LEAVE A MARK - A Carrot, an Egg, a Coffee Bean!

How do you handle disappointment and adversity in your life?  

Peter decided to quit the ministry and return to fishing (John 21:3).  But Jesus, after His resurrection, sent a special message to Peter to meet Him in Galilee. (Mark 16:7)  That meeting re-challenged Peter and the other disciples to finish strong and not give in to adversity and set backs.  

What about you?  

Where is it that you have settled and not continued the quest that you began? I am reminded of a story about a young lady who came to her mother complaining about all the adversity she was facing.  She confided that she was ready to give up, it was too hard to continue.  Her mother asked her to sit down.  Then her mom filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted the flavor and smelled its rich aroma. The daughter then asked. "What’s the point, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--boiling water--but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I? 

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? 

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?

How do you handle Adversity? 

ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?

LEAVE A MARK - Resurrection Reality

Jesus' resurrection is a validation of the truth of Christianity.  Mark reminds us of this truth,  But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. Mark 16:6  

Anyone who wants to deny the actual resurrection of Jesus two thousand years ago has to deny too much. According to Knofel Staton they would have to deny:

• the fact that no one in the 1st century denied the historical resurrection of Jesus
  
• the crowds that saw Jesus, talked with Him, ate with Him, and touched Him after He arose
  
• the beginning of the Church, rather than the ending of a movement
  
• the change in the lives of the apostles from being terrified to being courageous
  
• the fact that the soldiers were paid a large sum of money in order to make up a lie conerning the disappearance of Jesus' body
  
• the fact that 50 days later in Jerusalem, which was crowded with many people who had been there for the crucifixion and many of whom evidently saw the resurrection, did not, less than 2 months later, deny the resurrection when Peter preached that tremendous sermon affirming it
  
• the fact that years later when Paul spoke to Felix and Festus about the resurrection, they did not deny its reality

Historical reality affirms that Jesus arose from the grave.  And the testimony of witnesses affirms that He ascended into Heaven.  He prophesied He would - and He did!

LEAVE A MARK - Pray

What do you do when you find resistance in your life and you are unsure about what's ahead?

Many people panic, others give up because it's too hard to persist, and still others begin to murmur and complain.  Jesus gives us the perfect example of what to do.  At the worst moment of His life, in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed.  "And going a little farther, He threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him." Mark 14:35 (NRSV)

Critical situations arise and you find yourself at the end of your ability, and you feel inadequate and you don't know what to do.  You know something more is needed.  But what?  A new translation of the Bible, a degree in counseling, listening to another sermon, take a study course?  No, most of all you need power from heaven.  If you want to see breakthrough in difficult - even seemingly impossible - situations, pray for courage to take another step forward.  We all need courage to face tough reality. 

Pray for courage to trust God completely through the pain and for the eventual victory ahead.  At His worst moment in life, Jesus prayed. 

Now He is your advocate in heaven - and He knows the courage you need - Pray!

LEAVE A MARK - Persistence

After the supper given in His honor, Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-50  ).  Gethsemane means "oil press".  Gethsemane was an Olive Grove. Olive oil was a very precious commodity. Ancient peoples would use oil presses to crush the olives. The olives would be placed in large round stone basins, and then they’d be “crushed” by another large round stone that was rotated around the basin by oxen or other domesticated animals. Gethsemane represents a place of intense conflict and pressure.

Imagine the pressing that Jesus was feeling:

• The Pressing of Broken Promises  – All of His disciples left Him and fled. Remember that these are the same men who just hours before had been fighting among themselves over which one would be sitting at His right hand. Men who had declared wholehearted allegiance and undying loyalty. Peter went so far as to say – “even though all may fall away, yet I will not.” Then they left the lighted upper room where they shared the Passover – and entered the "pressing". When we are under pressure, what is in us comes out.  The truth is that the world is full of broken promises. Our faithfulness waxes and wanes. 

• The Pressing of a Broken Heart –  He began to pray very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood.  Here in Gethsemane’s shadows the dark reality of the cross finally took shape.  He weeps because He knows that soon He will be enveloped in the shadows of the cross. He doesn’t weep for fear of the pain but His heart broken for a broken creation – Jesus will willingly lay down His life and take it up again. 

Regardless of the pressing trying to crush Him, Jesus clearly announces that He wants to yield to God's will not His personal feelings but will remain persistent. 

