03-28-16) Mark 2:21-22

"No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles."

In today's quote, by making the reference to not putting new patches on old cloth and not putting new wine into old bottles, Jesus was making the point that His new law of salvation by grace through faith could not be intermixed with nor added onto the old Law of Moses. The new gospel was to be stand alone and taken as an alternative to the Law and was NOT to be taken as an addition to that old law.

As is clearly established throughout the New Testament, the old Law was fulfilled by Jesus so that that His new law of faith could come into being. No longer are those who seek redemption required to obey every element of the Law of Moses by living above sin and making animal sacrifices for human errors, as were the ancient Jews. Jesus lived a sinless life and made the supreme sacrifice for everyone who will place their absolute faith in Him.

Faith in Jesus Christ not only removes accountability for sin and pays the sacrificial debt, that faith actually JUSTIFIES our sin. That is made very clear in Romans 4:4-8: "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that JUSTIFIETH the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."~

Lesson 1633

(Lesson 1633)(03-27-16) Mark 2:18-20

"And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days."

In today's quote Jesus informed the Pharisees that so long as He was among His followers they had no need to mourn (fast). Jesus knew that there would soon come a time when He would no longer be able to sit with His people.

Today is the day most "Christian" people have chosen to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sadly, this most blessed day has been tarnished by those who would have us make it into just another day devoted to commercialism. Therefore, it behooves all of us who worship Him to get on our knees today and offer thanks to God for sending His only begotten Son so that we all have a means of eternal salvation. Had Jesus risen from the grave those many years ago, leaving the sins of the world in the grave, we would have no other means of salvation other than to live perfectly in the eyes of God. I am most thankful that those blessed words were spoken, "He is risen".~

Lesson 1632

(Lesson 1632)(03-26-16) Mark 2:13-And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Today's quote relates that Jesus dined with Levi, a publican (tax collector). The scribes and Pharisees frowned upon eating with publicans because they considered them to be "unclean" and Jews were to refrain from consorting with the unclean.

When the Pharisees challenged Jesus, He replied, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

If any man/woman could live without sin, he/she would have no need of the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ, however, we "all have sinned" and therefore we all stand in need of the great "physician" that is our Lord Jesus Christ. ~

Lesson 1631

(Lesson 1631)(03-25-16) Mark 2:1-12

"And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion."

Today's quote tells of Jesus' return to Capernaum where He continued to amaze the people as He preached the word of God and healed those who had faith in Him.

Lesson 1630

(Lesson 1630)(03-24-16) 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 lesson relates how Jesus continued throughout the region performing miracles of healing.

It is important to note that in the latter part of the lesson, Jesus told a leper, whom He had healed, to tell no one about what had happened, but rather to go straight and show the priests what Jesus had done. Jesus also told the leper to make those sacrifices for healing that were required under the Law of Moses. The point of the gesture was to make sure that the man appeared to the priests as having stayed in compliance with the requirements of the Law, seeing that it would remain in full effect until Jesus had completed His soul saving mission, and had returned to be with the Father.

It behooves us all to remember that the gospel of Jesus Christ, salvation by grace through faith, could not be fully accomplished until Jesus had wholly established that gospel by subjecting Himself to a physical death, burial, resurrection and ascension.~