October 18 2006 - Day 17
Mark 8:34-9:1
Passage: After Jesus foretells his death and resurrection He begins to explain the type of following that He requires. Jesus was heading to the cross, a gruesome, shameful, and painful place of execution. Jesus tells the disciples and the crowds that if they want to follow Him they have to take up their own crosses also. They must be willing to give up their lives in order to follow Him. He says it is foolish to hold on to the things of this world in place of following Him. He says that if they are ashamed of Him and the path that He is headed on to the cross then He will be ashamed of them on Judgment Day.
Application: Jesus does not call me to light-hearted, half-committed devotion. That is a contradiction in terms. Jesus calls me to nothing other than radical devotion. Almost all of the disciples would later face great persecution or execution for following Jesus and preaching His gospel. Jesus does not promise me “cheap grace.” I must count the cost of being His disciple. I am often confronted with fear as I feel led to share the gospel with someone. Oh how shameful it is to say that I often give in to this fear. I thank God for His mercy, the same mercy He had on Peter after he denied Jesus three times. I pray that God would make me a bold, courageous proclaimer of the gospel. I want to lose my life for Jesus and the gospel so that I might gain life!
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Journal Day 16
October 17 2006 - Day 16
Mark 8:31-33
Passage: In this passage we find Jesus revealing more about Himself and His purpose on earth. He tells the disciples that He will have to suffer many things from the Jewish elders and rulers, even death itself. The passage says, “he said this plainly.” Just like his usual self, Peter crosses a boundary he shouldn’t have. He tells Jesus to stop talking so crazy. “This cannot be if you are the Christ!” he must have said. But Jesus with much force rebukes Peter saying, “Get behind me Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Application: Surely when Jesus called Peter “Satan,” he did not mean that Peter was literally Satan. So what did He mean? Jesus meant that Peter was like Satan because he was thinking like Satan. Jesus quickly tells Peter what he did wrong. He was thinking about worldly things and not godly things. Peter had different plans for Jesus than Jesus did. I think the greatest thing I can take from this passage is the fact that God considers my thoughts as part of who I am and will hold me accountable for all my thoughts. He doesn’t just judge my actions but also my thoughts. Too often my thoughts are on this world and not on God. I pray that God will daily keep my thoughts from venturing into lust, covetousness, greed, and hate. In turn I pray that God would set my mind on the God Himself, the Bible, prayer, and love for people. I thank God that Jesus did come to die and rise from the dead so that all the wrath that I deserve for my wicked thoughts could be forgiven. Oh the peace!
Mark 8:31-33
Passage: In this passage we find Jesus revealing more about Himself and His purpose on earth. He tells the disciples that He will have to suffer many things from the Jewish elders and rulers, even death itself. The passage says, “he said this plainly.” Just like his usual self, Peter crosses a boundary he shouldn’t have. He tells Jesus to stop talking so crazy. “This cannot be if you are the Christ!” he must have said. But Jesus with much force rebukes Peter saying, “Get behind me Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Application: Surely when Jesus called Peter “Satan,” he did not mean that Peter was literally Satan. So what did He mean? Jesus meant that Peter was like Satan because he was thinking like Satan. Jesus quickly tells Peter what he did wrong. He was thinking about worldly things and not godly things. Peter had different plans for Jesus than Jesus did. I think the greatest thing I can take from this passage is the fact that God considers my thoughts as part of who I am and will hold me accountable for all my thoughts. He doesn’t just judge my actions but also my thoughts. Too often my thoughts are on this world and not on God. I pray that God will daily keep my thoughts from venturing into lust, covetousness, greed, and hate. In turn I pray that God would set my mind on the God Himself, the Bible, prayer, and love for people. I thank God that Jesus did come to die and rise from the dead so that all the wrath that I deserve for my wicked thoughts could be forgiven. Oh the peace!
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Journal Day 15
October 16 2006 - Day 15
Mark 8:22-30
Passage: After performing many miracles Jesus finally asks the disciples “who do people say that I am?” They list several popular opinions. Then Jesus gets to the point with them. “Who do you say that I am?” Peter finally understands and says, “You are the Christ.”
Application: I need to ask myself this question more often. Andrew, who do you say Jesus is? This is the greatest question I could ever ask myself. All of eternity hangs on this question. If Jesus is not the Christ then the eternal wrath of God looms over my head. If Jesus was just a great teacher then all of hell’s terror awaits my eternal company. If Jesus is not the Christ then I must bear my own punishment, my own horrific cross of judgment. Oh Jesus, thank you for revealing yourself to me as the Christ! You took my place on the cross. Thank you! You are the Christ!
Mark 8:22-30
Passage: After performing many miracles Jesus finally asks the disciples “who do people say that I am?” They list several popular opinions. Then Jesus gets to the point with them. “Who do you say that I am?” Peter finally understands and says, “You are the Christ.”
Application: I need to ask myself this question more often. Andrew, who do you say Jesus is? This is the greatest question I could ever ask myself. All of eternity hangs on this question. If Jesus is not the Christ then the eternal wrath of God looms over my head. If Jesus was just a great teacher then all of hell’s terror awaits my eternal company. If Jesus is not the Christ then I must bear my own punishment, my own horrific cross of judgment. Oh Jesus, thank you for revealing yourself to me as the Christ! You took my place on the cross. Thank you! You are the Christ!