In a sense we all go through a garden type place of pressing.  Every day we have to make the decision to deny self, take up our cross, and follow Jesus.  Every day we have to decide whether or not our commitments will withstand the pressing times and difficulties.  It seems that people all around us are not standing up to the pressure, but quitting, or giving up.

But let us make a decision to LEAVE A MARK OF PERSISTENCE!

LEAVE A MARK - Extravagant not Shabby!

Mark tells the story of the open-house reception to honor Jesus in Mark 14:3-9.  The house was filled with people who had been changed by the power of Jesus.  John gives us more information about the event, we learn Simon the former leper, Lazarus the former dead men, the disciples, Martha and Mary, and many other people were all in attendance. 

It was a supper to honor Jesus.  While all the participants were focused on the meal and the people around them, Mary brought a jar filled with perfume.  The value was worth three hundred day's pay-  that's a year's salary.  The jar probably represented her life's savings - equal to an entire retirement account for today.  Then she did the extravagant.  She broke the jar and poured all the contents on Jesus.  She gave all she had. 

Although she was criticized for what she did, Jesus must have smiled and thought, "What an Extravagant Act of Worship".  He commended her, "She has done what she could" Mark 14:8)

I have heard people criticize the church when something extravagant is done in honoring Jesus. Why is it that people can justify nice things for their own house, but want God's House to be put on display with what looks like leftovers, afterthoughts, hand-me-downs, and second-hand stuff?  It's one thing to be good stewards and another thing to be stingy and critical.  Why is it that people can expect excellence and nice for themselves, but put up with mediocrity and shabbiness in the church.

Extravagant love and extravagant  excellence in the presentation of God's church does not have to be excessive and over-the-top, but it should honor the splendor and awesomeness of the one who has set us free and changed our life. 

LEAVE A MARK -

In His private teaching to the disciples on Mt. Olive, Jesus breaks the news that He will be coming back using a patchwork of quotations and images from the Old Testament.  (Mark 13:1-37)  He warns them of the upcoming events, that we see in the fulfillment of today.  He said there will be religious deception, social and political upheaval, natural calamities, disloyalty, and persecution prior to His Second Coming.

The truth of His Second Coming has suffered from people that are obsessed with speculation of the "time" of the event and others who ignore the promise.

The first way to prepare for His Coming is not to engage in the pointless setting of dates for His return.  The truth is no one knows that day or hour (verse 32). The second way to prepare is be ready at all times for His Coming. 

Notice these verses of warning:

• "Take heed" (verse 5,33)
• "Watch out" (verses 9,23,33,35)
• "Watch" (verse 37)

Jesus wants His followers to stay alert, keep their eyes open and stay focused.  There are over 250 clear references to the Second Coming of Christ in the New Testament.

We are to be ready for Jesus' unpredictable return all the time.  There are signs to watch for, but not to become so preoccupied with them that we cease to live. The teaching of the new Testament concerning the return of Christ is not given to encourage speulation, or to excite our imagination, but to challenge the way we live here and now. 

Augustine said this, 
"He who loves the coming of the Lord is not he who affirms it is far off, 
nor is it he who says it is near;
but rather he who, whether it be far off or near, 
awaits it with sincere faith, steadfast hope and fervent love."



 

LEAVE A MARK - Bad Choice or Bad Choices?

Whether spoken or unspoken, people wrestle with the question.  Why did Jesus chose someone whom He knew would betray him?  Was it a bad choice or someone who made bad choices?  I am certainly not professing to know how to describe or make sense of the juxtaposition of God's Divine Purpose and free will of man. There must have been a major battle in Judas' mind. 

He was Judas Iscariot, meaning 'Man of Kerioth' which made Judas the only non-Galilean among the Twelve.  Perhaps he always felt like the one who really didn't fit in.  John tells us that Judas, the ministry treasurer, made bad choices and stole money from the ministry.  (John 12:1-8)  In the end he made the evil choice to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.  So, we ask, was the love of money his downfall?

One suggestion has been that Judas grew impatient and wanted to force Jesus' hand.  In other words back Jesus into a corner so that He would have to prove that He was the Messiah.  However, this opinion is hard to prove and is merely grasping at straws to explain something we really don't know.  To believe this, one would see Judas as misguided and not understanding Jesus.

I don't think we can diminish the sincerity of Jesus choosing Judas to follow Him. I think He viewed Judas as a potential disciple alongside the others.  Any other interpretation would misinterpret the character of Jesus or overlook the repeated appeals He gave to Judas.  He purposely protected Judas when the disciples wanted to know who was the guilty betrayer.  Judas heard the same teachings and saw the same miracles as the others, but slowly he became disappointed or disillusioned.  He lost focus of his role and became a pawn in the devil's hand.

Judas' story serves as a reminder to all of us who are Christ Followers that it is possible to know all about Him, be full of information, but not "know" Him.  Judas shared Jesus' company but not His spirit.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you from this story?  

LEAVE A MARK - Extravagant!

It probably would have made many church people a bit uncomfortable.  It certainly would have fanned the flames of those who say, "church only talks about money".  It would have made it to facebook - "preacher watches and counts how much people give."  The event is recorded in Mark 12:41-44:

"Sitting across from the offering box, He was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions.  One poor widow came up and put in two small coins - a measly two cents. Jesus called His disciples over and said, "The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together.  All the others gave what they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford - she gave her all." 

She dropped in the two smallest coins available, but Jesus said "she gave extravagantly" - wow, what a compliment from Jesus.  

There were other givers who gave a greater amount of money, but she gave all she had.  They could not let go of what they possessed.  It is one thing to possess wealth but quite another to be possessed by wealth.   

Who is the extravagant giver - the one who has a lot, but is stingy or the one who has little, but is generous?  

Who is the extravagant giver - the one has to be constantly coaxed to give, or the one who gives voluntarily? 

Who is the extravagant giver - the one who will give up pleasures for the work of God or the one who will not contribute to the work of God if it costs him pleasures? 

The ones who "hold on" to what they have feel they are the owners of the wealth, but the extravagant givers know that God is the owner of everything they have.

Sometimes the work of God's Kingdom is hindered by those who don't have the heart of this widow.  They feel that things in the world should be nice, but things in the church should be "just get by", and they oppose those who feel that God's business deserves to have first-class equipment, facilities, and provisions.

The choice is yours:
Be rich in things and extravagant in self-indulgence or be extravagant in giving and rich in all things!!

LEAVE A MARK - Blind but Seeing

Ever feel like you are in a crowd, with needs and nobody seems to see you, nobody cares, nobody wants to stop their "hurry"? We live a fast paced, get things accomplished world where everyone has to be some place quick.  We can get so focused on where we are going that we miss where we really need to be.

Mark gives us an example of this in Mark 10:46-52.  A great crowd is moving through Jericho in a hurry to keep up with Jesus.  Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to lay down His life for the redemption of mankind.  But Jesus needed to be in Jericho for one man with a pressing need.  The crowd is preoccupied with being with Jesus but there is a blind man by the name of Bartimaeus sitting beside the road begging.  The man was blind, but he was able to see.

HE WAS BLIND BUT ABLE TO SEE THAT HE HAD A NEED
He was a poor blind beggar.  He was constantly dependent on others to tell him what they were seeing and give him direction. He had to beg for food and money, he had no way to improve himself.  He was an outsider, not a part of the "in crowd".  He was not a member of their crowd.  He was one of those guys that people would pass by and shake their heads at and thank God they were not like that person.  No doubt Bart had heard many stories of this miracle worker and realized this could be a red-letter day for him.  He doesn't pretend not to be blind or in need.  He was tired of not seeing, of not working, tired of only begging - he wanted his life to change and knew that Jesus was passing by.

HE WAS BLIND BUT ABLE TO SEE THAT JESUS COULD MEET HIS NEED
No doubt he heard the great multitude and asked someone what was going on.  "It is Jesus passing through our city," someone replied. The crowd said it was "Jesus of Nazareth" (Luke 18:37) but Bart cried out, "Jesus, Son of David". The term "Son of David" was a Messianic term, is it possible he could see clearer with his heart than the crowd could see with their eyes.  The crowd tried to silence him, after all they didn't want someone like him to embarrass or take up Jesus' time. But Bart cried out even louder, he was persistent, and the Bible says "Jesus stood still." The cry of faith stopped Jesus in His tracks.  There was a great multitude in that crowd - perhaps three or four thousand people, but Jesus stopped for one man and gave him his sight. 