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Journal Day 14
October 15 2006 - Day 14
Mark 8:14-21
Passage: Today’s passage is yet another display of the immaturity and questionable faith of the disciples. Jesus and the disciples are traveling in a boat. While in the boat, Jesus seeks to teach and warn the disciples about the danger of the Pharisees. Jesus likens the unbelief and the hypocritical practices of the Pharisees to leaven. Leaven is put inside bread and it causes it to rise and expand. It drastically changes the bread. It transforms the bread. Jesus wants the disciples to be careful not to fall into the same trap the Pharisees are in. However, the disciples do not get it. It seems that all the talk about leaven makes them think about their stomachs. They realize that they only brought one loaf of bread with them in the boat. They discuss between themselves what they are going to do. Jesus is astounded that they have so quickly forgotten the miracles He had already performed. With very few loaves He miraculously fed thousands until they were full, with baskets left over. The disciples were forgetful and therefore faithless.
Application: I find in myself this same tendency that the disciples had. I think I often miss the main point. I wonder how many times I have been struggling with something in my life and not realized that Jesus is trying to teach me a great lesson in truth. This is a lack of maturity and faith. I don’t want to get caught up in the worries of this world and miss out on the blessings of God. The Bible is the revelation of God. In it I find the truths that God wants me to know. I must be diligent to read and study it so that I can then apply it to my life. O God, help me to beware and watch out for the leaven of this world. Help me not be distracted from you and the lessons you are trying to teach me.
Mark 8:14-21
Passage: Today’s passage is yet another display of the immaturity and questionable faith of the disciples. Jesus and the disciples are traveling in a boat. While in the boat, Jesus seeks to teach and warn the disciples about the danger of the Pharisees. Jesus likens the unbelief and the hypocritical practices of the Pharisees to leaven. Leaven is put inside bread and it causes it to rise and expand. It drastically changes the bread. It transforms the bread. Jesus wants the disciples to be careful not to fall into the same trap the Pharisees are in. However, the disciples do not get it. It seems that all the talk about leaven makes them think about their stomachs. They realize that they only brought one loaf of bread with them in the boat. They discuss between themselves what they are going to do. Jesus is astounded that they have so quickly forgotten the miracles He had already performed. With very few loaves He miraculously fed thousands until they were full, with baskets left over. The disciples were forgetful and therefore faithless.
Application: I find in myself this same tendency that the disciples had. I think I often miss the main point. I wonder how many times I have been struggling with something in my life and not realized that Jesus is trying to teach me a great lesson in truth. This is a lack of maturity and faith. I don’t want to get caught up in the worries of this world and miss out on the blessings of God. The Bible is the revelation of God. In it I find the truths that God wants me to know. I must be diligent to read and study it so that I can then apply it to my life. O God, help me to beware and watch out for the leaven of this world. Help me not be distracted from you and the lessons you are trying to teach me.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Journal Day 13
October 14 2006 - Day 13
Mark 8:11-13
Passage: “The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.” It is simply amazing to see that the people wanted and needed another sign from Jesus to show that He was the Messiah. Jesus just fed four thousand people with only a couple rolls and a few bream fish. Before that Jesus healed a deaf man. Before that Jesus cast out a demon from a young girl. What more did they need?
Application: While it is surprising to see the Pharisees and most of the Jews disbelieve in Jesus even in the face of great miracles, I confess that I would not have believed either. In fact, I didn’t believe for nineteen years of my life. Only by the grace of God did I ever believe and have faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Savior. Only by the grace of God did I ever understand that Jesus is the the God-Man who died on the cross in my place, receiving my punishment. Only by the grace of God did I ever come to believe that Jesus rose from the dead three days later and now that He has conquered death He offers me eternal life. If Jesus is who He said He was then He demands my truest faith and my strongest devotion. Oh Jesus, thank you for your grace in my life! Help me to live in a way that honors who you are. Increase my faith day by day! Amen.
Mark 8:11-13
Passage: “The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.” It is simply amazing to see that the people wanted and needed another sign from Jesus to show that He was the Messiah. Jesus just fed four thousand people with only a couple rolls and a few bream fish. Before that Jesus healed a deaf man. Before that Jesus cast out a demon from a young girl. What more did they need?
Application: While it is surprising to see the Pharisees and most of the Jews disbelieve in Jesus even in the face of great miracles, I confess that I would not have believed either. In fact, I didn’t believe for nineteen years of my life. Only by the grace of God did I ever believe and have faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Savior. Only by the grace of God did I ever understand that Jesus is the the God-Man who died on the cross in my place, receiving my punishment. Only by the grace of God did I ever come to believe that Jesus rose from the dead three days later and now that He has conquered death He offers me eternal life. If Jesus is who He said He was then He demands my truest faith and my strongest devotion. Oh Jesus, thank you for your grace in my life! Help me to live in a way that honors who you are. Increase my faith day by day! Amen.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Journal Day 12
October 13 2006 - Day 12
Mark 7:31-8:10
Passage: Today’s passage is full of miraculous events. Jesus gives hearing and speech to a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment. He the for the second time in His ministry feeds a great crowd. This time he feeds about four thousand people. The main message of the text is that Jesus is the Messiah. I will however save that for the next two days where the message is accentuated the most. Another great observation from this passage is the compassion and care that Jesus had for His people. Jesus says in 8:2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.”