HE WAS BLIND BUT ABLE TO SEE THAT JESUS WOULD NEVER PASS HIS WAY AGAIN
What if Bart had let the crowd silence him?  What if he had said to himself, next time Jesus comes by I will be healed?  What if he thought, "I will work at getting worthy to be healed"?  The problem is Jesus would never pass through Jericho again. He was on His way to the cross.  Had Bart waited, he would have forever missed his opportunity for healing. 

What about you?  Are you willing to admit your need? Do you really believe Jesus can do something big in your life? Are you willing to risk all and be persistent?  Then maybe you will join Bart and change from sitting, begging, and crying to seeing, following, and glorifying God!!

LEAVE A MARK - Greatness Jesus Style

How do you view greatness?

The disciples had a tough time understanding Greatness - Jesus Style.  They continually thought in terms of a powerful theocracy with Israel being victorious over all nations and Jesus being the Messianic King of all the earthly domain.

The other question they struggled with was who of them would be given the most authority and recognition in the new Kingdom.  Jesus tried to help them understand over and over that He would be Messiah most on the cross and that His victory would be over death and the spiritual powers of darkness. The Kingdom that Jesus would establish would be in their hearts, in their midst and through them in all of their life.

Jesus leads the men toward Jerusalem, which will be His death.  Jesus draws near His ordeal but the disciples do not draw nearer to understanding His Mission.

Mark gives us a picture in the Gospel of Mark 9:30-35 Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to know He was there, for He wanted to spend more time with His disciples and teach them.  He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of His enemies. He will be killed, but three days later He will rise from the dead.” They didn’t understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask Him what He meant.  After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked His disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to Him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” 

Jesus' destiny was set and it would cost a great price.  Jesus does not discourage their ambitions for greatness, to make a significant mark on life, to be all they could be.  There is nothing godly about passionless contentment.  Jesus is attempting to bring clarity to their understanding of greatness - GREATNESS IS NOT POWER OR PRESTIGE, BUT SERVICE AND SELF GIVING LOVE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

GREATNESS IS OURS IF WE FOLLOW THE SON OF MAN WHO DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY.

LEAVE A MARK - Pray

What was the secret to the miracles of Jesus? How was He so impactful and life changing? How could He accomplish so much? In His Gospel, Mark reveals the secret.  It was prayer.  Throughout the Gospel, Jesus is going to or coming from prayer.

"And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray." Mark 6:46

After a tremendously filled day, Jesus had to get away.  So He sent His disciples away in a boat and He went up  the mountain to pray.  Jesus didn't just pray when He had time to pray, He made time to pray.

We must intentionally set time aside for prayer. 

Praying regularly:

• admits our dependency upon God.

• permits us to be honest with God by sharing our deepest feelings. 

• feeds the inner self

• causes us to be sensitive to God's will for our life.

• causes us to check our motives and goals.

• causes us to be sensitive to needs of others.

• puts us in to more of an awareness of the presence of God.

• draws us closer to God.

• empowers us for daily living.

Jesus went up the mountain to pray and He invites us to join Him.

LEAVE A MARK - Truths From the Fish and Loaves

We have been examining the story about the feeding of the 5,000 in Mark 6 .  This is the only miracle that is recorded in all four Gospels. 

There are some important truths to be observed:

1.  Jesus was willing to be inconvenienced by the needs of people at the very time that He really needed some relaxing time.

2.  When people came demanding more from Him, when He was already tired, when the day had already been long, and when He was grieving inside, He had compassion.

3.  Jesus was willing to feed both souls and stomachs. We have no right to claim that only one of those functions should be the interest of the church. As a church, our responsibility is to spiritually and physically care for people in need.

4.  Jesus thinks BIGGER than excuses, and so should we! God is creative and so are we because we are made in His image.  

5.  God honors whatever amount we bring to Him. And He can multiply it.  If we give Him what's in our hands, He can use it to meet the needs of others. 

6.  While the five loaves and two fish seem like little, from the standpoint of that boy who brought them, it was much.  It was all that boy had.  God sizes up how much we have left over, not just how little we bring. 

7.  Somehow, we must quit using the classic excuses of inconvenience and cost.  These two will always prevent God's work from progressing the way God wants it to. 

WHICH ONE OF THESE TRUTHS WILL YOU "PRAY INTO" YOUR LIFE TODAY?

Leave a Mark - Feed Them

Mark records a challenge that Jesus gave to His disciples - to feed the people who came a long distance to be with Jesus.  There were 5,000 men plus women and children (probably 15-20,000). (Mark 6:37) The disciples quickly calculated the cost and were convinced there was no way they could feed the massive crowd, the cost for the bread alone would be 200 denarii.  That's a lot!

The cost was not the only factor in the disciples processing of the request.  They knew that if they were to buy the bread for this crowd that they themselves would have to go the nearest marketplace, purchase the food, transport it back, and then feed the crowd. 

How many times do these two issues raise their head in the work of the Kingdom of God? Inconvenience and cost are the reason for not doing certain things in the Church.  Some are so quick to say "I can't volunteer to serve, that will take my time"  What is really being said is "I don't want to be inconvenienced" Or "how can I tithe? I have so many bills". 

But Jesus wants us to discover a truth from this story.  This is the only miracle that Jesus did that is recorded in all four Gospels.  Surely there is something we need to learn from this miracle.

The disciples had sized up the crowd and the lack of provisions.  Jesus thinks bigger than our excuses.  They were overlooking the Master of Provision that was in their midst.  While the disciples were looking at what they didn't have Jesus asked, what do we have?  They said we have 5 loves and 2 fish. 

Remember, Jesus is in the multiplying business!  He is looking for people who will offer what they do have in their hand.  When we place what we have in His hands, miracles can occur.  Instead of not having enough, they had left overs from this miracle.  Could it be that God is wanting to do a miracle so big in your life that it will meet the needs of others and give you a surplus?


What is the Holy Spirit saying to you from this story? 

Maybe He is reminding you that God honors whatever you place in His hands. 

Inconvenience and lack of giving may be the reason you have not experienced your miracle. 

Leave a Mark - Get Away

They happen!  I'm talking about those super tough days when you have received bad news and you are already exhausted and you want to say nothing, do nothing, think nothing and you just want to get away from it all.

Mark records in his gospel a time when Jesus had a day like that.  He just received devastating, shocking, heart breaking news of the execution of his special friend, John the Baptist.  But Jesus didn't give up or throw in the towel out of fear that He would be the next one killed, there was more life to live, needs to meet and a God to serve.

So what did Jesus do?  He told His disciples, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.  Mark 6:31-32

We can get so pressed with helping others that we can hardly take a relaxing moment.  Even though it is difficult to find a place to withdraw, it is essential.  Mark records a phrase that is important for us to hear, "by themselves". 

Before Jesus and the disciples got to that place, the crowds had gone ahead of them and were waiting for them.  So what was intended to be a time of R&R ended up time when people were bringing their needs to Jesus. They were totally indifferent to the grieving time for Jesus and His disciples, they were trying to position themselves to get from Jesus.

Mark is the only gospel writer who tells us how Jesus saw them on that day.  He didn't see them as uncaring but as "sheep without a shepherd"and He was their shepherd (Mark 6:34). He was willing to be discomforted for the comfort of others.

Those people who crowded Jesus at an inconvenient time needed something for their hearts and, eventually, something for their stomachs.  So Jesus taught them and then decided to feed them.

Mark paints the picture of the ultimate One who came to serve and give His life.

How are you living beyond the comfort zone?

Leave a Mark - Mountains and Valleys

In the Vatican Gallery hangs Raphael’s last painting, which some think to be his greatest.  It is entitled, The Transfiguration.  The uppermost part pictures the transfigured form of Jesus, with Moses on the left and Elijah on his right.  On the next level down are the three disciples, Peter, James, and John, recently awakened and shielding their eyes from Jesus’ blinding brilliance.  Then, on the ground level is a poor demon-possessed boy, his mouth hideously gaping with wild ravings.  At his side is his desperate father.  Surrounding them is the rest of the disciples, some of whom are pointing upward.  Raphael has brilliantly captured something of the overwhelming contrast between the glorious Mount of Transfiguration and the troubled world waiting below.  

That is the picture of the story from Mark 9:14-29.  Jesus, Peter, James, and John have just had an awesome divine encounter of the heavenly kind on top of the mountain.  In fact, it was so amazing that Peter wanted to build tabernacles there and stay and not come down from the mountaintop. 

But the Christian life is not just “spiritual mountain tops” of divine encounters but also valleys where people in dire need are awaiting a miracle.  Helplessly the father has watched his young son being tormented by evil spirit and his only hope was to bring the struggling son to Jesus’ disciples.  The disciples could not heal the boy but the father didn’t leave and go home, he waited for Jesus to come.