Application: Jesus was fully God and He was fully a man. In this passage we see the humanity of Jesus. Jesus knew what it meant to be hungry. Jesus knew what it meant to go without food for three days, for He had gone forty days during a fast earlier in His life. Not only did Jesus know what it felt like to be weak in hunger, but also He had compassion for the hungry people around Him. He did not like seeing the people starve and He did not want the people to die because of it. Jesus has compassion on me also. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” This high priest is Jesus. Today, Jesus has had sympathy on me. Today He has gone to God the Father on my behalf and pleaded my cause. I thank God for the sinless, compassionate humanity of Jesus the Christ.
Mark 7:31-8:10
Passage: Today’s passage is full of miraculous events. Jesus gives hearing and speech to a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment. He the for the second time in His ministry feeds a great crowd. This time he feeds about four thousand people. The main message of the text is that Jesus is the Messiah. I will however save that for the next two days where the message is accentuated the most. Another great observation from this passage is the compassion and care that Jesus had for His people. Jesus says in 8:2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.”
Application: Jesus was fully God and He was fully a man. In this passage we see the humanity of Jesus. Jesus knew what it meant to be hungry. Jesus knew what it meant to go without food for three days, for He had gone forty days during a fast earlier in His life. Not only did Jesus know what it felt like to be weak in hunger, but also He had compassion for the hungry people around Him. He did not like seeing the people starve and He did not want the people to die because of it. Jesus has compassion on me also. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” This high priest is Jesus. Today, Jesus has had sympathy on me. Today He has gone to God the Father on my behalf and pleaded my cause. I thank God for the sinless, compassionate humanity of Jesus the Christ.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Journal Day 11
October 12 2006 - Day 11
Mark 7:24-30
Passage: In this passage we find Jesus trying to escape the crowds probably for some much needed rest. He is so well known now that it is practically impossible for Him to go unnoticed. A woman from Syria who speaks Greek comes to Jesus and asks that He cast out a demon in her daughter. Jesus responds to her in what seems a rather derogatory manner by saying “shouldn’t the children be fed before the dogs.” In that day the Gentiles (non-Jew) were looked down upon and not respected by the Jews. Jesus likened the Jews to the children and the Gentiles to the dogs. She responded like this, “Yes Lord you are right, but even the dogs get to eat the crumbs that the children drop on the floor.” Jesus greatly commends her for saying this and immediately casts the demon out of the young girl even though she was no where near.
Application: The point of Jesus’ response to the woman was not to lift up the Jewish race and to degrade the Gentiles. Jesus’ point was that the Jew’s were being offered the salvation of God before anyone else. The Jew’s were the chosen people of God through whom the Messiah would come. They received the revelation of Jesus before anyone else. The terrible thing is that the Jew’s largely rejected Jesus and “threw Him to the dogs.” The Gentiles were brought into the chosen people of God. This woman was willing to honor the Jews and to humbly accept her position as a Gentile in the plan of God. I can apply this by being thankful for the Jewish heritage that belongs to every Christian. It is amazing the widespread hatred towards the Jews in today’s time and past times. There is no right place for persecution of Jews. They are close kin to the Christian. it is a shame that we as Christian’s have not been more loving and diligent to share the gospel with Jews. Jesus was a Jew and he loved his fellow Jews. I need to exemplify this same love.
Mark 7:24-30
Passage: In this passage we find Jesus trying to escape the crowds probably for some much needed rest. He is so well known now that it is practically impossible for Him to go unnoticed. A woman from Syria who speaks Greek comes to Jesus and asks that He cast out a demon in her daughter. Jesus responds to her in what seems a rather derogatory manner by saying “shouldn’t the children be fed before the dogs.” In that day the Gentiles (non-Jew) were looked down upon and not respected by the Jews. Jesus likened the Jews to the children and the Gentiles to the dogs. She responded like this, “Yes Lord you are right, but even the dogs get to eat the crumbs that the children drop on the floor.” Jesus greatly commends her for saying this and immediately casts the demon out of the young girl even though she was no where near.
Application: The point of Jesus’ response to the woman was not to lift up the Jewish race and to degrade the Gentiles. Jesus’ point was that the Jew’s were being offered the salvation of God before anyone else. The Jew’s were the chosen people of God through whom the Messiah would come. They received the revelation of Jesus before anyone else. The terrible thing is that the Jew’s largely rejected Jesus and “threw Him to the dogs.” The Gentiles were brought into the chosen people of God. This woman was willing to honor the Jews and to humbly accept her position as a Gentile in the plan of God. I can apply this by being thankful for the Jewish heritage that belongs to every Christian. It is amazing the widespread hatred towards the Jews in today’s time and past times. There is no right place for persecution of Jews. They are close kin to the Christian. it is a shame that we as Christian’s have not been more loving and diligent to share the gospel with Jews. Jesus was a Jew and he loved his fellow Jews. I need to exemplify this same love.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Journal Day 10
October 11 2006 - Day 10
Mark 7:14-23
Passage: Mark, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us more of Jesus’ teaching on the faults of the Pharisees. Jesus wants to get to the root of the problem. The Pharisees believe they have to wash their hands before they eat or else they will defile themselves before God. Jesus says they have it completely wrong. He says it is not what goes in the person that defiles them but what comes out. When Jesus said “what comes out” he was not referring to bodily excrement but rather “evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.”
Application: Reading this list of what defiles a person makes me thankful for the mercy of Jesus because I am guilty of every one of them. Not a day goes by that I do not stumble over one of these sins. What also greatly disturbs me the complete and widespread acceptance of these things in the Church. Where do I see this happening? The TV! I know countless numbers of Christian people who will sit on the couch and be endlessly entertained by these very things! In fact, the only thing that makes for “good TV” are these very sins. Honestly, people would not watch TV if these sins were not the central focus. It is a sin to enjoy such things. But wait? Am I being like the Pharisees? Since TV is simply entering my brain through my eyes and ears it really isn’t defiling me right? I’ve heard this argument before. “It’s okay to watch whatever on TV because what enters a person doesn’t defile a person.” They’re right on one point. The simple occurrence of the sight of something is not a sin, but it is rather the response that is the sin. To be entertained by and to enjoy watching a murder movie, to enjoy shows about gay men and women, to enjoy reality shows where men sexually “test out” women so that he can pick his bride, to enjoy a soap opera where divorce and adultery are the central themes is evil! These Christians say they would never do these things in real life. so why do they bring you happiness and entertainment? Christ would be and is totally disgusted by the portrayed sin that entertains the church. The church is glorifying sin! Oh God help us to see the depth of our depravity. Help us turn from enjoying evil to enjoying you.
Mark 7:14-23
Passage: Mark, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us more of Jesus’ teaching on the faults of the Pharisees. Jesus wants to get to the root of the problem. The Pharisees believe they have to wash their hands before they eat or else they will defile themselves before God. Jesus says they have it completely wrong. He says it is not what goes in the person that defiles them but what comes out. When Jesus said “what comes out” he was not referring to bodily excrement but rather “evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.”
Application: Reading this list of what defiles a person makes me thankful for the mercy of Jesus because I am guilty of every one of them. Not a day goes by that I do not stumble over one of these sins. What also greatly disturbs me the complete and widespread acceptance of these things in the Church. Where do I see this happening? The TV! I know countless numbers of Christian people who will sit on the couch and be endlessly entertained by these very things! In fact, the only thing that makes for “good TV” are these very sins. Honestly, people would not watch TV if these sins were not the central focus. It is a sin to enjoy such things. But wait? Am I being like the Pharisees? Since TV is simply entering my brain through my eyes and ears it really isn’t defiling me right? I’ve heard this argument before. “It’s okay to watch whatever on TV because what enters a person doesn’t defile a person.” They’re right on one point. The simple occurrence of the sight of something is not a sin, but it is rather the response that is the sin. To be entertained by and to enjoy watching a murder movie, to enjoy shows about gay men and women, to enjoy reality shows where men sexually “test out” women so that he can pick his bride, to enjoy a soap opera where divorce and adultery are the central themes is evil! These Christians say they would never do these things in real life. so why do they bring you happiness and entertainment? Christ would be and is totally disgusted by the portrayed sin that entertains the church. The church is glorifying sin! Oh God help us to see the depth of our depravity. Help us turn from enjoying evil to enjoying you.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Journal Day 9
October 10 2006 - Day 9
Mark 6:53-56; 7:1-13
Passage: This passage is the beginning of a dispute between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes. The dispute is over Jesus’ disciples. According to this passage the Pharisees and scribes had a tradition of washing hands in a certain way that they believed cleansed them and thus honored God. Jesus very sharply rebukes the Pharisees and scribes for considering the traditions of man to be the commandments of God. Quote, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
Application: I find several applications in this text. One I will save for tomorrow. For today I want to focus on my proneness to being like the Pharisees. It is so easy for me to equate my acceptance to God based on the things I am doing. It is very easy to focus on the outward actions like church attendance, bible reading, and seminary while neglecting the inward “heart” life. The Pharisees had much outward religion and no inward relationship. Their outward actions were but a cover-up of the reality of their wicked hearts. The Bible is clear that the only way to be accepted by God is for a person to have faith in Jesus Christ as the God-Man who received your wrath on the cross and who rose from the dead three days later. Not only did they vainly go through the motions of religion, but to make matters worse, the religion they were following was their own man-made religion. They taught and obeyed the “commandments of men.” I need to be careful not to hold to tightly to the things in church life that are only traditions. Traditions are good but not when they become an authority with or over the Bible. This will become very important for me if I am a missionary. I must only seek to deliver the message contained in the Bible and not the traditions of men.