In this story Jesus told the father that “his faith” was the ingredient for healing. (Mk. 9:23) The issue was not Jesus’ ability but the man’s willingness to believe.  The man feels the struggle between faith and doubt and cries out to Jesus, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" 

That simple prayer of honesty touched the heart of Jesus and He healed the boy.

Maybe we need to pray a prayer like the father, “Jesus we believe, but forgive our lack of faith and daring.  Liberate us to believe for things that impossible for us but possible with Jesus. 

Leave A Mark - Master Over Death

Mark paints the picture for his readers that Jesus is the Master.  He is the Master over disorder (4:35-41), Master over demons (5:1-20), Master over disease (5:21-34), and now Master over death (5:35-43).

It was not easy for Jairus, the ruler of the Synagogue, to come to Jesus publicly and ask for help.  The other Jewish religious leaders would not approve of his decision.  But he was desperate, as was the other people previously discussed by Mark. The disciples in the storm had done all they could and were desperate when they awakened Jesus. The Tombstone Terrorist had consigned himself to the graveyard and shackles and was desperate when he threw himself at the feet of Jesus.  Desperation drove the woman with the blood disease to do whatever she had to do to touch Jesus.  And now Jairus, risking his reputation and career, falls at the feet of Jesus begging Him to heal his daughter.  He would rather lose his friends and career than lose his daughter.

Jesus encourages Jairus with 3 statements:

1. When the report came that his daughter had already died, Jesus assured him "Be not afraid, go on believing".  In other words, the faith that caused you to come to me is the same faith that will see you to victory.  Don't quit!  Keep believing!
2. When they arrived at the home, they saw and heard the professional Jewish mourners, mourning the death of the little girl.  Jesus tells Jairus, she is not dead only sleeping.  In His presence anything that appears dead can be given life.  Jesus can transform a deadly storm into a great calm, a ferocious brute into a calm gentleman and a death into a calm sleep.
3. Jesus looked at the little girl, and said Talitha cumi which is Aramaic for "little girl, get up".  She not only came back to life but was also healed of her sickness.  He told them to give her something to eat.

Yes, Jesus is the Master over disorder, demons, disease, and death.  This series of miracles illustrates how Jesus met and helped all kinds of people and is able to help us today.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today?

Is there anything in your life that appears dead and needs the life giving words of Jesus?  

Leave A Mark - The Tombstone Terrorist

Mark continues to prove that Jesus is the Master of anything that we face in life.  He tells us the story of a man with inner turmoil because of demonic activity in his life (5:1-20). 

We see the influence of satan on the Tombstone Terrorist.  The man lived among the dead, lost his self control, and was running around naked, screaming, and cutting himself. Society tried everything they knew to change this man.  They isolated him, put restraints on him, and used all their professional intelligence to bring freedom but it was to no avail.  It looked as if he would spend the rest of his miserable, tormented life among the tombs.

But Jesus came to him. 
Jesus instructed His disciple "let's go to the other side" (4:35).  Jesus and His disciples had to go through a storm to get to this man.  Jesus showed up on purpose to bring freedom to the man that no one could help. 

Jesus spoke to him.
While others ran from this man, Jesus comes to seek him out and speak to him.  Jesus never sees an impossible situation.

Jesus set the man free. 
The man was drawn to Jesus. He ran out of the tombs toward Jesus and then fell at the feet of Jesus.  Imagine the frightful scene of a bloody, naked wild man running toward Jesus. We wonder, were the disciples trying to quickly get on the boat to sail back to the other side?  Unafraid, Jesus stands His ground and displays that He has power over any demonic strength. 

Jesus gave him purpose and a destiny. 
The former Tombstone Terrorist begs to go with Jesus. But Jesus sends him on a mission with purpose.  But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been.” So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them. Mark 5:19-20  Jesus didn't send the man to seminary, give him a book to study, or a course to complete.  He said, go tell what has happened to you and start with those closest to you.

If you find yourself tormented by habits, attitudes, long standing hostility or demonic influence come to Jesus, let Him set you free and give you a life purpose. 

Leave A Mark - Master Over Disease

Anyone who would suggest that Mark is an undisciplined writer of a string of unrelated events fails to understand the precision and the pattern of his writing.  He has shown that Jesus is the Master over the worst of physical nature(4:35-41) and psychological demons (5:1-20), Mark then  focuses on Jesus' power to heal incurable disease (5:21-34).

Jairus, the ruler of the Synagogue, comes to Jesus on behalf of his 12 year old daughter is ill.  As Jesus journeys to Jairus' home a great crowd of people began to follow. In the crowd is a desperate woman with an incurable blood disease.  She has suffered with the disease for 12 years.  As long as Jairus' daughter has lived, this poor woman has battled the disease.  Drawing upon her last ounce of strength she pushes through the crowd to touch Jesus robe.  When she touches Him she is healed and Jesus stops as asks who touched Him.  One touch of need stopped Jesus in His tracks.   Mark wants us to see the sensitivity of Jesus who can sense the difference between an anxious tug of faith and the casual bumps of the crowd.  Jesus declares to her that her faith made her well.

The woman's faith became a lever that engaged with the power of Jesus.   Jesus didn't have to call her name or even be looking in her direction, the healing power was drawn from Jesus by her faith.  It was the grasp of her faith not the touch of her hand that secured healing.  Augustine said, "Flesh presses, faith touches."

This woman represents many of us.  We are ill.  We have spent our resources trying remedies which do not work.  Christ comes to us from the cross.  We need to touch him by faith.  Do not fear that He ill not respond.  Do not fear that you are unworthy.  Fear only one thing - that you let Him pass without reaching out and touching Him by faith.

This passage reminds us that our healing i only given freely to us because of the price that Jesus paid.  Isiah's prophecy in Isaiah 53:5 "But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed", comes true in Jesus' gift to the woman and in the price for her healing.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today? 

Leave A Mark - Trust Jesus in Your Storm

Jesus can be trusted in the storms of your life - that is what Mark is saying to us when he writes about the storm in the sea of Galilee (4:35-41).  The sea of Galilee rests 628 feet below sea level, surrounded by mountains with deep ravines.  These ravines serve as gigantic funnels sending whirling winds down onto the lake without notice.

Jesus instructed His disciples to cross the lake and He laid down and took a nap.  Suddenly out of nowhere, a storm threatened to sink the boat they were sailing in. The disciples were full of fear.  They frantically woke Jesus and accused Him of not caring they were about to sink.  Jesus rebukes the wind and speaks to the waves and a great calm came to all.  Jesus rebukes the disciples for their hysteria and encouraged them to use their faith when they are caught in storms.  Faith, not in themselves, but faith that Jesus' presence brings peace in the midst of the storm.

I heard a story about a train traveling through the night in a very violent rainstorm. The lightning flashes were almost blinding, the rain hitting the windows was deafening and the strong gusts of  wind rocked the train from side to side. When the lightening flashed and lighted up the darkness, the passengers could see the rising water along the tracks. This created terror in the minds of the passengers. Several passengers noted that through all the noise, lightening and wind, one of the passengers, a little girl, seemed to be at perfect peace. The adult passengers couldn’t figure out why the little girl was so calm during all this excitement. Finally, one passenger asked her, “How is that you can be so calm when all the rest of us are so worried about what might or could happen?” The little passenger smiled and said, “My father is the engineer.”

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today about the storms in your life?  

Leave A Mark - From Words to Works

In Mark 4:35-5:43 we discover the Power of Jesus to Overcome.

The focus moves from the Words of Jesus to the Works of Jesus.  It is often said that seeing is believing but Jesus changes the order.  We read in Mark 11:23-24, I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.  Jesus tells us we must first believe and then we will receive (see) the miracle.

There are 425 verses in Mark - 200 of them are devoted to the miracles of Jesus, that is 40%.

In this passage of scripture we see how 4 miracles are arranged to show that Christ is the Master of every situation.  In each of these scenarios the people are driven by desperation.  There is a constant conflict between faith and fear.  But Mark wants us to realize that Jesus is willing and able to perform miracles in our life.

This week we will dig into each of these stories to learn truths that we can apply to our life.

The 4 Miracles to Demonstrate the Power of the Master:

• Jesus is the Master over disorder (4:35-41)

• Jesus is the Master over demons (5:1-20)

• Jesus is the Master over disease (5:21-34)

• Jesus is the Master over death (5:35-43)

Take time today to read each of these miracles and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you from the stories and write your response in your journal.