Mark 6:53-56; 7:1-13
Passage: This passage is the beginning of a dispute between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes. The dispute is over Jesus’ disciples. According to this passage the Pharisees and scribes had a tradition of washing hands in a certain way that they believed cleansed them and thus honored God. Jesus very sharply rebukes the Pharisees and scribes for considering the traditions of man to be the commandments of God. Quote, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
Application: I find several applications in this text. One I will save for tomorrow. For today I want to focus on my proneness to being like the Pharisees. It is so easy for me to equate my acceptance to God based on the things I am doing. It is very easy to focus on the outward actions like church attendance, bible reading, and seminary while neglecting the inward “heart” life. The Pharisees had much outward religion and no inward relationship. Their outward actions were but a cover-up of the reality of their wicked hearts. The Bible is clear that the only way to be accepted by God is for a person to have faith in Jesus Christ as the God-Man who received your wrath on the cross and who rose from the dead three days later. Not only did they vainly go through the motions of religion, but to make matters worse, the religion they were following was their own man-made religion. They taught and obeyed the “commandments of men.” I need to be careful not to hold to tightly to the things in church life that are only traditions. Traditions are good but not when they become an authority with or over the Bible. This will become very important for me if I am a missionary. I must only seek to deliver the message contained in the Bible and not the traditions of men.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Journal Day 8
October 9 2006 - Day 8
Mark 6:30-52
Passage: In this passage Mark tells of two amazing miracles that Jesus performs. The first miracle happened when five thousand men (so probably many women and children also) gathered to see Jesus. At the end of the day the disciples ask Jesus if He will send them away so they can get something to eat. Instead of sending them away, Jesus performs a miraculous wonder. Out of five loaves and two fish he feeds thousands of people until they are full with much bread left over. The second miracle happens when the disciples are out at sea after their miraculous dinner. The disciples are by themselves very early in the morning being tossed about on the sea. To their amazement they see Jesus walking on the water. They become afraid because they don’t know it is Jesus. He speaks to the disciples, gets in the boat, and calms the sea. They are utterly astounded, confused, and hardened.
Application: Again we find the disciples not understanding Jesus. The great things he does are amazing to them but they simply don’t understand what He is doing all this for. Their frustration with Jesus is obvious in the sarcasm of verse 37. Jesus performs miracles to show that He is God. I need to trust Jesus when He puts me in situations that seem ridiculous or are painful so that He can carry me through them and reveal that He is truly God. It is very easy to become cynical when I lack understanding or power in my life. I need to trust the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the universe in all seasons of my life.
Mark 6:30-52
Passage: In this passage Mark tells of two amazing miracles that Jesus performs. The first miracle happened when five thousand men (so probably many women and children also) gathered to see Jesus. At the end of the day the disciples ask Jesus if He will send them away so they can get something to eat. Instead of sending them away, Jesus performs a miraculous wonder. Out of five loaves and two fish he feeds thousands of people until they are full with much bread left over. The second miracle happens when the disciples are out at sea after their miraculous dinner. The disciples are by themselves very early in the morning being tossed about on the sea. To their amazement they see Jesus walking on the water. They become afraid because they don’t know it is Jesus. He speaks to the disciples, gets in the boat, and calms the sea. They are utterly astounded, confused, and hardened.
Application: Again we find the disciples not understanding Jesus. The great things he does are amazing to them but they simply don’t understand what He is doing all this for. Their frustration with Jesus is obvious in the sarcasm of verse 37. Jesus performs miracles to show that He is God. I need to trust Jesus when He puts me in situations that seem ridiculous or are painful so that He can carry me through them and reveal that He is truly God. It is very easy to become cynical when I lack understanding or power in my life. I need to trust the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the universe in all seasons of my life.
Journal Day 7
October 8 2006 - Day 7
Mark 6:14-29
Passage: In this passage Mark describes people’s reactions to Jesus and he tells the story of the beheading of John the Baptist. The first part of this passage is what I intend to focus on today. In the previous passage Jesus equipped his disciples with authority to cast out unclean spirits and the ability to heal. He then sent the disciples out into the world to do these ministries. Not only did Jesus give them instructions to heal and such, but apparently He told them to preach a message of repentance. Verse 12 says that they “went out and proclaimed that people should repent.” The next passages are interesting because they describe the various responses of people to the message of repentance. Mixed in with the response to this message was their response to Jesus. Undoubtedly the hearers knew that the disciples were sent from Jesus. It’s obvious from the surrounding context that the disciples did not completely grasp who Jesus was and the salvation He was bringing and certainly most who encountered their ministry did not either. This was a time of much speculation over who Jesus was and what he was doing.
Application: The popular speculations were that Jesus was “John the Baptist…raised from the dead”, some said "He is Elijah", and some said "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." It is amazing that Jesus is still such a hot topic 2000 years later. An almost unending number of books have been written about Jesus since then which cover a vast amount of views of who Jesus was and is. Jesus asked the disciples who they thought He was in Mark 8:29 which says, “And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." In the midst of all the opinions I must stay true to the Bible’s claims that Jesus is the Christ, the God-Man.
Mark 6:14-29
Passage: In this passage Mark describes people’s reactions to Jesus and he tells the story of the beheading of John the Baptist. The first part of this passage is what I intend to focus on today. In the previous passage Jesus equipped his disciples with authority to cast out unclean spirits and the ability to heal. He then sent the disciples out into the world to do these ministries. Not only did Jesus give them instructions to heal and such, but apparently He told them to preach a message of repentance. Verse 12 says that they “went out and proclaimed that people should repent.” The next passages are interesting because they describe the various responses of people to the message of repentance. Mixed in with the response to this message was their response to Jesus. Undoubtedly the hearers knew that the disciples were sent from Jesus. It’s obvious from the surrounding context that the disciples did not completely grasp who Jesus was and the salvation He was bringing and certainly most who encountered their ministry did not either. This was a time of much speculation over who Jesus was and what he was doing.
Application: The popular speculations were that Jesus was “John the Baptist…raised from the dead”, some said "He is Elijah", and some said "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." It is amazing that Jesus is still such a hot topic 2000 years later. An almost unending number of books have been written about Jesus since then which cover a vast amount of views of who Jesus was and is. Jesus asked the disciples who they thought He was in Mark 8:29 which says, “And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." In the midst of all the opinions I must stay true to the Bible’s claims that Jesus is the Christ, the God-Man.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Journal Day 6
October 7 2006 - Day 6
Mark 6: 1-13
Passage: Jesus and the disciples continue on their journey. They reach Jesus’ hometown and stay there for a period. On the Sabbath day Jesus begins to teach in the local synagogue. The people are “astonished” at Jesus’ ability to teach. They want to know how he got to be such a great teacher. They know that he is just a carpenter. They know his whole family. Instead of embracing Jesus and his teaching they take offence at him and their hearts harden in unbelief.
Application: I don’t believe that I’m a prophet (have the gift of prophecy) and I’m certainly not Jesus, however I am a carpenter and my father is a carpenter, my undergraduate degree is in Construction Management and I am currently getting a theological education so that I can preach/teach the Word of God effectively. So in those ways I can relate to Jesus very well. In comparison, only in small ways have I experienced the rejection that Jesus did with the people who knew His history. Not only was Jesus rejected by His hometown but even the whole people of Israel (save the remnant). In that light, my experience of rejection from those who know my past is nothing. These verses help me prepare for what may lie ahead in my ministry. There is always the possibility of pastoring in my hometown of Shreveport, LA. This is a great warning to all of Jesus’ disciples of the risk that is involved with following Him. It is obvious that Jesus was preparing His disciples for what they would encounter as He sent them out to do miracles and preaching on repentance in the very next passage in Mark.
Mark 6: 1-13
Passage: Jesus and the disciples continue on their journey. They reach Jesus’ hometown and stay there for a period. On the Sabbath day Jesus begins to teach in the local synagogue. The people are “astonished” at Jesus’ ability to teach. They want to know how he got to be such a great teacher. They know that he is just a carpenter. They know his whole family. Instead of embracing Jesus and his teaching they take offence at him and their hearts harden in unbelief.
Application: I don’t believe that I’m a prophet (have the gift of prophecy) and I’m certainly not Jesus, however I am a carpenter and my father is a carpenter, my undergraduate degree is in Construction Management and I am currently getting a theological education so that I can preach/teach the Word of God effectively. So in those ways I can relate to Jesus very well. In comparison, only in small ways have I experienced the rejection that Jesus did with the people who knew His history. Not only was Jesus rejected by His hometown but even the whole people of Israel (save the remnant). In that light, my experience of rejection from those who know my past is nothing. These verses help me prepare for what may lie ahead in my ministry. There is always the possibility of pastoring in my hometown of Shreveport, LA. This is a great warning to all of Jesus’ disciples of the risk that is involved with following Him. It is obvious that Jesus was preparing His disciples for what they would encounter as He sent them out to do miracles and preaching on repentance in the very next passage in Mark.
Journal Day 5
October 6 2006 - Day 5
Mark 5:21-43
Passage: Jesus’ renown is growing more and more. Jesus and the disciples cross back over the sea to meet another “great” crowd. Jesus is met by a ruler of a synagogue whose daughter is on the brink of death. Jesus follows the man, Jairus, to his home so he can heal her before she dies. And so does the crowd. On the way there a lady who has some type of constant menstrual bleeding sees Jesus. She believes that if she just touches Jesus’ robe she will be healed. Amazingly she does and she is healed. In the midst of much chaos the news is heard that the girl is dead and the people tell Jesus that He is no longer needed because she is dead. Jesus then proceeds to take just a few people into the home and He then raises the girl from the dead.
Application: It is hard for me to imagine the amazement and joy that the witnesses of this miracle experienced. The parents must have been devastated over their twelve-year-old daughters death. To hear Jesus say that she is just sleeping and then to see him speak life into her must have been overwhelming. I imagine they went from devastation, to anger and confusion (at Jesus’ seemingly foolish statement), to unspeakable joy. The raising of the dead is Jesus’ pinnacle of miracles. This miracle is beyond enough proof that Jesus is the Christ. Moreover, this miracle is the best picture of the miracle that he accomplished on the cross. His accomplishment on the cross in relation to the resurrection from the dead is best seen in the ordinance of Baptism. It is a representation of when we were dead in our sins, Christ entered into that death by the cross and He raised us with Him in His resurrection into life forever.
Mark 5:21-43
Passage: Jesus’ renown is growing more and more. Jesus and the disciples cross back over the sea to meet another “great” crowd. Jesus is met by a ruler of a synagogue whose daughter is on the brink of death. Jesus follows the man, Jairus, to his home so he can heal her before she dies. And so does the crowd. On the way there a lady who has some type of constant menstrual bleeding sees Jesus. She believes that if she just touches Jesus’ robe she will be healed. Amazingly she does and she is healed. In the midst of much chaos the news is heard that the girl is dead and the people tell Jesus that He is no longer needed because she is dead. Jesus then proceeds to take just a few people into the home and He then raises the girl from the dead.
Application: It is hard for me to imagine the amazement and joy that the witnesses of this miracle experienced. The parents must have been devastated over their twelve-year-old daughters death. To hear Jesus say that she is just sleeping and then to see him speak life into her must have been overwhelming. I imagine they went from devastation, to anger and confusion (at Jesus’ seemingly foolish statement), to unspeakable joy. The raising of the dead is Jesus’ pinnacle of miracles. This miracle is beyond enough proof that Jesus is the Christ. Moreover, this miracle is the best picture of the miracle that he accomplished on the cross. His accomplishment on the cross in relation to the resurrection from the dead is best seen in the ordinance of Baptism. It is a representation of when we were dead in our sins, Christ entered into that death by the cross and He raised us with Him in His resurrection into life forever.
Journal Day 4
October 5 2006 - Day 4
Mark 4:35-41, 5:1-20
Passage: In this passage two main events happen. First, Jesus is out to sea with his disciples after a long day of ministry. Jesus must have been really tired because He slept through a horrible storm as they crossed the sea. In the middle of the storm, the disciples become very afraid that they are going to sink due to the storm. They wake Jesus up. Jesus rebukes the storm and it ceases. Jesus then questions the disciples why they have so little faith in Him. Second, once Jesus and the disciples reach the other side of the sea they come in contact with a man possessed by a demon whose name is Legion. The demon is terrified of Jesus and says, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” Jesus then casts out the demon from the man and sends it into a herd of pigs.
Application: What I find most astonishing in these passages is that the demon, in a sense, has more respect for Jesus than the disciples did. The disciples don’t understand that Jesus is God! They don’t yet fully grasp all of who Jesus is. The demon however very clearly understands that Jesus is “the Most High God.” Now, obviously, understanding who Jesus is is not enough. The difference between the disciples and the demon is that the disciples loved being in Jesus’ presence and the demon couldn’t stand being in Jesus’ presence. Mere knowledge of God is crucial, but it is not enough. We must love what we know of God and we must strive to know more.
Mark 4:35-41, 5:1-20
Passage: In this passage two main events happen. First, Jesus is out to sea with his disciples after a long day of ministry. Jesus must have been really tired because He slept through a horrible storm as they crossed the sea. In the middle of the storm, the disciples become very afraid that they are going to sink due to the storm. They wake Jesus up. Jesus rebukes the storm and it ceases. Jesus then questions the disciples why they have so little faith in Him. Second, once Jesus and the disciples reach the other side of the sea they come in contact with a man possessed by a demon whose name is Legion. The demon is terrified of Jesus and says, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” Jesus then casts out the demon from the man and sends it into a herd of pigs.
Application: What I find most astonishing in these passages is that the demon, in a sense, has more respect for Jesus than the disciples did. The disciples don’t understand that Jesus is God! They don’t yet fully grasp all of who Jesus is. The demon however very clearly understands that Jesus is “the Most High God.” Now, obviously, understanding who Jesus is is not enough. The difference between the disciples and the demon is that the disciples loved being in Jesus’ presence and the demon couldn’t stand being in Jesus’ presence. Mere knowledge of God is crucial, but it is not enough. We must love what we know of God and we must strive to know more.
Journal Day 3
October 4, 2006 - Day 3
Mark 4:1-34
Passage: In this passage Jesus explains the work of His disciples. He first describes this work in a parable using a sower of seeds to represent one of His disciples who are spreading the gospel. The ground where the sower is sowing represents the person who is hearing the gospel explained. Jesus then gives four different responses that commonly occur.
Application: The first application that I find is in the way that the sower sowed the seeds. He sowed them on all kinds of ground. Some fell on the path, rocky soil, briar filled soil, and some on good soil. It is easy to pick and choose whom you will share the gospel with based on some external reason. Some people look intimidating, some look poor, some look uneducated, some look too busy, and so on. Jesus made it clear by this passage and by his own ministry that the gospel should be shared with all types of people. The outside appearance of people is a poor indication of the quality of the “soil” of their heart. Secondly I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 3:6. It says that God gave the growth to the gospel seeds that Paul and Apollos planted and watered. This gives me courage to continue sharing the gospel and trusting the Lord for the results.
Mark 4:1-34
Passage: In this passage Jesus explains the work of His disciples. He first describes this work in a parable using a sower of seeds to represent one of His disciples who are spreading the gospel. The ground where the sower is sowing represents the person who is hearing the gospel explained. Jesus then gives four different responses that commonly occur.
Application: The first application that I find is in the way that the sower sowed the seeds. He sowed them on all kinds of ground. Some fell on the path, rocky soil, briar filled soil, and some on good soil. It is easy to pick and choose whom you will share the gospel with based on some external reason. Some people look intimidating, some look poor, some look uneducated, some look too busy, and so on. Jesus made it clear by this passage and by his own ministry that the gospel should be shared with all types of people. The outside appearance of people is a poor indication of the quality of the “soil” of their heart. Secondly I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 3:6. It says that God gave the growth to the gospel seeds that Paul and Apollos planted and watered. This gives me courage to continue sharing the gospel and trusting the Lord for the results.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Journal Day 2
October 3, 2006 - Day 2
Mark 3:22-35
Passage: Jesus is so good at exposing the wisdom of the world as the foolishness it is. The scribes thought they had Jesus captured. The crowds were amazed at Jesus’ ability to cast out demons from the oppressed. The scribes came down from Jerusalem saying that he was casting out the demons by Beelzebul and by the prince of demons. Jesus replies very simply, “How can Satan cast out Satan?” In other words, that’s foolish and illogical! Christ indicts the scribes with a serious statement. He claims that by speaking of the Holy Spirit, which was working with Jesus to perform these miracles, as a spirit of a demon was an eternal sin. It was a sin that would never be forgiven. This is the sin of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
Application: This could very possibly become a terrifying passage to the thoughtful Christian reader. “What if I’ve mistakenly done this?” could haunt the mind and conscience. This could truly be a concern if Christ had not promised to keep all of His flock forever. This could truly be a concern if it was not true that “those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:30) As a Christian my future state in glory is sure. I must conclude that God will prevent me from committing this eternal sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. I do however think it is wise not to let the tongue loose. We should be watchful over what we say concerning those who claim to perform miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Mark 3:22-35
Passage: Jesus is so good at exposing the wisdom of the world as the foolishness it is. The scribes thought they had Jesus captured. The crowds were amazed at Jesus’ ability to cast out demons from the oppressed. The scribes came down from Jerusalem saying that he was casting out the demons by Beelzebul and by the prince of demons. Jesus replies very simply, “How can Satan cast out Satan?” In other words, that’s foolish and illogical! Christ indicts the scribes with a serious statement. He claims that by speaking of the Holy Spirit, which was working with Jesus to perform these miracles, as a spirit of a demon was an eternal sin. It was a sin that would never be forgiven. This is the sin of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
Application: This could very possibly become a terrifying passage to the thoughtful Christian reader. “What if I’ve mistakenly done this?” could haunt the mind and conscience. This could truly be a concern if Christ had not promised to keep all of His flock forever. This could truly be a concern if it was not true that “those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:30) As a Christian my future state in glory is sure. I must conclude that God will prevent me from committing this eternal sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. I do however think it is wise not to let the tongue loose. We should be watchful over what we say concerning those who claim to perform miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Journal Day 1
October 2, 2006 - Day 1
Mark 2:18-3:21
Passage: The general message of the texts that I read today is that Jesus is the Christ, the fulfillment of the Old Testament. The Pharisees and John’s disciples wanted to know why Jesus’ disciples were not fasting also. Jesus says in parable like fashion that his disciples are only doing what is reasonable. It seems that Jesus understands one purpose of fasting to be a means to draw closer to God. Jesus’ point is “Why fast to draw closer to God when God is here in your presence, that is, I am here?” His point is that something new has come along that will do away with the old methods. He is beginning to reveal himself as the Christ.
Application: Even though I am not at this turning point in redemptive history like the people of this story, these texts are very applicable. While doing ministry and receiving education it is very easy to get distracted from the main point. I often get distracted from focusing on God while I am doing the things of God much like a child who prefers to play with the wrapping paper rather than the gift. Jesus constantly deals with this issue with his disciples. The Pharisees and John’s disciples did not understand that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God so they were distracted by the old. I on the other hand do know Jesus as the Christ and so it is probably doubly foolish to be distracted from Him. I must strive to keep Jesus in focus.
Mark 2:18-3:21
Passage: The general message of the texts that I read today is that Jesus is the Christ, the fulfillment of the Old Testament. The Pharisees and John’s disciples wanted to know why Jesus’ disciples were not fasting also. Jesus says in parable like fashion that his disciples are only doing what is reasonable. It seems that Jesus understands one purpose of fasting to be a means to draw closer to God. Jesus’ point is “Why fast to draw closer to God when God is here in your presence, that is, I am here?” His point is that something new has come along that will do away with the old methods. He is beginning to reveal himself as the Christ.
Application: Even though I am not at this turning point in redemptive history like the people of this story, these texts are very applicable. While doing ministry and receiving education it is very easy to get distracted from the main point. I often get distracted from focusing on God while I am doing the things of God much like a child who prefers to play with the wrapping paper rather than the gift. Jesus constantly deals with this issue with his disciples. The Pharisees and John’s disciples did not understand that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God so they were distracted by the old. I on the other hand do know Jesus as the Christ and so it is probably doubly foolish to be distracted from Him. I must strive to keep Jesus in focus.
New Line of Posts
Again, I have been neglecting this page for some time...I have a plan to prevent that though. One of my assignments for my Personal Spiritual Disciplines class is to keep a journal for 30 days. Basically I read a passage from the Bible, then I summarize it in my own words, and then I try to apply it. Soo, I'm going to post my entry for each day. This should show up here at andrewelston.blogspot.com and at my Facebook site. So here we go
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